6-year-old Kudo Shinichi had things to settle last minute in the main HQ of Tantei Association.

The HQ was nestled inconspicuously next to Ruth and Co. Trading......, an ordinary-looking boutique shop. From the outside, it appeared to be just another clothing store, filled with stylish dresses and trendy accessories. No one would suspect that behind the pink vending machine door lay the secret entrance to the Tantei Association.

Today, with all of the cases settled, he had one thing to settle once and for all.

Waiting for 10-year-old Majima Michio, the apprentice grew a bit restless while remaining in his seat, wondering what was taking the eldest member so long to arrive.

Kudo Shinichi tapped his fingers impatiently on the desk, his legs swinging back and forth. He glanced at the clock on the wall, watching as the minutes ticked by. Where was Michio? They were supposed to meet here by this time. As he waited, he couldn't help but feel a mixture of excitement and anxiety bubbling up inside him.

As he waited, his eyes wandered around the room, taking in the familiar sights. The walls were adorned with photographs of the Tantei Association's past successes, showcasing their detective skills and camaraderie. The shelves were lined with books, each one holding the knowledge and experiences of the members. It was a place that held countless memories for Shinichi, memories of their adventures and triumphs.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the door creaked open, and Michio entered the room. His dark hair was slightly dishevelled, and his eyes held a bit of nervousness, as always. Shinichi's restlessness immediately transformed into curiosity.

"You're late," Shinichi said, unable to hide a hint of annoyance in his voice.

Michio shrugged, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Sorry, got caught up in something interesting. You know how it is with my mother's errand."

"Alright, let's get down to business," Shinichi rolled his eyes, his tone becoming more serious. "About Kasumaki Rokuro, did you look into him?"

Kasumaki Rokuro was a 3rd grader and former neighbour of Mouri Ran, and to Shinichi, he was someone who was formerly the leader of the Teitan Elementary Soccer club Shinichi used to be in. And to put it frankly, Shinichi dislikes Rokuro for many justifiable reasons. One of which was the way he treated Shinichi compared to the other soccer mates in the club.

Before Shinichi knew about Rokuro's crush towards Ran, he often put Shinichi on the sideline, while the other soccer members received all the attention and praise. It was a constant source of frustration for Shinichi, who believed in fair treatment and equality.

Perhaps it was thanks to this frustration, Shinichi attempted to unmask Rokuro's true self multiple times, but it always ended in failure. Things took to a standstill, the moment Shinichi found out Rokuro kept intentionally sending him the wrong soccer club schedule plus venue, while the other members didn't suffer under him.

As a result, it leads to that infamous feud, rumours about Shinichi throwing punches against Rokuro out of Ran's affection. But that wasn't the truth, in reality, Shinichi had never laid a hand on Rokuro. It was all a fabrication, a tale spun by Mamiko through one of the puppets she manipulated, in order to tarnish Shinichi's reputation and turn others against him.

When that incident happened, only fueled Shinichi's determination to uncover Rokuro's true nature. But it was too late, since Rokuro's family ended up moving away, leaving Shinichi with a shattered reputation to deal with back then.

Now that he regained his purpose as the apprentice of Tantei Association, and with the association's reputation soaring high thanks to his witty and cunning mentor, 6-year-old Kudo Ranran, who is also formerly the infamous child Tantei 'The Fox', he felt like he needed to get to the bottom of Rokuro.

After the events of 'The Blood of Campground', as well as 'The Red Drongos' Deception' case, there have been sightings of other kids in Teitan Elementary School of Rokuro meeting up with Suzuki Sonoko, Ran's best friend. And right now, Shinichi's ties to Ran and Sonoko are beyond repairable since Ishibashi Mamiko, a sociopath, had manipulated him to a degree that he can't find it in his heart to forgive them both.

Which is why he had to send Michio to look into it.

If Shinichi is able to find a thing about it, mainly anything to prove that Rokuro not only has in contact with Sonoko but also Ran, he can finally remove Mouri Ran from the association for good. At least she will no longer torment him anymore, especially Ranran.

He cannot allow that girl to harass Ranran, not anymore.

As Michio settled into a chair across from Shinichi, he could sense the tension in the room. He knew how important this matter was to Shinichi, and he was determined to assist his friend in any way he could. "Alright, Shinichi," Michio began, his voice calm and composed. "I did some digging, and it turns out there might be something to your suspicions about Rokuro."

Shinichi's eyes widened with anticipation. "Tell me everything you found."

Michio leaned forward, his tone lowered to a conspiratorial level. "Do you...remember Mana Yoshida?"

Mana Yoshida was a former student of 1-A, and a former classmate of Shinichi and a few of the members of the association. During the events of 'The Blood of Campground', he had told countless lies and made up stories that could've landed both Ranran and Shinichi in hot water, his crush towards Mamiko just made things a whole lot worst.

The last straw was when he brought over 10 of their classmates to confront the serial killer at the abandoned cabin back on the island when they were camping. Despite warning him not to.

Shinichi's eyes narrowed as he recalled the memory of Mana Yoshida. The boy had always been a troublemaker, but his actions during the camping trip had pushed things too far. It was a miracle that they had managed to escape the island alive, and Ranran had no choice but to put an end to Mana Yoshida's schemes by tipping the media how mentally unstable he was.

And her schemes were enough to ruin his life.

Long story short, there was media scrutiny, and it warrant Teitan Elementary School to expel him.

"What about that brute?" Shinichi asked, his voice tinged with caution.

Michio leaned in even closer, his voice barely above a whisper. "I heard a rumour that he's been in contact with Kasumaki Rokuro."

The apprentice's heart skipped a beat. Mana and Rokuro together? It seemed like more than a coincidence. His mind raced, considering the possibilities. Could they be working together? Cause it would make sense for Mana to manipulate Rokuro, he has done it before to woo Mamiko. Also, Rokuro despises him.

"Did you find any evidence to support this rumour?" Shinichi asked, his voice filled with urgency.

"Not yet, " Michio shook his head, "But the other day, I overheard some classmates talking about it. They mentioned seeing Rokuro and Mana together at some cafe. Mana had bruises all over him, while Rokuro bought him some food and drink."

"I am sorry, bruises!?" Shinichi blinked, "Did Mana get into a fight or something?"

"Yeah, by a couple of kids who lived near his place," Michio read out his report, "After you and Ranran schemed about turning Mana's reputation upside down, the kids living in that neighbourhood went about to strike him repeatedly. Calling him a future killer."

"Good, he deserved it," Shinichi is pleased by the developments.

The 10-year-old boy who doesn't condone violence can't help but say, "You know, it ain't nice to just wish ill on someone."

"I am sorry? If it wasn't for his bloody big mouth, Ranran and I could've almost died while being strangled by the serial killer! And mind you, both of our legs were literally dangling in the air as the killer held us by the necks, if you were even there to see it, we were like chickens being hooked up at the display window, at some chicken rice shop!"

The other member raised his hands in surrender, realizing he had struck a nerve. "I didn't mean to defend him, Shinichi. I mean as much as he deserved all of the karma coming after him, you don't forget that he lost his mother."

"He did lose his mother, but you don't forget that it was also thanks to his idiotic brain on wanting to impress a sociopath or psychopath like Mamiko, that aside from us two, all of our classmates had to suffer trauma thanks to his mouth! Had he not told the killer about us, let alone, listened to us, this wouldn't have happened! Even until now all of our classmates still are struggling to get out of the house alone! Which is abnormal, because before this incident, they enjoyed going out on their own. Now they heavily need their parents to accompany them whoever they go! And they are 6! This ain't normal, Michio!"

Now it may sound odd coming from Shinichi. To those who lived outside of Japan. 1st graders are often completely accompanied by their parents, so it's natural that no one would ever make a big deal about it.

However, Japan is a country unlike any other, where kindergarteners and children alike are highly encouraged by their parents to simply independently walk to whenever place they desire to go on foot on their own, gaining their own independence. This is why this happens to be a norm for anyone to spot children of all ages on their own wandering around with no adult supervision,no matter which province in Japan you are on. Once the kids are old enough to understand this, it's no surprise that the freedom that comes without having a parent around is something worth relishing upon.

So for the kids to suddenly want their parents to accompany them in Japan, especially after experiencing such life changing trauma, that implies the consequences caused by Mana Yoshida was a lot worst than imagine. Which is why after this scandal was revealed to the press, his widowed father had no choice but to pick up a second job to pay up their therapy and medical fees onto everyone in class 1-A to appeased the angry parents. At the rate things are going, the father may eventually had to mortgage the house if no one could come to a settlement.

Majima sighed, realizing that Shinichi's anger towards Mana Yoshida was deeply rooted and unlikely to be resolved anytime soon. Even now when he thinks back after Yoshida was expelled, Mouri Ran and Hikari Takuma, who are also in the same class as Ranran and Shinichi, did not feel an ounce of sympathy for the tell-taler.

"Anyway, this cafe was run by one of Okaasan's friends, which is why I was able to get the details of the conversation," Michio explained before reading out what he had uncovered, "From what I gathered, Rokuro was lending a sympathetic ear to Mana, who then later sheared about what has been going on in class 1-A, mainly about your situation with you, Ranran and Mouri."

By this point, the blue-eyed boy's eyes widened, "He knew!?"

"The rumours of your supposed 'love triangle between you, Ranran and Mouri that never really happened? Yeah. Mana told him." Michio confirmed.

"And how was....Rokuro's response?"

"Well, he didn't look happy."

Shinichi's fists clenched as anger and frustration surged within him. "That conniving snake,"The little boy muttered through gritted teeth. "My bet is after hearing all of it from Mana, though I am certain he overly exaggerated about how Mouri allegedly 'suffered', Rokuro must have approached Sonoko to dig out further details about Ranran. I am certain if things were to go accordingly.....Rokuro is going to go after Ranran, misunderstanding that Ranran had been harassing Mouri and Sonoko when it was the other way around!"

"Neh Kudo, things are as bad as it already is. Why are we still not telling Ranran any of this?" Majima's voice was filled with both awe and unease while asking this. "If what you said is true about Rokuro, don't you think she deserved to know that her life is in danger?"

"Deserved to know?" Shinichi repeated, "Ranran can protect herself, I don't doubt that. But she has too many on her plate now because of Mamiko's schemes! Especially the pawns that Mamiko kept scheming to put an end to her life! If I tell her, she will reassure me she can handle it, but later ended up hurting herself to go after them!"

"Shinichi-"

"During that camping incident, Mamiko tried to end all of our lives by seducing one of the student council members to not release the emergency funds to our classmates from checking into the hotel to hide away from the serial killer, as a result, not only dangerous events had taken place, Ranran and I almost lost our lives! And Mamiko wasn't supposed to be allowed to use any communication device while recuperating at the mental institution, especially after she used a knife to almost stab Ranran back at school!"

Shifting uncomfortably in his seat, Michio's eyes darted around the room as if searching for an escape after hearing such disturbing details, "But what if she gets hurt? We can't just sit here and wait for it to happen, can we?"

"No, of course not," Shinichi let out a cynical chuckle, his gaze fixated on a crack in the wall. "Cause the moment he does end up striking Ranran, will be the day it won't just be him who loses everything, I will drag his parents down to the pits of hell as well!"

The room fell into an eerie silence, the weight of their knowledge pressing down on them like a suffocating fog. Shinichi's eyes gleamed with a mixture of determination and something darker, something almost sinister. "Kudo, his parents had nothing to do with this! Why are you dragging them to this feud?!"

"Oh Majima, you have no idea," Shinichi began, his voice low and filled with a twisted sense of purpose. "The day I was framed by that bastard, when the both of us ended up in the principal's office, you know what was the first thing those two said to me?"

The apprentice then begins to react to the same scenario.

"Listen, you spoiled little rich brat, don't act like a sore loser since you did in fact attack our precious son who can do no wrong!" Shinichi mimicked in a mocking tone. "They turned a blind eye to his actions and supported him blindly, using my privilege against me! Intentionally ignorant to see the truth!"

The realization was dawning on the other male, "No way...but Shinichi, vengeance won't solve anything," Michio pleaded, concern etched on his face. "We should focus on protecting Ranran and finding a way to expose Mamiko's manipulations. That's the real battle we should be fighting."

"No, you are not seeing the bigger picture," Shinichi's gaze hardened, "Don't forget, Mouri is still one of the members of Tantei Association, I haven't forgotten how she and Sonoko blindly listened to Mamiko as well. Whether they were influenced indirectly or directly, the bottom line is this: Aside from going after Mamiko, which I will, I want to find something that proves Ran and Rokuro are in contact, which would give me reasonable grounds to kick her out of the association. That way, Ran will no longer be harassing Ranran anymore for good, let alone, has no excuse coming to our lives to harass us!"

"Shinichi, that's extreme," Michio interjected, his voice filled with concern. "Kicking Mouri out of the association won't solve everything, Mamiko would just simply find another puppet even if you kicked Mouri out."

"I know that," Shinichi scoffed, a bitter smile playing on his lips. "But she still insists that Ranran is manipulating me, despite knowing Mamiko is manipulative. I won't let her continue tormenting us, let alone, try to assert control over me! Not anymore!"

The young detective's eyes narrowed, his resolve unyielding. "Before we opened Tantei Association, I have been extremely unhappy when Ran and Sonoko started to change thanks to Mamiko's schemes. The only person who listened to me was Ranran, and despite my bad blood with her, she willingly took me in as her apprentice. So if I had to tie up any loose ends through my past misdeeds towards her, this is the only thing I can do."

A heavy silence hung in the air as Shinichi's words sank in. Michio searched for words, trying to reason with his friend. "And let's say you do end up succeeding, you still would have to face Mouri-san in the same class regardless."

"Not that I ain't aware," Shinichi retorted, rolling his eyes. "But at least we would be free."

"Then....let's say if you succeeded doing this....if Ran continues to pester you and Ranran despite her being no longer a member....what is the plan?"

With a long ponder, Shinichi answered quietly, "Ranran and I will transfer to another school, away from her."

And that was enough to hear a pin falling within the association HQ.

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

"Dude! Shinichi is genuinely gonna move into another school with you!?"

Takuma and Reina's jaws fell, they were in a cafe with Ranran when she made this announcement, "We ain't going to do that, but worst comes to worst, we may need to do this if Ran doesn't get back her sanity." Ranran drank her tea as if the news is nothing.

Takuma and Reina exchanged glances, their young faces reflecting a mixture of confusion and concern. Ranran's casual tone sent chills down their spines, her nonchalant demeanour contrasting sharply with the gravity of her words. The air in the cafe suddenly felt heavy, suffused with unspoken darkness that clouded their innocent world.

The once-bustling cafe now seemed eerily silent, the clinking of teacups and the murmurs of other patrons fading into the background. The room felt suffocating as if the walls were closing in, amplifying the weight of the impending change that loomed over their lives.

Takuma's thoughts drifted to the prospect of a new school, a foreign environment where they would have to start all over again. The thought sent a wave of unease crashing over him, a surge of anxiety he couldn't quite shake. The familiar faces, and the comfortable routines, all threatened to be torn away, leaving them adrift in an uncertain and unfamiliar world.

Reina's gaze remained fixed on Ranran, searching for any sign of reassurance or explanation. But Ranran's eyes betrayed no emotion, no hint of vulnerability or fear. It was as if she had accepted the darkness that encroached upon their lives, resigned to a fate that she alone understood.

When Mouri Ran was manipulated by Ishibashi Mamiko, she kept on harassing Ranran non-stop and blamed her for being the reason why Shinichi cut all ties to be with the founder of Tantei Association. It irked Ran further, that Shinichi resumed his Tantei dream by becoming Ranran's apprentice.

Anyone in Ranran's shoes would've their mental state deteriorated further. But perhaps she must have dealt worst back in the U.K before coming here to Japan because she remain calm as a cucumber while Ran's behavior however eroded the more Shinichi stuck to Ranran like glue.

In a way, thanks to this, Ranran's reputation soared while Mouri Ran's reputation plummeted.

Even so, Ran didn't leave Tantei Association, hoping someday the 'old Shinichi' would wake up and eventually leave. But as time went on, it became evident that Shinichi felt really uncomfortable having her around the HQ.

So it wasn't surprising that one day, the suggestion of transferring to another school came up.

The prospect of leaving their familiar surroundings and starting anew felt to Reina and Takuma, a crushing weight on their young shoulders. They can't deal with the thought of not seeing Ranran anymore, who brought vibrant colours to their lives now seemed muted and dull, tainted by the impending separation. They had always been a tight-knit trio, relying on each other for support and friendship. Now, the very foundation of their bond was being tested, threatening to crumble beneath the weight of their circumstances.

"Don't worry," Ranran reassured them with a smile, "Shinichi hadn't considered that idea yet. Just that this option is his last case to break all ties with Ran for good."

"Even so! You and Shinichi don't have to move, that brainless idiot should be the one to leave!" Takuma argued, "She is a delusional case! If Mamiko hadn't made use of her feelings towards Shinichi against her, Mouri wouldn't have been this delusional!"

"Tak-chan is right!" Reina sided with her boyfriend, "Why you and Shinichi had to leave if they were in the wrong? Only those who refuse to accept their faults should be the ones to pay for their sins!"

"Eh, that is surprising hearing from the both of you," Ranran smiles amusingly at her friend, "Didn't you, Reina and Sonoko head over to egg that woman's house the other day?"

"That is entirely different," Takuma argues, "We were all stuck on that island at that time thanks to that greedy woman, so it was fair that they should be punished, which is why we put aside our differences to egg her house."

"Agree." Reina muses this, "Her decisions in life that made things unbearable for you and Shinichi is another."

"Anyway," Takuma frowned, "Did she start nagging Shinichi to quit being your apprentice again? I thought she stopped doing that anymore, after that video of Mamiko and Sonoko surfaced."

"Ah no, Shinichi took care of that problem long ago," Ranran chuckled, "Just that this idea of moving to another school is our emergency option if Ran ever relapses."

Ranran's nonchalance, once a source of comfort, now only deepened the unease that gripped their souls. It was as if she had become an embodiment of the darkness itself, a harbinger of the inevitable separation that awaited them. Her calm facade masked a deeper pain, a silent acceptance of the sacrifices they might have to make for the sake of Ran's fragile sanity.

Their hearts sank as Ranran's words settled heavily in the air. The weight of their friend's potential relapse hung over them like a dark cloud, casting a shadow on their once carefree existence. The atmosphere in the cafe grew colder, the dim lighting accentuating the sombre mood that enveloped them.

"Anyway, why are we having an early breakfast on a Monday today? Ain't it a public holiday? So unlike you to simply wake up this early to invite us out for breakfast?" Reina can't help but ask.

As far as Reina knows, Ranran had always been a heavy sleeper. She rather wakes up around 10 to 11 am whenever she isn't out in Teitan Elementary school with the two, a huge contrast to Reina's boyfriend, who enjoys waking up around 5 to 6 am to go out fishing.

"Ah right! Ranran hasn't told you yet, huh?" Takuma grew a bit excited before making the announcement, "Well, do you remember Muniko Tomio?"

"The former client from that 'Illegitimate Extra' case, right?" Reina struggled to remember, but she roughly knew the events that had taken place through her boyfriend's stories, "I remembered that you mentioned something about him having a half-brother named Namba Katsumi, right? And his fiance is now working for your client while he is serving time in jail?"

"Actually, he doesn't go by that name anymore," Takuma corrected his girlfriend, "He told everyone to call him by his legal name, Seto Benjiro."

"Eh!? Really!?" Reina's face fell, "Why!?"

"He still feels bad that his entire adopted family had to die after taking him in and loving him as their own son, especially after his biological mom, that delusional Tadashi Sora, wiped them all out." Ranran sighs, "In a way, he was actually offered to change his surname to Tadashi after the events since he is related to her, but after we uncovered the fact that his mom manipulated him to almost murder our client who had nothing to do with his adopted mom's murder, he wants out. He even rejected the inheritance that came with it."

"I mean who would be in his shoes?! Who would want to take up the surname of a killer!? Even if she is his biological mother, I too would leave if offered millions of yen."

The news of Seto Benjiro's transformation from Namba Katsumi struck Reina like a blow to the chest. She couldn't fathom the weight of guilt and sorrow that Benjiro carried within him. The pain of losing his adopted family, the trauma inflicted by his biological mother's heinous acts, was all too much to bear.

"Can you blame him?" Takuma's voice broke the silence, his tone laced with sympathy, "He's been through hell, Reina. It's only natural that he wants to distance himself from the darkness that plagued his past."

"Anyway, what does this have anything to do with waking up early?" Reina wonders.

"I am glad you ask," Ranran's eyes sparkled with excitement as she prepared to reveal the reason behind their early breakfast gathering. The heaviness that had lingered in the air began to dissipate, replaced by a glimmer of hope. "Benjiro's fiance, Ohta Bunko, contacted our association recently. And they want us to consult on a secret project the entertainment industry had been working on."

Reina's curiosity was piqued, "What is the project about?"

"Some tv anime series about us, child Tanteis!" Takuma can't help but beamed.

"An anime series based on.....all of your real-life adventures as child detectives?!" Reina's eyes widened in surprise as she processed their words. The weight of their recent struggles seemed to momentarily fade away, replaced by the anticipation of a new and extraordinary opportunity. "That sounds wonderful!"

A mixture of emotions flooded Reina's mind. On one hand, the idea of their adventures being adapted into an anime series was thrilling. It meant that their stories, their bravery, and their growth would be immortalized on screen for the world to see. It was a chance to share their unique experiences and inspire others with their resilience.

But on the other hand, there was a lingering sense of unease. "Wait a minute, there is no way Mr Muniko's case that your association solved is going to be featured on TV, right?!"

"Of course not, that would've been suicidal to Mr Muniko Tomio's career as a movie investor! Not to mention, lawsuits from the Tadashi family's adopted son!" Ranran frowned a bit, "No, we are being invited to consult the filming process."

"Eh!? Why!?" Reina became confused, "They have their own experts they could just easily simply hire to consult before filming, right?!"

"Well, one of the potential investors of this show wants the authentic touch, the real insights from an actual real-life child Tantei who lived those adventures with actual consequences,"  Takuma explained, her voice filled with excitement. "They want us to ensure that the anime captures the essence of our experiences, the emotions, the thrills, and the challenges we faced."

The class monitor of 1-A's brow was furrowing in contemplation as her confusion deepened. "What does it matter to this investor?"

"No clue, which is why Shinichi and I are about to approach this with caution," Ranran folded her arms, a bit sceptical about this bit, "Considering what we had been through are real-life cases with dark nature, I doubt the censorship board would simply turn a blind eye, even though it is about to be made into an anime."

"And Ranran was to check who is this suspicious investor!" Takuma nods knowingly, "You see, she felt like this sounds too good to be true. If we find any evidence that confirms her suspicion, we would have something to write about in our weekly report!"

"Weekly report?!" Then Reina suddenly remembered about it.

Since Tantei Association was registered under Teitan Elementary School as an after-school activity club, one of the mandatory requirements was to submit to the school the regular documentation of their case file. Originally, the 'Blood on the Campground' case, which was the association's fifth major case, was going to be put into the report.

But during the events of that case however, Mana Yoshida, the troublemaker in class 1-A who had a huge crush on sociopath Mamiko, made an attempt to play the role of a hero when he blindly listened to her suggestion on bringing over the 10 classmates to confront the serial killer on the island they were stuck in. 

Mamiko at that time informed him through text messages over the phone that if the kids who were with him died, simply shift to blame to Ranran and Shinichi, the founder and apprentice of Tantei Association to spare himself from trouble, since those two in fact did exactly that before Mana did the same.

Unbeknownst to Mana at that time, this was Mamiko's secret plot to get the association into a tight spot, that Ranran and Shinichi would be forced to shut down Tantei Association.

So in order to protect themselves a day before, Ranran manipulated their form substitute teacher, Arima-sensei, into informing everyone about not heading to the abandoned cabin where the serial killer is hiding out, then somehow convinces the teacher and the entire class of 1-A to lie about her and Shinichi heading to the abandoned cabin, in order to get Mana into serious trouble, all of this in order to trick the Japan government program to pay up for Arima sensei's father's heart surgery.

As a result, after that incident, Tantei Association could not write down any events of 'Blood of the Campground' to maintain that lie, though they had to for the metropolitan police of Japan however under legal reasons. 

Though everyone is relieved and moved on with their lives after getting rid of Mana Yoshida, Tantei Association was stuck with no report to write about, besides the 'Red Drongos' Deception' case. If they had no report to send to their teacher, their association is facing the likelihood of getting shut down under school grounds as there must be evidence of activities to prove their legit stay, and there have been no cases in a while.

That was until Miss Ohta Bunko, the fiance of Seto Benjiro and current secretary of Munico Corporation, made the call to let them know about the anime project.

When the anime news came about, Shinichi and Ranran felt something was off. Even though they did their own investigation and nothing about this triggered red flags, considering Muniko Tomio is a reputable entertainment business investor within the entertainment industry, he seems to find nothing wrong with this project.

To those who don't work in the entertainment industry, there seems to be nothing fake about this. 

But for someone like 6-year-old Kudo Ranran, who formerly works as a child actress for 2 years since she was 3, there was a lingering sense of unease that she couldn't quite shake off.

Like most child actors, Ranran's experience in the entertainment industry had exposed her to its darker underbelly, where facades and illusions often masked the truth. She had seen firsthand how easily deceit could be woven into the fabric of the industry, leaving scars that ran deep. She had encountered her fair share of unscrupulous individuals during her time as a child actress. Manipulative directors, exploitative producers, and even fellow child actors were caught in a web of lies and deceit. It had opened her eyes to the harsh reality that not everything was as it seemed.

Ranran's instincts as a detective kicked into high gear. She meticulously examined every detail, searching for any discrepancies or hidden agendas. She even pored over contracts, consulted with industry insiders, and even used her own connections to gather information.

And then finally, a name she hadn't heard in a long while popped up - 19-year-old Primrose Everly.

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

When one hears the name 'Primrose Everly' in Edgewood Academy, the word that would perfectly describe her was that she has a 'one-dimensional' brain.

Students of all ranks, whether they were from the royal family, nobles, or even the commoners, always whispered about her behind her back, labelling her as shallow and lacking depth. And she truly was. In many irritating ways.

17-year-old Primrose Everly was the epitome of shallowness. Her world revolved around fashion, parties, and the latest gossip. 

She was always dressed impeccably, her outfits perfectly coordinated from head to toe, but her conversations rarely ventured beyond the realm of superficiality. And even if she is in her Edgewood School uniform, she somehow managed to add her own touch of glamour to it without violating the rules of the academy, making heads turn as she walked through the hallways.

Primrose Everly has always been the epitome of shallowness. Her world revolved around fashion, parties, and the latest gossip. She was always dressed impeccably, her outfits perfectly coordinated from head to toe, but her conversations rarely ventured beyond the realm of superficiality. She would gush about the latest trends, celebrities, and social events, but any attempt to engage her in a meaningful discussion about literature, history, or science was met with a vacant stare.

It wasn't just her lack of intellectual curiosity that frustrated her peers; it was also her inability to empathize with others. Primrose was oblivious to the struggles and hardships faced by those around her. While her classmates discussed global issues and initiatives to bring about positive change, she was more concerned with her appearance and popularity.

Despite her shortcomings, Primrose remained blissfully unaware of the disdain she garnered from her classmates. She continued to bask in the shallow world she had created for herself, enjoying the attention and adulation she received from her followers. To her, life was a never-ending stream of parties, fashion shows, and social media updates.

How Ranran met her unexpectedly, was all through 8-year-old Millie Rose Fisher.

Thanks to Ranran's rising stardom as a child actor, and the scandals about the rather haughty Millie Rose Fisher had surfaced, 17-year-old Primrose at that time confronted the then 3-year-old Ranran at that time for 'overly-exagerating' what her niece Millie had done.

Much to the teenage girl's shock, instead of getting an apology for causing the chain of events that led Millie to be no longer hirable as a child actor, 3-year-old Ranran remained on her seat eating a slice of cake, unyielding in the face of Primrose's accusations. "You all coddled her, why should I say sorry?"

The teenager was taken aback by Ranran's unexpected response. No one had ever dared to challenge her before, especially not a mere child. "Hey! Do your parents not teach you how to respect elders!?"

"You are old enough to be one's sister, and the way to behave, no wonder Millie became the way she is because of all of your coddling!" Ranran took another bite, the cake tasted sweet.

Offended by Ranran's audacity, not to mention, seeing her rudely eating another bite without a care in the world, the notion that her actions could have had any negative influence on Millie's behaviour was incomprehensible to Primrose. She was used to being admired and revered, never questioned or criticized, especially not by someone as young as Ranran.

With a haughty expression, Primrose retorted, "You have no idea what you're talking about, little girl. I am not responsible for how Millie turned out. If anything, she was merely learning how to strive for greatness."

"Strive for greatness? Hah! Like preventing other kids like us from not letting us advance as main characters?" The 3-year-old girl mocked, with a strawberry attach to the fork. "Now that is what I call 'striving for greatness'."

 Taken aback by the boldness and astuteness of Ranran's response, she confronts, "You rude insolent child! Apologize at once! Or else!"

"No," The 3-year-old dismisses her threats before ending it with, "You should be the one to apologize, for being rude to a child, not to mention, an incompetent aunt who can't teach the child right! And you ain't acting like an adult in this conversation! What a twerp!"

Caught off guard, Primrose struggled to find a response that would salvage her pride as the others who were watching this at the theatre club began to snicker.

Regaining her composure, Primrose clenched her fists, determined to put the young upstart in her place. "You little brat! How dare you speak to me like that! I demand respect!"

Ranran simply shrugged, unfazed by Primrose's tantrum. "Respect is earned, not demanded. And you haven't done anything to earn the respect of a child you spoke rudely to."

The onlookers gasped at Ranran's boldness, their eyes darting between the two. They had never seen anyone stand up to Primrose Everly in such a manner. The tension in the air was palpable as the confrontation continued.

Primrose, seething with anger, raised her finger in a threatening gesture. "You'll regret this, you insolent child! I'll make sure you never work in this industry again!"

Ranran's eyes sparkled with mischief as she stared at Primrose, unaffected by her threats. "Oh, really? And how do you plan on doing that? By throwing a temper tantrum and gossiping like a child? The way I do? Please, I've dealt with scarier things than you during my nap time."

The audacity and confidence displayed by the young girl only fueled Primrose's anger. She couldn't fathom how a mere child could outwit her, a teenager who was supposed to be superior in every way. The thought of being outsmarted by someone so young was a blow to her fragile ego.

"You may think you're clever, but you're just a child playing pretend," Primrose spat, her voice dripping with condescension.

"Pretend?" Ranran tilted her head, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. "Ah, yes, playing pretend. Just like you play pretend with your idiocy-oops, wait a minute," The child covered her lips as she snickered, "I forgot, your idiocy is real. You don't need that much effort to play the role of a simpleton."

Primrose's face turned crimson with anger. The 3-year-old had struck a nerve, exposing her shallow nature for all to see. She was used to being the centre of attention, but now she found herself the subject of ridicule and mockery.

Unable to come up with a witty retort, Primrose stormed off, her pride wounded. 

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

That's right, now that Ranran looks back, she is certain that Primrose had not changed.

From her diva-like behaviour and her insatiable hunger for the spotlight since becoming a supermodel, Primrose Everly always demanded special treatment everywhere she went, from extravagant hotel suites to customized dressing rooms. Her entourage consisted of a team of personal assistants, stylists, and publicists who were constantly scrambling to fulfil her every whim.

Even Primrose's reputation for being difficult to work with had started to spread like wildfire among designers, photographers, and fellow models. Rumours of her tantrums on set, unreasonable demands, and disregard for the feelings of those around her began to circulate within the fashion industry. 

The reason Ranran knew this is that one of her clients of hers, Walter Kensington, a famous 10-year-old child fashion designer, tip her off.

But for her name to surface while digging about the anime project.....why would her name have anything to do with this?

When she delved deeper into her investigation, she discovered a surprising connection between Primrose Everly and the project. It appeared that Primrose had some involvement or association with the anime production through one person: A comedian named Peggy Punchard.