When Keika opened his eyes that morning, the first thing he saw wasn't sunlight or trees.It was fur.Everywhere.
"...Wait. Why is my face warm?" he mumbled groggily.
He blinked—only to find himself buried under a mountain of white fur and twitching ears.
"Wha—why are there rabbits?! Why are there so many rabbits?!"
Fluffy little white rabbits blinked up at him with round blue eyes, their tiny noses wiggling. Some were sleeping peacefully on his stomach, others had made a nest around his legs.
And above him, perched on a branch, was an entire flock of birds chirping in perfect harmony.
"No. Nope. I refuse. This is too Disney."
Keika sat up slowly, half-asleep, half-horrified. The moment he moved, every rabbit instantly followed, forming a perfectly synchronized fluffy formation around him.
Then the birds swooped down, circling above like a halo.
"Oh for—why do I look like a saint in a children's picture book?!"
He waved his hands. "Shoo! Go back to… wherever rabbits are supposed to live!"
The birds chirped louder. The rabbits hopped closer.
The tigers appeared from the trees and froze at the sight.
"My King…" said the red-eyed leader in awe. "You've been chosen by the Forest Spirits."
"I've been assaulted by plush toys, that's what happened!"
The Fluffening Begins
For reasons Keika couldn't comprehend, the local wildlife had collectively decided that he was their divine mascot.
The moment he sat down to eat, a bird landed on his head.When he took a walk, rabbits formed a moving carpet under his feet.At one point, a deer just appeared, bowed, and wandered off like some kind of nature priest.
"This is fine," Keika said deadpan. "Totally fine. Just another normal day being accidentally worshiped by the animal kingdom."
The tigers, meanwhile, took this way too seriously.
They started guarding him like temple priests.They even built a "fluff perimeter" so that no creature could approach without bowing.
"Please stop forming a holy circle!" Keika shouted as the tigers and rabbits began walking in synchronization. "You're making me look like some weird forest deity!"
"But My King," one tiger said sincerely, "you are divine. You tamed us, and now the forest follows you."
"I didn't tame you, you kidnapped me into your fur cult!"
The Training Continues… Sort of
Despite the chaos, Keika still tried to continue their "How to Be Normal Humans" lessons.Only now, every class had uninvited furry students.
"Lesson four," Keika announced, "how to behave normally in public—without terrifying people."
A rabbit sat obediently in front of him.A bird perched on his shoulder.The tigers sat cross-legged behind them, pretending to take notes (on rocks).
"Okay. First rule—don't growl at strangers."
A tiger raised his paw. "What if they look suspicious?"
"Still no growling."
"What if they insult you?"
"No growling."
"What if they insult you, My King?"
"Then I'll growl. You stay quiet."
The tigers exchanged glances. "Understood. We'll let you do the threatening."
"…That's not what I meant."
Meanwhile, the rabbits were imitating him—sitting upright with their tiny paws crossed like tiny monks.
Keika stared at them blankly. "Why are you better students than the actual people here?"
The Great Snack Disaster
Later that afternoon, Keika decided maybe a treat break would help.He opened his bag and pulled out a few pieces of dried fruit.
Instantly, every rabbit's ears perked up.Every bird's head snapped toward him.And the tigers—oh gods, the tigers—crouched like they were about to hunt the snack itself.
"…Guys?"
rustle rustle rustle
"...Guys, we can share, right?"
rustle intensifies
"Don't you dare—"
And then it happened.
The entire forest exploded into motion.Rabbits leapt, birds swooped, tigers dashed——and poor Keika was swallowed by a tsunami of fluff, feathers, and fur.
"HELP! I'M BEING EATEN ALIVE BY CUTE THINGS!"
The red-eyed leader poked his head out of the chaos. "We apologize, My King! The snack was too divine to resist!"
"I'M NOT DIVINE, I'M JUST LAZY AND HUNGRY!"
When the dust finally settled, Keika lay flat on the grass, his hair filled with feathers and his dignity long gone.A rabbit curled up on his chest, purring softly.
"...You're lucky you're cute," he muttered.
Nightfall at the Fluff Camp
By night, the chaos had died down. The tigers were curled near the campfire, some rabbits asleep beside them. The air was warm, peaceful, and filled with soft chirps.
Keika sat by the fire, a small bird snoring on his shoulder.
"You know…" he sighed, "I used to think my life peaked at convincing drunk nobles to tip me for fake compliments. But this? This is somehow worse and better."
The red-eyed tiger smiled faintly. "You bring peace to beasts and humans alike, My King."
"I bring migraines and fur allergies, that's what I bring."
Still, as he looked at the calm sleeping faces—fur, feathers, and all—Keika couldn't help but smile.Even if it was ridiculous… it was kind of nice.
"...Fine. Maybe this isn't that bad," he said softly.
A small rabbit shifted in his lap. "Kyu~"
Then another jumped on his shoulder. Then another.And another.
Within seconds, he was completely buried again.
"Okay, no, this is bad. Get off! I can't breathe!"
The forest echoed with his muffled cries, and the tigers just watched with serene admiration.
"Behold," whispered one. "The King of Fluff, embracing his destiny."
"I SWEAR I'M GONNA MOVE BACK TO THE CITY!!"