Accomplice__ Kudo Shinichi x Kaitou Kid, Kaito Kid x Kudo Shinichi

Part 12:Speak no evil

Annoying—absolutely annoying.

At ten in the morning, Kuroba entered his classroom, only to find that the long-vacant seat was now occupied by someone he least wanted to see.

Having just parted ways with two detectives, he now faced another one. Talk about being haunted by detectives.

Kuroba pulled out his calculus textbook and both volumes of Japanese history, already anticipating who was behind him. "Standing there watching me won't tire you out, right, Hakuba kun?"

Why was this guy so annoying? Didn't he have more important things to do?Why can't he just stay in London, like forever?!

"......" Hakuba was speechless. Even though he was in London, he had received news that Kaitou Kid was severely injured, his fate uncertain, and Kudo Shinichi had returned. The assassination organization lurking in Japan had resurfaced, and Kid, with injuries severe enough to make survival unlikely, couldn't possibly be the person standing here joking with his childhood friend, Kuroba Kaito.

Even though he didn't want to admit it, the physical evidence suggested otherwise.

Later, when Kaitou Kid resurfaced and was again targeted, Kuroba was injured while rescuing Nakamori Aoko. Such injuries couldn't heal in a few days, let alone be hidden easily. Yet the boy before him, lifting heavy textbooks without any sign of discomfort, looked merely a bit thinner but otherwise normal.

Maybe he thought he was used to it, but suddenly, he didn't know how to face him. Or perhaps he thought that once he confirmed Kuroba wasn't Kid, his interest in the person would wane, but the opposite happened.

"What's wrong, Hakuba? Lost your mind?" Kuroba Kaito, as always, spoke bluntly, but it was genuine concern.

Do detectives' eyes always that incisive, incisive enough like shooting x-rays through walls?

Kuroba chuckled awkwardly. "Do you care about me that much?"

"Sometimes a gentleman's duty is to check on a dear classmate."

Kuroba was long accustomed to such pretentious conversations and stifled a shiver. "Thanks for the concern."

Whether as Kuroba Kaito or Kaitou Kid, he felt that compared to Kudo Shinichi, he had little to say to Hakuba. He couldn't stand this classmate's privileged life, always overshadowed by his parents—a life he didn't have, and one Hakuba could never understand. Compared to a rivalry, it felt more like an aversion, an inability to connect that doomed them to be mere acquaintances.

"My father, being the head of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, received many reports about random attacks linked to criminal organizations."

Kuroba squinted. "What's that got to do with me? I'm not related to those incidents.You know, you should be friends with Kudo Shinichi, he might be very interested in this topic."

"But Inspector Nakamori is related to the case, and if they target Nakamori Aoko, you might get caught in the crossfire. You two are often seen together. Be careful."

"Yeah. Maybe you should look out for yourself first." Kuroba smirked. "As the police chief's only son, you're the most valuable hostage among us."

Hakuba just smiled.

"So you know Kudo Shinichi?"

Kuroba sighed. "Yeah, so what? Do you know him too?"

Playing the ignorant third party still had to be done. Besides, Hakuba should now be reluctantly convinced of Kuroba Kaito's innocence.

"Kuroba, are you truly unaware or just pretending? Hakuba's teasing smile made Kuroba feel annoyed.

"I thought you'd see through my casual courtesy. The teacher said you spent many years in London, so it's only natural that you'd need 'friendly classmate care' here. Honestly, I'm not interested in your affairs. So... just asking."