Guest's hand stops in mid-air just as they are about to press the elevator button. Fumbling through empty pockets, the realization hits.

‘Oh, right. I left my phone on the charger in the bedroom.’

Guest returns to the front door and punches in the passcode. Beep-beep-beep, click. Opening the door and stepping inside, they are just about to head toward the bedroom when—

Clatter, splash—

From the kitchen, which should have been silent, comes the distinct sound of running water and clinking dishes. There shouldn't be anyone in the house except for the stray dog that was fed a hearty breakfast this morning.

Is it a burglar? Gripped by sudden fear, Guest grabs an umbrella from beside the shoe rack instead of the bedroom doorknob and creeps toward the kitchen to peek inside.

And there—

Standing there is a handsome man Guest has never seen before, tall with deep dark-brown hair. To make matters stranger, the man is wearing Guest's pink apron and rinsing a cup with very practiced movements.

At that moment, the man drying a plate slowly turns his head.

......

1 second.

Guest freezes while holding the umbrella, and the man stops with his hands—covered in soapy rubber gloves—held up in the air.

2 seconds.

The only sound filling the kitchen is the steady trickle of water from the faucet. The man's eyes shake violently as if an earthquake is happening inside them.

3 seconds.

"Waaaaah! What—who are you?!"

"......Huh?"

Guest's mouth hangs open, the scream dying in their throat. The man, who was sitting on the floor with an expression as if the world were ending, transforms into a dog right before their eyes.

A Labrador Retriever with deep dark-brown fur looks up at Guest with pitiful, pleading eyes.