T.A series Volume 7: Feathers of Fury

Chapter 12 - Rebellion

"Neh Tak-san, did you notice how tense Ran was back there?" Michio asked Takuma as they waited outside Michio's mom's boutique shop for the cab to arrive, while Ranran and Shinichi packed their necessities.

"Yeah, it was bizarre. Normally whenever Ranran says anything that Ran doesn't like to hear, she stubbornly talks back, but today she seemed completely different," Takuma replied, scratching his head in confusion.

"And did you see her trembling whenever she saw Ranran or Shinichi? It's like she was scared of them or something," Michio added.

Takuma nodded, "I wonder what's going on. Something must have happened to make her act like that."

"Maybe it has something to do with the break-in and the attacker," Michio suggested. "Ranran said those girls are not to join us and pay Professor Shibuya a visit, except us boys plus Shinichi alone. Could it be that she didn't trust Mouri? That Mouri could have been the one who knew about the intruder coming over to attack her?"

"Could be," Takuma agreed. "I know Mouri Ran has been hating Ranran to death after Shinichi became her apprentice, and was hell-bent on making Ranran's life miserable. It ain't no secret that she and Ranran don't get along. But as much as she is capable...why wouldn't she reveal the identity of the attacker?"

"I think it's because Mouri-san knew that person, and I may have a hunch as to who this person is," Michio pondered.

"Really? Who?" Takuma asked, intrigued by Michio's suspicion.

"Rokuro."

"EH!?" Takuma reacted in shock, "That 'Rokuro'!? The same asshole 3rd grader who framed Shinichi for throwing in the punches last month!? Wait, how do you know!?"

Michio took a deep breath before continuing, "Before you all headed out for camping during all your class trips, Shinichi contacted me to look into Rokuro."

"He did? But why would he ask you to investigate Rokuro?" Takuma questioned.

"Several weeks ago, while Shinichi went out to buy lunch for himself, he saw Rokuro and Sonoko by accident under the same mall they were in from afar," Michio revealed.

"What!?" Takuma's jaw dropped in horror, "Shinichi saw them here!? In Beikai district!? But I remembered according to him, Rokuro's parents moved to another city! What on earth is he doing here!?"

"No clue, but Shinichi suspected that Sonoko could've been secretly contacting Rokuro to let him know what Ranran had been doing to Ran, which is why Rokuro has returned here in the first place: In the name of revenge for Ran's sake, he went after Ranran," Michio said.

"Man, that's messed up," Takuma growled in anger thinking about it,  running his fingers through his hair in frustration. "If Rokuro really is behind all this, then he's even more twisted than I thought!"

"Yeah, and there is more," Michio said, his expression darkening.

"Like what?" Takuma demanded he shared more.

"Mana Yoshida, the boy whom you all got expelled from the school, met up with Rokuro."

"No way! Say what now!?" Takuma's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Yes, I discovered it when following Rokuro one day after school. I saw them talking and exchanging something," Michio explained.

"Ugh, this just keeps getting worse and worse. First, Rokuro attacks Ranran, and now he's involved with Mana. What could they possibly be up to?" Takuma rubbed his temples, trying to make sense of the situation.

"I don't know, but it can't be anything good," Michio replied grimly.

"Nothing can ever be good as long as those two are connected through Ishibashi Mamiko, Majima-san," Takuma spat, outraged that he is learning all of these disturbing details, "Does Ranran know about this?"