Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Midnight Mess & Chaotic Reflections

The apartment was a disaster zone.

Pizza boxes stacked like precarious towers on the coffee table, mozzarella stick wrappers were scattered across the floor, and someone (definitely Venti) had spilled soda all over the rug. Amber was passed out on the couch, a slice of pizza resting on her face, while Ayaka was trying (and failing) to clean up the empty ramen bowls.

Scaramouche sat cross-legged on the floor, back against the couch, arms folded as he stared at the carnage. His midnight-indigo hair was even messier than usual, a single feather stuck in it from the earlier pillow fight. Lumine was next to him, sipping soda from a can, her golden hair glowing faintly in the warm light of the apartment.

“Do you ever plan to help clean up?” Lumine asked, raising an eyebrow.

Scaramouche smirked. “I’m supervising.”

“Supervising what? Venti trying to shotgun a can of soda and failing spectacularly?”

In the background, Venti was indeed trying to shotgun a soda can, but instead, it fizzed violently, exploding all over his shirt.

“AHHH, IT’S IN MY EYE!” Venti screeched, flailing like a dying seagull.

Amber stirred slightly from her pizza coma. “Shut up, you drunken pigeon…”

Lumine pinched the bridge of her nose, trying not to laugh. “This feels like babysitting a bunch of grown toddlers.”

Albedo, ever composed, walked into the living room holding a cup of tea. “Correction—toddlers with zero self-preservation and a knack for maximum destruction.”

“Hey!” Scaramouche snapped. “I have some self-preservation. It’s just selective.”

“You? Selective self-preservation?” Albedo raised an eyebrow. “You’re literally sitting next to an open soda can on a white carpet.”

Scaramouche glanced at the soda can, then back at Albedo, before deliberately nudging it with his foot.

“Oops.”

“You little shit—”

“STOP!” Ayaka cut in, clutching a pile of used napkins. “Can we please try to maintain some sanity before someone (looks at Venti) sets the apartment on fire? Again.”

“ONE TIME!” Venti protested, holding his soda-soaked shirt. “One time, and I’m labeled an arsonist forever!”

“You put a microwaveable pizza in metal foil and said, ‘It’s probably fine,’” Kazuha said calmly from his spot near the window, where he was staring out into the night sky.

The group collectively sighed.

Lumine leaned her head back on the couch, her eyes half-lidded from exhaustion. “Honestly, guys… this might be one of the best New Year’s I’ve ever had.”

There was a brief pause before Amber sat up suddenly, pizza slice still stuck to her cheek. “You’re so right, Lumine. This mess? These idiots? Absolute perfection.”

“Aw, Amber, you’re making me emotional,” Venti fake-sobbed, throwing himself dramatically into Kazuha’s lap.

Kazuha sighed, patting Venti’s head like one would a misbehaving puppy.

Albedo adjusted his glasses and gave a small smile. “Chaotic as it was, I’ll admit… it was fun.”

Scaramouche rolled his eyes. “You nerds get sentimental way too easily.”

“Shut up, Scara, you love us,” Amber said with a smug grin.

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever helps you sleep at night.”

Lumine nudged Scaramouche with her elbow, a sly smile tugging at her lips. “Come on, admit it. You’d miss us if we weren’t around.”

Scaramouche side-eyed her, his usual sharp retort dying on his tongue when he caught her looking at him like that—soft, teasing, and warm. He clicked his tongue and looked away.

“...Fine. Maybe you’re not completely insufferable.”

“Wow,” Venti said, clutching his chest. “Is this what a heartfelt confession from Scaramouche feels like? I think I need a moment.”

“Die, Venti.”

Before another roast battle could break out, Kazuha stood and cleared his throat. “How about we all step out onto the balcony? The fireworks are still going, and it seems like the city is alive tonight.”

The suggestion seemed to settle everyone. Slowly, they all filed out onto Lumine’s small balcony, clutching drinks or leftover snacks. The cold air bit at their skin, but the view was worth it—the city skyline was painted in gold, red, and green as fireworks lit up the sky.

Lumine leaned on the railing, her golden hair catching the faint glow of the fireworks. Scaramouche stood next to her, hands stuffed into the pockets of his hoodie, his indigo hair tousled by the wind.

“It’s beautiful,” Lumine said softly.

Scaramouche tilted his head slightly, looking at her instead of the sky. “Yeah… it is.”

Amber and Ayaka huddled together for warmth while Venti draped himself dramatically over Kazuha again. Albedo stood slightly apart, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon like he was analyzing the fireworks’ chemical composition.

“Hey, guys?” Lumine said, her voice carrying over the soft crackle of distant fireworks.

Everyone turned to her.

“Thanks for being here. Really. You’re all a bunch of chaotic gremlins, but… you’re my chaotic gremlins.”

There was a collective murmur of agreement, a few smirks, and maybe even a sniffle from Venti.

“Well,” Albedo said, sipping his tea, “Here’s to another year of chaos, questionable decisions, and… friendship, I suppose.”

“Gross.” Scaramouche muttered.

“Just admit you love us, you little emo gremlin!” Amber said, sticking her tongue out.

Scaramouche groaned. “I hate all of you.”

But the faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips said otherwise.

As the fireworks continued to burst above them, painting the night sky in vibrant colors, the group stood together—chaotic, dysfunctional, and utterly perfect in their own way.