T.A series Volume 7: Feathers of Fury

Chapter 38 - A Devastating Outcome

The room was charged with emotions, the Edgewood kids' frustrations and accusations finally coming to the surface. Sonoko's face turned pale as she listened to the litany of her past actions being recounted with fervour. The weight of her behaviour, both past and present, seemed to crash down on her.

Tiffany stepped in, her voice steady. "Veronica, I understand your anger, but let's not escalate the situation further."

Veronica's breath was heavy, her eyes filled with a mixture of anger and grief. She took a deep breath, visibly trying to calm herself. "I'm sorry, Tiffany, but it's just... seeing all this and remembering what Sonoko did to Ranran... it's hard to stay calm."

Tiffany nodded in understanding, acknowledging Veronica's emotions. She then turned her attention to Sonoko, whose head continued to hurt as she is still drenched in cold water alongside her best friend Ran while bounded to their chairs, "Now that you recalled your memory, it's time for another session of questions."

"Oh come on! Give us a break!" Ran finally has had it with Ranran's Edgewood friends, "Can't you see you tortured us enough!?"

"No, it can never be enough," Ellis and the others gave the two looks of contempt, "You all are the reasons why Ranran is unhappy in Japan, it only seems fair you all suffered further before we released you two."

The tension in the room escalated as Ran's outburst was met with the unwavering determination of the Edgewood kids. The atmosphere was fraught with anger, resentment, and a deep-seated desire for retribution.

"Ellis is right," Tiffany held up her hand, trying to maintain control over the situation. "You both did worst things, you both had to pay for your sins."

Sonoko's face was pale, and her expression was a mix of fear and resignation. Her migraine persisted, and her head throbbed painfully, but she knew she had no choice but to continue.

After all, it is either Ranran's friends' way, or there is no way home.

As the room hung heavy with tension, Ran's frustration and Sonoko's fear were palpable. The Edgewood kids seemed unyielding in their determination to confront the past and seek retribution for the pain they believed had been inflicted by Ran and Sonoko.

Tiffany's voice remained firm as she posed the next question, trying to keep a sense of control over the escalating emotions. "Suzuki Sonoko, did you intentionally manipulate Shinichi Kudo's feelings and discourage his dream of becoming a detective?"

Sonoko's breathing was shallow, and her eyes flickered with a mixture of anxiety and distress. The weight of her past actions and the accusations being hurled at her seemed almost unbearable. But she knew that she had to answer truthfully, no matter how painful it might be.

Taking a shaky breath, she finally responded in a quiet voice, "No."

The lie detector machine's screen remained blank for a moment, and the room filled with a tense silence. Everyone seemed to be holding their breath, waiting for the truth to be confirmed or denied.

Then, the screen displayed the green smiling emoji, which means true.

The confirmation seemed to reverberate in the room, the truth of Sonoko's admission settling in. The Edgewood kids exchanged glances, their emotions a mix of validation and understanding.

"As I said earlier from the start, it was a joke between me and Mamiko at that time. I did want Tantei Geek to stop pursuing it, but I didn't mean permanently. He could've done office work than gone on fieldwork, that way, Ran will stop crying about him getting into troublesome situations anymore. Especially after I watched those corpses of Detectives dying live on TV, I did discourage him for that reason," Sonoko justifies, "I did not know I was being recorded by her."