Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Caught in the Act (Flashback)

Lumine took a deep breath, her friends still staring at her with wide eyes, waiting for her to continue the story. Kazuha’s calm voice broke the silence.

“So… when exactly did you find out about Scaramouche’s human form, Lumine?”

Amber leaned in closer, practically bouncing in anticipation. Venti, sitting slightly away from the group and clutching his inhaler like a lifeline, mumbled, “If this involves more cats, I might need backup.”

Lumine gave them all a sheepish smile. “Alright… let me tell you about the night I caught him in the act.”

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Flashback – Chapter 32: Caught in the Act

It had been a quiet night, the glow of the city faint through her apartment window. Lumine had gone to bed early, exhausted after a long day of classes and errands.

Kuni—Scaramouche in his cat form—was curled up on the couch, his indigo eyes staring at nothing in particular. Lumine had started to notice his strange behavior weeks before. Sometimes, she’d catch him staring at her almost too… humanly.

But that night, something felt off.

Lumine stirred awake in the middle of the night, the faint sound of footsteps reaching her ears. Slowly, she slipped out of bed and cracked her door open, peeking into the living room.

Her eyes widened.

Standing there in the moonlit glow was not her adorable, broody little cat—but a young man with indigo hair, sharp violet eyes, and an air of unease about him.

“…Scaramouche?” she whispered, her voice trembling.

Scaramouche froze, his back to her, his shoulders stiffening. Slowly, he turned around, his indigo eyes meeting hers.

“You—” Lumine’s breath hitched. “You… what—how…?”

He opened his mouth, trying to explain, but words failed him.

Lumine took a hesitant step forward. “You’ve been here this whole time… as my cat?”

Scaramouche’s sharp gaze softened slightly, but he stayed silent.

“I—I don’t understand. Are you… cursed? Is this some kind of magic?” Lumine’s voice grew more frantic with every question.

Before he could respond, his body shimmered with faint light, and in the blink of an eye, he was back in his cat form—small, fluffy, and staring up at her with those same intense indigo eyes.

The silence was deafening.

“…You’re him,” Lumine said softly, falling to her knees. “You’re Scaramouche. All this time… you’ve been watching me, protecting me.”

Kuni—now sitting calmly—let out a quiet meow, almost as if confirming her words.

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Back in the present, Lumine paused, her friends hanging onto every word. Amber had her hands over her mouth, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Venti’s jaw was practically on the floor, and Ayaka looked close to tears.

“So… wait,” Amber said, her voice cracking slightly. “You… caught him in the act?”

Lumine nodded. “Yeah. He couldn’t really explain much, and honestly, I was so overwhelmed that I didn’t push him for answers right away.”

Albedo, ever the voice of reason, adjusted his glasses. “Fascinating. A transformation ability… and he chose to stay with you, even in such a vulnerable state. That speaks volumes about his trust in you.”

Kazuha smiled softly. “He must care about you a great deal to stay by your side, even if it meant hiding his true self.”

Ayaka’s voice was soft as she spoke. “Lumine… were you scared?”

Lumine paused, thinking back to that night. “No… I wasn’t scared. I was confused, sure. But when I looked at him—whether he was in his human form or his cat form—I realized he was still Kuni. The same stubborn, protective presence that’s been by my side all this time.”

Amber practically melted into a puddle of emotions. “Oh my gosh, that’s so SWEET.”

Venti, meanwhile, sniffled dramatically. “Okay, okay, that’s all very touching, but can we please address the fact that I’M ALLERGIC TO THIS MAN—CAT—WHATEVER HE IS.”

The group burst into laughter at Venti’s exasperated expression, breaking the emotional tension.

Amber wiped a tear from her eye. “Alright, alright, Venti, we’ll keep your allergy situation in mind. But seriously, Lumine—that’s… such a wild story. And honestly? Kind of romantic.”

Lumine’s cheeks flushed slightly. “It’s not like that!”

Venti smirked, twirling an invisible mustache. “Oh, but isn’t it, my dear Lumine? A mysterious protector, staying by your side in disguise… how novel-esque.”

Amber giggled, and even Kazuha let out a soft chuckle.

Lumine groaned, burying her face in her hands. “I regret telling you all anything.”

But despite the teasing, a small smile tugged at her lips. She couldn’t help but think of Scaramouche—whether in his cat form or human form—and the quiet, steadfast way he had chosen to stay by her side.

And somewhere nearby, out of sight but not out of earshot, Scaramouche leaned against a tree, his human form concealed in the shadows. His indigo eyes softened as he listened to Lumine’s story and her gentle laughter with her friends.

He stayed there for a moment longer before disappearing into the night, a faint smile gracing his lips.

“You’re such an idiot, Lumine… but thank you.”