At the Haneda Airport the following day, the departure gate of the airport buzzed with activity as passengers bustled about, preparing to board the flight to New York. Among the crowd, Ranran, Shinichi, Takuma, and their classmates gathered, their excitement palpable. The air was filled with a mix of anticipation and chatter as the students checked in, presented their passports, and went through security. 

Ranran, dressed in her usual casual attire, stood with her friends, her gaze fixed on the digital departure board. "Looks like everything's on schedule," she remarked, a small smile playing on her lips.

Shinichi, who stood beside her, nodded in agreement. "Yep, and we're all set for an adventure in the Big Apple."

Takuma, who was fiddling with his phone, chimed in. "I've heard so much about New York, but seeing it in person is going to be something else."

Even Takuma's girlfriend Reina is excited about the trip, her usually composed demeanour showing a hint of enthusiasm. She stood a few steps away from the group, her gaze scanning the surroundings as she took in the bustling airport atmosphere.

"I can't believe we're actually going to New York," Reina exclaimed, her eyes wide with wonder. "It's like a dream come true!"

"Yeah, and we're going to have so much fun exploring the city, trying out different foods, and just soaking in the whole experience." Takuma nodded in agreement, a grin on his face.

As they waited for their boarding call, the group shared stories and discussed their plans for the trip. The excitement was contagious, and their classmates joined in the conversation, sharing their own expectations and hopes for the journey ahead.

While everyone is doing their own thing, Ranran who had wandered off a bit stood frozen to see a familiar sight.

Seeing the luxurious lobby of the airport's VIP lounge, Ranran's heart skipped a beat. Memories flooded back, memories of a time when she had stood in that lobby, her world forever changed.

"Bye Ranran, live well!"

The Edgewood Academy children bid farewell to Ranran, as they are about to embark on their flight back to the U.K. with their family, leaving the 5-year-old alone with her family in Japan once more.

That's right.

Her Edgewood friends....she parted ways with them.

Ranran's gaze lingered on the VIP lounge as bitterness tugged at the corners of her red lips. The echoes of her past seemed to resonate in the air around her, a reminder of how far she had come since those days.

"Ranran, is something wrong?" Shinichi's voice brought her back to the present. He had noticed her distant expression and concern etched his features.

Ranran blinked, snapping out of her reverie, and forced a smile. "No, it's nothing. Just a bit lost in thought."

Shinichi studied her sight at the V.I.P. for a moment before asking, "Have you been in that lounge before?"

"Yeah, I have," she admitted, her voice tinged with a hint of nostalgia. "A long time ago, when I was just a kid. I last saw my friends in Edgewood there, this was after...Sonoko and Ran messed up with my late mentor's memorial at the hotel. They tell me to call them if I need anything, but....the one thing I would've wanted is to move back to the U.K. and never come back here...."

Suddenly, memories of that secret conversation between Shinichi and the Edgewood kids flooded back into his mind.

"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."

Shinichi's mind was a whirlwind of emotions as he remembered that conversation with the Edgewood children. The pieces of the puzzle were starting to fall into place, and he now had a deeper understanding of Ranran's past and the reasons behind her actions.

He looked at Ranran, his gaze softening with empathy but he said nothing.

At the age of 5, having witnessed losing a friend to murder, and to top it off, her mentor's murderers had gone scot-free while her family moved her to a foreign country she barely knows, the 6-year-old before Shinichi was clearly dealing with a complex web of emotions and traumas. Shinichi realized that he had only scratched the surface of Ranran's pain, and there was much more beneath her tough exterior.

A lot of things were running through Shinichi's mind as he stared at Ranran. When she arrived in Japan at the age of 5 while staring at him in the face that one time, he saw cold and hatred in her eyes. As well as everyone around her. Even her own parents.

Even the time when Shinichi broke into Ranran's house to get her to quit as The Fox at that time, she showed no mercy torturing him with a gun. And he is certain had he not said something back then, she wouldn't hesitate to kill him.

What happened that lead you to become what you are now, Ranran....?

Meanwhile, their classmates continued to chat and share their excitement, oblivious to the brief moment of turmoil that Ranran had experienced. That was until, Shinichi was startled to hear Takuma confronting furiously at someone, "What are you two doing here? You weren't invited on this trip!" 

Shinichi's attention snapped to Takuma's confrontation, his gaze narrowing as he tried to figure out what was going on. His eyes followed Takuma's angry stare, and his heart skipped a beat when he saw who had drawn his friend's ire.

Ranran and their classmates turned to see what was happening, and a hushed murmur spread through the group as they caught sight of the uninvited guests. Ranran's expression remained impassive, but Shinichi could sense the tension radiating from her.

Standing before Takuma were Mouri Ran and Suzuki Sonoko, their presence a surprising twist in the already eventful day. Ran's face was flushed with angered determination, her hands clenched into fists at her sides, while Sonoko appeared defiant, her chin lifted as she met Takuma's gaze head-on.

"What are you doing here, Mouri, Sonoko?" Shinichi's voice was laced with a mixture of annoyance and disbelief.

"Ran and I are just going to visit some people I haven't seen in a long time." Sonoko sarcastically replied, "Besides, you don't own the airport."

"Didn't I notify your parents not to schedule you on any trips through a private plane?" Reina crossed her arms with a frown.

"She has her uncle to do it for us anyway," Ran quickly argued back, "Her parents kept her word, but the letter didn't specify uncle included, nah?"

Shinichi's frustration grew as he watched the exchange unfold. It was clear that tensions were running high, and he could feel the weight of the unresolved issues between the two groups. He glanced at Ranran, whose expression had turned cold and calculating, and he knew that she was not taking this situation lightly.

Takuma's eyes narrowed as he crossed his arms, his voice firm. "You can't just show up uninvited and expect to join our trip. This is a school event, and only those who were invited can participate."

"Oh, come on, Takuma. You don't actually believe that, do you? After all, you've got a track record of sneaking into places you're not supposed to be." Ran's lips curved into a sarcastic smile.

Takuma's cheeks flushed slightly, but he held his ground. "That's different, and you know it. We're not the ones who caused trouble and got suspended from the class trip."

Sonoko rolled her eyes, her tone dripping with annoyance. "Oh please, don't act like you're all high and mighty. We've all made mistakes after all."

"Besides we ain't here to make amends to the she-demon," Ran rolled her eyes at them, "We are going on our two girls-only private trips!"

Shinichi felt a growing sense of exasperation as he watched the heated exchange between the two groups. It was clear that Ran and Sonoko were not backing down, and their presence was causing disruption on what was supposed to be a celebratory day.

"Ok, if you want to do a private trip between the two of you by rebelling my friend, Reina, fine. You are not under school grounds anymore," Ranran stepped forward, her voice firm. "But regardless of your intentions, if you have personal matters to attend to, that's your business, but once more, just like Mouri's days in Tantei Association before she quit yesterday, if I do find anything suspicious that ends up endangering any of us, I won't go easy on either of you."

Ranran's words hung in the air, a clear warning that she wasn't going to tolerate any trouble or endangerment. The tension in the group escalated, and for a moment, it seemed like the situation could spiral out of control.

Soon, the departure gate announcement came over the intercom, signalling that it was time for their group to board the plane.

The announcement served as a temporary distraction, and the tense standoff between the two groups eased slightly. The classmates began to gather their belongings and move towards the boarding gate, the urgency of the situation pulling their attention away from the brewing conflict.

As they made their way towards the boarding gate, Ranran's gaze drifted back to the VIP lounge entrance once more. She took a deep breath, reminding herself to focus on the journey ahead, on the mysteries they were about to unravel in New York.

"Oh, that's me. Bye, everyone!" Sonoko said, smirking at their surprised faces and winking subtly at a grinning Ran. To be honest, while Sonoko had planned to go overseas for a while now, she lined her trip up with their class on purpose, because it was the perfect opportunity to dampen the mood of those idiots who blindly listened to that she-demon.

And Shinichi could see that Sonoko is doing this on purpose.

As Sonoko walked away with a triumphant smirk, the tension in the air began to dissipate, but the lingering unease remained. The group continued to move towards the boarding gate, their footsteps echoing in the bustling airport. Ranran's expression remained inscrutable, but Shinichi could sense that her mind was racing, processing the unexpected turn of events.

Reina, who had been relatively silent during the confrontation, turned to Ranran with a quizzical look. "Ranran, do you think they're up to something? I mean, coming here like this..."

Ranran's gaze remained fixed on the departing figure of Sonoko, her thoughts churning. "They are trying to expose me as The Fox."

"Wait, how can you tell?"Shinichi leaned in, his curiosity piqued.

"Mouri and Sonoko had their pride, after refusing to apologize, not to mention, Mouri having quit the association as I made her sign the pledge to not air out a word about the eagle case we are working on, they want revenge. Exposing me as the infamous anonymous child Tantei 'The Fox' is the perfect way to get back at me." Ranran sighed, "Also, I am pretty sure Sonoko intentionally arrange for their flight to coincide with the same timing as us, is a warning from them to me."

"Those bloody girls!" Takuma was going to punch them.

"Takuma, stop," Ranran raised a hand, stopping Takuma before he could escalate the situation further. "Don't throw away your promising career as an American Football athlete for those low lives."

 "You're right, Ranran. I won't let them get to me." Takuma took a deep breath and nodded, his fists slowly unclenching.

 "This definitely complicates things. If they're planning to expose you as The Fox, won't it ruin everything you, Shinichi and Takuma are planning to investigate later on?" Reina grew worried.

"Leave it to me," Shinichi raised his hand to pat himself on the shoulder, "I will arrange certain matters to prevent such things from happening."

Growing curious, Ranran asked, "What will that be?"

Shinichi's lips curled into a confident smile. "Let's just say, I have a few tricks up my sleeve. I'll make sure their attempts to expose you won't succeed."

As soon as they headed to the boarding gate, Shinichi made one phone call discreetly, "Hey, guys, it's me, Kudo Shinichi. I don't know if either of you is free, but I might need some of you in New York City....."

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

The plane ride was long but filled with anticipation. The students settled into their seats, talking and laughing as they imagined the adventures that awaited them. Ranran, Shinichi, and Takuma sat together, sharing stories and making plans for their time in New York.

Reina, who was seated nearby, occasionally joined in the conversation, her usual composed demeanour giving way to genuine excitement. It was a rare sight, and everyone noticed the change in her. Ranran couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction, knowing that she and her friends had played a part in bringing about this change.

Throughout the flight, Ranran's mind wandered between the excitement of the upcoming adventure and the lingering tension from the confrontation with Mouri Ran and Suzuki Sonoko. She leaned back in her seat, her gaze fixed on the window as the landscape below changed from city lights to darkness, a sea of twinkling stars illuminating the night sky.

Shinichi noticed her contemplative expression and leaned in closer. "You alright, Ranran?"

Ranran turned her head to meet his gaze, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "Yeah, just thinking about everything that's happened."

"It's been quite a day," Takuma added, his voice filled with a mix of exhaustion and anticipation.

"I never expected to see Mouri and Sonoko here," Ranran mused. "But I guess life has its way of throwing surprises at us."

Shinichi nodded in agreement. "True, but we'll deal with whatever comes our way. Also, I have...made some arrangements through my contacts in New York City."

"Wait, you have contacts in New York City?" Reina interest was piqued. 

"I won't be surprised, his mom loves to fly over to New York City when she isn't in Los Angeles with her husband." Ranran deduces.

"What did you tell your contacts to do to them?" Takuma asked.

 "Let's just say...they won't be causing any trouble for us," Shinichi replied with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

As the conversation continued, the group settled into a more relaxed atmosphere. The plane's cabin had grown quieter as most of the passengers succumbed to sleep, and the soft hum of the engines provided a soothing backdrop.

It was then, Ranran fell into a deep slumber, recalling memories from her past.

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

3-year-old Kudo Ranran hated ugly feelings.

Growing up in front of the tv at the age of 2, if she sees any character that is angry, jealous, sad, or fearful, she could not stand the sight of anyone experiencing them. Especially if it came out of malicious characters. Back then, it was easy to say she won't turn out like them.

At the same time, her resentment towards many things in life was in a way, justifiable.

Especially when the subjects in question she hates the most, are those kids who didn't deserve happily ever after.

Kudo Ranran's parents noticed her sensitivity to negative emotions early on, and they did their best to shield her from anything that could trigger her discomfort. They only allowed her to watch children's programs that portrayed happy and positive stories, and they tried to avoid exposing her to any news or events that might upset her. For a while, that worked.

But then moving from the slums to the rich neighbourhood changed everything.

When she lived in the slums, she had a social life for over 9 months. But all of that collapsed in an instant as soon as her parents forcefully moved her away.

They argued for several days, at war over moving there. While her dad and grandparents agreed with the mother, the then 2-year-old refused. Going there means she had to go to school, and Ranran detests school.

Unlike most 2-year-olds who are unaware when parents lie that school is a wonderful place to make friends and learn new things, Ranran was a whole different kind of child.

Endless classes, homework, and extracurricular activities.

And that was enough, to sum up, the life that will lay ahead of her should Ranran say yes.

However, her parents were firm in their decision, and soon, Ranran schemed all sorts of stuff to flee. And she was surprisingly crafty.

She locked her bedroom door, but that didn't work.

She then tried running away, but her parents always caught her before she could get far. She even suggested homeschooling, again another no.

At some point in her life, she did consider maybe she should go join some child beggar scam scheme, but then that would mean she would not only have to pay the adult in charge most of her earnings and be exploited, and she didn't want that. It's shameless and humiliating. Also, she hates the thought of begging for hours and getting no money it's beyond something her pride could handle.

The last straw was when someone attempted to assassinate her.

Long story short, the moving date was moved forward and she was sent to Edgewood Academy in a heartbeat.

The starting point at first was smooth, she got her own bedroom, PS5, and supercomputer (mostly those two mentioned belonged to her dad).

It didn't help that she would be sent to a prestigious school, Ranran hates school. The homework, the early hours of waking up to prepare and head to school, even the rules she had to follow...there is no more free time for her to play video games anymore, let alone, sit in front of the tv all day to watch for several hours, unsupervised while the parents go out to work.

If that wasn't bad enough, she had to do hours of etiquette lessons on becoming a lady, learn several hours of tuition for different languages, and even as far as to learn how to behave. Before, that didn't matter to her parents at all. She gets to play wherever she wants, eat the way she likes, and even go as far as to sleep and wake up whatever she wants.

It didn't help her that she has to see kids who were bloody mean, selfish, and entitled. They would make fun of other kids, especially those who came from humble backgrounds like Ranran.

Though Ranran's erratic behaviour is enough to deter them from harassing her, she felt like she was in a completely different world, and she didn't like it. She saw how some of her classmates would throw tantrums if they didn't get what they wanted, and she couldn't understand why her parents sent her to this hellish place.

The more she saw the ugly side of her classmates, the more she started to feel anger and resentment build up inside her. It's suffocating, so suffocating. But her parents called her out for being a dramatic child.

Did she ever ask for this? To become rich and live with all of this!?

Why don't they just abandon her then!? She doesn't want to go to that place called Edgewood Academy! She hates homework, she hates the rules, and she hates everything surrounding it. This isn't her home, the slums are!

But that is how it was, in this world....the children have no control over living the life they want, and the adults always get the final say. She wants to live life on her own terms.

Despite her parents' efforts to make her happy and comfortable, Ranran found it hard to adjust to her new life. She missed her old friends and the freedom she had to do whatever she wanted. She struggled with the expectations placed on her to be a well-mannered and accomplished young lady, and she felt trapped in a world that she didn't understand. Didn't understand why she had to live this way.

Suddenly, she is living a life of a marionette.

Every moment of her day was planned and scheduled. She had no say in what she wanted to do, and the little time she had to herself was filled with strict expectations and requirements. She felt trapped and suffocated.

The other kids at school were all so different from her - they had fancy clothes and expensive toys, and they seemed to be living in a different world altogether. They didn't understand what it was like to grow up with nothing.

She wished she could be home with her friends in the slums, watch happy cartoons on TV, and never set foot in a school again. But that was a distant dream she will never achieve.

From that moment on, her resentment towards her parents grew. But mostly towards her mother, who Ranran felt sold away her childhood where she could've sat in front of the TV or computer the whole day in the name of luxury. Kids in her school used to call her ungrateful.

Before she knew it, her ugly emotions threatened to explode.

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

In a way, had she not met her mentor, a 7-year-old dirty blonde-haired little boy who is homeschooled when she was 3, it would've twisted her emotions even further.

Telling all of this to him one day while leaning outside the opposite gate of his mansion, after managing to skip school while he was in the garden playing, she ended the story with, "And that is the story of how my parents sold my additional 3 years of my childhood that I could've spent watching TV and playing video games...into a luxury hellish jungle called Edgewood Academy where I had to do homework, homework and more homework!"

The dirty blonde-haired boy who had been quietly listening to her woes, all of a sudden said, "Edgewood...it has been 2 years huh since I have been there."

Ranran was surprised by the sudden shift in topic, but she played along and asked, "You've been there too?"

The boy nodded, a smirk forming on his lips. "Yeah, I was a student there for a year when I was 5. I missed that place."

Ranran raised an eyebrow. "You....missed that boring place?!"

"It ain't that boring," The boy chuckled. "If you know your way around and know where to look, it is a fun place."

Ranran rolled her eyes. "Sounds like a nightmare to me. I don't want to be stuck in a place like that."

"Is...video gaming that fun?"

"Eh!?" Ranran grew startled, "Did you not play video games before!?"

"I did, but not the latest ones you mentioned." The elder boy shrugged. "I mostly play old games like 'Super Mario Bros.' and 'Legend of Zelda.' You know, the classics."

Ranran chuckled. "Those are good games, but you should try playing some new ones too. There are some really cool ones out there."

The boy shrugged again. "Maybe I will someday. But for now, I'm content with playing the old ones. They have a special place in my heart. But..." He cast his eyes sadly, "It's also been years since I played anything like that."

"Why? Did your mom not get you any new games?" That piqued her curiosity.

"My mother..."He sighed deeply, "All she ever had in mind is to groom me to be the perfect pianist she wants me to be."

Ranran's eyes widened in surprise, "You play the piano too?"

The boy nodded, "Yes, I have been playing since I was three. It's the only thing my mother wants me to do."

"That's sad," Ranran said sympathetically, "you should be able to do what you love."

The boy shrugged, "It's not that bad, I actually enjoy playing the piano. But sometimes, I wish I could do other things too."

As she looked at the boy, a strange realization hit her. "If you said the school was cool, why did you end up getting homeschooled?"

The boy looked down at his feet, his expression suddenly solemn. "I protected someone from a girl I am engaged to," he explained softly.

"Hah!?"

"This woman...brought a baby over while paying a friend in Edgewood a visit. I offered to look after that child...but my arranged fiance grew jealous and struck me."

The girl's expression softened as she listened. "I'm sorry, I didn't know," she said gently.

"It's okay," the boy replied with a small smile. "It's not something I usually talk about."

"A ps5, your dad's computer, all of that doesn't come with slum life, Ranran. It will take years to earn it on your own had you remained there. Also, your house from what you told me... sounds too toxic for a 2-year-old to survive. I think had your parents remained another year, you probably couldn't have survived."

"But..." The 3-year-old still couldn't smile much about it, "To keep me alive in exchange for making me live a life of a marionette, living a life of a noble girl...I don't think it's worth it."

"It is to a mother, no matter how sad your life is now, even if this isn't the life you want...a mother would not want their child to die. And you ain't completely living like a marionette compared to the other children who lived their whole lives here since birth. You still get to play video gaming, even though the time has shortened a lot drastically."

"That is selfish. She isn't considering what I want."

"That is what mothers do, Ranran. It's their job to make you live the life you can't always have if it meant keeping you alive."

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

The most painful form of resentment was when 4-year-old Kudo Ranran watches what the future Mouri Ran did to her on a projector that can predict one's future.

She felt a deep sense of resentment growing inside her, a feeling that she had never experienced before.

"Ah, gomene. Don't misunderstand, Ranran didn't mean to do harm towards me back then."

Those were the words that stuck with Ranran to this day, read out by a future woman who published an unauthorized criminal biography about her, reaping profits as she gleefully reads this in front of an awe audience live on stage. The scenario that was being described was that Ranran accused Mouri Ran of stealing a bento box from one of the children in class 1-A, which would've been her future when she turn 6.

What she didn't know at that time was, Ranran was lied to.

A sense of resentment simmered within 4-year-old Kudo Ranran, her small frame tense as she watched the projection unfold before her. The future Mouri Ran's words, who turn 17-years-old, echoed in her mind, and she couldn't help but feel a mixture of confusion and frustration. The accusations seemed petty, yet the emotions behind them were raw and real.

As the projection ended, leaving Ranran in stunned silence, she couldn't shake off the unease that settled in her chest. She felt a weight on her shoulders as if she was being judged by her future self for something she hadn't even done yet. In appearance, the woman in question was the one who interviewed Mouri Ran in the future.

But the present person Ranran knew this woman as....was Christopher's arranged fiance, Ernestine, who is 8 years old.

And in this projected future, this was after Ranran was shot to death at the age of 17 during a shootout, and Ernestine invited Mouri Ran over to be interviewed about Ranran's life.

The projected scene continued to play out in front of 4-year-old Ranran's eyes, each word and action etching itself into her memory. She felt an overwhelming mix of emotions: confusion, anger, and a deep sense of betrayal.

As the projection reached its conclusion, the image of the older Ernestine addressing the audience remained on the screen. She looked directly at the camera, her gaze piercing and confident. "You see, ladies and gentlemen, even at a young age, Ranran had a tendency to twist the truth to her advantage. I must clarify that her accusations against me were baseless. I never stole anyone's bento box. It's a testament to her manipulative nature."

The words stung Ranran like a slap to the face.

Throughout the past 2 years she had known Christopher, Ranran had personally witnessed the 8-year-old Ernestine abuse him emotionally and physically, mentally breaking him until he almost committed murder as Ernestine wanted him to, thanks to this damn projector.

She never had a good impression of Ernestine, not one bit since Ranran first met. But probably not as much as this Mouri Ran girl who she will eventually meet as soon as her parents move her to Japan.

Here she is, although not shown, agreeing to do this interview and speaking as if she knew Ranran.

"She is often pestering Shinichi about here and there, but I can't blame her since she had a childhood where her parents are constantly working. The idiotic villainess who always tries to drive me and Shinichi apart you watched on TV." The future Ernestine read out Mouri Ran's words.

4-year-old Ranran was appalled, who the heck is this Mouri Ran? Also, pester Shinichi? Who is Kudo Shinichi anyway?!

"Then again, at that time...judging the circumstances of how Ranran was born, Shinichi did give her a hard time growing up." Ernestine read out the biography. "So she ain't solely at fault."

Ranran's small fists clenched at her sides as she watched the projection unfold. The feeling of resentment was growing stronger by the minute, fueled by the unfairness of the situation and the portrayal of her in such a negative light. She felt like her very essence was being judged and manipulated by someone who didn't even know her.

"Also, I should've said something back then whenever Shinichi kept accusing Ranran of things she didn't do. Such when I cried thanks to her idiotic words for example, when I was telling Sonoko that I might marry Shinichi someday but she overheard it, and then she said I was being an overly ambitious crybaby, I sobbed. Then Shinichi confronted her for bullying me, but I was too upset and angry at her, I purposefully didn't tell him the truth, so I made her suffer more when he told everyone in the school to stay away from her. I was around 6 when that happened."

The future Ernestine's words continued to echo in her mind, each sentence digging deeper into her already wounded heart. "She's a master of deception, always trying to manipulate others to get what she wants. It's no surprise that she ended up on a dark path, wanting people to love her the wrong way."

The projected scene continued to unfold, showing snippets of Mouri Ran's interview and her interactions with various people. Ranran watched as the future Mouri Ran spoke about her experiences, her friendships, and her perspectives. Each word seemed to dig deeper into Ranran's heart, fueling her resentment.

As the projection came to an end, the older Ernestine addressed the audience once more. "Ranran's tendency to manipulate situations for her benefit is a trait that has persisted throughout her life. Her actions may seem innocent on the surface, but they often have underlying motives."

"She managed to deceive even her closest friends," Ernestine's voice rang out, dripping with disdain at future Shinichi's words, "But I saw through her facade. I saw the darkness lurking within her. She is a pathetic lonely girl who used her intelligence and charm to manipulate those around her, all while maintaining a facade of innocence."

4-year-old Ranran's eyes welled up with tears as she struggled to process the onslaught of accusations. It felt like a nightmare, a twisted version of her life being painted before her eyes.

The final blow came as the projection showed a hypothetical reading.

"I tried to reach out to her, to help her see the errors of her ways. But she was too far gone, consumed by her own darkness. It's a tragedy, really, how someone with so much potential could fall so far."

The dream shifted, and Ranran found herself standing in a dimly lit room, facing the older Ernestine. "You're all just twisting everything!" she shouted, her voice quivering with emotion.

8-year-old Christopher who just entered the theatre room having seen Ranran like this rushed to shut down the projector before attempting to comfort the 4-year-old, he didn't think she would eventually smarten up and learn of the projector's existence.

The projection abruptly ended, leaving 4-year-old Ranran panting and trembling. She was drenched in sweat, her heart racing, as she tried to process the overwhelming emotions that had been stirred within her.

Christopher's comforting presence helped soothe her to some extent, but the feeling of resentment continued to linger. She felt a deep sense of injustice as if her very identity had been twisted and distorted by someone else's interpretation.

"Ranran, it's okay," Christopher's voice was gentle as he held her trembling form. "It's just a projection, a glimpse of one possible future. It doesn't define who you are."

"I don't want to move to Japan anymore, Christopher, I am scared! I would rather die than move there!" She sobbed into Christopher's shoulder, her small body shaking with each cry.

Christopher held her tightly, his voice filled with reassurance. "You don't have to go through this alone, Ranran. I'll be there with you every step of the way. And no matter what happens, I'll always believe in you."

"But they are not wrong, I am cunning and scheming."

"It doesn't make you a bad child, Ranran. Don't cry."

"Who is this Kudo Shinichi?! Who is this Mouri Ran!? And that Suzuki Sonoko!? I don't want to see them!"

Christopher continued to hold Ranran, his soothing presence providing some comfort to the distraught 4-year-old. "I know it's overwhelming right now, but you have me."

"I hate them, I wish they die! Don't tell me not to hate them!"

"It's okay to hate, Ranran. It's only natural one would hate," Christopher comforted her as she sobbed in his arms.

No matter how upset Ranran was, she always knew Christopher cared for her genuinely. Be it if she is the most cunning schemer hated by many, he still cherished her despite her doomed future.

Eventually, by December, Christopher couldn't keep that promise.

For he ended up getting murdered by his mother, right in front of the helpless 4-year-old Ranran.

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

On a rainy day at the gravestone, 4-year-old Ranran eyes turned cold as she stood before Christopher's grave, her small form drenched by the falling rain. In her Edgewood School uniform, she clutched a single red rose in her hand, her knuckles turning white from the force of her grip.

Today was supposedly the day she began school after that incident, but the heart to study had died alongside with him.

In this world they lived in, they had to rob the one thing that mattered to Ranran so heartlessly.

And soon, she will perish a miserable life in Japan.

"Christopher, considering you died for my sake...I will make full use of my borrowed time," she whispered, her voice trembling with a mixture of anger and sorrow. "Letting them die....it will be an easy way out for them."

Tears mixed with rainwater streamed down her cheeks as she stared at the gravestone, her heart heavy with grief. She had lost her closest friend, her confidant, the one who had been there for her in her darkest moments.

Ranran's resentment had grown into a raging fire, fueled by the pain of losing someone she held dear. She felt a deep sense of injustice, a burning anger at the world that had taken Christopher away from her. She just wants to be comforted continuously, hearing his words that tell her it will be alright.

But that would be a sweet lie he can not utter again.

"So I shall weave a hell so hellish for them, they will be on their knees begging me to end their lives." she hissed, her small fists clenched at her sides. "When I move to Japan, by the time they turn back, they won't see it coming. The 'me' in that projector...she is too stupid and clueless to do a thing. I'll show them what I'm capable of. I won't let them trample over me and use me like they did to you."

She placed the red rose on the gravestone, a symbol of her undying resolve. "I will live, eat, sleep, rest and smile luxuriously as you wanted me to, Christopher. Because only then...I will earn the front-row seat to watch their early demise!"

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

Before Shinichi knows it, he could see Ranran who is sitting next to him asleep, but sweating profusely and trembling slightly. He gently places a comforting hand on her shoulder, trying to wake her from what seems like a distressing dream. "Ranran, whatever is going on wake up. It's just a dream," he softly says, his voice filled with concern.

Ranran stirs awake, her eyes wide with fear before they focus on Shinichi's face. She takes a moment to catch her breath and compose herself, her chest still heaving from the remnants of the intense emotions she experienced in her dream. "Ah crap, are we still not in New York City yet?"

Shinichi offers a reassuring smile, his hand still on her shoulder. "No, we're not in New York yet. We're still on the plane. You had a pretty intense dream there, Ranran. Are you okay?"

Ranran takes a deep breath and nods, rubbing her eyes to clear away the remnants of her dream. "Yeah, I'm fine. It was just...a really weird dream. Sorry if I woke you up."

"Don't worry about it," Shinichi replies, his voice gentle. "Dreams can be pretty powerful sometimes. Do you want to talk about it?"

Ranran hesitates for a moment, her brows furrowing as she recalls the vivid details of the dream. "Just Mouri Ran causing problems."

Shinichi raises an eyebrow, intrigued by her response. "Mouri Ran causing problems? In your dream? Man, I know she is causing problems in real life for us, but to do that in your dream...she really is getting you under your skin."

"Is it?"

"When she joined Tantei Association during the past horrible 2 months of our lives, I keep having nightmares too," Shinichi chuckles softly, giving her a reassuring pat on the back. "Don't worry about it, like I said earlier...I had contacts in New York City, she is going to regret causing problems if she tried to do anything funny, like exposing you as The Fox."

Ranran manages a small smile, feeling comforted by Shinichi's words. "Thanks, Shinichi. I appreciate you looking out for me. And I'm sorry if I woke you up with my dream."

"No need to apologize," Shinichi replies, his voice warm. "I did you wrong after becoming your apprentice, Mouri who didn't like that I parted ways with you and become happier kept on harassing us both. I owed that to you."

Ranran's smile widens slightly, her heart feeling lighter with Shinichi's understanding and reassurance. "You've done more than enough, Shinichi. And you know, even though Mouri Ran might be causing problems, I'm not going to let her get the best of me, whether it's in real life or in my dreams."

Shinichi chuckles softly. "That's the spirit, Ranran. You're a lot stronger than you think, and you've already proven that many times."

Ranran's gaze softens as she looks at Shinichi. "And you're always there for me, even in my dreams."

Shinichi gives her a warm smile. "Always."

"Well, I will be heading to the washroom first. Are you heading?"

"No, you do what you need to do."

Ranran nods and gives Shinichi a small grin. "Alright then, I'll be back in a bit." She unbuckles her seatbelt and stands up, stretching her limbs before making her way to the washroom.

As Ranran walks down the narrow aisle of the plane, Shinichi made sure she left before making a phone quietly to his 'contacts', "How many of you are coming again?"

"All of us."

"All!?" Shinichi's eyes widened before counting on his fingers, "Ranran has...a lot of friends in Edgewood, huh?"

Shinichi's 'contacts' chuckle softly on the other end of the line. "You would be surprised."

"I appreciate you all doing this for her. Just make sure to be careful and not attract too much attention."

"Don't worry, we're professionals at this. We'll handle it discreetly. Just let us know if there's anything specific we should be aware of."

"Got it. Thanks again."

As the call ends, Shinichi leans back in his seat, deep in thought. Hopefully, things can be smoothen out.