The next day, Jaden slowly opened his eyes, his consciousness surfacing from a dreamless, deep sleep.
He stretched his body; the weakness that had settled deep in his bones had largely receded, but a post-exertion soreness still lingered in his limbs.
"Jaden, you're awake?"
Duusu's voice sounded by his pillow, as she rubbed her sleepy eyes, but His tone carried an undeniable seriousness:
"Although you look much better, I still have to remind you, absolutely, absolutely do not use the power of the peacock miraculous again recently! You must rest well!"
She flew around his head like a worried little parent, checking his complexion.
"Alright, alright, I promise."
Jaden smiled helplessly.
He got up, washed, and changed into his clean school uniform. Walking into the kitchen, he skillfully prepared fruit and honey for Duusu as breakfast and lunch.
"I'm leaving. You stay home and don't run around." He placed the food in a safe spot and gently instructed.
"Got it!" Duusu responded, diving headfirst into the pile of fruit.
Stepping out of the apartment, the street air was fresh and cool. However, unlike its usual tranquility, today's Parisian streets held a stir of excitement and mystery.
Whether at the bus stop or in roadside cafes, people were discussing the same topic in hushed tones.
"Did you see it? The video from yesterday! That new villain is absolutely stunning!"
"Right? It's a shame we don't know his alias… but his clothes are so extravagant!"
"Not just stunning, did you see the long-shot video that captured it really clearly?
Those monsters… they were created directly from thin air! Not like Hawk Moth's possession method, it's terrifying!"
The discussions spread like invisible ripples to every corner of the city.
Jaden listened to it all, his face devoid of expression. He merely pulled up the straps of his backpack, quickened his pace, and left the clamor behind… In the classroom, the atmosphere was equally lively.
When Jaden walked into the classroom, almost all the students were gathered in twos and threes, sharing yesterday's video clips on their phones.
He walked to the last row of the classroom, his, Nathan's, and Max's usual spot.
As soon as he sat down, Nathan eagerly leaned over, his artist's eyes sparkling with excitement, and whispered:
"Jaden, did you see it? That new villain from yesterday! Oh my god, his aesthetic is simply top-tier!"
"What thoughts could I have?"
Jaden took out his textbook from his backpack, His tone gentle and calm, as if discussing an unrelated piece of art,
"Indeed… very extravagant."
"More than extravagant!" Nathan excitedly pushed his sketchbook in front of Jaden.
On a fresh page, the giant python's ferocious crown and coiled body, and the black panther's sleek musculature and murderous gaze, were already vividly rendered, lifelike.
"Creation from thin air! This power, this aesthetic! It's an explosion of inspiration!"
Max, who was nearby, also leaned over, speaking in an almost academic analytical tone:
"I appreciate his demeanor more… that arrogant and indifferent control over everything, it's so captivating.
It's just a pity that no one in the video knows his name."
"Yeah, even though he's a villain, and… he seems to have killed people…" Nathan's excitement cooled slightly as he mumbled.
"How about… just call him 'Peacock'."
Jaden said casually, opening his textbook, his gaze falling on the text, as if the name was just a word he had blurted out.
"Peacock?" Nathan and Max exchanged glances, savoring the name.
"Peacock…" Max's eyes lit up,
"Arrogant, extravagant, with a fatal danger… Hmm, this name is indeed very fitting!"
Just as the three of them were deep in discussion, a clear voice came from nearby.
"Peacock? That name does sound nice."
Alix had approached their table at some point, followed by Marinette, whose face showed a hint of hesitation and nervousness.
"Marinette, what do you think?" Alix gently nudged her best friend with her elbow, signaling her to speak.
Seeing this, Nathan and Max immediately showed an "we understand" expression, and very tactfully stood up, winking at Jaden:
"Uh… Jaden, Max and I are going to the front to discuss games with Kim, you guys chat."
With that, the two quickly slipped away, perfectly yielding the two seats next to Jaden to the two ladies.
Alix unceremoniously pulled Marinette down to sit.
The moment Marinette sat down, her body was still a little stiff. Her beautiful big blue eyes immediately fell on Jaden's face, carefully scrutinizing him up and down.
Her gaze swept over his forehead, eyes, and cheeks, trying to find even the slightest trace of paleness or fatigue.
However, Jaden's complexion was as usual, his skin glowing with health, his eyes clear, and a faint smile on his lips.
"What's wrong, Marinette? Is there something on my face?" Jaden asked gently.
"N-no!"
Marinette quickly waved her hands. Seeing him safe and sound, the heart that had been suspended since last night finally "thumped" back into place.
She let out a long sigh of relief.
Within that sigh lay an unknown night filled with entanglement and fear.
Last night · Marinette's attic room
After a day of thrilling adventures, Marinette lay tired on her bed.
But in her mind, everything that happened in the Louvre square replayed over and over again, especially the familiar yet unfamiliar figure of Peacock.
"Tikki,"
She turned over and asked the little sprite, who was floating in mid-air, happily munching on a cookie, "You said… is there a possibility…"
"What possibility?" Tikki replied indistinctly.
"Is it possible… that Peacock is Jaden?"
"Pfft——"
Tikki was so startled by this guess that he spat out the cookie crumbs in his mouth.
"Marinette! What are you talking about! How is that possible!"
"But… but don't you think so?"
Marinette sat up, hugging her knees, her face full of confusion, "That feeling… although very vague, I always feel like…"
"Absolutely impossible!"
Tikki interrupted her decisively,
"Marinette, have you forgotten the most important point? The peacock miraculous is damaged! Using it will cause great harm to the body!
Look at Jaden in the park, does he look like a sick person anywhere? He's very healthy!"
"But…"
"No buts!"
Tikki flew in front of her, her expression more serious than ever,
"Listen, Marinette, I admit, the appearance time of the new villain coincides too perfectly with the time Jaden was teleported by Timetagger.
However, what you saw with your own eyes that night, what Hawk Moth snatched from Jaden, was the real peacock miraculous!
Therefore, logically, Jaden cannot possibly be Peacock!"
However, a hint of hesitation, which even Tikki Herself had not noticed, flashed in his eyes.
Logic said so, but that ominous premonition coiled around Her heart like a vine.
She signed, His tone softening:
"If you are still worried, then there is only one way.
The side effects of a damaged miraculous cannot be concealed. If he really is the holder, then after such a huge consumption, his body will definitely have problems.
Tomorrow, you go to school and carefully observe his health status.
If he is as energetic as usual, then it proves that our guess… is wrong."
This is why Marinette felt so relieved when she saw Jaden's healthy, normal face.
Alix looked at her best friend's foolish, relieved expression, feeling both exasperated and amused.
She shot her a look of disappointment, then forcibly pulled her up from her seat.
"Alright, stop being so infatuated here, let's go back to our own seats."
She practically dragged Marinette back to their seats.
As soon as she sat down Alix couldn't help but start "interrogating" her best friend: "I say, Marinette! What's wrong with you?
Yesterday at noon, you and Jaden, plus Alix, the atmosphere was so good!
You were talking and laughing, I thought you had finally come to your senses! But today, why are you back to this nervous state?"
"I… I didn't… I just…" Marinette's face turned red as she stammered, trying to explain.
"You're just worried about him, right?"
Alix saw through her, she sighed, holding her forehead,
"Oh, I really wish you had half the courage when facing him as you do when worrying about him.
In that situation yesterday, you clearly had a chance!"
In Alix's worldview, everything yesterday was clear: Mr. Pigeon was Akumatization, Jaden was "kidnapped." Marinette used the excuse of going to the infirmary, but in reality, she must have gone to find Jaden.
Then, after the hero resolved the incident, Marinette "happened" to appear with Jaden and Alix, which was clearly proof of a big step forward in their relationship!
But today… everything was back to square one.
She looked at her disappointing best friend, truly not knowing what to say.
And behind them Alix was propping her chin with one hand, gazing out the window in a daze. Her mind was also filled with chaotic thoughts.
That gentle smile, and those icy eyes.
The Jaden who would talk to her in the park, and the Peacock King who indifferently ordered killings.
These two images, like light and shadow, constantly overlapped and tore at each other in her mind.
She still couldn't connect them.
What troubled her even more was her future self—Bunnyx.
That future hero, covered in tattoos, with several earrings in her ears, and a boisterous way of speaking… Was that really her? Would she become like that in the future?
Mylène, who was next to her, noticed her distraction and gently nudged her with her elbow: "Alix, what's wrong? You've been distracted since this morning."
"Ah… nothing, Mylène."
Alix came back to her senses and shook her head. She didn't voice her worries.
After returning home yesterday, her father showed an unusual calmness about her losing the heirloom, not even asking an extra question, as if he had known everything all along.
At that moment Alix understood that her father was also an "insider."
Some secrets need to be borne alone.
Mylène didn't press her when she saw she didn't want to talk. She took a small mirror from her pocket and secretly looked at herself. In the mirror, a delicate and slightly shy face was reflected.
She looked carefully, seemingly searching for some change.
She could feel it; recently, her body… seemed to be genuinely becoming thinner and more svelte.
The efforts she had made for him were slowly but surely showing results. A tiny, sweet smile involuntarily appeared on his lips.
Later, Rose and Juleka, after greeting Jaden, also sat down and began their 'strategy meeting'.
"Juleka, I think we can't wait any longer!"
Rose leaned close to Juleka's ear and said excitedly in a voice only the two of them could hear,
"Look, Marinette is too passive; this is our good opportunity.
I've planned it: this afternoon, we'll pretend to go to the library to look up information and 'accidentally' run into him on his usual path! How about it?"
"Ah… this… wouldn't this be too deliberate?"
Juleka's cheeks flushed slightly, and she nervously twisted the corner of her clothes.
"I think… it's not a good idea…"
"What's not good about it!"
Rose patted her on the shoulder, encouraging her, "Happiness has to be fought for! It's settled!"
On the other side of the classroom, however, was a completely different scene, full of enthusiasm and planning.
Nino wore his red baseball cap backward, one arm draped over Max's shoulder, with his signature, vibrant smile on his face.
He asked the 'King of Video Games' in front of him, who wore black-rimmed glasses and looked refined, in a tone almost like a 'pre-game pep talk':
"Hey, Max, are you all ready? This year's 'Ultimate Fighting Championship' is all on you!"
Max adjusted his glasses; behind the lenses, his brown eyes gleamed with a calm and confident light that contradicted his introverted appearance.
He nodded, his voice soft but exceptionally steady: "Program debugging, tactical presets, character data analysis… everything is ready. Now, all that's missing is a partner with good chemistry."
"Don't worry!"
Nino patted his chest, taking full responsibility, "This is a big deal concerning our school's honor!
Caline and the principal have both said they will fully support you!
This afternoon, right in the library, we're holding a school-wide partner selection competition for you! I guarantee we'll help you pick the strongest one!"
"That's good." Hearing this, Max's tense expression finally relaxed a little. "I've been preparing for this competition for a whole year."
His words revealed an extreme desire for victory.
"Go for it, buddy! Let's win back that lost championship trophy for our François Dupont High School!"
Kim had also come over at some point; his face, which always wore a mischievous smile, was now full of sincere encouragement.
He vigorously waved his fist, as if he could already see Max standing on the podium.
"Don't worry, Kim," Max replied, His tone still calm, but his confidence infected everyone around him.
Just then, Adrien's figure appeared at the classroom door.
Today he wore a white casual shirt paired with light blue jeans, looking especially fresh.
Seeing the commotion, he smiled and walked over.
"What's everyone so excited about discussing so early in the morning?" he asked curiously.
"Adrien, you've come at just the right time!"
Nino immediately explained to him,
"The school's selection competition for the 'Ultimate Fighting Championship' is about to begin! Max, as our school's representative, is looking for a strong partner!"
"Fighting game championship?"
Adrien's eyes instantly lit up, and his emerald green eyes sparkled with eagerness. "I'm good at this! Can I participate?"
"Of course you can!" Nino replied without hesitation, "But…"
Kim, standing nearby, quietly leaned into Adrien's ear, covering his mouth with his hand, and whispered a 'reminder':
"Adrien, don't get your hopes up too high. You know, the people who want to team up with Max could line up from the classroom door to the school gate.
After all, teaming up with him is like having one foot in the finals."
"I won't lose."
Adrien, far from backing down, was instead spurred on by a competitive spirit. He smiled confidently, and the casualness and pride belonging to Cat Noir inadvertently showed through.
"After all, I'm also a hidden gaming master."
"Go for it, brother!" Nino cheered for Adrien.
Watching the boys' passionate discussion on this side, Nathan and Marc in the other corner just exchanged a smile and shook their heads.
They weren't interested in such violent games; the two lowered their heads again and continued to perfect their own fantastical comic world in their sketchbooks.
And just as various cliques in the classroom were engrossed in their own topics, the crisp sound of high heels tapping on the floor came from the doorway, a sound with a unique, unignorable rhythm.
Chloé, with her arrogant head held high, entered the classroom like a queen surveying her territory, accompanied by her 'loyal follower' Sabrina.
But to everyone's surprise, they didn't head to their usual seats in the front row of the classroom, but instead walked directly across most of the classroom, with a clear destination: the last row… Jaden's seat.
"Swish—"
Chloé sat down in the seat next to Jaden like a gust of wind.
Sabrina followed closely, sitting in the seat next to Chloé.
This sudden action, like a paused button being pressed, instantly cooled the previously lively atmosphere in the classroom.
Everyone's gaze uniformly turned to the last row.
"Hey!"
Alix was the first to react. She abruptly stood up from her seat, hands on her hips, and shouted impolitely in Chloé's direction: "Chloé! That doesn't seem to be your seat!"
Chloé didn't even bother to lift an eyelid; she merely glanced at Alix out of the corner of her eye, her voice full of laziness and provocation: "Do you have any objections Alix? Today, I just want to sit here. What, you have an opinion?"
"You…!" Alix was so angered by her unreasonable attitude that she couldn't speak.
Just then, Caline walked into the classroom, just as the class bell rang.
"Quiet! Quiet!"
Caline's voice came from the podium, as she tapped on the desk. She frowned: "Class has started."
Marinette also stood up, her voice soft but firm: "Teacher, Chloé and Sabrina haven't returned to their proper seats."
Caline's gaze fell on Chloé, and she said patiently: "Chloé, Sabrina, please return to your own seats."
"Hmph." Chloé pouted impatiently. She looked at the podium, but her face showed no respect, only the arrogance of entitlement.
"Teacher,"
she said,
"Since this spot is empty anyway, why don't Sabrina and I just sit here? And,"
She turned her head, giving a show-off-like glance at Jaden beside her,
"We can also tutor Jaden with his homework. His grades haven't always been just average?"
"Y-yes, Teacher!" Sabrina, next to her, immediately nodded in agreement like a pecking chick.
Caline looked at Chloé's unyielding demeanor and felt a headache.
She knew that if she insisted further, Chloé's next move would be to bring up her all-powerful 'Mayor Dad'.
Moreover, her 'tutoring' sounded like a plausible excuse.
Thinking this, Caline sighed and chose to compromise: "Then… alright. You two must help Jaden well."
With that, she ignored the matter and announced that class would continue.
Marinette watched this scene, her chest heaving with anger, and could only sit down indignantly.
"How awful!" Alix whispered beside her, "If I had known she'd pull that trick, we should have just grabbed that spot earlier!"
And at the center of this commotion, Jaden maintained a gentle smile. He looked at his two new 'deskmates' and asked softly: "What's wrong? Want a change of scenery today?"
Chloé, however, unexpectedly ignored him. She gave Sabrina a look, and the two quickly swapped seats.
Now, Sabrina was sitting next to Jaden, while Chloé was in the outer seat, obscured by Sabrina's body.
Sabrina pretended to listen attentively to the class, leaning slightly forward, perfectly creating a blind spot for Chloé with her body.
Chloé lowered her head, seemingly organizing her books, but in reality, her hands were under the desk, rapidly typing on her phone.
[Message sent to: H.M. (Hawk Moth)]
[Chloé]: I'm very dissatisfied with yesterday's failure.
The message was sent and replied to almost instantly.
[H.M.]: Perhaps your chosen 'pawn' was too weak. Don't worry, My Queen, there are many more opportunities.
Chloé looked at the words "My Queen" on the screen, and a triumphant smile uncontrollably curved her lips.
She knew Hawk Moth was using her, but she didn't care.
She enjoyed this feeling, the pleasure of using that dark power to turn those who annoyed her into puppets.
She put aside that little doubt from yesterday and quickly typed a new question.
[Chloé]: That… the new one who appeared yesterday, who is he? He seems… much stronger than your previous 'creations'.
This time, the other party was silent for a moment before replying.
[H.M.]: Oh, you mean the 'peacock miraculous'. He is a… new partner of mine.
[Chloé]: Partner? Hmph. Fine, I don't care what your relationship is. Remember, on the stage that belongs to me in the future, have that 'peacock miraculous' prepare the strongest, most magnificent monster for me! I want everyone to see who the true protagonist of Paris is.
[H.M.]: No problem.
Having received a satisfactory reply, Chloé contentedly put away her phone. She looked up, meeting Jaden's gentle, questioning gaze. She gave him a sweet smile, as if the girl who had been secretly plotting with a supervillain under the desk was just an illusion.
And so, the class, amidst various complex emotions and hidden undercurrents, slowly drew to a close.