Magic Kaito Volume 1

Chronology
N/A	List of Chapters • List of Heists	Magic Kaito Volume 2 ›

Volume 1
Information
Release date:	May 15, 1988 August 5, 2011 (reissue)
ISBN:	ISBN 4-09-122081-9 ISBN 4-09-123276-0 (reissue)
Publisher:	Shogakukan
Back Cover Image

Magic Kaito Volume 1 was released on May 15, 1988 in Japan.

The Revived Phantom Thief

Characters introduced

Kaitou Kid
	Mysterious thief

Aoko Nakamori
	High school student Kaito's childhood best friend

Kaito Kuroba
	17 years old High school student Magician

Ginzo Nakamori
	Inspector in charge of Kaitou Kid taskforce Aoko's father

Toichi Kuroba
	Original Kaitou Kid Magician Kaito's father Deceased

Chikage Kuroba
	Kaito's mother

Konosuke Jii
	61 years old Kid's assistant Toichi's assistant and friend

Gadgets introduced

Card Gun
	Kid's gun that shoots cards

Heist info

Eye of the Moon
	A jewel worth 400 million yen

Chapter 1

It's just another average day in Ekoda High School Class 2-B as childhood friends Kaito Kuroba and Aoko Nakamori chase each other around the classroom after Kaito peeks at Aoko's underwear. Kaito seems pleased with himself until Aoko says that even Kaito couldn't beat Kaitou Kid, a thief known for using magic. Kaito takes Aoko up on this challenge and says he'll catch Kaitou Kid himself and disappears from the classroom. Meanwhile, Aoko's father, Inspector Ginzo Nakamori sees a news report that Kaitou Kid plans on stealing a gem called the Eye of the Moon.

Sitting in his room after school Kaito sees the news report on TV as well. Hearing that Kaitou Kid has reappeared after he suddenly vanished eight years ago reminds Kaito of his father, the famous magician Toichi Kuroba, who passed away eight years ago in a stage accident. While thinking about Toichi, Kaito puts his hand on the portrait of his father hanging in his bedroom and suddenly falls through the wall as the painting flips around. Kaito finds himself in a hidden room and a recorded message on a tape recorder left behind by his father. Unfortunately the tape is old and breaks but then Kaito discovers an unusual outfit. At the same time, Aoko is visiting the Kuroba household and speaks with Kaito's mother Chikage Kuroba in an effort to find out Kaito's weakness. Curious about his father, Kaito puts on the white cape and hat and decides he'll go to the Kid heist to meet him and get some answers.

  Show spoilers »

Kaitou Kid successfully steals the Eye of the Moon and works on making his escape only to encounter Kaito dressed in a similar outfit on the roof. Kaitou Kid is surprised and tries to fool Kaito with a magic trick. Using the trick he used on Aoko earlier and his card gun, Kaito successfully unmasks Kaitou Kid and reveals Kid's trick of using mirrors on his body to seemingly make his body disappear. The unmasked Kid falls to the ground in shock and in tears calls Kaito by his father's name. The man named Konosuke Jii who was an attendant of Toichi's reveals his plan to wear the Kaitou Kid outfit in an effort to lure out Toichi's murderers. Alarmed, Kaito asks Jii about Toichi's death and whether or not Toichi was Kaitou Kid. Jii tells Kaito the truth just as the police manage to make their way to the rooftop. Kaito decides to act as bait to allow Jii to escape and declares himself as Kaitou Kid.

The next day at school, Kaito is looking at the Eye of the Moon in his hand when Aoko suddenly appears with what Kaito's mother has revealed to be Kaito's weakness: fish. Frightened, Kaito accidentally drops the Eye of the Moon in the fish's mouth and then begins shooting at the fish with his card gun. Aoko yells at Kaito to knock it off and asks him if he knows how much the fish is worth. Kaito surprises Aoko by telling her "400 million yen". Later that night Inspector Nakamori discovers the Eye of the Moon in the fish his daughter brought home for dinner.

The Police Are Everywhere

Heist info

Beaucoup de Soleil à Paris (Lots of Sunshine in Paris)
	Europe's largest diamond Currently belongs to Princess Anne

Chapter 2

Princess Anne arrives in one of Japan's airports, bringing along several national treasures, including Europe's largest diamond, "Lots of Sunshine over Paris". Her siamese kitten and constant companion, Belmonde, runs off, only to pinned by several bullets shot by Europe's top detective, Delon. Delon has a reputation for being ruthless and deadly, shooting criminals that try to run. Inspector Nakamori, who is part of Princess Anne's police guard while she's in Japan, arrives intent on finding the shooter, only to be put down by Delon for allowing Kaitou Kid to escape so many times. Delon issues a challenge to Kid to come after the diamond.

In class the next day, Kaito reads an article about the challenge and temporarily disrupts math class with his enraged reaction. Aoko thinks he's looking at Princess Anne's picture rather than the challenge, and he teases her for being jealous. She denies it, claiming she's worried for Nakamori, who thinks he might be removed from the Task Force if Kid gets away from him again. Kaito childishly insults Nakamori's competency, and he and Aoko exchange insults.

After school, as Kaito walks home without Aoko's company, he notices Nakamori sitting just off the path on the grassy embankment, looking depressed. Kaito asks what's wrong and Nakamori explains about the Task Force, Delon's interference, and his inability to predict Kaitou Kid. He apologizes for complaining, then asks Kaito to show him a magic trick, since Aoko always talks about Kaito's skills. Kaito gives a brief show and lesson on sleight of hand, and the hint that Kid's tricks are no more inexplicable than Kaito's.

At the heist that night, Delon guards Princess Anne with an even greater number of the police than the Task Force would. Kaito sneaks in under the disguise of "Count Groper", garnering Delon's suspicion. Outside, Nakamori has realized that more officers is exactly what Kid wants, because it makes it harder to see through his tricks.

  Show spoilers »

Kaito as the "Count" visits the restroom and summons the officer assigned by Delon to watch him by crying for help. Immediately after, Delon is summoned by the officer's cries that Kid is there. He finds the officer stripped to underclothes and tied up, who says Kid changed into a uniform and headed for the exhibit. Once alone, the officer turns out to have been Kid, who retrieves the real officer's uniform from the stall where the man was left tied up and gagged. Kaito removes the officer's facemask disguise but uses the authority of the uniform to summon all the soldiers to the exhibition hall, including the soldier's guarding Princess Anne by wearing Delon's face.

In her room, Princess Anne complains about the rigidity of her security and wishes for company to pass the time just before Kid sneaks in and announces his presence. Meanwhile, Delon realizes Kid's trick and that Kid is with Anne, after the treasure. Princess Anne tries to convince Kid to keep her company for a while, but he explains the rush and charismatically asks to borrow the jewel, promising to return it after an hour. Anne agrees to Kid's plan.

When Delon and the officers arrive, she directs them to a dummy-Kid escaping out the window. Delon shoots and explodes the dummy's blimp. Kid tries to escape before Delon sees him in the background, but the jewel shines in the dark and gives away his position. Delon shoots, but hits the diamond. Delon dismisses the other officers to limit Kid's escape, and hunts Kid through the dark of the room. Kid tries to trick Delon with multiple LEDs emitting fake lights, but Delon hones in on the diamond, which shines in a cross pattern. He lunges at the light, and right out a window he's previously shot the glass out of -- Kid had been hugging the building outside and dangling the diamond off his foot.

With the danger gone, Kid hides Anne to keep her safe, and makes his escape with a flirtatious compliment. The officers are directed to find Delon, caught on a projecting flag pole, and Anne heads outside, informing Nakamori that Kid is on the fourth floor and she intends to stay at a different hotel for the night. Nakamori looks up, and sees Belmonde still in the fourth floor room, and realizes "Princess Anne" is actually Kid. At Nakamori's command to hold Kid, the officers dogpile them both, and Kid escapes. Back in his suit, he pauses to proclaim loudly how Nakamori always ruins his plans and he wishes he were off the team, before vanishing. Nakamori finds the diamond left in his hand, and the headline the next day proclaims Nakamori's first success against Kid.

People

Princess Anne
	Princess of the Duchy of Sabrina

Belmonde
	Princess Anne's cat

Detective Delon
	Famous European police detective Known for shooting criminals

The Clockwork Heart

Heist info

Unset Gem
	Unnamed small gem

Chapter 3

In a crowded laboratory, an eccentric inventor berates his creation for acting on its own initiative, only to be defied and gruesomely killed by what looks like the Kaitou Kid. At Ekoda High, Aoko asks why Kaito wasn't at school the previous day, only for Kaito to recoil and ponder aloud his own reaction to her, tentatively concluding that it might be because he loves her. The entire classroom is knocked speechless, and Kaito leaves to return to the isolated Ogami Electronics Laboratory, where the real Kaito has been restrained and connected to some equipment.

The robot asks Kaito why he has to pretend to be Kaito, but insists he's human when Kaito calls him out as a robot. Kaito asks after the scientist, and is horrified to learn that the robot doesn't understand even the concept of human death, thinking he merely "broke" the scientist. The robot also doesn't understand why he was reprimanded for acting according to his parameters -- the scientist didn't realize the robot has Kid as well as Kaito programmed into his operating program. The robot decides to download the rest of Kaito's memories to try to understand, not realizing that it takes more than memories to make a human.

The robot even phones Inspector Nakamori with another heist notice, and sets a timed explosion to destroy the isolated laboratory with Kaito still inside. The robot truly believes that he is Kaito Kuroba, and plans to "take over the world" as Kaitou Kid. At the heist that night, the robot uses extendable arms to steal the gem and escapes to the next building, proclaiming himself to be Kaitou Kid.

  Show spoilers »

The real Kaitou Kid managed to escape in time, and confronts the robot, who responds with firing guns built into his arms. Kid counters with the card gun, slicing away the robot's false face. A missile explodes part of the building, trapping Kid on the corner as the robot explains it can respond .4 seconds faster than any move Kid makes. Kid tests the announcement, only to be shot in the right arm. Picking the gun up in his left hand, rather than aim at the robot, he aims the card gun at his own head. The robot's automatic response is to blow out its head core, before Kid has to pull the trigger all the way.

The robot falls as Kid proclaims that the world needs only one Kaito Kuroba… and confirms the robot's question that it is going to "die". The robot repeats that for that, it really must human, and explodes as Kid turns away with his hat pulled low. Nakamori arrives to the ruins of the building to find a note that returns the gem and declares the night's heist to be an impostor's work. The next morning, Kaito greets Aoko at school, only for her to blush deeply and avoid him. Confused, Kaito doesn't even know how to react to the rest of the class celebrating their "wedding" with banners and confetti.

People

Professor Ogami
	Murdered Mad scientist Attempted to create a human

Robot Kaito
	Created by Professor Ogami Designed to look and act like Kaito Considers self to be human

Kaitou Kid's Busy Day Off

Heist Info

Angel Crown
	A crown adorned with various jewels

Chapter 4

Kid arrives for the Angel's Crown, only to be caught by a police spotlight that gives Inspector Nakamori a good view of his face. Kid escapes with a flashbomb but leaves a note that he'll return that Sunday evening. The next morning, Aoko asks Kaito out on a date, despite Kaito's automatic insults to cover his embarrassment. He relents at Aoko's teary-eyed begging, only for her to set the date as Sunday evening at Tropical Land. Aoko denies any true romantic feelings to her inquisitive classmates, privately recalling that in order to counter Nakamori's suspicions of Kaito's face and magical prowess, she swore that Kaito was going on the date she just finagled. She wonders, but doesn't want to believe Kaito could be Kid.

At Tropical Land, Kaito worries that Aoko or Nakamori suspect his identity, but to Aoko's delight, he does show up. Aoko tries too hard to play up the effects in the park and her "typical date" reaction to them, which Kaito foils every time in a deadpan lack of interest. Aoko finally loses her temper at his behavior, which cheers Kaito right up since she's finally acting like herself. They go on to enjoy the park together.

  Show spoilers »

When the time of the Kid heist approaches, Kaito plans to use a 3D movie as a chance to slip away without Aoko noticing — until she handcuffs his arm to a chair. She asks him to stay just a little longer, confirming to Kaito that Nakamori suspects, and Aoko might too. However, he leaves the handcuffs attached to an inflatable dummy's wrist and sneaks out anyway.

At the heist site, as Kid tries to steal the crown, Nakamori manages to grab him and remove the hat and monocle, only to reveal Kid with Aoko's face. Kid boasts that he can become anyone, especially Nakamori's friends and family, including Kaito. Kid escapes, pursued by an enraged Nakamori and the police, and arrives at the park with little over a minute to reach Aoko. He hitches a ride on the outside of the park-encircling roller coaster as the movie reaches its climax, and falls through the roof of the tent into his seat just before the lights rise.

Aoko doesn't seem to notice anything is wrong (including the scrapes Kaito picked up in his desperate return), and sees Nakamori on television challenging Kid with a sense of relief. She declares that Kaito is just Kaito after all, and buys them both ice cream to celebrate.

The Underwater Pirate Ship

Chapter 5

Off the coast of Japan, Aoko scuba dives while Kaito worries about her air. When he berates her once she finally returns, she retaliates by showing off a fish she caught underwater. Kaito freaks out before the fish is suddenly speared by the boat captain, who says it was poisonous but insults Kaito for not being able to appreciate the beauty of the ocean. Aoko agrees, and mentions a beautiful, shining coral that she saw, which catches the captain's interest. He asks her to take him there, and she ignores Kaito's sudden bad feeling and returns to the water with the captain.

  Show spoilers »

Left alone on the boat, Kaito discovers a time bomb and barely makes it off the boat with scuba gear before it explodes. He follows, narrowly avoiding schools of fish and a massive, sleeping shark along the way. In his surprise at seeing the shark and irritation with himself for freaking out, Kaito hits it with a flipper before following Aoko and the captain to what appears to be a submarine trapped in a jagged part of underwater cliff.

Aoko and the captain enter the boat. Unbeknownst to Aoko, the captain is already familiar with the sunken vessel. She explores eagerly until she finds a room full of skeletons and treasure, just before the captain knocks her out, apologizing that he has to kill her to protect the secret of his boat. Suddenly, Kaito appears as Kid, reading aloud from the ship's log. The captain is called Silver, and his father was captain of this pirate ship before mutiny occurred.

Silver threatens Kid with a gun, and when Kid manages to steal it instead, Silver threatens Aoko with a knife. Their standoff is broken by the massive shark's reappearance outside, hunting them, which leaves them with two apparent options: stay until the already thin air inside the ship runs out, or become shark food. Silver seems to give up hope, but Kid tries to convince him that it is possible to surface the ship. They form a tentative alliance, with Kid trusting Silver despite the previous threats. They work to repair the ship, but soon Kid starts to grow faint from lack of oxygen. With one last, desperate attempt, and a heartfelt appeal to the ghost of his dead father, Silver manages to restart the ship. He torpedoes the rocks holding the propellers trapped and the ship rises to the surface while the shark is crushed by falling rock.

Silver and Kid celebrate in the fresh air, but then Silver tries to backstab Kid. Kid appeals to Silver to be an honorable sailor rather than a pirate, but Silver clings to his past. Suddenly, the ship's engines explode, which Silver privately takes to be a sign that his father is angry, confusing him. Kid remembers that he saw an aircraft hanger and get it onto the deck with Aoko sleeping inside. He yells at Silver to jump on as well to escape, but Silver chooses to die with the ship rather than give up what he dedicated his life to protect. He tells Kid to figure out was Kid has to protect, and goes back into the sinking ship.

Left with no choice, Kid leaves Silver behind and pilots the plane back toward land. As Aoko stirs groggily, Kid smiles faintly and ponders what he has to protect.

People

Silver
	Diver Pirate

The Scarlet Temptress

Characters introduced

Keiko Momoi
	High school student Aoko's friend

Akako Koizumi
	High school student Witch

Chapter 6

Using mirror-magic, the teenage witch Akako Koizumi discovers that one man is immune to her charms, and thus to her aspiration for all men to be her slaves -- Kaitou Kid.

The next morning is Valentine’s Day, and Aoko shyly offers Kaito chocolate, though she tries to pass it off as feeling sorry for him. Kaito, initially oblivious to that fact that it is Valentine’s day, runs off before Aoko can finish her offer. Keiko teases Aoko for liking Kaito, though Aoko tries to deny it, and Keiko mentions that all the other boys only want chocolate from the new student, Akako Koizumi. Keiko dislikes how she’s acting like a queen, though Aoko admires her for being pretty and ladylike.

Kaito gleefully arrives with his arms full of chocolate from other girls at school, and asks Akako for one from her, as well. Akako slaps Kaito’s chocolate to the floor and demands he throw it all away before she’ll give him any. To her absolute shock, Kaito refuses. As the teacher sends everyone to their seats, Akako remembers that only one man can refuse her, and swears she’ll unmask Kid.

  Show spoilers »

Akako steals Kaito’s handkerchief after school and uses it as part of a complicated spell. Meanwhile, Kid attends his latest announced heist and accidentally triggers a trap of anesthetic gas. He nearly succumbs to sleep before Akako uses the result of her spell, a voodoo doll of Kid, and the pain from her attack wakes Kid back up. Through the magic, she promises Kid that if he comes to her, she’ll stop his pain. As Kid tries to figure out her identity, she wounds the Kid doll’s head, and Kid’s sudden scream and blood dripping down his face shocks the police enough that Kid manages to escape with a smoke bomb. Nakamori looks at the blood trail Kid left behind, and seems worried.

Kid stumbles through the forest, following Akako’s siren call, only awake despite the anesthetic still in his system because of the pain. He arrives at Akako’s house, where she awaits him on a throne with the Kid doll in hand, and declares that she’ll destroy his dignity by stealing his heart. Kid answers that she’ll catch a cold in clothes like that (a midriff-baring top and leggings), a gentlemanly gesture that amuses Akako to no end that he still tries to play the “Kaitou” even in so much pain and when she already knows his identity.

Kid approaches, intent on taking the doll, and is trapped in a previously hidden magic circle. Akako declares that Kid will be her slave, and answers Kid’s comment about her spoiled behavior with a lightning bolt that sparks flames around the circle. With pain from the doll and heat from the magic pushing him to his limits, Kid considers eating the chocolate heart Akako offers him, even though the cost is losing his heart to her forever. However, at the last minute, snow begins to fall and cover the magic circle, nullifying its power. Shocked, Akako can only watch as Kid crushes the chocolate.

Akako rants at Kid’s lucky escape, since Kid’s magic is nothing but common trickery, while hers is the real thing. Kid agrees, but also explains, with the illustration of a trick, that his magic is in the audience enjoying it despite knowing it’s not real. Kid pities Akako for trying to use magic this way, and says he believes she’s better than that. He escapes, leaving Akako to determinedly not cry, because a witch that cries will lose all her power.

Kaito cheerfully arrives at school the next day and asks for Aoko’s chocolate. Aoko refuses, as unless it’s on Valentine’s it isn’t special. Kaito appears confused, and reveals, to Aoko’s shock, that even after yesterday at school he still doesn’t know what Valentine’s Day is.

Omake

In this volume, Aoyama includes "bloopers" of each chapter:

The Revived Phantom Thief

  Show spoilers »

• Kaito: "You mean dad was the Kaitou Kid!?"
• Director: "Cut!"
• Kaito: "What did I do wrong?!"
• Director: "The monocle's on the wrong eye, idiot."
• Kaito: "Whoops..."

Filled With Policemen

  Show spoilers »

• Director: "Princess Anne is up!"
• Aoko: "Okay! I can't believe I have to play two parts because of our tight budget. Oh my!"
• Director: "Cut! Does the princess wear a school dress!?"
• Aoko: "Oopsie..."

The Clockwork Heart

  Show spoilers »

• Kaito: "That's because I l-l-l..."
• Director: "Cut!"
• Aoko: "Love you?"
• Kaito: "In your dreams!"

Kaitou Kid's Busy Weekend

  Show spoilers »

• Kaito: "Ah! Ow...."
• Director: "What?! The cameras didn't get it!? Alright, people, let's take it from the top!"
• Kaito: "What?!"

The Underwater Pirate Ship

  Show spoilers »

• Director: "Cut! Who put that goldfish there!?"

The Scarlet Temptress

  Show spoilers »

• Akako: "Director, I can't wear this costume!"
• Director: "Just wear it!"
• Aoko: "How cruel! Who do you think you are?!"
• Director: "But I'm the director! So just go!"
• Akako: "Okay then. Now, become my slave!"
• Director: "Cut! I need more feeling!"
• Akako: "But that was so cruel to say..."
• Aoko: "NOW, BECOME MY SLAVE!"
• Akako: "Aoko-chan!?"
• Aoko: "Just like that! It's easy!"
• Director: "I should have cast her..."

Treasured Edition gallery

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  DVD cover

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  Postcard

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See also

• Magic Kaito Volume 1-4