When Takuma, Reina, Sonoko, and Ran, who is busy carrying hers and Sonoko's belongings entered the 4-bedroom hotel, they couldn't believe their eyes.

The moment they stepped into the hotel room, their jaws dropped in disbelief. The four-bedroom suite was nothing short of extravagant. It was like entering a realm of opulence they had only seen in movies or dreamed about.

Takuma's eyes widened as he scanned the spacious living area. "Is this a hotel room or a mansion? I feel like a celebrity!"

Reina let out a gasp of astonishment. "Look at that chandelier! It's bigger than my entire tent!"

Sonoko, still weak from her battle with dengue, found herself speechless. She leaned against the wall for support, taking in the luxurious surroundings.

Ran couldn't help but chuckle at their reactions. "I guess this is what they mean by 'living the high life.' I never thought we'd end up in a place like this."

The bedrooms were adorned with plush, king-sized beds, silky sheets, and fluffy pillows. The bathroom boasted a jacuzzi tub, a rainfall shower, and an array of scented toiletries.

Sonoko's eyes twinkled with delight. "I think I might just spend the entire evening in that tub. It's like a spa retreat!"

Takuma plopped down on one of the beds, bouncing up and down like an excited child. "This is the softest bed I've ever touched! I might never want to leave."

Reina playfully nudged him. "Come on, Takuma, we can't spend all our time here. There's still so much to explore."

Ran, always the practical one, checked the minibar and grinned. "And look, they even stocked up the minibar with snacks and drinks. I'm not leaving this room without sampling everything!"

As they settled into their respective rooms, the exhaustion of their camping ordeal slowly faded away, replaced by a newfound sense of luxury and relaxation. The hotel room felt like a haven, a sanctuary where they could rejuvenate their bodies and spirits.

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

"Alright, I bought a thermometer from the pharmacy in the lobby earlier, let's see how is your temperature, Sonoko."

Ran gently took Sonoko's hand while Sonoko was supported by her to one of the beds of the hotel room, she retrieved the thermometer from her bag and carefully placed it under Sonoko's tongue.

As Sonoko anxiously waited for the thermometer to display her temperature, a wave of relief washed over her. The number on the screen indicated that her fever had subsided significantly since they arrived at the hotel.

Ran smiled warmly at Sonoko. "Looks like your fever is going down, Sonoko. That's a good sign. Rest well, and you'll be back on your feet in no time."

Sonoko nodded weakly, a small smile forming on her lips. "Thank you, Ran. I don't know what I would've done without you."

Ran's expression softened, and she brushed a strand of hair away from Sonoko's forehead. "I wouldn't really say that, without you, we wouldn't even end up getting this hotel room if it wasn't for your parents."

"Not really," Sonoko's smile widened at Ran's words. "If we hadn't contacted Ranran through the walkie-talkie to contact my parents, we wouldn't even get this far."

Ran chuckled, her eyes reflecting a mixture of gratitude and amusement. "I suppose you're right, Sonoko. It took all of us working together to make it here. Teamwork makes the dream work, as they say."

Sonoko's eyes twinkled with mischief. "And now, our dream is to make the most of this luxurious hotel stay. I want to take a long, relaxing bath, order room service, and maybe even indulge in some late-night movies."

"That is if you recover as soon as possible," Ran began to behave like a mom would to a child.

Ran patted Sonoko's hand affectionately. "Don't worry, Sonoko. I'll take good care of you. Rest up and let your body heal. We have plenty of time to enjoy all the luxuries this hotel has to offer."

Sonoko nodded, her eyes drooping with fatigue. "Neh Ran."

"Yeah?"

"Is....do you think...I took it too far with Ranran?"

"Eh?"

"When...that video of Mamiko telling me to misuse Ranran's name to get Shinichi to quit being a detective came out...I didn't do it out of malicious intentions, aside from protecting Shinichi from getting killed while pursuing his dream as a detective," Ran's expression turned solemn as she listened to Sonoko's words. "I thought about it a lot since the punishment inflicted on us back in school, especially when I caught dengue...." Sonoko turned a little remorseful, "....truthfully, when I first heard someone like me was coming over here, especially she is someone around my age, I was happy at first."

"Sonoko..."

"As you know....in Teitan Elementary school, there are not many kids my age of the same background whom I can relate to, ah," Sonoko realize while dismissing with her hands, "Of course, I treasure you even till now as my best friend. Even so-"

"I get it."

"Eh!? You do!?"

Ran nodded, her eyes filled with empathy. "Yes, Sonoko, I understand. I understand that sort of feeling you are seeking." Thinking about how to explain it to Sonoko, Ran put it together, "There are times whenever...I come home from school, I want to....talk to my mother about trying out cute dresses I watched on the TV dramas. But as you are aware...because my parents are currently split up, all I have is my dad who can't understand why I am into that. And that I should focus more on my studies."

Sonoko listened intently, her gaze fixed on Ran. She could sense the shared understanding between them, the longing for connection and understanding that sometimes went unfulfilled. Her remorse began to dissipate, replaced by a sense of camaraderie.

"I never realized, Ran," Sonoko whispered, her voice tinged with sympathy. 

"It's alright," Ran reassures her best friend, "He meant well," Ran recalled, "I didn't like studying at all at that time, didn't and couldn't understand why it was that important. I then later learn through Okaasan, that when he was around my age, he too didn't understand why it was that important. Then, when they both turned 10 years old when his results suffered, my mother was assigned to tutor him...he then realized, without studying....you not only be made fun of for being dumb by the smarter kids...he won't be able to have money to date, my mother, at that time."

Sonoko's eyes widened, absorbing the revelation. "So, your Tousan studied hard just to date your Okaasan?!" Sonoko then whistled, "Now that is romantic!"

Ran blushed slightly at Sonoko's teasing, but a fond smile graced her lips. "Yeah, I guess you could say that. Although they split up towards the end...I don't think Tousan ever regretted studying hard."

"True, or else he wouldn't be able to raise you and heavily rely on your Okaasan," Sonoko's gaze softened at that.

"But seriously, I never could've guessed that you want someone of the same wealthy background as you to befriend under the same school," Ran had her finger on her chin, "Could you not have talked to Shinichi instead?"

"You know Shinichi, he doesn't like interacting with anyone who can't catch up to his intelligence," Sonoko chuckled before coughing profusely, "When I heard a girl from the Kudo family who share the same age as Shinichi was coming over, I was excited, you know? She is rich like me, maybe she might like to go out shopping like you and I do, we can go out in cafes and talk about boys all the time." Sonoko's excited smile soon faded to disappointment, "But then it all came crumbling down, when she was just like another version of Shinichi, except unlike Shinichi, she is way bolder than him, bluntly talks out my flaws, and she is ruthless."

Ran nodded sympathetically, understanding Sonoko's disappointment. "But Sonoko, Ranran studies at a prestigious school, unlike you. In a way, Ranran is....brought up way different than all of us, probably...way different than Shinichi."

"You think so? I was expecting her to be all high and mighty with her fancy school and upbringing, maybe we could bond over that. But instead..."Sonoko let out a frustrated sigh. "All I see is a blunt 6-year-old girl who thinks I am far too incompetent in everything I do, and that she thinks I am completely useless if I do not have my family's fortune. The worst part is...."Sonoko pouted a bit, "She was right in every way, that even Shinichi pointed this out."

Sonoko's frustration poured out in her words, her voice tinged with exasperation. "I mean, seriously, it's like she has this radar for detecting my flaws. It's uncanny! I can't catch a break with her around. She sees right through me, Ran."

Ran tilted her head, trying to process Sonoko's outburst. "Well, she's certainly not one to hold back. Blunt and bold, that's Ranran for you."

Sonoko groaned, rolling her eyes dramatically. "Yeah, bold and brutally honest. She's like a miniature version of Shinichi with zero filters. It's like having a pint-sized detective constantly analyzing my life choices."

Ran chuckled, her laughter carrying a hint of sympathy. "I can imagine how that must feel. But hey, at least she keeps things interesting, right? Life would be dull without a little dose of blunt truth, not to mention....her cunning antics."

"Oh yes, especially her cunning antics. Though it sucks being at the receiving end. " Sonoko let out a half-hearted laugh, her shoulders slumping. "I mean...she still wary of me and you because of that video, thinking we plotted right from the start to maliciously hurt her unreasonably because of Shinichi. And Shinichi really has had it with us. I mean..." Sonoko's tone suddenly turned serious, "I never seen him genuinely that angry with us before, as if...we really took it too far with Ranran."

Sonoko's voice grew quiet, her eyes reflecting a mix of guilt and concern. "I didn't expect it to escalate like this. I just wanted to protect Shinichi, you know? But now...how did we even end up like this?"

Ran placed a hand on Sonoko's shoulder, her touch comforting. "We'll figure it out, Sonoko. We'll find a way to mend things and make things right again with him one day. It's not the end of the world."

Sonoko looked up at Ran, searching for reassurance. "Do you really think so? I mean...he really wants you out of Tantei Association, Ran. And he made it clear with his own words, I mean till now...." she grew a bit vulnerable at this point, "I don't feel like apologizing to Ranran, even though...I know I am in the wrong this time."

Sonoko's voice wavered as she spoke, her vulnerability seeping through her words. Ran squeezed her shoulder gently, offering her support. "My Okaasan always tell me that sometimes...not everything is completely black and white. And....I will be honest with you, I honestly don't know where Ranran's intentions lie with Shinichi. But...." Ran paused, "....considering, she put her huge dislike for me and you....and ended up contacting your parents to book us a place in this hotel when there is a serial killer on the loose on this island.....including the other classmates....it doesn't make her a completely evil person we watched in every romantic drama or movies, right?"

Sonoko nodded, a mix of surprise and gratitude in her expression. "Well, when you put it that way...she could've let me die of dengue in the small tent with you in it."

Ran chuckled, shaking her head. "I guess...she isn't a completely bad person. But it doesn't mean she is a good person either way."

Sonoko sighed, her weariness apparent. "I just hope we can find a way to bridge the gap, you know? I miss the old dynamic we had with Shinichi. The three of us hanging out...."

Ran's eyes softened with nostalgia. "I miss that too, Sonoko. I miss that a lot."

"Hey, where did Reina and Takuma go by the way?" She peered in the hallway since the door to her bedroom was left ajar.

"They went to see Ranran and Shinichi at the penthouse," Ran mumbled.

"Excuse me!? Ranran and Shinichi secured what!?" Sonoko exclaimed.

Ran chuckled nervously, realizing she had let slip more than she intended. "Uh, well, you see, Ranran managed to secure a penthouse suite for herself and Shinichi, thanks to a client Ranran helped during her time as a detective."

Sonoko's eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you kidding me? Ranran and Shinichi get a penthouse while we're stuck here?"

Ran raised her hands in a placating gesture. "I know it sounds unfair, but Ranran and the client, as well as Shinichi for some reason somehow were able to make some deals. Anyway, they promised to share any significant findings with us regarding the serial killer."

Sonoko sighed, her initial frustration giving way to curiosity. "I guess we can't really argue with that. I just hope they find some useful information soon. The whole serial killer situation has been weighing on my mind."

Ran nodded in agreement. "I feel the same way. But for now, let's focus on getting you better and enjoying the comforts of this hotel. We deserve a break after everything we've been through."

With that, Sonoko settled into the soft sheets and closed her eyes, drifting off into a peaceful slumber. Ran sat by her side for a while, watching over her, before quietly slipping out of the room, leaving the door slightly ajar.

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

"Damn, Ranran, so this is what you and Shinichi have been living in these past two weeks!?" Takuma was in awe of the penthouse.

Ranran chuckled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Yep, this is the life we've been living, Takuma. Quite a step up from the tents and campfires, huh?"

Takuma nodded, his mouth agape. "I never thought I'd see the day when I'd be chilling in a penthouse like this. It's like something out of a movie!"

Reina joined in, her eyes roaming around the lavish surroundings. "I have to admit, this place is pretty impressive. I wished I joined you when you escaped on Miss Rika's horse last Tuesday."

Ranran playfully nudged Reina. "Careful, Reina. You might turn into a high-maintenance diva after experiencing the perks of the high life. By then, I might sever my ties with you."

Reina rolled her eyes, a smirk playing on her lips. "Please, Ranran. I'm far too down-to-earth for that. But I won't deny that it's nice to have a break from roughing it out in the wilderness."

Shinichi held the door open wide, gesturing for Reina and Takuma to step inside. "Welcome to our humble abode," he said with a playful grin. "Make yourselves at home."

Reina and Takuma stepped into the penthouse, their eyes widening at the opulence that surrounded them. Plush sofas, elegant decorations, and floor-to-ceiling windows offering breathtaking views of the cityscape greeted them.

Takuma whistled appreciatively. "This place is unreal. I feel like I've stumbled into the world of the rich and famous."

Ranran laughed, her voice filled with delight. "Well, for the next few days, you can pretend to be a celebrity living the high life. Enjoy it while it lasts!"

As they settled into the luxurious surroundings, a sense of gratitude washed over them. They had come a long way from the chaotic camping trip, and now they were in the lap of luxury. It was a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of life and the unexpected adventures it could bring.

Reina plopped down on one of the plush sofas, sinking into the comfortable cushions. "I could get used to this," she said dreamily. "No more sleeping on the hard ground for me."

Takuma joined her on the sofa, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "So, what did you all learn about the serial killer? I heard you all contacted Michio, Junko and Emiko through the laptop!"

Ranran and Shinichi exchanged a glance before Ranran took a seat nearby. "Yes, we managed to gather some information," she replied, her tone serious. "You all remembered that Mr Eiji's face was filled with scars, right?"

"The one who fell off the cliff and died, while Mr Miki remains on the cliff, right?" Reina remembered.

Ranran nodded. "That's correct. His identity as a cliff instructor....was a sham."

Takuma leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "Wait, if it was a sham, then what was his real identity? And why was he pretending to be a cliff instructor?"

Ranran took a deep breath, her eyes focused as she recalled the information they had gathered."It got stranger, I had Michio, Emiko and Junko meet up with Mr Kiryu's family. You all remembered that I mentioned overhearing a conversation between Mr Eiji and Mr Miki, right? That Mr Eiji was supposedly Mr Kiryu's friend? Well, they spoke to them. So far....not a single family member is aware of who is this Mr Eiji. And yet, when we brought up Mr Miki, Miss Jun and Miss Rika, they remembered."

Takuma and Reina exchanged puzzled glances, trying to make sense of the situation. "So, Mr Eiji's identity remains a mystery to his own family? That's bizarre," Takuma remarked.

Shinichi nodded, her brows furrowing in deep thought. "Yes, it's definitely strange. I even try to use contacts through our grandparents, look for any records at the cliff instructor association in the whole of Japan, and there was no mention of Mr. Eiji. It's like he appeared out of nowhere, pretending to be someone he wasn't."

"How odd," Reina thought about it, "But at the same time, he kinda was unlucky, don't you think?"

"In what way?" Shinichi arched an eyebrow.

Reina explained, "Remembered the schedule shift for all of the instructors back at Kodama Forest camp? Mr Kiryu's name was crossed out because he died after the shower unit incident, so Mr Eiji offer to take up his shift since he is his supposed 'friend'. I mean, had he not offered, the rope wouldn't have been cut, and he wouldn't have fallen to his death because of the serial killer, right?"

Shinichi's eyes widened in realization, "Now that you mentioned it...Mr Eiji's decision to take up Mr Kiryu's shift does seem like a stroke of unfortunate luck. It's almost as if he unknowingly walked right into the path of the serial killer."

Does he really?

Ranran doubts this. "Mr Eiji's social media accounts, the one he was flexing to our sensei that day while we were on the bus ride to this island...vanished not long after Mr Eiji died. Before, I assumed that the serial killer did it intentionally to erase his existence, but the more I think about it, the more it didn't make sense. Cause if the killer truly did, what motive do they have?"

Earning the look from the other children, Ranran backed up her facts, "The other victims of this island: Mr Iwao and Miss Jun, their social media accounts remain online, but only Mr Eiji's vanished, why is that?"

The children listened attentively to Ranran's analysis, contemplating the peculiarities surrounding Mr Eiji's identity and his sudden disappearance from social media. Takuma scratched his head, deep in thought.

"It doesn't make sense for the killer to erase Mr Eiji's existence, Miss Jun and Mr Iwao's accounts remain intact," Takuma pondered. "What could be the reason behind Mr Eiji's social media accounts vanishing?"

"What if the accounts were deleted by Mr Eiji himself?" Reina suggests, "If you think about it, he is a fraud after all. Perhaps he had reasons to disappear and wanted to cover his tracks. But why would he choose to pretend to be Mr Kiryu's friend and take up his shift at the camp? That part still doesn't add up."

"That's a possibility." Shinichi nodded, considering Reina's suggestion. "Maybe Mr Eiji had some personal reasons for deleting his social media accounts and wanted to distance himself from his fake identity. But it still leaves us wondering why he chose to impersonate Mr Kiryu's friend and take up his shift at the camp. There must be some connection there."

"Which is why, after digging around but finding nothing, I had Emiko, our sketch artist. removed the scars from his face. And here is the results." 

Ranran sends the images on her smartphone to everyone in the living room, while Takuma grins, "It's been a while since I used a smartphone with Wi-fi."

The group gathered around Ranran, their eyes fixed on the images displayed on her smartphone. As the photos loaded, a gasp escaped their lips when they saw the face of Mr Eiji without the scars.

The transformation was remarkable. The man in the picture appeared completely different, his face devoid of any visible scars or disfigurement. It was as if the scars had been a mask, concealing his true identity.

Reina leaned in, her eyes wide with astonishment. "Wow, he looks like a completely different person without the scars. It's hard to believe it's the same man."

Takuma grinned, his excitement palpable. "This could be a breakthrough! With this new information, we might be able to uncover his real identity and understand his motives."

"Problem is we have no idea who he is," Shinichi deeply frowned, "I thought of posting it on social media to ask anyone whether someone out there knows him, but then I remembered Ranran's words that the serial killer could've used this hotel's Wi-fi to delete Mr Eiji's social media account...."

Ranran nodded in agreement with Shinichi's concerns. "The serial killer might be monitoring our online activities, especially if they have access to the hotel's Wi-Fi."

"But I find another thing odd," Reina leans back, "This island is quite on the rural side, so why did Mr Eiji feel the need to fake all of this? Although I roughly get it that perhaps he did it to maybe get a job, nobody knows him there. I mean...who was he even attempting to deceive right from the start to delete all of his social media accounts?"

Ranran pondered Reina's question, her brow furrowed in deep thought. "Exactly....." Ranran's voice trailed off, and a hint of realization flickered in her eyes. "Because he knew someone on this island will recognize him, despite being on the rural side, which is why he did so." 

"Ranran....the other day you said you knew who the killer is, right? Tell us who it is, so we can keep wary!" Takuma pleaded.

"Not yet," Ranran muses, "Not until Michio gets the call from Sergeant Genzo."

"Why?" Reina demanded, "Why not just say out the name?!"

"If I can't confirm it, it would be straight out of a fictional movie," Ranran gave a mysterious smile, "Wait till the call arrive and confirm my suspicions, we would be free from this nonsense once and for all."

Ranran's response left her friends intrigued yet frustrated. They respected her decision to wait for confirmation before revealing her suspicions, but the suspense was almost unbearable.

"Reina," Ranran suddenly call out to her friend, "Considering the idiot student council members ain't buying a word about our dilemma, could you as president try to email the student council to release the emergency funds?"

Reina nodded, understanding the urgency of the situation. "Of course, Ranran. I'll 'politely' request the release of emergency funds. Hopefully, they will understand the severity of the situation and act swiftly."

"Wait, 'politely'!?" Shinichi noticed that the student council president intentionally put the emphasis on the word 'politely', as he observed Reina suddenly making a quick dial on her smartphone.

"You will get the idea," Shinichi noticed Takuma and Ranran nodding in silence.

Before long, as soon as the call was picked up, Reina goes on to say over the smartphone, "Hey, so I've got a little secret here that might just make all of your day a whole lot more interesting."

"Reina!? Is that you!?"

"Yes, it's me. You see, about you rejected my friend, Ranran's request for emergency funds-"

"Ah yes, well we rejected it because-"

"Enough of that," Reina smirked mischievously, her voice dripping with dark humour. "Tell me, the other members are having their meeting now at school, right?! Set the phone to speaker mode, I am just getting warmed up."

As soon as the secretary does, Reina went all out.

"Okay, so here's the deal," Reina continued, her tone oozing with a twisted excitement. "I happen to have a little recording of a certain someone confessing their undying love for a certain boy in class 1-C. And she is a bit of an idiot, ain't she? Talking all the crap about him, yet professing their love because she didn't like that he is eying on someone else. Oh, don't act all innocent! You know exactly who I'm talking about! Do you want me to leak the video on the confession site? I will be more than happy to let her do the honours. Then the entire school will be eating popcorn while we all enjoy the show of this particular love triangle you are displaying."

The council members on the other end of the line exchanged nervous glances, one of their secret love affairs now exposed to the world—or at least to their fellow council members.

"You want more? I will give you all more," Reina added, her voice dripping with anticipation. "I have video evidence of one of the members, pocketing the school funds to buy the entire secret collection of unicorn plushies!? And you are a he for Pete's sake, Who watches that show nowadays in this school, really!? Only kindergarteners! Who believed in that nonsense notion, that 'power of friendship' can save the world? You would need to go to the mental hospital to have that mentality of yours checked out."

The stunned silence on the other end of the line was palpable, as Ranran and Takuma were snickering at the secrets coming all out, while Shinichi was amused before secretly whispering to Ranran, "Who watches 'My Little Pony'!? Seriously!? Even Ran and Sonoko barely watch that idiot show anymore."

In Teitan Elementary School, a child will get mocked if one is caught watching such a show for some reason. Perhaps dealing with the realities of life at an early age had made tons of children think that their morals on the show are deemed useless in real life.

"Right?" Ranran replies with delight, "Only babies watch that show."

Reina simply winked and moved on. "And this other member, should I let everyone know about you have been eyeing our substitute form teacher, Arima sensei? Yes, the same woman who broke up with 84 guys throughout her life! And you are only 6! I'm sure it would raise some eyebrows if word gets out. Oh, by the way, don't deny it, since I have it recorded, and I'm not afraid to share it with the entire student body."

"Seriously!? There is someone who actually had a crush on that teacher who breaks up so many times!?" Shinichi exclaimed, wide-eyed.

Takuma burst into laughter, unable to contain himself any longer. "That boy needs to have his head checked, man! He is screwing his love life to be crushing hard on that sort of woman for good!"

"Better, he is nailing his love life straight towards the grave!" Ranran adds.

With each revelation, the tension among the council members grew palpable. They were caught in a web of secrets, exposed and vulnerable. Reina had them exactly where she wanted them.

Shinichi, always the detective, couldn't help but whisper to his mentor. "Ranran, why didn't you just blackmail them instead? You specialized in that."

"If I do that for Reina, the council members will assume that she is a powerless puppet I planted to keep an eye on them, and there would go all so brazen," A mischievous grin still plastered on Ranran's face. "By enabling her with those blackmail materials, she is seen as someone commanding and in charge, that no one dares to go against her."

Shinichi sighed, realizing that Ranran is far too manipulative to manage sometimes. He resigned himself to watching the chaos unfold.

"Now, here's the deal," Reina continued, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "If you want to avoid public humiliation and potential consequences, I suggest you comply with our demands. Release the emergency funds and ensure they reach the hands that truly need them. And remember, I'll be watching."

The council members exchanged nervous glances, "But Reina, you know that there are rules we must follow to do so, right?"

"Indeed, but it seems like certain rules aren't followed while I was away," Reina continued, a sly grin spreading across her face. "You see, while I was analyzing the emails Ranran sent to all of you, I realized that neither of you contacted the parents of our classmates to talk about the Teitan Elementary school emergency funds, which is one of the rules. May I know why?"

"Ah....about that," One of them answered, "Not like we didn't try, but-"

"Did the secretary tell you all not to? Great, why am I not surprised? He had a crush on the psychopath Mamiko after all, the same one who tried to stab my best friend with a knife the other day."

"Wait, what!? The secretary had a crush on her? Talk about a match made in hell," Shinichi exclaimed, his eyes widening in disbelief before realizing, "Wait, is that why Ranran's emails were ignored!? Mamiko did try to stab Ranran after all!"

Shinichi's mind was blown by the twisted connections forming right in front of him. The council members were tangled up in a web of secrets and hidden agendas. Who knew a simple request for emergency funds could lead to such chaos?

He shifts his focus onto Ranran, who is whistling, "You knew!?"

"Confronting him won't do me favours, I need Reina to do it for me." Ranran winked.

"Now, back to business," Reina declared, her tone stern and commanding. "If you want to avoid the exposure of all your dirty little secrets, you better make sure to meet up with the parents. And don't even think about double-crossing us. We have eyes and ears everywhere."

"B-b-but Reina! There are rules that we can't simply overlook! Also, do you know how tedious is it to call every single parent to seek permission!?"

Reina scoffed, her voice laced with sarcasm. "Oh, I'm sorry, were the rules too much for you to handle? The same rules you conveniently ignored when it came to rejecting Ranran's request? Spare me the melodrama, sweetheart. And as for the tediousness of calling parents, well, you should've thought about that before pocketing school funds for unicorn plushies and daydreaming about a teacher who has more breakups than a heartbroken pop star!"

This was a side of her he hadn't seen before, and he couldn't deny how much he was enjoying watching this show. Shinichi couldn't help but chuckle at Reina's brutal honesty, marvelling at her ability to dismantle the council members with just her words. 

Takuma, wiping away tears of laughter, chimed in, "Man, who knew our innocent little Reina had such a knack for exposing secrets and delivering threats? Move over, detective, there's a new mastermind in town!"

Gasps filled the air as the council members tried to comprehend what Reina was saying. Blackmail? Was she serious?

Ranran grinned mischievously, clearly pleased with the chaos she had orchestrated. "You see, Shinichi, sometimes a brilliant mind is more effective than a magnifying glass. Just watch as Reina works her magic!"

"Now, back to business," Reina declared, her tone suddenly serious. "Either do it, or if the serial killer ended up taking one of our lives on this stupid island, the first thing I am going to do first: Report how all of the council members are deemed ignorant to the cries of those victims, and two, get the press to reveal how one of the council members has been embezzling funds to fuel their obsession with collecting vintage toenail clippings!"

Shinichi couldn't contain his laughter anymore, doubling over with tears in his eyes. "Vintage toenail clippings? Which psycho in their right mind would collect such a thing?"

Ranran smirked, clearly enjoying the chaos. "Well, apparently, one of our esteemed council members finds it to be a fascinating hobby. You never know what people are into these days."

The council members, now completely flustered and desperate to salvage their reputations, stumbled over their words. Reina had successfully turned the tables on them, exposing their secrets and forcing them to reconsider their actions.

Shinichi leaned over to Ranran, his voice barely a whisper. "I have to admit, this is quite entertaining. Who knew blackmail could be so effective?"

Ranran winked at him. "Oh, Shinichi, there's more to me than meets the eye. I've always got a few tricks up my sleeve."

With a final smug smile, Reina ended the call, leaving the council members in a state of shock and uncertainty. The tables had turned, and they were now at the mercy of Reina's colourful and interesting threats.

As the group walked away from the scene, Takuma couldn't help but shake his head in disbelief. "Man, I never thought I'd see the day when Reina became the queen of blackmail. She really knows how to keep us on our toes."

"Ah, not really," Reina blushed a bit at the compliment, "Ranran is way more suitable of that title compared to me, I still need to rely on Ranran though."

Ranran smirked, playfully nudging Reina. "Oh, come on, Reina! You've got the potential to be a mastermind in your own right. Just look at how you handled those council members. You're a force to be reckoned with!"

Reina chuckled, a mix of pride and bashfulness evident on her face. "Well, I guess I did surprise myself a bit. But Ranran, you're the one who taught me all these tricks. I couldn't have done it without you."

Ranran's eyes gleamed with mischief. "That's true, but you've got a knack for delivering those threats with style. It's like watching a colourful fireworks show."

Just then, the doorbell rang. Ranran rushed over to peep who it was, only to reveal it was Mouri Ran.

She quickly composed herself and opened the door. "Ah, Mouri-san! What brings you here? And is Sonoko getting better?"

"Her fever dropped, so it is a good sign," Mouri Ran returned the smile, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern. "I heard there was some commotion earlier. Is everything alright?"

Ranran nodded, motioning for Mouri Ran to come inside. "Yes, everything's fine now. We had a little... situation with the council members, but we managed to resolve it."

"Eh!? What did I miss out on?" Ran stepped in, as she sees Shinichi, Takuma and Reina struggling to contain their smiles.

Mouri Ran glanced at the group, her eyebrows furrowing slightly. "You guys seem awfully pleased with yourselves. Care to fill me in?"

Takuma couldn't hold back his excitement any longer and burst into laughter. "Oh, Ran! If only you knew what happened earlier. You missed out on everything."

Reina joined in, unable to contain her excitement. "We had them cornered, Ran! They didn't know what hit them. It was a perfect blend of threats, blackmail, and unexpected revelations."

Ran looked torn between concern and amusement. "I don't know whether to be impressed or worried about you all. But besides all of that...did you all manage to secure the funds?"

"We should be, judging their response," Shinichi nodded, a satisfied smile on his face. "It took some unconventional methods, but it got the job done."

"Really!?" Ran arched an eyebrow, "I thought they didn't believe us about the serial killer being on this island, they refuse to give us the funds to check our classmates into this hotel? You guys....didn't blackmail them, did you?"

Takuma interjected, trying to lighten the mood. "Well, it was more like exposing the truth and holding them accountable, Ran."

Ran sighed, a mix of concern and understanding on her face. "I know you all have good intentions, but be careful not to take it too far."

As Ranran and Reina exchanged glances, Reina couldn't help but let out a mischievous chuckle. "Oh, don't worry, Ran. We only took it as far as it needed to go. But believe me, those council members won't be crossing us anytime soon."

"Especially when one of them...still watched 'My little pony'," Shinichi can't help but mutter, still in disbelief that there exists a child watching a baby show.

Mouri Ran's eyes widened in surprise at Shinichi's comment, a mix of confusion and amusement flickering across her face. "Wait, seriously? My Little Pony? What kid watches that nowadays?! We are six!"

Ranran burst into laughter, clutching her stomach as she struggled to catch her breath. "Oh, Ran, you won't believe it! This council member was definitely a closet brony. It's like stepping into a time warp of rainbows and friendship."

Ran shook her head in disbelief, her eyebrows shooting up. "Wow, that's...unexpected. Damn...wait till Sonoko hears this."She suddenly giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. 

"Well, Ran, it goes to show that everyone has their guilty pleasures. Even the most esteemed council members have a soft spot for colourful, animated equines." Takuma was trying not to laugh at their preference, but it was difficult not to.