Finally, Gabriel's stiff hand did not push his son away. He could feel the pure, almost overflowing joy emanating from Adrien's body. It was a feeling he hadn't experienced in this home for a very long time. He pulled Adrien's arms from around him, but when a look of almost solidified disappointment appeared on his son's face, he turned and, with an unfamiliar yet solemn gesture, embraced his son.
The hug was brief, yet it carried too many complex, unspeakable things.
Adrien leaned on his father's broad, yet utterly cold chest, and asked in a low, tentative voice, "Father... did you... see that video too? So you think that outside is actually... not as dangerous as you said?"
"Yes, Adrien," Gabriel's voice came from above his head, so flat that no emotion could be discerned. "Outside, it might... not be as dangerous as I said."
This was a lie, but it was also a "truth" he had to utter at this moment to appease and control.
"Adrien," Nathalie interjected at the opportune moment, her voice as precise and calm as ever, "You're going to be late."
"Ah! Right!" Adrien awoke as if from a dream. He released his father, his face once again beaming with an uncontrollable excitement. He grabbed his backpack, waved goodbye to his father and Nathalie, and then rushed out the door like a gust of wind, getting into the dark car that was already waiting.
The Bodyguard silently started the car and drove towards the school.
Inside the foyer, only two people remained.
Nathalie looked at Gabriel; the expression on his face had returned to its usual cold mask, as if the father who had just embraced his son and shown a moment of warmth was merely a fleeting illusion.
"Sir, do you have any important appointments today?" Nathalie asked.
"No," Gabriel replied indifferently, his gaze fixed on the corridor leading to the secret room deep within the mansion. "You handle the rest."
"Yes, Sir."
"That's good." Gabriel dropped this sentence, then turned and walked without a trace of hesitation towards his secret room. The heavy door, hidden behind the wall, slowly opened, then silently closed behind him, completely shutting out the faint light.
In the darkness, he took off his glasses and pinned on the Akuma Butterfly brooch.
"Nooroo, Akuma Butterfly!"
Purple light engulfed him, and Hawk Moth once again reigned over his lonely kingdom. He walked to the giant circular window, looking out at Paris, his eyes devoid of the anger and humiliation of yesterday.
Only Adrien's words... for him, they truly didn't matter.
He had enough time to accomplish the one great thing he sought. Retreat was merely for a more precise attack in the future. He could make countless mistakes, but those ignorant brats, if they made just one mistake... A cold smile curved at the corners of his mouth at the thought.
As for Nathalie, after watching Gabriel's figure disappear, she also turned and walked to her office. That brief moment of warmth was like a stone thrown into a deep pool; though it stirred ripples, it could not change the pool's depth and coldness.
She opened her tablet and began to deal with the mountain of affairs of the Agreste Group; everything was back on track.
The Bodyguard's discreet yet luxurious black car stopped punctually at the entrance of François Dupont High School.
Adrien got out of the car; the Bodyguard merely nodded slightly at him, then immediately drove away without any unnecessary delay.
Adrien stood at the school gate, looking at this school, both familiar and strange, and for a moment he couldn't quite believe it. Sunlight shone on his golden hair, reflecting dazzling light, and everything around him seemed so real, yet so dreamlike.
"Hey, kid, what are you still gawking at?" Plagg quietly poked her small head out from his shirt pocket, saying in her characteristic, lazy tone, "Isn't this what you've always dreamed of? Real school life! Go on in, or your classmates will turn into fossils."
"...You're right, Plagg." Adrien took a deep breath, a heartfelt smile appearing on his face. He gently pushed Plagg's little head back, straightened his collar, and walked into the campus with a light step.
However, the lively, bustling scene he had imagined did not appear. The entire campus was empty and quiet, so much so that only the rustling of wind through the leaves could be heard.
He panicked a little, because the class bell had, in fact, already rung. All the students had already entered their respective classrooms.
He stood in the center of the courtyard, looking at the teaching buildings and countless identical classroom doors, feeling a bit lost. He... he had no idea where his class was.
Just then, a gentle voice came from behind him.
"Excuse me... are you the new transfer student?"
Adrien turned around and saw Teacher Caline. She was holding a stack of lesson plans, a kind smile on her face.
"Ah, yes, hello, Teacher, my name is Adrien Agreste."
"I recognize you, Adrien," Teacher Caline's smile deepened. "Welcome to François Dupont High School. I am your homeroom teacher, my name is Caline. Come with me, I'm just about to go teach your class."
Following Teacher Caline, Adrien finally found his class.
In the classroom, because the teacher hadn't arrived yet, it was in a state of "controlled boredom." Classmates gathered in twos and threes, each doing their own thing. Some were scrolling on their phones, some were listening to music with headphones, some were quietly drawing, and some were gathered together, chatting softly. The entire class was like a loose galaxy composed of countless independent small planets, not disturbing each other, yet together forming a picture full of youthful energy.
When Teacher Caline appeared at the door and deliberately coughed a few times, these small planets reluctantly and slowly returned to their respective orbits. Everyone stopped their small movements, sat up straight, and looked towards the podium.
"Class, today we have a new classmate," Teacher Caline smiled, bringing Adrien out from behind her.
"Hello everyone," Adrien stood at the podium, facing the curious, indifferent, or surprised faces below, and once again showed his perfect, practiced signature smile, "My name is Adrien. I'm very happy to be your classmate."
After the introduction, he stood there, looking at the class below. The classroom was much quieter than he had imagined. What he saw was completely different from the enthusiastic atmosphere of "harmony" and "unitedly pranking the villain" that he had felt in the video.
He keenly noticed that this class... seemed to be divided into several distinct small groups.
On the girls' side, there seemed to be three groups. In the first row by the window were the energetic Alya and the somewhat shy Marinette;
In the second row by the door were the proud, queen-like Chloé from the video and her follower Sabrina;
And the remaining girls—the cute, pink-clad Rose, the Gothic-styled Juleka, the cool, short-haired Alix, and the timid Mylène—occupied the second and third rows by the window.
The boys' side seemed similar. In the corner of the last row sat the calm, black-haired youth Jaden, who, along with the red-haired youth Nathan drawing next to him, and another black-haired youth with glasses, Marc, seemed to form their own faction. And in the seats by the door, the DJ youth Nino, who was the "instigator" in yesterday's video, and two other somewhat listless boys, Kim and Max, were clearly another small group.
What puzzled him most was that almost everyone looked at him with a kind of... subtle distance. Not rejection, but certainly not enthusiasm. Even Chloé, who usually clung to him whenever she had a chance, now sat primly, and although her eyes showed undisguised excitement, she didn't jump up to welcome him as he had expected.
This feeling of being subtly isolated cooled his heart, which had been burning with excitement at finally being able to attend school, a little. He stood at the podium, his perfect smile now tinged with a hint of bewilderment.
Teacher Caline also noticed the awkwardness. She knew that because of Chloé's long-standing, almost "possessive" promotion of Adrien, most of the personality-seeking students in the class had subconsciously formed a not-so-good "birds of a feather" first impression of him.
"Adrien," Teacher Caline had to break the silence, "You can... sit with Nino for now."
"Okay, Teacher."
Adrien walked down from the podium and sat next to Nino.
Nino merely nodded at him as a greeting, then put his headphones back on, looking like he was saying, "Don't bother me." He thought to himself that this guy was the one Chloé talked about all day, and a high-and-mighty scion of a big family, probably not easy to get along with. It was better to keep his distance.
Thus, Adrien's longed-for first class began in such a... subtle and somewhat cool atmosphere.
He sat there, listening to the teacher lecture, feeling the sound of his classmates turning pages, and smelling the mixed scent of chalk and old books in the air. All of this was what he had craved for so long. But at the same time, he also felt as if an invisible, thin glass wall separated him from this class.
He could see them, hear them, but could not truly touch them.
During the break.
This feeling of a "glass wall" became even more pronounced.
As soon as the bell rang, the classroom immediately returned to that state of "small planets operating independently."
Alya immediately leaned towards Marinette, lowering her voice, and complained with a tone that was both annoyed and amused: "Marinette! What were you thinking?! I finally managed to connect you with Jaden, and then you went and invited the whole class! What are you trying to do? Hold a personal fan meeting?!"
"I... I just got excited then..." Marinette also knew she had messed up, blushing and clutching Alya's arm, coaxing, "Oh, good Alya, I know I made a mistake. So... what do we do this afternoon?"
"What else can we do? Nothing!" Alya rolled her eyes at Marinette, but seeing her pitiful expression, she softened. "Fine, fine, consider this afternoon a group activity. But you remember this: you absolutely must find an opportunity to talk to Jaden a few more times later! Do you hear me!"
"Mm-hmm!" Marinette nodded vigorously like a pecking chick.
Meanwhile, in the back row of the classroom, Jaden, Nathan, and Marc were engaged in a silent exchange.
Jaden gestured with his eyes towards Adrien, who sat in the front row, looking a bit lonely.
Nathan frowned slightly and mouthed to Jaden, "Chloé's person."
Marc also nodded in agreement. Both of them were the type who preferred quiet creation and disliked conflict. Their first reaction to anyone associated with troublesome figures like Chloé was to keep their distance.
Jaden understood their meaning, but just smiled noncommittally and said nothing more. He knew that such ingrained prejudices couldn't be changed with a few words. However... there was always tomorrow.
His observation of Adrien, one of the nominal "protagonists," was currently in a purely calm, almost detached state. He knew Adrien's identity and his future path, but this didn't prevent him from scrutinizing and analyzing him at this moment, just like any other ordinary new classmate.
He noticed that most of the girls indeed had no special reaction to Adrien's arrival. Their gazes, or rather, the focus of their attention, seemed... to linger more on himself.
He could feel the gazes, carrying various different emotions, occasionally cast his way from Rose, Juleka, Alix, and even Chloé. There was curiosity, admiration, inquiry, and even challenge. These gazes intertwined into a complex and interesting emotional network, and he was at the center of this network.
He thoroughly enjoyed this feeling.
It proved that his decision last night was correct. Integrating and connecting with them was far more interesting than being a cold bystander.
Adrien, on the other hand, felt extremely uncomfortable with the subtle indifference and estrangement that permeated his surroundings. He was like a goldfish thrown into a strange tank; the clear water brought an invisible sense of suffocation. His meticulously prepared perfect smile appeared stiff and superfluous in the face of silent rejection.
He wanted to actively integrate, but instinctively recoiled from Chloé's gaze, so he shifted his attention to Nino beside him and the girls in the front row. But the break didn't provide an opportunity: Nino was immersed in music with his headphones on, the front-row girls formed small circles chatting enthusiastically, and the boys also ignored him. He became invisible, magnificently disregarded, and finally, he walked dejectedly to the restroom, closing the stall door to shut out the lively world that had nothing to do with him.
"Plagg..." he whispered.
"What's wrong, my lost Prince?" Plagg poked her head out of his pocket, her tone lazy and playful like a cat's. "Did you find that real school life isn't like the fairy tale you imagined, where everyone revolves around you?"
"I..." Adrien was speechless, leaning against the cold door panel with a sigh. "I just don't understand why they all seem to dislike me?"
"Oh, please," Plagg yawned, stretching in the air. "Didn't you see the other classmates' reactions when that blonde girl named Chloé looked at you? From what I observed, most of the class dislikes her, and you, as 'Adrien' whom she mentions daily, are naturally categorized into the 'unpopular' camp. This is called... guilt by association!"
Plagg's words hit the nail on the head, and Adrien suddenly understood. Just then, footsteps and hushed conversations came from outside.
"This is the place, it's quieter." It was Nino's voice.
Adrien peered through the stall crack and saw Nathan, Marc, Jaden, Nino, Kim, and Max, six of them, crowding into the restroom, as if holding a temporary "secret meeting." He held his breath and pressed Plagg back into his pocket.
"Uh... Jaden," Nathan said, holding his drawing board with a difficult expression, "Regarding the afternoon gathering, I might not be able to make it."
"Hmm?" Jaden looked at them calmly.
Marc chimed in, "Yes, we received an urgent notice from the Manga Club this afternoon for a new issue topic meeting, and the times conflict perfectly."
"Right, right, right!" Nathan immediately agreed, "So I'm really very sorry!" They had initially agreed to help Jaden out of a bind, and now seeing Jaden in control of the situation, they wanted to find an excuse to leave and do what they liked.
"Me too," Nino scratched his head, showing an apologetic expression. "I have to go help a buddy test sound equipment for his party this afternoon. I promised him a long time ago."
Kim and Max also made excuses; one said he had to go to the gym to complete a new training plan, and the other said Marc's system needed an important iterative upgrade. The five boys, as if by prior arrangement, collectively "stood him up." After speaking, they all nervously looked at Jaden, afraid he would be displeased.
However, Jaden smiled, his smile relaxed and sincere, without any hint of displeasure. "It's fine," he waved his hand, his tone as casual as if he had expected it. "I originally called you primarily to save the day and avoid the atmosphere being too awkward. Now that the goal is achieved, you can, of course, go do more important things; there's no need to feel sorry."
"You... can you handle it alone?" Kim asked, still worried. "There's a whole group of girls there, and Chloé too."
Jaden raised an eyebrow and, half-jokingly yet matter-of-factly, retorted, "If I can't handle it, then who can?"
This sentence instantly dispelled the faint sense of guilt in the restroom, and all five boys laughed. "That's true!" "Then Jaden, we're counting on you this afternoon!" "Go for it! We're with you in spirit!" Jaden patted their shoulders in encouragement, and the tense "apology meeting" turned into a cheerful "farewell ceremony." The group then dispersed, chatting and laughing.
Adrien witnessed the entire scene from the stall, watching Jaden effortlessly resolve the problem, seeing the natural trust and camaraderie between them. A strong envy welled up in his heart—that was a real group of friends, who could have secret meetings, joke around, and help each other without hesitation when needed. And he, he could only hide behind the door like a peeping tom, too embarrassed to come out and unsure of what to say.
The girls were also busily preparing for the afternoon gathering. "Marinette, I'm telling you again!" Alya pressed Marinette's shoulders, giving her final "tactical instructions." "This afternoon at the shop, you're in charge of ordering and introducing! You absolutely must be proactive! Proactive! If I see you spacing out and staring at Jaden's back like yesterday again, I'll post all your design sketches on Jaden's blog!"
"Ah! Don't!" Marinette waved her hands frantically, terrified. "I know, I know! I'll definitely be proactive!"
On the other side, Alix and Rose were the most enthusiastic, discussing the afternoon's "special surprise." "I propose that besides snacks, we can also play Truth or Dare!" Alix excitedly pumped her fist. "It'll be a perfect opportunity to ask Jaden some... questions we all want to know!"
"Great idea!" Rose clasped her hands together, her eyes full of longing. "Then I'll prepare some small games too! So everyone can have fun!"
Mylène and Juleka listened quietly, with expectant smiles on their faces.
Chloé and Sabrina, meanwhile, were on their seats, scrolling through the comments section of that video on "Miraculous Blog." "Hmph, these ignorant fools, some people are actually saying the video was made with special effects, that it's fake!" Chloé pointed at a comment disdainfully. "How absurd! How dare they doubt the authenticity of what I, Miraculous Queen, say?"
"Exactly, exactly," Sabrina echoed, "They simply don't understand your greatness, Chloé!"
"If only Hawk Moth and his ugly Akumatized Butterflies would come out and stir up some trouble now!" Chloé said irritably. "It would be perfect to prove to the whole world that everything I experienced yesterday was real!"
As if in response to her wish, no sooner had she spoken than all the students' phones in the classroom simultaneously vibrated with an emergency news push. The teaching video on the projector screen was cut off, and a special news report was broadcast.
The news footage showed chaotic Parisian streets, with countless pigeons sweeping through the city like a gray tide, no longer symbols of peace but becoming highly aggressive weapons—sometimes dive-bombing passersby, other times forming giant fists to smash against building windows!
"...According to live reports, a mysterious man calling himself 'Mr. Pigeon' has claimed responsibility for this incident! His slogan is, 'Fighting for the dignity of all ruthlessly driven-away Parisian pigeons!'" The reporter's panicked voice came through the news. "Unlike the Stone Monster last time, this attack is collective! These pigeons seem to have some mysterious connection, able to combine into different forms and unleash different powers! Many citizens have already been injured as a result..."
Watching the absurd and chaotic scenes in the news, everyone in the classroom was stunned.
Only Jaden, upon seeing this, his lips curved into an uncontrollable, wry smile. He remembered this Mr. Pigeon.
A few tens of minutes earlier, Hawk Moth, in his lair, sensed a new surge of negative emotion, full of "loss" and "sadness." Though not strong, it was better than nothing for him, who was not picky. He decided that today's "lucky one" would be the owner of this emotion, and he dispatched an Akuma Butterfly.
The butterfly flew across half of Paris, arriving at a park, and found its target—a middle-aged man named Mr. Pigeon, dressed in gray-green clothes and wearing a bowler hat. He was sitting on a bench, sadly feeding breadcrumbs to his beloved pigeons. Just now, he had been rudely driven away by a tyrannical park ranger for feeding pigeons there, and his cherished pigeons were even scolded as "winged rats." His heart and dignity had been trampled upon.
The purplish-black butterfly silently landed on his pigeon whistle.
"Mr. Pigeon," Hawk Moth's seductive and somewhat practiced voice resonated in his mind, "I am Hawk Moth. They don't understand your love for these beautiful creatures; they see your friends as filthy pests. This city should be ruled by nobler, flying creatures..."