AN: After watching the second half of season 3, "Ikari Gozen" was actually one of my favorite episodes because of how naturally the friendship develops between Marinette and Kagami. Unfortunately, "Milady" deviates from the series canon before that episode (otherwise Kagami would have been among the heroes in the final Hawk Moth battle instead of being recruited a month later). Consequently, this story is my attempt at a version of that episode, at least as far as the Marinette/Kagami friendship goes. At this point, Ladybug and Cat Noir already recruited her as Ryoku, so she doesn't get a miraculous here. In "Running out of Time" chapter 1, however, she recognized Cat Noir's fighting style and figured out their identities from that.

Tomorrow I will start a new multi-chapter story titled "An Unexpected Date" in honor of Valentine's Day. It was originally going to be part of this Anthology, but it needed more than 1 chapter.

To anonymousfriend27: Not every story in this Anthology will have quite that same level of cuteness; that ending is probably the "cutest" bit I've written so far. The next couple are going to focus more on their friendships. The story starting tomorrow will have plenty of "cute," though…

"Please, Marinette? I know that if you just get to know her you'll really like her."

Marinette sighed as she packed up her books and moved down the steps to join Adrien by the door. She had been looking forward to hanging out with Alya, Alix, Rose, Juleka, and Mylène that afternoon. Sabrina and Chloe were even planning to meet them at the mall to go shopping with the girls. She didn't want to give that up for anything, let alone to watch Adrien's fencing practice and then hang out with the "Ice Queen" Kagami. Unfortunately, Marinette had yet to learn how to resist that pleading look on Adrien's face. "Oh, fine," she grumbled. "If it means that much to you for me to get to know Kagami, I will at least give it a try. But I still don't understand why you decided to continue fencing now that your father isn't here to force you into it."

"You didn't seem to mind my fencing skills when I used them against my father on Heroes Day, or at the mansion when I saved you, or when we actually defeated him," Adrien pointed out, raising an eyebrow at her. Marinette was grateful that the halls were largely deserted, with only Max and Kim still anywhere near them. "Or Darkblade. Or either of the times Kagami was Akumatized. Or fighting my future self. Or–"

She poked him in the ribs. "Okay, you made your point."

"Of course, I think I'm getting to be more comfortable fighting with bokken than foils or epees anymore; the balance on the swords is all wrong after using my staff so often," Adrien continued, as if she hadn't spoken. He pushed the gymnasium door open and stepped aside to let Marinette precede him into the room. "To be honest, I think making me learn to fence might have been the best think Father ever did for me," he observed, grimacing. "Not that it's a high bar…"

A few minutes later, Marinette was seated comfortably in the bleachers, watching as the fencing team finished putting on their protective gear and warming up. Marinette's eye was immediately drawn away from Adrien to the brilliant red outfit that Kagami always wore. As she and Adrien acknowledged each other, bowed, and began their sparring match, Marinette stared transfixed at the whirl of red and white. They moved back and forth, lunging and parrying and leaping aside to evade the other's blades. As their match continued, Marinette pulled her sketchpad out of her backpack and began to draw.

"Marinette?"

"Hmm?" Marinette didn't look up from the sketchpad where she was putting the final touches on a dress design.

"Are you coming with us? Getting ice cream with Kagami, remember?" Adrien asked. He tapped her forehead gently with a finger.

"Is your practice over already?" Marinette asked, flipping the pad closed and sliding it back into her backpack. She looked up to see Adrien and Kagami, both back in their regular cloths, standing in the row in front of her and staring at her.

"Yeah, it's been an hour and a half," Adrien answered, grinning in amusement. "Practice finished 30 minutes ago, and then our last match went another 15, and then we got changed. So… what did you think?"

"I… thought it was really nice," Marinette replied, trying not to wince.

"Really?" Adrien teased. "Who won the most matches?"

"Um… Kagami?"

"Okay, that was an easy one." Adrien smirked. "But who won the last one?"

"Um… you?"

"Adrien, I do not think she was actually paying any attention," Kagami announced, arching an eyebrow at Marinette. "Clearly there was something else more important to her."

"Ugh, fine!" Marinette threw her arms up. "I know I tried fencing last year, but I just could never get into it. It's exciting to watch, and I really did watch your first few rounds, but then I… kinda got inspired and had to put my new dress design on paper before I lost it," she admitted. She stood up and started climbing down the bleachers to follow Adrien and Kagami. As she reached the floor, Adrien took her hand, interlacing their fingers, and led the way out of the school, with Kagami on his other side.

"Really?" Kagami asked. "You were inspired to design a dress while watching us fence?"

"Actually," Marinette began, her cheeks staring to flush, "it was watching you fence."

"Me?" Kagami looked startled and her eyebrows rose as she leaned forward to look around Adrien at Marinette.

"Well, specifically the brilliant red of your outfit," she explained. "Swirling around against the white and silver of Adrien's gear as you dueled."

"Everyone always questions why I wear red instead of the more traditional white," Kagami observed.

"I've been meaning to ask you about that," Adrien interjected, leading the way down the school steps and turning toward the Seine.

"Isn't it obvious?" Marinette asked, giving him a look. "Red is the color of strength in Japanese culture."

"Whereas white is associated more with mourning and death," Kagami added. She gave Marinette an appraising look, which Marinette returned with a small smile. Kagami looked back at Adrien and asked, "So which color do you think I would prefer to wear while fighting?"

"Huh," Adrien said. "I thought you just wanted to stand out! But you're wearing white right now…"

"White isn't just a symbol for death and mourning, silly," Marinette told him, elbowing him in the ribs. "It can also symbolize truth and purity."

"And sometimes I just wear whatever I want," Kagami admitted. "But fencing? I'll take every advantage I can get!"

"So is it the same in Chinese culture?" Adrien asked.

"For white it's similar," Marinette answered, "but in Chinese culture red is associated more with luck than strength. That's part of why Chinese brides traditionally wear red instead of white – that and because white is usually worn to funerals!"

"I suppose Ryoku and Ladybug are both wearing the right color then!" Kagami said, arching an eyebrow at Marinette and quirking her lips into a tiny smile. Marinette simply returned the smile serenely. "I didn't realize you were so well versed in color symbolism, Marinette."

Marinette giggled. "I have to know it," she explained. "Could you imagine if I tried to sell a white wedding dress in China or Japan?"

"Your brand and name would be dishonored for eternity among the most traditional circles, and you would never again be able to display your wares proudly in Japan!" Kagami declared dramatically.

Marinette shuddered. "If I did something like that, I think my mother's family would disown me! They're really traditional that way. And I really want my designs to make it in China; I absolutely love Chinese fashion."

"Is that what you were designing this afternoon?" Kagami asked. "A Chinese dress?"

"Actually, no," Marinette answered. She found an empty bench by the river and sat down. "I decided to go with a kimono, instead of a cheongsam. Would you like to see it?"

"Absolutely!" Kagami said eagerly, shoving Adrien out of the way just as he was about to sit next to her.

"Well, I'll go and get the ice cream, I guess," Adrien mumbled, shaking his head ruefully as he walked toward André's ice cream cart.

Marinette pulled out her sketchpad and flipped to the last drawing she had done. She held it up for Kagami to see, and she almost grabbed it out of Marinette's hands in her excitement.

"This… this is incredible, Marinette," Kagami finally said, her eyes never leaving the drawing. "I love the patterns and interplay of colors. Red, but not too much red. A little white to highlight, but not so much as to overpower. Silver flashes… Are you actually going to make this?"

"I don't know," Marinette answered, shrugging. "I was thinking about bringing it to my mentor at Agreste to see what she thinks, but I hadn't really given it much thought. Why?"

"It's just…" Kagami hesitated. "My mother is making me go to a gala at the Japanese embassy next month with her, but none of the clothes I already have feel right for the occasion. She says I must look perfect, as I represent the Tsurugi name, and I do not wish to bring her dishonor."

"And if you're wearing the latest, never-before-seen dress from Agreste's Asian line, it may appease her?" Marinette smiled.

"'Agreste'…" Kagami began, her cheeks turning pink, "or even 'Marinette' brand. If you wish, I mean. I realize we are not the closest of friends, Marinette."

"Perhaps we are not," Marinette admitted, "but I think I would like to be. I'd love for you to wear my dress to your gala! But we've got a lot of work to do first." Marinette stood up, locked her arm with Kagami's, and steered her in the direction of the bakery. "First, we need to get your measurements, and then we'll need to find the right fabric. I'm thinking silk, but if that's too much trouble or expense–"

"Expense is no problem," Kagami assured her. "And our maid is well-versed in caring for silks."

"Wonderful! Then there's no time like the present to get started! We can grab some pastries from the bakery on the way up to my room. What's your favorite flavor of macaroons?"

Adrien returned to the park bench with three ice creams just in time to watch the two girls stand up. Marinette put her arm around Kagami's shoulder to steer her back toward the bakery. His jaw dropped open as he watched them bantering about fashion and pastries like old friends. What just happened?

The color symbolism all came from www color-meanings com. If I'm incorrect on anything, let me know and I will rectify it. And I realize that modern Chinese fashion is open to white wedding dresses (or wearing white and red at different times during the celebration) due to Western influence, but we're going with more of the traditional aesthetic here.

A kimono is a traditional Japanese dress. A cheongsam is a traditional Chinese dress (at least according to Wikipedia).