Necessary episode knowledge: Season 1 episode "Animan"

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"Woah!"

Alya and Nino both stumble inside the zoo cage.

"Stay put and you'll be safe." Ladybug says before slamming the door shut and running away.

Nino's heartbeat quickens as he turns to Alya. Trying his best to act cool, he smiles nervously and clicks some finger guns at her. "Uh, hey wussup?"

Alya groans and puts a hand on her forehead. She can't deal with this awkwardness right now—she needs to record this fight for the Ladyblog!

Alya walks up to the door and attempts to push it open but it is locked shut. "Come on, open..." She grumbles.

"Hey, even if we weren't locked in, it's too dangerous out there with all those animals running around. You could get hurt!" Nino says, grabbing Alya's hand to pull her back.

Alya looks down at her hand in surprise.

Nino's cheeks flare up and he immediately lets go. "S-Sorry!"

"That's okay..." Alya says slowly, clasping the hand Nino had touched. It feels...warm.

"So...what were you doing here this afternoon?" Nino asks in an attempt to change the subject.

"Marinette was feeling nervous about meeting with Adrien so I came for moral support." Alya answers.

Nino tilts his head in confusion. "But I didn't see you with Marinette at all."

"Well, actually..." Alya scratches the back of her neck awkwardly. "I was hiding in the bushes coaching her with an earpiece."

"No way!" Nino exclaims.

Alya cringes, prepared for the awkward reveal that she had in fact heard Nino confessing his love for her.

"Adrien was totally doing the same thing for me!" Nino laughs. "What a crazy coincidence."

"Wait, what?" Alya says. That was not the response she expected—And did Nino just say that Adrien was there the whole time?!

"Yeah, I was really anxious about meeting up with Marinette. I was so scared I couldn't even talk to her! So Adrien agreed to help me out." Nino explains. "He's an awesome friend."

"Wait, wait, wait—" Alya waves her hands around, her mind buzzing with confusion. "You like Marinette?!"

Nino hesitates. For some reason, he finds it hard to answer. He blushes and avoids Alya's eye contact. "Er...Yeah?"

Alya raises an eyebrow. "What's with that answer? You sound so unsure."

Nino shudders. Why is he getting so flustered right now?

"W-Well, I dunno, she's just so fiery and determined and strong-willed. I-I really admire her." Nino says.

Alya's heart flutters. Nino's words are so genuine but he gets all embarrassed and nervous about confessing them—so cute!

"That's...really sweet, Nino." Alya says with a smile.

But what is this strange feeling in the pit of her stomach? It's kind of uncomfortable...

"Actually..." Nino smiles and rubs his arm. "They're all the characteristics that I see in you, too."

"Th-They are?" Alya says, a blush rising to her cheeks.

"Yeah, I guess Marinette has really changed since becoming friends with you. She's become more confident and she caught my eye all of a sudden. This crush, it just popped up out of nowhere." Nino replies.

There it is again, that uncomfortable feeling. Hot and squeamish.

"Marinette is in love with Adrien!" Alya blurts out suddenly. She immediately clamps her hands over her mouth and whispers, "I-I'm so sorry Nino, I don't know why I said that. I shouldn't have told you..."

"That's okay." Nino assures her with a smile.

Alya lowers her hands slowly. "It...doesn't bother you?"

"You'd think it would, huh? Weird..." Nino says. "I guess I already knew. Maybe that's why I never talked to her or did anything with my feelings. Maybe that's why I chose her..."

"Chose her?" Alya repeats.

"Never mind..." Nino mumbles, lowering his eyes.

A moment of silence passes before Alya speaks up hesitantly. "Can I...ask you something?"

"Sure." Nino replies.

"Why did you tell Marinette that you're in love with me?" Alya asks.

Nino freezes, his heart pounding. It finally dawns on him that Alya had overheard his entire conversation with Marinette earlier.

"I...I dunno, I said that I loved a girl but I didn't know how to tell her, and then your name just slipped out." Nino answers honestly. He grips the bottom of his T-shirt and adds quietly, "Maybe...Maybe it's true..."

But Alya had heard even the last part, and it has her heart running wild.

"What...?" She breathes.

Nino sighs and comes clean. "I think that Marinette was just my substitute for you because I knew that I would never have a chance with you."

"Why would you think that?" Alya questions.

Nino shrugs and smiles up at Alya as he answers simply, "You're amazing."

Alya's heart skips a beat. Before she knows what she is doing, she has grabbed Nino by the shirt and smashed their lips together. Nino's eyes fly open with shock. After a moment of internal screaming and panic, he decides f*** it and melts into a hot make out with his dream girl.

Meanwhile, the zookeeper Otis Césaire has returned to make sure all of his animals get back to their cages okay. He opens the large metal door of his panther cage and stops dead in his tracks.

"Alya!"

Alya pulls a part from Nino in a panic. "D-Dad?"

Nino sways dizzily, his glasses askew and his face bright red. "Hehe, yay Nino!"