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

Part 43: Make a wish

Ding dong, ding dong—

As the weekend morning arrived, it wasn't just Hattori and Kazuha who were up early, but also a continuous stream of doorbell rings. When Kudo Shinichi opened the door, a group of children swarmed in.

"...Shinichi!"

It was the Junior Detective League, with Ayumi and Genta running up, followed by Mitsuhiko and Haibara Ai carrying large bags. They had finally started their summer vacation and couldn't wait to visit Conan, only to be disappointed that he hadn't returned yet. Kudo felt a twinge of bitterness inside.

"Hi! We planned to call you before, but now we're just here! Or... you're... Shinichi's younger brother? Wow, you are just like twins."

Kuroba, stirring his cocoa with a sleepy expression, greeted them. Having stayed up all night organizing documents, he was tired but still offered to help Mitsuhiko and Haibara with their bags.

"Meitantei, lend a hand, will you? These are heavy! Are you kids packing bricks or something?" He lifted the bags with his right hand, the sudden increase in weight causing him to lean to the right. Once Kuroba regained his balance, he displayed impressive strength, carrying the bags to the back door.

"Not twins. He's my......my trouble," Kudo corrected Ayumi. She believed him without a second thought. After closing the back door, Kuroba bumped into Haibara Ai.

He gave her a friendly smile: "Morning, young lady."

"Up early, aren't you, Mr.phantom thief?" she replied calmly, though internally, she was quite shaken. Despite knowing their blood relationship, seeing them up close, the resemblance was striking, yet there was a fundamental difference.

Kuroba belonged to the night, while Kudo belonged to the light.

"What's your name?" Mitsuhiko asked, and Kuroba answered, "Kuroba Kaito."

"Kaito?," Ayumi said sweetly, "Kaito, do you want to come exploring with us? Hattori-kun you should come too."

Hattori talked to Kazuha before, she said she would be going to a water resort with Ran and Sonoko for the next few days.

"Why don't you join them, Hattori? I'm afraid you might get tired of hanging out with these kids all day," Haibara Ai suggested. Hattori didn't know Haibara that well, only that she knew some things.

"Ah... It's okay. There wouldn't be much for me to do with those girls. An adventure sounds fun." Hattori said.

"An adventure?" Kuroba raised an eyebrow at Kudo, exchanging a silent conversation:

"You went on quite a few adventures as Edogawa Conan, didn't you? How many bodies did you come across? You know you are the one who draws all the murder cases, so if they had nightmares, all blames on you."

"Cut the crap, Kid."

"Where are we going on this adventure?" Kuroba asked.

"Oh, don't listen to Ayumi," Genta corrected, "We're just going to Saitama to ride a hot air balloon."

Kuroba's eyes widened: "A hot air balloon? That sounds interesting. Metantei, why don't we take a day off and go on a hot air balloon ride?"

"Do you... do you think you're a child? Also, the police department isn't a kindergarten where you can just take a day off. How much do you want Akai to come back and find you? They want us to help with the Hyakushi Box."

Kuroba quickly offered a placating smile: "Never mind then."

"Police department?" Mitsuhiko asked, puzzled, "What are you doing at the police department?"