A soft yawn slipped past Julian’s lips as he stretched beneath the warm weight of his bnket. His arms rose above his head in a graceful arc, wrists limp as his fingers fanned out, back arching ever so slightly. The movement was unintentional, fluid—instinctive, almost dainty. He blinked blearily at the ceiling, the morning light snting through the blinds in golden stripes.

  It was… warm. Cozy. Comforting.

  That’s when he realized what had been wrapped around him all night.

  Plushies.

  A small army of them had piled up on either side of him during the night: a sleepy bunny tucked against his arm, a fat pastel bear squished under his shoulder, and one particurly smug-looking cat nestled near his neck. He blinked down at them and smiled without even thinking.

  “…Okay. I get the hype,” he mumbled, giving the bunny a little squeeze. A guilty thought crossed his mind. Maybe… maybe he did want more. Just a few. For comfort. Definitely not because they were cute or anything.

  He sat up, gave one final stretch, then shuffled off to brush his teeth. The cold water woke him up the rest of the way, and he quickly returned to his room to stay in his pajamas—soft cotton pants and a loose tee with faded musical notes along the hem.

  He padded down the stairs, the scent of breakfast guiding him like a beacon.

  In the kitchen, Sophia and Charlotte were busy at the stove, the ctter of pans and sizzle of eggs filling the space. Julian leaned on the doorway with a sleepy smile.

  “Well, well, well,” he said. “Look who’s sving away for the champion.”

  Charlotte rolled her eyes, flipping a pancake with practiced fir. “Only because we let you win.”

  “Yeah,” Sophia added, stirring something in a pot. “If we didn’t go easy on you, you'd be burning toast right now.”

  Julian smirked. “Still counts.”

  They pted the food just as he sat down, and the three of them gathered around the table. The kitchen was warm with the smell of syrup and butter, the kind of simple happiness that settled into your chest.

  “Mom and Dad are still sleeping in,” Sophia said, setting down orange juice. “Guess they needed it.”

  Charlotte poked at her food. “Hey, do you remember how you fell down? Like… before the hospital?”

  Julian paused mid-bite. His brows pulled together faintly. “Not really… It’s all fuzzy.”

  Sophia gave Charlotte a subtle look. “It’s okay. You don’t have to force it.”

  Charlotte nodded, a little quieter. “Right. Sorry.”

  A pause passed before Charlotte broke it again with a groan. “Ughhh, it’s Saturday and there’s literally nothing to do.”

  Julian picked at his eggs, then muttered softly under his breath, “…I kinda want more plushies.”

  Sophia’s head perked up. “Wait, what was that?”

  Charlotte leaned in. “Did you say plushies?”

  Julian turned a bit pink. “No—I mean—kind of. I just… they’re nice, okay?”

  Charlotte grinned. “Mall trip it is!”

  “Wha—No! I didn’t mean—”

  “You’re not getting out of this,” Sophia added with a smirk.

  And just like that, the girls had decided. Julian was going to the mall.

  Julian had barely finished his breakfast before he decided to change. Still feeling a little hazy, he shuffled back upstairs and threw on what seemed fine: an old band t-shirt, a pair of slightly too-tight jeans, and mismatched socks. He came back down confidently, ready for the day.

  The moment he stepped into the living room, both sisters stopped mid-conversation.

  “…No,” Sophia said ftly.

  Charlotte blinked. “What is that?”

  Julian looked down at himself, confused. “What? It’s clothes.”

  Sophia raised a brow. “You look like a rejected background character from a cheap indie film.”

  Charlotte added, “And those jeans are doing nothing for you. Also, your socks don’t even match.”

  Julian huffed. “It’s not like I’m trying to walk the runway.”

  “Well, you should try,” Charlotte shot back, already standing. “You’re not going out looking like that.”

  Julian found himself being ushered back upstairs with a protesting groan, and thus began the impromptu fashion crisis.

  First came the pastel button-up. “Too stiff,” Julian said.

  Next was a soft knit cardigan with a colred shirt. “I feel like a librarian.”

  Then came an oversized shirt with wide pants. “I can’t tell if I’m drowning or floating.”

  Fourth was an attempt at yering. “Why are there so many straps?”

  By the fifth outfit, Julian flopped back on his bed, defeated.

  “That’s it,” Sophia decred, storming into her own room. “You’ve lost your dressing privileges.”

  Charlotte followed after, returning a minute ter with Sophia, both holding clothes in their arms like it was a sacred offering.

  “Here,” Sophia said, handing him a soft vender hoodie. It was oversized, clearly one of hers, with tiny embroidered stars near the cuffs. “This is your new personality now.”

  “And pair it with these,” Charlotte said, passing him some fitted white shorts and ankle socks with frilly edges. “Complete the look.”

  Julian held them up. “Wait—this is—kind of cute…”

  He changed quickly, and when he stepped out, both girls gave a proud nod.

  “See?” Charlotte smirked. “Adorable.”

  Sophia smiled, adjusting the hoodie’s sleeve for him. “Ten out of ten.”

  Julian flushed, tugging the hoodie over his hands. “It’s… really soft.”

  “Of course it is. Only the best.”

  As they headed downstairs, Julian gnced around. “Wait, how are we even getting there?”

  Sophia gave him a look like he’d asked if water was wet. “Julian. I’m nineteen. I have a license.”

  “Oh… right.”

  They scribbled a quick note to their parents on the kitchen whiteboard and then slipped outside. The morning air was crisp, and Julian followed his sisters into the car, the hoodie sleeves still flopping past his fingers.

  Once buckled in, the teasing started immediately.

  “So,” Charlotte began, gncing at him through the rearview mirror. “What kind of plushies are we looking for? Bunnies? Bears? Something weird and niche?”

  Julian blinked. “I—I don’t know. Maybe… a frog?”

  Sophia grinned. “A frog? Oh, we’re definitely getting you a frog.”

  Charlotte added, “You better clear some shelf space, because we’re gonna spoil you.”

  Julian muttered into the hoodie, “Why does it feel like this is turning into a bigger deal than I meant…”

  “Because,” Sophia said with a ugh, “you’re going to love it. There’s so much to see, so many shops to explore.”

  “Yeah,” Charlotte chimed in. “Cute cafes, arcades, plushie walls. You won’t know where to start.”

  The car ride that followed was a mix of chill vibes and ughter. Sophia connected her phone to the aux, bsting a pylist filled with catchy pop and upbeat remixes. Julian leaned against the window, letting the music soak in as Charlotte and Sophia sang along to the lyrics—terribly off-key on purpose. Every now and then, they’d nudge him to join in, and eventually, he hummed along, a tiny smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

  They pulled into the mall’s parking lot, and as they stepped out of the car, Julian’s eyes went wide.

  “Whoa…”

  The mall towered over them, stretching across what looked like an entire block. Gss panels shimmered in the daylight, and giant animated advertisements pyed on LED screens above the entrance. Even from outside, the buzz of voices, music, and mall announcements could be heard.

  “Did it always look this big?” Julian asked, blinking up at it.

  “Pretty sure it got renovated a couple years ago,” Sophia said, slinging her purse over her shoulder.

  “Still feels massive every time,” Charlotte added.

  They walked through the automatic doors and entered the main pza of the mall. The air inside was cool, and a pleasant scent of cinnamon pretzels and perfume mixed in the air. Julian’s eyes sparkled as he looked around—escators crisscrossing in the distance, people walking by carrying colorful bags, shop windows filled with everything from gadgets to fashion to oddly shaped desserts.

  Sophia and Charlotte gnced at each other with amused smiles, then giggled quietly.

  Julian, oblivious, kept turning his head side to side like a curious puppy. A few passing girls gnced over, their eyes nding on him and lingering for a second too long. His vender hoodie hung adorably off one shoulder, and the way he kept adjusting the sleeves made him look even softer.

  He paid them no mind.

  “Ooh—come on!” Julian suddenly grabbed both his sisters by the hands and pulled them toward a store on the left.

  “Wha—?” Charlotte barely had time to react.

  “He’s pulling us like a dog dragging his walkers,” Sophia ughed, jogging after him.

  Julian tugged them into a rge electronics store—something sleek and modern like a BestBuy. Rows of glowing monitors and demo gaming setups lined the shelves, with RGB lights casting a soft glow over everything.

  Charlotte gasped. “Oh, they’ve got the new Nebu rigs!”

  “And that graphics dock—look at that airflow housing!” Sophia added, eyes practically sparkling.

  Julian stood between them, nodding slowly, pretending to follow along. “Yeah… airflow…”

  The sisters were too engrossed to notice his confusion at first, but when Julian leaned in closer to a mechanical keyboard and whispered, “So… this one unches games or something?” they both turned toward him.

  “You… actually like this stuff?” Charlotte asked, raising a brow.

  Julian tilted his head. “I mean… it looks cool.”

  Sophia grinned. “Didn’t think you’d be into gear shopping.”

  Julian shrugged, his wide-eyed gaze trailing over a wall of headsets glowing in different colors. “I’m just curious. That’s all.”

  They stayed for a bit longer, showing Julian some of their favorite gear, letting him press buttons, turn knobs, and pretend he understood what a 3090 Ultra-X even was.

  Eventually, they moved on, and a short walk ter, they came to a storefront decked out in pastel colors and oversized plushies in the window.

  Charlotte nudged Julian. “Recognize anything?”

  His eyes lit up.

  There, right in the center of the dispy, was a giant frog plush, the same exact shade as the one in his room—but even bigger.

  His mouth parted slightly, steps slowing as he stared through the gss.

  Sophia chuckled. “Guess we know our next stop.”

  The plushie store’s door jingled as they stepped inside, and Julian’s eyes instantly doubled in size. Rows upon rows of plushies in every size and shape imaginable—bears, cats, dragons, sea creatures, even fantasy hybrids—lined the walls and shelves. The warm scent of cotton and something sweet filled the air, like the smell of a new stuffed toy fresh out of a gift box.

  “Oh my God, look at that one!” Julian gasped, grabbing Charlotte’s sleeve and pointing at a round duck with a ridiculous crown. “And that one! It’s a hedgehog in a hoodie!”

  He turned to Sophia next, practically shaking her arm. “They have a whole wall of fruit plushies! Look, that one’s a banana with legs!”

  “You’re going to pull my shoulder out,” Charlotte giggled.

  Julian kept bouncing from one section to the next, pointing, ughing, gasping like a kid in a toy commercial. The store clerk, a girl maybe in her twenties with a short bob haircut and a light blue apron, watched him with a smile spreading slowly across her face.

  “Excuse me,” she said, walking over. “You guys doing okay? Need help finding something?”

  Julian turned toward her, eyes shining. “Do you have that huge frog plush in the window? The one sitting down with the little crown?”

  “Oh! Sir Froggington?” she ughed. “We just got another one in stock. Let me grab him for you.”

  As she turned to head into the backroom, Julian grabbed both his sisters’ hands and dragged them down another aisle like a fluffy little whirlwind. “Come on! There’s more to see!”

  They passed by a few other boys along the way—around Julian’s age or younger—giggling as they posed with massive plush sharks and unicorns. One of them was even cradling a giant cat like a baby. Julian blinked. Somehow, it felt totally normal.

  Soon the clerk returned, carrying the oversized frog plush in both arms. “Here he is! A royal companion for royalty.”

  Julian’s face lit up as he hurried over. “He’s perfect!”

  Charlotte and Sophia paid for it without hesitation, brushing aside Julian’s protests.

  “Thank you!” Julian beamed at the clerk, holding the plush to his chest.

  The clerk flushed slightly, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Y-You’re welcome…”

  As they exited the shop, Julian clutched Sir Froggington tightly with both arms. “Thank you! Thank you, thank you!” he chirped, turning between Charlotte and Sophia with a gleam in his eyes.

  “Okay, okay,” Sophia said, ruffling his hair. “If we knew you’d act like this, we would’ve taken you sooner.”

  They continued exploring, stopping into a bookstore where Julian spent some time leafing through fantasy novels and cookbooks, his brow furrowed in curiosity. He didn’t buy anything though.

  They checked out a few shoe stores after that. Charlotte tried on a pair of sporty sneakers, and Sophia admired some heeled boots. Julian mostly just sat on a little bench beside Sir Froggington, watching the people walk by.

  But then… they reached a clothing store.

  “Oh,” Charlotte said with a grin. “We’re doing this.”

  “Doing what?” Julian blinked.

  “Trying things on,” Sophia answered, already grabbing a shopping basket. “Like, a lot of things.”

  Julian hesitated. “Wait, am I trying stuff too?”

  Both sisters looked at him.

  “Yes,” they said in unison.

  What followed could only be described as a whirlwind fashion montage.

  First, they gave him a cozy cardigan outfit—cream-colored knit with a high-neck undershirt and dark skinny jeans. Julian stepped out of the changing room, fidgeting with the sleeves.

  “Adorable,” Sophia nodded, thumbs up.

  Next came a pastel streetwear combo—vender hoodie under a cropped denim jacket, pleated beige shorts, and tall white socks.

  Charlotte gasped. “You’re basically a character in a slice-of-life anime.”

  Julian blushed and ducked back in.

  Then came soft academia—a pair of fitted brown pid trousers, a cozy matching vest yered over a crisp white long-sleeve shirt, and a pair of small round gsses that made him look like a daydreaming bookworm pulled straight from a storybook.

  “I feel like I should be reading poetry in a library,” Julian muttered as he stepped out, hugging Sir Froggington to his chest.

  “You look like someone who breaks hearts without knowing it,” Sophia teased.

  Store clerks passed by occasionally, trying not to stare, but their eyes lingered just a bit too long—especially when Julian tried a shy wave or twirled awkwardly in pce.

  Outfit after outfit—oversized graphic tees, ruffle-colred sweaters, an adorable baby blue jumper with tiny strawberries embroidered near the hem, even a sailor-inspired top paired with slim jeans. Each time Julian emerged, his sisters gave commentary as if he were on a runway. The longer it went on, the more Julian rexed, ughing with them and even doing little poses for fun.

  Finally, Sophia sighed dramatically. “Okay. We need to stop or I’m going to spend our food money on outfits.”

  Julian chuckled as he changed back into his original clothes—though he secretly kept the strawberry jumper aside to ask about ter.

  By the time they reached the food court, the mall’s overhead lights had slightly dimmed into their evening mode, casting a golden tone over the glossy floors. The smells of fried food, sugar, and grilled meats filled the air, and Julian’s stomach growled at the scent.

  Charlotte stretched her arms over her head. “Several hours ter and I’m starving.”

  “Same,” Sophia agreed. “We earned this.”

  They found a table near a bubble tea stand and set Sir Froggington beside them in a chair of his own. Julian smiled down at the giant plush before looking around.

  “I guess… this really was fun,” he murmured.

  Charlotte and Sophia exchanged another warm gnce.

  cuzzies