When Nino told him about a possible cancellation of their class, he didn't expect that it will be due to a hoard of paparazzi lurking at their school gate.

"What is happening in here?" Adrien asked upon his arrival.

"Bro!" greeted the capped boy in headphones "Have you ever watched the headlines? Ladybug was here yesterday!"

"Really?"

"If you at least opened my blog this morning, you might not be out of the loop."

The blond frowned at the bespectacled brunette "Don't tell me you sacrificed yourself again for the sake of news."

"What do you take me for?" Alya scowled indignantly with hands on her hips "A suicidal maniac?"

"Your words, not mine."

He yelped when she slugged his right shoulder with brute force "What did I do to deserve such abuse?! Hey bro, why are you putting up with this barbaric woman?"

"Maybe because I'm into that barbaric woman?" replied Nino as he winked flirtatiously at his girlfriend, and the action earned him a saucy grin.

Adrien rolled his eyes indignantly at the couple's sickening display of affection.

As the trio began to walk towards their classroom, they noticed that one of the reporters approached their classmate Chloe and asked: "What is your opinion about Stoneheart's rampage in your school?"

"Oh, that was horrible. But it's okay because Ladybug saved the day, as usual," was the blonde's snotty reply.

"What do you think about Miraculous holders like Ladybug?"

"Ladybug is the best thing that ever happened in this world!" she exclaimed proudly "She's strong, pretty and brilliant! She's awesome to be my friend!"

The naive reporter awed "Oh my, I didn't know you're close with the elusive Ladybug."

"Of course! She saved me countless times!"

Nino had to dart Alya a warning look when she snickered at the off-handed comment.

"What about your opinion towards the dissolution agreement between the French government and the Order of Miraculous?" the reporter asked again "Given that you're the daughter of Mayor Bourgeois?"

"Who cares if the Miraculous group disbanded? They're just fighting Akumas."

"And save your ass," Alya muttered but nobody paid any heed on her words except her two male companions.

"Besides, Ladybug deserves to live a grandiose life," Chloe went on "Not working with those dingy-looking Miraculous wielders she called as colleagues – thinking about their names and faces makes me shiver with disgust, ugh – and just leave the rest of the task to our French military. We have bombs for that purpose."

"But Akumas are magical beings. Didn't the government try to defeat Dominator before but failed?"

"That's because our police force sucks. Daddy had to spare their supervisor because he pitied them. Anyway, Ladybug must leave the Miraculous Order and just live her life like a normal being."

"I concur."

"I beg to differ."

All eyes immediately turned towards Adrien who was standing on top of the stairs with an appalled look.

In all honesty, the blond wasn't supposed to voice out his reason but his tongue slipped. Now he was left with no choice but to face the consequence.

Clearing his throat, he walked towards the reporter who hastily aimed the mike on his face "Tha – That's right. I don't like Ladybug leaving the Miraculous Order."

"Adrikins!"

He smiled wryly at his friend's outburst "I'm sorry, Chloe. But I also like the idea of Ladybug – no, all Miraculous wielders – to live their life as a normal human being. Aside from their magus blood, they have the right to enjoy their life to the fullest. These Miraculous wielders sacrificed a lot – abandoning their family, their civilian status...maybe some have children we never know of – for the sake of our peace and security."

"I don't know who Ladybug in person, and I believe none of us really knows her secret identity, so we really have no right to say what she wants for herself. Let's give our beloved superheroine some space, shall we?"

In the background, Alya raised a two thumbs up while Nino smirked at his best friend's speech while holding his girlfriend's phone that was live streaming the exchange.

Adrien immediately excused himself politely then marched towards the two.

"Whoa, I didn't know you have that in you, Agreste!" said the brunette female as she nudged him lightly "And you said you're not really a Ladybug fan, huh?"

"Yeah, dude. What has gotten into you?"

"I don't know guys," the blond rubbed his neck shyly with flustered cheeks "Maybe because I see myself in Ladybug being poked by paparazzi?"

"Oh, man. That sucks," Nino muttered, wrapping his arm around his best friend's shoulder "I'm really sorry to hear that."

"Same here, dude. Don't worry, Mama Alya will save you from those impertinent reporters and fans, okay?"

"Thanks, guys," the blond smiled as they entered their room.

Unbeknownst to them, Ladybug was perching on one of the buildings near Francois Dupont when the exchange happened.

"Seems like the trouble has been handled well," she murmured under her breath then tossed her yo-yo to swing herself away from the crowd.