It was clear that Nathaniel was not well-liked among them, and his presence seemed to evoke a mixture of frustration and annoyance. The fact that they referred to him as a "bad kid" only deepened the mystery surrounding Nathaniel's situation.

"Bad kid?" Shinichi echoed, his eyebrows raised. "What do you mean by that?"

One of the Edgewood kids, a girl with a serious expression, leaned in to explain. "Nathaniel used to be a student at Edgewood Academy. His behaviour was... well, let's just say he caused a lot of trouble."

"He was disruptive, defiant, and often got into conflicts with both students and staff," another boy chimed in. "He even murdered a boy in our school as well."

Shinichi's eyes widened at the revelation. The seriousness of the accusation took him by surprise. Murder? It was a grave accusation, and if true, it would explain the eerie atmosphere around Nathaniel. His curiosity and detective instincts kicked into high gear.

"Murdered a boy?" Shinichi repeated his tone a mix of disbelief and intrigue. "Are you saying that Nathaniel is responsible for someone's death?"

The Edgewood kids exchanged sombre glances, their expressions a mix of bitterness and resentment. It was evident that Nathaniel's actions had left a lasting impact on them.

"Sorry if I may ask, but he murdered a boy?!" Shinichi was shaken, how is it possible for an 8-year-old boy who is in this condition to be able to commit such atrocities?!

"That's what the evidence suggested," the serious-looking girl explained. "He, as well as a group of other children of nobles and royals allegedly tipped the victim's abusive mother who lost custody of her son, who is a well-loved Duke in our school on how to get him back, by kidnapping a dear friend of his to lure him back."

The 6-year-old apprentice's eyes widened as he listened to the Edgewood kids recount the serious accusations against Nathaniel. The story was complex and disturbing, involving kidnapping, abuse, and a tragic outcome.

"He was able to do all of that!? In that condition!?" Shinichi exclaimed while pointing at the wheelchair-bound boy.

"No," Another child denies this, "Before, he was a perfectly healthy normal boy."

"How did he become this way then?" Shinichi blinked.

"Karma happens," One of the Edgewood children replied, "Somehow he ended up in the laboratory of Edgewood Academy and ended up with carbon monoxide poisoning when someone lock the door and sealed the window shut, which lead him to that medical state as he is now, he was around...8-years-old when it happened." 

Shinichi was taken aback by the revelation. The tragic turn of events painted a grim picture of Nathaniel's past. From a troubled and disruptive child to a wheelchair-bound, unresponsive boy due to carbon monoxide poisoning, it was a dramatic transformation that left Shinichi feeling a mix of sympathy and intrigue.

"Carbon monoxide poisoning?" Shinichi repeated his tone a mix of shock and disbelief. "That's... horrific. Did anyone...caught the person who did this to him?"

"No, in fact, the police didn't even bother to." The Edgewood children exchanged sombre glances before turning to Shinichi, "Everyone knew of his role in the murder, also with all of the awful deeds he did, it only seems fair justice is served that he can no longer talk or walk anymore."

Shinichi was left speechless by the Edgewood children's account of the tragic events that had befallen Nathaniel. The complexity of the situation, the accusations against him, and the severe outcome he had faced left Shinichi grappling with a mix of emotions.

The Edgewood children's cold and unforgiving perspective on Nathaniel's condition was understandable, given the things he did to his victims.

Which reminds him of something, "What was the Duke's name?" He asked.

"Christopher, Christopher Tyler Ashford." One girl replied.

As if that name sounded familiar, "I am sorry, Christopher is his name?" Shinichi's eyes grew wide.

"Yeah, why?"

Shinichi's eyes widened as he heard the name, recalling certain information.

Ranran's deceased mentor was named 'Christopher'.

He was murdered by his mother when someone tipped off to his mother about that idea according to Ranran.

And Shinichi also remembered Ranran's Edgewood friend telling him one detail in particular.

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

Wait for a second, that means-

Shinichi's eyes began to search for Ranran among the attendees, before spotting his 6-year-old mentor, who later followed Ranran's gaze and focused on the boy's hands. Indeed, Nathadiel's fists were tightly clenched, and his knuckles were white from the pressure. It was as if he was gripping onto something invisible but significant to him.

Shinichi's gaze remained focused on the boy as he pondered the situation.

That boy 'Nathaniel' in the wheelchair, Ranran was behind it.

The realization hit Shinichi like a bolt of lightning, leaving him stunned. The pieces of the puzzle were falling into place, and the shocking truth became apparent: Ranran was the one who lock the door and ensure he becomes what he is now.

But wait a minute, the kids here said that Nathaniel became like this when he was 8, so how old is he now?

"How old is Nathaniel now?" Shinichi pressed for answers, not showing his shocked face.

"10."

"10....that would've meant it happened 2 years ago...." Shinichi muses, before realizing Ranran must have been around 4 when she did this.

Shinichi's mind raced as he connected the dots and realized the shocking truth behind Nathaniel's tragic transformation. The pieces of the puzzle fell into place, revealing a chilling and unsettling picture. Ranran, his 6-year-old mentor, was responsible for locking the door and sealing the windows, resulting in Nathaniel's carbon monoxide poisoning that led to his current state.

The weight of this revelation hung heavy in the air. It was a shocking revelation that challenged Shinichi's understanding of his mentor and the circumstances that had shaped her. He knew that Ranran was no ordinary child, having witnessed her exceptional skills and sharp mind. However, the extent of her involvement in such a grave incident was beyond anything he could have imagined.

While Shinichi continued to observe Ranran's reaction from a distance, he saw her gaze locked onto Nathaniel's clenched fists. Her expression remained inscrutable, but the intensity of her cold eyes was undeniable.

As they observed, the boy's caregiver seemed to be trying different approaches to engage him. She showed him a colourful toy, spoke gently to him, and even tried to hold his hand. However, none of her efforts seemed to break through the boy's trance-like state.

"It's unusual, even after Nathaniel became like this, his parents still love him." Shinichi found himself saying.

"Ah no, you got it wrong," A boy shook his head to inform him, "Those are his money-seeking relatives, his parents abandoned him after he became what he is now."

"What!?" Shinichi's jaw dropped.

"His parents are Nobel-winning scientists, don't get them wrong, they are good parents. But I think their work schedule consumed them a lot, when they spoil him to make it up for it, he rarely gets disciplined, resulting in him to keep doing all those horrible things in Edgewood Academy before that incident happen. When this incident happen, they finally snapped and decided it would be better to leave him under the care of those relatives."

As Shinichi processed this information, he found himself feeling a mix of sympathy for Nathaniel's tragic circumstances, yet at the same time, a feeling of uncertainty about what to make of this situation. "How....was his life like after that?" Shinichi had the dying curiosity to know.

"After the incident, and as you can see right now, he literally turned into a vegetable."One child chimed in, "His relatives who took custody of him were more interested in his inheritance and wealth than his well-being. They didn't care about his rehabilitation or mental state. Instead, they used his situation to their advantage and tried to gain control over his assets."

"But it serves him right though," The girl grins, "All of the victims he bullied in Edgewood Academy, this is Karma speaking. Especially what he did to that poor friend who was kidnapped after Christopher died."

"Eh?!" Shinichi exclaimed, "What do you mean?"

"After the state funeral for Christopher was settled, I heard that he and those kids who caused his death threw a party at night to celebrate his demise, and that poor friend knew about it."

Shinichi's shock deepened as he listened to the grim details of Nathaniel's actions and the aftermath of Christopher's death. The callousness and cruelty of their behaviour were beyond comprehension, and the sense of karma coming full circle was eerie.

As Ranran's gaze remained fixed on Nathaniel, her emotions hidden beneath a mask of stoicism, Shinichi couldn't help but wonder what was going through her mind.

Ranran was 4 when she witness Christopher's murdered not long after she was kidnapped by his mother. The same age that she finds out a group of children celebrate with a lavish party that they killed him and got away with his murder. And to top it everything off, Christopher's eye was donated to Ranran who lost her thanks to his evil mother, adding the fact that she had to deal with a then 4-year-old Sonoko who ruined his death memorial by comparing herself that she can run a funeral procession and making it all about her.

The worst part was when Ranran moved to Japan, Shinichi and the others all gave Ranran a hard time for being cunning and scheming, and used to chastise Ranran's violent impulses.

While Shinichi stood there, his thoughts racing, he couldn't help but feel a wave of empathy for his mentor. What had they done?

Suddenly, Shinichi's smartphone rang in his pocket.

As Shinichi's thoughts swirled in the midst of the unsettling revelations about Nathaniel and the past, his smartphone rang in his pocket. The sudden sound snapped his attention away from the overwhelming emotions and brought him back to the present moment. He quickly retrieved his phone and glanced at the caller ID.

It turned out to be a call from Ranran's Edgewood school friend, Tiffany, who explained over the smartphone, "Hi, Shinichi, it's Tiffany here. Are you busy?"

Shinichi took a deep breath, his mind still processing the recent revelations. "Hi, Tiffany. I'm currently at an event, but I can talk. Is something the matter?"

"Nothing much, I just want you to know that we are...taking care of business with Ran and Sonoko."

Oh right, Shinichi almost forgot about it.

After that incident with Rokuro having struck Ranran, thanks to Mouri Ran who couldn't keep her damn mouth shut about their HQ leaked to Sonoko who later told him, he secretly had Ranran's Edgewood friends kidna-no, drag them away to be 'dealt' with. Which reminds him, "How are they doing by the way?"

"Acting unreasonable as usual, I am starting to see why you and Ranran had a hard time trying to kick her out of Tantei Association for the past 2 months," Tiffany spoke with sympathy, as Shinichi could hear some muffled sounds about the electrocution of that sort, following with Ran and Sonoko yelling to stop.

Shinichi couldn't help but let out a sigh, a mixture of frustration and amusement. Dealing with Ranran and Sonoko, especially in such a situation, was undoubtedly a handful. "I appreciate your help, Tiffany. Just try to keep things as calm as possible. Ran and Sonoko can be...quite spirited."

Tiffany chuckled. "Oh, don't you worry? We're experts at handling them by now. Anyway, I just thought I'd let you know what's going on. Take care, Shinichi."

"Thanks, Tiffany. You too." With that, Shinichi was about to end the call before he decided to say something, "Neh Tiffany, can I ask you something?"

"Sure, go ahead," Tiffany replied, her tone curious.

Shinichi took a moment to choose his words carefully. "It's about Ranran's past, particularly her involvement with a boy name Nathaniel. I recently learned some disturbing things about it, and it's been... quite a shock."

Silence.

"Tiffany, those things Nathaniel did....were they true?"

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, a heavy silence that seemed to stretch on indefinitely. Shinichi's heart pounded in his chest, each beat echoing the weight of the question he had asked. The darkness seemed to press in from all sides, threatening to swallow him whole.

Then, Tiffany's voice broke the silence, a soft exhalation that carried with it a sense of resignation. "Yes."

The single word hung in the air like a shroud, casting a pall over the truth that had been unveiled. The darkness that had been lurking beneath the surface had now been exposed, and Shinichi found himself grappling with the enormity of it all.

Nathaniel's actions, the cruel and calculated deeds he had committed, the pain he had inflicted on others – it was all true. And Ranran, his mentor, was a victim of injustice.

"Not long after he died, my family at that time wanted to check out one of our mansions at that time, because they were sightings of a suspicious person who was about to burglarise our place. So I accompanied my father who was in the car around night-time, because my mother didn't want him to end up falling asleep while driving which happened before. Just as we arrived, I saw a lit-up mansion not far from ours, and it was surprising since it was around 12 am."

Biting her lip as the screams continued behind her, Tiffany revealed, "When we opened the door of the car, the music was in full blast from that mansion. Assuming it was a group of underage teenagers drinking when they shouldn't, we called the police while we looked from afar. And when the cops raided the place while we observed inside my dad's car, to my shock and horror, it was Nathaniel and those children who murdered Christopher coming out of the residence. And this was only the same day after Christopher was buried hours ago."

Shinichi's thoughts were a whirlwind of emotions – shock, disgust, and a chilling realization that the world could be darker and more twisted than he had ever imagined after hearing this from Tiffany. Ranran's involvement in Nathaniel's past, the pieces of the puzzle that were now falling into place, painted a grim picture of a past riddled with pain and cruelty.

The darkness that had shrouded Nathaniel's actions was now laid bare, and the sinister truth had left Shinichi with a lingering sense of unease.

"At first, I thought it was a sleepover party because the kids in our neighbourhood tend to do that a lot. But it wasn't until Ranran told me she overheard in the lady's washroom hours ago that those kids who did this to Christopher were going to throw a lavish party, that I knew...I knew they did kill him."

The weight of Tiffany's words settled heavily on Shinichi's shoulders, his mind a maelstrom of conflicting emotions. The realization that Ranran had been witness to such malevolence at such a young age was chilling. It was as if the innocence of their childhood had been shattered, replaced by a harsh reality that was both shocking and disturbing.

He found himself picturing a young Ranran, perhaps standing alone in a corner of that mansion, listening to the music and the laughter that rang out. The incongruity of such a scene with the sinister intentions of the children involved painted a haunting image.

Shinichi's voice was subdued, laden with a mixture of sorrow and anger. "Was she there... at that party?"

"No, she didn't even know where the party was to take place," Tiffany's response held a heaviness that mirrored his own feelings. "But you can tell this was the last straw for her."

The darkness of the past seemed to seep into the present, casting a pall over Shinichi's thoughts. The realization that his mentor had been linked to such a tragic and disturbing event was a revelation that would forever change how Ranran viewed the world – a world where innocence could be shattered, and cruelty could manifest even in the hearts of children.

"Anyway, I am about to hang up the phone, tell me if you need anything."

Before she could hang up, Shinichi suddenly said, "About Mouri and Suzuki, if you had to do the worst, continue so."

"Excuse me?" That stopped Tiffany for a moment. Her voice held a mix of confusion and concern as if she wasn't entirely sure she had heard him correctly.

Shinichi's tone remained steady, though the darkness of the conversation seemed to linger in his words. "I mean, if you have to deal with them, if it's necessary, continue with whatever you're doing. even if it was going to take days, months, or even years if you have to, go for it, Tiffany."

"Why....why are you.....?" There was a brief pause as if Tiffany was processing his words.

"They have to pay for their faults, including me," Shinichi admitted with a heavy sigh in his voice.

The line fell silent once again, the weight of their conversation settling like a fog. The darkness that had been unveiled in their words seemed to wrap around them, a sombre reminder of the harsh realities they faced.

"Shinichi," Tiffany's voice was softer now, carrying with it a sense of understanding. "This isn't your fault-"

"It is," Shinichi insisted, "Had I not tried to discourage her from quitting Ranran as The Fox, all of her life of misery in Japan was caused by me. Mouri and Suzuki would not have happened."

The truth in his words hung heavily in the air, a testament to the complex web of actions and consequences that had led them to this point. The darkness of their shared past, the choices they had made, and the pain they had caused were now laid bare between them.

"I am willing to pay up my debts for wronging her with remorse, I want them to do the same to Ranran. Because we all owe her an apology."

The weight of those words seemed to echo, not just between them but within the depths of the darkness that had been unveiled. The realization that their past actions had led to the suffering of someone they cared about, the intricate connections that had led to this moment, painted a sombre picture of a world tinged with regret and guilt.

"Alright, I will do as you say," Tiffany decided.

Shinichi's voice held a sense of gratitude, mixed with the lingering heaviness of the conversation. "Thank you, Tiffany. I appreciate your support."

Tiffany's response was solemn. "We're all trying to make things right, Shinichi. It's the least we can do."

As the call ended, Shinichi was left alone with his thoughts, the darkness of the revelations settling in his mind. The world around him seemed to have taken on a different hue, a shade tainted by the knowledge of Nathaniel's actions and the impact they had on those involved. It was a world of shadows and secrets, where innocence could be shattered and the line between right and wrong was blurred.

As the event continued around them, with attendees mingling and discussing various topics, Shinichi's thoughts were consumed by the unfolding revelations.

"Are you done?" Ranran's voice cut through the fog of his thoughts, and he looked up to see her standing there, her gaze piercing as always, though he detected a trace of concern.

Shinichi blinked, momentarily taken aback by her sudden presence. "Ah, yeah... I just had a phone call," he managed to say, his voice a bit distant.

Ranran's eyebrow arched slightly, a flicker of curiosity in her eyes. "Something bothering you?"

Shinichi hesitated, debating whether to share what he had learned with her. After a moment, he decided to lie, "Ah, nothing much. Let's just leave this event."

Ranran seemed to study his expression for a moment before nodding. "Sure thing. Let's go."

As they left the event behind, Ranran cheerfully said, "It's kinda odd that everything has gone smoothly today, I was expecting Mouri Ran and Suzuki Sonoko to simply storm in and call me out as 'The Fox' tonight. They didn't come oddly."

"Perhaps they realized it wasn't worth messing with you around," Shinichi chuckled, but deep down, he knew where the two are: With Ranran's Edgewood friends, who are tormenting them for all the crap they had done to Ranran.

Ranran grinned mischievously, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Well, they better have learned their lesson then."

Shinichi smiled back, hiding the dark truth.

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

"This is the best-tasting popcorn I have ever eaten, Tiffany, your fiance is one lucky man." Ellis found himself popping a couple of them in his mouth."

Back at an undisclosed location, Mouri Ran and Suzuki Sonoko found themselves in the midst of a harrowing ordeal. The room they were in exuded an air of foreboding, illuminated only by the faint glow of dim lights. The silence that enveloped them was heavy, suffocating, a stark contrast to their usual lives filled with laughter and chatter.

Ran's usually strong demeanour had crumbled, replaced by a look of vulnerability as she sat bound to a chair, her wrists secured by restraints. Her eyes darted around the room, uncertainty etched across her face. Beside her, Sonoko fidgeted in her own bindings, her usual arrogance replaced by unease. The once boisterous friends had been silenced by the circumstances they found themselves in.

The room was dimly lit, its walls lined with cold, oppressive silence. Ran and Sonoko sat bound to chairs, their faces pale and eyes wide with a mixture of fear and confusion. They exchanged worried glances, their usual bravado and confidence reduced to nothing in the face of the unknown.

Facing them was a group of children, Ranran's Edgewood friends, who were orchestrating this unsettling scene as each held a caramelised popcorn in their hands, popping it into their mouths as the popcorn machine, linked to the lie detector machine which is wired around Mouri Ran and Suzuki Sonoko

Each crunch of popcorn seemed to punctuate the tense atmosphere, the sound echoing in the room. The children's expressions were inscrutable, their eyes focused on Ran and Sonoko as they continued to consume the popcorn. The popcorn machine, connected to the lie detector, clicked and whirred in the background, a reminder of the truth-seeking mechanism at play.

"I am planning to ship the popcorn to Ranran, she will love it, won't she?" Tiffany grins while she operates the popcorn machine.

"Of course, sent her a bucket full," Georgette suggests.

"Revenge taste sweet, especially with scums getting electrocuted for the popcorn we eat," Dominic grins with Teddy.

Sonoko's breaths came in shallow, rapid bursts as her anxiety grew with each passing second, while Ran's eyes darted between the faces of Ranran's Edgewood friends, "You bastards!! Let us out!" Ran yelled.

By this point, it has been around 2 hours since they ended up here.

And the bruises thanks to the electrocution had begun to form around their little bodies.

Samantha's voice carried a mocking edge as she responded to Ran's plea, "Oh, we'll let you out eventually, but only after we're satisfied with the answers."

Cloaked in an eerie silence, the tension palpable as Ran and Sonoko exchanged anxious glances. Tiffany's expression remained cold and unyielding, a stark contrast to the cheerful demeanour she had shown earlier. The popcorn machine's whirring continued, each kernel popping and cracking as it was consumed by the hungry flames. The children's eyes remained fixed on Ran and Sonoko, their faces masked with a chilling detachment.

As the lie detector machine hummed softly in the background, its wires connecting to the restraints that bound the two captives, the weight of the truth-seeking mechanism bore down on them. The popcorn that the children consumed seemed to symbolize a bitter kind of revenge, a taste of justice being served.

Ran's voice trembled with a mix of anger and desperation, her eyes ablaze with fury. "You can't keep us here forever! You're all just a bunch of kids!"

Dominic's voice held a sinister edge, a cold smile playing on his lips. "Oh, we know we're just kids. But sometimes, kids know better than adults when it comes to delivering justice."

Sonoko's breaths came in ragged gasps, her usually haughty demeanour shattered by the torment she was enduring. Her eyes flickered between the faces of the children, searching for any sign of mercy, any glimmer of hope that this nightmare would end.

Samantha's expression remained unyielding, her gaze fixed on Ran with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine. "You and Sonoko thought you could mess with Ranran, play your little games. But you underestimated her, and you underestimated us."

The room seemed to close in on them, the walls echoing with the sounds of popcorn popping, the hum of the lie detector, and the heavy breathing of the captives. In this dark and unsettling moment, the boundaries between right and wrong blurred, and revenge took a tangible form.

As the minutes ticked by, the children continued to consume the popcorn, the lie detector machine monitoring every word and reaction of their captives. The truth was being sought, justice demanded, and the darkness of their past actions had caught up to them.

The taste of revenge was bittersweet, the atmosphere heavy with the weight of their choices. In the face of the darkness that had been unveiled, Ran and Sonoko found themselves trapped, forced to confront the consequences of their actions.

Their young faces were twisted in a mixture of determination and anger, their actions fueled by a sense of justice and vengeance. Wires snaked from the chairs to a machine, an ominous device that held the power to deliver painful electric shocks.

Every word that escaped their lips was met with scrutiny, their responses measured by the machine they were hooked up to. A red angry emoji illuminated the screen as a lie was detected, a green smiley face signifying the truth, and a blue emoji indicating their belief in falsehood.

"Alright, next question, this time my turn," Ellis confronted, giving a conceding glare, "Mouri Ran, your feelings for Shinichi, are they real? Or you just happen to wish so just to get back at Ranran?"

The question hung in the air, its weight like a heavy cloud of uncertainty. Ran's eyes widened, her heart pounding in her chest as the truth-seeking mechanism seemed to amplify the tension in the room. She exchanged a quick, anxious glance with Sonoko, both of them realizing the gravity of the question that had been posed.

Ran's voice wavered as she spoke, her eyes locked onto the faces of the children before her. "My feelings for Shinichi... they are real," she admitted, her words laced with a mixture of vulnerability and defiance. The lie detector machine showed a green smiling emoji, confirming her response.

"Such a shame, Shinichi doesn't feel the same." Ellis chuckled, before looking at his Edgewood friends, "Anymore questions?"

"I do!" Dominic raised his hand to ask, "Mouri Ran, are you...jealous of Ranran?"

The tension in the room remained palpable as the next question was posed, the atmosphere heavy with anticipation. Ran's heart raced even faster, her anxiety intensifying at the thought of the upcoming inquiry. Her eyes flickered between the faces of the children, her apprehension evident.

Dominic's question seemed to cut through the air like a blade, exposing the vulnerability that Ran had been trying to hide. The truth-seeking mechanism loomed over her, its presence a constant reminder of the consequences of her answers.

Ran's breath caught in her throat, her fingers involuntarily clenching as she struggled to find her words. Her gaze shifted to the ground momentarily before she looked up, her eyes meeting Dominic's. "Yes," she admitted softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "If she wasn't born in a privileged background, only Shinichi would've looked my way."

The lie detector machine's lights flickered for a moment before showing a green smiling emoji.

Dominic exchanged glances with his Edgewood friends, a knowing look passing between them. The room remained silent for a moment, the weight of Ran's admission lingering.

"But you knew better that before all of this, her family lived in the slums before their estranged relative took them to our neighbourhood. And you got it wrong, a lot of kids in our school that come from such backgrounds rarely survived in the prestigious school in the first place, since they knew seducing other kids from arranged marriages is way quicker than studying. And Ranran worked her way up, which is where you lose to her in that aspect." Georgette remarked, her tone contemplative. "Alright, my turn. Suzuki Sonoko-"

"Oh for God's sake!" Sonoko lost it, "We have been here for 2 hours, ain't it enough!?"

"It doesn't end until we say it ends," Samantha's expression remained unyielding, a glint of determination in her eyes. "Your 2 miserable hours with Ran is nothing, compared to the 2 months of hell you both put Ranran and Shinichi through!"

Samantha's words cut through the room, her anger and determination palpable while the two little girls flinched before them.

"Now, back to the question," Soon, Sonoko fainted before them.

"Ooi, Sonoko!? Sonoko! Are you alright!? Sonoko!" Ran tried to wake her friend up by nudging her shoulder with hers, but it did little to wake her up.

"Here we go again," Nicolas rolled his eyes before ordering everyone, "Everyone, pull up your umbrella now!"

Groaning, Ran watched as the umbrella bloomed before them, wondering why they are doing so.

To her horror, a splash of cold liquid fell above Ran and Sonoko, with ice all over.

The sudden deluge of icy water cascading down onto Ran and Sonoko sent shockwaves through the room. The freezing liquid drenched them completely, causing them to shiver uncontrollably as their bodies were chilled to the bone. Gasping and sputtering, Ran struggled to regain her composure, her teeth chattering from the abrupt cold.

The room seemed to have transformed into a frozen realm, the atmosphere even more oppressive than before. The children who had orchestrated this unsettling scene stood unfazed, their expressions unrelenting as they watched the two captives shiver and tremble in the aftermath of the ice-cold shower.

Ran's voice wavered as she managed to speak, her words punctuated by chattering teeth. "Wh-what was that for?!"

Veronica's eyes bore into Ran, her tone carrying a mix of anger and frustration. "That's for all the times you've made others feel cold and miserable with your actions. With popcorn, one must have a cold drink to be served next to it, don't you think?"

The freezing cold water that drenched Ran and Sonoko served as a chilling reminder of the torment they had inflicted on others. Ran's teeth chattered uncontrollably, her body trembling from the sudden shock. She exchanged a bewildered glance with Sonoko, both of them struggling to comprehend the turn of events.

The coldness seemed to seep into their bones, the atmosphere even more hostile than before. The children who had orchestrated this chilling spectacle remained unmoved, their eyes fixed on Ran and Sonoko as they shivered and gasped for breath.

Ran's voice was shaky as she managed to speak through chattering teeth, "Why...why are you doing this to us!? All of this for that she-demon!?"

The answer came from Georgette, her voice is stern and unwavering. "This is for all the times you made others feel uncomfortable and miserable with your arrogance and actions. You wanted to feel the chill, didn't you?"

Ran's heart pounded in her chest, the shock and cold making it difficult to think clearly. The room had turned into a freezing prison, the icy water serving as a physical manifestation of the darkness that had been uncovered.

As the minutes passed, Ran and Sonoko's shivering gradually subsided, replaced by a numbness that seemed to encompass their very beings. The air was thick with tension, the weight of their actions hanging over them like a heavy fog. "I want to go home!" Sonoko finally broke down and sobbed, but even that sight of her didn't make the Edgewood kids have any sympathy towards her.

"Look at those morons, crying for their parents," Walter spat in disgust, "When they rebelled against them in the first place to fly all the way from Japan to New York City as their parents told them not to, just to ruin Ranran's reputation out of jealousy."

"I know, right?" Teddy rolled his eyes along with the others. "Cry babies."

Ran's voice was strained, her eyes red and swollen from the cold and tears. "Can't we just... end this? We get it, okay? We did wrong to Ranran. But this... this isn't right."

With the monitor showing a red angry emoji, the two were electrocuted once more.

"A few days after opening Tantei Association, when the first major case was solved, Shinichi told you to quit since you refused to sign the contract under Ranran, correct?" Samantha's gaze remained steady, her expression unflinching. "You stayed there like a shameless leach for over the past 2 months after you signed the contract, and kept telling Shinichi to quit his Tantei apprenticeship and meddling around here and there whatever tasks Ranran had assigned him to. It's one thing if you despise Tantei work, but why did you have to remain there to keep harassing and endangering Ranran as a result?"

"I-"

"Ranran may not have begged you to leave, the way you are begging us to tell you to leave," Veronica was the next to speak furiously at Ran, "But I am certain you are not that naive and stupid to not notice that the two didn't like you being around, so why remain?"

Ran's voice trembled as she tried to respond through her swollen throat, her gaze downcast. "I... I thought... I thought I could still change things. That if I stayed... I could make things right with Shinichi."

Georgette's eyes bore into Ran, her tone unrelenting. "By doing what? Undermining Ranran's authority? Discrediting Shinichi's work? Your actions only served to make things worse, to hurt those who cared about you."

The room remained tense, the air heavy with the truth that was being exposed. The darkness that had been lurking beneath the surface had now fully engulfed them, leaving them with no choice but to confront their own shortcomings.

"Neh, let me ask you something upfront," Isabelle confronted the two, "About that kidnapping incident between you, Emiko and Ranran from what I heard from Shinichi, you tempered with his phone while he was charging after he told you off about sabotaging the things Ranran and Shinichi did for the cases they had handled. Now I know you didn't have that foresight when you were targetted to be kidnap, fair enough, but did you not consider the possibility that if Ranran never once learn how to fly an aeroplane back in Edgewood Academy, should this kidnapping have taken place, would the three of you had survived?"

The weight of Isabelle's question hung heavily in the room, the tension escalating as the truth-seeking mechanism awaited Ran and Sonoko's response.

Ran's gaze was fixed on the floor, her voice almost a whisper. "I... I didn't think about that. I was scared, and I thought...Ranran could... handle it somehow."

The lie detector machine flashed a green emoji, indicating that her response had passed the truth test.

Nicolas's eyes narrowed, his voice sharp. "Also, that first major case about you accusing Ranran of stealing the funds of one of the gangsters to purchase the smartphones, while you, Emiko and Junko had guns trained on all three of your heads when they demanded the money...while I admit Ranran did do that, what right did you have to complain about that? Their phones were stolen by The Snake, and she and the boys were kidnapped when it happened, including their money, so she had no choice but to resort to that. Not to mention, the contract Ranran had given you listed that there will be such incidents likely to occur in the future. As much as the contract may have sounded rude and irresponsible on the surface, would you have rather let Ranran come up with a contract that is filled with lies and dishonesty, Mouri Ran?"

"I...I didn't consider that possibility. I was angry and scared... and I wanted to prove that Ranran was wrong." Ran's voice wavered as she responded to Isabelle's question, her gaze still fixed on the ground.

The lie detector machine flashed a green emoji, confirming her response, but the truth behind her actions was now clear.

"No, you were more concerned about yourself than the safety of everyone involved. Your actions put not only you but also everyone around you in danger." Tiffany grew furious before glaring at Sonoko, "And as for you, you may not have been a member of Tantei Association, but from what I can understand, you and Mouri didn't speak to Shinichi till he decided to pursue his apprenticeship under Ranran, because of Rokuro's lies. What made you think that in Kudo Shinichi's right mind, would he be pursuing a romantic relationship with Ranran after the blowout between the two of you!?"

Beside her, Sonoko's breaths were uneven, her expression a mixture of guilt and fear. "I...at that time, there were many incidents of Ranran having done things in our school, especially with what she did to Shinichi during the parkour event last year-"

"Ah right, the part that Shinichi insulted her honour when he called her a bastard with a group of boys, correct?! For being cocky?" Walter's voice held a hint of disbelief. "Especially those rumours that Ranran is a child's bride to Shinichi? Did it not occur to you that the real reason he said that to her, is because, at that time, there were rumours of her mother having an affair with Shinichi's Tousan, which is how Ranran was born in the first place?"

The two girls' breath hitched as Ran responded to Walter's accusation, her voice shaky. "I... I thought... I thought maybe Shinichi....had feelings for me, he could've been using Ranran to-"

"What? As a rebound? You are all 6 years old!" Georgette interrupted them.

"Also, Ranran is a daughter of a foreigner, and people assumed because she lived in the U.K. over the course of 5 years, that the kids at your school believed she shouldn't belong in Japan. It only seems fair that she gave them payback, don't you think?" Tiffany adds.

The room was heavy with the weight of the truth, each question and response exposing the layers of guilt and misunderstanding that had fueled Ran and Sonoko's actions. The icy atmosphere seemed to reflect the cold reality they were facing, a reality where their own faults and shortcomings were laid bare before them.