At around 3 pm in the noon, a little boy by the age of 10 was leaning against the parapet on the warehouse roof, enjoying the fresh air, and smiling to himself over how smart he was.

Nori, who is known by his real legal name Yori, was busy video chatting with Chika, the target whom he is put in charge of deceiving by The Shark. And honestly, of the many jobs he had been assigned to do, this little girl from the rich family was by far the easiest he had ever come across.

"Rich girls here are the easiest to fool, had everything handed to them on the silver platter unlike those girls back in Edgewood Academy." Nori muses to himself about this while he goes about his chatting with Chika, talking about her day in school.

School....when was the last time I headed there?

The last time he remembered his school days, he was around the age of 7.

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

With his foot set on the grass of the prestigious ground, the then 3-year-old Nori who was clad in a dark blue navy blazer, black tie with grey trousers and a small cute cap to match the ensemble, looked up at the large school gates with wide eyes filled with awe. The gates had an intricate design, a symbol of prestige and honour.

A tall woman, his homeroom teacher, stood beside him. She was a strict-looking lady with glasses perched on her nose, dressed in a neatly pressed suit, radiating an air of authority. She adjusted her glasses and glanced down at Nori.

"Nori, this is Edgewood Academy. You'll be attending school here from now on. Remember, you're representing the Dewitt family, so behave accordingly," she instructed, her tone firm.

Nori nodded obediently, his small hand clutching his backpack.

The school environment was vastly different from the world he was used to. The grandeur of Edgewood Academy, the manicured lawns, the imposing buildings — everything screamed privilege. Back then the 3-year-old wasn't raised into a world where he had to fend for himself, navigating through the harsh realities of life. If anything, stepping into a realm of luxury and entitlement was something he had grown used to thanks to his mother's family.

The Dewitt family, with its wealth and influence, provided him with the resources to blend seamlessly into various circles. Back then, no one could've guessed that Nori back then was like any other little boy of nobility, overly pampered and showered with riches beyond his understanding. 

He enjoyed life, and life was kind to him.

And popular too if one may add. 

His small figure with neatly combed hair and a charming smile became a common sight in the corridors of Edgewood Academy. The teachers praised him for his intelligence, and the students adored him for his friendly demeanour. Life seemed like an everlasting feast, where he could indulge in the luxuries that accompanied his noble status. The added bonus was that in the world of astrocrats, his family was well-respected, and known for their charitable contributions and influence. Therefore, he was like a future prince groomed for greater things in life.

However, Nori's life took an unexpected turn when that little girl in the Fox mask ruined and brought his family's name, the Dewitt's, down to a halt.

Suddenly, the Dewitt family faced legal consequences, and the family's assets were seized. They went from being nobles with a prominent standing to outcasts, scorned by the same society that had once showered them with admiration. All of these incidents shook the noble circles, and whispers of scandalous affairs and broken traditions echoed through the corridors of Edgewood.

The luxurious lifestyle Nori had grown accustomed to vanished overnight.

Before Nori knew it, the fall from grace was swift and brutal. As if a Fox tail swiped them completely off guard.

Forced to adapt to a life of obscurity, Nori, his mother and father went into hiding and moved to Japan. The once-affluent boy found himself in a world starkly different from the one he had known. They moved from place to place, seeking refuge in the shadows and doing whatever it took to survive.

Eventually, they moved into the poorest neighbourhood he had ever known, and Nori's personality shifted a lot.

Gone were the chauffeured cars and luxurious mansions; instead, he faced the realities of life beyond the aristocratic bubble. Even so, his mother remained strong, and it was a miracle that there was no argument between his parents regarding money issues, even though no one argued between them when they both mutually decided for Nori to be homeschooled. The love from his parents towards him hasn't changed.

However, life was cruel when only 5 months later, his mother grew sick. A mysterious ailment that seemed to drain the life out of her. Medical expenses skyrocketed, and Nori's father struggled to make ends meet.

Eventually, his mother passed away, which took a huge toll on both father and son.

His father, despite his best efforts, couldn't escape the harsh realities of their situation. The loss of his wife and the subsequent downfall had left him broken, so much so, that he drank, smoked, and even gambled to numb the pain, leaving the then 8-year-old Nori to fend for himself in a world that was both unfamiliar and unforgiving, straining their relationship as father and son.

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

When Nori learns of The Shark's role as to where his father was getting his money from, that is when he wants in on the act.

There was no way the then 8-year-old Nori was going to stop his father from seeing the criminal. He had heard stories from the alley as to how his father used to work for The Shark before marrying his mother. Word on the street stated that The Shark was loaded, which is why it was easy to fuel his father's gambling and drinking addiction.

But that isn't why Nori wants to meet The Shark to put a stop to his father.

No, he is meeting The Shark to demand a job.

"I want money, fast and quick. Enough to support me away from my father," The 8-year-old spoke before the intimidating yet amused criminal.

The Shark looked down at the small figure standing before him, a mix of surprise and amusement in his eyes. It wasn't every day that an 8-year-old approached him with such boldness.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" The Shark chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "You know....most of them in your situation would be on their knees begging me not to enable their gambling parent by supplying them money. You on the other hand instead of choosing to stop your own flesh and blood, chose to not only work for me, you even went as far as to demand independence away from your old man. Why?"

Nori, with a determined glint in his eyes, stared straight at The Shark. His small frame radiated a surprising intensity that belied his age.

"My mother wasn't the smartest noblewoman back in the U.K., born into a family where she is the most unfavourable member of her own family was what led to the family's downfall because she didn't take education seriously as I did back then...she died as an unfortunate homemaker who had no one to rely on but my father back then," Nori declared, his voice steady. "Now, because my father cannot function without my deceased mother, I am about to meet the same fate if I don't do something with my life. I.....want control over my own life, and I want the means to survive without depending on charity or luck."

The Shark studied Nori, the gears in his mind turning as he considered the audacity and determination of this young boy. A smirk played on his lips, appreciating the boldness displayed by the child.

"I don't know how the world of rich people works, but I can definitely tell you aren't as naive as your deceased mother." The Shark mused, leaning forward, his fingers steepled together. 

"You....know my mother?" The 8-year-old Nori's head tilted in surprise.

"I do, though briefly. When your father found out he was expecting you, he came up to me to resign back then years ago. Back then he was a high school dropout, smoked like a sailor, and impregnated a girl who was here to study overseas." The Shark continued, "A foolish idiot who although doesn't live up to the expectations of her own family, she was in a way....charming. Naively believed in the concept of love and family, things that didn't hold much weight in my line of work. I told him that she won't do much good if he marries her to have you, but he was some way different than his father and didn't want to be a scumbag to leave you fatherless. Who knew years later....things came to this."

Nori listened intently, absorbing every word. This was the first time he had heard about his parents' past from someone other than his father.

The Shark continued, "Your father had dreams, you know? Foolish dreams of a happy family, a life away from the grimy streets and dangerous circles he found himself in. But life has its own way of crushing dreams, especially when you choose to dance with the devil."

Nori's eyes narrowed slightly. "And you're the devil?"

"Regarding your father's situation? No, he had to keep the roof afloat for you despite his addictions," The Shark laughed, a deep, hearty laugh that echoed in the dimly lit room. "Even so, you are still planning to walk away from your old man despite this? That man still talks a lot about you regardless of his demons."

"He is a good father, at least even up till the day when my mother died," Nori didn't waver. "But he is no longer the man he used to be, and I can't rely on him anymore. If I stay, I'll either end up like him or my deceased mother, and neither of those is the fate I plan to end up with."

The Shark leaned back, a contemplative expression on his face. "Interesting. You're not the typical sob story, are you? Most kids in your situation would be begging for a way out, but here you are, demanding a way in."

Nori crossed his arms, his gaze unwavering. "I don't want charity. I want an opportunity. A chance to make something of myself without relying on my family's name or anyone else."

The Shark chuckled, a dark glint in his eyes. "You're not afraid of the shadows, are you, kid? Most would run away at the mere mention of my name."

Nori's expression remained resolute. "I've been living at the worst pits of hell, how bad can it be?"

The criminal mastermind studied Nori for a moment before nodding. "Alright, kid. I'll give you a chance. But remember, once you step into this world, there's no turning back. You play by my rules, and you don't question them. Fail, and there are consequences."

Nori nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "I'm ready."

The Shark grinned, revealing a set of sharp teeth. "Good. Welcome to the game, Nori. Let's see if you can survive in the world of shadows."

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

Within 2 years, he was thriving well.

Adding Nori's handsome looks as a bonus, he was easily singled out for most of the jobs The Shark assigned him to, mainly when it came to fooling rich families with kids around his age. All 9-year-old Nori needed to do was form a deceiving smile or offer false friendship, and everything fell easily within his palm. Adding his past experience in Edgewood Academy when he used to mingle with the other kids of high status back then, it was way too easy to make fast money by fooling their idiocy.

Better yet, the majority of the kids here in Japan who come from such schools barely take their privileged education seriously, let alone, social etiquette, which means they are gullible enough to be taken advantage of.

Already he had managed to persuade a woman who ran a computer shop around Beikai District to give him some part-time work weeks ago. While there, he had made copies of her shop keys and a few nights later her store had been successfully burgled. The Shark had paid him well for that assignment and the other criminals had given him a nickname: The "Devious Dapper".

And he was quite proud of it. His talents were being recognized. One day, he promised himself, that as soon as he was done within several years time, the first thing he would do is buy back the mansion he and his parents used to live in back in the U.K., then go back to Edgewood Academy to ruin those children who abandoned him during his darkest time and seek revenge.

As soon as all of this is done and over, he will throw himself into a luxurious vacation around the world. No way, he vowed, would he end up a failure like his father and mother!

And after settling everything with stability and all, he will go after The Fox.

He may not have any idea who that girl is, since she often wears a Fox mask, but he is aware she had to be an Edgewood student since she was often seen in the Edgewood school uniform, and is very familiar with the ways a student would in Edgewood. The sighting of her back then was that she was around 3-5 years old, meaning she should be around grade 1 to grade 2 if he did his mental calculations correctly. When he captures her, he is going to demand why she committed such an evil act to his family who did no wrong to her!

"Ні, Chika, Nori here," he cooed into his phone."Are we still on for tonight?"

Tonight he had made plans to take Chika out on a date at some fancy restaurant. Again, this is possible since her dad is once more working overnight, leaving the little girl alone in the mansion. Chika fears being alone, making it easier to exploit her feelings of loneliness. Also, unlike him, she has never dated before, so she can't differentiate between 'love' and all of the other feelings that come with it.

"We are, but by the way, I think there are some plans changed. I ain't sure if you are alright with it." 

Nori, maintaining his charming demeanour, responded smoothly, "Oh, really? What kind of changes are we talking about, Chika?"

Chika hesitated for a moment before speaking, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "Well, here is the thing. Do you remember me telling you about my Okaasan having used to work as a cook back in kindergarten before she passed away?"

"Yes, I remember," Nori replied with a feigned look of sympathy. "You mentioned it a couple of times. Why do you bring it up now?"

"Well, the two girls I kept telling you about that I used to entertain in kindergarten while my Okaasan prepared the meals for the class, the ones that I remain in contact with," Chika explained, excitement bubbling in her voice. "Is it alright if they join us on our date tonight? They insisted on it after hearing those cute stories of you and I, quite eager to know you, so I thought it might be fun to have them around."

His smile faded when Chika mentioned that two additional friends would be joining them. Although he had the experience and is good at entertaining a crowd with lies, when it comes to relationship assignments that involved wooing a girl, that would be the last thing he chooses not to do. Cause Nori knows that the world of the wealthy at times is a small world, if he lies when questioned as to which family he belonged to, it won't paint him in a good light.

Even so, this task is something he can't say no.

Cause if he refuses, the payout from The Shark won't come to him for this round. After all, this assignment is giving him 8 times the pay from The Shark, and he has no idea why, aside from the fact that The Shark is desperate to get his hands on the silver beggar bowl Chika's father owns.

Nori feigned a thoughtful expression before breaking into a warm smile. "That sounds great, Chika! The more, the merrier, right? I'm sure we'll all have a fantastic time together."

Chika let out a sigh of relief, relieved that Nori was accepting of the change in plans. "I'm so glad you're okay with it, Nori. I really want everyone to get along."

Nori reassured her, "Don't worry, Chika. I'm looking forward to meeting your friends. It'll be a night to remember."

After ending the call, Nori couldn't help but chuckle to himself. The addition of Sonoko and Ran to the date was an unexpected twist, but he was confident in his ability to adapt and manipulate situations to his advantage.

"Mother, I....after this last con, I am going to fly to the UK on my own." He gazed across the rooftops towards the sky and felt pleased with himself while muttering to no one in particular.

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

After waiting for Ranran and Shinichi to study the map for a while, the plans are laid out for locating the car.

"Let's start with this for instance," Shinichi had a laser pointer guiding the members onto the photo of a BMW Z4, "We all know that the length of the car is about 13 feet, so it's not too large, making it easier to conceal in smaller spaces. Also, given that it's a high-value vehicle, it's likely to be hidden away in a secured location."

"More like low tier vehicle, given that what Ranran had to say that the lowest rank of nobles only owns one." Takuma mocked.

"I ain't going to argue, cause it's true," Ranran admits.

"Guys, please let's not get sidetracked about the fact that this car is a low-tier vehicle in the world of the wealthy, ok?" Shinichi sighed, acknowledging Takuma's comment with a nod. 

"But 5 million yen is still a lot of money!" Takuma pout.

"That I can vouch, I could've used that money to settle tons of debt," Ran nodded alongside Junko.

"What were those idiot nobles thinking? 5 million is still tons of money! My mother could even settle for retirement with that kind of money!" Michio shook his head while wondering whether this world was about to be brought to an end by their stupidity.

"They had too much money to throw around, Michio. It's the same for my estrangled imperial family here in Japan," Emiko rolled her eyes before commenting, "I heard that once one of them bought this Ferrari, the limited edition but I forgot which model, drove it around in the school premises, showing off, and then leaving it parked overnight outside a restaurant. Seriously, do they even know how to handle expensive cars?"

"Apparently not," Shinichi agreed. "Now, after exploring every possible route, including the hidden shortcuts, and alleyways around the district where the car was last seen, where would you guys hide the car if you were the thief?"

"13 feet isn't that big, but considering this is a luxurious car that not many average people could simply afford, at some point when the person hijacked the car, there should've been witnesses who could've spotted the car that was driven away, right?" Junko eyed the photo of the car, "I mean even the style of the car is a bit on the flashy side, who could simply get away driving something luxurious as this?"

"Exactly! I was thinking the exact same thing!" Ran too was bewildered while gazing at the photo, "Surely there had to be some CCTV covering that area when the theft happened."

"It happened night time according to Sergeant Genzo during the wee hours, so there were not many people around the area when the owner dined at that fancy restaurant." Ranran refuted, "Most of the people are already at home, and unfortunately those CCTV that are installed in that area had no night vision, making it not that visible for anyone watching the footage when the heist had taken place."

"But seriously, this is Japan! A country well known for advanced technology! How can those CCTV planted there not able to film a damn thing during night time?!" Even Emiko is bewildered.

"Well, last year's police corruption case had caused a lot of financial downfall, that the government even to this day were unable to upgrade the CCTVs there where the car was stolen due to financial constraints." Ranran pointed out indifferently.

"So in other words," Takuma, always one to find humor in almost any situation, couldn't help but interject, "We could really have put that 5 million yen to good use, huh? At least on the CCTVs?"

"Well, unfortunately, we can't, which is why we have all gathered her to pinpoint the car," Shinichi urged, bringing the conversation back on track. "Considering the lack of useful CCTV footage, we need to think about possible hiding spots for the car based on the available information."

"You can even hide it in an abandoned car park too, right?" Takuma suggested.

"Absolutely," Ranran agreed, "An abandoned car park or even an old storage facility could be a plausible hiding spot. The key is finding a location that's inconspicuous and not frequently visited."

Emiko tapped her pen against the table thoughtfully. "Given that it's a stolen car and the thief would want to avoid detection, I'd say it's likely hidden in a place that doesn't attract much attention, maybe in a warehouse or an unused garage."

"True, but we're looking for a needle in a haystack here," Michio added. "There are countless locations to hide such a car in the city. How do we narrow it down?"

"Simple, fortunately, one of the witnesses whom Sergeant Genzo interviewed claimed that they saw the car driven to this place filled with abandoned warehouses that are clustered in the streets behind the silent dilapidated docks. The same place that Takuma is oddly familiar with." Shinichi frowned at Takuma, "How are you familiar with that place again, Takuma?"

"Fishing," Takuma replied nonchalantly. "I used to go fishing around those docks. There's a certain peace and quiet there, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Plus, not many people visit those areas, so it's a good spot for fishing."

"I thought you used to fish under that flyover the last time I requested you fish for me a salmon," Ranran inquired.

"After that first major case involving The Snake shooting at us, my Okaasan banned me from going there to fish, so I had to switch locations." Takuma slumped.

"Damn...."Michio felt sorry for the 6-year-old boy.

"Let me guess, the fish there sucks, huh?" Ranran guessed.

"No salmon there, it's awful," Takuma whined.

"Considering you are familiar with the place, you would have no trouble guiding us around, right?" Shinichi questioned the school's star athlete.

"Yeah, no problem. I know the area like the back of my hand," Takuma replied confidently, his playful demeanour momentarily overshadowed by a more serious tone.

"Good, so this is what is going to happen after having a discussion with Ranran, "Shinichi places the map before them as he issues out orders, "Michio, try scouring around the old dockland area. Junko, you scan around the old factories."

"Alright."Both of the eldest children nodded to them.

"Then Emiko, Ran and Takuma," Ranran shifted her sight onto the three other members, "Try scouring around the warehouses. It's likely the car is hidden somewhere in that vicinity."

"I don't know if I should bring this up, but...."Takuma paused before stating, "That area there....the reception is bad, which means we can't make phone calls through our smartphone."

"Seriously? Then how do you suppose we contact one another then if we need help?" Ran confronted.

"Don't worry," Ranran reassured before spreading out the badges onto the table while the others eyed them.

"Is that...the logo of Tantei Association that I personally designed?" Emiko recognized while pointing at the badges on the table.

"Yes, pick it up guys and flip to the back," Shinichi ordered.

As the team members picked up the badges and flipped them over, they discovered some robotic chip equipment attached to it.

"What's this?" Michio asked, examining the badge.

"It's a communication device Professor Agasa developed for us," Shinichi explained.

"Or rather," Ranran rolled her eyes as she revealed, "He just simply pried out the walkie-talkie we both bought the last time we were stuck at that stupid camping trip, then built the bits and pieces behind those badges."

"Classic Professor Agasa." Ran couldn't help but chuckle.

"Is there actually anything Professor Agasa invented that is originally from his own head rather than ripping people's ideas, Shinichi?" Ranran frowned at the apprentice, "I thought you say he is an inventor?"

Shinichi scratched his head sheepishly. "Well, he does have a few original inventions, but he's also a big fan of repurposing existing tech. Recycling, you could say."

"Like what?" Ranran demanded to know.

"The Auto-Untie Shoelaces shoes," Shinichi replied.

"Wait, he was the one who invented those?" Emiko raised an eyebrow, "Wasn't it removed from the market later on because it untied itself when you least expected it, then some kid almost fell down the escalator?"

"Anyway, the bottom line was it lasted for 3 days, and it was done and over. Luckily it didn't end with a lawsuit." Shinichi sighed.

"Alright, then was there a better one that lasted in the market the longest at least?"  Ranran pressed further.

Shinichi thought for a moment before answering, "An AI voice changer in the form of a necktie for children."

"Hey, that sounded like a good invention, cause at least it will channel my inner 'Iron Man'," Takuma's eyes twinkled at that thought.

"It sold well, but then scammers started to use it to scam elderly people to give up their pensions, which at that time made my Tousan who was working as a police officer at that time overwork long hours," Ran recalled. 

"It was a good thing that the cops were later able to recall every single one of those voice changers, then burn it all up. Though I couldn't say the same for Agasa's heart though, I mean he was devastated to have it recalled. Although it financially hurt him to the point he was almost bankrupted, fortunately, he survived with another invention." Shinichi slumped.

"Terrible," Michio pouted.

"Anyway, all of us are to leave, Michio," Ranran instructed to the eldest member in the group, "Prepare to call the cab over, we won't be taking our transportation because I noted that it is too far."

Michio nodded in understanding as he listened to Ranran's instructions before realizing he almost forgot something, "Ah right, Ranran."

"Hmph?"

"May I...take a leave for today?" 

Earning the curiosity of every single child in the group since he is rarely the type to do so, Junko being the jealous one had to ask, "Why? Are you out on a date or something?"

The reason why the 10-year-old girl posed this question in suspicion was in a way unsettling, but it couldn't be helped. The last time she had no idea about it, Michio ended up with The Snake's daughter in a undercover work.

Michio chuckled lightly at Junko's assumption. "No, nothing like that. I just need to pick up something important from home around that time."

Junko raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Something important, huh? What's so special that you have to leave our operation?"

Michio hesitated for a moment, debating how much he should reveal to his younger colleagues. "It's personal. But I promise I'll be back quickly. You can count on me."

Ranran, always the perceptive one, studied Michio with a discerning gaze. "Alright, Michio. Just make sure you're back on time. We'll need everyone's help to locate that car."

With that settled, the group prepared to head out on their mission. Michio called for a cab while the others gathered their gear. As they exited the Tantei Association headquarters, they were met with the hustle and bustle of the city streets. Shinichi took the lead, guiding them towards the district where the stolen car was last seen.

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

"Ranran, why did you not press onto Michio as to who he is seeing?"

The apprentice Shinichi questions his mentor, who sat in the front seat of the cab while Takuma sat next to the apprentice too asks, "Exactly! I mean after that previous episode with Adeline, are you not worried that he might be tricked by another girl as devious as Adeline?"

"Because I already did my own undercover work as to who he has been secretly seeing." Ranran responded to the two little boys to the back while browsing whatever it is that is on her smartphone.

Shinichi and Takuma exchanged surprised glances at Ranran's confident reply. "Seriously? You literally did that?!" Shinichi asked, clearly intrigued.

"Of course," Ranran glanced up from her phone with a mischievous grin. "After that interesting episode in our third major case, who am I not to check as to who was it that was with him?"

Shinichi leaned forward with curiosity. "Who is it anyway? This person Michio is seeing?"

"Was it another girl better looking than Junko?" Takuma joked.

"No, it's Adeline again." Ranran huffed casually.

Shinichi's eyes widened in surprise. "You can't be serious, right!? You mean the same Adeline who caused all that trouble last time? The Snake's daughter!?"

"Man, he sure has a thing for dangerous little girls, huh?" Takuma whistled, a hint of amusement in his expression. 

"If that is the case, why didn't you put a stop to Michio!? I mean...do you want another kidnapping incident with her around!?" Shinichi confronted.

"And if I do so, I do not legally have the right to stop their meeting."

"Eh!?" The two boys's eye lids blew wide open.

"In the first place, let us not all forget that all of us are elementary school kids. Therefore, it isn't illegal for two children to simply meet up at a cafe during after school hours. If we were all adults, that would've been proper justifications. Even if Adeline did commit criminal deeds through her father's influence as you may all recalled, you had to remember that again, she will be set free because of her age." Ranran pointed out.

"But-"

"Second of all, even if we end up throwing Adeline in prison, The Snake would eventually send another little girl around her age to woo Michio over. Also, I would rather stick with a familiar snake. Because it is too tedious to deal with researching one new one after the other." Ranran's expression turned serious. "And I had cameras installed in that cafe, since one of my relatives co-own that same cafe where they often meet up."

Shinichi and Takuma were left speechless, absorbing Ranran's calculated approach to monitoring Michio's interactions with Adeline. The seriousness in Ranran's tone made it clear that she was not taking any chances, especially after their previous encounter with The Snake's daughter.

"So you've been keeping tabs on them the whole time?" Shinichi asked, still processing the revelation before curiosity got the better of him, "What were they talking about?"

"Complaints, mostly from their lives as children of a single parent household, to Junko being a nuisance on Michio's part, which I can't blame him, really," Ranran sighed.

Shinichi and Takuma exchanged a surprised glance at Ranran's casual response, realizing just how deeply she was involved in Michio's personal life.

"But isn't that risky, Ranran?" Shinichi questioned, concern etched on his face. "What if Adeline finds out you're monitoring them?"

"Even if she knew, she definitely would not dare to confront it."

"Eh!?" Again, the two boys reacted in surprise.

"If she was working for her father in the pursuit of once more attempting to woo Michio, the first thing her father would've instructed her to do was to simply had him kidnapped, or at least turn him into a traitor against us a long time ago. But it has been a month since, so nothing much going on, I deduce that she needed someone to vent about her problems and so does he, you can say...it is a secret meeting between friends."

The two boys exchanged glances once more, unsure of how to respond to Ranran's calculated and somewhat nonchalant approach to the situation.  "Can one really be friends with a criminal's daughter, Ranran?" Shinichi asked cautiously.

"That depends," Ranran shrugged. "Trust her not to cause trouble for Michio? Yes. Trust her to be a model citizen? Not so much," Ranran replied, her expression serious. "Adeline is a wild card. But as long as Michio is aware of the potential risks and stays cautious, I don't see it escalating into a dangerous situation."

Takuma scratched his head, contemplating the complexities of their situation. "It's like we're playing a game of chess with The Snake, huh?"

"A boring game if I may add," Ranran scoffed before deciding to let the two boys know, "Which is why I hope the both of you not to bring this up in front of Junko."

"Hah!? Why!? If she knew, she will finally give up her delulu dream on making Michio her boyfriend!" Takuma ranted.

"If she does know, the first thing that is going to take place is Adeline pinpointing where she lives, then torture Junko till she finally gives up, which....I won't mind paying to see that," Ranran spoke amusingly at that entertaining thought.

"True," Shinichi nodded with his arms crossed, while he grins, "She has been nothing but acting all so possessive over Michio, it will do us good to see that face of defeat once in a while."

Ranran chuckled at Shinichi's remark. "Well, Junko's enthusiasm is... admirable, to say the least. But let's keep this between us for now. The last thing we need is unnecessary drama."

Takuma nodded in agreement. "I agree on this one, though I doubt it will be long for us to keep this a secret from her, you know?"

"Even if she knows, Adeline would gladly shoot her and I won't stop her if this means putting an end to Junko's madness towards Michio. I mean you got to give that boy a break, right?" Ranran beamed.

"I guess you're right," Shinichi said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"You are playing a dangerous game of love, Ranran, and as someone who used to be a playboy, it doesn't end well." Takuma reminded his friend.

Ranran smiled wryly. "I don't just play, I thrive!" 

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

"Michio is definitely seeing someone! I just know it!"

Emiko and Ran who is seated to the back in the second cab, could only watch the spectacle girl's dual pony tails flare up at the passenger front seat, as she rants about Michio's mysterious vanishing after school acts.

"Junko, calm down," Ran said, trying to soothe her friend. "We don't know for sure if Michio is seeing someone. It could just be a misunderstanding."

"I doubt so!" Junko huffed, clearly unconvinced. "We used to walk home together from school, but now he's always busy or makes excuses to leave early. And don't get me started on how secretive he's become!"

Emiko, sitting beside Ran, chimed in cautiously, "Maybe he's just busy with other things, like homework or doing undercover work for the association?"

"I doubt so!" Junko shook her head vehemently. "We rarely had any major cases that require undercover work nowadays! If there is, don't you think Ranran and Shinichi would've announced it!?"

"Even if there is a undercover work, it wouldn't be their nature to do so unless everything is fine, Fuyuko Junko." Emiko sighed, pinching her nosebridge at Junko's emotions towards Michio.

"Hah!? You just be joking! There was that time when he-...."

As Ran listened patiently as Junko continued her passionate tirade about Michio's behavior, her expressions were fluctuating between frustration and concern. She exchanged a knowing glance with Emiko, who seemed equally frustrated by their friend's unwavering fixation on Michio's actions.

"Junko, maybe Michio has personal matters to attend to," Ran suggested calmly, attempting to reason with her friend. "He could be dealing with family stuff or other responsibilities."

Junko crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. "I suppose that's possible, I mean....his mom is likely to be seeing Sergeant Genzo after all."

"Well there you have it!" Emiko snaps her finger, "Your answer plain and simple."

Ran nodded in agreement with Emiko's suggestion, hoping to ease Junko's concerns about Michio's behavior. Even though Junko's frustration eased slightly at Emiko's words, but her expression remained tense. "I don't know, I mean....my gut feeling is never wrong, you know?"

"And even if that's the case, it's his choice, right? We can't control who he hangs out with. Let alone, see whoever he wants to see." Emiko firmly reminded her.

Ran exchanged a glance with Emiko, silently acknowledging the challenge of trying to reason with Junko's deep-seated feelings. It wasn't the first time their friend had fixated on Michio's actions, and they both knew how difficult it could be to shift her focus once she latched onto a concern.

"Junko, I understand you're worried," Ran began, her tone gentle yet firm. "But sometimes people need space or have personal matters they want to keep private. It doesn't necessarily mean he's seeing someone."

Emiko nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Trust in Michio to handle his own affairs. We're all friends here, and we should respect his choices."

Junko's expression softened slightly, but she still seemed unconvinced. "I guess... but what if he's in trouble or something?"

Ran sighed, realizing the depth of her friend's concern. "If Michio was in trouble, he'd reach out to us. For now, let's give him the benefit of the doubt."

As the cab continued through the busy streets, while Junko seemed to mull over her friends' advice. Ran proceeds to whisper while confront Emiko, "In your experience and opinion, where do you think Michio has gone to lately?"

Emiko glanced at Ranran, considering her question carefully before responding in a low voice, mindful of Junko's lingering unease in the front seat.

"He has definitely gone out to see a girl," Emiko replied thoughtfully. 

"And....you figure this out, because.....?"

Emiko leaned closer to Ran, her voice barely above a whisper. "Everytime whenever I saw him rushing out from the school entrance, I noticed he kept on attempting to tidy up his hair when he never once bothered to do so."

Ranran nodded, absorbing Emiko's observation. "That's a subtle but telling detail. Do you have any idea who this girl might be?"

Emiko shrugged slightly. "Not yet, but whoever she is, Michio seems pretty invested."

Ranran's mind raced with possibilities. "Could it be someone from school? Or maybe someone tied to our cases?"

"It's hard to say," Emiko replied, her brow furrowing in thought. "But I think the less we know, the better."

"Why!?"

"Because it is none of our business, Mouri." Emiko pointed out, "That would be very meddlesome, and I don't do that unless I have my own reasons."

"B-But this is Junko's crush-"

"If he feels the same way, that would be the case. But he didn't, otherwise, he wouldn't have been keeping a secret from Junko in the first place. This is what we call 'respect the choice' of someone."

"E-even so-"

"I can clearly see now....why did Shinichi cast you aside for Ranran." Emiko frowned deeply at Ran.

Ran raised an eyebrow at Emiko's comment, slightly taken aback by the sudden shift in tone. She knew that Emiko could be straightforward and blunt, but this remark felt unusually pointed.