Four members of the Light Music Club stared hard at their set list, while Nino trained Ivan on the drums.

"I feel like we're missing something," said Alya, everyone else nodding.

They had picked their favorite songs, including Adrien's and Alya's, but for their last official concert as a club, something felt lacking.

"Do we have time to write a new song," asked Juleka, looking at the group. Marinette sucked in her lips into a straight line before pulling out her song book.

"I haven't had too much inspiration for songs since I just finished early applications, but there should be something in there we could pull out."

"Same, I finally mailed in my last application yesterday." Alya picked up a cookie, taking a bite before looking at Adrien. She knew Adrien had finished his applications back in September, or at least his top choices. There had been a few outlier schools he applied to in October, but he didn't mention anything. He had seemed to come to some sort of agreement not reveal his final choice school until all acceptance and rejection letters came in.

"Dangit! I knew I was forgetting something," groaned Nino, leaving Ivan to the drums as he ran to his backpack. He pulled out several crumpled papers.

"Do you think Caly would still read these over," he asked, everyone frowning. Nino sighed, resigned to sitting in his chair. He flipped the song list around, reading over the song names.

"Maybe we need to get out of the club room, give our heads some room to think," he suggested.

"Or we could practice. Maybe the set list will feel better after we run it through," offered Juleka.

"That's probably the best idea, maybe we're overthinking things," said Adrien, the other members nodding as they got in position.

"Here, the first song you know, so why not give it a shot," offered Nino, standing slightly behind Ivan. Ivan smiled and nodded as the girls equipped their guitars and bass.

Even after practicing their songs, Nino and Ivan alternating, the group still felt something was off. Adrien and Alya crowded around Marinette's song book, Marinette listening to their comments while putting away her bass.

"It's like, you got good starts, I just can't figure out where to go next," said Alya, passing the book back to Marinette.

"Don't worry, I can try to come up with a new song before the show."

"Don't you have another contest this year," asked Juleka?
Marinette shook her head no, "Just the internship, but I should still have time for our costumes and a new song. If you guys want to help come up with a song, you're more than welcome."

"Oo, let's all try writing a song, then announce our ideas tomorrow," suggested Alya.

"I don't think any of us can come up with a song by tomorrow," said Juleka.

"Well, we'll start coming up with ideas tonight and the rest of the week. We'll pick the best song to keep writing at the end of the week."

"That's fair," said Adrien, packing up the tea set.

The Light Music Club got their things together then left the club room for today, everyone coming up with their own idea for a new song.


"Closed for Maintenance"

A piece of paper was taped over their clubroom's window the following afternoon, written in terrible sharpie handwriting.

Nino was the first to act, trying to open the door but to find it locked. He pushed against the door, trying to make it budge to no avail.

"Man, why did Ivan have to go to the theater today," he grumbled, pulling off his jacket to try again. "Adrien, help me."

Adrien nodded, both boys stepping back before running into the door. Instead of breaking it down, Nino clipped his elbow against the handle.

Several colorful words slipped out as he massaged his injury, glaring at the offending door handle.

"Think before you start breaking down doors," chided Marinette, patting the poor boy's head.

"We just need to talk to Caline or the janitor to explain what's going on," said Alya.

Nino nodded, the group about to leave the hallway as Ms. Bustier waddled up in her pencil skirt and pumps.

"Sorry about that, let me open this up for you," she said as she opened the door. Everyone peered inside to see dark patches on the ceiling that hadn't been there the day before.

"What's that," asked Juleka, pointing up as the club room filed in.

"Water damage. Not exactly certain the cause, but Christmas break the school is going through a plumbing upgrade. This room though couldn't wait until then so they're going to start investigation and repair this week."

"At least our instruments are fine." Alya grabbed her guitar case, wrapping her instrument in a hug.

"But what about practice," asked Juleka?

"And our new song? We still need to figure that out," added Marinette.

"We just need to find you all new room."


"Your class," asked Alya as Ms. Bustier opened the door. The room was vacant of students, and Nino already started unloading drums from dolly they had carted up.

"None of the other music clubs had spare rooms and Music Storage 1 is full of unused instruments. In terms of classrooms, this is really the only one available."

"I guess it could do, for now," trailed off Adrien, looking around as Marinette helped Nino unpack, and Alya glared at the wall.

"Everything ok there," he asked, resting his hand on her shoulder.

"Peachy," she grumbled before setting her guitar case on a desk to pull out her instrument. Adrien looked to the others for reasons for Alya's snippish behavior, everyone else just as confused.

They set up their instruments around the front, moving Ms. Bustier's table against the wall for more room.

"From the top," asked Juleka, looking around the group before their lead singer. Rather than respond, Alya started playing, people scrambling to catch their place in the song.

As they played, they could hear banging on the wall, but continued to play thinking Nino was doing something weird with his drums. Only Ms. Bustier seemed to comprehend what was going on as she looked between the front and back of the classroom.

They wrapped up the song, everyone please with practice. Until the door opened up to a very angry senior student with an armband stating "Press"

"Can you please stop?! The journalism club is trying to write!"

"Um, sorry, we got kicked out of our club room for maintenance repairs," apologized Adrien, looking at the club who looked a little guilty for bothering someone. Except Alya. Alya had a smug cat grin.

"Just put your freshmen up against the back wall then. I'm sure you have enough to act as a sound barrier. Some people actually enjoy listening to music too while they write, did you think about that? Oh, but what would I know, I'm just anyone who could write a blog," said Alya.

The student adjusted their glasses," Any problems you have with the journalism club, is something you would have needed to discuss with my predecessors."

"Right, and have you, as the new acting president tried reforming these problems?"

The student grimaced before marching off, only to be replaced by Sabrina.

"Hey, um, sorry to bother you, and um, sorry you got displaced. But um, we're practicing for our Mathelete competition this winter, so if maybe you could try to be a little quieter? It's hard to concentrate," she asked?

Alya's smug look disappeared as the club looked at each other.

"Yeah," said Marinette, "We'll try to find another room."

"Oh, I didn't mean that, I don't want you to get displaced."

"Don't worry Sabrina," interrupted Adrien, "Just have your team do your best at your competition. I'm sure the school has room for us elsewhere."

"We'll be fine," added Marinette, stepping in beside Adrien.

Sabrina's eyes lit up, "Rose was right, Adrienette is the best."

Sabrina giggled to herself before skipping back to her classroom, Adrien and Marinette looking a little more pink in the face.

"You two need to stop being cute sometimes," grumbled Nino as he started packing up his instrument again.

"What was that with the journalism club," Juleka diverted the topic, everyone looking at Alya.

"Four years of salt."


The six members of the Light Music Club stood on the edge of the sports field, boys and girls football splitting up the field while cheerleading practiced on the other side of the field.

"I guess this works," said Nino.

"If not here, we could try the gym, but it's pretty crowded," offered Ms. Bustier as she finished plugging them into their amps.

The group looked at each other and shrugged before Nino started playing.

The football club didn't seem to notice, too invested in their drills. All members were running up and kicking the balls at the goal, the goalie blocking every one of them. Until a freshmen kicked one ball out of line.

"Heads up!" Alix yelled out, but the Light Music Club didn't see it in time. Marinette got hit in the side of the head with the football. Adrien was by her side in a flash, cradling the girl as they fell to the ground, bass still safe between them.

"Sorry!"

The Light Music Club looked back at the football club, already going back to practice.

"Yeah, I don't think this place is a good idea," said Alya, everyone shaking their heads no.


The Light Music Club gathered in the nurse's office as the school nurse checked Marinette for possible injury. The girl was still holding her bass, Adrien trying to hold her hand.

"I think you should be fine. Just try not to shake your head too much," the nurse warned to check on another patient.

The group all looked up to Ms. Bustier, who was biting her thumb.

"I don't know where else. I could call Penny to see if he has a recording studio open, but I don't know with all the holiday records going on now."

The club frowned, everyone looking down.

"My house couldn't fit everyone unless we moved furniture," murmured Marinette.

"Too small," said Nino.

"Same."

"We could do the boat again, but with the weather…"

Everyone looked outside to the grey clouds and dried leaves swirling about.

"I guess, I could check with my father, see if we can use our house," offered Adrien.

"He wouldn't mind? I know the holiday season has been busy for him," said Marinette.

"He's already finishing up the spring line. It's just overseeing the winter line up before the Holiday show. Let me call."

Adrien pulled out his phone, walking away to make the call.

"Everything alright?"

The group looked around to see the Japanese girl from the club competition.

"Um, our club was evicted due to plumbing issues," answered Alya, looking at the others.

"So we've been trying to find a new place to practice for the Christmas show," added Juleka.

"And we haven't even gone over our new song," Marinette panicked, only to groan, holding her head.

"Don't worry, we'll figure it out," encouraged Nino, "Adrien's old man loves you. How could he say no?"

"Father said yes," said Adrien, popping back in the room. "He'll have our music room prepped for tomorrow. He'll even bring the drums from the beach house. But we'll only have until 5 to practice so we stay on top of homework."

"Awesome!" Nino gave Adrien a high five, Alya explaining to Juleka the grandeur of the Agreste House, Marinette burying her head in Adrien's chest so as not to get a headache.

"Well, I wish you all luck. And I look forward to seeing your show," wished the girl before hobling out of the room.

"Wasn't she in kendo last year," asked Adrien?

Juleka looked between the door where the girl left, then back to Adrien.

"Yes, we went up against them in the club competition. It was a small club."

Adrien furrowed his eyebrows, "Did Kendo merge with Fencing or did she switch clubs?"

The group looked towards the door, everyone shrugging before chatting about rehearsals at the Agrestes.


Alya had forgotten the grandeur of the Agreste mansion. She was already impressed when Adrien's driver picked them all up after work, Ivan still staying behind for theater as their shows were first in the line of events for December. But watching the gate open up as the car drove around the fountain was a sight to behold.

A lady in a dark plum pantsuit and red turtleneck opened the door for them and led them inside the house, to the music room.

"The piano and drums are here, per your request. We weren't sure about the amplifiers," she started as they entered the room. The room was as big as Alya's entire apartment, then probably some. The walls were covered in some jagged Styrofoam, Nino practically near tears at the "sound proofing".

"It's fine Nathalie, we got the amps. Could you have Jean send in tea and snacks," Adrien asked. If the woman thought his request strange, she said nothing. Just nodded and left the teenagers to their own devices.

Alya started setting up her gear, Marinette and Nino hugging the walls. There even was a disco ball on the ceiling.

"This is the most beautiful room I've seen in my life," whimpered Nino.

"It's pretty great. Mom and dad both played instruments, so it was one of the first rooms they had set up. Plus it works great for ballroom dancing.

Nino and Marinette looked to Adrien, then at each other before snorting in laughter.

Adrien smirked, grabbing Marinette's hand and pulling her into a waltz.

"My mother was quite well known for her dancing skills, which I luckily inherited," he teased as he spun Marinette around, who looked quite unsure what to do with her feet. But Adrien was careful to avoid stepping where Marinette might misstep, the two dancing a somewhat graceful waltz.

"Get a room lovebirds, we need to practice. Or at least go over our song selection," called out Alya as she plugged the amp to an outlet on the floor. Juleka had already plugged her guitar into the amp and began strumming one of Jagged Stone's slower songs.

"Excuse me," Nino bowed mockingly to Marinette and Adrien, cutting them off from dancing. "If I may?"

Adrien, being ever the gentleman, stepped aside for Nino to dance with Marinette, only for Nino to take Adrien for a dance instead.

Alya tried hard to stifle her laughter as Nino turned a graceful waltz into some half-baked tango. Marinette tried to but in several times, only for Nino to snap Adrien in another direction while changing dance styles.

Nino spun Adrien out, Marinette grabbing onto Adrien so when he rolled back in, Marinette was sandwiched between them.

"Marinette, a dance is between two people," argued Nino.

"Then get your own partner." Marinette grabbed Adrien by the shoulder, then took his other hand out of Nino's before jumping out of Nino's grasp, all grace lost to some jumping twirl dance. Juleka changed her song

"Fine, Alya, dance with me?"

"I'm good Lahiffe. Besides I have my guitar."

Nino seemed not to care about the guitar the club had worked so hard to buy their first year, because Nino pulled her off the ground, guitar and all, into the same jumping dance Marinette and Adrien were doing.

"Bet we can be faster than you," Nino challenged!

"Not with Alya's guitar," Marinette yelled back as Adrien took the lead, pulling the duo ahead. But then Marinette's feet caught up, tangled in Adrien's as they fell to the ground, Adrien cradling Marinette for safety.

"So we win by default," asked Nino, pausing his and Alya's dance.

"Unfortunately," groaned Marinette.

Marinette and Adrien continued laying on the ground, catching their breath as Juleka stopped the music.

"Nino, you can let go now?"

"Oh right," Nino let go of Alya, the girl returning to her amp, not daring to look back to see if Nino was reacting as weirdly as she was.

"Your tea and snacked," announced a new person dressed in cooking attire as he stood at the door. How long he had been standing there, no one knew, but he seemed to be smiling under his mustache.

Nino took the food and drinks, thanking the man as he left before setting it down on the floor. Everyone gathered around, quietly partaking in their afternoon ritual.

"So, song ideas? Anyone," asked Marinette after a sip.

All five teens reached out for their backpacks, everyone pulling out a notebook to show the other.

"Nino, what's that," asked Juleka? Everyone looked over to see what looked to be a short list.

"Song titles. I couldn't come up with the song, so I came up with titles."

"I like that part Alya," Marinette pointed at one of Alya's paragraphs.

"I tried, I liked," Alya took Marinette's song book, flipping to a different page, " this song, so I thought I could try to build off that."

Juleka and Adrien both looked over, Marinette humming the notes while Alya murmured her lyrics. Juleka looked down to her book, so when Alya's paragraph stopped, she picked up with one of her own.

"And then back to Marinette's," instructed Adrien, Alya and Juleka singing Marinette's paragraph. Adrien then cut in with his own, everyone smiling as Marinette continued to hum.

"Scissors," Adrien announced as he reached for his bag. He pulled out child's safety scissors, cutting parts of everyone's song until they formed a complete song.

"A couple tweaks here and there, maybe repeat Alya's line for chorus," mused Marinette.

"Great now you can pick out one of my song titles!" Everyone deadpanned at Nino.

"Or not."

"If you come up with a better list than describing food items, then we'll consider," said Marinette.

Nino took that as a win as he leaned in to read the words.

Marinette unlocked her bass, playing along to the music, writing in her notes.

"Wait, maybe we should make a copy of this first so we can make edits to the copies.

"Oh, right."

"I have a copier and printer in my room," Adrien offered as Alya set the sheets of paper in order on a binder for them to carry. He carefully took the book before leaving the group.

"Well, who knew song writing was that easy," jested Alya as she helped herself to a shortbread cookie.

Marinette just rolled her eyes as she sipped her tea.

"Turtle Song," declared Nino, everyone shaking their heads.

"I'm just surprised you didn't follow after Adrien…" continued Alya, Marinette turning red.

"We, we're not like that. We're just trying to enjoy things in the now."

"And now could have been alone time with Adrien."

The door suddenly opened, the club members turning to see none other than Mr. Agreste standing in the doorway.

He looked away from the empty instruments to see the teenagers on the floor with tea and snacks. They stared at each other for a few moments, neither certain who should talk first.

"I was told you would be rehearsing."

"We are, sort of. We are working on a new song for our next performance. Adrien just went to make copies," explained Marinette.

"Fateful," asked Nino?

"Getting better," assured Alya before looking back up at the fashion mogul.

"I see."

"Oh, hello father," Adrien stepped around the taller Agreste, though Adrien was short by much anymore.

"Here's the lyrics, is this where you wanted the chorus? I forgot to ask," Adrien passed out the papers before laying down the notebook with the strips of paper.

"Yep, this is good," Marinette set down her sheet, playing the notes before writing them down on the paper.

"So like this," asked Juleka as she tried playing along.

"Try a note higher."

The girl nodded, playing as Marinette suggested.

Adrien had gone up to the piano, playing the song along with Marinette's notes. Nino was reading over Marinette's shoulder, name quest forgotten as he pulled out his drumsticks to tap on the ground, suggesting a piano intro.

The students didn't even notice when Mr. Agreste left the room.


"Home Sweet Home," yelled Alya into the club room. After a week of practicing at the Agrestes, the clubroom had been fixed.

"I missed you so much," Alya kissed the tables before she set down her guitar.

"And I missed you!" Nino hugged the drums that had been left in Music Storage 1.

Within minutes the tea had been set up again, everyone helping themselves to the croissants from the Dupain-Chengs.

They all breathed a collective sigh of relief.

"Maybe we could stay like this," just for today," asked Alya, everyone agreeing. Only for the door to be slammed open, Marinette nearly spilled her tea.

"Finally you guys are back. What took so long," demanded Chloe, holding another latte?

"The room was being repaired for plumbing problems," answered Nino, passing Marinette a napkin.

"Well, you're back, which is good because we have a lot to discuss before your concert in two weeks."

The group looked at each other, blinking, then it suddenly hit them.

"Our concerts in two weeks!"

The club scrambled around to get everything set up, leaving Chloe alone at the table. She took a croissant, dipping it into her coffee before taking a bite.

"Seriously, what would you do without me?"