[Adrien's POV]

As soon as Nino walks into class, he rushes into his seat. He slams his hand on the desk and looks at me with wide eyes.

"Adrien. It's New Year's Eve, do you know what this means?" Nino asks.

"Um...time to start dieting?" I answer unsurely.

"No. It is the night that Operation Get Close with Marinette Stage Three goes underway. I call it: The two halves become one." Nino waves his hand majestically and looks off into the distance as he announces the title.

"What?" I reply. "Haven't you forgotten about that yet? Marinette and I have already grown closer. We're like best friends now—mission accomplished."

"Okay, first of all—I'm your best friend. You can only have one, that's why it's call a best friend. And that's me. I'm the best." Nino says. "Second of all, you're missing the point here. Tonight is an opportunity that only comes once a year. Kissing someone at midnight brings good fortune to your new year, epically in the looove department."

My attention is immediately stolen by Ladybug. Nino's words drown out as I think of her. He's right, this is a tremendous opportunity. I'll steal Ladybug away at midnight and kiss her under the light of the fireworks. With good luck on my side, maybe she'll finally fall for me.

"So, you in?" Nino finishes.

"Huh? Yeah, sure." I agree absentmindedly. "Wait...what?"

"You're spending New Years with Marinette, Alya and I." Nino says.

"Oh...O-Okay." I reply.

[Narrator's POV]

"Going out together for New Years sounds so fun!" Marinette says. "After all, you, Adrien and Nino are my bestest friends so of course I would want to start the New Year with you guys."

"You're missing the bigger picture." Alya replies. "You. Adrien. Midnight. Smooching under the Eifel tower."

Marinette blushes. "What? You really think I should make that bold of a move?"

"It's a New Year's tradition to kiss at midnight, it's not that bold of a move if you make it out to be a fun little thing." Alya assures her.

Marinette gives a determined nod. "I've come so far this year... I have to seal this kiss with Adrien and ensure success in my love life next year!"

"You suddenly got really passionate about this, huh?" Alya responds.

Marinette lowers her voice to a concerned murmur, "I sure hope Adrien's dad will let him come..."

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*Later that day...*

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"Ahh, what do you think you're doing?" Plagg questions.

Adrien is currently shaping his bedsheets and pillows to look like a sleeping body.

"There's no way my dad will let me go out with Nino tonight. I'll just have to sneak out." He answers.

"Ooorr we could stay warm inside with plenty of food and no loud fireworks." Plagg replies before gulping down a slice of camembert cheese.

"Missing New Years is not an option." Adrien says determinedly. "I'm going to kiss Ladybug at midnight. Ladybug's are also good luck in the love department you know? Kissing her on New Year's has got to be a double whammy of good fortune—just what this black cat needs!"

"Ooorr we could stay warm inside with plenty of food and no loud fireworks." Plagg repeats.

"Plagg, claws out!" Adrien says, ignoring his complaining kwami.

The now transformed Cat Noir cracks open a window and slips outside into the night. He leaps from roof top to roof top until he is only a few blocks from the Eifel tower. Cat Noir slides down a gutter pipe into an alleyway before transforming back.

"Okay Plagg, claws off." He says.

Green light slices through the shadows of the alleyway. Plagg flies out from Adrien's ring and instantly begins whining,

"Why do you always do that? At least let me finishing talking before you force me to transform, it's rude!"

"Be quiet and get in my bag before someone comes!" Adrien whispers urgently.

Plagg turns his nose up stubbornly.

Adrien sighs impatiently and adds, "There's camembert in there."

"Well why didn't you say so!" Plagg says happily before zooming into Adrien's satchel.

Adrien peeks around the corner before slipping into the crowded street.

"I'll just hang out with Nino and the others for a little bit and then I'll sneak off before midnight." He says.

"You know, if you had let me finish my debate back at the house I would have told you that there is a serious flaw in your plan." Says Plagg's voice from inside Adrien's bag.

"And what's that?" Adrien asks.

"You don't know who Ladybug is, so how are you supposed to find her? You don't even know if she'll be here tonight." Plagg answers.

"You don't think I thought of that?" Adrien replies with a proud smile. "This is the most popular spot in Paris. Ladybug is definitely here, I just have to get her to show herself. And even if she's not here, she will be by midnight."

"What exactly are you scheming?" Plagg inquires suspiciously.

"Nino!" Adrien calls out, ignoring his kwami once again.

Nino and Alya wave at him, with Marinette standing anxiously behind them. Adrien jogs over to join the group right beside the Eifel tower.

"It's our first New Years all together. Isn't that exciting?" Marinette says brightly.

"Yeah!" Adrien replies happily. "I've had such an awesome school year. I can't believe I've made so many great friends!"

"Well, new year new you." Nino says.

"You know, it's said that kissing someone at midnight brings good fortune to your new year." Alya prompts. "Isn't that right, Mari?"

Alya elbows Marinette in the arm.

"Oh! Oh, yeah! Totally." Marinette says.

"I'll be kissing my girl Alya." Nino announces, putting his arm around Alya's shoulders. "If you need a little luck Adrien, you could always give Marinette a smooch."

Marinette's face goes bright red as she gives a nervous smile.

"You don't have to worry about me," Adrien says. "I'll have to leave before midnight anyway."

Marinette's heart sinks. "You...You won't be staying?"

"Nah, come on man! You gotta stay out till midnight, it's New Years!" Nino tries.

"Sorry guys. Truth is I snuck out tonight so I have to get home before my dad notices I'm gone." Adrien apologises.

"We understand." Alya says, giving Marinette a sympathetic look.

Adrien spots Chloe, Sabrina, Kim and Max at a nearby food bender.

"I know!" He says suddenly. "How about I make it up to you guys and buy us all some Crepes?"

Before anyone has time to reply, Adrien rushes off through the crowd.

"Uh, are you blind?" Plagg says from inside Adrien's bag. "Chloe is over there. I hate Chloe!"

"I need Chloe." Adrien replies.

Just as he reaches the edge of the park where the Crepe stall is, Plagg saws out of his bag and pulls him behind a tree.

"What do you want? You couldn't have finished all that cheese already." Adrien says.

"I want to know what you're plotting." Plagg demands. "Why did you bother show up as Adrien if you only want to see Ladybug, how do you expect to even find Ladybug and most importantly why are you all of a sudden rushing to see Chloe?"

Adrien shifts nervously. "Okay, I'll come clean. I figured if someone gets akumatized then Ladybug will have to show up." He confesses.

"Woah. Wait. Don't tell me you want to cause someone to get akumatized?" Plagg says. "That will make you the same as Hawk Moth—no, worse—that will make you the same as Chloe!"

"I know. I know." Adrien replies. "That's why I'll just get Chloe to do it for me. You see now why I needed to come as Adrien? I couldn't roam the streets as Cat Noir; I would have too many fans getting in my way."

"Sure Buddy." Plagg says dully.

Adrien places his hand on his chin as he ponders. "Maybe I could get Kim to try to kiss Chloe at midnight and then when she rejects him...No. No, it'll be too late by then. I have to kiss Ladybug at midnight which means I need someone to get akumatized before then—"

"Are you listening to yourself?" Plagg interrupts. "You're planning an evil scheme to get someone akumatized! Are you Cat Noir or are you Hawk Moth?"

"Don't compare me to him!" Adrien snaps. "He's evil! I'm just in love."

"More like in-sane." Plagg retorts. "Do whatever you want but this kind of behaviour is not why you were chosen to possess the cat miraculous and therefore I will take no part in this."

Adrien hangs his head guiltily.

"And FYI, I have finished all the cheese. Don't underestimate me." Plagg says before disappearing into Adrien's bag.

Adrien shakes off the conversation and strolls out from behind the tree, but Chloe is already gone. He searches the crowd desperately for any sign of her. Nothing. Adrien continues glumly to buy his friends some Crepes.

"Dude, what took you so long?" Nino asks when he returns.

"Oh...long line." Adrien lies.

Alya and Nino both shrug and being munching away on their Crepes. Marinette, on the other hand, tilts her head to observe Adrien's strained expression. She steps forward and places a gentle hand on his shoulder. Adrien flinches, his heartbeat quickening.

"Adrien...is everything okay?" Marinette asks softly.

"Yeah, everything's fine." Adrien answers.

"Are you sure?" Marinette persists. "You can talk to me you know."

Adrien smiles weakly and hands Marinette her Crepe. "Really, I'm fine."

Adrien's heart is pounding. He can't stop thinking about Marinette's confession to Cat Noir. He can't stop picturing the night they held each other for hours after Volpina's attack.

Marinette reaches out to take the Crepe from Adrien's hand. For a split second, their fingers touch. Only a slight touch, but enough to send energy tingling through Adrien's fingertips. He draws a quick breath and retracts his hand. The Crepe slips from Marinette's grasp, splattering on the ground.

"Oh no!" Marinette says. "I'm so sorry Adrien! I'll pay you back."

As she begins rummaging through her purse, Adrien grabs her hand to stop her. But...also just to feel the warmth of her touch once more.

"Please, don't worry about it." Adrien says.

Lost for words, Marinette stares silently into Adrien's kind, green eyes. It is only when he removes his hand from hers that she realises what is happening.

"A-Are you sure?" Marinette asks unsurely.

Adrien clasps the hand that had touched hers over his heart. "It's no problem."

Nino and Alya have paused with their mouths full of food to watch. When Adrien catches them staring, Nino quickly looks away and begins shoving the rest of the Crepe in his mouth. This causes him to choke and Alya has to stop eating to pound his back until he spits out the food. Adrien laughs at the two of them. Marinette, however, is too busy goggling at Adrien to notice the current events.

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*The night goes on...*

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[Marinette's POV]

Sure, I was depressed because I wouldn't get the chance to kiss Adrien at midnight but any time spent with him makes me happy and I got a whole three hours of it.

Adrien checks the time on his watch. "Half an hour till midnight... I should get going guys."

I can tell my expression has dropped to a sad frown. Alya is looking at me with worry. I never been so disappointed in my whole life, it's hard to hide the dejection I'm feeling. I don't regret this night at all and I did have an amazing time but...I was so set on kissing Adrien. For once in my life, I was ready to do something about my feelings and now the chance to do it is slipping from my grasp.

Nino clasps Adrien's hand and pulls him into a hug. "See ya dude."

"Yeah, bye." Alya says with a sorrowful wave.

Adrien shifts his gaze upon me. I try my best to sound friendly as ever,

"S-See ya...Adrien."

"Er, bye...Marinette." Adrien replies.

Was I mistaken, or did I detect a hint of sadness in his voice? Could it be that...maybe he doesn't want to leave? Maybe—maybe he will miss me...

Ah! I'm getting ahead of myself. If he wanted to stay with me then he would.

Adrien slowly turns to leave. I find myself reaching out my hand as if to say something, but the words get caught in my throat. I just watch him walk away in silence.

"I'm sorry Marinette." Alya says once Adrien is out of sight.

My hand gradually drops to my side. "It's fine. It just...wasn't meant to be."

"Meant to be?" Nino repeats. "Destiny is overrated. If you want something to go down you gotta go out and make it happen."

"Nino, you're being insensitive." Alya says.

"No. He's right." I say with newfound determination. "I have to go after him."

"Woah, really? Good for you, girl." Alya replies.

"Yeah! Go get him!" Encourages Nino.

I give a strong nod to Alya before running off into the crowd.

I search the entire park twice with no luck. No way could I find Adrien in this crowd, assuming he's even still here. Would it be too much to go to his house?

Argh, this is ridiculous! I'll just transform into Ladybug and scan the crowd for Adrien.

As I begin running towards the closest alleyway to take cover in, a giant clock projection suddenly lights up the Eifel tower. It's the countdown to midnight, I've only got five minutes left.

I skid round the corner and run into the shadows of the alleyway when I suddenly smack into something.