True friends ask your new friend if he's a criminal.

Set the same day as "Welcome To High School."

"Would you like to have lunch with us, Kirigaya-kun?"

Kazuki looked up and smiled. "I'd love to - Nakamori-san, was it?"

"You can call me Aoko," the girl said with a smile. "And this baka here is Kaito."

"Who're you calling a baka?" Kaito protested.

Kazuki laughed. "Sounds like you've got him pegged, Aoko-chan!"

"Oi!"

"Do you know Kuroba, Kirigaya-san?" A new voice, belonging to a blond detective, joined the discussion.

"Call me Kazuki," he said carelessly. "And yes, I do."

"Eh? Really?" Aoko blinked, looking from him to Kaito.

"Really." The magician grinned. "I met Kazuki a couple weeks ago. He hadn't picked a school yet, so I recommended this place."

"So you two are friends?" Hakuba turned a piercing gaze on Kazuki. "I don't suppose you know anything about his night job, Kazuki-san?"

Kazuki frowned, feigning confusion. "Night job?"

"Jeez, give it a rest, Hakuba!" Kaito rolled his eyes.

Beside him, Aoko put her hands on her hips. "Hakuba-kun, how many times does Aoko have to tell you, Kaito is not Kid!"

"Wait, wait." Kazuki held up his hands, staring at the detective. "You think he's Kid? And you're asking me about it?"

Hakuba nodded, a hint of wariness in his expression.

"If he was Kid and I knew about it, wouldn't that make me an accomplice?"

"I suppose so."

Kazuki raised an eyebrow. "So, in this hypothetical situation, Kaito is Kid and I'm his accomplice. You, a detective, are asking me, Kid's partner, to reveal his identity."

Hakuba shifted, not liking where this was going. Kaito was grinning like a loon.

"I think the obvious answer to that is 'Why the heck should I tell you?'"

Hakuba flushed; Kaito burst out laughing. Even Aoko was hiding a smile.

"I'm not trying to offend you, Hakuba-san," Kazuki said, smiling. "I just don't see any other way to answer."

Hakuba sighed. "I suppose it was a stupid question."

"Damn straight it was," Kaito said. Hakuba glared at him.

"Hypothetical situations aside," Aoko said, "you're not a Kid fan, are you, Kazuki-kun?"

Kazuki grinned, looking for an instant much like a certain thief. "I'm afraid I am."

"Good lord, there's two of them," Hakuba muttered.

"Jeez." Aoko crossed her arms, frowning. "Everyone likes that stupid thief. It's not fair."

"Sorry, Aoko-chan," Kazuki said with a short laugh. "I can't help my bad taste!"

"'Bad taste?' What kind of fan are you?" Kaito exclaimed.

Kazuki tried for an innocent smile. "The disrespectful kind?"

"Heh heh!"

~oOo~

As the three argued and laughed, Hakuba shook his head and walked away. It seemed like Kuroba had found a kindred spirit.

God help them all.