บท 19: Akuma

[Françoise Dupont High School ]

Adrien arrived at school with a calm stride, a relaxed smile on his face as he scanned the crowd for Nino. He was determined to ease any concerns his friend might have. It didn't take long to spot him leaning against a wall, his expression unusually serious.

"Hey, Nino!" Adrien greeted, raising a hand in a friendly wave. "I need to tell you something," he added, his tone easygoing.

Nino didn't respond right away. His gaze hardened, and for a moment, the air felt tense. Finally, he spoke, his voice cold. "No. I need to tell you something." Turning on his heel, he gestured with a slight nod for Adrien to follow him. Without another word, he started walking, leading the way toward the school's basement.

Adrien followed, confused but intrigued by his friend's sudden shift in demeanor. When they arrived, the first thing he noticed was a table in the center of the room, a chair beside it, a lit lamp, and an old typewriter—all objects that clearly didn't belong there.

"When did you bring all this here?" Adrien asked, startled by the strange setup.

But Nino didn't let him finish. He slammed the table with force, cutting him off abruptly. "I'm the one asking the questions here!" he snapped, his piercing gaze locked onto Adrien as he pulled out his phone and slid it across the table.

On the screen, Adrien saw a photo that left him speechless: Alya hugging Cat Noir. His expression shifted instantly, his eyes widening in shock.

"Remember what I told you yesterday? Well, look at this—I've got proof!" Nino declared, jabbing his finger at the image while keeping his eyes fixed on Adrien.

Adrien took a deep breath, trying to stay composed. "Ah... Nino, it's not what it looks like," he said in a calm voice, though his mind was racing for an explanation.

"And how do you know that?" Nino interrupted, pointing an accusatory finger at him. "Were you there?"

"No, of course not," Adrien quickly replies, trying to calm Nino down. "What I mean is, Alya and Cat Noir don't even know each other. Alya's just a superhero fanatic," he adds, gesturing toward the phone. "This probably has something to do with some kind of misunderstanding."

"From the looks of it, they seem to know each other pretty well," Nino counters, his frown deepening, distrust evident in his eyes.

Adrien takes a deep breath, giving himself a moment to stay composed. "No one knows who Cat Noir and Ladybug really are. Do you really think Alya would fall for someone she barely knows?" He pauses, hoping his words will sink in. "Alya—the girl who dreams of being a reporter, who's always chasing the truth… The same Alya who tells you everything? Don't you think that idea is absurd?"

Nino keeps his eyes fixed on Adrien, his frown intensifying. "They know each other better than you think."

Adrien crosses his arms, confused by what his friend is trying to imply. "You can't just jump to conclusions based on some out-of-context video," he responds, trying to keep things rational.

Nino rises slowly, his expression hardening further. He steps closer to Adrien, placing his hands firmly on his friend's shoulders and looking him directly in the eyes. "Listen, there's something you don't know," he begins. "The truth is, Alya is Rena Rouge… or at least she was."

"What?!" Adrien exclaims, utterly shocked.

"I already know what you're thinking," Nino says, reading Adrien's reaction. "You're going to say it's ridiculous… and then you'll ask how I know she's Rena Rouge." He looks at Adrien intently before continuing. "The truth is… I'm a hero too. I'm Carapace."

Adrien, still processing this revelation, remains silent. His mind races to piece everything together, but a new question quickly rises to the surface. "Wait—you two know each other's secret identities?"

"Of course we do," Nino replies firmly. "We don't keep secrets from each other. Or at least… we didn't."

Adrien takes a step back, bewildered. "That can't be true…" he mutters, trying to process what he just heard.

"Are you calling me a liar?" Nino challenges, crossing his arms.

"No, that's not it… but it just doesn't make sense. Secret identities exist to protect heroes! Ladybug would never allow something like this to happen!" Adrien insists, his stance becoming more defensive.

"Are you joking?" Nino responds with a bitter laugh. "It was Ladybug who gave us the Miraculouses at the same time."

Adrien freezes, feeling those words strike something deep within him. Memories swirl in his mind: every time Ladybug stressed the importance of secret identities, every warning about the dangers of revealing them. And now, he's discovering that she allows others to share their identities with each other. Shaking his head, Adrien decides he'll have to talk to Ladybug about this later. For now, he needs to focus on Nino.

"Even so, that doesn't mean Alya and Cat Noir have anything going on"

Nino looks at him with exasperation. "Adrien, please. I know how Cat Noir acts, always following Ladybug, giving her flowers, spouting romantic lines, constantly insisting. And she always rejects him!" Nino shouts. "And do you know why?! Because she knows the truth, she knows he's just playing a game with her, she knows how vile he is!" Nino exclaims, letting his frustration explode.

Adrien feels every word like a stab to the heart. It's impossible not to take it personally. He looks at Nino, but the words to respond don't come.

Nino takes a deep breath, his tone softening, now tinged with melancholy. "And then Rena Rouge shows up."

Adrien watches him, uncertain where this is going. Nino sighs, lowering his gaze to the floor. "And at the first opportunity he gets, Cat Noir starts his little seduction act again… and this is the result!" Nino says, dropping to his knees in frustration.

"If I could, I'd sew his mouth shut with those stupid whiskers," he adds, letting a tear fall as anger and a mix of other emotions overwhelm him.

[Hawk Moth's Lair]

In Hawk Moth's lair, he is alerted by a strong buildup of negative emotions. He focuses, searching for the source of these feelings. It doesn't take him long to find it. When he does, a slight laugh escapes his lips.

"A heartbroken boyfriend seeks revenge on his rival," Hawk Moth comments, as a white akuma flies toward him and lands on his hand. With a motion, he transforms it into its dark version.

"Go, my little akuma, help him destroy his enemy, My enemy!!," orders Hawk Moth, watching the akuma fly away, guided by the negative emotions.

[Françoise Dupont High School ]

Adrien tries to calm Nino, his voice heavy with concern. "Listen, Nino, I know this seems strange, but there has to be an explanation—"

"Shut up!" Nino interrupts, his voice tight with anger, his fists clenching at his sides.

Before Adrien can react, a black butterfly lands on Nino's glasses, merging with them. Nino freezes, his eyes glowing with a purple hue. A deep voice echoes in his mind.

"I am Hawk Moth. Cat Noir has stolen what you love most. I will give your tears the power to destroy everything… All I ask is that you bring me their Miraculouses."

Nino, his anger simmering, replies, "If you want the Miraculouses… you'll get them." As he speaks, the akumatization process begins, shrouding his body in dark energy.

[N/A: For those unfamiliar with the series—yes, his power is crying.]

Adrien watches in horror as Nino begins to transform. Desperate, he steps forward, trying to disrupt the process and help his friend regain control. "Nino, you have to fight this!" Adrien shouts, but his plea is cut short when Nino strikes him, sending him flying across the room.

"Stay out of this, Adrien! You're not my enemy—but Cat Noir is!" Nino yells, his voice colder, before darting away, leaving Adrien sprawled on the floor.

Adrien groans, clutching his side as pain shoots through him. "Ah… this isn't good…" he murmurs, struggling to get up.

[Marinette's Room]

Marinette holds a list in her hands, reading it aloud.

"Laptop?" she asks, glancing up at Alya, who nods with a smile and pulls a laptop out of her bag. "Got it," Alya replies confidently.

"Slides?" Marinette continues.

Alya points to the laptop, then pulls a USB drive from her pocket with a small grin. "And check."

"Emotional support system?" Marinette asks, puzzled.

"Check," Alya says, suddenly hugging Marinette tightly. Marinette chuckles softly and rolls her eyes.

Suddenly, a noise from outside catches Marinette's attention. She pulls away from Alya, walking over to the window. Confusion flickers across her face. "Alya, how much time do we have until the interview?"

"Over an hour," Alya replies, checking her watch. "Why?"

"You said Aiden was picking you up, right?" Marinette asks.

Alya nods, a little confused. "Yeah…"

"Then why is he already outside?" Marinette asks, pointing out the window.

Alya rushes to the window, and when she looks out, she realizes Marinette wasn't mistaken. Aiden is stepping out of his car and heading straight toward the bakery.

Panic spreads across Alya's face. "Did I mess up the time?" she exclaims, quickly checking her phone.

"Don't worry, I'll go get him," Marinette says, standing up and climbing swiftly down through her room's hatch.

[Meanwhile, downstairs...]

The sound of a bell announces the arrival of a new customer. Monsieur Tom Dupain, who was behind the counter arranging some pastries, quickly steps forward to greet them. When he sees it's Aiden, his face lights up with a broad smile.

"My boy, you're back!" he exclaims with genuine enthusiasm, hurrying over and wrapping Aiden in a warm hug.

"Tell me, are you here to bake again?" he asks eagerly, his eyes sparkling with the thought of new recipes Aiden might share.

Before Aiden can respond, Marinette bursts into the shop, slightly out of breath.

"Sorry, he's here for Alya," she blurts out quickly, glancing at her father before grabbing Aiden by the arm and dragging him upstairs.

Tom, though slightly disappointed, watches as Marinette rushes off with Aiden. His enthusiasm dims a little—he'd been hoping to see more of Aiden's baking skills, but it seems the time for that hasn't come yet.

When they finally enter Marinette's room, Alya wastes no time. She moves quickly toward Aiden, and on impulse, jumps into his arms. He catches her easily, holding her by the hips as he spins her slightly, their lips meeting in an intense kiss. Alya, with a playful smile, responds instantly, her body fitting perfectly against his.

But the moment is abruptly interrupted by a loud "AHEM!"

Marinette stands at the door, arms crossed over her chest, watching them with a mix of discomfort and exhaustion in her expression.

"Oh, sorry," Alya says, quickly stepping back from Aiden and lowering her gaze. "I guess there's still plenty of time before the interview, right?" she adds, glancing at Marinette in an attempt to defuse the tension.

"That's right," Aiden responds with a nod. "There's still time, but I thought it would be a good idea to come early and make sure Alya was ready," he adds, taking Alya's hand in a gesture that seems more habitual than necessary. "And I also thought it might help to talk a bit before the interview—it always calms the nerves."

"Ohhh!" Alya exclaims, her face lighting up with a radiant smile as she throws her arms around him again, seeking comfort in his presence.

"Alya!" Marinette says in a tone of mild exasperation. Alya pulls back, rolling her eyes.

The next hour passes in a flurry of laughter, playful flirting, and a few affectionate gestures between Alya and Aiden that Marinette pointedly tries to ignore.

Finally, the sound of Alya's phone alarm interrupts their conversation. "Well, I guess it's time," Alya says, starting to gather her things.

"We're heading out," Alya announces, but before she can take a step, Aiden pauses and looks at Marinette.

"Why don't you come with us?" Aiden asks.

"Really?" Marinette responds, surprised by the invitation.

"Of course! You might not be allowed inside for the interview, but you could wait outside, and then we can celebrate once Alya nails it," Aiden suggests with a grin, causing Alya to blush slightly.

"You mean if I nail it," Alya says with a nervous laugh.

Aiden looks at her, holding her hand and smiling confidently. "You'll nail it. I'm sure."

Alya glances away, clearly flustered, before turning to Marinette. "What do you say, Marinette? Want to come with us?" she asks with a warm smile.

Marinette is about to accept when she feels a subtle vibration from her earring—it's an alert from Cat Noir about a new akuma threat.

"I… I can't," Marinette says, stepping back slightly. "I have a lot to do… important stuff," she adds, her tone nervous, as though she's trying to convince herself that she can afford to delay everything else.

Alya watches her closely, noting the change in her tone. She steps away from Aiden and pulls Marinette into a corner, whispering with concern, "Is it an akumatized villain?"

Marinette nods, and for a moment, Alya hesitates, glancing back at Aiden, who's still waiting by the door. "Marinette... I don't think I can—"

Marinette reassures her quickly, placing a hand on her friend's arm. "Don't worry, we don't need you for this. Go to your interview, everything will be fine." She smiles gently, doing her best to ease Alya's worry.

Alya smiles back, relieved, and gives Marinette a tight hug before taking Aiden's hand and leading him toward the exit.

Once alone, Marinette takes a deep breath, knowing exactly what she has to do. As soon as they're gone, she transforms into Ladybug, leaping gracefully from her balcony, ready to join Cat Noir in the battle.

-/-

Author's Note: I was going to make the joke that I didn't upload the chapter because part of it got lost, but 30 minutes later I realized I had lost the entire chapter and had to rewrite it from memory. DAMN IT! Anyway, I'd love to know what you think. Does the writing seem too theatrical? It's something that bothers me because I never know if I'm overdoing it or not doing it enough.

The next chapter should be the final one, and the next world will be Henshin Emergence with Saki Yoshida. I have an idea of what to write, but if you have any suggestions or something you'd like to see, feel free to share! I love reading ideas.

Kisses and hugs!!