The morning sun, like diluted warm honey, lazily streamed through the large glass windows of Francois Dupont High School, spilling into the noisy classroom.
Last night's farcical drama, full of twists, surprises, and absurdity, had already spread and fermented among the students like ripples from a stone thrown into a lake.
Everyone was speculating and discussing the brief disturbance caused by the The Evillustrator in their own ways.
And at this moment, the 'protagonist' of the story—the black-haired youth who had caused all of this—was leaning lazily in his seat.
He didn't show any fear or anger about last night's experience, as everyone had expected.
He merely recounted Nathan and Max's self-directed and self-acted 'Akumatization drama' with its 'superb acting,' in a relaxed tone, as if telling an amusing joke completely unrelated to himself.
When the last absurd syllable fell from his lips, the entire classroom, which had been filled with whispers, instantly fell into an eerie, deathly silence.
Everyone's faces were frozen, a stunned expression mixed with extreme shock, disbelief, and a hint of genuine awe for those two 'geniuses'.
...'Amazing, brother!'
Kim was the first to break free from the petrified silence.
He suddenly sprang from his seat, turned around, and gave a thumbs-up full of admiration and reverence to the two 'culprits' who were now bowing their heads, wishing they could disappear into the floor.
'Using Hawk Moth as a tool after Akumatization?! I wouldn't even dare to imagine such a move!'
Nino also excitedly slapped the table, His usually cool expression now filled with uncontrollable excitement.
Max pushed up His black-rimmed glasses and summarized in a calm, 'technically analytical' tone: 'From a risk assessment perspective, this was a high-risk gamble with an extremely low success rate, but an extremely high return once successful.
You were very lucky.'
Adrien sat in his seat, a perfectly timed hint of 'surprise' appearing on his face. But deep down, He was filled with a complex mix of exasperation and relief.
So... that's what happened?
He glanced at Nathan beside him, who was looking a bit embarrassed by his friends' 'praise,' and the heavy gloom that had settled in his heart after seeing his own desperate 'future' on the canvas last night quietly dissipated a little.
But... well done, guys.
However, in this enthusiastic atmosphere of 'awe' and 'admiration,' one person was completely out of place—Chloé.
She sat quietly in her seat, her proud face, always adorned with exquisite makeup, was now so dark it looked like it could wring water!
Her slender fingers, painted with expensive nail polish, were already tightly clenched into fists beneath the desk, her knuckles slightly white from the excessive force.
Why?! Why?!
She, Chloé, the dignified daughter of the Mayor of Paris! She had worked so hard, so diligently these past few days, hurting people's feelings, poking at their sore spots, trampling on their dignity with the most vicious words, yet that damned blind Hawk Moth didn't even bother to look at her?
It was as if her proud, fragile heart, full of negative emotions, meant nothing to him!
And those two art students, who usually seemed meek and unremarkable, simply because they wanted to please His knight, Jaden, so easily obtained the 'honor' that should have belonged to her?!
This was unfair! This was the greatest insult to her, Chloé!
'Chloé, don't be angry...'
Sabrina, sensing the terrifying aura of the 'volcano' about to erupt beside her, quickly whispered a placating, almost pleading, comfort: 'That... that, the chemistry homework you asked me to write yesterday, I... I've already finished it for you...'
'And... and I think, Hawk Moth definitely didn't not see you!
He... He must have known that Chloé, you are too powerful, so He didn't dare to come after you!
Yes! That must be it!'
Meanwhile, on the other side of the classroom, the 'Park Four' were also deeply shocked by this bold plan, full of 'genius' creativity.
'Oh my God...' Marinette (referring to the character in the group, not the main character) patted her chest, a little scared. 'Although it sounds cool... but what if it failed...'
'Then it would probably really be over.' Alix also rarely put away her usual cool and confident smile, a look of lingering fear and solemnity on her face.
And Rose—the girl who always wore a sweet smile—did not show any fear like the others at this moment.
She just sat there quietly, Her blue eyes, which always sparkled with innocent light, now held a strange, thoughtful glow, full of 'wisdom'.
So... there's this kind of operation too?
A bold, crazy, and romantic 'plan' began to quietly take root in her heart.
Alya, somewhat distracted, glanced at the empty seat beside her.
Marinette... that idiot, is she late again?
She instinctively wanted to turn her head and ask the black-haired youth, who was surrounded by everyone like a hero, but the moment her gaze was about to meet His, she quickly pulled it back as if shocked!
No! No!
Now everyone in the class knew that Alya was Marinette's 'wingman,' if she showed excessive concern for Jaden at this moment, wouldn't that little secret she was still desperately suppressing deep in her heart be completely exposed?!
Amidst this noisy atmosphere filled with various complex thoughts, an old and authoritative voice rang out: 'Quiet!'
The chemistry teacher walked in, carrying a thick stack of handouts, and the classroom instantly returned to its proper quiet.
Meanwhile, in that cozy and creative attic room, Marinette slowly opened her sleepy blue eyes from a soft, sun-scented bed.
'Mmm...'
She stretched with a big yawn, a sweet and shy silly smile uncontrollably curving her lips.
Last night... she had a beautiful dream. In the dream, the whole world turned into a sweet and romantic place filled with pink bubbles.
And He—the black-haired youth who always wore a gentle smile—stood quietly among the slowly rising bubbles, extending His hand to her... If... if reality could be like the dream, that would be wonderful... She somewhat dejectedly pulled the covers over her head.
Then... wait!
A terrifying, ominous thought, like a cold lightning bolt, suddenly struck her fuzzy brain, still immersed in sweet fantasies!
What... time is it now?!
She suddenly sprang from the bed and grabbed her phone from the bedside table.
When she saw the bright red, glaring numbers on the screen, which were already past the normal school time—
'I—am—doomed—!!!'
A desperate and mournful shriek instantly echoed throughout the quiet little attic!
She scrambled out of bed, rushing to get ready at almost light speed.
Tikki! Why didn't that little one wake her up?!
She thought to herself with a hint of complaint as she pulled on her clothes.
However, the next second, a faint, hoarse, and powerless little voice softly came from beside the desk: '...Marinette...'
Marinette's movements suddenly froze.
She slowly turned her head, only to see her cute little kwami, Tikki, lying weakly on its small pink cotton bed, its big eyes, usually full of wisdom and vitality, now dull and lifeless, filled with a heartbreaking, sickly fatigue.
'Tikki?!'
Marinette's heart tightened. Forgetting about being late, she frantically rushed over and carefully cupped its small, hot body in her hands: 'What's wrong? How could you...'
'...I... I think... I'm sick...'
Tikki's voice was heartbreakingly weak.
'Sick?! Then let's go to the hospital quickly!'
'No!' Tikki shook its little head with all its might, 'We... we can't go to a regular hospital...'
Marinette instantly realized.
That's right! Tikki was a kwami, a unique and mysterious existence in this world. If she rashly took it to a regular hospital, not only would its illness not be cured, but it would also cause unimaginable chaos!
'Then... then what should we do?!' Marinette's tears were almost about to come out.
'...I... I know a place that can cure me...' Tikki gave her a weak but comforting smile, 'But... it's okay, Marinette... I can... I can still hold on...'
'You should go to school first... We... we'll go after school...'
Seeing Tikki, who was extremely weak but still comforting her in such an understanding way, Marinette's heart was almost broken.
She nodded gently, carefully placed Tikki into her pink shoulder bag, and then rushed downstairs.
Sure enough, there was a note on the dining table from her parents, saying they had to leave temporarily due to an emergency.
No wonder no one woke her up this morning... She didn't have time to think much, grabbed a piece of bread, and rushed out of the house like a pink whirlwind, running frantically towards the school.
Meanwhile, in the classroom filled with the pungent smell of chemicals, the old chemistry teacher's monotonous lecture, with its hypnotic power, cast the entire classroom into a drowsy atmosphere.
Jaden also idly propped His chin, gazing out at the clear blue sky.
Just then, the corner of His eye inadvertently caught a glimpse of two small figures huddled together, whispering in front—Juleka and Rose.
They seemed to be discussing a very important topic. Rose's face bore an excited expression of 'wisdom' and 'strategy' that completely contradicted her innocent appearance, while Juleka looked worried and hesitant.
What were they talking about?
Jaden couldn't hear. But if He could, He would probably be so shocked by their bold plan, full of 'genius' creativity, that He would jump out of His seat on the spot!
'...Juleka,' Rose whispered excitedly into Juleka's ear, in a voice only the two of them could hear, 'I think... Nathan and their method, we can try it too!'
'Eh?!'
Juleka's pale little face, always hidden by her long bangs, instantly filled with terror and disbelief: 'Lu... Rose! Are... are you crazy?! That... that's too dangerous!'
'But...' Rose's eyes sparkled with a foxy cunning and romantic fantasy, 'Don't you think... it's very romantic?
To fall into 'darkness' recklessly for the person you like, and then be 'saved' by His own hands...'
'...' Juleka was stunned into silence by her bold declaration, full of girlish fantasy.
'And... and think about it,' Rose continued to coax, 'how can we be 'appropriately' Akumatization without arousing the suspicion of Alya and Chloé?
The most crucial thing is, how can we get Jaden to also Akumatization with us?'
This question instantly stumped the hesitant goth girl.
Yes... how could they stage a perfect 'Akumatization drama' that belonged only to them and Him, right under everyone's noses?
Just as Juleka's small face, always shrouded in shadows, was filled with hesitation and unease about the crazy plan, and she was about to discuss the "risks" and "benefits" in more detail with her friend—
"Ugh..."
A very faint, suppressed groan of pain escaped from Rose's mouth, which always carried a sweet smile.
All of Juleka's "plans," "Akumatizations," "romance"... were instantly shattered!
His deep eyes, always hidden beneath his long bangs, were instantly filled with extreme panic and almost desperate worry!
He saw that Rose, who had been enthusiastically planning her "love adventure" blueprint just a second ago, now had a delicate little face, like a pink rose, that had instantly turned into a withered white rose struck by severe frost—pale, transparent, and bloodless!
Fine beads of cold sweat slowly seeped from his smooth forehead. He subconsciously reached out and tightly clutched his chest, as if an invisible, icy giant hand was gripping his heart, making even breathing incredibly difficult!
"Rose?!" Juleka's voice, with an uncontrollable trembling sob, instinctively reached out to support her tottering, petite body.
"...I...I'm fine, Juleka..." Rose used all his strength to force out a comforting smile that was uglier than crying—it was the same look he always had every time he had an episode.
He was always like this, bearing all the pain on his small, fragile shoulders, and telling everyone, "I'm fine, don't worry about me" with a sweet, innocent smile!
He also comforted his timid friend, who was more nervous than himself, with a calm, understated tone, as if he only had a slight cold.
Then he raised his hand: "Teacher, I...I don't feel well...Can I go to the infirmary?"
The gray-haired old chemistry teacher, who was spitting as he lectured from the podium, stopped his endless "hypnotic spell" at the sound.
He pushed up his reading glasses on his nose and looked at Rose's pale little face, which, though adorned with a sweet smile, was flushed with a sickly redness: "Oh? Not feeling well? That's not a small matter. How about this, let Jaden accompany you."
"Huh?!"
Rose and Juleka were stunned simultaneously, and Jaden, sitting in the back row, was also momentarily stunned.
"No...no need, Teacher!" Rose almost instinctively waved his hand quickly, rejecting this tempting offer for him. "It's...it's just a small matter! I...I can go by myself!"
After speaking, he didn't even wait for the teacher to say anything more. He quickly stood up from his seat, bowed to the podium, and turned to walk quickly towards the back door of the classroom.
That energetic, even "fleeing in panic" demeanor didn't elicit much reaction from the other students in the classroom—just not feeling well, probably those few days every month for girls.
However, only Jaden.
He sat quietly in his seat, gazing at the slender but stubbornly heartbreaking figure disappearing at the doorway. In the depths of his black eyes, which always carried a gentle smile, a silent undercurrent of worry and pity quietly surged.
Leukemia... This terrifying demon, which in the highly developed modern society of his previous life was still enough to destroy countless families.
In this peaceful world, seemingly no different from his previous life, what kind of despair would it bring to this foolish girl who always pretended to be strong, selflessly dedicated her bright warmth to others, but endured cold pain alone?
Is there any way to cure it?
Jaden's mind raced!
Hawk Moth's power? Perhaps the reality-bending superpower granted by that black butterfly could conceptually "erase" the lesion.
But once purified by Ladybug's "Miraculous Restoration," would that "healing" also be "restored"?
This was an extremely high-risk gamble, not to mention he couldn't deliberately provoke Rose to generate negative emotions for the sake of treatment—this would go against his original intention of protecting her.
miraculous' power? Using the power that protects the world to satisfy personal desires, not to mention whether the mysterious Master Fu would agree, just getting miraculous under his nose would be an almost impossible task.
Wait... Cat Noir's power of "destruction"!
A glint of light suddenly flashed in Jaden's eyes!
That's right! Cat Noir's "Cataclysm" is essentially pure "conceptual" destruction. Theoretically, as long as the user has enough imagination and creativity, he could even directly "destroy" the "cause" of leukemia itself!
This thought, like a lightning bolt piercing the darkness, instantly illuminated his despairing heart!
But the key was, how could he get that Cat Noir ring?
"Borrow" it from Adrien—who is Cat Noir?
Don't kid around, for some reason that guy now values the ring more than his life!
And even if he miraculously got it, how would he use the power without being discovered?
Furthermore, he couldn't guarantee that the "healing" brought by this "destruction" wouldn't be eliminated by Ladybug's "Miraculous Restoration" as an "abnormal fluctuation"!
And would that "Miraculous Restoration," like a "world rule," "restore" the "cause" that was "destroyed"?
...The piercing bell for the end of class finally rang. As soon as the chemistry teacher walked out of the classroom, Teacher Caline's "kind" but unchallengeable voice came from the doorway: "Jaden! Nathan! Max! You three, come with me to the office!"
Nathan and Max's faces, which were already discussing where to go, instantly turned pale when they heard this! Jaden, however, remained calm and collected.
In the office, Teacher Caline indeed gave the three of them a stern "education"—she didn't know the "truth," but had just heard about their "eventful" experience last night from a "gossipy" classmate.
She first severely criticized Nathan and Max, the "culprits" of the Akumatization, and let them leave. Finally, only she and Jaden remained in the large office.
Only she and Jaden remained in the office.
"...Jaden," Teacher Caline's voice became increasingly gentle, and her beautiful eyes, always carrying a slight smile, were filled with the concern and helplessness of an older sister looking at a troublesome younger brother. "If...if you have any worries...you can always come and tell me.
Perhaps I can't solve all your problems, but...at least I can be a quiet listener."
Jaden listened quietly, then gave her a sincere, gentle smile: "...Thank you, Teacher."
He turned to leave, and just as he was about to step out of the office door, he keenly noticed Teacher Caline behind him instinctively raising her slender, fair index finger again—that little silencing ritual, almost a tacit understanding between them, carrying a hint of "revenge."
However, this time, Jaden preempted her. He slowly turned halfway, gently placing his long, well-defined index finger on his thinly smiling lips: "Shhh—"
A soft syllable, yet enough to make the world stand still, was uttered.
At that moment, Teacher Caline was struck as if by a gentle lightning bolt, completely frozen in place!
Her mind uncontrollably flashed back to that day—the powerful, cold "Mr. Information," enveloped in a storm of black numbers, who, before disappearing, said to her that mature and reassuring gentle remark: "...Teacher, you've done enough...The rest, you can leave to us..."
Two completely different figures slowly overlapped in her eyes, and a soft corner deep in her heart that she had never even touched before was gently stirred... Jaden walked down the quiet, empty corridor.
Just then, the infirmary door suddenly burst open with a "bang"!
The female school doctor, who always had a lazy expression, saw him and her eyes instantly erupted with a brilliant light, as if she had seen a savior: "Jaden! This is great! Quick! Come help!"
"...What's wrong?"
"Rose! His illness...has relapsed again! I've already called an ambulance! But...I can't manage alone!"
Jaden's heart sank! He didn't hesitate at all and immediately rushed in!
In the infirmary, the girl who was like a small sun, always with a sweet smile, was painfully curled up on the white hospital bed, her face bloodless, and his blue eyes, which always sparkled with innocent light, were completely drowned in thick, painful tears.
But when he saw the familiar figure rushing in through his blurry tears, he actually forced out a smile, uglier than crying, from his pale face, distorted by extreme pain—he didn't want him to see his current disheveled and vulnerable state!
At that moment, Jaden felt as if his heart was gripped by an invisible, icy hand!
He walked over quickly, without saying any superfluous, pale words of comfort, but simply gazed at her with gentle eyes full of sincerity and reassurance, then slowly knelt down: "I'll do it."
His voice was very light and soft, yet it carried an unchallengeable, firm strength.
Without any unnecessary words, he, with an unchallengeable yet gentle and assertive posture, carried his petite, trembling body from the hospital bed onto his back!
"Huh?!" Rose let out a startled and shy gasp, instinctively trying to struggle.
But when his cheek pressed against that broad, warm, and reassuringly sunny solid back, all struggle instantly ceased. A never-before-felt immense warmth and sense of security instantly enveloped his heart, which had become fragile and cold from prolonged illness.
Midway, they took an ambulance to the hospital. Rose quietly lay on his back, even feeling that the intense pain that had tormented him for countless days and nights had quietly lessened a bit.
Upon arriving at the hospital, Jaden first settled him in the ward, then went alone to handle the complicated payment procedures, quietly staying by his side... Meanwhile, Marinette finally, panting, rushed into the familiar classroom just before the second class was about to begin! But when he subconsciously looked towards the familiar seat he had been thinking about, it was empty—what greeted him was only his best friend Alya's gaze, filled with complex resentment.
This idiot! Alya looked at his bewildered and innocent expression, wishing she could rush over and shake his shoulders, demanding: Because you overslept, what did I miss?!
"I...I overslept..." Marinette explained in a low voice, guiltily lowering his head.
Alya snorted inwardly—overslept? It was clearly an over-extended date with his "dream lover"!
During class, Marinette couldn't help but gently nudge Alya, who was still sulking, with his elbow, and asked in a low voice: "...Alya...Jaden...where did he go? And...Rose? Why isn't he here either?"
"Rose isn't feeling well, he went to the infirmary." Alya replied coldly without lifting his head, then paused and added with a hint of sourness and schadenfreude that he didn't even notice himself, "As for your 'he,' he was just called to the office by Teacher Caline for 'ideological education,' he's probably still being lectured right now."
"But it's strange..." He then muttered to himself doubtfully, "Max and Nathan came back a long time ago...Why hasn't he come back yet?
"He, of course, didn't know that the young man he thought was being 'lectured' was actually in another hospital at that moment, quietly guarding another golden-haired girl who also needed him.