Hours after she headed home, Ranran could imagine her online friend 'O' staring at the monitor in horror at around 10 pm, while she was in her bedroom waiting for his response. "You're telling me that you gaslighted the 6 other kids onto a deranged woman with a gun?! Have you all lost your damn mind?!"

"To be fair, we were too furious on how entitled she was behaving around her son that she abused," Ranran rubbed the back of her head sheepishly typing her thoughts out, "I ended up having to grab a gun and fire the shots."

"You did what?!"

Ranran swears she is certain 'O' is gasping for air. Ranran shrugged in response by typing, "She asked for it."

"You're joking, right?" 'O' typed flatly.

"Nope. I wasn't."

"You—"

"Ranran!"Someone could be heard knocking on the door as the voice go, "Your mother and I are home. Though she needs you to come downstairs to talk about what you did in Shibuya."

"Oh man, seriously....?"Ranran groaned at her dad's voice, pinching her nose bridge as she knows this is going to be a long day, "I will be over."Ranran said to him before hearing his head downstairs.

"Shibuya...oh yeah, I saw you being chased with some boy down with the gun on tv. I bet your mom is about to murder you and dismember your body parts."

"No, she would do worst than that, which is nagging. Also, has the Shibuya incident news gone viral worldwide already? Ah damn."Ranran cursed.

"You really dislike her, do you?"It was clear that his online friend's anger was directed largely at her mother, who she felt had never really loved her. 

"I am not close with her, unlike my dad. She was always nagging and pushy, always expected me to do the things she tells me to do without listening to a single word from me. Honestly, if I were to compare her with that lunatic mother, she is no different in the upcoming years ahead. Sometimes I don't know what my father sees in her."

Kudo Ranran, on the other hand, was always a rebel. She never heeded her mother's rules, and she constantly seem to get into trouble. She once set up explosive chemicals surrounding the kindergarten she watched on YouTube with her kindergarten friend 'K' to escape school and attend a magic performance the same day when she was four. Her mother discovered this and barred her from playing video games for a month.

"Don't be cruel, I am certain she has her reasons."He responded.

"Reasons?"Ranran scoffed reading it before typing," She is such a weakling. I mean I found out people tried to murder her and me when others found out she was pregnant."

Ah yes, 'O' is aware. He had almost forgotten about it.

"She and her father should not have bothered returning to a horrible place, especially one where people are vicious enough to seek my mother and me dead years ago. And yet, here they are, along with me, ready to imperil my life once more." Ranran's message took on a dramatic tone as she felt a flood of deep, searing rage fill up within her as she thought of her mother.

Everyone around Ranran was constantly told that she was blessed to have a mother like hers, but they were mistaken. All the other mothers spoil their children rotten; she used to hear stories about how other children are not sent on timeout when they misbehave and are never compelled to clean their rooms. Ranran has always considered herself to have the worst mother in the world. She never allowed Ranran to get away with anything, and she was always quite critical.

Sensing she is going to do a long rant about her mother again, he quickly switches to another topic while he messaged her, "And so, did they find that Saji dead or alive?"

"Alive. He has been locked up in the attic of the Tadashi residence for many decades by the time the cops found him." Ranran read his message with a sigh, "You can say he lost all of his looks based on the photo Michio received before sending it to everyone."

"And how did he react when he found out his mother murdered his fiancé while he was locked up for so long?" 'O' poses a question out of curiosity.

"Well....it didn't end well."A long silence could be felt between them."I don't think he is going to last long, as his health is pretty bad by the time the police raided the house. It's sad."

"That kind of mother should deserve the death penalty. Though I ain't sure if Japan had such laws."He quickly typed while voicing his anger.

"They do, and they are considering after the mass killings she has caused. I mean she is basically a serial killer. There is no other way to say this."Ranran drummed her fingers on the desk thoughtfully before ending it with, "I am going to hit the sack."Ranran yawned as she stretched her arms, feeling tired after everything had happened.

"What about your mother?"He reminded her, "Didn't your dad ask you to see her?"

"Why bother? She only knows how to nag and that is about it."Ranran rolled her eyes.

"You had to since she's your mother." He then sent her further texts, saying, "Look, she may not be your ideal mother, unlike the other kids who were blessed with gentle caring mothers, but have you considered that she may have done all of this to ensure you learned how to look after yourself?"

"I know how to look after myself." she pouted while messaging 'O' in a form of an argument.

"You were chased to Shibuya city with a gunman on their heels, thrown onto a sinking boat where you could've drowned, then you almost got killed by that serial killer with 6 other children. Did you seriously think those incidents are proof that you are capable of looking after yourself well in the eyes of a mother?"

Dead silence.

"Sure, I'll admit you had it hard with her making decisions about your life against your will. You were very unhappy and she never listened to you, fair enough. But do you think she had it easy with all of the things you had done? If you were to one day have a kid that does the things you did earlier, would you continue to let them be?"

Ranran was tongue-tied at this point.

......

Reluctantly the detective girl soon joined her mother in the living room.

"Ranran...where should we begin..." Irene whispered as she gazed tiredly up at her 6-year-old daughter, both of them sitting on the opposite couch facing each other.

"I don't know? Touch n go?"Ranran shrugs, deciding it's going to be another day of nagging from her mother.

"You know that before I got pregnant with you, the doctor said I would never have children?"Ranran quietly draw with her finger on the sofa as Irene went on."The day I found out I was expecting you...I was scared. I was only 16-years-old, a kid like you. Not old enough to be a woman, and not young to be a child."

Irene then went on.

"When I asked you to apologize to Shinichi...your grandmother was nearly on her deathbed, do you forget that? Her only wish was for her grandkids to get along."Paused, "Sure, you would not even budge even for her, but what family member who is dying wants to see a broken family?"

"But she survived anyway. Not like she had ever kicked the bucket, "Ranran shrugged."This is the same lady who fell down the escalator, got ran over by a car twice, fell and hit her head on the ground 4 times in a row and had a stroke 3 times. She is immortal and able to walk around."

"That is right." Another paused, "You mentioned in the past that I traded up your childhood for luxury, but did you forget what kind of house we were living in at the time?" Irene sighed, "The plumbing needed to be repaired, the rats were scurrying around...it was unlivable, Ranran. Even if you avoid going to school early for a year...it was a health hazard waiting to happen! Are you prepared to jeopardise your health merely to avoid going to school!?"

"Mother, we lived there for 2 years-"

"It was still not worth allowing you to live there, Ranran. Also, have I told you about the time your father grew up so spoiled that he couldn't accomplish anything the first time I met him?" Irene took a breather before adding, "That's why, even after...late great-grandma had taken us in, we both agreed not to have butlers and maids. We were afraid that if we hired them, you wouldn't be able to look after yourself. Even the errands I forced you to go on when you were two were justifiable."

Then Irene pushed it through.

"I didn't send you to that school to entirely sacrifice your so-called "childhood" or to inspire you to do better. It was an opportunity for you to learn things that I never had the chance to learn "She burst out laughing. It tasted sour. "When the doctor discovered there was brain damage as a result of that stupid nurse, I couldn't help but wonder who would look after you if your father and I were gone. Then this school came along, and I resolved to send you as soon as possible...even if you didn't turn out brilliant, at least you learned the fundamentals."

Each new word was a struggle.

"I wasn't expecting you to be smart, nor had the best of manners. I just expected you to behave like a typical average child. But...I guess average never registered in your head. You tend to do things beyond what a kid shouldn't be doing. Before I know it, you changed for the better. I thought during that period had 'he' not died, you finally lived 'normal', you know? But then...it happened."

Sobering silence could be felt in the living room.

"I don't expect you to understand the things I did as a mother, but I got to admit all the things are something a child wouldn't have liked. And for that, I am sorry."Ranran did not respond to her mother's sincere apology as her mother went on, "I failed many things as your mother, and let you down far too many times."

"Especially the move here."Ranran brought it up.

"Yes, moving back here, " Her mother echoed the young girl's sentiments, "We both missed our hometowns, mine and your father's. Just because...I'll admit it. When people discovered out I was pregnant with you, they were horrified, and they wanted you dead. But that didn't mean that everyone here was malicious, as you considered everyone around you to be. Remember Auntie Eri? There are lovely people here."

"Ran's mom? I'll admit...she is good. Unlike her daughter, "Ranran muttered.

"And Uncle Kogoro? And Shinichi's parents? They treated you well."Irene prompted.

Ranran kept silent.

"Allowing you to live in the United Kingdom is something we can afford; however, allowing a 5-year-old kid to live there alone without her parents and friends to watch out for her would be horrible parenting. Not to add, Ranran, it's not good for you to keep going after the kids who caused 'his' death. There are certain things in life that are worth enjoying at the moment rather than looking back."

"You put me to a school where all of the facilities I was used to at my previous school were gone." Ranran replied vehemently, "I was used to having a cafeteria where others did it for us, not to mention having janitors around to handle the sweeping and cleaning. I felt cheated when you transferred me out so early and put me to a school where I had to do slave chores."

"Slave chores?" Her mother repeated as she frowned, perplexed.

"Who was supposed to clean up around the school? Who should have been in charge of the cooking? In addition, tidy the school garden? A janitor, a chef's helper, and a gardener. What did Edgewood Academy have? We lacked everything here." Ranran pointed out, sulking, "Seriously, the schools in Japan here are just using the phrase "responsibility" as an excuse to take advantage of all of our hard work. It's free, they don't have to pay us anything, and they get to keep the school clean and tidy at our expense without being paid! Back in our old school, our principal reward us with ice cream, a 24-hour arcade game station in school for the whole day, and candy for doing a good job!"

Her mother facepalmed. Of course, how could she forget Ranran was Mr Alex's favourite student?

In her daughter's old school, Edgewood Academy was a school meant for kids from old money nobles. The facilities back there were as similar as the ones shown in anime: Fancy fountains, cute school uniforms, branded goods here and there, beautiful and handsome looking kids, well-tended garden. It was a prestigious institution that produced some of the most powerful and influential people in the world. It had top-of-the-line facilities, including a fancy library and a state-of-the-art gym. Oh yeah, even expensive food like caviar and lobsters were served to the students.

Of course, it wasn't without a price. To enrol, children of nobility are taught how to act as proper members of society. The students had to attend classes on etiquette, politics, and history. They learn to dress fashionably and carry themselves with a certain air of superiority. They are also taught how to speak properly so that they sound like they know what they're talking about. All of this is done to give the noble kids an edge in society.

For the past 2 years when her daughter was in Edgewood Academy, a lot of teachers and the principal grew fond of the little girl, despite the amusing antics she showed in making attempts to escape the school before gradually toning down. They had been rumours her mother had heard that the school spoil their students with the reward system where they are lavishly rewarded in a Mr Beast style thanks to their principal, but she didn't think of it to be true till Ranran mentioned it.

"Ranran, your dad had to do sweeping and the rest of the chores growing up here as well, you know?"Then Irene decided she had to change her parenting tactic a little, "You remember Suzuki's daughter the other day?"

"Ran's dumb one brain cell friend, Sonoko?"Ranran recognizes this."What about it?"

"Her family is rich too. Yet, do you not realize why she is dumber than you?"Ranran shook her head as Irene goes, "It's because her parents spoiled her as other parents did."

"I don't think so, she still sweeps and wipes the windows in the school."Ranran cast a doubtful look."If she was spoilt, she can get their butlers and maids to do for them."

"True," Her mother admits with a nod, "But you kept saying that Suzuki constantly had butlers and maids around as soon as she headed home, right?"Irene then weaved a particular scenario that which she knows Ranran is bound to listen to, "If her family ever become poor out of the blue, between you and her, who knows where to earn money if she ever encounters such a situation?"

Knowing that her mother hit the mark, Ranran reluctantly answers, casting a rather down glance for she knew her mother was right."Me."

"There you go," Her mother proved her point, "It may not be pleasant, but eventually you will get used to it. I am also sorry that you felt like you are living a life of a peasant without the rewards you were used to receiving in your old school. but that isn't real life, Ranran. That's why your dad and I had been discussing this had to be the right call. To withdraw you out."

Ranran wanted to argue, but she knew her mother was right.

"I can keep letting you go there. However, after you leave school, you will no longer be spoon-fed in that sort of educational atmosphere for life like the Suzuki's. I wanted you to see this for yourself since it will be too late for you otherwise. Sure, some families can maintain their wealth until the day they die, but not everyone can. Sonoko, for example, is a gone case. But you're my daughter, and I won't let you walk down the same road that that girl did."

As soon as Irene made a point, she hugged her daughter which she did not hug back, before letting her daughter digest all of this."I listened to your father about letting you run this Tantei Association, and you know what...he is right."

"Eh?"

"Though you and Shinichi caused millions of yens in damages thanks to the shooting on public property, which we are fortunate that we don't have to fork out the money thanks to connections, your father was right about one thing: You didn't fall into the wrong crowd."

"Mother..."

"That's why...we're going to let you run it. If it makes you happy, go ahead and do it." Her mother reassured her little daughter by patting her head with affection. "I know advising you not to will make you insist on going, so rather than argue with you, your father and I believe it is best to let you go. Just...don't get the other kids killed, okay? Otherwise, I'm not sure how I'm going to defend you from those enraged parents if they all come after you for causing their child to die."

Ranran tensed in response to her mother's remarks and went to the kitchen to prepare her some orange juice. Ranran's mother is right; their second major case had ended in a shootout. Though they were lucky that no one died around them, things were going to grow worse sooner or later.

Eventually, it finally struck Tantei Association and cast a dark cloud, haunting the members for life. But that will be another story for another time.

Right now, Ranran is left to ponder about her mother's words on her own, her expression in a somber tone.

...

The following day, Kudo Shinichi was nervous as he walked into the coffee shop beneath the Mouri Kogoro Detective agency. Café Poirot (喫茶店ポアロ Kissaten Poaro) is located directly beneath the agency of Mouri Kogoro, as the café gets its name from one of Agatha Christie's most popular detectives. It is located in Beikai Town, Block 5.

He had been planning to see Ran's parents secretly for many days following the events of 'Extinction Heist,' but he wasn't sure what he would say to them. The small blue-eyed lad had put it off one day after another, claiming himself he was too busy since the Tantei Association was gaining popularity as more cases piled up.

But the reality is, he was a coward.

He dreaded Ran's parents because, unlike his own, they would chastise him if he did something wrong. When a stray cat fell into a sewer near their school, he and Ran had to walk around the drain to get it out. However, it ended up staining both of their clothes, and by the time Ran and Shinichi arrived at her house to clean up, Ran's mother Eri Kisaki, who was living with her husband at the time before they separated, knocked on both of their heads before scolding the two and demanding why they sullied their clothes.

Despite this, however, it was the first time he had experienced that they did care for him genuinely, though it appear rough on the surface.

Right now, what he is going to do would enrage them for sharing alarming information about their daughter. He wasn't sure what they'd say, but he had to give it a shot. They were already there when he arrived, sitting at a table in the back corner. He approached them after spotting them.

When Shinichi called them and suggested they meet in this café as Ran's parents, Shinichi was sceptical that Ran's parents would bother meeting him together. After all, their relationship as a pair had strained to the point that Ran's mother purchased her own home and lived alone, so the apprentice was positive that both of them would want to meet Shinichi separately.

However, to his surprise, the two consented to meet once he mentioned it was for their daughter. Shinichi had always been nervous about seeing her parents. He was well aware that they were dissatisfied with her decision to join Tantei association, especially following the events of Extinction Heist. Ran was weeping with tears in her eyes when the kidnapper/ringmaster threatened to drown her with the other girls, while Ran's father battled not to scream at Shinichi for what had transpired.

It was understandable, given that he did unwittingly drag Mouri Ran into Tantei Association because of what the two did to Sonoko. Also, it was a normal reaction for a 6-year-old little girl to fear for her life after what had happened.

As a result, Shinichi asked her to go since she was overstaying her welcome. But Ran resists and has remained with them for over a month now. Shinichi had hoped that after a while, given Ranran's antics, Ran would leave voluntarily. Even if she didn't, at least he hoped she won't be an issue in the association.

However, that was just wishful thinking, Ran broke the rules of the association with the expectation that she won't get punished because Ranran breaks the rule far too many times.

But she underestimated Ranran, for she didn't realize how cunning Ranran was. Just because she cannot punish her on the grounds of the association, didn't mean she can't punish her through Ran's parents.

It may appear to be a minor rule at this point. However, it was not acceptable by Ranran's standards since Ranran established the rule to ensure that if any of the members were in danger, at least the backup members could call for aid. Since they couldn't call the police because of the earthquake, Ran and Emiko's role was essential. However, the fact that Ran did not acknowledge this made it plain to Shinichi that she had to go.

And Shinichi agreed with Ranran on this aspect: Having her around would endanger the other members of the Tantei Association. It's one thing if Ranran breaks the rule, but it's another when it's Ran. They can't afford to have an emotionally volatile little girl bring harm to them.

Shinichi could see the disappointment in their eyes. He could see the anger in Mouri Kogoro's eyes as well. They both just stared at him, waiting for him to say something.

However, Shinichi can no longer put this off.

Ranran has always been there for him, cleaning up his messes and teaching him how to be a better detective, which he is becoming better at. However, Ran's latest mess may have been too much for his mentor, let alone Shinichi. Shinichi had unfairly dragged his mentor through the gutter, and now he had to make reparations. The apprentice had to put his foot down. He would not allow the girl to harass his mentor. He was going to put a stop to it since it had gone too far. He knew they'd be upset with him for what he'd done, but he had to explain to his daughter that she was wrong.

"So Shinichi, may I ask why had you gathered us both here?"Eri asked.

"It better not be what had happened recently with that Muniko case," Kogoro narrowed his eyes frowning deeply with his moustache face, scowling, "I mean Ran almost died because of you!"

"Now Kogoro, don't jump to conclusions just yet! Let the boy speak!"Eri blasted at her ex, which he winced in response to her loud voice.

Initially, Shinichi thought he was going to gulp and feel nervous, for he notice it was the first time the estranged couple didn't argue with each other bitterly over their faded feelings as a couple. However, thinking of Takuma's comment about making Ranran have to clean up his messes made him gather some unexpected courage.

Facing the couple, he answers, "It's about what happened recently-"

"You don't owe us an explanation."Eri dismisses him, "We were aware of what had happened. If you gathered us here to apologize, you could've just called over the phone."

"That's right, little brat."Kogoro gruffed, which irked his ex-wife a little but she kept her cool in front of the little boy.

"I had to," Shinichi insisted, keeping a firm stance, "There are things you don't know what goes on behind the scenes. So neither we can't fully be blamed. So would you two please listen to me for a bit?"

Both of them shut up, stunned at Shinichi's unexpected change in demeanour.

With newfound confidence in their reaction, Shinichi went on to explain, "I...fought with your daughter a month ago over an incident involving Rokuro."

"Rokuro...wait, that former neighbour of Ran's?"Kogoro's eyes suddenly turn wide, "What did he have to do with why we are here now?"

"Rokuro...tempered with my soccer schedule."Shinichi finally came clean, as he chooses a straightforward approach toward the surprised couple," Before he left, he was our soccer club leader. I found circumstantial evidence, and then he mocked me for simply accusing him. We got into a huge argument, and then punches were involved..."

"Ah yes, I think I heard Ran mention it before."Eri quietly nodded, before it dawned on the lawyer, "But she never mention that Rokuro was involved."

"I thought so..." Shinichi cast a disappointed look over Ran not being 100 percent truthful," She sided him over me."

"Eh?!" The two adults reacted in surprise.

"And we didn't speak for several weeks. Ranran came in at that point. She listened to me intently and understood all I was going through. Then we decided to form the Tantei Association. But then that's where the problem with Ran began," Shinichi said as he swirled the drink he was offered by the server and placed it on Kogoro and Eri's coaster.

"Ran? What would my daughter do to wrong you? Ran had always treated you like a friend."Kogoro scowled in disbelief as Eri sip her drink.

"Well...she started acting odd, maybe because I was with Ranran."Shinichi drank his drink before wiping his mouth, staring with a serious tone in his voice, "Suddenly she wanted to join the association because she started fearing I fell for Ranran too quickly. As if I got the time for that."He scoffed.

"What did she do?"Eri became curious.

"She...her best friend Sonoko at first broke into our house the other day, and struck Ranran with a rabbit vase-"

"Wait, "Kogoro suddenly cut the little boy's words," Broke into both of your places? I thought that was the cross-dresser's accomplice?!"

"It wasn't; your daughter subsequently acknowledged Sonoko was the perpetrator. If you don't believe me, just ask the other kids at school." Shinichi shakes his head in disbelief as he argues, while Kogoro is taken aback that Shinichi would be so bold as to debate with an adult. "I didn't realise it at the moment till Sonoko drop the pin at our house, that's when we suspected one of the students was the compliance and then I urged all the kids to go after the accomplice. When we later found it was Sonoko...she accused Ranran of putting a hit on her as she secretly knew it was her, but Ranran knew nothing."

"I see..."Eri's expression was neither in disbelief nor denial, listening to Shinichi as if she was listening to some witness in a trial.

"Anyway...what occurred next was evident: she tried to force Ranran to clear Sonoko's actions, but she refused because we were working on the tiger case and we were short on staff. To cut a long tale short, that is how she became a member of our organisation. We hoped Ran would leave on her own after solving the crime and resolving Sonoko's problem, but we discovered she was overstaying her welcome and refuses to leave..."

"Ah, I can see Ran doing that."Eri muses.

"I want to be a detective, but I never wanted Ran to join the association. Mark my word on that."It was overwhelming to do so, but Shinichi pushed through."I'm here today because I want you two to persuade her to leave this organisation. She jeopardised Ranran's life when we warned her not to become part of our kidnapping rescue at the quarry since we needed members to call the other adults for aid as we couldn't contact the police. But she did it nevertheless..." Shinichi gave the adults a sorrowful face, and his parents sympathised with him: "I didn't want to meet you both because I'm afraid you'll sever connections with me, but...I can't stay here and do nothing as Ranran's apprentice!"

"Shinichi..." Eri paused, surprised by Shinichi's thoughtfulness.

"When I was unwell, you all took care of me. You all made meals for me while my parents were not around. Despite the fact that you had split up, you both vowed to be there for me through thick and thin. As if you never had a son. And I'm grateful for it, But I can't sit and do nothing if your daughter is in the wrong, let alone...kept pestering Ranran because of me." Shinichi confesses.

Even Kogoro was stunned, for he too didn't think Shinichi would acknowledge their kindness."This Kudo brat..."

For a long while, there was a long silence between Ran's parents and Shinichi. However, after a while, Eri found herself saying, "I must say...I am impressed."

"I am sorry?"Shinichi blinked in surprise.

"You choose to stand up for Ranran, who is also my friend's daughter," Eri Kisaki said with an impressed expression before she cocked her head, "While I admit I wasn't pleased with the fact things had gotten to this point between you and Ran...I gotta say I am a little taken aback that you dared to tell us our daughter is in the wrong."

"Eri-"A shocked Kogoro turned to argue with his ex-wife.

"Kogoro, let's face it, there is something wrong with one of our parenting methods."Eri turned to dismiss him, "Or else Ran wouldn't had do all of the things Shinichi had said."Eri reasoned with her ex-husband as his posture froze stiffly before turning to the little boy, "If that is really the case, I apologize for what my daughter has done to the both of you. That makes her in the wrong."

"But Eri-"Kogoro once again tried to argue, but Eri's glare was enough to silence him.

"I just don't understand one more thing," Eri turned back to Shinichi, "Be honest with me, did Ranran do things to Ran for her to react that way?"

"No, she never."Shinichi admits, shaking his head to them, "It was me, not Ranran."

"Eh?"Kogoro fluttered his eyelashes as well.

"The other day I told everyone I wanted to cut ties with Ran because she treated me coldly for a long while after the Rokuro incident. When I switch sitting spots with Ranran, that's when Ran started pestering her non-stop and accused her of dating me."

"Ran...pestered Irene's daughter.....?!" Eri's heart sank at the prospect; learning that her daughter is bothering her friend's daughter is unacceptable. Eri had a decent idea why Ran was acting that way toward her friend's daughter, but she was still wrong.

Even Mouri Kogoro was upset when he found out what his daughter had done. "You know what, boy? If all of this is true, Eri and I will discuss it with Ran. Because all this is unacceptable." Kogoro decided since he knows Shinichi isn't the kind to tell a fib about Ran.

"Thank you very much, Kogoro Ojisan and Eri Obasan."Shinichi bowed to them.

"No, don't thank us."Eri reassures him, "You had the right to tell us if our daughter did anything wrong. We won't just simply stay idle and do nothing, cause no matter what, she is in the wrong if all of this is true."

"Next time, if something like this happens again, let us know and we will deal with her."Kogoro had his hand on Shinichi's shoulder with a reassuring pat, "It's our job as parents to teach our children to head to the right road.

"You two..."Shinichi's mouth fell having to possess all of this, before he nodded to them, feeling a little embarrassed by the attention he was receiving from Ran's parents, "Thanks for listening to me."

Meanwhile, Ranran who was worried that Shinichi may not be able to pull off could see the amusement in Eri and Kogoro's eyes as they listened to Shinichi outside the cafe. It was a beautiful moment. Her parents were surprisingly supportive of Shinichi and said they wanted him to be happy.

Everything is according to my master plan to end Mamiko's reputation.

Kudo Ranran didn't break the rules without a reason in the association.

To expose a hypocrite, one must wear the mantle of the hypocrite.

In the biography of the future, it didn't detail the hypocrisy of Ran's true inner thoughts about Shinichi's dream as a detective because the blonde woman who published it, a.k.a, her late mentor's arranged fiancé, which Ranran suspects has no idea. If she was aware, she would've added this part in to earn more money. Shinichi is after all a famous teen detective, she would be stupid not to cash in this detail to earn more readership, not to mention, fame.

That gave Ranran an obvious conclusion as to why the blonde miss out this info: Ran and Sonoko intentionally kept it quiet from Shinichi.

Now Ranran never had any intention on doing this to Ran in the first place, no, her dislike for Mouri because of the things she did to Ranran in the biography is one thing, but to endanger her and Shinichi is another. Objecting her by arguing every single solution she comes up with because it is immoral, even whining about the hours spent here is too long, even the workload too. Sure, this detective work tend to involve heavy workload and it's time consuming, but didn't Ranran reminded her about this in the contract before signing it?

Everytime Ran does this, it only encourages the dislikable Fuyuko Junko to act out and tell Michio to leave. Basically, those two girls are killjoys, and if she doesn't do something about it, Shinichi is going to lose his mental psyche. It's one thing if members later walk out of the HQ in protest and support Ran, since Ranran can do it on her own. But it's another, when she is openly discrediting Shinichi's time and effort spent on these cases, let alone, his abilities.

Mouri Ran is ruining the morale of the association, and she needs to do something about it before Shinichi's mentality will go south.

Before Ran was around, Ranran noted Shinichi smiled a lot with enthusiasm in his blue eyes while working on the Extinction Heist case. But after Ran chose to remained here, he looked wearied. Even more with her interference.

How devious these girls are. They are as equally worst than those unreasonable boys and girls her age she used to deal with during her 'Fox and Deer' days. At least the downside they lack is they ain't intelligent, giving Ranran the opportunity to strike.

If Mouri Ran is exposed as a hypocritical girl who only solely follows her emotions, let alone, in front of Shinichi, he would obviously distance himself from her emotionally. It won't hurt him, but Ranran knew it would hurt Ran further and cause emotional damage to Ran's mental psyche. She was after all an ignorant 6-year-old girl with limited capacity, unlike Ranran.

In their school, it has become a common practice for club leaders to abuse their authority and make their members suffer, let alone, break the rules. If Ranran played the role of a rule breaker, not to mention, come up with rules that favour her but not Mouri Ran, she would become tempted to do the same as Ranran does, then come up with an excuse to use this incident to either have Shinichi punish Ranran, or spare herself the rod.

Ran is after all naive, she still believes Ranran is the true villainess while she, is the tragic saint heroine. Believing that Ranran is capable of hurting Shinichi if Ran is presented with the opportunity to hurt the detective girl, even if it was in the wrong, she will find ways to justify it, as long as it is for Shinichi's sake.

This is why in order to get Mouri Ran to fall into her trap, she managed to get Shinichi in on this, by telling him a rule test needs to be done on their members, to see whether they are qualified to remain here. She even made sure that Shinichi is put in charge of the rule books of Tantei Association.

The reason why she did this was simple, if Ranran is behind establishing the rules, everyone will strongly believe that it was too biased that the rules are designated to benefit Ranran and not them.  But Shinichi on the other hand is different, he is credible and righteous. He had a reputation for making things fair, no matter the status. Putting him in charge of the rule book while Ranran influences him, in the disguise of guiding him, that changes everything.

Imagine if your crush is the one who came up with the rules, only for you to violate it, this is going to break Shinichi's heart one way or another.

Of course, there is another downside to this plan, Shinichi might not punish Ran due to old friendship sake. There is this saying that when one raises a dog, even if one dislikes it, the emotional attachment will remain regardless. But that is the reason why she decided he should be in the loop in the first place, since Ranran knew not doing so would make him think that Ranran set out targeted Ran to kick her out in the name of personal vendetta if he were to find this out elsewhere.

Though Ranran explains she doesn't expect everyone, let alone, herself, to follow it to the dot like a tyrant, she expects the members to break with legitimate reasons and proper planning. If they do it out of emotion, they are not qualified to remain.

After hearing Ranran's reasoning for the test, fortunately, he agreed. After all, morale is important in any workplace, including Tantei association.

She started out on other members to not stir Ran's suspicion. When Takuma noticed, he brush it off casually as if it was a normal everyday thing, after all, he knew Ranran as his friend long enough, so it was pointless. Michio caught on pretty quickly, which is surprising to the founder, given his personality. But she wasn't surprised that Emiko knew it was a test, given her perceptive abilities. She used to run a intel exchange service in their school, so it ain't really a surprise.

Setting on Junko was hilarious, given that it was too easy for Ranran to push her every button through Michio. But it was easier onto Mouri Ran through Shinichi.

At first, Ranran intentionally come up with outlandish dangerous plans that would involve Shinichi during meetings, which she knew would tick Mouri as if Ranran intentionally wants to endanger Shinichi in the name of greater peace. Ranran would say this was the only emergency plan, and then Ran would blatantly accuse her of using Shinichi as a human shield, then Shinichi would defend Ranran and call her childish, telling her she ain't suited to be in this HQ. If this continues on, Shinichi would no longer have it in him to contain himself from punishing her.

And that is what Ranran planned all along, when Ran finds out that Shinichi told her parents about her reckless behaviour, adding to the rule book situation, the relationship between her and him is going to be further strained. He is going to think she is losing her mind irrationally out of stupidity, let alone, having no respect for the rules Shinichi set out, while Ran would think he is bewitched by Ranran.

All of this manipulation may sound evil to anyone, but who could blame Ranran?  Mouri Ran has been endangering everyone in the association in the name of emotions, and Shinichi was never able to catch a break as her apprentice because of this. Constantly picking on his judgement whenever he sided Ranran's controversial methods, with the hard work and effort he would spent up all night putting together for the cases they have worked on. She and Junko always threaten to call in the cops, the same incompetent cops, for interference. Also, Ranran doesn't believe that relationships should be built on lies.

Estrangement is needed in order to find oneself.

The problem is, Mouri Ran isn't happy that Shinichi has found him, and expected him to be the old one she could constantly cry and blame, whenever things never go her way. That's why Ranran decided to scheme this, by distancing Shinichi from Mouri for a certain period. That way, if Ran self-discovers what she did was wrong, only then, Ranran will allow her and Shinichi to make amends.

And that will ultimately bring her a step closer to realising they are all pawns of Mamiko.

Otherwise, unless Mouri Ran ever finds her enlightenment, Ranran will continue to plot till that girl becomes insane.