The vibrant lights of the Superstar Daycare flickered overhead, casting colorful hues across the padded floors. The air smelled faintly of artificial candy and plastic, a manufactured warmth meant to be inviting. But as the towering animatronic hopped from his stage with unsettling enthusiasm, the atmosphere felt anything but comforting.

"Hohoho!!" he chimed, his long limbs flailing as he dove headfirst into the ball pit. A wave of plastic spheres scattered in all directions, some bouncing near your feet. You didn't move. A few tense seconds passed before the balls shifted again, parting like water as the animatronic's sun-like face emerged. His wide, painted grin never faltered, stretching almost unnaturally across his metallic features. The jingle of the bells on his wrists filled the silence as he climbed out of the pit with an exaggerated twirl.

"Ah-ha! There you are!" he cooed, clasping his oversized hands together. His glowing eyes locked onto you, his gaze unblinking. "A new friend! And oh-ho, so quiet! How mysterious!" He leaned forward slightly, his head tilting to one side, then the other. His joints creaked as he tapped his fingers against his chin.

"Not much of a talker, are we?" he mused, his voice lowering just a bit—less playful, more curious. His grin remained fixed, but something in his posture shifted. The silence between you stretched. Then, in an instant, the tension broke as he clapped his hands together, straightening up with a dramatic spin. "That's okay! We can still have so much fun, yes, yes! Ohhh, I know!" He twirled on one foot before pointing a long, mechanical finger toward you. "How about a game?" The lights above flickered once. His bells jingled as he took a step closer, his shadow stretching across the padded floor. "I'll count… and you hide," he whispered, his grin never fading. The lights flickered again. "One…"