Hattori Heiji paced the living room, clutching his head. "I can't believe it... You actually... want me to show up on Sunday dressed as KID! And you agreed to KID's request! Then, he said that you danced with him at the Halloween banquet no less..."

Conan shot him a glare. "Yes, it was a moment of carelessness on my part. But saying those now won't help me now. Look on the bright side—at least the assassin doesn't know that I'm currently Edogawa Conan."

"Look on the bright side?" Hattori scoffed, remembering how he'd also helped Conan assume his high school identity during that so-called sabbatical trip. He hadn't exactly been cautious either. He kept pacing, his tension infecting even Agasa.

"Shinichi, what do we do now? Akai-san didn't say much before he left. What's your plan...?"

"Since KID said he'd take care of it..."

Hattori couldn't sit still. "And why would he help you this time? Out of the kindness of his heart? I doubt that guy's doing it for free. The letter of commission came to him, sure—but what if he's not the only one who got it? What if there are other assassins lurking? Or if the criminal ups the bounty and KID changes his mind and hands you over? Then what?"

He wasn't about to bet everything on this uninvited guest who only shows up when it rains. "Don't get me wrong—I'm not saying KID is... traditionally evil. But still... What are you planning to give him in return? If this ends with Kudo Shinichi faking his death, then he's clearly trying to cut all loose ends. Get the enemy to back off from killing you, and give Gin and his gang no more reason to look for you."

"What are you trying to say, Hattori?"

Arms crossed over his chest, Hattori stressed again, "Be careful. The most expensive favors are the ones that come free. He asked for nothing and walked away. So what do you think he'll ask for later? I doubt it'll be something as harmless as chocolates on Valentine's Day or a dinner invitation. But for now, he gave us a heads-up. All we can do is play along... What the hell is he really planning?"

Conan muttered, "Just like he said—an escape act. A staged death."

Hattori walked to the window and pulled the curtains tightly shut. "He wants to perform a death-defying magic trick. But with nobody, how's he going to convince anyone it was real?"

Conan licked his lips. "The simplest and most brutal way... Set a fire. Burn the body beyond recognition."

_______________________________________

It was still pouring outside. Vermouth hiked up her evening gown, her high heels keeping her porcelain feet clear of the rain. Her clutch bag was nestled between her arm and side as she and her escort strode toward the sedan parked by the curb. She gestured for him to halt and squinted as she pulled out a cigarette.

Thunderous applause erupted behind her from the theater. She curled her lips around the cigarette, painted in sapphire blue. Though she'd seen Swan Lake over ten times, she always came back every few years. Ever since she'd met Kuroba Toichi, Kuroba Chikage, and Chizuru a decade ago, it had become a habit. Every time the troupe rotated in a new prima ballerina, she returned to watch.

"Madam! Madam!"

A guard holding an umbrella rushed over. Vermouth flicked ash from her cigarette and lazily tossed her golden hair as she turned, languid and feline. "You calling me?"

"Yes. Sorry... Someone asked me to give you this. Said it's for the blonde lady who would leave the show early."

He handed her an envelope, damp with tiny specks of rain. Vermouth took it, skeptical, and tore open the corner with her gloved hand. Her pupils contracted. Even the cigarette at her lips began to tremble.

"Who gave this to you?"

"Some teenage boy. Told me to give it to a blonde woman who leaves midway, smoking a cigarette, wearing blue lipstick. Pretty sure that's you, right?"

Vermouth slipped the envelope into her dress and didn't hesitate another second. Her bodyguard, sensing the change in her demeanor, immediately ushered her back into the car and activated the GPS. She stowed the cigarette back in its box, catching sight of her own blood-drained face in the metallic reflection.

"Where's Gin now?" she asked, keeping her voice composed.

"All the top executives are attending the WAW Technologies launch event. Shall I take you there, Vermouth?"

So when Gin stepped out of the smoking lounge and saw who was approaching, he scoffed. A twinge flared in his chest as Vermouth tossed an envelope at him,"You've really botched this. If that man finds out... you know what that means."

Gin sneered, extinguishing his cigarette. He opened the envelope, photos slipping into his hand.

"Kudo Shinichi. I thought this little brat was supposed to be dead. You better figure out how you'll explain to him why a supposedly dead corpse is suddenly showing up at crime scenes."Vermouth turned away, two fingers holding her cigarette as she glanced back. Gin lit it for her without a word.

"Why are you telling me this? Not really your style, Vermouth."

Unfazed, she smiled, that untraceable, beguiling smile. She blew smoke into his ear.

"I've followed you around on missions more than a few times, and saw nothing out of place. You think he won't question me about that? Besides..."

Her fingers slid along his tie. "That new female member... Brandy, was it? You think she won't find out and report it directly to him...?"

"Oh?" Gin raised an eyebrow. "So you're saying..."

Her icy, beautiful hand pressed against the back of his, snuffing the lighter's flame. "Kill him. It's better for all of us. And you need to do it before he heads back to the U.S. on Monday. The good news? I know where he'll be. These photos, I can still play off—say it's just KID impersonating Kudo Shinichi. But once he officially reenters the public eye in Japan, this will spiral out of control."

She wrapped her fingers around his tie like she had so many nights before, when they'd shared a bed. Her lips—blue as the ocean—brushed against his ear.

"Sunday. KID's heist. Gin... Leave no trace. Not even bones."

Gin chuckled coldly. "Why are you so obsessed with him?"

"Sh– the secret makes a woman woman."

___________________________

Just as Conan had anticipated, the next day's midnight heist notice ignited a firestorm of excitement throughout the city. The exhibition, located in the Tokyo suburbs, was thronged with visitors. Subways and buses were bursting with passengers eager to glimpse the jewel targeted by KID before the police locked the place down.

Though Conan had agreed to KID's terms—that he mustn't attempt to search for him at the scene on Saturday—he still strained his neck, scanning the crowd for any trace of his long-time adversary, all while preparing the stage for their planned "escape magic". Not that he sensed anything—except that Sonoko's perfume was noticeably stronger than usual.

"Ran! Kazuha! Guess what—I've got news! My uncle's latest work was just acquired by the Karuizawa New Art Museum, and he's so thrilled he wants to take us there on vacation! So go pack your bags—we're off to Karuizawa for some hot spring bliss!" Sonoko had clearly been plotting this for a while and even whipped out her itinerary. "I planned the entire trip myself this time! Shiraito Falls, Wild Bird Forest, Kumoba Pond, the Stone Church..."

Hooking her arms with her two girlfriends', she could hardly contain her excitement. "And this will be my first time in a hot spring with Makoto! Just thinking about it..." She cleared her throat, realizing they were still in line for ticket inspection. "So tomorrow, I'll be meeting my darling KID, and a few days later I'll be wrapped in Makoto's arms watching the autumn leaves... Ahhh, I'm so lucky!"

Even Hattori beside her couldn't help but force a chuckle. Crouching down, he whispered to Conan, "So we have to tag along for this trip too, huh?"

"Obviously... And besides, Hattori, Karuizawa's a well-known date spot. You and Toyama Kazuha won't exactly be suffering."

"What about you and Mouri Ran, then?" Hattori squinted mischievously. Conan shot him a hard glare.

"Drop it. The real issue now is helping KID pull off this... even if I hate to admit it, he really is doing this for me. Yesterday, when he said he needed me to be his magician's assistant, I almost jabbed a tranquilizer right into his skull."

Even for an impromptu heist, KID the perfectionist would never strike without meticulous planning. But this time, Conan was no longer the hunter—he was the rare observer in the audience, even standing as the assistant on stage.

"By the way, how do you think he chose this museum?" Hattori asked quietly. "Shit... Kudo, I don't think I can pull this off. What if I get caught? I've never been a fugitive before. If my old man finds out, he'll kill me. I might be grounded till I turn twenty."

Conan understood the weight of what he was asking. "Listen, Hattori, if you're uncomfortable or unwilling, I won't force you. I'll ask KID if he's got another plan."

"Forget it," Hattori grunted, frowning. "If he can do it, so can I. Don't ask him—and I doubt he's got any better options. Like he said yesterday, when it comes to impersonating Kudo Shinichi, he's got the upper hand. I've already failed once. It's definitely smarter for him to play you. KID, on the other hand, is always hiding his face—if he doesn't get caught, no one can tell who's who."

For his best friend, Hattori was all in. No matter what, he was going to have Kudo's back.

"It's just about showing off a few tricks, distracting the crowd, and slipping away in the chaos, right? Doesn't sound that hard. Plus, your buddy—what was his name—Okiya Subaru, he'll be helping me, won't he?"

Conan sighed. "Yeah. He'll be providing sniper cover from a hidden spot."

That didn't ease Hattori's nerves. He muttered darkly, "If the plan falls apart midway, just tell him to take me out with one clean shot."

The group passed through the security gate and approached the museum reception to pick up brochures and ask about the day's crowd. That's when they saw someone leaning on the counter. As soon as he spotted Conan , the boy hopped down, dusting off his hands.

"Knew you'd show up," said Kaito, grinning," please take care of my chocolate cinnamon roll," He smiled brightly at the receptionist. Conan forced a half-smile.

"Huh? Kaito, what are you doing here...?"Before he could finish, Sonoko's long leg slid between them.

"Eh? Who's this kid?"Realizing she'd bumped into the boy, Sonoko quickly turned to check on him. "You okay?"

Kaito held his nose and shook his head. "I'm fine. No worries."

She looked between the red-nosed Kaito and Conan, then hesitantly asked, "You two know each other?"

"Ah... he's a new classmate at Conan's school," Mouri Ran explained, walking up. "Ishikawa Kaito, did you come by yourself? Where's your grandpa?"

Kaito shrugged. "He said he was going to look at pottery and went in ahead. I'm not into that stuff."

"Oh? So you're one of Conan's schoolmates!" Sonoko blinked. "I thought you were another random brat Ran picked up somewhere."

...

Soon, the group entered the main hall. A guide was leading a crowd past a grand sculpture in the plaza, giving a brief history of art. Kaito could recite the museum's collection backward with his eyes closed—not out of real interest, of course. He was only here waiting for someone after he sent the letters to Vermouth and he was certain that Vermouth would help him deliver the message. Except instead of Gin, he found himself face-to-face with a certain detective.

"What are you doing here?" Conan asked.

Kaito said, "I used to come here a lot, but Grandpa hasn't had much free time lately. Finally got a day off and it's packed like it's some summer festival in July. I can barely see the displays."

"That's because my dear KID-sama is coming tomorrow!" Sonoko beamed. "The heist notice was sent out at midnight, and by morning the place was already swarming. I just have to know what disguise KID-sama's using today! Is he a dashing older man? A high schooler? Or—oh my god—maybe the lady at the front desk! I did make eye contact with her earlier!"

Wrong wrong wrong. He was a seven-year-old elementary schooler..... Kaito glanced at Hattori walking ahead. "Who's that guy?"

"Hattori Heiji. A friend from Osaka," Conan answered.

Hearing the introduction, Hattori turned and scratched his head. "Hey, brat—you've been here lots of times, right? Any... uh... how should I put it... good hiding spots?"

Just thinking about tomorrow's borderline impossible task made Hattori's scalp tingle. He deeply regretted agreeing to KID's request. As they walked, he kept scanning for potential cover, places to lie low. Kaito tilted his head. "Hiding? Who are you hiding from? Cops? Or that Neechan with you?"

Hattori's eyes twitched. "Let me put it this way—can you think of any places KID might use to hide?"

"The rooftop has an installation art exhibit with a bunch of sculptures. I once saw someone paint themselves bronze and stand there totally still on the street as performance or even a kind of art expression. Couldn't even tell if it was a real person or a statue."

"That could work... anything else? Like ventilation shafts or something?"

Kaito frowned, trying to come up with an answer that wouldn't blow his cover. "I dunno about vents, but the drainage system here connects to artificial lake outside. Last time I accidentally dropped a badge into the sink at the gift shop, Grandpa had one of the staff open the U-shaped pipe to retrieve it. The guy told me all the water flows out there."

"Hmm... might be possible. Not sure we could crawl through though..." Hattori surveyed the area, calculating for tomorrow. Last night, KID had been characteristically cavalier:

"Do whatever you want. Standard routine is: get your hands on the jewel, strut around a bit, say some annoying lines when the cops show up, then vanish. Leave the gem behind so they don't chase you too hard. If you get caught, just say I threatened you into posing as me. Worst case, you cool your heels at the station for a night or two. You're the superintendent's child—they won't treat you too badly. See? Simple."

Simple, huh?

Hattori never even got the chance to grab the bastard by the collar and demand specifics. KID had just tapped him on the shoulder: "These kinds of things are easy for a guy like you, right?" Hattori had to swallow every damn question—he was a detective, after all. No way he'd lose to a thief.

"Kaito, you're not coming here tomorrow, got it? There'll be cops and bad guys crawling all over the place. Since you're here today, just stay home tomorrow and do your homework." Conan knew tomorrow would be a war . This time, KID wasn't just inviting detectives and police—there'd be other 'guests' too.

Wherever KID appeared in Japan, Inspector Nakamori wasn't far behind. The inspector barked orders and deployed his men at every possible exit. After so many humiliations, he'd finally learned to reinforce every escape route. Magic, after all, was about illusion and misdirection. KID added a few more flourishes—his favorite being disguise. After getting burned enough times, Nakamori had decided no one was getting anywhere near the jewel.

Seeing the sheer scale of the security, Hattori broke into a cold sweat. "Wow... this is the real deal. But why does it has to be my turn?!."

Conan and Kaito stood behind a massive bronze mirror installation, shaking their heads. Kaito nudged Hattori's leg with his elbow. "Nii-san, if it's so dangerous, why'd you guys even come here?"

Hattori bent down and snapped, "Why are you asking so many questions, brat?"

"I bet you'll be here tomorrow too, huh? But with all these cops, even KID won't dare show his face. What's a detective supposed to do in a situation like that?"

Hattori straightened up and cleared his throat. "Of course I'll be here. Since Conan asked for help, I'm obviously going to do what I can."

After more than an hour, they finally reached the jewel exhibition which appeared to be the place where KID mentioned in the heist notice.

"Still," Kaito said, "I don't think KID would ever hurt Conan. I saw on the news that he's called KID's nemesis. But what's weird is, despite being on opposite sides, people have started calling them something else..."

Hattori scowled. "I don't know what KID's thinking. I've got no idea how his brain works. The news always blows things out of proportion."

"rivals and lovers," Kaito said with a cheeky grin.

Hattori scoffed. "Tch—rivals are rivals. What the hell's with the extra fluff?"

Kaito's smile widened into a squint. "Oooh, someone's jealous."

That was it. Hattori nearly threw a punch. "You little brat! Say one more word!"

Kaito shrieked, grabbing Conan's hand. "Waaah! Conan! Your friend's scary! He looks like he's about to start a street fight! Is he from a gang or something?"

Hattori lost it and gave chase. "Dare you say one more time, you little brat—get back here! Don't run! Hey!"

Just like a game of tag from childhood, Kaito dashed around the exhibit, weaving effortlessly through the crowd, while Hattori bumbled after him, apologizing to every poor soul he collided with.

After a few laps, Kaito ducked behind Conan, stuck out his tongue, and made a face. "Nyaaa! You can't catch me! Ahhh! He's gonna hit me!"

"Brat! Stop it right there!"

"Ishikawa Kaito! Be careful! Don't run! You'll knock someone over!" Conan shouted, lunging to stop Hattori. "Why are you even taking him seriously?! He's a kid!"

"He's trying to piss me off on purpose! Why am I wasting my time on a little punk's nonsense...?"

That comment stopped Hattori in his tracks. He glared at Kaito and made a subtle "just you wait" gesture before heading over to Nakamori to say hello and maybe pry out some intel. KID seemed to be handling things surprisingly smoothly. Or rather... exactly the truth.

"Well, if it isn't Hattori-kun from Osaka," Nakamori greeted.

Inspector Nakamori had a rather good impression of Hattori. The young man was solid, after all—back in Hokkaido, when he got into a spat with KID, he actually took off on a motorcycle into the sky. It proved, once again, that it often took those outside the official justice system to pull off the unpredictable and go toe-to-toe with criminals who never gave a damn about laws or institutions. Nakamori had assumed Hattori was once again here to lend a hand, and so, without a second thought, he openly shared every detail of the security layout.

Every detail.

"Twenty officers per corridor on the west side, forty per entrance and exit, and the east wing is divided into tactical squads, fifty officers in total. Add to that the outer perimeter for traffic and undercover units, we're looking at nearly three hundred cops in total. So? If it's not enough, the superintendent's given me leeway to pull fifty more. Might as well stay on site tonight too... What's wrong with your face? You look like you swallowed a frog."

Hattori gulped. "N-no, it's enough. If we pull any more, there won't be enough to respond to emergencies in other areas. Sounds like you're more than prepared... in that case, I guess you won't be needing me. My old man called earlier asking me to come home. Probably won't be able to stick around till tomorrow night... but I brought Conan with me."

Shit... Don't draw attention to us now!

Ishikawa Kaito swiftly turned his back to them, but Nakamori's voice still carried overhead. "Huh... Not with Mouri Kogorou this time?"

Conan let out an awkward laugh. "Uncle Mouri was hungover this morning. Fell into the toilet trying to get up. Luckily, Amuro-san took the day off to get him to the hospital."

"Oh, I saw that! Giant lump on his forehead," Sonoko chimed in out of nowhere, snickering mercilessly. Ran quickly covered her mouth, while Nakamori just waved it off. "Better off without him. We don't need him here anyway."

He barked a few commands, and officers dispersed to their posts. Kaito exhaled in quiet relief. Crisis averted. As long as he stuck close to Conan, Nakamori would assume he was part of the Junior Detective League and wouldn't give him a second glance. Even though tomorrow's heist wouldn't be pulled off by KID himself, Conan wanted everything buttoned up. So he turned to Kaito:

"Kaito, I'm heading up with Inspector Nakamori to check the setup. Why don't you head home for now?"

"We were about to leave too, come with us, Kaito. Conan, you and Hattori don't stay too late, alright? Call me when you get to Agasa's place so I know you made it back safely," Ran reminded him.

Conan nodded. Kaito took the cue and prepared to leave this disaster behind. "Alright. See you Monday at school. Cona......be careful won't you?"

Kuroba Kaito wasn't Kudo Shinichi, and Inspector Nakamori sure as hell wasn't Mouri Kogorou. Mouri tended to be half-drunk whenever Kudo dropped by, and he never did warm up to him, always blaming him for leading his daughter astray. But Kaito? He had grown up practically under Nakamori Ginzo's nose. The man's house had walls covered in childhood photos of Kaito and Aoko. Even the kitchen pillars still bore carved lines measuring their height year by year. If they locked eyes now, it would be a straight-up disaster.

Thankfully, Kaito slipped out of the gemstone exhibit without incident and fished out his phone to call Jii-chan to come pick him up.

"Hey, little boy, you dropped something."

Turning around, Kaito saw a man in a dark green suit holding up a chocolate puff stick—one that must have slipped out of his pocket.

Trying to channel his experience with children, Inspector Nakamori gave the usual warning: "No eating inside the museum, alright? Snacks and drinks go in the lockers at the entrance... You..."

He shook his head and smiled wryly, handing back the chocolate stick. "You better go find your family, kid. Don't wander off."

Kaito rushed down the stairs, unaware of the girl passing him by.

"Dad, I called you so many times and you didn't pick up! So I brought your bento... Huh? You look pale as a ghost."

"Aoko... Don't call me crazy, but... I just saw a kid who looked exactly like Kaito when he was little. Even the way he ran... it was just like how he used to bolt after messing something up."

"Huh?" Aoko tilted her head. "Hehe, it's only been a few weeks. You must really miss him, huh, Dad..."

__

Aoko ended up staying till nightfall. Even though the inspector had told her to stay home, she refused to go back to an empty house alone. Seeing 'Detective Kudo Shinichi' in person, she still held doubts, but took his hand eagerly:

"I've heard so much about you, Kudo-kun! I'm Nakamori Aoko, your biggest fan. They say you've helped the MPD catch tons of criminals, so this time, you've got to take down that wretched thief!"

"...Naturally," KID smiled stiffly, heart hammering in his chest. Why the hell did Aoko have to show up now and risk blowing his cover?

"Miss Nakamori, do you know Hakuba-kun?" KID, mimicking Conan's speaking pattern, asked.

Aoko nodded enthusiastically. "Of course! But Hakuba Saguru hurt his ankle apprehending a suspect a few days ago, so he couldn't make it."

Both her hands clasped tightly over KID's. Her eyes sparkled. "Kudo-kun, you'll help me, won't you? Hakuba says you're the greatest detective in all of Kanto. I bet you have a secret trick to catch KID! Let me help!"

With a chuckle, KID ran a hand through his black hair, pulling on the smuggest grin he could muster. "I'm the number one detective in Kanto. A petty thief like KID is nothing—"

Before he could continue his nonsense, Conan stomped hard on his shoe. Next second, Hattori hoisted Conan up like a sack of potatoes and dragged him aside. "You enjoy eavesdropping on their whole conversation? Get over here and help me figure something out!"

BAM—

Their idea? To drag "Kudo Shinichi" out of the exhibit like a couple of punks looking to brawl in the bathroom.

KID straightened his wrinkled collar, gazing at their reflections in the mirror. "Calm down. I know I rushed things yesterday, but here I am now. So is there any problem?"

"So many damn problems."Hattori threw a booklet to the floor. "The museum floor plan. I read it thoroughly just like you asked, and yeah, I found a few viable escape routes."

KID glanced at the paths Hattori had marked out and gave a nod of approval. "Not bad. Hattori-kun, you've got potential. These are actually the same routes I was considering. Tomorrow I'll slip in as Kudo Shinichi and plant small explosive devices along the lighting fixtures you picked. As for the gem... that'll be up to your skills. Now, as you can see, the anti-theft setup for this one is special—eight floor tiles surrounding the display case have been removed, revealing an electrified grid and a pit full of police officers. There's no climbing up from below, no fishing lines. But actually, you've got a bigger advantage than I do. Once the heist's done, all you need to do is ditch the costume and melt back into the crowd as yourself. Perfect cover."

"You mean all the crap you're pulling under my identity?" Conan shot him a withering glance. KID merely returned the look.

Hattori added, "I'll get rid of the outfit and evidence through the bathroom into the sewer line—but what guarantees I won't end up a suspect with cameras all over the place?"

KID pointed toward the door. "We alter the surveillance footage. Like I said, worst case scenario, you get hauled in for questioning and I—"

"You better make damn sure it doesn't come to that," Hattori snapped, cutting that storyline short. "And how do you plan to 'kill off' the Kudo Shinichi persona? If this explodes into a public scandal, a lot of people will be hurt."

"Set aside the sentimental feelings if you want to think clearly," KID replied dryly. "But I get it—you don't want to hurt Ran and other people. If I'm right, once Kudo Shinichi is 'dead,' there'll be an effort to hush it up..."

He shot Conan a piercing glance. "So we go with the flow. Let him die in a locked-room mystery that no one could escape from. Quiet. No one except those members know."

Conan sighed and rubbed his forehead. "I appreciate the help, really. But could you not make it sound like a goddamn eulogy?"

"Better than having your real identity exposed. Someone's got their eye on you now. Best to cut the trail before they figure out who Conan really is." KID flung out a detailed map of the museum's surrounding blocks—not just a layout, but cross-sections of each building. Hattori studied it, then looked up sharply.

"So you're telling me there are two groups of force targeting Kudo now? Where's the strike going to be?"

"That depends," KID said, "__depends on how our 'new friends' decide to welcome back the long-lost Meitantei."

______________________

Hattori Heiji had no idea what the hell KID was planning—or where Okiya Subaru had gone, with a rifle in hand, vanishing into the night. But when he pulled on the white suit of KID the Phantom Thief, he instinctively drew a deep breath. The night had grown thicker, the air heavier. And for a moment, it felt like the whole world held its breath.

"This is ridiculous..."

Sure, ridiculous. But that didn't stop Hattori from locking in. Everything was foreign, sure, but as he stepped out of the building with the line tethered to his waist slowing his descent, his racing thoughts fell into a clean rhythm—like pieces clicking into place. He was a detective, trained to trace an escape route through clues and crime scenes. So why not flip the perspective? Create the escape himself.

And Hattori wasn't just any detective—he was an athlete. Speed, agility? No problem. He weaved between searchlights and security eyes with sharp instinct. Conan had silently pried open the ventilation duct just below the exhibition room's bathroom, giving him a backup exit. Hanging by his legs on the metal bars, Hattori cautiously peered down—just in time to meet KID's eyes from inside the building. KID stood smack between Nakamori and Aoko, subtly tapping his wrist to signal: Not yet.

Grumbling, Hattori pulled himself back up into the vent. "You've got some nerve telling me to be on time."

"Alright! Everyone stay sharp! Five minutes! KID will appear in five minutes!"

The real KID tucked his watch back under his sleeve and strolled downstairs. When stopped by a police officer at the door, he offered a calm explanation.

"Kudo-kun, you're leaving before the scheduled time? Is KID already here?"

KID gave a composed smile. "Magicians use misdirection to shift the crowd's focus from the truth to the spectacle. Whatever he does in there, he'll have to get out eventually. You guys handle the inside. The job of a detective is to stay one step ahead, isn't it?"

Kuroba Kaito knew. He'd already spotted the two shadows lurking in the darkness. The danger was creeping closer—inevitable now. But he'd accepted that. Prepared for it. He passed through the barricade of police cars, heading toward the shadowy artificial garden behind the museum.

The noise, the breathing behind him—it grew louder. He took out his phone, feigned sending a message. Then, a sharp thud against the back of his head. As his vision blurred, he heard a familiar voice say:

"Aniki... I got Kudo Shinichi. Yeah, I'm bringing him to the house now."

_____________

2:59 a.m.

"Everyone stay alert! Ten seconds left!"

Five... four... three... two... one...

Even though everything was going according to plan, not seeing KID made Conan's heart clench. But now wasn't the time to worry about him. There was something far worse demanding his attention.

___Bang.

The harpoon gun launched by Hattori Heiji from the window struck the glass dome dead-on—but the reinforced glass didn't crack. He gritted his teeth and tried to retract the harpoon, only for the recoil to yank him forward instead, suspending him awkwardly in full view. He dangled in white from the window ledge where the security setup had just been dismantled.

Ten long, agonizing seconds of mutual staring followed—utter silence—until Nakamori Ginzo bellowed, "Move! All units, go! NOW!"

The floor's defense systems reactivated in an instant. Police surged forward like a frenzy of starving sharks. Conan cursed under his breath. Thankfully, Hattori was quick to toss the smoke bomb KID had stashed in his pocket. The exhibition room was instantly engulfed in thick, swirling fog. Conan flicked on the tracker function in his glasses, but the white-out was total. No silhouette to lock onto. Switching to infrared yielded only a useless mess—everyone's body heat bleeding together into an unreadable blur. He swung his arms in front of him, slicing through the smoke.

"KID! Where are you?!"

Somewhere in the chaos, a wooden bokken cut through the air and landed at Conan's feet—likely Hattori's failed attempt to shatter the dome. But the sight sparked something in Conan.

"Everyone! Lunge for the display case! As long as he doesn't get the gem, we win!"

Nakamori's voice hadn't even faded when his face drained of color. Out of nowhere came spherical projectiles—spitting electric crackles, slicing the air with a metallic whistle. Chaos erupted. Officers screamed, ducked, covered.

BANG! Crack! BOOM!

A glint of olive-green eyes, a lead bullet sliced the cold air, blasting mid-flight. The collision between a soccer ball and a bullet unleashed a concussive force. Shards exploded through the room. The massive display case—like a toppled beast—cracked sideways, slammed into the floor, shaking the ground with a low, grim rumble.

"No way! Impossible!!! Damn it—that bastard used brute force to wreck the whole defense system!" Nakamori raged as he saw the toppled cabinet—gem gone. The museum, once again, had fallen.

Outside, two figures landed safely. Conan crawled out from under the black cloak draped over them. Hattori yanked off the harness and took off running.

"You ditched the outfit?" Conan asked.

Hattori, now back in his own clothes, had already shoved the suit and harpoon launcher into a gutter. The stolen gem? Conan had slipped it into Nakamori's coat pocket during their chaotic hallway pass.

"You and KID owe me big time," Hattori grunted. "Don't even think about weaseling out."

"Yeah, yeah!" Conan rolled his eyes. But now they needed to find KID—and fast. Not easy, considering the endless sprawl of similar buildings and the fact that Conan had zero clue what KID's plan really was. Who the hell was this "assassin" he mentioned? And where did KID plan to take him—dump the body and vanish?

The whole operation had been dictated by KID. He'd revealed little. Only that some assassin had been hired to hunt down Kudo Shinichi, and that he—KID—had devised a perfect solution: one that would eliminate the hitman's suspicions and safeguard Conan's double life.

When Conan pressed for details, KID simply shrugged—"Anonymous client," he said. Worse still, KID hadn't even attempted to stay with them as Kudo like he did back in Singapore. It was as though he were rushing—unwilling to linger in daylight.

And this 3 a.m. stunt? What kind of bizarre heist timing was that?

"That bastard's hiding something. Big time. What the hell is he planning?!"

"Kudo!"

Hattori yanked Conan by the arm. They bolted through the parking lot, dodging a storm of police cars blaring their horns. Hattori kicked his bike upright, tossed Conan a helmet, and swung his leg over, revving the engine.

"Damn it! I should've never agreed to this!" Conan yelled.

"Hold tight!" Hattori shouted.Suddenly, a figure burst into their path—arms spread like wings,"Let me come with you! I can help!"

Conan hadn't expected Nakamori Aoko to leap in front of them, "Aoko-neesan, do you know where Kudo-niisan went?"

"Kudo? Why do you want to know about Kudo Shinichi?" she asked, confused, but answered anyway. "I saw him go out the back. Then... some guy came up to him. Big guy. Looked like a bodyguard. All in black. Suit, hat, sunglasses. They spoke for a bit, then walked off together. I caught a glimpse of his face under the streetlight. Just barely."

Vodka.

"Damn it! Hattori!"

Conan ripped out the map KID had given him. Hattori slammed down his visor, gripped the handlebars, and gunned the engine.

__________________________

Whrrrrrr—

Kuroba Kaito woke to the scraping, grinding sound of metal. Like someone sharpening a blade.

His eyes flicked open. Reflexively, he twisted against his bonds—no surprise, both wrists tied behind a cold steel pillar. He yanked back—and his head smacked into the column behind him with a dull, echoing thunk. Vodka, still polishing the silencer on his rifle, looked up for a brief second at his captive. Then went back to assembling his gun.

Kaito's eyes adjusted slowly to the dark. He scanned the room. Worked his fingers behind his back, trying to slip off the wristwatch—but it was gone. So were all his tools.

What time was it now? A bead of cold sweat traced down his temple. Kuroba Kaito stared wide-eyed as Vodka approached, gun in hand, and felt the hammering thud of dread in his chest.

"You're going to kill me, aren't you?" he asked, voice carefully controlled.

"Of course... Who would've thought Kudo Shinichi was still crawling around in this world? Aniki was right, after all..."

"Aniki? You mean Gin? The one who forced poison down my throat?" Kuroba asked for confirmation. Vodka nodded and flicked the safety off.

"If anyone finds out you're still alive, Aniki's status in the Organization will be challenged, and I won't let this happen. Everyone's watching for his slip-up, especially Rum. That son of the bitch."

Kuroba swallowed hard. "Wait... How are you planning to kill me?"

"Damn, you're full of questions. You're about to die and you're still playing twenty questions?" Vodka huffed impatiently, waving the muzzle at Kuroba in a mock salute. "Bang—you die, then I torch this whole dump. Burn it to ash. That's what Aniki ordered."

"Where is he now?" Kuroba pressed.

"Told me to finish the job and report back. You think he's got time to babysit you? He's on an assassination mission, under direct orders from the Boss."

Vodka stepped forward, but Kuroba quickly interrupted, "Wait, wait—this might not be such a great plan. Think about it. Right now it's..."

"4:40 A.M.," Vodka supplied.

Kuroba nodded. "Exactly. If the fire doesn't completely engulf this place, and firefighters get here in time to douse the flames, and they find my corpse and take it for an autopsy—what do you think they'll say when they realize I died from a bullet, not carbon monoxide?"

Vodka paused, visibly thrown. Kuroba pressed on.

"And you brought me to..."

"An abandoned single-story house near the museum. Fifteen years vacant." Vodka said.

"Right. Near the museum. See! Setting aside whether the cops are still sweeping the area, this is a port-side district. Fishing crews hit the docks early. Commuters too. If they see smoke, they'll rush in."

Vodka pointed to two gasoline canisters in the corner. "Then I'll just soak you in gas then burn with fire. Problem solved."

"Even worse idea," Kuroba said seriously with a mouth of bullshit.

"You probably don't know this, but recent forensic studies show that burning a corpse post mortem leaves behind unique chemical markers. Not to mention, gasoline that doesn't burn completely can preserve DNA. They'll know it was arson. A homicide. Police will crawl this place top to bottom. That raises your Organization's exposure tenfold."

"OK! Enough!" Vodka barked, gun raised. "Then what the hell do you want me to do?!"

Kuroba grinned. "Take my suit back to your Aniki as proof. Stage this place as a locked-room suicide, then light it up. I'm not escaping anyway, right? CO poisoning will take care of me. The difference is if this body doesn't burn out in the end, do you want this case classified as murder, with Gin hunted by cops and FBI agents alike? Or a quiet, tragic suicide, just another corpse in the ashes?"

Vodka was silent, but eventually lowered his gun. He moved behind Kuroba, checking the handcuffs, then paced the attic. The cramped space had only one door and a window too small to squeeze through. Grumbling, he yanked off Kuroba's blue suit jacket and stomped toward the door.

"Wait!"

Vodka turned, annoyed. "You never shut up, do you? Worse than last time."

Kuroba took that as a compliment. "You're really not going to let me go? If you release me, when your Organization finally gets taken down, you'll be the only one who walks away clean."

Vodka's expression turned dark. "I will never betray Aniki."

With that, he slammed the door shut. From the inside, Kuroba Kaito heard furniture being dragged. Bangs and thuds echoed as Vodka stacked everything to block the entrance. Then came the sharp clang of a kicked gasoline drum. Fluid sloshed and trickled through the door gap. Kuroba yelled, but it was useless. The last thing he heard was the strike of a match.

"Farewell, high school Meitantei, Kudo Shinichi."

__________________________________

"One more block—dammit, we have to find him!"

"Kudo... I think I know where he is."

Before Hattori could even bring the motorcycle to a complete stop, Conan had already leapt off and darted back across the street, eyes locked on the corner apartment building where Hattori's gaze had been fixed.

Flames danced in the darkness, wild and voracious, leaping out of windows and balconies like beasts unchained. The bitter scent of tar and scorched wood choked the air. A sudden gust of fire burst from the rear of the building, claws bared, as if eager to devour everything.

No...
No, that can't be... He got out, right?

"Hattori! You don't think... he's not still in there, is he?!"

Like a starved predator, the blaze devoured walls, doors, and the roof's edge. Explosions cracked the air as windows shattered one after another. Shards of glass, thick smoke, and embers scattered into the night. A firetruck fought its way through stalled traffic, sirens howling. Crimson arcs from the fire's reflection painted the night sky. Conan made to charge forward, but Hattori wrapped an arm around him, locking an elbow under his ribs and refusing to let go.

"Are you out of your damn mind?! You'll get yourself killed!"

"He's still in there!!!"

Hattori gripped tighter as Conan struggled. Around them, crowds had gathered; rescue workers and firefighters rushed about. A commanding officer, pulling off his oxygen mask, ordered the two boys back behind the yellow line.

That was when Conan noticed it—a mark on the bark of a nearby roadside tree. He brushed his fingers over it. Fresh. Rough. Bits of bark and wood shavings still clung to the edge. Something metal... blunt... had left this behind recently.

?

Meitantei, tell me, was there one moment that you were afraid that something bad happened to me?

____________________________________

"Cause of the fire seems to be an electrical fault—old circuitry went up in flames. Spread fast. According to the landlord, the building's been abandoned since he turned down a redevelopment offer. Some large pieces of furniture from the upper floors were also reported missing, oddly enough."

Officer Takagi handed Conan a small notebook filled with scribbled notes and photos of the scene before the top floor had collapsed.

"No windows in the attic?" Conan asked.

"Owner says that was the very top floor—just a small ventilation shaft. Fire started at the upper levels, so the lower ones didn't take much damage. The attic's been burned down to steel beams. Not much left. Supposedly no one was in there. We didn't find any other clues. If anything new comes up, I'll let you know. But weren't you guys helping Nakamori-keibu with that museum case yesterday? What brings you to a fire scene?"

Hattori replied, "Just passing by. Noticed the blaze. Good thing no casualties."

"Let's hope so. Otherwise, if anyone was inside... not even ashes would remain."

As Conan started to pack up his things, Hattori called out to him,"You don't look worried at all. Or.....Did KID contact you?"

Conan smirked, about to mention their usual code... then thought better of it. "His pigeon flew in to deliver the message. We should clear out."

"That bastard's got nine lives. But... you really think they'd let him walk? If they meant to burn him alive in there... How the hell did he escape? I'm guessing those big furniture pieces were used to barricade the door. The vent's the only exit, barely wide enough for a kid. What is he, a damn contortionist? Then again, that guy's got more tricks than a circus acrobat, I shouldn't be surprised."

Hattori sighed heavily. "It's finally over. And I mean it this time, Kudo. Next time you come up with this kind of crap, I'm out. Take your damn APTX antidote and deal with it yourself. Huh? Why are you calling Ishikawa Kaito? You think that brat's up at five-thirty in the morning?"

"He'll answer," Conan replied, lips curled into a smile so eerie it made even Hattori shudder.

"Morning, Kaito-kun. You're not still asleep, are you? You're coming to school today, right? There's something important I need to tell you in person."

But the entire morning passed without the right moment. Kaito was either half-asleep or goofing off with classmates—so different from when he first transferred in.

"Kudo Shinichi must die..."

That phrase from KID lingered in Conan's mind like smoke, impossible to dispel. Agitated, restless... Conan ran a hand through his hair, then dropped his head back onto the desk. The movement roused Kaito, who had only been lightly napping. Blinking at Conan's disheveled hair, he leaned over and pulled away the jacket between them.

"What are you doing, Conan? Not sleeping? ...Your hair's a mess."

"Sorry I woke you."

Kaito glanced around. Just the two of them awake in the classroom during nap time. He yawned, looked toward the hallway, then formed shapes with his lips, pointing.

Kaito: Want to get some air?

Conan: Are you sure? What if the teacher finds out?

Kaito: C'mon—if we get caught, just say your stomach hurts and we're heading to the nurse.

They tiptoed to the back gate, climbed up the stone slide and sat atop it. Conan pulled out a slice of matcha baumkuchen hidden in his jacket. Kaito, perfectly timed, produced a bag of onion rings. They tore into the snacks and began to swap bites.

"You said you had something important to tell me this morning," Kaito said.

Conan replied, "You remember Ran-neechan? The older girl who took us in a taxi last time? Well... she's taking me to Karuizawa this Saturday to see the autumn leaves and taking a tour around the town. You should come with us."

"Why me and not someone else?"

"It's more fun going out with people our own age... and I thought it'd be interesting if you came. Don't turn me down, Ishikawa Kaito. You know kids our age who never go out with friends are really weird. Or are you planning to be that exception, Kaito-kun?"

Shit___ Meitantei knows.........

Ishikawa Kaito had to reveal his last trick, the last card he could use to let Conan never ever pin this on him again.

"Conan...... I have a secret. Last time you told me that you would tell me one day, so I thought maybe I said it first.I have never told anybody else before."

Conan was waiting for KID to confess, Kaito took a deep breath, " I really like you, Conan...... more than friends."

This should keep Meitantei far away from me.

But then...... Conan smiled back, " What a coincidence, Kaito-kun, I have the exact same feelings too, I am very interested in you. "

Shit shit shit!!!

No! I am already toasted, not by stupid Vodka, but you.....