WE sat in the corner of the L-shaped sectional in the living room. Mom had just finished setting out some snacks when the phone trilled. Looking somewhat displeased, she moved to answer it. From the snippets of conversation I could make out, the caller was my aunt, so Mom was bound to be tied up for a while. She seemed to have been hoping to chat with Towada, but that had become unlikely.
The stoat/yokai/fairy/ayakashi was comfortably ensconced on my lap. It clasped one of my homemade cookies with its tiny, grubby hands, nibbling on it like a hamster. Yup, utterly adorable.
The furry little creature fascinated me, and I sensed Towada studying me just as intently in turn. “These beings have inhabited my uncle and aunt’s house for a very long time,” he began, his voice quiet. “Occasionally, members of my family are born with the ability to perceive them.”
I hummed in acknowledgment.
“When you visited our house last time, this one followed you home. I’m sorry about that.”
I’d been engrossed in observing the small, charming fur ball, but at those words I quickly met Towada’s gaze. “Why are you apologizing? It’s not like it caused any trouble.”
“Didn’t it eat your food?”
“I mean, yeah, but now that I know it was this little guy, it’s not that big a deal anymore.” I turned back to the stoat. “In fact, if I’d known you were here, I would’ve gladly fed you! Sorry, you must’ve been hungry, huh?”
The creature tilted its head at me, the cookie still clutched in its mouth.
You did that on purpose, didn’t you? You’re so clever! And cute!
“No, they can’t starve,” Towada interjected. “They eat because they enjoy eating, not to survive. They don’t actually need food.”
“Really?” Still, the sight of the stoat enjoying my cookie was so endearing. I was happy it liked its treat.
Towada explained further, revealing that the creatures assisted with household chores in exchange for food, so they weren’t just eating for free. The mysterious laundry and trash incidents suddenly made much more sense.
“They’re kinda like brownies then. You know, like from fairy tales?” I said. I had a cherished picture book from my childhood, a tale about brownies who lived secretly in a grand old manor. They pilfered snacks and milk but also helped around the house. Perhaps the little guy on my lap had been the inspiration.
“You’re not creeped out?” Towada asked.
“Not really.”
“I see,” he murmured after a beat, relief apparent in his voice. Sure, the circumstances were quite extraordinary, but the stoat seemed so harmless. I couldn’t see why I should fear it.
The fur ball finished its cookie and turned to Towada as if eager to share a secret. From its mouth spilled a brilliant shower of sparks and glittering light; that had to be how it “spoke.” Now, that is truly fantastical.
“I can see the little sparkly bits but can’t understand what it’s saying,” I confessed. “Must be nice being able to communicate with them.”
He looked at me, a peculiar expression on his face. “Nice? You think so?”
“You don’t?”
Wasn’t it pretty common to wish we could converse with our pets? If I could talk with Koro, I’d be over the moon.
“It said it enjoyed the snack you brought over last time so much it followed you home in hopes of getting more,” Towada said.
“Ah!” I exclaimed. “The disappearing brownie!” So it was you? The little bandit gazed at me pleadingly and my heart almost broke. “Don’t worry, I’m not mad at you! Sorry for raising my voice.” I hadn’t baked any brownies since then, I realized. The poor little guy must’ve been so disappointed. I’m sorry!
“Anyway, I’ll be taking it home. It won’t be bothering you anymore,” Towada declared.
“Really? I wouldn’t mind it sticking around a bit longer.”
“I’m sorry, what?”
“Oh, but all its friends and family are at your place, aren’t they? It’ll probably get lonely here, huh?”
“That’s what you’re concerned about?” His forehead drooped to his palm in exasperation.
Did I say something weird? Meanwhile, my little stoat friend seemed to be thoroughly enjoying itself. It had clambered up to my shoulders and curled itself around my neck like the perfect scarf. A stream of sparkles floated from its mouth—I wanted to believe it was serenading us.
Stroking its velvety fur, I mused, “It’s a pity my mom can’t see this little guy. It’s so cute.”
Towada opened his mouth cautiously. “I’ll be honest, I don’t find it cute at all.”
I glanced at him, surprised.
“Those who can see ayakashi are rare, and the creatures appear differently to each person. And none of us see them for what they really are. You’re the first person I’ve met who sees them as stoats.”
“Really?”
“Ayako, for instance, says they look like zashiki warashi.”
“She can see them, too?” I mumbled, somewhat taken aback. “And wow, she perceives them as those doll spirits?”
“As for me, they look like shaggy, long-haired goblins.”
Goblins? Like the grotesque little green fiends that show up all the time in games and movies and stuff? His admission entirely eclipsed my shock about Ayako.
“Wait a second,” I said. “So from your perspective, you’re watching a goblin crawl all over me right now?”
He nodded, looking slightly apologetic. “Yeah. A small, hairy goblin.”
“Aw,” I sighed. “But the stoat is so adorable.”
The image of myself draped with a goblin rather deflated my mood. No matter how I tried to spin it, I doubted the sight was one anybody would cherish. In fact, it almost made me feel like I was involved in something extremely questionable.
When I turned to Towada again, I caught him scrutinizing my furry scarf through his glasses. “It might look like a stoat, but it’s still a supernatural being. Does that not creep you out?”
“When you put it that way, I guess maybe?” I replied. “But I don’t know. I don’t really feel creeped out. A little surprised, but not creeped out.”
“Really,” he muttered, deep in thought. “What about me? Do I not creep you out?”
“Huh? Why would you?” His question caught me off guard. Find him creepy because he lived with ayakashi? He watched me, his gaze seeming to pierce right through my body. Sensing the weight of his question, I opted for a more lighthearted response. “Nope, not really. It feels more like I stumbled upon your big secret, that’s all. And don’t worry—my lips are sealed!”
“Are you always this carefree?” he asked.
The remark made me realize I’d been interacting with him as naturally as I would with my family or Mao and Honomi. “Hm, you’re right,” I said after a beat, “I don’t feel nervous at all.”