It Seems Like A Girl I Don't Know Is Doing Housework At Home. But It Was Cute So I'll Keep An Eye On It - Chapter 1

Episode 1: Probably Silky

As a college student, I often find myself dining out with friends who invite others along, leading to occasions where I end up eating with people I don’t know.

“Hey there. I’m Haruto Mizuki. I’ve known Yosuke since high school.”

“I’m Sato, from the same class as Yosuke. Sorry for intruding while you were having a meal. Seems like I accidentally took home the USB with this guy’s report data.”

“Seriously, cut me some slack. I was freaking out because the deadline is tomorrow.”

“My bad, my bad.”

This time was quite an unusual case, but the flow remained the same. We merged and proceeded to eat as circumstances dictated.

Some people might not prefer these impromptu dining situations, but it’s not an issue for me. I’m not particularly shy or concerned about relationships… though I’ve been called aloof.

“Oh? So, Mizuki, you work at a café. Front-of-house or back?”

“I do both. Since it’s a small place, I handle things flexibly depending on the crew and how busy it is.”

“This guy here. With his poker face and lazy demeanor, you wouldn’t think he’s cut out for customer service or cooking, but he’s oddly talented. He handles most things proficiently. Seems like he’s started something new recently.”

“Drawing. Got a hand-me-down screen tab from my cousin, so I doodled around.”

“Really? Do you post them on social media?”

“I made an account for that. Posted some fanart of a popular anime as a test, and it blew up.”

“I didn’t know about that! You’re really skilled, huh? Tell me your account!”

“No way.”

After a brief round of self-introductions or rather, self-promotion, the conversation shifted to various topics. Especially after a bit of alcohol, it tended to become somewhat disjointed.

“Speaking of which, summer’s coming up. Anyone got any scary stories?”

“Is being so late that you might fail a mandatory class considered scary?”

“That’s just your own fault.”

“What can I do? I can’t wake up for morning classes! Don’t schedule them for the first period!”

“Sounds like a cry from the soul.”

Sato seems to be weak in the mornings. By the way, both Yosuke and I are morning people, so we don’t worry about failing due to tardiness. Yosuke seems to have a few tests he might fail, though.

“Karma. What about Yosuke?”

“None. Well, if anything, he’s scared of shochu.”

“Isn’t that just a fear of manju?”

“Then stop drinking, lightweight.”

Seriously, this guy… Yosuke is what you call a heavy drinker, so much so that even Sato, who drinks quite a bit, is amazed. I, who hardly drinks at all, am starting to worry about his liver.

“Well then. We’ve talked, so it’s Haruto’s turn next.”

“Stop with the nonsense, drunkard… Scary stories, huh?”

It’s troubling to be asked that. I don’t do things like ghost hunts. My everyday life is pretty normal… Oh, wait.

“I don’t particularly think anything of it, but I probably have an episode that’s generally considered scary.”

“Oh? What is it?”

“What’s up?”

“Well, you see, there seems to be someone stalker-ish around me.”

“What!?”

“And then, a while back, I lost my house key. Since then, it seems like that stalker has been breaking into my house.”

“What!?”

“Every time I come home, things are subtly rearranged. But I couldn’t confirm any actual harm like stolen money or items, so I’ve been ignoring it, even though it’s creepy.”

“Why?”

“But recently, it’s been escalating. Dishes left out are washed, the room is cleaned, and they’ve started asserting their presence in various ways.”

“Wait, wait, wait, wait!”

“But it’s too late to react now, and honestly, having someone do the chores is quite helpful. So, I’ve started silently acknowledging this stalker as the fairy Silky.”

“Why on earth!?”