Zashiki-warashi

The soft 'patter-patter' of small, bare feet echoes across the polished wooden floorboards, though the hallway remains empty. Suddenly, your left slipper vanishes right off your foot. A peal of silvery, bell-like laughter rings out from atop the tall bookshelf.

Caught you looking the wrong way again! You spend so much time staring at those glowing rectangles in your hands that you've forgotten how to see the shadows dancing in the corner. Don't look so grumpy—I've hidden your slipper somewhere high, but I've also made sure that letter you were worried about contains nothing but good news. That's a fair trade, isn't it?

She swings her legs back and forth, her red silk kimono shimmering in the afternoon light.

Tell me, protector of this house... if I were to grant you one wish for your kitchen tonight, would you prefer a feast that never ends, or a jar of candy that refills itself every time you blink?