Work Text:
The sound of pages being flipped echoed throughout the agency, its pace varying from fast to slow. Everyone else is asleep, but they won‘t even hear all the noises.
NEWS
KID the Phantom Thief has returned!
It‘s all only about KID and Sleeping Kogoro. Conan thought. He kept searching from the oldest newspaper to the new ones. That teenage detective wasn‘t talked about anymore. He‘s no longer in the spotlight, no one to acknowledge his intelligence, no one to talk about him.
What am I even doing? Conan sat straight back up to look through the window, the newspaper now on the table in front of him. The stars aren‘t visible.
With Kudo Shinichi gone, why would this country give a shit anyway?
Conan took off his glasses, putting it onto the table. Young Shinichi appeared when he gazed at his reflection in the window. Those eyes of curiosity, knowledge, all wiped down by cars passing the street. Now only dulled eyes stared back.
Why was he even trying to search for his own name? He should‘ve been focusing on more important things.
But it won‘t hurt to try and see if I‘m still seen.
And it was a waste of time.
“Kudo! Where are ya right now?“
Conan flinched from his phone, then sat back up from his futon. “It‘s 3 AM. What‘s so important you had to call me at this time?“ And why a video call?
“Can‘t ya see that I am in Tokyo right now?“ Heiji showed a place behind him.
“That‘s nice.“ Conan laid back down, tugging his blanket closer. How is Pops still asleep? He looked back at the bed behind him. “So you just want to invite me to some case and solve it?“
“See ya then! I got a train to catch up to.“ The Osakan boy hung up, some 5 seconds to realize that for Conan.
He could‘ve just texted me. Conan stared up at his ceiling, his phone on his chest.
“So you actually did want to take me to solve a case.“ Conan glared up at Heiji, getting a shrug as a response.
“I mean, I doubt that ya want this. Hell, I‘d just pass but ya went and actually came here with me.“ Heiji crouched to Conan‘s height, getting a slight flinch from him as Heiji got closer.
“So, what‘s this about now.“ The pseudo child lowered his voice, in order not to attract any attention from the grown-ups.
“They say tha‘ the clues were almost non-existent. Forensics searched everywhere near the crime scene and found only a picklock, an unused one at tha‘.“ Heiji whispered as he got even closer, Conan took a small step back.
“Probably just them not doing their job properly.“ Conan replied, now hands in his pockets.
A conversation came from rookie police officers, heard enough for both to notice it as they turned their heads to the sound.
“Sheesh, even Sleeping Kogoro came. Smallest cases and you‘ll see the famous detective all riled up to solve it.“
Some words got cut off by people all around the warehouse, until they heard a name.
“Kudo Shinichi? Ah, that highschool detective?“ The officer mumbled. “Pretty sure he‘s been replaced now. Look, that sleeping detective has solved much more cases than that kid. Is he dead or somethin‘?“
“Maybe he‘s just possessed by that Kudo kid.“ Both burst out laughing.
“Ya heard tha‘?“ Heiji finally stood up. “Tha‘ guy‘s basically taking your place.“ He looked down to Conan, who was still staring in the same direction.
“Kudo?“
Conan blinked. “Oh. Uhm— yeah. A picklock. So, no evidence other than that? Let‘s just check out the scene.“
“Kudo, you sure ya ain‘t cursed or somethin‘?“
They walked out the crime scene, or rather, a warehouse. “You‘re asking me that now?“ He deadpans. “After all these cases I had to solve?“
“Been thinking about tha‘ for a long time.“ He scratched his head.
“I mean, sure. I don‘t usually believe in curses or— weird stuff like that. But right after I turned into Conan, I might even start believing it.“ He forced out a small laugh.
“Right. Also, don‘t ya get tired from like, all these cases?
Back to his habit, Conan rested his hands in his pockets. “What do you take me for? I‘m just some human being, of course I am.“
“And yet ya never get credit for solving them.“ His tone went an octave below.
Shinichi stopped in his tracks. Both hands on his sides.
Pretty sure he‘s been replaced now.
“Yeah.“ His eyes now laid upon the floor.
Heiji also stopped to look back at Shinichi. “Yeah. Um, I‘ll catch up to ya later.“
“Mhm. See you, Hattori.“
After all, he‘s no one important.
He never changed the world or invented anything. He never had proper friends and a wide connection between important people. He was just a highschooler anyway. One who does not know when to mind his own business.
He got what he deserved. All arrogant for what? His fame taken away?
Shinichi rested his head on his palm, looking at a newspaper, finally about him. It was old, but he had finally seen his own face. After all those months avoiding the mirror who reflected none of himself.
Nonetheless, he threw the newspaper away.