The pattern fufufu has long been used in Japanese manga and anime to write a soft, sly laugh, distinct from a loud ha ha, and that shorthand travelled into online meme culture through subtitled clips and fan edits. Because the sound is short, rhythmic and easy to recognise even without translation, creators reuse it as a universal cue for scheming amusement. Its popularity endures on short-form video, where a two-second reaction can carry a joke without explanation.