22: Through the Night
Kaito yawned widely, stretching as much as he could while sitting. Maybe there was some merit to the idea that it was impossible for a high school student to keep up grades like his and be an international phantom thief. With the sun already lightening the morning sky and school in a couple hours… maybe he really should get some sleep.
It was just so difficult now that Konosuke Jii had officially retired from being his assistant. Kaito had told him that he'd be fine alone, he certainly had enough skill to solo it as a phantom thief… it's just that it was ridiculously difficult to finish his homework, case out targets (with the proper amount of research), make his own 'props', plan the heist with multiple backups, and still act like an average teenager. Well, as average as a prankster-magician could be.
Giving up for the night, Kaito turned in without even bothering to change into his pajamas. It seemed like only minutes had passed before the alarm clock, and bane of his existence, chimed. Kaito groaned and glared at it resentfully, running through murderous thoughts to make a list of the best ways to destroy the innocent clock and hide the evidence.
Eventually, he succumbed to the alarm's urging and pulled himself stiffly out of bed. With bones that felt nearly too heavy for his muscles to move, Kaito ran through routine automatically. The only thing he really registered, as he dropped into his seat at school, was Aoko's cheerful "ohiyo!"
"Ohiyo…" Kaito grumbled back before dropping his head onto his forearms and falling asleep.
"What's wrong with you?" Aoko asked jokingly, prodding him back to awareness with her pen. "Stop Aoko…" Kaito moaned, "I was up nearly the entire night working on a new trick." "No doubt for a certain nighttime performance." Hakuba commented in a cultured tone as he set his books on his desk. "I really don't have energy for you." Kaito said, evidently not even having enough energy to say what he'd been thinking, which was more along the lines of, 'I really don't have energy to deal with you and your unfounded accusations'.
Even while napping through class, Kaito remained aware of Hakuba's eyes on him. "Would you stop staring at me!" Kaito finally snapped during lunch. With a sigh, clearly saying that he never did anything as rude as staring, the light-haired detective set a small white box in front of the unusually irate magician.
Kaito eyed the box in suspicious bewilderment, "what's this?" Hakuba dipped his head, "that is how I make it through the night after a KID heist." Kaito's brow furrowed, "what?" The detective didn't elaborate beyond telling him that the contents of the box were not a substitute for sleep. "I just thought it might help." Hakuba said before giving a shallow bow and returning to his seat.
Casting intermittent glances at the half-Brit from the corner of his eye, Kaito opened the box. It was full of small brown spheres of varying sizes. Instantly Kaito perked up, chocolate! Intrigued, the magician plucked one from the top and popped it into his mouth. He froze a moment later, raising an eyebrow in consideration. Coffee beans?
The second chocolate covered coffee bean was consumed with far more enthusiasm when Kaito decided it wasn't half bad. Needless to say, on his next late night Kaito was accompanied by a box of the caffeinated and sugary treat.
(Mmmm... Chocolate covered coffee beans are delicious.)