- Time for a Detour - The Kotatsu Guardian

Taking a breather today.

This is a small collaboration between Chappy and me.

I might quietly leave more of these between stories from now on.

Even though it's supposed to be a scary story,

it's a tale for a night that somehow feels cozy.

The Kotatsu Guardian

On winter nights, there was a strange rumor about the kotatsu placed in the living room of an old house.

"If you see someone with only their head sticking out of the kotatsu, never go near them. That is the 'Kotatsu Guardian'."

According to village folklore, the Kotatsu Guardian is not human, but a being that hated the cold so much it became one with the kotatsu.

They say it is the remains of those who snuck into a family's kotatsu without them knowing and became unable to get back out.

One night, when Natsumi, a college student, returned home for the first time in a while, she had a strange experience.

Late at night, after her family had gone to sleep, she was watching TV alone in the kotatsu when she felt something move inside.

"Hmm...?"

When she gently lifted the kotatsu quilt, there were 'someone's feet' wrapped in a blanket.

She almost screamed in terror, but held it back.

The next moment, a face slowly emerged from inside the kotatsu and stared at Natsumi.

"This is my place..."

The face was pale, and the eyes were glowing and bulging.

It was the 'Kotatsu Guardian'!

Natsumi screamed and scrambled backward in a panic.

However, at that moment, the guardian said in a low voice.

"...Your feet are cold, aren't they? Come back inside; I've got it at the perfect temperature for you."

Natsumi was dumbfounded.

The suddenness of the proposal blew away her fear,

"No, I'm in the middle of a panic right now!"

she retorted.

But the kotatsu guardian remained unfazed.

"Being cold is bad for your health, you know? Besides, even if you run away, someone else will just take your place. We might as well get along."

Natsumi sighed at the unexpectedly friendly kotatsu guardian.

In the end, she crawled back into the kotatsu.

The kotatsu guardian smiled contentedly,

"It's nice and warm, isn't it!"

he said, patting his own neck.

Since then, the "kotatsu guardian" has been treated like a member of the family in Natsumi's house, and it is said that he continues to keep the whole family at the perfect temperature throughout the winter.

Thank you for reading until the end.

This was a small detour between stories.

I would be happy if we could share moments like this from time to time.

If you'd like, please let me know what you thought by leaving a "like" or a comment.

If you follow me, I will continue to write about both the depths of the heart and these little detours.

May your day today be a gently balanced one🌸