[Narrator's POV]

Exhausted from yesterday's excitement, Adrien snuggles up in bed with his CatBug plushie watching one of his favourite anime shows, Ouran High School Host Club.

(A/N: This is a show about a group of handsome high school boys that run a club in which they serve girls tea, compliment them and flaunt their charms and what not. Okay continue)

"Eugh, this is so cheesy." Plagg criticizes. "And that's rich coming from me." He adds as he downs a slice of camembert cheese.

"Don't hate on my idols!" Adrien says defensively. "The Ouran High School Host Club taught me everything I know."

"Yeah no kidding." Plagg retorts.

"I wish my school had a Host Club." Adrien says, ignoring Plagg's snide comment. "That would be awesome."

"But you don't like flirting with multiple women." Plagg points out.

"I suppose that's true." Adrien replies.

"Maybe you weren't thinking of catering to all the girls at school. Maybe you were just thinking of having one girl in particular coming to your 'Host Club'." Plagg suggests.

He watches Adrien in anticipation...but he doesn't catch the hint.

"Who? Ladybug? Why would she be at my school?" Adrien questions. "Though that would be amazing..."

"Actually come to think of it, you do flirt with more than one girl." Plagg continues. "But it's strange...You only flirt with Ladybug and Marinette."

"I don't flirt with Marinette." Adrien denies. "Ladybug is the only girl for me."

Plagg frowns and raises his eyebrows. "Then why are you going on a date with Marinette today?"

"It's not a date, we're going to the Louvre for our architecture research project." Adrien answers stubbornly. "Since when did you start caring so much about my love life anyway?"

"I don't care. I'm just, you know, thinking out loud..." Plagg says casually. "Maybe your Nino friend is right about Ladybug being unreachable. Maybe you should give the Marinette girl a chance."

"You don't know what you're talking about." Adrien replies. "You don't know anything about love, all you care about is stinky cheese. And you don't know anything about Ladybug or Marinette."

"Oh, trust me. I have good judgement of character." Plagg says sarcastically, slightly agitated by the stupid love square going on.

Adrien checks the time on his phone and falls out of bed with shock. "Crap!" He scrambles to his feet and rushes into the bathroom. "I'm gonna be late for my date with Marinette!"

"I'm sorry, you're gonna be late for your what?" Plagg teases.

"A date is a term for a meeting! It doesn't have to be romanticised, it can just be a friendly outing." Adrien hollers through the bathroom door.

"But, just to be clear," Plagg says. "You're admitting that it is in fact a date."

"Plagg, so help me I will take off this ring and throw it into the ocean!" Adrien snaps.

Plagg sighs and goes back to eating his camembert. He can't tell Adrien the true identity of Ladybug, the best he can do is push him in the right direction. But for the moment Plagg is giving up, hoping that fate will take the reins.

[Marinette's POV]

I'm wearing a simple pink summer dress with my hair up in a bun. I wanted to look nice but still casual, get Adrien to notice me without looking like I was trying too hard.

I'm currently waiting in front of the Louvre for Adrien, rocking back and forth on my heels. Tiki pokes her head out of my purse. Noticing my anxious expression, she reassures me.

"You look very pretty Marinette."

"Thanks Tiki." I reply.

I look around one more time and see Adrien jogging towards me wearing jeans and a button-up, white collared, shirt.

"He's here Tiki!" I whisper, closing up my purse to hide her.

He looks so nice! I-Is this how Adrien would dress for a date?

"Hey Marinette, sorry I'm late." Adrien says once he reaches me.

"No noble—Proble, ah—Problem!" I stumble. "No...No problem."

"I like your hair." Adrien says. "You look very cute with a bun."

"R-Really?" I fidget with a stray lock of hair bashfully. "Thanks."

"Shall we go inside?" Asks Adrien.

"Yeah, sure." I agree.

Adrien and I walk towards the Louvre. Once at the entrance, Adrien steps aside and bows.

"After you, my Princess." He says.

For a split second, the image of Cat Noir pops into my head... "My Lady," Is what he always says as he bows before me. But Cat Noir is so cheesy when he flirts with me, whereas Adrien is just being gentlemanly. Adrien is tones more legit than Cat Noir. And he called me his princess! I can feel my spirit leaving my body. My legs have turned to jello. I'm totally swooning!

Adrien looks up at me. Ah! I must have been staring at him while lost in thought. I'm completely frozen. My heart is pounding.

Adrien scratches the back of his neck and looks away timidly. "Sorry, was that weird to say? It just came out like a habit. I guess the nickname has stuck with me since yesterday. You really do suit being a princess."

C-Cute! Adorable overload! Mayday, MAYDAY! Say something Marinette, he feels awkward!

"I don't mind. Princess...it has a nice ring to it." I say, trying to sound cool and collected as I wobble my way inside.

Adrien smiles up at me, dimples creasing his rosy cheeks. I swear to god if he gets any cuter my heart is going to explode right out of my chest!

"This place sure has been through a lot." Adrien says as we venture inside. "Remember that time Alya almost got sacrificed by the Pharaoh? I watched the whole the whole thing on her live stream of course.. Must have been pretty scary."

"It really was! I couldn't imagine what I would do if Alya got sacrificed. I was so scared for her." I say. "B-But you know, I was mummified so I don't remember most of it.." I add quickly.

"Well, no need to be afraid. Ladybug was there as always to save Alya along the rest of Paris." Adrien says.

"Hey, Cat Noir was there too." I reply. "A lot of people overlook him but I don't think Ladybug would be able to do what she does without him."

Adrien looks down at me as if surprised. Maybe it's because I'm always so harsh towards Cat Noir, he probably wasn't expecting me to defend him.

"Actually there was a time when Cat Noir almost got taken away." I say as we turn into the art gallery. "Remember when that Copy Cat villain came in here and stole the Mona Lisa in broad daylight!"

"Oh yeah, and everyone thought Cat Noir was a bad guy." Adrien replies.

"I knew he was good all along." I say complacently.

"Really? But Copy Cat looked exactly like him, how did you know?" Adrien asks.

"Cat Noir is a lot of things but above all he is a good person and I have faith in him." I answer honestly. "I would trust Cat Noir with my life."

Adrien smiles.

"I-I mean, we have to. We trust both Cat Noir and Ladybug with our lives almost every day." I continue.

[Adrien's POV]

It really comforts me knowing that I have Marinette's complete trust and faith. I wonder why she seems so embarrassed about supporting Cat Noir. Maybe it's because the last time she said something remotely nice about Cat Noir, I accused her of liking him. I really value her opinion though. Marinette is so optimistic and kind, and loyal and honest. And caring! She's so caring. Talented, of course, and determined. She's also strong minded. Some people might see it as stubbornness but I think it's a good quality.

"I really admire you Marinette." I speak out loud.

The words just seem to slip out as I ponder all the things I like about Marinette, but it is true. At least I think this is admiration I feel.

"Th-Thanks...er, why is that?" Marinette questions.

I try to think of how to answer her question but I can't really describe it. When I think of why I admire her my mind is blank except one word: Everything. Just...Just her. I admire her as a whole. Every single aspect of her I admire, even the little quirks and flaws like her clumsiness or how when she's nervous she gets all flustered and adorable. I just like being around her.

"I dunno." I answer. "I can't explain it, I'm just real fond of you."

Marinette's face turns pink like it always does when she gets complimented. She is too shy and timid to accept flattery, she just blushes. It's so cute. Oh, I guess that's another thing I admire about her—Her humbleness.

We spend the rest of the day chatting casually as we admire the Louvre. We decided that the Eifel tower would be too popular and wanted to do our project on something different to everyone else so the Louvre makes a good choice. I guess once this assessment is over we will have no reason to hang out by ourselves. We'll go back to sitting with Nino and Alya during class. It's strange, I used to never be able to hang out with Marinette unless Nino and Alya were there too but lately it feels like we've been spending more time together than with the rest of the group. It's a bit of a stretch to say we're best friends, no one could replace Nino and I'm sure Marinette feels the same way about Alya, but she and I have definitely grown much closer.

After we have explored the whole Louvre at least twice, we both dawdle and walk slowly on our way out as if to stretch out the time before parting ways.

"Well, I guess I'll see you at school." Marinette says finally.

As she turns to leave, something pulls at my chest. As if she has taken my heart with her. I feel the yearning desperation to spend more time with her, even if it's only a minute more.

"Wait!" I call out.

Marinette stops walking and turns around to face me. My heart thumps against my chest.

"Er, um...we won these gift cards for the cinema yesterday. How about we go use them?" I propose.

Marinette double-blinks. "Are you...asking me to a movie date?"

My breath hitches. Plagg's voice echoes in my mind, "You're admitting that it is in fact a date...Maybe you should give the Marinette girl a chance."

My heartbeat quickens. "I...I guess I am."