The afternoon sun hung low as the bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. Most students packed their bags and hurried home, but two familiar figures sat slouched in the Detention Room.
Scaramouche leaned back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest, wearing an annoyed scowl. Aether sat two desks away, glaring daggers at him while tapping a pencil aggressively against the desk.
The teacher overseeing them, Ms. Lisa, sat at the front with her chin propped on her hand, a lazy smile on her face as she flipped through a novel. âYou two really do know how to keep things interesting,â she purred without even looking up.
âWhatever,â Aether grumbled, crossing his arms.
Scaramouche clicked his tongue, tilting his head toward Aether. âYou know, for someone whoâs supposed to be the âgood twin,â you sure have anger issues.â
Aether shot him a sharp glare. âAnd for someone whoâs supposed to be a cat, you sure have a big mouth.â
Lisa sighed dramatically. âBoys, boys⦠Canât you two play nice for one hour? Youâd think you were kindergarteners fighting over a crayon.â
Both boys fell silent, huffing and turning their backs on each other.
---
Meanwhile, Lumine, Amber, and Venti stood outside the detention room door. Amber was holding her phone, filming through the tiny window on the door.
âLook at them!â Amber whispered with a giggle. âThey look like grumpy toddlers!â
Venti, who was munching on a chocolate bar, smirked. âTen bucks says theyâll start arguing again in three minutes.â
Lumine rubbed her temples. âI canât believe Iâm related to one of them and somehow responsible for the other.â
Amber grinned. âYou mean emotionally attached to the other?â
Lumine shot her a sharp glare. âDonât start.â
---
Back inside the detention room, Scaramouche broke the silence. âYou know, Lumine wouldnât have to babysit you all the time if you just learned to chill out.â
Aether whipped around, eyes flaring. âExcuse me?! Who needs babysitting here? Youâre the one who follows her around like a lost puppy I mean cat!â
âBetter a lost puppy than a clingy brother,â Scaramouche sneered.
âOh, thatâs it!â Aether slammed his hands on the desk and stood up.
âBoysâ¦â Lisa warned in a singsong voice, still not looking up from her book.
But it was too late. Aether had already grabbed a crumpled piece of paper and hurled it at Scaramouche. Scaramouche, of course, dodged effortlessly, leaning back in his chair with a smug smirk.
âYou missed. Try again, big bro.â
Aether grabbed an eraser this time, and Scaramouche stood up to retaliate with a pencil pouch.
Lisa snapped her book shut. The sound echoed through the silent room, freezing both boys mid-throw.
âBoth of you. Sit. Down.â Lisaâs eyes glimmered dangerously under the dim lights.
Slowly, they lowered their makeshift weapons and sat back down, muttering under their breaths.
---
Outside the window, Venti was choking on his laughter while Amber tried not to drop her phone. Lumine buried her face in her hands.
âWhy are they like thisâ¦?â she groaned.
Venti wiped a tear from his eye. âAt this point, they deserve their own reality show.â
Amber nodded enthusiastically. ââSibling vs. Simp: Battle for Lumineâs Attention.ââ
Lumine shot them both a tired look. âIâm leaving you two here.â
As Lumine turned to walk away, Venti and Amber followed her, still giggling and sharing the video Amber had recorded.
Inside the detention room, Lisa sighed as she went back to her book. âAt this rate, Iâll have to start charging for tickets to your next showdown.â
Aether and Scaramouche, now sulking in their seats, glared at each other one last time before looking away with exaggerated huffs.
Detention had never been so chaotic.
1:28PM