At 6 pm on a Wednesday, everyone gathered at headquarters and shared the afternoon's discoveries as all of them sat around the table. Shinichi then listed their findings on the whiteboard of the main HQ of Tantei association.

"So that movie's ending is that tragic!? Poor thing."Junko couldn't help but sympathize.

"So there are people that are stupid enough to die in the name of love and to top it off, so cringy, it's better to die than to remain alive," Ranran rolled her eyes as she speaks casually.

"Kudo Ranran, don't be rude!"Junko lashed at the emotionless Ranran, who couldn't be bothered, "Just because she died out of love, doesn't give you the right to call her stupid!"Michio winced at her angry voice as Junko yelled at Ranran.

"Junko is right," Ran sided the glassed girl," Also, it could've been murder for all we know, since her university friend, the director of the movie 'The Origin of My childhood', Tanaka Kirin believes that she isn't capable of doing so."

"Maybe like those K-dramas, those wealthy families like the Tadashis are behind the plot, making her murder in the guise of suicide to hide some dark secret she knew about that family while the ML spiral into lunacy beyond return."Takuma speculates.

"You watch too many dramas, you idiot."Shinichi shakes his head in annoyance at the half-Korean boy, "We did a background search and Tadashi Saji was groomed to be the heir of the Tadashi movie studios, then years ago, shortly after Seto Manami's suicide...he voluntarily gave it up and left the public spotlight. Which was odd...given that he had a party-boy reputation in the movie industry."

The blue-eyed boy's eyes laid on the school laptop placed in front of Ranran, as she browsed its content, "In addition to that, all of these announcements were done by their spokesperson of the family with no named mentioned."Ranran hovered the cursor around the highlighted detail, as she said, "That meant he was never seen in person shortly after the suicide."

"Could Tadashi Saji had committed the murder on his girlfriend Seto, then the family aided in his escape by hiring a spokesperson while he fled overseas?"Emiko suggests, "That could explain why he is no longer in the spotlight."

"That is a possibility, but then it wouldn't really be necessary, given that the director of the movie claimed the police declared it a suicide. If he had fled, it would've made things worst for him. Also, if he wanted to, why? Why murder her?"Ranran folded her arms and frowned, "Also, what would make someone like Tadashi Saji disappear out of the blue? I mean this guy is sitting under a pile of millions of yen."

"Plus, how is this connected to Nambe who allegedly is deceased?"Michio arched an eyebrow, "I had a feeling this isn't a coincidence."

"Who took over after he vanished?"Ran probed.

"The adopted son of the Tadashi family."Ranran sent the news article to everyone on their smartphone.

"Son?!"Ran was surprised,"I thought in the movie was an adopted daughter, the villainess!"

"Well, the family had influence in the movie industry, if they match the detail as accurately as real life, they can get sued, Mouri."Shinichi elaborated.

"What?! But it's a real-life story!"Ran said.

"It is also a memory no one like to remember, Mouri. If you find out that a dark past of yours you refused to ever remember again is being made into a movie for millions to see, would you want anyone to watch it?"Ranran replied in a chilly tone.

That sent goosebumps to Ran, as she noted how depressed Ranran was. Wondering whether she did anything wrong in the association, she was about to ask till Takuma who is sitting next to Ran shakes his head, telling her not to."Why not?"Ran whispers.

"For some reason, after she found out 'Boy in the window' movie was made, she has been quiet," Takuma whispered back, much to her surprise.

The two stared silently at the red lip girl, who is at this point, not listening to the bunch of stuff being discussed among them. Ranran knew they were words, but they had no meaning right now to her, just idle noise.

A bastard just made a movie out of their tragedy...is this a joke?!

A movie tribute was made without their permission and she was not happy. The tribute had been made by this bloody scammer and she felt that it was a slap in the face.

"Let's not forget about the long hair hazel haired woman we saw lurking around. The one with the grey 1980 Fiat 124 Sport Spider," added Michio. "I wonder whether she's working for the scammer? That Namba guy?"

"It looks like it," Junko began, "But we can't be sure. For one thing, if she is working for him, why did she go back to his old apartment and ask the janitor such a lot of questions?"

"And you both saw her at Asakusa at some tavern that was closed down years ago?"Ran turned to the Kudo twins, a nickname the association came up with to address the two due to their strong resemblance with one another. Ran then ponders, "What would one be doing at a tavern that is no longer in business for many years?"

"Ranran thinks it could be a revamped apartment on the inside, keeping the tavern entrance on the outside. Like our Tantei association."Shinichi then shifts his gaze back to Ranran, "Right Ranran?"

Ranran was still in trance, her mind still trying to possess this disgusting piece of news. So there is a bastard out here who paraded their tragedy and made profits!? Her hands curled into a fist, trembling in anger.

"Ranran? Ranran!"

That snapped her out of those angry emotions before turning to Shinichi, "Yeah?"

"Are you ok? You don't look good."Shinichi voiced his concern.

"Ah no, I am alright," Ranran maintained her poker face, "Anyway, whether the woman is working for the Tadashi family or Namba, there is one thing that remains to be seen."Ranran decided, "There are millions of yen Namba has scammed from many furious investors, his death is uncertain, and there is too many shady ongoing. So I suggest all of us head over to Okutuma lake to see whether he left any clues behind."

"I agree."Shinichi and the others nod.

"Wait, now!?"Junko leapt up. "We can't go to the lake now," she protested. "It'll be dark by the time we get there."

"Junko is right! Even Reina's uncle said it was dangerous during the night! What if someone pushes us in and we drowned?!"Ran voiced her concerns.

"Ok, out of 7 of us combined, who is the only one who can't swim, please raised up your hand, "Ranran announced.

Everyone sat still as Michio reluctantly raised his hand up.

"There you go, Majima is the only one, if you girls are that worried, let Michio sit out on this one," argued Ranran. "Don't you see? Nambe disappeared at Okutama Lake at night, a period where even if the police send out their best diving team to search for his corpses, the chances are slimmer to none. With all of the press going after them, I am going to bet they miss out on something. So we have to go there at night, too, so we can learn what it was like. It's called reconstructing the crime scene."

"Who says I am sitting out!? I am paid extra to keep an eye on the both of you, even during nighttime after that tiger fiasco you both had caused!"Michio argued.

"Exactly, while all of this is going on, we are going to need these."Shinichi then turned away and scrambled through a backpack he had brought to the headquarters earlier, pulling out a set of flashlight wristwatches Agasa had made, he took out a total of 6.

"Till then, all of you, put these on, you'll need them tonight," he commented subtly.

It was at this point Ran knew all along that there was no point arguing with Shinichi when he is in investigation mode, as he is always going to listen to Ranran over her. Shinichi can never be convinced to stay out of the investigation when it comes to cases of such nature, as long as Ranran is investigating. She and Junko took their watches in silence as Ranran passed the watch, but Junko could see the shadowed feelings in Ran's eyes.

Meanwhile, while everyone is prepared to leave the main association, Ranran thinks deeply.

After The Boy's death, Ranran had her family specifically tell the organizers not to make a movie tribute about their tragedy, and some asshole had done it anyway in another country. Without 'his' or her permission, no less. He even made money out of it, as Ranran googled the movie had estimated made a total of 64 billion yen.

Oh, when all of this is over, Ranran was going to make the bastard pay.

.......

With skateboards, scooters and bicycles in toll, Takuma led the way to the location based on the GPS on his smartphone. "If we follow this route, it goes along part of the Ogochi Dam," he explained. "It passes very close to Okutama Lake."

"We should've used my fundings, "Ranran complained on her go to scooter. "It's faster and easier."

"And risk us getting into trouble? No way," Ran shakes in disapproval at Ranran's idea, holding onto Junko for dear life on the skateboard.

Shinichi rubbed his palm down his face, as it was still cold winter, "If she isn't endangering the lives of others, she is whining about mode of transportation."

Soon, they manage to bypass city traffic and eventually turned onto the old dam. The jungle closed in around them as a feeble moon rose in the darkening sky. Ran looked and shivered, clinging onto the glasses girl, as Junko navigates the skateboard."It's cold even with winter clothes on."Ran complains.

"I think the news mentioned this year is going to be the coldest Japan has ever experienced."Junko whines as she swirls a little, "I missed my warm bed." she whines, wiping her fogged up glasses, as it isn't safe for her to be without her glasses. Let alone, with Ran in tow.

"Even with gloves on, one can never get used to winter."Emiko rubbed her gloved up hand, holding onto the handlebar paddling hard on her bike as Shinichi remained on the back seat.

"Luckily all of the transport we have are battery-powered aside from it being solar-powered, I can't imagine us walking all the way there."Shinichi sighs, his breath forming into white that signifies the arrival of a cold winter.

"How do people even live around here?"Michio couldn't help but think, "It's so empty around here. I can't even buy a drink nearby if I want to head to a convenient shop."

"There's nothing to worry about," grinned Takuma. "My mom said that in a few months' time, this whole area is going to be cleared for a new housing estate and a shopping centre."

"Maybe, but we're here tonight!" groaned Ranran on a go-go scooter, staring out at the black veil of trees.

Takuma studied a map of the area with Michio. He signalled for the group to head down the slope into the dark, lonely landscape. A bed of water laid peacefully against one side of the dam while powerful yet coordinated gushes of water poured from the other side in almost a synchronized manner. A narrow, unsealed road, little more than a dirt track, wound off into the night and onto a forested jungle nearby from the right of the dam roof. Beside it, a rusted sign had fallen from a pole.

When the gang got close enough to read it, Ran read the words JUNGLE-DANGER-KEEP OUT out loud, but calmly.

Shinichi flicked on his watch. "Let's check that out first," he suggested as he began heading down the old road. "If anyone's gonna make themselves disappear from the face of the Earth, a jungle seems to be the appropriate place for me. Just watch for snakes."

Soon, the dense rainforest gave way to stunted trees. They passed small clearings, piled high with rocks and rubbish. Rusted remains of ancient equipment were littered among the trees like skeletons.

"I thought according to Google this used to be a reservoir?" Ranran asked. "It looks more like a..."

"...A quarry," Michio answered. "I remembered a news article on this place. The quarry's been closed for almost a hundred years. What happened was that they were blasting rocks here in this jungle, but they accidentally uncovered an underground river... possibly from the Okutama Lake."

"That's right... the accident of 1908," Shinichi remarked suddenly, stroking his chin. "The discovery of the water source killed them when the water rushed in. Lots of men and horses were trapped in the quarry before they could get out."

Ran shivered. "I don't think I want to know about that. There must be ghosts everywhere."

"Idiot, the ghosts wouldn't be here," joked Takuma. "They'd all be under the water."

Junko aimed a punch for making fun of Ran, but he ducked clear.

Then, The road began to slope down.

"I guess this is where it started to run into the quarry," Shinichi said. "In the old days, horses and carts would have brought the rocks up."

Suddenly, the road took a sharp turn and the trees thinned. Before them, a vast pool of black water stretched as far as the eye could see. The lip of the gigantic crater was fringed with twisted trees, some hanging over the sinister water as though they were mourning the dead. The moon seemed to float on its surface, a place silver disk rippled by the breeze. It was the eeriest sight they had ever seen.

There were no sounds, no signs of life. They might well have been the last living things on the planet.

However, to Ranran, this is nothing unlike the night at The Boy's house.

Shinichi trained his watch on the road ahead. It ran along for a few meters before it dipped into the water and vanished. As he passed the flashlight over the inky water, a treetop was visible just beneath the surface, its branches waiting to snag unsuspecting swimmers.

It was then that Fuyuko Junko shivered."Junko? Are you ok?"Ran questioned with concern.

"No, I am alright. Just..."She stared at the branches, "Ugh...anyone can drown there easily if one swims there."

"But Junko, you have nothing to worried about. You are the best when it comes to swimming."Michio pointed out.

"Really?"Emiko said as all kids turned to Junko.

"I can swim," Junko admits, not used to the attention she was receiving, "In fact, I am a powerful swimmer - the most powerful amongst the association, in fact - but there was no way I would swim in water like that!"

"Anyway, this must be where that Namba's car entered the water," Takuma told them. "He probably drove down this road and straight into the quarry."

Ran stood mesmerized by the scene before her. "What a horrible way to die," she breathed.

"Provided if he was even dead," Ranran reminded her.

Shinichi walked forward to where the inky water lapped the top of the road.

"Would his car have floated before it sank?" he speculated. He knelt down and plunged his hand into the water. "It's like ice. So even if Namba did get out in time, could he have swam back to safety?"

"That depends on whether he was injured, and how far he had to swim," Ranran observed. "I mean, if the car was speeding when it hit the water, it might've sunk too far away. But..." She paused and looked over her shoulder. "There was a sharp turn in the trackback there, so it couldn't have been going too fast."

Shinichi slipped his hand out of the water and aimed his watch to the far side of the road. "Let's have a look over there," he suggested.

"That mad died two years ago, everyone," Junko protested. "There wouldn't be any clues left now. I think we should go back."

But Shinichi was already pushing his way through a dense crop of tangled bushes into a small clearing. He shone his watch on the ground. "Look!" he shouted suddenly. "Tire tracks!"

Everyone ran across and stared at the deep grooves in the soil.

"No way...?" asked Emiko. "Do you think there were two cars on the night Namba died?"

Junko gave a scornful laugh. "But the police could've made those tracks when they were looking for his body," he argued. "And lots of other cars could've come up here since then."

"True," said Ranran quietly. "But if they had, they would've knocked those bushes down... wouldn't they?"

Everyone looked from him to the mass of tangled bushes. Ranran was right. The tire tracks could only have been made before the bushes had grown so big.

Suddenly, Takuma darted to the edge of the quarry. "Hey, what's this?" he called.

He reached down and pulled up a twisted black shape that had been lying by the water's edge.

"What is it?" asked Michio.

The kids stepped forward before the boys untangled it. Placing it on the ground, Takuma recognizes what it was."Isn't that a wetsuit!?"

"Wait... like the ones divers wear to keep themselves warm in deep water?"Ran turned to Takuma.

"Yes! That one!"Takuma snapped his fingers, "I recalled having gone to a summer vacation at some beach, we did dive once and wore those kinds of suits."

"Judging from the clothes, it looks very seasoned, "Emiko noted, as all the kids shone their watches together onto the wetsuit.

Then, Takuma's eyes lit up."No way...considering he had a past as a stunt man, I am certain he could've worn this before driving into the water to fake his death, deshou!?"

Junko then snorted. "Or maybe it could've belonged to the police divers." Then, she froze. "Did you hear that?"

Takuma rolled his eyes. "Stop trying to spook us, Junko. There's no one else here."

Somewhere in the gloom, a twig snapped. Seconds later, a bush rustled behind them. It was only then that Ranran and Shinichi were alerted that it was no prank.

'Wait, I am going to test it. If it is real, all of us dive for cover, got it?"Ranran informed the kids in a low voice.

Once all the kids nodded with serious expressions on their face, Ranran scooped up a stone before she tossed it towards the sounds.

A gunshot blasted the air. Leaves showered from a branch above their heads. Everyone dived for cover and switched off their flashlight wristwatches. The silence was broken only by the sounds of their breathing.  A minute passed, and then they heard footsteps running off through the scrub. Somewhere in the distance, a car drove away.

"They've gone," Michio sighed in relief.

Shinichi got to his feet. "Somebody must've followed us," he said in a low voice. "Somebody who thinks we're learning too much."

"Next time we mightn't be so lucky," gasped Ran as Junko gripped her hand as the others stood motionless.

Suddenly, there was the crunch of a heavy shoe and a shadowy figure rose up out of the darkness. A torch flashed on and held their terrified faces in its powerful beam. That is when Ran screamed.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," said a familiar voice.

More torches stabbed the darkness as Sergeant Genzo and officers stepped closer. Shinichi and Ranran shot them a dazed look. "How did you guys know we were here?"Shinichi inquired.

"Majima called us," said the sergeant. "He asked us to meet you at the jungle after that shootout. We were not far off when Michio contacted us."

Michio gave a quick shrug. "I figured we might need help," he said.

Junko ran across and threw her arms around him. "I am glad you still can be trusted," she whispered against his ear.

And even in the weak moonlight, everyone, including the then smiling Emiko, saw Junko's cheeks burn red as the others snickered teasingly over their relationship.

Genzo then cleared his throat loudly. "I think we should discuss this case at headquarters," he said. "Of course not both of your headquarters, Kudo Ranran and Kudo Shinichi, but mine," he added with a tight smile, one that was replied with an unusual smile from Ranran.

Genzo then led the way back along the abandoned road to where three police cars were parked.

"Whoever took that shot at either of you must know of another way through to the quarry," he remarked. "If they had come along the old road, they'd have seen our cars. They must have thought you were alone out here."

They drove back to the city in a police van in silence with all of their scooters, skateboard and bike in the back, the only sound coming from the police radio. The vehicles drove into the police car park and Genzo escorted everyone upstairs to one of the interview rooms.

"Now," he said curtly when seven of the kids were seated, "you know I don't approve of all of you doing respective investigations and taking dangerous risks. However, now that Michio phoned me, it gave me a good idea of what's happening... and you guys did help me out lots through and through."

He pulled out his notebook and flicked through it. "As I understand it, Muniko-san hired all of you to find Namba Katsumi after he recognize the man who scammed his money was in that movie that was stolen."

"Yes," Shinichi expressed in a tired tone, realizing the gig was up. "And everything we've learned so far showed signs Namba Katsumi is still alive. He's in hiding somewhere."

"And he doesn't want Muniko-san to find him," added Ranran. "That's why we think the woman in the grey car, a 1980 Fiat 124 Sport Spider, is either working for him or that rich family so to speak. As far as her following Mr Muniko, she has also been following us everywhere."

"Maybe she was the one who stole the movie," suggested Ran.

"Exactly, maybe she was the one who tried to shoot at us at the quarry tonight."Emiko proposes.

"And if she's not working for Namba Katsumi," said Michio, "then she's trying to find him for somebody else."

"Probably a debtor."Junko offered her thoughts.

"Or some investigator employed by the Tadashi family, since the heir's love with this girl by the name of Seto Manami led to her suicide."

The sergeant checked his notes in silence as he was secretly amazed at the level of investigation that managed to gather. Not even the police in his department were that quick. Especially Kudo Ranran, a.k.a, The Fox. Genzo always knew of her cunning reputation, but he never would've guessed she was quick on her toes with Tantei association.

They left police headquarters and waited downstairs for the van with their transportation, as the van is going to drop off one kid after another one by one.

"Ranran?"Shinichi noted her pacing back and forth in silence.

"I've got a lot of thinking to do," she mumbled.

"We all have," said Shinichi quietly.

"Should we stay on the case or give it up? It's getting dangerous." Ran pondered aloud.

"You all can give up, I need to look into the Tadashi family, something isn't adding up. I need to know what is their connection to Namba."Ranran muttered, pacing gracefully.

"Same," Shinichi agreed, "There is something that connects the family to Namba, but I ain't sure what it is."

"I agree."Takuma who is leaning against the wall said, "We can't just quit halfway after making this far."

"I didn't say I would quit! Mou!"Ran sighed, "I am just asking."

"How are you going to look into a wealthy family, Ranran? You can't just go up to them and ask. They will just kick you out in an instant! Even police officers won't have it easy with people like them."Junko couldn't help but reason.

"I am sorry to admit, but Junko is right. Rich families like them are technically above the law."Michio comment.

"That is drama logic."Emiko spat at the two."No one is above the law!"

"She is right, just because they have more money at their disposal to lessen the blow, doesn't mean they have it to make it all go away."Ranran responded with a sinister grin on her expression, "I just need to pull a little string here and there just so they willingly obey."

"And how are you going to do that?"Takuma couldn't help but wonder.

"Let's have a special meeting at headquarters tomorrow afternoon," Shinichi suggested. "I'll let you all know what progress we make later on."

The kids nodded as they were heading out of the entrance to wait for the van, the artist pulled Shinichi aside,"We need to talk alone."

And so they did.

Emiko then hefted her sketchbook. "I have something to show you, if you're not busy. It's regarding the clothes you requested."

"I'm not." Shinichi took it,"It's getting too late to investigate anything anyway."

"This is the first time someone requested me to draw the clothes for them, so bear with me."

Shinichi brightened. "Oh, let me see." He flipped through the stack carefully, poring over each drawing in detail. Finally he picked one that caught his eyes."This one is..."he gasp,tracing one of the drawings gently with a finger.

The full sketch to catch his eye was a black cape coat with white collar blouse and blue frilly skirt. Shinichi then pointed it. "This one suits her best."

"Really?"

"Yes, really." Shinichi smiled at the artist gently. "This one will be perfect for Ranran. She is not going to turn it down as soon as she sees this."

Emiko felt warm. "Thank you. So you like it?"

Shinichi couldn't fathom why Emiko tend to keep her head above the clouds when one praised her about her drawings, but it seemed Emiko's designs for the thing Shinichi secretly requested had spoken for themselves.

"Emiko, these are amazing. Especially this suits Ranran's personality well." Shinichi traced the cape cost design above the paper with his finger. The style was unlike anything he'd seen before.

The thought of seeing Emiko's design worn by such a confident little red lip girl caused a large smile to plaster itself into Shinichi's features. "But are you sure Ranran is going to fall for this? What if she don't?"

"She has to."his lips formed into a curved smile,"Now we just need to contact someone else."

"Someone....else?" Emiko's head went a step backs a little in confusion.

"Ah, Ranran asked me to contact someone we know of in the movie industry." He scratch his head nervously.

"Someone-oh yeah, I forgotten your family and hers are kinda well off. Wait, who do you know of that worked under such industry?" Emiko sudden became curious.

"It's...someone within the family, eh heh heh."

Judging Shinichi's expression, Emiko could tell this is someone he is reluctant to meet.

.....

"Shiiin-chaaaan!!! How is my only baby son doing!!!!???"

Shinichi rolled his eyes in disinterest against his mother overly-affectionate expression over the PC monitor in his father's spare study room at his mansion. It was late at night since he got back from the police station, 12 am in Japan meant that it is 8am in Los Angeles, the time his parents should be preparing to attend a book event promoting his dad's new mystery novel work that had earned him tons of fans.

Now most kids Shinichi's age would hit the sack at this hour, but Shinichi is a book worm. He enjoys reading mystery novels till 4 am at times, so he was used to being awake during the wee hours. And this was something that his parents grown used to, though they did lecture him over the webcam to sleep more, or else he will never grow as tall as his father and be a short dwarf for life.

But he can't help it when there is a good book.

"Mother, quit it. Now ain't the time to go all on me. I am six, remember?" He grew annoyed at that tone. Even until now, she still treats him like a baby.

"But no matter how old you are, Shin-chan is forever my precious baby!!!"

Judging that tone she was in, his mother must have gotten drunk with some cocktails there, again.

Whenever his mother sees a cocktail that interest her, it didn't matter what time, she would go over to the bar and try it. If she loves it, she drinks a little more. Don't get Shinichi's wrong, his mother Yukiko ain't a alcoholic like Ran's father, Mouri Kogoro, but she isn't good in handling her drinks.

That's right, without booze, she is still affectionate towards her son. But with it, it amplifies the love she has for him 100 times more. Shinichi doesn't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing.

He then recalled the time he was in Ranran's house, this was after he opened tantei association with Ranran. One day he didn't expect to see her mother opened the door and invited him in while the family was having breakfast in the kitchen. Ranran and Shinichi's parents both work overseas, and Japan has this culture where kids had to be independent in looking after themselves whenever they aren't around, so it was a surprise to see her parents.

After the last interaction of him breaking into the house, he has concerns of feeling unwanted.

Well, he did, but only from Ranran's father's watchful eye.

Her mother was another thing, did make things very homely and welcome. Ranran's mom grew up in Britain, so the standard British breakfast was appealing to Shinichi who love Sherlock Holmes way of life there. Benedict eggs her mother prepared taste good in his opinion, and as he watched their interaction, he sense two things.

There is mix emotions of love, but also...a sense of abnormally.

Ranran parents talked to Ranran...as if she is an adult. And then she would always respond to them the way she usually does in front of Shinichi and the other kids in tantei association, but more polished answers.

Like when her father criticise the way politicians here are handling the country affairs while reading the newspaper, she responded, "Don't worry about it, just dig around about their dirty linen, mail it anonymously, then blackmail them on how they should run the country, or else we will publish it to the media."

Seriously, Shinichi's jaw dropped in response when he hear this coming out from her mouth. Then her mother joined in and said,"No, you can't always blackmail your way in life, Ranran."

Finally, a sensible adult.

"You need to stage them doing something they shouldn't, then let the whole world see, only then, the country will finally get rid of them." The woman smiled with glee.

On second thought, he is going to pretend he heard none of this.

He may not be mentally as well-verse about world affairs and politics, but he was astounded in how intelligent her family is, let alone, how they are all taking her opinions seriously even though she is a kid his age. And honestly, he need a little bit of this in his family.

To be treated as if he too can converse in such conversation, not some cute little boy in his mother's eyes.

His appearance brought him nothing but pain, others always brush off his feelings about the teasing game between him and Ran becoming a couple and leave his dream behind. He love his appearance, as he resembles his father, but he hates that others believe his appearance has more value than his talent. Ranran although is born a beautiful girl with doll-like features, her parents never once call her 'cute' or 'beautiful', they took her seriously in the words she weaves.

Hell, everyone around her praised her detective talent, not her beauty, since she proven herself fairly with that Fox mask she wears. Even the bloody media.

But this is not something his parents would get it. Not even Mouri Ran.

Kudo Yukiko was sitting on the chair in front of the computer toying with her long curly hair, wrapped around her finger, while a man in a moustache who stood next to her sighed frustatingly."Mah mah, Yukiko, I am heading down stairs to do the book promo event. Behave well in the hotel room, ok?" Yuusaku, Shinichi's father, could be heard over the background trying to pull her back to bed.

"No problem!!! I just want to talk to Shin-chan mooooore!!"

Well, since Yukiko is drunk, that meant it should be easier for Shinichi to extract information, right? Plus, his mother would eventually forget this conversation ever took place. She always have all of these blackouts whenever she drinks. This blackout would come in handy, since he knew if she knew what they were doing, she is going to put a stop to their detective activities.

Cause the last time they did during the events of Extinction Heist, the white tiger incident, his mother lectured him for hours.

"Shinichi-kun, look after your mother, alright? I made sure the windows and doors are lock so she doesn't hurt herself till I get back in several hours time."

"Wakata (I get it), just go, Tousan."

It ain't the first time Shinichi was tasked to do this, after all, he had grown used to this family lifestyle.

As Yuusaku waved his goodbye to the computer before shutting the door, Yuukiko could be heard chiming,"Good bye, my beloved husbaaaaand!!!"

Shinichi considered recording all of this on his house computer and replay this to his mom, but then again, he reminded himself he ain't Kudo Ranran who is at times devious. Deciding he has to talk about this case, it was time he inquire all of this from his mother. "Okaasan."

"Yeeessss, Shin-chan?"

Ignoring her slurred words, he asked,"You worked as an actress before to a point, you maintain contacts in the movie industry of Japan, correct?"

"Hmmmm?! Let me think," The drunk woman tapped her chin to herself before stating, "While yeesss, I did."

"Then...do you know of the Munikos?"

"The Movie tycoons?! I dooo....." Yukiko recalled in her drunken state,"In fact...I remembered there was a scandal about theeeeem!!"

"Yes, there is a scandal!" Shinichi tried to jog her memory, "Involving someone stealing millions of yen?"

"Oh no..."

"Eh?"

"I don't recall that scandal..."

She can't remember? That's odd, his mom had a good memory. Then again, Shinichi frowned, his mom is drunk, no way one's memory would be organized well with all the booze taking effect. Perhaps he should try a different approach. "What about the one with the Tadashi family?"

"Hmph?"

"The one where their son was in a forbidden relationship with this girl name Seto?"

"Hmm....I don't remember this one either."

As he thought, it was a mistake to get anything from his mother. "But I do remember this one, ohh...this one happened many decades ago!" 

That suddenly perked Shinichi's interest, "Wait, what other scandal did they have?"

"The ones with the Tadashiiiiiiiii...."She suddenly screeched while showing her lopsided smile, "There was...an affair."

"Eh!? Affair!?" Shinichi nearly jumped out of his seat, "What affair!?"

"I...can't remember much. But...it had something to do with...Munikos. Something about their kids...dating."

That nearly popped Shinichi's blue eyes out of his socket, "What did you just say!?"

"It was a huge scandal....that affair. Everyone talked about it for mooooonths!!!!" His mother suddenly left her seat before hopping over the bed, jumping up and down like a child while Shinichi struggled to hear what she was mumbling about. But then, he was able to put it together what she said.

"And then this scandal ended up....causing another scandal, it made my blood boil, Shin-chaaaaaan!!!!"

As soon as Shinichi listened to his mother's rants, he immediately thanked her before shutting down the PC, only to text what he had learn to Ranran over the phone.

~~~~~

The next morning, Junko woke early. Whenever she is free, she'd swim laps at the local swimming pool opposite her house before heading to school. She was already the school swimming champion not long ago, and she had set set her sights on being even better - or, as she put it, "the best swimmer in the whole wide world."

Bright sunshine flooded the pool when she dived in at nine o'clock. By then, the pool was already crowded. She had been swimming for half an hour when she became aware that something was wrong. Someone was swimming closely behind her, so close that every now and then she felt a hand brushing against her foot.

She glanced back angrily, but caught only a brief glimpse of a hand in the foaming water. Swimming goggles covered the person's eyes.

She swam faster, cutting through the water briskly until she reached the opposite end of the pool. But before she could turn round, powerful hands had pinned her arms to her sides.

"It would be so easy to drown you...Fuyuko," said a menacing voice behind her.

She tried to struggle, but the pressure on her arms increased. She trod water desperately to keep her head above water.

"Nobody can help you," said the voice. "The pool attendants think we're just two friends having a chat."

She couldn't see her captor's face, but the voice was a man's.

"W-w-what do you want?" Junko gasped, tears beginning to leak from her eyes.

"This is just a friendly warning," the stranger taunted her. "Fuyuko Junkois a smart girl. She wouldn't want anything to happen to her or her friends, would she? Then stop looking for Namba. If you don't, you might meet up with... an accident."

Junko felt the pain in her arms as the man tightened the grip.

"It would be a shame if someone found you floating in the quarry," he warned. "You'd only have yourself to blame if you force me to do something unpleasant."

The stranger was dragging her down. For a brief moment, Junko felt the water close over her head. Then she was pulled up, coughing and spluttering, and the voice continued: "Now, don't turn around. Just stay where you are and count to one hundred."

Suddenly Junko's arms were free. She gripped the edge of the pool, trying to stop her body from trembling. She heard the stranger swimming away. And when she had finished counting and turned round, the sun-drenched pool looked as normal as it always did.

It were as though nothing had happened.

She hauled herself out of the water and went to change, her stomach churning with fear.

As soon as she left the pool, she rang Michio. Her nerves were still raw, and she had to hold her mobile phone with both hands to keep it steady.

"Majima, call the Kudo twins off this case, a man just threatened to drown me in the pool earlier!" she blurted out when she heard his cheery voice. "He said we had to stop looking for that Namba man!"

She heard Michio's gasp of alarm. "I'll come round and take you to headquarters in school! I'll call the twins as well! Meanwhile, don't go anywhere else and stick to the crowds!"