Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Campfire Tales and Cat Sneezes

The campfire crackled and popped, its warm glow casting flickering shadows across the gathered students. The night air was filled with laughter, the faint smell of roasted marshmallows, and the ever-present sound of Venti’s voice as he animatedly told another one of his exaggerated tales.

“And then, just as the terrifying beast was about to devour the hero,” Venti waved his marshmallow stick dramatically, “he pulled out—a ukulele! And started singing the beast to sleep!”

Amber burst into laughter, while Mona rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her amused smile. Lumine sat beside Scaramouche, who was trying (and failing) to tune out Venti’s endless chatter.

Scaramouche’s eye twitched as Venti launched into another story without so much as taking a breath. His patience was wearing thin, and every exaggerated gesture from Venti seemed to gnaw at his nerves.

“Is he ever going to stop talking?” Scaramouche muttered under his breath, arms crossed and eyes narrowed.

Lumine stifled a giggle. “That’s just Venti being Venti. You’ll get used to it… eventually.”

“Eventually is not soon enough,” Scaramouche hissed, glancing around.

---

Venti, completely oblivious to Scaramouche’s growing irritation, continued. “And that’s how I became the legendary hero of Windrise! Any questions? No? Good! Now let me tell you about the time I—”

Before Venti could finish, Scaramouche had had enough. With a quick glance around to ensure no one was looking, he quietly slipped behind Lumine and, with a faint shimmer of light, transformed back into his cat form.

He landed softly on the grass with a small thud and quickly leaped into Lumine’s lap, curling up into a tiny ball of indigo fur.

Lumine blinked, looking down at him. “Scaramouche… really?” she whispered, trying not to laugh.

Amber noticed the sudden shift. “Aww, Kuni’s back in Lumine’s lap! Look at him, all curled up like a grumpy little furball!”

Mona smirked. “Guess even he couldn’t handle Venti’s storytelling marathon.”

Venti, however, froze mid-sentence when his eyes landed on the cat now nestled in Lumine’s lap. His expression shifted into mild panic.

“Oh no. Oh no no no!” Venti stepped back, clutching his marshmallow stick like a weapon. “The cat… the cat is here again!”

Amber grinned. “What’s wrong, Venti? Afraid of a cute little kitty?”

“No!” Venti declared dramatically. “I’m not afraid! I’m—ah… ah… AH-CHOO!”

Venti sneezed so violently that his marshmallow flew off his stick and landed straight into the campfire.

Amber and Mona doubled over in laughter while Lumine gently petted the now very smug-looking Kuni.

“Venti,” Mona said between giggles, “you’re hopeless!”

Venti sniffled and pointed an accusing finger at Kuni. “You! Stay right there and… and don’t shed near me!”

Kuni let out an innocent-sounding meow that almost seemed sarcastic.

---

The campfire chatter eventually settled, with students breaking off into smaller groups. Venti retreated to a safe distance, clutching his blanket and grumbling about "traitorous cats."

Lumine continued to stroke Kuni’s fur, a soft smile on her face as she whispered, “You just wanted an escape, didn’t you?”

The cat merely blinked up at her, his indigo eyes filled with mischief.

From across the fire, Kazuha watched the interaction with an amused smile while Amber whispered something to Mona, and both girls giggled.

“Honestly,” Amber said, “Kuni might be the smartest one here. He knows exactly how to get away from Venti’s endless chatter.”

Mona smirked. “Smart and petty. A perfect combination.”

Venti sneezed again from his blanket cocoon, glaring across the campfire at the smug indigo cat now snoozing in Lumine’s lap.

“Kuni… you win this round.”