"I am rather surprised you guys were kind enough to invite me over, after what happened yesterday. You guys should've done this right from the start."

Junko gave a smug face as they ate ice cream in the same cat cafe on a Thursday after school, which Michio invited her over after having been forced to endure long detention as an apology lunch.

Ran, Takuma, and Emiko remain silent, unsettled with her presence as they share the same table, but as it was part of the plan, they didn't have a choice. They were in their school uniform, all of them doing homework except Junko is still in their tracksuit as she did not bother to change after having to deal with long gruelling physical education classes from school. Eating blueberry ice cream right now feels very rewarding.

"Ah reh? Why isn't Michio around?"She gazes around her surroundings and showed no signs of him.

"He is busy setting out the props for the show outside the cafe since he is allergic to animals."Ran explained.

"Ah, now that you mention it...even when we were younger, he kept on sneezing when we went to pet a stray cat while walking home from school. Wait, why is there a box of items on the table if Michio is in charge of the props?"Junko points to the box on the table, where the clutter of stuff was obviously blocking Junko's face.

"Ranran and Shinichi had many things she planned to do for the show, so some of the props are on the table here."Takuma ended up drinking a sip of coke.

"I think we should put it down next to where Junko is sitting since we are talking face to face, it'll be rude if we leave it be, "Emiko suggests.

"Yeah, I agree."Ran nodded in agreement before the girls took the box down, placing it beneath right next to where Junko was sitting at.

"Ranran and-Ah! The Kudo twins right?"Junko finally figures.

"I am sorry, Kudo twins?"Emiko wonders who is she referring to before putting it together, "Ah! Those two! I don't know what made you think they are one, but they ain't. They both live under different families."Emiko voices in scepticism.

"Come on, can't you tell how alike their faces are?"Junko commented.

"Face yes, but twins? Not to my knowledge."Takuma shook his head at the glasses girl, putting aside his drink."They live in separate houses, and Ranran's family only moved here when she was 5 tears old."

"Eh....wait, speaking of the two, where are they anyway?"Junko pressed further.

"Ah, they are having a party outside to entertain the kids they invited over. There, you see?"Takuma then directed Junko to the window where it reveal kids from their school were awed with Ranran and Shinichi teaching the dog tricks such as balancing on two paws.

"Wait, isn't this a cat cafe? Why are they allowing Dobermans to run around outside?"Junko observes the kids cheering in disbelief.

"Because Ranran brought Peaches over here, it brought in more money for their business."Emiko explained before adding, "So she is allowed to do whatever she wants in or out of the cafe."

"It's ridiculous to be rewarded heavily over a cat."Junko couldn't help but huff at that thought," Also, she is destroying their business. What a reckless girl."

"You-"

"Tak-san, "Emiko kicked him by the leg, reminding him not to cause further trouble as she whisper in a low voice, "Remember the plan."

Frustrated, he quickly changes to a cheeky tone, "Maybe, but at least she knows how to make money on her own, better than some girl who destroys things like a gorilla."

That struck a nerve onto Junko, but she kept her cool at Takuma's words, reminding herself that it is pointless arguing against a 6-year-old boy since she is older than him by 4 years.

Suddenly, without realizing it, Peaches hopped in front of her and licked her ice cream. "Hey!? How dare you!"Junko angrily pushed the cat away, which surprised the orange tabby as it hissed at her aggressively, much to her shock. As if it was rebelling against her, it continues to nibble one bite after another."What the hell!?"

"Its name ain't hell, it's call 'Peaches'."Ran corrects Junko.

"Hah?"

"You will get it soon," Ran sighs as the cat continues to lick Junko's ice cream.

"Hey! Enough is enough!"Again, Junko pushes the cat away, not before it ended up lifting its paw. With its claw, Peaches swung it and ended up leaving a scratch on Junko's hand as it hisses."Yeow!!!!"Junko winced in response.

"I told you so," Emiko chuckles as they watch Junko rub her hand.

Meanwhile, the kids outside the cafe were thrilled with the show Ranran and Shinichi were putting on as they chatter amongst themselves.

"Who knew Ranran is a fun person! To come up with dog skating!"

"I know right? I mean I have a huge dog at home, and I always wonder how are we gonna make sure it is completely drained so it doesn't cause a ruckus at home."

"How funny, I have a dog as well. A large Rottweiller, very energetic. Even with all of the walks I took, it wasn't enough and it ended up destroying stuff at my place as well."

"No way! I too have a large dog! What is the coincidence we all have large dogs?"

"Eh?! So the 3 of you have large dogs as well!?"

As the kids gather to chat in excitement over their mutual interest in their pets, Shinichi fed the two dogs with a bottle of water as the two laps hungrily. All of the runnings made the dogs feel hot as it is while Ranran pets both of the dogs as they respond by her pets."You guys work hard."

"Didn't think the dogs take a liking to you, considering they were trained to hate kids."Shinichi notice.

"I used to have a mutual friend who owns a Siberian Husky, he is good when it comes to handling dogs, so I learn a thing or two from him."Ranran smile as the dogs bark happily.

"Eh...is that so?"Shinichi gave a soft smile at the dogs before he went on, "Are you sure that old man won't find out his dogs are missing?"

"He won't, "Ranran's attention remained on the dogs, "Thanks to someone's intel outside the school, he is on a week's holiday settling funeral arrangements for his ailing parents."

"Ah, sou? Aside of that, I got to admit that Emiko's intel is eerily accurate," he glanced at the chattering crowd."

"How is Majima dealing with the props?"

"So far so good,"

They turned to observe Majima dismantling one of the props left outside one by one, before putting the parts into a box."We just need to wait for the sign inside, then we are ready to proceed."

Ranran and Shinichi silently stared at where Ran and the rest were sitting through the window.  Meanwhile, Junko was not having it with a sly cat as she argues, "Don't eat my ice cream! Uggh"

"Hissssss!"

"Scram!"

Then, the unexpected happens. Although the cat was finally able to leave, while dusting out the fur, Peaches accidentally knock down the cup, resulting in the remnants of the ice cream falling. In quick response, she was able to push the cup back, but with strong vibrations, the ice-cream remnants stained her jacket, "Uggggh! Damn that cat!"

Everyone stared wide-eyed with shock at the ice cream stain forming on Junko's right sleeve, let alone, with some of the unfinished ice cream seeping through the jacket and causing discomfort onto her arm. Frustrated, she took out her jacket and hook it on the chair."I could've washed off the stain if we were at Majima's place, but this is a cat cafe, it is pointless. Can anyone take me to the washroom please?"

Ran accompanied Junko while guiding her to the washroom to clean up, as soon as they made sure the girls were out of their sight, Takuma and Emiko were left to do their part."This is it, the cue."Takuma and Emiko look at each other in determination as they stare at the jacket.

After doing their part, Takuma quickly texts hastily to Ranran, "Op: Jacket is done."

Suddenly, Ranran received a notification from her blazer pocket. Taking out her smartphone, as soon as she reads it, Shinichi knows it's time.

"Alright, mina! Break time is over!"Ranran went back to the crowd with a smile plastered on her face, "Wanna know a cooler way to make sure your dog is too tired to cause more chaos?"

By the time Ran and Junko return to their seats to see Takuma and Emiko completing their homework, Junko rants, "That cat needs to be put on a bloody diet! Acting all so spoiled! I even had to clean myself up because of that darn cat!"

As soon as she did, Junko notices two things.

One, the prop box which was next to her earlier is gone. Which was no big deal, given Michio must have taken it.

It's the second one that bothers her, her jacket on the chair is missing." Ah reh? Where is my jacket!?" she searched everywhere, under the table and behind the chair. But no signs of it." Any of you seen my jacket?" she asks Takuma and Emiko.

"No, not that we know of. Why?" the two gave her a puzzled look.

"You guys didn't take it, did you?"She narrowed her eyes in suspicion.

"Fuyuko-san, feel free to look into our bags at the locker there. Your jacket is too big for any of us to even wear it."Emiko pointed to the lockers there.

And so she did. She searched high and low, even all around the cafe: none.

Though the cafe had CCTV, it only pointed at the cashier not at the spot they were at. Even with Ran's help, it didn't do much.

"Where in the world is it I wonder?"Junko couldn't help but be perplexed by the situation, not before a huge cheer could be heard outside the cafe.

Out of curiosity, Junko turn to the window to see what was going on. To her amazement, Ranran and Shinichi had two of the Dobermans in leashes, each of the Kudo held onto it as it drags the two kids in roller wheel skates, they were having a blast and the kids were cheering them head-on.

"Teach us how to do it! It looks fun!" one of the kids pleaded.

"Alright, if you guys are that interested—here!"

Having fish out from the box, Junko froze when she sees Ranran waving what appears to be a Teitan Elementary school jacket."Hey! What the hell!?"

"Now one must be motivated to do anything, either through treats or toys. Pumpkin and Cinamon's motivation is this jacket I have at my disposal-"

"Hey! That's my jacket!"Junko couldn't help but be furious.

"No it ain't," Emiko commented, enjoying the view outside the window, "It belongs to Majima." 

"Hah?"Junko whipped her head at Emiko, "Majima's?"

"It is, "Ran then tap her finger to her own face in a thinking gesture, "The dogs always act excitedly with Majima's scent. 

"Deshou deshou?"Takuma reacts in excitement, "The dogs were so excited at one point, it tore the jacket to pieces!"

"Wait, what do you just say!?"This makes Junko panic as she stares at the jacket being waved around like a flag, feeling uneasy over this."But we wore the same jacket before arriving here!"Junko argues, "How would you know that?"

"What is the possibility for the jacket to end up outside anyway? Not like anyone would take it out by accident."Emiko rolled her eyes at her.

Suddenly, Junko recalled the box that was placed next to her seat earlier before it was removed, "Don't tell me....the jacket fell into the box and Majima took it by accident!?"

"What? How can it be possible!?"Takuma couldn't help but think, he didn't even bother to hide the cheekiness in his tone.

"First, let the dog be familiarized with the scent!"Ranran passes the jacket to Shinichi as he knelt to the dogs to let it sniff, as expected, the dogs grew excited by it as they began barking.

"Oh, man! This is it! The show where the dogs tear the jacket apart!"Emiko snides.

"Oh man, I can't watch!"Ran hid her face, not wanting to see it.

Junko's mind was constantly racing and she could not focus on anything. Supposedly that was a mix-up with the jacket!? Then what!? She would have no jacket and her mom will be furious at her.

Now Junko's mother had always been an angry woman and it showed in her interactions with her. She gets angry very easily, such as that time Junko misplaces the fork or spoon where it belongs or that time she was nagged on how she wasn't doing a good job cleaning the house as she had to do it properly like her mom, or even that time when Junko is certain her mom got her memories wrong about the things she did, she would tell her off and say she is the adult and that she should respect her. Of course, her mother wasn't the type to lash out unless there is a provocation.

Then again, it's hard for someone who was used to being born with a diamond spoon growing up, only to lose all of it because of what she did during high school. For many years even till now, even though Junko has no idea what was it her mom did, even to this day adults would stare at mother and daughter as if she was a criminal walking freely amongst them. Never would her mom had imagined she would end up living a middle-class life because of that, and her pride has been long trampled. Also, it wasn't easy raising Junko all on her own either, as Junko's dad works as a sea captain, constantly travelling around the world. They remain in contact through the letters he wrote instead of e-mails, as he claims to be a technophobe.

Bottom line is, if she doesn't get her jacket back, her mom is obviously going to kill her.

Panic-stricken, Junko rushes out of the cafe to snatch it back.

.....

"Neh, don't you think the dogs are a little too excited to our liking?"

Shinichi asks Ranran after having the dogs sniff at the jacket as he tosses it back to Ranran, his other hand still holding the leash. Ranran caught in response with her free hand, as she too still held on the leash with her right hand, "Nope, I doubt it."Her red lips formed a Chesire grin, "It is doing wonders as it is." before petting his back to whisper, "Use sanitiser wash your hands. Also, Majima!"She calls.

"Yeah?"He turned to her, about to leave with another box.

"Take the 2nd box away!"

"Alright!"

As Michio finally left the two Kudo twins, Ranran quickly fish out something from her skirt pocket, as soon as she waved at their sight, the two dogs stop barking as Shinichi noticed their eyes expression change before Ranran stuffs it into the jacket. It was then Junko could be heard shouting angrily at the two while rushing over to the two, "STOP! BOTH OF YOU! GIVE ME MY JACKET BACK!"

"Huh?"Everyone's attention is all on Junko as she quickly manages to snatch it back, before dusting it as the sound of her hitting the jacket silence the crowd. Inspecting her jacket, she sighs out of relief as she recognizes it was hers. She then glared at a pouting Ranran while she confronts, "What is wrong with you!"

"What is wrong with me? What are you talking about?!"Ranran gave an unknowing look.

"Don't lie! I know of all of your antics in school!"Junko screeches as the crowd watches in amusement and curiosity, pointing at the 6-year-old girl, "You don't think I am stupid! You tried to destroy my jacket and get me into huge trouble! Didn't you?"

"First of all, how can it be your jacket?"Shinichi defended Ranran, "It could've been Majima's since you both arrive wearing it."

"As for you, don't play coy!"Junko shifted her intense gaze at Shinichi, furious, "I know why you are in on-hey! What gives!?"

Suddenly without warning, Pumpkin and Cinamon kept on tugging the jacket she snatch against her will. Meanwhile, Ranran and Shinichi tugged the leash a little by rolling it up to drag the dog away from her. Furious, Junko smacks and kicks the dog away from her as she manages to save her jacket. This only made them angry. It was a perfect storm of frustration and madness as one of them again, bite the jacket and tried to pry it away from her.

"Get lost!"She kicked the dogs once more, resulting in both of the dogs howling like a banshee. They were both mad and they were both hungry. They were barking so loudly that it was worsening her fear."W-what is going on with them!?"Junko turned to the Kudo twins, demanding answers as she becomes nervous over its behaviour.

"I don't know, why don't you ask them?"Ranran shrugs, but not before much to Junko's horror, gave a cryptic smile, "Neh Fuyuko, what happens if two untrain dogs happen to smell a scent that reminds them of a cat?"

Suddenly the heartbeat increased and she was shocked, recalling the times she push Peaches away, followed by her missing jacket, Micho suddenly inviting her out of the blue after avoiding her for so long...everything finally seemed to fall in place while a sudden coldness hits to the core of her heart.

This was never an apology lunch, for Fuyuko Junko had walked into Kudo Ranran's trap.

The two dogs' barking was getting louder and louder, "Uhh Ranran...I don't think I can hold on any longer."Junko is beginning to feel the cold sweat on her forehead, as the fear began to build up in her watching Shinichi loosening the leash with each tug the dog struggles to attack Junko.

"It ain't just you..."Ranran seem to be struggling as well, with both kids wearing roller shoes it was getting harder to prevent the dogs from leaping onto Junko. However, Junko is certain Ranran and Shinichi were loosening on purpose.

Finally, it happened.

Before she knows it, Junko finds herself fleeing from the Kudo twins as Pumpkin and Cinamon chase after the unfortunate girl, dragging Ranran and Shinichi along the way as they skate into the dogs' direction, while the crowd applause as they assumed it was some scripted show Ranran had planned in store for them.

In many ways growing up, Fuyuko Junko had never once fled from confronting situations. When her mother scolded her for unreasonable tasks she never backed down. When Majima avoided her, she tries to do whatever she can to meet him. When other kids spoke ill of whatever it was her mom had done to earn such insults, she fought against them.

However, for the first time in her life, today will be her only exception.

As Junko flees as her life depends on it with the two dogs chasing after her, she yells, "DAMN YOU KUDO RANRAN! DAMN YOU KUDO SHINICHI! BUT ABOVE ALL...CURSE YOU MICHIO!!"Michio winced at this as he hears her blood-curdling screams for the last time, which the members got out of the cafe to witness it out of curiosity, before she ended it with, "YOU WILL ALL REGRET THIS!!!"

"Meow."Peaches went out into the street from the cafe as it started to lick itself, unbothered by the chaos that has taken place. Even the cheers of the kids did little to interest it.

"Omg! I knew it was going to be bad, but I didn't think it is far worst than it already is."Michio couldn't help but feel edgy and nervous about the aftermath.

"Relax Majima, had she not had the intel from me that Junko is also the no.1 runner of your grade, she wouldn't have done it in the first place."Emiko justifies this.

"Oh, dear..."Ran couldn't help but cringe, "what if Junko comes after us again? We still have a meeting at Michio's place later on."

"She won't be able to, with all of the running Ranran and Shinichi is going to put her through...she will be too exhausted and out of breath by the time she wanted to confront us. Enough time for us to sort our Watanabe investigation."Emiko chuckles as they stare at the hilarious chase, "I am also amused that Ranran tends to take those two dogs and do roller skate surfing whenever her parents aren't around."

"Ah, I know about this. She spoke about it a lot at that time and I assumed she was making stories up," Takuma suddenly spoke up, before rubbing his chin feeling impressed," But I didn't think she would use Dobermans. After staring at this, this looks fun!"

"Are you serious, Hikari!? Fuyuko got chased down by two dogs!"Ran was at loss for words over the lack of moral conscience.

"I am serious!"Takuma nodded to her before turning to the others, "Neh guys, out of the Kudo twins, who is gonna return here first? Ranran or Shinichi?"

"Hmm...my bet is on Shinichi. It got the hang of it and had patience unlike Ranran does."Michio answered.

"What? No! Shinichi just started learning this yesterday for many many hours! There is no way he will win."Emiko shakes dismissively at the boys, "My bet is on Ranran. She had more experience with those two for a long while."

"Hah?! Experience doesn't mean everything!"Ran cuts in before arguing, "My bet is on Shinichi."

"Woah, you are wrong, Ran! Experience is everything!"Takuma jumps in, "I bet Ranran is winning."

"No, sometimes experience isn't everything. It's Shinichi that's gonna win."Michio explains.

And so, the debate over who will arrive first after chasing Junko out wages on outside the cat cafe as Peaches purrs on its own, ignoring the crowd's anticipation.

.....

"Damn that Kudo Ranran! Sending two dogs to chase after me! I could've died if I didn't have the speed to run!"Junko strolled through the shops while her temper simmers on, panting from all of the runnings she had to do to escape from the 2 dogs."Also, why is it the right pocket of my jacket felt heavy?"

Fishing out the thing from her jacket pocket, Junko soon figures out why the dogs were chasing after her. A fresh salami was placed in there, something that would give hungry dogs to have a go at it without a second thought.

"Damn that demon!"She threw the meat on the floor as it burst, smearing the road. Of course, Ranran lied about Junko smelling like a cat to the point the dogs would go after her! That was a distraction strategy so Junko wouldn't double-check that Ranran planted salami in her pocket!

Why did she end up being fooled by this scheming girl!? Not to mention, a 6-year-old girl of all things! This was so embarrassing!

She is being duped around like a stupid child with that Kudo girl, especially with Michio there.

Junko would've loved to confront Michio and the kids, of course, she would without hesitation now. However, after physical education classes, and a long 2 hour run from those dogs, she decided its time to call it a day and headed home.

Now JUnko's apartment block was in the next street. She walked along, her mind still back at that girl, the group of kids, and her schemes.

That scheming girl, what the hell does she even need Michio with her?!

If Junko had been more alert, she might have noticed the two men following her darting from one shop doorway to the next. Suddenly as she drew level with an alley, heavy hands gripped her shoulders. She was pushed into the shadows and a thick cloth was bundled over her head. Junko tried to struggle, but her arms were pinned to her sides. When she screamed, somebody shook her roughly.

"Be quiet!" a harsh voice commanded, muffled by the material wrapped around her tiny body. "You're coming with us."

Her heart was beating wildly Fear rose in her throat "Who are you?" she gasped.

She heard a metal door slide open and she was lifted off her feet. Someone swung her up and dumped her onto a cold, hard surface. Junko guessed she was in some type of van. The metal door slid shut behind her. Moments later an engine coughed into life and the vehicle began to move. She screamed again, but the sound was lost in the folds of cloth. Something jabbed her ribs.

"Don't be troubled," warned the harsh voice."We just want to have a little chat."

The van weaved from side to side. She could hear other cars blasting their horns.

She had no way of knowing how long the drive lasted. Snatches of traffic sounds drifted into the van, and the fumes made her feel dizzy. At least, the van bumped over rough ground and the engine was turned off. The door slid open and she was carried outside.

For one strange moment, she thought she heard a wild animal. It sounded like an elephant.

But that was impossible, she thought. And then, it was gone.

When she was removed from the cloth, Junko found herself in a hot, dark room. Somebody was standing behind her. She couldn't see any faces, but she could hear the sound of breathing.

"Now, girl, who are you?" the harsh voice wanted to know.

"Let me go!" she screamed. She tried to turn, but heavy hands clamped her arms.

"Just answer my questions," said a second voice. Whoever it was speaking with an accent. His voice was deep and smooth, but its calmness somehow made him sound even more menacing. "When you've told me what I want to know, you'll be free to go on your way. Now, what is your name?"

"J-J-Junko, Fuyuko Junko." she stuttered, swallowing nervously. "What do you want with me?"

The sinister voice had a mocking ring. "The question is, my dear, what do you want with my friend, Watanabe Ikeda?"

"I've never heard of him," blurted out Junko.

The voice moved away. "If you're not going to talk to me, I'll leave you locked up here in the dark. Just tell me what you're doing with Watanabe Ikeda!"

"If he was your friend, you should know!" she snapped.

The man was growing impatient. "Where's Watanabe hiding? Did he talk about the tiger?"

"Why did you wreck our office?!" countered Junko as she thought of digging out anything she could get from her kidnappers, her temper was flaring.

There was silence for a moment. "What room?" the man asked her. "What are you talking about?"

That was when Junko stamped her foot."You're the people with the black car! You should know better!"

The sinister voice moved even closer. It rose to an urgent pitch. "What black car? Tell me the truth or you'll never see your friends again!"

Junko shuddered. Her tear ducts were leaking once again. "The men in the black car destroyed the office there! And even hijacked a tow truck that was hooked to that same black car!"

In the darkness, her hand had found her smartphone in her pocket. Her fingers busily tapped out a message while she was talking.

"We know all about you," she told her captor. "We told the police."

She heard the man's muttered curse behind her. Her fingers worked feverishly to send the message.

"The police are involved, are they?" the mysterious man growled. "Well, that makes things different. Where is Watanabe?!" he demanded. "Did the Karasus (Crows) get him?"

Junko desperately fumbled with her phone. She had to keep the man talking until she had sent the message!

"Who are the Karasus?" she asked."Are they the bad guys in the black car?"

The man said nothing. Suddenly, he gripped her right arm. "What are you doing?!" he shouted.

He wrenched her hand from her pocket. Her smartphone clattered on the floor."Were you trying to call someone?!" he demanded.

"No! I wasn't!" screamed Junko, her tears finally bursting out. "It's too dark to see anything in here!"

A shadowy hand scooped up her phone. "I don't trust you, girl. I'm leaving you here to think about things," her unseen captor threatened. "And when I come back, I want the truth!"

Fuyuko Junko may not have known what was happening, but she knew whatever case Michio has gotten involved with those other kids reeks danger. The situation right now feels tense and frightening. 

The only thing that made it bearable was the knowledge that the text finally got sent out, and could only hope for the best.

Cause if she doesn't think of it that way, she honestly didn't know how she was going to make it out of this alive.