Chapter 65: Chapter 63: The Cat's Out of the Bag

The evening sun dipped below the horizon, casting warm hues through Lumine’s apartment windows. The scent of takeout lingered in the air, and the sound of chatter and laughter filled the space as everyone settled in after the earlier chaos.

Venti had claimed Lumine's couch with his dramatic flair, sprawled across it with an arm over his forehead. Amber and Ayaka sat cross-legged on the floor, munching on snacks, while Albedo leaned against the counter, quietly sipping his tea. Kazuha, ever the composed one, sat by the window, his gaze drifting between the fading skyline and the lively group.

Aether, arms crossed, sat protectively beside Lumine on the loveseat, his sharp amber gaze flickering briefly to Scaramouche, who leaned casually against the wall with his hands stuffed in his hoodie pockets.

Everything seemed calm. Peaceful, even.

Too peaceful.

“So, Lumine,” Aether spoke up suddenly, breaking the temporary silence. “Where’s Kuni?”

The room went dead silent.

Amber froze mid-bite into her chip, Ayaka’s teacup paused halfway to her lips, and Venti—who was mid-sentence in his ongoing monologue—stopped, eyes wide.

Scaramouche’s eyebrow twitched slightly, and Lumine felt a bead of sweat roll down her temple.

“K-Kuni?” Lumine stammered, forcing a nervous laugh. “Oh! He’s… uh… around! Probably sleeping somewhere!”

Aether’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Sleeping? That’s weird. He’s always around you. Did something happen to him?”

Scaramouche clicked his tongue in irritation. “Why are we so concerned about a cat right now?”

Aether turned his head sharply toward Scaramouche. “Because Kuni is important to my sister. Who even are you to question that?”

Amber mouthed, Oh no.

Albedo sighed softly, already anticipating disaster.

Venti slowly reached for a tissue. “Oh no… oh no…”

Kazuha, calm but observant, watched Scaramouche closely, his hand resting casually on his knee.

Lumine stood up abruptly, stepping between Aether and Scaramouche. “Okay, okay, everyone calm down! Aether, Kuni is fine, I promise—”

But Aether wasn’t having it. His golden eyes were sharp, his voice firm. “I just think it’s strange that this guy keeps hovering around you like he owns the place.”

Scaramouche pushed off the wall, stepping closer with his usual sharp glare. “And what if I do? What are you going to do about it, savage prince?”

Aether stood up, his presence commanding. “What did you just call me?”

Amber gasped, and Venti squeaked from the couch, clutching a pillow.

“You heard me,” Scaramouche sneered.

“Scara, Aether, stop!” Lumine shouted, but her voice barely registered.

The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife.

Before anyone could intervene, Aether lunged forward, and Scaramouche stepped up to meet him halfway.

“Guys, no—!” Lumine tried to pull them apart.

But before either of them could throw a punch, Scaramouche’s body shimmered with a faint, violet glow. His form twisted, shrank, and in a burst of soft purple light—

Poof.

A sleek, midnight-furred cat sat on the floor where Scaramouche had been standing. His violet eyes glared daggers up at Aether, his tail flicking furiously.

For a brief moment, no one moved.

Then—

“A-AH-CHOO!”

Venti let out an earth-shattering sneeze before collapsing dramatically onto Lumine’s lap, arms sprawled out like a tragic Shakespearean character.

“Welp, he’s dead,” Amber muttered, popping another chip into her mouth.

Albedo rubbed his temple. “This is getting out of hand.”

Ayaka carefully set her teacup down, trying not to spill from the tension.

Aether blinked down at the furious cat on the floor. “...What. The hell.”

Scaramouche—or rather, Kuni—hissed, baring sharp little teeth as his tail lashed angrily behind him.

“A-Aether,” Lumine said weakly, gently pushing Venti’s unconscious body off her lap. “Meet… Kuni.”

Aether’s jaw dropped. “That’s—THAT’S KUNI?!”

Kazuha let out a soft chuckle from the window. “Well… this is certainly unexpected.”

Amber and Ayaka were biting their lips, trying not to laugh.

“Kuni” glared at Aether with all the fury his tiny feline body could muster, before turning around and leaping onto Lumine’s lap. He settled himself there, facing outward like a tiny guard cat, still glaring daggers at Aether.

Lumine gently stroked his fur, trying to soothe him. “It’s okay, Scara. Just… breathe.”

“Wait, wait, wait!” Aether exclaimed, rubbing his temples. “Am I hallucinating? Are you all telling me that this guy—” he gestured to the furious cat on Lumine’s lap “—is actually that guy?”

“Yes,” the group said in perfect unison.

Aether stumbled backward, grabbing a nearby chair for support. “I need… I need a second.”

Venti let out a weak groan from the floor. “I told you all… this was a bad idea… the cat has cursed me…”

Kazuha finally stood, walking over with an easy stride. He crouched down slightly to Scaramouche’s level and gave him a knowing smile. “You know, jealousy doesn’t suit you, Scaramouche.”

Kuni flicked his tail and turned his head away with a huff.

Aether, still processing, looked from Lumine to the cat to the group. “How long… how long have you guys known about this?!”

Amber raised her hand sheepishly. “A while…”

Ayaka followed. “Since last month.”

Venti weakly lifted a finger from the floor. “Since forever.”

Aether buried his face in his hands. “I cannot believe this.”

Scaramouche—still in cat form—suddenly let out a sharp meow, his glare still fixed on Aether.

Amber smirked. “He’s still mad at you, by the way.”

Aether threw his hands in the air. “What does he want from me? An apology?!”

At this, Scaramouche turned his head away with a dramatic flick of his tail, settling into Lumine’s lap like some kind of royal tyrant.

Lumine sighed deeply, her hand still stroking Scaramouche’s fur. “Alright, everyone. Enough chaos for tonight.”

Aether grumbled under his breath, shooting occasional glares at Scaramouche, who responded with unimpressed cat eyes.

Kazuha, still amused, returned to his spot by the window, while Amber and Ayaka whispered excitedly to each other. Albedo, ever calm, simply sipped his tea in silence.

And Venti… well, Venti was still face-down on the carpet.

As the evening calmed slightly, Lumine leaned down and whispered to Scaramouche, “You could’ve just stayed human, you know.”

The cat simply closed his eyes and huffed in response, nestling deeper into her lap.

Somehow, this chaotic night felt far from over.

Justice for Aether lol