Chapter 38: Kaito Kuroba
"Huh?" Kaito Kuroba scratched his head. "What Shinichi Kudo? I don't know him. And what Ran-neechan? I don't know her either. Kid, are you sure you've got the right person?"
"Hmm? Ran-neechan? Tell me more, kid."
Aoko Nakamori's eyes narrowed suspiciously (0_o), her gaze sweeping over Kaito.
"No, Ayumi's mistaken. You're not Shinichi-niisan, right?" Conan rushed in to smooth things over. "You're probably just someone who looks a lot like Shinichi-niisan."
"Kid, it's that guy who looks a lot like me, not the other way around." Kaito Kuroba lifted Conan up unhappily, his deadpan eyes staring at him.
Although he didn't know Shinichi Kudo personally, he was clearly aware they looked alike, given Shinichi's recent media attention and high profile.
"Heh, it's clearly you who looks like Shinichi-niisan!"
Conan's inexplicable competitive spirit made him unwilling to back down.
What's there to be afraid of? With Natsukawa-san here, this guy who looks like me will get knocked down with one punch.
"Natsukawa-san!"
Conan called to the Detective Boys' shuttle bus driver. "This older brother is going to bully me!"
How embarrassing ×3
This thought popped into the minds of Conan, Natsukawa, and Anya simultaneously.
Natsukawa didn't move, and Anya chuckled.
Conan was still being carried.
"Watch your mouth, kid." Kuroba Kaito was a little unhappy, but he still put Conan back on the ground, clapped his hands, and said:
"My name is Kuroba Kaito. I'm not the kind of arrogant detective who always shows off that he's the savior of the Metropolitan Police Department. That guy hasn't shown up lately—could it be that he offended someone he shouldn't have while investigating a case and got... taken care of?"
Just like my father.
He didn't say this out loud, but just thought it to himself.
"If you know Shinichi Kudo, you should advise him. Being high-profile isn't always a good thing."
As he spoke, Kuroba Kaito put one hand in his pocket and pushed Nakamori Aoko toward the counter with the other.
Does Phantom Thief Kid have the nerve to call others high-profile?
Natsukawa couldn't help but think. What thief sends a notice before stealing? Besides, Phantom Thief Kid probably has more fans than Shinichi Kudo.
Phantom Thief Kid should be the one keeping a low profile.
Oh, wait a minute.
At this moment, he probably just learned that his father, Kuroba Toichi, disappeared eight years ago as Phantom Thief Kid, and hasn't officially taken over the profession yet.
Natsukawa remembered hearing Franky talk about Phantom Thief Kid a few days ago. He seemed to have just inherited the profession and was getting familiar with the identity—his official debut probably wasn't far off.
Japan is such a strange place. Even Phantom Thief Kid is inherited from father to son.
A politician's child becomes a politician, a banker's child becomes a banker, and Phantom Thief Kid's child becomes Phantom Thief Kid. Kudo Yusaku is clearly a novelist—detective work is just a side hobby. Why did his son inherit the detective profession instead of becoming a novelist?
It's a question worth pondering.
"What a strange guy, Kaito Kuroba," Conan muttered, his appetite completely gone, his attention entirely focused on the two people at the counter.
"Does Conan know Shinichi Kudo?" Natsukawa asked with a faint smile.
Conan nodded, not asking why Natsukawa hadn't rescued him earlier—that scene had been really awkward, the acting too forced and fake.
"In that case, you must tell Shinichi what that guy named Kaito Kuroba said. I think what he said makes a lot of sense."
"Okay!" Conan replied cutely. "I'll tell Shinichi-niisan."
Hehe, dissing my main account in front of myself, then pretending to be innocent and cute. So funny.
At the counter, the childhood friends were ordering.
"Hello, I'd like a family bucket, two hamburgers, two colas, and a serving of fries."
"Hey, don't order so much—it's wasteful! We definitely can't finish it. Do you really want to become a chubby old lady?"
Bang!
Kaito Kuroba's head was slammed onto the counter.
"Huh?" Nakamori Aoko looked surprised, covering her mouth and saying somewhat 'embarrassedly,' "I thought your head could do escape magic too. I'm so sorry, Kaito~"
"N-Nothing, I'm made of steel. This little bump won't hurt me." Kuroba Kaito grinned, a red mark appearing on his left cheek, clearly showing Nakamori Aoko's strength.
"Aoko, have you been practicing karate lately? How come you're so strong!"
"It's probably just that you're weak." Nakamori Aoko glanced at the menu behind the counter, putting her finger to her lips. "Doesn't MOS Burger sell fish? I wanted grilled fish."
"Please, MOS Burger only sells fried chicken. Are you doing this on purpose? You know I hate fish the most, even cooked fish."
"Hmph."
The flirtatious banter at the counter left Natsukawa speechless.
This lovey-dovey act shouldn't go on forever! It's time to stop!
"Let's go after we finish eating." Natsukawa looked at the five children of the Detective Boys, making sure they were all full, before taking them home.
By the time he dropped Ayumi and the other two off, it was already quite late.
It's been a busy day.
Flying a helicopter during the day and driving a children's shuttle bus at night—today has been far too fulfilling.
"Conan, we're here."
"Okay, thank you, Natsukawa-san."
Conan, carrying his little backpack, got out of the car looking preoccupied and headed toward the stairs of the Mouri Detective Agency.
Natsukawa was about to turn and drive home when he heard Anya's exclamation.
"Ah! It's Bond! Bond ran away! Papa, look!"
"Really?" Natsukawa was a little surprised. Bond was usually quite well-behaved—why would he run off to the main road? Was it because he hadn't been walked for the past two days and was bored at home?
Following Anya's pointing finger, Natsukawa indeed saw a large dog. Its fluffy white fur made its entire body appear much larger. It was sitting at the entrance of Café Poirot, its eyes fixed on something.
"Bond?" Natsukawa called out.
"Woof!" the dog barked, turning its head.
Confirming it was his dog, Natsukawa unlocked the passenger door. "Anya, go check on him. I'll park the car in the garage first."
"Okay~"
When Natsukawa parked and arrived at the entrance of Café Poirot, he saw Anya and Bond squatting in front of the café's floor-to-ceiling windows, staring intently inside.
"What's wrong?"
Natsukawa asked.
"That lady is so pretty," Anya pointed to someone inside the café.
Because it was late, Café Poirot was almost closing, and only two people were sitting inside—a man and a woman.
Were they on a date?
He recognized the woman. She was the one he'd exchanged glances with twice yesterday.
If the man hadn't been wearing a suit, Natsukawa might have thought he was a boy. He looked very young, like a middle school student at most.
"Okay, Anya, that's very impolite~" Natsukawa picked up Anya and patted Bond next to him, signaling him to go home.
This guy seems to have opened the door and run out by himself.
All the windows had been closed properly, except for some dog hair left on the doorknob. He seemed to be quite intelligent—at first, Natsukawa had thought Bond might have jumped out of the second-floor window.
"Hey, what are Anya-chan and Natsukawa-san doing? Would you like to come in and sit down?" Enomoto Azusa poked her head out, looking at the two people and the dog at the door. "Are you taking Bond out for a walk?"
"We're just out for a walk. It's getting late, so we won't bother you by coming in."
Natsukawa scratched his head, a little embarrassed.
I can't let her think we're standing here staring at the coffee shop like perverts—that would definitely be misunderstood.
"I see!" Azusa said, but her eyes followed the direction Anya and Bond were looking.
"Hmm? Are you looking at Forger-san and her brother Yuri-san?"
"Hehe, it's probably because they're also drinking cocoa. Kids shouldn't drink cocoa every day. I told Anya-chan not to, and this is what happens."
"Indeed, too much cocoa isn't good for kids. The shop's closing soon—I have to get back to work. Sorry!" Azusa smiled, didn't say much more, and turned back to the coffee shop.
Natsukawa smiled and nodded, looking down at Bond.
"Hurry up and go!"
But the dog didn't move.
Helpless.
Natsukawa carried Anya in his left arm and Bond in his right, hauling them both back home.
(End of Chapter 38)