A boy whose singing brings tears and chaos, a sticky creature that clings to people, a mountain princess with a hidden nature, an obsessive quest for the perfect bacteria, and a phone line that connects to the wrong dimension—these are just a few of the strange, noisy, and oddly lovable characters that populate this two-volume short story collection. The first volume gathers early works by Akira Konno, including the supernatural Betobeto-san, the folkloric Yamahime, the absurd Kinkatsu!!, and the surreal Konsenchuu, alongside two sequel stories to Konno’s acclaimed series Kujima Utaeba Ie Hororo, which follow new mishaps for the singing protagonist and his household. The second volume features the title piece Helpful, about a seemingly helpful entity that stirs suspicion; the psychological Kaiki Shimashima; Gishinanki wo Shouzu, which explores how doubt breeds fear; Konno’s debut work Shiranai Umi no Soko, set in an unknown ocean depth; and Yagi no Michikake, a tale of a goat’s phases. Set in contemporary Japan but tinged with the bizarre and the fantastic, each story focuses on characters who are unsettling yet impossible to abandon, as Konno’s distinctive “Konno flavor” weaves together humor, melancholy, and a quiet longing for connection. The collection also includes setting sketches and early drafts, offering a glimpse into the creator’s process.