“UM, here we are.”
The locked door indicated Mom wasn’t back yet. We’d exchanged not a word our entire walk over, so I had yet to unravel any part of the mystery. I’d been wracking my brain for an explanation, and the uncertainty had lingered for so long that I just wanted it to end. I no longer cared if the occurrences turned out to be a product of my imagination—just let it be over.
I decided to start with the previous night’s incident. “Last night, some treats disappeared from my room—even though I locked the door. Also, my trash was emptied.”
“Right, sorry,” he said. “I’ll explain everything, but it’s better if you see for yourself.”
“See what?”
I invited him inside, but he insisted the entranceway was fine. He swiveled to address the interior of the house. “I know you’re in there. Come out, now,” he demanded, his voice authoritative.
Silence.
Um, what? My eyes darted between the still corridor and a defiantly postured Towada. Five seconds, ten, passed in uneasy silence. Then, just as the awkwardness was reaching an unbearable height, a small, brown puff of fur peeked out from behind the kitchen door. “Wh-What is that?” I asked incredulously.
“Come. Here,” Towada ordered.
Nosing around the door frame was a dark-brown creature covered in fur. Tiny black eyes like shiny little marbles peered out from underneath its midlength coat. It was larger than a cat, smaller than a medium-sized dog, and rather slender. Waving its long, thin tail from side to side, it eyed us warily. On closer inspection, it had diminutive, triangular ears that were mostly hidden in its fur. Just what is this thing…?
“Come here—now.”
The little being twitched at Towada’s stern command but slowly inched toward us—on two legs though it had four in total. The soft tap of its paws echoed on the hard flooring as it ambled over. Once near enough, it promptly jumped into Towada’s arms and nestled against his chest.
What is that? What is that? What. Is. That?!
“Sorry, Kitazawa, this is the perpetrator—”
“It’s so cute!” I gushed.
At my outburst, both the tiny creature and the boy cradling it jolted in surprise. Whatever, they could think I was crazy for all I cared, because right then, in front of me, was the most…!
✦ ✦ ✦
“It’s so cute—no, it’s way too cute. Huh? What even are you?! A cat? No. A tanuki? No, not that either. Hey, Towada, what is it? Tell me—tell me!”
“C-Calm down—wait, you think it’s cute? This thing?”
I’d sprung forward and was practically clinging to him to get a better look. He seemed genuinely a little revolted by my reaction, and to be honest, that hurt a bit…but I had a more pressing matter at hand!
“You’re the cutest! I’ve never seen anything this adorable! Is it a weasel? A ferret?” I gasped. “You’re a stoat, aren’t you? A stoat with long fur and a brown belly! Wait, no fair! I wanna hold it too!”
“A stoat?”
“Well, technically, I think a stoat isn’t as tall and round and has shorter fur, but yeah!” Whatever it was, it was freaking adorable—like all of it. How its glossy little marble eyes peeped from beneath its fur like Koro’s did, how its tail gradually darkened to black at the tip…!
“So you really can see them,” Towada said, sounding somewhat resigned.
“Of course! It’s too cute not to see.” Oh my god, it’s reaching out with its little hands! It wants to come to me, doesn’t it? It wants a hug! Seduced by its puppy-dog eyes, my arms involuntarily stretched out, and it scampered from Towada’s grasp into mine. “Oh my god, it’s so fluffy!” It was lighter than I expected, its fur like that of an Angora rabbit. As it cozied into my arms, it extended its tiny hands to touch my cheeks—which tickled. Between its ticklish touch and overall fuzziness, I was having a hard time keeping it together.
As we stood in the doorway, I a captive to the ball of fluff and Towada dumbstruck by my antics, my mother breezed in.
“I’m…back?” she said, surprised by the scene.
“Oh, hi Mom, welcome back,” I answered.
“Hello Takumi—did you walk her home again today? That’s very kind of you.”
As Mom passed us, suggesting that Towada step inside for refreshments, she seemed to ignore the adorable creature cradled in my arms. “Mom, look! This is—”
“Thank you, I’ll come in,” cut in Towada abruptly. His tone was strained, and he appeared troubled—extremely so. “Listen,” he whispered into my ear, “your mom can’t see this thing. The only ones who can are you and me.”
His face was so close that I could feel his breath on my skin. My heartbeat surged. “Sh-She can’t see it?”
“This creature is an ayakashi—you know, like a yokai or a fairy, that sort of thing.”
My jaw dropped at the revelation. The only thing that stopped the little creature’s hands from ending up in my mouth was Towada swiftly slapping them away.