If one was to describe what would one think about camping in the woods, one would naturally think of its secluded location, surrounded by nature and away from the hustle and bustle of city life. It provides a peaceful and quiet environment, perfect for relaxation and escaping the stress of daily city life.

Well, that was not what happened however for the students of Teitan Elementary school. Especially today.

Kodama forest camp is surrounded by lush green forests and tranquil lakes, specifically designed for children that offer a safe and fun environment for them to enjoy the great outdoors. It got its name based on a legend, where this spirit in Japanese folklore is said to inhabit trees and protect forests. It was designed specifically for children and is the perfect place for families who want to spend quality time in nature and create unforgettable memories.

This is why class 1-A, it was supposed to be a fun camping trip for the children of Teitan Elementary school. They were all excited to spend the 2 weeks in a cosy hotel in the woods, away from the pressures of school and the city. Sure, there was the incident thanks to one insensitive child, several days of bad weather, not to mention the struggles of outdoors did ruin things for them emotionally, but if they could look back in time, they would've realised that what they had to endure was nothing, after an individual was discovered to be murdered.

Still, the murder didn't deter the children from exploring the woods, hiking trails, and gathering around the campfire under the protection of their teacher. It didn't help that even as adults share horror stories about murders regarding cabins in the wood-related stuff, they were not intimidated by it.

After all, circumstances led them to end up in a hotel.

"The Mayfair at Brampton" hotel, is a grand and opulent establishment located just a short distance away from the Kodama Forest Camp. This hotel is the epitome of luxury and sophistication, providing guests with the highest level of comfort and service imaginable.

As soon as one steps into the grand lobby of The Mayfair at Brampton, you are transported to a world of luxury and elegance. The lobby is decorated in a classic British style, with plush velvet sofas, rich wooden furniture, and ornate chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. The air is filled with the sweet aroma of fresh flowers and scented candles, creating a welcoming and soothing atmosphere.

And there is nothing short of exquisite. Each room is decorated in a unique and stylish manner, featuring plush bedding, high-quality linens, and lavish amenities such as minibars, flat-screen televisions, and high-speed internet access. The rooms offer stunning views of the surrounding countryside, and many of them come with private balconies or terraces where guests can relax and take in the breathtaking scenery. Security is tight, so it was fine for them.

Even if security ain't, they need not fear, since they have 6-year-old Kudo Ranran and Kudo Shinichi, their schoolmate/classmate, to look after them. since they are both aspiring child detectives, they opened Tantei Association together after they bonded over their common hatred of many things, mainly Mamiko and his former friends.

And their detective abilities are to be put to the test, when one murder after another took place.

Soon, Ranran and Shinichi look into it, out of fear. And before anyone knew it, a wild lunatic figure attempts to murder the child who has been seeking them out. Wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and having a wild looks in their eyes, death is the only way out.

Some of them had been exploring the woods around the hotel, taking in the fresh air and enjoying the peaceful surroundings. However, their peaceful afternoon was shattered when a crazed figure appeared out of nowhere, wielding a sharp weapon.

The children panicked and tried to run, but the attacker chased them relentlessly. Just as they thought they were about to be caught, the attacker was initially stopped by security when the kids rushed into the hotel.

At first, they were relieved, but it was short-lived when the attacker stabbed the guards.

The children of 1-A were horrified as they watched the attacker stab the hotel security guards. They had thought they were safe inside the hotel, but now it seemed like nowhere was truly safe.

Before anyone knows it, 6-year-old children were literally fleeing everywhere in the hotel lobby, trying to escape from the man's grasp. He was shouting and screaming, clearly out of control, and the children had no idea what to do.

Some of them ran to the lift, while others tried to hide. The man was relentless, however, and he continued to chase after them, smashing through doors and windows with his axe.

Some of them were terrified, screaming and crying as they tried to avoid the deadly blows.

It was in a state of sheer panic, not knowing whether they would survive. They could hear the man's heavy breathing and the sound of his footsteps as he pursued them relentlessly.

"I swear if this isn't real, I could've felt that we are in a horror movie!"

6-year-old Hikari Takuma was becoming paranoid, and so was his girlfriend Matsuyuki Reina, who was also looking around frantically, trying to find a way out of the hotel. "This isn't the point, Takuma!" she replied, her voice shaking with fear. "We have to focus on getting out of here alive. We can figure out what's real and what's not later."

The children were left to fend for themselves, trying to find a way out of the chaos. Some hid under tables and chairs, while others tried to make a run for the stairs. The attacker seemed to be everywhere at once, chasing them down relentlessly.

Meanwhile, a long brown-haired little girl named Mouri Ran grew increasingly horrified as she realised Shinichi and Ranran were missing. "Shinichi, Ranran? Where are you!?"

But they were nowhere to be found.

The timing couldn't be any worst, hiding one pillar after the other, Ran bravely try to search them out. Shinichi told her earlier he will be taking Ranran out to look into the series of murders that took place not long ago. Hopefully, she wished the two remain outside the hotel. Sonoko at the moment had caught the flu, so she is resting in the hotel room with a teacher at the moment.

Soon, Takuma and Reina spotted her and rush over, asking why is she out there in the open while the killer is still out there.

Ran quickly explained the situation and asked if they had seen Shinichi or Ranran. Takuma and Reina shook their heads, but they offered to help Ran search for them.

Together, the three of them cautiously made their way through the hotel, trying to avoid any areas where the attacker might be lurking. They checked the restaurants, the pool area, and the fitness centre, calling out their names, but there was no sign of them.

As they searched, Ran's mind raced with the worst possibilities. Had the killer taken them? Were they injured or lost in the woods? She couldn't bear the thought of losing any of them. Sure, she hates Ranran, but that didn't mean she wants her to die in this manner.

Especially Shinichi, not him or all the other kids.

He is only 6, he is too young to die.

After much searching, Takuma decided, "Someone needs to call the police."

But it was odd when Ran fished out her phone, even Reina's and Takuma's smartphones both read that they lack signal. It didn't help that as they slowly crept their way cautiously to the receptionist area when they picked up the phone to dial, the lines were dead.

"How can this be?" Ran wondered, "We are in a 5-star hotel for God sake!"

"Even the Wi-fi is dead," Takuma tried to connect to it to call for help online, but it was fruitless. "It's odd, that big mouth heiress was saying how fast the internet was when she was watching Youtube videos in her hotel room."

"Neh guys," It suddenly dawned on Reina, "Is it possible...that the murderer cut off every single power line so no one could call for help!?

Ran, Takuma, and Reina exchanged worried looks as they realized the severity of the situation. It seemed like the killer was not just targeting the children but also planned to cut off any form of communication to seek help.

Panic rose in Ran's chest as she realized that they were completely cut off from the outside world. How were they going to call for help? They were trapped in a luxury hotel with a deranged killer on the loose.

"We need to find a way to contact the authorities," Takuma said, his voice trembling with fear but trying to keep it together. "We can't just sit here like sitting ducks and wait for the killer to come after us."

"But how?" Reina asked, her voice just as shaky as Ran's. "All the phones and internet are down. And even if we try to leave, the killer might be waiting outside for us."

Ran's mind raced with possible solutions, "The only solution is to escape the hotel and get help, but that would mean leaving behind anyone who couldn't keep up, and that was not an option."

Takuma and Reina nodded in agreement with Ran. They needed to find a way to contact the authorities and get help as soon as possible. But before they could even take a step forward, they heard a loud noise coming from the hallway.

All three of them froze in fear as they heard the sound of footsteps getting closer and closer. They knew it was the attacker, and they had nowhere to hide.

But just as the footsteps reached the reception area, they suddenly stopped. There was a moment of silence, and then the sound of someone panting heavily.

Slowly, Ran, Takuma, and Reina peeked out from behind the reception desk and saw the attacker doubled over, trying to catch his breath.

Without thinking, Ran grabbed a nearby vase and hurled it at the attacker's head, hoping it will knock him out cold. As the vase shattered against the attacker's head, but it wasn't enough to knock him out. Instead, it seemed to anger him even more. He stood up straight and turned to face Mouri Ran, his eyes blazing with fury.

"Takuma, Reina, run!"

"What about you!?" Reina yelled."I can't leave the hotel behind, Sonoko is still in her room. And Ranran and Shinichi are still nowhere to be found!"

"But-"

"No buts!" Ran snapped at Takuma's hesitation, "Go out and seek help! Hurry!"

Quickly, Takuma grabbed Reina's hands and pulled her towards the door.

"Hey! How dare you two-"

"You are not going after them!" Mouri Ran stood her ground to block the man from going after the two, refusing to tell him anything despite the killer's threats. Mouri Ran knew that she had to buy time and distract the killer to let those two escape.

"Where are those two, the one who is putting their nose where it shouldn't belong!"

"I won't tell you anything," Ran said firmly. "You won't get away with this, the police will catch you."

The killer chuckled darkly. "You really think so? I've been planning this for months, I know how to cover my tracks. And as for those kids, they won't be a problem for much longer. Especially you."

He charged at her with a knife but Ran managed to dodge his attack and grab a nearby chair to defend herself. She used the chair to fend off the killer's blows before fleeing away from him, but she knew it wouldn't last long. She needed to come up with a plan and fast.

Meanwhile, as Reina and Takuma burst out of the hotel, they found themselves running in the midst. Hikari and Reina could hear the sound of the murderer's footsteps behind them, so they started running as fast as they could. They had no idea where they were going, but they knew they had to keep moving.

As they ran, Reina suddenly tripped and fell to the ground, twisting her ankle. Takuma immediately stopped and helped her up, forcing her to run. After what seemed like hours of running, they stumbled upon a small town. It was quiet and deserted, but they could see lights in the distance. They made their way towards the lights, hoping to find someone who could help them.

The closer they go, they could see that the lights were coming from a police station. Hikari and Reina breathed a sigh of relief and ran towards the station. They burst through the door, panting and gasping for air.

The police officers looked up from their desks in surprise. "What happened?" one of them asked.

Hikari and Reina told their story, and the officers listened intently. When they were finished, the officers exchanged a look and then turned back to Hikari and Reina.

"Thank you for letting us know," one of the officers said. "We'll take it from here."

While police cars were sent to the hotel, the two children remain at the station sitting on the bench, waiting for any news in sight, "Neh...Tak-san."

"Yes, Reina?"

"Do you think Ranran is alive? Along with Shinichi? Especially that girl and Sonoko?" Reina couldn't help but worry, clutching onto Takuma's hand tightly, trembling in fear.

Takuma tried to calm her down, about to tell her that they would make it out alive. But then he would be lying, "I don't know, Rei-chan. I don't know...."

"Ranran was right, we...this camping trip was a mistake. A huge mistake," Reina's eyes welled up with tears as she tried to hold back her sobs, "If she dies...I won't be able to live with this, Tak-san...I told her off over how she was being overly dramatic about this camping trip had too many hazard waiting to happen. And then this crap had to happen, Tak-san! Of all the camping school trips, it had to be ours that ended up having a murderer coming after us!"

Takuma wrapped his arm around her, trying to offer some comfort. They sat there in silence for a few moments, lost in their own thoughts.

Where did it all go wrong for them?

"We should've listened to Ranran, and now...it might be too late for her, especially Shinichi."

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

2 weeks ago, things were a far cry from what they are now.

At the moment, 6-year-old Kudo Ranran was ranting to her online friend, 'O', on her headphones that how she was never cut out for camping, and that she refuses to go and leave the comfort of her lavish bedroom. Especially being sent off to a remote island that's cut off from the outside world to go camping.

Normally, the perfect holiday for Kudo Ranran is to be doing nothing at home.

Sitting in front of her gaming computer snacks piled within arm's reach, air conditioning perfectly calibrated, and above all: chatting with her online friends. That, to Kudo Ranran, was heaven.

But now?

Now she was being exiled. Yes, exiled—dragged by the school to participate in what she could only describe as "civilised barbarism" disguised as nature bonding. All of the plans flew out of the window when the school decided to organise a school trip. The worst part was her opinion was overwrote by her parents when it reached their ears.

In all plain obviousness, Ranran did everything she could to prevent the news from reaching their doorstep overseas. But even that wasn't enough. One way or another, her parents always somehow manage to get word from the school about the ongoings there.

"How dare those adults to violate the rights of every child who refuses to go!" Ranran rants.  "I mean, seriously 'O', who in their right mind thinks it's a good idea to go camping on some deserted island? It's like they want us to suffer!"

"You know, camping can be really fun."

"Fun?" Ranran mocked, "You call sleeping on the ground and getting bitten by bugs fun? No, thank you. Plus, we have to go to some remote island that's cut off from the outside world! What if I get hurt or sick and there's no way to get help?"

"But isn't it exciting to go on an adventure and explore the great outdoors? You might discover something new and exciting."

"Psh, I highly doubt it. I'm not cut out for this kind of stuff. I like my nice bed and air conditioning, and my gaming computer, thank you very much." Ranran complained through her headset. "Can you believe it? My parents actually threatened to throw away my computer if I don't go!"

O responded with a chuckle, "Well, to be fair, you play games till 2:30 am. And you are 6!"

"So what? Others do the same as well. Anyway, there is no Wi-Fi or electricity on this island. How am I supposed to survive without my phone and laptop? If I don't die from boredom, I'll probably die from mosquito bites or falling into a ravine or some kid pushing me into a lake."

"That isn't true, " O doubted in skepticism, "If anything, the kid will be the one begging for his or her life, because you are intentionally leaving him to drown to their death."

"Oh no, that will be too easy." Ranran chuckled, "If anything, I'll offer them the choice between swimming and getting bitten by a bunch of leeches after trapping them at a pit I dug specifically for that occasion."

There was a moment of silence before O answered, "You hate your classmates that much, do you?"

"If they were not in the majority, this camping trip wouldn't have taken place. Sure, I was expecting that, but my parents forcing me to go? That's the final betrayal." Ranran let out an exaggerated sigh as she flopped backward onto her bed, her legs kicking in the air in a tantrum of frustration. "I was framed by the illusion of democracy, O. This isn't a school trip—it's exile under the guise of bonding!"

Ranran had many reasons to loathe camping. When her family was in the U.K still living in the slums before her wealthy strangled great-greatmother took them to the wealthy neighbourhood, at the age of 2, she remembered one of her earliest "adventures" involving a leaky tent, a stolen juice box, and a rat that made off with her only toy. It had left an impression. Ever since then, nature to Ranran was nothing but a poorly disguised threat wrapped in trees and soggy marsh.

"And don't even get me started on the toilet situation," she added, her voice climbing with theatrical horror. "Have you ever tried using a bathroom with no running water, O? I had to fight a centipede the size of a chopstick! I lost. I surrendered and ran for my life!"

"Alright, aside of your plight, then how did your apprentice react?"

Realizing he was referring to Shinichi, she replied, "What? The camping news? Oh, he didn't take it well. And the timing was awful."

"Why?"

"Simple," Ranran shrugged, "I gifted him a Thriller Novel the other day, it requires actual proper puzzle solving and only 2 people in the whole world officially solved it. The moment he heard camping, however..."

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

"Over my dead body that I will go!" Shinichi froze, his eyes widening in shock as he seethe in rage towards his parents. "Camping!? Why should I!?"

"Come on, Shinichi, it's about time you get some rest, no? Lately your mother and I think you have dig in too deep with the cases you have been handling in Tantei Association nowadays, that....you are missing out some normalcy." his father chimed in, as he and his wife stood in Shinichi's bedroom, whereby Shinichi was on the floor with paper all over the floor —blueprints, deduction maps, and red string tangled between stacks of books. The Thriller Novel in question, titled The Ferryman's Riddle, lay cracked open on his desk, annotated in several colors. A magnifying glass rested atop a tea-stained page.

"Normalcy?" Shinichi repeated the word like it was a foreign concept he was hearing for the first time. "I barely escape being manipulated by Mamiko's lies, and not on speaking terms with Ran and Sonoko, so why in the world would I want to go sleep in a tent, cooking food over a fire, getting bitten by bugs with my hands covered in dirt? That sounds like... torture!" His voice cracked in frustration, but his parents remained unfazed, their calm demeanor betraying their determination.

"Shinichi," his father continued, "You've been working yourself to the bone these days, so it's time to step back and breathe. Not every mystery requires a deep dive. Think of this trip as a... mental reset. Besides, you'll be with your friends. In fact, Ranran will be there too."

"As my mentor and partner-in-crime when it comes to tantei work, yes, she is the best. But if you are talking about camping.....that is another thing," Shinichi's face twisted into a grimace at the mere mention of her name, "That girl....you put her in a real life Hunger Games, and she will literally do everything in her power to ruthlessly torture everyone for resources." Shinichi paused, rubbing his temples as the mental image of Ranran orchestrating a brutal survival game played out in his head. "She would probably even go as far as to set a fire on someone's tent if it means eating nice food."

His mother's lips twitched, barely holding back a laugh. "Shinichi, dear, you're being dramatic. You're not going to the camping trip for a murder mystery. You're going to get some fresh air, maybe talk to your classmates—"

"Talk?" Shinichi interrupted, eyes widening in disbelief. "Do you not remember who my classmates are? The one who can't go five minutes without losing something, the other who thinks santa claus is real!"

Shinichi slumped back onto the floor, arms crossed over his chest. His frustration was evident, but there was also a strange undertone of reluctant concern. "If Ranran's there, there will be hell, mark my words on that."

"Shinichi, if that was truly the case, then how is doing those investigation activities with Ranran back at your HQ any different? I mean....do you find it healthy being surrounded with cases involving murder, kidnapping and all those awful things you shouldn't be seeing at your age?" his father question sternly.

"That is a different thing entirely, Tousan," The little boy argued, "At least she has someone who deserved to be tormented around when we do those investigations. In the camping trip however....it's just us and a bunch of innocent classmates who voted to have this camping trip in the majority," Shinichi finished, his voice laced with a mixture of frustration and unease, "She personally told me if she ever meet them again, she is going to seriously teach them a lesson they'll never forget," Shinichi added, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone as he leaned forward, eyes wide. "And I'm not even sure if our classmates even knows what she is capable of."

"Well, if that is the case, then it won't always work. Cause she too have to learn that in life, we have to do things we don't want to do," his mother added. "It's part of life."

"No, that ain't true, sometimes you can choose not to. And Ranran showed me it is possible, otherwise, I could've continued to be misled by Ran and Sonoko," Shinichi replied stubbornly. "I'm not going, and that's final."

His parents exchanged a look, clearly frustrated with his stubbornness. "Shinichi, we're not asking you to do anything unreasonable," his father said. "This is a school trip, and all of your classmates will be going. You can't just opt out."

"Yes I can, it's my life," Shinichi argued.

"It is, but don't forget we're your parents, and recently, you have been far too deep with your detective activities even when you are not working," his mother said firmly.

"Says who? And I ain't that far deep. You have no proof!"

"Oh really?" His mother then begin to list down the dangerous incidents her 6-year-old son had gotten involved with. "Do you recall that time when you climbed out of the window of some house to chase after a serial thief and ended up getting stuck on the roof, that Ranran had to call a fire brigade!?" his mother began.

"In the first place, the thief used a ladder, ok?" Shinichi justifies, "I ordered Ranran to push the ladder off so he couldn't escape and commit more robberies. Though I admit, I did not have the foresight that I too would end up getting stuck with a murderous thief." Shinichi admitted, before realizing, "I kept wondering why Ranran said 'Are you sure' multiple times before doing it at that time, now things do add up."

His mother shook her head in disbelief at her son's at times aloof behaviour, "And what about that time you decided to break into a high-security government facility at night, just to get evidence for the case?"

Shinichi sheepishly replied, "Just so you know, the married guy duped our client into a relationship, and his wife kept harassing her as the mistress none stop when the client obviously knew nothing about him being married! If we didn't manage to obtain evidence that his bloody wife who was working there was also cheating on her own husband with her work buddy, it wouldn't have ended had I not snuck in to obtain evidence!" Shinichi said with a serious expression.

"And don't forget about the time you almost died while tailing a suspect, as Ranran was driving the car she stole from God knows who, while you were sitting in the passenger seat!" his mother continued.

"I had to follow her to catch him red-handed!" Shinichi defended himself before arguing, "He was duping women online everywhere to hand in their savings! How can I not do anything!? And it was not possible for us to chase after him with Agasa's Motor-side car with the criminal fleeing on a Ferrari, Ranran had no choice but to hijack the car."

"It was a Lamborghini Gallardo, and she is only 6! How the hell is she able to drive a freaking car!?"

"Look, most of these were beyond anyone's control for that matter. But if were to talk about camping, something that deprive someone like Ranran, whose upbringing had been shaped by wealth and comfort, then there's no telling what lengths she might go to. I've seen what she's capable of when it comes to getting what she wants," Shinichi muttered, "This camping trip will just add fuel to the fire. She's going to see it as a competition, and she won't care who gets caught in the crossfire."

"Anyway, after that recent incident with Ranran hijacking a plane-"

"Correction, she was kidnapped by The Snake, so she needed a transport to head home, ok?" Shinichi corrected this fact evenly, much to the surprised of his parents. "Cars were locked, so the plane was the only option."

"She is six, Shinichi! Who on earth....teaches a child to fly a bloody plane?!" And anyway, back to the topic of camping." Shinichi's parents exchanged yet another look, both clearly at their wits' end. His father sighed deeply, rubbing his temples in frustration, "Look, Shinichi, your Kaa-san and I feel like you can't keep living life as if you are preparing for war, cause life isn't a constant case to be solved, and neither is every problem a puzzle you can dismantle piece by piece. There are some things in life that you have to accept, even if you don't like them. This camping trip, for example. It's an opportunity to be....free from all of the fear and uneasiness you have been bottling up these couple of days."

Shinichi opened his mouth to retort, but his father held up a hand, his voice firmer now. 

"Of course, we too are aware what is Ranran capable of," his father said. "We won't take no for an answer from you or her. Should she too find any case and you try to bail out by using her as an excuse, I had a word with her parents, and they too are sending Ranran camping as well. Activities from the association, will be on hiatus."

"This is... This is ridiculous," Shinichi muttered under his breath, his face darkening as he sunk back into his chair, his hands clenched into fists. "You can't just force us both on a camping trip neither of us plan on heading! That is our association, and we are both the leaders! What gave you both and her parents the right to do that!?" 

"Shinichi, we've given you both a lot of freedom in your detective activities, more than any child your age should have. But there are some boundaries we've set for you, and this trip... it's one of them."

His father's voice was steady, but there was a clear edge of finality to it. "You're not just leaders of the Tantei Association, Shinichi. You're children, and sometimes children need to experience things outside of their cases. This is a chance for you to get away from everything that's burdening you."

His parents left the room, leaving Shinichi alone with his thoughts. He couldn't believe they were forcing him to go on this stupid camping trip. He didn't want to spend two weeks in the wilderness, away from his books and puzzles.

But above all, he does not want to see Mouri Ran and Suzuki Sonoko. 

Cause seeing those two is worst than Ranran's schemes.

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

Perhaps the other kids from 1-A class had lower brain development compared to how Ranran and Shinichi felt about this camping trip since the moment camping finally reached their ears, they immediately jumped at the offer as if they were being possessed.

Volts of enthusiasm escaped from their mouths, even more so for their parents when they learn this trip was gonna be free.

And why was it free? Well, it turned out that the activity centre would be opening to children from various elementary schools, but first, they needed willing kids to act as guinea pigs.

Said school was unfortunately none other than Teitan Elementary.

Everything that was on offer for children: Rock climbing, canoeing, horse riding, and hillwalking. It sounded good and, no matter how hard one looked, neither of them could see a catch.

Around 9:30 am, the bus was supposed to set off. but by 9.45 am, the bus was still parked on the tarmac in front of the Teitan Elementary school entrance.

Their form teacher was pacing up and down, tapping a number into her smartphone and saying irritably, "Is she coming?"

The children of 1-A had gathered per scheduled, but it seemed like something was amiss.

"Why are we not leaving yet?" Takuma asked his girlfriend, Reina.

"Yeah, shouldn't we be leaving already?" Another child questioned.

Reina, who is also the class monitor of 1-A and Ranran's best friend, merely sigh and reply, "In case you are not aware, Ranran isn't here."

The moment Reina mentioned Ranran, the group of children fell silent for a moment, their eyes instinctively darting to the entrance of the school, wondering if she had managed to escape.

Since the entire 1-A is aware that Ranran openly hates camping, it ain't a surprise that she could not be found. She probably made herself vanish to avoid camping, and Takuma knew what she is capable of. "Well....why can't we just leave without her then?"

"You know how Ranran and.....his family works, right?" The monitor quietly direct Takuma's direction to the little black haired blue-eyed boy who strongly resembles Ranran, "As long as one has money, you know the drill." Reina's tone was low, almost in a whisper, as she glanced at the boy she was referring to.

"Shinichi-kun, are her parents sending her here or not?" complained the teacher as she approached the said boy in question.

"I ain't sure, but knowing them....they're probably stuck in traffic," said Shinichi reasonably.

"Wait, who is that coming?" Ran pointed at a luxurious-looking mini-cooper that was pulling up alongside them. At first, she could've mistaken it for her mother's, since after her mom split up from her dad, she bought this car after falling in love with its design through a friend.

But it ain't. They watched the driver climb out, revealing to be a beautiful youthful woman with a long lovely elegantly tied black bun, large almond eyes, red lipstick and dressed in her office wear. In a way, this woman left Ran the impression this was someone who knew how to take care of herself well.

Observing this woman from afar, the children, especially the little boys, can't help but fall for her exquisite beauty, noting she has some Caucasian features. But then seeing the ring on her fourth finger made it clear that she is taken from the market.

Shinichi who is seeing this, had his eyes grow wide in realization upon recognizing the woman, "Irene Obasan!?"

"Eh!?" All heads turned to Shinichi, wondering how in the hell did he know this woman.

"Ah Shin-chan, just a minute, will you?" With heels that clicked on the tarmac, she walked around to the passenger's side and yanked the door open. Then she started whispering fiercely to a shadowy figure in the front seat.

Whoever was in there clearly wasn't keen on moving, but eventually – probably to avoid the embarrassment of being humiliated – a  child got out revealing themself to be none other than Kudo Ranran.

"Ranran!?" Reina's jaw dropped, and so did the rest of the children, wondering what on earth is going on.

"Sorry, everyone. I apologize for the delay," The woman said, her teeth clenched with impatience. "Someone apparently made all of her shoes vanish into thin air to avoid camping on the day itself, and since all of the shoe stores are closed, the same someone assumed we won't be able to buy her a new pair, especially since my husband and I are off to work overseas. Even threatening to deduct that person's allowance did little to reveal a thing. But that someone had seemed to have forgotten that the in-laws had connections to make the shoe store open at anytime we want, so I bought those shoes at the last minute for her!"

Shinichi took a sneaky look at Ranran, staring innocently into space and her face was giving nothing away. Knowing her cunning streak, she definitely did that on purpose.

"It vanished without warning, mother," Ranran responded in English gleefully, but the mother was not having it.

Now the children of 1-A, English is like a second language to them. They may not be able to understand certain complicated phases, but they are aware of the word 'mother', so it shocked those kids except Shinichi to see that this beautiful woman is none other than Ranran's mother, since she is unusually young —barely out of her twenties if they were to be honest.

Hell, if they were to be honest, they almost mistook her for Ranran's elder sister to be exact.

The said young lady looked exasperated as she replied in the same language, "Don't you 'mother' me, young lady. You knew exactly what you were doing, didn't you?"

"No, I don't, not at all," Ranran glanced casually over to the minibus and for a moment her eyes met Shinichi's. In that split second, Shinichi could see not only that she had deliberately hidden them but also that he knew about her antics.

Meanwhile, Irene Obasan turned to the rest of the group, "I'm sorry for the delay. Ranran will be joining you shortly. We'll be heading off now." Seeing her daughter almost sneaking away, she caught her by the hand before telling her back in English, "As for you young lady, you are off camping! Don't bother walking your way back home, let alone, do anything funny to get yourself home for that matter!"

Failing to escape the strong grip of her mother, Ranran rolled her eyes, "Mother, camping sucks and it is a waste of time!"

"It ain't, and you know it!" She wheedled. "Your father and I had to catch a plane, and yet you didn't care and delayed our time thanks to your hatred for camping! Fresh air is exactly what you need, after spending far too much time on that computer of yours!"

Ranran groaning just ticks her mother even further.

"Ranran, don't be dramatic about camping! If I find out anything funny from the teacher, it won't just be your computer gaming time cut short! I will get your father to sell it off online if I have to!"

With that, she got back in her car and drove off, leaving Ranran standing alone on the tarmac, while the other kids snickered at the scene before them.

"Nice try," Shinichi suddenly came down the bus and stood behind Ranran, while staring at her sympathetically.

Her grin came and went so quickly that if he'd blinked he'd have missed it. "This sucks," she replied gloomily.

"You did your best."

"What about you, did you do anything to get out of it?"

"I did, it didn't work out. Making myself sick didn't do much in my favor." He lapsed into a miserable silence.

During the protocol of queuing up to the bus, when the teacher announced the kids to pair up with their partners outside their school, Shinichi quickly caught Ranran's hand and made her stand next to him, preventing Ran from doing a thing. He truly didn't want to sit right next to her, especially for 5 hours. He rather has Ranran around to scheme and ensure Ran doesn't stand a chance.

Predictably, Mouri Ran couldn't hide her disappointment as she paired up with Sonoko, but Shinichi couldn't be bothered. There are many things he is willing to forgive, but not when Ran is very hostile and murderous towards his mentor, Ranran.

As they boarded the bus, Shinichi couldn't help but feel relieved that he didn't have to sit next to her. He settled into his seat, taking out his notebook to write down some observations about the previous cases Tantei Association has worked on. Ranran who is sitting next to him seems to be on her smartphone, pressing on her left ear and conversing in English. Which wasn't out of the ordinary for him, since she has British friends overseas and had done this before.

But it was the words she accidentally let slip from her red lips that caught his interest.

Covering her lips with her free hand while speaking in a low voice over the phone, his ears can't help but pick up words, "There is a reservation made for one, right?"

And Shinichi who is familiar with English, but not familiar with British Slang, became intrigued and puzzled by Ranran's choice of words.

He couldn't help but wonder what Ranran was up to, especially since she was hiding it from him. He leaned in a little closer to her, trying to listen in on the conversation without being too obvious.

Ranran noticed him eavesdropping and gave him a sharp look. "Mind your own business, Shinichi," she said in a hushed voice, before turning back to her conversation.

Shinichi, however, was not one to give up easily. He was determined to find out what Ranran was hiding. He quickly pulled out his phone and searched for the slang term that Ranran had used. After a few moments, he found the meaning and his eyes widened in surprise.

He turned to Ranran, his curiosity piqued. "What's this about a reservation for one?" he asked.

Ranran gave him a sly grin. "Oh, nothing," she said, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "Just a little surprise I have planned for later."

Shinichi raised an eyebrow, unsure of what to make of her answer. He decided to let it go for the time being and focused on his notes instead. But he couldn't help but wonder what Ranran had in store.

Suddenly, the two heard a commotion at the back of the bus.

It was Sonoko and one of their classmate arguing about something, and the two could feel the tension rising. Matsuyuki Reina, Ranran's best friend who is sitting next to Reina's boyfriend, Hikari Takuma, decided to intervene before things got out of hand. It is her duty as a student president/ class monitor to ensure peace.

"What's going on?" Reina asked, walking over to where Sonoko and some other boy sitting in front of Sonoko.

"Her idiot backpack is too big and is taking up too much space," The boy replied, frowning before pointing to the space beneath his seat being occupied by Sonoko's bag.

"I did not!" Sonoko protested. "I just said it was a bit bulky."

Reina sighed, seeing where things are heading, "Suzuki, I warned you before the trip to not bring over many bags for camping. And look what happened?"

"I know, I know," Sonoko grumbled, but she didn't seem to be willing to move her bag.

"What things did you have to bring that you had to occupy the seat in front of you?" Reina approaches them before opening the bag, revealing quite the sight.

Inside the bag, multiple items were unnecessary for the camping trip, such as several pairs of shoes, and an assortment of clothes as soon as Reina took out of the bag to show to them, it earn odd looks at Sonoko. And her best friend, Ran, who is sitting next to her, didn't know whether to be amused or sympathetic.

As Reina took out the clothes from Sonoko's bag, the other kids on the bus looked on in surprise. Several items of clothing were clearly not suitable for a camping trip. First, there was a sparkly, sequined dress that would be more appropriate for a formal event than a weekend in the wilderness. There was also a pair of heeled shoes that would be completely impractical on a hiking trail.

Additionally, several other items of clothing seemed to be more fashion-focused than practical, including a fur-trimmed coat, a frilly blouse, and a short skirt. As Reina held up each item for everyone to see, the other kids couldn't help but shake their heads in disbelief. It was clear that Sonoko had completely missed the point of the camping trip.

"Bruh, why did you bring such clothes? Are you attending a fashion show, Suzuki?" Takuma, who is also Ranran's friend, snickered at the choice of clothes.

Sonoko frowned, clearly embarrassed by the sudden attention. "Hey, I just wanted to look good," she protested, crossing her arms over her chest.

"You do know we are going to be in the wilderness, right?" Ranran pointed out, "Full of mosquitoes? Likely raining and stepping on tons of mud anywhere we go?"

Sonoko rolled her eyes. "I know, I know. But I need to look good for myself, okay?"

"Who are you trying to show off for? Deers? Wolves? Even a Bear would flee seeing you dressed up in that fur coat." Shinichi's comment made everyone laugh.

Sonoko pouted, feeling the weight of the embarrassment. "Okay, okay, I get it," she muttered, her cheeks flushing red. "I'll put them away."

Reina, being the peacemaker, stepped in. "Alright, let's all settle down now. We have a long bus ride ahead of us, so let's just try to get along, okay?" she said, trying to diffuse the tension.

The rest of the bus ride was uneventful, with the group passing the time by playing games and chatting. Shinichi kept to himself during the bus ride, listening to his music through earphones and trying to ignore the chatter of his classmates. But he can't help but wonder about Ranran's mysterious phone call.