The apartment was eerily quiet except for the rapid scratching of a pencil against paper and the occasional frustrated sigh. Lumine sat hunched over her desk, her normally radiant face shadowed with exhaustion. The pile of textbooks, papers, and her laptop surrounded her like a fortress of doom.
âWhy do professors think weâre superhuman?â she muttered, her voice laced with irritation. Another math equation stared back at her mockingly, refusing to make sense no matter how many times she reread it.
Her shoulders slumped, and she let her pencil drop, pressing her hands against her temples. Her chest felt tight, her mind heavy with the pressure of deadlines and expectations.
Youâve got this, she told herself, though her voice felt small and unconvincing in the silence of the room.
She sat like that for several moments, staring blankly at the notes in front of her. Slowly, her frustration shifted into something heavier. Loneliness seeped into her chest, wrapping around her heart like a cold, unwelcome guest.
A soft thump broke the silence, and before Lumine could lift her head, a warm, furry weight settled onto her lap.
âKuni?â
The midnight-furred cat nudged her stomach with his head, his ears twitching as though he could sense her distress. His indigo eyes gazed up at her, soft and filled with something unspoken.
Lumine blinked, startled by his sudden appearance. âWhat are you doing?â she asked softly, her voice breaking slightly.
Kuni didnât answer, of course. Instead, he butted his head against her again, this time pressing firmly against her hand. It was a gentle nudge, as if to say, Iâm here. Stop worrying.
Her lips parted in surprise, but a soft laugh escaped her throat. âYouâre not usually this affectionate,â she murmured, letting her hand rest on his head.
Kuni leaned into her touch, his warmth seeping into her. The weight of her stress seemed to lighten, replaced by the soothing rhythm of his soft purring.
---
For Scaramouche, seeing her like this felt like a punch to the gut.
When he had heard her frustrated sighs from the other room, his instincts had kicked in before he even realized it. Seeing Lumine like thisâso drained, so sadâit stirred something inside him he didnât quite understand.
So, heâd jumped into her lap without thinking. He couldnât use words, but this⦠this he could do.
As her fingers gently ran through his fur, he let himself relax, hoping his presence was enough to bring her some comfort.
---
Lumine sighed, her shoulders finally beginning to relax. âYou really are something else, Kuni,â she said, her voice soft with gratitude.
She scratched behind his ears, her fingers moving in soothing circles. âYou always seem to know when I need you the most. How do you do that?â
Kuni responded with a louder purr, his tail curling contentedly around her leg.
For a while, Lumine just sat there, letting the warmth of her cat soothe her frayed nerves. The pressure of her unfinished homework still loomed over her, but it didnât feel quite as unbearable now.
With Kuni on her lap, she felt⦠okay.
Her hand paused, and she gazed down at him, her eyes soft and thoughtful. âSometimes I wonder if youâre really just a cat,â she said quietly, a small smile tugging at her lips.
Scaramoucheâs ears twitched, and his heart skipped a beat.
âBut,â Lumine continued, stroking his fur again, âeven if youâre not, I donât care. Youâre the best thing thatâs happened to me in a long time, Kuni.â
Her voice cracked slightly at the end, and Scaramoucheâs chest tightened. He wanted to say something, anything, to let her know that she wasnât alone. But he couldnâtânot yet.
So, instead, he nudged her hand again, his purring deepening as he pressed closer to her.
Lumine laughed softly, the sound lighter this time. She hugged him gently, resting her cheek against his soft fur. âThank you,â she whispered.
For the first time that day, she felt like she could breathe again.
---
Lumine eventually returned to her homework, but Kuni stayed on her lap, his presence a constant source of comfort. She worked more slowly now, pausing every so often to pet him or speak to him softly.
By the time she finished her last assignment, the weight on her chest had all but disappeared.
âKuni,â she said, tilting her head at him, âyouâre like my little guardian angel, you know that?â
Scaramouche blinked up at her, his indigo eyes shining in the lamplight. A part of him wanted to laugh at the irony of her words, but another part of him⦠didnât mind them.
Guardian angel or not, he was glad to have been there for her tonight.
As Lumine carried him to her bed and curled up under the blankets, Kuni nestled beside her, silently promising himself that he would always protect herâno matter what form he had to take.