"Ranran, bad news. Yoshi is here, and he is demanding you meet him."

"What!? Is he serious right now?" she scoffed in class, before she said to Reina, "He shouldn't be allowed to enter within school premises, to begin with, now that he voluntarily transferred to another school permanently."

"But somehow he manages to tell security he is here to collect his stuff before moving into a new school, so...."

Is Reina bloody serious right now!?

Ranran couldn't help but sigh as everyone's eyes seemed to be focused on her in class, especially a concerned Takuma, "Man, I knew he is a dick, but whom knew he be just like his mother, such a pain-in-ass?" he gritted his lips before returning to his friend, "Ranran, why not I suggest you call the cops onto him? He isn't a student here anymore, after all, so he has no right to make unreasonable demands to meet you."

"It's because he is a 6-year-old kid like us that I can't do it. If it was his mother I could've easily done so, since there is no reason for an adult to remain here now that her son is gone. Anyway," she sighs once more as she stood up, "I am gonna deal with this problem once and for all."

"But Ranran, what if it were a trap to frame you?"Takuma grew worried.

"I been in this trade far longer than he did, if he thinks he can frame me, he has no idea what I am capable of." she reassured him before turning to Reina, "now tell me where is the moron so that I can go tell him off."

......

Ranran marched towards the music room, her face of determination was pretty evident as other kids walk by, her mind exploring her options as to how to deal with this Yoshi. Should she call his father? His father is an influential figure who cares about his reputation, so much so, if he finds out his son is being unreasonable....it might be enough. Ranran's only concern now is how much of an influence his wife has over him, considering the both of them didn't end on good terms when she confronted her in school. If their marriage is good, using his dad is pointless as he is likely to side his wife over her.

"Alright, "Ranran then fish out her smartphone, tapped around before selecting an app as she grins, "If I Livestream this and shared this on our school confession page, let's see what he has to say."Upon sliding through the door with her phone in her hands, she was expecting a horrified little boy for exposing his misdeed.

Much to her surprise, instead of Yoshi standing before her, it was a little boy whose face resembles hers. This made her eyes grow wide, "Seriously? I thought it was odd that the student council called me out of the blue."She narrowed her eyes at him before stopping her Livestream and shoving her smartphone back into her skirt pocket.

"That's your response?!"Shinichi was in disbelief over the lack of remorse she had since the break-in, "On someone, you nearly killed with your own hands!?"

"Or else what were you expecting? Should I go 'Oh no, he is alive! I should silence him before he tells everyone I pointed a gun at you the other day for breaking into my house!"Ranran mockingly acted like Shinichi.

"I ain't that overly dramatic like some duke in distress, mou!"He spluttered at her impression of him.

"Yeah right," She sneered, "it was the exact impression you showed that night."

"You pointed a freaking gun at me! A real gun! Who wouldn't be in my shoes!? Plus, no kid would just aim at another kid with a gun!"He cried in anger.

"Any person would, "He looked at her as she justifies, "especially when one knows a little girl is living on her own with no adult around."

Before she knew it, he had a bitter expression on his face.

She can tell he is in a bad mood, probably from the scolding he receives from his parents after breaking into her house."So you lied to Reina about wanting to meet me just to confront me, huh?"Ranran silently stared at Shinichi's expression, his eyes covered by his bangs. She pondered his motives for calling her out here. He is definitely here to show his displeasure towards her.

"I.....hated you, "Shinichi replied with words of annoyance.

"Hah?"

That maliciousness in his voice, which is almost like a....half-hearted expression of brutal honesty, is directed at her, and Ranran has trouble finding the correct reply for it. Knowing that she was at a loss and trying to say something, Shinichi opened his mouth again. The voice sounded annoyed, but more like sulked than before.

"I hated you, for being so talented than me, you could've solved cases even without relying on our family connections if I may be honest myself. Yet, even if that were the case, you have managed to solve actual serious cases all on your own without relying on anyone later on, and build all of this from ground zero despite that."

Is he praising her?!

"I've always thought I was the best, that there be no one worthy unmatched...till you came along and ripped everything under me like you intentionally tripped me under a carpet where I stood. Naturally speaking...I resented you over that I am no longer the smart one in the family."

Those words, spelt by Shinichi's mouth, changed her perception of him completely, so much she couldn't hide her surprise.

He thought that he was probably the greatest Tantei boy no one has ever known for... The best.

Then she came along, and he saw that there's nothing special about him... What a twist for him - or, to put it badly- he just realizes she is better than him, and that terrifies him.

For a moment, she thought she was being stared at, but she couldn't sense any feelings of malice or jealousy... She thought that's the way he feels about her, judging by what he said early.

It's rather--

"I wanted to be Holmes. I respect him so much, I always tell people 'I am Holmes apprentice' rather than 'Sherlock Holmes' because that is how much I worship him."He didn't allow her to speak."But as much as I want to pursue my tantei dream, this school I am in, even the kids around me, all of them, teachers alike...I shouldn't say the S-word, but-"

"They are...stupid?"Ranran guessed.

".....they ain't, they are just....slow. No one can catch up to my thinking."He sighs.

"Not even Ran?"

Judging from his lack of response, Ranran decided not to bring it up, as he switch the topic, "As you know....as sharp as I am, I found....opportunities on solving serious cases around me are pretty....bland."

"Let me guess, solving missing lunch boxes, missing wallets-"

"....I think we can stop from there now."Tense silence."What I don't get that made me mad about you is this," Shinichi shakes his head, "You are good at it, why don't you choose to show your face before the public as Sherlock Holmes would?"

Ranran doesn't respond at first. It wasn't just Shinichi who pointed this out, this conversation had surfaced multiple times, amongst her friends, her family, even her supposed fans she gained through the media which she had no idea about till recently. And that bothered Shinichi, she is so talented in her way, yet she opts not to show her real face in front of everyone."When I found out about the existence of 'The Fox' in the newspaper, along with your vanishing act, and the cases you solved without relying on your parents. I felt: I want to know more about that Tantei world she was in."

"When you say you wanna know, you meant-"

"Take me as your apprentice."

Ranran scoffed, stopping in her tracks. "Apprentice? In what?"

"Of the fox."

"Are you joking?" she asked, and she was honestly stunned. This was not what she was expecting," after breaking into my house accusing me and stuff, you have the audacity to ask me to take you in as your apprentice?"

Shinichi closed his eyes, "Yes, I am even willing to discard my pride over this."

Ranran observe him and noted he didn't seem to be hesitant when he requested the idea, "You know....there are easier ways for you to do the thing I am doing. You just need to ask the adults in this family just like I do, you didn't need to go that far and work with someone as difficult as me.."

"I don't," he agreed." however, it is easier to get around the tantei world with someone's experience, let alone, my age so I can get a better understanding rather than bothering the adults."

She closed her eyes, taking a second before starting, "You will interfere-"

"I limit to say, and that is about it. No interference unless necessary," he promised. And then just because he knew it would give her the satisfaction to hear him beg for her, he added, "Please."

.....................................................

"So he asking to be your apprentice!?"

"Yes."

After school, Ranran headed home to talk to her online friend 'O' on her computer, since 'K' has to stay back for his school activities and she feel like he can give better advice on what she is dealing with. It was 3 pm, and right now should be the time for 'O' to prepare for school, as in the U.K, 3 pm here is equivalent to 6 am.

Sitting in front of the computer, she summarized what had happened, starting with the stalking, to the break-in, then with the unexpected offer.

Meeting 'O' was unexpected since her move to Japan, considering she didn't think making friends outside her home country was possible. At that time, when she opened her social media account, she did it to get intel through her school's confession sites and only posted mundane things.

That was until 'O' sent her a friend request.

Now Ranran's social media account never showed her real face, she only had a fox as a profile pic and nothing much to show for it. And she was smart enough not to put in her real age, cause that be plain stupid to do so. Ranran researched his FB page, where he claims to be an 8-year-old boy studying in the U.K, with no actual photos of how he looks like; only a picture of an Owl to go about.

Initially, Ranran assumed his account to be spam or a bot, so she attempted to remove it; only to end up with a PM from him, where his message read:

"I saw a w̵h̵o̵r̵e̵  hole nearby the bar."

If you haven't posted a picture of a hole here, people would've gone out to bash you for insulting someone. Do it right.

Yup, her online friend is a grammar nazi.

As much as she didn't like being told off that she is in the wrong, Ranran is admittedly thankful that he pointed out her mistake in wording (she blames auto-correct and her naive young age (4 years old) when she typed it down. Presumably, it was thanks to him that she noticed the error despite being a stranger to her at that time, she accepted his friend request and they bonded over many things. Mainly the U.K, as well as school life.

Based on the conversations they had, it appears that he happens to be a 7-year-old boy."So the same boy who broke into your house to expose you to stir clear from the case...is seeking an apprenticeship?"

"Yup, that sums about right."

Ranran can imagine 'O's face had an expression of shock, then anger, followed by annoyance reading this."What were your response?" the message read.

"I say I will think about it."

"And why did you say that after what he did? Did he apologize?"

"Well.....he didn't."

".....but?"

"He admitted he envies me as 'The Fox'."

"You ain't considering taking him in because he praised you, right?"

"You would've think I would be the type to get easily swayed by a couple of cheap words about me,"Ranran chuckled, before adding, "But honestly, I feel like I needed to tone down my workload with the jailbird case. Considering that boy is smarter than average, he will do just that."

".....however?"

"He comes with his own baggage."

"Well if you put it that way, his bad blood with you is something to consider. If one day neither of you can tolerate one another, he can use whatever he finds about you and use it against you."

"That ain't the issue as I have more up my sleeve in case it happens."

"....then what were you referring to when you mention 'baggage'?"

"How should I put this..."Ranran moved around her body on the large computer chair, "No 1, he has....his own fans."

".....he is good looking, isn't he?"

 "To a point that even the Fanclub is even made in his honour."

"Oooooh....that's....awful. How many members are there in total?"

"500+."

"And this fanclub....is made up by the kids at your school, correct?"

"Yup."

"All girls?"

"Yes."

"Oof, how many are there in total?"

"....you want me to mention the number of members from every grade in our school?"

"Wait-what!? You mean to say.....it doesn't just include 6-year-old kids like the both of you!?"

"Nope, all the way up to the 12-year-olds to be exact."

"So...like the equivalent of a middle schooler?"

"Middle school, senior high, college.....I can't recall how far the line goes, but I think we can just say they are all students studying at Teitan Elementary, Junior and Senior High School."

"What....." Seeing 'O's' typing status on the computer monitor, Ranran could tell he has a lot to say about this. "H-how....is this even possible!?"

"That is the second thing I am about to announce, his parents..... are celebrities."

"Celebrities?! So like, an actor, model, athlete, or....."

"I ain't going to go into detail since we are online friends, but all I can say is they are famous enough that even the high schoolers are fans of theirs as well."

"Wow....that is a very big baggage in existence."

"Which leaves me to say the third one, and this one is the biggest, his two delulu friends-no wait, probably his soon-to-be-ex-friends being a huge problem."

"....why? Are they famous too or something?"

"Oh no, if anything, they are way too average."

"Then....."

"One of them....is born into a rich high profile family. Probably could've won 'Friend of the Year' award because of her undying devotion to make her friend's dream a reality."

"....her friend?"

"The second soon-to-be-ex-friend apparently....seems to have feelings for the boy in question."

"Oooooh."

"Yup, they are that type of character."

"The boy....does he like her in return? The second one?"

"Not to my knowledge, which is a bit surprising to me, really."

"Why?"

"Cause....considering that they are both friends since kindergarten, I always assumed that he enjoyed working as their slave."

"That is a very rude thing to say, don't you think?"

"Not really, I can list a couple of things he has done for them in the past. Openly in class too."

"Like what?"

"The one who had a crush on him, one time, she was physically exhausted after she was done attending the martial arts club, I saw him carrying her big water tumbler into the classroom." 

"Well, those are pretty much common sense things one would do for a friend, no?"

"The other one who came from the rich family, one time got into serious trouble when she forgot to do her homework, so she demanded from him to copy her homework to avoid getting scolded by our form teacher."

"....to be fair, don't we all do that sort of thing?"

"True, but there were times when he offered to teach her, she refuse to learn and say she might as well just copy and go, because it would be easier for everyone than just simply waste their life away studying." 

"....oh. Well, that sounds....not ideal, I suppose."

"Then there was this other time when I use to have a decent classmate, I swear to you, she is a nice person. Requested him to teach him certain Japanese language basics, and he was more than happy to help. Just then  without warning, that rich girl then headed over to his desk and was saying things like he had to go with her, because the other friend was already waiting for them to have lunch since it was recess."

"And how did he reply?"

"He was like that never happen, and I know it's true, because he is a terrible liar. Regardless, she insists he forgotten about it, then with a grab of his elbow, he was dragged away out of the classroom, never to return till recess ended. And mind you, it kept on happening until the girl's family moved away."

"And was he happy about it?"

"I am pretty sure not, because I heard him arguing with the rich friend across the school hallway, demanding to know why she did what she did. But that incident is nothing compared to the other one. This one involving a couple of things: A sub-teacher, a overseas trip souvenir, and above all: Sharing."

"Okay, now I am curious, please elaborate."

"To cut a long story short, our class have a bit of a tight knit relationship with the teacher, that when she was about to head to France on a holiday, when she asks do we want anything, I suggested to her purchase this imported macaron which she later took back and distribute it to everyone. This is where the crush, the rich friend and the boy in question had a bit of a dilemma, when the girl who liked him decided to chug the entire macaron without properly enjoying it."

"And let me guess....she began eying on that boy's macaron, didn't she?"

"Yes."

"....please don't tell me he just let her have his portion?"

"I don't know, what do you think....?" Ranran wanted her online friend to guess this rather predictable ending.

A long pause, then around 3 minutes in a message popped up, "He enjoys being their slave, huh?"

"That was what I assumed, till he broke into my house the other night," She responded, "You know, kids like him....are so prideful, that even if one willingly helps the other without complain, I always assumed he would eventually grow to be a teenage boy who is a willing lost cause, because of his choice of friends. However...."

"What?"

"I'll freely admit, I wasn't expecting him to praise me after what I did to him. Judging by our bad blood history.....it takes a lot for someone to put aside their pride to even say such a thing. He may not have apologized, but he did acknowledge that his pettiness is the reason why he did what he did."

"That's true now you mention it, rarely does one admit their mistakes. If I were him, I would've confronted you and threatened to expose your misdeeds rather than the other way around."

"Right?"

"But weighing the good and the bad......what do you think?"

"Personally if I were to take him in, I have my work cut out for me."Ranran begin listing the cons," Considering his supposed colorful love life, his two baggage is what I am worried about. And I won't beat around the bush, I may end up expecting more interference episodes in the future if O were to take him in as my apprentice. Also, school life ain't gonna be smooth sailing for me."

"But if I was not mistaken, why not just go upfront to the two of them and say your true relations with him? Surely with that, this would've been enough to put those rumours about you being raised under the same roof as him to be married of to bed."

"About that...."

"Yeah?"

Ranran exhales," Due to circumstances that I can't divulge further, stating any of this would warrant my death."

"Seriously!? Also, aren't all of you too young to be talking about love!?"

"You'll be surprised, back in my previous school my class used to talk about things like that constantly. I was only 3 at that time."

"Jesus."He then typed a face screaming in fear emoji in response, "Did 'that incident' your mother caused decades ago-"

"As I mentioned before, yes. Due to that incident, I can't say a word."

Ranran waited for him to respond, but he ain't typing it at the moment. She is certain perhaps he is probably trying to catch a bus right now to school since he did mention he had to take a bus there. Finally, after a while, he responded with, "I think you should do something before having him as an apprentice."

"Like what?"

"Give him a couple of tests. Cause I still think if he wants to be one, he needs to prove it. Also, it wouldn't be fair that those 'girl problems' be piled up on you like that, considering the root of the problem are all traced back to him. You have a jailbird to catch, you cant let his problems be in the way while digging into it."

Ranran knew he had a point, she had thought about this for a long while since Shinichi requested to be an apprentice. Test huh.....that gives her a couple of ideas she has in store.

........

By Thursday, the two Kudos planned to meet up around 7:40 pm around the road where they meet. Just before Shinichi left his home, he had one last breakfast with his dad before his dad fly overseas while his mother is still in the master bedroom packing the bags. The tension had subsided between mother and son, after all, she can't stay mad at her son for life.

Father and son silently having their meals before he began to ask, "So Shinichi, I notice you are finishing your breakfast quickly. What gives?"

"Well...I made plans to meet with someone."

"Eh!? Meet someone!? Ah! You mean Ran and Suzuki, deshou?"

Yuusaku is familiar with the two girls as Shinichi often spoke about them since kindergarten. "Ah no, I meeting someone else."

"Eh?"

"I thought of what you said the other day. And you know what? I decided you are right."He put down his fork and spoon upon finishing the waffle his mom made, "I am to going learn a couple of things on what it takes to be a tantei."

"Oh, so you are finally taking up the family connection-"

"Ah no, not in the way you think," The little boy dismisses his father before revealing, "I planned to take up an apprenticeship, under her."

Yusaku was in shock." W-What suddenly made you choose to do so? I did say learn from her, but I didn't mean to become her apprentice." The father asked him.

"Taking up the family connections is good, though after following Ranran for a while, I came to the conclusion that those cops will merely dismissed anything I suggests. "Shinichi shrugged.

"But-"

"I am done, bye Tousan. Tell Okaasan I am leaving."

He waved at him, before scooping his school bag to leave while the man stared in awe."I wonder if he is going to be alright."

The truth is, Shinichi is no fool.

Taking up the connection itself was a good offer, but after observing how the cops interacting around Ranran on being patronizing, Shinichi realized that simply riding on family connections wouldn't be enough to make a real impact.

After all, if someone as sharp and perceptive as her faced such barriers, what chance did he have to break through without solid skills and credibility?

The best way to settle it is to be taken under Ranran's wing, cause at least with her experience with those morons, she would know exactly how to navigate those situations. Plus, there was something about the way Ranran carried herself—confident but cautious, sharp but guarded—that intrigued Shinichi.

...........

The first unexpected thing Ranran said to him was, "I had a mentor who died because of me,"

The last word left a bitter taste in her mouth, as he gasp digesting that unexpected revelation."What did you just say!?"

This was not what he anticipated from her upon meeting up with her while on the way to school. Sure, he did hear rumours about her having a backer because of the way she meticulously schemes, but he didn't think she would drop this bombshell a lot sooner than he had anticipated. Now he had more questions about her mentor, especially his identity. He must have been a cool adult to teach her all the things before taking in the offer within the family, cause it is normally the adults that know all these things that she knows while Shinichi doesn't.

Sensing his expression mix with confusion and curiosity, she goes, "He died doing this job."

Shinichi's eyes widened and he manage to stop gasping."Why are you telling me this?"Shinichi asked him softly.

"You said you would do anything to be a detective. Is death one of them?"

Shinichi was too shell-shock as his muscles turned rigid, death? Is she serious? What if...Ranran was joking to get rid of him out of the investigation? If so, that is a horrible joke to play on him.

Sensing he isn't believing a word she said, Ranran goes, "This isn't some Sherlock Holmes storyline where you be born with plot armour. I am asking you this, cause usually, one takes this lightly till it finally happens to them. By that point.....it'll be all too late."

Observing Ranran as she speaks of this subject with a heavy heart, he realizes she is telling the truth. For a long while, Shinichi didn't know how to answer this as he was at loss for words.

However, "When it comes to death, death is unavoidable."

"Eh?"

"Any living thing would die at some point, early or late....it doesn't matter."Shinichi argued with his words, the determination was evident on his face, "I rather do it than regret not doing a thing by the time I die. So yes," Shinichi finally come to terms with it, "I am willing to die if I have to."

Ranran stared without blinking at him, then fishes out a paper from her skirt pocket, before passing it to his palm."Before you become my apprentice, I don't plan on having it easy for you, so I expect you to do the tests I set out for you before becoming my official apprentice."

Shinichi began to feel quizzical, not before unfolding the paper she handed her.

What he sees shocked him. He was so shocked, his hands began to tremble before turning back to Ranran, "Is this really necessary!?"

"So you can't or you won't?"

By this point, he knew this wasn't even an option.

........

Later on in school, as everyone grabbed their seats with their form teacher in tow at 1-A, Shinichi observe where Ranran sitting area is. Her desk is close to the window where one additional spot is left empty as no kid dares to sit right next to her. Initially, it used to be occupied by Reina, her best friend, but then she was forced to move to another sitting area right next to Hikari Takuma as the teacher fear she may have been a bad influence on their student.

That's when the unthinkable happens.

Shinichi suddenly stood up unexpectedly as everyone watched, he goes, "Sensei, I need to address something rather urgent, so I may need your help on that matter."

Shinichi looked at the teacher while others watched, wondering what is truly going on, "Yes Kudokun?"

"There....has been something bothering me for quite a while. And I think I have a solution to resolving this issue, all I ask is your permission."

The teacher is surprised, for it's rare for someone like Kudo Shinichi to have troubling issues. He ain't like his other troubled student, Kudo Ranran, constantly diligently handing up his homework on time without fail and he never once cause problems in class. If anything, the form teacher himself felt blessed that he ended up in his class. So if Shinichi were to ask anything, he won't mind doing it for him in a heartbeat. Out of curiosity, he questioned,"....I understand. Let's hear your wish."

Shinichi gazes around before looking at Ranran, who in return glances back at him, "It is regarding....my sitting location."Ignoring the rumbling of the classmates, he said."Sensei, I want you to arrange for me to sit right next to Kudo Ranran."

The eyes of the young man opened wide, and shock appeared on his face."I am sorry, come again?! Oh my, I swear I was hearing things when you said you wanna sit next to Kudo Ranran."

"You ain't wrong, that is what I want."

The children in class began to whispers among themselves, wondering what is going on while Shinichi gazes in silence as he recalled the conversation that led them to this decision.

"If I were to take you in as an apprentice, you need to do something about Suzuki and Mouri."He read the note given to him with his eyes wide, while his hands trembled to turn back to her, "Is this really necessary!?"

"So you can't or you won't?"

Silence.

"Kudo, I like to remind you that we are currently dealing with a missing jailbird, so we can't afford any interruptions from your personal life just to endanger our well-being. If they see us together, I am gonna bet they gonna interfere with everything we set out on doing."Ranran reasoned with him, which made sense.

Even so, Shinichi felt cutting ties with his two friends who he had known since kindergarten was a harsh blow, "I don't see why would they wanna interfere with our investigation, considering we are no longer on speaking terms for a long time."He scoffed."Just tell them the truth that we are working on a case, also the truth on how you are related to me so they won't do so."

"Kudo, if you were in their shoes and you found out that your friend has gotten involved in some dangerous investigation with a girl of questionable reputation, would you not do anything to drag away from her?"

"No," Shinichi shakes his head at her with doubt, as he insists, "There is no way Ran or Suzuki would wanna stick around if they hear of this. They sided that boy over me, I doubt they are that stupid."

"Are you sure?"Ranran argued, "When I had Reina spread those rumours of a reconciliation between you and Ran, are you gonna deny to me straight in the face that Suzuki didn't rush over to your desk the first thing she hears of this and shared tons of advice to ensure you two patch up? Also, when the idiot group of boys showed up at your class, are you gonna deny that Suzuki took a huge dislike towards me when they expose your stalking activities towards me?"

A heavy feeling in Shinichi's stomach as he froze, confirming Ranran's suspicions.

"Plus, you telling them the truth of what is the true nature of our relationship is......the adults in our family will ensure you be beheaded if anything happens to me later on."

Shinichi is speechless.

"Kudo, I ain't asking you to permanently sever ties with them. You can tell them, but not at a period where our lives are going to be endangered. We can't afford any nonsense for now."

Taking no notice of Ran's broken-hearted look nor Suzuki's dagger-like eyes, Sensei looked straight at Shinichi."Mr Kudo, don't get me wrong, but roughly around last year, I was at the Icebreaker event when you push Ranran till she broke her leg, am I not wrong?"

"No, you are not," Shinichi admitted, but his eyes ain't battering as the teacher stare into his eyes, wondering if he was doing it out of impulse.

"If I ain't mistaken, you didn't enjoy her company. Why the sudden change in mind?"

"I reflected on how I treated her back then and realize I made a mistake, "He spoke with guilt in his eyes, for a moment, even the teacher and kids bought his act.

"Mr Kudo, if you are sorry about it, you don't have to go this far to prove your act of repentance, you know? In the days that I have gotten to know you, you never once make a fuss or complained about sitting next to Mourikun. Do you....two happen to have a fight or something? If that is truly the case, I can't do that as that is considered running away from your problems."

Precisely the point, Ranran couldn't help but sigh, but her eyes is amused, wondering how Shinichi is gonna do this. He is doing this in a public fashion, that a patch-up between him and Ran is no longer possible. This is bound to spread across the entire school. With rumours here and there, Ran who already has to deal with the talks of her being the daughter of separated parents is too timid to see Shinichi anymore after this.

In Teitan Elementary school, if a child who had been sitting with his or her best friend everyone knows of suddenly declares to change in the seat away from the person, it usually means 'permanent severed bond' for life. This was something all the kids here in school are aware of and their friendship is beyond saving. Though there are some cases where the kids later regret it and patch things up, the success rate of reconciliation is roughly 15 percent.

And Shinichi knew that he was dead serious about focusing on his dreams, now that his friendship with Ran is no longer worth repairing in his eyes. And he was going to make sure he was never going to beat around the bush, just straight to the point.

This is a well-thought-out plan in Ranran's opinion, as it makes Ran distance further from Shinichi. Not to mention, protect her from whatever threats that may come in investigating the jailbird case. However...Ranran frowned, she has to let him know about the flaw in this plan later on, if this one goes well.

"It ain't just her that was the problem. It was also Suzuki Sonoko that gave me the push to do so."He insists as he puts on his tormented act, it was convincing enough for the teacher to respond, "Suzuki Sonoko you say?"The Sensei arched an eyebrow, "Mouri's best friend?"All eyes are on Sonoko now, as she is feeling nervous as she wasn't used to being stared at.

"Hai."Shinichi nodded.

"And what did she do to have to make you go through such drastic changes, Mr Kudo?"

"She isn't being reasonable, sir."

"How so?"

"She recently believed over biased rumours that I did wrong, sir."

Ok, that was a lie. Even so, there was some truth to it. Even so, half-truths and lies will do good."Biased rumours....what is it about?"

"I...recently argued with a kid who recently moved away, that he had messed up with my soccer schedule. He taunted me, so I punch him in response. But Ran and Sonoko blindly sided him over me."He did it so convincingly, he was suddenly evoking sympathy onto the kids hearing this while glares were targetted at Ran and Sonoko, who are beginning to feel uneasy, "They refuse to believe a word I said, so they are making things difficult for me in retaliation day after day as if I was in the wrong."He then started sobbing.

Ranran swears if she didn't know him any better, she could've easily bought his false tears, "I need more details to do so, Mr Kudo. Don't beat around the bush."

"Fine," he wiped his eyes before telling everyone in the classroom, "Rokuro, our 2nd soccer club president sabotaged my schedule, which made me miss tons of practice because of this. However...because he was Ran's close neighbour, she sided with him over me. I didn't speak to them because of this, so I felt better if I switch places with Ranran. She was the only one willing to listen to me. But Sonoko...she always believe I exclusively belong to Ran, so as soon as she heard I was with Ranran...she gave me a hard time. Also..." he then put on his most heartbreaking act," this must have been karma for what I did to Ranran."

In a second, the surroundings became noisy.

The discussion about who was in the wrong and who was in the right and wrong was eventually creating disorder.

"Exclusively for Ran? As in boyfriend-girlfriend? Man, did she even confess to him yet?"

"Not that I know off, now I think about it."

"Man, who knew Ran to be that clingy? Really now?"

"I always knew that Sonoko was too much of a nuisance, but this is a little too far."

"You can't be blaming Ran 100 per cent, Sonoko could've done this and she had no idea about it."

"Still, this Kudo Shinichi is being horrible, to do that in the middle of class and making other girls look bad."

"Then again, he had to put up with this for a long time, if you hold it too long, it will eventually explode. So he can't be full to be blamed. If I were him, I go mad like him too."

From the looks of it, the situation is leaning towards his advantage.

Even Sonoko's complexion turned bad."Wait just a minute! I need to defend myself on what he has to say!"She raised her hands in her defence.

"Sonoko!"Ran cried out to her.

"Ran, everyone needs to know, alright?"Sonoko has to go defence mode for herself and Ran, she won't allow everyone to speak ill of her because of what Tantei geek said.

"Alright then, Suzuki Sonoko, what do you have to say regarding Shinichi's words?"The teacher stares sternly at his student, with a look of disapproval.

"Th-that's because Ran and I knew Rokuro long enough to know what kind of person he is, far longer than Shinichi. Anyway, he admitted being a little intimidated about Shinichi and apologized to him..."

"So to make things short, you both decided to convict Shinichi even though there was no evidence to find him guilty? Because Ran knew that guy a little longer than Shinichi, am I wrong?"Ranran look at Ran while shaking her head at her."So the next time if her Tousan falsely claims her future husband murdered someone because he doesn't like Ran's husband, Ran can just blindly believe, and open and shut the case, end of the story. Man, that would be a dream for me as a Tantei if I can do it as blindly as you and Sonoko. At least I won't have to work so damn hard."

"Man, no wonder no one bothers going to Ran's tousan's tantei agency. To think of it that way, even her investigative skill equally sucks as much as Ran's."Takuma who is sitting behind her clicked his lips in a disapproving tone.

Mouri Ran could do nothing but looked down while biting her lips.

"Hey, you better stop talking so carelessly about Ran and her dad, Hikari Takuma!"Even the words that came out of Sonoko's mouth were so foolish that one wouldn't be able to look after the two girls seriously.

Everyone is frowning. Literally frowning.

"I don't have the right to say this, but, away from Takuma and Ranran's opinion, I agree with them both. That be a stupid way to prove Shinichi guilty if everything is all based on the words of friends whom you knew longer than the other. It ain't right, and just plain biased."

The other children began to nod in agreement one after another over Shinichi's words.

Maybe because Suzuki Sonoko realized that she didn't have any power of influence, nor the fact that she isn't as charismatic as Ranran, Sonoko could do nothing but stopped talking.

It was then realization surfaced in her tiny brain.

Wait a minute...Shinichi never had to guts to go against them before, what changed?

Her eyes then fell onto the red lip girl, of course, it had to be her!

Never underestimate Kudo Ranran, she must have deceived Shinichi into going against them!

Ranran just secretly let out a sigh. Right now she can understand Shinichi's feelings a little bit. To put up with girls like them, Ranran will never understand why. She'll be cutting ties with them if she were him. As if Shinichi could read Ranran's impatient expression on speeding up the farce already, with the mood in class has already been dampened, he hurriedly said, "Anyway, after explaining all of this –"He looked at the teacher, the one who seems like he'll understand him the best."I hope you can understand the situation on why moving is necessary, sir."

"....I understand."Sensei then turned to Kudo Ranran, "Well, what do you think, Miss Ranran?"

"If Shinichi truly felt uncomfortable being with Ran, and that he can bear with me for a week, I have no problem with him."

The teacher, still worried that his student may be doing this out of emotional impulse, turned to Shinichi and ask, "Kudo, are you sure you wanna move seats with her? Are you sure....you don't wanna think twice about fixing whatever you need with Ran?"

"No sir."Shinichi remained adamant on that.

"But Shinichi, why not?"

"To be treated coldly, to have the person you trust not to listen to me on what really happened....there is no longer any desire left in me to get her to talk when she isn't willing to listen. Since neither of us is happy with each other, I decided it's better if I changed seats away from her to be seated next to Ranran."

That's how it should've been from the start.

Why didn't Shinichi did this earlier baffles even himself. Suddenly, that heavy feeling felt lifted.

Thus Shinichi moved next to Ranran, while Ran almost felt like bursting into tears. As he grab a seat and moved his bag next to Ranran, for the first time, he never once looked back at Ran's crying face as his eyes are on Ranran."Is this enough?"

"That should be enough."Ranran said, glancing at Ran looking so broken and devastated before tuning back at him, "you sure you are going to be ok?"

"Don't worry about it, it ain't the first time I made her cry anyway...."Shinichi looked as equally devastated as Ran for doing this, as he moves his pencil case and books on the desk. However, he knew what Ranran said was right."I don't want her to die over something I love doing. Cause I know I won't be able to live with it. Also....."

".....also what?"

"She only has herself to blame for how things turn out the way things did."

He had a broken forlorn look, something that Ranran never thought would see in him.

Then again, whatever business he has with Ran ain't her business, to begin with.