Inside the gymnasium, time seemed to stretch into viscous amber.
Cat Noir's right paw, imbued with pure destructive energy, lunged directly at The Collector's face with a force capable of tearing through anything.
It wasn't a test; it was a full-strength, fatal blow.
Everyone's hearts were in their throats, holding their breath and watching this decisive moment.
However, The Collector's next move exceeded everyone's expectations.
He didn't raise the sketchbook to block; facing the Cataclysm, which could reduce all things to dust, he merely twisted his body sideways at an angle that defied physical common sense, like folded paper.
The movement was incredibly small, yet perfectly executed.
Cat Noir grazed past him, his attack missing.
Cat Noir's pupils constricted; he could feel the surging power in his right paw stirring, ready to explode uncontrollably if it touched anything else.
This power could only be used once per transformation and absolutely could not be wasted on the gymnasium floor or walls.
In a flash, he suddenly exerted force with his waist and abdomen, forcefully twisting his body in mid-air to stabilize himself in a very awkward posture, raising his right paw high, fingers splayed, carefully avoiding touching anything.
"The book!"
Just then, Ladybug's clear and urgent shout echoed through the entire venue.
Her blue eyes shimmered with a light that saw through everything.
"He didn't use the book to block your special move! That book... that book must be the Akumatization item!"
In that heart-stopping moment, she keenly caught a crucial detail: The Collector's subconscious action was to protect himself, not to use the book to block.
For a villain whose ability was "collection," the medium of his power—the sketchbook—should have been his strongest weapon and shield.
The only explanation for him risking being hit by the Cataclysm to dodge was that he couldn't let the Cataclysm touch the book!
Because once the book was destroyed, the Akumatization would be undone.
"Got it!"
Cat Noir immediately understood his partner's intention; a smile of excitement, rather than tension, appeared on his face, which had been taut from suppressing his power.
He raised his right paw, imbued with destructive power, like a torch in the darkness, while simultaneously gripping his metal staff in his left hand, and charged at The Collector once more.
A strange, evenly matched chase battle thus began.
The Collector's movements were erratic yet precise; he always managed to dodge Cat Noir's attacks with the smallest range of motion.
His body seemed to have no joints, capable of folding into incredible angles, weaving through the heroes' offensive gaps.
At the same time, he didn't give up attacking; the sketchbook in his hand sometimes transformed into a shield, sometimes into a boomerang, constantly harassing the two heroes.
But all his actions had one core premise—absolutely avoiding Cat Noir's right paw, which glowed with an ominous black light.
And Cat Noir, like an enraged beast.
He focused all his attention on the staff in his left hand, its shadow flickering, his offensive growing more intense with each wave, seemingly completely immersed in this pure contest of strength.
His right paw remained raised, as if showing off, or perhaps as a deterrent; that destructive power became the Sword of Damocles hanging over The Collector's head, forcing him to expend a great deal of energy on defense.
The three moved back and forth, their figures rapidly traversing the huge gymnasium; the clang of metal, the whoosh of the yoyo, and the rustle of the book's pages intertwined, forming a fierce battle symphony.
However, beneath this seemingly balanced battle, the hearts of the combatants were experiencing vastly different monologues.
Beneath The Collector's mask, Gabriel's heart was filled with anxiety and disdain.
(This useless fellow!)
He deftly dodged Cat Noir's powerful staff attack while cursing inwardly.
(What is he doing? With a one-hit kill move like Cataclysm in hand, why is he wasting time with this ridiculous stick?
Can't he see these openings I'm showing? If he were just a little more decisive and attacked the book in my hand directly with his right paw, this farce would have ended long ago!
He's stalling, it's an insult to the power of the Cat Ladybug)
He completely failed to understand why Cat Noir would choose such an inefficient fighting style.
This drawn-out fighting style, to him, a perfectionist who pursued efficiency, was simply torture.
On the other side, Cat Noir's heart was surging with a wave of revelry.
(Is that all? Is this the level of Father after his Akumatization?)
He easily parried the flying book with his staff, His heart filled with surprise and a hint of... irrepressible glee.
(I thought he'd be much stronger, but his movements are so stiff, full of openings.
It seems Father has been home for too long, he's probably forgotten how to exercise, right?)
He completely failed to notice The Collector's deliberately exposed openings, which were meant to tempt him into using Cataclysm.
He simply felt that this father, who had once been as majestic and insurmountable as a mountain in his eyes, was now so "vulnerable."
This subversion of perception gave him an unprecedented sense of control over the situation.
All the restraints and suppressions that had accumulated in His heart on a daily basis seemed to find an outlet at this moment.
Every time he swung his staff, it was like challenging that omnipresent paternal authority;
Every nimble dodge was like breaking free from invisible shackles.
He played with increasing fervor, the smile on his lips growing more uninhibited.
Ladybug used her yoyo to restrain The Collector from the side, while keenly noticing her partner's abnormality.
"Strange..." she thought to herself,
"Why is Cat Noir so excited today? Although he usually jokes around, he's never been like this during a fight... like he's enjoying it."
This unprovoked exhilaration made her feel a hint of unease.
In the corner of the gymnasium, the students watching also noticed something amiss.
"Wow! What an intense fight!"
Kim watched with boiling blood, constantly waving his fists, simulating the sounds of fighting in his mouth,
"Go Cat Noir! Go Ladybug!"
"Quiet, Kim."
Nino patted his back, his brow furrowed,
"Don't you think... something's not right? They've been fighting for so long, and it seems neither can get the upper hand."
Max adjusted his glasses and calmly ordered: "Marc, lock onto Cat Noir, perform physiological data analysis."
"Command received."
Marc's electronic eyes flashed blue, an invisible scanning ray projected onto Cat Noir in the arena,
"Analyzing... data comparison complete.
Target 'Cat Noir', adrenaline and dopamine secretion levels far exceed normal combat thresholds, heart rate continuously maintained above 160 beats per minute. Comprehensive judgment:
Target is in a state of high mental excitement."
"Excited state?" The boys exchanged glances.
"The more he fights, the more excited he gets, shouldn't his condition be better, allowing him to end the fight faster?"
Kim asked in confusion, "Why does it feel like he's just playing with the staff, dragging it out for so long? Is this villain really that difficult to deal with?"
They couldn't understand the logic behind it.
But Jaden, sitting among them, looked at the increasingly wild figure in the arena, and a knowing smile curved on his lips.
(Heh heh... No way, Adrien, that guy...)
He chuckled inwardly,
(He's really enjoying the process of beating up his own dad, after all, an opportunity like this, to legitimately and consequence-free beat up his extremely controlling father, is truly once in a lifetime.)
Jaden's gaze held a hint of playfulness.
(At first, Adrien might have held back a bit, mindful that it was his father.
But now, looking at him, he's completely let loose, even intentionally dragging out the time a bit longer to fully enjoy the process.)
Jaden couldn't help but think of the future of the plot.
(I wonder if, in the future, when he sees Hawk Moth declare himself his father in that basement, he will regret everything he did today.
However... according to the law of cause and effect, the more he enjoyed hitting him today, the more miserable he might be when his father beats him up in the future.
Hmm, the son repays the father's debt; the 'love' between father and son must eventually be repaid.)
Kagami, standing by, remained silent, but her sharp eyes never left the battlefield.
With the insight cultivated by her lifelong kendo training, she could clearly sense that the rhythm of this battle was very strange.
The two heroes' cooperation seemed tacit, but the boy named Cat Noir, his attacks always held back at critical moments; his movements lacked the decisiveness to defeat his opponent, but instead had an excess of... almost playful indulgence.
(He's taking personal revenge.)
A thought surfaced in Kagami's mind.
Although she didn't know the specific reason, she could feel that Cat Noir had some strong personal emotions towards that Akumatized Person, beyond the hero-villain relationship.
Her gaze inadvertently flickered to the side, only to see Jaden's hand still casually resting on Alya's wrist.
And Alya, seemingly completely oblivious to this intimate contact, was watching the arena with focused attention.
Kagami was a bit confused again.
Can friends... do that? Parisian social customs were still too complex a subject for her.
Just as everyone was lost in their own thoughts, the situation on the field changed.
"Hoo... hoo..." The Collector suddenly began to "pant," his movements becoming sluggish, as if his physical strength had reached its limit.
Now is the time!
Ladybug's eyes flashed with brilliance; she seized the opening when The Collector stumbled, and her yoyo, like a precise net, instantly whipped out, entwining the sketchbook, and she pulled hard!
The sketchbook flew out of his hand, soaring towards Ladybug.
A glint of successful planning flashed in The Collector's eyes; he didn't pursue, but instead allowed Ladybug to snatch the book.
Ladybug caught the book and, without hesitation, tossed it towards Cat Noir: "Cat Noir, now!"
The excitement on Cat Noir's face reached its peak; he leaped high, and his right paw, which had been held high and imbued with destructive power, finally found its target.
"Cataclysm!"
He roared, and his claw, with the force to tear through everything, slammed fiercely onto the sketchbook in mid-air.
"Crack!"
Under a black energy erosion, the sturdy sketchbook instantly shattered into countless black fragments.
A butterfly stained with dark energy flew out of the broken book in a panic.
"It's your turn to purify!" Cat Noir landed handsomely.
"Leave it to me!" Ladybug swung her yoyo, precisely capturing the Akuma Butterfly. "Bye-bye, little butterfly."
As the white butterfly was released, she summoned her Lucky Charm—a giant toy slingshot.
She didn't even need to think; she just tossed the slingshot into the sky.
"Miraculous Restoration!"
A warm and magical pink light, centered on her, rapidly spread out like ripples, sweeping across the entire gymnasium.
Kagami's eyes widened in shock.
She watched as the grandstand seats, which had been absorbed and torn apart by The Collector, reassembled and restored as if time were flowing backward;
She watched the glass windows, shattered by the battle, become perfectly intact in an instant;
She watched the scratches left by the battle on the ground disappear without a trace as the light passed over them.
The impact of online videos and witnessing it firsthand in reality were two completely different matters.
What Alya had just described as "Parisian normalcy" was now presented before her in the most direct and incredible way.
This city... truly operated on a logic beyond common sense.
Just as Kagami was still immersed in shock Alya subtly withdrew her hand from Jaden's grasp.
"Shh,"
She leaned close to Jaden's ear and whispered, "The matter is resolved, Marinette should be back soon. So... it's better not to let her see."
After speaking, she playfully winked at Jaden.
In the center of the arena, The Collector's Akumatization form receded like a tide; Gabriel stumbled slightly, returning to his original appearance.
He held his forehead, looking at the two heroes before him with a bewildered expression.
"I... how did I get here? Was I Akumatized? My son... Adrien?"
"He's safe, Mr. Gabriel." Ladybug replied gently.
"We'll make sure he returns to you." Cat Noir added.
With that, the two heroes exchanged a knowing glance and quickly left the scene in different directions.
And Adrien and Marinette, panting and with faces full of worry and lingering fear, ran in from different entrances of the gymnasium.
Adrien was the first to run over, his face still flushed and sweaty from intense exercise, the excitement from the battle not yet fully faded, but his eyes were already filled with sincere apology and concern.
"Father!"
He ran to Gabriel, eagerly took the book from his backpack, and handed it over with both hands.
"I'm sorry! I... I shouldn't have taken your things, I just..."
Gabriel took the book, His hand gently caressing the old cover.
He looked up, His gaze falling on His son.
He could feel a hint of excitement beneath Adrien's apology, a discovery that left Him somewhat confused.
"Can we... come over now?"
Nino's voice came from not far away, breaking the momentary silence between father and son.
He, Kim, Max, and the others cautiously gathered around, their faces filled with curiosity.
"Uncle,"
Nino, being the most straightforward, looked at the book in Gabriel's hand and couldn't help but ask,
"What exactly is that book? To make you... so angry that you were directly dark transformed by Hawk Moth?"
All the probing gazes converged on Gabriel and the book in His hand.
Gabriel had regained His usual calm and dignified demeanor, though His face was a little paler than usual.
He held the book tightly in His hand, as if it were some rare treasure.
Facing the curiosity of these young boys and girls, Gabriel's face showed no ripple of emotion; He offered an explanation convincing enough for anyone.
His voice was low, with a husky quality of reminiscence:
"This is not an ordinary book. This is one of the few mementos my wife... left for me."
Wife... memento.
As these two words were uttered, all the curiosity in the air instantly transformed into understanding and sympathy.
So that's how it was. Everyone was no longer surprised.
Losing emotional control over a deceased wife's memento was only natural.
"Mom's... thing?"
Adrien was stunned; he had never expected such an answer. A stronger sense of guilt welled up in His heart , and he felt as if he had committed an unforgivable sin.
"Dad, I... I'm really, really sorry... I didn't know..."
"It's alright, Adrien."
Gabriel gently patted His son's shoulder, interrupting him.
He took out His phone, dialed a number, and concisely ordered: "Wait for me at the gym entrance."
After giving a brief instruction to His Bodyguard, he hung up the phone. Then, His deep, sapphire-like eyes swept over everyone and landed precisely on Jaden in the crowd.
"Jaden."
His voice wasn't loud, but it instantly drew everyone's attention.
The atmosphere inside the gym once again became subtle.
"Can we... talk alone?"
Gabriel, the emperor of Parisian fashion, extended an invitation to an ordinary student in a tone that was almost equal and negotiating.
Adrien looked up; he looked at His father, then at the calm-faced Jaden, his eyes filled with confusion.
Why? Why did Dad want to talk to Jaden alone? What could they possibly have in common?
The other students were equally bewildered, exchanging glances, not understanding this sudden development.
However, Marinette tensed up instantly, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
She thought of a certain possibility, and her heart pounded uncontrollably. Subconsciously, she grabbed Alya's hand beside her, her cold palm covered in sweat.
Kagami stood by, her cool gaze sweeping back and forth between Gabriel, Jaden, and the overreacting Marinette.
She didn't understand what Gabriel could want with Jaden, but she could read the undisguised panic on Marinette's face.
She offered no opinion, choosing instead to be a quiet observer, gathering information.
Amidst all the confused, worried, or probing gazes, Jaden appeared composed.
He met Gabriel's gaze, nodded slightly, and said in a calm, unruffled tone: "Of course, Mr. Agreste."
With that, he followed Gabriel towards the quiet corridor leading to the equipment room, on one side of the gym.
As they left, the stagnant air in the spot they had occupied began to flow again, and whispers sprouted like mushrooms after rain.
The boys naturally gathered around Adrien.
"Hey, Adrien," Nino nudged him with His elbow, "What does your dad want with Jaden? Do they know each other?"
"I... I don't know either."
Adrien shook His head, His mood at this moment was extremely complex.
The relief that His father wasn't Hawk Moth, combined with the guilt of secretly taking His mother's memento, and now the confusion about His father seeking out Jaden, all intertwined, making him feel agitated.
"Perhaps... perhaps it's about what he mentioned before, wanting Jaden to be a model."
"A model?"
Kim's eyes lit up at the mention, he puffed out His muscular chest, flexed His solid biceps, and said confidently,
"If it's about being a model, I think I could do it too! Look at my physique, these lines, aren't they just as good as Jaden's?"
Adrien, Nino, and Max, with an incredibly synchronized and complex look combining "Are you kidding?" and "Please spare us," all stared at him.
Kim felt a little unnerved by their stares: "Wh-what's wrong? Can't I do it? Look..."
He tried hard to strike a pose he thought was cool.
The three once again synchronized, firmly shaking their heads together.
"Impossible."
The unanimous answer completely shattered Kim's model dream.
While they were bickering, Nathan and Marc were already immersed in their own worlds.
On Nathan's drawing board, the scene of The Collector battling the two heroes was already taking shape.
And Marc, seemingly inspired by the recent battle, took out paper and pen, rapidly designing a brand new villain character full of geometric beauty.
For them, artistic creation was far more appealing than gossipy speculation.
On the other side, Marinette's hand was still tightly gripping Alya's arm, her knuckles slightly white from the effort.
Her voice was trembling: "Alya... do you think... Mr. Agreste really wants to invite Jaden to be a model?"
Kagami, listening nearby, showed a hint of confusion on her cool face.
She really couldn't see what there was to worry about in this matter.
"Why are you so worried?"
She couldn't help but interject, saying in her usual concise and direct tone, "Working with Gabriel would be a great opportunity for Jaden."
"No! Absolutely not!" Marinette retorted emotionally, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
"Marinette, calm down!"
Alya was getting a headache from her friend's erratic behavior, "What exactly are you worried about?"
Marinette's eyes reddened, and she incoherently poured out her deepest fears: "Alya, just think, if Jaden becomes Mr. Agreste's model, His time will be strictly controlled, just like Adrien's!
He won't just have photo shoots on weekends, but even during school, he'll have to take those posture classes, etiquette classes, and we... the time we can spend with him will become less and less!"
Her voice trembled with excitement, and her mind uncontrollably began to play out scenes of a tragic future.
"Then... then he'll attend all sorts of fashion events, go to those high-class parties, and meet more and more girls who are better, prettier, and smarter than me!
Those socialites, those actresses... and me?
I'm just an ordinary girl... I simply... simply can't compare to them..."
By the end, her voice was thick with a heavy nasal tone, and she was completely overwhelmed by anxiety and inferiority.
Alya looked at her friend, who was on the verge of tears, and quickly hugged her, gently patting her back, comforting her in the softest voice: "It's okay, Marinette, it won't happen.
Think about Jaden's personality; he doesn't even like being on TV much. Is he the type of person who would pursue fame and fortune?
He'll definitely refuse."
"But... but what if?"
Marinette was still uneasy; she lifted her head from Alya's embrace, her tearful eyes looking at her, "What if this time it's different?"
"Alright, alright, stop worrying unnecessarily. Won't we know once they finish talking?"
Alya was patiently trying to persuade her friend on the surface, but inwardly, Marinette's words had stirred up a dark vortex.
(Yeah... what if?)
A terrifying thought uncontrollably surfaced in Alya's mind.
(What if Jaden really agrees... what if he really goes to a place I can no longer reach... then...)
Her breathing paused for a moment.
(Then... I will use Hawk Moth's power to make him mine. I'll tie him up so he can't go anywhere, and can only stay by my side.)
This thought, like a rapidly growing black vine, instantly entangled her heart.
(Anyway, according to the information from Teacher Caline, Jaden seems to have come to Paris alone, with no one to rely on here.
If something happens to him or he disappears, no one will suspect me, and if it fails, I can just blame Hawk Moth, right?
Yes, just like everyone says — Akumatization flies bravely, Hawk Moth bears the blame!)
This crazy yet perfect plan sent a thrill of pleasure through Alya's body.
But the next second, she shuddered at the maliciousness and selfishness of her own thought.
(Oh my god...) She shook her head hard, trying to shake the terrifying thought out of her mind.
(I... how could I have such a thought? Am I crazy? That's Jaden...)
She looked at Marinette, who was still caught in the anxieties of love in her arms, and then thought of her own dark thought just now. A deep sense of self-loathing surged up.
She forcibly suppressed the turmoil within her, and continued to comfort her friend with a gentle voice, and also to comfort that part of herself that had just given birth to a demonic thought.
After a while,
The conversation ended, and Jaden and Gabriel returned to the center of everyone's view.
Gabriel's deep blue eyes did not linger on anyone; He merely announced indifferently: "Adrien, time to go home. The Bodyguard is waiting."
As soon as He finished speaking, he turned and left.
"But, Dad!"
Adrien's voice held a hint of pleading and confusion, "It's not dismissal time yet, and I don't have any tutoring scheduled today. I want to stay with my friends a little longer..."
Gabriel didn't look back, nor did His steps falter in the slightest; He merely coldly dropped a single word: "Go."
That single word, as if carrying an invisible weight, pressed down on Adrien's shoulders.
The hint of hope and resistance on His face instantly dimmed, replaced by a familiar sense of helplessness and frustration.
He lowered His head, forced a apologetic smile at His friends, whispered "I'm leaving first," and then quickly followed His father's footsteps, disappearing at the gym entrance.
After the father and son left, the oppressive atmosphere in the venue finally eased slightly.
Almost at the same time, three pairs of eyes, filled with "Tell us the result quickly," simultaneously turned to Jaden. Nino, Kim, and Max rubbed their hands, looking impatient.
"Hey, Jaden!"
Kim was the first to be unable to restrain himself; like a nimble monkey, he darted in front of Jaden in a few steps, His eyes sparkling with undisguised curiosity.
Max and Nino followed closely, forming a small circle around him, their three pairs of eyes fixed on him, an posture as if they were about to conduct an impromptu interrogation.
"What's the result? What's the result?"
Nino gently nudged Jaden with His elbow,
"Is Mr. Agreste really going to sign you as His exclusive model? I'm telling you, if you agree, I'll be the friend of a supermodel from now on. How much face would that be!"
Max pushed up His black-rimmed glasses and said in His usual rational, data-analyzing tone: "From the perspective of probability and opportunity cost, this is indeed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Mr. Agreste's brand influence is world-class; becoming His model means you will directly leap to become a darling of the fashion world. This is a huge, immeasurable asset for anyone's future planning."
"Yeah, yeah!"
Kim nodded vigorously from the side, looking at Jaden with eyes full of envy and regret,
"If you refuse, it would really be such a pity! What a great loss! I should have shown off more in front of him just now, maybe he would have taken a liking to me!"
As he spoke, he unconsciously puffed out His chest, trying to display His proud muscle lines.
Facing the enthusiastic "siege" of His three friends, Jaden merely showed a gentle and slightly helpless smile.
He didn't answer immediately, but instead reached out and gently punched each of their shoulders, one by one, saying in a relaxed, joking tone: "You three, have you already started planning how to get preferential treatment from me later?"
"Of course!" Nino admitted shamelessly.
Jaden smiled and shook His head, then slowly began to speak, His voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears: "I refused."
The simple four words were like a small pebble dropped into boiling water, instantly quieting the chattering discussions around them.
"...Ah?" Nino's mouth formed an "O," his face full of "You've got to be kidding me."
"Although…although this does fit your character's logic," Max muttered to himself, his eyes behind his glasses filled with academic incomprehension, "from the perspective of rational decision-making, I still cannot fully understand the negative returns this choice brings…"
"What a waste!" Kim wailed, as if he were the one who had been rejected.
Watching their exaggerated reactions, Jaden's smile deepened.
He knew they meant no harm; they were simply feeling "pity" for him.
This pure friendship made him feel very comfortable.
He didn't offer any more explanations, just bantered with them for a few more sentences, then turned and walked towards another corner of the gymnasium.
There, Nathan and Marc were sitting quietly, a stark contrast to the lively scene here.
Nathan had his head down, his paintbrush moving rapidly across his sketchbook, capturing a moment from the battle they had just witnessed on paper;
While Marc rested his chin on his hand, His gaze somewhat unfocused, clearly contemplating a new story.
Seeing Jaden approach, the two of them pulled themselves out of their own worlds.
"Finished?" Nathan looked up, a hint of inquiry in his gentle eyes.
"Mm." Jaden sat down beside him, naturally stretched out his legs, and let out a comfortable sigh.
"How are things?" Marc also leaned in, asking softly.
"What else could they be?" Jaden spread his hands, looking matter-of-fact, "Same as always, doesn't like trouble."
"I knew it."
Nathan smiled, put down his paintbrush, leaned against the wall behind him, and looked Jaden up and down with a teasing gaze, "Honestly, you, this guy, you're so indifferent to fame, to money, to everything.
I'm starting to wonder if you deliberately refused because you couldn't bear to leave us."
Marc, listening nearby, also broke into a knowing smile, nodding vigorously to show his complete agreement with Nathan's "analysis."
"Oh? Reluctant to leave you guys?"
Jaden's eyebrows raised slightly; he looked at his two close friends, who were teasing him so earnestly, and a mischievous smile played on his lips,
"You're getting good, Nathan, even making jokes like that."
Before he finished speaking, his hand shot out like lightning, precisely flicking both Nathan and Marc on the forehead, producing a crisp "thwack."
"Ouch!"
"Hiss…"
Both of them simultaneously covered their foreheads, their faces showing expressions of both pain and amusement.
"You hit us again!" Nathan "complained."
"Who told you to talk so much."
Jaden retracted his hand, his smile gentle and sincere, but his words carried a hint of feigned "fierceness."
Nathan rubbed his forehead, but instead of getting angry, he smiled even more brightly.
He gestured with his chin in another direction, signaling Jaden to look over: "Alright, alright, I'm not messing with you anymore. The ones who really need your comfort right now aren't us two."
Marc also added, "That's right Alya and Marinette are worried about you. Go over there quickly."
Jaden followed their gaze.
Not far away Alya was tightly hugging Marinette, like a lioness protecting her cub.
Marinette's head was buried in Alya's embrace, her shoulders slightly trembling; although her expression couldn't be seen, anyone looking at her knew she must be in utter disarray.
And beside them, the new transfer student, Kagami, stood silently like a cool, aloof statue.
Jaden understood. He stood up, patted the dust off his pants, and said to Nathan and Marc, "Next time you dare to talk nonsense, it won't be just a flick on the forehead."
Leaving this half-truthful "threat," he strode towards the girls.
Kagami had been silently observing everything. She saw the unspoken friendship between Jaden and Adrien, and she also saw the natural and intimate playful banter between him and the other classmates.
Is this… how friends interact?
Relaxed, gentle, even with some harmless physical contact.
For her, who had received strict kendo training since childhood and always emphasized rules and propriety, this was an entirely new experience.
Her gaze followed Jaden's figure, watching him walk towards Marinette and Alya.
Jaden walked up to the two girls, and before he could even speak, he met Alya's gaze.
That look was complex, as if it carried scrutiny, and also seemed to hide a subtle, imperceptible chill, making him feel a cold breeze blowing across his neck.
(Alya's gaze, how does it feel…)
Jaden muttered to himself, but he maintained a gentle smile on his face.
His gaze passed over Alya and landed on the girl in her arms, who was still trembling slightly.
"What's wrong with Marinette?"
He asked, his voice very soft, as if afraid of startling a frightened little rabbit, "Is she scared because of the Akumatized Person just now?"
His question was like a fuse, instantly igniting Alya.
"Did you agree to his request?"
Alya almost blurted out the question, her voice very low, but every word carried an undeniable tone of interrogation.
Jaden could clearly feel that as Alya asked this question, Marinette's body in her arms visibly stiffened, and even her breathing seemed to stop.
He looked at them, feeling a bit amused and a bit helpless.
He knew what they were worried about.
So, he didn't keep them in suspense, shaking his head decisively and saying in a calm, factual tone, "No, I didn't. I don't like living the life of a model, like an item in a display window, constantly scrutinized and chased by spotlights every day."
His gaze was clear and candid, sweeping over Alya, and also over Marinette, who had quietly raised her head from Alya's arms and was peeking at him with wide, watery eyes.
"Besides,"
He continued, a lazy smile in his voice, "I'm not short on money, nor do I pursue fame or fortune. I just hope my life can be ordinary and happy."
Ordinary and happy.
When these few words floated lightly from Jaden's mouth, they seemed to possess a magical power.
Alya's guarded and scrutinizing gaze visibly softened. Her tightly pursed lips also relaxed quietly.
Marinette, in her arms, seemed to have all her strength instantly drained, her entire body went limp; if Alya hadn't been holding her tightly, she probably would have slid directly to the ground.
The dark cloud that had been lingering in her heart, woven from jealousy, inferiority, and fear, was completely blown away by this simple sentence at this moment.
(Ordinary and happy…) Alya chewed on these words in her heart, and a complex emotion surged up.
(The result is, not letting down every girl who has affection for you, making them all a part of your 'happiness'? What a… scumbag.)
This thought flashed through her mind, carrying a hint of bitterness and unwillingness.
But when she looked up and saw the gentle and sincere smile on Jaden's face, that hint of gloom in her heart unconsciously dissipated again.
Anyway, he didn't agree, he would stay here, and that was enough.
The corners of her mouth, without her even realizing it, curved upwards in a tiny arc.
"Hmph, good for you for being sensible."
"That's good," Alya released Marinette, Her tone also softening, but still with a hint of a lecturing tone, "I thought someone was going to disappoint the girl who worried us!"
She was about to say something more, to properly scold this "culprit" who had made Marinette and her so anxious,
But as soon as she opened her mouth, a soft hand suddenly reached out from the side and covered her mouth.
"Mmm—!" Alya let out an indistinct protest.
Marinette, who had just been looking like a tear-stained, pitiful beauty, now seemed to be instantly recharged, breaking free from Alya's embrace.
Her cheeks still bore fresh tear stains, but her blue eyes sparkled with an unprecedented brightness and vitality.
"Ah, I was really so scared just now!"
She said, dramatically patting her chest, her acting so superb it would make any drama teacher praise her,
"That The Collector was really too scary, so… so that's why I hid in Alya's arms for so long!"
As she spoke, she turned around, forcefully pulled the still-dazed Alya's hand, and said urgently:
"Alya, didn't we say we were going to the design materials store? Let's go quickly, it'll close soon!"
"Huh?" Alya was dizzy from her series of smooth actions. She looked at Marinette, who seemed eager to leave the scene, her eyes filled with confused "Are you serious?"
Who was the one who was so worried they were almost crying just now?
But Marinette didn't give her time to react, almost half-dragging and half-pulling her towards the gymnasium exit, shouting back at Jaden as she ran: "Jaden, we're leaving now! See you tomorrow!"
Jaden stood rooted to the spot, watching the two girls' hurried retreating figures, shaking his head with a wry smile.
"Really…"
And this series of events left Kagami, who had been silent all along, completely bewildered.
She completely failed to understand the complex and subtle relationships between these classmates, which were like a tangled ball of yarn, she couldn't find the end of the thread.
She saw Jaden also preparing to turn and leave, and finally couldn't help but call out to him.
"Wait a moment."
Jaden stopped, turned his head, and looked at her gently: "Is something wrong, Kagami?"
Kagami walked up to him, standing very straight, like a tall pine tree.
She looked directly into Jaden's eyes without hesitation, and asked in a very serious, almost questioning tone: "Why did you refuse?"
"Hmm?"
"Someone like you should understand."
Kagami frowned slightly, feeling her question was clear enough,
"His invitation is a shortcut countless people dream of. Accepting it, you will gain fame, status, and wealth.
Refusing it is an extremely unwise choice. I don't understand why you would do that."
In her world, everything followed the logic and the law of the strong being revered.
Gabriel is a strong figure in the fashion world, and his invitation represents opportunity and recognition.
Accepting is the path of the strong;
Refusing is an incomprehensible folly.
She didn't understand Jaden's choice, just as she didn't understand the complex and sticky emotions between Marinette and Alya.
Jaden listened quietly to her questioning.
He could see confusion in Kagami's deep blue eyes.
He smiled, not directly answering her question.
"Then, Kagami,"
He counter-questioned, "For you, what constitutes a 'wise' choice?"
"…" Kagami was momentarily stunned by his question.
"Is it what brings the greatest benefit? Or what leads to the highest position?"
Jaden's voice remained gentle, yet it seemed to carry a power that could see through people's hearts, "What if that path isn't the one you want to take?"
Kagami fell silent. She had never considered this question.
For her, the path her mother had laid out for her was the only path she had to take.
"That is not an 'unwise' choice."
Jaden looked at her, saying word by word, "That is simply… 'my' choice."
Having said that, he no longer looked at the thoughtful expression on Kagami's face.
"Ding-a-ling-ling—"
Just then, the school bell for dismissal rang throughout the campus.
The crisp sound of the bell seemed to draw a pause to this brief conversation.
"There's still a long way to go, you'll slowly understand, Kagami."
Jaden nodded slightly to her, a farewell gesture, then turned and merged into the stream of students beginning to leave the gymnasium in twos and threes, his back composed and resolute.
Leaving Kagami alone, still standing silently in place, repeatedly savoring that phrase—
"That is simply… 'my' choice."