By 9 am Thursday, everyone had arrived at headquarters situated in their school. Ranran's text message had told them nothing, except to meet at headquarters in the morning.

Emiko held three mysterious sheets of sketch paper in one hand.

"When we were upstairs, remember when all of us wonder how is it that Mr Muniko has no idea, let alone, choose not to inform any of us that the scammer was seen in the movie leaving out of the building he owned." she began. "About everything being right under Muniko-san's nose."

"That's right," confirmed Michio as reminiscences of his thoughts came back to him, as he placed a hand across his chin. "That did get me thinking for a second, but I didn't think anything of it..."

"You should have," Junko replied, unrolling the first sketch and placing it on the table. Everyone stared at her drawing of Namba Katsumi's face.

Then Emiko unrolled her sketch of Muniko-san, the one she'd drawn from memory, and placed it alongside.

Ran stared at them blankly. "So...?"

"Hang on a minute," Shinichi continued the explanation, as he stared in comparison while Ranran reposition the sketches, "Both of their noses..."Emiko unrolled the third sketch. "Hey! Why is it their noses are the same!?"

The third sketch was Emiko's masterpiece. She had drawn the nose, long and curved. The rest of the face combined the features of both men. Namba's bald head, with Muniko's mouth and chin.

She pushed the first two sketches aside and laid the third sketch between them.

Ran leapt up and could have almost hugged her. "Emiko, you're a genius!"

Shinichi simply grinned at the sketches, while his heart was racing with excitement inside."No way...what are the odds they both are born with the same kind of nose!?"

"I guess your intel you got from your mother is true after all." Ranran mumbled, her eyes were blinking rapidly at their answer before them.

Even Michio was taken aback, "It kinda explains why Namba looked familiar."

"Why didn't we see it before?" Junko demanded.

Takuma laughed. "It's brilliant! It's like they're the same person!" Then, he looked from one sketch to another. "But," he began breathlessly, "What does this mean!?"

Emiko's eyes gleamed with triumph. "I think they're related somehow."

"You are right," Ranran nodded. "What are the odds that they both shared the same nose? I mean Muniko-san could be Namba's father, or his uncle, or even his brother!"

"But don't you think it's odd? That they don't share the same surname?"Ran couldn't help but noted.

"Maybe they are a distant relative?"Michio offered."Which probably explain why they shared different surname."

"You know in the entertainment industry, if one wants to make it big without being overshadowed by a famous family member, one would change their surname without hesitation."Ran noted.

"What I don't understand is...if they are related, why Muniko didn't say anything?"Emiko couldn't help but frown.

Shinichi sat on the edge of the table."Do you recall what Genzo said about Muniko-san?" he asked. "About him having another reason for wanting to find Namba?" He stared at the sketches. "I think it's got nothing to do with stealing a million yen."

Ranran nodded. "Muniko-san and Namba are related. Imagining a family member stealing from Muniko is bad enough, perhaps their bad blood within their family was brewing from the get-go. Maybe some kind of family rivalry, something we don't even know about..."

"It probably explains a lot why Mr Muniko's ex-friends had a distrust towards him, since he and Namba are related, and they probably thought since both of them are related, they are in this Ponzi scheme together," Shinichi suggested.

"Man, talk about the apple not falling far from the tree."Junko clicked her teeth.

"What I don't understand is...this is an opportunity to make more profits if the press got word that they are related, why wasn't this featured in the news?"Ranran frowned.

"Perhaps they had connections within the media, that's why they were able to keep all of this a secret," Ran suggests.

"And I've just thought of something else!" Takuma jumped up. "What if it was Muniko-san who tried to kill Namba at Okutama Lake? And what if Muniko-san thought he'd succeeded and that Namba was dead? That would explain why he was so shocked to see him in that movie! Also, the real reason why he didn't disclose the building is that if we looked into it, we will find out they are both related."

Michio wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Damn, if that is the case, this is an attempted murder case!"

"Except nobody's been murdered... yet," added Shinichi.

Ran looked at Ranran and Shinichi anxiously. "That means we have to find Namba before he is murdered!"

"Hmm...maybe, "Ranran answered half-heartedly.

"I guess so."Shinichi too feels a little off.

"What is with you two!? We found something!"Ran demanded anxiously.

"I think Emiko got the family thing right, except..."Ranran's words trailed out.

"...except what?"Ran prompted her to speak.

"There is something off, but Ranran and I can't put our finger on this," Shinichi answered in Ranran's stead.

Especially his mother's revelation the other day about the scandal many decades ago. Something is connected to this case from that scandal, but what is it? Shinichi tried to think of all the angles that could fit into this complicated mystery.

An awkward silence filled the room.

"Well, what do you think we should do?" Ran demanded at last.

Ranran was about to answer when her smartphone began ringing. She gave it a startled look, and then picked it up. "Hello?" A moment later she leapt up and covered the phone with her hand. "It's Muniko," she whispered.

She listened to the angry voice on the line. Muniko had to go to an emergency meeting in Kyoto and only listen to the voice mail through his secretary the following day.

"Mr Muniko-san, "Ranran kept a straight-faced, not tolerating an angry man's rage as she goes, "Though I admit we didn't keep a word, you were not completely honest with us either about your supposed family ties with Namba, deshou?"She voiced with a tone so intense, that it started others to observe her.

Mr Muniko's face paled, "H-how did you know I am related to Namba!?"

"You also failed to reveal the fact that you own a building where the alleged fraudster lives." For a brief period, the members could hear his gasp as Ranran continued challenging the affluent businessman "My colleague was nearly drowned in the swimming pool the other day by a man. Now, I don't know if it's Namba or not, but I know I won't tolerate it if you had anything to do with this cowardly conduct, and I will, mind you, call the cops if you lie to us one more time. IS THAT CLEAR? EVEN IF IT MEANS DESTROYING YOUR CAREER!"

Ranran's indignant shriek was enough to silence the enraged businessman, much alone the members of the Tantei association, as the kids surrounding her were shocked by Ranran's audacity in condemning an adult man. To top it all off, a wealthy and powerful one so to speak.

"Ranran!" Junko admonished her like millions of thoughts raced through her mind, the notion of the wealthy tycoon filing a lawsuit against the association making her tremble with horror. Junko is also confident that if news gets out about this, their family would not be spared. Her insane mother, in particular.

Muniko was silent for a time. As Ranran was ready to hang up the phone, a dejected voice said, "I apologise... I'm sorry about what occurred to one of your team members. I had no idea...." He expressed regret.

What!? Ranran and the others stared back at her smartphone in shock.

"You are correct... I hadn't been totally honest with you regarding Namba's familial circumstances..." The man stopped as if he was uncomfortable disclosing it. Finally, he revealed his relationship with Namba, stating, "Namba is...my father's son from a lady who isn't my mother."

Everyone's jaw dropped at the bombshell he just admitted to them.

"Many years ago...my father who was married to my biological mother at that time had an affair with an illegitimate daughter of the Tadashi family, ending up with Namba."

"Wait, Tadashi family?"Shinichi blinked faster as he realizes before speaking over the phone, "You mean the same one that had connections within the movie industry?"

"That's the one, "Muniko sounded wounded talking about it as he went on sharing his family's dark secret, "When she fell pregnant...her family married her off to her arranged husband to protect her reputation as she refuse to abort it, who later had their son, Tadashi Saji. She intentionally started this affair to avoid marrying the arranged husband."

"Wait, what is it the son followed the mother's surname?"Ran pressed.

"She married her 2nd cousin within the family, that's why the surname Tadashi still sticks," Muniko replied.

"Bruh...what!?"Takuma was at loss with the revelation, before he sticks his tongue in disgust, "Ugh! Who marries their cousin! Gross!"

"In Japan, it's legal to marry your cousin. Didn't think that is the same as the U.K." Ranran mused at this.

"I guess it's called keeping it in the family."Emiko couldn't help but wonder.

"Wait a minute," Shinichi counted on his fingers, "That means the Tadashi family has three sons right? The missing heir, the adopted one, and...Namba?"

"You are right."He admitted before he elaborated further, "Namba was formerly raised with his brothers, Saji and the adopted one, Tadashi Fumihito, but as always, you can't raise one's son knowing he is a product of an affair, correct? After all, his nose is the reason what gave way."Everyone nodded, "So her husband later force her to give Namba away for adoption."

"Adoption?"Ran blinked her eyes as she probed, "Who adopted him?"

"I ain't sure. My mother was so furious at my father's betrayal at that time, that she didn't want me to have a relationship with my half brother. But there were rumours that he was given up to one of the house staff members to be raised alongside their child. Also...I ain't even sure if that is his real name."

"Eh?"Shinichi asked, "What do you mean?"

"Before Namba, he was given another name. But I don't know what was that name. Even the P.I I hired years ago couldn't find a shred of his legal name."

Shinichi quickly jotted down the notes on this new revelation as Ranran continued with the interview, "How did you later figure out Namba was your half-brother?"

"Honestly...I didn't know of his existence till my father passed away on his dying bed, and I know of it the last minute after the scam he pulled off on me. That's when Namba left me a tape in my mailbox one day, revealing why he did what he did. How much he resented my family for doing all of this to him...."The man admitted before he elaborated further, "He didn't live a nice life with his adopted family."

"Let me guess, he abused him?"Junko figures.

"No, he was bullied heavily throughout his entire childhood because everyone is aware he is a bastard."Muniko felt chills thinking about it, "Oh yeah, he even mention he did all of this because we all robbed his love ones."

"Hah!?"Ranran blinked further in confusion before asking, "Did he specify who? And how?"

"No, he never did."Muniko spoke over the phone," He said all of us rich tycoons have no reason to know who it is, as we are too tainted to know."

"So Namba had a huge hatred for wealthy people...wait, does this mean he is aware of who are his biological parents are?"Takuma finds himself saying this.

"I'm not sure if he did or not. When I initially heard the cassette message, I didn't want to believe it. Then...as soon as I saw the run-down pub my father owned and saw him come out of it...I knew he was speaking the truth." Muniko paused, weary by having to cope with all of this. "I wanted to face him in person, but he wasn't there when I dropped by."

"What was the reason did you decide not to say any of this to us in the first place?"Ranran confronted the businessman, "Is it due to family honour?"

"No, I ain't that traditional."Muniko insists before he explained, "My mother is. If she finds out from the news that he was the scammer who scammed my money, I can bet with you she'll either die an early death or pay someone to assassinate him."

"No way!"Michio's jaw dropped, "I could understand why since he scam your money, but ain't that a little extreme!?"

"That's because had tainted blood born into this family, she says. My mother is very traditional when it comes to starting a family. She will not tolerate ending the life of an illegitimate kid my father had with anyone else."

"What a psycho! I know that he is in the wrong for stealing your money, but in the name of illegitimacy!? That is such a low blow!"Junko blasted.

"To be fair, he is a bastard that is born out of an affair."Shinichi reminded her.

"Not to mention, people who are married can get tormented for life seeing the proof of your spouse's infidelity walking and breathing the same air with you. It's traumatizing."Ranran exemplifies."As if your spouse humiliated you and gotten away with it. It makes one think she is a walking doormat. So it is understandable."

"But Ranran, Shinichi, a bastard is still a human life!"Ran bangs the table in anger, before pointing at Ranran, "How would you feel if you were illegitimate, and then you were treated cruelly because of what your parents had done!?"

"I-"

"Of course, one would loathe such a life," Shinichi interrupted Ranran's statement, startling others as he continued, "but that is the reality of the situation." Ranran was about to continue with her half-spoken remark when Shinichi pulled her aside and whispered, "This is not worth putting your life on the line." He hissed at her.

Huh? Why did Shinichi cut into Ranran's response? Emiko's eyebrows rose in suspicion onto Ranran, as she seemed shocked at Shinichi's unexpected intrusion while he patted Ranran on the back, reminding her of his words.

"That wouldn't be fair if I find out I am a bastard."Takuma couldn't help but convey grimly.

"So would I, "Michio replies grimly as well.

"Same."Emiko agreed.

"What about the woman at the tavern, do you know what is her connection to Namba?"Junko inquired.

"Woman...? No, I didn't come across her when I visited the tavern."Muniko tried to recall, "But I think...if I wasn't mistaken before I found out Namba scammed my money...he did mention he had a middle school friend he know of growing up, one that he was going to ask to marry her one day."

The kids then exchanges glances.

"Look, the real reason I didn't disclose this to all of you is I didn't want my mother to find out about his existence and deal with it on my own. I am sorry if I snapped at all of you for getting the police involved, I just...I just wanted to clean this mess my dad started."

For a moment, all of the kids were speechless.

After a while, Ranran did the only thing reasonable."Mr Muniko, I can try to continue looking into this case, however..."Ranran paused, "I might need your help on this matter. But...it might not end well."

"Eeeeeh!?"All the kids turned to her, their large eyes matches their surprised expressions.

"Of course, anything. Money or resources, I am up for it. Name your price."

"I think this is going to be difficult," Ranran stared up into the ceiling, before returning her attention to the phone, "You are rather familiar with the movie industry, correct?"

"Yes."

"That meant you have many connections at your disposal, right?"The businessman wonders where she was heading with this, "I am going to need you to arrange an appointment between us and the Tadashi family."

The man could be heard gulping, "Miss Kudo, our family are at crosshairs with them after what my father did to their daughter-"

"I am aware."Ranran abruptly cuts him, "But hear me out," she tries to reassure him, "Right now, keep in mind that it is your half-brother's life on the line. And with the ways things are progressing, it seems like this won't end till someone dies."The receiver kept quiet as Ranran went on, "Just set us up with their adopted son."

"His adopted son...you mean Fumihito?! The CEO of Tadashi pictures!?"For a while, he breathed, "I have his number, but-"

"If we don't do something about it, I think that scammer brother of yours ain't going to just stop on you alone, please consider your family's safety as well."

After a while, the caller said, "Alright, I will try to get the number and get back to all of you later on."

20 minutes later, Muniko contacted them and has given them instructions that he will be sending a car over. When at last he ended the call, Ranran put her smartphone phone on the table and turned to face the others.

"Ok, with all of this sorted out, this should bring us a step closer to Mr Namba's real identity," Ranran announced."First, we'll try to get info from Tadashi Fumihito, the one who took over his brother's position in the movie company and try and see how much we know of Namba's real identity."

"I don't think you can just waltz into some rich guy's company and demand their family secrets, Ranran."Junko believes."I mean think about it, this is a damning secret that taints any family's reputation. If the police got word of it, their lives are going to turn for the worst."

"With Mr Muniko's influence, he managed to arrange a meeting with Fumihito at around 3 pm."Shinichi discloses, as he too was mused with the situation.

"Why can't we just ask his mother?! The one who caused this mess? It'll be easier for everyone. After all, wasn't she forced to give up her own son by her late husband?"Takuma suggested.

"Takuma, if you find out the son you were forced to give away was responsible for scamming millions of yen, would you want to give up your son to a group of kids that is closely associated with authorities?"Ranran pointed out.

"You...have a point."Takuma's words died out.

"Also, I just got word that his mother is kinda...unwell."Shinichi shrank trying to explain this to the group.

"Oh, is she dying?"Junko cocked her head.

"No, Fuyuko, she is a psycho."Ranran drops the ball to the startled kids, "One minute, she can converse normally, the next, she attacks people. That was according to Mr Muniko's words he received from her adopted son."

"Man, I mean after being forced to marry someone that she dislikes, the mentality must have taken its told on her, "Michio mumbled.

"It wasn't easy to convince him, but after explaining our situation, he agreed to meet up with us."Ran sighs, "Honestly, after hearing all of this, I am worried for our safety."

"You know, when you were all talking to Mr Muniko, I dug some intel on Reddit about the Tadashi family, and it doesn't sound good."Emiko frowned, before showing the laptop to everyone on the table," According to close sources, the woman who had an affair with Mr Muniko's late father, she had a very...questionable reputation."

"I ain't surprise, given that she intentionally screw up with a married man to flee the marriage."Ranran puffed."She could've just packed her bag and left, start a new life elsewhere rather than become some homewrecker whore."

"Ranran, don't be rude! I bet it wasn't easy for her to come up with this decision just to flee from a marriage she didn't like!"Ran chastised her, but Ranran rolled her eyes," Also, not everyone has dared to do all the things you do!" she chided.

"Ran, don't be harsh on Ranran, she didn't mean it."Shinichi defended his mentor.

"Of course she never does, in your eyes, she is an angel."Ran speaks bitterly.

"What sort of reputation does she has?"Takuma curiously ask.

"This one mentions having worked for the family as a maid for many decades."Emiko hover the cursor on the forum while all the kids left their seats to gather and read," According to the netizen who post it, she was very strict with her children."

"Strict? How strict?"Junko adjusts her glasses, scanning the contents," Says here she once whipped their butts with her late husband's belt for scoring a B in French at the age of 4. What!?"Junko's mouth fell before she became outraged, "French is a hard language to master, you know?! Also, what was she expecting a 4-year-old to score that high!? It's Ludacris!"

"Wait, let's read the following paragraph," Michio's gaze was fixed upon it "According to this source, the two sons were never permitted to choose their own clothing. The mother decides it for them. Even after they turned 24. If they chose anything that their mother disliked, she would lock them up in the attic for 24 hours, especially during the frigid winter—what the hell!?" Michio shouted in rage, "Isn't this child abuse!"

"There's more, "Ran bent down to level her reading," They didn't sit still for their portrait session when they were 3 years old, while her husband was still alive. Enraged, she snatched a balloon from the studio and violently smacked the two toddlers with it. Because it was only a balloon, no abuse charges were filed as it did not produce even a single bruise. Still, you can tell the kids were weeping and begging her to stop—that is terrible!" Ran covered her mouth with one hand before becoming enraged as well "How can she call herself a mother and do such a thing!? Also, what the heck is her spouse doing allowing this to happen?"

"After reading this, it's no wonder Muniko is against the idea of our meeting this psychotic woman."Shinichi frowned as he pinches his nose bridge, things were not looking good."We need to meet up with her adopted son and then locate Namba. Otherwise, I think things are going to turn out for the worst."

"How do we even know whether all of this is real? I mean the person who posted this could have fabricated all of this."Takuma frowned, turning to Emiko, "When was this posted?"

"19 years ago."Emiko highlighted the date, "Exactly on the same day Tanaka Kirin vanished out of the spotlight."

"Is the person still active with this username?"Ranran inquire.

Emiko researched the username silentmaid, "Yes, she still is." she confirmed.

"If we can figure out her postings, maybe we should be able to locate her identity in real life and ask her about it."Takuma mused.

"Can't we get the police involved in this?"Junko grumbled, "With them, we should have no problem locating whoever is 'silent maid'. After all," she glimpses at the forum, "With all of the abuse content, surely the police will be by our side."

"I mean, even if everything here is accurate, we need evidence to back it up. Words alone ain't enough, images, video...we're going to need a lot to justify that the individual is abused," Shinichi growled. "I studied some of the laws of abuse," he said to everyone, "and what we read ain't good enough to support an arrest."

"No way!"Heads turned to Ran as she laments in anger, pointing at the laptop while she eyed Ranran and Shinichi, "Are we going to let this abuser walk free then for doing all those things to her sons!?"

"Of course not, Ran. I will never let someone like her roam freely if all of this is true."Ranran swore in determination to a stunned Ran, as she tap at the screen, "This kind of mother...is too dangerous for society."She then rubbed her chin in a thinking gesture, "But maybe there must be some truth in this forum as well."

"Eh?"All their eyes widened at Ranran.

"Think about it, the missing heir Tadashi Saji was a well-known playboy, a social butterfly in the entertainment scene. He suddenly vanishes from the spotlight after his girlfriend allegedly committed suicide, as well as he never personally shows up but the family publicist did...something isn't adding up."Ranran tap the table, "Would someone like him let others do the talking?"

"Now you mention it, no."Takuma thinks, "Why is it his family publicist is the one doing the speech then?"

"I don't know about this, but I have a bad feeling it isn't good."Shinichi expresses his dissatisfaction with how things are developing.

"Well, better head back to class. Just need to end this meeting by asking everyone this."Ranran then turned to everyone, "Who is free to research this user on Reddit while I go pay the Tadashi a visit?"

"I am sorry, I have American Football practice to attend to."Takuma ruffled his hair in frustration, "I think I will be busy there the entire day."

"So are Junko and I." Ran exchanged gazes with Junko with concern towards others, "We have martial arts to deal with, I think we won't be back till 5 pm."

"I got astrology club to attend to," Michio replied nervously.

"I can do the research."Emiko volunteered. "I am free after school."

"I will try to help you later on after sorting the football club."Takuma said, before shaking his head, "But I can't keep any promises whether I can end the practice as soon as possible."

"Alright then, "Ranran decided as she announces, "Everyone-"

"Wait!"Shinichi raised his hand, "I am joining you."

"Nani!?"Everyone reacted as their mouth fell.

Including Ran's as her eyes flickered over to Shinichi, "What did you just say?"

"I am joining Ranran," Shinichi says after a moment, glancing at a stunned Ranran.

"Are you sure?"Ranran cocked her head, "Isn't today the day you learn about your fate in the soccer club after school?"

To those who are unaware, Shinichi and a former leader of the club had a physical dispute in their school last month. There were rumours running rampant at that time that Mouri Ran was the source behind it. Though it was unclear who was truly at fault as Shinichi accused him of tampering with his soccer schedule, Shinichi's status within the club had been hanging in school for over a month, and today is the day he learns of his fate.

"I am going to skip today."

Ranran frowns, "You may end up never coming back to the club."

"I already have Tantei Association, why would it matter whether I end up there or not if they are never going to believe me?"Shinichi explains bitterly, still feeling wounded by everything that transpires from that feud.

"Are you sure?"

"This isn't an option for me, if anything happens to you, it won't do the agency well." He straightens his posture, his eyes tracing over Ranran's face.

Also, he needed to verify that additional scandal his mother revealed while she was drunk. The link that ties between Tadashi and Muniko family.

Those blue eyes of his...Ran noticed are a lot more fired up than before. As if someone lit the fire of life in him. That excitement in him...it's been a long time since Ran noticed that.

Before, whenever he was with Ran and Sonoko as the heiress was always teasing of him and Ran as a couple comes up, although it always showed annoyance, the color of his blue eyes Ran fell for started to become duller. But Ran always brushed it off as nothing, till Tantei Association and Ranran happened.

Has his eyes always been dull whenever she and Sonoko were around him? Why is it Ran never took notice of this?

Why did it...had to take for Ranran's existence to make her realize this? That he had always hated the idea of being in a relationship with Ran. Let alone, undermining his detective dream was literally choking the life out of him. Now that he found something that brought him enlightenment, especially Ranran, he looks happier now.

Before, Ran may not have taken him seriously because of his arrogance and obnoxiousness of life. He always apologize because no one has a similar level of understanding regarding how he feels about those rumors with him and Ran, where he detested it that was emphasized rather than his talent. But now he had validation from Ranran, he learns that his feelings were never in the wrong after all.

It's natural after all, to lean onto someone who validify one's complex feelings, and Ranran was that person to fit in. 

Ran shouldn't be feeling this way, wishing bad for whatever it is to come between Ranran and Shinichi. But she can't help it.

Cause at the end of it all, it felt like Shinichi is able to live a better life minus Ran in it, and she hates this.

Ran hates it, she hate being left behind. Like her parents did with their marriage. But who is she to say any of this? She has no one else but to blame herself for leading Shinichi to Ranran. 

Mouri Ran felt guilty, recalling what she had done as others stared at her silently before gazing back at a determined Shinichi, whose resolved gaze fell on his mentor."Alright, then better finish your homework before we get there. We have no idea how long the interview is going to go."Ranran sighs.

"No problem."He reassures before turning to the others, "Meeting adjourned."Shinichi promptly announces before he felt someone clutching his hand, he turned to see who it was. It was Mouri Ran. "Shinichi, with things coming to this, I don't think it's safe that you and Ranran head out to see Tadashi Fumihito."

"Ran-"

"I mean...he has a potentially psychotic mother who won't hesitate to hurt children like us! If she is capable of hurting her own sons, I don't think she will let you both off the hook for poking into her family situation! Especially Namba...if she finds out you are both after him, God knows what she is going to do to you both!"Ran gave him a pleading look, begging him not to go.

But Shinichi shot her a despairing look. "But we don't have a choice. If we don't look into this, she might kill more people. Also, there is no way Ranran is able to go after her alone."

Ran shook her head. "I don't want you to go. I mean you might not leave out here alive!"

"Then Shinichi might as well sit out, I'll go alone, "Ranran replied indifferently.

"What are you talking about? I'm joining."Shinichi reassures her before turning to Ran," Sorry Ran, I need to go."

Before Ran knows it, Shinichi lets go of Ran's hand before joining Ranran and leaving the association, heading back to their class.

"Shinichi...."

Junko couldn't help but sympathize with Ran's plight, she can tell Ran had a crush on the blue-eyed boy as she shared the same with herself when she looks at Michio. But with that feud having blown out of proportion, she can't help but wonder whether their friendship is beyond repairable?

As for the others, they think nothing of it."Alright, back to class everyone."Takuma announced as he claps his hand, "Wouldn't want to get us into trouble for being late, nah?"

.....

And finally, 3 pm arrived.

In front of Teitan Elementary, a dark green 1959 Jaguar MK 2 arrive at the entrance sounding its horn outside. The purr of the car engine turns quiet as he pulls into the entrance.

Shinichi glanced out the window. "The car is here...as expected, Mr Muniko is on time."He turned to Ranran, "Shall we go?"

"Let's."Ranran nodded to him before turning to Michio, "Majima, did you get someone to bring over the scooter and skateboard?"

"Yes, I did. All ready."He presented it outside the bicycle parking lot in their school.

"Why did you have to bring those two things? Ain't Mr Muniko driving them to Tadashi Fumihito's company anyway?"Junko side peeks from afar.

"The building is situated at a hill where cars aren't allowed to enter as the road is on repair, so Shinichi contacted Mr Muniko, he allowed them to bring it for this exception," Michio explained.

"I really have a bad feeling about this."Ran rubs her arms in folded position uneasily.

"I agree, what if Mr Muniko lied about this and it was a trap?"Junko voiced her thoughts.

Takuma laughed. "He wouldn't dare try anything like that. Anyhow, there are too many of us outside the school right now! They are going to see Ranran and Shinichi enter! If they don't return, won't Mr Muniko be in trouble?"

"Gotta say, I am impressed you are that reassuring."Emiko grins.

"Ah hey hey, thanks."He blushed a little as he chuckles.

"Alright, it's time to go. Shinichi?"

Ranran headed for the door and Shinichi followed. "You guys wait here in this school. And if we're not back by 4 pm, call the police."

Those would be Shinichi's last words as the two left.

Ran shrugged. "I really have a bad feeling about today."

"What kind of bad feeling?"Emiko asked.

"Shinichi is going to be in serious trouble."Ran comments.

Takuma frowned. "He has Ranran, it's going to be alright."

The two Kudo children settled into the back seat of the Jaguar.

The 80 plus-year-old chauffeur glanced in the rearview mirror, revealing a wrinkled smile with warmth in his eyes. By all accounts, there is a pretty average feel about him.

His short, lank, dark brown hair features a messy fringe. It is falling out due to a medical condition. He has a short, smooth, braided moustache and a medium-length, wild, braided beard. He has an angular face, a large nose, and small lips. His mysterious brown eyes are triangular and he has a monobrow. He has narrow shoulders, long arms, and spindly legs.

"Hi, in case you are wary, I am Mr Miyashiro Yoshihiro, Mr Muniko's personal chauffeur. I am assigned to drive you to see Mr Tadashi Fumihito. Please wear your seatbelt before heading."

"Noted."The two children themselves were equipped with the belt as the car took off.

While the car travelled on as traffic is coming in front of them, Ranran observed in silence in the car's rear mirror reflection, as the driver made a grab for the handkerchief and wipe his chin, revealing a mole with some hair sticking out on the left. It reminded her of a Karaoke ball that bounce up and down on the words her parents were singing once in their living room when they assumed Ranran was asleep.

"Mr Miyashiro, how long have you worked for Muniko's family?"Ranran began to probe through the family's chauffeur.

"Well...I can only say that I know them since I was around your age."The driver admitted with a smile on his face.

"That young...that meant you got to know Muniko's family, including his father, correct?"Shinichi asked.

"Yes I do, I know his late father. We used to study in the same high school together."The chauffeur stopped his car as the traffic light turned red.

"Eh, really!?"Both eyebrows shot up in response as Ranran continued to probe further, "That means you are aware of his affair with Tadashi Sora, correct?"

"Affair you say?!"The old man responded in shock as he stared at the reflection in the mirror, "You are too young to know this kind of thing, don't you think?"

"Our family is a bit different when it comes to raising her, "Shinichi sighs deeply at that thought.

"Hmm...as his friend, I wouldn't really say it was a simple affair."The old man said with sadness in his tone."Actually, it ain't that straightforward as one would imagine."

"Eh? What do you mean?"Shinichi noticed the change in the old man's tone.

"The media saying that it was all an affair was a lie, they been dating before Hiroshi-kun's parents marry him off against his will."

"Hiroshi-kun...is he Muniko Tomio's dad?" Shinichi guessed.

"Late father," The driver confirmed to the two children's words,"He couldn't care less and continued seeing her obviously as if they never broke up."The old man scoffed a little bitterly. As soon as the light turned green, the car moved towards where he intended to head, "I was also friends with her as well."

"Really? You mean Tadashi Sora, right?" Ranran prompted her name intentionally to jog his memory.

"Yes, the three of us are classmates back then, though Hiroshi is a year older than the rest of us."He recalled fondly before turning to the left junction, "We met in middle school before becoming classmates back in high school. Back then, I think she was the only one who dated him despite that crooked nose he was born with. And you can tell his feelings for her are genuine."

"Eh...so this wasn't a married man lying to a girl that he would get a divorce to marry her, huh?"Shinichi scoffed.

Nowadays, what do adults teach their kids to learn that sort of thing?

The old man didn't voice out his inner thoughts, as he decided families raised their kids a lot differently these days."No, if anything, he did have the intention of marrying Sora when he was forced to marry Sora-san's love rival."

"Love rival?" Ranran repeated.

"Tomio-san's mother." The driver affirmed it.

"Wait, the dementia mother? They were rivals in high school!?"Shinichi guessed.

"You got it right," The old man huffed as he recalled his high school days, "But Tomio's dad never liked her, never even gave a glance at her hair either way."

Silence. "But she saw it differently, didn't she? Mr Tomio's dementia mother?"Ranran stirred him to spill further.

"Himari...is born from a privilege family, she looks down on anyone, mainly illegitimate kids."The car then slowly reaches a hill before adding, "She believes that people of common background should mingle, I guess that is why when she saw Sora began dating Hiroshi, she made the decision to steal him from Sora."

So Muniko Himari is the name of their client's mother. Ranran thought of this.

"But did she ever like him in the first place? I mean if it was plainly stealing a guy because Sora is illegitimate, it's childish if one asks me. Also, did Sora even do anything to go after her in the first place?"Shinichi frowned, and so did Ranran.

"Himari had a crush on Hiroshi way back when they were little, they used to study under the same kindergarten but they were never friends, you know? He...Hiroshi-san always felt wary with her presence."His mouth felt a little dry at that thought,"Sora is far more popular than Himari in many ways, kids. Her make-up talent back in the way was top-notch, all the girls in our school at that time seek her services. I think there were even boys who were fond of her because of that."The elderly man pouted, "But her popularity outshined Himari later on, which I believe later irked her inferiority in many ways."

"But Himari is rich and ain't an illegitimate kid like Sora. Why bother to be jealous?"Ranran couldn't understand, what is there to be jealous about?

"Himari has one flaw: She only knew how to spend money wastefully, and she gets compared through her parents, because Sora knew how to work and be independent, but Himari doesn't."The old man then tilted thoughtfully, "I think that is why she was eager to rat out their relationship, and even manage to secure a marriage with the unfortunate Hiroshi at that time. To remind her place as an illegitimate."

"Did Hiroshi not try to get out of the marriage?"Ranran wondered.

"He did, in fact, many times. Even during their honeymoon, he took the first flight back to Japan to be with Sora, didn't want to have child with Himari before both sides of the family forced him to."The man insisted before turning the curves around the road, "When Sora got pregnant, I was certain the marriage was over at that time. In fact, everything was almost in their favour."

"In their favour?"Shinichi blinked his eyes as he was puzzled, "What do you mean?"

"When Sora got pregnant, this was 3 months after she found out she was expecting, it was all planned by the both of them so that the divorced is granted to set Hiroshi free. You see their family resents infidelity, let alone, illegitimate blood as I mentioned."The driver pointed out, before ending it with, "But Himari's side of the family was known for pitting people against each other. She convinced the Tadashi's late matriarch, this was before Sora took over, to publish a joint statement stating that Hiroshi was depressed about the entertainment world, and Sora exploited his vulnerability. Long story short, the rest is history."

"Wait, that happened?" Ranran found herself mouthing a conflicting detail, before wondering out loud, "I thought the Muniko family I recalled worked on a patriarch mindset, that even when it comes to household and company reputation affairs, only males are allowed to be in charge. Why is that your current master's mother gets to do all of this behind-the-scenes?"

"Well...when Hiroshi was still battling depression, his father was in charge. But he unexpectedly died in a train accident, aggravating his depression further, resulting his mother to take over the affairs, including the mess of her son's affair till he got better. Of course many were against it, but his mother...she isn't like the other women the Muniko family had met." 

"In other words, Mr Tomio's mom ran the company?" Shinichi suddenly realizes this.

"And she had a talent for it," The driver's finger tap absentmindedly, "In fact, when Hiroshi got better and tried to take back his place, there was a power struggle. Fortunately, Hiroshi managed to get his spot back, but it was short lived too, he died of a heart attack."

"Hah!?" The two children couldn't believe what they were hearing.

"It was odd, you know? He was considered young to die, and the family had no heart defects as we have known of. Anyway, after his passing, Tomio was too young to run the company, so again, that woman took over. But then again...a woman is still a woman, and those idiots mindset has no change, she was ultimately kicked out and the rest is history. She ran the company for a long time though."

"That is messed up, also, her sacrifice meant nothing to them because of gender."Ranran said in disapproval.

"Agree, but this is Japan where women are treated as 2nd class citizens, Ranran."Shinichi heaves a sigh, before realizing, "Wait, Hiroshi has depression?"The two blinked at that development.

"Yes, he did."The man admitted as his eyes grew sad, "Kids from rich families have their own problems, and he was no different. I knew this because Himari used to feed him those depressants when he began to fall ill severely-"

"Wait, severely?"Ranran interrupted him, "What do you mean?"

"Before he passed away, he wasn't thinking straight anymore the way he was used to."The man gave a glimpse of sombre, "After the affair, he talked slurred, he couldn't even walk normally and often tumble. Whenever I meet him up for tea, he was always asleep on the couch. Hell, there was a time where when he drove his own private car to work one time, he ended up hitting a street lamp and almost died for falling asleep."

"Did she not take him to see a doctor?"Shinichi became suspicious of this matter.

"I mean his wife Himari works as a full-time nurse, so she too was surprised to come across such symptoms. Eventually, his illness grew progressively worst, he died as a result. It was sad affair for everyone, even for his mother and his son."

Within 4 minutes, The car later made it close to a hill, "This is as far as I can go, I will wait here while you all pay Mr Tadashi a visit."

He opens the back door with a leaver to the front as the two blue-eyed kids thanked him before entering the building.