Chapter 70: Chapter 68: Enough is Enough

The library was quiet, save for the soft sound of pencils scratching across paper and the occasional rustle of pages turning. Lumine, Ayaka, and Albedo were all engrossed in their homework, focused on their respective tasks. It had become routine: they would meet up in the library after classes to study, catching up on homework while discussing anything that came to mind.

Lumine, however, was anything but focused. Her mind kept drifting to the ongoing tension between her twin brother, Aether, and Scaramouche. She could practically feel the storm brewing between the two—an unspoken rivalry that had only gotten worse since Aether found out about Scaramouche’s protective streak over her.

“I swear, they’re going to tear each other apart one of these days,” Lumine muttered under her breath, tapping her pen against her notebook absentmindedly.

Ayaka, who was sitting across from her, glanced up. “You’re right. Their constant bickering is exhausting. I’ve never seen two people so stubborn in my life.”

Albedo, who had been working in silence, smirked without looking up. “It’s only a matter of time before one of them does something really dumb.”

Before Lumine could respond, Amber barged in, her breath hurried and voice alarmed. “Guys! You need to come outside right now!”

Lumine raised an eyebrow, confused. “What’s going on, Amber?”

“You won’t believe it,” Amber said, practically bouncing on her toes. “Scaramouche and Aether are punching each other outside! It’s gotten way out of hand. Venti and Kazuha are trying to break them up, but it’s like they’re determined to beat the crap out of each other!”

Lumine didn’t even flinch at the news. This wasn’t the first time things had escalated between the two, and judging by the way they were always at each other's throats, it certainly wouldn’t be the last.

“Seriously?” Lumine said, unamused. “I’m so tired of this.” She tossed her chips bag aside, standing up slowly. “Let them do whatever they want. If they want to fight, then let them. I’m not the one who has to deal with it, anyway.”

Ayaka and Albedo exchanged concerned glances, but Lumine was already heading for the door, not even breaking a sweat. The thought of constantly stopping them had worn thin on her nerves. She was done playing the peacekeeper.

When the group arrived at the scene, the chaos was already in full swing. Scaramouche and Aether were throwing punches like it was a championship boxing match, while a circle of students had gathered around, cheering them on like it was some sort of spectacle.

“Let them fight!” Venti shouted dramatically from the side, his arms flailing as he tried and failed to separate the two. “They’ll wear themselves out soon enough!”

Kazuha, standing beside Venti, looked exhausted but still tried to hold Scaramouche back. “This isn’t good, guys! Someone’s going to get hurt if we don’t stop them!”

But it was clear that neither Aether nor Scaramouche were in the mood for listening. They were too deep in their own personal vendetta, fists flying with no sign of stopping.

Lumine simply leaned against a nearby tree, opening a fresh bag of chips as she casually watched the scene unfold. “Let them,” she muttered, a bored expression on her face. “They’re both so stubborn. It’ll end when it ends.”

The students around her were whispering excitedly, gossiping about how this fight was about to get ugly. Some were even betting on who would win. But Lumine? She was over it.

Ayaka, a bit worried, stepped closer to Lumine. “Lumine, aren’t you worried?”

Lumine shrugged nonchalantly, still munching on her chips. “Not really. They’ve been going at it for weeks now. I’m just tired of being the one to stop them. Let the principal deal with it. If they want to make idiots of themselves, fine by me.”

Albedo, sensing the inevitable chaos that was about to unfold, crossed his arms. “Honestly, they’re both too hard-headed to ever see eye to eye. It’s a miracle this didn’t happen sooner.”

Venti, still trying his best to intervene, sent a pleading look toward Lumine. “Couldn’t you—”

“Nope,” she said firmly, tossing another chip into her mouth. “I’m done with playing peacemaker.”

The fight grew more intense, with Scaramouche landing a solid punch to Aether’s jaw, sending him stumbling backward. Aether responded with a fierce jab to Scaramouche’s ribs, causing the smaller boy to hiss in pain. The two were too caught up in their anger to even notice the growing crowd.

As the students continued to cheer them on, a familiar, authoritative voice cut through the noise.

“What is going on here?!”

Lumine didn’t even need to look to know who it was. She turned slowly, her mouth quirking into an amused smile as she saw the principal striding toward them, looking furious.

“You two!” the principal snapped, pointing at Aether and Scaramouche. “In my office, NOW.”

The two boys, still glaring at each other, seemed to register the authority of the situation, though neither one looked particularly happy about it. Reluctantly, they stopped fighting, each of them giving the other one one last venomous glare before begrudgingly following the principal.

Lumine, unfazed, took another bite of her chips, turning back to her friends. “See? I knew it would work itself out.”

Amber, who had been standing nearby, sighed in relief. “You really just let them go at it like that?”

Lumine shrugged. “They’ll survive. They always do.”

Ayaka looked at her incredulously. “You’re really not worried?”

“Nope,” Lumine said, popping another chip into her mouth. “I’m just waiting for the principal to give them a piece of his mind. Honestly, they’ll probably be fine after a little scolding.”

Albedo shook his head, but there was a small grin on his face. “You’re something else, Lumine.”

Lumine just grinned back. “It’s not my problem. Let them sort it out for once.”

And with that, the scene outside slowly returned to calm. The fight had ended, but the students still talked about it for the rest of the day—just another chapter in the ongoing saga of Aether and Scaramouche.