The classroom was empty, the only sound was the soft rustling of papers in the breeze that flowed through the slightly open window. The sun cast a warm glow inside, but the atmosphere in the room was anything but serene.

Six-year-old Mouri Ran stood there, her heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and nervousness. She had plans for the day, plans that involved her best friend, Shinichi. Plans that had now taken an unexpected turn.

She never could have imagined that this argument would be the catalyst that changed the course of their friendship. In her mind, it was just another disagreement, something that would blow over quickly. She had wanted to meet Sonoko and have a fun lunch together, and she was planning to invite Shinichi along. After all, he was her friend, and her heart flitted with a secret crush on him.

But standing there, facing Shinichi's frustrated expression, she realized that this wasn't just another argument. The intensity in his eyes, the hurt that radiated from him, it was all too real. She had said things she never intended to say, things that had cut deep into their bond.

She remembered the frustration in Shinichi's voice, the way he had vehemently expressed his annoyance over the disruption to his soccer schedule, especially since Rokuro kept putting him as a goalkeeper. She had tried to be the voice of reason, to defend Rokuro's innocence, but Shinichi's irritation had been palpable even through the phone.

"He messed with my soccer schedule, Ran! How can I not punch him!?" His words echoed in her mind, a reflection of his exasperation at the time.

And she, in her naivety, had tried to mediate. She had attempted to be the bridge between her two childhood friends. But the more they had talked, the more the conversation had spiralled out of control.

"I am sure it is an accident! He can be careless to a fault—" Her words had been hopeful, her intention to calm the situation.

"Careless to a fault!? It's fine if it were one or twice, but 5 times is pretty clearcut malicious!" His retort had been sharp, cutting through her attempts like a knife.

In her frustration, she uttered words she would forever regret. "Kudo Shinichi! Are you even the Shinichi I knew since kindergarten!?" The accusation had hung in the air, a painful moment that she wished she could take back.

"Ran!" The hurt in his voice had hit her like a physical blow, the disappointment in his eyes had wounded her deeply.

Rokuro's poisonous whispers lingered in her mind, making her doubt even the closest relationships she had. It had been a manipulative strategy, planting seeds of uncertainty in her heart.

And then, her desperation to salvage the situation had led her down a treacherous path. "Shinichi, Rokuro is born with nothing! Why would he do this to you!?" Her plea for understanding had fallen on the ears that were already closed.

But the damage had been done, the manipulation had taken root. The doubt in Shinichi's eyes had been real, the disbelief in his voice genuine. "He clearly has some jealousy issues with me! He keeps falsely stating that I earn all of my merits through my privileged background! And I didn't do a thing to provoke him!"

The conversation had devolved into a mess of accusations and misunderstandings. And with each passing word, their bond had frayed further. "Well, that wouldn't have happened when you bragged to everyone that you were the only boy in the entire soccer club to be scouted professionally!" Her words had been laced with frustration, a reflection of her own hurt and confusion.

"Again, why would I do that?!" His question had held a mixture of frustration and genuine confusion.

"Because you are obnoxious, arrogant, and too smart for your own good, Kudo Shinichi!" Her final words had been an outburst of emotion, a culmination of the turmoil inside her.

As the words hung in the air, their friendship hung in the balance. Ran wanted to reach out, to take back the accusations, to fix the misunderstanding. But the damage had been done. Their innocent and carefree childhood days seemed to be slipping away, replaced by the weight of their words and emotions.

For a moment, Shinichi was shocked. He stared at Ran, his wide eyes reflecting a mixture of hurt, confusion, and disbelief. Her words had struck him like a blow, each one digging deeper into the foundation of their friendship. He had never expected Ran to say such things to him, to question his character and integrity.

The silence that followed was heavy, the weight of their argument hanging in the air between them. Ran's heart raced, regret flooding her senses. She had never meant to hurt Shinichi like this, never meant to jeopardize the bond they had built over a year. But her rash words had done just that.

Finally, Shinichi's voice broke the silence, but it was laced with a mix of anger and hurt. "You know what? I am done."

At that time, Mouri Ran didn't know what he meant by those words.

All she knew was that her heart felt heavy in her chest, and a lump formed in her throat when he said, "What do you mean 'you are done'?"

Shinichi's expression hardened, his eyes cold as he looked at her. "I mean I'm done with this....friendship. Between you, Sonoko and Rokuro, I am always too arrogant for my own good."

Ran's heart sank at his words, her eyes widening in shock. She never anticipated such a response. The weight of his decision hit her like a ton of bricks, and for a moment, she felt like the ground had been pulled out from under her.

Tears welled up in her eyes, and her voice trembled as she tried to reach out to him. "Shinichi, wait, I didn't mean—"

This wasn't how it was supposed to go. She didn't want to lose him as a friend, especially not on a day that had started with so much promise.

"No, I know what you mean. I may not be smart when it comes to emotions, but this is enough. I am done." He cut her off, his voice sharp and cutting, "If you're so quick to doubt me and side with Rokuro easily without knowing the entire story, then maybe we were never really friends, to begin with. I....am not going to waste my time listening to you anymore, nor Sonoko for that matter. After all, I am too arrogant for all of you."

His words were like a knife to her heart. The pain of his accusation was almost unbearable, and all the regret and guilt she felt came crashing down on her. She wanted to tell him that she didn't mean what she said, that Rokuro had twisted her words, that she valued their friendship more than anything.

But he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving her standing there, tears streaming down her face. She wanted to chase after him, to explain, to apologize, to make things right. But his words had created an insurmountable barrier between them.

And so, Ran stood there, the emptiness of the classroom mirroring the emptiness she felt inside. The argument that had started over something trivial had now shattered a friendship she had cherished so deeply.

Looking back, Ran wished she had handled things differently. She wished she had listened to her heart rather than let Rokuro's manipulations cloud her judgment. She wished she could go back to that moment and choose her words more carefully, to salvage the bond that had meant so much to her.

But life rarely gives us do-overs. And as she stood there, watching Shinichi's retreating form, the ache in her heart was a painful reminder of the consequences of their argument. The plans for lunch, the hopes of spending time with him, they all seemed insignificant now.

Little did she know that this argument would be the start of a painful journey of her own self-discovery, forgiveness, and redemption. It was a turning point, one that would shape their futures in ways they couldn't yet fathom.

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

Seeing Shinichi's expression when Ran left him to be with Rokuro at that time, as Shinichi ended up coldly severing ties with her, not to mention, barely interacting with her during the past 2 months within the association....everything made sense now.

Ran's mind raced as the weight of Rokuro's confession hit her. The realization that Shinichi had been telling the truth all along, that her judgment had been clouded by her emotional connection to Rokuro, left her feeling a mix of anger, frustration, and betrayal.

The worst part? Was that Shinichi no longer had the desire to reconcile....that irked her.

"How could you lie to me!? After everything you and I have been through!?" She clenched her teeth, her voice quivering with a mix of emotions. "But above all, how can you do this to Shinichi!?"

Ran's voice trembled with a potent mix of anger, sadness, and frustration. The weight of the truth she had just learned was crushing, and the realization that she had been played by Rokuro was a heavy blow. The memories of their friendship, the shared moments and laughter, now felt tainted by the betrayal she had unknowingly fallen for.

Her words echoed in the quiet space, and she could almost hear Shinichi's distant response, as if he were standing right in front of her, looking at her with those cold, hurt eyes.

Rokuro's voice on the other end of the line was apologetic, but Ran's emotions were a turbulent storm that couldn't be calmed so easily. "Ran, I'm sorry. I never meant for things to turn out like this."

"You're sorry?" Ran's voice trembled with a mix of incredulity and anger. "You manipulated me, Rokuro. And according to Shinichi, you sounded very jealous of his privileged background. At first, I didn't believe it, but who knew-"

"Ran-"

"Don't Ran me!" Mouri Ran snapped over the phone, "You were never like that, Rokuro! Why did you need to be jealous of Shinichi thanks to his privileged background!? The Rokuro I knew back then was never conscious about one's background!"

The people in the fast food restaurant could see the fuming anger taking place thanks to Ran's loud voice. Embarrassed, Ran's emotions were a swirling storm, and the weight of her anger and betrayal seemed to reverberate through her words.

So she left.

As she stepped out of the fast food restaurant, her voice carried in the open air, her frustration evident to anyone who happened to be around.

Her footsteps took her down the sidewalk, away from the prying eyes and curious glances of the people in the restaurant. She needed space, needed to be away from the reminders of her past and the tangled mess of emotions that had been stirred up.

"Why did you call me out of nowhere out of a sudden?!" Ran suddenly narrowed her eyes over the phone.

"Tell Shinichi to call off the charges, the police are out to get me!"

Ran's anger flared even more at Rokuro's sudden request. Her emotions were already a volatile mix, and now he was adding another layer of complexity to the situation. "You attacked Ranran in the association! I can't do much since Shinichi had it all on video!"

Rokuro's voice on the other end was filled with desperation, and he seemed to be on the verge of panic. "Ran, I know I messed up, but I didn't mean for things to go this far. I never intended to hurt Ranran that badly. Also, when she barged into the room with a gun towards me, I had to protect myself!"

Ran's steps faltered as she absorbed Rokuro's words. Her anger still blazed hot, but his latest revelation did make sense. Unlike most paintball guns, the ones the association members used all looked exactly like a replica of a realistic gun. The reason Ranran requested such a design at that time was to ensure the perpetrators they go after are fooled into thinking that they owned a real gun.

Her anger still burned bright, but her mind was now forced to confront the possibility that there might have been a genuine threat to Rokuro's safety.

"In the first place, you have no reason to be in the HQ! It's natural for Ranran to confront anyone who broke into her HQ!" Ran whispered in a hiss, before justifying, "I too would if I were her!"

"She was throwing things at me before I could explain-"

"Who wouldn't!? You weren't even supposed to be in the HQ!"

"But she is a she-demon who bullied you every single day, you told me so yourself."

"As much as I hated her, I won't resort to the things you did! Violence isn't the answer!"

"Are you sure? You rebelled against her the other day when she told you not to get out of the HQ during the rescue operation."

Ran's frustration was evident as she continued to argue with Rokuro over the phone. Her emotions were still running high, and the conflicting information and emotions were like a storm in her mind.

"You're missing the point, Rokuro!" Her voice was a mixture of anger and exasperation. "Resisting Ranran's orders during a rescue operation is different from breaking into her HQ and attacking her! You can't justify your actions by pointing out her flaws!"

Rokuro's voice on the other end wavered between defensiveness and desperation. "I get it, Ran. I messed up, okay? But I need your help now. The police are after me, and I don't know what to do. I can't let them arrest me, not now."

Ran's steps slowed as she listened to Rokuro's plea. Despite her anger, she couldn't completely ignore his desperation. "Are you hurt?" Her voice was less sharp, now laced with concern.

"I'm fine, but they won't believe me, Ran! You have to help me. Sonoko had connections, right?" Rokuro's desperation was palpable.

The long brown-haired girl stopped in her tracks, her emotions in turmoil. She remembered her own frustration earlier when she realized Rokuro had been manipulating her. But now, faced with the possibility that he might be in real danger, her heart wavered.

"Here is the problem, a really big one," Her voice was weary, a reflection of the conflicting emotions within her. "Do you recall Sonoko telling you about one incident of her allegedly 'breaking into' Ranran and Shinichi's family residence?"

"Yeah, didn't she regain her privileges after that incident? She mentioned her punishment is a month later, I tried to contact her earlier, but she isn't picking up."Rokuro's voice wavered on the other end of the line.

"Well, that punishment was reinstated, because Shinichi informed her parents that she tipped you off about the HQ's location, which later lead you to attack Ranran! And Shinichi even had her parents deduct a total of 700,000 yen to pay up the medical fees for Ranran, which was caused by you!"

"Wait, what?! Shinichi did that?" Mixed with shock and disbelief, Rokuro's voice turned desperate.

"Yes, I told you last night at the family diner we were both in that after that 'feud' you both had, Shinichi no longer interacts with me anymore unless it is association-related duties! He cares more about Ranran, and will never spare me a glance if I ever were in danger!" Ran's voice held a mixture of exhaustion and frustration.

"How can he be so heartless!? It's fine if he hates me, but he shouldn't have been so heartless to the point that he would abandon you to have his Tantei Apprenticeship under that evil Kudo Ranran! I mean you have been friends with him for over a year! And he only knew her for a few months!" Rokuro barked in anger.

"Whatever it is, thanks to this, I am not only going to be expelled from the association forever, I will no longer be able to get back to Shinichi anymore because of you!" Ran's grip on her phone tightened as Rokuro's words reached her.

Soon, Mouri Ran closed her eyes, leaning against a nearby wall as conflicting emotions churned within her. The anger she had felt towards Rokuro was still there, but it was now mingled with a deep sense of pity. She had known him for so long and had shared countless memories and moments of laughter with him, now all tainted and marred thanks to the lies.

"Rokuro, you need to take responsibility for your actions," Ran's voice was soft, but there was an underlying firmness to it. "You can't undo what you've done, but you can try to make amends. Face the consequences, be honest, and show through your actions that you're truly sorry."

"But Ran—"

"I can't change the consequences of your actions, Rokuro," Ran's voice was weary. "You need to face what you've done and take responsibility for it. If you truly want to change, then start by owning up to your mistakes. Just now....when you contacted me, the rest of the members were sharing a table with me. As soon as Shinichi heard your name, he immediately stormed out...and Ranran is the one who ended up going after him, she even forbade me for following him, because she knew how much he hates me."

"Mouri-"

"I truly hate her, Rokuro. I will admit it. I hate her so much that I wish she never existed. For stealing Shinichi away from me. I know I am at fault....that things turned out this way because of what I said towards Shinichi. I knew deep down she never stole him, Shinichi....he isn't someone who is easily swayed. But...." Ran was forlorn as she spoke on the phone, "Everytime....whenever I tell myself that I should be kind to her, I don't know why...all the hate towards her just comes out."

There was a moment of silence, and then Rokuro's voice came through, "You are cruel, Ran-san."

"Eh?"

"Shinichi no longer treats you like the centre of his world now that Ranran is his world, and yet, here you are rambling to me that you are still trying to ruin their little happiness."

"Rokuro-"

"Sometimes I don't understand why are you so defensive and insistent on going after the one who will never give a glimpse at you, Mouri. I felt like you could've done better."

Silence, Mouri Ran wonders, "What are you trying to say Rokuro?"

"Why must you keep going after Shinichi, even though he is already with Ranran? Are you doing it because of your crush, or you are doing it because you felt inferior over Ranran?"

Ran couldn't answer for she was tongue-tied as Rokuro waited a few seconds.

"You know....considering that I am about to be arrested....I always wanted to ask: Why am I not one of your options compared to Shinichi? Is it because I ain't rich, handsome or talented than him?"

Ran was taken aback by Rokuro's words. The rawness in his tone and the depth of his questions cut through the emotional turmoil that had consumed her. His questions hit close to home, forcing her to confront her own feelings and motivations.

"Rokuro, it's not like that," she finally managed to respond, her voice tinged with a mix of defensiveness and vulnerability.

"Isn't it?" Rokuro's voice was both accusatory and resigned. "I've known you for a long time, Ran-san. Ever since you began kindergarten and told me about this new friend Shinichi, I've seen the way you've spoken about Shinichi a lot more. Even though we are now in elementary school, and you both parted off on bad terms as friends, you still talk of him now as if he is the best in your eyes."

Mouri Ran took in a shaky breath. Earlier when Shinichi yelled at her about Rokuro probably having one-sided feelings, she didn't believe it.

But now, to hear it for the first time from Rokuro, her former neighbour since she was young, was shocking. Even so, Rokuro oddly didn't sound angry, if anything he sounded tired and a little sad.

"It ain't like that, Rokuro," Ran struggled to find the right words, her emotions in turmoil.

"I know, I'm sorry. I wronged Ranran as she has nothing to do with it. But why wasn't I an option? Was it because I used to be from the slum? Or is it because you see me nothing more than your friendly elder brother next door!?"

Ran stood there in the street, the weight of Rokuro's words hanging heavy in the air around her. His questions had cut deep, slicing through the layers of her emotions and forcing her to confront truths she had been avoiding. As much as his accusations stung, she knew that they were grounded in some form of reality.

"Rokuro, it's not about that," Ran's voice was soft, her own emotions a mix of vulnerability and sadness. "It's not about where you're from or how you look. It's...you know, now that you ask me that for the first time...even I myself don't know the answer."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line, and then Rokuro sighed. His voice carried a mix of resignation and understanding. "I get it, Ran-san. You don't have to explain. I've known for a while now, I guess. I just needed to hear it from you."

Ran's heart ached as she listened to Rokuro's words. She had hurt him deeply with her actions, her choices, and her unintentional neglect of their friendship. It was painful to realize that he had been carrying these feelings for a long time.

"Rokuro, I'm so sorry," her voice trembled with genuine regret. "I never meant to make you feel this way, to hurt you like this."

"It's not entirely your fault," Rokuro's tone was resigned. "I....long knew you had that for him. After all, he is better off than me in many ways. He...may have been cocky, but having heard through Sonoko that he had solved 6 major cases in Tantei Association, plus the fact that he had saved many lives in the process with Ranran...I guess I was wrong about him being a scum after all."

"Rokuro...." Ran's voice cracked with emotion.

"I....will accept by fate. I did Shinichi wrong after all in the name of jealousy, and hurt the one person who cared for him the most. As for you, Ran-san, you are a kind girl. The you that I used to know...will admit to her mistakes. So whether you quit the association or not because of your situation with Shinichi, I am always going to support you from afar."

Ran stood there, her eyes misting over as she listened to Rokuro's words. There was a mix of sadness and acceptance in his voice, and she could feel the weight of their shared history, the moments they had spent together, and the bond that had been strained by their recent actions.

"Goodbye, Ran. Take care. Tell Kogoro-Ojisan and Eri Obaa-san that I said hi."

Before Mouri Ran knew it, the phone call ended on the other side.

Rokuro's words had cut through the fog of her own conflicted feelings, forcing her to confront the truth about her actions and motivations.

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she wiped them away with a frustrated sigh. She knew she had a lot to think about and a lot to make amends for. She had hurt Rokuro deeply, and she had let her jealousy of Shinichi with Ranran cloud her judgment and actions.

As she walked down the sidewalk, lost in her thoughts, she wondered why did...Rokuro's words earlier when he professed to her sounded like her own. Deranged, twisted and also...sounded lunatic like.......like herself when she confronted Shinichi and Ranran when they officially opened Tantei Association back in their school?

"You know....considering that I am about to be arrested...I always wanted to ask: Why am I not one of your options compared to Shinichi? Is it because I ain't rich, handsome or talented than him?"

"That does it, is it because she's prettier, charming, or had she been feeding you sweet lies that I can't give you?!"

The words Rokuro said, make him sound like a loser in love.

Then the words Mouri Ran said to Shinichi when Ranran was around.....was it any different?

Both instances stemmed from a place of jealousy and hurt.

The same way...Ran felt when she was blaming Ranran for all of the things stealing Shinichi away from her.

How many times...had she heard those same words uttered out from her own mouth, never understanding how Ranran and Shinichi felt about this? Ran was the one who said it, initially, it never bothered her because she felt like Ranran was a devil with an unfair advantage, she was not in Ranran's shoes since she isn't beautiful, talented and intelligent.

Yet...after hearing those words from Rokuro said directly at Ran...Ran felt like Rokuro was no different from herself.

Ranran used to call her a lunatic in front of anyone whenever she voiced her opinions about Shinichi. Said that she should've looked at herself in the mirror.

That's right...Ran almost forgotten about it.

When all of this is said, when Shinichi didn't defend her while arguing on Sonoko's behalf, Shinichi gave her a look feeling uncomfortable with Ran's presence.

Everytime...whenever someone points out Shinichi and Ran looking good as a pair whenever they were together, he was unhappy in his eyes. It was evident but Ran always brushed it off as normal like she did. It wasn't like it was yesterday's news.

At first, they didn't think of it much, but then a year after kindergarten as they all grow older, Shinichi has grown warier about it with Sonoko's teasing behaviour and everyone around them. It's like Shinichi is a Ken-doll for Barbie, and his talent meant nothing to anyone.

Ran's heart pounded in her chest with adrenaline and she felt sick. The growing pit in her stomach made bile rise in her throat.

No wonder Shinichi desperately wanted to distance himself from her.

He probably is aware that his opinions were never going to reach her ears despite arguing with her since Ran is so stubborn. But Ranran was willing to listen to him, whenever no one would. And that was Ran's downfall, losing Shinichi because of her stubborn behaviour.

Ran thought hard about everything that had happened. Ranran was right, as much as he was at fault for not treating her well, Ran too wasn't completely innocent in all of this.

For over a year, he always comforted her whenever she cried because of his opinions.

Sure, they were harsh, but it wasn't intended to make her cry. Shinichi didn't have that in him to make her cry unless one provoke him.

And honestly speaking, she missed Shinichi.

It always felt strange to not have the intelligent boy around. They had grown up together, their mothers were best friends. He had been a part of every holiday, every birthday, every major event, from when she failed her first mock exam, to the time she couldn't do a simple math question if it wasn't for his patience.

In other words, he was there for her, but she assumed that she was there for him, it wasn't as much as Ranran was with Shinichi naturally.

Walking in the midst of her thoughts, Ran's pace slowed, "Why did I let myself become this way?" she whispered to herself. "Why did I let jealousy and hurt turn me into someone I'm not?"

"Well well well, look where the little lost sheep has wandered?"

Whipping her head, the 6-year-old girl's eyes widened to see The Snake's daughter, 10-year-old Adeline.

Ran's fingers tightened around the strap of her smartphone, her gaze steady as she faced Adeline. Not long ago, they are investigating Professor Shibuya's missing stolen eagle, linked to The Snake.  "What do you want, Adeline?"

Adeline's smirk widened, clearly enjoying the discomfort she was causing. "Oh, nothing much. Just wondering why you're out here all alone, looking like a lost puppy. Trouble in paradise with the boy you can never have?"

Ran's jaw clenched, her emotions churning beneath the surface. Adeline had a knack for hitting sore spots, and Ran was well aware that her feelings for Shinichi were far from resolved. She took a deep breath, reminding herself not to let Adeline get under her skin.

"It's none of your business," Ran replied evenly. "And I'm not in the mood for your games, Adeline."

Adeline chuckled, her gaze sharp as she studied Ran. "Ah, touchy, touchy. I'm just making conversation. But if you don't want to talk about your little detective drama, how about we discuss something more interesting?"

Ran's curiosity was piqued despite herself. "And what would that be?"

"You are following us along."

"Or else what?!"

Much to Ran's shock, Adeline had a small gun with her, "Or else you will be the one to take the bullet."

Ran's heart raced as she took in the sight of the gun in Adeline's hand. Her mind immediately went into overdrive, assessing the situation and searching for a way out. She had encountered dangerous situations before, but this was different. This involved Adeline, The Snake's daughter, who was known for her ruthlessness and cunning.

Her voice was steady, despite the fear that pulsed through her veins. "Adeline put the gun down. This isn't something you want to do."

Adeline's grin only widened, her eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and something darker. "Oh, but it is, little Ran. See, I've always wanted to get back at you after that little Ema you and that idiot heiress hung made me realize what a bully you are."

"An Ema?" Recalling the two Emas that were ruined and destroyed, Ran grew mad before confronting her, "So you were the one who ruined it!? Not Ranran!?"

Ran's mind raced as she connected the dots. The Emas that she and Sonoko had found damaged were connected to Adeline, not Ranran as she had initially thought. The anger she felt towards Adeline for her actions and her attempt to manipulate the situation mixed with the fear of the gun that was pointed at her. "Were you following me!?"

"Huh, like I would bother," Adeline cocked the gun as she scoffed disapprovingly at the girl before her, "You both wrote things that are rather disturbing, it only seems fair to break it apart, not to mention, I am just exposing a hypocrite like you."

Ran's heart raced as she stood there, facing Adeline and the gun. She knew that this situation was incredibly dangerous, and her mind raced to find a way out. She couldn't let Adeline's manipulation and threats control her.

"How dare you do this to me?!" Ran's voice was firm, trying to assert control over the situation. "Also, this is personal between me and her! How dare you meddle!?"

"Meddle? Oh, so you and that barbaric friend of yours that wrote about wishing ill onto another child's demise is considered not being meddlesome? By pleading Gods to justify both of your wrongdoings to harm someone who is innocent?" Adeline's laugh was chilling, sending shivers down Ran's spine. "Oh, little Ran, you always had such a way with words. But words won't save you now."

Recalling Sonoko's playful wish for Ranran to lose Shinichi after he sees through her manipulation and leaves Ranran forever alone, Ran then knitted her brows to confront, "What does that matter to you anyway!? You are The Snake's daughter anyway, does that she-demon matter to you?"

"S-she demon!?" Adeline's expression darkened at the mention of calling names towards the founder of Tantei Association. It was clear that Ran had struck a nerve because Adeline's grip on the gun tightened before firing a bullet at the 6-year-old's feet, making her narrowly escape with a mere jump.

"To think that behind that innocent naive face of yours, I could not have guess that you would be capable of bullying a child maliciously. Sounds like Kami-sama made a grave sin to bless you with a innocent look, despite having the ugliest of hearts I have ever encountered," Adeline hissed in disgust as her eyes narrowed. "Now get into the car, you are in for a long ride."

Ran's heart pounded in her chest as the bullet struck the ground just inches away from her feet. Fear coursed through her veins, but she refused to let it paralyze her. Adeline's actions were unpredictable and dangerous, and Ran knew that should she not listen, things will escalate further.

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

Shinichi feel slightly better than he had when he'd left.

The thought of Ran refusing to leave and continue to cause chaos within the Tantei Association still hurt like a knife being shoved down his throat, but...after baring everything to Ranran...the pain in his chest was more of a dull ache than the searing, wound that it had been.

"Do you feel like it is your fault for dragging me into this mess?"

Just as he expected, the detective flinched and took a sharp intake of breath, as if it physically pained him to hear that question to see his partner-in-crime, Kudo Ranran, following him out of the fast food restaurant, after he stormed off hearing Mouri Ran mentioned Rokuro's name.

"Ranran," he said, his voice a mixture of exhaustion and resignation. "Yes, I felt like no matter what I do, my past with Ran is not going to let me go." For the first time, her partner-in-crime was emoting something other than jaded indifference, "She keeps coming after me, and regardless of everything I have set out to accomplish, she remains here to torment me."

Ranran had followed him out because she knew that his emotional turmoil ran deep, and she wanted to be there for him, even if it meant facing her hatred towards Mouri Ran.

Shinichi's shoulders slumped, the weight of his emotions evident in his posture. He had been carrying this burden for a long time, and Ranran's presence offered a sort of comfort he hadn't expected.

"I thought by distancing myself from her, I can see a road filled with happiness. And I did until she forced her way back in," he admitted, his voice tinged with self-blame. "Ranran, what if this plan we set up not long ago backfire just like the rest of the plan? That this time...Ran is never going to leave us alone?"

"Shinichi," Ranran's voice was soft, yet resolute. "I understand, I've been in this situation before as well." She continues, putting a hand on his shoulders, "But there is a saying that 'Nothing rains forever'. Including her, she can't rain on one's parade forever."

Shinichi's eyes met Ranran's, and for the first time in a while, he found solace in someone else's understanding. Her presence, her words, were a soothing balm to his wounded emotions.

"What if this is a fail? We tried literally everything!" Shinichi let out a scoff, cutting her off.

"No, there are all sorts of ways you haven't tried with me. And this one is a definite win." Ranran promised.

Ranran's words struck a chord within Shinichi, offering a glimmer of hope in the midst of his despair. He looked at her, his eyes searching for sincerity and finding it there.

"Bet you didn't think both of your days would be this exciting when I have two birds to choose from, right?" A familiar yet dark voice forces the two Kudos to turn to see who it was.

As Shinichi and Ranran turned towards the source of the voice, their eyes fell upon a figure emerging from the shadows. The figure's face was obscured, but there was an air of familiarity about them that sent shivers down Shinichi's spine. "Adeline!"

Shinichi's grip on his emotions tightened as he recognized the person stepping out from the shadows. It was Adeline, a face he had encountered before and knew was connected to dangerous and dark circumstances. His mind raced, assessing the situation and the threat it posed.

Ranran stood beside him, her stance protective and alert. She was a partner-in-crime he had come to trust, and he knew that together, they could handle whatever challenge was thrown their way.

"Kudo Ranran and Kudo Shinichi, deshou?" the girl asked, a subtle smile playing on her face. "I've heard all about you. We have to talk."

Ranran glared at her as she and Shinichi moved away further, he stood in a defensive stance from Ranran, away from Adeline, "Well. Neither of us is going to bother talking to you."He spoke to her in anger.

But Adeline edged closer," One of you will no longer have that choice..., "Her purse was open. Shinichi could see a small gun nestled inside. "I think I can either for either of you."

"Even with a gun, don't expect us to act all so cowardly!" Ranran hotly shouted in anger.

"What a feisty girl. I do see you never change one bit." Adeline grew amused at this.

"Not that I ever know you anyway."

"I can't think of a single reason," Adeline smiled," But you're going to have to trust me if you want to see.....Mouri Ran again."

Alarm scream through Shinichi's body while alarm bells rang in Ranran's mind."What did you just say!? Ran...you kidnapped her!?"

"As if we would buy your nonsense!" Ranran rolled her eyes at her, "She is in the fast food restaurant."

"True, but then the love triangle nonsense between you, this boy, and that boy....it's all quite entertaining." Adeline's gaze bore into his, her expression a mix of fascination and amusement.

"Even so, you probably dug out intel about our little drama, then claimed Ran is with you, "Ranran shakes her head towards her in disbelief, "Just to get us to follow you."

"Does it look like I am joking," She held the smartphone before the two, one which Shinichi immediately recognized. Adeline then keeps swiping one photo after the other, revealing photos of him and her during kindergarten, as well as photos of her with Sonoko attending various events.

At his point, it was then they knew Adeline got Mouri Ran.

Shinichi's voice grew firm. "Cut to the chase, Adeline. What do you want?! We don't have time for your mind games."

"I know Majima Michio is a fake founder of the association that one of you set up to fool my father." Shinichi's eyes narrowed as Adeline's words hit home while Ranran's eyes widened. "What? Do you think I would be easily fooled? After our first date, it was evident that the idiot is too incompetent if he were the true founder! A boy who gets easily fooled by a beautiful girl like me....he is definitely not the founder."

The situation had just escalated significantly, as the children knew they needed to tread carefully.

"Now, I don't want either of you to lie to me," With the gun in Adeline's hand, she aimed at either of them, "I am certain one of you is the real founder, so, which is it?!"

Shinichi's mind raced as he assessed the situation. Adeline's knowledge of their deception put them in a precarious position. If Ranran reveals herself as the real founder, everything they worked for will collapse in an instant!

"And why makes you think you can get to the bottom of this mystery?" Ranran challenged her coldly, unaffected by the gun pointing in her and Shinichi's direction.

"Unless you want that idiotic girl whom I caught not long ago to die, I need you to come clean." Adeline's voice dripped with malice, and her eyes locked onto Ranran.

"What are you talking about?" Shinichi found himself asking.

"You didn't know, did you? That when you stormed out of that fast food restaurant earlier, that idiot long brown-haired girl went out with a phone in her ears." Adeline chuckled darkly, "So I easily caught her."

Shinichi's heart raced as he absorbed Adeline's words. The situation had taken an even more dangerous turn than he could have anticipated. Ran was now in Adeline's grasp, and it was clear that Adeline was using her as leverage to get what she wanted.

His mind worked quickly, trying to come up with a plan, but with Adeline holding a gun and Ran in danger, the stakes were higher than ever. He couldn't afford to make a rash move that could endanger Ran further.

But then Ranran too is at risk, so he needs to make a choice. Fast.

Before Ranran could reveal herself, much to her surprise, Shinichi revealed, "I am the founder."