Chapter 28: Chapter 28: An Icy Encounter

The morning at school was going smoothly. Lumine sat under a tree in the courtyard, chatting with Ayaka and Albedo. The gentle breeze carried the faint scent of flowers, and the cheerful hum of students filled the air.

“I can’t believe the test is already next week,” Lumine groaned, leaning back against the trunk. “I barely started reviewing.”

“You’ll be fine,” Albedo assured her, adjusting his glasses. “You’ve always managed to pull through, no matter how close the deadline.”

“Besides,” Ayaka added with a soft smile, “we’re here to help if you need anything.”

Lumine smiled at her friends, grateful for their support. The three of them continued their conversation, immersed in discussions about schoolwork and weekend plans.

---

Just as Lumine was about to share a funny story, a sharp voice interrupted their peaceful moment.

“Ugh, watch where you’re going!”

A girl, dressed in the school’s uniform but accessorized with an overload of shiny bracelets and a bright pink scarf, had bumped into their small group. She held an empty cup in her hand, the remnants of ice-cold water dripping onto the ground—and onto Lumine’s clothes.

Lumine gasped, the icy shock spreading through her shirt. “Oh no…”

Ayaka’s eyes widened in concern. “Lumine, are you okay?”

The girl barely spared a glance, her lips curling into a smirk. “Oops. Guess you should’ve been paying attention.”

Albedo stepped forward, his usual calm demeanor hardening. “That was uncalled for,” he said evenly, his voice laced with a quiet intensity. “You should apologize.”

The girl rolled her eyes. “Relax, it’s just water. She’ll survive.” Without waiting for a response, she strutted away, her laughter echoing behind her.

---

Lumine frowned, her arms crossed as she tried to keep herself from shivering. “Well, that was... unexpected.”

“Here,” Ayaka said, pulling out her scarf. “Wrap this around yourself for now. At least it’ll keep you a little warm.”

“Thanks, Ayaka.” Lumine accepted the scarf, but the cold seeping into her clothes made her uncomfortable.

“Do you want to go to the nurse’s office and see if they have a spare uniform?” Albedo suggested.

Lumine shook her head. “I’ll be fine. I just need to get through the next few classes and then I’ll head home to change.”

“Are you sure?” Ayaka asked, her voice full of concern.

“Yeah,” Lumine said with a small smile. “It’s not the worst thing that’s happened to me.”

---

Unbeknownst to her, a pair of indigo eyes had been watching the entire scene unfold from the second floor. Scaramouche, seated near the window of his classroom, had seen everything. His grip tightened around his pen, his jaw clenching as he replayed the smug expression of the girl who had spilled the water.

“That girl…” he muttered under his breath.

He barely noticed when the teacher called his name, only snapping out of his thoughts when a classmate nudged his shoulder.

“Scaramouche, you okay?” they asked.

“Fine,” he replied curtly, his gaze drifting back to the courtyard where Lumine sat with her friends.

His mind raced with thoughts. Lumine was always kind and patient, yet people like that girl seemed to take advantage of her goodness. He couldn’t stand it.

As the bell rang, signaling the end of the period, Scaramouche stood abruptly. He had no intention of letting this incident slide.

---

Back in the courtyard, Lumine and her friends were getting ready to head to their next class when a shadow loomed over them.

“Lumine,” Scaramouche’s voice was calm but firm, drawing the attention of all three friends.

“w-what?” Lumine blinked in surprise. “What are you doing here?”

“Do you have a spare jacket?” he asked, ignoring the curious looks from Ayaka and Albedo.

Lumine hesitated. “No, why?”

Without another word, Scaramouche shrugged off his own blazer and draped it over her shoulders.

“There. Now you won’t freeze.”

Lumine’s cheeks flushed at the unexpected gesture. “You didn’t have to—”

“I did,” he interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument. His indigo eyes softened for a moment. “Take care of yourself, okay?”

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Lumine, Ayaka, and Albedo staring after him in stunned silence.

“Who was that?” Ayaka whispered.

Lumine smiled faintly, her fingers brushing against the warm fabric of the blazer. “Just... someone looking out for me.”