Chapter 32: Glutton

It's late afternoon, and Adrien Agreste is outside their manor, humming to himself as he does when he's lonely. Nathalie Sancoeur is watching from Gabriel's office, who comes and joins her. She tells him that he needs to tell Adrien the truth. The sooner the better because the longer Gabriel waits and the more things that happen, the harder it's going to be for Adrien to accept. She is, of course, referring to Gabriel Agreste being Hawk Moth in order to save Emilie.

Gabriel Agreste agrees with Nathalie and approaches his son. He sits down, telling Adrien he has something to say. Adrien says he already knows what this is about, which surprises his father. Adrien says that "Nathalie has always felt like she's part of the family" and that "if being with her makes you happy." Gabriel is infuriated by this as he still dearly loves his wife. He storms off, ending the conversation.

A few hours later, the B Team meets to practice. Alpha arrives early, already running drills himself. He's frustrated by his failures in the prior chapter, and he refuses to allow them to happen again. They discuss possible strategies and team arrangements, as well as limiting the number of team members on the field for optimization.

School begins the next day, and everyone is meandering to their classes. Alix Kubdel is talking to Le Chien Kim and Max Kante when Stella Tenebrae joins them. After a while, Rachel Beauchene and Tristan Fortier enter the conversation too, with Rachel showing a fascination for aggressive sports and related injuries. Nathaniel Kurtzberg and Marc Anciel actually seek out Lila Rossi, asking her if she's heard back yet from Hisashi Sasaki (another Bakuman reference!). She gives them a blank look. "You know? The best manga editor in Japan? You said you knew him." Lila recovers quickly and says that yes, of course she knows him. He's really busy, but she'll keep asking him on their behalf. Nathaniel and Marc retain some skepticism. Jean Duparc is practicing a new magic trick and invites not only Pierre Lefevre but also Gilles Chastain, Jakeel Aristide and Ivan Bruel to watch; he wonders if it'll impress Rose Lavillant. (Cast images can be found at (( photos . app . goo . gl / cgLSrNi71rxfep9e8 ))(remove the spaces).)

Alya Cesaire tells Marinette that she and Nino Lahiffe have a date that evening. Why not make it a double date and invite Adrien? Marinette slumps. It's useless; you know how tongue-tied she gets. Alya suggests that Marinette write down her feelings. Marinette pulls out a filled binder—she has. She just spazzes out before she can give the letter to Adrien.

Nino and Adrien are talking too. Adrien mentions to Nino about the other day's conversation. He's confused. It seems as if his dad is ready to move on with Nathalie, and he wants to be supportive. He genuinely meant it when he said Nathalie feels like a part of the family. However, his father seemed angry about the suggestion. What's going on? Nino places a hand on his shoulder. "Dude, adults are complicated. Don't give yourself a headache over it."

Lila Rossi passes by, saying she's a skill mediator with the certification to prove it (lies). She could talk to Gabriel on Adrien's behalf. Adrien doesn't really believe the mediator part, but he tells her thanks regardless and not to worry. Lila pushes harder to get close to Adrien and score an invitation to his house. However, Mylene Haprele interrupts about the Cristina Vee tickets Lila promised so long ago. Lila sweats. She drops into self-depreciation mode to stave off suspicion and apologizes for forgetting them again. "But next time…" Mylene shakes her head. The premiere is tonight; there won't be a next time. Mylene looks dejected as she walks away to join Ivan. Before Lila can save face, her eyes lock with Alya. Alya gives her an "I told you so" look. Lila swears revenge on her yet again. She then turns to Adrien to keep worming for that invitation, but he's walked off with Nino.

Tsuyu Asui invites Fumikage Tokoyami to dinner with her family after school. She can tell he's feeling a bit homesick, and her mother often cooks traditional Japanese food. Plus it'll give them a chance to work on a project they have coming due that both have fallen behind on due to being on the B Team. Fumikage calls his mother for permission and then accepts the invitation.

So Fumikage tags along with Tsuyu after school. Her home has a very Japanese feel despite being French architecture, and her parents encourage him to speak Japanese so that Tsuyu's little siblings, Samidare (brother) and Satsuki (sister) can practice. It does help with Fumikage's homesickness. Tsuyu's mother, Beru, makes a very healthy and very Japanese dinner for them, which Fumikage appreciates. Beru apologizes for the lack of dessert and abundance of vegetables. She and her husband, Ganma, are on a diet. Ganma, Tsuyu's father, is obviously struggling much more than his wife. (All characters, including Tsuyu Asui and her family as well as Fumikage Tokoyami are borrowed from My Hero Academia.)

After dinner, Satsuki catches their father trying to raid the fridge and in the innocence only a child has, shames him for cheating on his diet. Genma laughs it off even though his stomach is growling. Beru tells Fumikage and Tsuyu to go upstairs and work on their project while she clears the table. When Fumikage realizes he's being invited into Tsuyu's room, he calls it a "forbidden garden." Tsuyu's room has a lilypad theme with a water bed. It's much brighter than Fumikage's room.

They begin studying while Genma tries to sneak a snack from the cupboard. However, his wife catches him and chases him out of the kitchen. Genma is frustrated but bears it well—he remembers he has some hidden snacks in the television stand. Genma sneaks there only to find out that his snacks have been confiscated too. Samidare is there and explains that Beru already found the food and gave it to a neighbor. Genma slumps over; he just wants some junk food. He's hungry.

And this is enough for Hawk Moth to prey upon. Hawk Moth sends his akuma and turns Genma into Glutton—a giant toad with the ability to store an unlimited amount of things in his stomach. Samidare calls out for his father and then slowly backs up as Glutton uses his tongue and swallows the entire television set in one gulp. He also swallows his akumatized item. Walls break around him as he grows. Samidare tries to run, but Glutton swallows him too. Beru hears what's going on; she runs into the room, only to scream and try to flee. She grabs Satsuki and tries to escape with her. Both are eaten.

Tsuyu and Fumikage hear the commotion and run downstairs. Being experienced heroes at this point, they instantly realize what happened. Tsuyu calls out for her father, but he doesn't recognize her. Fumikage sees it in Glutton's eyes, so he reacts first. Fumikage races between Tsuyu and Glutton and pushes Tsuyu out the window. He starts to shout a message to her, but Glutton eats him. Tsuyu lands outside, holding back tears. She fumbles for her phone, activating both the Akuma Alert as well as contacting the B Team through their personal chat service. She then transforms into Froppy and turns her attention on Glutton. She knows she shouldn't do this alone, but she has to help her family and friend! She isn't going to repeat the mistake she made during Party Crasher where she got so upset she couldn't transform.

Glutton, being a giant toad, takes to the streets of Paris fairly quickly. He begins eating cars and lamp posts and even the occasional person. Froppy does her best to distract him while searching for his akumatized item, not realizing he ate it. However, his tongue is fast, so most of what Froppy winds up doing is dodging until Ladybug and Cat Noir arrive. Froppy explains what's going on despite her fluctuating emotions (which is negatively impacting her Camouflage ability). She almost reveals Glutton is her father until she realizes that would give her secret identity away, so she holds herself back at the last minute.

Inside Glutton, Fumikage is surprised he's not dangling above a stomach acid pit. Everything is just floating around nothingness. He counts his blessings and prepares to transform. Maybe he can help Froppy from the inside? However, that's when Fumikage encounters the rest of Tsuyu's family. Satsuki is freaking out pretty badly. Samidare is holding it together, but Fumikage can tell he's unnerved. So Fumikage does his best to keep them calm and together; he knows he can't transform in front of them. He also checks his cell phone to see if he can get a message out, but there's no signal inside Glutton.

As Ladybug, Cat Noir, and Froppy try to keep Glutton down, the fight spills across where Master Fu and Marianne Lenoir are having a date. He's shocked by the giant toad, and it brings back bad memories. Marianne jumps in front to protect him. That snaps Master Fu out of it enough, and he throws his arms around her. They're eaten together. Ladybug and Cat Noir both have to repress yelling out his name; they can't let anyone know they know Fu.

Inside Glutton, Marianne and Fu laugh at the situation. Marianne says that she hasn't had so much excitement since the war. Master Fu promises to protect her no matter what. He tries to transform into Jade Turtle but his back gives out. Marianne tells him to stop showing off and coaches him through relaxing and some muscle Tai Chi. Master Fu successfully does turn into Jade Turtle with her guidance and uses Shelter Shock to protect her from the inanimate objects Glutton devours. (Andre the ice cream man doesn't stand a chance.)

The B Team is scrambling to get mobilized. Fortunately, Ondine and Kim were at the pool together. Ondine says that this mission requires Dauphin's strength, so she gives him her anklet. Despite hanging out earlier in the day, Nathaniel Kurtzberg is having a hard time contacting Marc—he tells them that Firefly may not make it. Luka Couffaine as Alpha reminds them that they're supposed to watch first; only if Ladybug and Cat Noir can't handle it do they intervene. However, he and Juleka are both on standby.

The fight continues, and it does become clear that Ladybug, Cat Noir, and Froppy are struggling. Luka tells the B Team that they're going to play it wise and strategize; he tells Dauphin to go in first. If they can't handle it or it looks as if Ladybug and Cat Noir are going to transform back, Alpha and Firefly will join the fray. Dauphin does so, and helps distract Glutton with his surfboard while the others try to de-evilize him.

The problem is the golden duo can't find the akumatized item. Cat Noir wonders if it's in another location like Dark Owl did. After all, Glutton is a giant toad—he doesn't really have many places to carry an object. That's when Ladybug begins to suspect what's going on. She does her Lucky Charm, which confirms her suspicions. She tells Cat Noir she has a plan, but it's going to suck. He doesn't like the sound of that.

However, there's one snag—what to do with Glutton while they're dealing with the akumatized item? Ladybug's gaze lands on Froppy and Dauphin. How far should she trust the B Team? Even if Hawk Moth has been quiet…something happened on Heroes' Day. But there's no time to delay. Ladybug throws her lot in. She requests the B Team handle Glutton—they're going in after the akuma.

Going in? wonders Dauphin. Cat Noir says that this is really going to suck. Ladybug ties herself to him, and they allow themselves to get eaten. Froppy faces down her akumatized father with only the help of Dauphin. Inside Glutton, Jade Turtle is doing all he can to protect Marianne and other people from the debris. Fumikage is doing the same for Tsuyu's family

Thanks to Ladybug's Lucky Charm, she and Cat Noir are able to find the akumatized item. Cat Noir Cataclysms it. Ladybug does her world-healing wave, restoring everyone and everything outside of Genma Asui, who is very confused as to why he's in the middle of Paris. Ladybug then purifies the akuma. Froppy is so relieved she's almost in tears, but she's able to keep a poker face just long enough to get through Pound It. She then hops off and transforms back and races to her family, everyone embracing in a big froggy hug.

Jade Turtle and Marianne Lenoir are also restored, both are laughing. Jade Turtle says he hasn't felt that young in a long time, and Marianne calls it the best date she's ever had. Ladybug and Cat Noir watch and smile, but neither address the older couple so as not to give anything away. They exchange some words with each other and part ways. Dauphin also slips out on his own.

The Asui family is happy to be reunited along with Fumikage. Genma's stomach grumbles. Beru laughs, saying he probably burned enough calories for one day. So they all agree to go for ice cream together—Fumikage's invited too. Beru then whispers, not so discreetly, to Tsuyu that Fumikage "is a keeper," causing both teens to blush.

Later that evening, Marinette is rehashing to Tikki what happened. Could they be wrong about the B Team? Was Hawk Moth controlling them a fluke? An ability that he can only do when he's Scarlet Hawk Moth? But why? How? Tikki says Ladybug needs to be careful ("careful" again) and always protect her identity and her miraculous. Marinette has to admit that the B Team are very heroic and helpful though. She then decides to bite the proverbial bullet and contact them digitally. She sets up a fake account and then logs into their server, where they're all discussing the day's battle, what they could have done better, and what they can do to continue to improve.

"Ladybug has joined the chat…"

To be continued in Chapter 33: Magnum Rex…