"Ranran, although many of your antics tend to be out of the box, I think this one is a little too overboard."

After that chaos with Ranran and that Yoshi boy, Reina had her boyfriend and Ranran gathered at the student council office. Having a friend who is a student head council has its perks, as they have their own private room to hang out.

Now a brief history of the student council of Teitan Elementary school. 

In Japan, for the kids to understand the life of democracy, all of them are trained to live the life of one. What better way to start in a school of all places? 

No different than any other school, every class (it didn't matter if you are from grade 1 or grade 6) has their own respective leaders that represented their class. They are called 'class presidents', but Ranran still refers to them as 'monitors' or 'prefects' despite having a brief to address them as mentioned. Still, Reina gave up after she has decided although Ranran has moved out of the U.K, you can never remove the British out of the girl. Though, Ranran has been speaking more Japanese lately and rarely speaks English in an attempt to confuse her (or her targets for that matter), which Reina considered an achievement.

Why the need for class representatives? Well, when you have a school with over 4000 plus students running amok in every class (not to mention, every grade), someone has to maintain the order in class amidst all the chaos. And that is where the student council comes in, where the class presidents report if any issues in their class are too difficult to handle, or beyond their capabilities. 

The student council is something Ranran often refer to as 'The boss upstairs', as it keeps students on their tight leash (in Ranran's opinion, the principal and school staff are merely weapons for the council to use against if the kids here don't follow the rules). On the outside, kids often associate them with the ones responsible for running the fun events in their eyes, such as class field trips, school club activities, all sorts of student affairs. Rumours often said they even have the power to decide which class get to go on an overseas trip every year.

But the reality is, Ranran knew better. Their actual job is to make their school a better place. If anyone knows better, they too are in charge of setting the rule, making sure everyone followed the school's code of conduct. A killjoy in her opinion.

Made up of 8 members, it used to be reserved for 6 graders kids only, as the members are often elected through ballots. Till someone anonymously expose that someone had been messing with the election ballots, resulting in huge distrust and mass protest onto the entire school among children of all ages. Things got so bad, the school had to close for at least 3 days till the riot died down. A restructure of the student council had to be done to restore order, which is why even first grader like Reina was able to become the student head council later on.

The office they are currently in right now used to be a place where only the council members discuss their concerns and work on solutions for the school. But after the scandal took place, the newly appointed members wanted to have a fresh start away from its tainted past, by having a better and bigger meeting room, to say the least. Right now, this former council office has turned into some private student head office, mainly reserved for Reina to do her paperwork in peace away from all the noise. 

"What part of this did I took it too far?"Ranran pouted.

"Well, let's start with the fact that you use an unpredictable ticking time bomb or a fireball experiment that you use to destroy his supposed...."Reina had a hard time trying to figure out an appropriate word for this situation before she decided to end it with the word "bottom."

"Technically it has nothing to do with me, "Ranran spoke with a chill as she drank a cup of tea on the couch alongside the other two.

"Uh yes, it has everything to do with you."Reina refuted as she went on, "When you asked me for his entire class schedule the other day in exchange for solving Takuma's scandal as payment, I didn't think much over why you wanted it. Till today."Reina hesitated for a moment."By the way, how were you able to do so? Plant that project in his locker? You cant unlock it without a key, and so far, on the day it happen you were with me."

"Oh, that? I didn't have to do much, all I needed was for him to take the bait."

"Eh!?"

"I knew he was a serial thief that often cause problems to the other kids besides me when it comes to late minute projects/homework. I also knew he was a horrible bully and attacking him physically be a stupid idea, since he is taller and a strong swimmer after all."Ranran huffed as she thinks back, before she went on, "If I was going to do it, I do it with my brain. What better way to do so when he isn't wearing anything, especially during swimming lessons?"

Both Takuma and Reina were stunned, not at her questionable decisions but rather, at her intelligence.

"I studied his pattern on him coming back and forth during his swimming lessons, and finally...I found something interesting. It appears his locker unexpectedly....always had a towel dangling in between the door whenever he opens and shut it. I always find it odd why he did that...till I learn that despite being tall, he wasn't tall enough to reach for his things in the locker unless he uses a stepper. The problem with that is as there were many boys who can't reach their lockers as well, since there was only one stepper in the entire male's locker area, it was a huge inconvenience that he can't always use it cause someone else always uses it. So it appears the towel is used as a leaver."

"A leaver you say!? Takuma exclaimed.

"Whenever he wants something, like a sunblock, a bottle of water, or his change in clothes, he would put it on a towel while using a stepper, shut the door before heading out to swim. If there is no stepper, all he needed to do to retrieve his things was tug the towel from where he stood below, and hey presto! The things will easily fall into his hand at ease."

"How clever!"Reina was amazed, but not before thinking, "But it still doesn't explain why would he wanna put your science project, the one where that fireball experiment of yours was in an Erlenmeyer flask, on top of a towel. Especially after he was done swimming."

"According to his class schedules on a Friday, Miss Airi's science class takes place after his swimming lessons. He had been warned many times by Miss Airi in terms of his punctuality towards her class, let alone homework submissions. Far too many. Again, he has been playing truant to the point he forgot about his project. To get this plan to succeed, I was gonna set up a convenient project that be worth stealing. Something that didn't need much effort for him."

"A convenient project!?"Takuma raised his eyebrows, before he realizes it, "Ah! It's that thing you said earlier, right? About using that fireball experiment involving toxic methyl alcohol and boric acid thing?"Takuma struggles to figure it out.

"It ain't a fireball, it's a fire show demonstration."Reina corrected him.

"Hah?"

"She was planning to demonstrate a fire show, use those two components where the fire would later turn green. Without fire, there be no fireball."Reina explained as she noted her boyfriend's expression wonders how is it she know of this," it was on YouTube. I learn things."

"Damn, I wished I had seen that! That is so cool!"Takuma spoke in awe.

"What I don't understand is....you need fire to make it happen. And you were not even there to set the fire when the fire incident took place, so how is it possible?!"

"I get to that," Ranran said as she hummed, before putting the cup aside on the table, "I tampered 2 things with the project: the timing, as well as the ingredients."

"You did what!?"

"You see, Yoshi often has this habit of walking around the school hallway where the school laboratory is whenever he gets bored with his lessons in class during our science period, I did take note of that. So as soon as he arrived, while we were celebrating sensei's birthday, I made sure he overheard my plans on having a fire show demonstrated for the teacher, how I was going to show her based on instructions, how safe it was gonna be, and that even if the timer sets of, you will see nothing but a beautiful emerald fire burning beautiful in the Erlenmeyer flask and that it be safe.....man, he was hook on every word and bought it."

"So in other words, you had to make sure he listen to your instructions for the plan to work!?"Takuma was amazed by Ranran's plans, "No wonder the flask exploded and ended up injuring him by the time he pulled the towel and the flask exploded right before his di-"

"Ranran, you burned a person's bottom with legit fire. You could've been charged with attempted murder."Reina cuts her boyfriend off before he used that inappropriate word, "now thanks to you, he won't be able to live as a boy anymore now that he is missing 'that'!"

"Oh come on, Reina, don't make it sound that bad. The way I see it, I think Ranran did him well on stealing people's projects. Not to mention, using girls as a money-making machine." Takuma thinks before he frowns, "though I think targeting his crotch was cruel, even for me since I am a boy. I can't imagine how painful it must have been when it exploded and fried it."

"To begin with, I didn't have the intention of hitting him in the nuts when it happen, Takchan."

"Eh!?" he was surprised.

"In the first place, I was expecting it to burn his hand and face, nothing more." she insisted, before she sighs, "I just didn't think the plan did a lot better than I would've imagined. Also, when it happen, I didn't think he had taken out his swimming trunk and was bare naked when he decided to do so. Anyway, we should be thankful that thanks to this plan, he will no longer be spreading more stupidity anymore in this school, better yet, this world."Ranran added.

"Eh? World?"Heads turned to Ranran, wondering what she was talking about.

"Yeah. Cause when you think of it, now that the proof of him as a boy is gone, he can't have kids anymore. A friend once told me 'an adult man without a crotch meant he cant produce children with any woman in the future."

"What!?" "Really!?"The couple was stunned at Ranran's odd knowledge, how does she learn all of these things? Even their parents never taught them anything like that.

"With that done, he won't be able to make more one brain cell kids roaming around this world and making others suffer the way he did to his victims."

"Well....when you put it that way, I guess......you have made your point."Reina can't help but think.

"That's true. There is this saying my father once said 'To end stupidity, one must end the source of stupidity.' "Takuma nodded in agreement, he then added, "You know I heard that his mom is some professor in Beikai university earlier, how is someone smart enough to be a professor can end up having such a dumb son?"

"You are wrong Takuma, his mom is no different than him either, they are both equally dumb."

"Eh!?"

"To become a professor, I ain't going to deny one needs to be smart. However, being book smart is all for nought if she cant be street smart in the way she raises her son."

"Eh? Is there a difference?"Reina asks.

"There is, for example, "Ranran gave a glance at two of her friend's teacups, "let's talk about tea. Shall we?"All eyes followed her finger as she first pointed at Reina's cup," you brewed this tea using actual tea leaves.  Meanwhile, your boyfriend here," she pointed to the other cup, "happen to be using instant tea powder to make one."

The two children listened as she lean back against the armchair to explain, as if she is the teacher in this room, "To brew tea with tea leaves, although instructions were given to you before you choose not to rely on it, it took you a couple of trial and error to get the taste right, deshou?"Reina nodded, "as for Takuma who just started making instant tea, nothing can go wrong with instant tea, as long as kept on following the instructions, nah?" he nodded.

"Instant tea itself can't go wrong if you kept following the instructions accordingly to what you know, that is book smarts. However...Reina-san who choose not to follow the instructions and ended up doing it on her own with trial and error, to a point she finally got it right on her own without relying on it, that is street smart."

"Ah! That explains it!" "As expected from Kudo Ranran!"Takuma and Reina reacted in awe.

"Arigato." she grins, before she decided to make her point clear, "Even though she achieved all of her efforts in becoming a professor using what she know through books, there are things not even a book can teach you in life to how to raise your son right. Cause if that were the case, we wouldn't have things like bullies, murderers, kidnappers, or any bad people roaming in this world. That is the problem, she lack that and assumed she knew enough to become a mother, but she truly didn't at all. In reality, she thinks she is too smart and that my opinion of her is nothing."

"Then....does it mean being book smart is all bad?"Takuma suddenly was hit with a realization, before giving a glance at the instant tea he had finished earlier, he huff, "I ain't stupid."

"Book smart....not everyone can do that, you know?"

"Hmph?"That made him perk his head, "you think so?"

"Of course, Takuma. I didn't mean all book smart people are stupid. I just think they need to experience things at times, not just rely solely on books all the time."

Reina remain silent listening to her best friend's words, before she responded, "That's true, I do see her hit the books on other things at times."

"Eh? Ranran read books too!?"Takuma was stunned, "But I rarely see her in class doing so."

"You were asleep the entire time in class, she was reading 2-3 books under her desk while secretly finishing her homework on other subjects whenever each teacher are having lessons with us."

"Oh yeah... I forgot about that."Takuma look frazzled at that.

"Takuma, if you stop waking up so early in the morning to go fishing, you be kept awake in all of your lessons."

"I can't help it, "He pouted, "I love fishing. But anyway, now that Reina mentioned it....we gotta give credit that Ranran is not only book smart but street smart to the max."

"Ahh, that ain't true."Ranran chuckled, a little embarrassed at the praise he was giving her.

"It's true...."Takuma can't help but say, "You surpass that Kudo Shinichi with your efforts. How many kids living in your shoes can say that?"

Takuma couldn't help but say it, for that is the fact.

There arent many kids Takuma will praise openly, aside from his friend Kudo Ranran alone. Before she moved here, Kudo Shinichi was acknowledged as the smartest in the entire school. But Ranran's existence easily overturns the opinions of others overnight. It wasn't easy, Takuma admits, to be in Ranran's shoes, especially when everyone knows of how abnormal their family situation was, both adults and children alike are aware and often spoke lowly over her because of her 'family background'. If it was Takuma, he would've long thrown in the tower. 

Cause no matter how one works hard, they have always been looked down on. What is the point?

But Ranran's approach was different. Rather than change the mind of others by force, she went all out on her own, not relying on befriending the popular kids, or doing homework for other kids to climb the school ranks. No, she did neither of that.

Her unusual eccentric ways weren't without envy among others, mainly those low-rank outcasts, bullies, nerds, geeks, as well as popular kids as well. Someone like her with such a family background can just overturn the system overnight, this isn't how it should work!

Becoming your own person was a lot easier said than done, but Ranran manage to do it with stride against all odds.

Yes, it was perhaps because of this fact, that Takuma at one point back then, was burning in envy. Cause he had to work hard, like, a lot. And Ranran just didn't seem to make that much effort just to overthrow the obstacles in her life.

There was a time after all of it (the scandal) has ended, he was so emotionally drained with all of the revelations that blew up before his face, he yelled a lot of incoherent things, enough for anyone to think he is a jerk in the eyes of outsiders.

But then....after what she said that day, he reflected hard on it. A lot.

"By the way, what did you mean earlier, Ranran?" Reina started to probe.

"Eh?"

"The part that you said about Kudo-kun? Regarding that he has everything except of his Tantei dream?"

For a moment, the head of the student council observed Ranran's unreadable expression over what she was going to reply. Then, Ranran replied, "I....have been hearing rumors in school."

"R-rumors? Like, what sort?" Takuma found himself asking.

"That his friendship with Mouri and Suzuki is taking a turn for a worst since starting out elementary school, to a point that they hardly speak to each other anymore."

Reina's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? But they always seemed so close according to the other kids!"

"Also, you still haven't explain how does that statement has anything to do with this?" Takuma adds.

"A lot," Ranran insisted as she explained to the two. "There were rumors that the reason behind their estrangement is due to the fact that both girls don't actually support his dream as a Tantei since day one back in Kindergarten. When he found out about it, it lead to this."

Takuma and Reina exchanged bewildered looks, trying to process the implications of Ranran's revelation as Takuma struggled to reconcile this new information, "I doubt it! While it's true that at times I do see Sonoko calling Shinichi 'Tantei Geek' and tell him to focus on Mouri more, and sometimes I do see Mouri in class telling him off about staying up awake during the late hours to read a good Tantei mystery book, I find it hard to believe that would be the case!"

"Where did you hear the rumor by the way? Why is it this is the first time I am hearing of this? If that were the case, sure Takuma could've caught on?" Reina wanted to know.

"Because it wasn't a popular rumor, I only happen to overheard this as a possible motive, as to why Shinichi ended up punching the soccer leader of Teitan Elementary school. Allegedly it was 'out of love' for that Mouri Ran'." Ranran spoke nonchalantly as if it was nothing.

"Oh yeah! That feud between him and the soccer leader that took place days ago, right? That 'Teitan Elementary School Love Triangle' Scandal?!" Reina snapped her finger, recalling the incident. 

"But what does that have to do with Kudo-kun's dream?" Takuma demanded to know more.

"Well, from what I gathered, after all of this fell into place, the argument broke out between the two boys because aside of 'jealousy' reason, he allegedly taunted Kudo's Tantei dream. When the two girls found out about it, they confronted Shinichi as the guilty party, and so, to cut a long story short, fed up with the girls' dismissive or mocking manner, Shinichi and the two girls are not on speaking terms." Ranran explained.

"Dang, I never realized it had gotten this bad. I mean....don't get me wrong, I have my own fair share of girl drama when I was a playboy back then, but damn...the two girls....did they really do so?" Takuma rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "I know it is just a rumor, but if it's true....then....wow, those two girls....are rotten to the core."

"Then again, it wouldn't be surprising if those two were capable," Their attention is shifted to Reina as she explains, "I mean I have seen the way those two interacted with Kudo before. It probably wouldn't sound demeaning as it was in a joking manner, but it's possible they didn't realize how much the way they say things hurt Shinichi."

"As if he would ever get hurt," Ranran scoffed, "I am going to assumed that his own arrogance brought his own downfall for that matter."

"Arrogance or not, he didn't deserve to be treated like that if those rumors happen to be true," Takuma commented, "After all, they are supposed to be there for him, not go about telling him whether he was in the right or wrong." 

 "Anyway, I think it's time we leave now? Class is about to start."Reina turned to look at the time on the clock hanging in their room, before Takuma's eyes widened in horror, "Oh shit! I almost forgot we have classes!"

"Ah yes, the usual killjoy of school."Ranran shakes her head and she pouted, "I hope that 'bastard' is sick or something so I don't have to see him in class."

"Now Ranran, I know you two have your differences over the family situation, but overall, what is there to worry about? It ain't like he is gonna come after you."

"Exactly!"Takuma nodded in agreement with his girlfriend, "Not like he knew about that case-"

"Lower your volume, the wall may not have ears, but flies do."Ranran suddenly stopped him from saying anything further, by shoving a cookie she snatched from the plate Reina prepared earlier into his mouth, making him almost choke.

This made Takuma's eyes widen unexpectedly, but then he gradually catch up on what she was saying and with a quick bite, he gulp the cookie before taking the cooking with his hand." Sorry." he apologized.

"It's ok," Ranran reassures him, as her eyes noted the shadow below the door, before glancing back at the two, "let's talk about it later at night. Class is about to begin."

IT was luckily Ranran noticed, otherwise, she be doomed.

For the said 'bastard' was in fact, making attempts to eavesdrop on their conversations.

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

Several hours earlier, life couldn't have been more unpredictable.

The Lost and Found room at Teitan Elementary School is a place where various items find temporary refuge until they can be reunited with their owners. 

Located near the school office, it's a small, organized space filled with shelves and bins neatly arranged to accommodate everything from clothing to school supplies and personal belongings.

Upon entering, one would notice rows of shelves lined with neatly folded jackets, hoodies, and sweaters, each item tagged with the date and location where it was found. Brightly colored bins categorize smaller items like lunch boxes, water bottles, and stationery, making it easier for students or parents to locate misplaced belongings.

The room itself is well-lit, ensuring that even the smallest items are easily visible. A bulletin board near the entrance displays notices reminding students to label their possessions and to check the Lost and Found regularly. Periodically, the school staff sends out reminders via newsletters or announcements to encourage reclaiming lost items before they are donated to charity.

The atmosphere in the Lost and Found room is one of organized chaos, reflecting the ebb and flow of school life. It serves as a practical reminder for students to take responsibility for their belongings while offering a safety net for those occasional slips of forgetfulness that are part of growing up.

It's there, that the present blue eyed little boy at the age of 6 is about digging around amidst a treasure trove of lost items.

The room's well-lit interior makes it easy for him to spot even the smallest items. A bulletin board nearby displays reminders about labeling possessions and checking the Lost and Found regularly. Notices encourage students to reclaim their belongings before they are donated to charity.

Amidst the organized chaos, the boy starts his search. He carefully sifts through the shelves and bins, his excitement growing as he spots familiar colors and shapes. Each discovery brings a spark of hope that he might find the missing item for one of the kids who went up to him and begged him to sort the things they had lost.

With eager curiosity, he begins his search amidst the neatly folded clothing and brightly colored bins. Each item is tagged with the date and location it was found, offering clues to its owner's identity. The bulletin board nearby reminds students to label their belongings and check the Lost and Found regularly, fostering a sense of responsibility among the school community.

The boy's blue eyes widen as he discovers familiar colors and shapes among the items. He carefully sifts through the shelves, his excitement growing with each potential discovery. Perhaps a lost toy or a misplaced sweater will soon be reunited with its owner, bringing relief to a classmate who approached him with desperate requests to sort through their lost belongings.

In the midst of the organized chaos, the boy feels a sense of purpose as he helps others reclaim what is rightfully theirs. "KUDO SHINICHI! WHERE ARE YOU RIGHT THIS INSTANCE!? WE NEED TO TALK!"

Startled by the urgent call echoing through the Lost and Found room, the boy freezes in place, his heart racing with a mix of surprise and discomfort. The voice calling out for Kudo Shinichi disrupts the peaceful atmosphere of his task. His initial excitement at finding familiar items quickly gives way to a sense of unease.

His father always taught him to tackle things head on when things get tough.

Unfortunately, his father has no idea....the opponent he is currently hiding from, is someone that can't be reasoned with.  As the urgency in the voice calling for Kudo Shinichi intensifies, the boy's thoughts race.

"Hey, who the hell you think you are to simply call out someone out of the blue like that!? Have you had no shame!?" An angry voice confronted the other outside the school hallways.

The boy, hidden within earshot, peered cautiously around the corner, his heart pounding with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. He recognized the 10-year-old figure as the head of the Lost and Found department of Teitan Elementary school, known for his no-nonsense approach. 

Other than that, that is the only thing Shinichi truly know about him. Everyone called the 10-year-old head 'Joji'.

As Shinichi cautiously listened from his hidden spot, he observed the tense exchange between Joji, the head of the Lost and Found department, and the caller who had called out for Kudo Shinichi. Joji's voice reverberated with anger and authority, contrasting sharply with the caller's agitated tone.

The caller, visibly taken aback by Joji's outburst, shouted back in anger, "Where is HE!? That damn boy!"

Joji, though visibly frustrated, maintained his composure as he replied firmly, "You mean him? He ain't around."

"Don't lie! I saw him not long ago here!" the caller retorted, their voice edged with accusation.

Joji's jaw tightened slightly, his expression hardening. "Even if you did see him, what's your plan? Accuse him without proof, like you always do?" His words were a direct challenge, reflecting years of dealing with similar confrontations.

"This is none of your business!" the caller shot back, their defiance ringing clear in the hallway.

Shinichi felt a knot of unease tighten in his stomach while Joji spat back, "Suzuki Sonoko, it may have not been my business, but after what you and that Mouri girl did to him, who are you to demand when he should meet you or not!? Is he a dog to you!?"

Shinichi's heart skipped a beat as Joji's words cut through the tense atmosphere of the hallway. Suzuki Sonoko, a name familiar to Shinichi, stood before Joji with a mix of shock and indignation.

Sonoko's face flushed with anger at Joji's accusation. "How dare you bring that up!" she shot back, her voice trembling with frustration. "You have no right to talk nonsense when you were not even there in the first place!"

"Even if I ain't, I know better as to what sort of character Shinichi is like," Joji's expression remained unyielding. "He's been through enough because of baseless accusations. The last thing he needs to hear is your idiotic mouth that merely barks but does nothing but harm," he countered firmly.

"No harm!? Excuse me!? He made Mouri Ran cry!" she insisted vehemently. 

"And so what if he did? You and I both know that she tends to be a crybaby when things never go her way. It's about time he finally woke up and ditch that useless friend of yours aside. Everywhere she goes, mayhem follows."

"How dare you say that about Ran-san!?" Sonoko's face reddened further with rage. "You are making it sound as if she is the problem and not Tantei Geek!" Her voice quivered with a mix of anger and hurt.

"Really? I beg to differ," Joji's eyes narrowed in a judgmental frown, "Every weekday during school, the first thing that reaches my ear in the morning is always about 'Ran's husband' this and that from other children's mouth as if this would eventually happen."

Sonoko recoiled as if she was slapped by Joji's. "What... what are you talking about? How does that had anything to do with this!?" she stammered, her voice trembling with disbelief.

"Suzuki, when was the last time have I once heard any child speaks in awe about Kudo-kun having solve an impossible mystery in this school we are in?" Joji's expression remained stern, unmoved by her reaction.

Sonoko's confusion deepened, her mind struggling to grasp Joji's implications. "I don't see how does this had anything to do with this! I mean Tantei geek punched a boy because of Ran-san-"

"Exactly, that incident." Joji shut her up before mentioning, "Your big mouth made it as if he was love struck by her so much so, he ended up throwing a punch at the boy who also happens to be Mouri-san's former neighbor."

"About that... it is true, is it not?" Sonoko protested weakly, her voice wavering, "He always had-"

"You painted Kudo's character as if he was someone who is driven to do something violent based on his allege crush on Mouri Ran, your best friend. Considering the entire school is aware that he had dreams on becoming a Tantei....are you both not simply making it as if he was a incompetent boy who can't be a Tantei? Because he makes his decision solely on his emotional outburst?"

"I...it ain't how it sounds...." Sonoko replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty. 

"Cut the crap, Suzuki Sonoko. If you do find Kudo Shinichi, I am going to bet that your intention is to keep tricking him into giving in again and become 'a happy trio friends' group as you always do, just to make Mouri happy." The head of the Lost and Found department scoffed.

"I...that ain't true...." Sonoko muttered, her voice barely audible.

"Then why do you think you and Mouri are still unable to locate him? Why did you think he has walked away from it all? Did it not occur to the both of you what was truly going on in his head?"

Like shards of glass piecing through her heart one after another, Sonoko for some reason was feeling in denial as she retorted, "You don't get it! Once I find him, all of this will be put to rest once and for all!"

"Do you really believe that, Sonoko?" Joji asked, his voice steady but tinged with skepticism. "By the time the both of you find him physically, that doesn't mean you'll understand what's going on in his heart and mind. Unless that is sorted out, "

Before Sonoko could continue her outburst, the school bell rang, cutting through the tension that had hung thick in the air between Sonoko and Joji. Sonoko stood there, her eyes flashing with determination, as Joji's steady gaze met hers.

"This isn't over till I find him!" Sonoko declared firmly, her voice ringing out with resolve as her retort hung in the air, unresolved and echoing in her mind

As Sonoko stormed off, Joji sighed quietly to himself before entering the Lost and Found department, scouring around his surroundings before calling out, "Kudo, she is gone, you can come out now."

After a moment, a little figure emerged from behind a row of dusty boxes, stepping into the dim light filtering through the small windows. "Is she really gone?"

"Yes, she's gone now. You can come out." Joji sighed, running a hand through his unruly hair as Shinichi warily came out of his hiding spot, "Honestly, you can't keep hiding out here forever, Kudo-kun."

His shoulders were tense, and he seemed on edge, even after Sonoko had left.

Joji observed him quietly for a moment, understanding the turmoil that must be churning inside the young boy. "Come on, let's talk," Joji said gently, gesturing towards a nearby table where they could sit.

Reluctantly, Shinichi followed Joji to the table, his mind racing with thoughts about Sonoko, Ran, and the mess he found himself in. He sat down heavily while rambling to no one, "I knew she could be troublesome, but I didn't think she would go this far." 

"I am actually surprised when other kids told me that you, Sonoko and Mouri had been friends since kindergarten for 2 years,"Joji took a seat across from him, his expression serious yet sympathetic. "How is it did you remain with them despite....how they both treated you? For 2 years!"

Shinichi sighed deeply, his gaze fixed on the tabletop as he struggled to find the right words. "It's....they can't catch up with me, that is all." he finally replied, his voice tinged with resignation.

"I don't think so, just because you are smarter than them unlike most 6-years-old are, didn't mean they had the right to doubt you just like that!"

The 6-year-old boy shifted uncomfortably in his seat, processing Joji's words carefully. He knew Joji meant well, but explaining the dynamics of his friendship with Sonoko and Ran was more complex than just their doubts about his intelligence.

"It's not just about being smarter," Shinichi began slowly, choosing his words with care. "Sonoko and Ran-san... they've always seen things differently.

"Sure they do, especially that Suzuki treating you like a tool to fulfill her friend's fantasies!"

There was a moment of silence as Shinichi processed what Joji had said, feeling a mix of validation and discomfort. "They ain't bad people...."

"Brushing off the things they are being told when they are in the wrong....doesn't make them innocent either, Kudo Shinichi. There is a saying that 'Ignorance is bliss', however, when one plays the fool to one's own hands without acknowledging their mistakes, it doesn't make them any less evil." 

For some reason, his words resonated deeply, stirring a mix of conflicting emotions within Shinichi. He looked up at Joji, uncertainty evident in his eyes. "Do you....really think they are evil?" Shinichi asked softly, his voice tinged with confusion.

"You have been here for weeks....even before 'that incident' took place not long ago, isn't this clear cut that they might not be 'good friends' as they claim to be?" He could see the turmoil in the young boy's eyes and chose his words carefully. "I...don't know what you see in those two. But to me....if you do see them as your 'friends', you wouldn't have been spending your time here sorting out lost and found items on a daily basis. Especially during recess."

Shinichi's eyes widened at Joji's perception.

"Go back to class, Kudo-kun, the bell has rung."

The boy just stood there, absorbing Joji's words like a heavy rain falling on parched earth.