"Alright, I will see you there," 6-year-old Ranran whispered before silencing her smartphone.

Knowing that Shinichi is still out under the pouring rain in the middle of the night, Ranran had to shut down her computer and set aside her gaming for the moment. She quickly changed into more weather-appropriate attire, making sure she was warm and dry and grabbed an umbrella.

Her parents were away working overseas, leaving Ranran with the house to herself. Shinichi's neighbour, Professor Agasa, is also not around since he is working outstation, he won't be returning till late at night.

Ranran quietly exited her house, her small figure illuminated by the streetlights and the glow of the rain-soaked pavement. She opened her umbrella and stepped into the rain, her determination evident despite the late hour and the inclement weather.

With the umbrella shielding her from the rain, she began her journey toward the Kitsune Tails Artifact store. When she googled about the store, it was revealed to her as a little tavern shop with certain themes of a Kitsune. In Japanese folklore, kitsune are foxes that possess paranormal abilities that increase as they get older and wiser.

How ironic, when I am the child Tantei known as the anonymous 'Fox' to the press, I always donned a Fox mask. Of all the places Shinichi had to wander around, he had to end up at some tavern with themes of Kitsunes.

The rain continued to pour as Ranran walked through the quiet streets, her determination unwavering. She remembered Shinichi's words, the weariness in his voice, and she wondered what has happened to him earlier. 

The journey took longer than expected due to the rain, and by the time she arrived at the Kitsune Tails Artifact store, she was drenched from head to toe. But she paid it no mind; rather than worry about him, she is just more curious as to how did he end up sounding so disoriented. 

The quaint shop had an air of mystery about it, the kitsune theme evident in the decorations and artwork that adorned its walls. Fortunately, she didn't need to step into the shop, since Shinichi sat on a bench next to the entrance.

As she approached the bench where Shinichi sat, she noticed that he look absent-minded. 

She held the umbrella over both of them, shielding them from the rain. 

Shinichi looked up when he heard the soft rustling of the umbrella opening above him. His surprise was evident on his face when he saw Ranran standing there, drenched but determined, with the umbrella providing a small oasis of dryness amidst the rain.

"Ranran?" he said, his voice a mix of surprise and confusion. "What are you doing here? You should be at home."

"I could ask you the same thing," Ranran replied, her tone gentle but firm. "You're the one sitting out here in the rain, Shinichi. What happened earlier? Why are you here?"

Shinichi sighed, his gaze dropping to the wet ground. "Just... dealing with some stuff, as I said."

"That's not an answer, Shinichi," Ranran said, her voice filled with concern. "You've been acting different lately, and I can tell something is bothering you."

"Ranran-"

"Again, I am going to ask one more time. Is everything alright?"

Ranran's voice was most of the time cold and harsh. But underneath it all, there is some warmth.

The last three words she uttered. It takes just those words to get him to fall apart. The pained emotion return as the truth finally makes it out.

"I went to return the wallet Ran left on the taxi we were in earlier on our way back home." Shinichi finally said. It came out with almost no emotion. Almost. "I then saw....that bastard who ruined my life talking to her." He balled his fists over his eyes.

Shinichi hesitated, his guard slowly lowering in the face of Ranran's genuine concern. He looked at her, really looked at her, and for a moment, he felt the weight of his burdens lessen slightly.

"I managed to sneak into the family diner through another door where they were having their food and eavesdrop on their conversation. Talking about everything, including where she blamed you for everything you had nothing to do with. Blaming you for manipulating me, because of that bastard. And that idiot....he....he didn't even admit to the things he did to you."

"What....are you talking about-"

"Rokuro is the one who attacked you, Ranran. He broke into our association to attack you just to hurt me! And the fact that you are supposedly 'bullying' Mouri, which happens to be a lie....."

Shinichi's fists were still clenched, and his eyes filled with a mixture of anger and pain.

"So after he left, I confronted Mouri about the fact she intentionally let Sonoko know to tip Rokuro off to hurt you, and...I ordered her to quit, but she refused!" Shinichi let out a long, slow breath. His voice didn't crack or anything, but he sounded like if he kept going he was going to scream in anger at this rate.

Ranran hearing all of this was stunned, for she didn't know what to say. What was she even supposed to say to something like that?

His head turned to Ranran, concern contorting her features, he gave her a weak smile.

"You were right, Mouri...she is beyond saving." Shinichi's first fully constructed sentence, free of stutters or slurred words. And that sentence in itself was what hurt him more than it should've.

That Ranran's words were right all along about Ran. That he was too blind to see it when he became her friend for over a year.

"How certain are you?"

"Very. She defended Rokuro, the very one who...."He looked down at his hands, his fingers fidgeting with the drink he held. "I thought that after I reduced Mamiko's influence on her, she still at least...have remained the same old self, that she isn't that blind. But I was proven wrong...you were right, she is...I barely know that girl anymore."

"Shinichi..."

"I don't get it, Ranran. I am smart enough to see through a person's intentions and all, but when it came to Ran...why is she doing this to me?! Had she always had this devious intention before association took place?! Had I not wronged you 2 years ago...would I have been blind to her intentions all along!?"

Ranran was going to say 'You would, even after 13 years later', but she did not let those words come out of her red lips.

Instead, Ranran reached out and gently placed her hand on top of Shinichi's clenched fist. Her touch was warm and comforting, a silent reassurance that she was there for him.

"Shinichi," she began softly, her eyes locked onto his as she spoke. "You can't blame yourself for not seeing through every person's intentions. People can be complicated, and sometimes their true colours only show when things get tough. It's not your fault for trusting someone who turned out to be different from what you thought."

Shinichi's gaze softened as he looked at Ranran. Her presence, her words, they were like a lifeline in the midst of his turmoil.

"I assumed....she denied hurting me," Ranran said, quietly. "And again, sided Rokuro over you."

"You know...there is something funny about this situation," He scoffed bitterly as he put a brave smile on his face, "Before, I would've crumbled in disappointment all over again that Ran chose to side Rokuro over me. But then...after what happened tonight...I don't know why I felt more angry over the fact that she was defending someone who attacked you instead of me, that feeling that I once felt disappointed over her...those feelings never come to me anymore." 

He said, still not looking at Ranran.

"I just...I want her to leave me alone," Shinichi sighed, slumping. "Why won't she let me be happy with my dream? I am so tired...I was happy in the association till she came to ruin it." He shocked Ranran with how broken he sounded, not expecting those words to come out. "Why must she stand in the way of my detective dream? Do I....am I like those idiot villains who ditch the female lead for the villainess to achieve a life of luxury, success and power?! I don't go around tormenting Ran by giving false hopes as those scumbags did. We are not even in a relationship or anything like that, so why must she make my life so difficult?!"

They sat there in silence for a moment, the rain creating a gentle backdrop to their conversation.

"I tell you what, Shinichi, let's go to some fancy warm cafe right now. It's getting cold here." 

Ranran's suggestion pulled Shinichi out of his thoughts, and he glanced at her with a mixture of surprise and gratitude. Despite everything he was going through, her presence and concern managed to ease some of the weight on his shoulders.

Slowly, they stood up from the bench, the umbrella still shielding them from the rain. Ranran took his hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze before they walked together toward a nearby cafe.

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

The rain continued to pour, but as they stepped into the warm and cosy cafe, the ambience changed completely. The smell of coffee and pastries filled the air, and the dim lighting created a relaxing atmosphere.

They found a quiet corner and settled into comfortable chairs, the tension from earlier slowly dissipating. A waitress approached, and they ordered hot beverages to warm themselves from the rain-soaked chill.

As they waited for their drinks, Shinichi leaned back in his chair, his expression a mix of exhaustion and relief. "This place is warm."

"A lot better than being outside earlier, right?" Ranran grins. 

Shinichi chuckled softly. "Definitely. Though the rain can be calming in its own way, I have to admit that being dry and warm is a welcome change."

Their drinks arrived, and they both took a moment to savour the warmth of the cups in their hands. The steam rose from the beverages, carrying with it a rich aroma that added to the soothing atmosphere.

"This hot chocolate is amazing," Ranran said with a satisfied sigh, taking a careful sip.

Shinichi smiled, lifting his cup of coffee. "And this is just what I needed."

As they enjoyed their drinks, Ranran then ask, "I want you to share everything, right from the beginning to the part as to how you found out Rokuro is the one who attack me, leading up to tonight's events."

Shinichi took a deep breath, realizing that he hadn't shared the entire sequence of events with Ranran yet. He began recounting from the beginning, his words carrying the weight of his experiences and emotions.

The more Ranran hears of this, the more her eyes grew wider. Of course, Shinichi was cautious not to bring up her Edgewood friends paying her a visit when she was unconscious, let alone, the secret contract he signed with those children, let alone, reveal that the source of the footage of Rokuro breaking into their association to attack Ranran came from those same Edgewood friends. He did promise Ranran's Edgewood friends not to reveal any of this to Ranran.

As Shinichi recounted the events, Ranran listened attentively, her expression shifting from surprise to concern. She could feel the weight of Shinichi's experiences in his words, the frustration, anger, and confusion he had been grappling with. The realization that Rokuro was the one who attacked her seemed to hit her harder than she expected, even though she had her suspicions about him.

And it was evident Ranran isn't happy about this. "You did the right thing to sever ties with Mouri and Suzuki before you became my apprentice."

Shinichi nodded solemnly. "At the time, it felt like the right decision. I wanted to focus on my training under you and didn't want any distractions. But I never imagined it would lead to all of this."

"Although I doubt Mouri would be malicious enough to get Rokuro to do that to me, I was right that keeping Mouri Ran around will bring not but trouble," Ranran spoke with bitterness. "And she told you that she won't quit? Even with the video evidence with you?"

Shinichi sighed, taking a sip of his coffee before he answered. "Yes, even with the evidence, she refused to quit. She was defensive and didn't take responsibility for her actions. It was frustrating, to say the least."

"What a shameless prick." Ranran spat.

"This is my fault," Even Shinichi is rubbing his face in frustration. "I shouldn't have let her in when she demanded unreasonably for you to restore Sonoko's reputation."

"You shouldn't shoulder all the blame for this. She made her own choices, and it's not your responsibility to fix everything. You are not her full-time babysitter." Ranran frowned her expression a mixture of disappointment and understanding.

"I know," Shinichi admitted, his gaze fixed on his cup. "But it's hard not to feel responsible, especially when I consider that my actions might have played a part in driving her to this point. I guess....my credibility as a Tantei isn't good enough to convince her."

"You can't control people to believe in you, Shinichi, that isn't the job of a Tantei. Our job is to deliver justice and the truth, not force them to believe in it. That is entirely up to them." Ranran said firmly. "If she chooses not to see the truth, it's her decision to become an ignorant twat, and there is no point for us to simply waste our time reasoning a donkey to listen to our words."

Shinichi's lips twitched into a small smile at Ranran's words, appreciating the way she managed to inject a bit of humour into the heavy situation. Her candidness and straightforwardness were always a source of comfort for him.

"You have a way with words, Ranran," he said with a small smile. "But you're right. I can't control how others perceive things, and I shouldn't let that weigh me down."

"Bluntness is my speciality, especially when it comes to doling out reality checks."

"You're right," Shinichi said, a sense of calm settling over him. "I need to stop beating myself up over this. It's time to focus on the present and what I can do moving forward."

"That's the spirit," Ranran praised, raising her cup in a mock toast. "To move forward and deal with the challenges that come our way."

"To move forward," Shinichi echoed, clinking his cup against hers, but then he slump, "But she stubbornly refuses to leave, what can we do about that?"

Ranran leaned back in her chair, tapping her fingers on the table thoughtfully. "Well, since she's refusing to leave even with the evidence, you might have to consider other options. Sometimes, it's better to let people learn from their mistakes the hard way."

Shinichi nodded, considering her words. "But I think you need to get involved in the scheming of her downfall."

"Eh?"

"So far....it seems like telling her won't do, scolding did little to work," Shinichi explained, his gaze focused on Ranran. "Your level of scheming...I never thought I said this, but...Ranran, I am leaving you to do the scheming to straighten Ran and Sonoko back to the time before Mamiko manipulated them."

Ranran's eyes widened at Shinichi's unexpected request. She hadn't anticipated him suggesting such a role for her, but as she looked into his earnest gaze, she realized that he saw something in her that she might have overlooked.

"Shinichi, are you sure about this?" Ranran asked, her tone cautious. "You know how far my level of scheming can go, it can even reach extreme lengths. Violence is usually part of the package."

"I am aware," Shinichi spoke in seriousness, "But it seems like everything we have done had done little to stop her antics, normally I don't support violence, but this is the last option." 

Ranran leaned back in her chair, her expression thoughtful. Shinichi's words held weight, and she could sense his frustration and desperation. Seeing Shinichi sighing while running a hand through his hair,  it was clear that he was at his wit's end when it came to dealing with Mouri Ran's behaviour.

Considering that even Mouri Ran's parents scolding her did little to deter her, perhaps it was time she deals with the schemes of Kudo Ranran.

"Alright, say if I do it....what if I do it midway but you end up stopping me?" Ranran pointed out.

"I won't stop anymore," Shinichi determinedly decided, "Mouri...she can't tell the difference between right and wrong anymore. Not the friend I knew since last year."

Ranran observed Shinichi's resolute expression, and she realized that he had reached a breaking point in his patience. "Very well, Shinichi," Ranran said with a sigh, a hint of mischief in her eyes. "I'll take on the role of schemer this time. But remember, the path I take might not be the smoothest or the most gentle one." 

"I trust you, Ranran," Shinichi said earnestly. "I know you have your own way of dealing with things, and right now, I believe that's what we need."

"Ok, then I will see what I can work on at my disposal later on. First of all," Ranran narrowed her expression at her apprentice, "Show me that video of Rokuro attacking me."

Ranran nodded firmly. "Yes, I want to see it. I need to understand the situation better and figure out the best approach to handle this."

Shinichi reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. He navigated to the video and handed the phone to Ranran, allowing her to watch the footage of Rokuro's attack on her. The video showed the break-in, the confrontation, and the subsequent struggle that took place.

As Ranran watched the video, her brows furrowed in concentration. She carefully analyzed each detail, from Rokuro's actions to the way he carried out the attack. She wanted to fully grasp the situation before devising any plan.

After the video ended, she handed the phone back to Shinichi, her expression thoughtful. "You mentioned someone installed a CCTV outside our place illegally, which is how you received this video anonymously?"

"Yes, that's correct. I received this footage anonymously, along with a message that indicated Rokuro's involvement in the attack. Of course, when I went to check for the CCTV that was installed outside our office, it was taken away by the anonymous sender who sent me this video. Said they were truly disturbed that they would do this to a child." Shinichi naturally lied as he breathe, making sure not to slip up that it was Ranran's Edgewood friends who set up the camera.

"So, we have someone who seems to be on our side, and they're providing us with evidence against Rokuro. That's a start." Ranran nodded, her mind working through the information.

"But due to...their circumstances, if we send this video to Sergeant Genzo, Ran and Rokuro can make it as if we intentionally set up a trap as if you lure him over to the association office to instigate him to attack you, so I didn't show the video to anyone, you are the first to see it," Shinichi explained.

The situation was indeed delicate, and they needed to tread carefully to avoid any misinterpretations that could backfire on them. She understood why Shinichi chose not to show the video to anyone else, and it highlighted the importance of finding an effective way to handle the evidence they had.

"Given the circumstances, it's wise not to expose this evidence openly," Ranran agreed. "Thought I already had an idea how to twist the situation in our favour." The founder of the association tapped her fingers on the table, lost in thought. "Shinichi, tell me what you know of Rokuro, his family background, his fears, his likes etc. Everything."

"Kasumaki Rokuro, 9 years old, he used to belong to class 3-D in our school at Teitan Elementary," Shinichi's fingers laced together as he began to share what he knew about his nemesis, "Rokuro comes from a family that's not particularly well-off, but they're not struggling either at that time. He used to be neighbours with Mouri Ran when she was in kindergarten at that time, but this was when her family was still married and living in the same apartment as them. But I am certain you are aware of this info."

"The neighbours part I am aware, though about the part that they knew each other when Mouri was in kindergarten...was it before or after you became friends with Mouri Ran?"

"Before."

"Interesting," Ranran mused, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the table. "It seems like their connection goes back quite a bit. Childhood acquaintances...no wonder that idiot Mouri believed in him over you when Rokuro framed you for that infamous feud."

Shinichi's expression grew sombre at the mention of the infamous feud. 

"You know, there seems to be a pattern coming from Mouri," It dawned on Ranran, "When that video of Mamiko and Sonoko surfaced the two joking about discouraging your Tantei dream to marry you off to Ran, Mouri sided Sonoko. Same with the feud. I am starting to see she has a friend hierarchy."

"A what!?"

"A friend hierarchy, Shinichi. You don't know what is that, do you?" Ranran leaned forward, her eyes narrowing with curiosity. "When I was in the prestigious Edgewood Academy, we usually have that sort of 'friend hierarchy' implemented in every single student's head."

Sensing the confusion in the apprentice, it was time Ranran made an example.

"Think of it this way," Ranran elaborates, "In Edgewood, you will see royals mingling with nobles, and commoners-or normal kids like you hang out with their own kind. But when neither of us is at school, you will be surprised to see some of the high society children secretly hanging out with average Joe children. Do you know why? Because some of them considered them their 'real friends'."

Shinichi's brow furrowed as he processed Ranran's explanation.

"Friend hierarchy...so you're saying that Mouri has certain categories or levels of friends?" Shinichi asked, trying to grasp the concept.

"Exactly," Ranran confirmed. "It's like a hidden ranking system that determines how much she values her friendships. As for me, I have one gaming friend I play with online, but I considered him as someone I know online. Takuma and Reina ain't online friends, but I considered the two my friends I hung out with in school and in real life. Some of them do it unconsciously, while some do it deliberately."

"Ah, so that is how it is, huh!" Shinichi's eyes widened in realization, "Then Ranran, are you able to figure out how she ranks her friends based on?"

"I do, based on the time spent."

"Hah!?"

"You mentioned Rokuro and Mouri were friends since they became neighbours before her family moved here, you also brought up the fact that you met her after she befriended Sonoko, Shinichi. The pattern as to who she sides within whichever situation you are caught up in, you only enter her life later on comparing to the two."

As he pieced together the information, he then grew agitated, "So, what you're saying is that because I came into her life later than Rokuro and Sonoko, I'm automatically placed in a lower rank in her 'friend hierarchy'?!"

"Exactly," Ranran confirmed. "It's a psychological bias that can affect people's decisions and loyalties. She's more likely to side with those she has a longer history with, regardless of the situation or evidence."

"Unbelievable!" He grew furious at that revelation, "So, it doesn't matter how much evidence I present or how much I try to reason with her, her bias towards Rokuro and Sonoko will always influence her decisions! How can she be this cruel towards me?!"

"In the first place, this is something common everyone does," Ranran scoffed, "If you watched those serial killer shows, their spouses too were in disbelief at first, unable to fathom that the person they knew could commit such heinous acts. Bias and emotional connections can cloud judgment and make people see what they want to see. Even parents would do so, for example: If their kid bullied someone, but that someone fights back, it is natural for them to justify their kids' action, even though it is in the wrong since they knew them longer than other people's kids."

"So in other words, all of this had nothing to do with the fact that Ran thinks of me as an incompetent Tantei?!" Shinichi exclaimed.

"Of course not, why?"

By this point, Shinichi didn't know whether to be pleased by the fact that he knows he is a capable child Tantei, or the fact that Mouri Ran's bias and friend hierarchy were the driving forces behind her actions.

"That's infuriating!" Shinichi clenched his fists, his frustration is evident in his voice. "All this time, I've been trying to make her understand and believe in me, thinking it was about my abilities, but it was just her biases and skewed priorities!"

"Welcome to human psychology," Ranran said wryly. "It's a mess, isn't it? Anyway, continue to share with me what you know about Rokuro."

"Right," Shinichi took a deep breath to calm his frustration before continuing. "Rokuro is a soccer nut."

"Eh?"

"Yes," Shinichi continued, his irritation still simmering beneath the surface. "He's obsessed with soccer, which is how he ended up becoming a leader in the first place. From what I've gathered, he spends a significant amount of his time either playing, watching, or talking about soccer. It's almost like a constant theme in his life."

"A soccer enthusiast, huh?" Ranran typed down everything she needs to know about Rokuro. "What else?"

"I think this part I don't really have any proof, but I am certain you and I both suspect that Rokuro could've had a crush on Mouri Ran, due to that damning journal we found in Mana Yoshida's bag the other day," Shinichi adds.

"Ah, yes, that journal," Ranran nodded, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "It was the cruellest form of deceit."

"And worst, there is one thing I hadn't told you yet," Ranran turned to Shinichi before he revealed one bombshell, "Before that dreaded camping trip, I had sent Michio to tail on Rokuro because I found out that there were sightings outside our school entrance the other day that he waited outside to meet up with Sonoko."

"What?! Why didn't you mention this earlier?" Ranran's eyes widened in surprise at Shinichi's revelation.

"In outer appearance-wise, Sonoko is friends with Rokuro, so I didn't really have much to go on," Shinichi admitted with a hint of sheepishness. "At the same time, since our relationship with Mouri is worsening the longer she remained at the association, I had a hunch that Sonoko might bring in people to try and get me to quit as a child Tantei, and who better than to go for Rokuro, the person that I hate most."

Ranran let out a thoughtful hum. "And did Michio find anything?"

"No, Michio didn't see them meeting or interacting in any suspicious way during his surveillance," Shinichi replied. "But oddly, Mana Yoshida, our former classmate whom we had the school expelled during the events of 'The Blood of Campground' case, met up with him."

"Nani!?" Ranran raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What was he doing with Rokuro?"

"I'm not entirely sure," Shinichi admitted. "Michio couldn't hear their conversation, but I have a nagging suspicion as to what they were conversing about."

Ranran leaned forward, her interest piqued. "And what's your suspicion?"

"Considering that Mana Yoshida and Kasumaki Rokuro dislike us both, I think we can all assume that when people hate one common enemy, they bonded well enough to go after us," Shinichi theorized. "It's a gut feeling, but it makes sense considering the context."

"An alliance against us," Ranran mused. "Mamiko is the one who manipulated them both, and yet, they rather go after us instead."

"It's frustratingly ironic," Shinichi remarked with a sigh. "They've been manipulated by the same person, and yet, they're targeting us who are fighting against her."

"Anything else to share?"

"Ah right," Shinichi explained further, "Rokuro's parents...while I was digging about them, I found something strange."

"Go on," Ranran leaned in, intrigued by this new information.

"His parents have been recently involved in some sort of financial trouble," Shinichi explained. "It seems they've been struggling with debt and had even borrowed money from their family members, apparently they were suspended from their day jobs."

"Getting suspended ain't odd to begin with, especially if they work under the same company." Ranran pouted, "I know of people who brought marital problems to their workplace, which often resulted in their suspension after all."

"Yeah, which is why I felt it is odd that they were suspended on the same day, but the two worked in two different companies," Shinichi said.

 "Suspensions in different companies on the same day? Could it be a coincidence?" Ranran raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued.

"That's what I thought, but then when I asked what was the excuse for the company suspending them through our grandparents, even the justification was similar," Shinichi nodded while revealing to Ranran, "Rokuro's mother works as a receptionist while Rokuro's dad is a salaryman. The reason for the suspension is due to 'incompetency'."

Startled, Ranran then pressed, "Did they share the specifics as to how they ended up getting the 'incompetency' suspension?"

"They did."

Shinichi's expression turned serious as he continued, "According to them, they were given new tasks at their respective workplaces that they weren't familiar with, and they struggled to meet the expected standards. The sudden change in their roles seemed suspicious, especially since they were suspended on the same day. It's like someone deliberately set them up to fail."

Ranran's eyes narrowed as she processed this information. "A deliberate setup? It's too coincidental that both of them were given unfamiliar tasks on the same day. This doesn't sound like a simple case of incompetence."

"That's exactly what I thought," Shinichi agreed. "It's as if someone orchestrated their suspensions to weaken their financial situation and create pressure on them. And I can bet that is why Rokuro is here in the first place to look into it."

After pondering about this, Ranran decided, "This is good, I can use this to our favour into removing Mouri from the association."

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

After many hours of discussion later, their plan is officially finalized.

"Alright, in all motion set, if anything goes wrong, I have that cover," Shinichi grins, the tension in his expression finally replaced by a glimmer of confidence.

Ranran nodded, a determined look in her eyes. "We've covered as many angles as we can, but remember, once we set this into motion, there's no turning back. Things might get messy."

"I understand," Shinichi replied, his gaze unwavering. 

Deciding that are done with what they set out to do, Ranran decided to bring out one thing that has bothered her a bit, "Earlier at the association HQ, you mentioned you are willing to frame someone who is innocent to protect the other since the person had a medical condition. That person....was it me?"

Shinichi's eyes widened slightly at the unexpected question. He looked at Ranran with a mix of surprise and concern.

"So you knew....about my brain injury when I was a baby." Ranran's question hung in the air, carrying a weight of curiosity.

"Your family informed me shortly after the parkour incident last year," Shinichi took a moment to gather his thoughts before responding, his voice gentle. "Then the other day during one of your medical check-ups, the doctor mentioned a part of your brain is damaged, that you are unable to stop yourself when it comes to doing all sorts of dangerous things. Anger too is one of them. After hearing that, I thought....if I falsely accuse Mouri of knowing in advance that Rokuro will attack you back at the HQ, your mental state will improve a lot."

Ranran absorbed this information quietly, her gaze downcast for a moment.

"Don't get me wrong, Ranran, I know you are capable despite the brain issue. But it would be better if Mouri isn't around to aggravate you anymore. Especially when your high blood pressure results ain't good after she joined." 

Shinichi could sense the weight of the revelation settling on her shoulders. After a pause, she finally looked up at him. "You are not wrong, having her around just brings up more stress."

"I'm sorry if I crossed a line by suggesting that," Shinichi said sincerely. 

"No, you ain't wrong," Ranran dismisses his words as she frowned, "You are doing what you need to do to keep my sanity in check. But aside from me, I know you too hadn't been happy in a while whenever she is in the association. Especially when she brought you so many painful memories."

"Honestly, Ranran, as a Tantei.....I can't ignore the fact that she's being manipulated by Mamiko. And that Mouri isn't completely at fault," Shinichi's expression grew sad talking about it, but then his expression hardened, "At the same time, Mouri refuses to see the truth."

"I get it," Ranran said, her gaze steady. "But, if there is anything I learnt throughout my stint as 'The Fox', is that we often go for clients who want to be helped. Not the ones who refused to."

"Do those kinds of clients exist?" Shinichi is surprised to hear of this.

"You would be surprised," Ranran scoffed, "I met a lot of them."

"Seriously? Then why bother to contact you in the first place? Mou." Shinichi sighed. As the two nodded in unison, another thought occur to him, "About Mana Yoshida, what are we going to do with him?"

"Don't worry, he is screwed," Wondering why Ranran knows, she explained, "Considering that he had a huge crush on that sociopath Mamiko, after getting him expelled, I had been investigating him secretly. Apparently, his widowed father's two jobs had also been suspended not long after the expel incident, since the backlash I set him up to receive was so severe, that vigilantes had appeared to keep on leaking where his dad is working, their new home address and stuff."

"Wow, your level of scheming...I don't know whether I should be in awe at your level of scheming for ruining Mana Yoshida's life, or be terrified," Shinichi remarked, impressed by Ranran's diligence.

"I had no regrets," Ranran shrugged. "He didn't hesitate to try and impress her by almost causing our association to shut down, by shifting the blame of his idiotic heroic idea of confronting the serial killer on that island towards us in the first place. Don't forget, who were the unfortunate ones who were almost strangled to death by the killer at the cliffside?"

"You and I," Shinichi shivered recalling those moments.

"Exactly," Ranran nodded with a grim expression. "That incident could have turned out much worse for us. Mana's reckless actions put our lives at risk, and I had to take measures to ensure his influence was removed from our lives."

"Understandable," Shinichi agreed, once more remembering the danger they had faced during that case. "Neh Ranran, will Mana be able to do anything now that things had gotten worst for him?"

"He won't," Ranran insists, "I took certain 'precautions', his life...let's just say would be way worst than I already made it out to be."

Ranran's tone was serious, and Shinichi could tell that she had taken this matter quite seriously. 

"I see," Shinichi said quietly, recognizing the resolve in her eyes. "Well, with everything we've discussed and planned, it won't endanger us while we try to solve Professor Shibuya's case, right?"

"It should be fine," Ranran replied firmly. "Even Mamiko can't do much, since I turned her into a punching bag for the bullies in our school."

"Exactly, after what she did to me...." Shinichi couldn't help but chuckle at the image of Mamiko being dealt with by Ranran's resourceful methods. 

"Survival of the fittest," Ranran winked playfully. 

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

Soon, it stopped raining outside the cafe.

As the rain outside the cafe ceased, the soft sound of droplets hitting the window gradually faded away. The gloomy clouds began to part, allowing thin rays of the moon to filter through. The atmosphere inside the cafe seemed to shift along with the weather, a subtle change in the air as the tension and seriousness of their conversation gave way to a moment of quiet reflection.

"You know, it's funny how weather can sometimes mirror our emotions." Shinichi glanced at the window.

"True, rain can be soothing and cleansing, just like getting things off our chests during this talk." Ranran, who had been gazing out the window lost in thought, turned her attention back to Shinichi.

 "It's getting late. We should probably head back to dig around Professor Shibuya's background. I am really curious as to why his stuffed eagle is stolen."

"Agreed," Shinichi nodded as he glanced at his watch. "We've covered a lot of ground today, but there's still much more to uncover about Professor Shibuya's past and the motivations behind the theft. Let's head back and start our investigation anew with the information we've gathered."

Ranran motioned to the waiter to bring the bill, and once the payment was settled, they left the cafe. The night air was crisp and cool after the rain, carrying a sense of freshness that seemed to match their renewed determination.

As they walked down the dimly lit streets, Shinichi spoke up. "Ranran."

"Hmph?"

"When Mouri finally is removed from our association, after we are done solving Professor Shibuya's case...let's take a day off and head to the amusement park."

"Eh?"

"Don't get me wrong, I love spending every single minute being a child Tantei, but we could do a well-deserved break. I mean we almost died so many times that I lost count."

"You're right, a day at the amusement park sounds like a good way to blow off some steam and have a bit of fun." Ranran chuckled softly at Shinichi's suggestion.

As they continued walking, the lights of the city danced around them, creating a warm and comforting ambience. "Neh Ranran, do you think....Mouri will show up tomorrow?"

"I wouldn't be surprised if she just, such a shameless snake she is."

The weight of the challenges they were facing hadn't lessened, but for a moment, they allowed themselves to enjoy the simple pleasure of camaraderie and the prospect of a lighthearted day ahead.

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

After leaving Professor Shibuya's place the following day, the boys and Ranran took a cab together as they were heading their way to Teitan University, this is when she showed them what was on her smartphone.

"I installed a CCTV after that attack incident secretly in our association HQ, told them not to leave, and look what has happened?" Ranran who sat on the front passenger seat told the boys.

Shinichi, Michio, and Takuma exchanged glances, their curiosity growing by the second. 

To their surprise, Mouri Ran, Miyama Emiko, as well as Fuyuko Junko left the association. 

"Wait, is that... Mouri Ran?" Michio exclaimed, his voice tinged with surprise. Takuma and Shinichi shared similar reactions, their disbelief mirrored in their expressions.

"Wow, Mouri...I ran out of words for what to say of this," Takuma wasn't pleased to see this, and so were Michio and Shinichi.

"She went against your orders again, why am I not surprised?" Shinichi spoke in detest.

 "Why would they leave the association? And in such a secretive manner?" Michio wonders.

Ranran's gaze remained fixed on the screen, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity. "They are probably heading to the same place as us, to Teitan University to interrogate Professor Hoga. My guess is...Mouri wants to prove me wrong that she isn't the most useless member of the association, so she recklessly took those girls with her."

As the cab continued on its journey towards Teitan University, a palpable tension hung in the air. Takuma broke the silence, his frustration evident in his voice, "Ranran, can we seriously consider kicking Mouri out now? Her constant interference and setbacks in our investigations are getting out of hand. It's not fair to the rest of us."

Michio chimed in, his concern adding weight to Takuma's words. "And let's not forget that her actions put you in danger too, Ranran."

"Agree." Shinichi whipped out his smartphone, "I am going to call and confront her about her reckless behaviour!"

"Don't bother," Ranran sighed, her gaze still fixed on the screen. "Instead, I rather we confront her when we get there instead."

"Eh!?" All three boys grew startled.

"We'll give them a chance to explain themselves. If Mouri Ran truly believes that her actions were justified, then we need to hear her side of the story. But knowing her, the actions she justifies will put her in a bad light. And I look forward to that... 'cause that would mean she has given me a legit reason to remove her for good!" Ranran concluded, a determined glint in her eyes.

As the cab continued its journey toward Teitan University, the group of friends couldn't help but anticipate the forthcoming confrontation. Ranran's resolute stance indicated her readiness to address the situation head-on, regardless of the outcome. The tension and uncertainty only grew as they approached their destination, their determination to uncover the truth undeterred by the challenges ahead.