Kaito Kid turned his head, only to see a beautiful girl with long black hair sitting casually on a flying broomstick, flying alongside him.
It was none other than his classmate and the legitimate successor of Red Magic—Koizumi Akako.
"Akako?!" Kaito Kid exclaimed, both surprised and delighted, "What are you doing here?"
"Of course, I'm here to save you, Kuroba Kaito."
Akako brushed back her wind-tousled hair, a charming smile on her face,
"My crystal ball told me that a certain show-off thief would encounter a bloody disaster tonight. As a classmate, I can't just stand by and watch you die, can I?"
She glanced at the helicopter still circling below, "Dont worry, It's just a little illusion, that should keep them busy for a while."
"Perfect timing!" Kaito Kuroba sighed in relief, expressing his genuine gratitude, "Thanks, Akako! You've been a great help!" Without Akako's magic, he would definitely be in grave danger tonight.
"Don't thank me so fast."
Akako circled Kaito on her broom, a smile in her eyes as she said, "My divination didn't just show me about tonight event. Regarding your actions on the Suzuki family cruise ship on April 19th..."
Kaito's heart tensed, "Cruise ship? What about it?"
"The scene in the crystal ball isn't very good, Kaito-kun."
Akako's tone carried a hint of schadenfreude,
"I saw you, surrounded and bullied by a group of unscientific beings, crying pitifully."
"Unscientific beings?" Kaito frowned, not entirely trusting anything from Akako, who loved to have fun, "What does that mean?"
"Literally," Akako leaned in closer, lowering her voice with a sense of mystery, "Like vampires, banshees, werewolves, and such. Without my help, you'll probably suffer terribly on that cruise ship, and your end will be quite tragic, you know." She deliberately drew out the last syllable, emphasizing the word 'tragic'.
"Huh? Vampires? Banshees?"
Kaito's first reaction was to think it absurd, but Koizumi Akako, as the successor of Red Magic, was quite unscientific herself.
Akako was capable of summoning the King of Hell, Lucifer.
If demons exist, then vampires, banshees, and werewolves appearing in this world would also be normal, right?
Kaito Kuroba recalled Vivian's appearance.
Pointed ears, fangs.
These features could belong to either a vampire or a banshee... Could Akako be referring to her?
"Wait!" Kaito's expression changed slightly, "You're not by any chance talking about... that Mockingbird woman?"
"Who knows?"
Akako shrugged noncommittally, a slight curve to her lips,
"Maybe it's her, maybe it's something else. In any case, the cruise trip is fraught with danger, far beyond your imagination. So, Kaito-kun? Do you need my protection?"
Kaito looked at Akako's "come beg me" expression, and his mouth twitched.
He knew this witch's personality too well, arrogant and narcissistic, she loved to prank and have fun.
Although she was willing to help him, her help was never free.
"Ahem," Kaito cleared his throat, trying to maintain his composure, "Um... Akako-san, since you divined the danger, as a classmate, shouldn't you..."
"Should I what?" Akako raised an eyebrow, interrupting him, "Actively help you? Without expecting anything in return? Kuroba Kaito, have you forgotten who I am?"
She tilted her chin up, displaying a queen-like arrogant expression, "The successor of Red Magic has no obligation to do charity. Want my help? It's simple—beg me."
Kaito "..." He knew it! Akako was definitely going to take this opportunity to tease him.
Seeing Kaito's constipated expression, Akako was in high spirits. "Come on, say something nice. Like, 'Akako-sama, please help me,' or something similar?"
Circumstances were against him.
Kaito weighed the threat of supernatural creatures he might encounter on the cruise ship and ultimately chose to follow his heart.
He took a deep breath and quickly said in a mosquito-like hum, "Akako-sama, please help me."
"I can't hear you! No sincerity at all! Too quiet, with such a small voice, you still want to be Kaitou Kid?!"
Akako dug her ear, displeased, "Speak louder, from the bottom of your heart, with full respect! Call me—Akako-sama!"
Kaito's forehead twitched. Looking at the helicopter still circling below, but seemingly showing signs of breaking free, and Akako's expression of enjoying the show, he endured!
"A... Akako-sama..." Kaito almost squeezed out these words through gritted teeth, his voice a little louder than before.
"Hmm~ That's more like it."
Akako nodded in satisfaction, her eyes curving into crescent moons,
"Though it's still a bit lacking, this Akako-sama is in a good mood today, so I'll grudgingly accept it."
She changed the subject, extending a slender, fair finger to gently tap her full, alluring red lips, looking at Kaito with a seductive gaze,
"So, how about an 'advance payment'? A kiss full of gratitude and sincerity? Right here." she pointed to her lips.
Kaito's face instantly flushed red. "Hey! Akako! That's impossible!" Kissing? Don't even think about it!
My first kiss can only be for Aoko, no! What am I even thinking?!
"Oh? Shy?"
Akako chuckled, seemingly having anticipated his reaction. Her finger moved from her lips to tap her smooth, delicate cheek,
"Then... a kiss here is also fine? A cheek kiss, surely that's acceptable? This is already a big concession, you know."
Kaito shook his head. "No! Absolutely not!" Not even a kiss on the cheek! This witch was definitely doing it on purpose!
A kiss on the cheek can only be for Aoko, no! What am I even thinking?!
"Neither this, nor that..."
Akako sighed dramatically, feigning disappointment, but a sly glint flashed in her eyes.
She suddenly lifted a slender, beautiful foot clad in a black stocking, and elegantly... began to take off her stocking?!
Under Kaito's dumbfounded gaze, Akako slowly and deliberately removed a black stocking, still warm from her body, then wiggled her fair, white foot.
A look of regret appeared on her face:
"Alas... it seems your reverence for this Akako-sama is still insufficient. This is already the last resort. If it really won't work... you can kiss here too."
She extended her calf, bringing it close to Kaito Kuroba's face, with an expression that said, "You're getting off easy,"
"If you agree, I'll help you sort out the trouble on the cruise ship. Otherwise... Hmph, you'll have to fend for yourself, Kaitou Kid-san~"
The night wind blew, and Kaito Kuroba was petrified on his hang glider, looking at the swaying, tender white foot before him. He felt a dizzying sensation and let out a silent roar in his heart.
What kind of devil's bargain is this?! I absolutely will not agree!
If it were Aoko, I'd... Bah, bah, bah! Not even if it were Aoko! What am I even thinking?!
It's all Akako's fault; she just loves to tease people.
I will absolutely not compromise! Absolutely!
(Additional note: Originally, I thought some settings could be conveyed through the plot. But people keep asking, so I'll specifically clarify here.
Regarding the characteristics of the people of Zenless Zone Zero, and under what circumstances certain people can see them: Due to the world's will correction [T/N: Plot BS], in the eyes of the natives, the Zenless Zone Zero characters they see conform to their perception.
For example, Conan believes in science, and in his perception, people don't have tails, so he can't see them. Only when he is particularly weak or mentally disoriented can he notice something amiss, like in the chapter about Jane Doe's tail shadow.
However, in the perception of Koizumi Akako and Kaito Kid, supernatural beings exist, so the people of Zenless Zone Zero appear as they originally are in their eyes.)