"Wow, how is it that our Ranran would end up losing to this sort of girl in the future!?"

A group of elementary school children of the prestigious Edgewood Academy had gathered, each of them cladded in their school uniforms as they are in some undisclosed fancy location, all of them had gathered around the table in their seats as they were all staring at the projector screen in shock, disbelief, yet above all - dumbfounded.

Staring back before them is a photo of the current 4-year-old Mouri Ran.

The children who have gathered in this room are the clients of Fox and Deer, a agency meant for children of aristocrats that the adults aren't aware of its existence. Each of the members here in this very room are usually given the option to either pay in full, or end up as a member here to cover their expenses spent onto their service after the company settled their 'issues'. 

Of course, the head of the agency, the 8-year-old Deer wasn't that unreasonable.

Being a member has their benefits, and so far, the members had nothing to complain about, especially the ones who had been there during Fox and Deer's earlier days. The only unusual terms and condition is that the kids have to offer solutions over the youngest member's future, Kudo Ranran, also known through her alter identity as 'The Fox'.

Then again, those who knew the founder, The Deer, knew better as to why he added this particular term.

As he was home-schooled, The Fox is in charge of running errands for him, in and out of Edgewood Academy. And gradually overtime, as much as the children denies this, they have grown fond over the little 4-year-old. It's like a pet cat your father dislike after one brings it over the house, but then finds themselves secretly feeding and caring for it when no one is looking.

Lately, when The Deer and the other children sent a message within their secret group chat to announce that they managed to obtain Mouri Ran's real life photo, all of them had sleepless nights, their heads were imagining all sorts of stuff as to how she may look like in real life. After all, the projector will never show the images of their future, just mention in words. Could it be that she is a extraordinary beauty that their Ranran should be worried about?

All of that expectations....were thrown out of the window as soon as the meeting began.

Georgina, unable to contain her surprise, burst out with a sharp laugh. "Wait, this is supposed to be the future rival? This girl?" She threw her hands up in mock disbelief. "She looks like the kind of girl who'd get picked last for dodgeball in a schoolyard, not someone who'd ever threaten Ranran."

"Yeah, this is... embarrassing," Tiffany scoffed, her fingers tapping rhythmically against the table. "I was expecting someone... I don't know, more dazzling? Not this plain little thing."

"The audacity!" The other kid, a 8-year-old boy named Ellis too awestruck by the little girl's photo on the screen before blasting out, "Her face is so average to the core, I mean sure- she is cute, but nowhere cuter than Ranran! I mean....wow, I am shock."

"As a aspiring fashion designer, this one I agreed with Ellis! I mean it's one thing if you are born thin and cute to wear any of my designs, but....no, I don't see a future for someone like her in the fashion industry." Walter, who is also the same age as Ellis, was super dumbstruck, before blasting out his opinion, "What....you mean to say, that this little girl is not only 'pretty', but was offered to model clothes several times in Japan? Her!? With that ordinary face!? Sure, maybe as a child model. But as a teenager? Absolutely not possible!"

"Maybe the standard of beauty in Japan is different compared to here," Tiffany figures.

"To hell with that! Didn't the biography states accordingly that the future 21st century Sherlock Holmes, Kudo Shinichi, a lot of boys in their school say they fell in love at first sight towards her growing up since kindergarten? I mean...." Ellis was at shock for words, he didn't know what to make of this, "I love girls as a playboy, don't get me wrong. But damn....their standard of beauty....I guess the pool of beauties there are super limited, that even a plain looking rock looks like a diamond in their eyes." 

"I mean....even with my makeup skills, it can never be up to par compared to our Ranran! I mean just look at Ranran, there is no way I would even need to do so for her, because she is born cute!" Similar age Veronica scoffed.

"Her face looked like someone one would see on the street at a daily basis." Dominique, the boy in glasses around the age adjusts his spec with a sigh, "And you would've think that 'Kudo Shinichi', a boy of such calibre would have great taste in women."

"Ugh, don't even bother to bring up his name," Isabelle stuck her tongue out in disgust, before adding, "He isn't a noble like the rest of us children, and his family is barely the rank of a baron, let alone, has any rank that is equivalent to Ranran's family. Given that even though his family is wealthy and famous in their own right, considering that he lives in a neighbourhood filled with children of average looks, I guess it ain't surprising why he ended up falling for that Mouri girl. Since probably in his radar, out of all of the average looking girls in appearance, she probably scored the best."

"I mean if you were to think of it this way, even for someone like me with an average face, I would too think she is cute. But annoying in my books, unlike Ranran." Devina too spat in annoyance at Mouri's photo projected on the screen, before adding, "You know, before moving here, I too used to think the boys in my neighbourhood were the best looking. Maybe if he had branched out...."

"Meh, he would just find all sorts of excuses to justify Mouri is cute." The Boy in the Deer mask scoffed, "They later dated when they both turned 17."

"How cute, childhood love. Even looks means nothing to him, which is one thing good about him. Then again....it's a shame God wasted giving the good looks to him." Veronica amuses in sarcasm.

"Also a huge waste that someone like that Mouri girl would be the one to give our Ranran a hard time once she moves to Japan," The Deer rolled his eyes, though it was evident no one is able to see it given the mask he was wearing covered his eyes, aside of his mouth wrinkling in a frown, "How is it that she didn't inherit the intelligence of her mother?"

"Her mother married an delinquent, that is what," Tiffany pouted, "Heard that they too were childhood sweethearts."

"Oh I see," Ellis crossed his arms as he understood something, "She inherited her father's stupidity."

"I wouldn't really say he was a 'gone case' nut, or else he wouldn't have ended up working as a cop there." Isabelle refuted.

"Yeah, you probably would think of this otherwise after hearing this," The Deer smirked before switching to the next slide for all of the children to see, revealing a building, "This building here in Japan....will be the future detective agency that her father purchases, shortly after quitting his job-"

"Wait, say what now!? He quit!?" Everyone's jaw dropped, before Veronica enquired, "Why?"

"No clue, the projector never revealed why. Just vaguely states that he had some issues there. Also, since it hasn't happen yet in the present, so...." The Deer shrugged as he continued where he left off, "And to cut a long story short, they later split up. This is when....he idiotic ventures began."

"Let me guess....he sucks in detective work, doesn't he? Go figures, like father like daughter." Isabelle chuckled darkly.

"I mean don't get me wrong, I know later that Shinichi boy eventually shrunk into a kid thanks to that drug when he was around 17, while he ended up getting taken in by that Mouri family without anyone realizing it was him, then he made use of that idiotic girl's father as a puppet to pursue after the men who did this to him, fair enough. But damn...." The Deer shook his head silently, "If we were to calculate the timeline when her father started the tantei business leading up to the time they turned 17....it tells us a lot as to how extremely stupid in terms of intelligence the Mouri's have, huh?"

"What does her mom even see in him, I wonder? To marry a stupid man and give birth to a stupid daughter? With this moron around, it's no wonder Ranran could've ended up like her doomed future. Hell, I wouldn't even be surprise if I ended up like her too, constantly having her stupidity rubbing all over the place!" Walter spat bitterly.

"Make that two morons," Tiffany reminded him with her two fingers, "That idiot Shinichi too never bothered to dig around and blindly believe what the girl he likes had to say about Ranran, it ain't surprising that they both suit each other. 21st century Holmes? Him? In the future? What a joke! If he is such a qualified detective, he would've been smart enough not to date a moron like her!"

"The amount of braincells their stupidity will kill....I am going to bet it would've been massively great enough to commit a mass genocide for all we know!" Isabelle spoke.

"I would like to see their faces in the future when Ranran's family move to Japan, man, wouldn't it be funny to see how Ranran screws those two morons over?" Ellis smirk in a menacing manner.

"Indeed," The Deer said, adjusting his posture slightly. "When she encounters those two in the future, the fireworks will be spectacular. After all, only someone as... exceptionally foolish as her would be able to snare him."

A ripple of laughter spread across the room, punctuated by scoffs and sarcastic remarks.

"I mean seriously, don't get me wrong. I am a boy, and what I am about to say may sound callous and all, but just comparing her to Ranran....I can honestly swear that if we were to put Ranran next to the Mouri girl side by side, it's like comparing between a diamond and a piece of glass," Walter finished with a sneer, his voice dripping with disdain. "Ranran shines effortlessly, while Mouri... well, she's just another dull piece in the crowd. No real sparkle to her, just an average girl playing at being special."

"You are too generous with your words, Walter," Devina shook her head in disagreement, "Glass can still be used to make beautiful mosaic windows. If anything, she is more of a plastic than a glass."

"Plastic, huh?" Tiffany mused, her tone almost contemplative. "Yeah, I guess that's a good way to put it. She's all shiny on the surface, but you know the second you get too close, you'll realize she's hollow inside. Nothing of substance."

Dominique leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms and sneering at the image of Mouri Ran on the screen. "Exactly. People like her are built for one thing and one thing only—appearing to be something they're not. It's all just... an illusion. They dress her up, put her in front of the camera, and for a moment, everyone thinks she's something special. But take that all away, and you're left with a cheap imitation of the real thing."

"Guys, again, you are all forgetting the bigger picture here," The Deer said calmly, his mask hiding any visible expression but his posture clearly conveying an underlying seriousness. "All of us in this very room had all of our futures almost completely robbed away by kids like this Mouri girl. No one saw it coming until I had to interfere through the Fox, so if anything, everything at our disposal are merely their stepping stones to their future."

The room fell silent. The children were curious, some of them leaning forward, the laughter dying down.

"The thing about this world is this," The Deer continued, "Any moment we make a mistake, that is it. But for them, our downfall is their meal ticket. And we don't want that, right?"

The room was heavy with tension as The Deer's words settled in.

"Even until now, I still don't get it," Veronica said, her voice less mocking now, more thoughtful. "How is it that kids like them can just bring down people like us? We've been trained our entire lives for this."

"Maybe what Ranran said the other day is true, that we are born into a world of novels where the ugly average people win, while the rich villains don't even get to enjoy their victory," Dominique said, his voice unusually quiet as he leaned back, deep in thought.

"Worst, we are all cannon fodders as Ranran called it." Veronica gulped at that thought.

"Hey, we ain't like those simpletons, alright?" The Deer said, his voice cutting through the rising tension like a blade. His tone remained calm, but there was an undeniable sharpness to it now. "Listen, unlike the 'us' in the projector where we lose everything pathetically, all of that had changed for the better because we intervened." He paused for emphasis, making sure every one of them understood the weight of his words. "Sure, I will admit we 'deserved' our own downfall. But considering those destined 'heroine and heroes' knew about it in our present and instead of warning us, decides to speed up our downfall for their own benefit, who is the real 'villain' now?"

The room grew unnervingly quiet. The children sat in stillness, absorbing The Deer's words, the implications sinking deeper with each passing second.

"Of course, I ain't saying what we are doing now is not in the wrong," He paused, letting his words echo in the silence before continuing. "But does this mean those other kids deserve those 'rewards' at our own expenses and misery alike?"  The Deer continued, his voice carrying a weight that made the children lean in, their eyes locked onto him. "If this is a novel world where it revolves over a couple of scum children that sacrifice several people for their happiness,  then I will destroy that world to fix that. This is the real world, not some idiotic world of stories where we're just supporting characters in a narrative."

The children remained silent, but the tension in the air had shifted.

"But let's get back to the main topic here, about this Mouri girl...." The Deer pointed at the screen as he rewind back to Mouri's photo, "What is your first impression of her after I said everything?"

"I mean.....I don't mean to be rude, but....." Devina bit her lip a bit before stating crudely, "I think that Shinichi boy needs to be strike by lightning."

The group of children snickered at Devina's comments.

"Why? Is it for his questionable taste in girls?" Georgina struggled to contain her laughter at her words.

"Well, yeah, that's part of it," she said, voice dripping with sarcasm. "But honestly...given that Ranran and Shinichi belonged from the same family....I am just wondering why is it that Ranran is at least smarter than Shinichi at least when it comes to choosing good looking kids to be close with, you know?"

"I kind of understand where you are heading with this," Isabelle and the others collectively nodded, "I mean we are her real life friends too. Even that Mouri girl's bestie, that rich idiotic heiress....uh....what was her name again? Soup socks or something?"

"Suzuki Sonoko." The Deer reminded her.

"Right, right... Suzuki Sonoko. I should've remembered that. Sorry, I ain't good with Japanese names." Isabelle chuckled softly and then continued, clearly still amused by her own misstep, "I mean her looks...is also average as well."

"Average is an understatement," Georgina chimed in, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "She's like a classic side character in a drama—always there, never really standing out."

"Oh no, the only thing that did is her stupid big mouth that always states how great her bestie and Shinichi will look as a couple." Walter sneered.

"The second daughter of the Suzuki clan back in Japan, right?" Tiffany added, rolling her eyes. "I never met her, though I did meet her parents before since they approach me to open one of my bubble tea business there in Japan."

"Really?" The Deer grew curious as he questions, "How are they in person?"

"As a business person? Or their character in general?" Tiffany shrugged, a half-smile tugging at her lips. "They're... well, just as you'd expect from high-status business Japanese families. Polite, formal. Oh yeah, even met their eldest daughter too. Their eldest is....approachable, can tell she is close to her parents. They know how to carry themselves well. But uh....when I ask about their second daughter.....they have a lot to say."

The Deer leaned forward slightly, his expression intrigued but still calculated. "Do share more about Sonoko."

Tiffany paused for a moment, as if deciding how much to reveal. "They seemed... frustrated with her."

"Frustrated!?" Isabelle's face fell in surprise, "How do you know that?"

"Not that they said anything outright, but you can read between the lines. Apparently, she has a bit of a reputation for being... well, how do I put it?" Tiffany tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Dramatic."

 "You mean she's the type to throw tantrums if she doesn't get her way?"

"That depends how you look at it," Tiffany nodded, her voice lowering slightly as if sharing a secret. "But she is more particular over Mouri's happiness, and they had been rumours that she doesn't like it if she sees any girl more beautiful in appearances than her bestie, Mouri."

"Why? The two are average is nothing to be ashamed of. Even I myself am self-admittingly average," Devina mused aloud, a frown creasing her brow as she thought it over.

"Exactly. But considering that this Mouri ended up dating Shinichi in the future, one would not guess that her bestie may have something to do with it, right?" Tiffany figures.

"I wouldn't be surprised. I mean with such personality, Sonoko being big mouth would have shooed any of the potential fan girls Shinichi could've gain just so he ended up with Mouri." Ellis snorted.

"But wouldn't that just make things awkward? I mean, if she's controlling Shinichi's romantic life to that degree, wouldn't Mouri catch on? It sounds like a disaster waiting to happen." Isabelle adds, "Also, if I were Shinichi and all of this was going on, I would be mad."

"Then again, given they would eventually be long time childhood friends, I would probably brush that thought and think otherwise. Cause knowing all of this would mean my friendship with them has been nothing but a lie. And as for Mouri, if she is aware, she will either think of it as a 'friend' thing without correcting her since she benefits out of this, or play ignorant." Veronica thinks.

"Ugh, I really hate girls like them," Tiffany said, voice tinged with bitterness. "Why must Ranran even come across such children in the future baffles me."

"You think you are the only one," The Deer scoffs in disgust, "The more I think about this, the more I want to stop her parents from moving her to Japan."

"Seriously, his taste in girls....I swear that the males in the Kudo family must have had brain damage. Cause seriously, his taste in girls...." Ellis is still cringing while staring at the photo.

"Well, you can't really say all of them are. I mean Shinichi's mother is good looking, so is that other. As well as Ranran's mother, she too is pretty good looking." Isabelle corrected them.

Suddenly, the sound of the door unlocking as soon as one keys in the pin rang, indicating the 4-year-old Ranran has just finished school.

Jumping out of his seat, The Deer hurriedly instructed to everyone, "Tidy up everything, now!"

The room immediately shifted into action, a practiced urgency taking over as everyone scrambled to hide all traces of their conversation. Isabelle quickly grabbed the remote and paused the screen, while Ellis hastily shoved papers into a drawer. Tiffany stood and adjusted her posture, suddenly adopting the nonchalant air of someone who had been waiting around for hours rather than involved in intense discussion, while the rest of the children clean up everything.

The Deer shot a quick look around, ensuring everything was in order. His eyes flicked nervously to the door as he muttered under his breath, "Hurry, hurry..."

Veronica, always quick on her feet, rushed to gather the remnants of their discussion. She stuffed some of the leftover documents into her bag, even as she said, "We don't need Ranran hearing anything about this right now. Keep it low."

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

There are certain rules of Fox and Deer one must honor.

Among one of them is that Ranran will not learn of her fated future, nor learn of the existence of the projector that projects her future until The Deer feels like she is ready.

The door clicked open, and in walked Ranran, her eyes look as though she is about to die of exhaustion, and her eyes, heavy-lidded from the day's activities, conveyed the kind of weariness only a 4-year-old could possess after a full day of being in some prestigious academy.

The Deer straightened up immediately, masking his unease with a bright, almost too eager smile. "Hey there, Ranran! How was school?" he asked, his voice a little too cheerful.

Ranran blinked up at him, her face scrunching in a tired frown. "Tired... I hate homework..." She dropped her school bag to the floor with a soft thud and plopped down onto the nearest couch, clearly done with the day. 

There were times the members of Fox and Deer can't help but wonder why out of all of the pre-schoolers The Deer could've picked to do the job, he had to choose the one who dislike going to school. 

Watching her tiny body melting into the cushions, with her pouting face, so young yet so full of the kind of exhaustion only a 4-year-old could wear after an entire day at an academy of all places, made a few of the members like Tiffany wince internally. She couldn't help but think of all the other children out there—who had so much more energy and a natural enthusiasm for learning—but no. It had to be Ranran. The one who hated school.

The kids who lived in Montgrave Ridge knows the value of Edgewood, and so do the adults. A lot would die, no seriously, literally die to get a spot there. Tiffany knew of some families, how some of them borrowed loans, mortgage their house, hell, even went as far as to buy their way into Edgewood Academy among middle income families.

The lengths people would go to secure a spot for their child in that prestigious institution were unfathomable. Those who are uneducated will think that they were investing in their child's future. Which they were not wrong in Tiffany's opinion, cause she knew of some kids who their parents used to study there, struck lucky in marrying someone richer than their families and then, by sheer chance or calculated maneuvering, secured their own children a spot at Edgewood. To the outside world, it was a badge of honor, a prestigious mark of privilege that everyone desired but few could actually attain. 

But what most failed to understand, what Tiffany understood all too well, was that once you were in—truly in—there was no escaping inferiority, greed and expectations.

Which in this case, also applies to the the rich and the powerful. "Homework should be banned, it just wastes my gaming time, let alone, boring to the core." Tiffany could hear the 4-year-old complaining through the pillow while she lay down there, 180 degree with her face down.

"Ranran, as I mentioned this to you before: Homework is a part of life. Even if you were to move to another school, there is no escaping homework." Tiffany who loves Edgewood, advises her sternly, knowing that the 4-year-old would disagree.

"Nonsense," Ranran groaned in response, her tiny face still buried in the pillow as she let out a muffled sigh of disdain. "I saw some family drama that there is this school where one doesn't have to do homework to succeed in life."

"You did, huh?" Tiffany asked, trying to keep her tone light but with a touch of amusement. "And what is the name of the drama?"

Ranran shifted slightly, her small voice muffled as she kept her face buried in the pillow. "It's a drama call Straight A Academy," she muttered with a tone that sounded like she had just uncovered a great mystery. "It's a place where kids get to play all day and still get the best grades ever. No homework, no tests, just fun and adventure. The teachers are nice too, and there's always ice cream after every class!"

"Why am I not surprise....?" Georgina facepalmed.

The children here had been notified by The Deer over Ranran's mother's hobby of watching romance family drama. Though they are aware she enjoys watching K-dramas and J-dramas, they didn't think Chinese dramas would be added into the mix.

"What is the name of the tv production who produce this drama?" The Deer asks.

"White lotus something....." Ranran's face remained buried in the pillow as she mumbled.

"Ok," The Deer then quietly pulled Ellis aside to whisper, "When you are free, call one of your connections over and shut down that damn tv production company. Or in this case....get someone to buy the company.  We don't need more 'idiotic' children here in Montgrave Ridge, don't we?"

And Ellis isn't going to argue with this idea, neither would the rest of the children as well.

The reason why Edgewood Academy shut down in the future, was because there were too many idiotic children.

Due to the influence of such dramas like Straight A Academy, the kids in Edgewood ultimately became more concerned with instant gratification and shortcuts than with actual learning or self-improvement. The culture of laziness and entitlement that these dramas portrayed seeped into their minds, making them believe that they could easily coast through life without putting in the necessary effort.

At first, it seemed harmless—a few kids here and there watching mindless shows, laughing at the absurdity of it all. But as time passed, the subtle indoctrination took hold. More and more children at Edgewood began to question why they had to study so hard when, according to these shows, success was just a matter of wishing for it hard enough.

Tests became meaningless to them. Homework was a chore, not an opportunity to learn. Teachers were no longer seen as mentors or guides, but as obstacles to avoid. 

After all, in the dramas, the characters often succeeded without breaking a sweat, with little more than a dramatic monologue or a well-timed speech to secure their place in the world. The longer this went on, the harder it became for the teachers to maintain the high standards Edgewood had once been known for. The children were not only uninterested in learning, they had begun to expect that everything would simply be handed to them.

Eventually, the shutdown of Edgewood was inevitable after that point later on in the future. 

Too many complaints from parents, too many questions about the quality of education, and too many students failing to meet even the most basic expectations. 

Of course, Edgewood's fall from grace had been long in the making, and while there were many factors at play, it was the pervasive influence of these dramas that had tipped the scale.

In the end, it wasn't just about one TV production company. It was about the culture that it represented. A culture that promised rewards without effort, and success without sacrifice.

And the real culprit behind this, was none other than The Deer's vicious fiance, who manipulated everything at her whim, just so to score a luxurious life with the guy that ain't him by brining the world of aristocracy down to her knees!

Honestly, the more the members of Fox and Deer think about it, the angrier they felt.

It's fine if she wanted to go date around since she is arrange to be married, fair enough.

It's alright if she wants to see the guy she likes. And it's one thing if she was going to wipe out Edgewood Academy in clean state, just for the sake of the commoners. Since the school was a cesspool of corruption and nepotism where some teachers would give preferential treatment to certain students such as grading papers more leniently, give easier assignments, and turn a blind eye to cheating and plagiarism.

But the thing about her is this: She barely cares about the welfare of the commoners.

Her only concern is herself.

And as a result, she ended up manipulating everything, even the parents and the government alike to her whims and fancies. Including the kids who seemingly have villainous fates.

Which is why, as long as The Deer is around alongside The Fox, that will never happen.

Also, that is too the major reason why Fox and Deer was opened to begin with: To go after anyone who attempts to shut down Edgewood Academy. So far in the present, the future where Edgewood would end up getting shut down has not gone according to her plans, which is a good news for all members.

Even if that were the case.....

The other members couldn't help but give The Deer a puzzle expression while their inner thoughts can't help but wonder:

Why did he pick someone who hates going to school to do most of his bidding!?

"It's today's homework maths again, Ranran?" The Deer can't help but sigh, as he sees her pout deepened, it became clear that he figured her out as always.

The other members of Fox and Deer exchanged glances. It was the same argument she made every week, especially onto whichever subjects she dislikes.

The Deer, unfazed by her dramatics, simply raised an eyebrow. "Why did you hate that subject again, Ranran?"

"Because Miss Daisy punished me, that is why!"

"Of course, why am I not surprise," Tiffany whispered alongside the other children as they snickered quietly at the mention of Ranran's maths teacher.

Miss Daisy has been a math teacher in Edgewood for almost a year plus, mostly thanks to one of the meddling members from Fox and Deer's, Tiffany. When The Deer put Tiffany in charge on Ranran's 'education matters', she was immediately able to tell that the previous math teacher was not deemed fit to teach any of the kids maths. 

After all, Ranran's original math teacher has only the qualifications of a literal 7-year-old.

To put it bluntly, a couple of behind-the-scenes action had to take place before getting her fired, then placing Miss Daisy in Ranran's class resolved a lot of issues. Mainly getting the job done.

In this case, Miss Daisy was somehow able to trick the little girl into learning without realizing it. 

"In the first place, who was it at fault for attempting to cheat Miss Daisy by two pieces of chocolates, Ranran?" The Deer said with a faint smirk, his tone bordering on amusement as he watched Ranran's pout deepen. "You again wrote the wrong answer to the math equation. Yet, when she announced she is going to distribute those chocolates she purchased while on a trip to Germany if anyone answers it correctly, guess who was the one who erased her wrong answer and put up the right one?"

The 4-year-old's face remain face flat on the pillow, but one could easily tell that she was feeling the weight of the situation. Her small hands gripped the edges of the pillow tighter, and a slight flush of embarrassment spread across her cheeks.

"Just stop writing wrong answers intentionally, then she will stop punishing you, Ranran. You should know that after being with her for over a year."

Still face-first into the pillow, she merely muffled a whimper of frustration. "I don't want to study anymore!!" She crossed her arms in a dramatic gesture, the picture of a little child exhausted and overwhelmed by a world that expected too much too soon.

"Ok, then do you not want 4 million pound for our upcoming Fox and Deer mission, Ranran?" The little boy in the Deer mask pointed out.

As soon as Ranran heard the word "money," her entire posture shifted like a switch had been flipped. Her small hands, which had been clutching the pillow in frustration, relaxed as she pulled her face out of the cushion. The dramatic pout melted away, replaced with wide eyes that gleamed with sudden, intense focus. She sat up straight, her gaze fixed on The Deer.

"Stop giving out stupid answers, then I will assign you. Otherwise, no assignment, no money." The Deer instructed.

Georgina, standing nearby Tiffany, couldn't help but chuckle softly. "This kid is easily bribed."

"It's probably one of the reasons why he dragged her to Edgewood back then against her will for a reason," Tiffany spoke in a whisper while amuse at their interaction, "A lot of kid I know in Edgewood....normally after doing all of this for a while, they stop feeling it once money is offered to them cause it is boring and easy money. Ranran on the other hand......there is no bottomless pit when it comes to money for her. Especially since she has been with us for almost a year plus....."

"I guess that's what makes her such a valuable asset to Fox and Deer, huh? Give her the right bait, and she'll chase it tirelessly." Devina smirked, folding her arms.

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

"But it is hard to imagine, seeing it in person." 

The room fell into an almost eerie silence as The Deer placed Ranran's answer sheet on the table. The remaining members of Fox and Deer gathered around, their faces a mixture of curiosity and disbelief.

"I mean...didn't the projector said she is academically stupid?" Isabelle finally broke the silence, her voice tinged with awe as her sharp eyes scanned the neatly written answers on the page. "How is this even possible?"

"For starters, that projector is an A.I.," Dominique interjected, pushing up his glasses as he stepped closer to the table. His voice carried a mix of annoyance and amusement. "It evaluates based on probability through our life patterns in general, so it ain't completely accurate. And let's be real, I am pretty sure had The Deer not intervene with her future, 'academically stupid' wouldn't be surprising in anyone's eyes if one doesn't dig deep."

"Still," Tiffany countered, tapping the answer sheet lightly, "To think that she hates going to school so desperately enough that she was willing to intentionally give out wrong answers to not end up in Edgewood is honestly....surprising. Cause I know of plenty of kids in the U.K who would rather die to get a spot there."

"Desperation and brilliance are often two sides of the same coin," As Devina studied the sheet, she rambles. "I mean she has been video gaming her entire life growing up while her parents are at work, no idiot in the world would want to go to a place when you know studying there is going to be way worst than it already is in a normal school."

"And yet, you studied too regardless." Georgina pointed out.

"That's different! I didn't have a choice back then, especially after what those 'bastards' did to my sister, step-brother, as well as my father!" Devina shot her a glare before slumping a bit, "Besides, I will frankly admit that I too was equally naïve like Ranran back then."

Ellis raised an eyebrow, leaning against the edge of the table. "Naïve, huh? Didn't think I'd hear you admit to that."

"Never once thought I would either till it happened," Devina let out a dry chuckle, shaking her head.

"Anyway, aside of all of this aside, Deer," Walter turned to the little boy in Deer mask in all seriousness, "Are you still going to tell Ranran that 'truth'?"

The Deer, who had been quietly observing the exchange, leaned back slightly in his chair, his mask obscuring any trace of emotion. His fingers drummed rhythmically against the table as if carefully weighing his words.

"That hasn't change," he finally said, his voice calm but laced with gravity. 

A heavy silence settled over the room.

"No matter how hard I think about it, this news....even if one were to put it lightly, it will crush her regardless." Ellis frowned, crossing his arms. 

"To be honest, when we got the 'news' for each of our fates at that time, I am certain neither of us were happy to begin with." Ellis gulped at that thought.

"It's like getting a death sentence medical diagnosis, once it's confirm you got it, you got it. Then, life goes downhill from there onwards...." Veronica too couldn't help but feel sick about this fact.

"Then what? You all would've been pleased if this is swept under the rug? Did it not occur to the whole lot of you that if she finds out on her own, then what? You know how resourceful she is when money or curiosity drives her. She might not need us to tell her."

"Exactly," Isabelle interjected. "If you wait too long, she'll figure it out, and then she'll hate us for hiding it from her. Kids like Ranran don't take betrayal lightly, no matter how much they respect you."

 "But telling her too soon would jeopardize her focus. Ranran thrives when there's a goal—money, a mission, a challenge. If she knew that truth now..." Dominque trailed off, his voice hardening. 

The Deer stayed silent for a long moment, his gloved hand resting on the answer sheet, his posture unusually tense. The quiet in the room grew heavier with each passing second until finally, he spoke, his voice steady but carrying an unmistakable edge of resolve.

"You're all right to be concerned," The Deer began, glancing around the room. "And believe me, I've thought of every angle as to how things may playout for her. As well as everybody else. But at the end of the day, no matter how harsh it will sound....she has the right to know."

The Deer's words hung in the air, heavy with finality. The room remained silent as the weight of his declaration settled on everyone. Each member of Fox and Deer processed his statement in their own way—some with understanding, others with visible discomfort.

"You're really going through with it, huh?" Ellis finally broke the silence, his voice low and tinged with resignation. 

"No sugarcoating, no delaying. Just the cold, hard truth. Acck acck....." 

The sudden, harsh sound of The Deer's coughing fit startled the room, breaking the heavy silence like a hammer shattering glass. His small frame shook with the force of it, and he clutched his chest tightly as if trying to suppress the spasms.

"Ooi!" Tiffany exclaimed, rushing to his side. She placed a hand on his shoulder, her voice frantic. "Are you okay? Did you forget to take your meds again?!"

"I'm... fine," The Deer rasped, attempting to wave her off, though his trembling hand betrayed his weakness. The mask obscured his face, but it was clear to everyone that he was far from fine.

"No, you're not," Dominique interjected sharply, stepping forward. "You've been pushing yourself way too hard, and it's catching up to you. Whatever this is, it's not normal."

The Deer straightened up with visible effort, his gloved hand gripping the edge of the table for support. "It's nothing. I've handled worse before. This isn't about me—it's about Ranran."

"It is about you, though!" Isabelle snapped, her voice uncharacteristically sharp. "How are we supposed to live well, when you're clearly not at 100%? If you can't even take care of yourself, how can you expect to take care of her? Especially when your death date is-"

"Enough!" The Deer's voice, though strained, cut through the room like a knife. He took a shaky breath, steadying himself. "I appreciate your concern, but this discussion isn't about my health. It's about what's right for Ranran."

"That's assuming you don't collapse before you even get the chance to tell her," Ellis muttered under his breath, earning him a glare from Tiffany.

Veronica sighed, her voice softer but no less concerned. "Look, we get it—you want to do right by her. But if you keep ignoring your own condition, you're going to be no help to her or anyone else. At least promise us you'll let one of our family doctor check you out after this."

The Deer hesitated, his fingers tightening around the table's edge. "Fine," he conceded reluctantly. "And again, I would appreciate if all of you don't tell Ranran anything about my condition."

"Stubborn as ever," Tiffany muttered, shaking her head. "But fine. Just... don't push yourself any further than you have to, okay?"

The Deer nodded, though his stance remained rigid and determined. The room fell silent once more, the air thick with unspoken tension. Whatever truth he planned to reveal to Ranran, it was clear that it weighed heavily not just on him, but on all of them. And with his health visibly deteriorating, the stakes felt higher than ever.