As word travelled to Mouri Ran shortly after completing her replaced Martial Art class, she obviously try and fends for her best friend's reputation by rushing over to the student council office. And even that wasn't enough.

The rush of excitement, the absolute thrill of a predator hunting its prey...Ran will never forget that feeling as long as she lives. Ever since joining the association, kids have begun to brazenly speak ill of her about all of the harassment that she and Sonoko had put Ranran and Shinichi through. Before, nobody dared to because of Sonoko and her wealthy privilege, but then Ranran changed all of that and now, there was not much of a need to behave politely around them anymore.

Right now, they were the 'villains' of the little drama. A drama where the audience hates them.

But the fight isn't over yet, for a cornered prey is still capable of bringing its predators down. Ran explodes once more in front of the student council's office after hearing everything, "All lies! Sonoko didn't go that far!"

"Of course, you would say that naturally to protect the friend who harassed her," Takuma scoffed, leaning at the entrance to prevent Ran from entering while Reina and Moriko watches behind him, sitting from the couch and observing their interaction, "You did the same when you dismissed Shinichi's innocence. And we all know that as much as I disliked him for the things he did to Ranran in the past, I worked in the association long enough to judge what sort of boy he is. Are you sure you are not involved the way Sonoko was?"

"That's so not true! I never discourage his dream! I just-listen, about Rokuro's situation, I didn't just blindly side with the other because he was my former neighbour!" He can almost hear the imperceptible crack in Ran's voice. "The reason I did was that I saw Shinichi throwing punches at him by the time I rushed over!"

"So in other words, you didn't see what happen before leading up to the fight?" Reina confronted.

Ran's eyes go wide. "Wait for a second—"

"Did I permit you to speak before my cousin? If so, zip it!" Moriko screeched.

Ran shuts up immediately, but there is no mistaking the startled fear on her face. So stark, so terrified, that everyone can hardly believe the scene unravelling before her.

This Moriko...she is scary.

The intense stare reminded Ran as if Moriko was aiming daggers at her, her gut feeling ain't wrong. Moriko had heard countless stories from Takuma about the treatment this Mouri Ran had put Ranran through, and she even witness this first-hand once.

.....

The first time she saw it was when she was attending Takuma's dad's birthday party.

And she witnessed Ran accompanying Sonoko at the time confronting the 4-year-old Ranran at that time before they pushed her down to the ground. The door to the funeral anniversary event was open ajar, and it wasn't until Moriko's eyes fell on the picture of 'The Boy' in black and white, framed on a stand with flowers around it, as well as she noticed Ranran and the attendees dressed in the same school uniform like 'The Boy' in the picture, that she realizes how those two girls were self-entitled pricks.

What psychopaths would prioritize their cancelled birthday party above a dead little boy!? Are they crazy!?

Moriko may have been timid and shy back then, but even as she was watching all of this unfold from afar, she could tell Ranran's eyes were red as if she had been sobbing about that poor boy's death earlier. Before this, she had a different impression of Ranran that she was no different than those pompous rich girls of high society thanks to the parkour event incident. Sure, she knew they called her a 'bastard', but she knew Shinichi was someone who wouldn't hurl insults at someone unless one provoke him according to the other kids who know him, so Ranran must have done something wrong.

Her opinion towards Ranran shifted slowly when Reina started to talk about Ranran a lot more. Even more so when the detective schemed in such a way that Mamiko was no longer able to lay a finger on her anymore. Initially, when Reina suggests to her cousin that she should put her faith in Ranran when Moriko met up with Ranran at the school courtyard alone to discuss this. At that time, Moriko was that close to seeking a transfer out of school.

Because Mamiko's mom is wealthy, her bullying deeds towards Moriko always go unpunished. Even the people she reported to always turned a blind eye, so for her to say put her safety onto Ranran of all children, let alone, put her faith in another daughter of a wealthy family was an understatement. She wants out!

But then Ranran who was listening to all of this just told her point blank, "Then don't put your faith in me. I won't do a thing if you refuse this."

"Eh?"

"But should you ever need me, I will be here. I can't force you if you don't want my help. Only if you feel like you want to save yourself, I will step in."

"S-save myself?"

"Everyone naturally has pride of their own, and I am certain you have as well. If I save you, you are very likely to blame me because life is already crappy enough to be alive than being deceased. I've been there."

Moriko watched the voidness eyes of the detective girl staring into the sky, as the then timid child wondered how is it a girl from such a privileged background had such a dark outlook on life. Isn't she born with everything in life? Moriko wasn't born poor, but still...Ranran had everything. What is there to be sad if one has everything?

A flashback of that funeral memorial event led Moriko to blurt out, "Did it...had anything to do with...that boy at the funeral event last year?"

"Eh?"She turned her head to the other, seemingly surprised, "How did you-"

"You may not have known it, but my cousin's frien-I mean, ex-friend had his dad's birthday party held next door to your venue." Moriko recalled that Takuma and Reina were no longer on speaking terms anymore, so she corrected it before hastily speaking, "When the commotion was going on, Reina was about to bring you a slice of cake to cheer you up when that nonsense took place. She saw you having red eyes the other day."

Ah yes, Ranran didn't forget that. "Did she?"

Moriko almost blurted out that Reina shouldn't have, since at that time she assumed Ranran was faking it after that parkour incident, but she stopped herself before changing her choice of words since she didn't know what truly happen in the memorial event. "Anyway, about that event...that boy must have meant a lot to you, right? I mean...."

"Of course, he meant a lot to me," Ranran swung her legs silently before admitting cynically, "If he wasn't murdered, maybe I wouldn't be where I am now."

That stopped everything in its tracks, as Moriko reacted to that unexpected news in an outburst, "What?! Murdered!?"

Suddenly, a million questions raced through her mind as Moriko was almost going to ask how, where, why, and who in the world would be so heartless to do this sort of thing!? But then judging Ranran's dreary look, it was clear there was indescribable pain should she ever answer, the same kind of pain that Moriko could relate to.

Reluctant but curious, she had to know, "Who did this to him? That sounds cruel!"

"His mother."

Alright, this was not an answer she was expecting. A mother!? Would do this to her own son!? "You mean stepmother, right?" Moriko guessed since the majority of cases step-parents from fairy tales are evil, except her uncle who married Reina's mom.

"No, his real mom."

Moriko was gobsmacked, "H-how-w-why-what....?"

Is this the real world Moriko is in?! Cause if so...why do real mothers kill their own children here?

Sensing her baffled expression, Ranran explained, "His dad cheated on her with his aunt, his mom's sister, so when they divorced, his mother cut any form of communication that prevented him from contacting his dad and step-mom...that is when things went downhill..."

"That doesn't make any sense!" The more the other girl hears of this, the more she grew curious about the late boy's life.

"It does," Ranran sighs before blankly staring towards the ground, "His mom forcefully stole his dad away from her sister using despicable means, so his dad was always unhappy while being with his mom, even after having him never once made his dad smile. So when his dad started smiling after going back to his aunt, he supported his dad's relationship."

With her eyes as big as saucers, Moriko gasped, "But that must have hurt his real mom!"

"Correction, his answer enraged his mom to beat him up black and blue for 2 years, he never once wavered despite the threats," Ranran cynically replied, "To him, it didn't matter if they were related by blood, if one does something wrong, one must be punished regardless. In his own way, since he is the son of evil, he will take the punishments his mom will never accept responsibility for."

"That's ridiculous!" Moriko flare up at that thought, "He wasn't at fault! It was his mother!"

"Exactly, that is what I told him, and when he realized this...he finally was freed of her after 2 years of hell back to his father, while she was thrown in prison."

The more Moriko hears of this, the more she was glad that he finally achieved his freedom. But then, realizing they were in the present now, and judging after what Ranran told her, it was never going to be a happy ending. "She broke out of prison, didn't she?"

Silence.

Of course, she did. Why isn't Moriko surprised? This isn't a tv anime where the hero lives another day while the villains rot in hell and die.

"You know what is even funnier?" Ranran gave an empty chuckle before adding, "The children who were his enemies back in our school...gave that woman an interesting idea. They told her...if they kidnap someone close to him, it will, by all means, lure him out of his dad's place, and then he can never leave his mother forever. Guess who...was the person closest to him?"

All of a sudden, the colour drained out of the timid girl. Moriko before this was already pale in general, but she was close to a colour of death when she realized who this child was.

The girl sitting right next to her is only alive because of that boy's death.

And then before she knew it, she realized what this poor privileged red lip girl had been through, was nowhere close to what Mamiko has been putting the timid girl through. "I never told anyone this, because kids in the U.K. of such age that commit such evil will never go to jail forever, as long one remains alive, they will continue to torment until their victim dies."

Feeling that this conversation is taking a dark turn, Moriko who felt unsettled by this revelation confronted, "Did you not feel angry? That they wronged you so viciously like that?"

"Of course I did. But when I knew the law that they won't...I took the braver road."

"....which is-"

"Torture them, making sure they wish dying was an option." For the first time, Moriko noticed a hint of the detective's deranged smile, but it didn't feel eerie to her for some reason unlike Mamiko's. Rather, it felt sad. "I kept on doing it with every chance I got, it got to a point they can never live a normal life anymore, whether physically or emotionally...they are their own prisoner. But I wanted to leave them with that feeling, cause thanks to them, I am all alone in this foreign country missing one true friend."

"Eh? Miss-"Then it all came together, "No way! He was supposed to come with you to Japan?!"

Ranran never answered back, but with her downcast expression, that became all too evident.

And as if any hint of doubt that Ranran's character sounded unreliable for Moriko, that feeling was replaced with sympathy. But then she recalled the parkour event incident with Shinichi, "So that boy who called you a 'bastard'...you didn't provoke him to do so?"

That made Ranran sneer, but onto no one in particular, oh how funny her life has become a joke, "I love myself too much to be degraded that way. But our grandparents forced us to get along whether we like it or not. The only way to stop their meddling is to ensure no room for forming any form of relationship. So when he started calling me that, I was the happiest that I have ever been."

Feeling puzzled by that statement, Moriko wondered, "Why would you be happy? You were being degraded!"

"In a way, he has presented an opportunity for me to kick him out of my life permanently. I don't want to see him every day with that fake smile on our faces, let alone walk on eggshells. So the only solution was to insult every single thing I could think of under the sun, only then, as soon as they pushed me and broke my leg, only then those adults would realize we really want out."

The nauseous feeling has returned, as imagining the pain from a broken ankle was a little outrageous for someone who hates the other, "That is a lot to take in for someone you hate."

"But if you were given the chance to do this just to never see the person who made your life a living hell, breaking a leg was worth every minute."

Moriko stares at her. She has a weird look on her face. "Wait, why he didn't he come after you after that incident? Did you...is there something else going on? I mean...I heard if anyone wrongs him, he will never give up and chase the person to the end of the world." Moriko breathes.

"Of course," Ranran reverted back to the self anyone knows best, the one with confidence, "Otherwise, he would have met the same end as the other kids I did back in my old school. For the sake of one's happiness, one must be dedicated and resort to everything at their disposal to achieve it. Even if it goes against the law."

"That's...very bold of you to go this far in the name of happiness," Moriko's fingers tremble harder than before as she tries to process all that just happened, "I mean...I would be scared that he may do the worst to me someday."

"I don't, because he can't do anything to me. I am better off than him."

"Eh?"

"Children like him live cowardly, they relished in targetting people who are potentially better than them to feed their ego. If I constantly live a life filled with fear forever around him., then in the first place, doesn't this mean my life is no longer mine?

"Yours?"

"Do you know of the difference between 'Living life to the fullest' and 'Surviving for the sake of surviving'?"

"Hmph...."Moriko taps her chin before admitting no, "Aren't they all about being alive?"

"There is a tiny difference, one is just existing without a purpose. I could let others control me like a freaking puppet, or...I could take control of my own life where I get to call the shots on my own, breathe on my own, eat luxurious meals, watch the cartoons I enjoy, play video games on my computer unsupervised without anyone controlling me...freedom, that is the life I want."

Moriko just looked at her suddenly in a different light that day, unsure of what to say.

Freedom...the way Ranran put it sounds fun.

But this dream, will it ever take afloat?

"It's up to you, your freedom...I can get it back. And you will never owe me a thing."

.....

That day, Moriko walked out of there as she couldn't hold her tears in anymore in her own bedroom. Tears began welling up in her eyes as she began crying silently as her heart couldn't keep her emotions bottled up anymore.

It was painful knowing that aside from her life being so cruel, Ranran had it a million times worst!

Unlike Moriko who has loved ones that are alive and well, Kudo Ranran could never have a future together with that boy. Reality can be a cruel punishment to those who dream.

That's right, maybe that's why...maybe perhaps she had that fear that she would end up like that deceased boy whose dream shall never take afloat, or end up becoming a nobody just by doing nothing, she knew she had to get things together one way or another.

Getting Ranran to do all of this was the best decision she has ever made, even becoming an actress in this drama play. Even more so, she felt liberated with life now that she found her voice. Hearing the things Ranran was willing to resort to...if she can do it, so Moriko can!

So it was decided that from that moment on she was going to live life the way she wanted.

And now, here this bloody girl ruining Ranran's way of life. Mouri Ran was a girl who was far too much of a peabrain regarding the things that were happening around her. Intentionally ignorant or not, nothing good has come out of her ever since she joined the association, especially towards Ranran. When she got word through Takuma that Ranran made Shinichi choose whether to let Ran in or not, she almost rushed over to confront why was the idiot still hung up on her.

But then as soon as she spoke to Reina, she realizes Shinichi didn't do it because he wanted to: He did it because he knew he had no choice.

No matter where he goes, that idiot is going to pester him around whether he likes it or not. Like a leach, one will never let go till the blood is sucked dry.

Mouri Ran was the type to not respect anyone's opinions that go against her, she was overly coddled by Sonoko thanks to her parents' separation, and even Shinichi's opinion did not matter. In a way, Moriko did feel slightly sorry for her that she was doing this as a means to escape reality, but this sort of mental thinking is the reason why Ranran and Shinichi were suffering for all the wrong reasons, and that is when Moriko decided enough was enough.

Glaring at the long browned haired girl, Moriko decided to confront her, "Are you still going to defend her?"

"E-eh!? W-who?" Ran stammered.

"Suzuki, you heard what she did to Ranran, right? The video and everything? I am certain you are not that naive or an idiot to not be aware of why Shinichi detests her now. Unless you choose to ignore all of it because it benefits you?"

Moriko waited along with the rest of her friends while waiting for Ran to respond, wondering what stupid answer is going to come out of her mouth this time. They knew what to expect, that she will defend Sonoko regardless. But rather than saying anything, she chewed her lip, her hands curled into a fist as they both trembled in silence.

"Actually, let me rephrase that question," Clearing her throat, she observed Ran who is sweating bullets at the entrance, "Clearly your presence is messing with Ranran and Shinichi's life, every single day having to see the friend of the vermin in their sacred place, where your existence is there to torment them."

Ran snarled with her gaze flashing to theirs, while her hands covered her ears. "Stop it."

"What? Can't accept the truth? Cause that is the reality of it. You probably wouldn't have cared if Ranran was killed because of Sonoko's false accusations of calling her 'The Fox'."

"Eh!? Why would she end up getting killed?!" The disbelief and annoyance could be felt by the girl standing outside the office.

"How much of an idiot are you!?" Takuma blasted at her, "If people believe Sonoko's lies, the criminals' Fox thrown in prison would come after her and put an end to Ranran's life, you dimwit!"

The boy's words left a sting to her fragile heart, implying as if she was too naïve and dumb to understand what was going on.

If Takuma wasn't blocking the entrance, Ran swore she could've karate-flip the actress in the office. But she knew better than to, Takuma is taller than Ran, and though he may not look large on the surface, he still has the chops to easily overpower her physically for a quarterback. He wasn't a simple star athlete of Teitan Elementary for nothing.

Also, what Ran didn't know is Moriko knew how to fight back physically which will put her karate skills to shame even if she tried. "Your choice is to either leave the association and keep your reputation intact or...continue living like the shameless villainess you deserve to, so what will it be?"

How can....how can they just tell her to abandon Sonoko? Let alone Shinichi!?

Did they...are they even in their right mind to be telling her what she or shouldn't she do?! True, what Sonoko did was beyond inhumane level, and she does feel sorry for Shinichi cause she can't imagine what he must be going through, let alone, felt very apologetic that her friend used Ranran's name as 'The Fox', a claim yet to be verified, but overall, words are just words. 

After all, who would simply believe those words that Ranran is The Fox? Sonoko isn't credible when it comes to guessing the identity of anyone, let alone superheroes from cartoons. So aren't they being overly dramatic that Ranran would get killed because of her words? Also, Ranran can take care of herself! If they had known the things Ranran was capable of...no, they probably do, just downplaying it as always.

Sonoko didn't tell him to quit, just comparing him to someone like 'The Fox', he could've just ignored it and let things be. Words can't hurt, her mom always said, so if he hates Sonoko over this matter, that meant he isn't mentally strong and can't blame everything on her, let alone, use Ranran as a shortcut to his dream!

The double standards in this school are ridiculous! When Shinichi and Ranran were heard arguing this morning about Shinichi being too ambitious, Ranran was given a sympathetic pat on the back by the girls for dealing with his unbearing behaviour. But when Sonoko said a couple of words to marry him off to Ran, it was an ugly backlash and they just bullied Suzuki as if she was a witch!

She hates the fear Ranran is causing her, she was no match for Shinichi's intelligence, but Ranran's intelligence made her dread life in school as time goes by within the association. She is merely living on borrowed time trying to get Shinichi's senses back, and the more she pulls him to her, the more he stuck to Ranran like glue.

So much bitterness in such a little body. It all culminates into what Ran despises the absolute most: "No," she says finally, her voice quiet and serious. "I will not abandon my friends. Shinichi too no different."

The three other kids said nothing, but then Moriko spats in disgust, "It's sad for Shinichi since he doesn't think of you that way anymore."

That stung Ran deeply, she knew what Moriko said was the truth, she had a reputation for being the no-nonsense actress after all. And she knew Shinichi long enough to know how he would react to things like that. When his favourite soccer player announced their retirement, he looked as if he just left the saddest funeral ever. So for Shinichi to learn all of this, she can imagine how devastated he was feeling.

"No, that's because Ranran brainwash..." Ran trails off.

"Brainwash? You wish, Ranran has no ability to brainwash the person. The only person who wants to force their own beliefs upon them, the very one who shamelessly abandon Shinichi and wants him back while he was clearly moving on happily with Ranran...is none other than you!" Ran wilts under Moriko's commanding tone. 

Damn it, why are Ranran's friends so wild and blunt like her!?

"You heard what my cousin said, Mouri," 

Reina huffed, finally rolling her eyes after having sat on the sofa for so long before beckoning Takuma to come in before she stood where he last stood, giving Ran a hostile stare, "If you are not going to leave, then behave well in the association! Also, tell that witch friend of yours to come over to the office next Monday, that scandal she had caused earlier had alerted the teachers, and they were horrified that the witch friend of yours had the audacity to bully Ranran and Shinichi through manipulative means!"

"Bullying!? Manipulative-what!?" Ran felt like her ears had deafened before refuting with rage, "Matsuyuki Reina! Don't you think you have gone too far to falsely say my friend has been bullying those two!? That she-demon is the one who is manipulative!"

"And so what!? Are you going to deny that was nothing but a lie!? That video was far too damning! To think you would defend the framing of an innocent girl! And all of this took place even before Shinichi severed ties with the both of you! How dare you!?" 

Reina was fiercer than the karate girl and as she was about to strike her in the face, Ran backed away and tripped, as her butt met the ground while Moriko and Takuma struggled to drag the furious head girl away, "Rei-chan, calm down! You are the present of the council! Don't forget!" Moriko reminded her.

"Exactly, Reina! Don't forget what you promised Ranran about resorting to violence! You are student president council now!" Takuma tried to calm his girlfriend down.

"Here is what is going to happen," She gave Ran a look of contempt, "Suzuki is going to face severe punishment by the disciplinary board next Monday. And should she ever try to weasel her way out of this using her family's name," Reina step back a bit without leaving her sight while barking further threats, "I will be sure to send the homeroom teacher over to pay her family a visit! Cause the last thing that girl will ever do is lay a finger on Ranran ever again, you hear me!?"

SLAM!

Takuma's slamming the door was the end of this tense conversation as his girlfriend could be heard screaming to let her go to beat Ran out, leaving Ran reeling with numbness, feeling guilty over everything that has happened.

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

Comforting Suzuki Sonoko was something rather new to Mouri Ran.

She was a girl who never shed a tear in front of Ran similarly like Shinichi, in a way...she was a tough little girl Ran has ever known. Maybe children from rich families are born to have that backbone in them to deal with the cruelties of life. Expectations are high on children from rich families, so it's no wonder even someone like Kudo Ranran barely break a sweat when Sonoko had hatred directed at her, cause Ran admits, she would burst into tears if she were in her shoes.

But ever since Ranran appeared, Sonoko had started shedding more tears than ever before, it has proven to be difficult to hide all of this in front of Ran. And usually it was the other way around.

So Ran did the only thing she knows how: To comfort her like the times Sonoko did for Ran.

Ran glances over at the sobbing Sonoko, clenching and unclenching her fists in the empty 1-A classroom as the two girls sat on their seats, it was around 5:35pm, and the gloomy clouds outside are no longer around, a beautiful orange like evening sky lit up their classroom as if it was signaling another day is about to come to an end. If it were a normal day, Ran, Shinichi and Sonoko would be walking home from school talking about the latest anime or detective stories Shinichi had come across.

But today isn't going to be one of those days.

Around 5:45 pm, Ran would had to gather along with the rest of the Tantei association members in the school office before heading out to do their stakeout. Initially Emiko suggested to her to take the day off after after she fought with Shinichi, and Ran turned down that suggestion and insist on joining the stakeout, it was in a way of rebelling against Ranran.

However, now she isn't that sure if she should remain in the association anymore.

Don't get her wrong, Mouri Ran never gives up on anything, not even on her friends or even Shinichi for that matter. But now she is beginning to question is any of this worth it at the price of her own best friend's reputation?

When Sonoko told her about the contract Ranran forced her to sign, Ran went livid. Even more so when she learnt Ranran involved Sonoko's parents. But what could a 1st grader who isn't born into a wealthy family could do? Worst, she didn't even have the intelligence of Ranran or Shinichi so to speak.

Furthermore, Sonoko was truly in the wrong for breaking into their house, let alone, still under Ranran's merciless ways at that time. It was either Sonoko to be thrown to the wolves, or become Mouri Ran's guarantor in forking out every single yen should Ran ever endangered the founder and the apprentice of the association. 

And Ran insist to Sonoko she wants to leave the association, she truly did. It wasn't worth the battle if Sonoko's own inheritance was going to be deducted, let alone, involved millions of yen just because Ran remained there! Who knew that she-demon was also calculative when it came to money!? And worst, Shinichi didn't even stop her!

At that time, Sonoko reassured her that she should remain, if what she believe was in the right to bring Shinichi back to them, then money to Sonoko is nothing. When it came to that sort of matter, Sonoko spared no expense. To her, relationships and friendships should not involve money.

Now...Ran once again wonder was any of this worth the price?

Sonoko still have tons of money, and the amount Ranran charged her was although ridiculous, it won't bankrupt her within a few or decade years long. Even so, Ran hates the other of feeling owed, and as much as Sonoko was genuine on her part, she felt very guilty that Sonoko's inheritance was involved.

The worst out of all of this is the reputation part. For Ran, she suffered the worst kinds of insults when her parents split up, and she can managed it. But what about Sonoko? She is different, and it seems like she suffered far worst than Ran does, being chased after by the entire school like witch-hunt, to the table being damaged and her rondesu bag muddied....this isn't right.

Ran shouldn't drag Sonoko to this mess, not anymore. "Sonoko...maybe, I should quit the association."

"Hah!?" Sonoko suddenly stopped as she looked at her friends as if she was mad.

"Hear me out, ever since I joined the association, you did not fair out well with Ranran in the worst way possible," Ran rambled on and on about what she knows, as much as it pains her to say, "You were beaten up by the entire school, everyone hates you now because of that damn video, and the kids here are no longer hiding it and ruining all of your things!"

Ran taps the table with the ugly writings, and the recently washed rondesu bag that took a long while to clean placed on Ran's desk, her sight remaining on Sonoko's filled with grief.

"There was never a day that goes by where you were not spoken ill of. Never. And before all of this, everyone used to approach you and invite you out," Ran reminisce the days she and Shinichi used to hang out together when Sonoko at times waved them good bye to hang out with her other friends, "You were very outgoing and popular...but now, with Ranran around, she literally dragged you down to the worst kind of hell. And I don't know...the longer I remained there, would there ever come a day whether Shinichi will ever return back to us."

"Ran..." Sonoko breathe in sadness, while sniffing at her own grief.

"I wanted to head over to the association to confront them again, you know?" Ran thought about it after leaving the student council office, her words trailed off, "And...when I got word from the other children that they saw him having his head buried in his arms with Ranran sitting next to him, I knew...there was no going back. I never...saw this side of Shinichi before, not since..."

Ranran...the damn Kudo Ranran!

Nothing good comes out of that she-demon! Just pure chaos and hell!

"I know what I am saying would be just plain wrong to them, that yes, we do owe them an apology. Putting Ranran and Shinichi in danger, belittling Shinichi, even misusing her name as The Fox to get Shinichi to hate her...but aren't they being too much!? They made it as if it was the most despicable thing in the world! As if we committed murder! And that it was worth riling every single kid into hating us! If she and he knew this, why couldn't we just have a private conversation rather than just air out everything?!"

"Exactly! What they did to us was so uncalled for!" Sonoko voiced out her outrage in between her sobbing, with her hands covering her face. "It ain't as if I want Shinichi to quit for good! There are other jobs he can do behind the office desk while becoming detective!"

Ran hugged her to console her, petting her hair, "That's right! Also, that Mamiko..."Which reminded her as she let go to question her best friend, "How are you two friends actually? You never told me anything about that."

"Ah, about that," Sonoko tried to put a brave smile before Ran, her sobbing had creased but she had a hurtful expression thinking about it, "Do you recall that time when we were in kindergarten? When Shinichi and you suggested that I should head to the doctor?"

"Ah yes," Ran nodded, recalling the times Sonoko's physical activities had reduce drastically during play time.

"Well..." Sonoko was reluctant to share at first, but then, seeing Ran's concern face made her softened her guard, "Truthfully, I was sent to etiquette class by my parents."

"Eh!? Etiquette class!?" Ran blinked, not understanding what the word etiquette meant.

So Sonoko explained to her, "You know how Ranran carries herself in front of us? I mean the way she sits down gracefully, the way she eats and all of that elegantly? Her manners and stuff? That is what it was for me. My parents sent me there."

"Eh!?" Both her hands covered her mouth before wondering, "Why would your parents do that?"

"It's funny, I don't quite remember that much anymore around that age, but I did something 'awful'. Something about ruining a funeral possession." Sonoko's head felt like splitting again when she mentions this.

"You!? Ruining a wha!?" Ran gasped for the second time, in disbelief, "No way! You would never do that sort of thing!'

"Exactly, but they think I was bluffing." Sonoko heaves, feeling sad when she recalled her parents blaming her, "Anyway, I had no say in this. When I started around December, I remember how much I hated being there every single second. Suddenly, I am being criticized how I eat, how I walk, even how I behaved...every single part of me is being picked apart. It's like no matter what I do, I will never be enough."

The Sonoko poured out, the more liberated she feel.

"It didn't help that those girls in the same class started to mock me, even more so when I pretended to have fever or headache just so I never attend to those classes ever again. I attend everyday, if I had kindergarten on weekdays, I have to go there 5 hours a day. I wasn't even spared during the weekend as well, during weekends was around 12 hours. I attended those classes 2 weeks in a row."

"Sonoko..."

"So the only thing logical for my teacher was to have the top girl in the class at that time to guide me, Mamiko. She was patient, she taught me everything there is to know. But ultimately, even that wasn't enough and I quit." Sonoko chuckled as the more she thought about how they met, the more absurd things are right now, "Now I think about it...I think even her teaching methods were nothing but lies, cause I showed no signs of improvement."

"Sonoko, why didn't you say any of this? The etiquette class thing?" Ran sounded a little disappointed, "You know I would never think less of you, even if you scored the lowest in a subject."

"I know you never will, but...I felt so much like a failure," Sonoko cowered in shame thinking about those days, "When I left, it was the happiest I have ever been. At that time, Mamiko said we should continue to keep in touch, so we did. She was a very considerate girl...at least, that was what I thought till I saw the video."

Trembling, Sonoko rants out her feelings about this.

"We were just hanging out, just us being girls. I...I don't even why she would do such a thing! I mean why did she send that video to Ranran!? Hell, why did she record our private conversation? We were just joking around, then Ranran and Shinichi made it a huge deal out as if our words killed someone!"

"So you think Mamiko is behind it?" Ran coaxed gently, not wanting her friend to go all so emotional.

"Think? No, I am certain," Sonoko insists as she recalled that conversation at the mall, "Mamiko at that time bought a small plant with her from this shop, it was brand new while we went shopping together and placed it there, pointing directly to where I was sitting cause we had no place to place our shop goods besides the table, so it didn't strikes me as odd at that time. Who knew the thing she bought was a spy cam! And I was so blind to her true nature..."

"Sonoko..."She sobbed further into Ran's chest, while the other female heart ached for her friend.

As guilty as Sonoko was in the video, Mamiko was the one behind it! There's no way Sonoko would do such a thing, and whoever accused her should be ashamed of themselves.

Which reminds Ran, "Why didn't you reveal her name to Ranran and Shinichi earlier while the two were confronting you?"

"I didn't want to believe that Mamiko, the only one who cared for me during etiquette class was behind this. When she lost during election, she remain as herself. But after that video and Ranran's deduction about her, I don't know what to think anymore, Ran...."

The heiress is actually crying, breaking down before her.

"Sonoko, it's okay!" Ran pats her shoulder as Sonoko sniffs, lip wobbling. Determination begins to set in for Ran, "Whoever it is that made you cry, I will expose them! Whether it be Mamiko, or Shinichi, especially that she-demon Ranran! I will bring them down to ruins!"

Sonoko nods, teary-eyed, wiping her nose of mucus with a handkerchief. Ran rubs soothing circles on her back, and Suzuki casts her gaze to the ground, sniffling.

For Sonko's future and for her life, she cannot afford to fail.

Is this going to be how life is like in this school? As long as Kudo Ranran exist, the days of having a normal school day filled with sunshine and rainbow will never arrive.