Tears start to build up in Sonoko's eyes, "I'm so stupid!" she said and grip her own hair. "I have no way of knowing whether Mamiko is behind this since she is on a school trip right now in a rural country, "Sonoko cried. "But I'm so sorry, I'm sorry Ran for making Shinichi hate you, now he will never leave the association and stick to Ranran like glue!" she cried and buried her face in his palms, she was disappointed in herself to the point she wants to beat herself up.

"No it's not, Sonoko. It was bound to happen sooner or later," After half an hour, Sonoko finally calmed down, breathing heavily while wiping her tears as Ran reassures her it is fine before wondering in all seriousness, "But now I am curious, who the hell sent to Ranran that video!? Not to mention, on our association's email!?"

Not long ago, during the events of Illegitimate Extra, Shinichi had Emiko set up their Tantei Association website so that they could monitor the request from clients before approving and sending them their location. To contact their association, everything was through email, since setting up their own contact number is not something Shinichi and the rest were ready for the fear of troll calls. Emails are less scarier in their perspective.

Well, that was until the video situation took place.

Who the hell send the video!? I must ask Ranran later to check, maybe I can get to the bottom of who did this.

The problem is Ran knew this would be a rather difficult task. Although she had Agasa, Shinichi's neighbour, to track down the IP and stuff, she did not have access to the main email besides Ranran and Shinichi, since the two were more equipped into dealing with clients of a colourful background. And she is certain Ranran would not simply show her emails of that sort, since Ranran is distrustful of her after that stunt Sonoko pulled onto her apprentice. Most likely Ranran would carry out her own investigation, and that is something Ran is forced to accept.

Cause as soon as the day Ranran tracks down the little bastard, Mouri Ran will teach the idiot a lesson they will never forget.

"But it's true. N-none of this w-would h-happened if I-i didn't agree with M-Mamiko," she said, hoarse lace in her voice.

"I think that wouldn't happen anymore because of my cowardly behaviour," Ran said bitterly and chuckles, grabbing one of Sonoko's hands and squeezing it tightly. She looks up but avoids her eyes. "Is this why you didn't bring your friendship with Mamiko up? Because I would cut ties with you over this?"

"I-" Sonoko shake her head, tears falling, unable to explain her jumbled feelings.

"I think I understand why you did what you did, while I admit you took it too far," Ran was breathing in deeply, "But to be fair, I...never once fought my own battles, because you always did it for me." Sonoko nod but doesn't say anything. "I'm not mad, Sonoko."

"But you're disappointed."

"I mean that is like you, let's admit it: We are not equally as smart as Shinichi or even Ranran when it comes to saying things that truly meant to them." Ran says with a smile, "But you did it to make me happy. It may not be right for me to say this since it involved endangering Ranran since she is innocent, but not completely."

"Eh?"

"Ranran could've handled this privately with the rest of us, the fact that she didn't show what kind of person she is," She gently wipes away Sonoko's tears and pulls her into a hug, "I don't blame you. For all the lies she had weaved, you are more sincere than her when it comes to being someone's friend,"

Sonoko nod into her shoulder and leaned on her shoulder, letting silence overwhelm them.

After a while, the heiress said, "Ran."

"Yeah?"

"Continue to remain in the association."

"Eh-"

"Hear me out," As soon as Sonoko lifted her head to face Ran, her face was puffy from all of the tear sheddings, but she persisted, "You still care for Shinichi, right?" Ran nodded to her, "Then don't give up. I will spare no expense in your spot there."

"Sonoko..."

"I know I am asking too much, being shameless. Especially after what I did to Shinichi and Ranran was unforgivable. It has brought nothing but pain. But that didn't mean he should completely cut ties from you because of what I did, 'cause that ain't fair!" With anger and determination, her hands were placed on both shoulders of Mouri Ran, "As angry as he was, he had no right to just simply abandon you because of your mistake with Rokuro just to be with that she-demon!"

As much as Ran to, she says, "But Sonoko, what about your-"

"Don't worry about me, just remain your focus there and do whatever you need necessarily to get him out, anything to distance him away from that girl and her lunatic friends!"

Ran thought about what Sonoko had just said for a moment. She was right. They were friends for over a year, no way he should just ditch her aside just to be with someone new.

At the same time, however...Ranran's friends called her out that her presence in the association was a painful reminder to Shinichi thanks to Sonoko, were they right about it? They seem to be genuinely angry over the video and Ranran's situation. Even Shinichi... seem very distant.

The more Ran tried to reach him, the more he distance himself further. It was as if he and the one back in kindergarten...were two different people.

One day...I will kick Ranran out of school when this is over...Shinichi will return to us. He will blame me, but it is for the best.

Those were the words Ran swore to herself, despite knowing the chances are slim.

...........

"Within a couple of hours, the whole school is talking about the Ranran, Shinichi, Mouri Ran and Suzuki Sonoko drama! Give us a break please!" Junko ranted rolling her spectacle eyes over this nonsense, while Emiko and Michio join alongside her to head back to the 2nd association for the final stakeout briefing in their school.

"I mean given that Kudo boy's history with those two girls, it's no surprise why things turn out the way they did," Emiko thought about it, her mood a little bit better since she has some distraction to think about now besides her art school situation, "But it's strange, I know Shinichi is the type to not beat around the bush when he said he was done with them, so why is it is they won't let Shinichi go?"

"Obsession, the two are obsessed with him." The half-Korean half-Japanese boy, who appeared not pleased, appeared to join them from the corner.

"Ah, Takuma! You are back!" Michio greeted him before wondering, "What do you mean they are obsessed with him?

"You heard me, they can't let go. They are what one called 'sore losers', not wanting to admit defeat. It is a common thing we deal with whenever my American Football teammates go head to head with our rivals, whether it is our team that was on the losing side or the other way around, there is always going to be one who will never admit that they lost. It makes one pathetic actually now to think of it."

"Jeez, the way you worded it sounds awful," Emiko frown a bit at that revelation before asking the boy, "Is your team dealing better now? On how to deal with this?"

"Yeah, I listened to Ranran's words on having them talk out why they feel that so, they rarely act out anymore." Takuma softened at that thought.

"Eh, so mature of Ranran." Michio thinks.

Junko who was listening to all of this merely scoffed, "Huh, as if Ranran is the God to anyone's path."

And it was normal for her to detest Ranran, she didn't have one good impression about the dictator founder since she has been nothing but devious, scheming and manipulative, nothing about her is genuine.

"Is it?"An eyebrow raised for Takuma before snickering, "I mean...I guess it's better than being uncertain that Michio might get stolen from you someday."

"Hah!? What is that supposed to mean!?" Junko became livid at Takuma's chuckle.

"I heard that this Adeline girl is unusually beautiful, this was what I heard from Ranran and Shinichi when I asked what she looked like."

"Really?" It was Emiko's turn to mirror his earlier expression, "Was there a photo?"

"There is! You didn't see it? It was in the LINE group chat Shinichi sent to everyone not long ago. The photo was quite blurry because it was taken in a haste, but you are all free to check it."

As soon as everyone eagerly fish out their phones, Michio was the only one who is trying to discourage everyone to not view the photo, as he was growing with anxiety that Junko would be jealous.

Judging her expression, his worst fears has been confirmed when Junko formed a surprise, then twisted to horror.

No matter how blurred the photo was, Junko cannot deny that this Adelind or Adeline girl as mentioned in the LINE group chat was...unusually strikingly beautiful.

For a Caucasian child, girls like them around their age are unusually exotic and have an edge in beauty in Junko's opinion. Being a fan of European Fantasy genre stories, she often envies the faces of those characters, even the villains are either handsome or beautiful unlike herself all so average.

Example: Draco Malfoy from Harry Potter was by far the most handsome-looking boy she has ever seen, in fact, the majority of girls in the entire school, let alone, in the whole of Japan, fell head over heels when they saw his face for the first time in the movie. Although he was a villain in the movie that goes against the likeable Harry Potter, the protagonist, during Junko's younger years, the girls her age fell for him for being human and sympathetic.

What made it all so evident, was when Junko questioned Ranran about how the fans feel back in the U.K about that character, Ranran revealed all the kids in her school love him, even the girls alike. In fact, she even surprisingly reveal that when there was a boy who had some physical resemblance to Malfoy, they threw themselves on him shamelessly.

This is why as soon as Junko laid eyes on the Adeline girl, she knew she has a lot on her plate.

A criminal's daughter...this is going to be difficult. As much as she hates to admit this, it seems like Junko officially has a rival not to be underestimated. Before she had no worries because the girls who had a crush on Michio were very average looking as herself. But now...she is dealing with a girl who is unusually exotic despite them being the same age.

According to Shinichi in the message, he announced that she is deceptively cunning like Kudo Ranran, except far worst. So if Malfoy who is cunning in the Harry Potter series could easily sweep off anyone's feet to the entire world population with his good looks, this girl in Junko's mind would not be any different when it came to Michio. There is no doubt that this girl had experience in duping many other boys besides Majima Michio, she is The Snake's daughter after all, and someone as dangerous as she got to go!

Mouri Ran was a good example having lost out her crush Shinichi to the founder, so who is she to say Michio wouldn't be any different to go against Junko? What if he ends up getting brainwashed the way Shinichi was towards Ran? At least Ranran is working as a detective instead of a criminal, so there is reassuring mind for Mouri Ran that Shinichi didn't go down the dark path beyond return. The same can't be said for Adeline however.

Another thing she is worried about is Michio's mother.

Michio's mom had been widowed ever since Michio was an infant. The only thing she has is her surviving son, so if he gets killed by this Adeline, how is Junko going to explain this? There were discussions carried out privately between her, the founder plus the apprentice that they think Michio should sit out on this one, but he insists he should let him join, and that his mother should not be notified about it because he believed he has to lure her out to end this girl once and for all.

When confronted by Shinichi, he said he had to just because he felt like he should be out of obligation as a member. But is it really the case?

Michio is timid when it came to girls because he has no father figure around to guide him on how to handle them. So for him to argue he wants to remain in this case took Junko by surprise, because usually, that is Junko's job. For him to say this on his own accord...does he have feelings for her?

No no, it's too soon to tell.

Even so, she can't ignore her gut feeling. This girl is a threat, when Ran ignored this, she lost Shinichi to Ranran at the get-go. And now, no matter what she said, it was evident Shinichi had no love for Ran or Sonoko anymore. Junko knew she need to take some precautions, one that will make sure this Adeline girl must be caught no matter what, otherwise, it will be the dark cloud above her for

I need to up my game. Junko thinks of this in determination.

........

Meanwhile, the two Kudo children who remained in the office since the third feud had a last-minute discussion over what to expect as Shinichi is receiving feedback from his mentor for his 'phase 2' plan for Mamiko, Sonoko and Ran.

"Since you specifically chose the time when Mamiko is not available, by the time she returns, you are expecting her to no longer be able to do damage control?" Ranran remained in her seat, reviewing Shinichi's phase 2 plan.

"Lies can easily be turned to the truth, people choose to want they want to believe most of the time. This is the case with Rokuro and Ran," He is explaining to her based on his experience, as he paced around her, "She won't be returning till next Tuesday, by then, it would be too late to use anyone at her disposal, so her only option is to abandon those two."

"Hmm..."Ranran hummed before shifting to the next paper, "I can see you did your homework well."

"Amaya is still here, but since his relationship with his half-sister ain't good, he will leave rumours running as it is. According to research, he hates her to death because the mother always preferred a daughter, so there is no way he will reveal they are siblings. Though the same wouldn't be the same for the rumours that they might be in a quote 'relationship'. Judging his personality...I am expecting him to do everything within his power to fix it. As soon as he makes that 'mistake', it's where I trap him."

"What is with this part? 'Detoxing'?" Ranran pointed before reading it out, "Ran and Sonoko not completely in contact with Mamiko for 2 weeks? That is going to be difficult." Ranran frown with scepticism.

"Mamiko is like their sweet little drug both of those girls are addicted to, if we remove her out from the equation, this will start the detoxing effect that she isn't what she claims to be."

"Even so, 2 weeks...is it possible?" Ranran deeply thought about this, "In my past experience, I know of kids like Mamiko who intentionally refuse to part ways with puppets who had 'bad reputation' to maintain their saint image."

"If the drug is out of their system, our job is too severe any possible ways for her to get to them," Shinichi stopped before turning to his mentor, "Since you have cameras planted in the entire school, it would be easier to monitor and pull strings that meeting is no longer possible, let them believe that Mamiko ditches them to save her own skin."

"However...a drug addict without drugs will go violent," Ranran flipped to the next page, "Don't forget the reason why Ran chose to remain here was to drag you out of this association in the first place. And I am certain Sonoko will convince her to stay here just to spite me," Ranran strummed her finger on the table before figuring, "The worst part is that they ended up in the 'obsession' phase."

"Obsession?" He blinked profusely as he tilt his head, "What is that?"

"You know they are cases where drug addicts willingly kill their own families to steal money to buy drugs? Well, imagine me being the parent and Ran and Sonoko, the druggies." Suddenly the atmosphere felt grim, "I think besides her, I am more worried about you."

"Eh?"

"I mean...your life. Worst comes to worst-"

"I know, but I don't care. I am ready to deal with that."

"No, I don't think you are," Ranran rubbed her chin thoughtfully as he was observing the files in the box, placed on the shelves before asking, "Shinichi, if...let's say if...it comes to a point that Ran chooses to end her own life should you not quit the association for her, would you quit or let her die?"

Shinichi suddenly stopped all his actions and looked directly into Ranran's eyes. He must've misheard right? "Wha...what is with-"

"This ain't a joke, cause hear me out," In all seriousness, Ranran strummed on the table before disclosing some dark parts of her days as The Fox, "When I was The Fox back in the U.K, I met children who blackmailed from breaking their engagements."

"Eh? Engagements? You mean...arrange marriage right?" Shinichi finally caught up with that thought, since he has almost forgotten Ranran used to study in a school filled with nobles and royalties.

"That's right," Ranran nodded to him, as difficult as it sounds, she knew she had to fill him in on the worst outcome that might come out of it. "Arranging marriages in that circle is normally used to secure power between both families. Since children are children, it's natural one would love the other despite the other not feeling the same. However... in some cases, when the love isn't recuperated and one loves the other...they go for the ultimatum to keep their object of affection with them, to prevent them to be with the one they love."

"...such as?" Shinichi dreads this as he listens to her words, wondering what is the worst thing to expect.

Holding her breath for a moment, Ranran discloses, "Their own lives. Something like 'If you marry him/her, I will kill myself'. "

There was silence as Shinichi gasped, staring at his mentor feeling very appalled with what she had just said. Why did she...is this a joke?!

Why does she have to-no, she must be joking. Cause there is no way...

Shinichi shakes away the thought. "No, Ran does not-"

"Whether she romantically sees you as that or not is out of the question. But one thing we both know for certain: She is obsessed with the idea of not wanting you to be happy because she felt intimidated by me."

Truthfully Ranran could've revealed that Ran had feelings for him, but that is none of her business. The feelings between Shinichi and Ran aren't something she would meddle with, it's between the two of them. Also, she had no feelings for him to begin with. She only will meddle if it was in the way of her life or that sort.

"There is no way-ok, let's say she doesn't like me in that way. But intimidated by you!?" Shinichi exhales with disbelief and shoves his hands in his pants pockets. His tone intensifies as he continues, "Listen, I know she gets easily swayed by anyone emotionally, but to be intimidated by you-"

"Did you forget the first interaction you had when that idiot Mouri confronted you outside the doors of this association office? Accusing things like 'Are you choosing to listen to her (me) because she is more beautiful than me to listen to her' or 'She is telling you sweet lies I can't offer you'...something of that sort. That is telling me she is intimidated by me through beauty, talent and everything in between. Like a formidable rival. What kind? Romantic or not...one thing is clear: She wants me out of your life, period. She doesn't care if it makes you unhappy. Same vibes like those children who wanted control over them."

Setting the papers on the table, she went on observing Shinichi grabbing a seat near her to listen further, "Extreme behaviours like this are common: They manipulate their victims with threats of ending their own lives. And that was the root of their misery because they can't bear the thought of themselves causing their deaths."

"Really?" Shinichi was in doubt, "Ran ain't the type to do that."

"Who knows? When one has extreme hate, especially with a sociopath like Mamiko to pull the strings...she can make Ran and Sonoko do those things to her fingertips."

"...and what is that grim possibility?"

"Torment, anxiety, depression, insecure, irrational, affairs...oh yeah, even becoming a drug addict to numb their pain."

"That sounds...very dark." Shinichi was beginning to feel uneasy about this.

"It is what it is when one chooses this road to prevent one's death. But I always tell them this question, and this always changed their mind. I asked: Can you foresee yourself living like pathetic cannon fodder in the next 20 years living in misery, where this person is delightfully tormenting you? All because he or she refuses to let you be happy? Rather, forced you to make themselves happy? And their answer always was: No, I refused! If that was my future, I rather they die before us."

"Really? That's surprising." Shinichi was in awe over the responses.

"So let's talk about that," Ranran taps the pen on the paper, "If this comes to this, would you let them die or do something about it?"

With a long pause from him, he sighs a breath of relief, "It's a lucky thing Mouri is talentless."

"Why?" It was Ranran's turn to tilt.

"Because if she had talent, or even at least half of your intelligence, she would never let me go in the worst way unimaginable, Ranran." With both his fingers strumming together from both hands, he made his decision, "No, I rather let them die."

Ranran almost fell off her seat, this was not the answer she expected from a future 21st-century Sherlock Holmes, "Really!?"

"Don't get me wrong, I don't support the idea of ending one's life. However, I am not going to make myself live through another period of misery after what they put me through. If their deaths were the only option to make me lead a happy life, so be it. I don't want to live the next 20 years walking all over their bloody eggshells." He smashes the table in anger.

"That sounds...rather unexpected, coming from you," Ranran admitted, then adds, "I thought they were your friends."

"Were they? They never treated me like one. It's better than living like a zombie who is forced to put their dream in the backseat for others' selfishness." He scoffed bitterly.

"Are you up for it? Mouri Ran's possible dark side? Her obsession towards you?" Ranran leans back in her tilted chair.

"I am, that will be the day we kick her out of the association for good," Tapping on the table absentmindedly, he took one of the papers from Ranran's side, "On a serious note, I had someone send the video using the VPN at a computer cafe. When this investigation involving 'who sent the video to you' comes up, people are going to be shocked over who did this. Especially the trails I left behind...it's going to be a game-changer."

Shinichi's distorted grin sent little alarm bells to Ranran.

"That reminds me, where did you put the camera that she placed in the plant?" Ranran narrowed her eyes at him, "Moriko noticed there was no camera when Takuma headed over to the garden club to claim that there is a disease all over the plant."

"That will be revealed after they lose everything." Crossing his hands like a scene from a villain, his first ever sinister grin finally came in full display in front of a shocked Ranran, "I had someone place it somewhere where they never could've guessed would ultimately lead them to the worst downfall ever. And when that happens..."

He smirked at his mentor in a gleeful tone, "That will be the day I want to watch their world burn to crips!"

By this point, with the fiery vengeful aura emitting from Shinichi, Ranran shifted her chair further away from him out of safety concerns.

.....

With all the children gathered around the table, there was no drama and all work for tonight's stakeout.

Mouri Ran decided not to bring the drama to the table, having dealt with an emotional Sonoko was enough to motivate her not to cry before her enemy. If the school thinks Sonoko is in the wrong, then it is pointless for her to continue arguing with her friend. An unforgivable mistake was done to Shinichi and Ranran, and the majority believes they didn't deserve it. If Ran learns anything from all of the past mistakes, is that one should never fight with the majority.

Fuyuko Junko presents to everyone what has been placed on the table: 7 spray bottles with homemade pepper spray, "Everyone, I made us all one each to go against those bad guys, as well as The Snake plus his little daughter in case all goes horribly wrong with tonight's stakeout."

"Nice!" Takuma and the rest of the children were impressed as each took a bottle.

When Ranran took the last bottle, she closely inspected it before pointing out, "Neh Junko? I could be wrong, but the pepper spray bottle you handed to us...seemed to have more red pepper in it compared to the previous one?"

Ranran is too observant. Junko sighs before voicing out her hatred, "Of course, Ranran. I want to make sure that Adeline girl will never get away with using her appearance to deceive anyone ever again!"

"Good, keep that game face on."

"Eh?" Ranran's respond made Junko starled.

"If you can keep such mentality about protecting others rather than obsessing over a boy, I think you would deem fit in the association."

"Ah-I meant-"Junko was going to say it was all for Michio, but then quickly corrected herself, "Yeah, you are right! I don't like the other she is misusing her beauty to fool people! If one is born good-looking, don't abuse it for self-interest!"

"I agree!" Takuma join in, feeling fired up by this, "What that girl did was uncalled for! Trying to woo her way in to spy on the association! Who did she think we are!?"

Ranran and Shinichi who are still in character about keeping a distance towards one another following the 'feud' remain tensely silent. As much as they showed a united front before others during the 'third feud', it wasn't without a purpose.

To promote that they held a 'working relationship' instead of the 'romance relationship' Mamiko allegedly lying about to everyone she comes across, much more to fuel Ran and Sonoko's rage, Ranran defended Shinichi in public from Sonoko to prove that stance. It was their way of saying to everyone in Teitan Elementary:

We may have fought over personal differences, but we don't let that disturb our working relationship. Let alone, doubt each other's innocence.

And so far, it must be doing wonders, cause Shinichi got word through Moriko on LINE secretly that kids are starting to lean on that truth just solely based on their interaction, and the hate for Sonoko and Ran is building up. If all goes well, Shinichi would be inching his way to his own freedom away from those girls.

Ranran's political strategy is starting to pay off. Shinichi secretly felt thankful that his mentor was an exceptionally gifted cunning strategist, having put up a fake facade of glaring over his mentor by leaning his head on his dominant arm.

Meanwhile, Ranran is performing like a natural as she was talking to Junko and the rest of the members surrounding themtable, acting as if the earlier three feuds did little to slow her down. Given that Shinichi's mother was formerly a famous actress who taught him how to act from an early age, one must think of the hateful things about the co-star in real life to mirror how realistically it sounds.

But that was difficult for him to project any hate towards Ranran in reality, after learning bits and pieces of Ranran's past. Behind that cunning exterior, Ranran was a tragically pitiful figure. When one needs to survive as a noble, her cunning attribute was necessary. 

The most difficult part, however...was to not lash out at Mouri Ran, who is quietly sitting opposite him right now feeling a little depressed to talk to any of the members at the moment. The more unsavoury things he found about Ran and Sonoko, the more he was this close to snapping. Sure, he knew Ran was innocent. But he hates her ignorance, let alone, her bias and favouritism over Sonoko. Thinking of this was a good inspiration to form the exact expression he wanted to portray now, on the outside it was directed to Ranran, but it was secretly towards his ex-friends.

Of course, anyone could've just advised him, including his mother would say, "Talk things out." to settle the feud or any misunderstandings they could've had with each other. In the past, he always believed that whichever romance drama his mother had watched over the years, the most annoying scene is the part where the male and female lead had a huge falling out over a silly misunderstanding that could've taken them 4-20 minutes of discussion to settle it off just by having 'the talk', rather than dragging 100 plus episodes of unnecessary drama.

But he knew better now, since becoming apprentice, Mouri Ran had yet to believe a single thing he or Ranran had ever said. It's because she and Sonoko were duped into thinking nothing Ranran said was worth listening to, that Shinichi is 'brainwashed' by her, they went all out on her without questioning the truth.

Especially the funeral event part, when Moriko spills the tea about it to everyone who was listening to it, that should've been enough to deter Ran from Sonoko. But unsurprisingly as Ranran predicted, she stuck to her like glue.

When he texts Moriko on the LINE app about why she didn't bring up the funeral possession part, let alone, show her the video, she replied, "Not like I didn't try. Before you broke into her place, I tried to jog her memory at drama club and played that video, lied to her and said whether she recognize that rude girl in the video, she distanced herself from me, said she felt sick before leaving me on my own."

"So in your opinion, did she know it was her or not?"

"I ain't sure, but she didn't look good, that is for damn sure."

Whether Sonoko recalled this or not, it was evident she wants nothing to do with it. Even so, it gave Shinichi one obvious impression: Sonoko is refusing to take responsibility for her own actions.

And that ain't right to him. Even if she doesn't remember any of this, it does not justify that she can wrong Ranran in the past and gotten away with it.

During the time after watching the video, no matter how hard he thought about it he couldn't seem to understand why Sonoko of all people would wrong Ranran through despicable means. If he hadn't witnessed the video himself, he'd never have believed it.

At some point, he didn't want to believe it so much so, he secretly had Agasa run a deep fake verification software on his computer to check whether it was faked.

But sadly it wasn't. It was as real as it gets.

Shinichi decided from that moment on...he will get those two to apologize. This was unfair to Ranran in many ways one could count. Though he ain't sure yet how he was going to build a proper case that will send those two in the direction he wants them to believe in thanks to Mamiko's influence, he has 2 weeks to come up with something, otherwise, it would be all for nought.

At the same time, however, he must get Ran to leave. Things are getting far too dangerous for his liking, and this idiot doesn't seem to understand. In the meantime, about the stakeout tonight, he had Michio headed to inspect the venue earlier and he mentioned there was no bicycle. He even secretly installed 'that thing' Shinichi told him to plant on Amaya's bike, if all goes well, the stakeout tonight would go smoothly. 

Although he is a little upset that he won't be supervising thanks to the fake feud plan tonight, he was pleased that by the time Mamiko returned, she will not find her puppets at her disposal to manipulate him anymore. Ranran can always let him do another stakeout another time, she promised him on a contract that in the next case, he will be in charge, depending on the circumstances as 'compensation' for ruining his first stakeout just so Mamiko can't narrate it her own twisted way.

While all of this is going on in his head, Ran stared at Shinichi who ain't staring back at her in silence. As much as his act was rather convinced that he felt wounded by Ranran's criticism towards him, for some reason Ran could feel that the hate was directed more towards herself than the she-demon.

Meanwhile, Junko was secretly pleased. Now that she got the founder's approval, Junko is going to resort to any dirty tricks if she has to put an end to Adeline for good!

"Don't be overconfident, she has a gun, you know?" Ranran reminded her.

And Junko knew Ranran wasn't kidding. A gun is something not even the most talented martial artist in the world could win against. But she gets what she means, one should not look down towards this Adeline. Junko is honestly scared, this is the first time she is dealing with a romantic rival who is dangerous, no, equally as dangerous as Ranran. At least Junko could thank lucky stars that Ranran has no interest in Michio, but she can't breathe in relief knowing that this girl is after Michio.

Normally, if it were the usual way, Junko deals with problematic self-entitled girls by ratting them out to their parents. But this is something that she knew was no longer an option since Adeline's dad is The Snake, a criminal that has been gripping Japan down to its knees, the core corruption of evil. How would a 10-year-old girl like her be able to go against the daughter of a devil?

Maybe I should call his mom.

But doing this would make Michio distance himself from her further, similar to Ran with Shinichi. Junko needs to thread this carefully, otherwise, Michio will slip out of her grip for good. The last thing she wants is to end up like Ran.

Damn it...this is why I didn't want Michio to join the association in the first place!

Ever since they join here, the life of normalcy as an ordinary elementary school child has faded away as if it was a distant memory. Suddenly, her paranoia had grown after joining this club, where she began to develop a distrust of every single adult or child she comes across. Initially, it didn't influence her daily life, but then as the days dragged on, it has become much too difficult to not ignore the signs of deception everywhere she goes.

When she went out to do grocery shopping for her mother one time to purchase meat, she found out that the butcher's wife had cheated on her money by tempering with the weighing scale for the past 10 years because of a personal vendetta against her mother. She didn't know that it was possible thanks to Tantei Association. Now that act itself wouldn't have meant anything to her, but she was a family friend of the family, so that did break her heart when she learn that the woman secretly hates her mother, though she never knew why.

Another time was when her family were invited to this wedding, and they were given a table. Now that itself was nothing, the food and drinks were lovely and all of that, but thanks to having eavesdropped on Ranran's conversation with Shinichi the other day that politically speaking, usually the Bride and groom place the guests they detest the most at the corner of the wall, which was ironically the case for Junko's family, Junko's mood soured since. It didn't help that during the wedding, she also overheard that they hate her mother and herself a lot. Again, she has no idea why.

But the last straw was when she found out that the idiot neighbour's kid had been stealing chocolates from her family all these years!

Now it wasn't a big deal, but for Fuyuko Junko, the chocolates were purchased overseas by her father who is a ship captain. She had never once seen his face growing up beside his photos, but those chocolates he bought around the world tasted different than the ones here, and to her, it was a way of connecting to her father's travels. The neighbour's kid was someone she barely likes, but the neighbour and her mom were friends, so at times she had to babysit the 5-year-old boy, he always seems to go to the kitchen, do something to the fridge and leave in haste while Junko had to deal with the mountain load of homework.

And she long suspected he has been stealing their chocolates, just that she never knew how. Everytime she checked the chocolate bar, there was no evidence of it being eaten. But she could tell he did it in some way, cause there were marks of chocolate around his face, let alone, the chopping board was wet and so was the knife hung on the wall. And she is certain his damn mother is telling him to do so, the neighbourhood she lived in was a worn down neighbourhood that resembles a slum. But she had no proof.

Until Shinichi exposed Ranran's supposed trick in the association.

After the events of illegitimate Extra, their client and the client's half-brother's fiance gifted them imported chocolates, 4 bars in total as an apology gift, and with 7 of them members in total, there was no way Ranran who is a chocoholic would get the bigger share.

So he demonstrated by cutting the bottom right corner of the chocolate bar out and moving it away. He then cuts the top line and a half of the chocolate away in a diagonal split. From the remaining shape, he removes the left-hand column. With the shape remaining he cuts away the bottom row and then the right-hand column. One square of the chocolate is then removed and set aside. However, when the pieces are reassembled, in a different format this time, it resembles a full bar. He then places the chocolate side by side with an identical slab and they appear identical in size - as if he produced chocolate from nowhere.

That became the straw that broke the camel's back for Junko, for she later rushed home and confronted the coniving neighbour and son. She thought it was odd that every time the knife and a chopping board was drenched in water, he had chocolate marks around his cheek. Before joining the association, she and the neighbour had a cordial relationship. But after becoming a member, the enraged 4th grader demanded the self-entitled woman to pay up and she refused since she claimed her son is too young, and that she should forgive and forget. Towards the very end, their relationship deteriorated to a point that the police ended up arresting her for burglary. 

Anyway, when she thought about this, everything about Kudo Ranran spells bad news. Junko learns things she shouldn't and has grown very distrustful of the people around her, even her own mother for that matter. The few people she trusts are Michio, her maternal grandmother and his mom. Losing Michio to this Adeline would be proving that Ranran was right about this world, that good people are heading towards extinction.

And this is something she refuses to accept!

No matter what, she decided she will go all out on this manipulative Adeline to protect Michio and prove Ranran wrong! Even if this rival of hers had a bloody gun!