Chapter 47

Curse (Part 2)

If Shinichi was a housefly, Sera must be the mother of all flies.

Sera, who scurried after her like a mosquito, was invading personal space.

About to lose her temper, Shiho held back.

Sera was an annoyance similar to a splinter stuck in her finger. As they walked through the hospital's busy, beeping corridors, Shiho could only regard her as such.

They were about to engage in an unexpected mission devised by Shinichi. Something that might help crack the case.

"What are we looking for exactly?" Sera asked as they approached a private storage room.

"You don't need to follow me," Shiho reached for the handle.

Unnoticed, she slipped in through the open door. The storage was cold, as expected. It was common in such facilities. Medicines must be kept at a low temperature to prolong their shelf life.

"You're a kid, Ai-chan," Sera winked, casually sprouting cryptic statements. Through playful riddles and jokes, the girl purposefully reveals snippets of her purpose. In truth, beneath that seemingly friendly tone was unfathomable anger, burning slowly, like smothering coals.

"We both know I can take care of myself," Shiho retorted.

"Really?" Sera shrugged, "You still look like you require a guardian."

Rather than responding, Shiho turned back to the medicine bottles stacked neatly in rows along the various cabinets lining the rectangular room. There was a pungent stench of antiseptic lingering around. Liquids and chemicals were stored in brown glass bottles on tall black shelves that formed a maze throughout the facility. An LED flickered periodically above. The lights were dimmed down, and Shiho could barely make out what was in front. As she pulls out her detective badge, Shiho switches on the torch and shines it around.

"So," Sera picks up one of the bottles to inspect, "I'm assuming we're looking for this Microwave Chloride?"

"It's Mivacurium," Shiho corrected unconsciously, shifting through the shelves and peering at the labels.

"A particular thing to know," Sera intoned, "For a child, that is."

Scratch mosquito, Shiho thought while grumbling to herself. Sera was a cockroach. A persistent bug that wouldn't die even if its head were cut off.

"A genius, I suppose," Shiho murmured, picking up a bottle to swirl its contents. "Child prodigy," she continued, looking at the shelf in front of her. A total of 50 miniature bottles were present, each containing Mivacurium Chloride to aid in general anesthesia. Used in practiced amounts, it was not deadly. An overdose, however, could lead to dire consequences.

"There's a clipboard here," Sera mentioned. Picking it up, the female detective examined it. A few names were recorded. "Apparently, you must write your name when taking out any of these medications."

It was a standard procedure that Shiho was sure the culprit would not adhere to.

"Anything out of the ordinary?"

"No," Sera frowned, "It all checks out."

"Then we'll move on to the next part," Shiho muttered. Pulling out a tiny box-like device from her pouch, she placed it on the shelves near the bottles. Affixing it to the metallic railings, she carefully adjusts it to hide it.

"What is that?" Sera asked, the girl coming closer. They were both squatting, and their shoulders touched.

Shiho ignores her and takes out her phone instead. There was a live video feed in it.

"Oh, it's a tiny video recorder?"

"Yes," Shiho relented, knowing that the girl would not rest until she received an answer. "It's Hakase's latest invention for the detective boys. A recording device that can be mounted in unnoticeable places with a click of a button."

The professor had called it the "Stalker's" eye. Shinichi and the children rejected the name he had concocted and renamed it Mr. Private Eye. It wasn't any better, but at least it didn't sound like something perverts would use.

"I assume you are using this to catch the culprit in the act?" Sera was fascinated, prodding the device with her finger, causing the live video feed to shake slightly.

Slapping her hands away, Shiho adjusted "Mr. Private Eye" again before motioning to the exit.

"A trap," she explained, describing Shinichi and Heiji's plan.

"What if the culprit doesn't turn up? Then we wouldn't be able to get any evidence," Sera quipped, pointing out the obvious flaws Shiho had mentioned to the boys minutes ago.

"It will work," Shiho affirms, closing the door behind her. They walk down the corridors again.

"How are you so sure?"

"Because Shinichi said it would," she quipped, only to curse at the mistake she'd made.

"I see," Sera said, "Shinichi was it."

Again, the question arises. The girl's strange obsession with the shrunken detective and Shiho remains a mystery. Shinichi would never reveal it, no matter how hard she pressed him. He said he wasn't sure, and it probably wasn't important. Though the girl spoke in strange idioms, the phrase "little sister beyond the domain" was not lost on her.

"What do you want?" Shiho muttered as Sera shrugged.

"APTX4869," revealing the drug's name for the first time. "Or was it…" Sera eyed her with a smirk. "Something else?"

Freezing from her insinuations, Shiho turns away. Making it a point to retreat from the girl, who chased after her.

"You're just going to ignore me…again?"

"I have nothing to say to you," Shiho whispered harshly, and the girl grabbed her by the shoulder. Her hold is tight. Shiho faced her, wincing slightly. Sera's olive eyes sparkled with a mixture of excitement and repressed mirth.

While squatting, the female detective leaned closer. With the tips of their noses almost touching, she chuckles dryly.

"Really, Shiho-chan?" Her eyes carried an impatient glint, "Even if…it had destroyed lives?"

Surrounded by beeping machines, Kazuha lay silently, covered in too-clean sheets scented with lavender and lilies. Despite having an IV drip voluntarily lodged in her arm, Kazuha curled her fingers around the tiny charm Heiji had given her hours before.

He was livid as he stood by the lobby, stomping his feet as he argued with Edogawa-kun, Ai-chan, and Sera-san about their plan. After three years, it was still amusing for her to see her childhood friend quarrel with the overly mature children.

"No, no, this is too dangerous. I said I'll volunteer myself. How did Kazuha come into the equation!"

As soon as she grabbed hold of him, Heiji glared at her. His fiery temper, protective and comforting in nature, could sometimes be irritating. "It wasn't their fault, Heiji," she said, "I want to do this."

"It's too dangerous. What if they tried to hurt you first?"

Kazuha pursed her lips at his insinuation, folding her arms at his insistence. "I can defend myself, Heiji. You know I can."

"That is not the issue here."

"Chiyo-chan was hurt!" she exclaimed. Her blood boiled just remembering it. As of yet, Chiyo had not woken up. The girl who had her leg broken by Kazuha shouldn't have to go through such turmoil. Even when she could not attend the Kendo competition she practiced so hard for, she was sweet and kind and didn't blame anyone.

Chiyo had put so much effort into it. She didn't deserve to be treated this way. Not as a sick joke. Kazuha was willing to assist Chiyo in any way that she could.

"Kazuha…are you sure?" Heiji eventually relented, and she nodded, banging her fist against her chest. With a confident smile, she faced them. "Leave it to me. I will be the best patient you could ever ask for."

Though she had said it, albeit a little naively, Kazuha couldn't help the racing wreck that was her heart. While it thumped like a drum, she took a deep breath, focusing instead on the charm Heiji had haphazardly bought for her before the mission.

"What is this?" she asked, and Heiji shoved it into her open palms, forcing her fingers over it.

"Idiot," was his only response. And while she remained annoyed by his erratic behavior, she couldn't help the slight flush that came when chestnut eyes regarded her. "Be safe," he continued, smiling wryly, "And if anything goes wrong—"

She smiled as she raised the detective badge that Conan-kun had given her.

"We'll be nearby," the little boy, with the all-too-smart aura, affirms.

She is briefed on her upcoming mission by Heiji and Conan-kun, while Ai-chan fits Kazuha with her disguise.

With the assistance of Yuika Inoue, Sera managed to convince the nurse to give them a private ward. Registering Kazuha under the fake alias Hana Shimada. According to Sera's request, Inoue-san assigned Kasumi Kondo as the doctor in charge.

"Lie still and let them get close," Heiji instructed.

"We have to catch them in the act," Conan-kun continued, "What we have now are circumstantial," again using words that are too bombastic for a 10-year-old.

"Circumstantial?"

"The evidence points to the culprit," Ai-chan explained. "But they can be easily disproved in court." The girl, too, was unusually intelligent for her age.

It was confusing and somewhat jarring, but Kazuha focussed instead on the mission.

"Therefore, we need to record the event itself," Sera said as she patted Kazuha down into bed, draping the covers over her. "Irrefutable evidence."

Several hours had passed since she last lay here. It was darker than usual. The lights had been dimmed on purpose. The only sound throughout the room was the beeping of machines, and Kazuha shifted uncomfortably.

"Any sign of movement, Kazuha?" Heiji's voice came from the earpiece connected to the detective badge hidden under the covers. He kept checking on her every few minutes. Buzzing about like an overprotective…boy—

Again, she flushed from her imagination. Though the thought did provide her with some comfort, and she couldn't resist the wavering smile that formed on her lips.

"I'm fine, Heiji."

"I'm sure you're fine. I just want to know if you saw anything weird."

She frowned at his insensitivity, about to make a retort, when she heard it. The distinct creaking noise of a door opening.

"Heiji," she said harshly. As footsteps, light, and quiet in nature clicked on the marble floor, she remained still like petrified stone. Kazuha held her breath as a figure's shadow stood above her.

Under the sheets, Kazuha was unable to see them.

Do not move. She had to remind herself. If she had acted now, everything would be for naught.

Kazuha closed her eyes and breathed deeply to calm herself as she wrapped her hands tightly around the charm. They were taking their time, not moving since they arrived. For a long time, Kazuha felt as though they would leave, but instead, a strange sob escaped their lips.

"I'm sorry," they said softly, "This has to be done."

The figure reached into the sheets and grabbed Kazuha's IV. There was a frostiness to their touch, colder than ice, and Kazuha suppressed a shudder.

She could make out the faint glint of a long needle inserting itself into the thin IV drip tubing from under the sheets. As the figure was about to inject the clear liquid into the syringe, Kazuha let out an unconscious gasp.

An explosion of bright light followed the slamming of doors.

Immediately, Kazuha emerged from under the covers to grab the stunned culprit, who shrank back as Heiji approached. Marching forward, he slapped the injection away from their hands.

"What is the meaning of this? What are you guys doing here!?" Kazuha tightened her grip on the woman's wrist, staring intensely into ash-gray eyes.

"Ayane Maeda," Heiji stops the woman in her tracks, "You're under arrest."

He realized that something must have happened. Ever since he interrupted the little procession between Shiho and Sera hours earlier, the auburn scientist has been sticking close to him. Holding onto his shirt as he moved about. She clung to him like glue and looked to the ground frequently.

During their preparation, her actions were noticed. Heiji gives them that cheeky, "I'm going to have so much with this" look every few seconds. Kazuha, on the other hand, squeals in delight at the sight of two children close to each other. It must be adorable to the teenage girl.

Sera, however, was what bothered him. A sly smile still adorned the girl's face, and she gazed at Shiho with an unfavorable gaze. It was the same attitude the inspectors carried when they learned of her origins. Judging from the almost repressed anger that was seething beneath the surface, it would seem that Sera had somehow figured out Shiho's true identity.

The Little Sister from beyond the domain. Shinichi could only imagine their conversation hours earlier. Shiho, however, refused to reveal anything. It was clear from her clenched fist and the strained contours of her brows that she was reliving the past.

He shouldn't have left her alone.

A little peeved by Sera's little stunt, they would have to discuss it later.

Right now, however...

Shinichi turned his attention to the scene in front of him. Kazuha was stubbornly strong. The girl was not letting go of the woman holding onto the syringe. The aforementioned "weapon" was on the marble floors as Heiji gingerly picked it up. He made a face and put it in a zip-lock bag.

"Where is the patient? Why are you guys—"

"Ayane Maeda-san," he said, not giving the woman a chance. "Or would you prefer to be called something else?"

Ayane wavered as she regarded him. Her body trembled, and her sunny smile was replaced with a crooked one. As she struggled to escape, Kazuha wouldn't let go. With a fiery temper and a kendo belt, the teenage girl was not about to give up.

Not after everything she'd done.

"This is harassment. I suggest you let me go, or I'll call security."

"I don't think that's a wise move on your part, Ichika Hasegawa-san," Heiji spells out her real name, and she looked at him in a daze like he'd grown a second head.

"You've been stealing Mivacurium Chloride and injecting it into Kondo san's patients through their IV bags," Heiji spat. "It was tough to spot. Even though the cameras captured you injecting something into the patient's IV tubing, there was no evidence that the drug had actually been injected."

"You're holding me here out of speculation," she glared at them. "What a load of nonsense! Let me go!"

"When did I say that it was speculation?" Heiji continued, and Ayane paused. The Osaka detective signals to Shinichi and Shiho. The woman staggered back as Shinichi showed her the video recording of a medical storage room taken by Mr. Private Eye. There, captured on the live feed, was Ayane Maeda taking a few bottles of Mivacurium Chloride and filling up two vials.

"This," Heiji pointed at the screen and motioned to the injection in the zip-lock bag, "contains Mivacurium Chloride, doesn't it?"

With no excuse, the woman wrestled desperately with Kazuha, who held her tight.

"Let me go!"

The doors burst open just as the woman was about to push Kazuha away. Along with Kasumi Kondo, there are two security guards. They were led in by Sera-san.

As soon as Kondo-san enters the room, silence falls. Reaching forward, Kazuha tore away Ayane's wig. Brown curly hair, tied in a ponytail, replaced with shoulder-length black hair.

Ichika laughed dryly as Kazuha released her, knowing the game was over. As she backed away from them, she slumped against the walls. While trapped, she peeled away the mask. It falls off, revealing the contorted visage of Ichika Hasegawa, not the friendly persona of Ayane Maeda.

"You," Kondo-san recognized the woman. "You're…"

"Aito-san's daughter," Heiji continued. "The man you failed to save."

"Ayane-chan?" Kondo muttered, about to step forward when Ichika raised a hand to stop her.

With eyes filled with burning fury, she looked like a mad dog about to attack. "Don't come near me, you disgusting bitch." Her words were sharp and poisonous. And Kondo falters. The reticent expression she always carried—breaking.

"Kondo-san," Heiji started with pity. It was not pretty news, Shinichi realized. It was impossible to spare Kondo-san. "The mysterious deaths that plague you wherever you go were caused by Ayane-san. You probably realized, during your research, that these deaths weren't natural, but they were too—"

"Too horrifying to even comprehend," Kondo-san whispered, wrapping her arms around herself. Inhaling deeply, the doctor faced the culprit. "Ayane-chan, why? I don't understand why you did it...you were always so compassionate...so happy, and so willing to help. Only you stood by my side...So why...I thought...I thought you were my..."

"Are you stupid," Ichika cuts in, "Daft, blind! You," the woman spat out, "Killed my father! And what was the punishment!?"

Their guess was correct. After reviewing Kondo-san's work history, a startling similarity emerged. Over the past five years, she had always had a nurse aide by her side. An aid that not only supports everything Kondo-san does but has also been following her like a loyal dog. It was an odd coincidence.

And in the world of crime, simple coincidences don't just manifest in thin air. Coincidences were a detective's playground, and Ayane Maeda had walked right into a trap.

"You could have taken it out on me!" Kondo exclaimed, losing her composure. "You could have used it on me. Why didn't you use it on the patients? How many have you—"

"Hypocrite," Ichika growled. "Do you consider yourself a saint!? You are nothing but a coward! Yes, I have injected the patients with Mivacurium Chloride, and yes, they have died. But despite everything, despite all the unnatural deaths, you still remain a doctor. The higher-ups have never once questioned you! Your reputation is still intact! What's your secret? Daddy's money?!"

As the woman ranted, Kondo shrank back. The weight of her words hit them square in the face. In total, there had been quite a few deaths. If the records were correct, then—

"45 people, Ichika-san," Heiji relayed the information as the security guards, and Kazuha-chan gasped. Shinichi grimaces at the number as Shiho tightens her grip on his shirt.

"45 people died because you wanted to ruin... Kondo-san's reputation," the Osaka detective continued.

"My father died," Ichika ignores him, "Because this bitch gave him an overdose of morphine! How did the hospital react when he passed away, suffering its effects? She was simply let go with a warning! Adding insult to injury, compensation was sent to us by a killer who was not punished!"

"Kasumi Kondo did not kill your father," Sera interrupts. The boyish detective, watching the procession from the side, was treating the woman like trash. "While in the hospital, your father got addicted to morphine and stole some medicine from the storage.."

"You lie!"

"Oh, but it's true," Sera continued without an ounce of sympathy. "A look at your father's medical records can conclude that. And well, a photograph of the CCTV footage showing Aito-san's actions."

Sera threw the evidence to Ichika. The image landed on the ground. The photograph was taken at the first hospital where Kondo Kasumi worked. It took a number of calls, a few acts, and Inspector Satou's assistance to obtain something like this. Even so, it was irreversible proof. One that Kondo-san begged the higher-ups not to reveal.

It was the reason why she had gotten off with such a light sentence. Kasumi Kondo did not make a mistake.

"Liars!" Ichika snarled, unable to accept the truth. Hands cupping her face as madness took over.

"I was the doctor in charge when we found him," said Kondo-san softly. "By that time, it was too late. His heart had stopped, and despite all our efforts, we could not revive him."

"No, no, you lie!"

"The proof is in the folder, Ichika," Sera throws another file in front of the woman. The female detective didn't seem to have sympathy or patience for criminals. "Your father injected the drug himself, and Kondo-san took the fall to protect his family from the truth."

The stunned silence was followed by the hysterical cries of Ichika Hasegawa as she pulled her hair. In horror, she looked like she was going to faint. "No, no, you're lying. That's not possible. This is not—"

"Face the facts!" Sera snapped, "Ichika-san, you've killed 45 innocent people because you wanted revenge!"

It was the last draw. Screaming and banging her head against the floor, the woman sank to her knees as Kazuha, Heiji, and the security guard tried to contain her. In the end, she was cuffed and dragged from the private ward. The sound of her cries penetrated the air. Feral in nature, it attracted quite a crowd, and rumors began to float the moment police cars appeared at the entrance of the hospital.

An anticlimactic end to a case. Kondo Kasumi's patients would have to be exhumed and examined again. Their cause of death—was murder by Mivacurium Chloride. Nurses are supposed to heal and protect, yet in this case, Ayane Maeda or Ichika Hasegawa did the opposite.

The true Angel of Death.

As the screaming woman is led out of the private ward, the doctor stares at her with deep-seated remorse. There is a strange familiarity in the ache in her eyes—the guilt lurking behind them.

"How...how can I go on?" she murmured to no one in particular. Green eyes welled up with tears as she leaned against the door well. "My patients died because..."

They were unwilling collaterals in Ichika's sick revenge ploy. Their deaths were unnecessary.

"It's not your fault, Kondo-san," Sera frowns, "You were not involved."

And the doctor hugs herself tighter. Almost as if she were sinking into herself. Her sorrow ran deep, and she took a shuddering breath.

"I can't," she laments, "Their families…they…"

The white lie she told— perpetuates, creating a monster. Unwittingly, she had become an accomplice. Even though she played no part in Ayane's scheme, simply having her as their doctor had doomed her patients.

It was a burden Shinichi would never wish on anyone.

A burden that was similar to—

Shiho released him.

Seeing the doctor's grief, she grabbed her by the shirt cuffs, gaining Kondo's and Sera's attention. She was regarded by both women.

"The situation is irreversible," she started. The doctor tenses at her words, "But...you can't run away," Shiho peers at the doctor intently.

"Face it," she continued, "It is the only way to…"

Shiho hesitated, glancing at Shinichi, who could only give a tentative smile. A strange warmth blossomed in his chest. It was something he had told her before. He gives her an encouraging nod, and she seems to make a decision.

"It's the only way to," Shiho tightens her hold on Kondo-san, who had sprouted tears once more, "Take responsibility."

It had been an arduous day. By the cafeteria, Shiho leans against Shinichi. She was exhausted by the day's events and couldn't concentrate on the conversation between Shinichi and Heiji.

The case still occupies her thoughts.

Why had she said that to Kondo-san?

Somehow, the doctor's guilt had stuck. Her conversation with Sera before was still festering. There were lives that were destroyed by her drug. It was impossible to escape. And though the weight hurt like burning acid, Shiho could not simply—run away.

As she studies Shinichi, she flashes a wry smile. There were some influences in this new life…it would seem—that she had adopted.

And it wasn't…unpleasant.

"About the samples, Heiji," Shinichi had asked as soon as the Osaka detective received a message from one of the inspectors. Heiji just shook his head.

"They need more time to extract more information, so I suggest staying the night."

Hearing that, Shinichi glanced at her.

"Hey, we've dealt with a damaged vehicle, a drug addict who stabbed someone on the train, and a murder in the hospital. Just one more day shouldn't hurt."

Shinichi laughed nervously before offering her a cup of hot chocolate to placate her. Their conversation descends into slight banter, which Heiji participates in later. Soon, Shiho sits with folded arms as Kazuha and the Osaka detective starts bickering with each other.

Halfway through their meal in the cafeteria. They were joined by Kazuha, who had news about Chiyo-chan. Fortunately, her friend was safe and in good hands. A joke the tanned detective made ruined her merry mood resulting in the quarrels that were now taking place. Shiho was still unable to comprehend the dense dynamic between them. Despite their apparent affection, they behaved like repelling magnets.

And though Shiho was itching to add fuel to the squabbles they were engaging in, she had other concerns to worry about. It took the form of a girl detective who had come with Kazuha. Additional baggage that Shiho was in no mood to face.

For some reason, she was still staring at Shiho. But rather than regarding her with piercing judgment, Sera was looking at her with the bright eyes of a cat that had found something interesting.

Shiho had no idea what brought the sudden change, but when Sera grinned, Shiho tensed wearily. She approached her with olive green eyes gleaming with mischief.

"What do you want?" Shiho asked before she could stop herself. Shinichi, who noticed their little interaction, stood in front of her.

"Relax," Sera continued, "I'm not here to be your enemy."

In mock surrender, the girl raised her hands. "I wasn't going to show you." Sera reaches into her pocket to pull out a phone, "I have been forbidden from doing so...but, you're right, Shiho-chan, we all have to..." She hesitates before continuing, "face it someday, don't we?"

It was unexpected. The girl's animosity had mellowed. This girl carried with it a softness Shiho never imagined she was capable of. Puzzled, Shiho studied the image on Sera's phone. In contrast, the shrunken detective smirked in triumph, which only exacerbated her confusion.

A girl was in it. In bed, the girl with blonde curly hair looked quite dissatisfied while being hugged by a Sera Masumi.

"Mary Sera," Sera revealed, with her usual toothy grin, "My mother."

Fluffy clouds drifted across a pristine sky, blue like the sapphires he stole a few months back. Kaito found himself longing for something to happen on these lazy days. While he was content with the respite from the constant bustle of his secret life, the boredom was killing him, and he was itching for the adrenaline from a perfect heist.

As he listened to Old Tanaka-sensei drone on about geometry, Kaito flicked stray rubber across the cheap table. The subject matter was elementary in nature, and Kaito was familiar with it. This endless boredom needed to be wrung out by something more stimulating.

Flipping open his phone, he concealed it behind the textbook. Taking a look at the news sites that he had bookmarked.

There had been more articles written about the black organization, but since the latest revelation of an operation on a pier, the articles had died down. Recently, the most interesting articles have been about the ever-changing stock market climate. One that had investors raging and screaming on prime-time television.

Smirking at the latest report—Kaito paused, eyes catching sight of an article he would have just skipped.

A charity event?

Taking place across the high seas, it was an annual event hosted by the ever-so-generous Takizaki family.

Such charities are known to cater only to the wealthy. A glamorous event for business leaders to meet and discuss various plans. Under the guise of a hospitable event. Basically, it was a way to raise Takizaki's reputation. The irony of it was not lost on him.

An event like this has nothing to do with a young boy like him. He was hardly a businessman, let alone the son of a rich politician. In spite of this, Kaito Kuroba observes the diamond mentioned with excitement.

He whistled under his breath. An impressive jewel nicknamed "Jewel of the East" was found during the 16th century and had been a gift from the Dutch. Holding not only significant history but also exquisite artistry. It was the only 32-carat diamond in the world and a priceless piece to be put on auction.

And apparently—about to be snatched by the Kaitou Kid.

"Kaito!"

He jumped from his seat after receiving a sharp jolt. After being slapped on the back of his head, he whipped around in annoyance. Aoko Nakamori, his one and only pain in the butt. His childhood friend from long past—was eyeing him with disapproval.

"Aoko," he snapped, "What was that for?"

She pointed to the front. Kaito turned to see Old Tanaka-sensei with folded arms. If Kaito squinted, he could see steam coming out from the teacher's bald head. "Do you have anything to add, Kaito-kun?"

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" he snarled at Aoko. He could deal with most female teachers, but when it came to the men, Kaito had a hard time charming his way out of situations such as these.

"And why should I? Am I your personal lookout," Aoko retorted.

"It's the least you can do."

"Why you—"

There was barely time for him to react. With a chalk aimed at him by Tanaka-sensei and a kick from his childhood friend simultaneously, Kaito dodged with practiced ease. Only to trip over the legs of his chair. Tumbling over, he landed on Aoko, and they crashed to the ground, eliciting cheers and whistles from the class.

"Way to go!" his friends cheered, and Kaito was greeted by the red-tomato cheeks of Aoko Nakamori. They were placed in an awkward spotlight. An unfortunate position for Kaito to be in. And though he felt no remorse for where his hands were currently at—he knew by any circumstances that it wasn't very gentlemanly.

Though—

If anything…

"They haven't grown that much, haven't they?"

The words he could not resist emerged from his lips.

There was a collective silence accompanied by a few painful groans.

A sharp stinging pain was felt against the side of his cheeks, coupled with the rear end of a broomstick.

"Come on, Aoko," he shouted, chasing after her down Beika's sidewalks. Still blazing in the sky, the afternoon sun baked the ground. The scorching hot oven made Kaito wish for his white hat or, in this case, a nice ice-cold dessert.

His childhood friend before him was walking fast. Not slowing down. Like Old Tanaka-sensei, Kaito could positively see the steam rising from her luscious black hair. Aoko turned, her sky-blue eyes reflecting the golden sunlight. Once again, he was left stunned by her beauty, only recovering his composure when she pursed her lips.

She was still sulking. The incident in the classroom before was not something she appreciated, yet…

"A vanilla cone," she insisted, and Kaito relents, smiling brightly at her request.

Same old Aoko.

She still forgave him.

"So," Aoko said later as they were licking the ice cream Kaito bought from the convenience store. "What were you studying so intently in the classroom?"

Kaito almost forgot about it due to the circumstances. But his childhood friend's uncanny curiosity on subjects that concerned him brought it back—and again, a grin graced his lips.

"So?" Aoko pressed when he didn't answer.

In a puff of smoke, he released a flower from his fingers. Taking aback by his magic performance, the girl gazed at the yellow daffodil.

"Kaito?"

"It's just something I stumbled upon," he replied. And he started to walk away from the girl who was having none of his vague answers.

"Kaito, come on! What is it?!"

As Aoko chased after him, Kaito laughed.

A calling card had been delivered. A white piece with a signature drawing of Kaito Kid in his familiar tall hat sat within the confines of Takizaki place. The report made the news, and Inspector Nakamori promised the public that Kaitou Kid would be caught.

If Kaito were to say so, it was a fruitless endeavor.

Though relentless in his pursuit, Inspector Nakamori could be bested with little effort. It was the least of his concerns.

There is no doubt that the calling card was his, but he hadn't sent it.

Smirking slightly, he whistled a happy tune.

The monotonous days had merged into one. With the search for the Pandora Gem going nowhere, his heist had reached a standstill. He had been itching for something—a thrill, a clue. And it would seem that an opportunity had presented itself to him.

"Now," he winked at Aoko. "I think," as he skipped, "It's time we went on a cruise."

Phew phew phew. This chapter was a little hard to write. I don't know how Sera would react to Haibara in the manga, but I do suppose that she'll be a little angry about the situation her mother is in. I hope I managed to convey it well :) Again, I appreciate the reviews and feedback and wish you a good week ahead.

I would be taking a 4-week break again. I apologize. It's been a busy few months, but I promise I would return :D.