"If it comes, let it come. If it goes, it's ok, let it go. Let things come and go. Stay calm, don't let anything disturb your peace, and carry on." ― Germany Kent
(third-person pov)
A month... it had been a month since Hawkmoth and Mayura were finally put to justice. They were currently rotting in prison for what they have done. And now, things are different. Adrien/Cat Noir, after learning his father and Natalie were the hated villains, gave up his miraculous, and moved to London with his cousin and aunt. Meanwhile, Marinette (Performing her guardian duties) collected all of the Miraculous and returned them to the Miracle Box. But when all of that was said and done, Marinette still had trouble. That trouble being Lila and the rest of Ms. Bustier's class. Marinette had endured the harassment for months. But one day, Marinette snapped.
(Marinette's pov)
I ran to Kagami's house, tears streaming down my cheeks. I had just gotten bullied by Lila and her goons again. But this time, I had gotten beat up. The bruises were still fresh on my body. The insults were still ringing in my ears and mind. I eventually made it to Kagami's house, out of breath and shaking. I rang the doorbell and waited for a response.
"Hello?" Kagami's voice said through the speaker bellow the doorbell.
"Hey, Kagami, It's me, Marinette," I said into the microphone.
"Mari? What are you doing here? Is there something I can do for you?" Kagami's voice asked,
"Can I come in?" I asked.
"I'll be right there, hold on!" She said.
I sat down with my back to the house wall, trying to wipe up my tears. Kagami Opened the door a minute later and saw me sitting next to the door, battered and bruised, trying to stem the flow of tears. I looked up at her and saw a look of anger, sadness, and shock.
"Mari?" She asked.
"Yeah?" I answered.
"Come in." She said, helping me up. Luka was also there. I can't say I'm surprised, I knew they have been dating ever since The Miraculous team defeated Hawkmoth and Mayura.
"MARI?! Oh my god! What happened?" He asked.
"I'll tell you when we get inside," I answered while Kagami walked me inside.
After Kagami took me to the living room and sat me on a couch, she and Luka sat on the one opposite, I told them everything. I never told them about the bullying in detail, just that I get treated poorly by my classmates. But now, I told them every single thing that has happened. All the insults, stollen items, and recent beatings that have ever happened to me, I poured the information out with fresh tears streaming down my cheeks. When I was done, both of my friends looked like they were gonna murder someone.
"What can I do?" I asked in despair. Luka walked over to me and embraced me, like a brother. Kagami let out a frustrated sigh.
"We can't do anything illegal, Kagami! I know what your thinking!" Luka said, still consoling me. Kagami sighed and looked down, she was thinking hard. I calmed down with Luka's help, and he even treated the bruise that was on my left cheek. Then Kagami looked up with a spark in her eyes.
(A/N: Warning! I am going to use google translate. I can't write in Japanese!)
"マリさん,あなたの日本語は?" (Mari, how is your Japanese?) Kagami asked.
"あなたのレッスンのおかげでそれはまともです. どうして?" (It's decent thanks to your lessons. Why?) I answered. Luka looked confused, and I can't blame him. He hasn't had the months of daily Japanese lessons I had.
"Well, I think I can give you what you need," Kagami said with a glint in her eye.
"Kagami, what are you thinking?" Luka asked.
"I think I can give Mari the reset she needs!" Kagami answered.
"Reset?" I asked.
"I have some connections in Japan, I think I can send you there!" Kagami said. I was shocked, me? Going to a foreign country? To get away from some bullies? That seems a little extreme. I told Kagami as much, and she just sighed.
"Mari, I can't see any other way other than changing your name and appearance. Lila is powerful, and she can manipulate people in a way I only thought possible in fiction. Unless you can find a way to turn the tables on Lila, this is the only legal option that I can offer." Kagami told me.
"Mari, I hate to admit it, but Kagami has a point," Luka said, returning to Kagami's side. I thought about it. Is it extreme? Yes! Is it necessary? Probably not. Does it have perks? You bet it does! Japan is such a unique place! It not only has a plethora of history and traditions, but it also has a rich culture and wondrous places. I always wanted to visit, but between school, superhero work, and life in general, I could never go.
"Ok, let's say I agree. How do we go about this?" I asked.
"Getting you an apartment and enrolled in a school shouldn't be a problem. But Lila and the others will most likely follow you where ever you go." Kagami said.
"You're right, how do we make sure they don't follow me?" I asked.
"Fake your suicide?" Luka suggested. Kagami and I stared at him.
"It was honestly the first thing that came to mind! I'm sorry!" He said, trying to defend himself.
"If we can't think of anything else, that may be the only option," Kagami said. I gave her the 'WTF' look.
"IF we can't think of anything else, Mari!" She said with her arms raised. I sighed.
"Please let there be a better way!" I thought.
(Timeskip! Brought to you by Tiki's cookies!)
Turns out, the whole 'faking suicide' plan was the only one that was foolproof! We tried to come up with another idea, but we agreed that faking my suicide would yield the result we wanted. Kagami and Luka knew I possessed all the miraculous, so staging my suicide would be easy. The only problems were how to deal with the aftermath, and who to let in on the plan. We agreed that the fewer people who knew about the plot, the better. We decided that only my and Kagami's parents will know about this. We also needed a way to actually faking it. We could either do an illusion with the fox or a teleporting trick with the horse. Eventually, we decided that the fox would be a better and safer option.
We all did our parts! Kagami handled the plane, apartment, and school arrangements. I told my parents (who were very sad, but supportive) about what we were up to, and wrote my suicide note. Luka was the one who would handle the illusion, thanks to the Fox Miraculous. We planned out every detail, from the date to the site of my suicide. Then after a week of planning and preparation, we put our plan in motion on the night we had agreed upon. I used the horse to teleport to the airport after saying goodbye to my parents and placing my note for them to 'discover' later. I texted Luka, who was standing by at the Millau viaduct, that it was time. He cast the illusion as the private jet that Kagami had rented for my getaway took off. I took a look at the Parisian skyline one last time as I flew away and said:
"Sayonara Paris."
(Third person pov)
"Don't be bemused, it's just the news. Now, I have some unfortunate news to share with my viewers tonight as it concerns the death of a young girl. We have permission from the girl's parents to share her name, pictures, and the note she left. Now, onto the news. Last night at 9:21 pm, the fifteen-year-old Marinette Dupian-cheng committed suicide by jumping off the Millau viaduct bridge. Her suicide note was found in the morning by her parents, who searched her room after she did not come down for breakfast.
Here is what the note read:
I'm sorry everyone, I just can't take it anymore! I can't take all the ridicule and beatings anymore! I am so disappointed in everyone. Everyone in Collège Françoise Dupont, I am so sad you took the word of a stranger over the word of a trusted friend. Mom and Dad, I'm sorry I did this to you, but this was my only escape from everything. Lila, we could have been friends, but you were a lier. You lied to every single one of my classmates. You told them twisted truths and manipulated them in the worst possible way. I don't want anyone to feel at fault for my death, it is my choice after all. Goodbye, everyone, I'm so sorry.
Marinette
A funeral service is being held this weekend for poor Marinette. It is open to the public for anyone who wants to pay their respects. Can we all have a moment of silence for Marinette Duipan-cheng? For the girl whose life had been lost to suicide."