The midday sun had shed the morning's gentleness, becoming fervent and dazzling.
The cafeteria of Francois Dupont High School was filled with the lively chatter of energetic teenagers, the aroma of food mingling with the scent of youth, creating a vivid symphony unique to this age.
However, in this ocean of laughter and joy, one corner remained exceptionally quiet.
Juleka sat there silently.
Her tray held the school cafeteria's most popular golden french fries and a cheeseburger, but she hadn't touched a single bite.
Her pale little face, usually hidden beneath her long purple bangs, was now filled with an unconcealed, absent-minded worry.
Her gaze was fixed blankly on the cold phone screen she had quietly placed on the table.
She was waiting.
Waiting for a message that might never come.
Just then!
"Buzz—!"
That cold, silent screen suddenly vibrated, then lit up!
Juleka's deep eyes, hidden beneath her purple hair, instantly burst forth with a brilliant light full of surprise and anticipation!
She almost impatiently snatched up her phone!
On the screen was a new message from her best and only friend, Rose.
The message contained no text, only a photograph.
A photograph that was enough to make her worried heart, which had been suspended in mid-air, instantly settle back into place.
The background of the photo was a pure white hospital room, smelling of disinfectant. And the protagonists of the photo were two young figures sitting side by side.
One was her friend, Rose, whom she knew all too well, the foolish friend who always silently endured all her pain alone.
At this moment, although Rose's face was still a little pale, a bright smile, full of relief and sweetness, bloomed on her face from the bottom of her heart, like a sunflower!
She was also making a cute, energetic "V" sign with her hand!
The other was the black-haired young man, Jaden, who always wore a gentle smile and had rescued her from that dark corner of inferiority and loneliness.
At this moment, Jaden was not looking at the camera; he was simply tilting his head, quietly gazing at the girl next to him, who was grinning foolishly at the camera, with an ineffably sincere and comforting gentle look in his eyes.
A faint smile, full of helplessness and doting affection, also hung on his lips.
The scene was as harmonious as a perfect work of art, meticulously painted by the most skilled oil painting master with the warmest, softest brushstrokes.
Juleka looked at the photo, and a layer of glistening, warm mist slowly welled up in her deep eyes, which always held a hint of shyness and introversion.
Her lips also uncontrollably curved into a faint smile from the bottom of her heart, full of blessing and relief.
"...How wonderful..."
Two soft, small syllables, full of contentment, quietly slipped from her lips.
She was about to turn from her seat to go to the cafeteria window to reheat her already cold lunch. However, the next second—when she turned around, her whole body completely froze.
Behind her, a petite figure had silently appeared at some point!
And the owner of that figure was staring intently at the brightly lit phone screen in her hand, with an expression of extreme disbelief, as if witnessing an epic catastrophe like a world-destroying meteor hitting Earth!
It was Marinette!
"Ma...Marinette?!" Juleka was startled by her exaggerated expression, as if she had seen a ghost. "When...when did you stand behind me?!"
Marinette didn't answer her. Her gaze remained fixed, as if glued by the strongest superglue, unable to move even an inch from that "shocking" photograph!
Her mind was now a blank, filled with countless huge, blood-red question marks!
How could Rose be in the hospital?!
And Jaden?! How could Jaden be with her?!
And...and the way he looked at her...why was it so...gentle?!
"Um...Marinette?" Juleka looked at her dazed appearance, clearly suffering from a huge mental shock and completely frozen. She awkwardly reached out a hand and waved it in front of Marinette's empty, unfocused eyes.
Then, as if she suddenly remembered something, she quickly invited, "Do...do you want to sit down?"
Marinette nodded blankly, like a puppet whose strings had been cut, then sat down blankly opposite her!
"Um..." Juleka looked at her distraught and pitiful appearance, and a hint of compassion rose in her heart.
She hesitated, then decided to use a small, kind lie to soothe Marinette's clearly fragile young heart. "Rose...she wasn't feeling well this morning...and then...then Jaden saw her, so he...he took her to the hospital..." She didn't utter that heavy and desperate word.
"...Oh..."
Marinette responded blankly.
After hearing Juleka's "reasonable" explanation, her chaotic brain, which was almost about to explode from overloaded jealousy and suspicion, finally showed a sign of calming down.
Yes...yes! It must be like this! Jaden only extended a helping hand when he saw a classmate wasn't feeling well because of his damned, misplaced gentleness!
That's right! Absolutely! I'm definitely overthinking it!
She frantically comforted herself in her heart. However, even so, the small, ineffable flame of "jealousy", full of sourness, still stubbornly burned within her...Meanwhile, at the Agreste mansion.
Nathalie quietly walked into the office, which was filled with a sense of oppressive, cold design, carrying a freshly brewed cup of coffee.
She looked at the tall, lonely figure sitting behind the huge black desk, propping his chin with one hand, gazing out at the gray, lifeless courtyard, lost in endless thought. A complex emotion, full of worry, quietly flitted across her eyes, which always held a sharp, cold glint.
"...Sir," she gently placed the coffee beside his hand, and asked softly in her usual calm and respectful tone, "...Are you alright?"
Gabriel slowly turned his head. His handsome face, always meticulous and perfect like a classical sculpture, was now covered with an unconcealed gloom, full of fatigue and unwillingness.
"...I'm fine, Nathalie." His voice sounded a little hoarse. "It's just...a little unwilling, that's all."
"Sir," Nathalie stood quietly beside him, saying in a calming tone, "Failure is common.
Moreover...this time another miraculous owner we knew nothing about suddenly appeared, so it's normal to fail."
"But...it was just that close..." Gabriel painfully rubbed his temples with his hand.
Failure? Heh heh...he was already used to it. Being played? It was nothing.
After a whole night of humiliating self-reflection, he could even accept the "humiliating" fact that he had been played for a fool by two snot-nosed brats without batting an eye.
But! But! He was just that close! Just one insignificant step away!
He would have been able to completely expose the true identities of those two damned little bugs who always ruined his plans!
At that time, even if he failed, he would have been content!
But! What was the result?! The interference of that damned green "turtle" that suddenly popped out of nowhere caused his absolute victory, which was almost within his grasp, to fall through!
He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the surging undercurrent of unwillingness and anger in his heart. He didn't want to think about it anymore.
"...Adrien," he changed the subject, "How is he doing at school?"
"Adrien is doing well at school, sir," Nathalie replied respectfully. "His daily classes and after-school tutoring haven't been neglected."
"...That's good."
He didn't know why, but ever since last night, his heart would always uncontrollably conjure up the young, handsome face of his only son, who always wore a sunny smile.
He suddenly cared about him.
"Nooroo."
The small purple butterfly kwami tremblingly flew out of the brooch.
"Ma...Master..."
"Tell me," Gabriel's cold, oppressive gaze was fixed on its small, trembling body, "Who else...is hidden in Paris?"
"I...I don't know, Master!" Nooroo was almost in tears, it frantically shook its small head, "I...I was lost a very, very long time ago!
So...so I don't know what the situation is now!"
"Then..." A cold, dangerous glint flashed in Gabriel's eyes, "Is it possible that your... 'Guardian'...is also here?"
Nooroo subconsciously wanted to fob him off with some vague, ambiguous words! However—
"I command you," Gabriel's voice was like a demonic whisper from the depths of hell, filled with absolute, unquestionable authority, "...you must tell me!"
Nooroo's small purple body suddenly froze!
It understood that it had no room for resistance.
Since the Ladybug and Black Cat had already appeared in Paris, that also meant that the last Guardian, Master Fu, was also in Paris.
It could only slowly reply in a trembling voice full of despair, "...Yes..."
Just as Gabriel was about to ask something else—his brows suddenly furrowed tightly! His deep ice-blue eyes instantly became incredibly sharp!
He felt an extreme, pure, and even terrifying negative emotion!
The emotion was so strong, so turbulent, as if the cold, desperate waters of the entire Atlantic Ocean had completely boiled over in an instant, then transformed into a destructive tsunami capable of engulfing the entire world!
And this terrifying negative emotion...he had only sensed it in one person!
That mysterious young man who, even after his Akumatization, was still so powerful that even he couldn't fully control him!
"...Nathalie!"
Gabriel suddenly stood up from his seat!
"...Nooroo! Akumatization!"
Akuma light, full of ominous aura, instantly enveloped his body!
Nathalie quietly watched the dark emperor, Hawk Moth, who had completed his transformation in an instant, full of evil majesty, with no expression on her face.
Hawk Moth slowly raised the deep indigo-blue ornate staff in his hand.
He opened the silver cap at the top of the staff, and a pure white, beautiful butterfly slowly flew out of the staff, landing in his palm.
An unprecedentedly scorching flame burned in his eyes, full of greed and anticipation!
He unreservedly injected that terrifying negative emotion, capable of shaking all of Paris, into the body of the pure white, innocent butterfly!
The butterfly was instantly dyed the purest, deepest black, full of an ominous aura! Then, he released it.
That black butterfly, carrying all his hopes and ambitions, pierced through the huge, eye-like circular window and flew towards the gray, oppressive Parisian sky!
And its target... there was only one!
That black-haired youth, who was currently using his extremely pure kindness to generate an equally pure despair, praying for an impossible 'miracle'!
The black Akuma Butterfly, carrying all the hopes and ambitions of a dark emperor, was like a stealth reconnaissance plane with a top-tier autonomous navigation system.
It silently weaved through the bustling, traffic-filled streets of Paris, precisely avoiding all human gazes that might expose its whereabouts.
Finally, it arrived at the pure white, cold building filled with the pungent smell of disinfectant—the hospital.
It did not rush to find its target, but quietly attached itself to a window, like the most patient and skilled hunter.
It was waiting, listening... Meanwhile, in the office, Hawk Moth stood silently before his giant, eye-like circular window.
His eyes burned with a cold, rational, and calculating light.
"Nathalie," his voice was devoid of any emotion, "Investigate."
"Find a girl named 'Rose' in that hospital."
"Yes, sir."
Nathalie said nothing more, simply bowed respectfully, then turned and walked out briskly, like the most precise and efficient artificial intelligence.
In less than five minutes, she quietly returned to the cold office, holding a thin medical record file that was enough to decide a person's life or death.
It contained all the personal information of an ordinary Parisian high school girl named "Rose," as ordinary as could be.
And a medical record filled with various complex and daunting professional medical terms... Leukemia.
Gabriel looked at the medical record, which was enough to condemn a young girl in the prime of her life, and the cold smile on his face grew even more pronounced.
"Heh heh... heh heh heh..."
He laughed, a genuine, joyful laugh filled with the pleasure of controlling everything.
This time... he had finally found it. He had found the only 'key' that could completely unlock the indestructible, mysterious 'lock' named 'Jaden'!
And in the pure white hospital room, filled with the scent of sunshine, the quiet companionship, full of tenderness and protection, continued.
"...I'm fine, Jaden," Rose gave him a somewhat pale but still vibrant sweet smile, "Let's go back to school..."
"The money has already been paid," Jaden said softly, in an irrefutable yet ineffably gentle tone, carefully peeling a bright red, lovely apple for her, "It wasn't much anyway. Just rest well here for now."
"...You know everything, don't you?" Rose's voice suddenly became a little faint, a little uncertain.
Jaden's apple-peeling paused. He looked up, his black eyes, always carrying a gentle smile, gazed at her silently.
His gaze was so sincere, so clear, as if it could see directly through her fragile heart, wrapped in a thick shell of strength.
"...Yes," he nodded gently, "I know everything."
"Always leaving the brightest, warmest smiles for others..."
"But silently keeping all the coldest, most painful hurts to yourself..."
"...That's not good."
In that instant, Rose's small face, which had always been as bright and radiant as a sunflower, and the mask of strength, optimism, and vitality she had maintained for so long, finally could no longer be sustained.
A layer of glistening, hot mist, full of grievances and helplessness, uncontrollably welled up in her beautiful blue eyes.
She could only lower her head in embarrassment, softly saying "Mm" in a voice full of a thick, hoarse nasal tone, as faint as a mosquito's buzz.
Watching her finally shed all her defenses and reveal her fragile appearance in front of him, Jaden felt as if his heart was fiercely gripped by an invisible, cold hand!
An unprecedented, intense 'desire,' almost consuming his reason, raged wildly in his heart like a destructive flood breaking its banks—he craved power!
He craved to possess absolute power sufficient to change all of this! At this moment, he even desperately longed for that black Akuma Butterfly that represented 'destruction' and 'miracles'!
"...I feel it again..."
Hawk Moth closed his ice-blue eyes. He felt it again, that emotion emanating from the direction of the hospital.
"...The desire to protect her..." he murmured in a tone full of intoxication, like savoring the finest wine in the world.
It's... too perfect! It's simply a godsend!
"...Sir," Nathalie looked at his confident, assured expression, and a complex emotion, which even she hadn't noticed, quietly flickered in her always sharp, ice-cold eyes.
She found... she found that her always absolutely rational, control-obsessed sir seemed to have changed a little after encountering that mysterious youth named 'Jaden'.
He had started to become a little impatient. A little unscrupulous. Even... a little crazy.
Hawk Moth did not notice the fleeting, unusual look in his most capable assistant's eyes.
He was still immersed in his perfect, soon-to-be-victorious, meticulous plan!
Hawk Moth, of course, knew that directly transforming him was impossible; he remained uncontrollable.
But... it didn't matter. He had found another even more perfect indirect 'medium'—he could first transform the fragile, seriously ill girl, and then use her to infect the youth!
And in his hand, he held an absolute trump card that could make that girl willingly accept this gift from the 'devil'!
As long as he could do this! Not only could he easily obtain the youth's powerful, all-crushing strength!
He could even make him willingly serve him! Make him the sharpest, most obedient... blade in his hand!
"...Go," Hawk Moth gave the final command to the black Akuma Butterfly far away in the hospital, "Go and make that poor girl an offer she cannot refuse..."
The black, ominous-looking Akuma Butterfly quietly poked half of its small head out from the corridor window.
Meanwhile, in the hospital room, under Jaden's tender and sympathetic gaze, Rose's long, downcast eyelashes trembled slightly.
The corner of her eye happened to catch a glimpse of a familiar Akuma figure flashing past the door window!
An Akuma Butterfly?!
Her heart suddenly skipped a beat!
The bold plan, full of romantic fantasy, that she and Juleka had just been secretly discussing in the classroom, had actually presented itself without any warning?!
What should she do? Should she accept it?
Her expression instantly became a little off!
"...What's wrong?" Jaden keenly noticed her fleeting struggle and hesitation, "Is... is it a relapse again?"
"Mm... Mm..." Rose subconsciously nodded, then quickly shook her head, "I... I'm a little uncomfortable... But... no need!
I... I want to rest..."
"...Okay."
Jaden looked at her flustered appearance, clearly hiding something. Although his heart was full of questions, he ultimately chose to respect her wishes.
"...Then you rest well first," he stood up, carefully pulling the corner of the blanket over her, "If anything happens, call or text me anytime."
"I... I'll be outside. Nathan and Marc are practically blowing up my phone."
With that, he turned and quietly exited the pure white hospital room, filled with an uneasy and restless atmosphere.
And in the noisy, vibrant cafeteria of Francois Dupont High School...
...Marinette, after Juleka's 'well-intentioned' but full of holes 'explanation,' still felt an uncomfortable sensation in her heart, like being blocked by a small, sour lemon, but she tried hard to convince herself that it was just an illusion.
"...Oh, by the way, Juleka," she asked, as if suddenly remembering something, and a little confused, "Rose... what kind of illness did she go to the hospital for, exactly?"
Juleka's movement of taking small sips of juice suddenly froze!
Of course, she couldn't easily tell others her best friend's heaviest, most painful secret.
"I... I don't know either..." She lowered her head a little guiltily, stammering in a tiny voice, as faint as a mosquito's buzz, "She... she just said she was a little uncomfortable..."
"...Oh... Well... okay then..."
Marinette looked at her evasive manner, clearly hiding something, and the little bit of suspicion that she had barely managed to suppress uncontrollably resurfaced. She quickly found her best friend, who was sitting alone in a corner, turning her indignation into appetite!
"Alya!"
Alya looked up, seeing the figure rushing towards her in a hurry, and thought she had finally found the 'target' that had been missing all morning!
"What's wrong?!" she asked, taking a fierce bite of the chicken leg in her hand, her words slurred, "Did you find your 'him'?!
Why the rush? Not having lunch with your Jaden?"
"No!" Marinette grabbed her shoulder and recounted everything she had seen and heard from Juleka to Alya!
After listening, Alya's light brown eyes, which always sparkled with shrewdness, were also filled with confusion.
Why would Jaden be in the hospital? And with Rose?
Suddenly, a possibility occurred to her!
"Is there a possibility..." she lowered her voice, leaning close to Marinette's ear, and said in a cold tone full of 'conspiracy theories,' "...that innocent-looking pink bunny... might be faking illness?!"
"I... I don't know..." Marinette said softly, a little lacking in confidence.
"Hmph..." Alya snorted inwardly.
The 'fair competition' alliance they had made in the park yesterday was still fresh in her mind!
And today, someone was already using such 'scheming,' underhanded tactics?!
Simply unforgivable!
"...Let's go!" She suddenly stood up from her seat, pulling the still bewildered Marinette beside her, and walked towards the other side of the cafeteria!
"Uh... Marc! Nathan!"
The two youths, who were enthusiastically discussing how to proceed with the next stage of their 'artistic' painting and writing creations in the afternoon and after school, turned their heads, somewhat confused, after hearing that 'murderous' shout.
Then, they saw two faces filled with an ineffable complexity.