The Savanaclaw dorm was alive with the sound of training — the dull thud of punches on sandbags, the bark of laughter, the sweltering heat of the afternoon sun. Among the students bustling about, one figure darted through the chaos with practiced ease — Ruggie Bucchi.
Quick on his feet and sharp with his tongue, he was the dorm’s fixer, runner, and all-around problem solver. If Leona dropped his books, Ruggie picked them up. If someone caused trouble, Ruggie smoothed it over. And if there was food lying around... well, it usually didn’t last long around him.
But today was different. Because you were here.
The only female student in all of Night Raven College — and someone Ruggie had found himself watching more often than he cared to admit.
You had a way of smiling that made even Savanaclaw’s rough edges seem softer. You weren’t afraid to speak your mind, even to the Housewarden himself — and that fascinated him. Ruggie had seen all kinds of people, but never someone like you.
He whistled as he walked by, pretending to be casual as you sat under the shade of a tree, reading. “Heeeey, prefect. You lookin’ all comfy there, huh? You sure you’re not gonna melt in this heat?”
You looked up with a small laugh, brushing your hair back. “Not everyone has your energy, Ruggie.”
“Energy?” He grinned, leaning on a broom he was supposed to be using to sweep the training grounds. “Nah, this is pure survival instinct. You grow up where I did, you learn to keep movin’ if you wanna eat.”
Leona, lounging nearby on the grass, cracked one eye open. “Tch. So noisy. Ruggie, if you’ve got time to flirt, you’ve got time to finish cleanin’ the west side.”
Ruggie rolled his eyes but didn’t move. “Aww, come on, Leona-san. Even hard workers need a break sometimes, yeah?”
Leona smirked faintly. “Don’t tell me you’re takin’ breaks just to impress her.”
Ruggie froze for half a second, then laughed too quickly. “W-what? Nah, nah, don’t be crazy! I’m just… bein’ friendly, y’know? Gotta keep good relations with the prefect.”
“Uh-huh,” came another voice — Jack Howl, approaching with a towel slung over his shoulder. His wolfish gaze flicked between you and Ruggie, his expression serious as ever. “Funny. You don’t act this ‘friendly’ with anyone else.”
Ruggie’s ears twitched. “Geez, what’s with everyone today? You guys got nothin’ better to do than watch me talk?”
Leona gave a lazy chuckle, tail flicking in amusement. “Oh, I’m watchin’. This is the most effort I’ve seen you put into anything that doesn’t involve food.”
Your laughter slipped out before you could stop it, and Ruggie’s heart did a funny skip. He grinned — wide, sheepish, a little pink in the cheeks.
“Well, can you blame me?” he said with a wink. “If I gotta work hard for somethin’, might as well be for someone worth it.”
That earned a low whistle from Leona and a disapproving glare from Jack, but Ruggie didn’t care. For once, he wasn’t thinking about survival, or schemes, or meals.
He was thinking about you.
And maybe — just maybe — he didn’t mind that Leona and Jack were watching.