"What is there to be odd about? She is a criminal's daughter, she probably saw the worst things that Shinichi had to deal with." Michio quipped.

"Is it? I don't think so," Emiko shook her head, a thoughtful expression on her face. "In Shinichi's statement, Adeline was asking all sorts of questions attempting to get to the bottom over why he had bad blood with Mouri, but oddly close with Ranran."

"Maybe she is just attempting to get leverage of the association member to report to her father, The Snake?" Junko argued.

"That was what I thought so too, till I read Mouri Ran's report." Emiko passed on the paper to the two other members.

Michio and Junko took the paper from Emiko and began reading Mouri Ran's account of the incident. As they read, their expressions shifted from curiosity to surprise.

"Wait a minute, the Ema that Mouri Ran hung at that temple the other day with her best friend, Sonoko...Adeline was the one who vandalized the Ema!? Not Ranran!?" Junko gasped reading about this.

But that was nothing, compared to Michio's reaction, "Adeline...sounded bothered? That Sonoko and Mouri Ran wrote demeaning things about Ranran? She....even called Ran a bully!?"

"Exactly. Adeline's response to the vandalism of the Ema is quite telling. She didn't seem pleased about the derogatory messages written about Ranran. In fact, she defended Ranran by calling her a 'bully.' And when Mouri called Ranran a 'she-demon', her expression according to Mouri said if looks could kill, that would be it. It's almost as if she has some sort of attachment or loyalty to Ranran." Emiko nodded, her eyes serious as she watched their reactions.

Michio's eyes widened as she processed this information. "So, Adeline has a connection to Ranran? But why would she protect her? It doesn't make sense."

"Perhaps there's a hidden side to Adeline that we haven't uncovered yet." Emiko muses.

"Or, she could've just played herself as that just so no one suspects her when she strikes!" Junko pushes the paper back with a spat, "Anyway, aside from that, let's look into Professor Hoga's whereabouts by heading to Teitan University. I'll go prepare our bikes over since we are running a bit low on our funds since we kept on hiring cab service."

As Junko left, Emiko and Michio remained deep in thought, mulling over the information they had just uncovered. "Neh Michio."

"Hmph?"

"When you were on that date with Adeline before you learn that she was The Snake's daughter, did she even mention anything about knowing Ranran?"

"No, I was careful not to mention her name, cause at that time when Ranran and Shinichi registered Tantei Association under the school as an after-school club, I had my name put down to prevent anyone from knowing that Ranran was the true founder. Even Shinichi forbade me from uttering her name unless it is necessary." Michio replied.

"I see," Emiko nodded, processing the information. "Then what about Ranran? Did anything about her gave it away that she may have known who Adeline is?"

"Not that I know off."

Emiko leaned back in her chair, deep in thought. "It's perplexing. If Adeline and Ranran do have some sort of connection, it's well hidden. But the way Adeline reacted to certain things, especially her defence of Ranran, suggests there might be more to their relationship than we initially thought."

"Aside from the kidnapping part, I still can't understand why would Adeline orchestrate the kidnapping behind her Tousan's back," Michio rubbed his temples, his mind working through the puzzle. "I thought they are on the same side."

"Neither would I," Emiko tapped her fingers on the table, lost in contemplation. "Is there a power struggle within the criminal organization between her and her Tousan, which is why she did that?"

"She is 10 like me, what could she do anyway," Michio scoffed.

"I don't know...but why do I get the feeling that if we have the answer to this question, it changes everything for us." Emiko's gaze remained fixed on the table, her mind racing as she considered the possibilities.

As they spoke, Junko returned to the room, her face determined. "Alright, the bikes are ready. Let's head to Teitan University and see if we can gather any information about Professor Hoga's whereabouts."

"You better go, otherwise, you are bound to see Junko turned she-hulk over Adeline," Emiko elbowed Michio.

Michio chuckled and stood up from his chair, nodding at Junko. "Alright, let's get going then. The sooner we find out about Professor Hoga, the better."

Emiko and Junko followed suit, and the three of them headed out of the association's main HQ. As they walked towards their bikes, Emiko couldn't shake the feeling that they were on the brink of a significant revelation.

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

The wind rustled through their hair as they rode their bikes towards Teitan University, the streets bustling with activity around them. The university campus came into view, its grand buildings and well-maintained gardens a stark contrast to the gritty investigations they had been undertaking.

Junko parked her bike, and the trio made their way towards the university's main building. They entered the reception area, where students bustled about, going about their daily activities.

"Neh girls, are we going to inquire about Professor Hoga? You girls came here before and lied that you were students doing research on nuclear science. I am worried that since Sergeant Genzo was put in charge to locate Professor Hoga since he had gone missing, he could've told the others that we are from Tantei Association." Michio frowned as they entered the campus.

"Don't worry about that, I have a plan," Junko insists before revealing, "In our cover story, we were part of a school project about famous scientists and their contributions to society. We can say that we're doing a follow-up research assignment to delve deeper into Professor Hoga's work and accomplishments. It's a believable reason to be here."

Emiko nodded in agreement. "That's a good approach, Junko. It's important to maintain our cover and avoid any unnecessary attention."

The trio moved through the campus, blending in with the crowd of students. Emiko noticed a bulletin board covered with flyers and announcements. She paused for a moment, pretending to read one of the flyers while keeping an eye out for any potential sources of information. It was then she noticed something strange.

"Huh...Professor Hoga has no trophies is strange." Emiko frowned.

"In what way is that odd? There are Professors who don't achieve a thing," Michio gave a side-eye glance at the artist.

Emiko shook her head. "No, that's not what I mean. It's just that...any university would have something to show for it. Look at the memorabilia glass casing here," She directed them at the shelf, "There are other professors' names mentioned on it, but Professor Hoga's name ain't on it."

Junko and Michio exchanged puzzled glances, clearly intrigued by Emiko's observation. "You're right, Emiko. It is strange that there's no mention of Professor Hoga's achievements or memorabilia here," Junko commented, her analytical mind at work.

"Could it be that he hasn't made any significant contributions that the university wants to showcase?" Junko offered a suggestion. "He is a lecturer after all. I doubt it is a big deal."

Emiko's eyes narrowed as she continued to examine the bulletin board. "I remembered Professor Hoga mentioned to us that when they started university life here, Professor Shibuya graduated ahead of him before becoming a lecturer here, then later got his job in NASA before he was forced to resign after that allegation of him embezzling funds came up. Considering Professor Shibuya is smart, that meant it is likely he had achievements or memorabilia displayed here under this university, right?"

Junko and Michio exchanged glances once again, considering Emiko's point.

"But like NASA, don't forget Professor Shibuya has been disgraced." Junko pointed out, "No university would retain an award of someone who is accused of being a thief."

"Alright, put it this way, Professor Hoga and Professor Shibuya....they are the same age, right? Since he mentioned they joined the foundation together?" Emiko suddenly remembered.

"Yes, they should be around the same age and likely started their university life around the same time. Why do you ask?" Michio tilted his head.

"I mean...Professor Hoga is a lecturer while Professor Shibuya is working at NASA overseas....they enrolled around the same time....and yet, Professor Hoga has no achievement memorabilia from the university he graduated from...."

Junko's eyes widened as realization dawned on her. "Wait a minute...are you suggesting that Professor Hoga might be.....jealous of Professor Shibuya's success?"

Michio was surprised as well at that possibility. "What is there to be jealous of by the way? If he was so jealous, then why bother to help Professor Shibuya to move out his things while Professor Shibuya was in danger?"

"To avoid suspicion Michio, think about it," Emiko snap her finger to explain, "He knew where Professor Shibuya lives, he also happens to be his only close friend in Japan besides Professor Agasa, let's face it, he is too suspicious."

"Do you think Professor Hoga knows the layout of the house?" Suddenly something dawned on Michio, "I remembered the downstairs of Professor Shibuya's house was not ransacked, but the upper stairs were. Considering Professor Hoga is friends with Shibuya, it would make sense why the thieves didn't target downstairs because Hoga likely knew where the stolen eagle was placed."

"Exactly, Michio. You've hit upon a critical point," Emiko replied with a nod of approval. "Either Professor Hoga did it in person, which would explain why the thieves didn't target the downstairs area, or Professor Hoga informed or directed those thieves to where the stolen eagle was located."

All we have to go on is mere speculation," Junko's expression was contemplative. "We don't even know whether Professor Shibuya had achievements in this university."

"Then why don't we ask around this campus then?" Michio figures.

"Where?"

"We can start by talking to some of the professors or staff members who have been at the university for a while," Emiko suggested. "They might have insights into the academic achievements and interactions of both Professor Hoga and Professor Shibuya. If there were any incidents or disputes between them, it's possible that someone might remember."

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

The following day as the sun rises in the Big Apple while the sun sets in Japan, Mr Miki took class of 1-A to the promised waterpark, and the children there had a blast.

The sun was shining brightly, and a sense of anticipation filled the air. The children chatted and laughed as they arrived at the waterpark, their excitement growing with each step.

As they entered the indoor waterpark, their eyes widened at the sight before them. Colourful water slides, lazy rivers, and splash pads stretched out in every direction, promising a day filled with fun and adventure. The children's energy was contagious, and even Mr Miki couldn't help but grin as he watched their eager faces.

"Alright, everyone, listen up!" Mr Miki called out, trying to gather the kids' attention. "We're here to have a fantastic time, but safety comes first. Make sure to follow the lifeguards' instructions, stay with your assigned groups, and always watch out for each other. Let's make unforgettable memories today!"

With a resounding cheer, the children dispersed, eager to explore and make the most of their day at the waterpark. They quickly changed into their swimwear and headed straight for the various attractions, their laughter and shouts of excitement filling the air.

Some of the kids raced down water slides, their screams of delight echoing as they zoomed through twists and turns. Others lounged in the lazy river, floating along as they soaked up the sun, its rays penetrating the glass roof. The splash pads were a hit as well, with kids running through spraying water and giggling as they dodged the playful jets.

"So nice without Mouri and Suzuki around," Shinichi cheered alongside Ranran, as he aimed the water gun at her.

Ranran nodded in agreement, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she aimed the gun at Shinichi. "Indeed, it's quite peaceful without their colourful personalities."

Shinichi chuckled and playfully ducked behind a nearby water feature to avoid Ranran's spray. "No arguments there. It's a refreshing change of pace."

Ranran laughed and continued to chase him around, the two of them engaged in a friendly water gunfight. As they darted behind obstacles and dodged each other's shots, their laughter resonated throughout the waterpark.

Nearby, Takuma and Reina had teamed up for a friendly competition on the water slides. They challenged each other to see who could go down the slide the fastest, their competitive spirits driving them to give it their all.

"You're not getting away that easily, Takuma!" Reina called out with determination as she positioned herself at the top of the slide.

Takuma grinned, ready to accept the challenge. "Bring it on, Reina!"

With a countdown from another excited child, they both pushed off and raced down the slide, the rush of water and wind against their faces adding to the thrill of the moment. The kids waiting at the bottom cheered them on, creating a lively atmosphere of friendly competition and camaraderie.

Soon, all of the fun was brought to a halt, when Reina received a notification from her smartphone. And it was evident Reina was displeased as Takuma noticed her expression.

"What is wrong, Reina?" Her 6-year-old boyfriend Takuma rushed over to see his girlfriend looking displeased.

"Do you remember me announcing to the entire class that Mouri and Suzuki must write a total of 'I am sorry for harassing Ranran and Shinichi' 1000 times? The submission date is today."

Takuma's eyes widened as he realized the implications of Reina's words. "Oh no, you don't mean..."

Reina nodded solemnly. "Yes, Takuma. Today is the deadline for Mouri and Suzuki to submit their apologies. Which they did."

"......but?" Takuma prompted her to continue.

"But they managed to turn it into a 'creative' assignment," Reina sighed, scrolling through the photos Mouri and Suzuki had sent. "Instead of writing 'I am sorry for harassing Ranran and Shinichi' a thousand times, they drew a thousand doodles of Ranran and Shinichi with speech bubbles saying 'We're sorry.' And they even added funny captions and exaggerated expressions to each doodle. You can even tell that their handwriting showed that the two held no remorse."

"Turning a serious apology into a mockery? Really?" Takuma let out a frustrated sigh, shaking his head in disbelief.

Reina's expression mirrored Takuma's frustration. "It's like they're purposely trying to avoid taking responsibility for their actions. This is so immature."

"Looking at the way it is written to Ranran. It's written in a careless manner, unlike their homework writing of that sort." Takuma scoffed.

Staring at Ranran and Shinichi playing from afar, the couple sighed. "And I thought of giving them justice through their handwriting, this is unacceptable." Reina sighed.

Takuma had bared his teeth, forcing himself to smile while his heart pounded against his chest and throbbed in his ears, he felt the itching desire to burn the notes. Sometimes, pushing oneself to do something brought more unwanted pain, the relief that flickered across those two girls' faces is worth it.

"No, we can do better," Takuma decided before instructing Reina, "Make those two write an additional 2000 plus, including the base 1000 times you punished them the other day. They are not allowed to use the computer and have it typewritten, nor doodles are allowed. The submission dateline must be at around 12 am here. Or else you sent this to the school principal."

"Ain't this cruel in your opinion?"

"Harsh? How is harassing Ranran and Shinichi not? Especially when Ranran had to be hospitalized again? They didn't see a little girl encountering brain injury, let alone, suffering a break-in. No, all they see is that they couldn't let their puppet Shinichi be happy without them and that Ranran is the one filling the role to make him feel genuinely happy. Those two girls deserved it. Each and every one of them." The voice was unrecognisable, his fingers rolled into a fist as the smile that had faded grew once more. "If we don't punish them harshly, they will never learn." Then, with a quieter tone, he added to the sentence " Like the former me."

Reina looked at Takuma with a mixture of surprise and concern. She had never seen him so resolute and determined before. His words carried a weight of conviction that left her momentarily speechless. "You changed a lot."

"Did I?"

"Before, you were a bit more easygoing and carefree, a conceited," Reina said softly. "I guess after that scandal, this version of you had to surface."

"You are not wrong," Takuma's gaze shifted to the ground, his expression a mix of contemplation and acknowledgement. "When I was framed for deflating that football and that my talent was falsely accused of not being the real deal, the only kids who were willing to prove me innocent were you and Ranran. To hear Mouri simply talk gibberish about her honestly made me wish I could easily kick her out of school for doing all those horrible things to Ranran. Especially after hearing about Ranran's dark past."

Reina placed a comforting hand on Takuma's arm, her eyes filled with understanding.

"I used to think back then, no one's life had it way worst than me. But then hearing here and there about Ranran's life back in the U.K. from someone else...it was awful, I felt terrible. Especially when Ranran was attacked by Rokuro after he broke into our association HQ...I felt very helpless that I couldn't do a thing." Takuma's voice grew quieter, his emotions clearly raw as he reminisced about the past. "The only thing I was able to do was to try to talk the senses out of that Mouri before she finally quit the association for good. Originally after hearing that, I thought Mouri and that idiot one-brain cell friend would leave Shinichi and Ranran alone. But who knew.....who knew...."

As Takuma poured out his feelings, even Reina had something to say, "I thought after Ranran managed to make me president of the student council...I would be able to stop Mouri and Suzuki from harassing her, you know? But then...after you called me to inform me about that break-in...."

Reina's voice trailed off, her gaze turning sombre as she remembered the disturbing incident. "I knew something was seriously wrong when I saw Ranran like that, unconscious and her head bandaged in the hospital. It was horrifying, and I couldn't believe Mamiko was able to get kids around our age to go to such lengths to harm her."

"But we're not helpless anymore," Takuma said firmly, his eyes locking with Reina's. "We got a bit of influence in our school here and there unlike back then. They still don't."

Staring at Shinichi shooting waters at Ranran, who dodge effortlessly from afar while laughing, Reina commented, "I haven't seen Shinichi smiled like that in a long while after Mouri finally left the association."

Takuma followed Reina's gaze, watching as Shinichi and Ranran playfully interacted with each other. A soft smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "Yeah, it's like the devil has been removed from his life. Ranran's presence brings out a different side of him, a happier and more carefree one."

Reina nodded in agreement, her eyes warm as she observed their friends. "Should we tell them?"

"About those doodles? No," Takuma dismisses that idea, "Do as I say earlier, Reina. And if they don't submit around that time, disciplinary board for them when we head back to Japan."

Reina nodded, understanding the seriousness of the situation.  "Alright, we won't let those two know. And I guess you are right, they have no remorse at all for what the two had done to Ranran and Shinichi."

"Hey guys, are you being lovey-dovey?!" Ranran teased with Shinichi from afar, as they stood tall from a water slide, waving back at them.

"Yes, guys, we are being lovey-dovey." Takuma faked a smile while Reina simply rolled her eyes playfully. "Oh please, don't flatter yourself too much, Ranran."

As soon as Ranran and Shinichi entered the water slide, Reina sent out the text in all seriousness, "We will see what those two idiots had to say."

"Don't forget to send those photos to their parents," Takuma whispered to her.

Reina nodded, her fingers moving swiftly as she sent the messages to Mouri and Suzuki's parents along with the photos of their "creative" apologies. "Consider it done. Let's see how they react when they realize they can't escape the consequences of their actions."

Takuma smirked, a sense of satisfaction washing over him. 

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

In the shabby interiors of The Grand Elegance Palace, there were two horrible things Mouri Ran and Suzuki Sonoko had to deal with.

One, they did not have a good sleep.

Despite the dim lighting and worn-out furniture, Mouri Ran and Suzuki Sonoko tried to settle in for the night at The Grand Elegance Palace. However, their surroundings were far from conducive to restful sleep.

The creaky bed provided minimal comfort, its lumpy mattress and squeaky springs making it nearly impossible to find a comfortable position. The uneven floorboards beneath them added to the discomfort, causing the bed to wobble slightly with every movement.

The incessant dripping sound from the leaky faucet echoed in the otherwise silent room like a metronome counting down the seconds until morning. Each droplet seemed to magnify in the silence, becoming an irritating reminder of their unfortunate choice of accommodation.

Outside, the wind howled through the gaps in the windows, producing an eerie and unsettling symphony that further disrupted their attempts to fall asleep. The shabby curtains did little to keep out the cold drafts that swept through the room.

Two, the nightmares that plagued their sleep were far worse than their uncomfortable surroundings. Perhaps they shouldn't have asked about the story of how this hotel was established.

As the night wore on yesterday, Mouri Ran and Suzuki Sonoko found themselves tossing and turning on the uncomfortable bed, their attempts at sleep constantly thwarted by the unsettling atmosphere of The Grand Elegance Palace. The stories they had heard earlier about the hotel's dark history only served to fuel their imaginations and intensify their sense of dread. heard the infamous ghost story about the mistress and son having owned this hotel before being pushed to their suicide, thanks to the legal wife discovering the affair between the husband and the mistress.

In their fitful slumber, their dreams were plagued by vivid and haunting images. They found themselves trapped in a nightmarish world where the past and present seemed to blur together. The mistress and her son appeared before them, their figures shrouded in shadows, their faces twisted in expressions of sorrow and despair.

The dimly lit corridors of the hotel transformed into a labyrinth of mirrors, reflecting distorted images of the two girls and their surroundings. Each step they took seemed to lead them deeper into a maze of uncertainty and fear.

Voices echoed through the corridors, whispers that seemed to emanate from the walls themselves. They were unintelligible and haunting, sending shivers down their spines. The wind outside grew stronger, rattling the windows and creating an otherworldly symphony that filled their dreams with a sense of foreboding.

As they navigated through the dreamlike landscape, their fear intensified. They felt as if they were being watched, as if unseen eyes were following their every move. The oppressive weight of the past hung heavy in the air, suffocating them with its presence.

In their dreams, they tried to escape the clutches of the hotel, running through endless corridors that seemed to twist and turn in on themselves. But no matter how fast they ran or how hard they tried, they could never quite find the exit.

Finally, with a jolt, Mouri Ran and Suzuki Sonoko were jolted awake, their bodies drenched in sweat. Their hearts raced, and their breath came in ragged gasps as they struggled to shake off the lingering effects of the nightmares.

Suzuki Sonoko let out a shaky laugh, attempting to brush off the unsettling experience. "Well, that was...intense."

Mouri Ran, her voice slightly trembling, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, no more ghost stories before bed."

As the first rays of morning light filtered through the worn-out curtains, the two girls hopped out of their respective beds. "Alright, let's start with which hotel Ranran and the others are at." Mouri Ran spoke with enthusiasm.

But before that could happen, she received a notification on her smartphone.

The long brown-haired girl's smartphone buzzed, and she quickly picked it up to check the notification. Her eyes widened as she read the message, her expression changing from curiosity to a mix of surprise and frustration.

"What is it, Ran?" Sonoko asked, leaning in to see the screen.

Ran showed her the message, and Suzuki Sonoko's eyebrows furrowed as she read the contents. It was a message from Reina, accompanied by a series of photos of their "creative" apologies. The realization of the consequences they were facing seemed to hit them like a ton of bricks.

"Ran, this...this can't be good," Sonoko murmured, her voice filled with unease.

"Of course not, I don't expect us being at war with the cunning Kudo Ranran would ever come easy for us," Ran sighed, her shoulders slumping as the weight of the situation settled in. "Also, Reina and Takuma are Ranran's friends, considering Reina is the president of the student council, it ain't surprising she had the power to make us do things we refused to do."

"They want us to write the apologies again, without any doodles or funny stuff," Sonoko groaned. "And it has to be submitted by midnight tonight."

"Well, we can't remain in this hotel to do the writing, I mean there are ghosts in this hotel!" Ran rubbed her own arms, shivering the worst.

Sonoko looked around the shabby room, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and disbelief. "Ghosts? You really think this place is haunted?"

Ran quivered slightly, the memory of their nightmares from the previous night still fresh in her mind. "I don't know, Sonoko, but after those nightmares we had, I wouldn't be surprised if there's something off about this place."

"So are we going to do the writing?! I don't want to! Ranran framed us!" Sonoko moaned.

"The faster we unmasked Ranran as The Fox, we can use this as leverage that will wave our punishment away." Ran insists.

"True, by exposing Ranran, we don't have to write a total of 3000 words that we don't have any intention of writing," Sonoko grins.

"Exactly. We'll focus on gathering evidence to prove Ranran's involvement in all of this. Once we have concrete proof, we can turn the tables on her and make sure she faces the consequences of her actions. And make her pay for all the things she did to us," Ran nodded, her determination resurfacing.

"And we'll show her that we're not just going to sit back and take it." Sonoko clenched her fists, a fire in her eyes.

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

"Eh!? You all suspect that Professor Hoga might have been jealous of Professor Shibuya?!"

Ranran exclaimed in the penthouse while speaking over the smartphone. It is 6 pm here in the Big Apple, which means it should be probably 7 am in Japan right now.

"Yes, Ranran," Emiko's voice came through the smartphone. "We asked around yesterday at Teitan University, and it turns out that a year before Professor Shibuya's scandal forced him to quit NASA, there was a lot of trophies and achievement at the Teitan University campus before it was removed."

"And so far, throughout the decades spent under Professor Hoga's career, he had yet to achieve anything besides being a lecturer in Teitan Unversity," Michio adds, "It may not sound like much, but is a good motive to spread those false allegations in NASA enough to trigger Professor Shibuya to quit."

"I can understand Professor Hoga being envious, but would he really go as far as to spread false allegations to force Professor Shibuya to quit his job at NASA?" Junko's voice could be heard in the background.

"Mouri Ran, our former member of Tantei Association had given us the two most miserable months of our lives trying to get Shinichi to quit his Tantei apprenticeship because she envied my relationship with Shinichi, so what made you think Professor Hoga would not resort to this?" Ranran reminded the three of them over the smartphone.

Ranran's words struck a chord with Emiko, Michio, and Junko.

"A 6-year-old dimwit can resort to such malicious means, don't think an adult would behave any better." Ranran scoffed.

"That is true," Michio sighed on the other end of the call. "You and Shinichi went through the worst kind of hell."

"I am not saying that Professor Hoga is definitely guilty, but we have to consider that possibility is possible," Ranran reminded them.

"Which reminds me," Junko's voice came back into focus. "How is the preparation for the upcoming NASA event."

"Right, Shinichi and I are heading there," Ranran announced.

"Wait, Shinichi!?" Emiko sounded in disbelief, "You are bringing Shinichi with you to the event instead of Takuma?!"

"Are you sure about this?! I mean don't get me wrong, but he is beyond blunt to the core." Junko reminded her.

"You sure you don't want to bring Takuma with you?" Even Michio is foreseeing the level of cringe Shinichi is about to bring into the high society event.

"Exactly, which is what those arrogant kids from Edgewood needs," Ranran replied, her tone confident. "He could give them a good dose of reality."

"Oh dear....why am I expecting the worst to come out of his mouth," Emiko voiced her concern.

"Hey, he will give them a reality check, and that is what matters," Ranran chuckles.

"What about Mouri and Suzuki, I heard that they flew all the way to where you are now," Junko questioned them.

"To put a long story short, for some odd reason, they ended up in some hunted shabby hotel. Though I am glad those two are not under the same hotel as we are now. Otherwise, the two will be there to simply harass me and Shinichi." 

"Wait, hunted hotel!?" Michio gasped, "I thought I always heard that Sonoko is into luxury, how did the both of them end up there?!"

"No clue, but the bottom line is that they ended up there when they should've been in Japan serving the writing essay punishment Reina has bestowed for the two, rather than go chase me all the way to New York City to harass me and Shinichi." Ranran rolled her eyes.

"I can't believe they followed you all the way to New York," Michio sighed. "Those two really are persistent."

"But to be fair, Ranran did scheme towards them for so long, it ain't unreasonable for them to go after her." Junko reminded them.

"In the first place, Mouri didn't speak to Shinichi for several days or weeks when the feud blew out of proportion, so it only seemed fair for Shinichi to denounce her and had his apprenticeship under me." Ranran justified, "Also, she meddled with everything I set out to get justice and had no interest in Tantei work after all, so what gave her the right to simply endanger others in the process?"

This was enough to shut Junko up.

"To put a long story short, I had arranged it in a way that they can't find which hotel the class trip is having at the moment. Hopefully after this NASA event, we should be able to pinpoint what was in that stolen eagle Professor Shibuya had us hired to search for."

"Well, it sounds like you've got your hands full with Mouri and Suzuki," Emiko said with a chuckle. "Just make sure they don't cause too much trouble while you're busy at the NASA event."

"Trust me, I've got my eye on them," Ranran replied confidently. "And as for Shinichi, he might bring a dose of reality to the high society event, but I hope he doesn't stir up too much trouble."

"He's certainly not one to hold back his opinions," Michio added.

"Anyway, we'll be working on the Professor Hoga case while you're at the event," Junko interjected. "We need to dig deeper and see if we can find any concrete evidence linking him to Professor Shibuya's disappearance."

"Absolutely, focus on that, and I'll handle things here," Ranran said. "And don't hesitate to call me if anything comes up."

"Will do," Emiko confirmed. "Stay safe, Ranran."

"You too, guys. Take care, and I'll catch up with you later," Ranran replied before ending the call.

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

After an intense investigation into the shabby hotel, Mouri Ran and Suzuki Sonoko try to pin point which hotel Ranran and the class of 1-A had checked into through the only way they knew how: Social Media.

Mouri Ran and Suzuki Sonoko sat side by side in their dimly lit hotel room, their laptops open in front of them. Determination was etched on their faces as they scrolled through various social media platforms, searching for any hints or clues that could lead them to the location of the class trip.

"Ran, look at this post from Takuma," Sonoko pointed at her laptop screen. "He posted a picture of a fancy hotel lobby with the caption 'Class trip vibes! #1Aadventures'."

Ranran leaned over to take a closer look at the picture. "That's definitely the lobby of the hotel they're staying at," she confirmed, a triumphant smile forming on her lips. "Good job, Sonoko!"

"But...there is no name of the hotel, so how can we locate it?" Sonoko deeply frowned.

"Let's see if Takuma added the location when he took this photo," Ran suggests.

Ran and Sonoko leaned closer to the laptop, their eyes scanning the details of Takuma's post. After a moment, Sonoko's eyes lit up. "Wait, there it is! He tagged the location as 'The Mayfair at Brampton Hotel'!"

"Perfect! Now all we have to do is search for 'The Mayfair at Brampton Hotel'-wait a minute, this name....why does it sound familiar?" Ran's thoughts were brought to a halt before realizing, "Wait a minute, isn't that the same hotel that Ranran secretly checked herself in that during Tantei Association's fifth major case at that island!? While we were stuck out in the wilderness with a serial killer on the loose!?"

Sonoko's eyes widened in realization as memories of that fateful case came rushing back to her. She vividly remembered the tension, the danger, and the suspense that had surrounded that investigation. The Mayfair at Brampton Hotel had been the backdrop of a complex and challenging mystery that they had eventually solved, but not without facing their fair share of obstacles.

"You can't be serious, right?!" Sonoko exclaimed, a mix of surprise and disbelief in her voice. "The Mayfair at Brampton Hotel...What are the odds?"

Ran let out a nervous chuckle. "Well, it seems like fate has a way of bringing us back to certain places, doesn't it?"

"So, what's the plan now?" Sonoko asked, her eyes still fixed on the laptop screen.

Ran leaned back in her chair, deep in thought. "Well, first things first, we need to figure out the exact location of The Mayfair at Brampton Hotel. Once we have the address, we can head over there and finally confront Ranran."

"Confront her? Are we going to barge in and demand answers?" Sonoko raised an eyebrow.

"No, we can't make that same mistake again. You know how sly Ranran is," Ran shook her head. "The only way to confront her is through evidence, and that would be us breaking into one of the hotel rooms Ranran is currently in."

"Sounds like a plan," Sonoko nodded. "But are you sure about this, Ran? I mean, what if she gets defensive or refuses to talk?"

Ran's expression turned determined. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Right now, our focus is on finding out what's going on with this class trip and why she's keeping it a secret."

With their plan in place, Ran and Sonoko continued to gather information about The Mayfair at Brampton Hotel. They found the address and directions, ensuring that they were well-prepared for their next move. As they closed their laptops and got ready to leave, Ran couldn't help but feel a mix of anticipation and apprehension. 

"Kudo Ranran, this is officially her end game." Mouri Ran decided.

But as the two 6-year-olds aren't aware, there is a webcam installed in their room.

As Ran and Sonoko prepared to leave their hotel room, they remained oblivious to the fact that their every move was being watched through a hidden webcam. In a separate location, a figure sat in front of a screen, monitoring their actions with keen interest.

A little figure leaned back in their chair, a sinister smile playing on their lips. "So they plan to humiliate Ranran, huh? These girls apparently hadn't learned the hell we are capable of."

The webcam feed was being transmitted to a secure server, and the mysterious figure was clearly orchestrating a web of intrigue and manipulation. They knew that Ran and Sonoko were getting closer to uncovering the truth behind the class trip and the secrets surrounding it.

"It's time to up the stakes," Another figure murmured to the other. "That no one gets away with bullying Kudo Ranran."