"You mentioned that Ishibashi Mamiko started out all of this, right? Then why not expose her?"

6-year-old Ran blinked a blank look before one of the kids sighed at how dense she could be.

"At the beginning of the story you shared, your friends and that 'cunning detective girl', all of whom were pitted against each other because of her lies, and her delusional feelings towards Shinichi." One girl recounted Ran's story, "She is basically a pariah after she exposed her in school, correct? That girl?"

"Ah, yes," Ran nodded, her expression thoughtful. "The detective girl did that to make sure she couldn't dupe another child anymore."

The girl who had spoken up continued, "Exactly. So, why not dig out something damning about her? It could help clear the air and show them that you were also a victim of her lies."

"But it ain't like the entire school ain't aware I was one of her puppets," Ran's fingers curled.

The girl nodded, acknowledging the difficulty of the situation. "True, but exposing her further could still make a difference. It would show that you're taking responsibility for your actions and actively working to make things right."

Ran took a moment to consider the suggestion. It wasn't a bad idea, she thought. After all, Mamiko's deceit had been the catalyst for much of the strife. "You might have a point," she admitted. "It's just... I don't even know where to start."

"Is it because she is superiorly cunning that you are worried you don't know where to begin?" A boy asked.

"To be honest, exposing her is like trying to catch smoke with your bare hands." Ran's gaze turned contemplative. "She used to live in a mansion with her mom in some luxurious neighbourhood, but after that scandal of her mom working as...you know, the evil kind of job one would work in a nightclub....honestly, after moving to the slums....especially when she attempted to murder...our leader with a knife once at school, I fear of her way more than the other girl would."

The children listened intently, their eyes wide with a mix of shock and concern. "Wait, why is she still in school then?!" Another boy asked.

"Her mom has 'ties', apparently 'that kind of profession' still works in their favour."

After hearing Ran say so, it was clear that Mamiko was a force to be reckoned with, and Ran's fear of her was more than justified.

"That's... really messed up," one of the boys finally commented, his voice filled with disbelief.

"Yeah, like, that's some next-level crazy stuff," another girl added, shaking her head.

"That poor child must have been fearing for her life." Another boy thinks.

"She didn't, she said she had no time to fear since she had Tantei work to do." Ran muses.

"That's seriously intense," one of the girls breathed, clearly impressed by Ranran's resolve.

"I honestly don't know how she managed to find the strength to deal with her," Ran nodded, a shiver running down her spine as she recalled some of the more chilling encounters with Mamiko. "Anyway, Mamiko's got this way of manipulating people, making them believe whatever she wants. It's like she's got a dark magic to make people do things they wouldn't think possible. And....I am scared of her now I think back way more than the other. Cause at least the leader didn't try to kill me with a gun or a knife the way Mamiko did."

"But exposing her lies could be a way to regain your friends' trust," a thoughtful voice chimed in. "If they see that you're willing to take a stand against her, it might help them see you in a new light."

"Also, you mentioned your reputation is at an all-time low. If you don't do something about it, even though you opted for a life of peace, would you be happy to live like a pariah all thanks to Mamiko?"

Ran listened to the advice of the children, their words sinking in.

"Truthfully, I wouldn't be happy to do so. The old me would've fought everything with my tooth and bone. Even so...." Ran trembled with a downcast expression, "For the past 2 months since everything had ended....I questioned myself a lot about whether I even deserved forgiveness after what I did to the one I love, but mainly towards....her."

Sinking into deeper silence, Ran revealed, "The recent incident, when I overheard they were about to do something dangerous again, I blanked out whatever plans on making amends to him without a doubt and made my way out to discourage him once more. Who knew that once more, I ended up endangering not only him in the process, but everyone including leader-san almost died."

With trembling lips, she revealed, "When we were forced into the van after being kidnapped, I knew something was wrong with me the moment the sam leader called me demeaning things, calling me a stubborn pig in some princess dress, because she didn't like it to see that I was admittingly....disregarding every single part of my crush's feelings when he scolded me about my meddling once more. She even called Sonoko a donkey....."

Painfully, she expresses to the group, "Leader-san only call names if one doesn't listen, and she rarely does it to the other members besides me, let alone, our classmates. Which means it was pretty bad."

The children listened in sombre silence as Ran shared her inner turmoil and the gravity of her actions. It was clear that she was wrestling with guilt and regret, and they couldn't help but empathize with her struggle.

"Sometimes I wonder....do I deserve their forgiveness? What I did to them...it was no different than the criminals we all helped threw in prison. I am really.... an unredeemable monster."

The room fell into a heavy silence, the weight of Ran's words hanging in the air. The children exchanged glances, clearly moved by the raw honesty of her confession. It was a moment of vulnerability that laid bare the depth of Ran's remorse.

"I can understand that," One of the girls, her voice gentle, spoke up. "I hated this classmate once for being talented in the field of calligraphy because she was arrogant and lived up to her talent, adding the fact that she belonged to a privileged family made me so inferior, I did many things that poorly reflected who I was, that by the time the other kids discovered me for sabotaging her work, which I didn't know at that time was meant for our beloved principal who is planning to retire since she has a terminal illness, they all started distancing themselves from me." The girl's voice held a note of sadness. "And who wouldn't? It sounds unforgivable no matter how one puts it."

Another boy chimed in, "I once spread rumours about a classmate because I was jealous of his popularity. Like yours, he is from a rich family, but he was raised under a single mother because of those rumours of him being a product of infidelity, which is what led to the divorce in the first place. When his fan club found out about it, they published across the school about my father having once worked as a loan shark, so I got so outraged by this that I ended up throwing punches at the boy, who he had no idea all of this was going on. When his mother found out, she got the school to expel me, but my parents ended up having to have to kneel and beg for them not to till she demanded I either go for therapy or be kicked out of school for good."

The children listened to each other's stories, and a shared sense of empathy and understanding passed between them. They could all relate to the weight of past mistakes and the struggle to find redemption.

"You know, even though all of us fair share of mess-ups, I think we can all agree Ran's is the worst." one of the boys remarked.

"You ain't wrong," Ran, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, nodded. "And I do want to mend everything. But...."

"Just let me ask you something, between never getting the forgiveness of 'that boy' and his mentor, as well as fearing that Mamiko might end up murdering you....which is the scariest for you, Mouri Ran?"

She took a moment to consider the question, her gaze fixed on the ground.

"Truthfully, this is pretty straightforward for me. Never getting forgiveness from Shinichi and 'her' is worse than that," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "At the same time, however....not being alive anymore to seek that forgiveness....I honestly don't know which is worst."

The other children exchanged solemn glances, understanding the gravity of the situation.

"But if you were all in my shoes, what would you have done?" Ran found herself asking them.

Each of them contemplated the difficult choice that Ran faced. It was clear that there were no easy answers. "I think... I'd try to prove to them that I will make amends by exposing Mamiko," one of the girls finally said, her voice gentle but resolute. "Although I am aware this girl you mention had a history of attempting to murder someone with a knife...if we let her continue her reign of manipulation, who's to say who else might get hurt?"

"Also, you mentioned that it was thanks to 'that video', that you were hated by the entire school for being an evil villainess who attempted to discourage his dream to marry you." Another girl commented, "I may not have known Mamiko well enough since I never met her, but judging what you had to share about her...I suspected the reason Mamiko filmed that video with your best friend....was to make that video into blackmail material."

"Eh!?"

"I think Mamiko had feelings for your crush, which is why she did that. If your best friend and you tried to stop her, this video would've been enough to get your crush not to trust you both anymore, no? Exposing her would do favours for you."

"Plus, that cunning princess detective girl you brought up, your crush's mentor. She sounded like someone who was on the reasonable side." The boy thought hard about it, "Although I can see the chances of her and that boy forgiving you is rather low, especially what they had to deal with you for the past 2 months...I had a hunch that they would forgive you if you managed to bring Mamiko down. Cause, after all, the three of you including your best friend suffered thanks to her lies."

Ran listened to the advice, her mind processing the gravity of the situation. Exposing Mamiko was a daunting prospect, but it could be a crucial step towards redemption. Still, there was another problem even if she wanted to do so.

"I don't if this would work," Ran doubted, "I mean....through the contracts the leader had given me in person, I violated so many times that I doubt even if I wanted to go back in....."

"Contracts, huh?" one of the boys mused, his brow furrowing in thought. "That does sound like a tricky situation."

"It's like, the universe is against you," a girl added, shaking her head sympathetically.

"Does she come from a privileged school to do contracts?" Another boy asked.

"Yes. Contracts apparently are part of their culture." Ran nodded to them.

"Jesus, that's some next-level pressure for a 6-year-old," the boy commented, clearly taken aback.

"Yeah, I mean, I can barely handle my homework, let alone contracts," another girl chimed in, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"That's... kind of messed up," one of the girls finally said, her voice filled with concern.

"It sounds more like a boardroom meeting than an elementary child planning some meeting about finger painting," another boy added, raising an eyebrow.

"She must have been a very talented child. Who even thinks of this stuff for kids nowadays?" another boy chimed in, clearly baffled.

Ran nodded, her face reflecting the gravity of the situation. "Yeah, it's been...a lot to handle, to say the least."

"I mean...for your crush to become her apprentice, that meant he too is a very highly intelligent boy." A girl suddenly figures before hit with one idea, "Why don't you offer yourself?"

"Offer myself to her?" Ran raised an eyebrow, intrigued yet puzzled by the suggestion.

"As a temporary intern." He suggested, "You don't have to like Tantei work there, let alone, like how they do things there, but be that intern that fixes up everything you had messed up throughout the past 2 months. By the time the contract for the 2 months is over, although you don't have to remain in the association anymore, who knows? Maybe all of that is patched up between you and that crush after that."

"Of course, it won't be completely to your terms though." Another boy ponders, "As someone from a privileged school myself, usually the one who offers the contract is in power. Especially after the 2 months of hell, I am certain she would impose stricter rules that would've been way better if you were dead than alive."

"Even so....I don't have much use for her," Ran sighed, "I ain't born as intelligent as either her or my crush if I were to be honest, let alone, more talented than the rest of the members in there. And it's true I don't like Tantei work. Especially the things that are taking place there."

The boy nodded, acknowledging the complexity of the situation. "Yeah, it's definitely a tough call. And it sounds like it won't be an easy path, for sure."

"But if it means making amends, it might be worth considering," a girl added, her voice gentle yet firm.

"And even if it doesn't work out, at least you can say you tried," another boy chimed in.

Ran took a moment to absorb their advice. It was clear that there were no easy answers, and each option came with its own set of challenges. But the prospect of making amends was too important to ignore.

"I'll give it some serious thought," Ran finally said, determination in her voice.

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

For the next 2 weeks minus Mouri Ran, life began to be all so rosy for the members of Tantei Association. Though for NASA, it was the complete opposite.

Following the events of 'The Feathers of Fury', the scandal-hit hard onto the NASA company based in New York City when the truth about Professor Shibuya's dismissal was revealed, setting of chain of events that lead him to steal the nuclear rocket plan, and his eventual arrest.

When people learn that he was framed for embezzling money for a nuclear rocket project in the name of jealousy by his envious former university course mate, not to mention, his envious colleagues, the revelation sent shockwaves through the scientific community, tarnishing the reputation of NASA and sending their stocks plummeting.

If things were about to get worse, they had it coming.

Several of Professor Shibuya's former colleagues who were still working presently were named on the papers, and there was public outcry worldwide, wondering how they let petty jealousy in the name of 'talent' drive them to do such things. As much as it was also later revealed that Professor Shibuya was a nepo-child, it did little to change the public hatred towards his jealous rivals, since Professor Shibuya's wealthy family was proven to not have any connections to NASA, meaning he did work and earn his way there on his own merit.

The fallout was swift and brutal. Many of the implicated scientists faced immediate suspension pending further investigation, and a cloud of shame hung over the once prestigious institution.

Even though it was also later revealed that Professor Shibuya did steal the blueprint plans of the nuclear rocket he helped develop, the public perception sympathized with him as someone whose dream was stolen by the company he devoted his entire life for several decades. Also, his actions were driven by jealousy from other parties, not because he planned to do so.

The news spread like wildfire, dominating headlines and sparking discussions in both scientific and mainstream circles. News outlets couldn't get enough of the story, dissecting every detail and speculating on the implications for NASA and the scientific community as a whole. Social media was abuzz with opinions, memes, and discussions about the betrayal and the tangled web of jealousy. The saga of jealousy, betrayal, and stolen dreams struck a chord with people around the world. Especially after hearing that he had 150 plus birds, the media called him 'The Betrayed Bird Professor that NASA Abandoned'.

Things got so bad, that even the fresh graduates decided not to apply to NASA because they had such an environment that favor cutthroat competition and backstabbing over scientific progress. The once prestigious institution was now seen as a cautionary tale, a place where talent was overshadowed by envy, and ambition was tainted by betrayal.

"I can't find myself applying to NASA if that is what the future is like for people planning to become rocket scientists." An anonymous graduate revealed while being interviewed on TV, "I am a straight-A student and I did plan on wanting to apply after I graduate next semester, but after hearing what that poor professor had to deal with, I don't think I want to work for a company that favours petty rivalries over genuine scientific progress."

"Does it not bother you that he stole those nuclear rocket plans when he was forced to resign?" A report quipped.

"I mean yes, he endangered everyone should those plans happen to fall into the wrong hands." Another graduate admitted, "But at the same time, I also heard reports of him desperately trying to recover it when it was stolen. And he didn't try to sell it through the black market to pocket billions for himself whereby most disgraced professors would. If I were him, I would sell, cause for such a company to do this to me after years of loyalty...where is the justice in that?" Another anonymous graduate continued. "It's a tragic story all around."

"What do you think of Professor Shibuya being a nepo-child?" Another reporter questioned the third anonymous graduate.

The third graduate took a moment to think before responding, "Well, being a repo child certainly might have opened doors for him initially, but it's clear that he worked hard and had the talent to make significant contributions to the field. I don't think that should diminish his accomplishments or excuse what happened to him at NASA."

"Don't get me wrong, but if I were Professor Shibuya having been born into such a family, I would sue NASA." A fourth graduate admitted as he ranted on to the report live on TV, "This is a scientist who could've used his privilege to go after the company who wronged him and expose their unethical practices. But instead, he chose to focus on his own work, and look where it got him! It's a real tragedy, that someone of his talent would be locked away in the name of pettiness!"

The sentiment echoed through various media outlets, with many expressing sympathy for Professor Shibuya's plight and criticizing NASA for its role in the scandal. It ignited a broader conversation about the ethical climate in scientific institutions and the sacrifices made by passionate researchers. Many expressed their disappointment and disillusionment with NASA's handling of the situation. Calls for accountability and reform within the institution grew louder, as people demanded justice for the betrayed scientist.

As the days went by, the fallout continued. Congressional hearings were called to investigate the matter, putting NASA's leadership under intense scrutiny. The scientific community called for reforms and transparency, demanding accountability for those involved in the framing of Professor Shibuya. At the same time, however, Professor Shibuya's former colleagues faced not only public scrutiny but also potential legal repercussions. Lawsuits were filed, and investigations were launched to determine the full extent of the betrayal.

The once-thriving community within NASA was now fractured, and trust was eroded by the revelations. Many scientists questioned their own commitment to an institution that had betrayed one of its own. Some even considered leaving to pursue their research independently or seek opportunities elsewhere.

In the midst of the chaos, a petition emerged, calling for reforms within NASA to prevent such incidents from occurring again. It gained traction quickly, garnering support from scientists, academics, and concerned citizens worldwide.

Junko who had been following the developments from the sidelines as she watched all of this on the new TV Ranran and Shinichi managed to win through a competition which is now installed in their school, couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. Having written up all her reports, she shut the file and named the case 'Feathers of Fury' by Ranran. On one hand, she was relieved that the truth had come to light, vindicating Professor Shibuya and exposing the jealousy that had festered within NASA. On the other hand, she couldn't shake the feeling that more lives were about to be destroyed because of this scandal.

When Shinichi announces to Ranran one day while having a meeting, "I want to make sure those scientists can no longer live their dream anymore since they are more focused on their jealousy rather than community progress.", he genuinely wants Ranran to drag them to the worst kind of hell. And that hell would be beyond losing their jobs.

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

At first, Junko protested it big time.

Their jobs are child detectives, not go around meddling after all. However, as Shinichi passionately argued his point, the last words he said sarcastically lingered in her mind and forced her to shut up.

"Alright, then the next time you do end up getting your dream job as a fashion magazine writer, you'll be thankful for the opportunity and won't waste it out of jealousy or pettiness, right?"

Junko sighed as the members were seated around the meeting table, realizing that Shinichi had a point. Even so, "Shinichi, are you sure you are not projecting your life experiences and hatred towards all onto those scientists?! Just because Professor Shibuya happens to be going through the same thing as you did?"

"You are not seeing the bigger picture," Shinichi met Junko's gaze with a steely determination. "When I decided to pursue my dream as a Tantei again after cutting ties with Ran and Sonoko, already there was jealousy hidden within the shadows that had devious intentions of preventing me from achieving it, in order to manipulate me to being pit against Ranran who is a million times talented than me. This was the same kind of jealousy that caused Professor Shibuya's downfall." 

Shinichi continued, his voice steady. "It took Ranran to slap the sense out of me to avoid ending up like Professor Shibuya, but what about the others? They're still trapped in that toxic environment, feeding off each other's envy," Shinichi's tone was grave. "If we don't do something now, those future wannabe rocket scientists will end up as casualties of their own jealousy, just like Professor Shibuya. And I won't stand for it."

"But you both have different careers." Takuma pointed out, "A child Tantei and a professor are different fields."

"However, the underlying issue itself is the same—jealousy and betrayal." Shinichi nodded, acknowledging Takuma's point. "These kinds of things are like cancer that can eat away at any community, regardless of the profession. If we leave things be, more talented people will never be able to achieve anything that benefits the world."

"He is right," Ranran chimed in, her expression serious. "This problem exists in every single professional field. It doesn't matter if you choose to become an American Football athlete, a detective, an editor, an artist etc. If one doesn't make an example especially out of a company like NASA, others will continue to suffer in silence. Then many more, including future generations would be forced to abandon their dream to work on jobs no one likes to survive, and do you all want that kind of life?!"

The room fell into a heavy silence, the weight of Shinichi and Ranran's words sinking in. The members of the Tantei Association exchanged meaningful glances, realizing the gravity of the situation.

"If I were to admit it, I cannot foresee myself living a career wiping tables or sitting in front of a computer desk all day and becoming some mundane salary man," Takuma finally said, his voice steady. "When I said I plan to become an American Football athlete, I don't have a backup plan."

"Same, I don't ever want to take up some mundane office job, I rather sit in front of the easel and paint a masterpiece, that is all I can see myself doing." Emiko sighed, acknowledging the truth in their words. 

The sentiment in the room was unanimous. They all shared dreams and aspirations that were far from mundane office jobs. Each of them had a passion that they wanted to pursue, a path that they believed in with all their hearts.

"Alright, we're in," Michio finally said, his voice filled with determination. "We'll expose the toxic culture within NASA and make sure those scientists face the consequences of their actions."

The room erupted in a chorus of agreement and nods. 

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

To cut a long story short, things are now what it is now as a result.

"Done with your report already?" Michio asked Junko as he arranged the files from the shelf of the association, the two children were the only ones alone in the HQ.

Junko glanced up from her work, her expression a mix of exhaustion and frustration. "Yeah, I just finished compiling all the evidence. It's quite a mess in there," she sighed, rubbing her temples. "I knew things are going to be brutal, but damn, I can't believe how deep-seated the jealousy was among those scientists enough to be sued."

"Insecurities are everywhere wherever you go," Michio nodded in agreement, his face reflecting the gravity of the situation. "It's a shame, really, that they lose everything just in the name of idiocy and jealousy."

"Yeah, and now they're paying the price," Junko said, her tone sombre. 

Michio looked at Junko with a thoughtful expression. "You know, this whole experience has made me realize something: Talent itself is a wonderful thing, but it is utterly pointless as long as jealousy exists."

"As much as I hate to admit it, you have a point," Junko looked at Michio, her tired eyes filled with a mix of understanding and agreement. "Talent can do amazing things, but when it's overshadowed by envy and pettiness, it's like a wasted gift. I mean look at Ranran for example," Junko continued, her tone serious. "Although she is unusually talented for a 6-year-old child Tantei, she already had kids like Mouri Ran and Ishibashi Mamiko out to murder her. Plus, I was surprised to learn that Shinichi broke into Ranran's place to discourage her back then, but since he was manipulated by Mamiko back then, it ain't surprising he did something as shocking as that."

Michio nodded, "Though I admit Ranran's talent is extraordinary, Shinichi too is almost reaching her level, no? Otherwise, Mouri wouldn't have kept on meddling with his tasks before Ranran finally kicked her out."

As they spoke, the weight of the situation settled on them. The reality of talent, jealousy, and the consequences of toxic environments was not lost on them.

"Well, now that Ran is gone, we can all look forward to many more days of peace." Grabbing a seat opposite Junko, he began to sharpen the pencils on the table. "No more yelling matches, no more incompetent reports, and above all....Shinichi will no longer be upset anymore."

"True, I'm so glad that everything is finally back to normal again," Junko began, polishing her glasses. "I was getting pretty worried after that break-in incident. Also, I heard her head has healed well."

"Nice. No more girl drama."

"You don't like it, do you?"

"I honestly don't." Michio shrugged.

Then an idea came up in her head, "Neh, Michio," Junko asked nervously as her cheek began twitching, "Just asking, what would you do if one of my old boyfriends came along?"

"Hah? Junko, you finally landed yourself not one or two, but several!?"Michio's eyebrows shot up in surprise, "Finally, you achieve the charm of a typical Otome girl."

To those who are unaware, an otome game (Japanese: 乙女ゲーム, Hepburn: otome gēmu, lit. "maiden game"), is a story-based video game that is targeted towards women romantically dating multiple fictional men in the game.

He blurted out and regretted it immediately when he saw the look on Junko's face. 

Junko's eyes narrowed, her irritation clear. "Michio, don't be ridiculous. It's just a hypothetical question. I was just curious about your thoughts on the matter."

"Only joking," he added quickly. "Why do you want to know by the way?"

"I know how you feel when you talk to Adeline," persisted Junko.

"Don't worry about her," Michio grinned. "The only girlfriend I have is my mother, and that is about it."

"Yeah, but your mom has Sergeant Genzo, does she not? He is dating her."

"True." Michio chuckled. "But if one of your old boyfriends did show up, I'd probably just be polite and friendly. No need to make things awkward, right?"

Before Junko could reply, they both heard the voice of a little girl, recognizing it instantly and Michio began frowning."What in God's name is going on?"

"That is a good question, Why don't we take a look?"

Junko and Michio soon had their heads poking out at the window.

As they looked out the window, they saw a familiar face. It was their former member, Mouri Ran, who was seemingly having an altercation with someone.

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

After the events of the next 2 weeks, Ran put everything she had learned throughout her time in Tantei Association.

To gain the forgiveness of Shinichi, she dug up high and low about Ishibashi Mamiko, evidence to suggest that she manipulated herself and Sonoko into going after Ranran.

The evidence Ran had gathered was difficult, after all, Ishibashi Mamiko was at another level of deviousness, compared to Ranran. And when she took manipulation to new heights, it was no joke. For 2 weeks, Ran worked tirelessly, but she kept on being made out a fool by Mamiko.

Surprisingly, although Mamiko is a pariah thanks to Ranran, she still has a network of supporters who either admire her cunning or fear her connections. It was a challenge Ran hadn't fully anticipated.

During that period, a lot was going through Ran's mind back then. When Shinichi was falsely accused and Ran wrongly believed in Rokuro, did he feel the same way back then?

Did he feel this same sense of frustration, or was he grappling with doubts and insecurities? The realization hit her hard – she had inflicted pain on him, and now she was experiencing a taste of that pain herself.

And then another face surfaced in her head: The Talented cunning Kudo Ranran. The girl whom she always blamed for every single fault, and accused of stealing Shinichi.

Amid the chaos of her thoughts, Ran found herself questioning everything she thought she knew. Was Ranran truly the villain in her story? Or force to be one?

Ran recalled her past shared by her mother, on how Ranran had to deal with tragedy before she was forced to move to Japan. Having to witness the murder of her 8-year-old friend when Ranran was around 4 years old made her cold and calculative, plus a combination of growing up in an environment where trust had to be earned rather than freely given, it ain't surprising why someone like Ranran ended up eventually grew distrustful and twisted child tantei.

Ranran was a product of circumstances and pain.

And everyone who barely knew of her past just aggravated it so much so, that it ain't surprising why she lashed out in a cruel malicious manner to defend herself.

The weight of this revelation hung heavily on Ran's shoulders.

When Shinichi admitted he was in the wrong for calling Ranran a 'bastard' at that time, the rumours about Ranran being his illegitimate sister had been there for a long while. At that time Ran called out the bluffs since she had gotten to know his parents personally and that they weren't the type to cheat. Sure, Ranran's appearance strongly resembled Shinichi's in many ways, but there was no way in hell that his father would simply commit adultery.

Which is why when Shinichi cut ties with her and Sonoko at that time, Ran had always projected Ranran to be a beautiful, talented yet evil little girl who made use of Sonoko, Ran and Shinichi's feud to win Shinichi's heart by whispering sweet lies into his ears through offering to have him work for Ranran as her Tantei apprentice. Now that she looks back, it is clear that she has let her own jealousy and insecurities cloud her judgment so much so, that she has forgotten about the possibility of Ranran presumably related to Shinichi by blood.

As she delved deeper into her investigation of Mamiko, Ran couldn't help but draw parallels between their situations. Both Ran and Ranran had been shaped by their pasts, their experiences moulding them into the individuals they are today.

The realization was sobering. It wasn't fair to place all the blame on Ranran. Sure, she was cunning, manipulative and everything in between, but she didn't do horrible things the way Mamiko did. 

In that twisted world, it was survival of the fittest. Each of them had their own demons to wrestle with, and sometimes, those demons pushed them to do terrible things.

And Sonoko, herself and Shinichi....were all demons in Ranran's eyes back then.

Now, only Sonoko and Ran were the demons that plagued Ranran. No wonder Shinichi desperately wanted to kick Ran out of the Tantei Association at that time.

The more she thought about Ranran, the more guilty she felt. This was a child who she too realised had no one by her side, after living in the U.K. with privileges for over 4 years of her life, only to be forcefully moved to Japan, a country where English is no longer her mother tongue language and a huge shift in culture and environment. Ranran had to adapt to a completely new world, navigate the complexities of Japanese society, and deal with the trauma of witnessing her friend's murder.

Ran couldn't help but feel a sense of empathy for the girl she had once seen as her nemesis. It was as if a veil had been lifted, revealing the layers of pain and struggle that Ranran had endured.

She wonders what the cold, unfazed Ranran was feeling back then whenever she meddled.

Was Ranran wondering what did she to deserve having the annoying Ran around? Did she detest how much of a burden she was causing towards Shinichi, who is doing his apprenticeship under Ranran? How many times did she and Shinichi were forced to clean up after her mess? Or how suffocated did they feel these past 2 months when she was around, constantly telling Shinichi to quit?

Her thoughts were a whirlwind of emotions, each one crashing into the next. She couldn't escape the guilt and self-reflection that now consumed her. The more she learned about Mamiko and the more she considered Ranran's perspective, the more she realized how wrong she had been.

As she pondered the days she spent in that HQ, she thought of the times Ranran schemed and manipulated people. Compared to Mamiko, Ranran didn't go about things the right way, but it was clear that having been backed into a corner for so long, it wasn't surprising why this later became a habit for Ranran. Her actions were a desperate attempt to catch culprits that had escaped the laws of justice.

"She....isn't really a bad child after all."

Determined to set things right, Ran knew what she had to do.

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

Sneaking into Ishibashi's journalism club room was no easy feat for Mouri Ran.

The room was dimly lit, filled with stacks of newspapers, and the faint scent of ink hung in the air. Ran's heart pounded in her chest as she searched for any evidence that could expose Mamiko's true nature.

She combed through files, scanned articles, and meticulously examined every corner of the room. It was a race against time, and Ran couldn't afford to be caught. Although Mamiko locked the door following that incident of a break-in, it wasn't difficult for Ran to simply head over to the student president's office and beg for the keys.

Though Ran was surprised Ranran's friend willingly handed them over. When asked why despite their bad blood, Reina naturally replied, "Sometimes, even enemies can recognize a common threat," Reina had said with a small, knowing smile. "And right now, that threat is Mamiko. If you can take her down, it benefits us all."

And now, the 6-year-old girl needed one nail enough to set her and Sonoko free, one piece of evidence that would break the manipulation chain that had ensnared them all. She couldn't afford to leave any stone unturned.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Ran's eyes landed on a laptop tucked away in some laptop casing, left on the sofa. With bated breath, she approached it, fingers trembling as she opened the lid.

Bringing the laptop to the table, Mouri Ran switched it on. As soon as the screen flickered to life, her heart dropped when she noticed there was a password.

She cursed under her breath. This was a setback she hadn't anticipated. But Ran was desperate, to restore their reputation and get herself back in Tantei Association, she had no choice but to do so.

She racked her brain, trying to recall any hints or clues she might have come across during her investigation. Mamiko was a shrewd little girl, but she couldn't have covered her tracks perfectly. Otherwise, Ranran wouldn't have been able to humiliate her.

"There should be a hint that tells me what is the password," Ran muttered to herself.

As Ran stared at the screen, her mind raced. She and Mamiko barely knew each other, so she really had nothing to go out about. Although Sonoko used to be friends with Mamiko before the video scandal broke out, Sonoko barely knew anything about Mamiko. Ran's gaze wandered around the room, searching for anything that might offer a clue.

But honestly, the room itself sent Ran chills.

It was tidy, extremely organized and tidy, which is enough to put Ran's cleaning skills to shame. The contrast between the impeccably organized room and Ran's own chaotic thoughts was almost comical. She couldn't help but feel a twinge of frustration.

Strumming her fingers, the hint of the password surfaced on the login screen.

It was subtle, but it caught Ran's eye. The hint reads My Crush's birthday date.

Ran's heart skipped a beat. This was it, the clue she needed. But it also meant that she had to figure out who Mamiko's crush was and their birthday. She began to think back on the conversations she had overheard, the kids others mentioned that had fancy towards Mamiko. It wasn't much to go on, but it was all she had.

Then, it hit her.

During the events of Tantei Association's fifth major case, 'The Blood on Campground' case, Mana Yoshida, their former 6-year-old classmate, lured half of their classmates from 1-A to confront the serial killer, despite being sternly warned by Ranran and Shinichi. She remembered Shinichi specifically revealing that Mana Yoshida had a crush on Mamiko, which is why he was manipulated into doing all of these things before Ranran and Shinichi managed to have him expelled in disgrace.

It seemed like a casual mention, but now it held a lot more weight.

Ran's fingers flew across the keyboard as she typed in Mana Yoshida's birth date into the search engine. She held her breath, hoping for a stroke of luck.

To her surprise, the password was denied.