After the news broke out, it has become a field day for the press.

The courtroom was jam-packed with media, victims' families, and accused families. The woman who had murdered her son was ready to be sentenced. The prosecution recounted the evidence acquired throughout the trial, and the defence attorney claimed that the lady was not culpable since she was distressed by her husband's adultery.

However, the judge didn't give a damn, as he mentioned: "It ain't a justification to murder her flesh and blood, let alone abduct the most precious person in his whole universe to lure him, and then dig the eyeball out of her!"

The victim's family members gave statements about how the death of their loved one had affected them. The judge then sentenced the woman to prison for life.

Hundreds of people protested The Boy's mother's sentencing outside the courthouse. They yelled and waved banners demanding justice for the victim, seeking the death penalty, as The Boy meant a lot to them for the lives he had touched. The child's family was also present, holding hands and weeping as the punishment was read. This sentence was insufficient for the demonstrators. They swore to keep fighting for the child's justice.

Meanwhile, in Fox and Deer however, the room, once a place filled with mischief and calculated plans, now carried the air of a tomb with the weight of grief and unresolved anger. Dominique stood at the head of the table, the late Deer's will clutched tightly in his hands. The usual hum of chatter and brainstorming among the group was replaced by a suffocating silence.

4-year-old meanwhile Ranran sat near the center of the table, her fox mask resting beside her, while The Boy's deer mask to the right.

Ranran sat stiffly, her small frame exuding a stillness that felt out of place for someone so young. The fox mask, a symbol of her cunning and growing legacy, lay untouched on the table beside her. To her right, The Boy's deer mask—a poignant reminder of what they had lost—seemed to gaze back at the group like a silent witness to their grief.

The days leading up to the funeral, Ranran's eyes were clouded with an emotion she rarely let surface: vulnerability.

No one dared speak as Dominique finally unfolded the letter. He cleared his throat, his voice thick with emotion. "This is... from him," he began, pausing briefly to compose himself. "It was meant for this moment, in case the worst happened."

As Dominique began to read, the others noticed how Ranran's fingers curled tightly around the edge of her chair, her knuckles pale. Her expression remained unreadable, but her eyes... they were like frost—cold, detached, and dangerous.

The group exchanged glances, each member bracing for what was to come.

Dominique unfolded the paper and began to read aloud:

"To the next head for Fox and Deer should I die an untimely death, Kudo Ranran will become the next head."

The weight of the declaration settled like a stone in the pit of their stomachs. Kudo Ranran, still so young, was to become the next head of Fox and Deer. It wasn't a position any of them had anticipated her taking so soon—if at all.

She is only 4 after all.

Yet, Ranran's expression didn't change. Her gaze remained steady, unwavering, as she listened to the rest of the letter, but the others could feel the tension building inside her.

There was a sharp intake of breath from everyone in the room as Dominique continued, "Assets will be distributed according to each member to prevent Ernestine from seizing it, as well as a token of loyalty for putting up with the hardships we have all faced while running Fox and Deer."

"Anything else?" Ranran questioned him.

The tension in the room grew thicker as Dominique continued, his voice barely above a whisper, "He....say it's ok if you refuse to take over the head, because your happiness is what mattered."

The words hung in the air like a heavy fog, suffocating the room in silence. For the first time, Ranran's expression faltered, the cold mask she wore slipping just slightly. A flicker of something—uncertainty, perhaps—flashed in her eyes. It was brief, but unmistakable. She was human, after all.

Dominique continued, his voice now soft and almost reverent, "Also, about your tumultuous future in Japan, which your parents and yourself will be moving next year...he....had it settled."

The mention of Japan sent a ripple through the room, the implication heavy with unspoken meaning. Ranran's hand clenched tighter around the edge of her chair, her posture stiffening as she absorbed the weight of Dominique's words.

"Settled?" she repeated quietly, her voice almost a whisper.

"Yes. He arranged everything—your relocation, the finances, even your safety. He knew things wouldn't be easy for you, especially with your parents' past... but he made sure you would be protected, wherever you went." Dominique nodded, his eyes not meeting hers.

"He did?" Ellis and the rest of the members had their brows shot up, forgetting their grief for a moment, "But....that discussion about Mouri Ran and Kudo Shinichi....we have yet to discuss how Ranran will approach them."

The mention of Ranran's future enemies, particularly Mouri Ran and Kudo Shinichi, sparked a tense silence in the room. It was a topic that had been left unspoken for so long, one that no one had dared to approach until now. The weight of the discussion felt almost suffocating, given everything that had happened.

"I will deal with them... when the time comes." The room held its breath as she spoke, her voice low, yet carrying a sense of finality, "The policy of Fox and Deer 'The other party must strike first in order to be considered a victim' will stick with me. If they plan to play 'victim' in front of me, I know how to play the weaker victim that will land them in hot boiling water."

"Ranran...."Tiffany and their eyes softened as though she was a tiny child soldier, prepped to face a cruel war.

Seeing them looking as though they are about to burst into tears thanks to Ranran, she announced, "Don't cry. Future villains do not cry." Ranran declared, her tone firm and resolute. 

She let her words hang in the air, cutting through the fragile sorrow that clung to the room like fog.

"Where did things go wrong!? He recovered from that terminal illness, broke that damn engagement, was sent back to Edgewood and we manage to release his step mom and father, and yet....." Veronica blinked, fighting back tears as she struggled to comprehend the gravity of what Ranran was saying. The others, too, were struck by her maturity, the sharpness in her voice cutting through the delicate atmosphere like a blade.

Ellis, his face pale, exchanged a glance with Dominique and the other children. They both understood what this meant. 

If one wronged the leader of this business, the Fox's wrath will be dropping unannounced in front of their door.

Even if it was illegal, or that it will constitute to 'conspiracy to kill', she will find unimaginable ways of torment to The Boy's enemies.

After all, in this room, all of the members knew something Ranran doesn't: She is always going to be The Boy's favourite. And perhaps somewhere....in her head, she noticed it too late.

"Ranran..." Georgette started again, her voice barely a whisper, but she couldn't find the right words. 

"Things happened...it's too late to say what if's. The only way to honour him is....do what we do best. Being 'evil'."

The sight of Ranran, so poised and unwavering, made her want to protect her, to shield her from the weight of it all. The same thoughts goes for the rest of the fellow members.

But Ranran's gaze was steady, no hint of hesitation in her eyes. She was resolute. There was no room for pity in her world—not for herself, and certainly not for those who would stand in her way.

"He taught me before....don't show mercy onto anyone who wants me dead. Even if they are children of the same age as me, they ask for it if they meet their early demise. This will apply similiarly.....to those who murdered him."

The words fell from Ranran's lips with chilling certainty. There was no doubt, no hesitation, only cold, calculated resolve. Her voice, though soft, had an edge that cut through the room. It left no room for argument, no space for disagreement. What she spoke was law now—her law.

The others, still processing the weight of her transformation, exchanged uneasy glances. It wasn't just her maturity that struck them now—it was the chilling precision in her thinking, the absolute detachment she displayed in the face of violence and loss.

Tiffany's eyes watered as the gravity of Ranran's words sank in. The softness she had once seen in the girl, the vulnerability beneath her cunning exterior, seemed to vanish in that moment. 

And presumably, that vulnerability....be it in The Fox or in Ranran....never returned ever again. 

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

"Let me out, you psycho!"

One of the kids who participated in her mentor's death is locked up in some lab room of Edgewood Academy, his yells brought the little girl back to reality as she was reminded why he was locked up. The redhead curly-haired 8-year-old child name Nathaniel was furious as he slams the door with all his might, but it was futile.

"What in the hell is this!? Why is the lab becoming smoky!? Hey! I can't breathe! You brat! Open the DAMN DOOR!"

The more he banged in a panicked state, the more the little girl quietly observed in silence. She was never going to open the damn door, no matter how much that pest begged. Even if he were to be discovered dead in the lab, she didn't care. After all, if Nathaniel is capable of ratting off their friendship to her mentor's mother to end his life without remorse while the scum continues to joke around as if life was normal again, she had no issues doing the same.

"Hey, do you know what carbon monoxide means, Nathaniel?"

Ranran's words made Nathaniel grow more irritated at her, "No! What the hell is that!?"

What an idiot. Ranran muttered to herself in amusement, before forming a mocking smile at that thought, "Had you bothered to pay attention in class, inhaling a lot of it make you dumb."

"You liar! When I get out, I am going to get my parents to kick you out of this school, you psychopath!"

Again, the banging persisted but she remain nonchalant about the situation, filing her fingers with a filer, "If you bothered to listen to both of your noble winning scientists' parents, you would've learned that I am not, Nathaniel. Also, by the time you do...you won't be able to talk anymore, due to the fumes you had inhaled."

As his pounding grew weaker and weaker, he started to choke and have breathing problems, "H-Help....please, I don't want to die...please..."

The little boy behind her pleaded and begged that she open the door, but the cold little girl remain unfazed, closing her eyes as his mouth turned blue before he eventually passed out.

Once everything had quieted down, Ranran checked the time of her watch on her left wrist before opening the door, letting the fumes escape while the boy who was pleading earlier remain motionless on the floor.

She knew he ain't dead, in a matter of time a teacher would arrive according to the class schedules and think his misadventures landed him in this predicament.

By the time medical aid arrive and everything, his brain would be so badly damaged...he will no longer be able to achieve as a future professor that accepts bribes from his students to give them better grades.

As Ranran hurriedly left without leaving a trace of evidence, she vowed to herself internally giving them a life-time of hell was way more beffitting, because death is an easy way out.

Since they can go about their lives, living and breathing the same life with them, they would need to cough up that price, no? For killing one child just to live that sort of unfitting life?

And so, a reign of terror befell onto Ernestine's accomplices, but it grew 200 times worst thanks to Ranran's schemes behind the scenes. Ernestine had it the worst, but that would be a story for another time.

Things got so bad, that one of the kids willingly jumped in front of a moving car and suffered life-changing injuries.

But that didn't tone down her merciless acts,  since they had no mercy in ending his sad life. In her defence, although it doesn't make her any different from them, but she couldn't give a damn. She ain't going after the idea of becoming a hero in the first place. After all, where was one when her mentor was dying? Where were they when the kids were busy laughing in their own lavish world while his mentor was silently abused, he wasn't even allowed to shed a tear?

Violence may not be the answer when it comes to justice in her opinion, but when one meets a couple of cockroaches like them, violence is the way to go.

Soon, wealthy families were quickly removing those pests from Edgewood Academy following Ernestine's meltdown and the bullying incidents that took place after another, transferring them to another school where no one knows them. But even that didn't stop Ranran from locating them and tormenting their lives, through their parents by losing their wealth, making their lives far so miserable, that they wished for death.

However, it wasn't until her family learns of her schemes that they move ahead on their moving date, a lot earlier than anticipated, since they soon realize Ranran wasn't moving on as she should have, having been consumed with hate.

During that period, her parents often wonder where the old her had gone. The old her used to smile a lot, but now she was just a shadow of her former self. 

There were times Ranran wanted to tell her parents about the projector she watched with 'The Boy'. Ranran always hated those k-dramas her mother made her watch, how those 100-plus episodes of unnecessary misunderstandings between the Female Lead and Male lead were always caused by one major issue besides the villains exploiting their suffering: not saying a word.

And her upfront nature was always to make things clear.

But this time, she can no longer utter a word. Not about Fox and Deer, not about her sad fate, not even about the truth behind 'The Boy's death. The consequences of the butterfly effect are far too unpredictable, something she learn the hard way when 'he' died. She is on her own now.

No one by her side, just a solo fox on her own against the world.

The plan was to move in March, but then given the turmoil she was causing without a shred of evidence to put an end, they moved it up as early as possible to no longer let her continue to torment her late friend's killers. Once again, Ranran staged protests and yell they didn't have the right! She is entitled to this after what they did to him. Anyway, her parents and grandmother are barely around to show her love since they had her too early, and the only one who genuinely cared for her is gone.

But her parents didn't give a damn, Ranran falling into a dark path of revenge is going to be the last thing they allow her to do. They didn't want her to think the world is beyond protecting, and that this is the life she should live.

And so, when she turned 5 years old, her journey to Japan began on the 2nd of January.

Around the 1st of January, just a day before moving to Japan, Ranran received an unexpected package.

Sifting through the belongings that she was planning to bring, a box was placed in her room, with a note attached. There, her mother wrote that it belonged to The Boy, who Willed the items to her days before his death.

This surprised Ranran as she opens it,  she finds that he had sorted things into smaller boxes. Among the items were a box of photographs, and a box of mementoes.

Two boxes astonished her.

The first was a blue box with documentation detailing the royalties from the Fairy Tale: Fox and Deer, which would be left to her. Ranran had no idea who the creator of the fairy tale was. The author's username, A.T.C., was the only thing she knew. Ranran didn't bother reading after The Boy died because she was in mourning. Ranran pondered the paperwork, wondering how The Boy was able to gain the rights to it. Could he be the one who wrote it? She may have to ask her parents later how to claim them, though reluctantly.

But that was nothing, compared to the red box that stood out among the rest. Opening the red box, she recognize what it was.

It was the root of everything, that projector. The damn projector that ended his life!

Ranran felt a momentary impulse to destroy the projector. It's terrible. It foretells the future and is always malevolent. When she sees the projection, she constantly imagines some awful future happening to her. Bad memories flooded her head, and she couldn't take it any longer. Ranran must get rid of the projector. It seemed like a sacrilege to harm such a fragile and exquisite thing, but with all these memories, she had no choice.

So Ranran went over to her school bag and pulled out multiple heaps of books that were so heavy that if she held them and dropped them on them, it would be enough to damage the projector. As she held it above the projector that was placed on the floor, a lot of things went through her mind as she hesitate to destroy the projector. It has shown her the future she didn't want.

But if she destroys it, she wouldn't know which dark future awaits her without it.

Ranran's hands' trembled as she held on to the pile of books.

.......

Ranran had lost interest in making friends by the time she arrived in Japan at the age of 4. She was consumed with grief and the idea of revenge she plots in her little brain.

Since she already have friends in the U.K whom she still keep in contact with them, the absence of no friends here is no longer an issue. Children are 'morons' here according to her friends, so she didn't feel the need. Why waste time on people who mistreat you was her mindset at that time.

Unless she needs alliance to protect her in Teitan Elementary school, that won't be a priority for now.

Also, in her own words towards her saddened parents which later broke their hearts: "No other kids like him would be worth existing to be befriended. This world is corrupted to the core, it should be wiped out in a clean state so that it be pure again."

Even when she began attending a new kindergarten, she remain uninterested towards other kids. She was always happy in her little world, reading books and nothing more. After all, being in a noble school for 2 years, one is bound to feel a little bit out of place in a commoner school. Now that she was the only Noble child in school, and for such a downgrade, after her parents rushed her out made it clear she couldn't abandon her noble ways.

Whenever she sees a group of kids her age, laughing and joking, Ranran would feel a little bit homesick, but even more for The Boy who will never be able to grant her another day of happiness ever again.

Although her appearance and unusual personality attract others, she refuses to budge while explaining with her honesty, stating that the death of her good friend affectedly her deeply, which the kids later address her as 'A widow' with sympathy in their eyes and let her be. Ranran knew that the topic of 'death' is something no kid their age would not dare to touch, as they see it as a landmine. it is a scary topic.

But other kids were daring enough to wager among themselves that they would befriend her like a game and then dump her away. If they succeed, they will receive candy, comics, or even cute pencil box products as prizes, but for some reason, those kids always had to suffer unanticipated repercussions.

A boy was once confined in a toilet, and for some strange reason, tons of rats began crawling around its legs as the lights were switched out. This is when he began to bawl uncontrollably, knocking on the door and pleading to be let out. Nobody had heard of him until three hours later.

Another incident occurred when one girl was shoved into the closet and locked up after school, and a chair was placed beneath the doorknob so she couldn't open it from the inside, making her hysterical until nightfall. By the time her parents discovered out, she had wet herself and was starving because she hadn't eaten her lunch or dinner.

Then there was the third episode, in which a kindergarten teacher who typically smoked with the principal kept discovering both of their extinguished cigarettes missing, eventually causing burn marks on one of the boys although the two had never interacted.

No matter where Ranran was, things would always happen without warning while adults are left scratching their heads. Though it was obvious Ranran was behind it, no one could point a finger.

Some speculated that this was her true personality, that she was too haughty, but those who knew her could tell she was still in mourning. Worse, since 'his' death, Ranran had become a hikikomori by the age of 5. She never left the house, let alone, her bedroom and spoke to no one, not even her own family.

By this point, her mother was certain her daughter is a undiagnosed psychopath, as she often wailed in tears while her husband comforted her.

As Ranran turned 5, she has become a bitter child, never smiling or laughing with eyes so cold, that even any kid who wronged her would end up begging their parents to transfer them to another kindergarten as her heartless reign and antics grew from bad to worst.

The only thing that seemed to bring her any joy was when she was alone watching TV, playing video games, finding money when she least expect, or in her case: watching her victims being tormented by her schemes.

Of course, some good kids are interested in becoming her friend, but she always sounded disinterested. A glare was enough to shoo them away.

She is ripped off from everything she has ever known growing up against her will, why bother befriending people here? Her friends are in the U.K, not Japan. Also, she didn't ask to be here.

In the days following his death, Ranran found it difficult to focus on anything. She spent most of her time in her room, lying in bed and staring at the ceiling. The only thing that kept her going was her hatred for his killers. The saint-like kids in the eyes are frauds, and Ranran was the grieving unfortunate victim.

Upon arriving in Japan, she later hears through her contacts that Ernestine is probably going to end up in juvenile. However, judging the U.K system, Ranran knew putting her there will be pointless. 

Ranran once read a case of a little boy who was murdered by two boys around the age of 11 and 10, they were released after serving their sentence for almost 10 years and this caused a public outcry. Despite this, however, the two were free to roam about their lives as if the victim meant nothing to the government, let alone, law enforcement. Also, Ernestine didn't technically murder The Boy with her own hands, so she could claim she was tricked by that deranged woman.

This situation made Ranran furious, as she knew it is a matter of time before that psycho will be set free to endanger the public once more.

So that day, before leaving Japan, she made some 'prep' to ensure she ends up 'there'.

In addition to that, the alleged secretary of The Boy's mother is nowhere to be found.

Even though they discover a corpse that matched his description, Ranran is certain he couldn't have committed suicide, let alone, burn down his millions of pounds worth of mansion. That man is too prideful to do such a thing. The kids were never charged due to their young age, as their families are rich and influential. Eventually, if Ranran doesn't do a thing, the kids who ended his life would triumph.

That's why she kept insisting on homeschooling, even if she didn't get to, at least leave her in the U.K with a butler or maid. Their family is rich after all. But her parents knew better not to, as the nightmares she suffered since the murder remained there. If they sent her back, it will spell her destruction.

They wanted to take her to a doctor, insisting that she was losing her mind. But Ranran refuses.

Whenever her family are asleep, she would secretly take out the projector and re-watch her impending doom through this ugly interview that painted Ranran's future reputation as a ugly villainess. There, the footage would show the blonde's words written with malice as to how the kids she would eventually meet would discard her.

Saying things like 'Serves you right, 'You have it coming your way' with ugly expressions on their faces as her alternate future was mocked, humiliated, and taunted.

But unbeknownst to them both, she was plotting a cleverly well devised plan.

Since she knew that girl wrote criminal biographies of her entire life since at the age of 2, that meant she should be able to unearth plentiful intel about what events triggered her to become a criminal. Day after day, she listened while that girl's future-self wrote tons of valuable information about her while she was being interviewed, and she memorized every paragraph to heart.

Of course, those words she discovered did leave wounds to her little heart, but Ranran couldn't care about it anymore. The one who love her the most, 'The Boy', her mentor, her light, is dead. It's her against this dirty world that robbed everything from her.

Mistreat her? Hell hath no fury like a little girl scorned.

Finally, there was a tiny change in her life.

She make her first friend in kindergarten in Japan, a boy named Kaito who would everyone later know as 'K', her online friend, and then meet another name 'O', some little boy who lived in the U.K.

To her parents' surprise, Ranran gradually came out of her hermit bedroom and entered the living room, watching detective shows on TV and reading mystery mangas. Though she wasn't fascinated by the idea of solving crimes and helping to catch criminals, she was more curious about their motives and often judges them disapprovingly, commenting the punishments are too damn light on them.

Which later gave her father an idea. One that his wife is not going to approve of.

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

By the time she turned 6, Ranran was no longer your average child.

As time goes by, Ranran has gotten the hang of it. Soon, the rest was history. The Fox made it to the news column, followed by the Tantei association.

It's a disorienting experience.

Now that she is free, she decides to load the last chapter on that fairy tale Fox and Deer on her PC screen and read out its content. From the looks of things, the unexpected plot twist happens:

The Deer, the prince of the Forest, ended up dying as his kind murdered the respected prince in cold blood.

Unsatisfied that The Fox was constantly praised for its advisory talent in the royal court (or forest court as Ranran put it), and furious that The Deer still refuses to allow one of its kind to take over her job, it planned an assassination attempt on The Fox. However, it backfired as The Deer later learn of it, shielding The Fox from harm but it later succumbed to its injuries and died.

"Damn...this is dark." The more Ranran attempted to read, the darker it became.

When the Deer died, everyone cried. A beautiful memorial was made as its corpse was decorated with colourful leaves and flowers, forming a ring around it, and the entire Deer dynasty collapsed overnight, now that its only heir is gone. The other animals cried until their eyes were sore and their throats were sore.

But the saddest of all was the mourning fox, who felt the most alone of all.

Out of all of the animals, The Fox was the only one who seemed to be severely affected by the loss. She would wander around the forelooking for any sign of life. Sometimes she would find herself wandering close to its corpse without realising, and then she would sit next to it for 12 hours without eating or drinking.

The grieving fox's fur was matted with tears, and wandered among them, touching the deer's grave, wet fur as it sniff sadly. Cried was all The Fox did till she became numb.

As Ranran was about to read the last remaining paragraphs, her eyes were feeling uncomfortable. It was expected since she was reading in the dark. Also, the surroundings of her bedroom, it's dark. Too dark. Ranran bit her red lip a little as she was hesitant to switch on the lights before finishing the story.

She honestly....the last thing she wanted to see, is the eye he donated to her before his passing.

However, she can't always do so. Especially since she has been using the computer for a couple of days without doing so, it won't do good for her eyes, let alone, his eye.

Reluctantly, she gave in.

Leaving the seat, she switched the lights on. As soon as the light-filled her bedroom, it is revealed to be lavishly decorated.

However broken pieces of her past with The Boy remain scattered and fragmented around her bedroom,  like pieces of a broken puzzle. She would find them in different places, like that terrarium containing a fox she received from him on her 4th birthday, and a Pusheen cat plushie he won for her after crying she wanted it badly from a crane machine, which he later managed to obtain with one try were both on the desk next to the computer monitor.

But out of all of the things that stood out the most was a Deer terrarium on her desk.

Except the terrarium glass was cracked, the same with the deer and everything in it as well. Ranran held her breath and berated herself inwardly when tears sprung to her eyes.

That thing was a birthday present she had given to him, and looking at it brought nothing but pain to her since his passing. The cracks that decorated the terrarium in and out mirrored her anger and resentment following his funeral. Upon learning that his death was pre-planned at the church toilet, she smashed the Deer terrarium in anger for feeling powerless to protect him. She knew the present she gave him was treasured in pristine condition for over 2 years, but that tragic memory compelled her to.

She did not want to recall his corpse, where his soul was gone for good.

While he gets to live in Heaven, she is currently living in the worst kind of hell, where a future full of hate and indifference towards her awaits to torture and torment her.

At times, she would agonise and wonder had she become aware of all of this in advance, would things have changed for the better? Questions would come one after another in her head, could she had remain in the U.K till she was 8 if Ernestine didn't scheme his death? Would they have continued running Fox and Deer in Japan there, saving those unfortunate kids who were suffering under horrible scum like the ones they met? Would they manage to live normal lives, like going to a cafe or an amusement park, or going play some arcade? Or go watch those fun things called 'Anime' together when they are not there?

Above all, would he continue to be there for her? To comfort her whenever she feels like the world is against her?

Ranran would never know the answer to that. That answer and their future were all robbed by those children out of jealousy and intimidation, knowing that had they succeeded, they had more to lose as long as the two were around. Recalling the words her mother said earlier in the living room, Ranran's hand unconsciously reached for the tacky jewelled book placed on her desk.

But before that could happen, the shrill ring of the smartphone shattered the heavy silence in Ranran's room.

She hesitated for a moment, her hand trembling as she picked it up. The screen displayed an unknown number, but she answered it anyway.

"Hello?" Her voice was small, carrying the weight of the darkness that surrounded her.

"Ranran-san," a voice on the other end spoke softly, a familiar warmth in the tone.

"Yes? So unlike you to call at this hour," she breathed, her voice betraying a mix of surprise and relief.

"It's about 'that girl'," The voice said, concern lacing in their words. "And it ain't all good news."

"Of course," Ranran's eyes narrowed at the mention of 'her', "Causing commotion again, I see?"

"A lot, but you really did well in sending her to the mad house."

"How is she?" Ranran's grip on the phone tightened. 

"Enjoying life." With a long pause, the called asked, "Why are you not seizing her secret 'privileges' there yet?"

"Cause she is still having it easy," she replied, her voice firm, but tinged with bitterness. "The best way to torment someone like her, is to pull the rug they stood when they think all is rosy and dandy."

"I agree," the voice on the other end affirmed. "But it seems she's been making connections on the inside. Dangerous ones."

Ranran's grew tense. She had hoped that sending 'that girl' to the mad house would at least buy some time, and create a barrier between her and the outside world. But it seemed the darkness that clung to her was harder to contain than she had thought.

Then again, this was a move Ranran had foreseen in years.

With a devious smirk, the 6-year-old girl whispered to the caller, "Plant 'that thing' now."

The voice on the other end grew serious. "You're sure about this, Ranran-san?"

Ranran's eyes glinted with determination. "Absolutely. It's time to ensure she pays for what she's done."

"But what if she called the press over for 'inhumane' grounds of release, how are we to deal with it?"

"She burned that bridge the moment she set fire to Edgewood Academy, and even the things she said not a single soul bought it besides us alone. If she was going to claim 'inhumane', then bring out the 'inhumane' deeds she had caused onto the other kids including me and 'him'."

The voice on the other end of the line was quiet for a moment, considering Ranran's words. "Very well," they finally said, a note of grim determination in their tone. "I'll make sure it's taken care of discreetly."

This was 'that thing' she had spoken of, a weapon forged in darkness, a symbol of her resolve. It was a cruel instrument, but it was fitting for the task at hand.

With the dagger in hand, Ranran knew that there was no turning back. She was committed to this path, to ensuring that 'that girl' would pay for the pain and suffering she had caused.

Especially onto 'him'.

Since 'she' had no issues world-building a 'hell' for kids like Ranran and the others to throw them into achieving their 'happy ending', it only seems fair to place the creator back on the very 'hell' she builts.

There was a quiet acknowledgement before the line went dead.

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

Meanwhile, at a mental hospital somewhere in the U.K., a little girl sat in her sterile room, in a regal blue dress that was a stark contrast to the drab surroundings. Her eyes were sharp, filled with a cold intelligence that belied her young age.

Sitting on her chair, her eyes glinting with a malevolent spark. She had spent years perfecting her facade of innocence, manipulating the staff and other patients to her advantage. The darkness within her was a wellspring of power, and she revelled in the chaos and fear she could incite.

As she sat there, a sudden chill ran down her spine, sending shivers through her small frame. She glanced around the room, but there was nothing out of the ordinary. It was then that she felt it—a presence, a malevolence that seemed to seep through the very walls.

Suddenly, the door to her cell opened, revealing a stern doctor.

"Good evening, Miss Ernestine," he greeted, his voice measured. "I trust you're finding everything to your satisfaction?"

"Wait, where is Doctor Joel?" Suddenly, she realized something was off.

"You mean the doctor that your family assigned to look after you? He was sent away to the rural countryside."

Ernestine's eyes narrowed, suspicion coursing through her. "Sent away? Why wasn't I informed?"

"There were some violations he had committed," The doctor's expression remained impassive. "It's one thing to interact with you, but it's another if he goes as far as to help you do most of your bidding within this very hospital when you are to be limited of contact, Ernestine."

Ernestine's heart raced, a surge of panic coursing through her veins. The absence of Doctor Joel was a significant blow to her carefully constructed plans. He had been her conduit to the outside world, the one who had facilitated her connections and ensured her influence reached far beyond the walls of the hospital.

She masked her unease with a practised smile. "I see. Well, I suppose it can't be helped. I trust you'll be taking over his duties then, Doctor...?"

"Doctor Matthews," he supplied, his gaze steady. "And no, I won't be taking over his duties. I'm here to ensure that you receive the care and treatment you need, according to the rules and regulations of this institution."

Ernestine's smile faltered, replaced with a glint of frustration. She had spent years cultivating her image of innocence and compliance, all for the purpose of gaining the trust of those around her. Losing Doctor Joel was a setback she couldn't afford.

"By the way, some calls were made. It appears that there is certain 'evidence' to suggest that you have digressed from your treatment, which is why you are to be promoted to solitary confinement for the next 6 months. In addition, you will have your so-called 'lavish meals' downgraded from 3 to one, since there is evidence of inappropriate use of funds under this hospital, so ration wisely."

Ernestine's eyes widened in shock, her carefully constructed facade slipping for a moment. Solitary confinement was a nightmare she had managed to avoid thus far. It meant isolation, limited contact, and a loss of any semblance of control she had over her surroundings.

"This is outrageous!" she hissed, her voice laced with venom. "You can't do this to me! And I am 10-years-old!"

"Age does not exempt one from the rules, Miss Ernestine. And considering your history, it's imperative that we take extra precautions. Especially when you once more....attempted to murder that unfortunate 6-year-old girl in Japan for the 20th time."

Ernestine's face twisted with rage, but there was a flicker of fear in her eyes. The mention of her failed attempt on Ranran's life sent a shiver down her spine. It was a secret she had believed was buried, a darkness she had thought was safely locked away.

As the guards approached, she resisted, struggling against their hold. "You have no right! You're all fools, blind to the truth!" she spat, her voice a venomous hiss.

Alone in the stark cell, the darkness closed in around her. Ernestine's breath came in ragged gasps, her mind racing with thoughts of retribution and escape. "Kudo Ranran, you are becoming a lot more cocky and brazen than the last time we both met, but when I am free, I will throw you back into the slums where your family originally belonged! Remember that!"

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

In her dimly lit room, miles away in Japan, Ranran was unaware of the turmoil unfolding across the ocean. 

As she sat surrounded by the broken pieces of her past, a shiver ran down her spine. It was as if a cold wind had swept through the room, carrying with it a sense of foreboding. Ranran couldn't put her finger on it, but she felt a sudden unease settle in her chest.

She glanced around, her eyes landing on the shattered Deer terrarium. It seemed to hold a new significance, a symbol of the darkness that still lurked, even after all her efforts to reclaim the light.

With a heavy sigh, Ranran knew that the battle was far from over. The darkness was persistent, always seeking a way back in. She couldn't afford to let her guard down, not even for a moment.

The little girl then whispered to herself, "It would've been easier for you to die, so I will make you live every single day wishing you are dead than alive, just like what you did to those victims of yours. And that is just a warm-up I am giving you, so be prepared."

And in that quiet room, surrounded by fragments of her past, she carefully gathered the broken pieces of the Deer terrarium, with the intention of putting it back together.

Just like the broken past, she can no longer patch up, there will be scars, both seen and unseen. But that didn't mean she would stop trying. With each shard she carefully fit into place, Ranran hummed a tune she knew through a little boy who once played the piano solely for her, as the screams of the deranged little girl in the U.K echoed in her mind.