There was a lot to be said for personal sacrifice, it was something that Marinette never knew about before, the pain that came along with trying to do something noble, for the sake of others. It was an affront to her senses as she stared between Adrien and Kagami while they awaited an answer from her. She had known well enough that if the situation were reversed, Kagami wouldn't do what she had already surmised was the right choice for her in her mind. Kagami was about selfish action…and Marinette understood that and harbored no judgement of it.
Kagami was just like Adrien, the two rarely got a chance to experience things, so to be selfish was rare…and if it was going to make her happy, then Kagami deserved to relish in the selfishness…but Marinette wasn't like that, and she couldn't be like that or begin to think like that. Her eyes poured over every aching detail in their faces, the soft forest of Adrien's eyes, the deep and welling mystery that was held in Kagami's eyes…the freckles across Kagami's face, the tan of Adrien's skin, the way both of their smiles begged for her to just do something to have fun for all of them…and her heart sank like a stone.
Why couldn't they make the choice themselves? Why did it have to be her…and even then…why was she a good person? There was no other choice for her. It was like being backed up against a wall, with a cage enclosing from two different directions…there was no escaping this, suddenly she understood. This was just like chess, except her opponent wasn't Kagami for this match…this time she was being put into her place by fate.
So she told Andre the truth…that she thought Orange and Mint would be the better pairing, all for the symbolism behind it…Kagami and Adrien would be better, because she didn't have a place there with them, though she didn't vocalize those thoughts, instead after making her choice, she made her way toward her house, and with each step her heart grew heavier.
It wasn't fair that they had asked her to make that choice for them, knowing the kind of person that she was…but she didn't want to blame them. Anybody could have spoken up, but the truth was that they were all friends…and they were enjoying a great moment up until that point…she was the one that made it weird, all because of her strong feelings toward Adrien.
'Congratulations…' Marinette thought, before she placed her hands over her eyes and rubbed her fingers into her temple for a brief second, before the irritating megaphone attached to Roger Raincomprix broke her from her reverie. She now had a job to do…and being Ladybug always took priority over being Marinette.