Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Beneath the Surface

The sun hung high in the sky, casting shimmering reflections on the lake’s surface. The school camping trip had turned out to be surprisingly fun—if chaotic. Students were scattered across the lakeshore, some splashing in the shallows, others lounging on towels or munching on snacks.

Amber and Ayaka were building a small sandcastle near the shore, while Venti was dramatically floating on an inflatable swan, sunglasses perched on his face. Kazuha sat on a nearby rock with his sleeves rolled up, writing poetry in a small leather notebook.

And Lumine? She was standing ankle-deep in the water, clutching Kuni—her smug indigo-haired cat—against her chest.

“Kuni, stop squirming!” Lumine hissed as the feline wiggled in her arms. “You insisted on coming with me, so behave!”

Scaramouche, in cat form, let out an irritated mrow and flicked his tail. He did not sign up for getting wet, yet here he was, being carried towards an endless expanse of water. His violet eyes darted to Kazuha, who was watching them from his rock perch with a faint smile.

“Oh, stop glaring at Kazuha,” Lumine muttered, rolling her eyes. “He’s just minding his own business.”

Scaramouche’s tail flicked again.

---

Disaster Strikes

“LUMINE, COME ON!” Amber called from the water. “The water’s perfect!”

Lumine smiled and hesitated for a moment before carefully setting Kuni down on a dry patch of grass near the edge. “Stay here, okay? Don’t follow me.”

The cat meowed indignantly as Lumine waded deeper into the lake.

Scaramouche sat, tail curled around his paws, glaring at the scene before him. Lumine was laughing with Amber and Ayaka, her golden hair glistening in the sunlight as small waves lapped at her legs.

But then—

A loud splash. A cry.

“LUMINE!”

Amber’s panicked voice cut through the afternoon air.

Scaramouche’s head snapped up, and his feline eyes went wide as he saw Lumine vanish beneath the water's surface. Amber and Ayaka were scrambling, trying to dive under, but the water was murky and deep in that area.

For a split second, time froze.

But before Scaramouche could transform and dive in himself, a familiar figure was already moving.

Kazuha.

With an effortless leap from his rock perch, Kazuha dived into the lake with perfect form, slicing through the water before disappearing beneath the surface.

Scaramouche’s tail bristled, his violet eyes narrowing dangerously.

---

Moments later, Kazuha emerged, his arm wrapped securely around Lumine as he carried her back to the shore. Water dripped from his pale hair, and his crimson eyes were filled with worry.

“Lumine! Are you okay?!” Amber cried, rushing over with Ayaka.

Lumine coughed and sputtered, her hand clutching Kazuha’s shirt as she struggled to catch her breath. “I’m—I’m fine… just swallowed some water…”

Kazuha gently helped her sit on the shore, his calm demeanor not faltering for a second. “Take it slow. Breathe deeply.”

Scaramouche watched the scene unfold from his spot on the grass, his fur bristling with barely contained irritation. That should have been me.

Amber placed a towel over Lumine’s shoulders while Ayaka offered her water. Kazuha stayed nearby, his gaze still fixed on Lumine to ensure she was okay.

And Scaramouche… oh, Scaramouche was seething.

---

The Aftermath

Lumine finally caught her breath and smiled weakly at Kazuha. “Thank you, Kazuha… really. I don’t know what would’ve happened if you weren’t there.”

Kazuha offered her a gentle smile. “Don’t mention it. I’m just glad you’re safe.”

Amber clapped her hands together. “Alright, alright! Let’s get Lumine back to the tents and let her rest. Come on!”

As the group began to shuffle away, Lumine turned back and noticed Kuni sitting rigidly on the grass, his tail flicking angrily.

“Oh, Kuni!” Lumine called softly, holding out her hand. “Were you worried about me?”

Scaramouche—still in cat form—stared at her, his violet eyes sharp and cold. Instead of running to her like he usually did, he turned his head away with a haughty flick of his tail.

Lumine blinked. “What’s with the attitude…?”

Amber giggled. “Looks like Kuni’s mad at you, Lumine.”

Kazuha chuckled softly. “Perhaps he feels neglected.”

Scaramouche let out a low mrow before sauntering past Lumine without a second glance, heading straight for her tent.

Lumine frowned. “What’s his problem?”

---

Later That Night

The campgrounds were quiet, save for the occasional crackle of campfires and faint laughter from distant tents. Lumine sat cross-legged on her sleeping bag, brushing out her damp golden hair.

Kuni sat at the edge of the tent, his back turned to her, tail flicking in irritation.

Lumine sighed. “Alright, what is your deal? You’ve been sulking all day.”

Scaramouche didn’t move.

“Oh, for the love of—” Lumine muttered before crawling over and picking up the cat. She held him up in front of her face, their eyes locking.

“You’re jealous, aren’t you?”

The cat narrowed his violet eyes but said nothing.

“You are! You’re jealous that Kazuha saved me, aren’t you?” Lumine teased with a smirk.

Kuni let out a low growl, clearly annoyed.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Kuni. It’s not like you could’ve jumped in and saved me as a cat. You’d sink like a rock!”

Kuni hissed softly before squirming out of her grip and leaping onto her sleeping bag.

“Fine, be mad,” Lumine said with an exaggerated sigh.

But before she could lie down to sleep, a faint violet glow filled the tent.

When Lumine turned around, Scaramouche stood there in his human form, arms crossed, and an unamused expression on his face. His indigo hair was slightly messy, and his sharp eyes were locked onto her.

“Do you have any idea how stupid that was?” he said flatly.

Lumine blinked. “You’re seriously bringing this up now?”

“Yes, now,” Scaramouche said, stepping closer. “You could’ve drowned, Lumine.”

She softened a little, seeing the genuine concern in his eyes. “I know… but I’m fine now.”

Scaramouche sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Next time… just be more careful.”

Lumine nodded. “Alright. I promise.”

For a brief moment, they stood in silence. Then, Scaramouche leaned down, their faces mere inches apart.

“And stop making me jealous, it’s exhausting,” he muttered before flicking her forehead lightly and stepping back.

Lumine’s face turned red. “Jealous, huh?”

Scaramouche just rolled his eyes before turning back into his cat form and curling up on her sleeping bag.

Lumine lay down beside him, smiling faintly as she stared at the tent’s ceiling.

What a day…

YESS THIS CHAPTER INCLUDES SLIGHTLY KAZULUMI👁️👄👁️