T.A series Volume 7: Feathers of Fury

Chapter 21 - Boiling Point

As the video played, everyone watched in stunned silence. It showed Rokuro breaking into the Tantei Association's headquarters and attacking Ranran while she shot him with a paintball gun.

The footage was clear, and there was no doubt about what had happened.

By this point, 6-year-old Mouri Ran's throat was stuck. A mix of emotions overwhelmed her as she watched the video. She was horrified to see the attack on Ranran, especially since the attacker is someone she had considered a friend.

The video of Rokuro in masked gear, having taken out the electric baton from the association's equipment box not long after he messed with Ranran and Shinichi's photograph, and then struck Ranran in the head was utterly horrifying and violent.

Rokuro is 9 years old, but it is shocking to witness such a violent act from a young child leaving everyone speechless. Sure, Mouri Ran had seen Ranran committing such acts unlike Rokuro, but still, this is a friend of hers she knew since kindergarten!

Emiko meanwhile remains quiet at that statement, not knowing what to think. What she assumed in Ranran as being biased towards Ran due to Mamiko's influence, was immediately thrown out of the window.

Initially, she assumed the reason Ranran always gave Ran the hardest time out of everyone was because of blind prejudice towards her. But then Emiko almost forgot that there was a period where she and Shinichi hated each other to the core. If Ranran targeted Mouri out of malice, she would've done the same to Shinichi since he has become her apprentice for about a month, by dumping any heavy workload she could find or even belittling his talent.

After all, he did call her a 'bastard' and humiliated her when she was around 5, as in putting a target onto those bullies their age with no mercy, far worst than that time Ran acted like a saint just to fish out any info when Shinichi cut all ties to be with her. She isn't the type to accept praises, forgive and forget, so Emiko knew better than she would've not hesitated to torment him if the opportunity arises.

And here, there have been no such complaints in regards to the workload from the apprentice, aside from the fact that he rambles about Ranran being too calculative and vicious towards capturing the criminals at the expense of others.

It all made sense now to Emiko, as she wondered why Ranran always was harsh on Ran.

Shinichi's expression was grim as he looked around at the faces of his fellow members of Tantei Association members. He knew that the revelation of the video was a turning point, one that would remove Mouri Ran from this place for good.

As the apprentice's gaze settled onto Junko who assumed that he came up with a video that never existed to get Mouri Ran out of the association, his voice was holding a mix of disappointment and resolve. "The reason I didn't show Mouri the video, was because I was disturbed to see it, Fuyuko."

The atmosphere was heavy despite being out on the streets, and everyone's thoughts were racing as they processed the shocking revelation.

"And this is why, I am not going to beat around the bush, but Mouri must leave the association." Shinichi finally announced.

The announcement hung in the air, and the weight of the situation settled heavily on everyone. Their expressions varied from shock to amazement, but there was a collective realization that something drastic had to be done in a matter of time.

"Y-You can't do that!" Ran stuttered a bit before arguing back, "I really didn't intentionally hide the identity of the intruder who attack Ranran!"

"Even if you didn't, you've repeatedly acted recklessly and impulsively, putting yourself and others in danger, because you had some delusional feelings for me! You accused Ranran of manipulating me, you questioned her intentions, and you even went as far as to endanger her because you are jealous over her relationship with me as mentor and apprentice!" Shinichi's gaze remained firm, his voice resolute. "Until you settle that problem of yours, I am not letting you return to harass Ranran ever again!"