The weekend had finally arrived, and Lumine was more than ready for a break from her schoolwork. Her apartment was warm and cozy, the faint smell of popcorn already filling the air as she prepped for the sleepover her friends had planned.
âKuni,â Lumine called, glancing toward the couch where the cat lounged lazily. âAmberâs probably going to smother you, so be prepared.â
The midnight-furred cat flicked his tail in mild annoyance, his indigo eyes narrowing. That girl again? I barely escaped last time.
Just as Lumine finished tidying up, there was a knock at the door. She opened it to find Amber, Kazuha, Ayaka, and Albedo standing there, each holding bags filled with snacks and supplies.
âHey, Lumine!â Amber greeted cheerfully, stepping inside. Her eyes immediately lit up when she spotted Kuni. âThereâs my favorite fluffball!â
Amber didnât waste a second, scooping Kuni into her arms and hugging him tightly. The cat let out a loud, indignant meow, twisting his head to glare at Lumine.
Lumine stifled a laugh. âAmber, I think Kuniâs had enough love for one day.â
âOh, nonsense,â Amber said, stroking Kuniâs fur. âHe loves me, donât you, Kuni?â
The cat wriggled in her grasp, his paws flailing slightly as he tried to escape. His indigo eyes shot Lumine a desperate look, as if begging her to intervene.
âAlright, alright,â Lumine said, taking pity on him. âLet him go before he claws his way out.â
Amber reluctantly set Kuni down, and the cat darted away to the safety of Lumineâs bedroom, his tail puffed up in irritation.
---
As the evening wore on, the group settled in for a night of fun. Bowls of chips, candy, and popcorn were scattered across the coffee table, and the TV played a selection of classic movies.
âThis oneâs a masterpiece,â Albedo said as he selected a psychological thriller.
Amber groaned. âAlbedo, weâre supposed to relax, not have our brains melted!â
âFine,â he replied, scrolling through the options. âSomething lighter, then?â
They finally settled on a comedy, and the room was soon filled with laughter as they watched the antics on screen.
During the second movie, Kuni cautiously emerged from the bedroom, his ears twitching as he observed the group. He hopped up onto the armrest of the couch, his gaze fixed on Lumine.
âOh, look whoâs back!â Ayaka said, reaching out to pet him.
Kuni dodged her hand and leapt onto Lumineâs lap, curling up as if to stake his claim. Lumine chuckled, stroking his midnight fur. âI guess heâs forgiven you all.â
âHeâs so protective of you,â Kazuha noted, leaning back against the couch. âItâs almost like he doesnât want to share you with anyone.â
Lumine smiled softly. âHeâs just a clingy cat, thatâs all.â
If only she knew the truth.
---
As the night continued, the group transitioned from watching movies to sharing stories and jokes. Amber was in the middle of an exaggerated tale about a mishap at archery practice when Kazuha interrupted her with a clever quip, sending everyone into fits of laughter.
âYouâre the worst!â Amber exclaimed, throwing a pillow at him.
Kazuha caught it with ease, a sly smile on his face. âI try.â
Meanwhile, Kuni remained perched on Lumineâs lap, his sharp eyes occasionally narrowing when the others leaned too close to her.
---
By midnight, the snacks had dwindled, and the group had moved on to discussing their upcoming project.
âSo, weâll meet at the library on Tuesday to finalize everything?â Ayaka confirmed.
âWorks for me,â Albedo said. âWeâll need to divide the presentation into sections as well.â
Lumine nodded along, though her eyelids were beginning to droop. The long day and the warmth of Kuni on her lap were making her sleepy.
Amber stretched, yawning. âOkay, but letâs not talk about school for the rest of the night. Itâs Saturday, for crying out loud.â
The group laughed in agreement, and soon they were back to telling jokes and munching on the last of the snacks.
---
By the time 3 AM rolled around, the apartment was filled with a comfortable silence. Lumineâs friends were sprawled out across the couch and floor, some dozing off while others quietly scrolled through their phones.
Kuni, however, stayed awake, his indigo eyes watching over Lumine as she finally drifted to sleep. Despite the chaos of the evening, he couldnât help but feel a strange sense of contentment.
Sheâs surrounded by people who care about her, he thought. And yet, she has no idea whoâs protecting her the most.
The catâs tail flicked, and he nestled closer to her, keeping watch through the night.