Here it is, the thirty-fifth full chapter of Miraculous Quirks released at the right time for the one guaranteed per week and the first released at GMT not EST. This is the first in a mini three chapter arc between the finals and the Summer Camp and the other two are fully edited and ready to go at the right times in the coming weeks. However, that is all the administrative stuff I have for now though and as there are no questions or guest reviews to address here, though do keep the reviews coming as I enjoy hearing from y'all, I will leave this pre chapter note off here. That means that it is time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the 35th full chapter of Miraculous Quirks.
Disclaimer: I do not own either of these great works of fiction.
Chapter 35: Mall Trip
"I'm looking forward to your stories of how much fun camp was everyone." Mina said through sobs as she, Kirishima, Sato and Kaminari stood in the classroom waiting for Aizawa for the final homeroom of the semester in the wake of their final exams. "Make sure you have a lot of fun for the rest of us."
It was the day after the exams, and they still had a few things to go over before summer break began. The whole class were in the room discussing the aftermath of the finals and of course how the four who failed were not going to be going to the summer camp with them.
"Maybe they'll let you go." Izuku said to his friends trying to cheer them up. "There might be a last-minute twist or something, you know how Mr. Aizawa is."
"Stop it, by saying that out loud Midoriya you're just jinxing them." Sero said from behind him and after his own terrible final performance he was just as worried as the 4 failures. "Don't give them false hope."
"They said whoever failed the final exams would have to skip the summer camp and live-in summer school hell and we failed the practical." Kaminari said before turning and jabbing Izuku in the eyes. "Or did All Might knock the brains out of you when you fought him."
"Ease up Kaminari." Sero said trying to calm his friend down. "I'm not sure I'll get to go as well. My team only passed because of Mineta, I got knocked out right at the start and since we don't know how they're scoring us I might have flunked too."
"At least bring us back lots of camp souvenirs." Kaminari said as Izuku cried behind him while Uraraka tried to help and Mineta just basked in his awesomeness knowing the ladies would love him now.
Marinette and Adrien just watched this in amusement from their seats as it was all going on right in front of them as they were at the back of the classroom. It was odd but comforting to see it as it was just like normal school stuff and of course both were looking forward to the summer camp that was coming up and what it might entail. The whole classes thoughts were broken by the bell to start homeroom.
"Once the bell rings you should all be in your seats." Aizawa suddenly said as he opened the door and there was a scramble for the class to take their seats before Aizawa walked to his lectern and looked at the class all sitting patiently in their seats and continuing with what he had to say to them. "Unfortunately, there were a few of you who did not pass your final exams so when it comes to the training camp in the woods…everyone is going."
Aizawa said the last bit with a wide grin on his face that a few noticed and didn't like the look of given the grins Aizawa had given them in the past but the four who'd definitely failed were too excited to notice. They had been given a reprieve just as Midoriya had suggested.
"It's a last-minute twist!" All four said at once.
"We really get to go to camp?" Kirishima asked amazed.
"Seriously?" Mina added just as amazed and excited for the camp.
"Yeah, the good news is that no one bombed the written exam." Aizawa said reverting back to his bored tone. "5 failed the practical, badly. Two teams of course and then Sero failed as well."
"Crap I knew it." Sero said with his hand over his face. "Mineta made it to the gate, but I didn't do near enough to pass."
"I know, I'm amazing, praise me." Mineta said from his seat. "Ladies especially."
"Allow me to explain." Aizawa said ignoring the chatter. "For the practical battles the teachers made sure to leave a way for the students to win, otherwise you wouldn't have stood a chance. We were interested in observing how you worked together and approached the task at hand."
"But didn't you promise that the teachers wouldn't be holding back?" Ojiro asked confused.
"That was just to get you on edge besides the training camp will focus on building your strength, those who failed will be needing those lessons the most, we were never going to separate you." Aizawa said before giving his trademark smile that was not comforting at all. "That was just a logical deception we used."
Of course, it was a logical deception, that was just how Aizawa operated with them. They all should have seen it coming but again they didn't, though many still believed the first instance wasn't one. Out of all the class though, Ida was the one most upset about it as the 5 failures celebrated being able to go to camp.
"They tricked us all, I should have expected this." Ida said frustrated before he suddenly leapt to his feet, hand in the air. "Mr. Aizawa, this is the second time you've lied to us, aren't you afraid we'll lose faith in you?"
"A little blunt there Ida." Ochaco said from behind him.
"That's a good point, I'll consider it, but I wasn't lying to you about everything." Aizawa said before looking at the failures with a harsh look in his eyes. "Failure is still failure. We've prepared extra lessons for you. Frankly they will be a lot tougher then you'll face at summer school. It's going to be extra fun for you 5."
That took the wind right out of the sails of the failures as they realized just what they were in for. The upcoming summer camp was going to be a week of hell for them as punishment for their failure.
"Alright that's it for the semester." Aizawa said heading to the door. "You have some time off before the summer camp so use it wisely and stay in the area. Class dismissed."
At that Aizawa left and most of the class began packing up their things to head home and think about their summer plans before the summer camp rolled around. Sure, they couldn't make any big plans but there were still plenty of things to do and the girls had already made some plans they were looking forward to once Momo got clearance on the paperwork she'd submitted on their behalf.
"This is going to be great." Ojiro said looking at the book they were all given about the camp. "Looks like we're all going to be going together."
"And it appears that we we'll be at the training camp a full week." Ida said.
"I've got to find a bigger suitcase then." Izuku said reading over Ida's shoulder and realizing he needed one for a full week away from home.
"Yeah I don't even have a bathing suit." Kaminari said realizing he needed to go shopping. "Looks like I'm going to have to buy some stuff."
"Like night vision goggles." Mineta said though everyone was ignoring him.
"Guys since we're off tomorrow and since we've finally finished exams I have the best idea." Hagakure said loudly to the class beaming as she did though no one could tell beyond the tone of her voice. "Why doesn't all of Class 1-A go shopping together?"
"Hey yeah, we've never hung out as a class before." Kaminari said as Uraraka nodded. "This will be fun."
"Bakugo, see you there right?" Kirishima said.
"I can't think of anything I'd like to do less." Bakugo said walking off showing that he wouldn't be there.
"Are you coming Todoroki?" Izuku asked his friend.
"I visit my mom on days off." Todoroki replied shaking his head though he wished he could go with the class, but this was more important at the moment.
"Seriously, your such party poopers." Mineta wailed at the lone wolf nature of two of the top students in the class. "Don't you get tired of being so serious."
"I know it's far for you two but are you coming as well?" Momo asked Marinette and Adrien. "It will be a lot of fun if as many of us as possible are there for it."
"Wouldn't miss it for the world." Marinette smiled. "It's been ages since we've done something as normal as this so we're in."
"Definitely." Adrien said. "And we haven't had a chance to check out a Japanese mall before so this will be a new cultural experience for us."
"Alright see you there tomorrow." Momo said as the class left with plans for the next day already made and all those going were looking forward to the upcoming mall trip.
-break-
The next day the whole class, minus Bakugo and Todoroki, met at noon at the Kiyashi Ward Shopping Mall near the entrance to it. For many it was the first time they'd hung out outside of school and they got to see their classmates' styles when not in their school uniforms, PE kits, or costumes. They varied as expected from practical, to nerdy, to edgy, to classy, but all fit the personalities of who wore them. Well with two exceptions to the Japanese contingent in the class based on what they knew of the couple.
"Damn Marinette, I wasn't expecting you to have such a cute and innocent look outside of class." Jiro said as the French teens were the last to join the group holding hands while Mina raved about the place to whoever would listen. "Given how much of a badass we all know you are."
Marinette was in her usual civilian attire of a white shirt with a floral pattern over her right breast, pink ¾ length jeans with the cuffs rolled up, pink pumps, and a black blazer that had ¾ length sleeves again rolled up, so it was just passed her elbows. To complement it she had a pink backpack that was the same style as the one she'd owned back in Paris.
"That is a surprising amount of pink." Momo said coming up to them in a very classy dress that looked expensive, and total fit her personality. "But it fits you I feel, when you're not in battle that is."
"I don't try to be badass." Marinette pointed out. "I've just ended up with that reputation."
"No, you're just naturally one, m'lady." Adrien said with a grin.
Adrien was more normal in a black t-shirt with 3 horizontal stripes in the center, blue jeans and orange sneakers with a white short sleeved open button down over it, the sleeves rolled back a bit. It was a lot less edgy then a lot were expecting given his costume, hero name, and power. Out of the two it was Adrien's style that surprised them the most.
"And let's not forget what Marinette has hidden under that shirt." Mina said slinging an arm around Marinette and grinning at her. "We all know what you've got there."
"It's for my costume." Marinette said weakly though at this point she was so used to it that even with her Miraculous off for 'upgrades' she had her backup in as she didn't feel right without one of them in these days.
"Hey, don't sweat it girl, if it wasn't for the riggers of the hero course I'd definitely get one as well." Jiro said. "I just don't have the time to let it heal these days."
"It fits your style though." Marinette pointed out but resigned herself to it as they all heard Midoriya begin to mumble up a storm again, this time about all the options the mall had.
"You're scaring the children Midoriya." Tokoyami said seriously as they all grouped up. "Stop it Midoriya."
"Look over there, aren't those U.A. students?" A random person from the crowd called pointing at them and shutting Midoriya up, as well as all other side conversations as they were recognized.
"1-A!" Another identified them.
"I saw them on TV." A third said.
"The Sports Festival was so good." All said as a few began to stare at them.
"I can't believe they still remember that." Ochaco said nervous at the attention.
"I want to try to get a bigger duffle bag to bring to summer training." Jiro said turning to Momo and ignoring the attention they were getting.
"Well then maybe the two of us should browse together." Momo suggested.
"Let's see where can I get a lockpicking set and a small drill." Mineta mused looking for the typical stories that catered to people with his healthy appetite for the opposite sex while the whole class just ignored him as usual.
"Guess I should buy some outdoorsy shoes for the camp." Kaminari said to Hagakure. "They're probably going to be useful."
"Oh, me too." The invisible girl responded.
"The guide book said your shoes should already be broken in though." Ida said surprising them and causing the usual reactions from his friends when he went into full Ida mode. "But wait, perhaps it's a mistake not to factor utility into the equation."
"So why don't we split up and look around as we all have different things we need." Kirishima suggested. "We can meet up back here when we're done and compare our experiences."
"Great idea." Mina seconded it.
"Let's meet again around 3, sound good?" Kirishima asked and there were a series of agreements as the groups began splitting off.
It wasn't long before Marinette noticed that Midoriya and Ochaco would be left alone together and grinned at that. They needed to be alone if for no other reason then for Ochaco to deal with whatever Aoyama said to her, which Marinette was certain was him calling out her growing crush on Midoriya that was almost at the point of becoming blatant. With practiced ease, Marinette took Adrien's hand, she'd let go of it when Mina had greeted her, interlocked their fingers and quietly led him away thus ensuring that the awkward pair of dorks were alone.
"Come on kitty." Marinette said softly in French to Adrien as she led him away. "Let's use this time to have a special date just the two of us. We've never had a mall date before so let's have one now. Mage has already provided what we would need for the camp, and our rooms will back that up if we've forgotten anything, so we don't need to actually shop."
"Sounds good bugaboo." Adrien said as they walked away from the meeting point and decided to head to the upper level to get a better view as they strolled around the mall. "But I take it there was another reason why you insisted on leaving those two alone."
"We both know that the only way Ochaco would have let go during the final would have been if Aoyama said something shocking to her." Marinette said. "And knowing Ochaco she was trying to channel Midoriya to figure out how to win and, well, trust French blood to smell romance."
"I'm fully French and I had no idea you were in love with me." Adrien pointed out.
"Yes but you are dense my cute kitty." Marinette said flicking his throat where his bell used to be. "And already blindly in love with me you just didn't know it at the time."
"And you with the cat of night Cat Noir." Adrien said grinning back at her. "But yes I didn't see it with you. However, with those two, it's obvious that she likes him."
"Ochaco is in denial." Marinette said as they walked. "I can understand that though I never experienced it as I knew I liked you from the moment the feelings hit me."
"You can?" Adrien asked.
"Think on it this way." Marinette said. "Ochaco and Midoriya are best friends, even with us, Ida, and now Todoroki, and Tsu in the group, it's really those two. Midoriya gets all flustered when she's near, something no other girl causes in him that I know of, and she clearly draws her inspiration from him. Add in the whole Deku thing and it is plain as day. Ochaco likely began feeling something for him the moment he saved her in the entrance exam and as they got to know each other more, especially being paired together for the battle trial, she saw that he was all that and more. There's no way that feelings don't grow from all that."
"But she didn't realize it herself." Adrien said. "Until someone called her out, at least according to your theory."
"That is obvious as well." Marinette said. "This is her first crush and it's on her best friend and if I'm being honest, this isn't going to be just a crush. Even when Ochaco realizes it, and she will in time even if I have to help her on that front, it won't go away, it will only deepen. She's going to fall in love with him and there's nothing that will stop it."
"Well, we French are the experts on that." Adrien said. "So, we should keep an eye on them just in case as Midoriya is going to be absolutely clueless to everything."
"Yes we will, and we can show them that a couple can work in the hero course." Marinette said. "We do it, so can they if they decide to act on their feelings because there's no way that Midoriya doesn't feel the same way."
"Agreed." Adrien said. "And…"
"Oh my god it's her, it's really her!" An excited female voice yelled out and Marinette knew at once what was coming and braced herself for it. "It's Marinette Dupain-Cheng, the bronze medalist from the U.A. Sports Festival."
Marinette wasn't sure what surprised her more. That they were still getting fans calling them out from the Sports Festival or that the excited gaggle of girls around their own age were coming for her and not Adrien. In the past it had been the other way around, but the girls all came to her though rather than mob her like Adrien's fans had done back in Paris they stood at a respectful distance all bouncing on their feet showing that they were at least respectful which had to be a cultural difference as they'd have been fully mobbed in Paris.
"Um hello." Marinette said in her accented Japanese that seemed to go over well with the group that had come up to them. "I take it you're all fans."
"Of course." One of the girls, clearly the groups leader, said. "You were amazing and so badass throughout the Festival; we were all rooting for you after the Obstacle Race. You were the only girl to make it all the way to the semis and you did it by matching the boys for strength and speed, that's not common for us to see."
"Oh well I'm glad you like it." Marinette said nervously. "I am still getting used to people recognizing me."
"We all were on the edge of our seats as you made your way through it." Another girl said to her. "We were worried in the Cavalry Battle, but you showed your tactics to come second. It was clearly you who made that plan."
"Well, it was a team effort." Marinette said defensively.
"Marinette, don't be so humble, it was totally your plan to team up with Aoyama and Shinso so that we could use the latter's Quirk and speak French to avoid being overheard." Adrien said. "You were the brains behind that team."
"Ooh first name basis." A third girl cooed. "You're her boyfriend right, so cute!"
"And you're both heroes and exchange students." A fourth said with a slight squeal. "So romantic. It would have been perfect for you to face off in the final, we all wanted that but alas that angry boy beat you."
"He figured me out so I couldn't outlast him." Adrien said with a grin. "I'll get him next time."
"And you'll get Todoroki next time, we know it." The original girl said pulling out her phone. "I made sure to get this screenshot of you against him in the semis for inspiration whenever I need it. Any girl who can take this kinda beating and then dish it out in kind is going to be an amazing hero."
The girl proceeded to show Marinette a photo that caused her to balk a bit at it. It was one she'd never seen before as she'd never watched the replays of the Sports Festival but, well, it was her iconic moment from it, so she wasn't surprised out there. Still, she wasn't a fan of how she looked in the photo. It wasn't her best shot ever.
The photo was of Marinette standing tall and proud, a slightly unhinged grin on her face with ice behind her. That alone would have been ok but then there was the rest as it was right after she's been hit by Todoroki's flames.
All she wore in the picture was her special ladybug bra, PE pants, and pink sneakers with her navel piercing glinting for all to see. Again, that was embarrassing but manageable. What wasn't was the fact that her entire outer left arm from hand to shoulder, along with her left side and part of her abdomen, was burned. She could also see the blood running down her arm and side from where she'd ripped the shirt off and how it dripped from her fingers and onto the concrete or stained her pants. Add in that half her hair was down from her hair tie snapping and it wasn't her most attractive look.
"I didn't realize it was that bad." Marinette admitted. "I was pumped up with adrenaline at the time and trying to win, so I didn't really look or even feel them that much other than the initial contact with the fire. Even the hits I took later and the final one on the wall that knocked me out I never saw how bad I was hurt. I came too bandaged up as you saw me on the podium."
"It was so cool the way you ripped your shirt off and stood there shamelessly." One of the girls who had yet to speak said. "So badass. It's just like what Mirko would do and she's the top female hero."
"Huh no wonder." Marinette said with a chuckle at how Mirko had singled her out for an internship because of the Sports Festival. "But, um, I am actually on a date with my boyfriend so do you mind?"
"Oh of course not, sorry to bother you." The lead girl said with a bow of apology that the others all did as well. "We just wanted to say hi as we didn't expect to see you out here."
"No worries." Marinette said with a wave of her free hand as the girls walked off and the couple too make their way along the walkway in a new direction, thankfully with no distractions.
"Well, they were at least better than my fans." Adrien said with a chuckle. "Back in the day I mean."
"Yeah those were a nightmare." Marinette said remembering that incident. "At least here it's more respectful."
"This I can handle." Adrien said. "The stuff back in Paris was a bit much and avoiding them was almost an extreme sport."
"Yeah though of course I do miss our home…" Marinette said but as she was speaking a woman exited a store further down the line of stores in what Marinette had to blink to make sure she was seeing right as she came to a halt forcing Adrien to do the same. "Um, Adrien, is that what I think it is?"
"It is." Adrien said looking at it and he grinned knowing what had to be there. "That's a girl in a classic French maid outfit which means that there is a maid café there."
"Maid café?" Marinette said a little confused at what it was. "What is it and why do I feel slightly personally attacked by the French maid concept?"
"Well, you did look better in the attire at that film premier." Adrien said causing Marinette to blush at that memory as she tried to give Adrien a special macaroon she'd made for him and where Chloe learned of her crush on Adrien. "And it's a classic Japanese thing that predates the advent of Quirks and must have survived the loss of culture that came from the Quirk Wars. They were first aimed at men who liked anime and manga but became more mainstream and these days cater to anyone. They usually specialize in deserts, and some are quite romantic."
"Well, I could use a dessert." Marinette admitted. "We are French, we do like sweet things though the baking here isn't up to my standard."
"That's because you and your family were the best in all of Paris at that." Adrien pointed out. "But we should check it out. We never did share that ice cream from Andre so maybe we can share a traditional Japanese dessert as a couple to show our new life in this new place and society. Plus, it will be a first as a couple."
"Sounds good my love." Marinette said as they reached the café and checked it out.
"Hello Master and Mistress." The woman in the French maid outfit said to them in Japanese with a bow. "You are clearly a couple and today is our couples day, it would be an honor to have you at our establishment."
"Well, if it is couples day." Adrien said knowing that it was just her attempt to get two customers, but he wanted to check this place out so why not. "Shall we m'lady."
"Sure, we've never been to a place like this before so why not." Marinette said as the maid opened the door, and they entered the café.
It didn't take them long to be seated in a pink booth with a heavy heart theme and images of romantic animes all around them though the pair didn't know any of them. The maid who would be serving them then came up to them with a menu and another "Master and Mistress" for them before going off to take a nearby table's order.
"This is oddly nice looking around the room." Marinette admitted looking around the café. "It's got a unique charm to it and looks like it's geared towards couples."
Marinette wasn't wrong. While the themes of maid cafes changed from place to place, this one was clearly aimed at couples and a look around showed that it was only couples in the café. While the maids themselves wore typical black French maid outfits similar to one Marinette had once worn at the film premier for that animated Ladybug and Cat Noir film in Paris, the booths and everything else was pink and red with heart and romance themes. Even the light music in the café was likely some romantic piece though with the centuries gap Marinette and Adrien were a bit out of sorts with music.
Sure, they had inadvertently saved many songs from the pre-Quirk era because of their old phones that were now considered lost, same with other media though it wasn't like the Guardians didn't have ways of accessing it regardless. However, they couldn't really share them with their friends. All it would take was one search to see that the songs weren't current or in any post Quirk Wars lists for them to have some seriously uncomfortable questions to answer. Best to keep it to them as one of the ties to their past they still had even if they were fully committed to their new future.
All that were things they'd gotten used to though and now they were going to enjoy the date as they looked over the menu. It was surprisingly large with a wide range of entrees and desserts for both Japanese and western tastes along with a wide selection of ice creams. It was the last one that peaked Marinette's interest.
"Adrien, did you ever get ice cream from Andre by yourself back in Paris?" Marinette asked her boyfriend as an idea came to her mind and as it was about their past she spoke in French with him to ensure that they weren't overheard. "You know the special sweetheart kind that would tell of your love. We never got it together, even as friends, so I was wondering if you had and what flavors he gave you?"
"I have had it once that I can recall." Adrien said thinking back on it and sticking with French as well. "Let's see, he gave me strawberries with black chocolate chips, blackberries for her hair and blueberry ice cream just like her sky-blue stare…and that is you to a tea m'lady. The strawberry ice cream with black chocolate chips like spots for Ladybug, the blackberries remind me of your black, silky hair and of course those gorgeous blue eyes that I'm always lost in."
"Adrien, you know just what to say." Marinette said going bright red but loving it as she was finally getting to hear what she'd wanted to hear from Adrien for two years while they were in for Paris. "As for me I got peach pink like his lips and mint like his eyes. I know full well how both are accurate to you kitty."
"That is true, Andre was always really good at that stuff." Adrien said looking over the menu and grinning. "I take it you asked because of the dessert platter on the menu where you list what you want, and the maid arranges it for you with her own level of creativity."
"Of course, I figured that as the desserts here are on a more western flair and I don't feel like an entrée we should go with something that we never got a chance for." Marinette said looking over the menu. "So, let's see, I think this will work."
"Have you decided what you want Master and Mistress." The waitress said to them as she returned with a smile.
"Yes we have." Marinette said in Japanese, and Adrien nodded before gesturing at her to give the order. "We'll have the special dessert platter for two. On it we would like one scoop of mint, and one of blueberry ice cream with peach slices, strawberries, blackberries, and dark chocolate chips please."
"An excellent range mistress and I will make sure it looks romantic for you two." The waitress said with a smile. "And to drink?"
"Café au lait, si vous plais." Marinette said instinctively in French at the French drink she'd seen on the menu.
"Are you French, Mistress?" The waitress asked writing the order down. "I only ask because your Japanese has a distinctive western accent to it, and you just spoke that the way I'd expect from a native speaker."
"Oh, yes we are though we are students here in Japan, sorry force of habit with my mother tongue." Marinette said in Japanese a little embarrassed.
"No need to apologize Mistress, just nice to see a foreigner here and the mall recently had a French fashion outlet open from the top designer in all of Paris, it's where we got our uniforms in fact." The waitress said with a smile before turning to Adrien. "And you Master?"
"Melon soda." Adrien said going with the classic Japanese drink. "Please."
"Of course, I'll be back." The waitress said with a slight bow before leaving.
"Why do I get the feeling that we should check that store out." Marinette said. "Because that sounds like a line we know."
"Well part of the cover was a major outlet for the family brand in Tokyo and another niche one somewhere else that focuses mainly on European heroes." Adrien said with a sigh. "But knowing the Guardians and my dad's old habits, they'd add 'authentic' French maid outfits to it because there is a pretty big market for it here."
"Well at least it helps us." Marinette said reverting to French as the waitress came with their drinks and then departed. "It is amazing all the Guardians have done for us to prepare for our return. You know, the way they managed everything, grew our families' businesses, and what not. It's still hard to comprehend despite knowing what they did and seeing the results during our 6 months of prep time."
"It really is." Adrien said. "But I think we've only scratched the surface of what they've done. We know our current backstories but there is so much more, and we hit the ground running when we returned that we never got a real chance to review everything on a deeper level."
"It was just so much to adjust to." Marinette said and Adrien took her hand for comfort. "But we managed it together, haven't we?"
"We have." Adrien said with a smile at his love. "I think it's honestly not that much different from what we were doing before. We're still heroes, we're still in school, and we're still together. Only this time it's a true hero school, we're in Japan, and we have new friends who also have powers. Well, that and the fact that there are no more secrets between us which is great as it's allowed us to final admit our feelings for each other."
"Yes even if we have other secrets." Marinette said looking around. "I hope in time we can tell our friends, but they aren't ready for the truth yet."
"No, they're not." Adrien agreed. "But they will be. It's amazing all that has happened though."
"It is both good and bad." Marinette said before quieting as the waitress returned and smiled at them likely believing that they were being romantic in their native tongue as she set down their dessert platter.
Both Marinette and Adrien were impressed by the platter. On it were the two scoops of ice cream in the center, around them in a heart that put the scoops at the tops were the dark chocolate chips. Then on the outside, in a pattern ringing it were slices of peaches, strawberries cut in half, and blackberries. It all looked great.
"Have a love meal Master and Mistress." The waitress said with a curtsy before moving off.
"This does look good." Adrien said as they let go of each other's hand and began to eat.
They didn't really talk while eating, they just enjoyed the food, occasionally feeding each other combos of fruit, chocolate and ice cream they'd liked and because it was adorable, and otherwise enjoying their impromptu mall date. They didn't even realize that Mina and Hagakure had passed the café and swooned over them with some pictures of the couple being extra cute that they sent to the class about how cute the class couple was. Soon though the light dessert was over, and they could get back to chatting.
"That was good." Marinette agreed in French as she took a sip of coffee while Adrien had some of the melon soda he'd ordered. "But back to before, we've been through more than anyone should because of the whole timeline thing."
"Yeah that was the hardest part but the normalcy we are now in has really helped." Adrien said. "And school has been good. We have new friends, new adventures, and are helping people without having to worry about our secret identities like we did in the past."
"Other than the lying about said past." Marinette said. "Though we are used to that unfortunately. Still, being open about being heroes and our powers, and for the most part our stories are true if out of date, has been great. It's something I'd never expected I'd be able to experience after becoming Ladybug. Plus, we are really part of the class now and the Sports Festival realty helped there."
"It did and we did well, next time it will be us in the final." Adrien said.
"You know it." Marinette said with a grin. "And this time I won't get that badly hurt."
"I hope not, it wasn't easy to watch." Adrien admitted. "I went straight to Recovery Girl's nurse's office the moment it ended."
"Sorry, but you know that that match was going to go to the end." Marinette said. "There was no way that Todoroki or I came out of that match on anything but a stretcher. Besides, now you've had your own injury that worried me."
"I know and it showed me how dangerous this world now is." Adrien said seriously. "That is the biggest difference, but we can overcome that as well. Together, we will be good."
"Together we are unstoppable." Marinette said as the waitress came to clear their platter and give them the bill. "But the day is young, let's continue our date and see what the mall has to offer."
"Of course, bugaboo." Adrien said as he paid for the meal, and they got up and left the café to a chorus of come again Master and Mistress from the maids. "That was good, but we should check out this mall."
Marinette just nodded as she took Adrien's hand, linking her arm with his as she did, and they walked in a random direction. Their meal had only lasted 20 minutes so they had plenty of time to see the mall. At least that's what they thought.
The couple had just rounded a corner and noticed the Agreste Hero Fashion store that the waitress had mentioned, it was easy to see as it was the only one not using kanji and were heading to check it out when there was a sudden alarm sound. That got them on edge, and they looked at each other worried before an announcement came over the mall PA system.
"There has been a dangerous, wanted, villain spotted at the mall." The announcement said in a calm, measured, tone. "Please evacuate the mall in an orderly and well-mannered fashion and check in with a police officer in the cordon to be cleared as we are now in a lockdown."
In what had to be a well-practiced and drilled fashion all the stores closed instantly, and the people in the mall began to head to the exits without any fanfare. It was clear that people were used to this in the Quirk society they lived in, and Adrien and Marinette just went with it. As they did Marinette pulled out her phone to see a text in the group chat from Midoriya.
The incident was Shigaraki finding me and holding me hostage, he is gone and Uraraka has reported it to the authorities now that I am safe, but Uraraka and I are staying to give statements and the mall has been closed. Sorry for causing such a trouble.
"It was Shigaraki." Marinette said with a growl. "He came here and found Midoriya."
"That's not good." Adrien said surprised that one of the most wanted men in all of Japan had so casually strolled into the mall. "But he let Midoriya live, why?"
"I'm not sure but there has to be a reason for it." Marinette said worried as another text came through, this time from Mina. "Wait Mina has something."
Oh my god I hope you two are ok! No worries, hopefully they catch him. We'll all do this again later but for now I guess we should head home. Summer Camp though!
"Mina says we should go home." Marinette said as a series of more texts came in from other classmates confirming what Mina was suggested, followed by another one from Momo in the girls only group chat that they were confirmed for their fun during break and giving the details. "Also, Adrien, I'm going to the school again in a few days for a girls thing, you should use that time to come and work out at the gym then you can be close."
"Sounds good." Adrien said. "Shame the date was ruined before we could check out my family's store and see what the Guardians have done with it."
"Next time and besides, we're still together and heading home." Marinette said with a smile. "This is still a date, and we can have a date dinner tonight in the apartment. We should maximize things before the camp as I feel like we won't be able to sleep together, in either sense, while we are there."
"No, they'll segregate by gender for sure." Adrien said with a grin as they made their way to the train station. "So, let's get home and enjoy our break because I have a feeling that this Summer Camp is going to be something else."
Marinette just nodded as they made their way to the station to head home after being cleared by a police officer thanks to their U.A. student IDs. It was a shame that the mall date had ended early, but they still had the rest of the day and break was beginning, things were looking good and soon they'd be at the Summer Camp. That was going to be something that none of them would ever forget.
Ah a nice, cute, date chapter for the Miraculous couple with a shade of foreshadowing at the end but we are still a few chapters from the Summer Camp. When I decided to do the mall chapter I was always going to do a date and when thinking of what to do for it I realized that I had to expose them to a maid café, which as Mineta points out in season 4 is still a thing in this society and see how they would react to it. The meal itself was a mix of a suggestion from a reviewer and my own ideas for the layout. To any who are confused because of how it looks in the show, Marinette's hair is actually officially jet black in the canon, the blue hue to it in the show is actually an homage to the shows anime inspired origins (yes Miraculous Ladybug was actually supposed to be done in an anime style though as it has no Japanese influence it wouldn't be considered true anime I believe) in which black hair is often drawn with a blue edge or hue to it to make it stand out more. Also remember that they were blasted into the future during season 3 so they never got the chance to go to Andre's Ice Cream cart with Kagami towards the end of season, so they've never been there together. Anyway, that is all I have for this chapter, I think y'all can guess what is next up so I will leave this chapter off here. If you like it or have any questions please let me know in reviews or PMs, I will try to answer them as best I could and post any questions asked between uploads at the start of the next chapter and do follow and favorite this, so you are alerted to future uploads. Do keep the reviews coming as I like hearing from y'all as you enjoy my work, it motivates me to keep producing the best work I can for y'all to enjoy. Until next time.
Stringdog
