Throughout the hallways of Teitan Elementary school, the whispers among children did not cease to subside on a weekday, pointing to a little girl with long brown hair, heading her way to 1-A.

"Is that the delusional girl who kept clinging onto that poor Shinichi boy?" One of them pointed.

"Yes, it is, also the same person who kept ruining his life, by harassing the girl who took him and open Tantei Association together." The other replied.

"This sounds like a love triangle from hell."

"Funny enough, it ain't. The love this delusional girl has for him was one-sided. In fact, he denounced their relationship on the live stream. Said there is no way in hell would there be any future. And that Ranran's safety would only be his sole focus."

"Anyone knows why is it Shinichi decided to be called 'The Wolf'?"

"Ah, I heard there were stories that he looked up to his idol, The Fox."

"The child detective who vanished from the spotlight as soon as it was revealed?"

"Yes, that child. Also, a separate incident, but apparently the criminal's daughter, a girl our age, had targeted their HQ by attempting to infiltrate. This is why when he did the video announcement, he address himself as 'The Wolf', since he didn't want anyone to know Ranran is the founder. Oh yeah, the family even said that if anyone revealed their identities, expect the worst repercussions from them."

"Ah yes, that I heard of it. When I first heard it I felt livid, it was as if they intentionally want to silence our rights to say anything about them. But then after hearing about Ranran's kidnapping, I kinda see why they had to go that far."

"Eh...."The other kid scratches his head before inquiring, "Then what about the 6 other members? What will they be addressed as on the video from now onwards?"

"You mean under the association? Hmmph...I assumed that for Ranran, she would be called the Fox, but not the real deal. For the rest of them...I guess only time would tell."

"I heard that they had a gathering the other day at some restaurant celebrating that ruby case. Then that psycho called out Ranran as someone not to be jealous of but then went on talking gibberish about her beauty and wealth being one of the main reasons that made her successful. All because she couldn't stand Shinichi choosing to sit with Ranran instead of her."

"What is wrong with her? Who did she think she is? After all of the emotional manipulation Sonoko and Mamiko did to him and Ranran, did she expect him to sit next to the friend of the bully who did this to him?!"

"Right? She is an idiot. If that were the case, Sonoko who lacks beauty but is born wealthy wouldn't have any issues scoring at least 80 percent on her exam. Instead, she scored zero while Ranran scored 100! Shinichi is my classmate, he ain't the type to follow someone who relies on connections but lacks brain cells, unless the child is exceptionally intelligent. And I know Ranran, she has the results to prove it."

"Right? Mouri sounded like she was someone who cannot accept defeat. No wonder Shinichi left her to be with Ranran! Initially, when I heard he opened the association with Ranran, I assumed that maybe it was based on those rumours that she has the connections to pull this off, so he cut ties of his friendship for her. In a way, it felt like an asshole move. But after hearing the things Sonoko and Ran did to him behind his back even before Ranran entered the picture...who is he not to go after his dream? Cause I would!"

"Agree! I too would've left her to pursue my dreams to distance myself from such girl. Who is she to stop me!?"

"I heard that everything happened due to the feud between Rokuro and Shinichi, when she sided with the other, Shinichi left and never return after being treated coldly by her."

"Well, when the ship had sailed, she shouldn't bother swimming to get the boat back. Otherwise, she'll be struggling to survive while swimming in the sea."

"If I were him, I would transfer out of school rather than deal with that sore loser."

Mouri Ran's school shows stomped their way down the corridor, it could've echoed through the hallway, but was swallowed up by the excitement, disapproval and disgust over her deeds within the association. The crowds of children all parted ways as she walked down the hallway.

"I hate her...the damn girl!"

Everyday without fail, Mouri Ran has become the topic of fodder for everyone's mouth. But perhaps she got to pat herself on the shoulder that she had it slightly luckier compared to Mamiko and her half-brother, they had it worst with teachers giving harsh looks to them, as if they were pests to be avoided. Even the victims the siblings used to bully had gathered all the courage they could muster to bully them back in return, and the teacher turn a blind eye to their pain.

The teachers didn't treat Ran the way the siblings do, nothing much has changed. But the kids' treatment and gaze on her changed for the worst. And it became evident once more when upon setting foot into her class during recess, both her and Sonoko's desks had the same old words rewritten over and over.

Pervert supporter! Get out of the damn school!

Stop harassing Kudo Shinichi! You psycho! What more do you want after abandoning him!? He is free to go after his dream!

If you accidentally let go of a balloon, it doesn't need to return back to the person. Because it doesn't owe a damn thing, Mouri Ran!

At least that girl next to him is doing a better job as a protector than you could ever will! So leave them alone to do their detective job so that the school remains safe, you a****le!

You b*****d! Your idiot friend did it to them once when you tampered with his phone, and I swore I was relieved when the pedo who haunted the community for a year was arrested thanks to them! But to hear you do it again makes my blood boil!

If I ever hear one more incident that you are inferring with their work while jeopardizing our safety again, I am going to go straight up to your classroom and kill you! You hear me!? I don't care even if I had to end up in prison by Tantei Association! A girl who puts her delusional selfish love above others' safety had no right to remain there! You selfish brat!

When the threats first started, Ran had shrugged them off, not bothering to take them seriously.

But then they got worse, the longer it went on. Even more so since Shinichi's announcement. Her parents did try to transfer her to another school, it was death threats after all, but she refused stubbornly. She tried to wipe off the writings with her hand, as some were written with an erasable pen, but it seems like it was no longer working anymore since it was written by a permanent marker.

Sonoko isn't around now, since she is back to going into hiding from those furious children, now more determined than ever to tear her apart.

"I'm so sorry for putting you in danger. I never should have gotten you involved in this."

The heiress sobbed into Ran's arms while she comforted her, "It's not your fault."

"It is," The other girl choked. "I shouldn't have broken into their house in the first place. Otherwise...all of this would not had happen. And now you are paying the price of being with me as well."

There were conversations that Sonoko should break ties with Ran regarding this situation, but Ran remains firm on being by her side. Sonoko had been with her throughout everything, especially when her parents split up and the kids refused to play with Ran anymore, thinking Ran is too mentally unstable to join them. But she has remained well, did she not?

Once more, she decided to clean up the surface of her desk by taking out her tissue packet from her bag, but to her surprise, she finds her red rondesu bag soaked in mud. Groaning at her luck once more, she grabbed the bag before heading to the girl's washroom to clean up.

While all of this is going on, Ranran was busy talking to her friends overseas in Edgewood Academy back in the U.K. While it is 10 am here in Japan, it is 1 a.m. there, a time when the kids there should've been sleeping. "Your school looks exactly like those classrooms we watch on Anime shows. I think I should consider having my parents fly me over to your school to film more videos for one of my channels." A handsome Caucasian boy said in an amazed tone, staring into his friend's background on the video.

The person who commented on this is 10-year-old Ellis Maxim Convington, who belonged to a family of Viscounts. He is currently in his bedroom, having a sleepover with the other students. He has had a certain influence in the past with Fox and Deer and had remained in contact with Ranran since. But online he is known as EMC, a famous child Youtuber, who has painstakingly self-made his career upon gaining 5.2 million subscribers under his belt through the combination of several other Youtube channels, also a student under Edgewood Academy.

Being the first British kid to make V-tuber popular, he never once showed his face beside his real-life voice. However, his accent was one of those recognizable kinds, so much so, that when they interacted on the phone one time through video call, Ranran's classmates could've sworn that he was EMC while Ranran denied this. They had no idea how close they were.

"Well, it ain't going to be as good as the one back home," Ranran scoffed in English since she did not want anyone to know about the depths of their conversation. "The classroom is bigger, had better facilities, and I had more control over the classrooms unlike here, where I barely had anything."

"Still, I heard that you managed to open your detective club, right?" The girl next to Ellis suddenly appeared, giving Ellis the shock of his life.

"Damn it, Vera. I almost had a heart attack for you to appear out of nowhere like a cat!" Ellis cursed jokingly.

"Oh, grow up will you, Ellis?" She gave an amusing smile before grabbing a seat next to Ellis, staring at the tablet, "How are you settling your life there, Ranran?"

Veronica Whitehall is Ellis's friend since kindergarten, is also his co-producer and has her own separate Youtube channel, with an amass of 1.5 million subs, and is the first female child V-tuber to succeed. In a way, Veronica and Elis were the King and Queen of Edgewood Academy in the Youtube Community among their age group.

"Well, one disaster after another, even more so with 'her' pestering around. But we are getting there," Ranran reassured before inquiring worriedly, "How is Tiffany's bubble tea business doing? I heard there is a bit of a setback the last I contacted?"

The girl in question is 10-year-old Tiffany Sutton Walsh, a girl born into a Marquess family, her sister was formerly the client of Fox and Deer. "Tiffany is doing fine, it's just that the recent change in policy to allow kids who are intelligent but born with a disorder within our school make things challenging for her business. She managed to fix it. Don't worry about her, her business has grown far more popular than ever, and the parents are considering opening an official one when she gets older."

"Ah, that's good," Ranran sighed with relief, she was a little worried after hearing that 'setback' when one of those kids began to cause a misunderstanding between the shop and the customers. Tiffany is after all a girl who is very adaptable if one throws her into any situation, especially difficult ones.

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention this to you," Veronica excitedly said to her, "You know Walter and his sister's channel?"

"You mean the Kensington siblings? What about them? Did something happen?" Ranran blinked.

The Kensington siblings, consisting of Elder brother Walter and adopted sister Isabelle, were too formerly one of Fox and Deer's clients. Not long ago, they contacted Ranran that they are going to release a fashion collaboration. "Good news, they got the green light from their parents to release the collection to the overseas market."

"Really!?" Ranran gasped before forming a grin, "Finally! Ever since I saw the patented drawings she and he made, I been dying to wear it as my casual style!"

"Right?" Veronica and Elis beamed together, before Veronica said, "I keep telling them it's ok, I think Walter wasn't that confident when he showed us the drawing at first. Let alone, not used to doing a collaboration with anyone thanks to his past."

"It can't be helped," Ellis sighs, "Walter had a rough time coming up with a good idea since he was brought into a wealthy family and had no idea what affordable and fashionable clothes for a middle-income kid look like, let alone, makes themselves stand out from their competitors. It's a good thing he finally put his trust in Isabelle. Also, Isabelle finally found her own confidence. If it wasn't for that damn Colleen who did so much harm to him back then, this wouldn't had happen to Walter!" Both of them stuck their tongue out in disgust.

"Speaking of Isabelle," Ranran remembered, "How is her sworn brother doing?"

"Dominic? He is adjusting well in the academy," Veronica thinks, "I think you and 'him' did Dominic good when you told him to voice out a little more, that he can work out something even if he had nothing. Regardless even if he was disliked. He talks a lot more nowadays, now the head of the debate club and earns respect from other children in the academy. I think he is also opening up a bit more to others."

"Good," Ranran nodded, "I always hated the idiot previous leader, always talking nonsense without doing research. Dominik is a good fit for the club."

Although it is 1 am in the U.K., while they are supposed to be sleeping since there is an upcoming school trip the following day, for Ranran, she was worth keeping up late at night to talk about for the Edgewood Academy students.

While they were talking over the phone, though, the kids of Edgewood Academy noticed something odd in the background. It was disturbing, the way this long brown-haired girl who re-entered the classroom with her rondesu bag gave their friend a contempt glare behind Ranran's back. "Ranran, is that the girl you were telling me about?" Veronica pointed behind Ranran on the screen.

Turning back while Ran was simply mumbling before hooking her bag to the desk, she turned back, "Yes, it's her."

"So that is the one, the one who kept bullying you." Ellis didn't sound happy upon his eyes settling on the hot-tempered girl, "She was glaring at you from the back. Did something else happen?"

"Er...yeah, she messed with me not long ago, the whole school found out, so they are giving her a hard time." Ranran detailed the situation in a vague stance.

"Mess with you?" Veronica repeated before confronting, "How bad is it?"

Before she could reply, Ran stormed over to the table from the back before slamming her hand in front of Ranran, stopping all of the kids in their classroom from their activities while the Edgewood kids jumped a little in surprise when she yelled in Japanese, a language that they too were familiar with. "Ranran! Since you started all of this, you should stop them!"

"What? Stop who? Also, what did I even start?" Ranran became irritated by Ran's no sense of personal boundaries, before showing her phone, "Can't you see I am busy talking with my friends?"

"You can talk to them another time, right?!" Ran continued to bang the table in intimidation with her raw strength, but Ranran feared nothing.

"Ranran, is everything alright?" Veronica and Ellis grew worried and helpless, watching the things that are unfolding on the phone.

"You know what I mean! Sonoko and me getting bullied, tell your supporters to go away! You have done it before when Sonoko broke into your house, you can do it again!"

The beautiful noble girl and her male friend at the other end of the video feeds grew alarmed over Ran's confronting behaviour towards their friend, but Ranran remain chill. "First of all, why should I?"

"You are the reason why all of this hell is happening to me and Sonoko! Before, Shinichi used to listen to us. Ever since you arrived....our life has been nothing but a living hell!" Ran growled, before pointing to her, "And the worst part out of all of this is that you are happily chatting with your friends while the rest of us are suffering. How insensitive are you!? Are you doing this on purpose to agitate me!?"

"Excuse me? You keep blaming me for all the things that had happened to you, but did it not occur to you that it was all of the bad decisions that led the both of you to where you are now? Supporters? I barely had any ever since I moved to Japan since I am born to a foreigner of a mother! Anyway, listen to you? Are you expecting me to be like Shinichi?! To end up as one of your puppets?" Ranran pointed out before remaining unfazed, bringing up the very thing that she knows Ran can't argue, "The video of Sonoko-"

"So what if she was in the video? Can't a person joke once in a while!?"

"A joke?" Ranran mocked, "So now you are thinking all of the bullying you and Sonoko had caused to Shinichi and I was nothing but a mere joke among friends? Are you attempting to gloss it over?"

Kids who were seeing all of this broke into murmurs and whispers, giving a disapproving glare at Ran, who is about to clamp up. "Mouri Ran, are you still harassing Ranran despite everything that had to happen!?"

Shinichi who had just returned back to his classroom shortly after his errand went furious before marching up to the girls, having heard everything since Ran spoke loudly to his mentor, "You think you can simply just harass Ranran for every single thing that doesn't go your way! Let alone, justify bullying!" Shinichi snapped before accusingly pointing his finger at her, "Who are you to come up to her and ruin whatever she is doing now?"

"This isn't what it looks like," Ran argued before adding, "Ranran is purposefully laughing at my misery by talking to her friends overseas." She then pointed at the phone, where Veronica and Ellis's eyes grew wide in shock.

Is this...is this what Ranran had to deal with on a daily basis? With his lunatic unreasonable girl!?

Also, what laughing at her misery nonsense!? Ellis decided to give Ranran an impromptu call without warning since he learn that Ranran's recess hours are around 1 am here. She was surprised when she picked up the phone.

Suddenly, Veronica and Ellis are utterly disturbed by the long brown-haired girl's personality.

"Oh is that so?" Shinichi slipped into the seat next to Ranran while everyone watched, "Then, continue right in front of me."

"Eh?" Everyone was stunned.

"What else do you want to say besides falsely accusing her of rubbing you in the wrong way? I want to know. Since I am the apprentice, I had the right to know whatever complaints she receive had to go through me."

Ran's eyes widened. "You can't be serious!"

"Oh? So did it look like a joke to you? Come on, spill. What is truly going on? Ranran, don't speak. I want to hear straight from the horses' mouth."

"I want Ranran to stop those idiots from ruining Sonoko and my desk!" Ran spoke as if she was the victim.

"Those idiots?" Then everything made sense to Shinichi, while his blue eyes lay on the harsh words and death threats written directed to Ran and Sonoko's desk for everyone to see, "Oh, you mean the ones who are still doing that to the both of you? Because they heard Suzuki attempting to manipulate me into giving up my dream, right? And framing Ranran for things she didn't do? I have a solution, just don't interact with Suzuki anymore. Then the problem will go away."

Shinichi's shrug just irked Ran's temper in the worst way possible, "It ain't that simple! Also, I have been friends with her for so long, why should I give it up?"

"Then if you know that is the case, why are you threatening Ranran to fix something unreasonable as this one? The kids who keep doing this to Suzuki and your desk are not Ranran's friends, let alone, orchestrated by her. They are doing it out of their personal views over what Sonoko has maliciously done to her and me. Who are you to order us, the victims, to fix the consequences of her own actions, knowing that she inflicted on us both!? Also, who are you to tell Ranran not to chat with her friends there? Do you know it is 1 am there? She rarely gets to talk to them, so how could she simply scheme all of this to rub you the wrong way?!"

The atmosphere felt more and more uncomfortable as the minutes ticked by. Ran is obviously flinching from the blow of words from Shinichi. "Plus, about your comments on wanting Ranran dead, maybe you should be the one who should die instead of her, in her place!"

Genuine confusion came over Ran despite her anger and hurt, while everyone gasp. "Wh- What!? How could you say such cruel things to me!? Were we not friends!?" she shouted. Does he really think so little of her?

"Friends? Didn't you make it clear as soon as you sided with Rokuro and cast me aside? And let's not forget who almost got Ranran killed, because of sabotaging my phone to silent mode!"Shinichi shouted back, making her flinch more than ever, "And your comments about Ranran, praying for her death...I think the real reason you want her dead is just so to manipulate me back to being you and Sonoko's doll again! And I won't have it anymore, I won't be suffocated by the both of you! Not now or ever!"

Ouch, that stung Ran in the worst way possible, while tears formed in her eyes. "Shinichi..." Ranran muttered in shock.

"Get out, please stop making me Ranran feel uncomfortable anymore. Unless you want to get expelled!"

Shinichi's booming voice was enough to make Ran break down into tears, before fleeing the classroom. After Ran left, Shinichi softened his gaze worriedly over Ranran, while patting her back, "Are you ok?"

"Yeah, I am fine," Ranran gave a smile, but it was evidently painful, and it broke the hearts of anyone witnessing this, especially the kids who spectated all of the drama in and outside the classroom, fueling more rumours that Ranran and Shinichi's partnership is solid and respectable, while Ran retains her spot as a sore loser.

Staring at the screen of her smartphone on her table, the two Caucasian children didn't know how to respond to it. That's when Ranran introduces Shinichi to them in English, "Ah ha ha, I am sorry for the unexpected interruption. But here is the apprentice I was telling you about, his name is Shinichi. Shinichi, say hi to them, this is the friends I was telling you about in the association the other day."

Almost forgetting about the two friends, he felt a little embarrassed while bashfully introducing himself in English, since he is familiar with this language since he was 3. "Hello. I am sorry you had to see that...embarrassing scene."

"Ah no, it's fine." Ellis tried to make the Japanese boy feel comfortable talking to them, but it was difficult after what he and Veronica witnessed. "You did good, defending her honour." Veronica praised the boy.

"Ah no, I would do it for anyone who talks crap of others." Once more, he was a little nervous, still frazzled by the drama Ran had caused earlier.

That won't do, I think I better end the call. Ranran thought to herself before announcing to her friends over the phone, "I think it's getting late over there, right? It's better if I end the call."

"Ah yes, I agree," Veronica and Ellis responded with a nod, "Then, let's talk another time," Veronica suggested.

"Will do," She and Shinichi nod, greeting their goodbye. Before Ranran could end the call, Veronica called out, "Ranran."

"Yeah?"

"Something tells me...this isn't the first time it happen, right?" That made Ranran freeze, and it soon became apparent to the Edgewood kids, "If that girl is bullying you, let us know, ok?"

"Alright, and don't worry about it." Ranran reassured them, "I can take care of myself. I ain't that helpless." With one last smile exchange through the phone with Shinichi's awkward smile, the call was disconnected.

Feeling a little perplexed at Ranran's interaction, he folded his arm at her, "I can see you do not want to worry them, but it's not all good bottling yourself."

"No Shinichi, you don't understand." Ranran turned to him, "Aside from being my former clients, they are not my friends for a reason. If they ever hear all of the things Ran had said to me, you can be certain that Ran and Sonoko won't be sitting here in this classroom safely, that is for damn sure."

"When you say that, you meant....?" Shinichi prompted her to continue.

"You don't want to know, Kudo, you truly do not want to know."

And Ranran's warning gaze was enough to stop him from prying any further.

Meanwhile, Ellis and Veronica sat in silence, wondering if Ranran was okay before the door behind them opened. "Who was that you were talking to earlier? Was it Ranran?"

A group of other Edgewood children soon poured into the bedroom, the one who question them was name Walter. "It is," Ellis sighed before turning to the younger boy, "And I think she is being heavily bullied by that Ran girl, alongside Sonoko."

"Say what now!?"The boy behind Walter, called Dominic, grew livid, "If that is the case, I think we should drop by unannounced to tell them off. Should we not?!"

"We can't simply do that, there are rules against this. We can't just simply storm into the school and confront her," Isabelle, the girl standing next to Walter, frowned, "But you are right, I think we should drop by unannounced one day. That Mouri Ran girl especially, she isn't good news."

"Eh?" Walter who is listening to all of this tilted his head, "Ran and Sonoko...? Why do their names sound familiar?"

"Did you forget? How they rudely stormed into our saviour's death anniversary memoir at that hotel last year? Especially that Suzuki girl, she pushed Ranran down on the floor and made 'his' day all about her cancelled birthday," Tiffany, a beautiful ponytail girl, folded her arms in disgust, "They still hadn't learned their lesson. We should've bankrupted that Suzuki girl's family company last year had I known things come to this."

"The Suzukis are also making money for your family," Dominic reminded her, "It's not the adult's fault, it's the idiot dimwit daughter of theirs that is the problem."

"Why didn't they abort her while pregnant with that Sonoko girl?" Ellis leaned behind his chair, "This girl is nothing but problematic."

"I think we should leave it be," Heads turned to the boy name Walter, "Ranran can handle her own battles. Did you all forget how she handle all of our issues as 'The Fox' back then?"

"I do, by no means, she is a survivor in her own way," A girl named Samantha, who had royal-like manners recalled, "But I too remembered that she was able to do it with the backing of 'him'."

"If she wasn't forced against her will to move to Japan, I swear that her family lineage would've protected her from girls like Ran and Sonoko," Tiffany spat bitterly, "If it were me, I would've done worst to them."

"Why was Ranran removed from school a lot earlier than the supposed date?" Walter couldn't help but ask no one in particular, "By right she should've remained in Edgewood till April when she was 5, but her mother hurriedly moved her away in January."

"Her mother found out about it, her activities as 'The Fox'," Nicholas Sinnett, Samantha's fiance, approached next to her, presenting himself with a royal-like aura, "Somehow her job with her husband accidentally revealed Ranran's double life, so she reprimanded Ranran before her revenge journey over 'him' could go any further."

"What job do her parents work I wonder?" Ellis wondered, "To be able to uncover all of this?"

"Definitely some sort of occupation related to royalty, otherwise...how did they find out about it? Ranran is a cautious child by nature, and so is 'he'. There is no way she slipped to a point that even the parents know unless they work for royalty. She was trained very well by 'him'." Tiffany glowered at no one. "I wonder if 'his' ex did it?"

"That murderer? She is in juvenile now after being disgraced thanks to Ranran exposing her. Although she is intelligent, she is no match for Ranran." Isabelle scoffed before reminding them, "Anyway, about that Mouri girl, I heard she had a black belt in martial arts. Although Ranran has picked up some skills to counter back, there is no telling what that Ran girl might do next. And based on my experience back in the orphanage, kids like Ran will not stop till she dies. You saw what happened with 'his' ex, remember? When that vile princess and the other kids had 'his' mother kidnapped Ranran to lure 'him' to his house? That was how 'he' died. And I am worried this Ran girl will do the same to Ranran."

There was a long yet tense silence within the room. "You are overly worrying too much," Elis dismisses her, "I mean Ran isn't like that princess, she doesn't have the intelligence, let alone, connections."

"True, but don't forget any of Ranran's enemies, especially the intelligent ones might use Ran's hate towards her as a dangerous weapon. We do not want another similar episode, just like how 'he' died, right?" Isebelle's logic shuts the startled Ellis up.

Processing all of this information, Tiffany decided in all seriousness, "Guys, what say we send other kids who are available to look into this situation? If any of us find anything unsettling, we will do something about it?"

The rest of the children nodded to her suggestion.

....

Mamiko felt endless amounts of anger after another setback, drenched in muddied water while heading her way towards school, as other kids were shocked by her appearance before distancing themselves further.

Earlier before she could set foot out of her house, Ishibashi Mamiko was attacked by a group of kids from school before she even reached there. It seems that someone planted her missing bug on her brother's bike, filmed the entire thing, hacked into her account to obtain the video, then upload it on the Teitan Elementary school site for the whole world to see, exposing her new house address intentionally, just to be targeted.

Although they did hire a private investigator to look over who planted the bug, it can only be led back to Mamiko, since the bug's ownership was under her name. It led to a standstill, but she can only assume one of the Tantei Association members discovered it, then framed it back on her, and it must be Kudo Ranran.

They waited till she came out, only to dump a large bucket of water filled with mud above her head before fleeing.

Apparently, the children didn't like it when they learn a psycho like Mamiko tried to do perverse things to their idol Shinichi, so they took the law with their own hands.

Learning that a child their age can never go to jail despite having such cruel malicious intentions, they took it up a notch towards their hate campaign directed at Ishibashi Mamiko and her brother Amaya by making their lives a living hell.

When their mother was on their way to work, they couldn't because someone punctured the tires of her car.

When Amaya tried to head to school with his bicycle, the tires were stolen.

And each time Mamiko came out of her house in her clean best clothes, someone is there to dirty her clothes with mud, sewage water, and even throw a bucket of animal blood from the school lab. Don't ask how the children of Teitan Elementary were able to obtain it, they would do just about anything to fight against their crusade against injustice. When word got out she had OCD, they didn't hesitate to get things dirty.

And this honestly ticked Mamiko off in many ways. Her intention to spitefully tarnish Ranran's image had backfired in the worst way possible, and now, even her crush Shinichi is giving her the cold shoulder and is siding with Ranran whenever she sees them.

Everytime she sees Ranran and Shinichi together, it sent her into a violent rage. She couldn't care less that they were not holding hands whatsoever, but anyone in close proximity towards Kudo Shinichi is off-limits for her. Even if it were Kudo Ranran of all the children in the world!

The idea that Shinichi is growing closer to Ranran disgusted her. How dare this manipulative girl had Shinichi under her fingers? It simply wouldn't do, now would it?

Mamiko had always hated Kudo Ranran, since that day when she met her for the first time during the Edgewood Academy interview.

To enter Edgewood Academy, a child must be able to answer proficiently in front of the staff. And Mamiko did well, she truly did when she was 3. And left quite a good impression too.

But then Ranran came and ruin everything!

Kudo Ranran, when she acted 'autistic', the then 3-year-old Mamiko's heart soared, thinking she finally made it to Edgewood Academy now that this child ditched her only shot at becoming one of the top intelligent kids thanks to the fact that God made her born stupid. There was only one slot left at that time, and they were the last 2 children within their grade to be interviewed that day.

Oh, how wrong Mamiko was...if only she knew that girl was blatantly lying!

Because of her prestige being born of noble blood thanks to her mother, and the fact that Ranran's act was convincingly a huge shock that even fooled the prestigious members of the academy that she was secretly a mad genius, Mamiko was cast aside while Ranran secured a spot in the prestigious academy, bringing Mamiko's dreams of entering the world of high society to ruin.

"I wish I could throw that Mamiko girl in prison for good. Just like the rest of the criminals we did back in the association. If it wasn't for her damn existence! What a disgusting girl," Shinichi's voice could be heard spatting from his lips. Each word dripped with repulsion while he rambled with Ranran listening to him by his side, walking in the school hallways while Mamiko watched.

It was her....the she-demon who stole everything from me! Even Shinichi...that boy belonged to me!

Before Ranran arrived in Japan, she had set her sights on Shinichi for a long time. Doing stealthy research leading up to the parkour event, he was going to be her golden ticket to do a clean state on her family's background, since her mom is a dominitrix. The plan was to gain his trust by befriending his inner circle through the idiot heiress, then bond their common hate for Ranran as their enemy to bring them closer, and then make him fall for her. When she saw him for the first time, she couldn't help but think he is her type. Cool, arrogant and a little bashful. Plus, he is also handsome. He is a little obnoxious, but she can dupe him to ditch that.

Above all, rich. And she has to have him, whether he likes it or not. Whatever she wants, she gets. Marrying him would wipe away the family history in a clean state. Everyone would finally respect her rather than being known as "The prostitute's daughter".

Don't get her wrong, she is grateful for the money her mother manages to earn, it led her to live a lavish life. However, her mother's profession works as a dominitrix works like a double edge sword. On one hand, she couldn't be sent to another privileged school here due to the possibility of her mom's job being discovered.

When she applied for a spot at Edgewood Academy, it was based overseas and no one knows anyone. And though her mom is wealthy, there is only so much one could do to stretch their earnings within their pocket. Edgewood was the only overseas school her mom could afford, and once the chance is gone, that is about it.

Here in Japan, everyone knows everyone. So applying for a privileged school here is like living on borrowed time for Mamiko, cause she knows it will be a matter of time before the other kids learn about her mother's filthy profession. Of course, her mother could've used the money she earned to open a small business after retiring from this profession! if it wasn't for one small problem: She was involved in the scandal at Teitan High School.

That's right, if only that scandal back in Teitan High school didn't drag their family name down the mud, she and her brother wouldn't be suffering.

This is why it irked her even further when Ranran arrived to not only break her leg and frame Shinichi during the parkour, she even wiped out any opportunity for her to bond with Shinichi over their hate for the she-demon. As time goes by, Ranran then saved Moriko away from Mamiko, who always used Moriko as a punching bag whenever things were not going her way. The cost of her spot to become president of the student council was probably the last straw Mamiko is willing to tolerate from the devious Edgewood student.

That's it, she must go! She needs to die in order for me to be happy!

Whipping a knife, Mamiko darted towards Ranran before anyone could react, much to a horrified Shinichi. "Ranran, look out!"

Shielding Ranran with his body around her, he was expecting to receive the painful stab of the knife, only to his surprise...he finds the quick-thinking quarterback who happens to be walking by subduing the furious Mamiko to the floor, the knife dropped on the floor while the other kids screamed in horror. "How dare you tried to commit murder Ranran in a school of all places!? Are you crazy!?" Takuma blasted at the defeated girl, who attempted to fight back against him, but she was failing miserably given his weight.

With the apprentice's blue eyes flashing in anger, he checked to make sure the surprised Ranran was perfectly fine before approaching to confront the subdued girl, "I want you to listen to me very carefully, Ishibashi Mamiko." All the kids were watching this unfold before them, "Even if Ranran dies, I will never fall for someone as despicable as you! You don't even have the right to lay a finger on Ranran. Do you understand me?"

Mamiko's eyes flickered, attempting to argue she was doing all of this for his own good, refusing to admit that she was in the wrong. But the compressed pain on her neck to the floor thanks to Takuma forced her to nod.

"So, I guess this is your response, huh?" Shinichi took a step closer to Mamiko, "Figures, you lost the puppets that could've made you the main star, let alone, failed to frame Ranran as the antagonist that could've let us to bond our hatred towards her. Above all, failed to make me fall for you, which let me be honest with you, I have high standards when it comes to my future spouse, and you barely even meet the minimum requirements. Hell, you could barely even keep up with Ranran's standards in terms of character, so why would I want to marry someone as pathetic as you? I mean...if I ever did fall for you, then I guess my taste in girls must have been as terrible as Ranran said to be."

The more he compares her to Ranran, the more resentful Mamiko feels brewing within her heart. Just like what Shinichi wanted.

"Damn, that burns," Takuma commented, even Ranran agreed and so did everyone else watching this.

"How does it feel like? Now that the predator becomes the prey?" Shinichi had looked her dead in the eye.

No way! Shinichi did not!

It was then Mamiko knew...the person who planted the bike and exposed her new home was her own crush. She suddenly screamed, nauseated and terrified by this side of her crush she had never seen before. "You bastard!"

"Why? Did you think I would simply forgive and forget like an idiot saint?" Lowering his head in contempt over the pathetic girl, he states, "I don't like to play dirty, but it's good once in a while that someone had a taste of their own medicine."

Without warning, much to everyone's surprise, Mamiko laughs. Oh, how funny the situation is now...the tables had turned. Now everyone sees the founder of the journalism club as a vile disgusting being, just like her mother when everyone turned their backs against her to protect 'that woman'. It's history repeating itself, now that 'that woman's' daughter is winning in life.

"What a joke...I thought Ranran was ignorant and stupid to be manipulated, who knew...she is far worst than her mother!" She laughs bitterly to herself, "I am the victim all over again."

Ranran who is hearing all of this didn't like her tone, and confronts the unrepentant girl, "Victim? Who are you to say that when you tried to manipulate Shinichi against me?! Also, who are you to insult my mother!"

"You are right, Kudo Ranran. I admit to doing that. But so what? It was better than you bewitching him with that face you are blessed with!" A sinister expression appeared on her cutesy face.

Shinichi took those words as if they were physical attacks, while Ranran grew a little horrified over how psychotic the girl before her was, "You are sick, you know that!" Shinichi blasted in anger, protectively shielding Ranran away from Mamiko.

She wasn't listening anymore. "Since you will not go to me, you are all going to have to live with that pestering idiot who kept making all of you unhappy, that Mouri girl, for life. That will be my last parting gift for you."

That provoked Shinichi's anger, but he knew he can't let her have the final say, "If that is your way of cursing me to live a hellish life, then let me return the favour. From now onwards....no," He corrected himself, "Right from the beginning leading up to the present, I, Kudo Shinichi, a member of the Tantei Association, will throw you in prison to rot."

"E-Eh!?" Everyone began to speak among themselves, staring at the disgraced Mamiko.

"I wanted to throw Ranran in prison, after what she did to me last year. But it seems like the motive behind it....lead me to the real devil who is pulling the strings behind-the-scenes."

With all of the courage he could muster, he brazenly look down at her, "All the things you did, I will make sure you will never see the light of day. When I saw the photos of me in the bedroom of your old house, I decided this is something fitting for a cat murderer. Just you wait, Ishibashi Mamiko, your brother, including your mother and everyone you have bribed, all of the things you did to frame Ranran, let alone, make my life a living hell, I will pay you all back a million folds! Cause a delusional child like you do not deserve to be walking freely among school grounds! Let alone, among society!"

"A cat what!? Wait, did Shinichi say Mamiko's bedroom...was filled with his photos? As in there were taken secretly without his consent!?"

"Cat murderer!? Wait, wasn't there a series of dead cat corpses around the neighbourhood even till now? So that was her!? The one behind the killings!"

"Oh my goodness! What a psychopath! We have a budding serial killer in our school!"

"Bruh, bribe!? So does this mean all of the bullyings...the reason she was able to get away, was thanks to her mother?!"

Shinichi's unexpected bombshell sparked numerous conversations among the kids, and the increased atmosphere of hate, disgust and fear grew while Mamiko cowered a little.

"Ranran, let's go back to the office. Tak-san, you too. No need to waste our time on a future murderer," Shinichi gave Mamiko one last glare before turning and following Ranran to the association.

Before everyone left her in the hallway, Takuma spat onto Mamiko's face with his spit before letting her go, like trash that remained on the cold hard ground. As she remain there, she silently cried, while swearing her last breath. "That damn girl, who knew she would be so quick-witted, just you wait...one day...I will make her pay!"

Thus, that was the ending between Tantei Association, as well as Mamiko's reputation. Though it may sound impossible, Mamiko swears she will ruin the very association she builds. She didn't care anymore now that Shinichi despise her being, if she isn't happy, no one deserves to be happy!