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

Part 68:This is your idea,Meitantei!

So, she made what she believed was a wise decision—to quietly wait outside.

If Kudo Shinichi was as close to Kuroba Kaito as Ran suspected, like brothers who shared everything, then perhaps she could overhear some clue about the one Kudo Shinichi admired and loved from their conversation.

But after listening for a while, there seemed to be no mention of any other girl at all. Instead, Kuroba and Kudo Shinichi were joking and laughing. Then, she heard a clattering noise. Peeking through the nearest window, she saw the two grown men—throwing erasers and chalk at each other.

"Honestly... Kudo Shinichi is one thing, but even Kuroba too..."

And then she saw it. Kuroba Kaito yanked Kudo's shirt hard, throwing him to the ground. Though it seemed accidental, Kudo Shinichi said something that made no sense at all.

"You don't have to give it back. Just keep it."

That line echoed in her ears, and she couldn't quite grasp its meaning. Ran thought perhaps Kudo was just unfamiliar with high school graduation traditions. After all, the reason she had come here today was to ask Kudo for his graduation button, and there was no way she could bring herself to ask Kuroba Kaito instead.

Could Kuroba not know the tradition either?

So Ran continued waiting patiently outside the classroom. At this point, most of the students were downstairs, busy taking photos and chatting, trying to make the most of the remaining time. Sonoko was especially occupied by other classmates. Ran checked the time on her phone—her father wouldn't be there to drive her home for another half hour as planned. Maybe he was drinking his black coffee and watching horse races right now, which might even delay him further.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted from the classroom.

"Meitantei, I'll take it. In exchange..."

"How did you even manage that?"

"This is my token of appreciation. You'd better take good care of it."

"Ha—when did you become so thoughtful?"

"By the way, have you named it yet? If you don't give it a name, how are you going to call it in the future, Meitantei?"

"Sherlock?"

"'Edogawa'?"

"But... that's... kind of..."

"What are you worried about? You hardly ever called me 'Conan' before, let alone Edogawa. You've always just thrown 'Tantei kun' or 'Meitantei' at me."

Ran couldn't help but edge closer to the window again. Inside, Kuroba and Kudo were bickering while petting a white dove's chin.

"Aren't you going down to the ceremony? Even though you've only been here for less than a month, everyone really likes you. I'm... happy you've been around for these last few days, even if it's not your own high school memories." Kudo said.

Kuroba Kaito replied, "I want to go down too, but someone hit me too hard the night before last. To be safe, I think I'll stay where there are fewer people."

After a pause, Kuroba couldn't resist muttering, "With all those hickeys, Meitantei, are you hoping someone will see them?"

Those hickeys?!

Ran's mind buzzed; she could hardly believe her ears. He... they... Kudo Shinichi and Kuroba Kaito? How could that be possible? But Shinichi... he never showed any interest in... that sort of thing before...

No.

Suddenly, past memories flooded her mind, all laced with ambiguity.

No way, it couldn't be... It was just a joke, right?