It was almost christmas. Me and Riko are already preparing for our decorations. She was preparing for what she called "the most beautiful christmas tree in the world". We've been preparing since 5:00 in the morning. She's been in that christmas tree for one whole hour now and I'm just sitting there in the couch.
"Isn't it enough already?" I asked
"No. It's gotta be perfect!" said she
"You really wanna make this christmas special huh?"
"Of course! It's been a long time since I haven't decorate like this. Anyways, why won't you invite Yuri sometimes? It might be fun if you invite him sometimes"
"He doesn't celebrate christmas, or any celebrations at all"
"Huh? Why?"
"It's just he can't. He just doesn't have time to celebrate any of those"
"I see"
The tension between us became heavy and quiet thinking about that man who doesn't use his free time to make himself comfortable even once.
"Maybe we should visit him ya know." said she while going down the ladder after decorating the tree
"Yeah. Good idea" said I
We quickly changed our clothes and prepare our things and go to Kichijōji. We fetch a cab in there and while inside, Riko started asking some questions.
"How long have you been friends with Yuri?"
"Almost 2 decades now"
"Really? That's quite long!"
"Yeah. We've been friends since highschool. "We've been classmates all the way up to 4th year"
"How come?"
"Coincidence is quite unique these days"
"I doubt it"
"I'm serious"
We've arrived at our destination and the same as ever, we went upstairs and knocked on the door. We knocked 2 times and we heard a voice:
"Come in"
We opened the door and we saw Yuri, standing in a perfectly fit suit and standing to a nearby mirror checking his appearance, his gaze turned to us.
"Ahh Naoto and Riko, I didn't know you would visit" said he
"Yeah. Are you going somewhere?" asked I
"Yeah. I'm going to watch a musical piece right now"
"Still same as ever. You still like classical music"
"Yeah. I suppose you can go with me if you want. I will be glad if you come too"
"Sure"
We quickly went outiside and catch a cab once again. We were silent inside, Riko scrolling through her phone and Yuri typing nonstop.
"So every gonna introduce us to that woman?" I asked to Yuri
"Who exactly?"
"The woman you showed me on your phone the other day"
"Ahh her. She's still busy but her name is Krystel Amamiya"
"What a name for a woman like her!"
"Yep"
We arrive at the Opera and it was beautifully huge. The inside was also stunning, the stage was huge and the red carpet was covering it. We sat at the front row seat and we were just there waiting.
"Who is the one playing right now?" asked Riko
"Ms. Kaede Aizawa, one of the most famous women piano players. She is lovely" said Yuri
"Whoa! That's unusual for you to say!" cried I
"I love classical music, and live with it."
We kept waiting in there but Yuri quickly stood up and went to the backstage, even insisting as to come. We went in there and we saw 3 people, a man-a foreigner in a suit with glasses are standing next to three women. A woman who is also wearing a suit and holds a stick or something, a woman in a nice dress and in glasses, I feel like I've seen her somewhere before. And a woman with a normal clothes like a jacket, overall all of them are elegant and striking.
"Yuri! You're here" said the man, his japanese accent was quite impressive.
"Hello Bartholomew! Are you gonna perform yet?"
"Almost ready. I'm in a duet with Kaede herself."
"You're going to do a duet?" said Yuri while looking at the woman in a nice dress
"Yeah. I'm ready for this" said the woman
"So this is Kaede. She is beautiful and lovely" whispered Riko to me
"Hey guys this Bartholomew my mentor, Kaede my partner back then in opera, Hana and Ari also my partners back then" Yuri pointed to the man first, then the lady in dress then lady in suit and then lady on jacket.
All 4 people introduced themselves to us and we as well introduce ourselves. Bartholomew was a famous pianist from England and travels around the world to play, Kaede was an opera singer and an old friend of Yuri but I swear I've seen her before, Hana was a conductor of orchestra and band, and Ari was a writer.
I nodded in agreement and Yuri continue to talk to the 4 people. While I still smell something odd... A smell that I can't name
"I'm going to conduct as well" said the woman in suit
"Very nice" replied Yuri
"Hmph, her conducting isn't even that good" said Ari
"Calm down Ari. Hana is just getting ready" replied Yuri
"But I'm still superior than her!" said Ari
"What are you trying to say Ari?" asked Hana as she went close and very close to Ari
"I am better than you in any types of classical music"
"How dare you?!"
"You're really just an idiot!"
Then Hana slapped Ari so hard that the sound echoed the room. Ari didn't fight back and just walked away. Me and Riko were shocked that that happened but Yuri just calmed us down and we continue to head back to our seats and watch the play.
Bartholomew and Kaede went the stage and they perform. Bartholomew's piano skills was with precision and discipline, he was good and he didn't even get distracted as he turn the page of the sheet while playing. The voice of Kaede was completely striking and beautiful, her voice was so high, she can break any object any time now. Riko fell in love with the performance and lay her head to my shoulder.
Until something happened. Bartholomew started to choke, held his neck and started screaming. He was knocked out and Kaede panicked and the others as well. Yuri of course went to the stage and investigate but the fire started to lit all over the stage. Me and Riko quickly ran and Yuri with Kaede. We manage to get outside and the police, ambulance and the firemen went in there and took care of the problem.
Yuri went inside with Kaede, we followed them. As we went inside we saw some police on the stage investigating his dead body, he was half burnt since the firemen quickly went there as fast as he could. But all stages were burnt even the piano. As we get near to the stage we saw a familiar face. It was inspector Shiratori.
"Ahh Yuri. I didn't know you were here" said Shiratori
"Yeah. Any leads yet?"
"No not at all. Unfortunetly the guy's been poisoned but none of his possessions have poison in it."
"That is quite a mystery" said Yuri
"Please Rizuna. We need your help on this case" said the Inspector
"On it"
Yuri began to investigate and to my surprise, Riko investigates as well. They were beside each other looking and talking but Riko quickly went beside me, leaving Yuri investigate alone.
"Guys, come with me" said Yuri
We followed him backstage and Yuri pointed at something. There were snow in the floor. Many of them. The Culprit must be from outside.
We went back to the stage and we saw some officers asking the 3 women about their whereabouts. Hana was panicking and Ari was crying. We went near Hana and we heard these words:
"I was just watching his duet with Ms. Kaede until he choked. I was in the near backseat watching and writing my piece idea. I was even frustrated since I miswrote one of the notes!" said Ms. Hana.
"I was just outside listenting to the play. I wrote some pieces I will play in the future" said Ms. Ari
"Liar! Now you're copying what I did! She is totally lying!" cried Hana
"Who you're calling a liar! You just envy me for my skills!"
"You ugly little-"
The police stopped the fight and Yuri just quickly past through that and sat in the piano where Mr. Bartholomew sat and played the piece. Yuri touched the burnt keys and closed his eyes. And then out of nowhere he quickly opened his eyes. He must've realized something and even leaps to stand again.
"I got it! I know where the poison is!" he yelled
"What was it?" asked Me, Riko and the inspector in unison
"The poison was in the sheet. When you can turn the page you have to lick your finger. And then that's the reason he died. He tasted the poison while licking his fingers to turn the page"
Everyone was shocked about Yuri's theory and listened carefully to his words but Shiratori came in and asked
"That's logical Yuri but where is the sheet?" asked the Inspector
"That's the thing. The culprit got rid of it"
"Everyone! Look for a music sheet!" ordered the Inspector
Every officer nodded and looked everywhere. Every corners, every edge and rooms of the theatre but there was nothing there. Until an officer came to Inspector and screamed
"Inspector! We got some results! We found some gasolines on Ms. Kaede's shoes!"
"What is it Takashi?" asked the Inspector
"Yeah. I got that from the results earlier"
"Why would you test such a thing like this?"
"I was theorizing about the poison"
"Haven't you heard about Yuri's theory?"
"Wait. Detective Yuri's here?"
"Seriously? And a poison in a freaking shoe?"
"It's a theory Inspector what can I say"
The Inspector made a huge sigh but still wonders about why does Kaede's shoes have gasolines. Wait Gasolines? Was that? I went outside and saw Yuri there in deep thought and I said what I've discovered to him and Yuri smiled and celebrate.
"That is brilliant Naoto! Thank you for that clue!"
"What do you mean"
"Now I know who the culprit is!" said he. His glasses reflecting the light from the streetlights
I said what I've discovered to Riko and as well. And her reactions is the same as the detective and kissed me in the cheek as a thank you. We talked for a while and even challenges me to think who the culprit is.
"Think of it Naoto" said she
"I'm trying"
"Let me give you one hint. Quill and Baton"
"Oh. Wait... Does that mean?"
"Yep. You're so smart Naoto-kun!"
I smiled at his compliment and we went inside once again and see Yuri near the front seats looking at nothing. He is in deep thought once again but then this happens
"Naoto, Riko. I need you in this plan" said he
"Plan? What plan?" asked Riko
"Just trust me. I need you to call the 3 women and tell them that I need to see him in Bartholomew's private room. But don't tell this to the Inspector himself"
"Why?"
"Just do it"
We followed what he said and luckily the Inspector didn't know. The 3 women have gathered and Yuri was there sitting and waiting.
"Thank you Naoto and Riko. You are really trust worthy" said Yuri
"What is this all about?" asked Kaede
"I'm going to deduce who is the culprit"
"Isn't it obvious already? This woman here is the culprit! She literally copied my alibi!" said Hana
"What are you talking about?! You're the culprit!" Ari argue
"Enough! Now listen to me" said Yuri
He quickly stood and puts his hands in his back and started speaking his precise and accurate deductions
"First things first. Mr. Bartholomew died from poisoning and a fire have started with no literal reason. My theory is that the culprit put the poison in the sheet and this poisoned Mr. Bartholomew and then the culprit puts some gasolines on Kaede's shoes beforehand so that when she stepped from the stage the gasoline would spread. And then the culprit used a match to lit it up and luckily Ms. Kaede lived. This was used to frame her. And the culprit is none other than you Hana! You're the culprit!"
"What? Are you stupid or sick in a head? Why would I be the culprit?"
"Two things. One you flinched slightly when I said about the sheets having poison in it and two you're alibi was TOO OVERDETAILED"
"What?"
"It's a common psychology. A liar would say a detailed alibi just to convince someone to believe them. And it was you Hana"
"We've been partners and you'te just gonna accuse me!"
"I know that already but I know it's not only you that who did this"
"What do you mean?!"
"It was you as well Ari!"
Ms. Kaede flinched but me, Riko and Yuri already see this coming.
"What are you talking about?! Now you're accusing me?!"
"Yes. I first thought you weren't but when I heard about you copying Hana's alibi it raises my suspicion. Of course I saw some inks in your hand but it wasn't just ink. It was the poison as well. You wrote the sheet of the music Bartholomew was playing and it was recently written so that the poison wouldn't dry. Then when the fire started you or Hana retreated the book to avoid suspicion"
"Hold on. She is the culprit not me!" cried Ari
"No you're the culprit!" Hana argue
"I said enough! You two are the culprit. So you can either confess or I have to do the business myself" Yuri pulled a gun
We didn't saw this coming and we were shocked as well.
"Hm. Hahahahahahahaha. You are very too clever Detective. I can't believe you've deduced that!" said Hana.
"We tried so hard to be enemies but you're the one who sees through it. But who is gonna believe you Detective? You have a gun in your hand, we can just act innocent" said Ari
"This gun is just a prop" Yuri dropped the gun and it squeaks. "But that's why I brought this" Yuri reached into his pockets and shows a cassette tape. He recorded everything.
The demeanor of all changed. And they gave up. Yuri told the police later and they arrest the two. We saw Yuri with Kaede talking. I will explain the hint Riko told me earlier. The Baton was a baton used by a composer when composing a song and the quill represents the writer since in the old days they use quills instead of pens
"You seem composed" said Yuri
"They framed me. But I already predicted it"
"Hm. You're still smart as ever Kaede. No Krystel-chan"
We were shocked to hear that and we saw Kaede ripping her face off and we saw it. Tha face, that is the same woman Yuri showed me to his phone in that previous murder case.
"Hello Naoto and Riko. Yuri already told me all about you. I am Krystel Amamiya. Yuri's friend" said the woman
"That's enough introductions. What are you doing here?" said Yuri
"I don't know maybe just checking you out you know?"
"Stop with the games"
"I'm serious. You know you can just retire. Meet me with Ayaka, Calvin and Eri. We will live peacefully. You don't have to do this"
"I can't just give up"
"Right. Well see you around Detective!" said Krystel. She blew a kiss and she quickly leaves.
"Woah. What a woman is she!" cried Riko
"Who is she exactly Yuri?" I asked
"The Woman"
END
OF
3RD CHAPTER