6-year-old Suzuki Sonoko should've known better when she decided to go against her classmate Kudo Ranran.

In a way, when she found out that Ranran once enrolled on a school filled with nobles and royalties in the U.K. through her father, she looked down on her from the get-go. She was used to hearing stories from her inner circle of rich friends, that a lot of kids who headed to such schools normally waste their time flaunting their wealth and all of that.

Perhaps Sonoko was surrounded by such children, that it influence her to be very different compared to Kudo Ranran. Initially, Sonoko assumed it was easier to tackle her since they are both born into wealthy families. As soon as her parents were finally declared innocent of all of the things Shinichi had said, she was expecting them to go after Ranran and ruin the Kudo family once and for all.

Big mistake, Ranran was one of those rare 1 % talents that would make Sonoko question whether any of this was worth it.

Unbeknownst to Sonoko, in days leading up to the disciplinary board, the Suzuki family attempted to try and sort this out silently behind the scenes. When they received the video, they were furious at Sonoko for coming up with a such degrading scheme.

To settle this before things would grow out of proportion, they sent an invite to the Kudo's two children over to their place and tried to arrange an apology between Sonoko and the two. Money is not something they could pay off since the Kudo family are well off, so an apology should sort things out.

But before that could happen, Sonoko who felt very humiliated grew mad at her parents for stamping on her pride and stormed out of the house on her own.

Making matters worst was when the doorbell rang, Ranran arrived without Shinichi tonight, let alone, the Kudo's matriarch and patriarch in sight, explaining to them that Shinichi was so overwhelmed with what Sonoko had done to him, especially with the recent events of the Rajah Ruby case, he had fallen severely ill shortly after exposing the fake German officer the same day this afternoon, resulting in his parents flying back home by the time the grandparents rushed him to the hospital.

Suddenly, things are not looking good for the Suzuki family, not one bit.

What happened was Shinichi took a shower before taking a nap with wet hair since he was very exhausted from all of the developments ruby case events, especially the update he recently discovered about Mamiko was so cruel, he ended up catching a cold when he passed out without drying his hair. The flu was so severe that by the time he woke up tonight, he ended up contacting Ranran who lived next door, or behind his house whatsoever for medical help, leading him to end up hospitalized.

When the grandparents got word of it at the hospital, they were so furious by the revelations that they gave Ranran the approval.

She then began the talks minus Sonoko and Shinichi, by bringing up the suspicious employee working in one of the companies owned by the Suzuki family having owned disturbing vile videos involving children. Before the Suzukis could ask what this had anything to do with Sonoko and Shinichi, she then airs out everything to them.

About their daughter's friendship with the daughter of a dominitrix, how Mamiko and Sonoko were in on this plan in ruining Shinichi's life, the employee having hung out in the exact bar where Mamiko's mom works, there are even videos of the employee and Mamiko's mom together in a secret social media account the employee had opened and shared, but the Suzukis has no idea about.

After finishing her explanation, Ranran said what she demands in compensation, and this is under Shinichi's wishes: To have their corporation be heavily investigated by police officials.

Obviously, the family grew outraged and flat-out refused, since they explained they could easily fire the employee to be spared a disgraced reputation. Bringing in the police would do further damage to them, despite the fact that they were truly innocent in all of this. Let alone, they refuse to give in to the threats of Kudo Ranran since that would also mean hurting their second daughter. Sonoko already had to endure much-suffering thanks to the funeral 2 years ago, plus the deduction from her inheritance as compensation for breaking and entering into the Kudo residence was embarrassing them as if they were bad parents, so it's no wonder they had to put their foot down.

But then, Ranran offered something they could not refuse.

A compensation, one that will finance their company for the better should the press devalue their corporate financial value thanks to this blooming scandal: The Rajah Ruby.

You see, Tantei Association's case with the Rajah Ruby, especially the involvement with The Snake, had generated a media circus and public interest, and Ranran knew anyone who purchase it would mean good publicity to the company. Not to mention, she knew that Suzuki's fourth in line to the corporate company CEO position, Sonoko's paternal uncle, had huge interest when it came to collecting gems, especially when it came to organizing gem exhibitions.

It was unclear how Ranran obtained this ruby, there are laws that make things difficult to fall into the hands of a child, but regardless or so, she has it, and the Suzukis are tempted.

Ranran promised them on a contract that she will sell them the ruby, provided the family gets investigated over Shinichi's allegation, to be stirred clear of suspicion away from Mamiko's mother. After all, Ranran reminded them that her family isn't framing them in the first place, but rather, to teach Sonoko a lesson over the harassment she put her and her apprentice through.

In a way, if Ranran were to compare: Between a daughter who already had a bad reputation, and a Ruby of historical value that will do the family good to the company's image, her father who is a businessman knew better which to pick. Even Suzuki's mother was on board with this, much to the protest of Sonoko's eldest sister, 13-year-old Suzuki Ayako. To her, it felt like they were selling their daughter for a ruby. In a way, she now thinks Ranran is a bully.

"A bully?" Ranran scoffed in the living room of the Suzuki family, "So what you sister did to Shinichi and me ain't considered the act of a bully, and yet, for me to point out every single fact she refused to flat out acknowledge, I am considered one?"

Ayako was taken aback by the 1st grader's cold tone and immediately got defensive of her sister. "As bad as it sounds, it was a childish mistake!"

"Childish mistake?" Ranran mocked humorlessly before scooping her smartphone to show a recently sent photo of Shinichi, who seems to be unconscious on his hospital bed while wired to an IV, "This is what your supposed 'childish mistake' that sister of yours did to HIM! I dare you to say to me straight in the face that it is another 'childish mistake', hmph? I dare you!"

Ayako and the rest of the family were frozen in shock, unable to look at anything other than the bitter look on the little girl's face. "I don't believe you," The eldest child of the Suzuki family said quietly. "There's no way my little sister would do those things."

Before any of the adults could stop the middle schooler, Ayako pointed her finger at the child accusingly, "Sonoko told me about the time you framed her for working for a man who targets innocent children the other day, especially last year when you almost bankrupted our entire family by provoking her. I think you are doing the exact same thing, except you manipulated that boy to be in on this. This is one of your tactics when it came to playing the victim." The parents were too in shock to say anything while Ayako continued, "Also, I know you still haven't gotten over what my sister did to your friend during the funeral. She was in the wrong, but that doesn't mean that she has to pay the price of being miserable for her entire life. All this for what!? Petty revenge!? Didn't your parents not raise you to not be that petty!?"

For a second, Ranran remains silent. Without warning, with all the hate she could muster, she announced the ultimate kill.

"Petty revenge? Please, I am less petty than your sister who framed an innocent boy just to marry him off to her best friend. Since you still naturally assume this is a tiny mistake to be overlooked, I should do the same thing to your sister while she marries a guy she didn't like, while forcing her to give up her dream job, then justify this as a 'childish mistake', right?" Ranran calmly, with venom dripping from her voice while the adolescent grew shocked over how brazen this girl was, despite being small and shorter than her, "Am I hearing someone downplaying their sibling's own crimes and pinning all the blame on Shinichi? By claiming Shinichi the victim was at fault?!"

That was enough to shut her up, while the adults trembled before the founder of Tantei Association. It seems like 13-year-old Ayako did not realise that this little girl before her was a lot more intelligent than people give credit to.

Ranran studied Ayako, she is the total opposite of her sister. Shallow ain't one of them, but it is natural for her sister to be all defensive over Sonoko, any elder sister would be in her shoes. In a way, it is touching.

But the detective girl couldn't care less of it, after all of the things Sonoko had done to them.

"And don't you dare to imply that my parents never taught me how to. They may not have won the parents of the year award, but they were far better at raising me than yours. They taught me: "It's not good to commit to revenge, but if I were to deal with a bunch of kids who behave like cockroaches, feel free to spray them with pesticide'."

Ranran's screech is enough to give the elder sister a heart attack, including her mother who later fainted while her husband, butlers and maids struggled to keep her awake.

"As for that funeral possession, I have been wanting to say this for a long time, she does deserve to be miserable for the rest of her life. And I will tell you why," With all of them growing pale, Ranran paced around the room in a commanding tone, " When a person dies, they remain dead for good. And throughout the two years of his donkey life, he never once celebrated a single happy occasion. Not even his own birthday. Everyday, his days were filled with nothing but the beating and bruising from his controlling mother. Unlike that Sonoko who only knew how to lavishly waste money down the gutter, but had all the free time to harass us."

Her audience's eyes widened in horror.

"When he was murdered, I wanted to grant him the grandest funeral he has ever deserved. He was the most selfless little duke and friend, and I am proud to be chosen as his successor. Therefore, I wanted to bless him with the best funeral one could ever ask for. Who knew...who knew that one day, somebody decided to make his day all about herself. That is where I have to draw the line." Ranran seethes.

Seeing all of the Suzuki family members feeling flustered just angered Ranran even more.

"You should know better, Miss Suzuki Ayako, that I will never go after someone unless I was provoked. I may hold grudges, but I only act out the moment one is provoked. And she went after me only after Shinichi cut all ties with them. I could've brushed this off, but your sister had to go after Shinichi thanks to Ran. Even when he pleaded and begged she let him go, she never cared! It was thanks to her false influence about Shinichi waiting for her best friend in the name of love, that her friend spitefully sabotaged Shinichi's phone, which later led to the kidnapping of me and 2 other members!?"

The more Ranran raised her voice, the more Ayako could do nothing but stare at the furious child, mouth opening and closing, trying to form words to try and defend Sonoko, but coming up short. Even the father couldn't breathe after hearing all of this. Ranran wasn't done, though.

"Maybe I should consider acting out on my grudge since you didn't feel any remorse about your sister's sins towards us," Ranran decided before pointing an index finger at the taller girl. "It's all thanks to the coddling that led us to where we are. Especially Shinichi, the one wrong I can only comment on was him calling me a 'bastard', and that he mistakenly befriended your daughter and Ran. But that was all. Other than that, he is nothing more than a decent boy, one that you accused of trying to set your so-called precious sister up. I bet....I bet you didn't even know that Mamiko had so many pictures of him in her bedroom, that he was able to put together that since Mamiko and Sonoko are friends, should that bloody girl do any harm to Shinichi, she could've easily exploit her friendship with your idiot sister to do those vile things like Mamiko's mom did to those men! So that she will never go to jail while continuing to carry out her sick twisted fantasies onto Shinichi!"

"K-K-Kudo-"

"R-R-Ranran, call for help. I can't wake up. I ain't feeling good," Ranran re-enacted Shinichi's words over the phone when the incident happened, her eyes was filled with contempt over the family's attitude towards the action of their second daughter, "When I rushed over there, he fell from his bed unconscious on the cold hard ground. His parents and mine are away overseas, so you can't imagine how restless I was for the ambulance to arrive. He had to be wired up to a bloody IV drip! So after hearing all of this, are you all going to continue to play it off that this is a childish mistake?!"

Sonoko didn't care when she made the funeral of a dead little duke all about herself, let alone, cared when she decided to frame Ranran to rile up Shinichi. It's fair that she suffers the same hell she put her and Shinichi through, but the payback will be a million times fold!

Standing up, she requests for the butler who led her to the mansion to lead her out.

"So here is the deal," With her head turned to the man of the manor, she narrowed her eyes, "I won't be unreasonable for you all to pay medical fees. But you can accept the ruby as compensation after having a thorough investigation from the cops, I know you are a man of honour, Mr Suzuki, and that you are not capable of knowing every single employee is capable of such disgusting act. The cops will surely spare your family from humiliation. Or if you were going to go against this to protect your daughter, I won't stop you as a father. But you don't forget, Mamiko's mother...what she had done to this neighbourhood decades ago...her sins will remain as the unremovable stain on the Suzuki clan forever should you let this be."

The man before her trembled when she mentioned 'decades ago'.

No way...did this girl know? That incident to this neighbourhood!?

Before he could respond, Ranran left. And for some reason, Ranran's aura reminded the man of...that 'young girl'.

As she is about to leave, she sees Sonoko at the entrance who rushed home, after her sister contacted her over the smartphone that her mother had fainted thanks to Ranran.

"You...what have you done to my mother!"

Before she could tug her by the collar, Ranran took out the baton before aiming at her neck, stopping her from speaking any further, while the electric sparks emitting from the baton warned her to remain silent. The maids and butlers froze, even her elder sister who was on her way to drag her sister to see her mom standstill with an open mouth.

"Behave like a proper lady, Suzuki Sonoko," Ranran replied flatly, "Even within the walls of the mansion!"

This made Sonoko choke, despite not being strangled while backing away from the baton, but the detective girl approached her ruthlessly, aiming the baton towards her neck. "W-wait, what are you doing!?"

Ranran raised her eyebrow. "You are the reason why I was unable to call Shinichi for help, it's fair to say that if a culprit wrongs us to the point of death, I am within my rights to punish you. Did you know....thanks to you, Shinichi did not have a good sleep thanks to this incident...he had to be wheeled out in an ambulance today!?"

Sonoko winced, and Ranran's tone was so cold that even Ayako who was hearing this flinched. Why is this six-year-old girl so....vicious and cruel!?

"Ranran, I'm sorry -," Sonoko began.

"For what? Abusing my name!? Attempting to murder me twice!? Hell, blame every single fault on me or Shinichi just to make Ran happy!?"

Silence.

"You really are shameless when it comes to exposing your ugliness inside and out," The look of shame on Sonoko's face says it all while Ranran uttered her spite, "Disciplinary hearing at our school on a Monday, expect the worst punishment. Don't try to flee, I already made sure you are going to suffer the worst kind of hell should you do. And mark my words, I won't let you off the hook if you ever try anything funny, after what you did to us, especially Shinichi whom you so greatly wronged!"

Sonoko nodded, eyes tearing up. Ayako hated seeing her sister cry, but she was helpless, and couldn't comfort her when the ruthless Kudo Ranran is holding a baton that is capable of electrocuting Sonoko to her death.

Before they realized it, she stormed out of the mansion, leaving a sobbing Sonoko whose knees met the floor.

No one had expected that reaction from Ranran; Ayako didn't even mean to bring up that funeral, but she knew from that moment on, Ranran is going to make her sister's life far worst than it already is. She should not have touched her sore spot.

And so, upon selling the ruby, the rest is history.

To Sonoko, she felt her family was heartless and cruel when she soon learn about the ruby being traded in for a miserable life in school. She was stunned when Sonoko learn that Ranran sold the Rajah Ruby to the uncle, the one Ran shared once to her about. How in the world did she obtain it?

Who the hell is this Kudo Ranran!? The fact that her own parents prevented her from using their own investigation unit to look into Ranran's background send alarm bells, but for her life to take a 180-degree turn for the worst since trying to pry Shinichi away sent chills to Sonoko. She is out for her blood, and the heiress is now certain if she provokes Ranran any further, she won't be sent to the hospital, but rather...her funeral.

Rubbing her butt a bit as she could still feel the pain from being whacked with a cane thanks to Ranran's punishment for her made her wince. Even whenever she tried to sit down, it has become unbearable, Ran brought her a pillow to sit on, but it did little to reduce the inflamed pain while remaining in her seat for several hours during lessons.

Everyone bear witness to it when she was publicly caned, the worst part was during the assembly, Ranran and Shinichi got front-row seats when all of this is going on, with an unfazed expressions. Hell, kids behind them even clapped in every whip, out of support for Ranran and Shinichi's situation. As if they were all witnessing the guillotine of Marie Antoinette.

But despite all of this, Sonoko can't help but worry for her best friend Ran, wondering whether if she would survive all of the hell that awaits her.

Although she could not be bullied physically thanks to her martial arts skill, she too face the same humiliation as Sonoko did. Muddied clothes and even name-calling were on her desk as well. Despite this, Ran remains her strong facade, jokingly saying that they can share their friend bonding moment now, which touched Sonoko a lot.

Alright, you may have won the battle, but not the war. I won't let you!

Those were her sworn determination of Suzuki, as she painfully head her way back to the classroom where Ran awaits her.

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

Meanwhile, Ranran and Shinichi were walking their way to school, while he kept looking behind their backs several times. To those who roughly know them, one could've assumed that Shinichi perhaps missed the days he used to walk his way to school with Ran and Sonoko.

But the sinister truth was...he was looking his back to ensure neither Ran nor Sonoko, especially Mamiko, is targeting their backs. And it was no joke, Mamiko was by no means a violent or dangerous person in appearance was naturally assumed to be shy, the type who couldn't hurt a fly, and most certainly not someone who would stalk another person, given her kind image.

All of that image was once again, shredded by Shinichi when he took Ranran to check out the mansion where Mamiko and the family used to live thanks to their grandparents' connections. Only a few days after the family were chased out of the neighbourhood into the slums since the scandal broke out, they never even got the chance to take out their belongings, so he wanted to use connections to better understand what sort of person Mamiko is.

Don't get him wrong, since Sonoko and Mamiko video gate scandal, he long knew. But Ranran thinks that one should get to know their enemy better, starting with Mamiko's bedroom.

And to his horror, it was covered in shaky Polaroid pictures of him that were taped to her walls. The pictures were rushed and blurry, each of them having love notes written on them. Each picture had the same boy in it, if there was anyone next to him, it was violently drawn over with a black marker, even Ranran's face was no exception.

He felt so sick by this discovery, that Ranran who accompanied him had to be the one to take photos of scene of the crime with her phone, then escorted him out, since he was too paralyzed to even move.

Now that Ranran thinks of it, it was mentioned briefly that the early signs of Mamiko's path to becoming a serial killer were when she became obsessed with a little boy her age in the projector. It never revealed who it was, but her unhealthy obsession became evident when Polaroid photos were plastered across her bedroom. Who knew it would be Shinichi of all people?!

Still struggling to come to terms with it yesterday's discovery, he wobbled a bit right next to Ranran. When the photos were delivered to the grandparents, they were livid to a point that they were considering transferring them out of Teitan Elementary school for good out of safety concerns. After all, they knew they were living on borrowed time, her mother always finds a way to leave unscathed according to the grandparents. Also, he was too young to apply for a restraining order, even though one immediately applied for adults.

But to their surprise, Shinichi reassured them he can fight his own battles, and he isn't afraid to go against Mamiko. This was unsurprising to Ranran, since the projector she had revealed to her that when his parents offered the same thing upon learning their son shrunk into a child 11 years later, he turn it down because he wanted to stay back and protect Ran.

Though...Ranran isn't certain if he still can in his position.

Never could she had foresee him unconscious on the floor when he called for help. She was busy video gaming in her bedroom when he called, panicked when his voice sounded slurred. Having discharged from the hospital a day later upon being nursed to health, she can't help but noticed something changed in him.

Especially after that interesting conversation she had with him back at the hospital. It was raw and real as it gets.

And for that matter, Ranran lashed out at the Suzukis later that night.

With the founder yawning, Shinichi narrowed his eyes in annoyance at her, "No more video games for you, who knew you would stay up late at night just to do such a thing whenever you are free."

Truthfully, he has begun to drop by her house more frequently since the scandal, mostly due to the grandparents insisting that Ranran should accompany him while walking their way to school and back out of safety concerns. In typical fashion, Ranran turned it down since she didn't want to sacrifice her sleep to babysit Shinichi, since she justified he can take care of himself.

But no, sleeping late was no longer an option when Shinichi himself is the one who approaches her nowadays. Ranran swears she is going to kill Mamiko someday, for ruining her sleep thanks to her messed up love for him.

"I envy you," he said before he could stop himself.

Ranran looked at him then, her eyebrow raised. "Pardon?"

He lifted his head, "You've always been able to just simply live your life the way you want. And I envy that."

"But you succeeded as well. Breaking free from Mamiko and Sonoko. Especially Ran."

Shinichi could see this girl before him rising and shining. He would do anything to be like Ranran now, feeling free. Not feeling trapped like a bird in a cage since discovering that he could've landed himself in serious trouble since learning about the lies. Through studies about individuals like Mamiko, once a victim is selected, one would pursue the end of the earth.

That's right, even if the target narrowly escapes, there is no end in sight till the target dies.

In a way, Shinichi had selectively become a sought-after target to Mamiko. So his days are numbered, and he hates it. He felt like now he had escaped a tiger's den, but entered the lion's den. Why must his life be so....would life have been better if he knows nothing?

Seeing Ranran whistling happily, he wish he could be as carefree as her now. "Neh Ranran."

"Yeah?"

"What makes you...you?"

"Hmph? I don't get you," Ranran became puzzled.

"To be able to live freely as you are now? Despite the dangers that lay ahead in your job for a tantei?" Shinichi grew curious, wanting to share the same kind of eyes as Ranran now instead of feeling trapped. "I mean...how do you live without letting your past trap you?"

With a flick, the object spun through the air and landed in Shinichi's open palm, revealing it to be a plain simple silver ring band. "Wear it on your fourth finger, whichever hand is up to you." She ordered without looking at him.

"Eh?"

"Just do it."

Puzzled, he did as she said while feeling the ring around him, "Right now, you are going to be married off to a girl I arranged yesterday, it is our upcoming undercover work." Ranran suddenly formed a sinister grin.

"Wait, say what now!?" Shinichi grew horrified at Ranran's nonchalant tone. Who the hell is he getting married to!? Ain't he only 6!? No way...don't tell him...this apprenticeship is going to be the biggest mistake of his life!? Also, marriage is a big decision! His heart began to pound in horror.

With a teasing smile on her face, she said, "You can end the marriage if you refuse, just take it out."

"Eh? Really?"

"You may," Then Shinichi took out the ring from his finger, sighing out of relief before handing it back to her, wondering why did Ranran keep a ring around her. Let alone, said such non-sensical stuff, "How did it feel?"

"Huh?"

"The ring? When I said you are about to marry a girl I arranged for you to marry in the future."

"It felt...heavy. Like handcuffs." He answered honestly, rubbing his finger where the ring rested in his finger earlier.

"This ring...used to belong to my mentor. I keep it with me to remind myself that whenever things get difficult, especially whenever that idiot Ran kept interfering with my plan, I am reminded that my life with her can never be as bad as the way my mentor lived, "Ranran summed up before stuffing it back into her pocket. Shinichi just widened his eyes, wondering why would he own such a thing, and then the mentor later revealed, "He was gifted a ring when he was engaged with a girl his age."

"Oh. Okay." It took a moment for Shinichi to process this. "...Wait, WHAT!?"

Shinichi couldn't understand...wasn't her mentor around their age leading up to his passing? 7 or 8? How a can child propose marriage!? It just doesn't make any sense!

"He did not propose to her, contrary, he was trapped in an arranged marriage by their parents." Sensing that Shinichi still couldn't understand how any of this was possible, she explains, "You are aware that during the early eras, King and Queens marry off their children for political ties, right? That is how it is for nobles as well. Even though it is the 21st century now, this practice is still being carried out among kids like us in our old school."

At her explanation, he choked even further, "You can't be serious, right?!" Shinichi barely wheezed out.

"Sadly, I wish it wasn't. At least...this wouldn't cost him his life."

"Cost his...what!?" Shinichi was stunned, the more he listens to some of the details that come out of his mentor, the more he grew baffled. Arrange marriage killed him? Didn't his mother murder him?

Putting his thoughts collectively as a detective, he can only assume that the arranged marriage her late mentor was in led him to his demise. Blinking, he asks, "Can't he just...break it off? So he wouldn't die?"

"Oh no, there is a penalty fee for breaking it up. It can fetch up to millions or even billions of pounds."

"Is there!?" That made him gawk, "In the dramas my mother made me watch, I never see anything like that come up!"

"Of course it doesn't, that is to give the idiot male lead the advantage to break things up with the villainess, just so he could marry the dumb sunny heroine without any repercussions." Ranran gave a humourless laugh, "But in the real world, that is how it works for some families, especially when you are born with a diamond spoon. These kinds of things exist solely to prevent such things from happening like the drama."

"But why?" He couldn't understand, why something like the penalty thing would exist.

"In the world of aristocracy, humiliation is something one cannot afford. Because their main source of income relies on a good reputation for all family members. A scandal is enough to make even Buckingham palace crumble to rubble. When you secure an arranged engagement, you are also basically mixing business with pleasure, there is money involved for their families besides idiotic love. Imagine if a simple engagement is enough to trigger a bridezilla, there are also a million things where things can go horribly wrong among nobles. And the no.1 problem that comes out of all of this is an elopement, because as you guessed it: It's bloody arrange marriage in the first place, and rarely genuine love can come out of it. If you break it off to be with someone, you better be able to afford to pay up the fee."

While Shinichi pondered about it, he brought up, "Reina told me he was a Duke after his death, which means he comes from a family of marques, right? By right, he should be able to afford it because of his family's peerage."

"He can afford it, the problem is however that his engagement also included circumstances which made it impossible."

"Which is?"

"The fiance's family...is a higher rank than him."

"What could be higher than a Duke-no way!" He was waiting for her to respond as soon as it dawned on him, "Don't tell me she comes from royalty!? Am I wrong?" Judging Ranran's lack of response, it became evident to Shinichi that was the case.

Shinichi used to hear stories about the powers of royalties in real life, especially the way they abused their authority, so he couldn't had imagine just how much of an impact it had on Ranran's mentor, who was around their age when he was engaged to her. "Hold on a moment, but your mentor is of lower rank than the girl's family. I could've assumed-"

"That the girl's family would pick someone of equal rank? Don't forget that nowadays, the number of royals isn't as much as in its peak glory days, so they narrow it down all the way to him. Making matters worst was..." Ranran tried to keep her composure, but it was difficult to bring this up all over again, "...the girl he was engaged to...she is quite the character."

"I am sorry..." Shinichi ran out of words to say over the situation, assuming that poor boy must have had it equally worst like how he is dealing with Ran now.

But then Ranran dropped a bombshell, "Oh no, unlike Ran, she convince his mother to abuse him physically and torment him mentally for many years. You can even see bruises around his arms and face on occasion. And the mother is more than willing since she is more than eager to become a member of a royal family, she will resort to violence towards her own son."

That stopped Shinichi in his tracks, he stood still while Ranran did the same. "Are you serious?!"

"Yeah. And no one could do a thing, because she is bloody royalty." This made Shinichi speechless. "You know what is even funnier, Kudo? She didn't even bother to break off this engagement to set him free of his dreams of wanting a family of his own...kept tormenting him with glee, and went on to see other boys besides him."

"No way!" Ranran froze mid-movement before she could walk, surprised by the sudden outburst of her apprentice, "How could the hell!? She is cheating on him!? How old is this girl?! The damn audacity!"

Shinichi was beyond pissed off.

"Same age as him, a real psychopath," Ranran commented before adding, "I wouldn't really say it's cheating, it was an arranged marriage after all. He had no feelings for her, but...like you, the feeling you felt when you were wearing the ring I gave you earlier...he dealt with it for 4 years, "Both eyes stared at her skirt pocket where she stuffed it, "He is forced to wear this if they attend engagements together at some party at the royal palace. If he doesn't, he goes by without food for a day. Exactly as you said: there was nothing but a pair of luxury handcuffs."

Shinichi could not imagine any of this. And he assumed his life was worst than that boy's.

Which reminded him, "Do you have one?"

"What? A fiance?" Ranran chuckled dismissively at that thought, "You are aware of what my parent's situation was like. Which is why I was one of the lucky few who didn't need to have an arranged marriage set up for me."

She has a point.

"You see there are kids who are born into such privilege, expectations are high from adults. If you fail, you have deemed a failure for life. And a normal coping mechanism is to be extremely arrogant, cause the more prideful you are, the more people will think that you have confidence in yourself. That was how it was for 'her'. Another way is to use a distraction, one of which is to use a sacrificial lamb, someone who is less qualified to poke fun of, that way...no one will ever notice how insecure 'she' is."

Kicking a pebble, she goes, "My mentor...wasn't born of royalty. He was born to a family of nobles. Although his family was a marquess, that itself can never surpass a royal unless he gets married to her. And that itself...spell perfect recipe for disaster."

With her expression darkening, she shared, "If anything didn't go her way, she always made sure he would be judged for every single mistake he makes, to make her reputation look good. At some point, it even nauseated him when adults would come up to him wearing an angry expression and say 'You need to stop being so insensitive to your beautiful fiance. You're lying about what she did to you.' They laugh and talk and act as if all of the horrible things he revealed about her were nothing but lies. In a way, they made it sound as if he was the problem, never the flawless princess. Make him sound...like the most worthless little boy he is."

Shinichi remain silent, he can't fathom what sort of left that little Duke had led. Fell deeper in love with someone. Dreaming of a life together with the other, having a child, raising it, and holding hands till the last breath...all of it just flushed down the drain for him thanks to an evil princess. While Shinichi can easily walk away from it all, that boy couldn't due to obligations forced upon him. That is the price to pay for someone born into such a family.

"When he was around 4 and made a public denouncement of breaking the engagement, she even purposefully swallowed tons of her mother's diet pills which led her to be hospitalised. Even planted a letter, writing he was her only hope and took meds on purpose so she can guilt his family to not let their son leave?"

The more Shinichi listen to the details, the sicker he grew. Just how far is this delusional girl willing to go? "Did not a single person listen to his cries? I am certain that at some point, he couldn't last. Also, from the stories, you told me...she doesn't seem to like him, otherwise, why all of the cheating?"

"Of course, he wasn't that stupid, his father and stepmother believed him. But his mother framed his dad and stepmom for a crime they did not commit before custody could be granted to them. She couldn't afford the risk of losing royal connections thanks to her son not liking her. As for feelings...she loves no one in particular but herself, everyone to her...were nothing but supporting characters to shine her disgusting ego." Ranran spat bitterly in disgust.

Shinichi gulped in response, but Ranran ignored it, "He tried to escape this marriage so many times, I lost count by the time he shared to me his 20th attempt. So many times, he had gotten so close to freedom, he could almost taste it, only to have it ripped away again. By the time I met him, his perception of love was pretty obviously cynical. But as I said to him once: 'Love should not be an obligation or a bloody chore, like homework you are forced to waste your time upon. If you felt like it is a chore you never like, then leave it undone. For that is no longer love.'"

"Wise words," Shinichi is impressed, "Who told you that?"

"My father."

"Good one," Shinichi gave it a nod, before the two finally reached a crosswalk, the red man was flashing to them not to walk.

"For you, you had the choice to walk away. Although Ran pestered you, you are walking alive and well now, not tied down to this hell like he was. But for him, he had his hands tied with violence, I am actually surprised that when I first met him, he didn't become a killer overnight given his living circumstances. Cause I would." She admits.

"It was that bad!?" Shinichi was appalled.

"It is," Ranran then stared into nowhere with her hardened gaze, "Otherwise...he would not have died and left me here alone."

"Left you..."It then dawned on him, "Was he...supposed to follow you here? To Japan?"

With the green man now flashing, the two cross the road along with other bystanders. The more Shinichi thought of it, the more it made sense now to him. Ranran refused to move to Japan with the family upon his death, she refused to leave Edgewood Academy, wander off without anyone by her side during the parkour event last year, even the courage it took for her to become The Fox in the news...everything surrounded her mentor.

Boy, now that he thinks back during the parkour event...Shinichi felt like a scumbag.

He mistreated Ranran when she had no one by her side in a foreign country. At such young age...it just keeps getting heartbreaking for her. Then another thing surfaced in his head by the time they made it to the other side, "But wait a minute...if he was going to achieve that...ain't he engaged?"

She didn't answer him straightaway, her expression just darkened while he walked alongside, her hands holding close to the rondesu bag strapped to her back.

That is when Shinichi knew, "No way..."

Of course, how stupid could he be!?

The only way for that boy to join Ranran is if he breaks this engagement with that girl. But then his mother would've...wait, Reina mentioned Ranran was seen wearing an eyepatch during the funeral. Suddenly, the possibility that she could've been there during the murder made sense to him. Shinichi had a bad feeling about this.

Before he could ask any further, seeing Ranran's downcast look stopped him. "Shinichi, what was your reason for asking this question out of the blue?" Ranran suddenly broke his thoughts.

"I was thinking about never achieving this freedom," Shinichi admitted, at ease now that Ran and Sonoko aren't around. "I want to be free, and I did it. But I am worried it will not last forever because..." He wishes to spill, but the room filled with polaroid photos of him made him clamp up a bit. In a way, he felt violated. "I want to feel like everything would be ok again, I want control. But I felt like...I am losing the grip."

It sounded like a wonderful dream, but the reality was hardly ever so good.

"You know, Shinichi, There are times when I felt like I was trapped in a cage, too." She turned to him, "After his death, I felt like I can never get over it forever. Even up till now, but on occasion..." Shinichi watches as his mentor gazed upon the bright blue sky with a sad smile, "When I wake up breathing from that nightmare, I am reminded that 'he' is the reason why I am alive as I am now. At least...as long I know the layout of the cage, one can come out as they pleased."

For the first time, Shinichi realized the look in Ranran's eyes. Bitterness, this murder had snapped inside her years ago that led her to have such eyes. No, Shinichi decided, he felt like there were other things that happened during her early days at The Fox in Edgewood Academy, leading up to her mentor's murder, that made her what she is. One murder involving a loved one doesn't make one an overnight girl who harms children her age in the worst way possible.

"In life, it takes one to rain on your parade. And to ensure happiness keeps on coming, remove them, and then life will continue to remain full of possibilities. And 'he' was right, cause I did achieve many things on my own. Knowing that there are friends out there who never talk about love like idiots all the time, but dreams. It's liberating and refreshing, I didn't have to keep my mouth shut and feel suffocated."

Shinichi gasped at her smile, he didn't know how to respond to that. While he observed her still staring into the sky while heading to school with a painful smile, he couldn't help but think.

Maybe to 'him'...Kudo Ranran had always been 'his' freedom. The same 'he' was to 'her' after his death. His death probably taught her...you either voice out things that make you unhappy or die without trying.

Before meeting Ranran, Shinichi never once assumed his life was suffocating till he left Ran and Sonoko for good. Although a lot of things happened after pairing up with Ranran, and there were bad things that surfaced, overall, he has become more confident without them. That meant he is a step closer to achieving better things away from them.

He mulls over her words carefully before feeling relaxed, nodding to her understandingly with his spirits lifted up, "Thanks Ranran."

"Don't be, I don't know how to encourage others. But this is all I can think of since."

With both exchanging smiles, the two-headed their way to Teitan Elementary school, with renewed hope that they will someday be freed from their nightmares.