Kaito pulled away as quick as he had kissed Shinichi, clearly flustered with himself.
"A-ah I am so sorry...! I didn't-"
Kaito cut himself off as he looked up at Shinichi, the latter now bright red and covering his mouth with the same shocked expression.

"Kuroba, why on earth would you...!!"
Shinichi's voice was cracking behind his hand. Kaito's expression turned from shock to horrible guilt.
"I'm so sorry. I am so so sorry Kudo. I-..."

For a second, both just stared at each other, Kaito still clinging onto Pandora within his pocket and Shinichi trying to digest what the fuck just happenened.
Studying his expression, Kaito obviously felt terrible for kissing someone without consent, and Shinichi couldn't help it. Finally, he started chuckling, which evolved into fullblown laughter. The more dumbfounded Kaito looked, the less the sleuth could control himself.

"S-Shinichi are you okay...?"
"I hate you."
Grabbing Kaito's shoulders, Shinichi closed the last bit of distance and rested his forehead on Kaito's.
"Alright. I should have deduced this would happen. KID- No, Kaito, I..."
He paused for a moment, then chuckled again.
"Fine. You win. You've got Pandora, you've kissed me. I hope you're happy."

A little startled, Kaito backed a step away. Well Shinichi didn't seem mad, so that was a good sign was it?
"You owe me a proper date. Then I might consider your proposal."

...

Well that was the last thing he expected to happen.
"Earth to Kuroba?"
Shinichi waved a hand in front of his glazed eyes, only to be met with two startled blinks.
"A date?" was the only two words that managed it past Kaito's lips.
"A date." Shinichi stated again, hoping it would finally click.

With two arms wrapping around him, Shinichi found himself pulled into a bear hug.
"A date!! Yes!! A thousand times yes Shinichi! I'll make it the best most spectacular date ever!"
Laughing, Shinichi embraced Kaito as well, resting his chin on the magician's shoulder.
"Very well. But I'd be satisfied with a good slice of pie and a coffee as well."
"You know that's not how I work. But..."
Kaito paused, smiling like a moron at this point.
"I will... take it into consideration."

"Hey, what are you two doing here?!"
Both parted from their hug to turn around, coming face to face with a pouting Aoko. It was a view the girl came to face, a red blushing Shinichi, and her best friend shaking like a leaf.
The adrenaline was unbearable at this point.
He had Pandora, and he had a shot with Kudo Shinichi.
"Aoko!! Happy birthday again!!"
Kaito flung himself at the birthday girl, tackling her in a bone crushing hug to twirl her under lots of voiced protests around.
"H-HEY WHAT HAS GOTTEN INTO YOU?! T-thank you but let me down!!"

Laughing, the two of them turned back to Shinichi who stood to the side with an amused smile.
Ah, so lively.
"Very well, I believe we should enjoy the party. We have a special birthday girl, after all. Kaito, I believe you are prepared?"
"Oh I am so prepared."

Dragging the protesting Aoko out of the front doors of the hotel lobby, Kaito motioned for the sky. And as soon as his fingers snapped, rockets shot up into the night, illuminating the sky into a mix of the most brilliant colours.

Shinichi knew, Kaito could have never been sure he would make it through the night. But knowing he set this up, not only as a birthday gift to Aoko, but as most likely his last and final birthday gift to her, Shinichi couldn't help but feel a few butterflies within his stomach.

Kaito would never go out without a bang. In those few days he had gotten to spend with KID in private, as Kuroba Kaito, he had seen a kind of love and care this individual had, that he hadn't noticed in a lot of people since quite a while.
And with the stupidest smile on his lips, Shinichi let himself disappear in the party crowd who was eagerly watching the nightsky.

This evening couldn't have gone any better.

***

"Well well well, I haven't seen you this excited in a while."
Haibara was quietly tugging at Shinichi's collar, fixing it up a little.
"Could you say for yourself you are going on a date with Kaitou KID?"
"A wonder he even has time for that considering the heists he had already sent notice for- he still has to perform for a few more heist notices."
Shinichi's smile fell a little. Right. That idiot did send out a few more before that fateful evening. How he was managing on this lack of sleep, Shinichi didn't know. Ah, but he wasn't any better.

"I'll help him, then."
"Forgetting something?"
"I know what he does is illegal, but this time it's all just for show. A... special goodbye."
Haibara chuckled, then stepped down from her stool and instead plopped down in her office chair.
"KID would never go out without a bang."
"Indeed indeed. Ah- he should be here any second. You think he will let himself in as usual?"
"Who knows? Maybe he might learn some manners." Haibara paused, then shot a toothy grin up at her friend. "Also I hope I don't have to remind you to wear protection."

"We are going for coffee, Haibara. Shut it."
Shinichi was a little red in the face by now and probably would have argued a little more if it wasn't for the doorbell ringing.
"Ain't that a surprise..." the girl mumbled, watching Shinichi scramble up the stairs to get to the door."

Shinichi opened the door to find Kaito standing there in a leger attire, a grin on his lips.

"Well, shall we?"

[The End]