"We need to get down, Ranran. Fast! I want to get to the bottom of it." Shinichi exclaimed.

Without wasting any time, they quickly moved towards the door, their instincts telling them that they needed to reach the other kids as soon as possible.

Navigating through the darkened corridors of the hotel, Ranran rushed over to the elevator, "Ranran! What are you doing!? You are supposed to take the stairs! There is no power here, remember!?"

"The elevators here work differently," Ranran pressed one of the buttons hastily, "Even with no power, they have a backup battery system that allows them to function for a short period. We need to take advantage of that and reach the bottom floor as quickly as possible."

He nodded, trusting her judgment. "Alright, let's take the elevator. But stay alert, Ranran. We don't know what we might encounter once we reach the lower floors."

While they remain in the lift, Ranran tosses him an object, "Here, we don't have weapons with us, so we might as well work with what one can get."

Shinichi caught the object mid-air and examined it. It was a pesticide spray. He could see the logic behind Ranran's choice - it could serve as a makeshift weapon in a dire situation. He nodded appreciatively, "This will do us good, hopefully," he said, gripping the pesticide spray firmly. "Considering that we are dealing with a big guy like Eiji, or Kichiro whatsoever, we will work with what we can get!"

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

While all of this madness is going on, Ran informed Sonoko, "Lock the door, don't let anybody in until the police arrive!"

"What about you!? Where are you heading!?"

Ranran looked at Sonoko with a serious expression. "I'm going to look for Shinichi and the others, get them to find a way to safety. We can't wait for the police to arrive. And you can't join, you are still ill at the moment!"

Sonoko nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Alright, Ranran. Be careful and stay safe. Find Shinichi and the others, and make sure you all get out of there."

Ranran gave Sonoko a determined smile. "Don't worry, I'll do everything I can to keep everyone safe. Just hold tight and wait for the police to arrive. They'll handle things from there."

With a quick nod, Ranran turned and hurried off, navigating through the chaos to search for Shinichi and the rest of the group. She knew time was of the essence, and they needed to find a way out before things got even more dangerous.

As she moved through the hotel, her mind raced, considering various escape routes and possible hiding spots. Where in the world are they!?

"Reina! Reina where are you!?" Takuma could be heard shouting, while the killer was simply swinging his hatchet around not far from where he was. The cries of children and adults alike fleeing made it all so blood-curdling.

Had he known this was coming, he wouldn't have let his little girlfriend who is also their class monitor go out to check on their classmates!

Suddenly, while the chaos of kids and adults were running in and out in all directions, Takuma felt someone run into him. Takuma turned around, expecting to see another panicked hotel guest or one of the children. However, to his surprise, he found himself face-to-face with the girl he has been seeking out.

"Reina! Thank goodness I found you!" Takuma exclaimed, relief flooding his voice.

Reina quickly embraced him in a tight hug. "I'm so glad you're safe, Takuma. I just met up with Arima-sensei, who left earlier to go pick up Mr Miki and Miss Rika back at Kodama Forest camp after Ranran explained to me over the phone earlier that the two aren't the killers, do you know where Shinichi and the rest are?"

"Honestly, no!" He shook his head furiously, "I spoke to them over the walkie-talkie when all of a sudden, there was a power trip and here we are!"

Reina's expression turned grave as she absorbed Takuma's words. "We need to find them, Takuma. They could be in danger. Let's stick together and keep searching. They might be hiding or trying to find a safe place."

Takuma nodded, determination filling his eyes. "Right, Reina. We won't leave them behind. Let's go."

The two of them moved through the chaotic scene, carefully navigating through the panicked crowds and avoiding the swinging hatchet of the killer. Their hearts raced as they called out for Shinichi and the others, their voices blending with the screams and cries echoing through the hotel.

"What is going on, seriously!? Why would the killer come all the way here all of a sudden!?" Takuma wonders.

Recalling Mana's rather suspicious attitude with the 10 other children earlier, Reina suspected, "Don't tell me...that idiot Mana took those kids to that abandoned cabin to confront the killer again!? Even though Ranran and Shinichi specifically told them not to!?"

As the thought crossed Takuma's mind, a sense of dread washed over him. If Mana had indeed taken them classmates to the abandoned cabin, they could've finally ticked the killer off. But then why would Mana-

He then remembered their friend Ranran mentioning her suspicions that Shinichi found evidence that Mana had a connection with Mamiko, "No way...don't tell me...he tried to play the hero after Ranran humiliated him in front of everyone!?" The more Takuma thinks of this, the more riled up he grew, "That damn bastard!"

Takuma's anger surged within him, and for Mana to intentionally disregard the warnings just to become the hero, he ended up putting everyone in danger. The thought of Mana seeking revenge and acting recklessly fueled Takuma's determination to teach those buggers a lesson!

But for now, Takuma pushed aside his anger and focused on the immediate task at hand. Finding Shinichi and the others was their priority, and they couldn't afford to waste any more time. "Reina, when this is over...if Mana ever comes back alive, and I meant it, punish him severely under the school grounds!"

As they continued searching through the chaotic hotel, their ears tuned in to any hints or cries for help. Amidst the frantic shouts and the sound of footsteps, they caught a faint voice calling out, "Takuma! Reina!"

The two of them turned toward the voice and spotted Mouri Ran alone emerging from behind a large decorative pillar. Relief washed over the two other kids as they saw Ran safe and unharmed, as the couple rushed over. "Why isn't Sonoko with you!?" Reina asked.

"I told her to lock her hotel room up, don't let anyone in until the police arrive!" Ran informed them while frantically searching for the Kudo children, "Did any of you see Ranran and Shinichi!?"

Takuma and Reina exchanged worried glances, realizing that they hadn't seen Ranran and Shinichi during their search. The absence of their friends added another layer of concern to the already chaotic situation.

"No, we haven't seen them," Takuma replied, his voice filled with unease. "We were hoping you had found them."

Ran's expression mirrored their worry. "I haven't seen them either. We need to locate them as soon as possible. They could be in danger."

Reina's eyes scanned the area, searching for any sign of their missing friends. "We can't waste any more time. Let's split up and cover more ground. Check every corner and call out for them. We need to find them before it's too late."

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

The elevator continued its descent, and after a tense few moments, it finally reached the ground floor. Even before the door opened, as the elevator descended, they could hear distant sounds of commotion and muffled voices from the floors below. "This doesn't sound good, Shinichi." Ranran was giving him a tense look while pointing at the elevator door. The situation seemed to be escalating, adding urgency to their mission.

"Let alone, look good." He pointed as soon as the door opened to reveal a dimly lit lobby. The power outage had affected the entire hotel, leaving it shrouded in darkness.

When the elevator finally reached the ground floor, it also happen to reveal a chaotic scene. People of all ages were running in different directions, and panicked voices filled the air. Shinichi and Ranran exchanged a determined glance and stepped out of the elevator, ready to face whatever awaited them.

Ranran and Shinichi cautiously made their way through the crowd, keeping a lookout for any signs of danger. "I hope if Arima-sensei is smart enough, she doesn't bring over Mr Miki and Miss Rika here," Ranran whispered.

"I hope so too," Shinichi whispered back, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "Regardless of so, they are the object of the killer's hatred right now. Anyway, something doesn't add up."

"Which is?"

"Why did the killer come here!? the killer's primary targets are Mr Miki and Miss Rika, why would they come to the hotel? It doesn't make sense." Shinichi can't help but wonder. "Don't tell me he got tipped off about Mr Miki and Miss Rika coming to the hotel!"

"That ain't possible!" Ranran refuted, "Reina is very tight-lipped! No way she would easily slip out such information to anyone. Also, Arima-sensei might be incompetent for an elementary school teacher, but she too is tight-lipped, and she has 84 ex-boyfriends to prove it! You don't even see any of her exes talking about their relationship out in the open!"

Shinichi nodded, considering Ranran's points. "You're right. It doesn't seem likely that the information leaked from Reina or Arima-sensei. So how did the killer find out about Mr Miki and Miss Rika's whereabouts?"

Suddenly, the flashback of Mana and the 10 other children claiming that they are going out on a nature walk, "No way...Mana must have....that idiot!" Shinichi cursed under his breath.

Shinichi's realization sent a shiver down his spine. If Mana had inadvertently revealed Mr Miki and Miss Rika's location to the killer by attempting to go after the serial killer at the abandoned cabin, just to restore his idiotic reputation from a loser to a hero, he must be an A-grade dickhead.

"Damn it, Mana!" he muttered angrily. "He couldn't resist trying to be the hero, just to please a psychopath he had a crush on!"

Moving through the darkened corridors of the hotel, both of their senses were heightened, every sound and shadow catching his attention. The two couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched, adding an eerie tension to the already tense atmosphere.

As the two turned a corner, Ranran tap his shoulder before spotting a figure lurking in the shadows. Shinichi's heart raced as he approached cautiously, ready to confront the potential threat. But as he got closer, he realized it was just a hotel staff member, cowering in fear.

"What's going on? Are you alright?" Ranran asked, her voice filled with concern.

The staff member looked at the two children, eyes wide with fear. "There's someone... someone with a mask... they're attacking people in the lobby. It's chaos there!"

Both of their blood ran cold. The killer was in the hotel, and they were attacking innocent people. "Ranran...." Shinichi whispered to his partner-in-crime, "When this is over, we are going to kick Mana out of our school for good!"

Ranran nodded in agreement, her eyes hardening at the thought, "Don't worry about it, I took care of this problem since yesterday should something like this happen. Someone is going to have to pay for this mess, and it would be none other than Mana."

Turning to the staff member, Ranran inquire, "Is there another way to enter the lobby behind the receptionist's desk?"

The staff member looked at Ranran with a mix of confusion and fear. "Uh... yeah, there's a small door that leads to the back office. It's usually locked, but in this chaos, it might be open."

Without wasting any more time, Ranran and Shinichi followed the staff member's directions and hurried towards the reception area. They found the small door hidden behind the reception desk, partially ajar.

Feeling a surge of adrenaline, Ranran whispered to Shinichi, "Considering the last account from Takuma was that the killer entered through the main door and subdued the guards, we are going to use this route, then see if any of us can flee out of the door."

Shinichi nodded, tensions are running high for the both of them slipped through the door and entered the back office. It was dimly lit, but they could hear the echoes of the chaos happening in the lobby. They moved silently, their senses on high alert.

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

As they reached the end of the office, they peeked through a crack in the door, surveying the scene in the lobby. It was a scene of madness, with people running in every direction and the masked killer targeting unsuspecting victims.

Broken glass and overturned furniture littered the floor, adding to the sense of mayhem.

Before long, the mask slipped, revealing the familiar scarred face of Eiji, except instead of carrying warmth, a sinister grin stretched across his face. Eiji's eyes gleamed with sadistic delight as he continued his ruthless assault on the terrified guests.

Shinichi's blood ran cold, his heart pounded in his chest. "Eiji... what is with him acting that way?" he muttered, his voice filled with disbelief.

Seeing the menacing eyes, Ranran pondered about it before realizing, "He could've been on an overdose of cocaine."

Shinichi's eyebrows shot up in surprise at Ranran's suggestion. "Cocaine? Are you serious, Ranran?"

"Do you remember the painkillers that were stolen by him?" Ranran reminded him, "It is synthetic cocaine pills in disguise, after all, I bring them around normally to make them so high, they ain't in the capacity to fight."

Shinichi's eyes widened as realization dawned on him. "You're right! The stolen painkillers... Eiji must have been using them from the injury he had inflicted after staging his fake death away from Miki. That explains his erratic and violent behaviour."

"But it is also addictive, which makes things very dangerous," Ranran adds, "Which probably explains why he kept on coming back to steal painkillers from me. He is addicted to it."

Then the apprentice's expression hardened as he absorbed the gravity of the situation. "If Eiji is addicted to those synthetic cocaine pills, it means he'll stop at nothing to get his hands on more. He's become a dangerous, unpredictable threat." Suddenly reminded of that night when Ranran intentionally slipped tons of pills into his drink, he hissed at his partner-in-crime, "I think you took it too far with those pills!"

"It shouldn't be," Ranran argued while explaining, "For Eiji to end up like this, the dosage has to go beyond what I had put in his drink. The amount I did is enough to put him into a deep sleep and give him severe nightmares, too much would just keep him awake and murderous like he is now. Too unpredictable."

Frustration turned into concern as he realized the severity of Eiji's addiction. "So someone tampered with his drink then? Who would-"

Again once more, the image of Mana flickered in Shinichi's head.

Shinichi's eyes narrowed as the pieces started to fall into place. "Mana... in order to become a hero, I am assuming he saw those pills, and messed around with his drink earlier this morning while trying to play hero."

"Do you think he did it intentionally or unknowingly?"

"It doesn't matter Ranran, I wouldn't be surprised that Mana did it to impress his crush. But this has gone too far!"

"Eiji...?" Another man's voice could be heard gasping. "What the... what are you doing here in this hotel? And how are you alive!? Didn't you fall off the cliff when our safety rope snapped last week Monday!?"

Shinichi and Ranran turned their attention towards the voice and saw Mr. Miki, standing frozen in shock and confusion. He had apparently stumbled upon the chaotic scene unfolding in the lobby. The two children then heard a familiar voice scream, "He isn't Mr Eiji, Mr Miki! He is Kichiro, your friend whom the rope you cut to save the other survivors 12 years ago!"

Turned to see who it was, and it was none other than Mouri Ran. She and the others were too notified about the killer's real identity after Ranran's group messaged them.

At first, Mr Miki looked at the little long brown-haired girl, disbelieving. "How did you know about the expedition incident?! I never told anyone. And how can he be Kichiro!? He is dead!"

"No, he ain't! Go ask him!" The child-directed the other man to Eiji, whose eyes are filled with hatred.

Again, sceptical, he stared once more into Eiji's face. Soon, his face began to fall, "K-Kichiro!? I-Is that really you!?" Miki muttered, his voice trembling with disbelief.

Eiji's voice was filled with venom as he spoke, "That's right, Miki. It's me, Kichiro. You thought you could get away with what you did, but I survived."

"I-I'm so sorry—"Miki took a step back, his expression pained.

"Sorry!? You are 12 years too late!" The noise that came from Eiji's throat was barely human. He leapt at his former friend, but Miki narrowly manage to flee while Eiji scour around the lobby to look for his missing hatchet.

Shinichi and Ranran exchanged a quick glance before springing into action. They couldn't let Eiji find his weapon; it would only escalate the violence and put more lives at risk.

Shinichi then shouted to Ran from afar, "Mouri! Take Miki to the designated room we spoke about yesterday! Hurry!"

"What about you and Ranran!?"

"We will be fine, we will handle Eiji, just leave! Hurry!" Ranran screamed.

At first, Mouri Ran hesitated for a moment, torn between staying to help Shinichi and Ranran. or following his instructions to ensure Mr Miki's safety. But ultimately, she nodded and grabbed Miki's arm, urging him to move quickly. Then catch up to him as he frantically searched for an escape route. "Mr Miki, I need to get you to safety! Follow me!"

Miki nodded, his face pale with fear. He trusted the children, oddly after hearing about the hotel situation. Together, they manoeuvred through the chaos, avoiding the commotion caused by Eiji's relentless pursuit, while Ran took the lead, guiding them towards a nearby staircase. "This way, we can go up to the higher floors. Hopefully, we can find a secure place to hide until the authorities arrive."

As they ascended the staircase, the sounds of the struggle between Eiji and the others echoed behind them. The atmosphere grew tense, and Mouri Ran couldn't shake off the nagging feeling that they were running out of time.

Reaching the second floor, they quickly scanned the area for a suitable hiding spot. Ran then spotted an empty storage room, and they hurriedly made their way inside, locking the door behind them.

Inside the dimly lit room, Ran caught her breath, mind racing with thoughts. "Now we are just going to have to wait for Reina and Takuma to get the cops over. That is all we could do."

Realizing two people were missing, Ran turned her attention to Miki. "Mr Miki, where is Miss Rika and Arima-sensei?" She asked, concern evident in her voice.

"Rika-san? She went to lock up the 20-plus horses with Arima-san back at Kodama Forest camp, she can't bear the thought of the horses dying before coming over to the hotel. So Arima-san gave me instructions to go to the hotel lobby while they handle the horses."

"Seriously!?" Ran's jaw dropped, "Even though you were all informed that there is a serial killer coming after the both of you!?"

Miki looked down, a mix of guilt and worry etched on his face. "I tried to convince Rika-san to come with me, but she insisted on taking care of the horses. After all, those horses are the reason why we were able to overcome a lot of the hardships we had to deal with when we were growing up."

Suddenly, Ran's expression softened as she remembered the significance of the horses to Miss Rika and Mr Miki. "Miss Rika love those horses, huh?"

"A lot," The cliff instructor admitted nervously, "Which is why when your friend stole Nashiko to end up in this hotel last week Tuesday, she went livid for several hours."

"Nashiko.....?" Ran couldn't understand what Miki was referring to before she connected the dots, "'Nashi' as in pear? That horse who loves eating pears?"

"Ah, you got it right, Rika named that horse Nashiko since its favourite fruit is pear," Miki admitted.

Ran couldn't help but smile at the thought of a horse named Nashiko who loved eating pears. It seemed like such a unique and endearing bond between Rika and the horse. "Miss Rika's love for animals is truly something," Ran commented, her voice filled with admiration.

"It is something we bonded over it growing up," Miki recalled fondly, "At some point, we even once talked about opening a horse ranch growing up."

Then the smile faded away from him.

Ran may not be as intellectually smart as Ranran and Shinichi, but she could tell remorse on one's face when she sees it. Cause she had the same look as Miki when Shinichi left her for Ranran.

Attempting to distract him from the madness that is taking place in the lobby, Ran said, "What went wrong?"

"Nothing much really," The man chuckled nervously before the little girl, "People change as they grow older, I moved on by marrying Jun, and she...well, I still ain't sure why she hasn't married anyone yet. But I did promise her ill mother that I will marry her off into a good family."

Ran listened attentively, her heart going out to Miki as he shared his thoughts and concerns. "Neh, Mr Miki...did you not think that Miss Rika had feelings for you?"

Miki's expression turned solemn as he contemplated Ran's question. "To be honest, I've thought about it before way back then."

"Eh!?" Ran's eyes widened, "Really!?"

"I did," Miki gave a painful smile, "But to be honest...I don't fulfil her mom's requirements, since I don't belong to a 'good family'. So I have no right to ask her out. Also..." His voice dripped with depression, "After what I did 12 years ago regarding the expedition, and all of the things I am going through...I don't think I could bear seeing Rika suffer if she ever choose to end up with me. I won't...be able to look at her mom in the eye if that happens. Let alone, Jun, who just died days ago."

Recalling that Miki is born a child of a mistress, Ran argues, "But that shouldn't be a reason to not ask her out."

"Eh?"

"My parents...they both split up a month ago," Ran pointed this fact out, much to his surprise, "And of course, a lot of kids gave me a hard time about this, quite recently....because they see a daughter of a broken family eyeing on a little boy from a rich family."

Miki grew silent, listening attentively to the little girl's words.

"I had a crush on him since kindergarten, we are quite close as friends unlike any other. But as soon as we entered first grade, we drifted apart a lot. Even more so when a girl prettier, talented and intelligent than me took him by the eye." Ran spoke sadly, "She is a cunning little girl, I tried to pry him off her to warn him, but the more I do, the more other kids perceived me as if I was a kid who lacks discipline because my parents had split up, and then continue to speak ill of me as if I was an opportunistic little girl who is in the way of their relationship."

"And so...does he had feelings for her?"

For a moment, Ran bit her lip, "To be honest, before he met her, he used to listen to everything I want to do on a wimp. But after meeting her....he refuses to do so no more, and at times scolded me angrily whenever I did any wrong with her, so in a way....I wouldn't be surprise if he does."

"Is she a bad person?"

"She is-or that was what I assumed of her," Ran huffed, recalling the time Ranran booked a hotel reservation for Sonoko after having caught dengue, "Anyway, with her around, all the other kids constantly called me a bad child who brings destruction to everyone around me. And in a way....there were not completely in the wrong. Even my own crush....he severed all ties with me as soon as he confronts me being more unreasonable in the name of jealousy."

Ran gave a sad smile, oblivious to the violence outside for now.

"Regardless of this...." Ran continued, her voice filled with determination, "I always feel that these kinds of things shouldn't stop us from achieving our happiness because of this. Love...shouldn't be all about that. Status isn't everything when it comes to love."

Miki listened intently to Ran's heartfelt words, with uncertainty in his eyes. "You are still 6 years old, too young to understand how the world works."

"You are right, I had no idea how the world works," Ran's expression grew serious as she looked at Miki, "All of that I mentioned was something our kindergarten sensei always taught us to be. Tell me, why is that taught to us in the first place if that is truly not how the world works?"

Mr Miki paused, contemplating Ran's question.

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

Meanwhile, things had kinda spiralled out of control back in the lobby.

In the first place, it wasn't possible to reason with a rather high Eiji who is still under the influence, all thanks to Mana's meddlesome hands.

So in a blind rage, since Miki escaped, it was for some reason, reasonable in his head to go after 6-year-old Kudo Ranran and Kudo Shinchi, since they are now aware that the accidents he had staged are homicides.

As Eiji's rage intensified, he focused his attention on Shinichi and Ranran, determined to eliminate the witnesses who knew about his staged accidents. The lobby had become a battleground, filled with overturned furniture, broken glass, and the terrified screams of the guests.

Shinichi's heart raced as he realized the danger they were in. He grabbed Ranran's hand and quickly scanned their surroundings for any possible escape routes. But Eiji, driven by his drug-induced rage, closed in on them swiftly, swinging his fists wildly.

Ranran held onto Shinichi's hand tightly, her small fingers trembling. She looked at him with determination in her eyes, mirroring the same resolve he had seen in her during their adventures together. "Shinichi, we need to defend ourselves. We can't let him hurt us."

Shinichi nodded, his mind racing for a plan. He knew they were up against a formidable opponent, but they couldn't afford to back down. His eyes darted around the chaotic scene, searching for anything they could use as a weapon or a means to create a diversion.

Suddenly, he remembered the cockroach spray. A spark of hope ignited within him as he realized its potential. "Ranran, the cockroach spray."

Without wasting a moment, they exchange nods before fishing out the spray and aiming it directly at Eiji, releasing a cloud of white foam. The sudden burst caught Eiji off guard, temporarily obstructing his vision and causing him to stumble.

Using the distraction to their advantage, Shinichi and Ranran quickly darted towards the nearest exit. They pushed open the door and fled into the woods, away from the chaos of the hotel lobby. Their hearts pounded in their chests as they ran, their small legs carrying them as fast as they could go. The adrenaline surged through their veins, fueling their determination to escape and find safety.

As they ventured deeper into the woods, Shinichi and Ranran tried to put as much distance as possible between themselves and Eiji. The sounds of their footsteps mingled with the rustling leaves and the distant sirens that signalled the approaching authorities.

Finally, they found a secluded spot, hidden among the trees, where they could catch their breath and assess their situation. Shinichi's mind raced, thinking of the next steps they needed to take to ensure their safety. "This isn't a good hiding spot," Ranran whispered to him, who is hiding in another tree.

"Eh?"

"Eiji-no, Kichiro for that matter has experience in the wilderness for more than a decade, we will die since he treats this place like his own backyard." Ranran pointed out.

Shinichi's eyes widened as he realized the truth in Ranran's words. When they dug about his past as Kichiro, he had so far extensive experience in the wilderness, making their current hiding spot vulnerable. They needed to find a safer location, one that would provide better concealment and minimize the risk of being discovered.

Shinichi and Ranran exchanged a worried glance as the footsteps grew closer. Waving at Shinichi's eyes, she quietly says, "I will try to distract him by confronting his motive for murdering those victims, in doing so, you run out of the woods to look for the cops that arrived on this island recently and don't look back."

Shinichi's heart raced at the thought of Ranran confronting Eiji alone, but he knew someone had to act quickly to ensure their safety.

Much to Ranran's surprise, Shinichi stood in front of the killer before she could.

Shinichi took a deep breath, his mind focused on the task at hand. He couldn't let Ranran face Eiji alone; as a leader, she took too many tasks for him, and it is about time he reduce her burdens.

As the footsteps grew nearer, the apprentice stepped out from his hiding spot, revealing himself to Eiji. His small figure stood defiantly, a courageous act that belied his age. "So you ain't much of a coward, wanting to play the hypocrite hero like Miki, huh?"

"A hero!? Mr Miki suffered 12 agonising years for making that decision! How does this make him a hero!? He never even bragged about it when you died as Kichiro!" He called out, her voice steady despite the fear coursing through his veins.

Eiji's eyes narrowed, his gaze filled with a mixture of anger and confusion. He hadn't expected such boldness from a child, especially one who seemed to know about Miki's past. His grip on the weapon tightened, ready to strike if necessary.

While Shinichi is busily distracting Eiji, Ranran quietly tried to shift to another tree, but it wouldn't work with Eiji's eyes still trained on Shinichi, who stood not far from Ranran. "When did you suspect that I faked my death? Did....all of your classmates record me doing it with a smartphone?"

"Barely, the trees obstructed our view. But then Miss Akane, your former uni coursemate, mentioned you having joined the acting club during your years there, one of the scenes they normally called you to film it has something to do with falling from high places, which means you are familiar with the mechanism enough, that you are not likely to have died last week Monday. And to top it off, one of our classmates who broke into your secret hideout discovered a life net, so it didn't take long to figure out your death was a hoax to frame Mr Miki! And if Mr Miki was responsible, he would've needed to be extremely brazen to do that, but we caught his other hand holding some stuff, so it ain't possible. The only explanation to this since everyone else's alibi is airtight, is that you cut the rope yourself!" Shinichi accused him.

Ranran glared at him from one of the trees, reading the killer's expression, wondering if he was going to deny what Shinichi knows. Surprisingly, Eiji didn't answer. Just stood staring at Shinichi.

"That ghost story you shared the other day, about two men who are as close as brothers having backstabbed the other to marry the other's girl, then one of them committed suicide to seek revenge on them....you were referring to that expedition you were all involved in back in Argentina at the Andes Mountains, am I wrong? You are the 'ghosts', the man who stole his girl is Miki, and the girl is none other than Jun."

Eiji's eyes narrowed as he focused his attention on the little boy. He approached her slowly, his steps deliberate. "It seems like someone has been poking their nose around when they shouldn't."

"And I have every right to, considering you are the reason why we had to endure on this stupid island for 2 weeks!" Shinichi held his ground, staring at his wrecked face, trying to read his expression. "You are also Yasuo Tatsuo, am I wrong? The illegitimate son who allegedly drowned in the Yasuo Family at the age of nine, yet somehow, you not only ended up in another family who does insurance scamming for a living, you even changed your identity to Kichiro, then later Eiji after what Miki has done."

Eiji's face contorted with a mix of anger and surprise, realizing that his secrets were no longer hidden. He took a step closer to Shinichi, his voice laced with venom. "You little brat, how dare you dig into my past? You know nothing!"

"Know nothing? I know plenty!" The little boy spat in an unwavering voice,  "I also know....that you murdered Miki's biological father by triggering a heart attack out of envy, since Miki is also an illegitimate child living in your house after your 'passing', or the fact that you sabotage Kiryu's shower unit and the fact that you lock up Mr Iwao in the fridge, as well as you somehow manipulated Jun to commit suicide by taking those depression pills and wine! Let alone, attempt to kill Miss Rika, who didn't even participate in the damn expedition! All because in the name of jealousy!"

Ranran watched the tense exchange, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew Shinichi was taking a great risk by confronting Eiji directly.

At first, Eiji was silent. After a while, his face twisted into a sinister grin, his eyes glinting with a cold, calculating gaze. "Sounds like someone knows too much for their own good."

"3 fake deaths, you died 3 times in a row!" Shinichi confronted, "Although you have reasons to despise Miki for sacrificing you, and you had every right to go after Miki's dad, what bloody reason do you have the right to kill Miss Jun, Mr Iwao, Mr Kiryu, as well as your attempts on Miss Rika!? They are your friends! They thought you were dead, pin for you for 12 years! Do you not care for them like the way they care for you!?"

Eiji's grin widened, revealing a twisted bitterness in Shinichi's torment. "Care for me? Friends? Did you even know what I had been through all those years!?"

Everything grew silent while Eiji blasted at the child, "When I grew up back at the Yasuo residence, not once was I ever happy in there."

Shinichi listened intently, his anger was still present but mixed with a tinge of curiosity. He wanted to understand the depths of Eiji's pain and what led him to commit such heinous acts.

"My Okaasan....was in a serious relationship with a con man at that time, had me before being forced into an arranged marriage with Miki's real dad."Eiji continued, his voice filled with resentment and anguish. "Thanks to my biological father's wrongdoings, , if being the illegitimate son wasn't bad enough, they made me as if I was some sort of unwanted presence in that family. They made sure I knew it every day. My mother was no different. They looked down on me and treated me as if I didn't belong. I was denied love and acceptance."

"But Mr Miki had to deal with that too anyway!" Shinichi pointed out.

"Oh yes, that I admit, but unlike me, he didn't have to face having his own biological mother drown me on that very pond at the age of 9!"

Shinichi's eyes widened in shock, his anger momentarily subsiding as he processed Eiji's revelation. Even Ranran was no different.

"When I lost my memories after she did that, perhaps she still had some motherly instincts and love towards me and came to regret it...she handed me to one of the staff members whom I would eventually grow close to, whom I address as 'my real mother', and that is how my new life as Kichiro began."

Ranran is glad that she has a smartphone right now, recording everything Eiji has to share about his past.

Shinichi held his ground, refusing to let fear overpower him. "Then when did you realize Miki's stepmother is your real mother?"

"During the expedition 12 years ago," Eiji's face contorted with anger, his fists clenched tightly. "At first, when I confronted Miki's step-mom a day before the expedition after a night out drinking, she was vaguely familiar to me. But I didn't question it back then, because I had a very good relationship with my other mother. It was only after my head ended up hitting my head while we were climbing the cliff that I woke up from my consciousness only then I remembered."

While Shinichi's heart is still racing from the adrenaline, he probed, "Why didn't you admit that you were not dead? If you do so, wouldn't Miki have ended up in prison? Then Jun wouldn't have to end up marrying Miki 12 years ago, and ended up marrying you."

"That was the plan back then, but a lot has happened to get me to where I am now," Eiji's expression turned dark, his voice dripping with venom. "Did you know, when Miki cut the rope, while I didn't mind much at first since it meant saving Jun, not once did anyone, not even Kiryu or Iwao bother to call a search team to look for my supposed corpse? Do you know why?!"

Shinichi shook his head.

"Too traumatized they say," Eiji let out a bitter laugh, his voice laced with resentment. "Heartbroken."

Ranran can picture that, judging the way Jun behaved.

"By the time I finally recovered consciousness I was at the bottom of a crevasse with a cracked skull, two broken legs and frostbite so bad that I lost half my face to it." He rubbed his hand across his mutilated features. "This wasn't caused by bad plastic surgery after a car crash – this was what they did to me! I waited for them to come. But when I'd waited and waited and they still didn't show up! I crawled out of that Perito Moreno Glacier like a worm on my belly, mile after mile down that mountainside. I had to make splints for my own legs. Bandage my own face. When I made it to the base camp, they'd long packed their belongings and moved on with their lives."

Shinichi and Ranran listened in stunned silence as Eiji recounted his harrowing journey of survival and betrayal. The magnitude of his suffering was unimaginable.