The next day, Adrien was late for school. He had not been able to sleep well, spending all night thinking about how he was going to bring up his father's subject with Ladybug. He was so exhausted and distracted, that he forgot to start getting ready in time. Luckily, his math teacher let it slide. All teachers were aware of his recent loss and had been told to take it easy on him.

He kept trying to focus on his classes, but his mind kept buzzing with questions. How did his father carry out his plans? Why did Nathalie help him? Nathalie seemed so much more balanced than his father, why did she help him? Maybe she was not Mayura after all... But of course she was, she was even sick...

Because she used the peacock miraculous.

The realization made him shiver. It all made too much sense. He was gradually getting more and more scared as the pieces of the puzzle were coming together. He did not doubt that Nathalie cared deeply for him, but how could he make peace with the fact that the only parental figure who was left in his life was the person who he fought behind the mask? How could he sit at the same table as her, have dinner with her, and tell her about his day, knowing all of this? Who could he still trust?

And Ladybug...? She had also lied to him, even though she had no idea he was Chat Noir. The only person who he could still fully trust, who had been by his side no matter what, was Marinette.

He was lost in thought when the bell suddenly rang for lunch. He had not paid any attention at all to his morning classes.

At lunch, he and Nino met with their girlfriends, as it had become usual.

"And then, she just got up and left... in front of the whole class!" Nino finished telling a story, while the girls burst out laughing. Adrien, however, had not heard anything about what he was saying.

"Are you feeling ok, Adrien?" He suddenly heard Marinette's voice asking.

"Yes, of course, I am just a bit tired, that's all."

"Well, if you are tired now that classes just started, I do not know how you will feel in a couple of weeks," said Alya. But Adrien had already zoned out again. He kept hearing his friends talking in the background, but his head just hurt so much. He couldn't wait for the day to be over.

After lunch, the two boys and two girls went their separate ways, to their classrooms. When Marinette and Alya were walking alone, Marinette brought Adrien's mood up. "I do not understand what is going on with him."

"Maybe he is just tired, as he said,"Alya said, casually. "I wouldn't worry too much, girl."

"I know, but he was already acting like this yesterday. He seems deeply lost in thought, not paying attention to anything..."

"He just lost his father, Marinette." She looked at her friend intensely. "What did you expect?"

"I know that... It's just that, although he was really broken when it happened, he had already started to feel better. At least that's what I thought... But now, it seems like something happened, something new..."

"And you have no idea what it is, right?"

"Well, he did bring up something about doubting his father's ultimate act of heroism..."

"Well, can you blame him?" Alya replied, "The man was as cold as Antarctica... It's a bit hard to imagine Gabriel Agreste making such a sacrifice. I would more easily believe if you told me he was Monarch himself" Alya said jokingly, which made Marinette shiver.

She quickly composed herself, "Well, I guess I can see where he is coming from." She hesitated before continuing, thinking about just letting the topic fade. However, she still continued "I just thought he was finally making peace with all of this. And when I asked him why he was suddenly having these thoughts, he was very vague. I feel like he maybe doesn't trust me."

"If there is someone who that boy trusts, it is you. He has opened up to you multiple times about things he had not been able to talk to anybody else at the time, even Nino. For example, you were the first person he told that he did not want to model anymore. And this was before you guys were together. I am sure he trusts you. Just give it a few days, and he will go back to normal."

"And if he doesn't...?" Marinette asked, doubtful.

"Then Nino and I will help you to talk some sense into him. And to figure out whatever is going on with him." Alya paused to look at her "It's a promise".

"Thank you, Al... Thank you for always being th..." Marinette was interrupted mid-sentence, as a loud noise filled the air. It sounded rackety and powerful, almost like an explosion. Right after, some screams burst out.

The girls looked at each other with a mist of disbelief and despair. "No, it cannot be..." Marinette exclaimed, covering her mouth.

"Whoever got the butterfly miraculous..." Alya paused, looking at her best friend dramatically "...they decided to act..."

"We need to go! Now!", said Marinette, while grabbing Alya's hand and running to the closest hiding spot.

"Tikkie, spots on!"

"Trixx, let's pounce!", the girls said simultaneously, as they escaped through the window to try to find the akuma.

"Pound it!" the four superheroes said. They had agreed that Rena Rouge and Carapace would help Ladybug and Chat Noir whenever they were nearby, and that the other superheroes would be called if necessary.

Although they were caught by surprise by the first new akuma, the fight was fairly easy to solve amongst the four of them.

In the end, they grouped to discuss what had happened. "So, they are back..." Carapace was the first one to talk.

"It looks like it," said Chat Noir.

"You are sure the old Monarch was defeated, right?"

"Yes, I am sure." Ladybug said firmly, looking down. "We already knew that the butterfly miraculous was nowhere to be found. I had hoped that..." she paused for a second "...that it was simply lost, but I knew that that was wishful thinking. And now we have our definitive confirmation."

"And what do we do now?" Asked Rena.

"We wait... We did not manage to get any clue about the identity of the new Monarch. So we need to wait for the next akumatization, and be extra attentive then." Ladybug said as her gaze kept drifting to Chat Noir. He was extremely quiet today, but at least he did not seem too mad at her anymore. She felt relieved. "I will see you next time." She said as she launched her yoyo to get back to school.

"See ya" Quickly said Rena Rouge and Carapace as they also leaped out of the roof.

Chat Noir was so lost in his thoughts that he did not react immediately when Ladybug and the others said goodbye. "Ladybug, wait" He called her...

But Ladybug did not hear him.

He desperately needed to talk to her.

His mind was completely consumed by the thoughts about his father being Monarch, Nathalie being Mayura, Ladybug knowing it all... It was all too intense... And their next patrol was only in a few days. He could not wait for it, or for another akuma to show up...

He needed to talk to her!

Now.

So, he impulsively extended his baton and darted in her direction. He tried to catch up with her, only to see her enter through the window of his new school. Does Ladybug go to my school? He started to realize it was the second time he had this thought albeit being in a different school now, but he did not finish forming his thoughts when he got his answer. He was still outside the room when he saw Ladybug's being engulfed by a pink light, and someone else taking her place.

Someone else he knew very well.

Someone else who happened to be his own girlfriend.