Kichijoji, Musashino,
Tokyo

We visit Morishita's house with Takano-san to ask some questions about the house. Takano-san bought the house from Morishita Daichi-san, a forty-six-year-old researcher at the IT company. They are both coworkers. He invited us in and followed him to the living room.

Morishita-san was surprised when we asked about the house he sold to Takano-san. "About the house?" he sighed. "It was my grandparents who bought the land and built the house. But, I never lived there." he looked upset for some reason.

"Why?" I asked and stared at him seriously.

"My father moved when he entered university, after graduation he found a job and married my mother. Then they bought a house in Kichijoji." he said while leaning his body on the sofa. "It was always my grandparents who came to visit us. If I remember correctly, I visited my grandparent's house for the first time when I was in junior high."

"Did you ever hear about the accidents that happened at your grandfather's house?" I asked.

"I don't really remember." he sighed and looked at Takano-san. "By the way, Seiji-san said that he wants to talk about the house. But, I don't really understand. You are from the detective agency, right? What exactly happened in that house?" he asked in confusion.

"Takano-san and his son came to our office and said that his family began to envelop with some strange phenomenon since they moved to the house six months ago." I explained. "So, they want us to investigate what's happening in the house."

"Strange phenomenon?" he asked, looked at us with a weird expression.

"Yes." I nodded. "For example, Takano-san sometimes smells blood when he enters the house. A lot of strange things are happening like the doors and windows opening and closing on their own, someone or something knocking on the door even when there was no one there, and sometimes they see a little girl running around the house."

"What?!" he was shocked and his eyes widened.

"You stayed there after your parents passed away, right Morishita-san?" I asked.
"Did you ever experience something like that?"

"Of course not. " he raised his voice. "Like something like that could be really true. Looks like you want to say that house is haunted?" he started to look annoyed.

No matter what, talking about the ghost is like a joke. But, that's our job.

"I understand what you're saying. But, it's our job to believe in what Takano-san said." I said trying to convince him.

Morishita-san sighed and looked at Takano-san while frowning. "Seiji-san, are you're sure about what are you talking about? Maybe it's just your kids playing around? Or maybe one of the neighbors told your wife some strange story?"

"It's not like that, Daichi-san. I really feel something strange." Takano-san said nervously. "That strange accident continues happened." he said. "At first, I thought it's just our imagination because we just moved house, but day after day it seems more and more real." he tries to explain. I understand he didn't want to be told that he made up stories.

But, explaining to a nonbeliever like Morishita-san will take a century.

"Why do you still believe in something like that?" he said and glaring at us. "What they called it, supernatural, psychic? Aren't most of them fake?" Morishita-san said as he raised his voice.

He sure doesn't hesitate to say it.

"It's not like that!" Takano-san said firmly. "I really like your house and my family was really excited to live there. But, if something really happening there, we want to know and solve the problem! So we can live there at ease."

I can understand how he feels. When you move to a new home, you definitely want a better life. But, facing something unexpected and when everyone doesn't believe you it certainly causes stress.

"I actually don't believe in anything like that too." Takano-san took a deep breath. "But now that it happened to my family and myself, so it's impossible for me to not feel worried about that. I can't just stay away and say that's it's only my family imagination anymore." Takano-san once again trying to convince Morishita-san.

But as I said, it will take a century to make them understand or giving up and believe us. I need to stop this.

"Morishita-san, I understand that you may not believe something like the supernatural or paranormal things." I said. "But, just because you don't believe that, it doesn't mean you can just ignore it. I believe that Takano-san is not someone who will lie. " I smiled.

Morishita-san sighed, looks like he's giving up. "But, I personally never felt anything wrong with that house." he said. "We stayed at the house after my parents passed away for two weeks, but nothing happened."

"I'm sorry for asking, how old your children, Morishita-san?" I asked.

He looked at me confused. "My oldest son in senior high school, he's seventeen years old this year and my youngest one is in junior high, he'll be fifteen years old this year. Why?"

"According to the article about the accident in that area, only five to seven years old kids that disappeared. Didn't your parents or grandparents ever tell you a story about the accident?" I asked again.

Morishita-san shook his head then leaned back on the sofa. "Not really. They never talk about that."

"I'm sorry, but when exactly did your parents pass away?" I asked gently, lowering my voice because this is a very sensitive topic.

"In August 13th last year. It's already been six months. My parents died in a car accident. Do you read the news about the bus that got into an accident?" Morishita-san took a deep breath.

Rui nodded. "You mean the bus that brings old people to summer break camping?" he asked.

"Yes, it's the group that my parents enrolled last summer." his expression changed, maybe because we're talking about his parents.

We bowed our heads. "We are very sorry."

"Thank you very much." for the first time he smiled. "So, what will you do Seiji-san?" he looked at Takano-san.

"I trust them to investigate." Takano-san said with a worried expression." I believe that there must be some reason behind this."

"Well, the house is yours, so, you can do anything with it." Morishita-san said only taking a deep breath.

We left Morishita-san's house and headed to the Iwamoto family who lives on the second block after parting ways with Takano-san.

"Looks like Morishita-san doesn't believe us." Rui sighed. "He must think that we're crazy. I can see that. He might try to convince Takano-san after this."

"Don't mind him." I said. "We must focus on the case." I checked my smartphone and saw an email from Naomasa. "Oh, Naomasa-san found the address of Takeuchi Shou."

"Naomasa-san sure really fast." Rui laughed.

You can say that Naomasa is the most reliable person in our detective office. He did everything, from managing office administration to finding information about clients no matter how difficult it was.

Naomasa is very good at finding hidden information. It seems like he has an informant who helps him. We don't know. He's a very serious person, so he's always upset with Rui's friendly attitude.

"Looks like after he retired Takeuchi-san founded a library." I said. "It's easier to find more about the article."

"We can talk to Takeuchi-san later, let's visit Iwamoto family first." Rui said.

I nodded. "I got the feeling that we'll find something there." I murmured.

"Yui-chan's intuition never wrong after all." Rui chuckled.

"I wonder that too." I smiled.

"By the way, can we have lunch now? I'm really hungry. "Rui said while holding his stomach.