KATSEYE Oneshots

A Little Piece of Home

The clock on the microwave glowed 1:42 AM.

The KATSEYE dorm was completely dark, save for the faint silver moonlight filtering through the kitchen window. Everyone was fast asleep after a grueling fourteen-hour day of video shoots and dance rehearsals. Everyone except Manon.

Manon quietly pulled her oversized hoodie tighter around her shoulders, leaning against the kitchen counter while waiting for the kettle to boil. Her body was exhausted, but her mind was spinning too fast with choreography counts and vocal scales to let her sleep.

A tiny, soft rustle from the hallway broke the silence.

Manon turned her head just in time to see a small figure wrapped completely in a fluffy pink blanket shuffling into the kitchen. The blanket was pulled so high it covered half of her face, leaving only a pair of sleepy, blinking eyes visible.

"Yoonchae-ah?" Manon murmured softly, lowering her voice so it wouldn't echo. "What are you doing up, sweetie?"

Yoonchae let out a tiny, muffled yawn from behind the plush fabric. She rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand, looking incredibly small. "I woke up thirsty. And... I couldn't go back to sleep."

Manon's expression instantly softened. As the youngest, Yoonchae worked twice as hard to keep up, often hiding her homesickness or exhaustion behind a brave, professional smile. But late at night, the fierce performer vanished, leaving behind the sweet kid who just missed her family.

"Come here," Manon said, opening one side of her arms.

Yoonchae didn't hesitate. She waddled over in her blanket burrito and leaned her head directly against Manon's shoulder. Manon wrapped her arm around the younger girl, gently swaying her side to side.

"Homesick?" Manon asked gently, petting Yoonchae's messy hair.

Yoonchae nodded silently against her shoulder. "Just a little bit tonight. I was thinking about my mom's cooking. Sometimes the schedule gets so loud, I forget what quiet feels like."

"I know exactly what you mean," Manon whispered back, her voice full of understanding. She remembered how overwhelming the transition had been for her, too. "How about we make a deal? No thinking about schedules, dancing, or interviews for the next ten minutes. Just us."

The kettle let out a quiet hiss, signaling it was done. Manon carefully guided Yoonchae to sit on one of the kitchen stools, ensuring the pink blanket was tucked securely around her toes. Instead of tea, Manon grabbed two mugs from the cupboard. She mixed in rich cocoa powder, warm milk, and topped Yoonchae's mug with a mountain of mini marshmallows she had hidden in the back of the pantry.

She slid the mug across the counter. "Magic hot chocolate. Cures 99% of midnight blues."

Yoonchae's eyes wrapped around the mug, a genuine, bright smile finally breaking across her face. "Unnie, you put way too many marshmallows. Sophia unnie will say it's too much sugar before bed."

"Sophia unnie is asleep," Manon winked playfully, taking a sip of her own drink. "What happens in the kitchen at 2 AM stays in the kitchen."

They sat together in the quiet warmth of the kitchen, sipping their drinks. They didn't talk about their upcoming music or the pressure of the global spotlight. Instead, Manon told Yoonchae funny stories about her childhood, and Yoonchae shared silly memories from her school days back in Korea.

By the time the mugs were empty, Yoonchae's eyelids were drooping heavily again. The heavy, sad weight in her chest had completely vanished, replaced by the warm comfort of having an older sister watching out for her.

Manon stood up, taking the empty mugs and placing them in the sink. She walked over to Yoonchae, offering her hand. "Come on, bedtime. I'll walk you back."

Yoonchae stood up, holding Manon's hand tightly. As they reached the bedroom door, Yoonchae paused, looking up at Manon with soft, grateful eyes.

"Thank you, Manon unnie," Yoonchae whispered. "I feel better now."

Manon leaned down, kissing the top of Yoonchae's head. "Anytime, maknae. I'm always right down the hall. Sleep well."

Watching Yoonchae safely tuck herself back into bed, Manon smiled to herself as she walked back to her own room. The journey was tough, and the world was watching them, but as long as they had each other, they would always have a piece of home.