Things are getting serious here.
Do you know who is Scorpion? Movie 3. That charming killer...... so hot lol.
___Movie 3, Season9 356話 怪盗キッドの驚異空中歩行
Shit I have watched these like dozen times.

Somewhere between the sky and the sea, this name is from this episode__356. Like I really want to write this.
I remembered that Gosho wrote that the color of blue is different from the sky and the sea is one reflection and scattering. But I searched the web, not really knowing what he meant.
If I am wrong about this, please tell me.

___________________________

The moment the wardrobe opened, a dazzling riot of qipao—vivid, kaleidoscopic—spilled forth like a bouquet of venomous orchids. The woman standing before them licked her crimson lips with the tip of her tongue. As if sensing an intruder, she slowly nudged the door shut. Behind her, a suited guard ran in, panting.

"Miss... someone is dead."

"Isn't death exactly what was expected? Why the panic?" she replied, selecting another shade of rouge and flipping open the compact mirror. Her phoenix eyes flicked open like peonies in bloom. "She was meant to die quietly. To be buried forever."

"When I left Moscow," The woman added with a half-smile, "that man said it himself—once you enter this world, don't ever dream of leaving."

She snapped the makeup case shut with one hand, then picked up the sniper rifle and silencer from the vanity. The weight was familiar—reassuring—like a long-lost limb reattached. Even her gray irises shimmered with an eerie animation, as if an empty shell had been re-inhabited by its forsaken soul. She polished the scope with precision, a cold-blooded smile lingering on her lips.

"Since Chizuru chose to quit," she murmured, "she can't blame anyone for ending up prey on the kill list. She was warned before. But then Kishida, codename Centipede, poisoned his old partner without batting an eye. They used to share the same codename. But now...... one is dead, one is in custody."

"But... Miss... you only just returned to Tokyo this morning... there's much you might not yet know..."

BANG!

"Don't remind me of that again!"

The rifle stock slammed into the coffee table, splashing tea from the porcelain cup. The guard took a full step back, face taut with terror. He didn't want to lose his right eye.

"Forgive me! Miss... that man... he's passed away. Some time ago. At Café Hakuro. Police suspect natural causes..."

The woman's glacial smile shattered. Her lashes fluttered, jaw clenched tight,"You... what did you just say...?"

"We didn't know all the details... we had to verify before telling you... that's why we delayed."

Faced with her venomous fury, the guard could barely breathe. That sniper rifle could, at any second, obliterate his right eye. A long silence passed. At last, she lifted her gaze.

"Speak. What else? Say it all."

"Last night at the masquerade... KID appeared. As per your orders, we tried to intercept him. But we couldn't. Then he came in... dressed as a woman. By the time we figured it out, it was too late."

"Don't waste my time," she cut him off icily. "I was at the party. I know who he disguised himself as. Continue."

"Miss... we don't know how he contacted Hamada Chizuru, but... but..."

"What?" Her order was deadly.

"But among Chizuru's art assets, there are two pieces—Aoyama is the named heir. The last will is clear, if he saw her before she died, they're all his. Clearly... KID told Aoyama where to find her last night. If you want to reclaim those pieces, it'll be next to impossible."

She laughed. The sound was hollow,"Hmph—Kaitou KID again."

"That thief who refuses to die... him and that damn brat with glasses! Those seven months I rotted in prison—thanks to them. I'll make sure they choke on that humiliation."

Her tone, now sweet as poisoned sugar, cooed:"Let them learn what it means... to lose everything."

Each of her clove-hued nails pressed deep into her palm, drawing thin lines of blood.

"Let's start... with that glasses-wearing brat."

A shot cracked. The bullet punched through the photo—right through Conan's right eye.

_____________________

They hadn't even reached the classroom yet when the hallway exploded into murmurs. Like spectators at a miracle, students clustered, pointing, whispering. Kaito frowned.

"It's not even Halloween Costume Day yet. What the hell's going on?"

"Halloween?" Edogawa Conan blinked—chasing KID and all of those cases had wiped the thought from his mind.

"Speaking of which, what are you dressing for tomorrow, Ishikawa-kun?"

"Haven't decided..." Kaito glanced at him. "And you? Don't tell me, let me guess—Holmes? Einstein?"

Conan pondered,"Maybe... the Night Baron? That's my da—cough... I mean, a great author's character from a famous mystery novel. Masks and capes are easy to get. Still not sure yet. Halloween's tomorrow. If you need a costume, I could ask Agasa to help you find one."

"Ugh... probably not necessary." Kaito concealed a sly smirk—he always relished that crack in Meitantei's mask.

"I've already decided... but I can't tell Edogawa-kun yet. It's a secret."

A whole night of dancing and running had wrecked Kaito. Unsurprisingly, he slept through all morning classes. Even as the teacher knocked the blackboard with a long ruler, he didn't wake up. When the English teacher stormed up to Kaito, Conan reached to shake him awake—no use.

The teacher lifted Kaito by the collar, only to freeze at the sight of those heavy black bags under his eyes. With a sigh, the teacher let him sleep for longer.

"Sensei, Ishikawa-kun didn't do well in the last test. He's been studying all night. Yesterday, he stayed up cramming math and English."

Genta, Mitsuhiko, and Ayumi all whipped around, jaws dropped.

Conan lying—for Kaito?! Unbelievable. Last night, they'd been in the living room gaming and eating pizza. Conan and Ai left, and when they asked Kaito to join Monopoly, he was already dead asleep.

Studying? Gotta be kidding me.

"OK.Just make sure he wakes for lunch. Skipping meals will leave him more exhausted."

With Conan's top-student credibility backing the story, the teacher returned to his lecture. Nearing lunchtime, the room buzzed despite class not yet ending. Genta leaned over to whisper.

"Hey... what's up with Conan? He actually lied to the teacher."

"Ishikawa Kaito counting anything in his dreams would be sheep—not test questions," Ayumi added."Besides," she glanced between them, "Kaito didn't even bring textbooks to Agasa's yesterday."

"Conan never does this... Why this time...? Why lie... for Ishikawa Kaito. That is totally not fair!" Genta grumbled, "Last time I got caught eating chocolate in class, Conan didn't help me either."

"That's because everyone heard you crinkling the wrapper and you just had to choose the crispiest kind that goes crunch crunch. Everyone knew that you were eating chocolate in class. What were me and Conan supposed to say—everyone in class suddenly went deaf?"

Mitsuhiko gave Genta a sideways glance.

"Do you think this might be a conspiracy?" Ayumi narrowed her eyes. "Conan went to that Halloween party yesterday, didn't he? What if... what if he got hypnotized! Or brainwashed! What if he's no longer the real Conan?"

"Ahh! That's terrifying!" Genta's eyes widened. "What if KID turned Conan into a puppet last night? It is Halloween... What if he turns him into a ragdoll? Or a wooden marionette?"

"Why would KID want to turn Conan into a puppet?"

Genta was just about to answer when he realized, belatedly, that it was Conan who asked the question. He fell off his chair in shock. "Co-Conan... you heard all that?!"

"Oh, please." Conan rolled his eyes. "It's already lunchtime and you three are still hunched over whispering. Did you even hear yourselves? Possessed by a ghost on Halloween? Turning into a puppet ? If I hadn't cut in, would I be abducted by aliens next?"

"...Are you?" Genta asked cautiously.

Conan frowned. "You guys have been hanging out with Ishikawa-kun too much. All you talk about is nonsense." He glanced at the blackboard to check who was on lunch duty. "Genta, come help me carry the lunch boxes. Let Ishikawa-kun sleep a bit longer."

Today's lunch was Japanese curry. Since Conan had already helped Kaito do his duty, he decided to go the whole mile: he put on a mask and apron, becoming a temporary lunch-duty helper. The classmates lined up one by one to receive their meals. Even after everyone had been served, Kaito was still sleeping like a dead pig. With no other choice, Conan served him a portion and pushed it onto his desk.

The smell finally roused Kaito. He looked up at Conan, then slumped back down again. "I'm not hungry... I don't wanna eat... Edogawa-kun, why are you always poking your nose where it doesn't belong? Did I ask you to serve me lunch? You should dress up as a giant carrot tomorrow."

"........................"
What the hell does a carrot have to do with anything?!

"Are you guys talking about what to wear tomorrow?" Ayumi, hearing the exchange, turned her head and bit into her tomato. "But can dressing as a carrot scare off ghosts?"

"Of course it can," Kaito said confidently. "Lots of people hate carrots. Even as ghosts, they wouldn't change that."

"Then I should dress up as a fish to get away from you, you troublesome ghost." Conan teased. Mitsuhiko suddenly perked up, as if remembering something.

"Speaking of ghosts... Do you guys remember when we explored that haunted house?"

"Ugh, Mitsuhiko... Did you have to bring that up while we're eating?" Ayumi shivered at the memory. If it hadn't been for Kaito's quick reflexes, she might have become part of that house's decor.

"I heard there's a new haunted house now," Mitsuhiko lowered his voice dramatically. "They say people who live there vanish, one after another. And the last boy who lived there? Disappeared into the dark overnight. The whole place was deserted the next day."

Conan smirked. "Maybe they just moved out."

Kaito, unimpressed, spooned curry into his mouth slowly. Ghosts and spirits were just empty wind to him.

"No. And some passersby have reported seeing shadowy figures inside the house at night. Or lights flickering where no one should be. And the creepiest thing?" Mitsuhiko, mouth full of curry, leaned in.

"The police lived next door, and even they couldn't stop the rumors. Ever since the man of the house died eight years ago, it's like the place has been cursed."

Ishikawa Kaito leaned his chin on his palm, his voice languid. "Life and death are unpredictable. No one's immortal. Everyone dies. What's so strange about that? As for the shadows? Probably just your imagination."

"No way!" Mitsuhiko insisted. "I saw it too! At first, I thought it was a burglar. I figured someone saw the empty house and wanted to loot it. But later I realized... who would be bold enough to rob a place with cops next door? And why steal from a house that's already been cleared out? Only some big furniture and worthless junk were left. It couldn't have been a person! It had to be a ghost! And there are always crows circling the place—it's like some abandoned haunted mansion. People say the last boy who lived there might've been torn apart by crows."

Now that caught Conan's attention. "Where is this place you're talking about?"

"I'm not totally sure. But I think it's near Inspector Nakamori's house. I remember seeing the nameplate—it said Kuroba."

PFFT

Ishikawa Kaito choked on his curry and spat it out, coughing furiously, clearly startled. "WHAT... what did you say?!"

"K-u-r-o-b-a. Doesn't that sound kind of like 'crow' if you only go by the start of the word?" Ayumi mused aloud.

Something clicked in Conan's head. He quickly pulled out a worksheet tucked beneath his textbook,"If it's just the initial letters... the initials..."

If Kishida Saburo had been communicating with the organization through riddles, each week's shifting code pointing to a different meeting location, then each individual riddle might correspond to an animal:

Giraffe, Tiger, Yabby, Raccoon, Snake, Alpaca, Armadillo, Crocodile, Umbrella bird, Ape.

Take the first letters: G, T, Y, R, S, A, A, C, U, A.

Conan began testing combinations. Even during his nap break, the letters swirled behind his closed eyes. Still, he couldn't crack the code. By cleaning time, he wasn't sweeping dust but a flurry of alphabetic possibilities.

What did it all mean?

He had tried every method of decryption, every permutation, but none made sense. Converting to numbers didn't help either. Even when mapped to coordinates, the results landed outside of Japan.

"Still working on the puzzle?" Kaito slung on his backpack. School was over, but Conan remained lost in thought. Kaito tilted his head and glanced at the densely scribbled paper.

"We never settled that debate, did we? Is it Crocodile or Alligator?" Kaito shrugged. "Anyway, enjoy your little game. I'm heading home."

Only a few students remained in the classroom to clean up. Conan quickly filled in the space he'd left blank, copying the notes again. It didn't take long before he arrived at the final answer:

Yatagarasu.

Yatagarasu, the three-legged crow of Japanese mythology, a divine messenger revered by all, sent by Takamimusubi and Amaterasu to guide Emperor Jimmu. A symbol of the sun itself.

Conan grabbed his bag and sprinted out of the school without noticing the pair of eyes that had been following him from the school gates. The rush hour crowd was suffocating. Walking through the subway platform felt like pushing through a wind tunnel. Conan clutched his phone tightly as he fought through the tide of people, slipping into the train just as the doors began to close.

"The shrine that worships Yatagarasu and is closest to the Beika Zoo is the Kumano shrine in Nishi-Shinjuku," Conan told Agasa over the phone. "I'm hanging up now. Talk later."

Kumano Shrine, on the west side of Shinjuku Central Park, was open all day. Conan sprinted from the station to the shrine. Panting beneath the torii gate, he scanned the bustling environment. Some were commuters passing through, others pilgrims hoping for blessings. Conan looked around, searching for any signs of a delivery point for the organization.

"If I were Kishida Saburo, where would I hide..."

Just then, a miko walked past him with a broom. Conan rushed up to her, "Miss, has there been any recent construction or work done on the grounds?"

"Hm? Why do you ask, little boy?" the shrine Miko crouched down.

Conan smiled sweetly. "I noticed some freshly planted turf in the back garden. Just curious."

"Oh, you're observant. Yes, there was some work being done. But I heard the contractor didn't line up a replacement this week. Not sure where he went. Something about a leaking pond in the courtyard. If you want the details, you'd have to ask the shrine manager."

Unbeknownst to Conan, in the courtyard out of sight, a shadowed figure had arrived first. A strange grin crept over the man's face as he carefully inspected the area. It didn't take long for him to find subtle signs beneath the decorative stones and shrubbery—disturbances in the arrangement.

Unscrewing a water bottle, the man poured it over the stone array, watching the water seep faster through certain seams. From his backpack, he drew a crowbar and chisel, and with practiced ease pried open one of the stones. Licking his lips, he muttered to himself—just as the Miss had said, following that kid Conan really had led him to the right place.

Beneath the stone lay a wooden box. He smashed it open with a hammer and retrieved a key and a slip of paper with a storage address.

"Now I can report back to Miss."

He was about to pocket the key when he turned around—only to find the bespectacled little brat standing there with hands in his pockets and an eerily innocent smile on his face.

"Are you with the organization?" Conan asked.

Startled, the man nearly dropped his hammer. A glint of murder flickered in his eyes.

"You little shit... You saw too much. Guess you'll have to die here. The lady wanted to handle you herself, but honestly, leaving pests alive only causes more problems." He lunged like a predator, lean and deadly, slamming the shovel down where Conan had been a moment before.

Conan dodged—barely. In the next second, his foot caught on a root. He tumbled down a slope and crashed into a dense thicket. He scrambled to get up, but the underbrush snagged his clothes, holding him tightly. His shoes were buried deep into the mud, refusing to budge. Only his arms could move freely. Conan barely had time to raise one in defense as the man came down hard with the shovel again.

"Damn it..." Conan growled.

He finally tore free from the tangled branches, but the shovel was pressing into his throat. The man's adult strength bore down relentlessly. The blade, cold and gleaming, inched closer.

Conan gritted his teeth, resisting with all his might. But the man showed no mercy. Seeing the boy still resisting, the man with black suit pulled a spike from his belt, ready to stab Conan's hand.

"Die. You're the reason why Miss suffered in prison. You'll pay for it in blood."

The sharpened edge grazed Conan's throat. He dared not swallow. Pain lanced through his neck. His vision blurred, breath grew thin. The man above him grinned like a ghost.

Just as Conan's strength gave out, a voice thundered behind them:

"STOP!!!"

Conan couldn't see who it was. But the man instantly froze, recognized the voice, and turned. A beat later, he screamed and collapsed into the bushes.

_____The man in black had followed Conan, believing that trailing the kid would lead to the missing explosives. But he didn't know he'd been tailed by Ishikawa Kaito the entire time.

Kaito had memorized the tone and cadence of the woman giving orders over the phone. In the critical moment, he mimicked her voice, buying just enough time. Then, Kaito scooped up a handful of dirt and hurled it straight into the man's bulging eyes.

The man screamed in agony, blinded and howling. He staggered to rise.

But Kaito wasn't about to let him. He delivered a swift kick to the man's crotch, then shoved him back into the thicket.

"My eyes! I can't see! You brat! Damn you!"

"Edogawa, RUN! Come with me!"

Kaito lunged, grabbed Conan's wrist, and in the same motion unsheathed something sharp that sliced through the thorny brush. There was no time to look back. Conan stumbled after him.

"Just follow me!"

Kaito pulled him forward, sprinting down the shrine's torii-lined walkway, from the garden back to the main hall, then into the crowd. People surrounded them on all sides. Conan could no longer see Kaito's figure.

But his hand was still tightly held. It was warm. It was firm. Fingers locked around his own. Not even a crowd could break that grip.

They finally stopped running in the parking lot outside the shrine. Ishikawa Kaito was gasping for air like he might pass out any second. Conan recalled Kaito mentioning once that he had a congenital heart condition.

"Sit down. That was reckless. What if your condition flared up? Sit!" Conan forced Kaito onto a stone bench. But when he saw Kaito's open palm, he froze. Ishikawa Kaito hadn't just saved his life—he'd also managed, amidst the chaos, to steal what the man in black had been carrying: the very things Conan had come here for.

The locker key and the slip of paper.

Without wasting time, Conan snapped a photo and sent it to Akai Shuichi, then reached for Kaito's wrist to check his pulse.

Of course, Kaito, who was far from frail, couldn't let Conan find out he was faking his weakness and heart disease. He quickly took deep, exaggerated breaths to mimic mild hyperventilation.

Conan rolled up Kaito's sleeve, brow furrowed. "Why are you here? How did you end up at this shrine?"

"I was walking here with my grandpa and saw you nearby. Edogawa... who was that guy just now? Why was he attacking you? This stuff is yours, right? He looked like a bad guy. Is he going to come back for you?"

So Ishikawa Kaito had stepped in simply because he'd seen someone attacking Conan and had the guts to act. Images flashed through Conan's mind—Kaito being bullied before, timid and conflict-averse, clever yet unwilling to stand up. And then, the same boy, moments ago, who had charged forward without hesitation to protect him.

"Don't worry," Conan said, still concerned. "I've already contacted the police. Leave the rest to them... but you..."

"I just need to sit a bit. That was seriously terrifying," Kaito replied, pretending to wipe sweat from his brow and looking around nervously. "I saw you by the gate and told Grandpa to head home first. I came to find you. Didn't expect all that... but I'm just glad you're okay."

"I'm fine. But what about you? How does your chest feel? Still out of breath? Any dizziness or nausea?" Conan's worried expression made Kaito want to laugh. He stifled the grin and answered seriously.

"Ugh... I'm okay. Just... that was scary."

Conan pulled Kaito up and led him toward the shrine's entrance,"Next time, don't just throw yourself in like that. Get someone else to help. What if you got hurt too?"

"But how would I know who I could trust? Who's not a bad guy?" Kaito shot back.

Conan tugged him across the street into a nearby convenience store. He'd already contacted Agasa via his detective badge, asking him to come by car.He turned, meeting Kaito's gaze. "Then call the police. Don't throw your life in like that. Got it? It's dangerous. Sure, you saved me this time, and yeah, you fought him off, but you won't always be that lucky. What if he'd turned on you instead?"

"But if I had called the police, you might not have lasted until they arrived," Kaito argued.

"You still don't get it?" Conan said firmly. "I want you to protect yourself first. Prioritize your own safety. Then, if you have anything left to give, help others."

Kaito nodded, no longer protesting. Only then did Conan release his hand, walk over to the refrigerated shelf, and grab two sports drinks. At the counter, he paid and handed one to Kaito. Still deep in thought about how the police and the detective might handle the rest of the explosives case, Kaito didn't even register the cold bottle pressed to his cheek. He smiled and thanked him.

"Thank you."

Conan frowned. "I should be thanking you, Ishikawa-kun. You saved my life."

"It's Kaito." Ishikawa Kaito cut in, eyes serious for once. "Call me Kaito, Conan. 'Ishikawa-kun' sounds way too formal. Just... call me Kaito."

It was the first time Ishikawa Kaito had called him "Conan" without the polite detachment. And right then, Agasa's car rolled up at the corner. Conan opened the back door. The word "Kaito" lingered on his tongue, mellow and soft. He remembered the boy who pulled him out of danger, who stood up for him, whose warm hand had gripped his own so tightly.

After all they'd been through, maybe they were no longer mere classmates.

"See you tomorrow, Kaito."

10:30 p.m.

At a storage facility deep underground, Tokyo Metropolitan Police seized the remaining explosives and raw materials. For now, the Kishida case had reached its end.

Conan finally exhaled after receiving back-to-back updates from Amuro Tooru and Akai Shuichi. Then came a few photos from Amuro, showing the aftermath of Conan's earlier clash with the man in black. The thorny underbrush had clearly been slashed open by some kind of blade—but no weapon was found. He remembered Kaito's sharp swing, how the brambles that had snagged his clothes were instantly severed. Could Kaito have returned to retrieve whatever he used? But what had he even thrown? Judging by the cut patterns, it didn't look like the work of any knife Conan recognized.

Still, he had no intention of digging deeper.

He had no reason to suspect Ishikawa Kaito, and even less reason to waste time on such a minor detail. Maybe the man in black had cleaned up after himself before fleeing the scene.

"Oi, Kudo!" Hattori's voice rang from the phone.

"Eh? This is sudden," Conan frowned. "Can you not just pop over to Tokyo without warning? Are you a backpacker now?"

"Don't be like that! Just think of it as a whim. I never get fun cases like you do. I'm bored out of my skull in Osaka."

"What?!" Conan groaned. "Fine, fine. Like I could stop you anyway. You better help me with some cases this time. That's it for now. See you tomorrow."

That Hattori... always coming and going like a goddamn typhoon.

"Shinichi! I finally finished tailoring it after ten hours! Try it on!" Agasa burst from his workshop, holding a suit in a dust cover. Conan smirked.

Surprisingly... the suit actually fit pretty well.

On this particular day, two boys dressed as KID stood face to face, neither backing down.

Ishikawa Kaito stood with a helpless expression before Conan and Kuraki, hands on his hips, not a hint of costume on him. He had expected Kuraki, his number one secret fan, to show up in full KID regalia. What he hadn't anticipated was for Conan, Kaito, who had impersonated Kudo Shinichi so many times, not to expect now Conan showed up dressed like KID.

"Ishikawa Kaito, what are you supposed to be?" Kuraki turned to him, and even Conan was surprised by the sudden friendliness in his tone.

"I forgot to bring a costume," Kaito replied.

After secretly helping Conan track down the explosives the night before, he hadn't stopped moving. He had immediately shifted focus to the missing gemstone. Inspector Nakamori had been raging across the media, and that crate of treasures the organization had stolen was still missing.

It wasn't just about retrieving the gems; it was about finding a way to permanently erase any suspicion Conan might have of him. Playing dumb no longer worked. He needed a new method—something that would guarantee his identity remained hidden. By the time he looked up again, it was nearly dawn. He'd switched back into the body of Ishikawa Kaito and made a show of returning to Kumano Shrine with Jii-chan to check the scene again. Halloween's costume party was the furthest thing from his mind.

"Seriously?" Ayumi, dressed as Little Red Riding Hood, looked disappointed. "This is a rare Halloween event. And you didn't bring anything."

Haibara Ai, dressed as Harley Quinn, ran her hand along a wooden bat. "You can't exactly borrow a costume now, and I doubt a garbage bag over your head is going to make you Batman. But... I do have an idea."

"What idea?" Kuraki, Conan, and Kaito asked together.

Haibara Ai pursed her crimson-painted lips. "You could borrow Conan's glasses... and become the famous KID-killer—Detective Edogawa Conan."

And so, Kuroba Kaito unlocked a new disguise achievement: impersonating Edogawa Conan.

He forced a smile, mimicking Conan's signature crescent-moon eyes. It was hard for him to accept that Conan, wearing the detective's usual sharp-eyed gaze and speech patterns, had taken on his role as Kaitou KID. Same as Conan, couldn't get used to Kaito's messy hair paired with his own glasses.

"Everyone, take your seats and get your pumpkin lanterns ready. Once you finish introducing your costumes, I'll hand out a big bag of candy to each of you."

One by one, the students stepped up to explain their costumes. Ishikawa Kaito shamelessly admitted to being the classmate who completely forgot about the event and pulled something together last-minute. Kobayashi, unfazed, smiled as she dumped chocolate and gummies into his pumpkin bucket.

"Since you're dressed as Meitantei Conan, you still need to say something about the character," she said.

Standing there, listening to Ishikawa Kaito talk about himself was incredibly awkward. Conan almost wanted to stop him. But Kaito had already stepped up to the front.

"Hmm... I heard Conan is a pretty amazing little detective. Despite his age, he helps the police chase down criminals. Stuff I could never deal with. But Conan means more to me than just being a detective."

Kuroba Kaito, the elusive KID with an IQ close to 200, had come up with a brilliant strategy.

A way to ensure Conan never suspected him.

"I remember... he was the first one who stood up for me. At first, I just thought he was a nosy nuisance, but he kept protecting me again and again. I'm clumsy, not good at most things... and he's brilliant, like he knows everything. And yet, he still helped me. I don't know what kind of detective he really is. But I do know he's my classmate."

Conan couldn't help but smile.

He never expected something that sounded so close to a confession to come from KID himself. He had always thought it was him helping the shy, withdrawn Ishikawa Kaito open up, helping Kaito find what friendship meant.

"He helps me with math, tutors me in other subjects, even introduces me to new friends. To me..." Ishikawa Kaito took a deep breath, "he's someone important. He was the first friend I made here."

Friend... Kaito said Conan was his first friend.

"Yeah... I really like him."

Maybe it was because it came from the mouth of a child, but Conan wasn't bothered by the phrasing. The others just laughed it off. After all, "liking" could mean many things, and everyone assumed Kaito meant it in the sense of friendship—admiration and gratitude.

When it was Conan's turn, he gave in to the crowd's request and began telling a story about his encounters with KID.

"I know you all have wild ideas about KID. In your minds, he's probably a dashing magician, a genius, someone with flair and charm. But the truth is... he can be a real idiot sometimes." Conan smirked. "Blue Wonder. Once, Suzuki-san challenged KID in a very public way. KID showed up as promised..."

Before he could finish, Kuraki interrupted, bursting with excitement. "I know! I know!! That was the skywalking trick, right?!"

"Skywalking?"

"Yeah! That was the one where KID walked across the air, defying gravity, ignoring the police below and the helicopters above, step by step toward the Blue Wonder!"

Not just Kuraki, but many students remembered the time when KID shattered the very notion of gravity, putting on a performance that seemed to defy the laws of physics. But Conan didn't see it quite the same way:

"KID once told me... that he and I were like the sky and the sea. He said, 'The blue of the ocean is just the reflection of the sky.' A detective and a thief are the same way. Like heaven and earth, different yet actually the same. Change the essence, and people step in without knowing the difference. We both toy with curiosity as if it's the key to a lock. We're two sides of the same coin."

"Is something wrong with what he said?" Mitsuhiko asked.

Conan explained: "The blue of the sky and the blue of the sea aren't formed by the same principles. They're fundamentally different. Just look at puddles on the ground—they're not blue, are they? That says a lot."

After stepping off the stage, Ayumi and Genta rushed up to Conan, asking for more. So Conan flipped his switch and entered lecture mode:

"The sky appears blue because as sunlight passes through the Earth's atmosphere, the shorter wavelengths—blue and violet light—scatter more readily due to the tiny particles in the air. Our eyes are more sensitive to blue than violet, so we perceive the sky as blue. At sunrise and sunset, sunlight travels through more atmosphere, so longer wavelengths like red penetrate more, and we see those hues instead. Now, the ocean appears blue not because it reflects the sky, but because water molecules scatter blue light, absorbing red and green. The actual color of seawater also changes depending on algae, suspended particles, and depth—that's why we sometimes see that dual-color sea. But then KID threw out that line, 'You really don't know how to dream.' Hmph. He just said that because he was losing the argument."

"But I think KID was right. Conan really doesn't know how to dream."

Everyone turned at once. The voice came from Ishikawa Kaito. Conan instinctively wanted to argue back, but Kaito tilted his head:"Someone like Conan, so cautious and precise, probably insists on logic even in his dreams. That makes KID the kind of guy who daydreams all the time, that's the reason why he mixed them all up. So I'm guessing..."

"You're guessing what?" Ayumi, Mitsuhiko, and Genta asked eagerly.

Ishikawa Kaito declared with mock seriousness: "I think when Kaitou KID was in high school, he probably slept through all his classes!"

Goddamn truth.

The kids blinked, then burst into laughter. That day, the whole class went wild. They danced to cheerful music, held hands in a giant ring, sang songs, tossed candies in the air, and drew all over each other's faces with colorful crayons.

Meanwhile, Kudo Shinichi and Kuroba Kaito, whose minds were far beyond grade-school age, quietly slipped out during the chaos. When Conan reached the rooftop and saw Kaito sitting at the edge, he looked a little surprised. He climbed up beside Kaito:

"You're not going down? I thought you liked drawing with them."

Kaito glanced at Conan, Conan was still dressed in the KID costume, and Kaito grinned, tugging at the white cape from behind:

"What exactly are you doing in that costume? Don't tell me you're missing him—that thief in the Cinderella dress and danced with you. Speaking of which... Conan, how did you even dance with him that time?"

With mischief in his voice and a devilish spark in his eyes, Kaito couldn't resist teasing Meitantei.

Sighing, Conan leapt down from the bench, grabbed Kaito's hand with his gloved one, and dragged him off with unexpected force, pulling him into a dance.

"Whoa! Conan! What are you doing?! I can't dance! Are you going to teach me or something?" Kaito laughed as Conan spun him around and dipped him with no music, no rhythm—just wild, dizzying movement. From afar, the two looked like a half blue and half white spinning top, whirling madly.

"Hahaha! Conan! Your cape looks like Superman's! It's flying!"

"Slow down! Kaito! You're spinning too fast! We're going to fall!"

"Faster! Come on, faster! Hahaha, Conan, your hat flew off!"

Their hands stayed locked tightly, fingers clutching the other's, drawn by centrifugal force and laughter. Until finally, they both let go and collapsed onto the rooftop floor, gasping under the blazing sun. Conan turned his head, looking at Kaito, and couldn't help running a hand through his messy bangs: "You're definitely not me. Your hair's a disaster."

"Tch, I wouldn't want to be you." Kaito made a face: "I don't enjoy being a detective. I'm not into all the methodical reasoning. That stuff's your duty."

Conan looked at his profile: "Someone else said that to me before."

"Huh?" Kaito turned to him, folding his arms behind his head: "Who?"

"Kaitou KID."

Kaito shrugged, nonchalantly removing his glasses and slowly wiping the lenses: "Is that so? But you and KID both got one thing wrong. The sea and the sky—they're not exactly the same, but they're not completely different either. I don't know much about scattering theory and all that, but... aren't they both about light?"

"Somewhere between the sky and the sea, there is something else there... sharing the same theory." Kaito said.

Conan nodded thoughtfully. "That's right. It's all optical principles. They're not entirely unrelated incidents...... .Hey, I wanted to thank you yesterday—if it weren't for your intervention, that guy would've escaped with the location of the explosives."

"So you're saying you and the police found the culprit's secret?" Kaito asked.

"Yeah. And it's all thanks to your hints about the puzzles and help. Those explosives are now secured—no longer a threat to anyone. Speaking of which... I don't think I ever asked you, Ishikawa Kaito... You once mentioned moving and transferring schools. Where did you come from? I noticed you don't really talk about it, so I didn't ask in front of the others. If you're uncomfortable, you don't have to answer. I'm just... curious, that's all."

Conan's mind echoed with KID's words: We both toy with curiosity as if it's the key to a lock. We're two sides of the same coin.

"So where are you from, Kaito-kun?"

Kaito, with one hand, gently placed Conan's glasses back onto his nose, a mischievous glint in his eye as his fingertips brushed Conan's nose and lips.

"Somewhere between the sky and the sea."

Midnight. Kuroba Kaito pulled his hands from the pockets of his jeans and peeled a sticky note from the glass of a public phone booth inside the theater—his brow furrowed.

It was a message—left for KID.

Adjusting his cap lower, he followed the instructions to the darkened underside of the stage. There, from between warped wooden planks, he retrieved an envelope. Rain had started, unnoticed. Kaito threw on his black coat and walked away briskly. But as he spilled the envelope's contents into his hand, his face went pale. His whole body began to shake. Inside were photos—of him, no—of himself disguised as Chizuru. And... Kudo Shinichi.

"KID... The jewel you lost is now in my hands. I hadn't planned to return it. But considering your skills and how you might get me what I want, I'm willing to bury the hatred and offer a trade."

Kaito trembled as he flipped through those pictures, with each close-up scene and each precise angle. Dancing side by side—his face next to Kudo's. The more Kaito looked into those pictures, the more recognizable Kudo's features became.

Who had gone through all the trouble to shoot these photos?
Who was now blackmailing him with them?

"About what happened when I aimed for your right eye before... forget it. Because now— 'The Last Dance'—once held by Gin and Vodka, I'll give it back to you.But there's a condition."

He held his breath as he unfolded the final flap.

"I want the greatest thief in the world—Kaitou KID—to steal for me... the Japanese high school Meitantei, Kudo Shinichi, and deliver him to me."

___________________

"Miss Scorpion, I don't understand why you insist on doing this. What do you gain from hiring KID for... this kind of job?"

The subordinate respectfully topped off her drink. Scorpion wiped the red from her lips with a tissue.

"Kudo Shinichi... That man Gin was supposed to have killed. But he's alive—dancing in a ballroom with KID. That alone would be devastating for Gin's credibility in the organization. Now that our boss in the mercenary group is dead, our former leverage is gone. I'm simply preparing for what's to come."

"You're planning to ally with the Black Organization?"

Scorpion stirred her sazerac drink with a fingertip, ice clinking against the glass.

"That man——he was a high-ranking member of the Black Organization. Sazerac. To impress his boss in the Black Organization, he formed a secret unit, hunting for clues and doing the dirty work___ That is us. And why? Because he knew what the boss truly coveted—eternal life. He would scour the world for Pandora, the mythical gem said to grant immortality."

She smiled faintly at the moon through the window, "Whether it's medicine or Pandora, what that man truly wanted was time—an eternity of it. Now that he's failed, I will take his place. It's the simplest logic. As for Snake, Spider, and the others—I don't care."

"But what does any of this have to do with KID?" asked her subordinate, codenamed Sparrow, still baffled.

"The high school detective Kudo Shinichi disappeared months ago. It was assumed Gin poisoned him with APTX. But lately, there've been multiple sightings—some during KID's heists, which I suspect were KID in disguise. But the rest? Showing up at murder scenes, sticking his nose in..."

She leaned in, voice dropping to a whisper,"That detective is back from the dead."

"Are you saying... resurrection?" Sparrow looked utterly stunned. Scorpion shook her head slowly. "There is no such thing as resurrection in this world. Unless it's someone who never died in the first place, merely hiding in plain sight. And judging from the strange rapport between KID and Kudo, what do you think the chances are that this elusive thief actually knows Kudo in private?"

"The grudge I bear against Edogawa Conan and KID for throwing me in jail... I can settle that later. For now, the priority is establishing a solid foothold within the Organization. And right now, the person with the highest chance of helping me locate the missing Detective Kudo Shinichi... is Kaitou KID."

"But... would KID agree to that? If, as you say, he and Kudo are likely friends? Besides, KID's infamous for having principles. He's not one to hurt others, is he?" Sparrow still sounded skeptical.

Scorpion ran her tongue slowly along her blood-red lips. "Criminals like KID are never loyal to anyone. Not truly. The only one he serves is himself. And that detective, the one who bears justice like a badge of honor? He'll never really let KID go. Their cooperation is nothing more than a fleeting alliance born out of mutual interest. So... if we offer KID the right temptation, the right reward, why wouldn't he trade Kudo Shinichi for it?"

-

Unaware that his identity as Kudo had been turned into a bounty, Conan was at that very moment poring over the latest leads on the explosives case. He was with Okiya Subaru, Agasa, and a wildly energetic Hattori Heiji who had dragged Kazuha all the way from Osaka to Tokyo. Outside, rain ticked against the eaves in a delicate rhythm.

Then, the doorbell rang.

"Who could it be this late? Don't tell me it's Amuro Tooru?" Conan exchanged a glance with Hattori and opened the door.

The person outside had just closed a long umbrella. When everyone saw who it was, the room nearly exploded.

"KID !!!"

"Yo—Osaka's Meitantei is here too, huh? Looks like I've crashed a cozy mid-night gathering," said Kuroba Kaito with a lopsided smile. He stood at Agasa's doorstep dressed like Kudo Shinichi, hands casually tucked into his slacks.

"Sorry, the rain outside's really something. I'd rather not get drenched. Mind if I come in?"

Faced with such a courteous guest, Agasa could only nod. After all, aside from himself, Hattori and Okiya were also present—even Vermouth would think twice before causing a scene in this setting.

Kaito stepped inside, kicked off his shoes, and shut the door behind him. From the pocket of his dark blue suit, he pulled out a sealed envelope and handed it to Conan.

"A confession?" Conan raised a brow, his tranquilizer wristwatch subtly aimed at this thief who had just walked through their door.

Kaito grinned. "Keep dreaming,Meitantei."

"It's Friday. This is my notice for Sunday's heist. Be a dear and pass it along to Inspector Nakamori, would you?"

Conan frowned, sensing something off about KID tonight. Still, he couldn't help but snipe, "Why don't I just drag you straight to Tokyo MPD and let you deliver it personally?"

"No need. I'm afraid the old man might get too excited and won't sleep tonight," Kaito replied with a laugh.

Then Kaito's gaze shifted to Okiya Subaru, who had remained silently poised by the table the entire time.

"Actually, I came here with a request. I need your help."

"Unbelievable! Even KID has to ask for help now?" Hattori exclaimed.

Realizing something serious was afoot, Conan dropped the sarcasm. "What is it, KID? What happened?"

Kaito locked eyes with Edogawa Conan. For a long moment, he said nothing. Then, with a sigh, he spoke:

"Sunday's the day of the heist, and you all will be there... just like always. But this time..."

His voice dropped to a chilling whisper.

"This time, Kudo Shinichi has to die."