First date?

"… ¿Sencha o Gyokuro?"

"How?" I answer the question with another question. I was immersed in my thoughts and didn't pay attention to my surroundings. "Can you repeat the question?"

"I asked: Do you want sencha or gyokuro tea? I have Nathalie at the door waiting" Says Adrien.

From the sofa, I turn to look at the aforementioned. The woman in the suit has a neutral expression, but not weak at all. Her pose is straight and impeccable. Analytical eyes behind the glasses stare at me.

"Gyokuro tea, please."

"Nathalie, you heard her. You can go now."

Nathalie adjusts her glasses before speaking in a professional manner.

"Yes, Adrien, I heard her. That doesn't mean I don't think it's okay to leave them alone in these turbulent times."

"You can go and tell my father and his guest your refusal, because you do not agree with his orders. Right now they must be in the office working on their things."

"… Okay. Before I go, I remind you that there is still no agreement between the Agreste and the Tsurugi. Don't do anything you might regret."

"Goodbye, Nathalie… sorry about that. She is overprotective sometimes, most of the time, rather."

"Don't worry." I make it clear that I'm not upset. "She is a servant who cares for her young master. It is normal."

"No." He denies immediately. "She is not a servant. She is a friend and part of the family." He smiles at me showing the perfect teeth that adorn the smile. "Don't say otherwise again. It's in bad taste."

"I understand." I answer. I don't know what else to talk about. After the kata training, my mother kept her word and brought me to the Agreste Mansion. I knew she would fulfill it. I just didn't know she would do it so quickly. I only slept six hours. The normal hours of sleep, but the accumulated fatigue demands more hours from me. Maybe that's why I said something stupid. "Was she worried I'd attack you?"

"Good joke." I seriously asked. "Nothing like that. More along the lines of leaving two teenagers in a bedroom. Don't take it the wrong way. She doesn't want me to make a fool of myself with you while Dad is doing business with your mother."

"That was why."

"Yes, that was why and nothing else."

"…"

"…"

"Your game room is very big."

"It's my bedroom."

"I may be from another culture, but I can recognize an game room when I see one. We create the game rooms."

"I'm serious. Look, there's my bed." He points behind me. I am surprised to find a bed between half a basketball court and a computer with three oval screens and a fourth two meters wide above the three.

I don't know what to think about it and I'm too tired to think, so I don't think and I let it go.

"Come, sit on the sofa."

"With your permission." I walk over to the piece of furniture and lift the hem of the kimono slightly as I sit down, then release it and smooth it out. Strangely, I hated having to do it more than usual (I blame fatigue for that). I prefer to wear trousers. It's a pity that I came as a representative of the Tsurugi and etiquette should be honored.

"Nice earrings."

I hide them with my hands and realize that doing so makes me look suspicious. I slowly lower my hands and try to move the conversation to another topic. Too bad I'm a bad liar.

"Thank you, they are a gift from… my grandmother. Nice bedroom. Do you spend a lot of time here?"

Adrien doesn't react to my social skills and continues smiling.

"At the risk of sounding like a hikikomori, I must confess that the answer is yes. I spend most of my day here. I have my language classes and studies online. The time I'm not at home is when I work as a model. Have you seen the advertisements around town?"

"Sorry. I haven't done much sightseeing these days. We moved a few weeks ago and there was no time for leisure."

"Don't worry. When the heroes defeat the villain and things calm down, will you want to go for a walk?"

"If the heroes defeat him, we could try it. I don't think my mother would object to that."

"And I hope mine doesn't either, for once. And it's not If, it's When." He clarifies with a little firmness, without losing his smile. "Remember: heroes will always win."

One of the supposed heroes is in an induced coma and the other is a mess.

"It's the real world. Good doesn't always win. That's what happens in comics and manga."

"Ha ha ha"

I open my eyes slightly as I see him chuckling softly.

"It's true. That's why I have faith in our two heroes. She won't let me down."

"…As you wish. I know what I'm talking about."

"You're right.." He settles into the sofa in front of me and drops his shoulders into a casual pose. In contrast, I am sitting up straight with my legs together as the label indicates. "Japan has a couple dozen heroes. What are they like? Have you seen them?"

I shift a little uncomfortably in my spot. Not because of the sofa, but because of the questions. I didn't come here to talk about heroes, much less to hear that word at this moment and in this state of sleep.

"Sorry," Adrien apologized before I could say anything. "This isn't a good conversation for our first meeting."

"We could talk about our private lessons. Mine range from shodo courses to tea ceremony. My favorite of all is fencing…"

"Stop there." He raises a hand to accompany the idea and I stop. "I don't want to talk about studies or works or responsibilities. Just a normal chat, please. Think of me as a friend. Not someone you need to impress. Can you do it?"

"Yes of course."

"I'm glad" Adrien leans his back against the backrest and opens his legs a little. I notice he's more relaxed than he already was, if that's possible.

He stares at me in silence for a long time.

Time when I try hard not to fall asleep because of how quiet the place is. The rays of sunlight coming through the large window that occupies the entire wall give me enough warmth and the sofa is so soft that I feel like I'm in my bed. If it weren't for Adrien breaking the silence, I would have fallen asleep and that would be totally disrespectful.

"Do you want to sleep in my bed?" The question was accompanied by a push under the kimono.

I move my hand, pretending to smooth out the fabric, and gently move Tikki-sama. It would be fatal if Adrien noticed a lump moving against my side. And with my other hand I hide my mouth before yawning.

"I decline the offer. I don't need it. I'm fine. We still have…"

"You can't fool me. You're about to fall asleep."

"What makes you…?" I yawn again. It's already become annoying. "Forgive my rudeness. I didn't get much rest last night." Better said, I didn't rest at all last night.

"Don't worry. We were all affected by the villain's attack."

"Not to you, seems" I say dryly.

We both opened our eyes completely, but on my side, I even covered my mouth and turned my gaze.

First with my mother. Now with my supposed and unconfirmed future husband. Am I really not turning into a rebel without a cause? Mother may be right, as always.

"Sorry. What I meant was… was…" Trying to find a perfect excuse to cover up my mistake, I take a look at him and I am surprised. Instead of seeing displeasure, anger or annoyance, I see his smile widen. Not a trace of negative emotion.

That's not normal.

"I have an idea of what you meant. There is no bad intention on your part. Don't worry."

"No. I was disrespectful and I apologize. I take responsibility for my words" I say and bow my head.

"Kagami" It's the first time he says my name since we've been alone. "Raise your head... For the sake of both of us, let's make things clear. These meetings will continue to happen. I saw your name on the list of my activities on Nathalie's desk."

"You're right. At least I'll come from time to time for two hours."

"Our parents want us to be friends and I'm not opposed to that. I enjoy it I would say. And as a friend, I care about you. You're not feeling well."

"That's not true."

"Yes it is."

"It's not!" I get exasperated with his insistence. I don't look weak. I'm flawless. Perfectly seated and dressed for the occasion. I…

"Wait a minute." He gets up to look for something on a chest of drawers and returns to sit where he was before. "Here, take a look at yourself." He hands me a hand mirror.

"Why? What do you want to prove?"

"I want you to see how I see you. The image you are giving to others."

"I don't want to."

"Then you know what you'll see."

I didn't like those words. But not doing what he says would show how insecure I feel. With shaking hands, I grab the mirror and a weak girl stares back at me.

Bags under the eyes that poor makeup, done by tired hands, could not hide; red eyes due to lack of sleep and wrinkles caused by stress. I thank Tikki-sama for helping me brush my hair. It is the only respectable thing about me.

I gently lower the mirror and place it face down next to me.

"And?"

"I look pathetic."

"Yes. That's how others will see you."

"Is that all? You just wanted to make me notice what a bad daughter I am? You're a sadist."

"Calm down a bit, Kagami." He crosses one leg and rests an arm on the back of the sofa. His friendly attitude is starting to annoy me and his ever-present and changing smile. "I want to help you. I told you before. Let's start considering ourselves friends right now and avoid wasting time."

"In that case, how would you help me? By giving me some of your makeup?"

"No, not at all. Your skin is too white to use my makeup."

I asked the question as an insult, but he took it well. Given his job, I should have assumed that he wears makeup as a man.

"Makeup is also temporary. What you need to learn is this." He finishes and points to his face.

"Have flawless skin? I have to undergo a lot of surgeries for that."

"What? No. This." This time he brings the finger closer to the mouth.

"Teeth as white as ivory? It would be difficult without a denture."

"You're enjoying it, aren't you?"

"You're pointing out my aesthetic flaws. I can't say I enjoy it."

"I'm glad to entertain you for a short while, but let's get back to Professor Agreste's lesson. You can call me Agreste-sensei."

"By the kamis, I will never call you that."

"I think so, having…" Clap about three times dramatically and the lights in the room dim. I must get one of those if I'm going to make a habit of collapsing in bed. "My secret lesson of Smile."

"…"

"…"

"…"

Three claps later.

"Nothing? Not a gesture or a grimace. Say something at least."

"Something"

"That's a start."

"Do you find it funny to act like a clown?"

"Only if I cheer you up a little."

"Didn't. It just made me more upset."

"And that's the problem. You don't know how to act. Showing others that you don't dislike them, even if it's a lie. Laughing without grace at bad jokes. Give them the image you are happy to be there. Smile to avoid ruining the image they have of you and your family. No one will see a smile and think of something bad. Smiling doesn't convey bad feelings. Smiling gives the message that everything is fine."

His words were serious, but his appearance, his relaxed manner and his toothless smile were too much of a contrast.

"If you had smiled, the bags and red eyes would have passed as concern for the current situation in Paris. Well, that in front of the cameras obviously and most of the adults."

"You're disgusting."

"Hey! I'm trying to help you and see you more. If you reflect badly on my parents, they won't let us see each other anymore. It's for your own good."

"Lie. That's what you want me to do."

"Hiding. This is about hiding and letting others think what they want. It is not lying. If you want to survive in the Parisian upper class you must learn to move and act accordingly. You don't want to end up like my sister."

Aren't you an only child?

That's what I was going to ask, but the knocking on the door eliminated the opportunity.

"Here I come! Kagami, I'll go open the door. Adjust your sleeves. Your bruises are visible."

Adrien quickly gets up from the sofa and walks briskly to the door while on my side, I pull at my sleeves and tears of shame battle to free themselves from my eyelids.

The person at the door is Nathalie carrying the tea tray. I completely forgot about that. He grabs the tray and closes the door. A few seconds later, a tray with two cups of tea and the steaming teapot is between us. Unconsciously, I get up to pour the tea, but Adrien was faster.

"I'll do it. You're my guest." He says after finishing serving. He says it late so as not to give me a chance to respond.

"It was my duty. I am the woman…"

"A friend of mine would be very against serving others for that simple fact. If I let you do, she'd make me deaf. Drink up and relax. You need it and you're among friends."

"You are a very annoying young man, Adrien Agreste."

"I'll take as a compliment, Kagami Tsurugi."

I lift the cup with both hands and bring it to my lips. I drink the tea and a soft, relaxing warmth runs from my tongue to my stomach. The smells of grass calm me and I sigh quietly. I let myself fall back and close my eyes. Between the sunlight, the soft sofa, the loving caress on my side and the hot cup in my hands, I am brought back home.

Since I came to Paris, for the first time I can say:

I am at home.

That was quick. In one full day I wrote almost 7k words. Quite long for this kind of fanfic. So I split it in two. The calm part on one side and the serious part on the other.

If you think the chapter didn't progress much or the conversation went too fast, this is why. Their conversation will continue in the next chapter.

Adrien, in this story, is more lucid about his situation and not a flawless husbando.

Sorry Kagami fans if you feel like I turned her into Sakura (from Naruto). Her character development is just around the corner and when she turns that corner, she'll meet Itadori.

See you.