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The hum of the gaming PC was the loudest sound in Jake’s room, save for the furious, rhythmic clacking of his mechanical keyboard and the erratic clicks of his mouse. It was past 2:00 AM, the golden hour for high-stakes League of Legends matches, and Jake was completely locked in. His eyes reflected the monitor's blue light, his eyebrows knit in deep concentration as he navigated a chaotic team fight in the mid lane.
"He’s flanking, he’s flanking! Watch the bush!" Jake shouted into his headset, his voice a mix of adrenaline and urgency.
Through the Discord call, Sunghoon’s voice came crackling back, equally tense. "I see him. I’m coming down from top lane, hold on—don't throw yet, Jake!"
"I'm trying, I'm trying! If we win this fight, we can take Baron and end the—"
Before Jake could finish his sentence, the heavy wooden door to his bedroom didn't just open; it flew inward with a dramatic thud that vibrated through the floorboards.
Jake didn't even have time to turn his head before a literal whirlwind of a human being invaded his space. It was Ni-ki.
The youngest was clad in an oversized black hoodie that somehow made his broad shoulders look even wider, his long legs eating up the distance between the doorway and the desk in two strides. He didn't say a word. He didn't ask if Jake was busy, and he certainly didn't care about the crucial, game-winning team fight currently happening on screen.
"Wait, Ni-ki, hold on—" Jake gasped, his fingers flying across the keys in a desperate attempt to keep his champion alive. "I'm in the middle of a—whoa!"
With zero hesitation, Ni-ki closed the remaining distance and took decisive action. Despite being the maknae, Ni-ki had long since outgrown all of his hyungs, developing a tall, deceptively broad frame that he used to his absolute advantage whenever he wanted to terrorise or smother them. He didn't just nudge Jake; he completely manhandled him.
Lifting his long arms, Ni-ki scooped them right under Jake’s armpits, effortlessly hoisting him straight out of the gaming chair.
"Jake? Jake, what’s happening? You stopped moving!" Sunghoon’s voice barked through the headset, entirely oblivious to the physical abduction taking place on the other end.
"Ni-ki! Stop, let me go! We're winning!" Jake protested, laughing out of sheer shock as his feet literally left the carpet. He tried to plant his heels, but Ni-ki was like a moving brick wall. The youngest didn't utter a single sound of exertion; he just locked his arms around Jake’s torso and marched him backward, away from the desk and straight toward the unmade bed.
"Ni-ki, seriously!"
With a definitive heave, Ni-ki dropped Jake backward onto the mattress. Before Jake could even think about rolling over or scrambling back to his desk, a massive, heavy weight collapsed directly on top of him.
Ni-ki threw his entire body over Jake, effectively pinning him to the mattress. He draped his long, heavy limbs over Jake’s torso and legs like a human anchor, trapping him underneath. The sheer size and breadth of the youngest member completely overwhelmed Jake, who let out a breathless oof as the full, relaxed weight of the maknae pressed him deep into the blankets.
"Jake! You're dead! The enemy ADC just picked up a shutdown bounty on you! What are you doing?!" Sunghoon’s frantic voice wailed from the headset, which was still firmly clamped over Jake’s ears.
Ni-ki, completely unfazed by the chaos he had caused, shifted his upper body. He leaned his face down, his sharp jawline hovering just inches from Jake's face, and aggressively reached up with one large hand to grab the flexible boom mic of Jake's headset. He pulled it right down to his own lips.
"He's not playing anymore," Ni-ki spoke directly into the microphone, his deep, rumbling voice cutting through Sunghoon's complaints with absolute, unbothered authority. "My Jake hyung is busy right now. Go play by yourself, Sunghoon hyung."
From the tiny speakers, Jake could hear Sunghoon’s indignant, sputtering reply. "Ni-ki?! Are you serious? We were about to win! Tell him to get off you, Jake!"
Ni-ki didn't give Sunghoon the chance to argue further. With a swift, fluid motion, his large hand slipped around the band of the headset and pulled it right off Jake’s head. Jake blinked, his ears suddenly free from the digital noise, watching as Ni-ki casually reached over the edge of the mattress and set the headset down on the nightstand. Sunghoon’s distant, tinny voice could still be heard squeaking into the empty room, completely ignored.
"You're a menace," Jake breathed, though a fond, defeated smile was already tugging at the corners of his lips. "Sunghoon is going to lose his mind."
"Don't care," Ni-ki mumbled. Now that his mission of total disruption was complete, the fierce, unyielding energy he had used to storm the room vanished instantly. The "puma" persona completely evaporated, leaving behind the 100% needy, affectionate duckling that only the hyungs ever got to see behind closed doors.
Ni-ki shifted again, adjusting his position to make himself entirely comfortable. Because he was so much taller and broader, his massive frame completely covered Jake from the chest down. As he readjusted, pulling himself up slightly higher, his sharp chin poked directly into Jake’s chest, digging into the soft cotton of his t-shirt.
"Ow, sharp," Jake teased, wiggling a bit beneath the crushing weight. "You're heavy, Ni-ki. Seriously, you've gotten so big. I feel like I'm being pinned down by a giant teddy bear."
Ni-ki didn't answer. Instead, he let out a soft, contented sigh and let his entire weight go completely, 100% limp on top of Jake. It was a total surrender of gravity. He buried his face right into the crook of Jake’s neck and shoulder, nuzzling into the warmth there until he was perfectly settled. He locked his long arms around Jake's waist, anchoring himself as if he were afraid Jake might try to float away back to his computer.
Jake let out a soft huff of air as the full force of the limp maknae settled into his ribs, but he didn't try to push him off. He knew there was absolutely no escaping a clingy Ni-ki once he reached this state. When the youngest wanted to cuddle, it was a non-negotiable law of the dorms.
Slowly, Jake raised his hands, wrapping his arms around Ni-ki’s broad shoulders. He brought one hand up to the back of Ni-ki’s head, his fingers sinking into the soft, messy strands of the younger boy's hair.
As Jake gently ran his fingers through his hair, massaging his scalp in slow, soothing strokes, he felt a tangible shift in Ni-ki. The tension from their long schedules completely melted out of the maknae’s frame. Every time Ni-ki took a deep, rhythmic breath, his body rose and fell against Jake’s chest, his chin occasionally shifting and poking against Jake's sternum whenever he nuzzled closer for more warmth.
"Did you have a bad dream, or do you just like ruining my rank in League?" Jake murmured, his voice dropping to a quiet, soothing register as he continued to comb through the soft hair.
Ni-ki tightened his grip around Jake's waist, burying his nose deeper into Jake's shoulder, his voice muffled against the fabric. "Just shut up and cuddle me, Jake hyung."
Jake let out a low, breathless chuckle, his hand never pausing its gentle movements. The PC monitor across the room continued to glow, showing the post-game defeat screen and Sunghoon's angry chat messages, but in the quiet warmth of the bed, neither of them cared. Jake just closed his eyes, holding onto their giant, clingy maknae, listening to the steady, calm rhythm of Ni-ki’s breathing as the youngest completely drifted off to sleep, heavily and happily anchored to his favourite hyung.
The steady, slow cadence of Ni-ki’s breathing acted like a heavy, hypnotic rhythm against Jake’s chest. The initial amusement and mild exasperation Jake had felt over his ruined League of Legends match completely dissolved, replaced by the profound, heavy exhaustion that always seemed to linger in the marrow of their bones after weeks of nonstop preparation.
Jake’s hand, which had been steadily combing through the thick, soft strands of Ni-ki’s hair, began to slow down. His fingers would linger for long moments against the maknae’s scalp, his eyelids growing heavier with every rise and fall of the younger boy's shoulders. The digital glow of the computer monitor cast long, cool shadows across the bedroom, but the heat radiating from Ni-ki’s broad frame was an absolute, sleep-inducing anchor. Eventually, Jake’s hand slipped limply to the side, resting loosely against the back of Ni-ki’s neck, his chin dropping against the top of Ni-ki’s head as he surrendered entirely to sleep.
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A little over twenty minutes later, the silence of the hallway was broken by the sharp, irritated padding of bare feet.
Sunghoon was on a mission. After being abruptly abandoned in the middle of a high-stakes team fight, losing his promotional match, and being told by a cheeky maknae that his gaming partner was "busy," Sunghoon had steamed in his own room for a quarter of an hour before deciding he needed to confront the betrayal face-to-face. He marched down the dimly lit corridor of the dorm, his jaw set, fully prepared to throw open Jake’s door and demand an absolute explanation for the lack of loyalty.
Because Ni-ki had left the door completely ajar after his dramatic, whirlwind break-in, Sunghoon didn't even have to turn the knob. He simply strode right into the threshold, a sarcastic retort practically sitting on the tip of his tongue.
"Hey, Jake, what exactly is so important that you—"
The words died in his throat.
Sunghoon froze just two steps inside the room. His sharp, defensive posture instantly faltered as his eyes adjusted to the dimness. The sight before him was not the chaotic, laughing mess he had expected. Instead, it was an incredibly quiet, almost sacred picture of absolute exhaustion.
Ni-ki was still sprawled out like a massive, limp weight, completely flattening Jake into the mattress, his face buried so deeply into Jake's shoulder that only the back of his messy hair was visible. Jake was completely dead to the world underneath him, one arm still protectively looped around the youngest's broad back, their breathing synchronised in a slow, deep harmony. They looked less like the fierce, charismatic performers who commanded thousands of screaming fans on stage, and more like two completely spent, fragile kids who had finally found a safe harbour to shut their brains off.
For a brief, fleeting second, the annoyed, competitive look on Sunghoon’s face entirely melted away. His expression softened into something intensely fond, his sharp features relaxing into a quiet, understanding look that he rarely let show when the cameras were rolling. He stood there in the quiet room, looking at his two team members, realising just how incredibly tired they all were.
Then, catching himself, Sunghoon let out a quiet, practically silent scoff, rolling his eyes as a smirk played at the corner of his lips. Typical Ni-ki, throwing a tantrum and hijacking a member just because he wanted to cuddle.
Stepping as quietly as a cat across the carpet, Sunghoon bypassed the bed entirely and walked over to Jake's gaming desk. He looked at the glowing monitor, which was still displaying the harsh, red "DEFEAT" screen across the lobby. With a fluid, practiced motion, Sunghoon reached down, pressed the power button on the PC tower, and watched the blue light fade into complete darkness.
Turning back around, he took one last look at the locked-together pair on the bed, shook his head in fond disbelief, and crept back out of the room. As he left, he caught the edge of the heavy wooden door, pulling it shut with a meticulous, barely audible click to ensure no one else in the dorm would disturb their rest.
The next morning arrived far too quickly, heralded by the relentless, jarring vibrations of alarms echoing through the dorms.
The day ahead was a brutal one. They had a massive upcoming festival performance, which meant hours of relentless, high-intensity choreography revisions, vocal checks, and blocking adjustments. The energy in the dorm during the early hours was typically low, but today, Ni-ki was functioning on an entirely different, completely primal level of sleep deprivation and attachment.
From the very moment their manager knocked on the door to wake them up, Ni-ki refused to detach himself from Jake.
Usually, the youngest was somewhat self-aware. Even when he was tired, he kept up a semblance of the cool, independent persona, especially if there was even a remote chance of a staff member or a casual camera catching him. But today? The filter was completely gone. Ni-ki’s eyes were almost always shut, his long eyelashes casting dark shadows against his cheekbones as he moved entirely by muscle memory and touch.
During the chaotic morning rush, while the other members scrambled to find their shoes and grab breakfast bars, Ni-ki was like a permanent shadow glued to Jake's side. When Jake stood by the kitchen counter trying to swallow down some water, a heavy, massive frame suddenly dropped against his back, two long, pale arms wrapping tightly around Jake’s waist from behind. Ni-ki buried his face straight into the hood of Jake's black sweater, letting out a low, sleepy whine whenever Jake tried to take a step forward to grab his wallet.
"Ni-ki-ah, I need to walk," Jake laughed softly, his voice still raspy from sleep as he patted the large forearms locked around his stomach. "Come on, let's get into the van. You can sleep there."
Ni-ki didn't even open his eyes. He just let out a grunt, keeping his arms securely latched around Jake’s waist, forcing Jake to essentially waddle toward the front door, dragging the tallest member of the group along with him like a giant, oversized backpack.
The ride to the company building was no different. While the van bumped along the morning streets, Ni-ki didn't take his usual spot in the back row to sleep alone. Instead, he crowded into the middle row right next to Jake. The moment the vehicle pulled away from the curb, Ni-ki’s head slumped heavily onto Jake’s shoulder. His long legs were tangled with Jake’s under the narrow space, and his arm instinctively found its way back across Jake’s lap, gripping the fabric of his sweatpants as if ensuring his anchor wouldn't disappear while he dozed. Jungwon, sitting across from them, just glanced over, exchanged a highly amused look with Heeseung, and shook his head. The maknae was in deep duckling mode today, and there was absolutely no stopping it.
When they finally arrived at the HYBE building and shuffled into the massive, brightly lit practice room, the atmosphere became a bit more focused, but Ni-ki’s clinginess didn't waver for a single second.
The bright overhead fluorescent lights usually shocked everyone awake, but Ni-ki walked into the room with his eyes completely closed, his hand firmly gripping the back of Jake’s oversized hoodie. While the choreographer started playing the instrumental track to get everyone’s minds in the right space, the members scattered around the polished wood floor to stretch and warm up.
Jake sat down on the floor, spreading his legs into a wide stretch to loosen up his hamstrings. Before he could even lean forward, a massive, long-limbed figure collapsed right next to him. Ni-ki crawled over on his knees, his eyes still tightly shut, his face pale and incredibly soft without any stage makeup. Without a word, Ni-ki leaned his entire upper body sideways, slumping heavily against Jake's side. He looped his long, powerful arms right around Jake’s waist again, burying his face directly into the space between Jake's neck and shoulder.
"Yah, Ni-ki, we have to stretch," Jay called out from across the room, though he was grinning, doing some high-kicks to warm up his legs. "The performance team leader is gonna yell at you if you're stiff."
"Let him," Ni-ki mumbled, his deep voice incredibly thick with sleep, his arms tightening like a vice around Jake's midsection. He pulled himself even closer, practically trying to fuse his large frame into Jake's side.
Jake just chuckled, completely giving up on his stretching routine. He wrapped one arm around Ni-ki’s broad shoulders, pulling the younger boy securely against him, using his free hand to gently, mindlessly stroke the back of Ni-ki’s unstyled, messy hair. "It's fine, let him rest for five more minutes. I'll warm him up."
What neither of them was fully paying attention to was the small, handheld camera being carried by one of the content production staff members. The team was floating around the edges of the room, gathering casual, behind-the-scenes footage for an upcoming episode of EN-TER Key. Usually, Ni-ki would spot a lens from a mile away and instantly straighten up, shifting back into his cool, professional stance. But today, he was completely oblivious, entirely consumed by his need for comfort and his absolute safety around Jake.
The camera caught it all. It captured the raw, unedited footage of the group’s formidable main dancer, completely stripped of his fierce stage persona, looking incredibly young, vulnerable, and entirely dependent on his hyung.
When the actual rehearsal began, Ni-ki was a professional machine—his movements were sharp, deadly, and precise, executing every single transition with the terrifying puma-like grace he was famous for. But the very second the choreographer called out, "Okay, ten-minute break!" the switch flipped immediately right back.
While the other members walked over to grab water bottles or collapsed flat on their backs on the floor, Ni-ki’s eyes immediately scanned the room for Jake.
Jake had walked over to the long, plush leather couch resting against the back wall of the practice room, picking up a towel to wipe the sweat from his forehead. He barely had time to sit down before Ni-ki was right there.
Without an ounce of hesitation, Ni-ki climbed onto the couch. The space was narrow, but Ni-ki didn't care about personal space or comfort parameters. He lay down flat on his side, pulling his long legs up, and dragged his entire body directly into Jake's lap. He threw his long arms around Jake's waist, burying his face right into Jake’s stomach and thigh, using his hyung as a giant, warm pillow.
Jake let out a soft huff as the wind was briefly knocked out of him, but he immediately adjusted, leaning back against the cushions of the couch. He threw his towel over the back of the sofa, shifted his position so Ni-ki wouldn't slide off the narrow cushions, and began to slowly, rhythmically play with Ni-ki’s damp hair, his fingers weaving through the strands in a soothing, familiar pattern.
The EN-TER Key camera, positioned on the far side of the room, zoomed in perfectly on the couch. It framed the two of them beautifully: Jake, looking down with an incredibly warm, older-brother smile, his hand gently moving through the younger boy’s hair, while Ni-ki was completely out cold, his large, broad shoulders rising and falling evenly, looking completely safe, relaxed, and 100% like a helpless little duckling holding onto his protector.
A few weeks later, the completed EN-TER Key episode was officially uploaded to YouTube.
The video was a standard, high-energy 20-minute compilation filled with various behind-the-scenes clips—members joking around, practicing their vocals in the dressing rooms, pulling faces at the camera, and showing off their stage outfits. It was exactly the kind of fast-paced, entertaining content ENGENEs loved.
But the moment the video hit the internet, the entire fandom completely lost its collective mind over one specific element.
The internet absolutely exploded. Within minutes of the upload, the comment section under the YouTube video was flooded with thousands of messages, turning into an absolute sea of caps lock and emotional keysmashes. The timeline on every major social media platform was completely hijacked by screenshots, high-definition GIFs, and slow-motion edits of the practice room footage.
Out of the entire 20-minute video filled with intense choreography and funny moments, the brief, raw clips of Ni-ki completely clinging to Jake during the breaks became an absolute viral sensation. On YouTube, the progress bar of the video showed a massive, towering spike—the definitive, undeniable "Most Replayed" segment of the entire upload was the exact frame where Ni-ki was sleeping soundly on the back couch, his arms wrapped tightly around Jake’s waist while Jake played with his hair.
The comments under the video were a beautiful, chaotic mix of overwhelming adoration and realisation:
@engene_zone_97: OH MY GOD??? NIKI IS LITERALLY A GIANT BABY PUDDLE?? The way he dragged Jake off his feet in the morning and just refused to let go of his waist the entire day 😭😭😭 I am crying he is literally a duckling trying to pretend he's a puma on stage!!!
@sunshineniki: Can we talk about how huge and broad Ni-ki looks compared to Jake here, but he’s the one completely crumpled up into a ball just to put his head in Jake’s lap? 🥺 The way Jake didn't even hesitate and just started playing with his hair... their bond is so incredibly deep and real.
@jakeys_puppy: Look at the most replayed bar lmaooo we are all collectively losing our minds over 100% off-camera clingy maknae Ni-ki. He literally looks like an unmasked, sleepy little kid who just needs his favorite hyung. Sunghoon in the background looking so used to it is sending me 😂
@enhapen_analysis: This is proof that Ni-ki’s "puma agenda" is strictly for the stage. Off-camera, he is entirely 0% predator and 100% just a soft, needy maknae who loves his hyungs so much. The fact that he was so tired he didn't even notice or care about the EN-TER Key camera is so precious. Thank you content team for leaving this in!!!
@kpop_stan_302: The way Ni-ki’s entire body went completely limp the moment he hugged Jake on that couch... you can literally tell how safe and protected he feels around Jake. Jake is the ultimate comfort hyung. I’m going to watch this specific 30 seconds on repeat for the rest of my life.
The clip didn't just stay on YouTube; it spread across every corner of the internet, cementing itself as one of the most legendary, beloved moments in the fandom’s history. It was a beautiful, unfiltered glimpse behind the curtain—a perfect reminder to everyone that no matter how big, tall, or devastatingly fierce Ni-ki became under the stage lights, the second those lights dimmed, he would always be their giant, affectionate maknae, completely content to spend his hours heavily anchored and asleep in the safe, warm embrace of his members.
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The midnight air inside the dorm was still and heavy, the kind of quiet that only settled over the hallways when the entire floor had completely run out of energy. The digital clock on the wall of the corridor flicked past 3:00 AM, casting a faint, pale green glow across the floorboards.
Ni-ki padded down the hallway with absolute, deliberate silence. His bare feet made no sound against the wood. In his right hand, gripped tightly by its round, yellow wing, was a small, incredibly soft duck plushie. It was a well-kept secret—usually shoved deep into the darkest corner of his bedroom closet, buried beneath oversized black hoodies, leather jackets, and heavy designer streetwear. If any camera or casual interviewer asked, Ni-ki would fiercely maintain his allegiance to the sleek, intimidating puma. But in the quiet hours of the night, when the stage persona was completely stripped away, he couldn't deny the comforting, familiar soft fabric of the little duck. Tonight, after another exhausting cycle of schedules, he wanted nothing more than to smuggle it into Jake’s room and crash.
He didn't bother knocking. With the familiar, unbothered confidence of the youngest, Ni-ki pushed Jake’s bedroom door open, fully prepared to march over, dump himself onto the mattress, and claim his usual spot.
Instead, the moment the door swung inward, Ni-ki froze dead in his tracks. His eyes, typically sharp and narrow, went completely wide, blinking in utter disbelief at the scene laid out on the mattress.
There, taking up more than three-quarters of Jake’s bed, was an absolutely massive, four-foot-long, ridiculously round and soft duck plushie. It was an absolute mountain of bright yellow plush, complete with an incredibly goofy, flat orange beak and tiny, stubby wings that stuck out helplessly from its oversized, marshmallow-like body. It looked so soft it practically defied gravity, occupying the exact space where Ni-ki usually collapsed.
Jake was sitting at the edge of his desk chair, a sheepish, highly amused grin spreading across his face as he watched the maknae's brain completely short-circuit in the doorway.
"What... what is that?" Ni-ki finally managed to get out, his deep voice cracking slightly with sheer shock as he stared at the giant yellow creature.
Jake let out a breathless, wheezing laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "It literally just got delivered tonight, Ni-ki. Do you remember like two months ago, after that company dinner when we all had a little too much to drink?"
Ni-ki slowly shook his head, his eyes still glued to the giant duck.
"Well, I was sitting right at this desk, totally tipsy, scrolling through shopping apps and laughing my head off," Jake explained, his shoulders shaking with silent giggles. "I saw this massive, ridiculous thing online and I distinctly remember murmuring to myself, 'Wow, that looks exactly like a four-foot version of clingy Ni-ki.' So... I bought it. I completely forgot about it until the delivery box showed up outside the door an hour ago."
As Jake spoke, his eyes drifted down to Ni-ki's right hand. His gaze landed on the tiny, somewhat squished yellow plushie that the youngest was still holding tightly by the wing, partially trying to hide it behind his leg now that he realized he’d been caught.
Jake’s expression softened instantly, a fond, knowing look entering his eyes. "Wait... what’s that in your hand, Ni-ki-ah? Is that a little secret from the other members?"
Ni-ki’s cheeks flushed a faint pink in the dim light of the room. He looked at his small, closet-hidden duck, then up at the towering, four-foot masterpiece on Jake’s bed, and realised there was absolutely no point in denying it anymore. He gave a quiet, incredibly reluctant little nod, his bottom lip jutting out in a tiny pout.
But the embarrassment didn't last long. The sheer magnetism of the massive, ultra-soft giant duck was simply too much for the sleepy maknae to resist. Completely abandoning his smaller plushie on the corner of Jake's desk, Ni-ki lunged forward.
He threw his entire, long-limbed body onto the mattress, diving headfirst into the four-foot duck. The plushie was so massive and fluffy that Ni-ki’s broad frame practically sank into it, the bright yellow fabric moulding perfectly around his shoulders. A huge, genuine smile broke across Ni-ki's face—the rare, unmasked expression he only showed when he was completely, blissfully happy. He buried his face right into the side of the duck's round head, snuggling his cheek into the microfiber material with a deep, contented sigh.
"Ah, you like it that much?" Jake said softly, standing up from his chair. "Wait here. Don't fall asleep yet."
Jake slipped out of the room, his socks sliding quietly along the floor as he made a quick trip to the dorm kitchen. A minute later, he returned carrying a cold carton of banana milk. As he stepped back into the bedroom, he stopped, biting his lower lip to keep from laughing out loud. The bright yellow packaging of the banana milk carton matched the exact, vivid shade of the giant duck plushie Ni-ki was currently dozing off against. It was an incredibly ridiculous, perfectly coordinated sight.
"Here," Jake whispered, gently nudging Ni-ki's shoulder with the cool carton. "Drink this first."
Ni-ki grunted softly, his eyes half-closed as he forced himself to sit up against the headboard. He didn't let go of the plushie, though. Instead, he grabbed the giant duck and hauled it up against his chest, squishing its massive, fluffy body so tightly that the duck's round head was tucked right under his chin. With his long arms wrapped securely around the middle of the plushie, he reached out with one hand to take the banana milk carton from Jake.
Keeping his chin perched heavily on top of the slightly squished, ultra-soft plushie underneath it, Ni-ki popped the straw into the carton and began to drink. He looked incredibly small despite his actual size, his eyes blankly staring into space as the cold, sweet milk slowly woke his taste buds, his head bobbing slightly whenever he readjusted his chin against the duck’s soft head.
Within a few minutes, the carton was empty. The combination of the sweet drink, the quiet room, and the immense comfort of the giant plushie was the ultimate knockout blow. Ni-ki’s eyelids fluttered, completely unable to stay open any longer. His grip on the carton loosened, allowing Jake to gently take it from his fingers before it spilled.
With a soft, heavy sigh of absolute contentment, Ni-ki let himself slide sideways onto the pillows. He curled his long legs up, pulling the massive four-foot duck right along with him, hugging it so tightly against his torso that it looked like a shield of pure yellow fluff protecting him from the rest of the world. Within seconds, his breathing slowed into a deep, heavy rhythm. He was completely, irrevocably out cold.
Jake stood at the side of the bed, holding the empty milk carton, looking down at his maknae. It was, without a doubt, one of the most hilarious and adorable things he had ever witnessed in his entire life. The contrast between the deadly, fierce main dancer of ENHYPEN and this sleepy kid, completely entangled with a four-foot duck plushie, was too good to keep to himself.
Carefully setting the empty carton on his nightstand, Jake pulled his phone out of his sweatpants pocket. He raised the camera, making sure the flash was turned off so the bright light wouldn't startle the sleeping boy. He framed the shot perfectly: Ni-ki’s peaceful, unbothered face resting right against the giant duck's beak, his long arms locked around its massive body.
Click.
With a mischievous grin spreading across his face, Jake opened their official group chat—the one shared only by the seven members—and dropped the picture into the chat with zero context.
Normally, at 3:30 in the morning, the group chat was a complete ghost town. If anyone ever texted, replies would take hours, usually consisting of short, dry emojis or blunt acknowledgments the next afternoon. But tonight, the universe decided otherwise.
The second the image file was uploaded, the group chat didn't just wake up; it absolutely exploded.
The notification banner at the top of Jake’s screen began to scroll at a terrifying speed, vibrating continuously in his palm as messages flooded in from every single room in the dorm.
Jay: WHAT IS THAT?!?!?! 😂😂😂😂😂
Jay: Is that a real picture?? Where did that thing even come from??
Jungwon: Oh my god... Is that our puma? Our fierce dancer? 😭😭😭
Jungwon: Hyung, why is the duck bigger than him? I’m crying, this is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.
Heeseung: Wait, hold on. Is that a four-foot duck? Jake, did you buy that? Why does Ni-ki look like he’s in paradise right now? haha
Sunoo: WOW. And he tries to act so cool during dance practice!! Look at him!! 😭🐥 He looks like a literal newborn baby. Send more pictures right now!!
Sunghoon: I knew it. I knew he was a duck. He yelled at me in League yesterday night and now he's cuddling a marshmallow. The betrayal is real.
Sunghoon: Jake, send another angle. I need to see how much of the bed he's stealing from you.
Jake sat back in his desk chair, his shoulders shaking with silent, uncontrollable laughter as he read through the absolute chaos. The notifications were coming in so fast that the text bubbles were practically overlapping. They were all completely losing their minds over the unmasked softness of their youngest member.
Adhering to the urgent demands of the chat, Jake stood back up on his tiptoes. With a soft, quiet smirk, he carefully angled his phone over the top of the headboard, snapping a bird's-eye view of the sheer volume of space the plushie was taking up. Then, he moved to the left side of the bed, capturing a side-profile shot that clearly showed Ni-ki’s nose completely buried in the yellow fabric.
He dropped the new photos into the chat, adding a quick reply: 'I bought it while tipsy a few months ago because it reminded me of him. It arrived tonight and he literally hijacked it immediately. I have no space left.'
Sunoo: OH MY GOD THE SIDE PROFILE IS KILLING ME. Look at his little face!! 😭
Jungwon: Good luck sleeping tonight Jake hyung, that duck owns the room now.
Heeseung: Protect the duck at all costs.
Sunghoon: Which one HAHA
With a soft, affectionate sigh, Jake finally locked his phone, pocketing it as the notifications slowly began to simmer down into quiet, late-night giggles across the dorm. He walked over to the edge of the mattress, realising the cold reality of his sleeping situation.
Between Ni-ki’s long, sprawled-out legs, his broad shoulders, and the massive four-foot perimeter of the giant yellow duck plushie, the bed was completely conquered. There was a tiny, narrow strip of mattress left on the very, very outer edge—perhaps a few inches of space before a straight drop to the carpet.
Gently, so as not to disturb the deep sleep of the maknae, Jake reached down and grabbed the edge of his heavy comforter. He carefully pulled it up, tucking it securely over Ni-ki’s shoulders and draping it completely over the giant duck so they were both nestled in a warm, cozy cocoon.
Because the plushie and Ni-ki were so massive, they managed to hog roughly 95% of the blanket. When Jake finally, meticulously maneuvered his body onto the extreme edge of the bed, lying perfectly straight on his side to avoid falling off, he realised he was left with a tiny, pathetic scrap of fabric. He pulled the remaining 5% of the blanket over his hip, barely covering half of his body, leaving his shoulder and legs completely exposed to the cool air of the bedroom.
He looked over one last time in the dimness, seeing the silhouette of the massive duck beak poking out from under the covers right next to Ni-ki's peaceful, sleeping face. A soft, incredibly fond smile crossed Jake's face despite the uncomfortable, cramped spacing. Shifting slightly to balance himself on the very brink of the mattress, Jake closed his eyes, listening to the steady, calm breathing of the giant, duck-loving maknae beside him, and finally allowed himself to drift off to sleep.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
The morning sun filtered softly through the cracks of Jake’s window blinds, casting thin, golden lines across the bedroom floor. Jake woke up with a quiet groan, his muscles instantly protesting the sheer lack of real estate he had possessed for the past several hours. He had spent the entire night balanced like a tightrope walker on a mere 5% percent of his own mattress, his left shoulder stiff and a dull ache radiating through his lower back.
As he carefully rotated his neck, listening to it pop in the quiet room, he blinked open his eyes to check on his roommate-turned-hijacker.
The bed was already empty.
What everyone in the dorm had completely failed to anticipate was the absolute, unyielding dedication Ni-ki had developed for his new companion over the course of a single night. The moment the youngest's eyes had fluttered open, he hadn’t stretched or grumbled about the early hour. Instead, his long arms had instinctively tightened around the massive, four-foot yellow duck plushie. Dragging his long legs out of Jake's bed, Ni-ki had hauled the massive mound of fluff tightly against his chest, using his broad shoulders to anchor it as he padded down the hallway and straight into the bathroom.
The sight inside the bathroom mirror a few minutes later was completely ridiculous. Ni-ki stood before the sink, a toothbrush clamped firmly between his teeth, his left arm wrapped completely around the thick midsection of the giant duck to keep it balanced securely against his hip. With painstaking precision, he tilted his head forward, brushing his teeth and rinsing his face with extreme caution, moving with the careful deliberation of a surgeon to ensure that not a single stray drop of water or fleck of foam landed on the pristine, bright yellow microfiber fabric. Once he was finished, he let out a contented breath, squeezed the giant duck tightly against his chest like an oversized shield, and navigated his way down the hall to his own bedroom to change.
Because Ni-ki treated the plushie with the absolute gravity of a living being, the wardrobe process required a specific etiquette. After laying the giant duck carefully on the centre of his unmade mattress, Ni-ki meticulously turned the plushie around so its round, flat orange beak and bead-like eyes were facing the wall, effectively turning its back to him for privacy. Only then did the maknae slide out of his sleepwear and pull on a pair of comfortable but effortlessly fashionable black cargo pants and an oversized, vintage graphic tee.
By the time the rest of the members had shuffled out of their respective rooms, rubbing the sleep from their eyes and grumbling about their collective fatigue, the living room was already occupied.
When they gathered near the front door to put on their shoes and get ready to leave for the company, they all stopped dead in their tracks, staring at the couch.
Ni-ki was sitting in the centre of the cushions, looking incredibly stylish and cool as he casually scrolled through his phone with his left hand. Resting entirely across his lap, taking up the space of two full seat cushions, was the massive yellow duck plushie. Ni-ki had both of his long, pale forearms draped casually over the top of the duck's large, round head, using it as a personalised, ultra-soft armrest.
The contrast was so absurd that a collective wave of laughter instantly rippled through the older members. Heeseung let out a breathless giggle, and Sunghoon immediately opened his mouth to drop a sarcastic comment.
Instantly, Ni-ki’s head snapped up. The soft, sleepy duckling energy vanished for a fraction of a second, replaced by a razor-sharp, lethal glare that belonged entirely to a fierce apex predator. He narrowed his eyes, tracking Sunghoon’s movements with a look that could have cut glass, warning them all to keep their mouths shut. Yet, despite the intimidating, puma-like expression on his face, the fact that he was still actively pinning a four-foot plushie to his lap only made the entire scene ten times more adorable.
If the living room dynamic was amusing, the car ride down to the HYBE building was an absolute nightmare for anyone trying to claim personal space.
Ni-ki marched out of the dorm building with the massive duck tucked securely under his right arm, its stubby wings flapping slightly with every stride he took. When the manager unlocked the side door to their large van, Ni-ki was the very first one to climb inside. He didn't squeeze into the back or try to lie across the seats alone. Instead, he claimed a prime middle-row seat for himself, and then, with complete seriousness, hoisted the massive four-foot duck plushie onto the empty captain's chair directly beside him.
"Ni-ki-ah, you're taking up a whole seat," Jungwon pointed out with a grin as he climbed in behind him, holding a bottle of iced coffee.
Ni-ki didn't even look up. He reached across the aisle, grabbed the heavy black seatbelt fabric, and carefully pulled it across the giant duck’s round, plush stomach. With a loud, definitive click, he buckled the plushie into the seat, making sure the strap was positioned comfortably over its marshmallow-like torso so it wouldn't slide during sharp turns.
Because the giant duck had officially claimed its own designated seat in the vehicle, the seating arrangement became an immediate game of musical chairs for the remaining members. Jay, who had lingered behind to double-check his bag and was the very last one to enter the van, pulled the door open only to find every single seat occupied by either a human or a massive yellow bird.
"Are you serious right now?" Jay asked, staring deadpan at the buckled-in plushie, then at Ni-ki, who was already staring blankly out the window, pretending to be completely deaf.
Letting out a defeated, deeply amused sigh, Jay shook his head, slammed the side door shut, and walked around to the front of the van, climbing into the forward middle seat right next to the manager in the passenger side.
When the van finally pulled into the underground parking garage of the company building, Ni-ki unbuckled his silent companion, hoisted it back under his arm, and marched through the secure glass doors. Today was a light schedule—strictly dedicated to recording raw vocal demos and conducting a quiet, analytical review of the lyrics for their upcoming tracks. There were absolutely no official content cameras, no behind-the-scenes staff floating around, and no promotional pressures. It was just the seven of them and the music production team.
When it was Ni-ki’s turn to step inside the heavy, soundproof recording booth, the producers behind the massive mixing console blinked in sheer bewilderment through the glass partition.
Ni-ki didn't enter the booth alone. Before stepping up to the studio microphone, he had gone down the hallway, found a small wooden stool sitting near a lounge area, and carried it into the booth under his free arm. He carefully positioned the stool in the far corner of the isolated room, picking up the giant duck plushie and placing it gently onto the seat, ensuring it was sitting perfectly upright, facing the microphone.
The moment Ni-ki adjusted his headphones over his ears and cleared his throat, the atmosphere in the studio shifted. Even though it was just a casual demo recording, Ni-ki gave an absolute masterclass of a performance. Every single line he delivered was packed with an immense amount of power, perfect pitch, and an underlying sense of pure, unadulterated satisfaction. Every time he took a breath between verses, his eyes would drift over to the corner of the booth, landing on the goofy, flat orange beak of the four-foot duck sitting patiently on its stool. The sheer joy and comfort the plushie provided seemed to supercharge his vocals, making the entire recording process go by in record time, leaving the producers behind the glass nodding their heads in absolute awe.
Later in the afternoon, the members gathered around a long table in the company’s quiet cafeteria to conduct a deep-dive review of the lyric sheets, marking up the papers with highlighters and pens to divide the vocal harmonies.
True to form, the duck had a permanent spot at the table. Ni-ki sat in his chair with the massive plushie resting squarely across his thighs, the duck's oversized head resting comfortably against his lower chest. Ni-ki’s large, broad hands were resting heavily on top of the duck's head, his long fingers occasionally tapping a rhythmic beat against the plush fabric while his eyes scanned the printed lyrics in front of him.
Throughout the entire day, the older members could barely contain themselves. They spent the hours conducting a silent, collective symphony of adoration, trading soft looks and subtle smiles whenever Ni-ki wasn't looking.
But while the others managed to keep their reactions contained to silent gushing, Sunoo was experiencing an absolute, full-blown crisis of cuteness aggression.
Every single time Sunoo looked across the table and saw Ni-ki’s sharp, handsome profile contrasting with the ridiculous, marshmallow-soft yellow duck in his lap, a tiny, high-pitched squeak would escape his throat. Sunoo’s smile was so wide, so utterly massive, that it looked as though the corners of his lips were stretching from ear to ear, practically threatening to snap from the sheer volume of joy bursting through him. His fingers twitched with the overwhelming, uncontrollable urge to reach across the space, grab a handful of Ni-ki’s messy hair, and completely ruffle it until the maknae complained. He had to physically bite the inside of his cheek just to keep from squealing out loud and ruining the quiet work environment.
When the long day finally wound down and the van pulled back into the dorm parking lot, Ni-ki’s energy levels had dropped completely into the red zone. The exhaustion of the past week was catching up to him all at once, and his movements were becoming heavy and slow.
As soon as they crossed the threshold of the dorm, Ni-ki made a straight line for the bathroom. He carried the giant duck inside, placing it with immense care on the far corner of the dry marble countertop, entirely clear of the sink basin. He turned to the plushie, his voice dropping to a sleepy, intensely serious whisper.
"Stay right here. Don't move," Ni-ki muttered, his brow furrowing as if he were addressing a real person. "I'm going to protect you with all my might. Not a single drop of water is going to touch you, okay?"
Satisfied with his defensive positioning, he locked the bathroom door, stripped down, and stepped into the shower. True to his word, throughout the entire duration of his hot shower, he kept a constant, hyper-vigilant eye on the countertop through the glass, ensuring that the steam didn't get too thick and that not a single errant splash of water migrated toward the yellow fabric.
When he finally emerged, clad in a pair of loose, ultra-soft grey sweatpants and a lightweight black t-shirt, his hair was damp and messy, sticking out in random directions. He carefully scooped the dry, pristine duck plushie back into his arms, left the bathroom, and walked straight into his own bedroom, closing the door softly behind him.
The heavy exhaustion had officially taken over. Ni-ki collapsed sideways onto his mattress, pulling his long legs up into a comfortable, loose curl. He dragged the massive four-foot duck right against his chest, tucking his chin over the top of its round head, wrapping his long arms completely around its soft body.
With his right hand, he pulled out his phone, holding it up to scroll mindlessly through social media, while his left hand remained buried in the ultra-soft material of the plushie. Time to time, as his eyes grew heavier and heavier, his long fingers would absentmindedly twitch, softly pinching and playing with the plush fabric, finding a deep sense of tactile comfort in the texture.
Slowly, the movement of his fingers began to stall. His eyelids fluttered closed, the bright screen of his phone illuminating his relaxed, soft face in the dark room. Eventually, his right hand went completely limp, his phone resting loosely in his open palm against the mattress, while his left hand stilled entirely, buried deep within the bright yellow fluff. He was completely, heavily asleep.
An hour later, a strange, eerie quiet hung over Ni-ki’s side of the dorm. Usually, even when he was tired, there would be the faint sound of music playing, the clicking of a controller, or the low murmur of his voice. The total absence of sound made the older members curious.
One by one, without a single person bothering to knock—because knocking was a completely dead concept among the seven of them—the door to Ni-ki’s room was pushed open with absolute gentleness.
Jake was the first to peek his head through the gap, followed closely by Sunoo, Jungwon, Heeseung, Sunghoon, and Jay, all crowding into the narrow threshold like a pack of curious wolves.
The sight inside the room instantly caused a collective, silent gasp to echo through the group.
Ni-ki was completely out cold, looking incredibly young and vulnerable as he snuggled deeply into the massive, four-foot yellow duck plushie. The contrast between his tall, broad frame and the goofy, oversized stuffed animal was nothing short of legendary.
Instantly, a chaotic flurry of movement took over the doorway. Six smartphones were pulled out of pockets in perfect synchronisation. Within a fraction of a second, a crazy, relentless barrage of camera shutters began to go off in the quiet room. Click-click-click-click-click.
The members were moving at a frantic pace, capturing the scene from every conceivable angle. Sunoo was practically vibrating, snapping a dozen burst shots of Ni-ki’s peaceful face pressed against the duck’s beak. Sunghoon zoomed in on the limp hand still buried in the yellow fluff, while Jake captured a wide shot to document the sheer size of the plushie occupying the bed. Fortunately for them, Ni-ki was notoriously a deeply heavy sleeper once he finally crashed, completely oblivious to the digital paparazzi surrounding his mattress.
Each member silently backed out of the room one by one, carefully pulling the door shut until it clicked into place. Walking back down the hallway toward the living room, they all looked down at their glowing phone screens, scrolling through a goldmine of pure, unadulterated cuteness. A collective, mischievous understanding passed between the six of them. These photos were going straight into a secure, hidden folder—safely tucked away for a lifetime of future teasing, affectionate blackmail, and the ultimate ammunition whenever Ni-ki tried to claim he was a fierce, unyielding puma ever again.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
The next morning arrived with the beautiful, unfamiliar absence of a blaring alarm. It was a rare, coveted day off for ENHYPEN—a golden oasis in the middle of a relentless promotional schedule where no one had to be anywhere, no one had to wear stage makeup, and the entire dorm could collectively regress into a state of total, uninterrupted rest.
The digital clock on the living room wall read 11:00 AM when Ni-ki’s bedroom door finally creaked open.
Even though he had slept for nearly eight hours, the young dancer was still completely drowning in sleep. His dark hair was a wild, gravity-defying bird's nest, his eyelids were half-mast, and his long legs dragged heavily against the floorboards as he shuffled out into the quiet hallway. But despite his semi-conscious state, his instincts were fully awake: tucked firmly under his right arm, its large yellow head bouncing softly against his ribcage, was the massive four-foot duck plushie.
Following the hyper-fixated routine he had established the day before, Ni-ki trudged straight into the bathroom. He set the duck down on the absolute driest square inch of the counter, meticulously checking the perimeter for any rogue water droplets before picking up his toothbrush. He brushed his teeth and splashed cold water onto his face with the absolute, agonising care of a man navigating a minefield, ensuring that the plushie remained completely insulated from the elements.
Once his morning hygiene was complete, he scooped the giant yellow creature back into his arms and migrated toward the living room. The morning sun was heating the apartment, making the air warm and heavy. Seeking immediate, temperature-regulating comfort, Ni-ki didn't collapse onto the plush sofa. Instead, he let his entire, long-limbed frame fall flat backward onto the cool, polished porcelain tile floor in the centre of the living room.
He let out a low, deeply satisfied groan as the chill of the tiles seeped through the back of his t-shirt. With a lazy, fluid motion, he pulled the enormous four-foot duck plushie straight onto his torso, positioning its heavy, marshmallow-like body so it was perfectly perched on top of his stomach and chest. Lying there like a stranded starfish with a giant yellow shield flattening him to the floor, Ni-ki stared blankly at the ceiling, his long fingers absentmindedly tapping against the duck’s round flank.
After about ten minutes of complete stillness, a sudden, scratching thirst hit the back of his throat. He needed water.
With another dramatic, sleepy groan that echoed through the quiet apartment, Ni-ki managed to haul himself up into a sitting position. He didn't dare leave his companion behind on the floor. Gripping the massive duck gently around its midsection, cradling it against his chest like a fragile, oversized infant, he rose to his feet and shuffled into the kitchen.
He reached into the cabinet, pulling out a smooth, heavy glass. Holding the plushie securely with his left arm, he used his right hand to activate the water dispenser on the front of the refrigerator. The cool, crisp water filled the glass, the soft hum of the machine filling the quiet kitchen. Ni-ki pulled the glass away, completely satisfied, and brought it to his lips.
But his brain was still trapped in a heavy, 11:00 AM sleep fog. His spatial awareness was completely offline.
As he tilted his head back to take a sip, his sleepy hand wavered. The glass tilted far too early, entirely missing his mouth. A sudden, rogue splash of cold water tipped right over the rim, cascading through the air before landing with a horrific, devastating splat right on the pristine, bright yellow forehead of the four-foot duck plushie.
The reaction was instantaneous.
"AAAAAAGH!!! NOOOOO!!!"
A blood-curdling, high-pitched scream ripped from the very depths of Ni-ki’s lungs, tearing through the absolute silence of the dorm like a siren. His eyes went completely wide, expanding into massive circles of sheer, unadulterated horror as he stared at the dark, translucent wet patch rapidly forming on the duck’s ultra-soft microfiber fur.
The sheer volume and raw terror of the scream instantly echoed down the hallways, slamming into every closed bedroom door. To the sleeping older members, it didn't sound like a minor kitchen mishap; it sounded like an absolute security breach. Their immediate, sleep-deprived thoughts didn't jump to a stuffed animal—they jumped straight to their worst nightmare. They thought sasaengs had somehow bypassed the building's tight security, broken through the front door, and were physically harassing or attacking their maknae in the kitchen.
Within three seconds flat, a chaotic stampede of frantic footsteps thundered down the corridors.
Doors flew open. Jake sprinted out of his room in mismatched socks, his heart hammering against his ribs. Heeseung and Jungwon tumbled into the hallway simultaneously, nearly colliding as they rushed forward with wild, wide eyes. Jay grabbed a stray pillow from the hallway floor as a makeshift weapon, while Sunghoon and Sunoo ran close behind, their faces pale with adrenaline and sleep-deprived panic.
They burst into the kitchen, breathing heavily, fully prepared to tackle an intruder to the ground.
Instead, they stopped dead in their tracks, their jaws dropping in utter bewilderment.
There was no intruder. There was no security breach. There was only their massive, six-foot-tall main dancer, completely frantic, hovering over the kitchen counter. Ni-ki was in a state of absolute, localised hysteria, his long fingers desperately and frantically clawing, ruffling, and rubbing at a small, damp patch of yellow fur on the giant duck’s head. He was rubbing it so fast his hands were practically a blur, trying to friction-dry the fabric, but because the microfiber was deeply soaked, the damp spot refused to budge, remaining flat, dark, and ruined.
Ni-ki’s chest was heaving with pure frustration. When he heard the thundering approach of his hyungs, his head snapped up. His face was a picture of sheer, unadulterated panic, his eyes wide, watery, and desperate as he looked at the six older boys who had just rushed to his rescue.
Without a word of explanation, Ni-ki lunged forward. With a dramatic, pleading motion, he shoved the massive four-foot duck plushie straight into Jake and Heeseung's arms, practically burying them in yellow fluff.
"Fix it! Please, you have to fix it!" Ni-ki begged, his deep voice cracking with a mix of intense frustration and genuine, childlike helplessness. "The water fell on it! It won't dry! It’s flat! Look at it, it’s ruined! Please fix the water patch, hyungs!"
The members stood there for a long, silent moment, the adrenaline slowly draining from their systems, replaced by an overwhelming wave of sheer disbelief and profound amusement. They had literally prepared for physical combat, and instead, they were being asked to perform emergency triage on a giant stuffed toy.
"Oh my god," Jay muttered in English, dropping his defensive pillow to the floor and rubbing his temples. "I thought we were being robbed."
But seeing the sheer, heartbreaking distress on their youngest member's face—his bottom lip trembling slightly, his eyes reflecting absolute panic—the older-brother instincts instantly took over. They couldn't just laugh it off; their maknae was in a crisis, and as his hyungs, it was their solemn duty to fix it.
"Okay, okay, calm down," Jake said, immediately adopting a serious, professional demeanour as he cradled the massive duck in his arms. He looked at Heeseung and Sunghoon, snapping his fingers. "We need to move. Now. Take him to the bathroom. We’re losing time."
Playing along with absolute, unspoken coordination, the members treated the situation like a high-stakes medical drama. They marched in a solemn, focused line into the main bathroom, setting the massive duck plushie carefully on top of a clean, dry towel laid across the counter.
Like a team of world-class microsurgeons preparing for a delicate neurological procedure, they gathered around the victim. Jungwon reached into the cabinet and pulled out a clean, fine-toothed comb. With surgical precision, Heeseung and Jake leaned over the duck's head, using the tips of their fingers and the teeth of the comb to carefully, meticulously part each individual, thin strand of the plushie's damp fur. They worked with agonising slowness, separating the wet fibres one by one to ensure they wouldn't mat or clump together as they dried.
Ni-ki was banned from the operating room for his own emotional safety. He had wandered back to the living room, completely spent and pouting dramatically. He threw himself face-down onto the long couch, his body sprawled out lazily across the leather cushions, his oversized t-shirt riding up slightly along his lower back as he buried his face in a pillow, letting out occasional, muffled sighs of deep despair.
Inside the bathroom, the operation continued for an entire hour. The members took shifts, their backs aching as they bent over the counter, meticulously working through the damp yellow fibres.
"I think the tissue structure is stabilising," Sunghoon whispered deadpan, gently combing through a section of fluff. "The strands are separated."
"Bring in the heavy equipment," Jungwon commanded solemnly.
Jay reached under the sink and pulled out their high-powered hairdryer. He plugged it into the wall outlet, flipped the switch straight to max heat, and a loud, roaring hum filled the bathroom. Holding the dryer a safe distance away to avoid scorching the delicate microfiber, Jay began to wave it back and forth in slow, fluid arcs, sending a concentrated blast of intense heat across the damp patch. Jake and Heeseung continued to use their fingers to fluff the material as the hot air circulated through the fibers.
After thirty gruelling minutes of continuous blow-drying and precision fluffing, the miracle was finally achieved. The dark, flat wet patch completely vanished. The microfiber bounced back to life, becoming perfectly dry, incredibly soft, and uniformly fluffy once again. The duck was completely healed.
Gathering the massive four-foot plushie back into his arms, Jake led the medical team back out into the living room.
The moment the bathroom door clicked open, and the sound of footsteps approached, Ni-ki’s head snapped up from the couch pillow. Like a dramatic scene straight out of a hospital television show, he scrambled off the sofa, his socks sliding against the floor as he rushed over to the entering members, his eyes scanning the giant yellow bird in Jake's arms with intense anxiety.
"How... how is he?" Ni-ki asked, his voice low and incredibly tense, his hands hovering mid-air as if he were afraid to touch a patient out of surgery.
The older members looked at him, their faces holding serious, professional expressions before melting into warm, adoring smiles that they tried desperately to hide. The sight of their youngest—usually so tall, cool, and untouchable—acting like a worried toddler over a stuffed duck was simply too much for their hearts to handle.
"The surgery was a complete success, Ni-ki-ah," Jake announced with absolute gravity, handing the massive, fluffy duck back over to its owner. "The recovery period was incredibly smooth. The vitals are completely stable, and as you can see, the fur is perfectly fluffy again."
Ni-ki immediately snatched the giant duck against his chest, burying his face into the freshly dried forehead, letting out a massive, audible sigh of pure, unadulterated relief.
"However," Jungwon stepped forward, crossing his arms and adopting the strict tone of a chief medical officer, "we have some very strict post-op care instructions for you, Ni-ki. Listen carefully."
Ni-ki froze, his head popping up from the plushie, his brow furrowing into a slight, serious frown as he listened intently.
"From now on, this duck must maintain a mandatory, appropriate safety distance from any liquid or food parameters," Jungwon instructed, pointing a finger at the kitchen. "Whenever you are eating a meal or drinking a glass of water, the duck cannot be on your lap. It must be placed at least three feet away on a completely dry surface. Do you understand? We cannot risk another emergency intervention."
Ni-ki let out a long, heavy sigh, looking down at the goofy orange beak of the plushie, then back up at his leader. The thought of being separated from his companion even for a meal was a tough pill to swallow, but he knew the rules were for the duck's own safety.
"Fine," Ni-ki mumbled, his bottom lip forming a tiny pout as he nodded reluctantly. "For the sake of the duck... I will keep him away from the water."
Behind Jungwon, Sunoo was completely losing his mind. The sheer, overwhelming cuteness of the scene was causing his cheeks to flush pink. He was smiling so hard, his grin stretching so wide from ear to ear, that he felt like the corners of his mouth were physically going to rip from the sheer force of it. He had a massive, uncontrollable case of cuteness aggression, his fingers twitching violently by his sides as he fought the intense urge to step forward, grab Ni-ki by his messy hair, and shake him out of pure affection. The rest of the members were smiling just as wide, their faces literally hurting from how hard they were grinning at their giant, needy maknae.
"Okay, the patient needs to rest now," Heeseung laughed softly, shooing Ni-ki toward the hallway. "Go on, take him back to his room."
Holding the giant four-foot duck plushie with absolute, exaggerated gentleness—as if it were made of fragile glass—Ni-ki turned on his heel and padded carefully back down the corridor to his bedroom. He pushed the door open, stepped inside, and carefully let himself fall sideways onto his mattress.
He didn't even reach for his phone. The screen remained dark and abandoned on his nightstand. Instead, Ni-ki curled his long legs up, pulling the massive yellow plushie flush against his chest, enveloping it in a protective, unyielding hug.
Slowly, rhythmically, his large hand began to move, his long fingers rubbing gentle, soothing circles right across the duck plushie’s soft, fluffy back. He stared into the bead-like eyes of the stuffed animal, a soft, determined expression on his face as he murmured a quiet, sleepy vow into the quiet room, promising that he would protect it with everything he had and never, ever put it in danger again.
Snuggling his face deeply into the freshly blow-dried, ultra-soft yellow fur of the duck's head, Ni-ki let out one last, deeply content sigh. Within minutes, the warm afternoon sun bathed his room in a quiet, golden glow, and the youngest member of ENHYPEN drifted off into a deep, peaceful afternoon nap, completely and safely anchored to his favourite giant companion.