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Chapter 17 - Hospital Woes

Now for someone like 6-year-old Kudo Shinichi, he is good when it came to hiding.

He doesn't brag about this much, but he was stealthy good. One time, back then when he, Ran and Sonoko used to be friends when they decided to play hide-and-seek,

Shinichi's hiding skills truly shined. As his friends, Ran and Sonoko, counted to one hundred, he vanished like a ghost into the surroundings. His small frame allowed him to fit into tight spaces, and his keen observation skills helped him find the perfect hiding spots.

He tiptoed silently, using his surroundings to his advantage. He moved like a shadow, careful not to make any noise that could give away his location. He climbed trees, squeezed behind furniture, and even hid beneath a pile of laundry without leaving a single trace of his presence.

As he hid, he focused his keen detective mind on the game. He analyzed the patterns of his friends' counting and tried to predict where they might search first. He knew Ran's tendency to head for the most obvious spots, and Sonoko's inclination to search for him in places related to detective work.

After a few minutes, he heard their voices getting closer. They were calling out his name, trying to find him. But Shinichi remained composed and stayed put. He knew that any sudden movement or sound would betray his position.

Finally, he heard their footsteps moving away from his hiding spot. They had given up searching in that area. Shinichi smirked to himself, feeling the thrill of outsmarting his friends.

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

So he was shocked when those Edgewood kids were able to tell, although he hid himself pretty well.

Shinichi couldn't help but be impressed by the skills of the Edgewood kids. It seemed like they were no ordinary group of children. Their ability to discern his presence despite his best efforts to hide was a testament to their own detective abilities and sharp senses.

He wondered if they had received specialized training or if their upbringing in high society had honed their observation and deduction skills. Whatever the case may be, Shinichi knew that he was dealing with formidable opponents.

"Are you still hiding? Come on, show yourself. Unless you want us to drag you out."

Shinichi took a moment to weigh his options. Revealing himself now might put him at a disadvantage, as he could lose the opportunity to gather more information. On the other hand, if he continued to hide, they might become more suspicious and wary of his presence.

Taking a deep breath, Shinichi decided to step out of his hiding spot and face the group of Edgewood children. He walked towards them with a calm expression, trying to appear unfazed by their detection skills.

Samantha, the tall girl and apparent leader of the group, gave him a scrutinizing look. "Curiosity killed the cat, you know? Did your parents not teach you to eavedrop on people's conversation?" she replied in her British accent, her tone guarded.

"Then who are you guys to simply gather around Ranran's-"

"Hey, wait a minute," One of the British children, a boy suddenly recognized Shinichi, "I remembered you! You were at the alleyway when were dealing with Millie!"

Then Shinichi's eyes widened before recognizing who that boy was, "You are Ellis, right?! I saw you," Then he pointed at the girl with the ponytail, "And you and Veronica withholding Millie from attacking Ranran after that Comedian murder case!"

The children seemed surprised by Shinichi's recognition of them. Samantha, the tall girl, exchanged a glance with Ellis, the boy who had mentioned their encounter with Millie. "You remember them? Interesting," Samantha said, her guard still up but with a hint of curiosity.

"I remembered you!" The girl in the ponytail then accusingly pointed at Shinichi, "You fled as soon as we noticed you witness us doing so!"

"Well, who wouldn't!? You were literally holding at Millie with a knife!?" Shinichi knew he was caught, and there was no point in denying it.

"I mean he ain't wrong," The fashionably styled boy admitted, "I too would leave."

"Wait a minute, you too," Shinichi pointed at the fashionable boy, "Walter Kensington the child fashion designer, right?! I overheard you talking on the tablet with Ranran the other day. Something about you wanting to jump off the clock tower at Edgewood or something."

The fashionable boy, Walter, seemed surprised by Shinichi's accurate recall of their previous conversation. "Have you been eavesdropping on us too?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I mean you all were talking loudly," Shinichi scratched his head nervously.

"And who are you to Ranran?" Another boy confronts the Japanese Blue-eyed boy.

The apprentice took a moment to gather his thoughts before answering. He decided to be honest with them since they already seemed to know quite a bit about him. "I'm Kudo Shinichi, which I am certain most of you probably know, formed Tantei Association together, I am pursuing my apprenticeship with the Ranran you all know."

"Wait, why did that name Shinichi sound familiar?" The girl in spectacles rubbed her chin before snapping her finger, and then it became her turn to accusingly point at Shinichi, "Were you, not the same boy who called Ranran a 'bastard' last year when she defeated you at some parkour obstacle?!"

"Well, um...yes, that was me," Shinichi admitted sheepishly, "I was just frustrated because I lost, you know? It wasn't my finest moment."

The children exchanged amused glances, and even Samantha chuckled. "It happens to the best of us," she said, her tone softening a bit, "But it's good to finally put a name to the face. So, you're Ranran's apprentice, huh? How did that happen?!"

"It is a very long story, though I am pretty sure you all knew how it happened," Shinichi replied, feeling more at ease now that they seemed to be on somewhat friendly terms.

"Ok, let me introduce to all of us one by one," The girl in the ponytail introduced herself, "My name is Tiffany, Tiffany Ashbridge, 10 years old."

"Ashbridge?" Shinichi mused, then he was hit with something, "The founder of 'The Viscountess Tea'? That hit a British bubble tea shop that had become popular worldwide, right!? Also, you are that sickly twin who was once jealous towards your sister up to the point, you almost went rogue, right?!"

"Oh, so Ranran told you about that?" Her brows shot up.

"No, not the surname part." Shinichi sheepishly admitted.

Tiffany chuckled, "Well, I guess my reputation precedes me. Yes, I am the founder of 'The Viscountess Tea,' and my sister and I did have our differences in the past, but we've resolved them now. It's nice to meet someone who knows about my business."

Next, the fashionable boy, Walter Kensington, introduced himself. "I'm Walter, Walter Kensington. I design fashion for children and adults alike. It's a pleasure to meet you, Kudo Shinichi."

Shinichi nodded, "Likewise, Walter. I must say, your designs are pretty impressive for someone your age. I googled a lot about it."

Walter grinned, clearly pleased with the compliment, "Thank you! I put my heart and soul into my creations."

Then, the girl with glasses stepped forward, "I'm Georgette Rowe, the same age as Tiffany, also her business partner/friend, but a lot of people rather refer to me as Georgina, 'cause it was easier to remember me by that."

"Nice to meet you, Georgette," Shinichi said with a friendly smile, "Georgina it is, then. You seem to be quite knowledgeable about business and investments, based on what I've heard."

Georgette nodded, "Yes, I have an interest in the financial world and investments. It's fascinating to analyze market trends and make informed decisions. Tiffany and I often discuss business strategies together."

Then the next child introduced themself, "Teddy Layton Bennett, the same age as them, also their classmate. Actually, almost everyone in the room is. I don't know if Ranran mentioned to you this, but my family own an aviation company. Everyone calls me Ted."

"Ah yes, she mentioned their school had planes flying back and forth. So your family is the one who introduces a flying program for 3-year-olds in the first place, right?!" Shinichi suddenly remembered, "How is it Edgewood allow that to happen?! I mean I had the shock of my life when Ranran was kidnapped last time, and that she stole a plane and flew back home!"

"It was part of the deal when I hired The Fox's service, either to pay up in money or teach them a valuable skill. A plane programme was cheaper, especially since the expenses are covered by my father and stepmother. Also, I didn't want to waste my allowance, since an upcoming game was coming at that time." Teddy reasoned to the 6-year-old boy.

"Out of curiosity, how much did your family have to fork out in doing so?" Shinichi asks.

Teddy chuckled, "Well, I don't know the exact figures, but it wasn't cheap. My family's aviation company had to arrange for a special program for the kids at Edgewood, including flight instructors, safety measures, and all that-"

"Estimated £1,500,000." Georgette finished his sentence.

"Georgina!" Teddy hissed at his classmate.

Georgette shrugged, "What? He asked."

"£1,500,000!?" Shinichi's jaw fell, as he struggled to calculate on his finger, "If I were to convert it in yen-"

"That would be around 200,000,000 yen," Georgette supplied with a small smile, clearly enjoying Shinichi's astonishment.

Shinichi was speechless. The amount of money spent on a special flying program for children was mind-boggling. "Wait," Then the blue-eyed boy inquire, "How much would you need to pay had you chosen to pay Ranran at that time?!"

Georgette thought for a moment before replying, "I believe Ranran mentioned that she charges a fee based on the complexity and risk level of the job. When it was Ted's situation at that time...she charged him roughly 5,000 pounds."

Shinichi's eyes widened in disbelief. "Why didn't you just pay her £5,000 for her services instead of having your parents spend £1,500,000 on the flying program? She sounds like a cheaper option."

"Ted here is a Frugalist for a noble," Tiffany rolled her eyes, before explaining further, "When his parents divorced, they lived on the coupon while his mom used to abuse him. Whatever he wants, like gaming consoles and computers, he had no choice but to use his allowance. Although she ended up losing custody of him thanks to Ranran when she was The Fox and he ended up with his rich father and step-mom, old habits die hard."

"Stop making me sound like I am some cheapskate!" Teddy frowned at his classmates.

"You are a cheapskate, just admit," Ellis glared at him, "I never know of anyone who orders an Mc-chicken set, then joined us for lunch in every single fancy restaurant we were all dining in! I am surprised that the restaurant management didn't kick you out after doing this for over 3 years!"

"I-"

"And the other day, when I offered to go buy us Starbucks, you told me to use your Starbucks card to earn more points, just so to redeem the free Caramel Frappuccino!" Veronica pointed out.

Shinichi was this close to bursting out of laughter at their banter, but seeing Ranran still unconscious on the bed made him stop himself further. "This boy here is Dominic," Veronica introduced the apprentice to the other boy before him, "He is from a different class, unlike the rest of us, the same age. Also the leader of the debate club."

Dominic stepped forward and extended his hand towards Shinichi for a handshake. "I am still a bit curious as to how did you end up becoming Ranran's apprentice?"

"As I said, it is a long story." Shinichi shook his hand with a frigid smile.

Soon, it was Samantha's turn, who appears to be the leader of the group, "I can't really reveal my background due to 'certain obligations', but I can assure you that I am Samantha."

"I am pretty sure your fiance 'Nicolas' wouldn't mind." Veronica scoffed.

"He wouldn't, but for safety reasons, I can't disclose my surname here."

Shinichi nodded, understanding that there were certain things they couldn't discuss openly. "That's understandable. It seems like you all have your reasons for keeping certain information private."

As they continued to talk after being introduced, Shinichi couldn't help but notice the level of maturity and intelligence displayed by these children. It was the same kind of aura Ranran had when he first met her. Despite coming from different backgrounds and having unique talents and skills, they all seemed to share a common bond of familiarity and loyalty towards Ranran.

It was evident to him that they were not your average group of kids. Their backgrounds and experiences had shaped them into capable individuals.
................................................................
"So, what brings all of you here today?" Shinichi finally asked, "Apart from visiting Ranran, of course."

"I am going to cut to the chase," Samantha and the others took their seating before revealing, "It's about your former friend, Mouri Ran, and that horrid attitude of hers she was showing to Ranran."

The apprentice's face grew wide as he almost forgot about the times that there were signs of Ran and Sonoko being stalked by the Edgewood kids, thanks to that time when Ranran was video calling Veronica and Ellis in the classroom, Ran rudely interrupted her to 'fix' her problems with Sonoko since that scandal broke out.

"So....you knew about it, too?" Shinichi found himself squeaking.

"We would be blind not to notice it," Ellis nodded solemnly, "The way she was acting like a Karen towards Ranran. I know that they are not friends, but it doesn't give her the right to simply do that."

"I am sorry...Karen?" Shinichi blinked.

"It's a term we picked up from American culture. It refers to a person, typically a woman, perceived to be entitled or demanding beyond the scope of what is appropriate or necessary. In other words, someone who acts like they are always right and treats others poorly." Tiffany explained.

"But that girl who is harassing Ran is a child, is the word 'Karen' even appropriate?" Walter tilted his head.

"Alright then, future Karen in the making." Ellis sarcastically states.

"Anyway, from what we had dug about your relationship with that Mouri Ran girl, you both parted out on bad terms before becoming Ranran's apprenticeship thanks to a boy name Rokuro?" Georgette adjusted her glasses while reading the report from her smartphone.

"Yes, that's correct," he confirmed.

"According to the rumours, there was a mention that an ongoing love triangle between you, that Mouri girl, and Rokuro. Is it true?" Tiffany glanced at the blue-eyed boy.

"I wouldn't really say if it was really the case," Shinichi felt a bit uncomfortable at their stares as if he was the one being interrogated.

"Then what is the truth?" Veronica demanded.

Still, Ranran once mentioned to him that if he was upfront and honest, they would be less fearful. Decisively, he took a deep breath and decided to be honest with them.

"When I was in kindergarten, it didn't turn to more when we....started  elementary school." Shinichi hesitated for a moment, gathering his thoughts before continuing. "When I was in kindergarten, Ran and I were good friends. We used to play together, and she was always supportive of my dreams of becoming a detective. But as we started elementary school, things changed. We....grew apart."

"Could you share with us specifics as to why did that happen?" Dominic presses for answers while reading the report from his smartphone, "According to our investigation, there was an alleged feud between you and this Rokuro boy, the same guy who attacked Ranran in the association."

"Certainly," Shinichi took a moment to gather his thoughts before recounting the events that led to the rift between him, Ran, and Rokuro. "When we started out elementary school...Sonoko-"

"Ran's best friend, right? The dumb heiress who stormed into our deceased classmates' death memorial in the Emisia Sapporo hotel last year when Ranran was hosting it." Teddy scoffed.

"Yes, the same girl who also ruined our deceased classmates' funeral in the U.K by making it all about herself, by comparing Ranran who was in charge of the procession at that time and telling her mother loudly that she could do prettier than her." Veronica rolled her eyes recalling that.

"Wait, you were all there during the funeral!?" Shinichi blurted before he could stop.

"Oh yes, when Christopher died, it was a big deal." Samantha and everyone gave him a stern look.

"That is his name, huh.....? Did you all really see Sonoko did exactly as you all said!?" Shinichi was hoping he was still in the wrong, "I know that I heard it before, but-"

"We were there, he was also our friend by the way. So every single child of Edgewood, from the age of 3 to the age of 18 was present. And since they were too young to be out alone unlike Japan, all of our parents and their parents of high positions were present." Ellis confirmed. "Sonoko made quite a scene, and it was pretty clear that she was trying to draw attention to herself rather than honouring the memory of the deceased. It was disrespectful and inconsiderate."

"We didn't want to cause any further problems, so we stayed quiet about it. But Ranran was so outraged by it, she had no choice but to take matters into her own hand." Tiffany added.

Recalling the video Reina sent him, Shinichi says, "Like punishing her to kneel before your classmates' corpse for 2 hours plus nonstop?"

"You know, that funeral was a close event, how did you know about that detail?" Tiffany confronted the apprentice.

"One of the mourners who was there told me about it," Shinichi revealed.

Tiffany seemed taken aback by Shinichi's revelation. "I see, it appears some of them truly don't know when to keep their mouth shut," she said, her expression turning serious. "Well, it's true that Ranran was deeply upset by Sonoko's behaviour. The incident at the funeral was just the tip of the iceberg. The adults there were like preaching that is a 'violent behavior', but then all of us including the rest of the Edgewood kids who were there at that time encourage Ranran to punish her further."

"You encouraged her to punish Sonoko further?" he repeated while his eyes widened in surprise, "But wouldn't that make things worse?"

"To make things fair, we had no intention of taking things that far," Walter clarified, "At the same time, however, keep in mind that those same imbecile adults who preach such behaviour are the same ones who use it as a convenience to punish us in school. So it only seems fair we do it, no?"

The apprentice was speechless at their hostile behaviour, it turns out Ranran was right, Edgewood must have been in an unusual school.

"I am...sorry if I am prying, but I would like to know a bit as to what actually happened when Sonoko did this." Shinichi found himself asking.

The Edgewood children exchanged glances, and Samantha took the lead in explaining the incident in more detail. "One week after recovering from the hospital-"

"Wait, hospital!? What was she recovering from!?"

Samantha glanced at the others, and then back at Shinichi. "Eye transplant surgery."

"What!?" Shinichi was stunned.

"She never told you?" Ellis was surprised to see his reaction, "She had to have that surgery because Christopher's mother kidnapped her to lure her son whom she lost her custody to her ex-husband a week ago. During that period, that crazy woman locked her up to some dentist chair and dug out her eye."

Shinichi's eyes widened in shock and horror. "She never told me any of this!"

"Really!?" Dominic was the next to speak, "Not even the part that she witness that woman murdered Christopher before her eyes?! Or the part that one of Christopher's eyes was given to Ranran not long after he was murdered?"

The 6-year-old boy was at a loss for words, hearing all of this for the first time. "No, she never told me any of this," Shinichi admitted, he was far too speechless to react.

"Anyway, again, a week after the recovery and Christopher's death, Ranran was put in charge of leading his funeral procession. She walked on foot for 2 hours non-stop, at the age of 4 on a cold December, in our Edgewood School uniform," Walter recalled as he narrates, "She had an eyepatch on at that time, but remain stoic while holding his photo. There were the press and people that were invited over to observe the parade. Then, as Ranran stood before the cathedral, that idiot heiress I remembered was yelling loudly to her mother that she can do prettily like Ranran could."

Shinichi listened in silence, feeling a mix of shock, anger, and sympathy for Ranran. He couldn't believe the extent of the hardships she had faced at such a young age.

"I had no idea," The apprentice mouth, too shocked to respond, "I never knew about her eye transplant or what she went through at Christopher's funeral. Though I am roughly aware of what Sonoko did....wait, Ranran was four when that happen. That meant," He did the mental calculations, "We are now 6 years old, that meant it only happened 2 years ago! And she has only become the legendary child detective here in Japan for like....what, since last year?!"

The Edgewood children nodded, confirming Shinichi's calculations.

"She hasn't mentally recovered, and yet....why did she do this!?"

"It can't be helped," Georgette shrugs, "Because that is the only person who cared for her in the entire world...is dead. Probably way more than her own parents would. When he died, I would say....80 percent of what Ranran used to be back then...isn't the Ranran you know now."

By this point, the apprentice's mind was reeling from the revelations about Ranran's past and the events she had gone through. He had always known that she had a troubled past, but he had no idea of the extent of the trauma she had endured.

"After that altercation with Sonoko, Ranran became more determined than ever not to move to Japan, certain that whoever was friends with her had to be unreasonable, including you." Ellie pointed at the apprentice.

"Me!?" Shinichi pointed to himself.

"Yes, you." Teddy confirmed this, "When your...grandparents found out about Ranran's existence, they actually spoke to her parents about moving back. And they did miss home, but Ranran....lived with us in the U.K. for about 4 years, close to 5, why the hell would she want to move there to a foreign country with no one by her side? Especially since her family privileges won't work there?"

Suddenly remembering a snippet of his conversation with Ranran, he then pressed, "She mentioned she was meant to go with Christopher, right? How did that come about?"

"At that time, when Ranran found out about the move months before his death, she was very distraught and staged a protest by running away. So when Christopher was alive at that time, he did promise to move with her through a special exchange school program in Japan, that would've been the case after he broke ties with his delusional fiance. Which he did at first." Walter's head sunk low, "But since he passed away, what is the point then?"

"She ran away from home, you know? When she found out her parents called off her offer to have a position in the royal family back in the U.K. This was 2 weeks after his death," Dominic recalled, "Anything to not move to Japan, she did everything for a 4-year-old. And man, she was the most street-smart child I ever know of to go missing for 5 days."

"But fate was cruel, they soon found her at one of our mansions." Tiffany pinched her nose bridge.

After listening intently to the Edgewood children's account of Ranran's past, he knew he had to ask the dreaded question, "Did she...did she refuse to move because she knew of me?"

"....I think it's safe to say that you were a part of the equation, but not the only reason," Then Tiffany adds, "Ranran always rants her problem at his gravestone, a habit that was so common, she was very withdrawn from her classmates among her peers, which was very dangerously worrying to her parents."

"Why is that?"

Samantha hesitated for a moment before answering. "Well, after Christopher's death, Ranran became deeply attached to his memory. She would often visit his gravestone and talk to him as if he were still alive. It was her way of coping with the loss and keeping his memory alive. However, this behaviour became a cause for concern for her parents and teachers, as it seemed to distance her from her peers and create a barrier between her and the real world."

"To summarize it short, she got involved in rather violent situations," Walter added, before stating, "You know how Christopher died, right?"

"Yes, she told me it had something to do with a group of children who maliciously tipped his mother off, which what lead to his death...wait," It suddenly dawned on him, knowing Ranran, she wouldn't sit in a corner and do nothing.

And Kudo Ranran isn't a normal child, knowing her violent tendencies. She will not sit idly and do nothing."But...she's just a child," Shinichi muttered, a mix of concern and admiration in his voice.

"Oh Shinichi, she isn't called The Fox without a reason, let alone, why kids like us requested to employ her services with Christopher." Tiffany clicked before revealing, "There were many incidents, but I think the last straw for her parents was when she made someone a total vegetable."

"Ah yeah, back then that was pretty amusing," Teddy recalled, "She locked up that boy, that arrogant bloke who had no remorse killing him, in a room filled with carbon monoxide. It became the last straw for her parents, really."

The budding child detective's eyes widened in shock and concern. He couldn't believe the extent of the violent situations Ranran had found herself in, especially at such a young age. It was clear that her experiences had deeply affected her and shaped her into the formidable detective she was now.

Suddenly, the level of regret Shinichi had back then for calling Ranran a 'bastard' when he suspected her biological mother is his father's mistress.....just made it a million times worst after hearing Ranran's backstory.

The weight of his past actions towards Ranran weighed heavily on Shinichi's heart.

"Anyway, back to the interrogation," Samantha clears her throat before continuing, "Kudo Shinichi, during elementary school...why did you, Mouri Ran and Suzuki Sonoko have a falling out?"

Shaken by everything he had learned about Ranran for the first time, Shinichi took a moment to compose himself before answering Samantha's question.

"It was during our first year of elementary school," Shinichi began, his voice sombre, "Ran, Sonoko, and I were still friends back then since kindergarten, but things started to change when....the topic of 'dating' came about."

Shinichi took a deep breath before continuing his account of what happened during their first year of elementary school.

"We were all just kids, and the idea of 'dating' was something new and intriguing to the girls at least. I don't know....what was going through their mind when all of this was coming about, but I know I wanted nothing to do with it. And then...that is when Sonoko being domineering about me being closer to other girls came about, I didn't know why at that time, it was the beginning of the end. I did not know this at that time, but Sonoko conspired with this other girl who had a psychotic crush on me, her name is Mamiko....."

As Shinichi recounted the events that led to the falling out between him, Ran, and Sonoko, the Edgewood children listened intently, occasionally exchanging glances as they processed the information. After he was done with the story, he finally ended it with, "And that is why, as soon as I learn all of this, especially the part that Mamiko manipulated Sonoko into pitting my hate against Ranran, whom I suspected was my illegitimate sister, for purposefully donning on the legendary child Tantei as 'The Fox' to rub it in my face, after those girls discourage me to continue my Tantei dream.....I cut all ties with Ran and Sonoko and became Ranran's apprentice."

"Manipulation and misunderstandings can really complicate things, especially at such a young age," Samantha remarked, "It's unfortunate that it led to a falling out between all of you."

"I can see why you decided to become Ranran's apprentice after all of that," Walter said, "But for that Mouri Ran, your former friend, to end up as a member of the association....did she join in the name of jealousy?"

"Yes, "Shinichi answered with a nod, "When Sonoko broke into our house incident became public knowledge and all of the kids in our school went out to beat her up, Ran demanded Ranran restore her best friend's reputation, but Ranran refused since it wouldn't be reasonable. Also, we were dealing with our first major case at that time, under manpower. So Ranran had to prioritize her detective work. This infuriated Ran greatly, so she joined in willingly. By right, after all of that is sorted out, Mouri Ran is supposed to leave willingly. But...."

"But she didn't leave, did she?" Tiffany interjected, finishing Shinichi's sentence.

"No, she didn't," Shinichi confirmed, "Instead, she became more involved in the association, and her attitude towards Ranran became increasingly hostile. She couldn't stand the idea of Ranran being a successful and respected child detective."

"But let's be fair when you broke into Ranran's house and tried to get her to quit as The Fox, it was also out of jealousy before you became Ranran's apprentice." Ellis confronted the apprentice.

"I admit, I was jealous back then," Shinichi confessed, "I couldn't stand the fact that she was excelling in something that I wanted to pursue myself. But....comparing myself to Mouri at that time, she didn't face words of discouragement to quit her dream, since she and Sonoko were the ones who told me on a daily basis. Of course," Shinichi slumped, "That doesn't justify what I did to Ranran right back then, but it was difficult to deal with."

"I have been there," Everyone shifts their attention to the fashionable boy Walter, "I used to deal with that Colleen telling me I can never become a fashion designer with the intention of marrying me. Had Ranran not gotten rid of her, I wouldn't be where I am now."

"Then, about Rokuro attempting to attack Ranran, why didn't you tell her any of this? Don't tell me it was one of that nonsense excuses such as 'to protect her'." Dominic crossed his arms at the first grader.

"I wanted to settle the score with Rokuro since the problem began because of him through Mamiko's manipulation, alone. The main reason the whole thing began is thanks to Mamiko's sick obsession towards me. Also, I know that Ranran can protect herself,"

Shinichi justifies as he elaborates further, the remorse is evidenced in his expression while he stared at the unconscious Ranran on her patient bed, "Thinking Rokuro still had a bit of consciousness in his since I recently found out he still had a crush on Mouri, I was assuming after that 'Blood on the Camground' case after we removed Mana out of our classroom for almost shutting down Tantei Association to impress Mamiko, he would want to go after me. After all, I am no longer friends with Mouri anymore. But who knew.....I didn't think...Mana somehow got him to go after Ranran and attacked her. He....was more interested in making me unhappy by attacking others."

The Edgewood children listened to Shinichi's explanation with sombre expressions. They could see the regret and guilt in his eyes, and they understood the complexity of the situation he had been in. "Anymore questions?"

The Edgewood children glanced at each other, and then Dominic raised his hand to ask, "One question, why didn't...Ranran scheme to remove Mouri if she was causing so many problems? Knowing her, I doubt she wants to give Mouri a second chance after everything she had done."

"We are waiting for Mouri to violate a rule, one so damning, that she can never set foot in the association ever again." Shinichi rubbed his face in frustration, "If we kick her out without justification, it would plague our business in Tantei Association. We just recently gained the attention of the press, not to mention, solved 6 major cases. All eyes are on us, and if Ranran schemes anything, they will know. So she has to change tactics. The problem was...the only thing she is guilty of is nagging, and there is no rule in school that exists solely to kick a member out. If she had at least spread rumours of something, at least we have something to go by."

"Ah, I see! That makes sense!" Georgette nods knowingly, "It's a tricky situation indeed. Kicking someone out of an organization without proper justification could lead to backlash and tarnish the reputation of the association."

"I suppose that is a valid response," Dominic said, acknowledging the complexities of running an association like theirs.

"As expected from our Fox, she is the best." Veronica is impressed with Ranran's cunning moves while throwing her fist up in the air.

"Still, poor Ranran, this must have sucked. I hate people nagging," Ellis sympathetically stared at the patient on the bed.

"What about you taking out the CCTV camera? From what I gathered, it seems like you hadn't taken it straight to the cops after I sent you that video." Tiffany wondered.

"Ah, so you were the ones who sent me the video, huh?" Shinichi once more scratched nervously at the back of his head, "Truthfully, I want to use the video to charge Rokuro."

"Charge him-ah, you mean press charges?!" Teddy guessed.

"Rokuro is a 9-year-old, the only sentence he would get if I sent the video of him attacking Ranran to the cops is a slap on the wrist for breaking and entering, let alone, attacking Ranran. But I feel like he deserves a far more severe punishment, which is why I wanted to determine the source of who installed the camera. If it were a good person with no ties to either of us, then it will increase the chances of removing Ran from the association without biases. Let alone, if this ever ends up in court, Ranran can end up at the stand to read out her victim impact statement and it may end up influencing the judge to extend Rokuro's sentence. But since..."He slumps once more, "Now that I know the CCTV belonged to all of you, I guess this is about to go to waste."

The Edgewood children exchanged glances, understanding the dilemma Shinichi faced.

Since the footage was set up to record by Ranran's Edgewood friends, should Rokuro dig up about it, he can simply accuse them of staging all of this to set him up for failure.

"For you to think so far ahead...I am actually impressed, and you ain't a noble nor a royal like any of us or Ranran." Samantha was in awe of the 6-year-old boy before them.

"I learn from the best," Shinichi chuckles.

Tiffany who pondered about this, then said, "Shinichi, forgive me for saying this, but what I am about to ask you might sound....unexpected."

Shinichi looked intrigued and nodded, "Go ahead, ask away."

"About your former friend, Mouri Ran," Tiffany took a deep breath before speaking, "If say she did all of this because she had feelings for you, how would you react?"

Shinichi's eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected question. He hadn't considered the possibility of Mouri Ran's actions being driven by puppy love feelings for him. He took a moment to collect his thoughts before responding.

"I would turn her down," Shinichi replied thoughtfully.

"Really?" Tiffany seemed surprised, "You have been friends since kindergarten last year. You even admitted to us that at one point in your life, you like to see her smile."

"That is true, I will admit it back then," Shinichi nodded, acknowledging Tiffany's observation. "But I was younger back then. I may be an elementary school child now, still years away from becoming an adult to understand things like that, but...the experience in Tantei Association taught me things that made me realize.....things I missed out on," Shinichi continued. "When I am with Mouri, I feel suffocating. But when I am away from her and after being with Ranran for almost 2 months, I feel...very liberated."

He gave a sad smile to himself as he goes, "I don't have to stop talking about Sherlock Holmes over and over anymore, and Ranran just listens and refutes it."

Tiffany and the other Edgewood children listened attentively to Shinichi's heartfelt response. They could see the maturity in his words and the depth of his emotions.

Even so, Tiffany knows she had to deliver to him one piece of bad news, cause she knew deep down this would be the only way to protect Ranran from that unreasonable Mouri Ran.

"Tiffany, what's wrong?" Shinichi asked, noticing the serious expression on her face.

"About that Mouri girl...I think you better be very wary of her."

Shinichi furrowed his brows, concerned by Tiffany's warning. "What do you mean?"

"I think the root of her jealousy, was solely due to her misguided feelings towards you."

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