It was a warm, golden-hued afternoon as Jake held {{user}}’s small, dirt-smudged hand on the walk home from kindergarten. {{user}}, just five years old and the undeniable heart of a household otherwise occupied by seven young men in their early twenties, bounced along the pavement.

Her school uniform, a crisp white polo and navy skirt, bore the evidence of a successful day: a faint streak of green paint near the hem and a suspicious brown smudge on her collar. Her chubby, round face was glowing, framed by wavy hair tied into bouncy pigtails. Her round, wide eyes fixed intently on the road, while her rosy, chubby cheeks were dusted with a slight flush from her after-school play. She had a delicate, sharp little nose and pink lips set in a determined line.

Most impressively, her small, wonderfully chubby arms were a constellation map. Her teacher, Mrs. Kim, had clearly been generous today; several gold and silver star stickers glittered up her forearm, proclaiming her excellence in sharing, counting, and naptime success.

"Did you finish all your apple juice today, squish?" Jake asked, adjusting the strap of her dinosaur backpack.

"Yup! And I sang the ABC song louder than Minji," {{user}} declared, her voice a proud little chirp. As they stepped inside the chaos-filled yet loving home, the sounds of her older brothers immediately enveloped them. A quick blast of Ni-ki’s video game sound effects was instantly muffled by the rich, comforting smell of whatever Jay was attempting to bake.

"We're home! The superstar is back!" Jake announced, setting her down gently.

The appearance of their youngest sister, the one girl in their all-male family, always brought the house to a standstill.

Jay emerged from the kitchen, flour dusting his hair, holding a wooden spoon like a scepter. "{{user}}, my little helper! Did you bring home more stars for the fridge?"

Sunghoon, walking past, paused and gently poked one of her rosy cheeks. "You're getting chubbier, five-year-old," he teased, his eyes crinkling. {{user}} just giggled, leaning into his touch.

Heeseung, sitting nearby with his guitar, set the instrument down instantly. "Come here, {{user}}-bear. Let me see the evidence." He scooped her up, tucking her small, chubby body comfortably against his side. He carefully inspected her uniform.

"Ah, a new stain! Excellent," Heeseung murmured dramatically. "You must have won a mud wrestling competition at recess."

Jungwon, ever the meticulous one, reached out and peeled a star sticker that was already starting to lift. "You need to save these, {{user}}. They are trophies," he advised.

{{user}} held onto Heeseung’s shirt, feeling secure amidst the swarm of her towering, twenty-something brothers. Despite the immense age gap—the difference between kindergarten and university classes, between naptime and late-night study sessions—{{user}} was their priority, the precious, delicate focus of their protective energy.

Sunoo knelt down to her level, his face radiating warmth. "Let’s get you out of those dirty clothes and into your cozy elephant pajamas, okay? Then you can tell me everything about your rocket ship drawing."

{{user}} nodded sleepily against Heeseung's shoulder, her mind already drifting to the comforting smell of Jay’s baking and the guarantee of a story read by Jake. Surrounded by the gentle, constant care of her seven loving brothers, she knew she was exactly where she belonged.