Today is Saturday. A day without classes in which I should have free time to do what I please.

It is a very pleasant day: cloudy, not too cold and with a comfortable smell of wet earth, from last night's rain. Around my house there is a garden and the aroma comes directly through my open window.

Longg looked at me like I was crazy when I opened it, but I want to enjoy being able to have it like this. I like to look out and see the lawn, which is not as impressive as at home, but it is fine.

At the end of November it should be colder, but it does not, and I make the best of it, or try.

The good thing is that there are still storms, I have always liked them. The rain, the clouds, the lightning and the thunder. The smell. Longg does not like the cold, but he agrees with me on everything else.

Despite the wonderful weather, I have to be indoors. Although it has its good side: I am going to be with people and I can try to make friends.

I am going to the library to do group work. This one is for real, not like the one on the first day. My mother believed me again. It is surprising, and actually, it makes me a little suspicious.

'A Tsurugi cannot be naive.' It is what my mother has told me so many times and of course, she is not.

But I have to go to the library anyway.

Professor Mendeleiev assigned us, yesterday Friday, a group assignment on chemical compounds that contain carbon. Completely free project, although it has to be groups of five.

She surprised and scared me, because according to Alix, this teacher is very severe.

As soon as it was announced, Max hurriedly got up and went to Sabrina and Mylene's shared desk. It seemed clear to him that most of them would want to work on his project, since he is the best student in the class, so he went with the redhead, the second best.

Kim went after him, because they behave like Siamese twins. And finally, Ivan was also added, who is now dating Mylene.

After that, Alix invited Rose and Juleka to join our group (without having spoken) of three and Nathanael happily joined Adrien's, which also included Nino, Alya and Marinette.

"You should leaving now, Kagami-san." Longg advises me.

My kwami is strut. He likes things neat, he is formal and a bit rigid. But he is also very kind, and sweet at times. He understands me better than anyone ever has. Although there are things that do not quite fit between us.

"Longg, I told you that you cannot call me Kagami-san. We are in France."

This time I do not imitate my mother's tone and put on my jacket so Longg can hide.

"I just want you to be more comfortable." he says from the other end of my room, the farthest from the window, and comes in my direction "Until a few weeks ago, you lived in Japan." he whispers, as if it were a secret. But is not.

"Exactly. I lived, but no longer." Longg lowers his head "The only thing that does that for me is remind me that I am not there anymore. So please do not do it."

"Kagami-san, I can hear your thoughts when you are Ryuko and I know that you feel very sorry for the change. I'm just trying to make it easier for you."

He is too nice. I feel sorry for him. I do not like to feel sorry. Tsurugi are not sad.

"I do not need help adjusting. I will do it for myself. And if I don't get it myself, then I will never get it."

There is no further reply from Longg. He gets into my jacket and I head to the library. He is still getting used to my philosophy of life.

"I have brought markers of all colors!" Rose exclaims with intense joy.

I do not know how to answer that. Is it great news for her? Is it ordinary? I think I am going to copy someone else's reaction.

Juleka looks at her with the only eye that can be seen shining and a little smile. She is in love with her. I am not going to imitate her.

Alix is staring at the ceiling with raised eyebrows. I do not understand what is wrong with her.

Chloe lifts the left side of her upper lip, squints, and frowns. Is it revulsion? Displeasure?

"Who cares about your stupid markers? Let's get started on this shit now."

Oh, wow. That was rude. Rose stops smiling and it looks like she is going to cry. Only for that? Juleka looks at the table, like she is scared, which does not make sense, because she is a head taller than Chloe. Alix looks at her annoyed.

This has started much worse than I thought.

"What if we first decide the subject of work?" I ask the others.

Rose cheers up again.

"How about the rainbow formation? It is something very beautiful."

Alix shakes her head.

"The formation of rainbows has no carbon. Water is hydrogen and oxygen, and sunlight is produced by the fusion of helium. There isn't carbon."

"Are you good at chemistry?" I question. I have not realized that.

She gestures with her hand, dismissing it.

"Not much, I just have a good memory."

A moment of silence. We are all thought. Well, except for Chloe, she watches her manicure.

"What if... we talk about the process of decomposition of corpses?" suggests Juleka shyly. "Living things are made of carbon. So when a corpse decomposes ... the carbon goes on to form another substance, right?"

"It's disgusting. And sinister." says Alix. "I vote for that."

Rose nods happily. Does she like rainbows and corpses?

"It is a subject from which you can get a lot of information. Good choice." I praise Juleka. What I said is true, and according to my application, being nice is good for making friends.

Juleka looks down at her and pins her to the table. I think she is shy.

We look at Chloe, waiting for her to vote. Now she is filing her nails.

"Four out of five yes. What do you want me to vote for? I was thinking of doing it on nail polish, but what difference does it make." So she was thinking about a topic, contrary to my impression. "And before we do a distribution of tasks, I'll do the presentation in class."

Alix rolls her eyes and looks at me, who is in front of her.

"Kagami, I think that you and I should do the presentation, and that Rose and Juleka look for the information. Of course, we all have to work together to explain it well and get them to give us a good grade."

Before we say anything else, I get two messages from the class group.

Rose: the corpses themes already chosen

Rose: Im sorry for whoever wanted to do it

Why does not her put points or apostrophes? Another message is coming soon.

Kim: wat teme? do wat?

This spelling is even worse. And another group of messages.

Alya: chemistry work you stunned

Alya: we werent going to do that anyway

Alya: our group is going to make it out of materials that clothes are made of.

I hear a snort to my right. Chloe is also reading the messages.

"Of course they would do it about clothes." She says rolling her eyes. "I'm out. I have nothing else to do for now."

But if Chloe leaves, how am I going to make friends with everyone? Alix looks between Rose and Juleka, Chloe leaving, and me.

"We're going with you, Chloe."

She gets up behind her and tugs on my wrist. I guess it is for the best. Let Rose and Juleka do their part quietly.

Chloe turns and looks at us a little surprised, but then she makes her face look neutral.

"Where are we going?" I question.

"I think we should go to the park across the street. I brought my skates."

Alix raises a hand that grabs a bag that I have not seen until now.

"Okay." Chloe answers indifferently.

The three of us walk together, side by side, as if we were a group of friends who hang out normally.

We seat on a bench. Alix puts on her skates and goes spinning around the park. Chloe and I stay at the two ends of the bench.

This is my opportunity. I have to try.

"What is your favorite color?" I inquire. I remember that question was in my application. I think it is yellow, but I want to make sure.

Chloe looks up from her phone and looks at me with an expression I cannot identify.

"Why are you so pushy on me? What do you want? Money?"

Why does she think I want her money? I shake my head.

"I come from a very rich family in Japan."

She frowns.

"You're a foreigner. Do you want contacts?"

Contacts for what?

"My mother has a spare."

Her eyes roam all over my body. What is she looking for?

"Then you want fashion advice."

This time it is not a question, but a statement, as if she wants to find an explanation for being with her other than the one I told her.

"The truth is that you dress terrible. Some kind of mix between a bad biker girl and a private school girl." she continues while she points a finger at my clothes "My father tried to put me in one but I hated uniforms. Those plaid skirts..." she shudders.

She does not seem to notice that she just insulted me like it were normal. For her it does not seem to be an insult, but an advice.

"I do not want fashion advice. And refrain from insulting me again."

Her face reflects a certain bewilderment. And then fear. She looks at her mobile phone again.

Okay. Second try. It is true that Tsurugis try things only once and if we fail, we quit. The only exception I have made for now was being Ryuko. But we also have another rule: do not hesitate. I have decided to be her friend and I have even promised it and she has not rejected me openly, which means that I am still in the first opportunity. So here I go again.

"What do you think of Triple Super?" I continue with my interrogation. The more I know about her, the more likely I am to be friends with her.

The girl does not stop looking at the device, but answers.

"I think they're amazing. Having powers and fighting demons. Saving people... Even more so by enduring criticism on the Internet."

Critics? What does she mean?

Chloe glances at me and moves to sit closer to me.

"Reviews like this. They are complete ungrateful. They risk their lives to fight against the akumas and here these people go and insult them."

She shows me her mobile phone: it is Twitter, that social network where people do write well because they want to look smart, even if they say nonsense.

'After the broadcast of Climatika, I was able to see with my own eyes how useless Triple Super are. If it had been me, I would not have sent Ryuko first, it was very obvious that Climatika would win. This would have been my plan. Thread:'

What happens? Why does he think he could do better than us? Did the guardian choose him? No, he chose me. That is what Queen Bee told me.

"Douchebag." I mutter. The next moment I realize what I said and cover my mouth.

I should not talk like that, it is vulgar. These kinds of things are said by Alix, not me. If my mother finds out, she kills me.

Chloe giggles weakly. Her laugh is weird, funny. She laughs at what I said. Is she finally starting to like me?

She is silent for a moment, looking at me

"Look. If you really want to be my friend, you can't pretend to be sweet, that way is so scary nor can you look at me like you're going to kill me because that's scary too. Try not to be scary and maybe you can be my friend."

"One moment. If you and I are going to be friends, I am not going to make an effort just myself. You cannot insult me and if you do you have to apologize."

She opens her mouth to say something, but is interrupted: suddenly, Alix comes at full speed up to our bench, staggers a little and puts her hands on it. I think she winces at the movement.

When she raises her head, her expression is a huge smile and bright eyes, like euphoric. I must have imagined it.

"Girls! Girls! On the other side of the park there's a fight! Let's go to see it!"

Chloe and I got up and follow her. I do not really like watching the fight. However, Chloe seems curious about it.

I see a group of people in a specific place, I suppose they are the spectators. I hear voices asking if someone called the police or if they know the men fighting. There is also a chant of 'Fight! Fight!' to which Alix joins very excited.

Chloe pushes some people to get in the front row. We follow her.

Two big and strong men attack each other at high speed, in a crude and inelegant manner. It is not like other fights I have seen before.

Most of the crowd seems happy to see these two men tear each other apart. I do not. Bad feelings create akumas and there I am the one who fights. How you can tell that Alix, Chloe and the others do not have to.

I may regret it, but I think it is my duty.

I separate myself a bit from the circle of people. A spectator announces it with great amusement.

"What are you doing? Are you stupid?" Chloe yells behind me, her voice rising above the ruckus.

I do not stop. I just watch to see when to get in. These two do not stop moving.

I approach one of them from behind, the other does not even see me. Neither of them does. I dodge a couple of times.

The other lets out a little cry and falls first to his knees and then to the ground with an expression of great pain and his hands on his crotch.

Behind him is Alix. Now able to kick with roller skates.

The man I tried to attack yells at her.

"Who do you think you are to get into our fight?! Hey?!"

Before he can attack her, Chloe sneaks in and mimics her. This one does exactly the same as the previous one. They end up lying next to each other, both moaning a lot.

Alix starts laughing.

"I'd have enjoyed it more as a spectator, but," laughter interrupts her "You're crazy!" she says to me.

It may not be the best decision, but we Tsurugi do not hesitate.

She laughs louder and clutches her stomach. Another laugh, unmistakably Chloe's, joins in.

The crowd disperses and the three of us leave before these guys recover.

Somehow, we have ended up behaving like a group of friends.

The weekend passes and it is already Monday. It is a wonderful day, even better than Saturday. It is raining hard, the sky is almost black, and lightning strikes it every few minutes, making interesting shapes. I am not going to lie and say that I have sought shelter by running. I have stayed a long time in the middle of the street looking at the sky, covered with an umbrella, of course. Longg also liked the storm, however, he was shivering a lot. It is funny that the storm kwami is so chilly.

After a while, Longg reminded me that it was five minutes to eight, so I had to enter high school. Yesterday I was thinking that the division of tasks of the group work did not seem fair, so I am going to offer to do the information search part together with Rose and Juleka. As I enter class, I go directly to their shared table.

They wear warm clothes. That is excessive. Next week is December, but it is not so cold.

"Hello!" I try to sound happy and sweet. That it does not work with Chloe does not mean that it does not work with them either. "How is your part of work going? If you need help, I am available, it is everyone's project."

Should I smile? No, I should not. I have seen people's faces when I smile. That does affect everyone.

Rose and Juleka stiffen, they look at each other for a few seconds and Rose turns to me.

"No, it's not necessary." Her tone is a little high and she blinks too much. Juleka looks at the table.

They seem... uncomfortable? Have I been wrong about something? What have I done to them? I would better get out of here.

When I sit in my chair, Alix is snoring in hers. Her snoring is soft, like that of a small dog. She also wears warm clothes, except for her cap, which has not changed for winter clothes.

Chloe comes in with her head held high, silently without looking at anyone and sits behind me. She is also warm, with seemingly very expensive clothes. It seems that the extreme is me. She takes out her mobile phone and starts looking at it. From the way she moves and talks about her, I think she is a proud person, like me, although my pride is different from hers. Alix told me that she is always alone.

"Good morning." I greet her.

"What good does it have?" She answers without taking her eyes off her phone.

"Well, I have not run over a car and I am still alive."

She raises her head and smiles. Has she been amused by it?

"That joke is very bad."

"It cannot be so bad if you knew it was a joke."

She smiles even more.

"True."

She goes back to her phone. She smiles. Seeing that, it is very possible that my joke did not amuse her and that she is smiling for something else.

"What are you doing?"

"Ah, just watching Twitter. They are not always douchebag." Okay. That smirk now is for me.

"Take out the books and open them to page 47." says the teacher as soon as he arrives. Neither hello nor anything.

I wake Alix, who has sleeping marks on her face, and look back at Chloe. She has already taken out her book and put away her mobile phone.

Chloe has smiled and been nice to me. That means that she has accepted my proposal, right?

Yes, I think we are starting to get along.

And I win again.

And Adrien lost again.

It is class of fencing. It rains lightly, the sky is no longer as black as it was this morning. The water falls on us and for some reason I feel less exhausted than a while ago.

Mr. D'Argencourt has divided us into two groups and rotated us to have duels. Both Adrien and I have proven to be outrageously superior to the rest of the class, easily beating the others.

So the teacher decided to pair us in a fixed way until the rest catch up with us, which will never be. It looks like Adrien will be my only rival in a long time. Well, rival of my civilian self, as Ryuko I will have more variety.

But since we are paired, Adrien has not won once. We are both superior to the others, but not equal to each other. However, when I arrived less than a month ago we were tied.

It is true that Longg has trained me in strange ways to fight the akumas and that I am waking up some days at five in the morning to do it without my mother noticing. Today was one of those days and as a result I am a little more tired than usual.

That is why Adrien should have won, especially since the more time passes, the more physical advantage he will have over me. Anything happens to him and I am going to find out what it is. I cannot let the level of my main rival and sparring partner drop. I need someone to keep me in shape and although my mother fights with me too, it is not pleasant or fun. It is not nice to say something like that about my mother, but it is true. She is not fun. She is not a rival, but a teacher.

One more time.

I take three steps and play. The marker lights up.

I won again.

"What is wrong with you?"

He lifts his mask.

"Sorry, I'm a little tired today."

Me too. That excuse is very bad.

"And what is it that tires you so much?"

He looks away.

"I'm kind of busy." He says in an evasive tone.

Oh, I recognize that face. It is the same as mine when I wanted to downplay the weight of the burden my mother placed on me. Although since we have been in Paris that has changed. Now my mother forbids me to do anything but fencing and my high school study. I am locked at home all the time. I do not know which of the two options is worse. The only good thing is that the lack of extra activities leaves me more rested, despite Longg.

"Another sport?" I inquire.

"Karate."

I had archery.

"Language?"

Adrien makes a weird expression. Was my questioning expected to end in a question?

"Chinese." He answers with more difficulty than the first time.

My language was French, clearly.

"Musical instrument." This time I am not asking, I say. I am sure his father forces him to do the same things my mother did.

"Piano."

Chelo, but I am terrible at it. Studying music is not for me.

"And of course have good grades in high school."

Of course, less than a nine means punishment.

"Yes." he sighs.

"I understand you. Your father and my mother hate each other, but they are equal."

Adrien gives me a tired smile.

I approach him. The teacher has not realized that we have stopped to talk. He is not looking at us because he thinks we do not need help.

"Let's hide where the lockers." I whisper "Mr D'Argencourt will not notice."

He nods and we go.

"Thanks." He says as he lies down in one of the bench.

"It would not be fair to take the title of best in class from you on a day when you can barely stand. You are my rival and when I defeat you it will be in a dignified way."

Adrien looks at me like I is said something weird.

"Rival?"

"Do not you consider me your rival?"

He seems puzzled.

"You are my partner."

Only? Have I been fencing since I was a child to be only a partner to the best in the class?

"Do not you think I can take away your title?"

"I know you'll do it. But I don't consider people rivals. We are all partners." he answers calmly.

"Where is your competitiveness?"

Where is the fire that I saw when he believed, very stupidly, that I was a boy?

"I don't have."

"Sure you have. I remember very well your reaction to when I entered into this class. I remember our first fight. Is it because I am a girl?"

"No. It's because you're a Tsurugi. You will win anyway. It is absurd to want to win, I have simply accepted my destiny. So I am a little less tired."

This guy has no energy or motivation. Of course, I have to do something.

Suddenly I feel very tired, as if what was holding me up is gone.

I sit by his feet and stretch my legs on the bench. It is just wide enough for both of us to lie down.

I understand. I did not have as much energy when I had a schedule like that, either. We should be friends. I do not care if my mother hates his father. So far we have been very confident, even though we were not. Now I want us to be.

"What is your favorite color?"

Yesterday left a good taste in my mouth. Another possible friend.

So today I am going to say hi to someone new. To who? No idea. But since I have not talked to the whole class yet, there are quite a few people.

I enter the class. In the front row, next to the door, Adrien usually sits with his friend, Nino. Adrien is not there. But Nino does.

"Good morning, Nino."

He is talking to Alya. He breaks off and turns with a confused expression.

"Hey... what's up?"

"Nothing. I just wanted to say hi to you."

Nino frowns in confusion and Alya frowns un anger. I do not know what I am supposed to be doing wrong now.

I give her a withering look. I do not like being looked at like that. She opens her mouth. I ignore her, I do not feel like fighting.

"What are you doing?" I ask Nino.

"I'm talking... to Alya."

Yes, he is very confused. It is good that he is easy to read, although it is not good that me talking to him confuses him.

"Ah well. Okay, good bye."

I am looking for someone else to talk to. How about Nathanael? He now is not sleeping as usual, but drawing.

"Good morning, Nathanael. What are you drawing?"

Nathanael jumps into his seat, freezes, and turns very slowly towards me. He has wide eyes. Is he afraid?

After looking at me like I am an alien for a few seconds, he closes his notebook and picks up his things at high speed.

"Nothing, I'm not drawing anything."

He doesnot look me in the face. Is he looking at my skirt? Has he noticed that I am premiering it? It is very pretty, in black and white squares.

"Is something wrong with my skirt?"

He stops looking at it and stares at the table.

"Nothing, nothing's wrong."

I think I will go back to my site. At least Alix talks to me.

But again she is sleeping. While I feel more energetic on rainy days, Alix seems to be exhausted.

Kim is approaching his hand very slowly to the girl's cap. He is going to take it from her without her realizing it. I have not seen her without her cap and I do not think she wants it to be removed.

"Hey, leave her."

I put my hand in the middle and take his away from her. He gives me a mocking smile.

"Are you now her protector?"

Rather the other way around. She is the one who has helped me get closer to Chloe.

"You are going to wake her up."

"I just want to see her face. Her face asleep is very funny and the last time I saw it I didn't have a camera with me."

He picks up his mobile phone. Is he trying to convince me?

"Do you know that it is illegal to take pictures of people without their consent?"

He stops smiling and frowns.

"What do I care? Let go."

At that moment, Alix raises her head. We awakened her.

"Why are you yelling?" She rubs her eyes and looks at us how we are holding on. "A beat! I vote for Kagami."

From the look Kim gives me, he does not seem happy with me.

I am not doing well for me making friends.

I look at the math problem again. I have finished the history homework, the language homework, the English homework and I have studied a little geography. Now only mathematics remains.

'Analise has a greengrocer. She ordered...'

I feel Longg's piercing gaze. He has been like this for a while, ever since he woke up from his nap. He will not let me focus.

'She ordered...'

Why do not my classmates want to talk to me?

"What is the matter, Longg?"

"You're sad." he affirms.

'She ordered 325kg of lettuce, 900kg of tomatoes and 557kg of cucumbers'

It is true. I felt bad about Rose and Juleka, then I thought they were shy. But Nino, Nathanael and Kim were not better. It is true that Alix told me that Nathanael is very closed-off. Although also that Nino and Kim are extroverts, so there is no excuse for them. I know I should not have high expectations of people who do not remember their classmates' birthdays, but still...

There is something wrong with me. I scare people, Chloe said so. That is why I cannot make friends.

'The vegetables come in 1,275kg boxes.'

"I know that today has not gone well, but you have already become friends with Alix, you are achieving it with Chloe and also with Adrien. You are doing well, calm down." Longg consoles me.

How does he know what I am thinking? Now I am not transformed, he should not read my mind.

"With them it was easier. Alix was the one who looked for me, Adrien is forced to spend a lot of time with me in fencing class and Chloe is alone, not that she has any more options."

Alix told me that Chloe does not want to be friends with hers because they do not get along all that well.

"Do not think that. Each of them could choose whether or not to be your friends and they chose to be. There is nothing wrong with you. You are wonderful and I adore you."

How can he adore me? We have spent very little time together. I look back at Analise's problem. I do not think I am going to solve it anytime soon, I am too distracted.

"Yes, there is a problem. The same thing happened to me in Japan. I was too direct and too sincere. Nobody wanted to be my friend, they were just very polite to me and nothing more."

"Well, think about that every time you feel nostalgic. Here you will never be alone. because you have made friends and above all, because here I am. And I will never leave you alone. You are my holder, and one of the most similar to me that I have ever had."