T.A series Volume 7: Feathers of Fury

Chapter 18 - Agonizing Pain

For 6-year-old Kudo Shinichi, his child Tantei career as an apprentice had brought him all sorts of surprises.

From uncovering petty thefts at school to solving complex cases involving a ruby heist, a missing extra, and even a serial killer on the island, Shinichi's child Tantei career was far from ordinary. Each case brought its own set of surprises and twists, keeping him on his toes and sharpening his detective skills.

So to hear Tiffany say that Mouri Ran, his former 6-year-old friend, had misguided feelings towards him was a huge shock.

Indeed, Tiffany's revelation about Mouri Ran's misguided feelings towards him was unexpected and shocking for the young Shinichi. He had never considered the possibility that his childhood friend's actions were driven by her feelings for him. "Tiffany, what are you talking about?"

The noble girl sighed and looked at Shinichi with a mix of sympathy and concern. "You know what Ranran told me about my past right?"

"Over how you were born with a weak body that won't be able to bear children, the prince you had a crush on was engaged to your twin sister? You later grew jealous, and your friend manipulated you into doing all those things? What does this have anything to do with me and Mouri?"

"A lot," Tiffany affirmed, "When I was around your age, I behaved the same way Mouri did towards my own sister. Nagging, sabotaging, you name it, I did it all." He could see the pain in her eyes as she spoke, and he understood that this was a sensitive topic for her. "The day my eldest sister hired The Fox, whom you know as Ranran, I was very resentful towards her. It wasn't until it was revealed my friend whom I trusted manipulated me and that the prince had a crush on me, it was then I realized that my feelings were all a lie."

Shinichi listened intently, trying to process Tiffany's confession.

"You told us that Ishbashi Mamiko, the psychotic girl who had a crush on you, conspire with Ran's best friend, Suzuki Sonoko, to discourage your dream as a Tantei so that she could marry you off to Ran. You even mentioned that Mamiko kept a video of that conversation she personally had with Sonoko on the school's laptop that she personally uses, usually, one does not simply store a video without serving their purpose, especially someone like Mamiko."

Acknowledging Tiffany's words, Shinichi is still doubtful. But for a different sort of issue, "Even so, is it possible to simply dupe someone into thinking that the other party had feelings for you? Enough to stir jealousy?"

"It is possible, especially when you're young and vulnerable." Walter interjected as he goes, "When I was adopted by Colleen's family, Colleen would keep on treating me kindly and say mean things to me, it got very difficult for me to even tell whether I had feelings for her or not."

"Same here," Ellie interrupted, "I was duped by Colleen into thinking that Walter is making her life difficult, so I grew hateful towards Walter till Colleen was removed by Ranran."

Shinichi felt a mix of emotions as he listened to the experiences of Ranran's friends from Edgewood Academy. It was eye-opening to hear despite the fact of their intelligence and maturity, they were all easy to have their feelings manipulated by other children.

"But if that were the case, don't you think I too would've fallen for Mouri?" Shinichi argued.

"You are different, you are too smart to notice, which is why it fell apart for you when reality kicked in. But not Mouri Ran." Veronica spoke up.

"Ranran too is no exception," Teddy's expression darkened. "But yeah, not everyone is as sharp as you, which make things dangerous."

Shinichi eying everyone in the patient room, and the machine of the IV drip still connected to the unconscious Ranran who is sleeping on the bed, "Think properly, Kudo Shinichi, why did that incident with Rokuro breaking into Tantei Association while attacking your mentor, Ranran, happened in the first place? From what I gathered, the address of the association you are all running....there shouldn't be a way for Rokuro to locate you. And yet, he did it. Why? Simple, Mouri Ran is a member of your association, surely she had to tell someone about it."