Whenever one enters this place, in particular, Shinichi always hated it for many reasons said and done.

This is the phase when girls of all ages, especially women, would openly lie to him straight in the face, manipulating him into doing whatever they wanted him to do like the cruel deceitful little devils they are. It didn't matter if Shinichi was right or not, or if he used logic to sway them, the mainline is that as long as one steps foot in this territory with a girl, all-male species are to be considered as slaves.

That's why, when Ranran uttered those words, he felt something catastrophic was going to happen. The distinctive falsehoods he hears from every girl who has ever stepped foot in this spot. "I promise it won't take long."

Lies, when it comes to shopping, there is no such thing as a 'long' time. "Neh, how long are we going to shop around here, Ranran?" Shinichi checked the time on his watch while Ranran examines one book after another. "If this continues, we won't have time to-

"Shh!" Ranran responded quietly without glancing back, sensing Majima was still following them from behind. "It'll take a while, Shinichi, "Ranran reassures him with her lies and convincing act, enough to fool Majima as she put away the other book, "I know you're worried about.....the location we've chosen. Especially...." Ranran took a minute to soak in her surroundings "How unorganized the environment around us is. But don't worry, we'll be leaving soon."

"Mou....." Michio can't help but sympathise with Shinichi as he grunts in anger, feeling apprehensive. "But seriously, Ranran, hurry up."

"Why? No patience?"Ranran teases.

Michio had grown up with his widowed mother was used to following her here whenever they went shopping for essentials. Whatever happens is something he has no control of.

But Michio got to admit that Shinichi was right on this perspective.

Department stores within Beikai Mall are expected to be large, even so...

"No, Ranran, it's not proper for us boys to be seen standing here, especially in between the book and stationery areas, where they offer grown-up panties and bras for older ladies." He hissed back in whispered tones, mortified by passing girls young and old, while Ranran disregarded his apparent anguish.

Michio's gaze then reverted to their current surroundings as he frowned; he knew that Beikai mall had recently undergone renovations, so everything was as disorganised as it is today. But why do the arrangements have to be so messed up here!? There are mannequins clothed in those...bras and panties so brazenly without clothes?! And they had to be placed between the book and stationery supplies of all things!?

"Of course, Shinichi, the books are never my intention."

It wasn't Ranran's intention to head to Beikai mall to buy books or stationery, but given that Majima Michio can't be bribed, much alone dreads the notion of him following them till adulthood and tarnishing their reputation, Ranran understood something had to be done to guarantee he stays away.

That's why, when Shinichi said recently that he needed to buy some new books because his father's stories were boring him to tears, she decided to put her plan into action here of all places. "You boys are weird."

"Hah!?"Shinichi whipped his head back at her, "How so!?"

"At my former school in the United Kingdom, boys of all ages marvel at it all day."

"Wha-"Shinichi swore she couldn't be lying, "You're bluffing!"

"If I was bluffing, we wouldn't even exist in this world." Ranran was unmoved by his remark.

"Wait, what do boys marveling at such....things have to do with our existence!?" Shinichi couldn't help but be confused by her response.

Ranran had a contemplative look, still not staring nor answering Shinichi for a long while, before she answers, "Do you know?"

"Know what?" Shinichi asks, not understanding the question.

Alright, he surely has no idea. She turns to him, "Do you know how babies exist in the first place?"

Shinichi's brow arches, unsure why she would ask such a question while Michio panics, thinking she may have known 'things' she shouldn't have. "I do-"

"No, your expression says otherwise. They don't come from stars, nor come from pelicans." Ranran interrupts.

"Eh?!" Shinichi practically squeaks, caught off guard and unsure how to respond, before deciding, "Just because I don't know where kids come from, I ain't so foolish to assume we're delivered by pelicans or stars.  But I always believe there is some sort of mechanism over how it works between parents," he adds, becoming bewildered.

"Ooi!"This is getting out of hand, Majima couldn't help but think as he panics. He knew they were prodigies, but he didn't think that 6-year-old Ranran is that intelligent!"Mah, Ranran, you can always say those things in a more....appropriate place, right?"

Though 10-year-old Majima Michio too isn't clear on where babies come from, he had heard horror stories where his older friends found out about it, and as soon as found the truth....they couldn't see their parents straight in the eye the same way anymore for some reason.

What was the reason? He has no clue, and Michio honestly doesn't wanna know.

The last haunting words he was left with before they switch schools was, "It was too inappropriate! It's better you don't even know if you want your innocence preserved, Majima!", they said with dead eye expressions before finally leaving class for good.

While Michio struggles to figure out how to preserve the situation, Shinichi and Ranran soon exchanged glances."He is right, you know?"

Eh?

"So I won't say it in front of him, "Ranran points at Michio, before making a quick grab on Shinichi's hands, much to his surprise as she spoke, "Instead, why not we go look for those pencils over there?" she pointed to the shelf not far from Majima, where a little girl mannequin stood close to the changing room, while the colour pencils shelves were placed to the right of the mannequin.

Ranran drags a shocked Shinichi, as Michio tells her, "Wait up!"

"No, you stand where you are, "Ranran ordered.

"Eh?"It was Michio's turn to be surprised.

"Not like we are fleeing far from you, you know? You can see us from afar, I don't see how it is possible to even escape from your eyes."

"Eh!? No way! It's my job as"

"Yes, it is. But take a look around, "Ranran interrupted him before showing him their surroundings, "You couldn't even bear the thought of staring at those mannequins, because it is 'inappropriate'."

Ranran ain't wrong, as Shinichi noted how many times Michio had often averted his gaze away from those mannequins as he blushes."But Shinichi is a boy too-"

"He is."She admits before reasoning, "But there are different shades of specific colours he needs. If I pick him the wrong ones, he is bound to get mad at me."Ranran huffed.

"How hard can it be to tell the difference that you need to end up dragging Shinichi over?"Michio frowned, suspecting she is using this as an opportunity for escape, before turning his stare to the colour pencils, "All I see is red red red, and more red of that sort! Colours ain't that complicated for you to need Shinichi over!"

"Oh, that's when you are wrong."Shinichi jumped in to argue, "There are many shades of the colour red you know!" he then pointed to one red after another from the shelf, from left to right, "Cherry red, scarlet red, ruby red, crimson red-"

"Stop!"Michio had it with Shinichi with his intelligence of the colour red, he need to make sure what he was saying wasn't some made-up scheme made between the Kudo kids, before he pointed at Ranran's lips," what colour is her lipstick?"

"What!? Are you serious right now!?"Ranran turned angry at Majima's statement, "For your information," She pointed at her own lips, "I was born with it!"

"Say what now!?"That made him stunned.

"It's true."Shinichi defended the girl, before turning his gaze to Ranran," she is born with it. If she wasn't, she would've been kicked out of school long ago."

Michio's eyes stared at Ranran, still doubting a word Shinichi said."How would you know that? Your family could've just paid them off to let her do as she wants. Also, she could've been wearing waterproof lipstick."

Ranran rolled her eyes at Michio, while Shinichi hastily use his right hand and shove it into his right pocket to take out a handkerchief, before passing it to Ranran, "Show him." he urged her.

She took it to wipe her lips vigorously, before showing a shock Michio the handkerchief she used, no red markings or anything like that, "You see?"

Michio has no idea what to think of this."By the way, it's blood red."Shinichi pointed out as he took back his handkerchief to put back in his pocket, before he finally said, "So can we leave now?"

Reluctantly he had no choice but to let them do their bidding.

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

"What is taking so long for them I wonder?"

Michio was desperately craning his neck, staring at the little girl's figure, who stood there stiffly on her own near the shelf of colour pencils, while the boy Shinichi ain't anywhere in sight.

By this point, Majima couldn't help but think desperately of leaving, with all of the awkward stares he was receiving from women and girls alike, walking past the isle as they notice him being the only boy in the women's section (or stationary section? he has no clue).

"Time is about to run out, I am certain they are worried over why those two ain't heading home. I better let them know."

Determined, Majima Michio made his way through the shelves and mannequins before he tap the girl, "Ranran, tell Shinichi to come over. Both of your time is up."

Silence.

"Ranran, it's time to go."More silence."Neh Ranran-eh?"His face flashed in surprise as he shook Ranran, only for her to fall and lay stiff on the floor face down, to reveal it was a little girl mannequin while the wig fell away from its head."What the...hell?"

Worst, as it fell, it exposed what the mannequin was wearing underneath, as the undies slipped down to the ankle. This stint ended up making Majima flush with embarrassment. Things did not get any better, as all of the women and girls began to take notice of Michio and the.....uncompromising situation he has with the little girl mannequin.

This ended up leaving Majima Michio mortified.

Now in most situations, this is something that one would admit to being so funny, it is qualified to end up in some Mr Bean episode. Of course, it would've been funnier if one was the spectator or viewer.

Sadly, becoming a victim of one of Ranran's schemes does not make this any less funny than it already is. Not now nor ever. If anything, it was a ticking bomb of a crisis waiting to happen. This little charade soon raised eyebrows from other spectators, mainly women and girls of all ages who are around at the mall, giving him the look of horror."Look, ladies...I can explain everything...."

Honestly, all he needed to do was turned away for less than a second, and the two kids were able to easily vanish while leaving him to deal with this nonsense! Damn those kids, Michio began looking back, front, left and right for the two, but the two were nowhere in sight.

......

"Majima Michio has no father."

"Say what now!?"

Shinichi was scrunching his eyes in disbelief at Ranran, the two were hanging out on the school rooftop again having their bento lunch, as they both had boxes on their lap while she goes, "I said he has no-"

"No, I did hear what you say, no need to repeat the second time!"Shinichi raised his hand to stop her, before going on, "What does this has to with-"

"His dad died when he was a baby, I heard his mom has to be the one who single-handedly raise him till now."She ate another spoonful of rice.

"So?"

"So...."Ranran tilts her head, her smile growing wider, "that makes things easier for us."

Sensing the worst, he put aside his half-eaten food to say, "You ain't gonna spread rumours and make a mockery out of him that he has no dad, right!? Cause that is a low blow even for you!"

"What are you talking about?"Ranran gave him an unamusing stare, "If I had done that, I would've done it on that girlfriend of yours long ago."

".....true."

'You should know better than how it's like to live such a life of misery living with such dysfunction within our school, there is no way I would wanna add more salt to their wounds when life is already this crappy for them." Ranran then adjusted her sitting position to make herself comfortable before adding," also, Michio's dad died in an accident, not divorce his mom, so he should be spared from it."

Shinichi soon realizes Ranran has a point.

Mouri Ran's parents having separated had always been Ran's Achilles heel, even though at school no child had dared to openly make fun of her because of Suzuki being around, it ain't a secret that kids still speak ill of her. Children who come from divorced parents (or even happen to have single parents around) are classified in their school as 'broken children', as no kid wants to be any closer to them, let alone, play with them as they strongly believe these kinds of kids are broken on the inside, and they are as lunatic as their parents.

In the minds of the kids in their school, if the parents are heartless enough to divorce or separate from each other to make their kids suffer, they are certain the kids from such families will eventually misbehave and act so ill-mannered, they are bound to bring destruction onto everyone around them, let alone, destroy their spouses as well as their future children. They are certainly on that.

Yup, it's no wonder as Shinichi was at the age where he is to end up in kindergarten, his dad once said to his mom, "This is it, the first chapter of his reality begins."

Even the possibility of marriage for their kids sends chills up their spine, as they fear their future children ended up becoming ill behave because of the dysfunction.

"If my investigation serves me correctly since Majima has no father figure around while his mom is the only breadwinner, that meant he is likely to not been taught how to interact with girls well."

"Say what now!?"Shinichi scrunches his face in disbelief over Ranran's logic, "Ranran, not all boys behave that way, just because he was born into a single-parent household!"

"Perhaps not, but they got to be lacking something in terms of certain characteristics. We all know that there are too, those rare kids who are normally behaved despite all of the mess those adults have created."

"Yeah, but still....."

"It ain't just me guessing, but I overheard his classmates discussing how they should teach him to be more aware of those 'horrible girls' who been targeting him since he is good looking, as they were worried that since he has no father, he has become an open target for those exploitive little pricks."

Shinichi swallowed, "What are you going to do, now that you have this piece of information?"

A sinister smile formed on her face, "It is enough to remove him out of our way."

Shinichi grew worried, "You just mentioned that his classmates are worried for his welfare, don't you think they will go after you if they find out what you did to him?"

"Oh no, don't worry about that. I won't go that far to a point his reputation is ruined, "Ranran reassures him, before she adds, "It be very innocent to a point, they won't go after me."

By this point, Shinichi isn't sure what to believe.

However, Ranran was straight on point with her words.

Having Majima Michio be caught in an awkward yet innocent situation in front of many women and girls alike was something not even Shinichi could've come up with. By placing a little girl mannequin, where Ranran had Shinichi secretly dressed the mannequin in some spare female Teitan Elementary school uniform Shinichi has no idea where she got it from as she took it out of her Rokuro backpack. She even added a wig that looked exactly like her hair.

Once Shinichi was done, Ranran told him to leave before she added one additional 'detail' she knew this detail was bound to make Majima freeze in terror,  a pair of little girl undies (again, Shinichi has no idea where she got it from) and have it made sure was wear loosely around the calf that will make things super awkward if one topples it.

"I really couldn't believe my eyes! Those women are.....judging onto him like that!"

When Ranran shared with him their escape plan by having Majima humiliated through this, he didn't think this be a possible solution to aid in their escape since he was keeping an eye on them like a hawk. However, after listening to Ranran's reasoning that boys their age tend to easily shy or turned away from women's undergarments of that sort, and having personally witnessed that Michio did have a hard time trying not to stare over how inappropriate those mannequins like Shinichi did earlier, he knew this was Ranran's opportunity as a means for escape.

"Well now you do, you are welcome."

Shinichi was struggling to process all of this, as their stares reminded him of his situation with Sonoko and Ran back then, making him feel depressed all of a sudden, before turning to Ranran in anger, "Is that how women are like!? Just judging us boys like that without even seeking facts!? How can....how can they be all so....judgmental like that without using their bloody brains on what truly happened!?"

"Hey, stop falling into that sort of mentality, alright? I am a girl as well, you know?"Ranran flicked his head, snapping him out of his anger before she lectures him, "Anyone would react to such a situation, Kudo Shinichi. But....you ain't wrong," Ranran shrugs as they left the mall together, "That situation with Majima, the friends you made along with that fan club in our school.....I beginning to question how the female species in this country are raised...."

Fanclub? That reminded Shinichi of something he wanted to bring up to Ranran, "Oh yeah, recently a group of girls in our school were caught red-handed for applying makeup on their faces, I heard they were expelled later on."

"Hmph? Make-up?"That made Ranran recall something as she turned to him, with glee in her eyes, "Ah yes, those little serpents."

Serpents? An uneasy feeling crept up on Shinichi, "You....didn't have anything to do with....what happened to them, right?"

Ranran stared blankly at Shinichi, blinking before she finally hit back with a question, "If I do....are you going to bring them back?"

Her answer....she ain't denying it!

Is she...is she serious right now!?

Shinichi let all of this information process in his head, weighing the morality of this situation. Right now, he would've yelled at her for taking things too far with those girls. On the other hand, nonetheless.....

After a while, he shakes his head, "Forget it."

"Eh?"That wasn't a response she was expecting from Shinichi, considering he was righteous to a fault.

"Let's try looking for that Echis guy now that we throw Majima off. With what we have put him through...I am certain he won't dare to approach us in school again after what had happened."

Ranran was shocked, is this the same Shinichi who broke into her house and was giving lectures on her being a questionable detective!?

What Ranran didn't know was Shinichi was not pleased with how she handled the situation. At the same time, however, there was a saying his dad once wrote in one of his hit novels, an idiom that reads 'the devil you know is better than an angel you don't'. He may have spent a brief time with Ranran compared to Mouri Ran, but overall, he knew better than exposing Ranran would attract more problems for him, given the nature of those fangirls having been ogling him like fresh meat with no respect for his personal space since his kindergarten days. He has already grown tired of having to deal with those kinds of girls, and Ranran having kicked them out of school was honestly, a saving grace from Heaven.

It's because he knew Ranran never hide her questionable actions, that he knew better to not answer. For he would rather be with Ranran than see those girls on a daily basis, constantly a reminder that he was just some mere handsome boy born into a rich family but with no worth to prove, unlike Ranran had as 'The Fox'. Also, Ranran did take his investigation seriously, never once poking fun or anything unlike the other kids does, not even Ran and Sonoko bother to listen to him.

"Anyway, with that said and done, let's continue our investigation onto that 'Echis' guy till night falls."

Ranran made sure that she and Shinichi were as far from the mall as possible before the two finally made it to the row of shops on the side of the streets where bystanders walk in all directions, cars were passing by on the main road, angrily horning at each other due to heavy traffic as Shinichi nodded in agreement, "I agree, we wasted so much time just trying to throw Majima off. Problem is, "He heavily sighs as he folded his arms, "I doubt we are seeing the last of him after what we just did, especially since we have school tomorrow."

"But with the chaos, he had caused...I doubt he would try to approach us after that. Cause no kid wanna be labelled a 'perv' if he tries to do anything funny towards us."

Shinichi couldn't argue with that logic.

..........

The following day, the school didn't fair out any better for Ranran and Shinichi either way.

Even though there seem to be no sighting of that Majima boy, there seems to be a new batch of rumours spread across the school recently.

"Eh? Ranran was the mastermind who manipulated Shinichi into moving his seat right next to her because she is jealous over his relationship with that Mouri girl?"Boy G was in disbelief.

"No way!"Girl N gasped.

"No."Girl D shook her head. "I don't believe it."

"I ain't sure, but I'm just telling you what I was told."Girl H smiled.

"No way. Is that Kudo girl that devious?"

Hikari Takuma's hands trembled upon having placed his shoes in his shoe locker, his baseball bat he made plans on lending to a friend where he left it on the floor was forgotten for a moment, as he quietly listens to their conversation before switching it to school shoes, slipping into them while the chatty group continued, "I am telling you, that Suzuki girl been telling everyone over how she feels about Ranran. That she is certain Ranran is meant to be his future bride like those shows on TV, so sensing Ran is the problem, she schemed and made sure Shinichi fell for her."

That stupid ill-brained prick!

Takuma couldn't help but fill anger bursting through his veins, he knew Suzuki Sonoko's reputation as gossip queen is evident, but he didn't think she was that vicious enough to spread false rumours about Ranran like that, just because Kudo Shinichi decided not to have any contact with either of those girls.

Takuma knew about the situation that is going on between Shinichi and her since she updated him that Shinichi is currently her apprentice in training. When he first heard that she took him in, Takuma was against it for obvious reasons.

A little boy who breaks into a house, knowing that there is a little girl all alone on her own....does not deserve to be taken under her.

However, Takuma has seemingly noticed that lately, Shinichi seemed very remorseful over what he had done to her, and so far, he hasn't heard any complaints coming from his friend, so it must be good. Takuma quietly edged himself to the corner while he eavesdrop on the kids' conversation and took a small peak.

As soon as he laid eyes on them, he recognized who they were.

"Ooh.....you mean like those villainesses, right? Where the evil arranged fiance schemes to tear the two destined star-cross lovers apart, only for her to be defeated, have their marriage broken off and live happily ever after."

No wonder they were bad-mouthing Ranran, of all the kids in the school, it had to be Sonoko's 'hang out group' Ranran often calls it, the 'gossipers', where they happen to be Sonoko's blind followers. Without fact-checking or anything,

Bloody hell! Did they have to think of Ranran so lowly like that!? If only they knew of the conversations they had in his girlfriend's office, how she can easily describe the methods of their deaths in the cases she solved, he and Reina almost puke their lunch the first time they hear of this. She is too busy constantly picking apart shreds of evidence rather than go gossiping about other kids' lives!

"Even so...Ranran being jealous is...I don't know, I don't see her capable of feeling like that."Boy G frowns.

"You silly, a lady will never show that she is one. Otherwise, that is showing her ugly side. Based on what I know, she is always riding on her high horse. No way she will ever admit it."Girl N chuckled, before adding, "well even if that is the case, I can imagine that arrangement between her and Shinichi won't last long like those dramas. It'll be funny to see how she is like, having fallen off her high horse."

The kids continue their chatter and laugh, as Takuma was seething with anger with his fists clenched. He had been trying to calm down, but it was hard when he listen to them spewing all those lies about his friend.

It just reminded him of that time he was in her shoes.

Back then, most kids feel helpless when faced with a bully. They don't know what to do or where to turn. But Takuma's case was different, he had the entire school giving him the cold treatment. Though no one punched him physically, no one taunted him with names, the whispers of his downfall and the false tales of him they made up one after another was enough to almost push him to the edge. The number of hate messages he received on his desk, to the times his physical education clothes were thrown into the wet mud where he had no clue who the suspect was....it was a cruel time back then. What if Ranran ends up suffering the same mistreatment as he did?

Takuma then decides to confront them, by grabbing the bat he laid on the floor, he was about to head over there to give them a whacking of their lives.

All of a sudden, an unexpected figure stood in front of him, "No, Tak-san."Takuma was startled at Ranran's sudden appearance, as he tried to hide the baseball bat away from her sight, but it was too long to hide behind his small back."Don't do it." she insisted.

"Ranran-"He tries to justify it, but she argues."Think of your future, Tak-san. Do you want another incident with what happened to you the last time you confronted them?"That made him freeze at her words."Let them be."

He then decided it was pointless hiding the bat, as he let his friend take the bat away."They spoke ill of you."

"I know that."

"You know how it works, Ranran. First, come rumours, then it becomes the 'truth' for them, followed by"

"Tak-san."Ranran face remained calm as she tries to calm him down."I know."

"Ranran-"

"I know how you feel, Tak-san. It ain't like you were the only one who been there," she paused without looking at him, as he noted his friend's eyes look rather....emotionless."While they talk crap of the other, hitting them will make you temporarily relief, because they will end up making things worst."

"....."

"Even so....that doesn't always mean they have the upper hand."

Takuma's head snapped to Ranran in surprise, not expecting her to say such a thing," Eh?"

"Tak-san, what do you think is the real reason they never dare to say any of this in front of us and secretly speak ill of us?"Takuma shook his head, as he isn't sure how to answer. Ranran waited for him to speak, when he didn't, she goes, "It's because they fear becoming an outcast, of being exposed how pathetic they are if they find out they blindly believe a rumour without facts. That is how cowardly they are."

"Really!?"

Now that she mentioned it, Takuma never had anyone who dared to confront him about it openly in public as they often do it secretly towards him, and he always wonder why they hide their acts and did not do it openly towards him when the scandal broke. After all, at that time, he was the 'bad guy', the black sheep of Teitan Elementary school, the shadow.

"If one should confront, one must be prepared to face possible repercussions. You know this better than me. No one plays fair when it comes to justifying their actions. Especially those kids over there, "Ranran pointed to the mocking crowd, "They are not worth destroying your future for, just because they speak ill of me."

".....Ranran-"

"Your past back then should've taught you that was the reason why you was easily framed, Tak-chan."

Ranran's reminding of his past brought up an old pain he cannot describe with words alone. Although it happened a long time ago, the pain had always been there in his mind, lurking in the shadows, ready to haunt him when he least expected it. Though he had sought therapy following what had happened, he had tried to push it away, to focus on the present, but it always found a way to creep back in. The hurt that everyone around wouldn't talk to him anymore because of those rumours of him.

At one point, he once thought 'they' were the best of friends, but he then turned into the outcast as they all left him.

Once, he tried to confront them as his dad once taught him that confrontation is key to solving problems in real life, but it's hard when the problem is not solely on one person alone, but almost the entire school hating you so to speak, let alone, not believing a word he said in regards to his innocence when the scandal broke about him.

"And don't worry, retribution will come eventually for them."

Takuma's expression became puzzled at her words, "What is that supposed to mean?"

"You will find out soon enough, "Ranran's expression then formed into a reassuring grin, "Now why not I go buy you lunch? You wanted to eat that expensive steak gourmet burger, remember?"

"Steak gourmet burger!?"That turned his mood to a 180-degree mood, "You be buying lunch? For me!?"

"Why? You don't believe me?"Ranran became annoyed.

"You rarely buy food for me and Reina, what gives?"Takuma became suspicious.

"I just happen to be in a good mood. If you don't want it...."Ranran grins widely as she shrugged, "I consider myself saving more money-"

"Burger burger! Let's go with that! Right?"

As far as he had known her, Ranran had always remained calm and never let the rumours bother her. So if his time spent around Ranran had taught Takuma anything, is this: the right time to turn the table is when an opportunity opens its door for them.

When that happens...it's time to strike.

"Now come on, let us head back to class."While he follows her back with the bat in tow, Takuma ponders Ranran's words earlier," Justice is a cruel vicious road filled with thorns."He suddenly decides.

"Eh?"Ranran turned to him, "what did you just say?"

"Ah, nothing. Come on, you said you gonna buy me that steak burger!"Takuma spoke eagerly with his mind filled with nothing but that expensive medium-rare gourmet burger Ranran spoke so much about.

"Hai hai!"Ranran couldn't help but chuckle at his response, even for a star athlete, he sure love food.

As he left, he missed out on hearing the commotion taking place amongst the group kids like other kids entering the school soon stop walking, their attentions are focused on the group of kids, who seem to be arguing in an angry tone while throwing punches and jabbing towards each other. Soon, smartphones were whipping out of each of the spectators' (kids) hands as they film it openly.

"You dared to steal my school uniform just because you always eyed over how my mom is rich enough to do a proper cleaning job, did you!? Also, how dare you steal my panties!?"

"I-"

"Don't lie to me! How do you explain my one missing sock in your shoe locker hanging out like that!? No wonder you grew up in the slums!"

A lot of 'O' formed on the mouths of spectators, some even covering their mouths while Girl H accused Girl N, jabbing her right shoulder as Girl H snarled back, "How many times I keep telling you it isn't me! You could've put it there just to frame me!"

"And why in the hell would I wanna do that!?" She spats.

"You always talk as if you were the daughter of some rich tycoon, just because your mom slept with some rich married man. Also your panties?! You should know better than you have a butt as big as an elephant, you will easily break a toilet even sitting on it! Why would wanna steal something that makes me have elephant butt!?"Girl D yelled back angrily.

Shock turned to anger as Girl N blasted back, as all she was seeing is red, "How dare you to call me an elephant!? Are you saying I am fat!? Also, how dare you call my mom a homewrecker!?"

"I ain't wrong, am I? Also, have you not considered the fact that it could've been him who stole your clothes?!"Girl H taunted her before pointing at Boy G.

"No way!"Girl D is in disbelief, "Why would he wanna do that!?"

"Cause he has a secret hobby no one knows about, do you not know? He LOOOOOVE dressing up in girl's clothes!"

The kids watching this erupted in shock and gasps filled the hallways while Boy G became furious as he blushes, "Hey! That was meant to be a secret!"

"Oh grow up man! Boys wearing girl clothes!? Even I feel disgusted by it ever since I found out by accident, ughh!"Girl H sticks her tongue out in disgust.

The expression of the children hearing this was priceless. Not wanting to feel like a sore loser, Boy G goes, "You think I am the only one who is capable of that!? Oh, which reminds me."Boy G pointed at Girl D, "She too is capable of it as well, do you girls not know?!"

"What!? Excuse me!?"Girl D was caught off guard.

"Don't need to be all so pretentious, we all know your family been borrowing loan sharks and happen to be very behind debt!"

That made Girl D gobsmacked, "You gotta be kidding me!"Anger turned to rage as she goes, "You think I would go as low as some boy dressing up some girls uniform!? Oh ho ho! What a joke!"

"Ain't it?"He challenges her, "You were the money-keeper of our scout association! When I kept asking you to show me the money and ask why haven't you book a bus and gathered the necessities for the trip we were planning to organize, you kept claiming it was because we have no transport, or you left it at home and kept lying that you bring it over! And yet, you never did!"

Girl D's eyes began to blush as she was exposed, her eyes were wandering all over the place in hesitation at the accusation, as everyone continue to observe them like lost fishes in an aquarium, "What does this have anything to do with-"

"Again today, my wallet has gone missing! It always happens whenever I happen to be standing next to you!"Boy G was already at his limit, his glare was like daggers onto Girl D, "Admit it! You were the thief!"

"I am the thief!? Shouldn't it be either N or H you should be suspecting!?"

As the kids' feud escalated to a toxic point beyond return, distrust boiled over into chaos as they began throwing punches at each other. Meanwhile, Miyama Emiko, who had been quietly observing the feud amongst the curious crowd didn't need to put two together to figure out who schemed all of this.

"The hierarchy of life is no different than school, completely unstable. It's no wonder.....kids like Ranran are born to either balance it or destroy the scales of justice completely." Emiko can't help but mutter.