That night, thunder roared and lightning flashed amidst a raging storm. Many of the children at the House of the Hearth cowered, their heads tucked down in fear.
Lynette was no exception.
Boom! A blinding bolt of lightning streaked across the sky, followed immediately by a deafening thunderclap.
The earth-shattering noise made Lynette's ears droop and her tail tuck tightly against her body.
"Ugh, such loud thunder," she murmured, her voice trembling slightly.
With her swluperhuman vision and hearing, Lynette was naturally hypersensitive to such overwhelming sounds. Even covering her ears offered little relief.
The wind battered the windowpanes, rattling them violently.
"Scared?" Luna asked, her expression nonchalant.
Having faced Arlecchino without flinching, she certainly wouldn't fear a mere thunderstorm.
"A little..." Lynette whispered.
"Then let's sleep together tonight."
Lynette's eyes lit up. "Okay."
Sleeping with Luna would undoubtedly bring her a sense of security.
When the lights were turned off, the room plunged into darkness, broken only by the occasional flashes of lightning that briefly illuminated the space.
Luna pulled back the covers and patted the mattress. Lynette crawled in, snuggling close to her side.
Despite her best efforts to avoid shedding her tail fur, she knew she'd inevitably find a few strands on the mattress in the morning.
But Luna had long grown accustomed to this.
Though it was technically her room, it felt more like Lynette's den. Her scent permeated every corner, and sweeping the floor always turned up a few stray tail hairs.
No wonder the other cats rarely ventured in.
Luna tucked the blanket around them and stifled a yawn. The thunderstorm raged outside, but inside their cozy cocoon, Lynette felt no fear at all.
"It's just a little cold," she murmured.
"Cold? Then snuggle closer," Luna chuckled.
"Okay!"
Lynette shifted, pressing herself against Luna's chest.
Now I can sleep.
But just as Lynette closed her eyes, ready to drift off, a blinding flash of lightning illuminated the entire room, followed by an earsplitting thunderclap that sounded like an explosion.
Explosion... Lynette's cat ears drooped, and her body trembled slightly.
Not long ago, during a mission, a careless child had triggered a trap. If Luna hadn't reacted in time, another child would have died in the operation.
But it was a close call—Luna had almost been caught in the blast, nearly meeting a gruesome end without a proper burial.
"It's alright, I'm here. There's nothing to fear," Luna said with a gentle smile, pulling Lynette into a comforting embrace.
"I'm not scared," Lynette replied, "I'm just worried about you. Are you really okay? That explosion was massive..."
An explosion? Luna thought back for a moment, understanding what Lynette meant.
Luna nodded. "'Father' already checked me over. No external injuries, no internal injuries. Just some of my hair got singed off."
"That's good," Lynette murmured, lowering her head and exhaling softly into the blankets.
Their body heat quickly warmed the enclosed space, creating a perfect, cozy temperature, like basking in the spring sun. Lynette twitched her cat ears and unconsciously burrowed deeper under the covers, pulling them over her head.
"It'll get stuffy if you do that," Luna said, tucking herself under the blankets as well.
"But it makes me feel safe," Lynette replied.
Outside, thunder roared and rain lashed down, but none of it could penetrate their little sanctuary.
Though stuffy, the confined space also amplified their shared scents.
Lynette nuzzled against Luna, signaling that she wanted her ears stroked.
Gentle kneading, soft caresses... Luna's skilled hands made each fingertip's touch warm and comforting. Lynette purred with pleasure as she enjoyed the cat ear massage, exhaling a warm breath.
"Goodnight kiss," Lynette murmured.
Though she called it a "goodnight kiss," it was just a peck on the cheek.
If you're going to be clingy, go all the way—Lynette had been like this lately, a faint blush rising on Luna's cheeks.
"Couldn't we just do it in the morning?"
"Tomorrow's kiss is for good morning."
Luna sighed in exasperation, muttering, "Lynette really loves to be spoiled."
She leaned down and pressed a few soft kisses against Lynette's cheek.
"...Am I bothering you? Everyone keeps saying I'm always stuck to you like glue, inseparable." Lynette's cat ears drooped.
"If you were bothering me, I wouldn't let you stay so close, you know? What others think doesn't matter. As long as we're happy, that's all that matters."
"Then—" Lynette's tone brightened, though a hint of hesitation lingered. "Can I call you Lulu?"
"Lulu? A nickname?"
"Mhm."
Luna blushed. "Wouldn't that be a little too... cute?"
She never quite saw herself as the "cute" type.
The name "Lulu" was not only adorable, but it also sounded delicious. She wasn't the kind of treat that would be overwhelmingly sweet to the taste.
"No, I think it suits you perfectly. If you don't mind, I'll call you that from now on."
"I don't mind, but why bring this up suddenly?"
Lynette didn't answer. Her eyelids began to droop, and she grew drowsy. "Lulu..."
"Wait, don't leave me hanging like that! You're not allowed to fall asleep yet!"
"..."
She was already asleep.
Luna gazed at Lynette's peaceful sleeping face, at a loss for words.
Why did she suddenly start calling me Lulu?
"Then what should I call you?"
Luna sank into deep thought.
-
Lynette and Luna arrived at a secluded corner of the beach.
Though it was now a beach, this place had once been a mountain, a familiar sight they often gazed upon while playing games. But the water hadn't receded yet, and the former mountain slopes remained submerged beneath the waves.
"Lulu sounds like a delicious name," Lynette said.
"It does, doesn't it? Like some kind of pastry. I still don't know why you call me that. Do you just like how it sounds?" Luna asked.
Lynette clasped her hands behind her back, her cat tail swaying gently.
She confessed, "The sound is part of it, but more importantly—when you kiss my cheek, it feels so sweet."
"I've never tasted morning dew, but they say it's incredibly sweet and refreshing. Maybe it's the same feeling... I wanted to give you a name only I could use, and 'Lulu' came to mind."
Unfortunately, she wasn't the only one who called Luna that anymore.
For instance, there was that President of the Spina Di Rosula, that golden-haired large dog, Navia.
Furina might have called Luna that too, though she didn't know for sure. In the blink of an eye, Luna had left that small, cozy bed and had many people around her.
She was no longer the same as before.
Of course, I'm not either, Lynette thought, but she really wanted to know.
"Lulu, will you...?"
With her hands behind her back, Lynette summoned her courage and asked softly, "Will you ever kiss me again?"