Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

˗ˏˋ ⋆.˚𓅭⋆.˚ ˎˊ˗

The first years stood in awkward silence by the lake. The soft rustle of the wind and the gentle lapping of water were the only sounds. For a moment, it was peaceful.

Then came the quacking.

It started faint, barely audible, like an echo in the distance. But it grew louder. Closer.

Megumi froze, his entire body tensing. His eyes narrowed toward the treeline, dread creeping across his face. “Please don’t tell me she’s coming…”

Gojo’s grin stretched wide, positively gleeful. “Oh, she’s coming.”

Yuji tilted his head in confusion. “Who’s she?”

Megumi let out a groan, covering his face with one hand. “…Why ducks...”

“Why not ducks?” Yuji said, tilting his head. “I mean, they’re cute. Like, way better than bugs or something.”

“I will walk into this lake and let it take me if this is another one of Gojo-sensei’s ridiculous pranks,” Nobara muttered, glaring at their teacher.

Gojo, standing a few feet away and clearly trying not to burst into laughter, waved a dismissive hand. “Oh, ye of little faith! This isn’t a prank. This is a carefully curated experience.”

“Translation: we’re about to suffer,” Megumi said, rubbing his temples.

“Now, now,” Gojo said, adjusting his blindfold, “you’re about to meet one of Jujutsu Tech’s finest. She’s quirky, she’s creative, and she’s my absolute favorite student!”

“Why does that sound like a warning?” Nobara asked.

Before Gojo could answer, the quacking reached a crescendo, and a parade of ducks appeared. They waddled confidently, heads held high like they owned the place. The first years froze as the ducks spread out in a perfect formation, parting to reveal her.

Jinora strode through the center, holding a duck under each arm. She wore the Jujutsu Tech uniform, though with some obvious modifications—sleeves rolled up, scuffed water boots that went to her knees instead of regulation shoes, and a bright yellow bandana tied loosely around her neck. Her hair was messily pulled back, and she grinned so wide it could rival Gojo’s.

“Hey, hey!” she called out, as if she wasn’t flanked by actual ducks. “Sorry I’m late. Captain Quackers had another run-in with that goose by the pond. Again.”

“You see what I mean?” Gojo said, clapping his hands together like a proud parent. “She’s amazing!”

The first years stared at Jinora. Then at the ducks. Then at Jinora again.

“…What is this?” Nobara asked, her voice flat.

“This is Jinora-senpai,” Megumi answered with an exhausted sigh. “She’s a third year… Well, the third only third year….”

”Eh?!”

“This,” Jinora said, ignoring her kouhai, while setting one of the ducks down, “is the squad. Meet Captain Quackers, Sir Quakerson III, Beakson, Lil Waddle, and the rest. They’re here to help!”

“Help?” Nobara asked incredulously.

“Oh yeah,” Gojo said, clearly delighted. “Jinora’s technique, Fowl Play, is revolutionary. She can summon and control ducks with her cursed energy. Isn’t it brilliant?”

“Why is this a thing?” Nobars demanded.

“Because someone had to do it!” Gojo said, throwing an arm around Jinora’s shoulders. “And Jinora here? She’s the best at it. No one else could pull this off.”

“Uh, yeah, because no one else would want to,” Megumi muttered.

“Don’t knock it until you see it in action!” Jinora said brightly. “Ducks are scrappy. They’re great for scouting, distracting enemies, and generally causing chaos.”

“Chaos,” Megumi repeated, narrowing his eyes at Gojo.

“Oh, you’ll love it,” Gojo said, grinning. “Just wait!”

˗ˏˋ ⋆.˚𓅭⋆.˚ ˎˊ˗

As Gojo explained the mission, Jinora’s ducks began roaming the area. One pecked at Yuji’s shoelaces, another waddled over to Megumi’s Divine Dogs (who growled in confusion), and one particularly brave duck hopped onto Nobara’s shoulder.

“Get it off!” Nobara shrieked, swatting at the duck.

“Don’t panic, it’s just Fluffers!” Jinora said, laughing. “He likes sitting on people.”

“Why does he feel sticky?!” Nobara yelled, flailing.

“Probably stepped in something on the way here,” Jinora said thoughtfully.

Gojo doubled over laughing, leaning on Jinora for support. “This is perfect. Jinora, you’re already making an impression!”

“Thank you, sensei,” Jinora said with a mock American salute, her grin widening.

Yuji, meanwhile, crouched down to pet one of the ducks. “This is actually kinda cool. Can they, like, do tricks?”

“Of course!” Jinora said, snapping her fingers. A group of ducks immediately formed a conga line. “This is Duck Formation Alpha!”

Yuji clapped enthusiastically. “That’s so cool!”

“This is the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen,” Megumi muttered.

“Wrong,” Gojo said, his tone smug. “It’s art.”

˗ˏˋ ⋆.˚𓅭⋆.˚ ˎˊ˗

“— and that’s why you should never feed ducks—!”

The air suddenly grew heavy with cursed energy, and a ugly low-grade curse slithered out from the shadows. Its twisted form loomed ominously, dripping black sludge onto the forest floor.

“Oh good, a warm-up!” Jinora said, clapping her hands together with way too much excitement. “Alright, squad! Show them what we’re made of!”

“What are five ducks going to do?” Nobara asked mockingly, raising an eyebrow and gripping her hammer.

Jinora grinned, her confidence unwavering. “Oh, sweet summer child,” she said with a wink. “Who said anything about five?”

She raised both hands dramatically, her cursed energy flaring—and then the ducks came.

Not just a few ducks. All the ducks.

The first wave waddled in from the trees, followed by another wave flying overhead, wings beating furiously. Ducks poured in from every direction, quacking at ear-splitting volume. The ground seemed to ripple as more and more ducks emerged, their feathers glinting in the fading sunlight.

Yuji’s jaw dropped. “How many ducks are there!?”

“Isn’t it beautiful!” Gojo cried out with a teeth-bearing grin and arms open as if to embrace all of the ducks before him.

“Approximately five hundred and forty-two!” Jinora said proudly. “But don’t worry, I left a few back at Jujutsu Tech for emergencies.”

“Why would there ever be a duck emergency?” Nobara hissed, clutching her hammer.

“This is the emergency!” Jinora snapped her fingers. “Formation Quack Attack!”

The ducks immediately organized into a perfectly synchronized battle formation. A phalanx of waddling ducks spread out in the front, their heads bobbing in unison, while another wave took to the air in V-shaped squadrons. Behind them, the heavier ducks formed a rear guard, honking loudly to rally the troops.

“It’s like they’ve been training for this,” Yuji whispered, awe in his voice.

“They have,” Jinora said, as if it were obvious.

The curse, clearly unprepared for this kind of assault, let out a screech and lunged forward—only to be met by a wall of quacking chaos. The ducks swarmed it with reckless abandon, pecking, flapping, and honking. The airborne squadron dive-bombed its head, while the ground team went straight for its legs.

One particularly brave duck launched itself at the curse’s face, landing a solid peck on what could generously be described as an eye. The curse flailed wildly, unable to shake the relentless onslaught.

“Is that duck biting its arm?” Nobara asked, horrified.

“Yes, and look at it go!” Jinora cheered.

Yuji was practically bouncing on his heels. “This is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen! Go, ducks, go!”

Megumi stared at the scene, his face a mixture of horror and resignation. “This… this can’t be real. Maki’s only told me stories but this…”

“Oh, it’s real,” Gojo said, his voice practically trembling with delight. He crouched down and picked up a pure white duck with piercing blue eyes, cradling it like a treasured pet. “Look at this one. Isn’t it gorgeous? You’ve outdone yourself, Jinora!”

“Thanks, sensei!” Jinora said, beaming.

The duck in Gojo’s arms quacked softly, tilting its head as Gojo stroked its feathers. “You’re doing great work, buddy. Keep it up.”

“Gojo-sensei, are you talking to the duck?” Nobara asked, aghast.

“Of course,” Gojo said, completely serious. “This one’s a leader. I can feel it.”

The curse let out another screech, stumbling under the sheer weight of ducks now clinging to its limbs. Jinora raised her hand like a conductor.

“Final maneuver!” she called out. “Super Swarm Slam!”

The ducks responded immediately, the air squadron swooping down in a coordinated dive while the ground team surged forward. The combined force knocked the curse to the ground, where it flailed helplessly, completely overwhelmed.

“Yuji, now!” Jinora yelled.

Yuji dashed forward, his face lit with excitement, and landed a clean punch. The curse dissolved into black mist, leaving behind a pile of feathers and a very confused Yuji.

“Did… did we just win because of ducks?” Nobara asked, lowering her hammer.

“Yes,” Jinora said with a grin. “And you’re welcome.”

Gojo stood, still cradling the white duck, and gave Jinora a slow clap. “Bravo. Truly masterful. I’ve never been prouder.”

“Thank you, sensei,” Jinora said with a mock bow.

Yuji crouched down, picking up one of the ducks that waddled over to him. “You guys were amazing. I mean it.”

The duck quacked in response, and Yuji gasped. “Did it just say thank you?”

“No,” Megumi said. “It’s a duck.”

“Don’t ruin this for me,” Yuji said, holding the duck closer.

As the flock of ducks began to waddle back into formation, Gojo sighed happily, still petting the white duck. “I’m telling you, Jinora, if I could adopt you and your ducks, I would.”

“You kinda already did,” Jinora said, laughing. “I mean, you did write the whole duck training manual for me.”

Nobara froze. “He what?”

“Oh yeah,” Jinora said. “Fifteen pages, handwritten. There were diagrams and everything.”

“Gojo-sensei,” Megumi said, his voice flat. “You’re insane.”

“Insanely brilliant,” Gojo said, grinning. “Now, come on! We’ve got more curses to fight and more ducks to unleash!”

As the group trudged away from the lake, the ducks quacking triumphantly around them, Nobara sighed. “This is the dumbest thing I’ve ever been a part of.”

“Wrong,” Gojo said, still cradling his blue-eyed duck. “This is history in the making.”

˗ˏˋ ⋆.˚𓅭⋆.˚ ˎˊ˗

Chapter Text

˗ˏˋ ⋆.˚𓅭⋆.˚ ˎˊ˗

The first years trudged through the forest, the quacking of Jinora’s ducks filling the air like an ominous, feathery soundtrack.

“Are they always this loud?” Kugisaki asked, swatting at a mosquito as Captain Quackers waddled confidently beside her, head held high like a commander surveying his troops.

“They’re communicating,” Jinora said with a grin. “Strategizing. You wouldn’t understand.”

“Strategizing?!” Kugisaki glared at Captain Quackers, who quacked back smugly.

“Don’t question the Captain,” Jinora said solemnly. “He’s the heart of this operation.”

Captain Quackers puffed out his chest, strutting like he owned the place. Yuji gave him a thumbs-up. “He’s got the energy of a protagonist. I respect it.”

Behind the Captain, Sir Quackington the Third followed in dignified silence, his white feathers glowing faintly in the sunlight. Gojo was practically skipping alongside him, whispering encouragement.

“You’re doing amazing, Sir Quackington,” Gojo said, his voice reverent. “Truly an inspiration.”

“Sensei,” Megumi said flatly, “you’re talking to a duck again.”

“And he’s listening,” Gojo shot back, stroking Sir Quackington’s head. “Unlike you.”

At the rear of the formation, Lil Waddle, the smallest and most chaotic of the ducks, was aggressively pecking at Megumi’s shoelaces.

“Can you control this one?” Megumi snapped, trying to shake her off.

“Oh, that’s Lil Waddle,” Jinora said with a laugh. “She’s feisty. Don’t take it personally.”

“Feisty? She’s trying to eat my shoes.”

“She’s showing dominance,” Jinora said. “It’s a compliment.”

“I don’t want her compliment!”

Meanwhile, Beakson, a sleek black duck with a scar across his beak, perched on a low branch, watching the group like a hardened war veteran. Kugisaki glanced up at him.

“Why is that one glaring at me?” she asked.

“Oh, Beakson?” Jinora said. “He doesn’t trust easily. He’s been through a lot.”a

“It’s a duck,”Kugisaki said.

“A duck with a past,” Jinora corrected.

“Of course,” Nobara muttered, rolling her eyes.

˗ˏˋ ⋆.˚𓅭⋆.˚ ˎˊ˗

The cursed energy thickened, and from the shadows emerged a dripping, multi-limbed curse that hissed like a kettle and dragged its claws through the dirt.

“Alright, squad,” Jinora said, clapping her hands. “You know what to do!”

Captain Quackers quacked loudly, rallying the flock. Sir Quackington stepped forward, regal and composed, as if blessing the operation. Beakson let out a low, guttural quack from his perch, signaling the air team. Lil Waddle, meanwhile, bolted toward the curse with zero hesitation, flapping her wings like a tiny maniac.

“Wait, is that one just charging in?” Kugisaki asked, pointing.

“Oh yeah, she’s a lone wolf,” Jinora said, watching proudly as Lil Waddle fearlessly pecked at one of the curse’s legs.

“That’s not a wolf, it’s a psychopath,” Megumi said.

“Go, Lil Waddle!” Yuji cheered.

The curse screeched, swatting at Lil Waddle, but before it could retaliate, Jinora snapped her fingers.

“Formation Quack Attack!”

The ducks sprang into action. The air squadron, led by Beakson, swooped down in coordinated waves, divebombing the curse’s many eyes. Beakson himself aimed for the largest one, landing a precision peck that made the curse stumble.

“That one’s terrifying,”Kugisaki said, almost impressed, watching Beakson circle back for another attack.

“He’s a lark-legend,” Jinora said, wiping a fake tear.

On the ground, Captain Quackers led the charge, his waddling troops swarming the curse’s legs. Sir Quackington stayed back, observing the chaos like a general surveying a battlefield.

“Why isn’t that one doing anything?” Megumi asked, pointing at Sir Quackington.

“He’s commanding,” Gojo said, as if it were obvious. “A true leader delegates.”

The curse roared, trying to shake off the ducks, but they were relentless. Lil Waddle bit into one of its claws with surprising strength, while Captain Quackers launched himself at the creature’s knee joint.

“Is that duck trying to trip it?” Yuji asked, amazed.

“Yes,” Jinora said, grinning. “And it’s working.”

“Of course it is,” Kugisaki muttered.

“Now for the finale!” Jinora shouted. “Formation Feather Fury!”

The ducks shifted again, forming a spinning vortex around the curse. Feathers flew in every direction, creating a miniature tornado of chaos. The curse stumbled, disoriented, and fell to the ground with a heavy thud.

“Yuji, finish it!” Jinora called.

Yuji dashed forward, his fist glowing with cursed energy. He slammed it into the curse’s chest, shattering it into a puff of black mist.

As the dust settled, the ducks regrouped, quacking triumphantly. Captain Quackers strutted in front of his troops, his chest puffed out with pride. Beakson landed gracefully on a branch, tilting his head like a seasoned sniper. Lil Waddle flopped onto her back, looking utterly unbothered by her earlier rampage.

“That… actually worked,”Kugisaki said, lowering her hammer.

“Of course it worked,” Jinora said, crouching to pet Lil Waddle. “Ducks always come through.”

Gojo, still cradling Sir Quackington, looked at Jinora with stars in his eyes. “This was beautiful. I’m speechless. Truly, I have no notes.”

“You wrote her a 15-page duck training manual,”Kugisaki  said.

“And I’d write 15 more!” Gojo said, stroking Sir Quackington’s head.

Megumi sighed. “I can’t believe I’m stuck with this.”

“Stuck? You’re blessed,” Gojo said. “Ducks are the future.”

As the group started walking back, Captain Quackers quacked commandingly, leading his troops into formation. Lil Waddle darted ahead, pecking at random branches, while Beakson perched ominously on another tree, keeping watch.

Yuji grinned. “Can we bring them on every mission?”

“Yes!” Gojo said.

“No,” Megumi said.

“Absolutely,” Jinora said, smirking.

As the group faded into the forest, Gojo whispered to Sir Quackington, “Don’t worry, buddy. We’ll make them believers yet.”

˗ˏˋ ⋆.˚𓅭⋆.˚ ˎˊ˗

Chapter Text

˗ˏˋ ⋆.˚𓅭⋆.˚ ˎˊ˗

The sound of boots dragging against gravel echoed through the Jujutsu Tech courtyard as Maki, Panda, and Inumaki trudged back from their mission. Dirt smeared their uniforms, and exhaustion was written all over their faces.

"I'm starving," Maki grumbled, holding her spear over her shoulder. "If I don't get food in the next ten minutes, I’m eating Panda."

Panda shot her a glare. "Rude. I'm basically family."

"Family that tastes like bamboo," Maki retorted.

Inumaki raised a hand weakly. "Salmon."

"Exactly," Panda nodded, sighing. "We need real food, not sarcasm. And laundry. We smell like curses."

"Speak for yourself," Maki shot back. "I’m pristine." She sniffed her sleeve and winced. "Okay, maybe not."

They passed the edge of the training field when it happened—a single, distinct quack.

Everyone froze.

Panda’s ears twitched. Maki’s hand tightened around her weapon. Inumaki’s head snapped toward the sound like a prairie dog on alert. Slowly, the three exchanged wide-eyed glances, a mix of dread and despair creeping into their expressions.

"No," Maki muttered, her voice low and dangerous. "It can’t be."

"Cod roe..." Inumaki whispered, as if cursing their fate.

Before they could even react further, a stampede of ducks came racing toward them, quacking excitedly.

"NO!" Panda yelled. "WHY?!"

The ducks swarmed like a fluffy, chaotic tide, but they bypassed Panda and Maki entirely. Instead, they barreled straight for Inumaki, squawking with delight. One particularly bold duck flapped its wings and landed squarely on his head, while others jostled for space around his feet, practically vibrating with excitement.

Inumaki, to his credit, simply stood there. He sighed, reaching up to adjust the duck on his head, who seemed very pleased with its new perch. "Tuna mayo," he said, as if resigning himself to his ducky entourage.

Among the mob of ducks, a few stood out, each adding to the chaos in their own way. Captain Quackers, the brave and commanding leader, flapped his wings proudly at the front of the charge, quacking orders like a seasoned general. Sir Quackington the Third, ever the refined strategist, didn’t rush—he instead flew gracefully onto Inumaki’s white hair, settling there with an air of entitlement as if surveying his kingdom. Beakson, the gruff enforcer, barked out sharp quacks, nipping at unruly ducklings to keep them in line, his scarred beak lending him an aura of intimidation.

And then there was Lil Waddle who, instead of racing around, took a flying leap straight into Inumaki’s arms, wriggling happily as if claiming him as her personal perch. She let out a triumphant quack, and for a moment, it looked like she was smiling.

Maki groaned loudly. "Why do they always go to him? He's not even doing anything! He's literally just standing there!"

"I feel so betrayed," Panda muttered, arms crossed. "Ducks don’t even eat salmon."

Just then, Jinora came sprinting into view, beaming like the sun itself. "MY BABIES!!!" she cried dramatically, arms open wide.

The ducks ignored her completely.

"HEY!" Jinora stopped short, hands on her hips. "What’s with you guys? You all rush over to Toge-kun and leave me here like chopped liver? I’m the one who feeds you! I’m the one who trains you! Toge doesn’t even quack back!"

The ducks, seemingly unbothered, nestled closer to Inumaki, who scratched one under its wing.

Jinora dropped to her knees, fake-sobbing into her hands. "Why must you betray me this way? Am I nothing to you? NOTHING?"

Maki pinched the bridge of her nose, her patience teetering on the edge. "Senpai, what are you doing?"

At this, Jinora popped back up to her feet as if nothing had happened, her grin impossibly wide. "Oh, I came to see you guys! I really missed you! The first years are great and all, but they wouldn’t let me go on their last mission, so I’ve been so bored. But now you’re here!" She was speaking so quickly it was a wonder they could keep up.

Inumaki, meanwhile, stood perfectly still as the ducks formed a tight, quacking defensive perimeter around him. Sir Quackington still perched regally on his head, while Lil Waddle wriggled in his arms, fluffing her feathers with his help. He gave an occasional nod, his usual "Salmon" punctuating her enthusiastic monologue.

"I mean, you wouldn’t believe it, Toge-kun! They told me to stay behind! ME! Can you imagine how boring it is without you guys? I had to spend my time with only the first years—and they’re great, don’t get me wrong—but they don’t get me the way you all do!" Jinora gestured wildly at nothing in particular, her tone an animated blend of complaint and excitement. "Oh and I did your laundry while you were gone because coming back to a pile with no clean clothes after a long mission?! UGH, the worse! And you! My ducks missed you so much?! I mean, look at them!"

Panda and Maki exchanged a wary glance.

"Oh, and I made you dinner!" Jinora added, as if it were an afterthought, her hands dramatically flying to her cheeks as if she had just remembered something monumental.

That caught their attention. Maki raised an eyebrow. "Dinner?"

Panda squinted at her suspiciously. "What’s the catch?"

"No catch!" Jinora chirped, throwing her hands in the air. "I was just so excited to see you all! You must be tired and—"

Before she could finish, Inumaki walked over and gently plopped the duck from his head onto Jinora’s.

She blinked, going cross-eyed as she tried to look at the duck now perched there. A beat passed before her expression softened, and she smiled sheepishly. "Okay, okay. You guys must be exhausted. Clean up, and I’ll have food waiting in the commons!"

The second years stared at her for a moment longer before Maki shrugged, a mischievous grin creeping across her face. "Fine. But you know, I think I’m in the mood for duck soup."

Jinora gasped audibly, scandalized. She immediately cupped her hands over the duck on her head, shielding its "ears," while pointing an accusing finger at Maki. "HOW DARE YOU!"

Even Inumaki, to everyone’s surprise, moved to cover Lil Waddle’s tiny feathered head, giving Maki a pointed look as he gently shushed the duck in his arms. "Salmon."

"Don’t listen to her, my sweet babies!" Jinora wailed, spinning dramatically to block Maki’s view of the ducks. "You are safe with me! Safe!" She shot Maki a glare. "What kind of monster says such a thing in front of innocent, impressionable ducklings?!"

Maki rolled her eyes, brushing past her. "Relax, Senpai. It was a joke."

Jinora stood her ground, still shielding the duck on her head with both hands, her face a picture of exaggerated betrayal. "That’s not funny, Maki. Not funny!"

"Why are you all acting like I’m some kind of villain?" Maki muttered, stabbing her food with unnecessary force. "It’s not like I actually made duck soup."

"Salmon," Inumaki said with a shrug, gently petting Lil Waddle, who was nestled in his arms. The little duck chirped happily, fluffing her feathers.

Jinora giggled. "It’s not personal, Maki! They’re just sensitive. And, well... maybe a little dramatic."

Maki glared at her. "You’re literally sitting with them. You’re the problem!"

Before Jinora could respond, one of the ducks—Captain Quackers, to be precise—launched himself onto the table with surprising agility, his eyes locked on Maki. The next thing she knew, her glasses were knocked clean off her face by his daring leap.

"What the—?!" Maki yelled, standing up abruptly. "That’s it!"

As she moved to confront the duck, her foot caught on something. She stumbled forward and fell flat on her face. The room went silent for a beat.

Then Lil Waddle let out a loud, triumphant quack and sprinted toward Inumaki, who caught her with open arms and a delighted snicker. He scratched under her chin as she preened, and the ducks around him erupted into noisy quacking, as if cheering.

Maki pushed herself up, glaring down at her untied shoelaces. She stared for a moment, then muttered, "You’ve got to be kidding me."

The room stayed quiet for a split second longer before laughter and quacking erupted simultaneously. Jinora was laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes, pounding the table. Even Maki couldn’t help it—she started laughing, clutching her stomach as she tried to sit back down.

"I swear, Senpai!" Maki managed to say between gasps of laughter. "I’m going to get you back for this!"

Jinora waved her off, still laughing uncontrollably. "Not my fault! They just know good comedy!"

The ducks quacked in agreement, their little chaos-filled family louder and happier than ever.

˗ˏˋ ⋆.˚𓅭⋆.˚ ˎˊ˗

Maki stood above her, hand covering her face in sheer disbelief. "Get up, Senpai. It was one kick. ONE. KICK."

Jinora lifted her arm to point accusingly at her underclassman. "One kick too many!" she cried. "You’ve destroyed me! My fragile, artistic spirit is shattered!"

The ducks, seemingly in agreement, quacked loudly, forming a semicircle around Jinora like a feathered honor guard. Panda and Inumaki walked over, shaking their heads as they each grabbed an arm to peel her off the ground. They carried her over to a nearby bench and set her down gently, as though handling a priceless artifact.

Theatrics escalated as one duck brought a water bottle and placed it beside her, another draped a small towel over her shoulders, and a few fanned her with their wings. Jinora accepted it all with a regal air, her nose tilted up dramatically.

Maki threw up her hands. "It was one kick! To the stomach! You’re fine!"

Jinora gasped, clutching the towel around her shoulders like a cape, her voice reaching a new level of melodrama. "I’m fluffy and sensitive! How could you do this to me?!" she wailed, flopping forward with a sob. The ducks quacked louder, as though echoing her heartbreak.

"Look at them! Look how upset they are!" Jinora gestured wildly to the ducks, one of whom dramatically flopped onto its back like it was fainting. "You’ve ruined everything! I’ll never recover!"

Inumaki, still holding Lil Waddle, chuckled under his breath, his shoulders shaking with barely contained laughter. He tilted his head, clearly amused, and gave Maki an encouraging nod as if to say, play along. Panda gave a thumbs up.

Maki’s face scrunched in frustration, her patience long gone. She sighed deeply before finally releasing her shoulders in defeat. Through gritted teeth, she muttered, "...quack."

The entire courtyard froze. Jinora’s eyes widened as if she’d just witnessed a miracle. With a choked sob, she launched herself at Maki, throwing her arms around her in a dramatic embrace.

The ducks followed suit, swarming Maki in a flurry of feathers. Sir Quackington flapped onto her shoulder, while Lil Waddle wiggled out of Inumaki’s arms to nestle against her leg. Maki flailed, her voice rising in panic. "Is this an attack?! Am I being attacked?!" she yelled. "This is an attack, isn’t it?!"

Jinora wiped her eyes, still clutching Maki. "It’s not an attack! It’s love!"

The ducks quacked in agreement, their support unwavering. Maki stood stiffly, her arms sticking out awkwardly as she tried to comprehend the chaos around her.

The entire courtyard froze. Jinora’s eyes widened, her jaw dropping in disbelief. Then, with a choked sob, she launched herself at Maki, wrapping her arms around her tightly. "That was so beautiful!" she wailed, tears streaming down her face.

The ducks quacked in agreement, as if affirming Jinora’s words. Maki sighed deeply, her expression a mix of annoyance and resignation. Awkwardly, she patted Jinora’s shoulder, then hesitantly reached out to pat one of the ducks. "There. Happy now?" she muttered.

Despite herself, Maki’s thoughts softened as she glanced at her dramatic senpai. Sure, Jinora was a little bit of an idiot—but she made them dinner after long missions, did their laundry when they were too tired, and always found a way to make them laugh when they needed it most. She was chaotic, loud, and endlessly dramatic, but somehow, she held their little group together.

"You’re impossible," Maki said quietly, her lips twitching as if fighting a smile.

Before she could escape the moment, Jinora sniffled dramatically, her tear-streaked face suddenly animated again. "LIL WADDLE NO STEALING MAKI-CHAN’S SHOE LACES!" she shouted, bolting upright as the mischievous duck made a mad dash, laces dangling triumphantly from her beak. Inumaki chuckled audibly this time, covering his mouth with a hand as the courtyard erupted into chaos.

Jinora took off after Lil Waddle, but the duck zigzagged wildly, quacking with delight. "Get back here, you little thief!" she cried, flailing as the other ducks joined in, creating a swirl of feathers and quacks.

Panda was laughing so hard he had to lean on the table for support. "I think Lil Waddle just declared war!" 

"This is ridiculous," Maki muttered, though her faint grin betrayed her amusement. The scene before her was utter madness, but for the first time all day, she felt the tension from their mission start to fade.

"Gotcha!" Jinora finally snagged Lil Waddle mid-sprint, lifting her high like a victorious warrior. The duck still had the laces in her beak, refusing to let go.

As the laughter and quacking echoed into the evening, Maki shook her head, her voice soft but carrying an unmistakable warmth. "You’re all crazy."

˗ˏˋ ⋆.˚𓅭⋆.˚ ˎˊ˗