Disclaimer: I don't own Detective Conan or Magic Kaito. I do, however, own a very cute cat.
Sunday.
That morning, Shinichi dragged Kaito along to the library, again, since Kaito had a project to finish.
"Sempai, you really don't need to worry... I'll get it done on my own so..."
"A certain little bird told me the last time you did that, you ended up pulling an all-nighter. There's no way you're going to do that under my watch."
"Goodness, I really wish I hadn't told Aoko what happened... she's really getting ahead of herself here... that annoying...!"
"Ah well, I'll treat you to lunch when we're done, to my favourite cafe. That's only, of course, if you really want to go."
Shinichi suddenly felt very foolish for saying that. He was about to add something else when his kohai beamed.
"Yay~! Let's finish this then... um... I kind of have a question...?"
"Shoot."
"Well... sempai... I was wondering whether or not you were... disturbed... when I... confessed..."
His voice shrank away into a half-whisper at the last words. Shinichi stared back at his kohai... he was asking this... now?!
"Kuroba... I've already stuck with you for ten days... if I was disgusted, I would have screamed and run away back then. Honestly, why in the world do you even need to confirm something you already know?"
"I was... scared... of all things people could say about this and..."
"I'm fine with things, really. You don't need to be afraid - after all, I've accepted you, haven't I? That's the reason you shooed everyone away, isn't it?"
"..."
"Well, in that case, let's make a clear policy: if you're scared, just say it."
"Okay~! Well, in that case... I might have a few more questions..."
"Yes?" asked Shinchi, waiting with an answer to whatever other things Kuroba needed to confirm... but...
"Well, I was wondering... 'Why learn about the Meiji Reformation?'"
"..."
Shinichi gave Kuroba a deadpan as a reply. His kohai simply smiled and held up his hands in false innocence.
"It's a legitimate question... sempai..."
"That's your project, Kuroba. I'm pretty sure that the teacher intends for you to complete it. Last time I checked, I'm not an extension of you, or a mysterious fifth limb. Therefore, I regret that I can't complete your homework for you."
"Sempai...!"
Shincihi's lips twitched up at his kohai's childish display and whining. How refreshing this was, just sitting here, bickering.
"No~ way~! That's your punishment for not working harder. You're the one who brought it onto himself."
"..."
Kuroba sulked, going off to properly complete his research. Shinichi's smile leaked through, and he picked up an English title for a school report. As expected, it was a Sherlock Holmes title, The Sign of Four.
The lazy, belated lunch at Poirot was heavenly, especially as Kuroba was no longer too nervous to play his worst tricks in front of Shincihi. Although the detective had to somewhat sympathize with the ones on the receiving end, he was the one laughing hardest, in the end.
Soon, it was dark and the tab was paid; the two walked to the bus stop before parting ways.
"Goodnight... sempai..."
"Goodnight, Kuroba."
Somehow, this sort of thing was slowly sinking into the detective's daily routine.
And roses basked in moonlight, glimmering like gems in rays of snowy light as the night passed on.
AN: Ah, like a calm before a storm. I've been wondering about why I use homework as a plot device so often... I'm starting to wonder if it's not just me being a slacker in real life, with all my self-reminders creeping into my writing. That is truly horrifying... I seem to change my writing voice based on my moods a lot too. Review to save this writer from the pressing wall of uncertainty of the unknown! (That's seriously over-the-top... but still! I love getting reviews of all sorts!)