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

Part 42 : Kudo,have you fallen for someone else?

When the microphone was brought to Kuroba, he was genuinely speechless because his sharp ears had already caught the murmurings of the students below. He tried his best to ignore the shouts of admiration coming from all directions, calling for him under another appellation. If he had known, he would've stayed home and never come here.

"Thank you all for your love, but by prom tradition, this crown should go to Mouri Ran."

However, Mouri Ran shook her head from below, while Sonoko called out loudly, "Kuroba-kun, you are the best—you deserve it."

"Take it, Kid Sama!"

Deserve it.

Kudo Shinichi toyed with the plastic crown in his hand, glancing at the other one on the living room table with a smile.

"Although these plastic crowns pale in comparison to the jewels you've handled, they're my favorite." Kudo just wanted to see how Kuroba would react. Sure enough, Kuroba looked up, his face darkening.

"Then I'll give you mine too."

"No way, they're a matching set."

Kuroba Kaito shook his head. "We just went up there and danced for fun, but there were so many genuine and nice couples down there. Tradition is tradition, and now that it's been broken, I'm not sure if it's for better or worse."

"Kid, would you say we're friends?" Kudo asked.

"Uh... yeah, I guess? Even if not, we're like brothers in arms." Kuroba pondered. "We've had so many roles—rivals, saving each other's lives... Why are you asking this?"

It was late, and he slowly propped his chin up, gazing at the night view outside the window.

"No reason, I just wonder if, in another parallel universe, where you aren't Kid, would we have never crossed paths?"

"But we're still family, you are still my cousin," Kuroba said.

"Yeah, but our bond wouldn't be the same, right?" Kudo replied. If Kuroba weren't Kid, would he still have found another rival worthy of his respect and admiration?

"Metantei, I once said you didn't dream, that you had no imagination, but it seems I was wrong. Your thoughts are getting more and more far-fetched." Kuroba extended his hand toward Kudo. That gleaming golden handcuff was still as annoying as ever, but Kuroba didn't care at all.

"So, how's your dance with Ran today? That couldn't be your first time dancing with a real woman?" Kuroba asked.

"Actually, I only danced twice with Ran, but I was called away in the middle to solve a case."

Kuroba's eyes widened. "So you didn't..."

"Kid, I noticed as soon as you left, okay?" Kudo couldn't stand how slow this guy was with certain things.

"When Inspector Megure asked, I had to say you were having too much fun with some classmates and couldn't pull away. When I got back, Sonoko said you and Nakajima went to play basketball. Next time, at least give me a heads-up."

No response. He turned and saw that Kuroba had already fallen asleep. Seriously, this guy could sleep anywhere.

Slowly, Kudo brought the lemon tart to his mouth, hoping its sourness would quell the unwelcome feelings stirring inside him. But instead, the sweetness lingered, growing richer like aged wine.

Kuroba's drowsy face, his casual sleeping posture, the moonlight streaming through the kitchen window, softly illuminating the counter where his arm served as a pillow, his eyelashes fluttering slightly—what was he dreaming of? A faint smile graced his lips, his breathing calm and steady. Kudo stood silently beside him, unaware of the gentleness in his gaze.