"What the hell!?" Emiko started, her voice full of disbelief as she pedals on her bike, "Did she really emotionally blackmailed the reporter!?"

"Yes,"Shinichi confirmed, holding onto his seat from the back of the bike

"I can't believe it," Emiko stressed. "How is it a 6 year old like Ranran know how to hack, let alone, navigate the dark web? I am nine years old, and I still can't hack."

Shinichi gave the rebellious artist a dirty glare. "She wouldn't have known if it hadn't been for her father's profession! That girl...she not only know how to drive an SUV, she learned how to do these...why didn't my parents teach me any of this...I am so far behind," he said angrily. The final bit was more of a mutter, but Emiko heard it anyhow.

And Emiko could tell. The younger boy's eyes were rimmed with dark circles and looked nearly bloodshot. He looked pale too.

"What the hell..." Emiko breathed, "Ranran knew how to hack into the dark web is just...wow."

"Honestly, I knew she was furious with the press, but I didn't think she was that vindictive enough to go that far!"Shinichi was shaking his head and mumbling to himself.

"Man, you had it rough, but you did well."

"That is the job of an apprentice," Shinichi responded sheepishly, but deep down, Emiko knew he is begrudging to be doing things beyond his apprenticeship. Judging his eyebags, he is exhausted from having to deal with Ranran's antics.

"Given her behaviour....I am pretty sure she isn't born normal," The artist pondered hard before questioning the association's apprentice, "Just out of curiosity, had she ever been checked by doctors to confirm whether any of her antics are....normal?" Emiko asked.

Shinichi opened his mouth, looking distinctly irritated, only to be cut off.

"No, seriously! None of this is normal! Even the naughtiest child around her age wouldn't go extremely far as any child I have ever come across whenever I collect intel!" Emiko insisted, openly concerned."I mean she knows how to use a freaking dark web and hacked into some reporter's place to blackmail them! This is abnormal behavior!"

Shinichi shot her a venomous look before his expression morphed into something resigned and admitting, "It's not like none of that was done."

"Yeah?" Emiko pressed. "And?"

Shinichi rolled his eyes, looking at him like he was daft. "They say nothing is wrong medically."

"...then send her to do an MRI!" Emiko offered hesitantly. "At least—"

"No, Emiko, let me finish," Shinichi cut the other off. "Before I....decided to seek for apprenticeship under her, I asked around, and it turns out....a nurse who delivered her as a baby dropped her, her head was hit hard."

"EH!?" Emiko's mouth fell open, her hands tightening around the handlebars as she tried to process Shinichi's revelation. "Hard where!? On the floor!?"

"Yes, on the ground." Shinichi nodded grimly, his voice quiet but tinged with frustration, "Since that incident, her parents had her head checked in and out of over 50 hospitals in 6 months. The results are inconsistent! Some responded yes, while others said no!" As he talked, one of his hands waved erratically. "Believe me, they been there, done that. They gave up by the time they moved here!" His statements were presumably intended to come off as casual, but they ended up sounding unmistakably defeated.

Emiko found herself mouthing the number of trips Ranran was taken to the hospital, with a strange combination of terror and incredulity. 

"Anyway, at that time....I heard they had no money, so considering Ranran was at that time able to walk and talk, they thought nothing much of it," Shinichi shrugged. "Until..." He hesitated, his expression darkening. "Her parents started noticing little things, not that noticeable at first, but then it grew in an alarming rate as she grew up."

"Like what?" Emiko furrowed her brow, her focus split between pedaling and digesting the overwhelming information Shinichi was revealing.

 "It started small—like, she was unusually quiet as a toddler. She didn't cry much, didn't throw tantrums. At first, they thought she was just an easy baby. Then, when she was around two, they used to have a car illegally parked outside their townhouse, alarm kept ringing non-stop to a point no one was able to sleep. The idiot person who owned the car barely did anything about it, so one night, Ranran disappeared for about five minutes. When she came back, the car alarm mysteriously stopped. The next morning, the car exploded." Shinichi explained, his voice laced with a mixture of admiration and unease.

Emiko blinked, her jaw slack. "Wait, exploded?!"

"Yes, exploded," Shinichi repeated, his tone flat as if he were recounting something as mundane as a weather report. "By the time the police arrive....they found a couple of bottles of coke with mentos in it. Allegedly, someone broke the window before dumping the mixture into the car's interior. The carbonation caused pressure to build, triggering something in the car's engine to short circuit. At least, that's what the investigators concluded. They chalked it up to a 'juvenile prank gone wrong.' And her parents didn't think much of it at that time until—" Shinichi hesitated, his brows furrowing. 

"Until what?" Emiko pressed, her voice barely a whisper as she leaned forward on the bike, her curiosity burning.

Shinichi sighed, rubbing his temples like he was trying to banish a headache. "Until things started happening more often upon moving into the neighbourhood Ranran was for 2 years before moving here. Small things at first—neighbors complaining about weird noises, lights flickering on and off in their houses, Wi-Fi networks mysteriously going down for hours. It was all written off as coincidence or bad luck. But her parents started to notice a pattern: something strange would happen, everytime Ranran is around, even if she was there for a couple of seconds."

"Like what kind of strange?"

"One time," Shinichi began, his voice low, "there was this stray cat that used to scratch at their front door and howl all night. It drove everyone insane. Her dad tried to shoo it away, but it kept coming back. Then, one morning, it just... disappeared. Later that day, Ranran casually mentioned to her mom that she'd 'found a better home' for the cat. When her mom asked where, Ranran just smiled and said, 'Far away.' They never saw that cat again. Though....I am certain I didn't have to think twice over what happened to it."

Emiko swallowed hard, her hands tightening on the handlebars. "Okay, that's creepy. But maybe she just... you know, gave it to a shelter or something?"

"Maybe," Shinichi said, though his tone suggested he didn't believe that for a second. "But there were other incidents that they didn't go into detail when I tried to ask around, which is why they hurriedly moved Ranran here in the first place."

"I mean to be fair....after such...incidents, I too would do the same if my kid is.....like Ranran."

"Sometimes I ain't sure what to make of it, to blame Ranran for her non-remorseful behaviour as she does as she pleases, or that damn nurse who caused all of this mess."

Shinichi sounded worn down, which made her feel sorry for him. For a brief while, the artist and Shinichi rode on the same bike in silence as the artist attempted to process Shinichi's remarks. The other didn't appear to bother, closing his eyes for what had to be a brief reprieve.

"The nurse is more at fault, otherwise, she would've been normal at least," Emiko managed to say after a while. Shinichi gave a derisive snort in response as if to say, you're telling me?

"It's just my life now." He said without a hint of humour. "I will get used to it."

"Would you?"

"Life with Ranran is never going to be normal, I long resigned to the fact before deciding to become Ranran's apprentice. I will get used to it," Shinichi retorted, eyeing her as Emiko was struggling to digest all of this.

"Of course you are," she sighed, resigned. "But you could've chosen not to interfere with the problem. It ain't like she is the type to dump her problems on you."

"No, she isn't like Mouri for that matter."Shinichi acknowledges this, "But I will be honest with you, there are times I feel like if I don't do something, I might regret it for the rest of my life. Also...I can't bear the thought of the HQ we set up having a tarnished reputation because of her antics."

"You could've just simply taken up from ground zero, as in took up the offer from your father when he suggested using the family connection to start out, like Ranran did a year ago."Emiko suggests as he heave another sigh.

"I did consider that, but...."

"....but what?"

"Before pleading for apprentice under Ranran, I did my own private investigation onto her while I was on leave from school. And....what I learn was, she didn't have it easy either with connections."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Ranran once told me the cops here are corrupt, I didn't believe it till....." Shinichi admitted, his voice low, as if afraid the wrong ears might hear. "I got word that....they often shunned Ranran's words and everything. When you....think that she had work there for almost a year since.....I asked myself...am I strong enough to put up with such attitude from such cops for over a year?"

Emiko glanced back at him, eyebrows furrowed. "And...you think you can't?"

"I....just know I am not capable of doing the things Ranran did to get them to listen," Shinichi rubbed the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable.

The artist didn't know what to make of that confession.

"You try to....do your best achieving justice and not become a villain, but she was right. I was too damn naïve to even be qualified as a Tantei. If I had taken up the connections, I would probably given up unlike Ranran." 

 "Kudo," she began cautiously, "you're being too hard on yourself. You're not Ranran, and you don't have to be. Everyone has their own way of doing things." Emiko kept her eyes on the road.

"That was what I thought so too, until...." Shinichi scoffed, but there was no malice in it, just frustration, "You know, finding out that she ends up living the dream while I remained stuck in the 'lost and found items' department at school...all because I fear of Mouri and Suzuki's berates towards me.....? If I had known...it was that simple to just simply cut Mouri and Suzuki off to go after my dream, I should've done that a long time ago."

His shoulders were slumped, and there was an unmistakable bitterness in his voice. She didn't need to be a detective to see how much the weight of his self-doubt was crushing him.

"For a year plus since kindergarten, I kept telling myself Mouri and Suzuki are my friends, kept turning a blind eye from their unpleasant comments about stop talking too much about tantei and focus on them as friends and stuff. But then Ranran acknowledges that my feelings about this....was far too justifiable."

"Eh?"

"I never doubt myself once in anything in life, especially becoming a Tantei. Yet...honestly, after taking up my apprenticeship, I felt....relief."

Emiko couldn't see, but she could hear him chuckle to himself, being genuinely happy.

"Of course," Shinichi murmured, "I can only be more happier if Mouri quits the association, and leave me and Ranran be."

Emiko let his words settle, trying to process his mixed feelings. "Is that why you are worried that if the association has a bad reputation, you would be force to go back to Suzuki and Mouri?"

There was silence, but it was an affirmation to Emiko.

"If you want my honest opinion, as much as Ranran can be....ruthless, the last thing she would do is harm the reputation of the association, Kudo." Emiko pointed out.

"You think so?" Shinichi looked up at her, his expression conflicted.

"You told me yourself that Ranran is very different from Mouri, and yes, that one I will agree. She doesn't like burdening others, and has self-awareness of not dragging people into her problems. If she had such intention from the start, she definitely wouldn't have sent you to block other children from joining out association without being made aware of the dangers that came with it."

Shinichi's gaze softened slightly as he processed Emiko's words.

"Also, I ain't the type to say 'don't stoop to one's level' to go after a bad guy, because I know that feeling being put in that position, sometimes realistically in life, you have to whether one likes it or not.  But what I do know is this: It's not wrong for you to choose the path you pick if you can't handle those defiant cops. Honestly, those adults cops should be ashamed for what they have become to society!"

Shinichi blinked, his lips pressed into a thin line as he absorbed Emiko's words. She wasn't holding back, but there was something about her unfiltered honesty that made him feel like maybe, just maybe, he wasn't entirely in the wrong.

"Guys, in about 5 minutes we will make it back to Tantei association, just hang on alright?"Michio could be heard announcing as everyone nodded in their respective transportation.

"What were you doing with Mr Muniko earlier?"Emiko decided to switch topics.

"Eh?"

"You talked very briefly, for about 5 minutes."

"Well...it has something to do with the media problem."

"Hah?!"Emiko didn't turn back to Shinichi, for she almost hit a passing car as she stir them away from it. As soon as it is away, she asked, "He doesn't work for the media. How is he going to help you with-"

"The clothes."

"I'm sorry?"Emiko blinked.

"Clothes," He repeats his answer, as his expression grew serious, "If we have it, it should help us deal with the press."

He then recalled the conversation that took place in the office earlier.

Shinichi swear he can hear his heart pounding out of his chest as he made that daring proposal. The man pulled back, staring at Shinichi wide-eyed. Had he heard him right?

It's another long silence of him staring at the little boy before either one of them moves.

Finally, the man decided, "I can ask her to design it depending on if you guys can get the job done. Also, I would need the design for the clothes, cause she isn't the type to just do it just because you guys ask unless they have an artwork."

"Don't worry, I know where to get it. Make sure she makes two costumes as payment," Shinichi negotiates for a better deal. The businessman for sure isn't prepared to answer such a clever bargain and thus, the man answers.

"I can make an exception for the both of you."

~~~

"You don't trust that man, and yet, you made such a deal...?"Emiko wonders why would Shinichi make a conflicting deal.

"Since the association's establishment, we've encountered a wide range of clients, both good and bad. However, I decided that what Ranran said regarding resources was correct. If you need resources to solve a case, attempt to obtain them someplace, even if it means stealing for the greater good. I knew I had to put in a request since Mr Muniko has connections to the movie business, let alone is aware of a designer who is well-known for designing popular detective movie costumes. Even if we discover that Mr Muniko is not as innocent as he appears, at least I took measures, you know?"

"How is wearing clothes going to do you a favour?"

"Look, Sherlock Holmes is always dressed in that cape and coat, right? Whenever he comes over to solve mysteries with Dr Watson, it seems like everyone treated him with such authority. "

"Coat....ah! That cape Sherlock wears!! But....this is real life, who would bother to treat one with authority just because of a costume?"The dual long-haired ponytail girl gave him an odd look.

"Police officers are treated with respect when they are in their uniforms and do their job, right? I'll bet if we do so as time goes by, not to mention, make an announcement on our official site, everyone would eventually have to obey."

"You ain't wrong about that," Emiko thinks, before realizing, "But we don't have a site!"

"That's where you come in!"Shinichi said before requesting, "You are not only going to help us design the clothes for us, you are also going to set it up."

Emiko's jaw dropped, "You want me to set up a site for Tantei association!?"Emiko finds herself saying in dismay, "But I am an artist! Not a web designer! Sure, I can do the clothes, but set up a site!? Why me!?"

"Who was the one who bragged if one is put in charge of the interior decoration and website, it be that person? Unless it was all talk?"Shinichi ridicules.

That made Emiko's inferiority flare-up, "It ain't all talk! I will do it!"

"Good," Shinichi beamed, "Tell me when you get it done. Oh look, we made it! See you tomorrow, alright?"

After Shinichi hops away from the bike to reunite with Ranran as all of the kids greeted each other with their goodbyes, Emiko was stressed out. Having been asked to make a new website and she had no idea where to start.

Emiko had never done anything like this before and she was worried she wouldn't be able to do it. If she fails, though there will be no site and Shinichi ain't the type to mock someone, she'll be eating her own words.

Right now, Emiko had to calm down and focus if she was going to be able to get the job done. Emiko took a deep breath and tried to focus on what she needed to do. She can start with designing their clothes for now.

....

On Monday, the meeting took place in Tantei Association situated in their school, Teitan Elementary, where Shinichi deliver grim news that afternoon as everyone gathered.

"Bad news, we had a setback regarding our projector situation," Shinichi announced when everyone met at the headquarters late that afternoon.

That day Saturday at Agasa's place in the living room, when Ranran and Shinichi took the strips of film to the audio-visual room, a major setback awaited them.

"I can't run these through our projector," said the professor, "Our projector runs 15-millimeter film, and these strips are 35-millimeter. Only theatres can run 35-millimeter film."He held the strips up to the light. "And even if I did have a 35-millimetre projector, I still couldn't run these. They're too badly damaged."

"How bad is bad?"Ranran inquired.

He pointed to the holes along the edge of the film. "You see these? These are called sprockets. A projector has teeth that grip the sprockets and pull the film past the lamp. That's how a projector screens a movie. Twenty-four single frames are pulled past the lamp every second," Mr Menoshi explained. "But these film strips are twisted so badly that the sprockets are torn. There is no way any projector could ever screen them..."

"No way!? Even that old crappy projector can't play the damn film?"Takuma reacted in dismay.

"Yup, "Ranran confirmed.

"Now what?"Junko asked.

"Ranran had a suggestion," Shinichi had both his hands on the table, as he discloses to the members, "We can try to buy a projector with Ranran's money through the dark web-"

"Dark Web?! Is she crazy!? That site is nothing but bad news!"Ran is against this as she interrupted his speech," Shinichi, no! You would get into serious trouble!"

"Please, Mouri, do not be impolite. Allow Shinichi to finish his sentence. Also, do you believe I want to resort to the Dark Web because I want to? These projectors cannot be purchased online and delivered on the same day. That depends on market availability, Ran. Otherwise, I would not even consider stooping to this." Ranran silences Ran icily with a knock on the table, sending chills up her spine as she cowers back. Ranran, in Ran's perspective, always had the air of a ruthless queen. "Continue," she encourages Shinichi to continue his statement.

"Alright, thanks Ranran."He thanked her before proceeding, "I'll try to avoid touching Ranran's emergency funds, or even...the dreaded dark web to those who are concerned," which made Ran a little embarrassed for disrupting the meeting, "We can resort to having Majima and Hikari-kun look into locations that offer such service, but time isn't on our side. Also like Fuyuko mentioned the other day, it ain't possible to find other cinemas that provide us with such service-"

"Why can we just borrow one of the projectors from Movix? Don't tell me one cinema just have one projector alone."Takuma reposition his head lazily, as he was tired from his physical activities classes earlier.

"The entire cinema had to be shut down for crime investigation purposes, Hikari-san, everything there is potential evidence. You can't just simply take a projector and use it!"Junko shakes her head disapprovingly at the sleepy Takuma, wondering why a formerly disgraced athlete like him that lacks intelligence be doing here in this association.

"There you go, as Fuyuko expressed, "Shinichi emit a long, deep audible breath, as his expression quickly contorted to seriousness, "But despite the setbacks, Ranran had come up with another solution. If this solution fails us all...we may have to resort to using Ranran's fundings."

The rest of the members gulped at that thought.

"In the meantime, aside from the projector situation, we should look into Mr Namba's death through the news."Shinichi divulged.

"Why are you certain Mr Namba's death would have made it across the news? What if there is no news of him?"Emiko perked her head, as she was busy sketching some sort of art Michio can't tell from afar as she hid it with her elbow.

"He scammed millions of yen on a high profile businessman in the entertainment industry in Japan, not to mention according to Mr Muniko, his friends. If the press doesn't take advantage of this and turn it into news, they better fire them and hire better reporters. We already have incompetent cops, we do not need corrupt incompetent reporters and journalists."Ranran frowned.

"She does have a point," Michio scratched his chin thoughtfully, "The scamming of millions of yen onto high profile powerful businessmen that had control of the movie industry does make good headlines."

"If we want to look for news, let's pay a visit with Reina-san's uncle."Takuma suggest as everyone turned to his attention, "Her uncle works at the newspaper, the same one Ranran relied on to get Watanabe's past cases from the Extinction Heist." Takuma told the others. "If we explain all of this, I'm sure that he'll help us look up the old files. We might be able to find out more about Namba's death," he suggested.

"Does the news cover entertainment scandals?"Michio questioned.

"Yes, they do, "Takuma confirmed.

Shinichi agreed. "That's a start. We might be able to find out exactly what happened to him from there."

"And whether if the car floated before it sank," Ran cut in. "And whether if Namba had time to escape before it was too late!"

Ranran leaned forward, holding her notebook. "I made some calls today about the projector problem," she remarked. "While googling about 'The Origin of My Childhood'-ugh, why the moron give such a lengthy name for a lousy movie, "Ranran mumbled in irritation before continuing, "The movie was made by a film company named Hoshi Pictures. I've got their address and phone number, and I've even made an appointment with someone there. They agreed to meet with us after we explained our predicament. I am confident that as soon as we arrive, we will be able to see the scene in which Namba appeared."

"There is also one situation to address." Others arched an eyebrow, as Ranran eyed Shinichi's announcement, "We should head over to stakeout at Muniko-san's house and have a look around for clues."

"And here is why, "Other members nodded while Ranran declares, "We need to know what goes on up there, who visits him, and whether he knows more than what he told us. I felt like he is not completely honest with us." She then had Shinichi reach for a big piece of coloured cardboard before putting it up on the stand.

Ranran then worked out a plan on what they were going to deliver. "Tomorrow, Tuesday, our homework load for all grades should be reduced to three, giving us plenty of time to work on the case by tomorrow afternoon. After all of this, we should have a lot of answers by tomorrow night."

"So let's work it out, discuss who wants to go with. Takuma will head over to Reina's uncle to have access to that news while some of you check whether you all  can google anything about it, Michio will be in charge of heading to Mr Muniko's place, while Ranran and I will be heading over to the Hoshi Pictures to talk about, ugh."Shinichi rolled his eyes, "That damn movie."

The five members then discussed for about 20 minutes before a decision is reached.

After all the kids left, leaving Emiko and Michio last, he couldn't help but blurt out,"You hid your artwork."

"Sorry Majima? You were saying?" Emiko asked after having packed her bag.

"Ah no, sorry. It's just..."Michio was hesitant before stating,"Is everything ok?"

"Ok with what?"Emiko throw one question with the other.

"Your artwork? It's...the first time I noticed you covered it up."

"Ah, I see." How thoughtful of Michio, he must be assuming Emiko thinks her artwork isn't good enough, which is why she hid it with her elbow."Actually, this is a surprise artwork."Emiko beamed.

"Eh? A surprise?"Michio blinks.

"Yeah, one of the members requested it. That's why I covered it up. It ain't finish yet, so..."her words trailed off.

"Ah, now that made sense."Michio snap his hand abruptly, before his curiosity goes,"Who was it?"

"Er...they won't let me mention till it's ready."Emiko was guarded on her words.

"Really?"Michio is amused with whoever it is that requested Emiko's art services before breathing a sigh of relief,"That's good."

"Eh?"

"I thought you were thinking your skills were not good enough, that is why you hid it. But I don't think of it that way."

So nice of him, he doesn't grab the bull by the horn and confront it straight on. Such a shame he has a girl like Junko controlling his life. Emiko thinks of this in perspective."Thanks Majima."she thanked.

"So may I know what is it the person requested?"

"Actually...I ain't allowed to say it either."

"Really?"Michio is surprised,"Man, whoever it is must be really guarded."

"Worst, there is not even a confirmation whether it it come into fruition," Emiko pouted.

"Eh? What do you mean by that?"Michio probed.

"Well...it's basically the client requesting me to draw it for the client's mutual friend. It is a surprise gift." Emiko explains vaguely without exposing it was Shinichi, as she is a little frustrated on the design,"Problem is, I am aware that the mutual friend...isn't one that can be easily pleased."Emiko said absently, tiding up her artwork.

"Can I get an idea of what it is?"Michio pleaded.

"It's something the mutual friend insist they didn't want, but the client is trying to persuade the mutual friend to accept it."

"Are you getting paid for it?"Michio inquire.

"Not with money, but it is something rewarding I would like to see it for myself once the mutual friend accept it."Said Emiko.

"Man, that is a lot on your plate riding on this." Michio expressed out of sympathy.

"Tell me about it, even now I am having a hard time on how to deal with this."Emiko said, exasperatedly, recalling the hours where she was in her bedroom with papers were on the floor.

~~~

Matsuyuki Habiki, a.ka Reina's uncle was a thin, stooped man with a kindly face.

If Ran recalled correctly according to Takuma, he is also Reina's mom's elder brother. Unlike her mother, he is a lot kinder than the mother according to Ranran.

"We did cover that news if I ain't mistaken," Reina's uncle replied to Takuma's inquiry about him when Takuma and Ran met him in the foyer of the newspaper building. "I recalled one of the editors telling me about it when the news broke out, it was the talk of the city. Everyone was talking about how this man was able to scam all those wealthy tycoons of Hollywood. We had a field day at that time."

On a Tuesday morning, the newspaper office was busy. People hurried about. Smartphones shrilled and the air was filled with urgent voices.

Habiki arranged for their security passes, and then led them along one corridor after another. Somewhere in the distance, they could hear the rumble of the printing presses.

"We print part of the Wednesday paper today," Habiki explained. "Of course, the main paper won't be put to bed until midnight." He looked over at Ran, assuming she didn't know better. "That's newspaper jargon," he grinned, to which Ran smiled back lightly. "Being put to bed is when the paper is ready for printing. And when the paper is put to bed, we can go to bed, too."

He opened a door and they entered a room crowded with shelves and cupboards. "We keep all the old newspapers in here. They're on microfilm nowadays. You have to view them on a special machine." He turned on the microfilm and the screen lit up. "Now, the story was about that Namba guy who scammed them, deshou?"

"Two years ago," Takuma informed him, "He drove a 1998 Blue Toyota Supra into Okutama lake."

Habiki nodded immediately. "I remember when that day happen, our entire office speculated that he faked his death or something like it was in the movies," he mumbled as he checked in a thick book. "Two years ago, in August..." He crossed to one of the cupboards and pulled out a spool of film. "It was big news that ran for a week or so."

He loaded the spool onto the microfilm machine and began turning a knob. Suddenly, the front page of the newspaper appeared on the screen. Beneath a photo of a dark, murky lake was a big headline that read:

DISGRACED 'BOY IN THE WINDOW' DIRECTOR DIES IN LAKE TRAGEDY

"Boy in the window?"Takuma reads out before turning to his girlfriend's uncle, "What movie is that?"

"Oh right, you guys were too young to watch it when the movie premiered, "Habiki realizes this before explaining, "The movie is about an unfortunate abused little boy who befriended a little girl from the outside world. Through her, he discovers things about himself he barely knows as she introduces him to the beauty of the outside world as their relationship blossomed."

"Aww, that sounds cute!"Ran couldn't help but have her eyes light lit up."I would love to watch that sort of movie."

"Well, I doubt you will as the story is a sad ending," Hibiki said.

"Eeeeh!?" Ran gasped with disappointment."No way!"

"Why? The two characters are no longer friends?"Takuma guessed.

"Ah no, you got it wrong."Hibiki dismissed, "His mother found out about it and ended his life."

"Hah!? What sort of dark movie is this!?"Takuma and Ran reacted in astonishment.

"It is based on a true story as it occurred in the U.K."Hibiko explained, before adding, "Before the little boy was born, his biological dad used to date a woman who would later become the little boy's stepmother. But fate was cruel, that woman had a sister who drugged him, later ending up with the little boy mentioned in the movie, so his dad married the boy's biological mom."

"Oh man, that is sad."Takuma sympathizes before scowling, "Also, what an evil wench!"

"However, his dad never really move on from his true love, thus, an illicit affair took place. Before you know it, the little boy learns of the truth behind the affair and supported his dad's divorce. That's where the abuse took place, "The adult man recalled, "When the custody was overturned to his father's side after the abuse was brought to light, his biological mother kidnapped the little girl to lure her son out, which worked initially. By the time he manages to rescue the little girl...he was murdered by his mother."

"How awful!"Ran turned pale, appalled by the story Hibiko just told her before she became outraged, "What kind of mother would do that to her own son!?"

"Maybe her son shouldn't have supported the affair in the first place."Takuma considers.

"That doesn't give one an excuse to murder their own son, Hikari!"Ran screeched before she adds, "Also, he had every right to support his father! If I were in his situation, I would support him in a heartbeat!"

"Even if you may end up getting abused?"Takuma questioned in scepticism.

"Without a doubt!" Ran answered without hesitation.

"Anyway, enough of our movie debates. Let us continue read the case,"Takuma then turned to the news

Disgraced Film Director Namba Katsumi, aged 37, is believed to have drowned when his car plunged into Okutama Lake last night, after allegedly committing fraud on several movie investors. Police arrived shortly after midnight following an anonymous phone call.

The two children read the story in silence. Halfway down the column was a photo of Namba Katsumi, easily recognizable by his bald head and big nose. According to witnesses, Nambe had left his apartment at around nine o'clock that night.

"I'll make a copy of it for you," Mr Hibiko said, and a photocopier whirred into life.

He spooled the microfilm forward to the next day's paper. Alongside a photo of police divers in the lake was a bold headline that screamed:

CAR LOCATED, BODY NOT FOUND

By the time Reina's uncle had switched off the machine, Takima was armed with a stack of photocopies.

"Arigato, ojisan," grinned Takuma.

He returned the microfilm to its cupboard. "It was such an unusual case," he mused. "Much more to it than met the eye. At the time, there was a strong rumor that he'd been killed somewhere else and his car dumped in the lake to make it look like an accident. Others believed that he'd faked his own suicide in order to disappear. But I guess we'll never know..."

"Where is Okutama Lake?" Ran asked him. "I've never heard of it."

"Just lying above the Ogochi Dam," Hibiko replied. "It is an important source of water for the city of Tokyo. Nobody really knows how deep it is. If Nambe's body is in it, chances are it will never be found." He shuddered. "It's a desolate place, especially at night, and a good place to stay away from."

He leaned back on the desk and studied the two children curiously.

"I won't ask why your founder is interested in the case, Takuma, but let me give you some advice. It might be very dangerous to go round asking questions again..."

~~~

Meanwhile, Junko, Michio and Emiko were watching Mr Muniko's house. They had set out on their transportation at sunrise when the streets of the city were quiet. After the long ride up the hill, they had found a small grove of trees to hide in. They propped their bikes behind a thick trunk. The canopy of branches cast deep shadows around them.

"This is the best time of day," Junko sighed.

"It's all right for you," Michio grumbled. "You're a morning person." He yawned and shook his head. "I only come to life after noon."

"Same as well, "Emiko yawnes.

The tree-lined streets was empty. The white mansion basked in the early rays of the sun, the lush lawns and gardens peaceful behind the high, barred gates. The pebbled drive sparkled. The first hour passed slowly. The maid polished the front door handle, and then returned inside. Later, a man who looked like a gardener appeared. He started pruning bushes and sweeping up leaves.

Micho stifled another yawn. Junko was about to tease him when the sound of an engine sent them scurrying for cover behind the trees.

A small gray car labored up the hill and crawled past the gates. A young woman in a denim shirt and jacket was driving. She parked the car further along the street and stepped out. She darted behind a thick hedge and watched Muniko's house through binoculars.

"Who is she?" Emiko wondered aloud.

"And why is she observing that man's house?"Michio observe the woman's movement.

"Could it be a thief? Mr Muniko is after all a loaded man."Emiko suggests.

"She could be a private detective like us for all we know from Mr Muniko's former friends, since he is making efforts in trying to recover the stolen money."Junko frowned. "If it ain't, then she must have something to do with the case, otherwise she wouldn't be here. Do you think we should talk to her?"

"No,"Emiko shook her head. "Let's just see what she does first..."

They didn't have long to wait. A sleek car emerged from behind Muniko's house. As it moved down the pebbled drive, the front gates swung open automatically. The car turned into the street and they caught a glimpse of Muniko behind the wheel. He was talking on a smart phone, and his face looked angry.

The young woman moved fast. She sprinted across to the gray car and leapt inside. Seconds later, she gunned the engine and drove off in the same direction.

"What's going on?" demanded Emiko.

Michio then headed for the bike. "I don't know. But one thing's for sure. Muniko-san might be very interested in finding a dead man, but somebody else is very interested in him. The question is, what does it all mean...?"

They mounted their transport and started on the long ride back to headquarters.

~~~

On the other side of the city, a taxi had just drawn up in a bleak street of old factories. No sooner had Shinichi and Ranran got out, they both froze. Across the road, outside an old warehouse with HOSHI PICTURES brightly painted on the wall, was a police car.

"Shinichi, look."she pointed at the car.

"Ah, that means Genzo is likely around, right?! I mean they probably are digging into it, since they shared a connection to the Movix incident ."Shinichi whipped his head to Ranran.

"Probably, let's hide."Ranran nodded to him.

The two pulled back into a doorway. They watched as Genzo stepped out into the street and walked to the car, followed by two other officers. When the police car had driven away, the two children quietly entered the building.

Inside, the old warehouse had been transformed with gleaming glass and steel. Spotlights illuminated a wall of movie posters. Timber floors glowed with a rich golden sheen.

The young woman behind the front desk looked up nervously onto the two children.

"I have an appointment to see Tanaka Teruo," Ranran told her. "I spoke to him over the phone last night. He'll be expecting us."

The woman dialed a number. "I'll see if he's still got time," she blurted out.

Shinichi then leaned forward on the counter. "What's happening? Why were the police here?"

The woman's eyes widened with shock. "There's been a robbery," she gasped. "When we came in this morning, we found a window had been smashed and one of our movies stolen."

Shinichi and Ranran exchange glances before he shoved his head even more forward against the counter. "Was that movie The Origin of my Childhood?!"

"How did you know?" a man's voice behind them asked suspiciously.