Detective Chika: Spirits of Unsolved Mysteries

Chapter Three: The Fire Station Visit

Chapter Three: The Fire Station Visit

The following morning, Chika found herself standing outside the local fire station with Asami by her side. The place was alive with activity; firefighters moved with purpose, their voices low but urgent as they prepared for the day ahead. The heavy scent of smoke still lingered faintly, a constant reminder of the Yoshida mansion's destruction and the mysterious fires that seemed to shadow the family's past.

Asami glanced at Chika, a faint look of concern in her eyes. "You're sure they'll let us access the call logs?"

Chika nodded. "If the fire was truly intentional, we might find clues in the dispatch records or statements from the crew who arrived on the scene. Anything that feels out of the ordinary." She gave her a confident smile, though a hint of apprehension lingered beneath her steady exterior. "Besides, I have a feeling this will get us closer to the truth."

Inside, they were directed to Chief Tanaka, a seasoned firefighter with gray streaks peppering his hair and a deep, rugged voice that commanded respect. He eyed them with a blend of curiosity and caution as they introduced themselves.

"We're looking into the Yoshida mansion fire," Chika explained, her tone professional yet respectful. "We've noticed a pattern of strange incidents involving that property, and we're trying to see if there's a history in the emergency records that might point to something more than just tragic accidents."

The chief let out a long sigh, crossing his arms thoughtfully. "That place," he murmured, almost to himself, "always seemed to have an aura about it. I remember responding to a fire there nearly ten years ago. Something didn't sit right even back then."

The chief led them to a small records room where rows of neatly filed folders lined the walls, documenting decades of emergency responses. Asami and Chika quickly found the dispatch logs related to the Yoshida mansion. Skimming through the records, Chika noticed something strange—the logs listed multiple reports of "strange disturbances" called in by the family over the years. Each report ended with the phrase "no cause determined," as if the fires had a life of their own.

"Here it is," Asami said, pointing to a log from the night of Hikaru's fire. "The first call came in at midnight, saying the fire started suddenly and spread faster than expected. But here's the odd part." She tapped the page, frowning. "The first responder noted seeing shadows near the building before anyone even arrived at the scene."

The chief, who had been quietly observing their research, leaned forward, squinting at the page. "That would be Lieutenant Kuroda's note. He's retired now, but I remember him talking about it—it rattled him more than he'd ever admit."

Chika's mind raced as she pieced together the strange occurrences. Shadows. Unusual burn patterns. An unnaturally fast spread. "Could it be that someone or something intentionally caused these fires, targeting the Yoshida family over generations?" she murmured, half to herself.

Asami glanced at her, a skeptical eyebrow raised. "Chika, you don't think...this is a curse, do you?"

"I don't know yet." Chika sighed, feeling the weight of Hikaru's spirit lingering in her mind. "But I believe it's something beyond what we're used to. We need to talk to Lieutenant Kuroda and see what else he remembers."

As they thanked Chief Tanaka and made their way out, Chika felt an unsettling chill settle in her bones. This investigation was pushing her deeper into the supernatural, but she was prepared. They had to uncover the truth, for Hikaru's sake, even if it meant challenging the boundaries between life and death.

Back at the office, Chika prepared a plan with Asami. They would locate Kuroda and interview him, and if that didn't lead them closer to solving the mystery, she would turn to Hikaru's friends in the photo she'd found. The path ahead was murky, but Chika's resolve was unshakable.