Chapter 2: Equations

A kind reminder: all aren't always good,
Not everyone will be friendly to you,
Only those you trust, and even then, they might
Wipe their masks off their faces. Betrayal is an equation.
"Kaitou KID has recently sent out a card, declaring a challenge at the police for the recent media debut jewel, 'Apollo's Tear'."
"Eh? So he strikes again?"
"Well, it is a nice jewel; both the colours and the shape are aesthetically pleasing." Yoshi, overhearing the muttering, replies to the rhetorical question as he moves to Kudou's side.

"You really should stop butting into people's businesses."
"It's hard when someone's words can be clues to who they are truly and what will happen next."
It's also hard talking to this also-a-genius forensic-based teen who doesn't really like detectives that much.
"Look," Kudou sighs, "KID sent the card. I'm going."
"... Don't get hurt." there comes a flash of worry across Yoshi's face; however, Shinichi didn't notice. He turns his head and walks away as he says, turning his back to the detective. Though Yoshi doesn't like the concept of cracking cases like cracking codes, as a human to human, he does appreciate Shinichi to be back without a scratch.

It isn't the first time Shinichi faced KID. When he was Edogawa Conan, he had plenty of encounters with KID.
What an odd guy... He thought as he watches the figure walking away. KID's heists are pretty crucial for the "KID Killer" he is; even if he didn't come, other people would call him to join them there. He glances at the reported card. Black characters on white surfaces spell out the heist code, a somewhat secret message for someone like him to understand.

He had thought of the criminal a lot, a confusing guy, actually. Why doesn't he steal the jewels? What does he mean, "This isn't the jewel I'm looking for"? What gem is he looking for? The thief isn't an ordinary thief, but he is crafty, nimble and adventurous. He also doesn't seem to be a bad guy; he doesn't want people in danger; this guy protects people's secrets, including his. He also reveals secrets that shouldn't be kept out of the light, like frauds and illegal activities. Shinichi doesn't want to admit it, but KID isn't a bad guy, but rather an exciting guy to chase. He is a detective that likes to solve mysteries, a detective that wants to untangle the impossible to reveal the possible, and this particular magician criminal interests him. Though cases are interesting, too, KID is also something that he doesn't want to miss. 

Shinichi is famous for cracking cases and cracking tricks, and Nakamori is renowned for disliking these clever young men with cocky attitudes. And in the police side, they are trying to decode the message, or rather, understanding it. It is frustrating for people to understand literature, as interpretation is hard to do: You know all these characters, then you put them together, and you suddenly don't know what they mean. This is infuriating for Nakamori, especially because notes like this could tell many things, and picking which one is key, but the fact is that he doesn't like picking. Why do you need to choose when you can just write it clearly as it is? I just want to do things, actions, not reading poetry and riddles! That is his reason to feel angry, and it is very reasonable.

"DAMN YOU, KID AND HIS HEIST NOTICE! DAMN YOU!" He curses as he looks at the newspaper, looking at the headlines of "KID STRIKES AGAIN!" and "WILL APOLLO'S TEAR BE STOLEN?" in bold characters on greyish, sandy paper, the aggressive rustling of papers brushing against each other turns more aggressive. It then eventually stops. It was sudden, abrupt. Nakamori tears the piece apart out of rage. He stands up, shouts out the most enthusiastic and furious cheer to his men, "WE WILL SUCCEED IN CAPTURING KID, NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES IT TAKES!" The office suddenly becomes loud, with his men shouting back in agreement. This is their day.

That being said, what is the notice actually about?
At Artemis's prideful day,
Apollo's Tear clears away
As the god reunites with his lover,
A man he could never forget.
Emotions fluctuate situations and relations; the opposite way is also accurate.
"Fans of KID had interpreted that KID might be in love with a man and are rather disappointed. Some, however, congratulate KID for finding love in their life." The MC of the news, with a lovely tone, pronounces every word soundly with an assuring note that it is all true and what was said. "This was only the people's interpretation and not the police department, and sadly, we have not received any information from the police departments of their interpretation of the heist note."

"KID, having a lover? That would crush their fandom instantly!" Shinichi exclaims.
"It wouldn't." A cold and slick voice replies, stabbing through the air, "From what this situation looks like, I think more people would support them instead."
"That makes no sense!"
"This world doesn't. Get that in your head before anything else."
"Haibara!"
It always seems frustrating to talk to Haibara Ai, also known as Miyano Shiho. She will be in Middle School this fall after refusing to take the antidote for the poison APTX 4869. Reason? Because she wants to go through childhood again, "reborn and relive", as she had said. As Shinichi started to remember how they fought the organisation head-on, how they can overcome these challenges, returning to the world he used to live in, always helping the police force. They are about to finish their third year in Teitan High, and Shinichi had to fill out this ridiculous form about what he would consider his future career. Yoshiaki, the new guy who transferred in the weirdest time of year, has already chosen his career as a forensic scientist, meaning he'd be joining the police force. He doesn't know what Ran or Sonoko wrote either, which makes him even more frustrated. What is my future? He asks himself as he sighs in disbelief. He'd never thought it'd be this type of question that would stump him; he also didn't know it'd be this soon.

"The new guy seems more responsible, logical and understanding than you are." Haibara continues to tease the detective.
"He's also apathetic."
"No, he isn't."
"How did you know that?"
"I actually met him during a Saturday afternoon, when I had to go shopping. It was before the schools have started their first day of classes, and he was walking by and bumped into me." She glances at Shinichi, "Naturally, I stumbled back and dropped on my bottom, and he held out a hand to me. Guess what he said."

"What did he say?"
"'Sorry about that, it was my fault. Are you hurt?' How could that be apathetic?"
"But that doesn't give any information-"
"Hear this: 'People all have rough lives; I wouldn't deny to have one myself, and you probably do, too. The world isn't all bad; it's just that it isn't made for everyone. For me, the reason I wanted to follow my parents' footsteps was that I wanted to be like them: to bring justice through evidence and facts.' Again, what type of person would do that if they cannot empathise or sympathise with people's feelings?"

"Alright, Haibara, you won."
The debate soon came to an end. There wasn't much to argue in the first place, and it was clear that Haibara was convinced of Yoshiaki being a nice guy.
"Fine. Do whatever." He mutters as he turns off the TV.
Meanwhile, there are four shadowed figures. One is cleaning the dishes, their glasses flicker, reflecting the only light source outside the kitchen; the other is typing on a laptop, their glasses flashing the words they are writing, as the keys clutter with rhythm and melody. The last two figures are together, wearing hoodies, smiling in a dark alleyway, unclear of what they had done or are doing. These people are spread across Tokyo, but they are all connected by what is known as "fate".

All these characters will meet at some point in time, tied by one event.
Everything will come together. Everything.