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When he received the invitation from Hattori Heiji to a small get-together in Osaka, Shinichi knew it was time to introduce his friend to his boyfriend. After all, the longer he waited, the more likely it became that the two were going to run into each other by chance. And while Shinichi couldn't predict what might happen then, that was kind of the point. The last thing he needed was for either of them to get the wrong idea about the other. Besides, Shinichi was fairly certain that Kaito would follow him to Osaka whether he was invited or not. And Shinichi really didn't feel like introducing a stalker to Hattori as his boyfriend. That would just be…awkward.
The question, therefore, was how exactly he should introduce the two to one another. Should he just be blunt and throw the information out there? Or should he introduce Kaito as a friend and sort of ease Hattori into the idea after the two got to know each other better?
Shinichi was inclined to try the latter approach first and ease everyone involved into the situation as gently as possible. But, knowing his crazy thief, he probably wouldn't be allowed to do so. But that didn't mean he wasn't going to plan.
As the trip drew closer, he came up with a range of possible scenarios and corresponding plans.
The best route, he thought, was to introduce the two then quickly raise a shared topic to initiate some friendly discussion.
Mentioning Hakuba might do the trick, he mused. Hattori couldn't stand the blond detective. Neither could Kaito. The two alphas could bond over their shared dislike.
That could definitely work, but Shinichi could too easily imagine the two putting their heads together to scheme unholy pranks to pull on the blonde. Since Shinichi personally quite enjoyed the blonde's company, he really did not want to be responsible for whatever hell the two saw fit to inflict upon him.
Yeah, best leave their acquaintanceship with Hakuba out of things unless absolutely necessary. If the half British detective did come up, keep an ear out for signs of plotting and quickly divert the conversation should they arise.
Their studies might be a safer topic of discussion. They were all in university after all. Classes, teachers, and classmates would provide plenty of material for conversation, none of which was likely to get overly personal. A few funny anecdotes could be all it took to put everyone at ease.
The problem there was that the moment Shinichi introduced Kaito as a friend from school, the magician was guaranteed to object in order to assert his status as Shinichi's boyfriend. It had happened before. Shinichi supposed it was the alpha's territorial instincts kicking in. Alphas, especially unmated alphas in the midst of courting a potential mate, were notoriously possessive. Add to that the tendency of most alphas to be competitive and things inevitably got complicated.
Shinichi heaved an exasperated sigh.
Maybe he really should have just told Hattori that he'd be bringing the alpha he'd started dating to their little get-together from the start. The problem with that was that doing so would almost certainly result in Kaito being treated to the third degree the moment they arrived in Osaka. And Kaito, being Kaito, would probably respond to being interrogated by a detective by going into full KID mode. His sly, twisty answers and posturing would subsequently raise Hattori's suspicions to all new heights, and the next thing Shinichi knew, the Osakan would be camping out on his lawn to protect him from that pompous, no-good bastard.
It was a tossup after that whether Kaito would be amused and make a game out of sneaking around Hattori to steal Shinichi away or offended and make it a personal goal to drive the interfering alpha away.
Both those scenarios were ones that Shinichi wanted very much to avoid. The former would be annoying and inconvenient. The latter would just be bad.
Honestly, Shinichi thought, life was simpler when you were single.
Food, he decided as he sat beside Kaito on the morning train to Osaka. That was the safest topic he could think of—and it had the benefit of being one that both Kaito and Hattori were enthusiastic about. And they were meeting up for lunch, so it was also a natural topic of conversation.
As for when to actually tell Hattori that he and Kaito were dating… He'd just leave that for right before they set off to go back home. No, he wasn't being cowardly. He was just making sure Hattori had time to digest the information before he reacted to it, hothead that he was. Less chance of someone overreacting and doing something stupid that way. And hopefully the two alphas would be feeling friendly enough towards one another by that point for the revelation of Kaito and Shinichi's relationship not to rouse Hattori's overprotective tendencies.
Shinichi had arranged to meet Hattori and Kazuha just outside the train station. When he and Kaito arrived, however, it was to find that the two Osaka natives weren't there yet. While they were waiting, a pair of young children who had also been waiting nearby started arguing loudly, completely ignoring their harried mother's attempts to quiet them. Taking pity on the woman, Kaito strode over and shocked the arguing kids into silence with an explosion of doves and colorful, wrapped candies. Once he had their attention, he launched into a series of tricks that soon had passersby gathering to watch and applaud.
Smiling at the sight, Shinichi decided to duck into a neighboring café to get them both something to drink.
It only took the five minutes he was gone for his plans to go awry.
-0-
Kaito took his final bows to enthusiastic applause from what was now a sizeable audience. Several people wandered up afterwards to offer their praise in person or ask for business cards, which he happily provided. More than a few also asked for autographs. It seemed several of them recognized him from television. One had even attended one of his shows in Tokyo.
"That was amazing!"
Turning to the source of this latest comment, Kaito hid a double take behind his Poker Face. There, beaming like a child in a candy store, was a young woman with her hair pulled back into a ponytail. He recognized her instantly as that rather obtuse Osakan detective's girlfriend, Toyama Kazuha. A quick look around revealed that she appeared to be alone.
"I love magic shows," she told him, large eyes brimming with earnestness. "But you know, I don't think I've ever seen a street performance that was so exciting."
Ever the proud performer, Kaito beamed right back at the girl. "Thank you. It is truly an honor to receive such high praise from such a lovely young lady."
He swept her a bow then offered her a yellow rose. The girl blushed, eyes all but sparkling with delight as she accepted the flower—only to have it snatched out of her hand by a scowling, dark-skinned young man.
"What the hell are you doing?" the newcomer demanded.
-0-
Shinichi emerged from the café with two cups in hand to the sound of raised voices. He spotted the problem immediately and nearly groaned out loud. Of course Hattori would arrive when Shinichi wasn't there. The western detective had always had the worst timing.
There went Shinichi's hopes for a peaceful introduction.
Exasperated and concerned, Shinichi hurried towards them.
"Is that any way to talk to a lady?" Kaito was saying when Shinichi got close enough to hear them clearly. He was speaking in a cool, reprimanding tone that Shinichi just knew was calculated to get under Hattori's skin. And it did just that.
Hattori drew himself up, bristling. "I dare ya to say that again."
Shinichi cursed silently. Damned alphas and their inability to resist posturing.
"Heiji, we were just talking!" Kazuha exclaimed in exasperation before Kaito could respond. Then she turned an apologetic look to Kaito, voice softening. "I'm really sorry about him."
Heiji looked offended. "Why the hell are you apologizing to him?"
"Because you're being an idiot," the girl shot back.
Hattori's jaw dropped as sheer indignation temporarily robbed him of his ability to speak.
Shinichi took the opportunity to shoulder his way into their midst.
"Hattori, Kazuha," he said brightly. "It's good to see you."
Three pairs of eyes stared at him.
He stepped on Kaito's foot.
The magician's expression didn't change, but, because Shinichi was growing to know him extremely well, he saw the flicker in those indigo eyes that indicated that Kaito had gotten the message. The thief also appeared to have realized that he was annoying the omega he was hoping to mate. With this in mind, Kaito hastily reconsidered his actions.
"Ah, that must mean you two are the friends Shinichi wanted me to meet," he said, affecting an air of surprise. He almost said "Shin-chan" instead of Shinichi but decided it would be wiser all around not to. He couldn't, however, resist slipping an arm discreetly around Shinichi's waist. When the detective's slim frame relaxed ever so slightly, he knew he'd been forgiven. "Sorry. I guess we got off on the wrong foot, didn't we? Here, let's start this over. Kuroba Kaito. Pleasure to meet you both."
Hattori was staring at the magician's arm where it was resting oh so casually around Shinichi's waist like his brain was having difficulty computing the image. Kazuha, on the other hand, smiled and shook the magician's hand, more than willing to play along.
"Toyama Kazuha. And this is Heiji. We're pleased to meet you too." Her elbow rammed into Heiji's ribs just as his mouth opened, and it clicked shut again. "Anyway, we've made lunch reservations at this awesome restaurant. It's a bit of a walk from here, but we've got the time, and we can show you some of the sights along the way—if that's all right with you."
Kaito opened his mouth then hesitated, glancing sidelong at Shinichi.
"That sounds good," the blue-eyed detective said.
"Great. This way then." Grabbing a protesting Hattori by the arm, Kazuha started walking, chattering away as she did so to introduce the various places they passed to Kaito, whom she was clearly assuming had never been to Osaka—or at least had never been properly introduced to the city by a knowledgeable local.
When she cast a quick glance back over her shoulder to make sure that the visitors from Tokyo were following, Shinichi caught her gaze and nodded his thanks. She flashed him a knowing grin.
Shinichi thought with some amusement that it really hadn't been all that long ago that she had been fiercely jealous of him, having mistaken Hattori's protectiveness towards him and dedication to his investigations for attraction. The misunderstanding had started all the way back when Hattori had first discovered his identity as Conan and started helping him. The combination of Hattori's bumbling attempts to be secretive and tendency to blab about him using his real name had only fanned the flames.
It hadn't been until after Shinichi had taken the completed antidote and had a sit-down with the other omega that they had sorted everything out. Once they had reached an understanding though, the two omegas had settled into—if not exactly a close friendship—at least a kind of camaraderie. And, at times like these, Shinichi was truly grateful for that. There were some things (like certain alpha idiocies) that only another omega could understand.
And so, though the meeting had gotten off on a rocky start, the rest of it progressed without a hitch. Hattori continued to shoot Kaito wary looks, but, between the two of them, Kazuha and Shinichi didn't give him a chance to do much more than that. As for Kaito, Shinichi was pleased to see that he was making an effort to behave as well.
Not, Shinichi suspected, that anyone else would see it that way.
Over the course of one meal, Kaito managed to charm both the wait staff at the restaurant and Kazuha, fill the restaurant with live doves, throw an impromptu magic show, and paint a giant smiley face on the back of Hattori's head that sent Kazuha into fits of hysterical laughter every time the alpha detective looked away from her (resulting in a rather comical routine during which she would laugh, he would look at her then look away to find what she was laughing about only to have the whole thing start over again).
Later, when Shinichi pulled Hattori aside while they were waiting for the train back to Tokyo, the Osakan detective spoke before he could.
"You two are going out, aren't ya?"
Shinichi blushed but nodded. "We are."
Hattori grimaced. "I figured. Seriously though, what in the world do you like about that maniac?"
Shinichi thought about this for a long moment before saying simply, "Everything."
Hattori made a face like he couldn't believe what he was hearing, but then he sighed. "Well, I guess that's all right then. But just so you know, I think he's crazy."
Shinichi could only laugh.