บท 7: 7: What comes after

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"Hey, Adrien." the voice from across the call replied.

"Kagami." Adrien acknowledged, "What's up?"

"We haven't talked since the last time and we couldn't meet today."

"I'm fine. I'm doing great. But hey, we get to meet during fencing lessons." Adrien giggled.

Kagami's voice cracked, "I miss you."

Adrien hesitated for a moment thinking how he should respond, then he realized Kagami is his girlfriend, "I miss you too." he said.

Kagami smiled. "Marinette and I hung out earlier this afternoon."

"So you were the reason why she was such in a rush to get out of class." Adrien chuckled.

"Let's hang out soon."

"Yea, soon. If my father allows."

"Ugh, mother too. Well anyway, gotta do homework. See you in fencing class."

"See ya!" he cheerfully replied and the call was cut. ☎

Adrien stared at his phone. There were a lot of things running through his mind but some points struck him the most. He came to a realization that things have started to change and he's not quite sure whether this is good or bad change.

Meawhile at the Dupain-Cheng residence, Marinette was busy tidying at the wall of her bed when Plagg arrived entering from the top window coming from Mari's rooftop.

"Hey master!" he playfully greeted the busy Marinette.

"Plagg?" she turned around, "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at Chat's?" she said as a bunch of photographs were noticeably occupying her hands.

"The kid's busy. I saw him talking to his girlfriend over the phone when I left."

Marinette dropped the photos that was on her hand, "He has a girlfriend? But last time we talked he said it was a joke."

Plagg sat down on one of her pillows, "It is real, now. Besides, what does it matter to you? You've always rejected him." he added making the girl feel guilty.

Mari frowned, "Hey, you understand we cannot know each others' identities." she defended.

"And what does it have to do with falling in love with him?" Plagg pried.

Mari scoffs, "It has a lot to do with it Mr. Cataclysm. You can't expect us to date while being Ladybug and Chat Noir? That's like an office affair. And it would not be much appropriate to be always worried of each other on the battlefield."

"Uhuh, so you're saying you don't mind dating Chat Noir it's just that there's an issue regarding your identities."

"I DID NOT....say that." she strongly denied.

"Implied." Plagg shrugged.

Mari was not impressed by how the little black cat played her. Plagg read too much in between the lines which kinda suprised Marinette hearing it from someone who's more used to destroying things rather than putting things together.

"Not now Plagg. We both know we got Paris to think about." Mari's hands started moving again.

"Not as much as you think about your precious little things over there. Seriously, what are YOU doing?" Plagg glanced at the fallen photos on her bed.

Tikki flew over stopping in front of the two, "She's moving on."

"Tikki!" Mari yelled. Hearing it from somebody else made her realize what she was actually doing. It truly is hard to let go of something you've had very strong feelings for. The photographs meant so much but it was time.

Plagg's jaw dropped seeing it was photos of Adrien.

She noticed the black kitty was silent, "Plagg? Cat got your tongue?" Mari made a pun.

"Man you two are really messed up." he went and flew over the ladybug printed miraculous box. "One moment you two are all over each other and now both of you are putting shackles all over your neck."

Mari raised a brow, "Excuse me?" she obviously didn't catch that.

Before Plagg could be interrogated further, Tikki flew to the black kitty and pulled him up, "Sorry Marinette, I guess Plagg wanted to chat with me tonight. We'll just be up at the rooftop." and the kwamis stormed out leaving the confused Marinette continuing with her tidying up.

Mari sighed picking up the photographs, "Well Adrien, time to say goodbye." she said as she dumped all of it into a pink fabric coated box with a bow on top.

"Are you out of your wits?" Tikki scolded the cat.

"No I am not and it's freezing up here." he said rubbing his tiny paws all over his shoulders.

"I don't care." she yelled in her tiny voice, "Listen Plagg, although due to the binding rules of the box that we are not able to speak of who Ladybug and Chat Noir is, we must avoid at all costs that they get hints of who they truly are."

"I know sugarcube but don't you get irritated by how things are right now? It's messed up."

"Messed up or not, Ladybug and Chat Noir has a mission and that is to retrieve the lost miraculouses of Hawkmoth and Mayura. That way all of these akumatizing can stop."

"But even after that, it doesn't mean they'd be able to meet each other without the mask." he said paralyzing Tikki for a moment.

Plagg and Tikki fell silent. Both of them felt down just by the thought of it. It's true. No matter the circumstance, it must not reach to any point that the two will be able to know of their true identities even if the job is done. It might be done for Chat Noir, but Ladybug has a lifetime to watch over the miracle box.

"Marinette is prepared for whatever it may cost her. Master Fu knew that Marinette will be able to pull through. She's the only one who can do it."

"You know, that may sound convincing now sugarcube but it's still up to her what happens once all the miraculous items are complete and restored."

"You're right. All that's left is for Mari to decide what comes after."