When one hears the name 'Tantei Association' is run by 7 children, adults would naturally think that the parents of the children who founded this association must be carefree and lenient to allow their underage children to go about chasing after real live criminals.

Well, those thoughts were soon thrown out of the window for Sergeant Genzo, as he personally witness Ranran, the founder of the association, and Shinichi, the co-founder, scolded viciously by the parents.

Sergeant Genzo stood in the background, observing the tense scene unfolding before him. He couldn't help but sympathize with Ranran and Shinichi as they faced the wrath of their parents. The stern expressions on their faces showed their disappointment and concern for their children's safety.

"Ranran, what have I told you about manipulating criminals behind the back of the cops!?" Irene, Ranran's mother went livid, as her voice boomed through the room as she scolded her 6-year-old daughter who remains on her bed.

"In the first place, those cops are utterly incompetent in lying in front of a psychopath like Felix, so we had to do it behind the scenes." Ranran pointed out casually.

Irene's face turned even redder with anger, her voice sharp and filled with frustration. "That is not the point, Ranran! You endangered yourself and Shinichi by taking matters into your own hands. You could have been seriously hurt or worse! I mean as soon as I got word that the killer almost burn you alive-I almost lost it!"

"But I survived, didn't I? Also, I even made sure the killer won't flee by having Shinichi drug him in case I die. He ran against a tree the last I heard." Ranran grins.

"YOU DID WHAT?!" Irene's eyes widened in shock and disbelief. "Ranran! How many times have I told you to stop drugging people with drugs!? And again, where the hell did you obtain them from?!"

Sergeant Genzo watched the exchange between Irene and Ranran with a mix of concern and curiosity. The parents' anger was understandable, given the dangerous situations their children had put themselves in. However, he couldn't help but wonder about the source of Ranran's drugs.

Meanwhile, Shinichi too didn't fair it well with his furious former silver-screen actress mother, Kudo Yukiko, lashing out at him. But not for the dangerous part though, "Shinichi! How many times have I told you to not call children with mental disabilities idiot children!"

"But Okaasan! They are genuine idiots!" The little boy who is sitting at Ranran's bedside argues, "Even Ranran agreed with me, right?"

"Yeah! They are unreasonable morons. Imagine to my shock that I learn from Shinichi that they had a charity event dedicated to them! And their wrongs were all justifiable to their damn parents, all because they were born biologically as idiots for life! How is this acceptable!?" Ranran nodded alongside the boy.

Sergeant Genzo watched the exchange between Yukiko and Shinichi, his eyebrows furrowing in concern. He had always known that Shinichi at times can be obnoxious, but hearing him calling those kids with mental disabilities 'idiots' was disheartening. And this isn't helping Shinichi's case when Ranran justified his view.

"Ranran! You shouldn't be calling them idiots! They are unfortunate children who can't think for themselves!" Irene told her off.

"Unfortunate? How are they unfortunate if they had according to Shinichi charity about them every year!? With the cake, funding, and love from their unreasonable parents?! And worst, they snatched Shinichi's book as he was reading quietly at the corner, attack him unprovoked, and they have defended him for their unreasonable behaviour. It's one thing to be born a moron, but it's another to simply provoke other kids who did nothing to them. Why must they deserve such privilege of having their actions brushed off? Because they are born as idiots?! Even if one is born an idiot, they should be treated equally for being punished for wrongful behaviour! Otherwise, it is just mere coddling and spoiling them! " Ranran pointed out.

"Agree!" Shinichi bobbed his head with her.

"Kudo Ranran and Kudo Shinichi!" Both of their mothers' voices boomed in unison, their frustration palpable. Sergeant Genzo felt a mix of concern and discomfort as he witnessed the heated exchange between the parents and children.

At the same time, Michio and the others were having it worst with their parents, having driven on the highway for several hours before scolding the five of them in one of the private rooms in the hospital.

As soon as the cops informed each of their parents, they literally scolded them for 5 hours non-stop. It was unbearable. Even more so when they learn they too called mentally disabled children 'idiots'. Not that their scolding changed their mindset about them, let alone, the threats of punishments.

Eventually, someday, the members of Tantei Association would come to terms reasonably that those kinds of children are not simply 'idiots' that they are too uncomfortable to get to know, and that their parents too would agree partially with them that perhaps their children may not be completely in the wrong about their views.

It would take time, open-mindedness, and empathy for them to understand the complexities of mental disabilities and the importance of inclusivity and acceptance. But that would be another story for a very long time.

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

"I am so stupid. We had the answer all along. I feel stupid for not seeing it sooner."

"But you all had it all worked out," said Michio, mystified at Shinichi's disappointment, the two boys are at the cafeteria of the hospital. "I don't see a reason to be this upset at this. Felix is arrested by the cops anyway."

"You don't understand Michio, I mean the answer was right in the guest house at Peggy's place from the get-go." Seeing the confusion on the eldest boy, the younger boy explained to him, "Considering that Peggy had divorced Mr Takashi since they had a close bond for their love of Punch and Judy, would someone who hated their ex-husband of many decades simply redecorate their luxury lounge in accordance to the theme? Let alone, in the home she plans to retire?"

Michio's eyes widened as he processed Shinichi's words. The realization began to dawn on him, and he slapped his hand on the table, exclaiming, "You have a point."

"Also, Ranran was right about one thing: If Peggy was avoiding and scared of Mr Takashi, who in her right mind would simply retire in Japan after all those decades of living in the U.K.? Now that I look back," Shinichi took a sip of his drink before explaining, "I think the real reason she avoided moving back, was because she couldn't deal with the guilt of mistreating Mr Takashi throughout their marriage, abandoning him for her dream to become a comedian."

Michio nodded in agreement, his mind racing with newfound understanding. "That does make sense, Shinichi. Peggy's actions and decisions were driven by guilt and remorse. It explains why she kept her distance from Mr Takashi and avoided returning to Japan. Oh, I almost forgot," Michio remembered something, "She never once mentioned him in any of the interviews, unlike the rest of her 25 ex-husbands, right? In the beginning, I thought it was maybe she had bad memories about him, but I guess...perhaps she was so popular, she didn't want tabloids to go after him as they did with Joan, her deceased first daughter."

"Even so, I can't help but think maybe what Felix ranted about his mother Peggy comparing his biological dad or ex-husbands to Takashi might be true," Emiko interrupted the conversation with a tray of food, starling the boys as she grabs her seat, "I did research after listening to Ranran's audio recording of Felix's confession revealing that the comedian renovated Joan's bedroom into a Punch and Judy memorabilia room...when I was digging about her other deceased daughter, the one whom Peggy called Aurelia....her name derived from this illusionist Aurelia Thierree, a grand-daughter of Charlie Chaplin whose dismembered head bobs in a Punch and Judy stall."

"Really?!" The boys' eyes widened.

"It's true," Emiko insists, "And the name 'Joan', Felix's deceased twin sister...I think that name was originally meant to be named after Punch's wife. Even the name she gave her eldest son, 'Felix'...I think that name came from a British puppeteer who was behind Puppeteering Punch and Judy. So I think we can all see where I am heading with this...."

Shinichi and Michio exchanged astonished glances, realizing the depth of Peggy's connection to the Punch and Judy theme and its influence on her choices. It became clearer to them that Peggy's life and decisions were entwined with her passion for comedy and the characters she held dear.

"Even so, the memorabilia part.....I know not all mothers are perfect, but would a comedian like her be capable of such cruelty?" Michio was doubtful about this. "Although we are able to verify the part that Peggy did pay the press to make it as though Joan didn't exist....if what Felix said is true about her renovating her entire daughter's bedroom with Punch and Judy memorabilia....that makes her a horrible mother."

"One thing I am certain about is that I believe the part that Felix mentioned about Peggy framing his father for smuggling exotic wildlife to stop him from bringing over cannabis to treat Joan medically to be true though." Emiko ponders about this, "I know of people whom I am friends with online that lived overseas, the thing about cannabis is that it ain't 100 percent backed as good medical use for everyone. Plus, there are those who are from religious families that don't believe in the medication nonsense would bring happiness, which is the similar situation between Peggy and Joan."

Shinichi and Michio listened intently to Emiko's thoughts, considering the complexities of Peggy's actions and their potential impact on her family. They understood that the truth might lie somewhere between Felix's accusations and Peggy's choices.

As they processed this new information, Ran joined them at the table, her face still showing signs of exhaustion from the events that had transpired. She listened intently as Emiko shared her findings, her eyes widening with each revelation.

"Neh guys, I am confused over one other thing," Ran commented, her voice filled with a mix of awe and fascination. "Do you guys remember that as soon as Primrose opened the door to Peggy's mansion, we found Peggy's corpse dressed in a red-and-white sash on her dress with those expensive earrings?"

Michio furrowed his brow, contemplating Ran's question. The detail she mentioned seemed significant, but its meaning eluded him. "Yes, I remember. But what's so confusing about it?"

"Peggy is retired, right? So why was she dressed up like that?" Ran can't help but ask.

The question hung in the air, perplexing the group. They had noticed the peculiar detail of Peggy's attire but hadn't given it much thought until now. Ran's question raised a valid point: Why would Peggy be dressed up in a red-and-white sash and expensive earrings if she was retired and living a quiet life?

"That is a good question, ain't it?" Junko was the next member to join, with her own tray of food as she sat next to Michio, "According to Primrose, Peggy didn't really have many friends in real life."

"Could it be that her killer son, Felix, intentionally dressed her up that way?" Takuma suggests, sitting next to Shinichi.

"I mean although I can foresee him doing that...." Shinichi frowned, "It would be difficult to pull it off."

"How so?" Junko asked.

"Felix relied on Primrose to frame Takashi, remember?" Shinichi reminded them, then adds, "The main purpose of tricking us into making an anime project about our life...was to use Ranran and the rest of us to see Takashi fleeing and discover Peggy's corpse in the building. I don't know about you, but to do this, Felix would have to call Primrose after drowning his mother in the toilet bowl, then after Primrose drives us into the residence after Felix waited for Takashi to enter the mansion....it would take a while. Also, most men, in general, ain't good in makeup, the way Peggy was dressed up when we discover her corpse....its too good for even someone like Felix to do so."

"Perhaps Felix could've gotten Primrose to do the make-up work for him in advance before she used the van to pick us up," Ran suggest.

"That's a possibility," Takuma conceded, considering Ran's suggestion. "But it would still require a level of coordination and timing that seems challenging to pull off. I mean even my girlfriend Reina had a hard time trying to do make-up on her cousin, Moriko."

"Regardless of this, I wish I had noticed it sooner," Shinichi heaved a deep sigh of regret. "If I'd spotted it sooner, maybe Ranran...Ranran wouldn't have..."

"You can't blame yourself for that, kid." 

The children stopped conversing among themselves, surprise to see Sergeant Genzo. "Ah, Sergeant Genzo!" Michio called out to him.

Sergeant Genzo approached the group with a solemn expression on his face. He had been observing their conversation from a distance, unable to ignore the weight of the situation they were discussing.

"I couldn't help but overhear your discussion," Sergeant Genzo began, his voice filled with compassion. "And I want to assure you, Shinichi, that you shouldn't blame yourself for what happened to Ranran. Although I admit you all scheme too far in trying to go after Felix, Ranran made the right move not to tell any of us."

"Sergeant, what do you mean by that?" Junko's glasses almost fell in response.

Sergeant Genzo sighed heavily before answering Junko's question. "We had a search warrant on Felix's residence, he had purchased a residence in Tokyo a year prior before the murders. When forensics entered the building, his computer search results yield things like 'How to get away with murder in Japan', and 'Are there any death sentences committed in Japan?', and this one is interesting, the last search was called 'Would a corpse vanish after burning down in a house?'"

The children gasped in shock at Sergeant Genzo's revelation. The gravity of the situation became even clearer to them. Felix's intentions and actions were far more sinister than they had initially thought.

"Wait, so you're saying that Felix had been planning all of this in advance?" Emiko asked, her voice filled with disbelief.

"Since last year!?" Michio and the rest of the children's jaws fell.

"It certainly seems that way," Sergeant Genzo confirmed with a solemn nod. "The evidence we've gathered indicates that Felix had been researching ways to commit murder and escape the consequences. His searches and the disturbing content found on his computer are deeply concerning. And I am certain he did consider killing the rest of you, especially towards Ranran when his search history of 'Tantei Associaton' came up."

The children sat in stunned silence, their minds reeling from the shocking revelation. The gravity of the situation weighed heavily upon them as they realized the extent of Felix's intentions and the danger they had unknowingly faced.

"I can't believe he was planning all of this for such a long time," Ran muttered, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and disbelief.

"That utter psychopath!" Takuma smash his fist on the table in anger, "He tried to kill Ranran with explosive devices!"

"Not to mention, had Shinichi not rushed into the building to save Ranran, she could've died!" Ran gasped at that.

Sergeant Genzo nodded, his expression filled with concern. "Yes, it was a close call. Felix's intentions were undoubtedly malicious, and his actions were driven by a deep-seated desire for revenge and chaos. It's fortunate that you all managed to escape his clutches."

"Will he remain in prison for life? Please tell me he will be, after that stunt, he pulled onto Ranran, he can't walk free!" Shinichi's fist trembled in anger.

"Better, the government got word of the situation, and due to the severity of his crimes and the potential threat he poses, they have decided to transfer Felix to a maximum-security facility," Sergeant Genzo explained. "He will be under strict surveillance and face the full extent of the law. Considering the evidence we've gathered, including his drug smuggling activities which we confirmed that s well, it's highly likely that he will be sentenced to life imprisonment, I mean he tried to kill a minor after kidnapping Takashi, which is a major offence here."

The children breathed a collective sigh of relief upon hearing Sergeant Genzo's assurance. Knowing that Felix would be held accountable for his actions brought them a sense of closure and a measure of comfort.

"But in addition to that, I also overlook several clues about this case, "Shinichi remorsefully revealed. "Takashi and Peggy are both devoted huge fans of Punch and Judy, so if Takashi was the true killer and was very heavily dedicated to killing Peggy based on the puppet theme, he wouldn't make the mistake of shoving Peggy, who is an elderly lady into the toilet bowl. In the original, it was Punch's baby that goes down the toilet, not an old woman. And the crocodile part where we discovered Aurelia in the inflatable while strangled with sausages...there was no relevance of a female character in the Punch and Judy series meeting the crocodile, aside from Punch and the Crocodile themselves, so Felix made that error as well in attempting to frame Takashi. Even that policeman's helmet part....that character wasn't even a woman like Primrose!"

"It wasn't your fault," said Sergeant Genzo.

"But it was," Shinichi protested. "If only...."

"Don't be silly, Shinichi," said Ran. "Would it had make a difference if you did?"

"Do you remember that photograph? Of a then 5-year-old Ranran whose face is circled? The photo Genzo discovered in Primrose's bedroom? Primrose who also aided in Felix's killings wanted her dead on purpose. Because she is still resentful that Ranran had gotten away with ruining her niece's life, exposing her niece as a child bully to a point that Primrose's niece Millie can no longer get gigs as a child actor anymore."

Everyone was speechless.

"The important thing as far as Felix was concerned was to get one English kid over here – one who is not only familiar with the Punch and Judy culture since it is popular in the U.K. but also a reputable child who is also a child detective that is close to the police. Because no one would doubt someone who is reputable in solving major cases. Once it is discovered that Takashi was the only one who loves that, since he and Peggy love the puppet show, it would be natural for the cops to go after him. They used her and us to frame Takashi. And then Felix planned to kill him before anyone could find out he was innocent."

"The plan was to blow Takashi up in the abandoned mansion, at that time, it was to make it as if Takashi murdered Peggy, Aurelia and Primrose, then committed suicide by bombing himself, making Takashi automatically the 'Punch and Judy' killer. But because Ranran ruined his plans by removing Takashi, framing was no longer possible. So Felix had to end Ranran's life, why? Not because was stupid to do so, but because he knew if he didn't, the police would go easy on arresting him, which is why he had to trigger that great big explosion so it would look as though he is too dangerous to be arrested."

The room fell silent as Shinichi's revelation sank in. The depth of Felix's plan and the extent of his manipulation left them all speechless. It was clear that Felix had gone to great lengths to orchestrate the events surrounding Peggy's murder, using Ranran and the others as pawns in his deadly game.

"It's unimaginable," Junko whispered, her voice filled with a mix of disbelief and horror. "To think that someone could plan and execute such a twisted scheme."

"He was willing to sacrifice innocent lives just to frame an innocent man," Michio added, his voice filled with anger and sadness. "And to think he wanted to kill Ranran too, just to cover his tracks. It's sickening."

"She is a kid like us! 6-years-old!" Ran blasted in anger, "How cowardly is he to think Felix can get away with this!"

"Also bloody hell! Primrose, who knew...who knew just for the love of a man, and still defending her niece who bullied multiple children, she tried to kill Ranran through Felix!" Takuma grew mad at that.

"Can you ensure that aside from the evidence in the computer of Felix's place, the audio recording Ranran had would be enough to make Felix no longer eligible for probation? Cause I heard people who had life sentences are eligible for parole!" Shinichi demanded. 

Genzo nodded solemnly. "Rest assured, Shinichi. The audio recording that Ranran provided is a crucial piece of evidence against Felix. Combined with the other evidence we have gathered, it will make his chances of parole highly unlikely. The authorities will make sure that he pays for his crimes and faces the full consequences of his actions."

The children found some solace in Sergeant Genzo's words, knowing that their efforts and the evidence they had collected would be instrumental in ensuring Felix's punishment.

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

The following day Ranran was well enough to get up, and 7 of the children went to visit Takashi in his hospital bed. He was sitting bolt upright, wearing a pair of red-and-white striped pyjamas and reading the recent news on his smartphone.

As soon as he saw them, he put away his smartphone before extending an arm. "I believe I owe you all my life," he said, shaking every single child's hand, including Ranran's left hand.

"It's what we have to do." Ranran smiled back at him.

"Though I had to apologize that my mentor having to shove you at the lift in a hurry like that." Shinichi was apologetic at that.

"It was shocking, but don't you worry. I'm just glad to be alive." He looked down for a moment and then said quietly, "I only wish Peggy-chan was too." 

There was a long pause, and then Mouri Ran was the first to ask, "Mr Takashi, how is it someone like you can love her? Despite the fact that she abandoned you for her career decades ago?"

"Ran!" Takuma hissed.

"What?! It's true! She didn't deserve him!" The long brown-haired girl argued.

"No, it's alright," The man in the bed reassured the boy in the cap before explaining, "Ran right? Well....she isn't completely at fault," Takashi replied, his voice filled with a mix of sadness and fondness. "We married young and wanted different things in our lives, which was what led to the divorce in the first place. So you can't solely blame her for leaving me. After all, I ain't qualified to be her husband, which is why I lose her in the first place."

He chuckled at that thought as he goes, "To be honest...when Peggy paid someone and left her contact for me, I was shocked. I mean it has been decades since we last spoke, and I just finished teaching classes to the kids there. Said she...moved back to Japan, and this happened last year. Paid some people to track me down to catch up on old times, mention how she was remorseful about leaving things unsaid."

The children listened intently, their curiosity piqued by Takashi's words. It was clear that there was more to the story than they initially thought.

 "And naturally, a part of me hoped that it was true. Cause after the divorce, I wanted...to ensure that our divorce was the right thing for her career. Watched all her comedic skits on Youtube, and even bought all her tapes and stuff. You had no idea how thrilled when she wrote back to me saying she wanted to see me. Even though I later found out through Sergeant Genzo that the letters were probably faked by her son Felix and his lover Primrose....it was a good comforting lie."

The room fell silent as the weight of Takashi's words settled upon them. It was a bittersweet realization that the connection Takashi had hoped to rekindle with Peggy had been manipulated and used against him.

"But it's a bit unusual for you to be interacting through letters," Michio crossed his arms, "I know you were all in an era when the Internet didn't exist back then, but now that it does, why didn't you resort to using that to interact?"

"Peggy and I are a bit old-schooled," Takashi sighed, his gaze fixed on a distant memory. "To us, letters are a way of expressing our thoughts and feelings more deeply. It's a personal and intimate form of communication that we both cherished. We had a habit of writing letters to each other even before we got married. So, when Peggy reached out to me, it felt natural to continue that tradition."

Junko's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Did you keep any of the letters she sent you?"

Takashi smiled softly. "Yes, I did. They are precious to me, like fragments of our past. They hold memories and emotions that I can revisit whenever I miss her."

The children exchanged glances, touched by the depth of Takashi's love and his bittersweet connection to Peggy. "Did she share anything about her life?"

"She did," Takashi recalled, "Told me about her fair share of troubles regarding Aurelia's shopping spree since she is unable to move on from her father's death. Then told me about Felix, her eldest son who has gotten rid of his partying ways and is growing closer to him since Joan has died. Mention how she didn't like that Felix's girlfriend, Primrose, may trigger Felix's relapse into his old habits. Including the times that she build a Punch and Judy memorabilia in Joan's room, since Joan loved Punch and Judy very much before she passed away."

"Eh?!" Takuma grew startled at that revelation, "Didn't Peggy try to erase her daughter's existence?"

"No, of course not." The old man refuted, "Joan loves Punch and Judy, unlike Aurelia and Felix."

The children listened attentively, absorbing every detail of Takashi's recollections about Peggy's life and her concerns for her children. It painted a complex picture of Peggy as a mother and a person, one that went beyond the surface level and delved into her struggles and worries.

"A year had passed since, then one day, Peggy told me where she lived and invited me over. Told me to dress up the day we got married, since at that time, we had the wedding under the theme of Punch and Judy. So I got myself spruced up, red buttonhole and everything just like I'd worn at our wedding. Primrose who I met up with at that time texted me, said that the gate is left open, so is the door since she will be picking up the 7 of you, and told me to make myself at home since Peggy is waiting for me. But when I got there I saw..." 

His voice dwindled to nothing. When he started speaking again it was in no more than a faint whisper. ".....I tried to wake her up, thinking it could've been a horrible Youtube prank since she used to do that on her channel. But the smell of toilet bleach on her hair made me realize that she was deceased and that she was never coming back...and that I knew...Primrose framed me. But why she did that at that time...I had no clue. Looking back...."The elderly man slumped a bit, "I guess Peggy had every right to worry about her son ending up with someone like Primrose. Otherwise, Felix wouldn't have resorted to murdering her."

More silence dragged on, "I'd been so desperate to see her once more, and then to lose her all over again...perhaps I was so upset and I couldn't really accept it, I wanted to rush straight back to the place I was living in at that time to cry."

"Eh? So you ran away from the mansion not because you fear you would be misunderstood as murdering her, but that?!" Ran's jaw dropped.

"That too was one of the reasons why I fled later on, but I was more upset by the fact that Peggy was killed than being falsely accused of murder." The elderly man looked into his wrinkled hands, "I wanted to get to the bottom of who murdered Peggy, so I remembered that one time when Peggy wrote me certain letters...not that I am aware if it was truly her who wrote this, but she once complained about telling her daughter Aurelia off about being at the pool in the early morning during Winter season, which was a habit of Aurelia's that Peggy greatly discourages because Aurelia had a sinus issue growing up. And Aurelia is used to being stubborn since the pool had a system that keeps you warm during the winter. I suspected it could've been Aurelia who killed Peggy thanks to her shopping habits, so I wanted to confront her and snuck through the backdoor, cause Peggy's letters mention she keeps her spare key under the mat there since she was becoming old and forgetful these days. Who knew...who knew Aurelia would later end up getting killed as well. Strangled with those plastic sausages!"

Remembering Primrose's statement, Shinichi pressed, "Did you see Primrose when you spotted Aurelia?"

"No, it was just me seeing Aurelia's corpse floating in that inflatable. When I left, there was nobody there."

"I thought so," Shinichi nodded, "She lied about your involvement there."

"The moment I saw her daughter had been killed, not to mention, was seen in that crocodile inflatable and string of sausages, I knew that whoever the person is that killed Peggy, he or she wanted to set me up through the association of 'Punch and Judy', since the killer knew Peggy and I love it to bits. Frankly, I couldn't be bothered since the love of my life had died...."

"Sir..." Ran, Junko and Emiko felt very sympathetic toward the old man.

The room remained engulfed in silence, the weight of Takashi's sorrow hanging in the air. The children couldn't help but feel a deep sense of empathy for the man before them, whose hopes and dreams had been shattered by the cruelty of fate.

"You know, "Ranran thought about it, "if it's any consolation...the letter you receive was the real deal."

"Eh!?" All heads shift to the red lip detective. "What are you talking about, Ranran?" Takuma asked.

"Earlier, after Primrose was murdered and before Felix arrived...I had Sergeant Genzo sent his men to search your place." Ranran explained as she recalled in vivid detail, "The letters you kept when you alleged is from Peggy in a box tucked under your bed...I wanted forensics to verify whether the handwriting matched Primrose's, that way, we can confirm that Felix made use of her to forge those letters to lure and frame you. But then this morning, the call arrived to let me know...the handwriting didn't belong to Primrose but Peggy's, meaning she did want to make amends with you throughout a year leading up to her death."

"No way...so she did regret leaving the marriage...." Hearing this made it sound all so heartbreaking for Junko and the others.

The hope on Takashi's face was heartbreaking. "Is that so....?"

"Are you sure, Ranran?" Ran stammered, her voice filled with a mix of disbelief and hope.

Ranran nodded confidently. "I saw the handwriting analysis report myself, and the results were conclusive. The letters were indeed written by Peggy."

Tears welled up in Takashi's eyes as he absorbed the magnitude of Ranran's words.

"Also....there was one more thing I can confirm with you," Ranran said, "When we discovered Peggy's corpse, she was discovered dressed in a red and white sash. Originally, I assumed that her son Felix intentionally dressed her up that way to frame her for her murder, but then the more I think of it, the more it didn't make any sense. Cause the makeup work on her face was quite elegant. There are reasons why would one dress that way, either one does so to attend a red-carpet event, which isn't possible since she is retired. Another is to attend an award show. But the likeliest of explanations...is that she was out on a date, on the way to see you. To reconcile and make amends, to spend some time together and revisit the memories of your shared love for Punch and Judy."

A flicker of a smile appeared on Takashi's face as he absorbed the possibility. The thought that Peggy still held a place in her heart for him, even after all these years, brought him a glimmer of solace amidst the pain of her loss.

"She was as beautiful as I remembered her. Cause now that you mentioned it....those were the clothes she wore on the first date I ask her out. I do hope you're right."

"Oh yeah, one more thing," Ranran then handed him a crumpled photograph. "When the police raided Felix's house in Tokyo...they discovered this photo in his basement. It was assumed that Felix...still consume in grief over the loss of his father and twin sister, stole the photo from his mother's room and with deep resentment towards his mother's love for you...use it as a dartboard when he throws his dart. It is very seasoned and crumpled."

Takashi didn't answer. He took the photograph, in which a youthful version of himself was in a cafe, with a woman who was as pretty as a china doll. A radiant smile lit up Takashi's face like sunshine after a storm.

Tears welled up in Takashi's eyes as he held the crumpled photograph, his gaze fixed on the woman beside him. It was a bittersweet reminder of the love they had shared and the memories they had created together. "I guess now I have to sweep your gravestone from now onwards, Peggy-chan....cause now, you have no one but me."

Painful memories of the 4-year-old girl resurface in Ranran, recalling the time she silently sat before the gravestone while speaking in a painful tone.

"Christopher, now that you are dead....you are now left with no one but me to keep your gravestone clean."

"Ranran? Ranran!" Shinichi's whispers started the present Ranran as he eyed the grieving man before finishing his sentence, "Let him grieve alone, our job is done."

With her nodding along with the 5 other members, the rest of them crept quietly away, as they could see that Takashi was lost in happy memories, and they didn't want to disturb him.

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

Outside, in the dimly lit corridor, the children huddled together, their expressions twisted with a mix of sadness and vindictive determination.

"You know, Felix may have orchestrated this entire scheme, seeking revenge for his father and sister," Emiko hissed, her voice laced with fury, "but what about Primrose? She willingly aided him in his killings, driven by nothing but pure greed. It's a damn shame that she's dead now because of Felix's own hand. She escaped justice." 

"I agreed!" Ran nodded alongside Takuma, "She did it out of her love for Felix and had no actual reason to commit the murders, unlike Felix! Which makes things way sickening as Felix."

"She didn't have any hesitation of endangering us, even though we were kids!" Takuma blasted in anger, still riled up by that discovery. "I can bet that she didn't feel bad about the plan to blow Ranran up with explosives!"

"Is there no way to ensure Primrose will get punished?" Junko grew sour at that thought, "She may be dead, but it would've been nice if she suffered."

"I don't condone violence, but Junko is right on this. She has taken things too far when she decided to endanger children!" Michio bobbed his head, "Is there no other way to make her pay for her sins?"

"Unfortunately, Primrose's death means that she won't face the consequences of her actions in a legal sense." Shinichi anger boiled over, his voice thundering with rage. "I too wanted her to pay, I mean she knew what was going to happen to Takashi, including Ranran! Her death just made it all so easy for her!"

The children's faces fell, disappointment evident in their eyes. They had hoped that Primrose would be held accountable for her role in the crimes committed by Felix.

Ranran, who had been silent throughout the conversation, slowly lifted her head, her eyes gleaming with chilling resolve. Her voice, now cold and determined, pierced the air. "There is a way."

"Eh!?" The children turned to her, their curiosity piqued by the darkness in her tone.

"There is a way," They could sense that Ranran had a plan, one that would bring a different kind of retribution upon Primrose, even in death.