Adrien glanced around the small room eager but confused. How did this mysterious girl know who he was? The room was covered in loose papers, all with music written on them in pencil. Files of music lay haphazardly around and in the midst of them all sat the girl. Her violin was in her hands and she cradled it like it was a newborn baby. Adrien's breath caught in his throat again as he saw her. Her graceful fingers rested on the violin and she seemed uncertain as she looked at him, a little warily.

Adrien smiled at her, trying to appear as least threatening as possible and held out his hand politely. "It seems that although you know who I am, I don't know who you are. But I would very much like to make the acquaintance of someone who plays the violin as exquisitely as yourself."

The girl stared at him for a moment, before the air was filled with a tinkling laugh. Adrien frowned slightly as she leaned back in her chair, her eyes shut as she laughed merrily. What had he done wrong? The girl gradually stopped laughing and took his hand, shaking it softly, still smiling to herself.

"I'm sorry Adrien, you just sounded so formal and proper I just couldn't help myself," the bluenette said as she gently released his hand. Adrien looked into her bluebelle eyes and felt himself swaying slightly. He shook his head to clear it and smiled.

"Sorry. I guess I'm just used to introducing myself to adults and that's what they expect from someone like me." Adrien felt his face warm slightly as he shyly looked away.

Wait. Why was he feeling shy? His face was now red and he frowned confusedly. Get a hold of yourself, Agreste! He chided himself. But there was no doubt about it. Adrien didn't even know her name and he was already falling for her.

The girl stood up and smiled. "Well, as much as I would love to stay and chat, I'm afraid I have to go home. This must seem very rude of me, with you only just arriving but I have to help my parents with some stuff."

"You live at home?" Adrien couldn't help but ask.

"Yeah," the girl said, glancing up at him as she began to pack away her violin. "I'm only seventeen."

"Me too!" Adrien grinned at her. "I'm afraid I didn't catch your name?" he said slyly.

The girl raised an eyebrow. "That's because I didn't give it. I work anonymously. Sorry Adrien, but here my name is Ladybug." She shrugged, his disappointment clearly evident. "That's the way things work here. The cafe hires aspiring musicians and dancers to help them start a career. But in case the musician is terrible, they don't give out their names. That way at least if they can't make music their career they can still pursue something else without anyone holding them back by pointing out their past failure."

Adrien smiled. It made sense but... "Surely now that you are established as a good musician you are allowed to reveal your identity?" he asked curiously. But Ladybug shook her head.

"Sorry. I'm actually not established anyway. This is only my second night here. Hopefully I'll be able to play more once people begin voting for me."

"Voting for you?" Adrien asked curiously and Ladybug collected her music. "What do you mean?"

Ladybug nodded in the direction of the cafe. "Didn't you see the board? It has the names of all the performers on it. People can vote for their favourite musician of the night by putting a slip of paper in that performers box. At the end of the fortnight, the performer with the least amount of votes has to leave and the person with the most goes on the Star board. That means they have a regular position and performance time each week as well as on Fridays, where if they stop getting a large number of votes they stop having their extra performance time."

Adrien nodded slowly. "That makes sense. How are you going with votes? If you don't mind me asking that is," he added hastily, fearing she may prefer to keep it a secret. But she shook her head.

"I'm going fine! But I've only been here for one night so that could change very quickly. Besides, most people like dancers better," she added sadly. "I don't think they like my music as much as they like listening to popular music and watching people dance to that." Adrien shook his head. "No your music is incredible!" he exclaimed. "It's your work, isn't it?"

She nodded, gesturing to all the papers strewn around. "Yes. They all have words too but it's pretty hard to play and sing at the same time." Ladybug giggled and he smiled, picking up a random sheet by his foot. Glancing at the words, he began to hum the tune, tapping his foot.

"Do you like it?" Ladybug asked eagerly as she began to hoist her bags over her arm. Adrien closed his eyes and breathed in. She was so talented. Sure, he could probably play better than her but there was no way he could write his own music.

"It's beautiful," he said as he opened his eyes, staring straight into hers. You're beautiful, he said to himself as she smiled happily, elated by his words.

"I'm so glad you like it," Ladybug said shyly as he gave the music back to her. "Hopefully I will be able to write music and play here for a while. I love it in this little cafe."

"Yeah," Adrien said as he followed her out of the room. Closing the door behind them he noticed the name on the door.

Ladybug, it read and he glanced around at the other doors. They all carried names of the same sort of style. Ladybug saw his glance and smiled. "Those are my co-workers rooms. I'm down at the end here because there was only one more room left and it was empty. Usually two people share but since there's an uneven number of us I get one to myself." She was about to say more when a girl strutted down the hall towards them. She smirked at Ladybug and raised an eyebrow at Adrien. The girl seemed to be dressed as a fox and held a long flute.

"Good evening Ladybug," she said disdainfully. "And is this a new performer? Such a pleasure to meet you," she said, flirtation heavy in her voice. She reached out and touched his shoulder, running her hand down his chest. "I'm Volpina. And you are?"

Adrien brushed her hand away. "I'm not a performer. I don't work here. I was just seeing Ladybug off, so excuse us." Adrien moved past, leaving her to stare after them.

"Sorry about that," Ladybug said as they moved out of earshot. "Some of the people here are..." she trailed off as she searched for a word. "Interesting," Ladybug concluded diplomatically. Adrien shrugged as two more people passed them. Ladybug greeted them and named them both once they had moved on, chatting together. "Those two have named themselves "L'hiver and la Autumne," or Winter and Autumn. They're a duo and play duets together. We do have several pairs here but they all actually met working here individually. Some dance together and some sing or play. Group acts always to very well."

Ladybug reached the end of the corridor and smiled. "Here we say goodbye Adrien. Maybe you'll visit Akuma again?" she asked.

"Akuma?" Adrien frowned.

"It's the name of the cafe, silly," Ladybug giggled.

"Oh sorry, yes of course I'd love to come again." He grinned, then remembered something. "Ladybug, I actually came here to ask if you would perform at one of the event hosted by my father." Ladybug's eyes widened.

"Seriously? I would love to!" she squealed and Adrien laughed. "Oh, here's one of my cards," she said, handing him a spotted red card. He smiled.

"Thank you. I'm sure my father will contact you as soon as he can. Have a good evening!" he said as Ladybug turned away.

"You too!" she said, with one last smile before she vanished into the night.
"I'll see you again!" he called after her and the wind faintly brought her response back to him.

"Sooner than you think!" came her reply. Adrien frowned. What was that supposed to mean?