Miraculous: Tales of Scarlet Bug and Cat Walker

Chapter 3: Studying With 'Just a Friend'

The apparently really early weather was still lousy, but now, at this too-early point, people couldn't dress it up by calling it "Christmas-y." Paris already lay under a foot of snow: The worst winter in decades. It made the daily goings of life all the more difficult. Worst of all though, for Marinette at least, was the cancellation of her and Cat Walker's patrols.

Both the temperature and crime rate had plummeted together, such that patrols simply weren't necessary any longer. Cat Walker was probably glad to avoid the cold, but life felt lonelier than any winter. She missed Her Lord.

Sadly, whilst nothing sounded better than sprinting across the Parisian rooftops with her beloved, Marinette was instead stuck in class. Physics? Even worse, her least favorite subject. They were learning something about electrical currents and resistance within them. It was hard stuff.

"Gah!" Marinette shouted.

It was perhaps a little too loud. This theory was proven once she got the "quiet down" glare from their teacher.

"Why is Physics so hard?" Marinette groaned.

"Jeez,. came the disapproving sound of her best friend, Alya, "Calm down."

"Easy for you to say! You're not the one who's going to fail!"

"You're not going to fail. What you need is a tutor." replied Alya.

She then casts a knowing wink over at her best friend. She suggested Adrien, since Physics is his favorite class. Marinette didn't think so. The boy was always so irresponsible all the time, self-centered. How could he?

...

Marinette weighed her options once it was nearly time for her last period. She knew she wasn't going to make it out on her own. And getting someone like Adrien Agreste is probably even worse. However, maybe there's a chance...?

She decided to walk over to Adrien once she saw the Model talking on his phone. She could almost hear a voice saying something to admit to him that he's crushing on Scarlet Bug. Marinette scoffed quietly, he always claimed that he had a crush on Marinette Dupain-Cheng. Just watch it, she mentally told herself with doubt in her mind, he's going to admit it and-

"Please, Scarlet Bug is a klutz," said Adrien instead, "she even trips over her own feet!"

Marinette opened her mouth, forming an "o" shape with it. Okay, he was already creepy enough to be so flirtatious towards her, but now he's calling her a "klutz"? She saw him get off the phone and turn to her, she rid herself of her shocked face.

"Oh, hey, Marinette." he said leaning against his locker, "Want to go on a date-?"

"Class is about to start..." said Marinette, slapping his cheek, "...go to the wild seat."

"Y-Yes..."

Adrien walked away in embarrassment. In his mind, he was internally screaming. The first time she touched my cheek! he thought, And the pain was worth it! Then he wondered, what made Marinette so upset earlier?

...

Marinette waited outside of the school.

She had been feeling more guilty than happy for giving Adrien what he "deserves." He didn't know that she was Scarlet Bug. But still, it wouldn't hurt if he didn't have to downright insult her so much.

She waited until she saw him walking down the steps. Adrien didn't seem upset or down since Marinette slapped him in the face. He instead looked more happy and...confused?