The dorms were silent, the world outside blanketed in snow. It was 2 AM, and most students were fast asleep. But not Lumine.
She sat curled up on the couch in her dormâs common area, stroking Snowball, her fluffy white cat, who purred contentedly in her lap. The faint glow of moonlight streaming through the windows gave the room a soft, magical quality.
âSuch a good kitty,â she murmured, scratching Snowball behind the ears. The catâs purring grew louder, a sound of pure bliss.
Suddenly, another figure stirred. Kuni, her first "cat," was perched on the armrest of the couch, his eyes half-lidded in what seemed like boredomâor maybe jealousy.
"Don't worry, Kuni," Lumine said softly, smiling. "I havenât forgotten about you." She reached out and scratched behind his ears, just as she had with Snowball.
Kuni let out a soft sound, a mixture of a purr and a sigh, before hopping down from the armrest. In an instant, his sleek black fur shimmered, and before Lumine could react, Kuni shifted into his human formâScaramouche.
"Finally," he muttered, brushing imaginary dust off his shirt. "I was getting tired of sitting like a cat."
Lumine blinked in surprise. "You couldâve told me."
Scaramouche smirked. "And miss out on the extra scratches? No thanks."
Before she could respond, Scaramouche dropped himself onto the couch beside her, wrapping his arms around her in one smooth motion. His head rested against her shoulder, and he let out a contented sigh.
"You're warm," he murmured, his voice low and a little muffled.
Lumine froze for a moment, her cheeks heating up, but she relaxed as Snowball meowed softly, hopping onto Scaramouche's lap.
"Snowball approves, at least," Lumine teased, scratching the cat under its chin.
Scaramouche hummed, his arms tightening around her. "Snowball has good taste."
They sat there in comfortable silence, the quiet of the night wrapping around them like a blanket. Lumine absentmindedly stroked Scaramoucheâs hair, her fingers brushing through the dark strands, as Snowball purred happily.
"Youâre unusually clingy tonight," Lumine noted, glancing down at him.
Scaramouche shifted slightly, burying his face into her neck. "Iâm not clingy. Iâm just⦠making sure youâre warm too."
Lumine chuckled softly. "Right. Of course."
He didnât respond, too comfortable to bother arguing. Instead, he let his eyes close, the steady rhythm of her breathing lulling him into a sense of peace.
Snowball meowed again, curling up on Scaramouche's lap, and Lumine smiled at the sight of her two favorite companions so at ease.
"Goodnight, Kuni," she whispered, resting her head against his.
"Goodnight, Lumine," he replied softly, his voice barely audible.
And as the clock struck 2:30 AM, the three of themâLumine, Scaramouche, and Snowballâdrifted into a warm, peaceful slumber, the snow outside falling gently, blanketing the world in quiet.