Ranran's grin widened before directing her gaze at Ran and Sonoko, "You two, I know we hate each other, and I justifiably despise you for owning Shinichi as if he were a doll, however, considering we are all victims of Mamiko, do you girls want to take turns slapping the two despicable siblings?"

Clearly taken aback by Ranran's unexpected proposition, the vice principal and the horrible siblings watched them, her expression a mix of defiance and begrudging curiosity. Ranran's eyes gleamed with mischief, fully aware of the weight of her proposal. "It's only fair, isn't it? After all, we've all suffered because of their actions. This way, we can all have a 'hand' in delivering justice."

"Good intended pun." Takuma is amuse while he and Emiko gave a silent nod.

Ran took a deep breath, considering the offer carefully. She knew that this was a rare opportunity to hold Mamiko and Amaya accountable for the pain they had caused. With a determined nod, she stepped forward.

"I have made my decision," she declared, her voice steady. She approached Mamiko, who stood there with a mix of apprehension and defiance.

Mamiko's eyes widened in disbelief, realizing that she was about to face yet another round of retribution. She braced herself, her face tense.

"This is for making me suffer 2 months of hell which led Shinichi cut ties with me, putting up with Ranran's schemes, making me blame her for every single fault I made when she was innocent, as well as ruining Sonoko's life and messing with Rokuro's feelings, you bastard!" Ran's hand struck out, delivering a sharp slap to Mamiko's cheek. The sound echoed through the hallway, a resounding punctuation mark to the culmination of events. Mamiko staggered back, her face now marked with a fresh red handprint.

Sonoko watched the scene, her expression a mixture of astonishment and admiration. She hesitated for a moment before stepping forward. "My turn," she said, her voice resolute. She approached Amaya, who stood there with a mixture of defiance and apprehension.

Amaya's eyes widened, realizing that he was next in line. He braced himself, his face tense.

"This is for stealing and manipulating Tantei Geek for your psychotic sister, as well as framing me and so many other children!" Sonoko's hand struck out, delivering a sharp slap to Amaya's cheek. The onlookers watched in stunned silence, the weight of the moment settling heavily on them. Even the vice principal seemed taken aback by the turn of events.

"Alright," Ranran whistled, "Last round-"

"You still ain't done!?" Mamiko and the others are about to explode at any given time.

"Now, now," Ranran teased, "Just one more round and we'll be done with this. It's only fair, isn't it?"

Mamiko's face was a storm of indignation, her eyes practically shooting daggers at Ranran. Amaya, on the other hand, looked like he was on the verge of tears, his pride clearly wounded.

"Hey, to the children watching this," Ranran called out to them, "Especially the ones who Mamiko and Amaya bullied, if you guys have pent up resentment towards them rightfully so, I would suggest all of you to form a beeline and unleash it on them. You can choose not to do it if you want, but this will be the once in a lifetime opportunity that will slip out of your hands if you guys choose not to."

The children who had been victims of Mamiko and Amaya's bullying looked at each other, their faces a mix of surprise, uncertainty, and a glimmer of hope. This was an unexpected turn of events, and they hadn't anticipated being given a chance to have a hand in delivering justice.

Slowly, one by one, they began to step forward, forming a determined line. Each of them wore expressions of resolve, a silent declaration that they were ready to confront the tormentors who had made their lives miserable.

Mamiko and Amaya watched in growing horror as the line of children extended. Their faces paled, realizing that they were about to face a wave of retribution from those they had wronged.

"Jesus, look how long the lines are!" Michio directed Junko's gaze from the windows of their second HQ, as they peered down at the unfolding scene below. The hallway was filled with children, each waiting their turn to deliver a measure of justice to Mamiko and Amaya.

Junko's eyes widened in astonishment. "I didn't think this many kids were affected by them."

Michio nodded solemnly. "I can count, 20....nope, definitely more than a 100."

"There is no way Amaya and Mamiko are likely to survive this." Junko's gaze remained fixed on the hallway below.

Even Takuma and Emiko were shocked to see this among the crowd, as they observed the remarkable display of solidarity from the children who had endured Mamiko and Amaya's cruelty.

"This is unprecedented," Takuma mused, his voice tinged with amazement.

"I love a sweet dose of karma, especially if it continues on and on," Emiko nodded in agreement.

Back in the hallway, Mamiko and Amaya were now faced with an overwhelming queue of children, each waiting their turn to deliver a measure of retribution. Angry, Mamiko yelled at Ranran, "Who the hell you think you are, Kudo Ranran!? Are you not afraid that the principal might come!?"

"He is out on a work trip, did you forget that? For 2 weeks?" Ranran taunted.

"You she-demon!" Mamiko's voice cracked with desperation. "You are a monster!"

"Call me what you want, Mamiko," Ranran retorted, her voice steady. "But I'm not the one who tormented others for months on end. This is justice, plain and simple."

Mamiko's brother's face grew pale and trembling, looked around at the sea of faces, each filled with a mixture of anger and determination. Even Mamiko couldn't find any solace or support among them.

"You did this to yourselves," Shinichi scoffed. "All I am seeing is retribution."

The onlookers watched in a mix of astonishment and satisfaction as the siblings faced the retribution they had long deserved. Soon, the hallway was filled with the resounding echoes of slaps.

Ranran watched the scene with satisfaction, knowing that this was a pivotal moment. It was a chance for the victims to reclaim their power and for Mamiko and Amaya to face the consequences of their actions.

"Now," Ranran announced, her voice steady, "Each of you take your turn, and let it be known that justice prevails."

"This is for throwing mud on my desk!" Slap.

"This is for throwing my books in the bin!" Slap.

"This is for kicking me like a soccer ball!" Slap.

"This is for stealing my money!" Slap.

The echoes of slaps reverberated through the hallway, each one a testament to the pain and suffering Mamiko and Amaya had inflicted on their victims. The siblings stood there, their faces marked with fresh red handprints, their once-defiant demeanour now replaced with a mixture of pain and humiliation.

The vice principal, still seething with resentment, could only watch as her niece and nephew faced the consequences of their actions. She knew that there was no way to salvage the situation now.

As soon as all of this is over, the vice principal angrily confronts Ranran, "Now, are we officially done?!"

"Yes, for good." Ranran's smile widened.

"Now, leave," The vice principal ordered, her voice cold and sharp, before shouting at the others, "What are you kids looking at!? Do you want me to drag all of you into detention!?"

The students, who had been watching the confrontation in stunned silence, quickly averted their gaze and scattered, not wanting to incur the vice principal's wrath. The stars of the show wasted no time in leaving the scene. They walked away from the hallway, the echoes of the slaps still hanging in the air.

But before they left, the sharp voice of that one girl declared, "Kudo Ranran! This is all your fault! One day, you shall pay!"

Amaya's own frustration was palpable. He clenched his fists, his eyes locked onto the founder of the association. "You all will regret this. I promise you that."

As Mamiko and Amaya retreated, the atmosphere in the hallway seemed to shift. The onlookers exchanged knowing looks, recognizing that the balance of power had irrevocably changed.

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

After that, the rest of the students in the hallway exchanged murmurs of shock and awe after that incident.

The events that had just unfolded had been nothing short of a revelation. The Envious Weasels' grip on the school had finally been broken. For a while, everything passed in a strange, subdued atmosphere. The events of the confrontation hung heavily over the students and faculty alike.

When the final bell rang, signalling the end of the day, the students hurriedly filed out of the school, eager to put the day's events behind them. As Ranran and Shinichi were packing their things, with plans to head to the main HQ of Tantei Association, Shinichi's former friend, Mouri Ran approached their desk.

As the brunette stood before Ranran and Shinichi, her expression was a mixture of apprehension and something akin to regret.

"Ranran and Shinichi, I..." As she began, her voice carried a note of genuine remorse.

But Ranran still regarded her cautiously, her guard still up. "Please, no more. I am done."

"So am I." Shinichi sighed.

"No, not that," Ran took a deep breath, steeling herself. "I...want to....rejoin Tantei Association."

An unsurprised Ranran replied, "You left on your own volition."

"I know that," Ran took a deep breath, steeling herself. "I-"

"Please don't tell me that you still have 'feelings' for me, after what you did through Mamiko's manipulation, I can't deal with it anymore." Shinichi admits wearily.

"No, it's not that," Ran replied, shaking her head. "I've done a lot of thinking, especially after the past 2 weeks since my meddling....I honestly can't live with the horrible things I did to the whole lot of you during my time there."

Ranran exchanged a sceptical glance with Shinichi, clearly not convinced by the sudden change of heart.

"I don't expect you to trust me right away," Ran continued, her voice earnest. "Which is why I propose a contract, that leans in Ranran's favour more."

Ranran's eyebrows raised in surprise. This was a completely unexpected turn of events. She exchanged a glance with Shinichi, who seemed equally taken aback.

"A contract?" Shinichi repeated, trying to process the offer.

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

"What is taking Ranran and Shinichi so long?"

Junko asked Michio as the two, soon joined by Emiko, Takuma, and surprisingly, their former member Mouri Ran, while all of them waited outside the hallway of the main HQ of Tantei Association.

"They are settling the contract for Ran, after a roller coaster 2 months, it ain't surprising why they had to take the time to set up stricter contracts," Emiko observed.

Michio and the others nodded in understanding. It was clear that after everything they had been through, Ranran and Shinichi were taking extra precautions to ensure the integrity of Tantei Association.

As they waited, Michio couldn't help but glance over at Mouri Ran. Her presence there was unexpected, and her request to rejoin the association had taken them all by surprise.

"You really want to rejoin, huh?" Junko finally spoke up, her tone still laced with a hint of scepticism.

"I don't like Tantei work," Ran met their gazes, her expression earnest. "But want to make amends for everything I did, and 2 months is the least I can do. Since the two are not comfortable being around me after everything had happened."

Junko and the others exchanged glances. It was clear that Ran was sincere in her desire to make amends. Still, trust would need to be rebuilt, and that would take time.

"We'll have to see how things go," Takuma finally responded, his voice measured. "I mean after all of the things you and Sonoko did to her, it won't be surprising if the rules that came out of the contract for you happen to be....'unfair' in your own words."

"Mouri Ran, it's time for you to enter," Shinichi called out to her, urging her to come in after sliding open the door.

Ran took a deep breath, nodding in understanding. She knew that she had a long road ahead of her, one that would require her to prove her sincerity and commitment.

As Ran stepped into the Tantei Association headquarters, she couldn't help but feel a mix of apprehension and determination. She was ready to face the consequences of her actions and work towards redemption.

Inside, the room was filled with the familiar presence of her former teammates. Ranran, Shinichi, Emiko, Junko, Michio, and Takuma regarded her with a mixture of curiosity and cautious optimism.

"Alright, let's get down to business," Ranran's tone was business-like, and she wasted no time in laying out the terms of the contract.

"Just like the previous conditions I set out in the previous contracts, it ain't any different. But there are a couple of changes made." she began, her voice steady.

"The first condition is that....considering you just rejoined the association, any matters involving your bad blood with Mamiko, I am not allowed to intervene." she began, her voice steady.

"Eh, why?" Ran asked.

"Well, you called the degrading word not long ago onto Mamiko and Amaya's mother." Ranran gave her a look, "Judging her expression with him earlier, although she is, in fact, an enemy to the association, if I keep defending you under the name of the association, it will ruin the reputation."

Sensing further confusion, Shinichi took over while he bluntly said, "Ran, your reputation in school....it plummeted drastically thanks to Mamiko and Amaya's schemes. And if we're to fight your battles, she and he could make it sound as if we are making up excuses to clear your act to keep the reputation of Tantei Association clean."

Shinichi's blunt statement hit her harder. She couldn't deny the truth in his words. Her reputation had indeed suffered due to Mamiko and Amaya's manipulations. It was a harsh reality to confront.

"I see," she said, her tone subdued. "I... I understand the reasoning behind that condition. But wait," It suddenly dawned on Ran, "But earlier in school, Ranran-san was able to get the vice principal in trouble.

"You need to understand that the situation with the vice principal was different," Shinichi nodded, acknowledging Ran's observation. "When Ranran did that, although it is related to the association, she was doing that to protect the rest of the members alone because Mamiko and Amaya knowingly endangered us all. Also, Mamiko didn't hesitate to endanger Ranran's life, which crossed the line big time."

"If Ranran dies, the entire association is dunzo," Takuma admits with caution, "Shinichi isn't fully experienced, although Ranran had granted him more responsibilities these past 2 months, and he is experienced enough to call the shots left and right, without Ranran, he will crumble due to stress," he paused to glance at Michio, Emiko, Junko, and Ran, "and the others aren't skilled enough to do much due to their experience."

"What about the last time when Junko, Ranran and I were kidnapped?" Ran recalled, "I heard Shinichi ended up having to run the association."

"That was an exceptional circumstance," Emiko chimed in, her tone serious. "Ranran willed his name should she pass away while on duty, so Shinichi had no choice but to step up."

Ran absorbed the explanations, slowly coming to terms with the nuances of the situation. She realized that the conditions set for her return were not arbitrary but were shaped by the unique circumstances surrounding her actions and the association's reputation.

"Now that you are hearing it, do you want to check out?" Ranran suggests.

"No, I asked for it," Ran said, her voice reflecting her growing comprehension. "I was a horrible meddler who didn't know better."

"Next cause, here," Ranran directed her gaze with a pen, "Meddling for the safety of others is out of the question. The only ones who are allowed to do the meddling within the association are" me, and only me."

Ranran's words were clear and resolute, leaving no room for misunderstanding. It was evident that she was determined to maintain a strict order within the association, especially when it came to matters of intervention and meddling.

"Understood," Ran said, signing her name below the clause. She recognized the importance of having clear boundaries and responsibilities within the association.

"Good," Ranran nodded in approval. "Next, if you seriously don't like the way I am handling the cases that may result in dangerous outcomes, rather than meddling, raise your hand and voice out why. I rather you say out rather than keep your mouth shut and fume."

"Got it," she affirmed.

"Next one, considering Rokuro found out about the location of our HQ thanks to your idiot friend who can't understand what keeping her mouth shut is, she isn't allowed to know the full details of any case we handle." Ran listened attentively and nodded in agreement, understanding the rationale behind each one.

"Understood," she said, acknowledging the importance of open communication and maintaining the confidentiality of their operations.

As the discussion continued, Ran felt a renewed sense of purpose. She was eager to prove herself and demonstrate her commitment to the association. The conditions set forth by Ranran were fair and reasonable, and she was determined to adhere to them without fail.

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

Once Ran was done signing the contract, and the rest of the children left since there was nothing better to do, Ranran and Shinichi were the last ones to remain in the HQ, packing their belongings before deciding to walk home.

"When we were discussing the contract, I was surprised that you are willing to let her in, especially after all of the level of scheming you had pulled to ensure she left us," Shinichi said.

"I don't like her, and neither do you, but considering she made a mess of things with Mamiko and Amaya, it only seems fair to take her back in." Ranran wasn't looking at Shinichi, arranging the books on the table before putting them into her rondesu bag.

"Even so....letting her back in, will things be alright?" Shinichi finally asked, his voice quiet.

"Honestly, no, I don't expect things to be smooth sailing." Ranran paused for a moment, considering the question. "Then again, for 2 weeks since solving our 7th major case, she really is persistent in digging out Mamiko and Amaya's lies just to return everything to the way things were before, which for once, tells me she finally put her brain to good use."

Shinichi nodded, processing Ranran's words.

As they walked home together, Shinichi had to ask one thing, "That video of Rokuro breaking and entering to attack you....were you the one who sent it to Mamiko?"

Ranran's steps faltered for a moment, a fraction of a second where her guard seemed to drop.

"That video angle recording the attack was the same video your Edgewood friends sent it to me," Shinichi deduces, "And the only way for Mamiko to obtain it, was that someone sent it to her before she uploaded it on the confession site."

"You're sharp," she acknowledged, her gaze fixed on the path ahead.

"I learn from the best."

"Did you?"

"Of course," Shinichi had his hands stuffed in his pants pocket, "When did you figure out about the video's existence?"

"On the flight back home," Ranran replied thoughtfully as they walked. "I was asleep, but I overheard parts of the conversation. After seeing Ran and Sonoko covered in bruises back at the airport in New York, it only made sense that my Edgewood friends were behind it. Ran is after all a martial artist with talented raw strength, the only ones who are capable of overpowering her could be no other than my second family."

"Ah....is that so?"

"I can't blame them for doing that to Ran and Sonoko after what I had to deal with. But I didn't want their names slandered, which is why I had someone anonymously send the video to Mamiko, because I knew she would be more than happy to upload it at the confession site for the sake of upgrading her profile as a wannabe journalist."

"But you framed Mamiko, are you not worried Ran will find out one day?"

Ranran remained quiet for a moment, her thoughts seemingly far away. It was clear that Shinichi's deduction had hit close to the mark.

"Truthfully I can't blame you, cause I have been there." Shinichi was saddened for a bit, "We were all pushed into doing this."

The founder knowingly nodded in silence. "Mouri Ran had been under her influence for over 2 months indirectly, saying and showing the evidence wouldn't do us favours. But...if one were to supply Mamiko the gun as she fired the shot, it was the best way to expose her as the shooter in front of Ran-san after all." Ranran's gaze turned thoughtful, her eyes fixed on the path ahead. "Creating a situation where Mamiko's actions would be exposed, and she'd be the one responsible for it, while no one knows who sent Mamiko the video...it really was the best way to ensure she couldn't escape the consequences."

"Especially after everything Mamiko and Amaya put us through, it only made sense to frame Mamiko further to avoid victims falling to her lies." Shinichi's voice was tinged with bitterness.

As they continued their walk home, the weight of their recent actions hung heavily in the air. They both knew that what they had done was not without its moral complexities, but they also understood that it was a necessary step to reclaim their lives from Mamiko and Amaya's manipulation.

"By the way, Ranran," Shinichi found himself asking, "How did you know Shoji and Ryoko weren't happy bullying others in school?"

"When I was looking into the bullying Mamiko was causing to Moriko at that time, that is what I learned from the rest of Mamiko's bullying victims," she began, choosing her words carefully. "Every single child I know of who was bullied under Mamiko or Amaya told me how Shoji would secretly put boxes of plaster, detergent, and many other things in their desk once the 'act' is finished in school."

Shinichi listened, his expression growing more serious as Ranran spoke.

"Although no one saw Shoji in person, they suspected it was him because his step-father works at our school infirmary, and the kids who knew him said he was not given a lot of the allowance to keep buying all of that medical stuff for those bullied victims. A real bully will never bother to put those things for their victims to heal, but Shoji did. I think it ate him on the inside, each time he kept on hurting those children because Amaya was holding his dream hostage with his mother's influence and connections. Furthermore, I think he was lying when he supposedly 'despised' his step-father."

"And you know this, because....?" Shinichi quipped.

"Last year, after that parkour incident, enraged that Shoji played a part in 'breaking my leg' at that time, his biological mother was so angry over this matter that she had every single piece of furniture in Shoji's bedroom: Bed, computer, desks, shelves, you name it, all emptied out and sold in some yard sale, forcing him to sleep without as punishment, with hopes that he would be remorseful over his actions."

Shinichi's eyes widened in surprise. "That's... quite the revelation."

"During that period, when all of this was going on, his relationship with his mother and step-father was very strained to a point beyond return. Even up till now, it has been a difficult time for him, especially since he was forced to accept the fact that he is no longer a single child, but is forced to share everything with a sibling his mother had with someone who isn't his real dad, If that wasn't bad enough, all of those pieces of furniture was bought by his loving deceased maternal grandfather at that time, which is why it wasn't a surprise later one over he snapped immediately."

Shinichi listened intently to Ranran's recounting of the situation, his expression growing more sombre with each detail.

"But then, during one of the cases we were working on at that time involving a storage unit, I accidentally came across his step-father's name on the storage unit rental agreement. When I asked around what was in the unit, they recounted this story to me, that the husband, his step-dad, actually had managed to convince his wife to keep it in the storage unit. And Shoji only found out about it around this year by accident, when the storage unit company contacted their house address to ask whether they would be paying for the following month since the monthly payments were delayed."

Shinichi nodded, processing the revelation.

"I even went through the footage I collected through the bug cameras I installed in our school, it turns out he hangs out there in the infirmary a lot, they bicker all the time violently, but you can tell he was a clearcut Tsundere to his step-father. And I used to see Shoji kept on taking stuff out of the medicine cabinets, which is how I later knew he was the one who kept secretly giving those bullied victims those medical stuff."

The apprentice took in all this information, his mind working to piece together the complex dynamics within Shoji's family. It was clear that there were underlying tensions and conflicts that contributed to Shoji's behaviour. "What about Ryoko?"

"Ryoko had it worst," Ranran's expression grew grim, "Before that, his real dad wasn't a homeless man."

"Eh!?"

"He was a son of a wealthy family," Ranran explained, "So was Ryoko's biological mom at that time."

The apprentice's eyes widened in surprise. The revelation added another layer of complexity to Ryoko's backstory. "So, what happened?" Shinichi asked, his curiosity piqued.

"His dad had plans for Ryoko to inherit the family business," Ranran continued. "But things fell apart when he was caught running a prostitution ring at a high school."

"EEEEEH!?"

"That's right," Ranran affirmed, her expression grave. "It was a major scandal, and at that time....I don't know if I should share this."

"Why? Tell me," Shinichi urged her to speak.

Ranran hesitated for a moment, clearly weighing the decision. Finally, she let out a resigned sigh and continued. "The prostitutes.....they are all high schoolers."

Shinichi's eyes widened in shock and horror. The revelation was beyond unsettling, and it cast a dark shadow over Ryoko's past.

"That's... beyond messed up," he finally managed to say, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Ranran nodded, her expression sombre. "It was a truly horrifying situation, and it completely shattered Ryoko's father's life. The scandal was all over the news, and his family was utterly disgraced Making matters worse he was caught with a 14-year-old when he was around 17 at that time, which is why later the family turned their backs on him, leaving him with nothing. That's when he ended up on the streets, homeless."

"That girl whom Ryoko's dad was caught with-"

"Is Ryoko's mother," Ranran replied, "She found out she was pregnant with Ryoko after everything with Ryoko's dad fell down the drain."

Shinichi's expression darkened as he took in the gravity of the situation. "Does Ryoko know?"

"The only thing he knew is that the father is homeless, but not the prostitution part."

"It's no wonder he ended up mixed up with people like Mamiko and Shoji," Shinichi mused. "It's like he was set up to fail from the start."

They walked in silence for a moment, the weight of the revelations settling heavily between them. It was a stark reminder of how deeply personal experiences and traumas could shape a person's path in life.

"But it is so unlike you to be forgiving towards them, especially after how they tried to humiliate you last year," Shinichi found himself saying.

"Don't get me wrong, I still ain't forgiving." Ranran bashfully responded to that, "But there is a saying that one can't keep using the same trick multiple times." Kicking a nearby pebble, she goes, "Punishing and exposing them would've been something I am tempted to do, but if I keep doing that, they would merely glue themselves to Amaya while continuing to hate everything around them, with that feeling the world is against them. But by offering them a way out, and by acknowledging their frustration that their feelings aren't taken seriously, they will realize remaining with Amaya will not do them good in the long run. Of course."

Ranran kicked another pebble, "Doing this is a long shot, and I'm not naive enough to believe they'll change overnight. But I think it's worth a try, for their sake and for everyone in Teitan Elementary School."

Shinichi listened to Ranran's reasoning, his gaze thoughtful. He understood the complexity of the situation and recognized that sometimes, giving people a chance at redemption was a way to break the cycle of negative behaviour. Even so....

"What are we going to do with those two siblings, Amaya and Mamiko?" The apprentice questioned his mentor.

"Well, let's put it bluntly: We can't kick them out thanks to her mother's 'influential career', even now, I don't know how deep her connections in the world of the wealthy go. If I do, I would've gotten them expelled months ago." Ranran spoke sarcastically. "But what we can do is torment them in ways unimaginable, just like how they did to you, Ran and Sonoko through emotional manipulation."

Shinichi listened intently to Ranran's plan, her determination evident in her voice. He knew that it was a risky endeavour, but he also understood that sometimes, unconventional methods were necessary to break through deeply ingrained patterns of behaviour.

"Thanks to Mouri, they are pushed beneath their status of being 'Pariahs of Teitan Elementary school'," Ranran's grins widened, "But since they can't go after me with the cards I had against them at my disposal, the only person they will go after is Mouri since she stole Mamiko's laptop and humiliated them to the extreme."

"So, they'll be desperate to strike back at her, especially now that they're feeling cornered. Wait a minute," He stopped before whipping his head to Ranran, "If you knew this, then why did you put that rule in the contract?"

"If we intervene, Mamiko will misunderstand that Ran is our Achilles heel, and proceed to gleefully attack her," Rubbing her chin, Ranran expresses to him, "Although the rule I implemented will put Mouri in a very risky spot, by then, Mouri will come to resent us again through her inferiority if we do things for her, and we don't want that. But by letting Mouri fight on her own, I believe she will be able to not only learn how to fend off Mamiko and Amaya but come to terms that it would be better to be her own person rather than envy others."

The apprentice nodded in understanding. It was a delicate balance they had to strike, allowing Ranran's plan to unfold while also ensuring that Mouri didn't feel abandoned or betrayed.

They continued their walk, the weight of their mission heavy in the air.

"What about Shoji and Ryoko? What if Amaya succeeded in pressuring them again into joining him once more?" Shinichi grew worried.

"As for those two, I will be monitoring them from afar," Ranran continued, "Anyone who just ventured out after having their egos put under such misery for a long duration, especially since they have been under Amaya for over 1 to 2 years, will have a lot of doubts towards their talent, even though there is nothing wrong with their abilities. So if they face challenges in their dream that they struggle to overcome, they might be susceptible to falling back to old habits. I won't step in if they fail certain things in their new life, however, I will do so if that damn Amaya tried to do anything funny."

"It's a careful balance we have to maintain," Shinichi acknowledged. "We can't afford to let our guard down, especially with someone as cunning as Mamiko."

Ranran gave a firm nod, her eyes focused ahead. "Especially Mouri Ran and Suzuki Sonoko, your two former friends who had been duped by Mamiko for so long....they are bound to have a hard life ahead of them."

"It's going to be a tough journey for them," Shinichi said, his voice tinged with concern. "They've been manipulated for so long, although they finally break free from Mamiko's influence...I don't know if Mamiko will let them walk away after causing such a ruckus."

"In the first place, Mamiko had it coming for her." Ranran chuckled.

Shinichi couldn't help but let out a small laugh as well. Despite the seriousness of the situation, there was a sense of satisfaction in knowing that they were finally turning the tables on Mamiko and Amaya.

"True. They've caused so much pain and suffering, it's only fair that they face the consequences of their actions."

As they continued their walk, the determination to see their plan through burned brightly within them. However, there was one more thing he was worried about. "Neh Ranran."

"Hmph?"

"That vice-principal, Kohoku sensei...." Shinichi didn't want to bring up her name, but he had to, "Are we going to be alright? I mean....you made her slap Amaya and Mamiko in front of everyone. And you blackmailed her upfront. Are you not worried this will reach the ears of the principal?"

Ranran's expression grew serious as she considered Shinichi's question. "Honestly, no." Shinichi's eyes widened in concern, "However, as I said earlier....their family had more to lose if they tried anything funny, so they have no choice but to keep the leash tight on Mamiko and Amaya. Don't forget, she is after all Mamiko and Amaya's maternal aunt, she has ways to make sure all of the kids in our school keep things quiet. And that itself...is enough."

Shinichi nodded, taking in Ranran's explanation. It was clear that they were walking on a razor's edge, and the consequences of their actions with the vice-principal could have far-reaching effects. "Why don't we call Kōchō (Principal)-sensei over? Get her fired so that she can't do much to us." Shinichi suggested, "He doesn't tolerate this kind of nonsense towards the students within our school."

The principal in question Shinichi was referring to is 48-year-old Ryujiro Uematsu, having taken over the office since he was around 29 years old, he had a kind reputation and held strong principles in regard to anyone vandalizing the school buildings within the premises of Teitan Elementary school.

The reason why Shinichi suggested his name, was that after he analyzed all of the twisted videos Mamiko had bullied the other students, as well as made shady deals with the male teachers who are currently in contact with her mother, he wasn't caught in the video interacting with her according to Mamiko's interactions with one of the teachers. Furthermore, he did an intense background check and so far, he is a very pious man. Though, at times, he can be a bit eccentric, since he has a tendency to play pranks on his colleagues whenever the opportunity presents itself.

"Getting her fired would do us good, but then I wouldn't have had any control over Mamiko or Amaya if anything were to happen to me," Ranran huffed in disappointment, "I did consider that thought many many times whenever Mamiko schemed around to tarnish my name, but at that time, I was also busy juggling as The Fox and didn't want anybody to catch on, doing that would mean I would have nothing against Mamiko and Amaya to hold on to. Especially their devious mother. Also, right now, we are both running Tantei Association, without this, our heads would end up on the chopping block."

"You have a point," Shinichi mulled over the dilemma, his expression thoughtful. "It's better to deal against the enemy, but not do it with an empty deck. Especially since we are both children."

It was times like this when Shinichi couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards Ranran. Her cunning abilities were still as top-notch as it is. Though, Ranran looks sad as she sighs, "I wonder if there will ever come the day that Amaya and Mamiko will never be released to society ever again, given the laws here are not harsh on children who are maliciously evil."

Shinichi's gaze shifted to the ground as he contemplated Ranran's words. It was a grim reality they faced, knowing that the legal system might not be equipped to handle children like Amaya and Mamiko, who had orchestrated such a web of manipulation and cruelty. The thought was sobering.

"There will come a day, Ranran." Shinichi insists.

"Eh?"

His voice carried a note of determination that resonated with Ranran. She looked at him, her eyes searching his face for any trace of doubt.

"There will come a day when they'll face the consequences of their actions," he repeated, his voice unwavering. "Her mother may have the power and connections, and yes, the legal system might be a failure to us, but....I always believe karma will come for them."

"Shinichi...."

"Your Edgewood friends once told me 'Give them a fate worse than death' is a befitting punishment for anyone who got away with their sins, and we should resort to that if justice fails us all. People like them....atoning for their sins will never be enough to justify the suffering they put us all through. Cause if there is no justice, the world we live in will never be peaceful as long as we live."

She saw the fire in his eyes, the unwavering determination to see justice served. It was a sentiment she shared, even if she had to weigh it with a more pragmatic approach.

"If they ever continue to manipulate and lie, all of those things they say were merely living on borrowed time." Shinichi declared, "The truth, however, is like a blade. It cuts through lies, no matter how many layers they hide behind. And they lack that luxury, but we do not."

Ranran nodded, her red lips pressed into a thin line. She knew they were diving headfirst into a murky sea of secrets and deceit, and there was no turning back now. "You have a point," Ranran cracked a sardonic smile. "Piece by piece, until they're left with nothing but the tattered remnants of their own deception."