Hanako of the Opera

## Hanako of the Operaオペラ座の花子くん

**Hanako of the Opera** (オペラ座の花子くん, *Opera-za no Hanako-kun*?) is a special event hosted by AidaIro on their Twitter based on The Phantom of the Opera. It began on April 18, 2020, at 8:00 PM JST and features several puzzles.

## **Summary**

### **Introduction**

Say, have you heard the rumors? About the incident that occurred in the opera house of the Flower Capital. Someone stole the voice of the troupe's top singer, or so they say.

The suspects are the opera troupe's members, the conductor, and the manager. Perhaps, this is the work of the phantom who's infiltrated the opera house...

Do you know who is culprit?

## **Puzzles**

### **April 18**

Do you know who's the culprit? Eh- you don't? That won't do- .......aha, just kidding. There's no way you'd know, right. Because you're the one who'll decide who the culprit behind the case is, after all."

 Assistant Manager
 Popular Singer
 Ballet Teacher

Oh, you can't see what's in between? Ahaha! I'll show you that at the very, very end. Well, that's all from me now. Do your best to solve the case. Bye bye–!"

Don't push yourself too hard today. We'll investigate more tomorrow, same time. Shall we go speak to each of the suspects? We've got performances too, so it'd have to be more like 2 people a day, but let's work together anyway!

### **April 19**

He's right this way.
Ta-dah, I'll introduce you. This person right here is our troupe's top star! …though that said, he can't sing right now. Are you okay? Can you talk……"

(What is it? I can't make a single sound now)
(You're investigating the case?)
(Hmm, I see. Then suppose I don't mind playing along for a bit)
(But in exchange, you'd better find the culprit who did such a thing to my cute self)

(Before performances, I'm usually in the holding room, but)
(That day, I wanted to get a bit of fresh air, so I left the holding room and went up to the rooftop)
(I must've been there for quite a while? I could hear the buzzer that sounds right before performances begin, so I rushed right back)
(And in the room, there was juice that hadn't been there when I left)
(I figured it was some provided refreshment and drank it, then lost my voice)
(Eh? 'How careless'?)
(Shut up, how could I not drink peach juice!)
(Anyway! I only wasn't in the holding room from 7:30 to 7:55pm)
(Whoever put the poisoned juice in my holding room during that time - that's the culprit)
(Eh, what? No, I don't really feel down over being poisoned)
The next person ought to be in the office… Excuse us… good evening! Allow me to introduce our opera troupe's manager. So very handsome, smart, and kind… oh, even his side profile when looking at music scores is amazing…"

My younger brother was in the usual box seat, so I did try giving him a quick wave. But maybe it was the nerves – my brother didn't seem like he noticed me there.
Oh, speaking of which, the tenor singer had some juice with him around 7:30pm, if I'm not mistaken. He was saying that he wanted to get in the top star's good books, but I wonder if he managed to deliver it?
Ah, no, things are always hectic right before a show, aren't they. I'd wanted to go to the audience seats, but it was so crowded that it'd have taken 10 minutes each way, so I gave up on that.
Don't tell me he poisoned the popular singer for that reason!? But even a poison-serving manager would be amazing…
We've heard the statements from two people, but this alone isn't quite enough to figure out who the culprit is, hm. We must do our best tomorrow, too! So with all that, I'll be counting on you again, at this same time tomorrow.

### **April 20**

He's got to be somewhere around here… aha. Good evening! Eh? He didn't hear us?? Good evening!! Assistant manager!!! ………… Good evening–!!!!!!??"

She only left backstage once. 19 minutes before the show began, she entered the popular singer's holding room once.
But she left the room right away and hadn't been holding any juice, so the ballerina isn't the culprit. She met up with the ballet teacher right after leaving the holding room, and returned backstage. Adorably, of course.
The manager? Who knows, ahaha, I haven't the faintest idea but he must've been somewhere around there, right?
Anyway, can I talk about the ballerina now? She's so very admirable. She looks sincerely happy about the success of her best friend the radish songstress… whoops.
Don't tell me that's why he did that to the popular singer… wait, if that's true, d-doesn't that mean I'll meet the same fate very soon…!? This has gotten scary. Let's go find the next person!
Well, we're here. This is the tenor singer's holding room… huh? There's a paper stuck here. What's this?
【Due to an art error, the tenor singer is away today, sorry】

I went to the popular singer's holding room to summon him right after that, but he wasn't in there so I left the room.
Juice? No, I don't think there was any in the room… I did think of going up to check on the rooftop, too, but the ballet teacher stopped me so I didn't. After that, I was backstage with the ballet teacher the whole time.
Oh, by the way, dear novice songstress – have you heard this rumour? The popular singer is getting singing lessons from someone at night, they say. That's just like you, isn't it?
That reminds me, that boy also did suddenly become very good at singing, didn't he. Does this incident have anything to do with that, I wonder…
The popular singer – so that's how it is… The ballerina does know all sorts of rumours, huh. I don't think she's got any motive. She's been really supportive of me, too, and… ah!

### **April 23**

Looks like he was away the other day over something about a kitten, but we'll go meet that tenor singer tonight, so! The tenor singer is… aha! For all those girls to be over there… that must be it. Coming through, excuse me!"

When I looked at the audience seats afterwards, I saw at the box seats none other than… my lady, the ballet teacher!
Swift as the wind, I hurried to the box seat where my lady had been, but it was empty. I returned to the backstage dejected. I was startled when the buzzer rang on the way, but I got backstage right before the show. Ah~ that was close.
From what I heard, the popular singer's voice seems restored enough for regular conversation. But he probably can't sing on the stage anymore, huh. The poor thing…
Well, the next person should be at… aahhh! T-t-te-teacher!! Since when have you been over there!? Good evening, this isn't what it looks like, I'm not slacking off…!"

That should've been just past 7:40pm. It seems like there was poison in his juice, but she wasn't holding anything when she left the room.
After speaking briefly to the ballerina, we arrived backstage together at 7:45pm. I was always with her, after that. The manager and assistant manager were there, too.
I hadn't seen the tenor singer at all, but he finally returned at 7:55pm. Is that enough?
That reminds me – the popular singer has never drunk the juice that the tenor singer has brought him, not even once. So I was surprised in more than one way, when I heard that boy had drunk poisoned juice.
So it's not impossible that she used that poison for some reason that I can't even begin to think of, huh……
The patron is young, but he's a viscount, you know! He's not my type, but… he's a really good kid with a strong sense of justice. I'm sure we're gonna see him mid-training… Ah, there he is, I knew it. Good evening!"

But it was only for 5 or 10 minutes. I was in my seat 10 minutes before the show started. Ah, I did notice my brother waving at me from backstage. I was kinda selfconscious so I didn't wave back, though… Opera appreciation's stressful, huh.
Oh yeah, novice songstress. Have you found the childhood friend you mentioned the other day? Y'know, the one who picked up the scarf at that sea and all that.
He always listens to the operas with this look of dislike… wait, don't tell me he finally snapped and poisoned the popular singer!?
Well, that concludes all the statements from our troupe members, but. There's one more person that I want you to meet. So I'd be happy if you could come again, at the same time tomorrow night. Thanks for everything tonight too!"

### **April 24**

How did I go to the holding room, you ask? Through the secret passage, of course. If you use that passage, you can go from any place to another in just half the usual time, so.
Anyway, it seems like there were two other people who used this passage that day, besides me.
That's all you're getting from me. Well then, everyone, don't go overboard playing detective. Especially the novice songstress – you're gonna become super famous and reunite with your childhood friend someday, right?
There's all sorts of mysteries about him… and he says lots of unsettling things, too, so frankly I wouldn't be surprised at all if he turned out to be the culprit……
Anyway, we've heard all the members' statements no! Now all that's left is to deduce the culprit, but… hmm, everyone's so suspicious I have no idea at all!
Hey, who do you think is the culprit? Once you're set on someone, tell me. I'll… go take a look at whoever you think it is!"

How's your deductions getting along? I'll give you a hint at this final bit. There's only one culprit. No accomplices. And the culprit is also the only one who's lying.

### **April 26**

(Yes, it's been decided that I'll leave from the opera troupe for a while, to take a rest
(So I'll be counting on you for the rest)

But it seems like everyone's relieved to know the real culprit. All the suspicion lately had been souring the mood a little, to be honest.
So I'm really glad to know the truth. Thank you, it's all thanks to you! I'll call the police later and scold the culprit angel thoroughly, okay. And I've got to apologise to the popular singer too! ……eh?
Where… has the popular singer gone off to, I wonder?
Hmmm… ah, it's fine! I'll search and definitely apologise to him, so don't worry! Well then, thanks for everything over these few days. You've really helped a lot… do come see the show onstage one of these days, okay.
Congratulations! Happy ending, isn't it. I've rather enjoyed this impromptu piece, over these few nights.
Tomorrow night, I'll play a bit of an epilogue piece for you. Well then, bye bye–!"