The morning after his first day as a student, Scaramouche sat perched on the windowsill in his cat form, lazily watching Lumine rush around the apartment. She had overslept and was in full panic mode, fumbling with her bag and scarf.
âI swear I set my alarm!â she muttered to herself, grabbing a piece of toast and stuffing it into her mouth. âKuni, wish me luck, or Iâm doomed today.â
Scaramouche blinked at her, suppressing a smug grin beneath his feline façade. If only she knew the "luck" she needed was already watching her back.
Lumine gave him a quick pat on the head before dashing out the door. The moment the lock clicked shut, Scaramouche shifted back to his human form.
âSheâs hopeless,â he muttered, grabbing his school bag. He checked his reflection in the mirror, brushing a hand through his indigo hair before heading out to follow her again.
---
Lumine arrived at school, still catching her breath as she joined Amber and Ayaka by their lockers.
âYou look like you just ran a marathon,â Amber teased.
âFeels like it,â Lumine replied with a groan. âI barely made it on time.â
Kazuha walked up, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to Lumineâs frantic energy. âYou should let me wake you up in the mornings. Iâll play the flute outside your window if I have to.â
Lumine laughed, lightly shoving his shoulder. âNo thanks. I think Iâd sleep through that too.â
As they chatted, Scaramouche entered the hallway, his piercing indigo eyes scanning the crowd until they landed on Lumine. She was smiling, her golden hair catching the light, and he couldnât help the small twinge of annoyance when he noticed Kazuha standing close to her.
Whatâs with this guy always hanging around her? he thought, narrowing his eyes.
---
Throughout the day, Scaramouche kept his usual distance, but his focus never strayed far from Lumine. In class, he caught snippets of her conversations with her friends, his sharp ears picking up on every laugh and casual joke.
During lunch, he found himself seated near her group again, silently observing as they discussed weekend plans.
âIâm thinking we should hit up that new café downtown,â Ayaka suggested.
âThat sounds great!â Amber chimed in. âWhat about you, Lumine? Free this weekend?â
Lumine nodded, smiling. âI think so. Itâll be nice to relax for a bit.â
Scaramoucheâs grip on his fork tightened. Relax with them? he thought bitterly. Whatâs so special about them, anyway?
---
After school, Lumine decided to stop by the library to pick up some books for a research project. She didnât notice Scaramouche trailing behind her, keeping a careful distance as she browsed the shelves.
She eventually settled at a corner table, her brow furrowing as she flipped through pages and scribbled notes. Scaramouche leaned against a nearby wall, watching her with a mix of amusement and irritation.
She looks so focused... but does she even realize how vulnerable she is out here?
His thoughts were interrupted when a guy approached Lumineâs table, smiling awkwardly. âHey, um, you dropped this earlier,â he said, holding out a pen.
âOh, thank you!â Lumine replied, flashing him a polite smile.
Scaramoucheâs jaw clenched. He resisted the urge to march over and send the guy packing.
The interaction was brief, and the stranger left soon after, but it was enough to ignite a simmering jealousy in Scaramoucheâs chest.
---
That evening, Lumine returned home to find Kuni sitting on the windowsill, his tail swishing lazily.
âHey, Kuni,â she said, setting her bag down. âI had such a busy day today. You wouldnât believe it.â
The cat jumped down and padded over to her, nudging her leg with his head. Lumine smiled, crouching down to pet him.
âYouâre the only one who really listens, you know that?â she said softly.
Scaramouche purred, though his indigo eyes glinted with something more intense. You have no idea how much I listen, he thought.
As she prepared dinner, he sat quietly by her side, watching her every move. Though he couldnât speak in this form, his actions spoke volumes. He would always be there, whether she noticed or not.
And as Lumine sat down to eat, chatting to him about her day, Scaramouche silently vowed to keep her safeâno matter what it took.
Lol it's Kazuha again just like in "You're mine" fanfic lol