Reluctant Hero

6. Kaito's debt of a lifetime

Though having to bear the painful feeling of ultimate reluctance, Kaito was still able to sacrifice his time and efforts to do certain things for people, such as returning favours and acting as a consultant for certain stupid reasons. But if this was about giving up his magic inventions or anything out of his precious car-collections, that would totally be another case.

But… Nakamori Aoko had always been another case for him.

Pinching his nose, Kaito groaned.

"Are you done?" Behind him, Hattori Heiji said as he sat on the stool in Kaito's underground garage, looking bored and pissed (and as usual: annoying). Heiji glanced at his watch. "How long are you going to keep staring at your damn cars?"

Kaito snapped him an irritable gaze. "You came uninvited and unannounced. Don't expect me to welcome you like a guest."

Heiji rolled his eyes. "As if you ever welcomed anyone like a guest."

"Can you just let me think in peace for another five minutes?"

"Think about what? How to materialise another car?"

"Will you shut up if I say yes?"

"No." Heiji jabbed a finger into his watch. "Kazuha's birthday is coming and if we don't think off a plan now, it'll be too late, again."

"...I don't even know why I agreed to help you." Kaito muttered under his breath.

"Because you're guilty for ruining my proposal that I'd planned for over seven months—"

"K. I've decided."

Heiji scowled at the interruption, but straightened at the next moment. "Decided what?"

"My blue baby it is." Kaito said, walking over to pat the trunk of his dark blue Audi car that he got a year ago, the shortest time among the other cars he'd taken care of. Though it was the last on his attachment list… it was still nonetheless worthy to be in his garage. He really liked the dark shade of the blue and the—

"What are you talking about?" Heiji's frown deepened. "What are you doing to your car?"

Grabbing the right keys from his desk, Kaito skipped back to the car again. "I'll only be back in another half an hour. Feel free to stay here and admire my cars, if you like. But if I found any scratches or whatsoever, just be reminded that I know where you keep the first edition of your Ellery Queen's series at."

Heiji flung up from the stool. "Where the hell are you going? Kid-!"

Kaito didn't give Heiji a chance to finish his words as he slammed the door shut, fired up the engine and sped out of the garage. He glanced into the rear-mirror, watching Heiji's mouth moving at rapid speed, probably in chants of curses and swears. It made him slightly pleased for the day. Just slightly.

He navigated past the town at ease (already memorising the roads last night when he returned home) and found Aoko's house coming into view in less than fifteen minutes (that was how surprisingly close their homes were). Kaito wrapped his fingers tightly around the steering wheel, feeling the touch for the last time, perhaps. This was indeed the biggest debt he had to pay. Shinichi once topped it with five favours, but now Aoko won everyone with five favours plus a car. His precious car.

But nobody needed to know that. Not ever. He didn't need anyone to feel challenge-y one day and decided to claim the first on his list again.

Kaito slowed down after making a turn into Aoko's street and parked the car in front of her mailbox.

It was already too bright outside to tell if Aoko's houses lights were on or off, but it didn't matter anyway (it wasn't like he anticipated an interaction with her or whatever). He pulled today's newspaper out of his sleeves and read the title page, sighing. Aoko would definitely suspect something once she read the news, but if he could provide her some context to his reasons, it was possible that she wouldn't read too much into his actions and be confused if he was a good or bad guy, which was the last thing he needed.

For extra convincing, he scribbled something teasing on a piece of paper and slotted it in between the newspaper. He then got off the car, dumped them into her mailbox, along with his keys, and left as quickly as he came.

It was painful to turn back to see his car for the last time, but if he did, or just stop to glance back for a curious second before he turned round the corner of the street, he would have seen Aoko's wide eyes and gaping mouth as she stumbled out of her house.

That sight might be Kaito's biggest missed opportunity ever had in his life, but it was alright, really. Because if he were to see Aoko reacting that way in her cute, panda pyjamas and slippers, he would probably have his eyes just as wide and mouth gaping open like the bigger fool.

Giving up his car was already a big deal, so the least he could do was to retain some of his dignity too.

A/n: thank you for reading! Hopefully you guys are liking these so far! Reviews are appreciated hehe :')