In the weeks following the events at the ice rink, Adrien and Marinette had faced not just one but three akumas, one after the other in rapid succession. They managed to defeat them with relative ease, even with Troublemaker having nearly gotten hold of Ladybug's Miraculous and Frightningale's powers of turning everyone into pink chrome statues. The only akuma that proved to be a big challenge was Reverser, who made Ladybug extremely clumsy and Chat Noir a huge scaredy cat... pun intended. Thankfully, they defeated him too, saving the city from the akuma and being buried under a huge pile of trash from orbiting satellite trash dumps. Whoever thought that was a good idea needed to get their head examined.

On the other hand, Adrien and Kagami's coffee date had gone really well, finally giving them a chance to get to know each other all on their own. It turns out Kagami was full of more surprises than Adrien expected, revealing herself to be a terrific artist in his opinion when she showed him her sketchbook. Adrien was greatly impressed, a far cry from Kagami's opinion when she heard his atrociously cringy puns. But even then, their little outing went smoothly from there, and they made plans to make it a regular thing for them to do every Wednesday... which just so happened to be that very day. So far, the school day was thankfully free of any drama. However, the quiet was broken when an akuma attacked just seconds after the final bell rang, prompting Paris's resident protectors to race to the scene.

It turned out to be a brand new akuma that went by the name of Shockwave, an akumatized violinist who got fired after a mistake they made in critical practice. A rather intimidating akuma stood amidst a whirlwind of sound waves while their corrupted violin unleashed waves of destructive music that nearly levelled the city and sent pedestrians fleeing. The resulting battle raged for what felt like an eternity to the heroes, the sound waves buffeting them back and threatening to overpower even their combined strength. But with clever teamwork, they finally found a way to disarm the akuma, finding a way to harness the very sound waves that had threatened to engulf the city against him. With a final strike, the heroes watched Shockwave collapse, the akuma released soon after, and the chaos subsided. Fortunately, the heroes defeated Shockwave in just over half an hour and quickly returned to normal activities. In Adrien's case, it was returning to his school for fencing practice, touching down on the rooftop in a cat-like crouch just as the clock turned 3:45.

"Plagg, claws in." Chat Noir exhaled, quickly turning back into Adrien and catching an exhausted Plagg before he fell to the hard rooftop. "Whew, another akuma in the bag! That turned out to be trickier than I thought it would be." the model remarked as he rose to his feet, remembering how the mix of sorrow and rage weaved into every note of the akuma's chaotic symphony had echoed off the cobblestone during the battle. His ears were still ringing from when he got blasted clean across several arrondissements and into the Seine.

"You and me both, kid. I'm exhausted! Give me my cheese!" Plagg whined, rolling around dramatically on Adrien's open palms.

"Well, seeing as Shockwave threw us around a few times today, I'd say you deserve a little extra today." Adrien said, grinning despite the fatigue clinging to him as he pulled out his bottomless pouch and opened it. "Have at it, buddy." the model declared, prompting Plagg's eyes to glimmer with mischief as he surveyed the bounty of snacks within the pouch.

"Oooooooh! Gimmie, gimmie, gimmie!" Plagg demanded, earning a chuckle from his holder as Adrien tucked Plagg safely into his bottomless pouch so he could overeat his precious cheese.

"Just make sure not to eat all of it while I'm at practice, okay? I can't keep chalking up your appetite as my supposed cheese obsession to Nathalie if you keep doing that every time I let you in there." Adrien warned, shaking his head as Plagg dived into the cheese like a treasure trove, hoping to avoid needing to make such a huge order again so soon.

He knew he would always have to keep Plagg's insatiable appetite in check, but it would be nice for Adrien if he didn't have to worry about it for once.

"I make no promises." Plagg replied while smiling dementedly, followed by an extremely loud belch from having eaten a few pieces already before diving back into the pouch.

Upon receiving Plagg's words, Adrien rolled his eyes in annoyance and headed to the stairs leading to the main building below. As Adrien hurried down to the locker room, he felt a flicker of excitement. Today was Wednesday—his coffee hangout with Kagami. The very thought sent a warm rush through him, contrasting sharply with the adrenaline still coursing through his veins. After the craziness of the day, he couldn't wait to see her.

However, he put those thoughts on the back burner as he reached the ground floor, exited the stairwell and headed to the locker rooms. After reaching the doors, Adrien slipped inside and beelined straight for his locker, managing to avoid any questioning stares from his teammates as they prepared for practice. After opening his locker and taking out his gym bag to get ready for practice, Adrien changed into his fencing uniform and soon stepped out into the gym area, scanning the familiar faces of his fencing teammates.

But while Adrien headed up to line up with his teammates in wait for D'Argencourt to arrive and lead the lessons, his gaze drifted anxiously to the entrance, searching for Kagami. As the minutes ticked by, Adrien was getting more concerned by the second as he waited. He felt a gnawing worry settle in his stomach just as D'Argencourt approached the team.

"Good afternoon, everyone. I trust that you all had no trouble getting here after the akuma attack earlier?" D'Argencourt said, his authoritative tone slicing through the lingering tension of his awaiting students.

"No, sir." All the students chorused, eager to start their lesson now that the fencing master had arrived.

"Excellent! Now, let us begin with some quick drills to warm up." D'Argencourt ordered the students, causing them to spread out and start stretching like they were told.

Meanwhile, Adrien's thoughts were elsewhere, all while managing to keep glancing at the locker room doors in hopes of his friend finally arriving. Thankfully, Kagami finally emerged from her side of the locker room a few minutes before the team finished their stretching, dressed in her usual red fencing uniform and sabre in hand. However, it looked like Kagami had seen better days; her posture lacked her usual confidence, and she seemed a bit out of sorts, her expression distant as she joined the group.

"Ah, Ms Tsurugi, how nice of you to finally join us." D'Argencourt remarked, his tone lacked the usual warmth as she came towards them.

"Apologies, sir. I was a little... distracted." Kagami replied, her gaze slipping past him and seeming to search for something Adrien couldn't quite grasp.

"Well, if I were you, I'd focus on only training now that you have joined us, seeing as that is what you're here for." D'Argencourt advised, giving her an unimpressed look as she joined the others and began her warm-up stretches.

"Yes, of course." Kagami agreed absentmindedly, followed by the team's warm-up drills beginning.

But while they were doing lunges, Adrien's concern deepened as he saw Kagami only putting half her usual fierceness into her movements. Very soon, though, the fencing students finally break away and join up in their usual pairings, with Adrien partnering up with Kagami as usual.

"Is everything okay, Kagami?" Adrien asked as they stepped onto their usual mat, stepping closer to her as they prepared to start sparring.

"Yes, of course. Why do you ask?" Kagami asked with an attempt at a smile. However, there was a tremor in her voice, an undercurrent of uncertainty that set off alarms in Adrien's mind.

"You seemed a little out of sorts earlier. You're always so focused and a pillar of precision. But today you just..." Adrien hesitated, searching for the right words. "You seem more on edge. So, yeah, I'm worried about you." he said, earning a rather unusually skittish look from Kagami once she heard his critique before quickly shaking it off to resume her usual stoic gaze.

"Adrien, I can assure you I'm doing just fine. It's nothing you need to concern yourself with." Kagami replied, her tone firm yet paired with a flicker of vulnerability in her eyes that made his heart ache.

"But—" Adrien began, hoping to convince her to open up to him.

"No more 'buts' about it, Adrien." Kagami cut him off, giving him a look that brooked no argument as she did her usual pre-spar ritual. "Let's just focus on our training, alright?" the red-clad fencer said, her gaze steel before it softened when she met his eyes, making Adrien feel a sudden pang of empathy.

"Yeah... okay, fine." Adrien nodded, the two taking their positions and drawing their swords even as doubt lingered in his mind.

And as the world around them faded, the two were soon ready to face off against each other like they always did, standing on their sides of the mat.

"En garde," Kagami called, she and Adrien lowering their masks before steadying their stances, a heavy and unspoken weight in the air as they got ready to attack. "Prêt... allez!"

The two fencers then lunged at each other, the sounds of clashing blades drowning out the concerns swirling in Adrien's mind as they began to spar. Each strike and parry was a moment of connection, a reminder of their shared passion, a competitive and intimate dance. For a fleeting moment, everything else melted away, leaving only the two of them, caught in the rhythm of the duel.

Yet, deep down, Adrien couldn't shake the feeling that something was troubling Kagami, and he was determined to uncover it somehow. But for now, he would follow her lead and give her the space she needed. As the practice unfolded, their movements entwined, and he hoped that when the time was right, she would open up to him just as he was learning to do with her.

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Very soon, fencing practice came to an end for D'Argencourt's class, though some were more satisfied with their performance than others. It turns out Kagami was more distracted than either she or Adrien thought, having left herself open to quite a few obvious attacks in several matches. By the time D'Argencourt called for the practice to end, Adrien had gotten 20-4 over Kagami, a record he never thought he'd ever achieve against her.

But when Kagami didn't seem the very least phased about it, Adrien right away knew something was wrong. And being so concerned about the Japanese girl as he was, the boy decided to do something about it after they went over to the coffee shop that they started frequenting after their fencing practices. However, if you accuse them of choosing that cafe just because it was opposite Marinette's family bakery, they would playfully deny it.

As the sun dipped below the rooftops of Paris, it cast a warm golden hue over the cobblestone streets, and the lively chatter of café patrons filled the air. At their usual coffee shop, a cozy nook tucked away from the bustling crowds, Adrien and Kagami headed to their spot. The familiar clinking of cups and the scent of freshly brewed coffee hung in the air. But today, the ambience felt heavier, charged with an undercurrent of concern.

"So..." Adrien started, glancing at Kagami as he pulled out the chair for her, his heart racing slightly. Something had been off since practice, and he could sense her distraction despite her usual composure.

Kagami's brow furrowed as she watched him settle into his seat across from her. "So, what, Adrien? You've been quiet since we left the school. If you're going to say something, say it."

But when Adrien hesitated to answer, she found her fingers beginning to fidget with the edge of the table.

"Did I do something to offend you?" Kagami asked, causing Adrien's eyes to widen in shock.

"No, of course not! I'm worried about you, that's all." Adrien said, the concern etched on his face as he gently placed his hand atop hers.

"What are you talking about? You have nothing to worry about. I'm fine." Kagami replied, trying to assure him she was fine. But the way her voice trembled slightly betrayed her.

Adrien leaned forward, his gaze piercing through the facade. "That's not the vibe I got when we were practising earlier. You already seemed out of it even before we started fencing, but it got worse when we were." He gently clasped her hand, hoping to draw her out of her stubbornness.

Kagami's eyes widened in surprise, but then a familiar frown creased her face as her shoulders slumped in uncharacteristic timidness. It was all Adrien needed to continue. "Is everything going okay with you? Any trouble at home or anything else? If so, I want to help you."

"No, it's nothing like that." the red fencer began, only to then falter when the realisation of her own words hung in the air. "Uh, I mean..."

"I KNEW IT! Something is going on with you!" Adrien pressed gently, happy to finally be getting somewhere in his digging, just as their waitress appeared.

"Here you guys go. One decaf mocha latte with extra foam and a biscotti for the lovely young lady. One decaf Mint Chocolate Frappe with extra chocolate and a passion fruit tart for the gentleman." the barista listed as she placed their orders on the table, unknowingly easing some of the present tension with her delivery.

"Thank you." the two teens chorused, the moment of reprieve the waitress gave them appreciated as they moved on before Adrien was the first to take a sip of his drink.

"Mmm... I've been looking forward to this all day!" Adrien sighed in exaggerated delight, savouring the sweetness before he noticed Kagami rolling her eyes with a hint of a smile breaking through her tension.

"I will never understand how you can drink that. It's basically syrup in a bottle, the way you take it." Kagami remarked, gently grabbing her cup and bringing it to her lips.

"What can I say? I like sweet things." Adrien teased, the blush appearing across Kagami's cheeks deepening as he smirked at her. But before she could have done a spit take, Kagami quickly composed herself, enjoying the banter even as she felt her unspoken troubles weighing down on her.

As she placed her cup back onto the table, Kagami's expression shifted and became serious once again. "Look, Adrien, my current problem isn't something you need to concern yourself with. I can take care of it on my own."

"Whatever 'it' is, Kagami, I'm sure I can help you. And I want to help you, too, no matter what. But I can't do that unless you're honest with me; otherwise, whatever plan I come up with will go sideways." Adrien urged, the sincerity in his voice unwavering.

"You are exaggerating. I'm sure they wouldn't." Kagami deadpanned, not believing Adrien's lack of confidence in his abilities.

"Call me superstitious, but I'd rather not tempt fate like that." Adrien replied, taking another sip from his coffee before looking back at his companion. "So... care to share now?"

Kagami sighed, the tension in her shoulders evident as she finally decided to accept the help. "I fully intended to tell you what I'm up to and ask for your help, too. But I didn't know how you'd react when I did and psyched myself out a little before practice."

"Well, that explains that." Adrien said, relieved to hear her admit it. "On the other hand, why were you so nervous about asking for my help?"

With a deep breath, Kagami reached into her duffle bag, pulled out a manila folder and slid it across the table. "It's because of these."

Curiosity filled Adrien's thoughts as he grabbed the file, unable to stop himself from finding out why Kagami was so distracted now that he had the item in hand.

Not wasting another second, he opened the file and skimmed over the contents, his eyes widening as he looked. "Wait a minute, these look an awful lot like... enrollment papers!" Adrien slammed the folder closed, a mix of shock and excitement washing over him as he looked back over at Kagami. "You're enrolling in a school!?"

"I'm planning to, yes," she confirmed with a nod, her eyes sparkling with a mix of determination and uncertainty as she clasped her hands around her coffee mug and looked at the dark liquid within. "I know it's a big step, but I've had enough of being homeschooled. After befriending you and Marinette, I quickly realised that I wanted to get out of the house more and make more friends. Be more like normal teenagers my age."

"You know, just being..." she trailed off, her eyes drifting from her drink and back to Adrien.

"Free?" the blond model breathlessly completed, his voice barely above a whisper due to the strikingly familiar notion.

"Yes. Yes, exactly that." Kagmai agreed, smiling at Adrien's understanding of her current plight.

"That's wonderful, Kagami! I'm so happy for you!" Adrien exclaimed, unable to contain his excitement.

"Thank you, Adrien. I knew you'd understand." Kagami praised with a smile, glad to have his support as she reached for her biscotti.

"I've been where you are, Kagami. I'm probably the only person who can." Adrien said, hoping to comfort his friend. His efforts were rewarded when he received a smile from the girl as she took a bite from her biscotti, prompting him to continue. "So... which school did you have in mind?"

Kagami then took a sip of her coffee to wash down her food, placing it back onto its saucer as her eyes sparkled with mischief. "Well, I was aiming to be transferred to Françoise Dupont."

"Françoise Dupont? But that's... You're coming to my school?!" Adrien realised, almost accidentally tipping over their table and spilling their coffee and food amid his excitement. The two teens chuckled as they quickly grabbed their respective items, waiting for the table to settle before putting them down again.

"Yes, I am. And possibly in your homeroom class too. Since I already knew you and Marinette, I figured being in the same class as you guys would be the right choice." Kagami remarked, her hands still gripping her cup as she sent a bashful smile the rapidly excited Adrien's way.

"You thought right! The others are so nice and understanding! They are going to love you!" Adrien crowed with a smile, throwing his arms out towards his friend and making her blush as he pulled his limbs back towards him. "Oh, god, I'm literally buzzing right now! I can't wait for you to enroll!" the blonde exclaimed, looking down at his jittery hands before letting them fall back next to his coffee.

"I can't either. But deciding which school was the easy part. It's getting enrolled; that's the problem." Kagami replied with a smile, only for it to turn into a darkened stare as she looked at the floor beside their table.

"What do you mean? If your homeschooling was anything like mine, Françoise Dupont will take you in a heartbeat." Adrien asked, concerned by Kagami's answer before she shook her head, frustration flickering across her face.

"That would have been the case had my mother not intervened." Kagami simply said, looking back at him.

"What did she do?" Adrien asked, knowing all too well how similar Kagami's home life was to his and already getting an idea of what happened.

"When I told her I wanted to go to Françoise Dupont, she immediately said 'no.' But when I tried to turn in the paperwork myself, she caught me and called the Principal to tell him that under no circumstances was he to accept any enrollment paperwork I could possibly give him." Kagami ranted, her grip on her coffee mug nearly shattering it while Adrien ate his pastry and silently listened to her.

"And on top of that, she's piled on so many lessons on my schedule to prevent me from even going in to turn in the paperwork! Heck, she's given me so many new lessons that the only reason why I'm currently not at home doing Russian right now is because I told Mother practice was extended another hour on Wednesdays so that we could still meet up." she huffed, Adrien's heart sinking within his chest while his mind raced to comprehend the weight of her struggles.

"Wow..." Adrien said softly after finishing a bite of his tart, sympathy flooding his voice now that he fully took in Kagami's plight.

"Yes, I know. It's a lot." Kagami sighed, a look of defeat in her eyes. "I've tried everything to make sure she didn't find out, and yet she still did! Now I don't know what to do."

"Geez, no offence, but your mom sounds like a piece of work. Not even my father was this bad when I did the same thing. He didn't even know I had enrolled myself until I first managed to slip out of the house the first day of school." Adrien remarked, now glad that his father hadn't been as strict as Kagami's mother sounded to be.

"Yes, you mentioned that before. How did you manage to do that?" Kagami asked, hoping to get some help in her endeavor from someone who had succeeded. And luckily for her, Adrien was all too eager to comply.

"With a little bit of help from Chloé. I gave her the enrollment paperwork, and she submitted it to the enrollment offices." Adrien revealed, causing Kagami's eyebrows to shoot up in surprise.

"Chloé? As in Chloé Bourgeois, the Mayor's Daughter? She goes to Françoise Dupont too?" Kagami questioned the blonde, double-checking to ensure she had heard him right.

"Yeah, she does. And don't worry, she might be a little cold at first and be somewhat entitled, as I've recently learned, but Chloé's great once you get to know the real her." Adrien assured her, having a feeling that the two girls could get along if they met. "Though it might take a bit." he nervously added, quickly remembering how... cold Chloé could be to new people.

"I appreciate the advice, but I'm more interested in getting enrolled first before anything. Do you think she might help me, too?" Kagami asked, only for Adrien to pause in thought as he considered the question.

"As much as I would like to believe otherwise, that will, unfortunately, have to be a firm 'no.' Even if I convinced her, I'm not very sure she'd do it, either." Adrien replied, knowing the complexities of Chloé's character well enough to guess what her response would be.

"Well... that is disappointing." Kagami said, disappointment shadowing her features as she stared at her cup in silence.

"Yeah, sorry, Kagami. Though I wish there was a..." Adrien trailed off, only for a sudden thought to spark in his mind. "Wait a minute! What if I were your 'Chloé'?!"

Confusion knitted Kagami's brow as she gawked at the boy in front of her with surprise. "Um, I'm not sure I'm following, Adrien. Why would you want to be someone else?"

"No, it's a metaphor. It means what if I did the same thing Chloé did for me and gave the enrolment office your papers!?" Adrien exclaimed, his excitement bubbling over as he watched Kagami's expression shift from confusion to surprise.

"You would do that? For me?" Kagami asked, hope flickering in her eyes as she leaned over the tabletop a little towards him.

"Of course! You're important to me, Kagami, and I'd do anything to help those I care about." Adrien replied, the warmth in his voice enveloping Kagami like a comforting embrace as her face broke into a radiant smile before she threw her arms around him.

"You are truly my knight in shining armor! I can't thank you enough for this!" Kagami praised the boy, so moved by his declaration of assistance that she completely forgot about the table between them and still managed to avoid spilling their items. But even then, the lack of her usual decorum brought a smile to Adrien's face.

"Anytime, Gami." he replied, returning the embrace as the moment wrapped around them like a warm cocoon.

However, Kagami pulled away after hearing the new title, curiosity dancing in her eyes. " 'Gami?' Where did that come from?"

"It's an attempt at a nickname. If you're going to be joining my class and be a regular teenager, you're going to get used to creative monikers quickly." Adrien explained as they settled back into their previous positions, grinning at her flustered expression.

"I'll keep that in mind. However, I'm unsure if I like the sound of 'Gami.' " Kagami said, her lips twitching with a hint of amusement despite herself.

"Eh, we'll keep workshopping it. But still, I'd be prepared to receive more when you start your first day." Adrien said, still excited by her impending arrival at his school.

"Thank you for the advice, I appreciate it." Kagami replied, followed by a hint of worry lingering within her eyes. "However, I feel like this is a little premature. I haven't even been enrolled yet."

"Don't worry, once I get this into the enrollment office tomorrow, you'll be a shoo-in." Adrien assured her, the unwavering confidence in his voice doing nothing to soothe Kagami's nerves.

"But, doesn't my file need to be approved by the school principal before I can start?" Kagami asked, a note of concern creeping into her tone as she watched Adrien take another sip of his coffee.

"Well...Yes, they do, actually." Adrien agreed after pulling his cup away from his mouth, gauging her reaction. "But don't worry, if you give them to me now, I can get him to approve your papers before this time tomorrow."

"How? I couldn't even convince him after my mother called him. While I have the utmost faith in you, it does seem like quite the tall order." Kagami remarked, only to still find herself giving her folder to Adrien despite her better judgment.

"Let's just say I have my ways." Adrien declared as he took the folder, flashing a confident smile at his companion. But it only made Kagami's previously intrigued stare become one of apprehension instead.

"Okay, now I'm a little worried." Kagami stated with a small pout.

However, Adrien's laughter at her deadpan reaction quickly mingled with her concern as they continued their conversation, the sun dipping lower and casting long shadows around them. And within their little bubble... Kagami's hope for a life outside of her restrictive house began to blossom.

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(Time Skip)

Following his promise to help, Adrien and Kagami continued to enjoy their coffee now that the initial awkwardness had been solved. However, it ended when they spotted their family limos approaching the front of the school. After quickly finishing their pastries and paying for them and their coffee, the two fencers raced back to the school front before they were caught. Luck seemed to be on their side, and they made it by the skin of their teeth... which was good since Kagami's mom was waiting for her daughter in their limo. A quick goodbye later, the teens were on their way to their respective homes.

But while Kagami had a schedule full of lessons ahead of her remaining day, Adrien had bigger plans in mind for his own. After his usual training session with Nathalie, followed by dinner and piano practice, the blonde-haired model finally had the chance to enact his plan to help Kagami. Fortunately for him, Ladybug was due for her solo patrol of the city, so Adrien didn't have to worry about leaving the city without him for a bit. And with a quick utterance of 'Claws Out', Adrien transformed into his heroic alter ego and leapt up to his windowsill, soon bounding across the rooftops.

His intended destination? Why nowhere else than Stone Arc for a visit to his and Ladybug's resident potion maker ally for some assistance, of course!

Upon arriving at the secret entrance, Chat Noir quickly opened it with his Horngazle and entered the cavern, descending the crystal staircase as usual. The shimmering walls reflected soft light, casting ethereal shadows that danced along the steps. As he entered the bustling city below, the sounds of a vibrant marketplace filled his ears. He passed by Nox's stall, where he exchanged a quick "hello" with him and Tarnite, who had stopped by to help out his shopkeeper boyfriend with some inventory. They waved back, their laughter blending with the ambient noise of the marketplace.

From there, he quickly arrived at Styx's stall and was tackled in a hug by Maray, who squealed in delight upon seeing him just as he stepped into the shop.

"Chat Noir!" Maray exclaimed, her bright eyes sparkling with excitement. Once he recovered from the sudden impact, Chat Noir straightened up as a grin quickly spread across his face at the sight of his favorite Troll friend.

"Hey, Maray!" Chat Noir laughed, ruffling her hair playfully, just as Styx walked up to the shop front and smiled warmly at him.

"To what do we owe the pleasure, Chat Noir?" Styx asked, her brow arched with curiosity as she drew closer to the pair.

"Actually, I could use your help," Chat Noir replied, glancing around to ensure their conversation remained private.

After some hesitation, he asked, "Do you have—or know of—a potion that could persuade someone to do something?"

Upon receiving the question, Styx hesitated, her kind expression suddenly turning serious. "Yes." she slowly responded, only to quickly lock down the shop front with a flick of her wrist, the ambient chatter outside fading into the background as the door was sealed with a soft click.

Needless to say, Styx's reaction left him on edge and had Chat Noir's heart racing a bit. But when she assured him she would get to work on it, he felt a bit more at ease and let Maray lead him over to the seating area to wait. Once there, she began regaling him with a story of her latest adventure with Artemis... on a safari in the jungles of Darkest Peru.

"And that's how we ended up with those Peruvian Ghost Orchids sitting over there. It was quite the trip if I'm being honest." Maray concluded as she pointed over at the alleged flowers inside a greenhouse dome, an orb of light floating at the top to provide sun-free light.

Chat Noir turned and glanced at the flowers, mesmerised by their delicate beauty. "They look amazing. But why are they called 'Ghost Orchids'?" he asked as he turned to face her again, genuinely intrigued.

"They're called that because, on the one day of the year they can be picked, the night is so dark that the flowers glow so eerily that they are mistaken for ghosts." Maray explained as she pulled out her phone, flipping through pictures to find the ones she took over the previous weekend. "Here, this is what they looked like when we got to the jungle grove they grow in." the eight-year-old hybrid said as she showed him the images, in which Chat Noir marvelled at the glowing blossoms in the picture, their ethereal light captured in the image as it shined within the jungle's darkness.

"Whoa! That's incredible! Man, I wish I could have seen it in person!" Chat Noir exclaimed as he leaned towards Maray's phone, marvelling at the blossoms now that he had a better look at them. "Though, how come you guys even needed to go and get them? Going into a jungle on the other side of the world seems like a lot of trouble just for a pretty flower." the feline said, resuming his previous posture while Maray put her phone away.

"The flowers are used for a variety of spells and potions, mainly for ones that have deep spiritual qualities to them. But their magic is only usable when picked seconds after they bloom on Peru's darkest night of the year, making them extremely rare." Styx spoke up as she poured an ingredient into her cauldron, stirring it into the mix with practiced precision while her younger companions turned to look at her.

"Many of my clients ask for ingredients like these, and I had run out of my supply of the flowers just before we got these new ones. However, I'm trying to find a way to cultivate them here to keep up with the demand." the shopkeeper admitted, followed by her using her magic to bring another vial of ingredients towards her and add it to the brew.

"And how's that going?" Chat Noir asked, leaning toward her with interest while still in his chair.

"So far, there's been limited success. But I'm hopeful that this next attempt will be better." Styx said as she stopped stirring, soon waving her hand over the black brew in the cauldron and muttering a spell that made the brew glow with her usual black spell aura. Seconds later, the glow faded, and the liquid turned clear, earning a smile from its brewer.

"Potion's done!" the Changeling-in-disguise declared, followed by her using her magic to bring a vial from the shelves to her and dipping it into the cauldron to fill it.

"Awesome! Thanks so much, Artemis! This is going to be a huge help." Chat Noir exclaimed while getting up from his chair, eagerly walking over to Styx as she put a cork into the bottle.

"Now, hold on, kid." Styx began as she turned to face the boy, holding the vial up in the air so it was just out of reach. "I know I said you could come to me for help any time, but I'm not going to give this potion to you quite yet."

"What? Why not?!" Chat Noir protested, confusion knitting his brow at Styx's sudden change of mind.

"Look, I've made a lot of potions in my time for many different clients, and a lot of them had morally dubious qualities to them." Styx replied, her eyes narrowing suddenly while concern laced her voice. "And this persuasion potion is one of those in that category."

Chat Noir rolled his eyes, frustration bubbling just beneath the surface of his facial features. "Yeah, I figured that. But why make it all, then?"

"Normally, I wouldn't be so against giving it to someone if they pay well enough. Money is money, after all, and I have to provide for Rayla and myself." Styx explained, the arm holding the potion in the air, lowering to her mid-chest while still being clasped tightly in her hand. "But the fact that you of all people; one of the most morally just people I know, is asking for this, of course, I'm going to be worried that you'll use it for... illicit ideas." the white-skinned Troll added, giving Chat Noir a narrow-eyed once over alongside her unamused frown.

"So unless you tell me what it's for, you're not getting it." Styx stated firmly, not looking to receive anything but the boy's true intentions for the potion in her hand.

"It's complicated. You probably wouldn't understand." Chat Noir replied while crossing his arms defensively, though he could feel his resolve wavering.

"Kid, I'm 200 years old. There's nothing that I don't understand or that can surprise me." Styx pressed, her piercing gaze unwavering until it finally softened.

"So please, tell me what you're up to and whether or not I'll need to lie to the police about anything." the shopkeeper said, making Chat Noir chuckle at Styx's choice of words as he felt a little bit of the tension easing away because of it.

"No, nothing like that." The feline assured them.

"So, what's it for then?" Maray asked while still in her chair, her chin resting in her propped-up palms with her legs coyly swinging in the air behind her.

"Well...It's for a girl." Chat Noir finally admitted, a sheepish grin creeping onto his face as he rubbed the back of his neck out of habit.

However, his admission did nothing to sway Styx's mind. If anything, his words had left both her and Maray worried, the two of them exchanging wary looks at each other as the weight of his admission hung heavily in the air.

"Okay, that's not doing you any favors, kid. There's no way in hell I'm going to give this to you so you can basically roofie Ladybug into falling for you." Styx stated flatly, her fury shining within her eyes while barely being held back in her tone.

"What! Why would you think that?" Chat Noir protested, bewildered by the sudden accusation.

"You just said it was for a girl! That right there is evidence enough." Maray chimed in, her arms crossed after moving around to sit in her chair properly.

"Yes, thank you, Maray." Styx replied, nodding in agreement while her hardened stare at Chat Noir was unyielding.

Chat Noir turned to face Maray with a pout, feeling hurt. "Hey, first, how do you know what 'roofie' means? You're 8! And second, I thought I was your favourite hero!"

"Not when it sounds like you have terrible plans like that." Maray squawked, throwing her arms at the teenager with an incredulous gawk.

"She's right. I just said I won't let you use this for illicit ideas. And using this to persuade your crush to fall in love with you falls into that area." Styx spoke up, standing firm on her decision.

"Ladybug isn't even the girl I'm talking about! And when I said 'It's for a girl', I meant that I plan on using it to HELP a girl I know who has a problem, not use it on them! Besides, even if I were still actively pursuing Ladybug, I respect her way too much to do that. I'd never do that to her or anyone!" Chat Noir exclaimed, his tone shifting to something more serious as his frustration gave way to earnestness while defending himself.

Styx's expression softened slightly, her grip on the potion easing somewhat at the boy's clarification. "So... this potion is just to help a friend of yours?" Styx asked, looking dubiously at the teenager.

"YES! And it will be nothing less than persuading the intended party to change their mind on a matter. Nothing else!" Chat Noir insisted, determination lighting up his green eyes at the females with him.

"Oh..." Styx trailed off, soon sighing as her body sagged with relief. "Jesus, kid, you nearly gave me a heart attack just then!" the Changeling-in-disguise breathed out, calm flooding her features as she placed a hand on her previously racing heart.

"Well, you didn't let me finish, so that's on you." Chat Noir retorted, trying to regain his composure.

"He's got a point there, Styx." Maray added with a grin.

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, Maray. Need I remind you that you thought the same thing not mere moments ago?" Styx shot back playfully, to which Maray was about to retort. Unfortunately, she finds herself falling short.

"Touché." Maray muttered, crossing her arms defiantly as she slumped in her chair in defeat.

"Exactly." Styx cheekily declared before she turned to look at Chat Noir, leaning against the table behind her. "As for you, lead with the whole idea next time, okay? I actually thought that you had let your intrusive thoughts take over and were about to go off the deep end." the shopkeeper said, crossing her arms as she stared down the boy in front of her.

"Nice to know you have such faith in me." Chat Noir replied with a dissatisfied stare, sarcasm dripping from his voice as he placed his hands on his hips.

"You do know that a lot of your predecessors have had less than stellar reputations, right?" Styx questioned the hero, raising an eyebrow at him as an unamused look crossed her face.

"Yes, I'm aware of Sphinx. But in her defence, she did all of that after her time with my Miraculous, so I highly doubt I'll end up like her." Chat Noir pointed out with a shrug, trying to play it cool.

"I wasn't referring to her. Plenty more of your predecessors fit the 'questionable morals' bill when wielding the Miraculous you currently have." Styx revealed, her firm tone shaking Chat Noir out of his dismissive attitude.

"Wait, really?" Chat Noir squeaked, blinking in surprise as he leaned slightly toward Styx for more information.

"Yes, but that's a story for another time." Styx replied, waving a hand dismissively before continuing. "Right now, I'm more interested in this plan you're concocting. Who exactly is your target for the potion?"

"My principal. I just need it to get him to ignore a decision he made and choose otherwise." Chat Noir responded, gesturing dramatically to emphasise his point.

"Well then, in that case, I don't see the harm in giving this to you if it's just for that. It's all yours, kid." Styx announced, holding out the potion so that Chat Noir could take it with a determined nod. "Directions: Put no more or less than four drops in a liquid of your choice for Damocles to drink. Any less than that, and he won't be affected. Any more, and he'll be even more of a doormat than he already is. However, if you use it on its own without a drink to soften the effects, then the full effects will be... disastrous, to say the least."

"What will happen if he receives the full effects?" Chat Noir asked with widened eyes, concern creeping into his voice as he began to imagine what could happen.

"You don't want to know. I would have given you a different potion to avoid this, but I only had the ingredients for this one." Styx sighed in regret, her expression serious as she stepped away from the table she was leaning on. "But that won't happen if you follow my instructions to the letter, alright?"

Chat Noir rapidly nodded his head, determination set in his features. "Understood." he replied, his voice steady and easing the lingering worry Styx had.

"Good." Styx breathed out in relief as she relaxed slightly, a hint of a smile returning to her face. "But on a more positive note, even though I have no idea what she could have possibly done to need such measures, Marinette is a lucky girl if you're willing to go to these lengths to help her out." she announced, placing a hand on her hip as she smirked at the hero in front of her.

"Oh, yeah, she is! But then again, we can see why you would! She's absolutely amazing!" Maray spoke up from her chair, her eyes sparkling with admiration while adding her two cents to the conversation.

However, Chat Noir looked at them in confusion, his brow furrowing in perplexity. "Wait a minute there, what does Marinette have to do with this?"

"Isn't she the girl that you're helping out?" Maray asked, tilting her head while Styx went to clean her cauldron of the potion remains.

"Uh... no, she's not. Where'd you guys get that idea?" Chat Noir replied as he shook his head, looking bewildered by their assumptions.

"Seeing how you two acted with each other the last time Maray and I saw you, it made sense you'd be getting this potion to help her." Styx pointed out as she knelt to put out the fire under the cauldron, extinguishing the flames with a long blow of air as if it were a mere candle. Once the fire was out, Styx again looked back over at Chat Noir, curiosity dancing in her eyes. "But if not her... who's this potion being used to help?" the shopkeeper asked, hoping to quell that particular itch in her mind.

"It's Kagami." Chat Noir admitted with a smile, causing the two females with him to gawk at him in shock.

"The Tsurugi girl you fence with?" Styx asked with a raised eyebrow, receiving a nod from Chat Noir as she moved to stand again. "Why would she need you to use a persuasion potion on your principal? I thought she was homeschooled like you once were." the white-skinned Troll questioned the hero, no longer understanding the boy's motives for the potion now that he stated it was for Kagami.

"She is, but she's had enough of the isolation and is trying to enroll in my class so she can have more freedom." Chat Noir replied with an animated gesture, his passion evident as he explained Kagami's plight. "But her mother forbade it and called Mr Damocles to ensure she wouldn't be accepted in. When she told me as such, I thought I could help her out and decided to give this potion to him to change his mind before her mother found out."

"Sounds like a girl after your own heart in that department." Maray remarked with a grin, playfully arching an eyebrow her idol's way.

"Yeah, she is." Chat Noir said with a soft smile, a hint of affection in his voice, while Styx pulled the water chute down from the ceiling.

"Well then, I can't say no to you helping a girl in a similar situation to yours. I wish you luck in your endeavor, kid." Styx proclaimed as she pulled a lever next to her cauldron, giving the boy an encouraging nod as the rest of the persuasion potion was drained from the cauldron for later packaging. 'Like Hell, I'm going to waste this much potion.' The shopkeeper thought to herself, never being one to throw away so much sellable product.

"Thanks, Styx." Chat Noir replied, his smile growing now that he received such support for his plans.

"But there's still one thing I'm not getting. You've only known her for a couple of months at most, so why are you putting so much effort into helping her?" Styx asked curiously as she reached to grab the pull chain next to the water chute, pulling it to release the torrent of water to help clean the cauldron. But when his smile turned nervous, and he took a few beats to answer her, an earlier remark the boy had made bubbled forth to the forefront of Styx's mind.

"Wait... does this have something to do with the 'even if I was still actively pursuing Ladybug' comment you made earlier?" the Changeling-in-disguise questioned the hero in black, her eyes narrowing slightly in an attempt to draw the truth out of Chat Noir all the faster. Fortunately, it worked.

"Yeah, it does. I recently decided to move on from my crush on Ladybug and pursue Kagami instead." Chat Noir announced, his tone firm with his conviction in every word.

"Really?!" Maray and Styx exclaim in unison, their surprise palpable.

"Really, really." Chat Noir confirmed with a nod, a proud grin spreading across his face while his companions processed the news.

"Well, I got to say, I didn't see this coming, kid. What brought on this sudden decision?" Styx asked as she let the water drain from the cauldron, genuinely intrigued by his decision.

"Did you finally have enough of Ladybug shooting you down?" Maray teased with a playful glint in her eye... only for her cheekiness to suddenly fade away. "But then again, it's only been twice now, so..." the red-skinned half-Troll mused, trailing off as she thought more about her idol's current situation.

"Why am I not surprised you guys know about that, too?" Chat Noir groaned, rolling his eyes with a chuckle. "To answer your question, though, Maray... yes, Ladybug rejecting me had some part in my decision to move on from her. But that's not the whole story." the blonde-haired hero said, earning more curious glances from his companions.

"Then what is the so-called 'full story' if you don't mind me asking?" Styx pressed, leaning playfully over the cauldron towards the feline with interest.

"Well, it started after Ladybug rejected me again..." Chat Noir began, his eyes reflecting his inner conflict as he started explaining what had happened on the double date two weeks ago.

Thankfully for him, Styx and Maray already knew about most of the events that led to the date in question, so he didn't need to explain much on that front. However, he did need to regale how with help from Luka, he chose to move on from Ladybug and pursue Kagami, leading to his current quest to help her get enrolled in his school.

"So I then finally decided to do the healthy thing and move on to someone else so that I don't ruin mine and Ladybug's friendship by ignoring her wishes." the black cat hero concluded, his tone serious and mature after his earnest words.

"That's very mature of you to realise and work to improve on, Adrien. I'm very proud of you." Styx praised the boy, nodding approvingly at his choice. "But I do have one concern... why move on to Kagami?" the shopkeeper asked, leaving Chat Noir visibly stunned by the question.

Styx raised a finger, halting Chat Noir in his tracks before he could say more, "Look, I'm not saying that she's not a viable option. From what I've seen from watching over you, she seems like a terrific girl. However, I feel like you're making the same mistake with her as you made with Ladybug by moving on to a new crush just after meeting them."

"Granted, yes, you've decided to pursue Kagami a couple of months after meeting her, compared to pursuing Ladybug a mere couple of days after meeting her, so you have that in your favor. On the other hand, you got to know Ladybug over time, which further deepened your feelings for her. But you and Kagami haven't spent much time outside of fencing to get to know each other properly, only doing so recently after that near-disaster of a double date." Styx stated as she leaned against her now-empty cauldron and folded her arms, concern etched across her face.

"So yeah, we're a little worried that you're rushing things." Maray interjected, glancing between them while still sitting in her chair.

At their critiques, Chat Noir frowned and crossed his arms defensively. "I don't see how that's rushing things."

"You're trying to be Kagami's boyfriend before becoming her friend first." Styx pointed out with a shake of her head, giving the hero a deadpan stare afterwards.

"What's the problem with that?" Chat Noir challenged, furrowing his brow at the Troll in front of him.

"By doing that, you're setting yourself up for a relationship doomed to fail." Styx replied firmly, not looking to entertain Chat Noir's current notions on love.

"No offence, Artemis, but you're being a bit of a pessimist. Plenty of humans have good romantic relationships without becoming friends, so I don't see why you're so close-minded." Chat Noir argued with a dismissive gesture, frustration bubbling beneath the surface of his demeanour.

Styx raised an unyielding eyebrow in his direction, unbelieving of his persistence on the matter, "Okay, first of all, I'm a realist, kid. There's a difference, so remember that. And second, you humans' so-called 'love without need of friendship' is impossible."

"You do realise that nearly all those relationships end badly, and they end up with one or both parties hating the other, right?" Styx questioned Chat Noir, hoping to get him to see reason.

"What about rom-com movies?" Chat Noir countered, crossing his arms defiantly, even though he started to realise that he was in a losing argument.

"Those make it even worse! Love is never that easy." Maray chimed in from her chair, shaking her head at the stupid counterargument the hero had made.

"Aren't you a little young to be talking about things like this?" Chat Noir asked as he turned his attention to her, eyebrows raised in slightly disturbed curiosity.

"Should have thought about that before talking about your love life in front of me. Besides, I'm more mature than my age group." Maray declared while puffing out her chest, proudly smiling as she did.

"And sometimes that's a bit troublesome." Styx remarked with a small laugh, fondly rolling her eyes at her ward before turning her attention back to Chat Noir. "But believe me, kid, I know all too well that trying to achieve love before or entirely without friendship rarely ends well. And I don't want you to go through that." the Changeling-in-disguise sighed, her voice softening slightly alongside her stare.

"Look, I understand that you're new to being a normal teenager after being isolated in your house for the past 14 years and want to experience everything there is to be one. But you have to understand that when it comes to romance, it's best to take things slow and get to know each other before jumping into a committed relationship." Styx said, stepping away from the cauldron to place a hand on his shoulder, rubbing her thumb over it comfortingly.

Chat Noir looked up at her with genuine curiosity, his arms relaxing at his sides "How do you know so much about this stuff?"

"Because I was deeply in love once when I was younger." Styx sighed, her gaze turning distant as she looked off to the side, lost in memory for a moment.

"You were?" Chat Noir gaped, his eyes wide in surprise as he leaned toward her in intrigue.

Styx smiled wistfully, her eyes shimmering with nostalgia as she turned her attention back to him. "Yes, I was. Engaged to be married, actually."

"Ooooh, I love this story! You've got to tell him everything, Artemis!" Maray squealed, quickly bouncing in her seat with so much excitement that she nearly launched herself off and onto her feet again.

Despite the large number of secrets Artemis kept from her ward, she had managed to find parts of her life that she could share with Rayla that wouldn't be too... intense for her. One of those things was about the only one she could truly call 'the love of her life'. Something that Rayla took great interest in when finding out about that part of her life, for reasons unknown to Artemis. Regardless, she was glad that her ward was so keen to learn more about her past... even if she wasn't ready to talk about herself yet.

The white-skinned Troll chuckled softly, fondly shaking her head at Maray's eagerness to hear about her past love life. "Perhaps another time, Maray. But long story short, it took my love and me many years of being friends and allies before we finally realised that we had mutual feelings of romance."

"And since I was in love with my best friend, our relationship was even more wonderful." Styx reminisced with a growing smile, despite her eyes carrying a hint of sadness.

Even if he was not expecting Artemis to be so open about such personal matters, Chat Noir smiled gratefully at the Troll before him, "That's amazing, Artemis! But how come you haven't mentioned him before? Did you guys get married in the end?"

Suddenly, Styx's smile darkened, followed by her looking down at the ground in what looked like... shame. "No... we didn't. He died saving my life the day before we were going to be wed." Styx revealed, quickly needing to swallow oncoming tears as the painful memory resurfaced.

"Oh..." Chat Noir trailed off in dread, his expression softening and empathy swirling in his eyes as he stepped closer. "I'm so sorry." he amended, his hands fiddling with themselves as he and the concerned Maray looked at the mourning Styx, not sure of how to comfort her with this.

"It's okay, kid. You didn't know. Besides, it's nice to talk about him every once in a while." Styx replied as she took a deep breath, collecting herself as she wiped away any stray tears from her face. "When you find a love like that, they never truly leave you, even if they are gone from this world. So long as you keep them in your heart, they are always with you."

"I know what you mean." Chat Noir softly replied, looking at his hands for a moment as his thoughts drifted towards his deceased mother. However, he quickly shook himself out of his wandering thoughts and refocused on the individuals with him.

"What was his name, if you don't mind me asking?" the feline asked, bringing a smile to Styx's lips before she finally looked at him again.

"Sorry boyo, but this is my business. I still like to have some privacy." Styx said, smiling softly before shifting her gaze to Maray and back at him. "But if you really want to know something, you and Rayla remind me of him so much. Both of you could be his reincarnation split in two." the shopkeeper remarked, her smile turning playful as her two younger companions quickly exchanged surprised glances with the other.

"Really?" Chat Noir and Maray asked in tandem, their interest piqued by Styx's comparison.

"Yep." Styx chirped in reply. "But see what I mean, kid? Friendship before romance is the way to go if you want to find the one meant for you." the white-skinned Troll reiterated, her hands gesturing emphatically as she spoke to further drive her point home.

"But this would be your first romantic relationship. I hardly think it'll turn out to be perfect with how young you are." Styx mused aloud as she crossed her arms again, pointing out some of Chat Noir's future struggles in the matter. "On the other hand, the youth always make mistakes to learn from, especially when it comes to love. The more you learn from them, the more you'll get the hang of romance."

"You really think so?" Chat Noir asked, a hopeful look in his eyes despite the obstacles Artemis had brought up.

"I promise. But in the meantime, take my advice for a spin after you help Kagami out, okay?" Styx advised, giving him an encouraging smile in the hopes of him listening to her so he wouldn't blow things right away.

"We'll see how it goes." Chat Noir replied before suddenly hugging Styx, warmth radiating from him as her arms hovered around him in surprise. "Thanks again for the potion, and I appreciate the advice, Artemis." the feline hero said, earning a genuine smile from Styx before she finally wrapped her arms tightly around him to return the hug.

"Anytime, kid." Styx replied with a smile, prompting Maray to jump up from her chair and join the hug, wrapping her arms around them. However, the hug only lasted a few more seconds before they broke away. "Now then, you better get going. You have a big day tomorrow." the shopkeeper reminded the boy, her tone light but firm while gesturing toward the locked door.

"Yeah, I probably should." Chat Noir agreed with a nod, a hint of excitement in his voice. "It was great seeing you guys again. I hope it'll be a social visit next time I come."

"I hope so, too. But there's no pressure to rush it." Styx assured the boy as she pulled out a slip of paper from her belt pocket, waving her hand over it to make a sequence of numbers appear on it. "Also, here's my number in case things go sideways." the white-skinned-Troll offered, handing him the paper and keeping her gaze steady as Chat Noir took the paper from her.

"Thanks. But I'm sure it'll be fine." Chat Noir confidently assured as he pocketed the paper.

"Better safe than sorry." Styx said, giving him a knowing look.

"Fair enough. But I'd better get going before I'm missed." Chat Noir replied, glancing toward the door with renewed determination.

"That would be ideal, yes. Good luck tomorrow, kid." Styx wished him well, offering him a warm smile while pride shone within her eyes.

"Thanks again, guys! See you later!" Chat Noir said as he waved them goodbye while heading toward the exit, a soft glow surrounding Styx's hand as she used her magic to open the shop front again.

"Bye!" Maray and Styx farewelled as they waved goodbye to the retreating Chat Noir, only dropping their hands once he was gone.

"What are the chances of his idea working?" Maray asked after their waving, her voice dropping to a whisper as she side-glanced at Styx.

"Depending on the plan he comes up with... best case scenario is 50/50. Worst case is 90/10." Styx stated with a shrug, not even bothering to beat around the bush, and just getting straight to the point.

"Oof, here's to hoping that he catches a break." Maray winced before looking at the retreating hero, raising an imaginary glass his way.

"Here's to hoping." Styx chuckles softly, the warmth of their camaraderie enveloping them before they go back to their usual tasks before closing time.