The faint sound of raindrops tapping against the window filled the apartment. The evening had rolled in quietly, dark clouds smothering the last traces of sunlight. Lumine sat cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by her school notes and the faint glow of her laptop screen.
Kuni sat on the windowsill, watching the rain with an unreadable expression. His midnight fur almost blended into the dim surroundings, his indigo eyes reflecting the faint city lights outside.
âLooks like another storm,â Lumine murmured, not really expecting a reply. She glanced at Kuni and smiled faintly. âGood thing I found you that night, huh?â
Kuniâs ear twitched at the comment. He turned his head to look at her, his sharp gaze lingering a second too long before he looked away. Why did she save me that night? The thought had haunted him for days now.
The sound of rustling papers broke his thoughts as Lumine flopped back against the couch with a sigh. âI swear my professors are trying to kill me,â she muttered, rubbing her temples.
Kuni leapt down from the windowsill and padded over to her. Without hesitation, he jumped onto the couch beside her, curling up into a small ball near her hand.
Lumine smiled softly, running her fingers through his fur. âYou always show up when I need a break,â she said quietly.
Of course I do, Scaramouche thought. He didnât know when it had startedâthis instinct to comfort her. It made no sense. He wasnât supposed to care. Yet here he was, allowing her touch to calm him just as much as it seemed to calm her.
Lumine shifted, her voice softer now, more thoughtful. âSometimes I wonder what youâd say if you could talk, Kuni,â she said. âI bet youâd be a little grump.â
Scaramouche stiffened for a split second but quickly relaxed again. Sheâs not wrong, he thought, a hint of amusement flickering through him.
Lumine sighed, her hand stilling as she stared at the ceiling. âYou know, Kuni, sometimes it feels like life just keeps throwing things at me, and I donât know how to keep up. School, responsibilities, my futureâ¦â She paused, her voice growing quieter. âItâs overwhelming sometimes.â
Scaramoucheâs ears flattened slightly as he listened. The vulnerability in her voice tugged at something deep inside himâsomething unfamiliar and uncomfortable. He lifted his head slightly, nudging her hand with his nose.
Lumine blinked and smiled faintly, stroking his head again. âI know you canât understand me, but⦠thanks for listening. Youâre a really good listener.â
If only she knew.
---
Hours passed, and the storm outside grew stronger. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and flashes of lightning lit up the dark room. Lumine had fallen asleep on the couch, her breathing soft and steady.
Scaramouche, still in his cat form, sat nearby, watching her sleep. The soft glow of the lamp highlighted her peaceful face, her hair falling in loose strands over her shoulders.
Why do you make me care so much? he thought bitterly.
Slowly, the catâs form began to shift. Midnight fur gave way to pale skin, claws to hands, paws to feet. Within moments, Scaramouche was kneeling on the floor in his human form, his indigo hair falling messily over his sharp eyes.
He glanced down at his hands, flexing them as if testing their familiarity. The sensation of being human still felt strange after all this time. Standing up slowly, he looked at Lumine again.
Her soft breaths filled the quiet room, rising and falling in perfect rhythm. Scaramouche clenched his fists, his gaze conflicted.
Why did you save me?
The question haunted him, yet he didnât have the courage to ask her outright. For years, he had relied on no one, trusted no one. People were cruel, selfish, and careless. Yet here she wasâa stranger who had stopped for him in the rain, brought him warmth, and welcomed him into her home.
He stepped closer, crouching down so he was at eye level with her sleeping form.
âYouâre a fool,â he whispered softly, his voice barely audible over the rain outside. âYou shouldâve just left me there.â
But even as he said it, he knew he didnât mean it.
His hand hovered just above her face for a moment before he pulled it back. What am I even doing?
Before he could spiral any further, Lumine stirred slightly, her brow furrowing as if sensing something.
Scaramoucheâs eyes widened, and without a momentâs hesitation, he shifted back into his cat form. Just as Lumineâs eyes fluttered open, he leapt onto the couch and curled up at her side.
Lumine blinked groggily, glancing at Kuni. âHuhâ¦?â She yawned and sat up slightly, rubbing her eyes. âOh, itâs just youâ¦â
Kuni let out a soft, perfectly normal meow, curling tighter as if settling back to sleep.
Lumine smiled faintly, stroking his fur with sleepy affection. âYouâre such a strange little cat,â she murmured before lying back down. Within moments, her breathing evened out again as sleep reclaimed her.
Scaramouche stayed perfectly still, his heart pounding in his chest.
That was too close.
He watched her silently, the storm raging outside as his thoughts swirled like la tempest in his mind. Despite his earlier bitterness, there was one truth he couldnât ignore anymore:
Lumine had saved himâmore than she would ever know.