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

Part 17: The ambush

Kudo Shinichi held Kid's heist notice letter in his hand, snapping back to reality as Akasa Hakase had already driven to the base of the Ekoda Bell Tower.

"Thanks,Akasa Hakase. You can let me off here. I'll go the rest of the way myself," Kudo Shinichi said as he unbuckled his seatbelt.

"Call me when you're done. I'll drive you back,"Hakase said.

"No need. I'll take the subway home," Kudo thanked him.

Standing at Kuroba Kaito's doorstep, was this a farewell?

Kudo stood there for a long time, recalling that Kuroba Chikage, Arthur-san, and Kuroba Kaito were scheduled to leave Japan today. Although he wasn't particularly close to Kuroba Kaito, and their interactions had been far from cordial, they were still family, and perhaps friends to some extent.

Borrowing Hattori's words, if they hadn't met under such circumstances, and if there wasn't a certain thief between them, Kuroba might have been a decent friend, a normal, average good friend.

But something felt off... Frowning, Kudo pressed the doorbell again. There was no response from inside. He peeked inside and noticed that the neatly stacked boxes by the door were gone.

Would a moving company really come this early? It was only just after six in the morning... Looking towards the shoe rack, he saw only Kuroba Kaito's shoes, neatly placed. The women's high heels and the larger men's dress shoes were missing.

"Kuroba!" Kudo called out anxiously, "Kuroba Kaito! Are you there? Open the door, please!"

No response.

"Damn it... Why won't he answer his phone?" Kudo muttered, frustrated by the repeated unanswered calls. Kudo put down the gift he was holding and persistently pressed the doorbell.

He then called Ran.

"Shinichi? What's up? It's only 6:20 in the morning," Ran asked on the other end.

"Do you know what time Kuroba Kaito's flight is?"

"Huh? I remember Aoko said it was around two in the afternoon. So they should be heading to the airport around noon. What's wrong?" Ran asked.

"I can't reach Kuroba on the phone, and he's not here... Never mind, I'll ask Nakamori Aoko." Before hanging up, Kudo saw Aoko running down the stairs in her pajamas, waving her hands.

"Kudo Shinichi! You... huh... what are you doing here? Are you here to see off Kaito too? Isn't it a bit much to see him off? I mean, it's only 6:30 in the morning."

"He didn't tell me how long he'd be gone," Kudo replied.Anyway, this was the day, and Kudo Shinichi, being Kaito's some sort of friend, felt a certain obligation to say farewell.

"Just a week in Paris, to check out his mother's and Arthur-san's place, after the visit in Paris, he said maybe they would stay in Australia through the summer vacation. After all......and we've all finished our college exams," Aoko said, looking puzzled. Nakamori Aoko always questioned about this, she was totally confused, not knowing why Kuroba family suddenly decided to move to Australia. Mostly was anger, for Kaito just left her alone in Japan.

"Could Kaito still be asleep?"

Aoko took out her key and opened the door to Kuroba's house. They both called out "Excuse us," turned on the lights, and entered.

"Strange... Aunt Chikage's luggage is gone, but Kaito's are still here... huh? Didn't Kaito plan to leave the country? Why are his things still here?

"Kuroba Kaito? Kuroba Kaito! Hey! Are you here? Are you dead?" Aoko called out.