Collab Performance Black Swan's Challenge/Story

* Part 1
* Part 2
* Part 3
* Part 4
* Part 5
* Part 6
* Part 7
* Part 8
* Part 9
* Part 10
* Part 11
* Final Part

Detective Opera Milky Holmes
- Challenge from the Black Swan

 **Sherlock:**"Toys—miracles that bloom in the hearts of those who are chosen..."

 **Nero:**"Some will blossom with purity, others with malice."

 **Hercule:**"Detective and gentleman thief—"

 **Cordelia:**"The two flowers that compete in the golden age of great detectives..."

 **Sherlock:**"Stop right there, Gentleman Thief Black Swan!"

 **Nero:**"You'll be roped off now!"

 **Hercule:**"You won't...get away with this..."

 **Cordelia:**"Accept your fate!"

**Black Swan:**"You've really outdone yourselves catching up to me...Milky Holmes!"

 **Sherlock:**"Gentleman Thief Black Swan! Give back the Swan Tiara!"

 **Hikari:**(...This performance was decided a little earlier—)

***\*restless chatter\****

 **Aruru:**Hey, Shizuha-chan! AKI-sensei is still not here yet?

 **Shizuha:**Well, it's almost time to start, so I guess she should be here by now.

 **Karen:**The room is so lively! All the stagehands look so motivated and full of energy.

 **Shizuha:**After all, it's motivating to be part of a stage production by the famous director AKI-sensei, who has created numerous successful commercial plays.

 **Hikari:**That's why we can't lose to them either... We need to be more motivated to live up to AKI-sensei's expectations.

 **Aruru:**I was surprised we got a direct offer from her!

 **Karen:**It means they thought the four of us were perfect for the lead role this time, right?

 **Shizuha:**The star of the show this time is Detective Milky Holmes. It's a team of four detectives enrolled at Holmes Detective Academy.

 **Karen:**It's amazing that they've solved so many difficult cases even though they're still just students!

 **Aruru:**True! I wonder what kind of case we will take on in this stage!

**????:**Looks like everyone's fired up already.

 **Aruru:**Ah, AKI-sensei!

 **Hikari:**Good morning.

**AKI:**Heh heh, good morning, everyone. I'm glad you guys took me up on my offer.

 **Shizuha:**We should be the one to thank you for letting us be part of this stage.

 **Karen:**What kind of case are we going to solve this time, AKI-sensei?

 **Hikari:**Karen...

 **Aruru:**Please let us know now! I can't wait any longer!

 **Shizuha:**Aruru-chan... I'm sorry, AKI-sensei.

**AKI:**Hehe, it's all right. You really can't wait, can you? I hope you can bring your enthusiasm on the stage and go all out!

**AKI:**Here is the script for this stage.

 **Karen:**Thank you very much. Let's see, the title is...

**All:**"Detective Opera Milky Holmes - Challenge from the Black Swan"!!

Ceremony on Stage!

**AKI:**Allow me to first explain the background for this stage.

**AKI:**At this point in the story, Milky Holmes's activities have been recognized by the IDO and they will be getting a commendation.

 **Aruru:**IDO...?

 **Shizuha:**International Detective Organization. The premier detective agency in the world.

**AKI:**Thank you, Kocho-chan. So it's at their ceremony that this stage play will occur at.

 **Hikari:**A stage play at a ceremony...?

**AKI:**And the story will follow Milky Holmes's battle with a fictional thief. Our goal through this performance is for everyone to learn about the activities of Milky Holmes.

**AKI:**Now I'm not planning on making a dramatic stage just because it's a ceremony. Flashy production, laughs, everything to make a fun stage.

 **Aruru:**Yay♪ That sounds really cheery. The audience is going to be all smiles!

**AKI:**We have high expectations for this stage play, Otsuki-chan. There will also be a scene where the four of you will sing as Milky Holmes.

 **Hikari:**Detectives...singing? I can't really imagine that...

 **Karen:**That sounds like fun! I'm getting really excited about this!

 **Shizuha:**Aki-sensei, you just said that there is going to be flashy production. Does this mean we are reenacting Toys...?

**AKI:**That is correct! You can't have a struggle between detective and thief without some Toys.

 **Aruru:**When you say Toys, you mean their supernatural abilities?

**AKI:**Yeah. However, representing Toys on the stage is no small feat. That's why I have called you four here.

 **Hikari:**This stage doesn't sound possible without Aki-sensei...

 **Karen:**But in that sense, it'll really be worth doing!

**AKI:**This production is all at the behest of the student council president.

 **Shizuha:**The student council president of Holmes Detective Academy... Henriette Mystere, right?

**AKI:**That's the one. Mystere-chan has complete control of Holmes Detective Academy as the student council president. She's also the one who had final say on making this request.

 **Karen:**Whaaat!? How does she have that level of decision making despite being a student like us?

 **Hikari:**Well it's because of her we could have this performance... We should be grateful to her.

 **Aruru:**Yeah. Let's give Henriette-chan a performance she is sure to love!

 **Karen:**And of course, let's make this stage one that makes everyone from Milky Holmes happy too!

 **Aruru:**Oh, yeah! I wonder if we can meet everyone from Milky Holmes?

**AKI:**Unfortunately, no... I've heard that they are busy with a different case, so they won't be able to come.

 **Aruru:**Aw, shucks...

**AKI:**But they are planning on attending the ceremony, so I think you can meet them then.

 **Aruru:**So they are coming to see our performance!

**Karen & Aruru:**Yay♪

**AKI:**Seeing as today is the first day, let's check out all of the Toys from Milky Holmes.

**All:**Okay!

**AKI:**Sherlock Shellinford-chan's Toys is "Psychokinesis." She can move any light objects she desires.

 **Hikari:**I am Sherlock... If I can move small objects...does that mean I can bend spoons?

**AKI:**Nero Yuzurizaki-chan's Toys is called "Direct Hack." Electrical devices can be controlled at her whim.

 **Karen:**That's me! Hacking electrical devices...? What's it like to be able to do something like that?

 **Karen:**I've heard electronics operate off of 0s and 1s... Hmm, this is just hurting my head thinking about it all.

**AKI:**Hercule Burton-chan's Toys is "Tri-Ascend." With this Toys, she can increase her strength, weight, and hardness.

 **Shizuha:**So whereas Nero is able to open locks, my Toys is more useful in overcoming physical obstacles.

 **Shizuha:**But increasing my weight... I have mixed feelings about that.

**AKI:**And finally we have Cordelia Glauca-chan. Her Toys is "Hyper Sensitive," which allows her to enhance her five senses.

 **Aruru:**I'll be playing her role! Let's see, the five senses are...

 **Aruru:**Sight, sound, smell, taste... Wait? What's the last one?

 **Aruru:**Oh, now I remember! Intuition♪

 **Shizuha:**It's touch, Aruru-chan.

 **Aruru:**Oh, that's right! You know everything, Shizuha-chan!

**AKI:**So now that we have gone over the Toys, it's your turn! Your homework before the next rehearsal will be to research how you will be able to use your Toys.

**All:**Okay!

 **Aruru:**Yay, Toys! It's going to be so cool being detectives with supernatural abilities.

 **Shizuha:**But this thief must be formidable if he can cross wits with the detectives.

 **Karen:**Speaking of which, who is this thief that we are going against...?

 **Hikari:**...Gentleman Thief Black Swan. It's written in the script.

 **Aruru:**Wait...? Who's playing the thief? They didn't come today, right?

 **Shizuha:**...Umm, AKI-sensei. Why is the name for who is playing the thief blank?

**AKI:**Heh heh, that was a suggestion from Mystere-chan. She said if you guys knew, it wouldn't be so exciting. I've been told to keep it a secret until your performance.

**All:**What!?

Rehearsal Time!

 **Hikari:****(Sherlock)**
"Huh...? Something is different from the last time I saw this evidence.."

 **Karen:****(Nero)**
"Isn't it just upside down? You are so slow, Shalo."

 **Hikari:****(Sherlock)**
"Oh, hey, you are right! Heh heh..."

 **Hikari:****(Sherlock)**
"Nero! What are you eating?"

 **Karen:****(Nero)**
"Chocolate sticks. My mind works faster if I get some sugar in me."

 **Aruru:****(Cordelia)**
"Your crumbs are everywhere. Can you please not contaminate the crime scene?"

 **Karen:****(Nero)**
"Geez, you are so old-fashioned, Cordelia... You worry about the small things too much. Isn't that the reason you are aging so fast?"

 **Aruru:****(Cordelia)**
"Wh-What...? I'm not old... I'm just mature!"

 **Hikari:****(Sherlock)**
"Cordelia, please calm down. Nero, don't say things like that to her."

 **Shizuha:****(Hercule)**
"Please...don't fight..."

**AKI:**Everyone's timing was perfect. Let's take a short break.

**All:**Okay!

 **Maya:**Good work, Aijo-san and Kagura-san.

 **Hikari:**Same to you.

 **Karen:**I was so surprised to see Tendo-san with us today! She wasn't there at the first meeting, was she?

 **Maya:**She had a plan that couldn't be moved, so she wasn't able to come...

 **Karen:**Oh, I see. Tendo-san is playing the role of client, heir to the White Swan Group and also really hates detectives.

 **Maya:**He got caught up in a case involving the Gentleman Thief as a young boy, so his feelings towards detectives are pretty mixed... A pretty rewarding role to act.

 **Hikari:**So he has given this task to Milky Holmes, but is withholding information because of his distrust...

 **Karen:**And it's because of that distrust that the treasure was stolen during their first encounter with the Gentleman Thief. Umm...what's the name of the treasure again?

 **Maya:**The Swan Tiara. Please protect it from the evil clutches of the Gentleman Thief.

 **Karen:**Leave it to us! Ahhh... I can't wait to rehearse the confrontation with him!

 **Maya:**I heard from AKI-sensei that the person playing the Gentleman Thief is rehearsing in a different room.

 **Karen:**I wonder who is playing the Gentleman Thief. It's going to be a pretty demanding role...one thief versus the four Milky Holmes.

 **Maya:**...

 **Aruru:**What's wrong Shizuha-chan?

 **Shizuha:**This Swan Tiara prop... Curious...

 **Aruru:**That's the treasure that the Gentleman Thief is going after. Is something off?

 **Shizuha:**For a prop, this is a true masterpiece. Doesn't it look seamless, like it has been welded perfectly?

 **Aruru:**Oh, wow! Gemstones have even been fitted in. It looks so real. Maybe the Gentleman Thief will mistake it for the real thing and steal it?

 **Shizuha:**Heh heh... But if he does, does that mean we have to arrest him?

 **Shizuha:**(Even if it's just a prop, we need to take care of it properly... To think someone would steal it though...)

 **Shizuha:**(...I'm probably thinking about it too much.)

 **Aruru:**Good morning, Karen-chan and Hikari-chan!

 **Hikari:**...Good morning.

 **Karen:**Shizuha-chan has an errand to run, so she'll be a bit late. Is this everybody?

 **Aruru:**Nobody else is going to come other than us. Isn't it like the three of us are doing some secret training?

 **Karen:**Secret training really pumps me up! So what scene should we start practicing from?

 **Hikari:**Well, Kocho-san isn't here, so let's go with a scene that doesn't include Hercule much...

 **Aruru:**Eh? Did someone drop that card? It has the Black Swan mark on it.

 **Karen:**Black Swan? Show me!

 **Aruru:**"I'm coming for the Swan Tiara. Sincerely, Gentleman Thief Black Swan"...?

 **Karen:**Er, that's...

**Karen & Aruru:**Is that a warning...from the Gentleman Thief!?

A Warning from the Gentleman Thief

 **Aruru:**"I'm coming for the Swan Tiara. Sincerely, Gentleman Thief Black Swan" ...What!?

 **Karen:**That's from the Gentleman Thief!?

 **Aruru:**Karen-chan, Hikari-chan... What should we do?

 **Hikari:**Relax. It's probably just a prop...

 **Aruru:**Huh?

 **Hikari:**That's the name of the thief in this stage play...

 **Aruru:**Oh, right!

 **Hikari:**On top of that, the Swan Tiara we have is not real. We don't need to worry about someone stealing a prop.

 **Karen:**Well, that's a bit disappointing. I was so excited to meet the real Gentleman Thief...

 **Aruru:**But Karen-chan, aren't we the only ones supposed to be here? What if the thief shows up...

 **Hikari:**This conversation is over, you two. Let's get to rehearsal.

***\*crash\****

**Aruru & Karen & Hikari:**...!?

 **Karen:**Oh my god, the window just shattered!? Did someone just come in through there!?

**????:**"Pleasure to meet you, my fine detectives. I am the Gentleman Thief Black Swan. I have come to take the treasure, as promised in my warning."

 **Karen:**Gentleman Thief...Black Swan!? The mask, the cape...are you the real deal!?

 **Hikari:**That's not possible...

 **Aruru:**You are the person playing the thief, right? You even got a voice modulator! You are just as cool as the real thing!

**Black Swan:**"Is that the Swan Tiara over there? You really let me down by placing it in broad daylight."

**Black Swan:**"The case is under lock and key, but it will take me only a second to crack the lock."

 **Hikari:**...?

***\*click\****

 **Aruru:**You opened the case without even touching it? How did you do it!?

**Black Swan:**"Hahahahahaha! It's all thanks to my Toys."

 **Karen:**Toys!? Does that mean that this thief is the actual Gentleman Thief Black Swan?

 **Hikari:**No...No way...!

**Black Swan:**"The Swan Tiara is mine now! Farewell, detectives!"

 **Aruru:**He got away! Should we go after him?

 **Karen:**Hikari-chan!

 **Hikari:**O-Okay...!

***\*swoosh\****

 **Karen:**What was that!? I can't see what's in front of me with all the white smoke!

 **Aruru:**\*cough\* \*cough\* The smoke is coming from the ball that the Black Swan threw...!

 **Hikari:**He's gone...!

 **Karen:**He really did get away!

 **Aruru:**If Cordelia-chan was here, she could have used her Hyper Sensitive Toys to go after him.

 **Shizuha:**Good morning. What happened here?

 **Aruru:**Ah, Shizuha-chan! And AKI-sensei!

**AKI:**Good morning. Look at all of you doing some extra practice before rehearsal. You girls must be so motivated.

 **Karen:**AKI-sensei! Shizuha-chan! There's a problem. A huge problem!

 **Shizuha:**All of that happened while I wasn't here...

 **Aruru:**We didn't expect for the real Gentleman Thief to show up...! We were so surprised.

 **Hikari:**But I don't understand why the Gentleman Thief came... The treasure that was here isn't the real thing anyway...

**AKI:**...

 **Shizuha:**Is something the matter AKI-sensei?

**AKI:**...I'm sorry. I haven't been completely upfront with you all.

**AKI:**That prop Swan Tiara...is the real thing.

**Aruru & Karen & Shizuha:**Whaaat!?

Cancelling the Show!?

 **Karen:**AKI-sensei, is what you just said about the Swan Tiara being real actually true!?

**AKI:**Unfortunately so. I borrowed it from Mystere-chan who had got it out on loan for me from the Holmes Detective Academy.

 **Shizuha:**Is the reason you kept it a secret from us because there was a risk of the information getting out and catching the attention of the thief?

**AKI:**Exactly. How did the thief catch wind of this, I wonder... I was naive thinking that putting it under lock and key would keep it safe.

 **Aruru:**Why did you bring the real thing!?

**AKI:**That was a request from Mystere-chan. She wanted a prop deserving of a conflict between thief and detective, even if it was all on stage.

**AKI:**We tried getting a replica that matched her specifications, but it wasn't ready on time. Today was the last day we were going to use the real Swan Tiara.

 **Shizuha:**(Could AKI-sensei really be that sloppy? She may look unorganized, but she always properly takes care of what needs to be done.)

**AKI:**We might be in deep trouble now... If people knew that a treasure belonging to the Academy had been stolen, it would disgrace the Academy's name...

**AKI:**If the cause lies in rehearsing the memorial ceremony... It's none of your faults, but we may have to cancel the show.

 **Hikari:**Cancel the show...!?

 **Karen:**We can't do that! We can make it work somehow, right!?

**AKI:**Sorry, but that's not for me to decide... First, I'll need to report this to Mystere-chan.

 **Shizuha:**Hey, AKI-sensei. Could you tell us who is playing the role of the thief?

**AKI:**...Do you think that they are the culprit?

 **Aruru:**Now that you mention it, that is super suspicious! The thief even said his name was the same Black Swan from the stage show!

 **Karen:**They were wearing the costume as well. It was like the costume was made perfectly for them.

 **Karen:**And the only person who can wear that costume would be the person playing the thief... Therefore, the culprit has to be them!

 **Shizuha:**Hold on. Someone from the costume department did say that one of the costumes were missing.

**AKI:**Which means that our suspect could be someone else.

 **Aruru:**So then, AKI-sensei! Who is playing the thief role?

**AKI:**I'm sorry, but I can't say that.

 **Aruru:**What! But this is an emergency!?

 **Shizuha:**Is it because Henriette told you to keep you lips sealed?

**AKI:**More or less. Even I can't disobey the will of Mystere-chan.

 **Shizuha:**...

 **Shizuha:**(AKI-sensei wouldn't be playing with us...)

 **Shizuha:**...Well then, could you give us permission to search into this case?

 **Aruru:**Shizuha-chan, that's perfect! Let's go catch the bad guy♪

 **Karen:**This is good! We don't get to just play detectives, but full on become one!

 **Hikari:**...

**AKI:**Very well. I'll get permission for you all when I go to make my report.

**AKI:**I don't think Mystere-chan would mind increasing the number of talented detectives on the case.

 **Shizuha:**Yes, thank you.

 **Aruru:**All right! Everybody, let's get on the case!

 **Karen:**We are going to catch this thief! Right, Hikari-chan?

 **Hikari:**...

A Detective's Pride

 **Shizuha:**Can I talk to you for a moment, Tendo-san? Could you tell me where you were at when the thief arrived?

 **Maya:**Sure, I can tell you. At that time I was in the break room.

 **Maya:**Are you suspecting me, Kocho-san? Is somebody here that can back up my alibi?

**Scenary Attendant:**I'm pretty sure I saw Tendo-san when I was drinking tomato juice.

 **Maya:**Thank you very much. Did you hear that? My alibi is rock solid.

 **Shizuha:**...I get it. Thank you for your statement.

 **Hikari:**(The thief had a spry frame. It wouldn't be out of the question for Tendo-san to fit that description...)

 **Hikari:**(But if she has an alibi, she can't be the thief, right? If we can't solve this mystery, the show won't go on...!

 **Hikari:**(We investigated everyone at the scene, but not a single clue. We can't afford to let up here...)

***\*thud\****

 **Hikari:**!!! ...Sorry. I wasn't looking in front of me...

 **Maya:**Have you been going up and down the hall with that magnifying glass? Did you get any leads?

 **Hikari:**Unfortunately, no...

 **Maya:**That magnifying glass... That's not one of the props. Did you bring your own?

 **Hikari:**This used to belong to Sherlock-san, back when magnifying glass were used during cases...

 **Hikari:**Sherlock-san gave this to me for good luck in the upcoming stage.

 **Hikari:**I'm going to make this stage a success and then return it back to Sherlock-san.

 **Maya:**Oh wow, I didn't know about that...

 **Aruru:**There is nothing, no clues or anything at all that will lead us to the thief!

 **Shizuha:**So all we know is that the Swan Tiara was locked inside its case.

 **Karen:**It was using an electronic lock, and the only key was the one that AKI-sensei had...right?

 **Aruru:**But the thief used their Toys to open the case, so there being only one key doesn't matter!

 **Shizuha:**...It's about time to take a breather. Where's Kagura-san?

 **Karen:**Knowing Hikari-chan, she's staring at the floor with that troubled look of hers... Even if you call out to her, she won't respond back!

 **Shizuha:**...

 **Hikari:**What are you two doing here...? You should get back to...

 **Shizuha:**I've got something I want you to look at. It's something that I borrowed from Milky Holmes...

 **Hikari:**Is this...a picture...? Does it have something to do with a case?

 **Shizuha:**Not really. This picture was taken in commemoration of a case being solved. Milky Holmes and the client are in the same picture.

 **Hikari:**...! They are all smiling...

 **Hikari:**Protecting those smiles are our job as detectives... I had forgotten what was important...

 **Hikari:**Thank you, Kocho-san...

 **Shizuha:**You aren't alone. Let's break this case open together.

 **Hikari:**Yeah...

***\*buzz\* \*buzz\****

 **Hikari:**That's mine. Hello?

**????:**"Hello, detectives. It's been a while, hasn't it? How does it feel to have been done in by me?

 **Hikari:**This voice... Black Swan!?

Second Confrontation

 **Hikari:**This voice... Black Swan!?

 **Shizuha:**Kagura-san, the person on the other end of the phone is the Gentleman Thief, right?

 **Hikari:**Yeah... What do you want, Black Swan?

**Black Swan:**"Well, it's a warning for my next target, duh? I'm going to steal your precious magnifying glass this time, detectives."

 **Hikari:**I don't know what you are talking about...

**Black Swan:**"It's the magnifying glass that Milky Holmes gave you. It's in your locker in the rehearsal room, isn't it?

 **Hikari:**...! What exactly are you trying to do...?

 **Hikari:**I know that it's a treasure worth stealing, but what on earth are you going to do with a magnifying glass used by Sherlock...?

**Black Swan:**"Muwahahaha! My goal is to have the memorial ceremony cancelled."

**Black Swan:**"It should've been cancelled by now because I stole the treasure, but it seems you guys aren't giving up just yet, are you?"

 **Hikari:**So you would go this far to break us even more...?

**Black Swan:**"That's right! Didn't I tell you? You detectives are nothing compared to a Gentleman Thief."

 **Hikari:**That's not true. Being a detective is an amazing job that protects the smiles of everyone.

 **Hikari:**Don't you dare insult detectives!

**Black Swan:**"Hmph, I will end it here. If you still have something to say, then come and get me."

***\*click\****

 **Hikari:**...He hung up.

 **Shizuha:**What did he say, Kagura-san...?

 **Hikari:**It was a warning call. Hurry—we need to get back to the rehearsal room...!

 **Shizuha:**So the Gentleman Thief is going to show up at the rehearsal room? I'll call Aruru-chan and the others.

 **Hikari:**We have to work together to catch him... This time, we are not going to lose...!

 **Shizuha:**Aruru-chan, Aijo-san, this way!

 **Aruru:**Sorry for the wait, Shizuha-chan! I heard you got a warning call from the Gentleman Thief?

 **Karen:**Hikari-chan, where's he!?

 **Hikari:**We're a little bit late, I guess...

**Black Swan:**"Muwahahaha! You're too late, Detectives! I've already got what I wanted!"

***\*riiing\****

 **Karen:**The alarm bell went off! Did he push the fire alarm emergency button?

 **Shizuha:**Look! The shutter is closing... He's trying to slow us down.

 **Aruru:**W-What should we do! At this rate, he's going to get away again!

 **Hikari:**(I want to protect the smiles of everyone as a detective...)

 **Hikari:**(Please lend me your strength, Sherlock...!)

***\*swoosh\****

 **Hikari:****(Sherlock)**
"Nice! Psychokinesis!"

 **Karen:**Huh? Did a pebble just float up by itself and hit the emergency stop button...!?

 **Aruru:**Yay! The shutter stopped!

**Black Swan:**"Impossible! How on earth did you...!?"

 **Shizuha:**Kagura-san... Was that a Toys you used just now...!?

Awakened Toys!

 **Karen:**Hikari-chan! You just used a Toys now!

 **Hikari:****(Sherlock)**
"Nero, Ellie-san, Cordelia-san! Let's work together to catch the Gentleman Thief!"

**Karen & Aruru & Shizuha:**......

 **Karen:****(Nero)**
"Sure!"

 **Shizuha:****(Hercule)**
"O-Okay...!"

 **Aruru:****(Cordelia)**
"Leave it to me!"

 **Hikari:****(Sherlock)**
"Let's go, Milky Holmes!"

**All:**"Yeah!"

**Black Swan:**"Impossible...! They can use Toys even though they are not detectives...!?"

 **Hikari:****(Sherlock)**
"You won't get away, Gentleman Thief Black Swan!"

**Black Swan:**"Those Toys will get in my way again if I don't do something. I'll use this to slow them down then!"

***\*stampede\****

 **Aruru:****(Cordelia)**
"There are hordes of robots coming at us... Everyone, watch out!"

 **Aruru:****(Cordelia)**
"The security robots are out of control. He's sending them towards us!"

 **Karen:****(Nero)**
"If you're dealing with robots, that's where I come in."

***\*swoosh\****

 **Karen:****(Nero)**
"Direct Hack! Heh heh! When it comes to machines, it's a walk in the park for me!"

 **Hikari:****(Sherlock)**
"That's our Nero! The security robots have stopped!"

 **Shizuha:****(Hercule)**
"B-But we lost sight of Black Swan..."

 **Karen:****(Nero)**
"Where did he go?"

 **Aruru:****(Cordelia)**
"All right, my time to shine."

***\*swoosh\****

 **Aruru:****(Cordelia)**
"I can hear Black Swan's footsteps...that way!"

 **Karen:****(Nero)**
"No one can escape Cordelia's enhanced hearing—Hyper Sensitive."

 **Aruru:****(Cordelia)**
"Looks like he's heading towards the conference room. Let's go after him!"

***\*click\****

 **Hikari:****(Sherlock)**
"We found you, Black Swan! There's nowhere to run now!"

**Black Swan:**"I thought I'd shaken you off already, and yet you can still find me...!?"

**Black Swan:**"But it's all too late now. This room has a hidden passage to the roof."

***\*slam\****

 **Hikari:****(Sherlock)**
"Oh no, the door is locked!"

***\*click\* \*click\****

 **Aruru:****(Cordelia)**
"It won't open. The door is locked."

 **Karen:****(Nero)**
"Black Swan will escape if we keep dawdling here...! Ngh... Just open up already!"

 **Shizuha:****(Hercule)**
"Move out of the way, Nero... I'll take it from here..."

***\*swoosh\****

 **Shizuha:****(Hercule)**
"Everyone, I'm going to break the lock... Step back and turn away... Here I go...!"

***\*snap\****

 **Karen:****(Nero)**
"Amazing, your Tri-Ascend took down the whole door!"

 **Aruru:****(Cordelia)**
"This is...a staircase leading up!? It must lead to the rooftop!"

 **Karen:****(Nero)**
"Rooftop... Is he trying to escape in a hot air balloon or something?"

 **Hikari:****(Sherlock)**
"Everyone, let's go to the rooftop!"

 **Hikari:****(Sherlock)**
"We've had you cornered, Black Swan!"

**Black Swan:**"That sound just now... Did you blow up the door by force?"

 **Shizuha:****(Hercule)**
"There doesn't seem to be any hot air balloon on the rooftop..."

**Black Swan:**"Hot air balloon? Hmm, I already have another escape route."

 **Karen:****(Nero)**
"There's a cloth-like thing hanging from the edge of the building. Are you trying to escape from there?"

 **Aruru:****(Cordelia)**
"That's an escape chute for evacuation! You can slide down to the ground like a slider."

 **Shizuha:****(Hercule)**
"We have to stop him from using that..."

 **Hikari:****(Sherlock)**
"There's a construction rope near the escape chute! We can use that—"

***\*swoosh\****

**Black Swan:**"What!? The rope is moving like a living thing and it is wrapping around my body...!?"

**Black Swan:**"I can't move...!"

 **Hikari:****(Sherlock)**
"That's right—it's my Toys! Well then, I'll be taking our magnifying glass back."

 **Hikari:**...

 **Hikari:**There's no point in running away now... I know who you are.

**Black Swan:**"...!"

 **Karen:**Hikari-chan, you sure!?

Hikari's Deduction

 **Aruru:**Hikari-chan, what's the true identity of the Gentleman Thief!?

 **Hikari:**His true identity is...Tendo-san.

**Aruru & Karen:**Huh!? Huhhhhh!?

**Black Swan:**"..."

 **Karen:**Wait a minute, Hikari-chan! I thought Tendo-san had an alibi?

 **Aruru:**Yeah! Didn't one of the prop members say that she was drinking tomato juice?

 **Hikari:**Tendo-san hates tomato, right...? So it has to be someone else...

 **Shizuha:**That has to be it...!

 **Hikari:**I called Saijo-san to confirm, so I am sure.

 **Karen:**So someone else pretended to be Tendo-san and created an alibi for her?

 **Hikari:**Yes. That's why it was possible for her to commit the crime.

**Black Swan:**"..."

 **Shizuha:**But that's not enough to accuse her, right?

 **Hikari:**There's more. I only told Tendo-san about the magnifying glass...

 **Hikari:**Only Tendo-san knows about it. That means only Tendo-san could go after the magnifying glass.

**Black Swan:**"What...!?"

 **Hikari:**Also, doesn't everyone recognize the way the Gentleman Thief moves when he escapes ...?

 **Aruru:**Ah, come to think of it, he used a ballet turn when he ran away earlier, didn't he?

 **Karen:**It's not easy to make such a beautiful turn like that, is it? Now that you mention it, I'm even more suspicious of Tendo-san now!

 **Shizuha:**...But the Gentleman Thief used Toys, right? I think Tendo-san shouldn't be able to use Toys.

 **Hikari:**Yeah, Tendo-san can't use Toys. But it is possible to commit a crime without using Toys, you know.

 **Aruru:**Hmm, in other words...? What do you mean?

 **Hikari:**Try to remember the Toys that Gentleman Thief used.

 **Aruru:**Let's see, he was unlocking locks from a distance and controlling security robots, right?

 **Hikari:**Toys are one per person, so...it wasn't Toys that he used.

 **Karen:**What!? So how on earth did he commit the crime...?

 **Hikari:**It was made to look like Toys, but I think it was the work of stagehands. And it was AKI-sensei who had control over the key...

 **Hikari:**All that lead me to think Black Swan's true identity is no one other than Tendo-san.

 **Hikari:**—What's more is that this incident is a performance between Tendo-san and AKI-sensei!

 **Hikari:**Well then, do you have anything to say for yourself?

**Black Swan:**"Heh heh heh...!"

Case Closed!

 **Hikari:**The true identity of Black Swan is Tendo-san.

 **Hikari:**—What's more is that this incident is a performance between Tendo-san and AKI-sensei!

**Black Swan:**"Heh heh heh...!"

 **????:**You win, Kagura-san.

***\*swish\****

 **Karen:**Tendo-san!? Now that's what I call a brilliant deduction, Hikari-chan!

 **Aruru:**Tendo-chan's acting was amazing too! She even tricked me into thinking she was the real Gentleman Thief!

 **Shizuha:**...

 **Maya:**So my job is done here, right, AKI-sensei?

***\*clap clap clap\****

**AKI:**Awesome, guys! Especially you, Kagura-chan! I was able to observe the whole performance through my hidden camera.

 **Shizuha:**So this whole incident was a set-up...?

**AKI:**Yeah. But you're not too surprised, are you? I guess that means you were aware of everything.

 **Shizuha:**Not really everything, because there were things that did not seem to be quite in line with your usual style, so...I've also taken this possibility into consideration.

 **Aruru:**What!? You even noticed something like that, Shizuha-chan!? Amazing!

 **Shizuha:**I'm sorry for keeping this from everyone, but I couldn't bring myself to tell you guys after knowing AKI-sensei's intention behind all of this.

 **Karen:**AKI-sensei's intention...?

 **Maya:**Well then, allow me to explain. After all, a criminal's confession is the highlight of the show, isn't it?

 **Hikari:**...Tell us, Tendo-san.

 **Maya:**Everything was planned by AKI-sensei, Henriette Mystere and me.

 **Maya:**Just like Kocho-san said, our purpose was to train the acting skills of the detective actors.

 **Karen:**You have gone to such lengths to train us!? Not only we had to break the glass window, but we also set off the fire emergency alarm...

 **Shizuha:**This kind of erratic training method...somehow reminds me of Kiryuin-sensei.

 **Maya:**You're pretty sharp, Kocho-san.

 **Maya:**AKI-sensei was inspired by Kiryuin-sensei's eccentric auditions and rehearsals to come up with the idea for this play.

**AKI:**You see, I've always been interested in Kiryuin-chan's method.

 **Maya:**... And AKI-sensei's idea was also supported by the director of the academy, Henriette.

 **Maya:**Henriette also told us that she would take the responsibility so we were free to do whatever we wanted.

 **Maya:**What happened afterwards is just as Kagura-san deducted... That concludes my confession.

 **Karen:**But what would have happened if we hadn't seen through your scheme...?

 **Maya:**I believed that you all could solve this mystery, so I was not worried about that at all.

 **Hikari:**Tendo-san...

 **Shizuha:**I have to thank you, AKI-sensei and Tendo-san. We really benefited from this special training.

 **Karen:**We found a lot of things we can apply to our acting in this showdown between thief and detectives!

 **Aruru:**And I learned to use Toys without realizing it♪

**AKI:**Heh heh, that's a bigger turnout than I had hoped for. This makes me look forward to the day of the performance even more!

 **Hikari:**The day of the performance... It would be great if we could make the performance a success.

**AKI:**From today on, we will be rehearsing with Tendo-chan, who will play the role of the Gentleman Thief, until the day of the performance!

**All:**Okay!

The Day of the Performance

 **Sherlock:**"Stop right there, Gentleman Thief Black Swan!"

 **Nero:**

 **Hercule:**"You won't...get away with this..."

 **Cordelia:**"Accept your fate!"

 **Black Swan:**"You've really outdone yourselves catching up to me...Milky Holmes!"

 **Sherlock:**"Gentleman Thief Black Swan! Give back the Swan Tiara!"

**????:**Impressive! The stage is out of this world! I-I'm so moved!

**????:**Right, Nero, Ellie-san, Cordelia-san?

**????:**Wait a minute... Where did everyone go...?

**????:**Shalo... It will be too late if we don't go and investigate now...

**????:**What!? Oh, you're right! We have to hurry...!

**????:**Nero and Cordelia-san left a while ago... We have to catch up to them...

**????:**I really want to greet them.

 **Karen:**The stage is over. Ahh, what a great performance!

 **Aruru:**That was so much fun! I would love to play a detective again!

 **Hikari:**I'm glad the performance was a success.

 **Karen:**You have been worrying since the beginning of the show, Hikari-chan.

 **Karen:**You were afraid that there might have been real thieves during the ceremony.

 **Aruru:**Ahaha, if so then that would be interesting!

 **Hikari:**I doubt that...

 **Shizuha:**Heh heh. Now all that's left of the ceremony is the closing.

**AKI:**Great work, everyone! You all did really great!

 **Shizuha:**Thank you, AKI-sensei. It's all thanks to your guidance.

**AKI:**Thanks to you guys, I've come up with a new idea for yet another detective play. I'll have to write it down as soon as I get home.

 **Aruru:**Hey, AKI-sensei! I would like to play the role of Gentleman Thief next time!

 **Karen:**Oh, me too!

**AKI:**Hmm, so Aijo-chan and Otsuki-chan want to play the thief role, huh... Interesting.

 **Maya:**...Your performance was amazing, Kagura-san. As expected of my worthy rival.

 **Hikari:**You also did a great job, Tendo-san.

 **Maya:**Hmph... I won't lose next time, you know.

 **Hikari:**Me neither...

 **Aruru:**...But in the end, we didn't get to see Milky Holmes at all.

 **Shizuha:**Well, it can't be helped. After all, they suddenly received a search order for a mysterious case that involved the Gentleman Thief...

 **Karen:**Geez, at times like this, I would appreciate it if the Gentleman Thief could lay low for a while.

 **Shizuha:**With so many detectives attending today's ceremony, maybe it was the perfect opportunity to commit a crime.

 **Aruru:**Oh, I see!

 **Hikari:**(It's still a shame they didn't get to see the performance themselves...)

Letter from Shalo

A few days later...

 **Karen:**I can't wait for the barbeque party! I'm starving.

 **Hikari:**Me too.

 **Karen:**The plaza at Frontier is the venue, right? Let's head there early when Shizuha-chan arrives!

 **Aruru:**No, no! Misora told us to arrive at the exact time.

 **Aruru:**And the four of us who played Milky Holmes must come together.

 **Karen:**Well... Maybe there will be a surprise for us!? What should I do... Should I just use Toys to reveal it?

 **Karen:**—Direct Hack!! Ngh, I guess that's a no then...

 **Hikari:**After the stage, our Toys lost their ability immediately, remember?

 **Karen:**So they are just for a limited time, huh? I was going to brag about it to everyone when I got home though.

 **Hikari:**...Even though we cannot use our Toys anymore, we have gained an invaluable experience, right?

 **Hikari:**We were able to experience the most important thing for detectives and use it in our acting... That's the most precious thing we got from this stage.

 **Aruru:**After all, we've really become detectives from the bottom of our hearts this time! I think it's thanks to this that we've done so well on stage!

 **Shizuha:**Hey, guys, sorry to keep you waiting. It took me a while to return the materials...

 **Aruru:**It's okay! Well then, now that we're all here, let's go to the Frontier!

 **Hikari:**...Hold on.

**Karen & Aruru & Shizuha:**...?

 **Hikari:**I have a letter from AKI-sensei... It says that we should read it when all four of us are together.

 **Karen:**Why would she bother sending us a letter like this?

 **Hikari:**The sender is not AKI-sensei... It's Milky Holmes.

 **Aruru:**Really!? What does it say?

 **Hikari:**I'll read it now...

 **Hikari:**"Greetings, Stage Girls. My name is Sherlock Shellinford—"

**Sherlock:**"On that day, we arrived at the venue immediately after solving a case, so we were able to watch your performance."

**Sherlock:**"It was truly amazing! We were so impressed by how cool you played us."

**Sherlock:**"We wanted to thank you in person, but we had to leave immediately for our next case, so we wrote this to you instead."

**Sherlock:**"We also heard about the case that you encountered during the rehearsal."

**Sherlock:**"Not only are you detective actors, but you also solved the case like real detectives... That's pretty impressive, you know!"

**Sherlock:**"This made me realize that you are also excellent detectives, and that the stage is truly amazing!"

**Sherlock:**"We are the detectives, and you are the Stage Girls. We will continue to work hard so that we can live up to the image of Milky Holmes that you are playing!"

 **Hikari:**"...From Milky Holmes."

 **Aruru:**Yay♪ They said that we looked like real detectives! Does this mean that we got their personal approval?

 **Shizuha:**I'm relieved they were satisfied with the stage. It was worth all the hard work we all put in.

 **Karen:**It's too bad we didn't get to meet them in person, but I'm glad they got to witness our performance!

 **Hikari:**(...It's great that I was able to play the detective role and got Sherlock's approval.)

 **Karen:**Well, I guess detectives are really busy. I can't believe they don't have time to rest and immediately head off to work on another case...

 **Shizuha:**Because there will always be a new case right after, you see.

 **Hikari:**We are just like them...

 **Hikari:**There will always be a new stage right after for us Stage Girls...

 **Karen:**Yeah, we have to move to our next stage too...!