Kaito wasn't home. When they were at the wizards' meeting that time, many had remembered his father. When it became known to them that the boy wanted to follow in the footsteps of the famous magician and had already practiced diligently, they offered him an appearance during Advent. At this event, young magicians presented themselves to a larger audience for the first time. It was kind of a stepping stone, because many organizers came to find out the real talents and to fool themselves in their minds. Many well-known magicians also came to watch every year, because they often saw at first glance who would one day have their own show, but also who would be better suited to being an assistant or who would create tricks. That was not meant in a derogatory way, but there were just a few who simply lacked the charisma of a magician and where it was foreseeable that they would not be able to attract an audience.
The young wizards knew that, of course, and were accordingly nervous.Everyone except Kaito. He wasn't excited at all. Hasn't he been delighting huge crowds with his magic for years as the Kaito Kid? This appearance couldn't really bother him. His mother was with him. Unfortunately she had refused to assist him and the reason was easy to understand if you knew the background.
"We recently had a joint appearance as Kaito Kid and Die Diebische Magpie. It was seen all over Japan and the magicians in particular looked at it with interest. They would see through us if we were to perform together now!"
Kaito had to accept that. He knew his mother was right. So an assistant to a well-known magician would give him a hand. He wasn't as attuned to her as he was to his mother, who had taught him most of the tricks, but nobody knew that. That would change his own pattern too and the risk that he would be seen through was less.He was last in line. That could be a disadvantage because the tricks were usually similar after all, and so the audience's attention waned. But since, unlike most of the other young magicians, he had practiced a rather demanding program, he saw this as his chance to stand out from the others.
And that's how it happened. From the first minute of his appearance, he had the audience in his hand. Loosely and with an incredible charisma, he surpassed all his predecessors. The audience followed his movements, trying to figure out the tricks, but couldn't. At some of the demonstrations even the seasoned magicians were amazed because they couldn't figure out how it worked. Hibarue sat among them and smiled about it, because it was actually their inventions that made them so excited.
So Kaito got a lot of applause when he bowed at the end of his performance. And it was clear that this was the beginning of a great career.He didn't have to worry about the future, you noticed at the latest when the agents' offers came. But Hibarue put them off until later. The artist is still too young and has to get through school first. That was then accepted, if not exactly pleased.

***

After the official part of the evening, the well-known magicians sat together with their young budding colleagues. The atmosphere was fantastic and Kaito felt very comfortable. At that moment it became clear to him like seldom before that Kaito Kuroba's career was more important than that of the Kaito Kid. But at the moment the thief had priority over the artist. He exchanged a look with his mother, who nodded at him with a gentle smile. Despite the poker face he was wearing, she could have guessed his thoughts. She was also having a great time, even if she kept her mouth shut, as if she had no more insight into magic than a former assistant could. Nobody here knew that she outstripped most of them and nobody should know that either.Suddenly one of the other young magicians stormed into the room.
"Listening times!" he shouted. "They're doing something on TV about a challenge to the Kaito Kid. This Shinichi Kudo and Sagura Hakuba are doing an interview about it."
“What?” Kaito looked surprised and jumped up. "That can not be true!" he stammered in disbelief. Fortunately, he wasn't the only one who uttered something at a high volume and so his words were drowned in the general buzz of voices. Almost everyone rushed towards the door. There was such a crush that Kaito could only wait for a while. His mother stood next to him.
"Didn't Shinichi tell you about this?" she whispered to him in amazement.
He shook his head. "No. He didn't. We talked to each other on the phone before the performance. He wished me good luck!" He was a little angry about Shinichi's actions, but then the anticipation slowly gained weight when he saw it thought he was allowed to perform as the Kaito Kid.Finally they could get into the TV room. You were at the very back while the challenge was on. Saguru Hakuba was talking while his fellow detective stood by, nodding in confirmation. The red-brown haired detective was holding a package. "This is my gift to Kaito Kid. I want to catch him, but I haven't forgotten that he saved my life. But just giving him this gift would not do him and his skills justice. Then he explained that they would hold a meeting of many well-known detectives and that the master thief in the midst of all those who wanted to catch him should get his present from the top of a large Christmas tree.
Kaito's eyes began to twinkle with enthusiasm. "Super!" he laughed. "This is a gift to the Kaito Kid that is second to none.
One of the young magicians looked at him, shaking his head. "The detectives won't stand a chance against him. It would be more logical if wizards tried to catch him.We know his tricks in contrast to these detectives! "
But someone else did not agree with that. "At least this Shinichi Kudo has already proven that he can see through and torpedo the plans of the master thief. After all, we got to know him and his brilliant thinking at the wizarding meeting.
Involuntarily, the eyes turned to the son and wife of the once so well-known magician. "What do you think about that?"
Hibarue smiled. "At least Shinichi Kudo is a really brilliant detective. But as I understand it, the Kaito Kid will not only be dealing with him. He is a brilliant thief who can use this to deliver a masterpiece of his work. the brightest minds in Japan will try anything to catch him. "
One of the young wizards laughed in amusement. "The Kaito Kid will play cat and mouse with you because he will dress up as one of them and they will suspect each other.Nobody can then trust their counterpart! "
That sparked a general murmur that could be heard for approval.
Kaito looked at his mother in amusement. He suspected that Shinichi had intentionally bent it so that it would appear to be impossible on the outside that he could get the gift, but in reality to leave everything open to him and to enable him to do the trick to accomplish. He agreed with the boy. "You're right, Kurio. He'll make it. It's just a shame we can't be there!"
He looked at him questioningly. "But you can. You are friends with Shinichi Kudo. If you ask him, you can definitely come along."
"Right!" he nodded. "But at Christmas I want to be with Mama and Shii. As much as I would like to watch Kaito Kid at work, that's more important to me. At Christmas it's always as if my father is still with us. I don't want to miss that. "
Hibarue gratefully lived a hand on his shoulders.Although of course she knew only too well that her son would not be home for the holidays this time. "I'm also happy not to be alone then."
Everyone present understood that. They nodded in confirmation.
"Fine, but I think the televisions will be running hot at this time of year this year. Didn't Shinichi Kudo sell the Kaito Kids and The Thieving Magpie gig to TV and donate the proceeds to a good cause? I'm sure he did." will repeat! " you could finally hear a voice in the background. It was Chii.
There was a murmur of approval. But then the meeting broke up and everyone drove home.
Chii looked confused at Kaito. "Didn't Shinichi Kudo really tell you about it? I don't think it's okay that he just schedule you like that, little master!"
He laughed in amusement. "No! He didn't say anything, but he knows very well that I love such challenges and that I am only too happy to meet them!"In his mind he was already starting to make plans. He quickly came up with a rough idea of ​​how to proceed. But he would still have to ask Shinichi which detectives would actually be invited. After all, the idea was one of them closed Not that bad at all, a mischievous grin lay on his face and his mother knew that the assembled detectives would have to be prepared for a lot.