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Inside the daycare classroom on a bright afternoon, K-pop beats pulse through the air. Serena stands near the center, arm raised in greeting, while Alex claps excitedly at her side.
At daycare, Alex, four, with brown hair and blue eyes, heard K-pop beats thump. Serena, with medium brown hair, waved. “We’re the K-pop Demon Hunters!” she said. “We chase grumpy shadows with dance.” Alex clapped.
In the dim nap-mat corner of the daycare, afternoon light casts a wiggly, grumpy shadow behind a fluttering curtain. Serena and Alex face it, mid stom-stomp-clap, smiling wide as they launch their friendly dance attack.
A curtain made a wiggly shadow by the nap mats. “It looks grumpy,” Alex whispered. Serena smiled. “Let’s dance it friendly!” she said. They stomp-stomp-clapped, and the kids joined, giggling.
Under fluorescent lights in the main daycare room, Serena demonstrates the 'sparkle step' while a silly, softening shadow wiggles across the wall. At the front of a small conga line, Alex taps her feet and beams triumphantly toward the viewer.
Serena taught a sparkle step. “One, two, shine!” she sang. Alex led the line, tiny feet tapping. The shadow stretched, then softened into a silly shape. Everyone laughed and sang louder.
Near the cubby shelves of the quiet daycare, late afternoon sun bathes the room in warm gold. Serena kneels, pressing a glittering star sticker onto Alex's shirt as the girl grins, hands over heart.
The room felt bright and brave. “You’re an honorary Demon Hunter,” Serena said, handing Alex a star sticker. “I’ll dance away worries,” Alex promised. Music faded. Hugs, waves, and happy hearts ended daycare.