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Nagisa was convinced, on the occasion of his twenty-third birthday, that his apartment was haunted.
Ever since moving in seven weeks ago, he had experienced strange incidents he could not explain. A glass of water had disappeared from his bedside shelf and reappeared next to the sink. The soap, which he remembered falling onto the drain during his nightly bath, was properly on the soap rest the following morning. His headphones had traveled from the floor beside the couch to the backpack he took to work at the book store. And he could swear, although he had no means to prove it, that the ghost had started a load of laundry while he’d been at work this very day. He couldn’t remember pressing the button that morning before leaving for work, but when he’d returned home a few minutes ago, he’d found the load complete and waiting to be hung out to dry.
Thinking he might accidentally disturb the spirit, which was evidently benevolent, he sunk onto his knees in front of the washing machine and waited with his hands respectfully folded on his thighs. He had heard of house spirits, but didn't they usually prank you? This must be a ghost. He had no idea they were so helpful and didn’t want to offend his. Was there some sort of offering he was supposed to make? What did a house-bound ghost want? Whatever it was, he would happily supply it, if it meant having an extra pair of (invisible) hands to help out.
His feet had gone numb by the time Kaede arrived with a large box in his hands and a frown.
“What are you doing on the floor?”
“Shh,” Nagisa whispered. “Don’t frighten it.”
Kaede lowered his voice. “Frighten what?”
“The ghost.”
Kaede set the box on the counter and walked up behind Nagisa. “What makes you think it’s in the washing machine?”
“Kin-chan, do you promise not to laugh?”
“No.”
“Ahh, it’s my birthday. Humor me.”
“Fine. I won’t laugh.”
“I think the ghost is looking after me. It’s been moving things around the apartment, and I’m positive it did the laundry today while I was at work.”
“A ghost.”
“Mmhm.”
“Did the laundry.”
“It puts dishes in the sink, too, and picks the soap out of the shower. I think it must have lived here when it was alive. That's why it cares about the apartment. What kind of offering do you think ghosts like?”
“Strawberry cake.”
Nagisa lifted his head back to look at Kaede upside down. “You think?”
“I bought one for your birthday. Get up and let’s eat it.”
“What about my ghost?”
Kaede held out a hand to help him up. “Sit at the table. I’ll bring you a slice.”
While Nagisa settled in his usual spot, Kaede took down two plates and cut them each a piece of the cake. ”How was your day?”
“Hm? Fine. A normal work day. Oh, but the manager treated me to lunch!”
“That’s good. Tea?”
Kaede really was the best. Being spoiled by his boyfriend on his birthday, a free lunch, and having a ghost do the laundry? How much luckier could Nagisa get? He accepted his tea and cake, and shoved a huge bite into his mouth.
“Kin-chan, you sure know your way around the apartment!” Nagisa said after he had finished chewing. “I’m still forgetting where I put things.”
“Nagisa.”
The fork halfway to his mouth with a second monstrous bite, Nagisa paused. “Hm?”
“What do you remember about this morning?”
To jog his memories, Nagisa tapped his chin. “You woke me up with breakfast, and then I went to work.”
“And where was I?”
“You were here,” Nagisa said. In a flash of understanding, his eyes widened. “Kin-chan, did you see the ghost?”
Kaede let out a long, long sigh.