The dressing room was its usual state of semi-disaster: costumes everywhere, glitter in mysterious places, Nino and Kim arguing over whether or not a fog cannon counts as a "theatrical device."
Marinette was crouched beside a tangled prop box, frantically untangling wire fairy wings that had absolutely not been approved by the fire marshal.
She was halfway through a dramatic groan when she heard it:
"Of course she's in charge again," someone muttered near the back. "Probably cried her way into it. Again."
A couple of snickers followed.
Marinette stiffened, eyes wide.
She didn't need to look to know who said it. Chloe Bourgeois. Of course.
Before Marinette could think of something clever—or anything at all—another voice cut through the room, sharp and still.
"Say it again."
Silence.
Kagami stood by the mirror, her reflection sharp in the light, arms crossed.
"What was that?" she asked again. Calm. Cold.
Chloe turned with her usual smirk. "I don't need to explain myself to you—"
"I wasn't asking."
The room went quiet. Like… dangerously quiet.
"I'm not sure how things work in your world," Kagami continued, voice like drawn steel, "but where I come from, we don't mock people who work twice as hard to hold everything together."
Chloe scoffed. "Oh please—"
Kagami stepped closer. "You owe her an apology."
Marinette's heart was thudding. She didn't know whether to hide under the prop table or start clapping.
Chloe huffed and turned away. "Ugh. Whatever."
The tension slowly ebbed. Conversation resumed. Glitter somehow spread more.
Later, Marinette caught Kagami at the vending machine.
"…Hey."
Kagami turned. "Yes?"
Marinette twisted her fingers nervously. "You didn't have to do that."
"I know," Kagami said plainly. "But it was necessary."
There was a pause.
"You're… different," Marinette said. Then smiled. "But like, in a good way."
Kagami blinked. Then—barely perceptibly—smiled back.
"So are you."
By some cosmic accident, Marinette and Kagami ended up at the same smoothie stand after rehearsal.
They didn't talk much.
Marinette sipped her mango blend and texted Alya. Kagami quietly corrected the barista's fencing terminology under her breath.
Eventually, Kagami spoke.
"You were really overwhelmed today."
"I'm always overwhelmed," Marinette said, half-laughing. "I live in a state of cartoon-level panic."
"I can tell."
"Gee, thanks."
"But," Kagami added, "you always get back up. That's not something everyone can do."
Marinette blinked. "Are you… complimenting me?"
Kagami sipped her smoothie. "I'm being accurate."
Marinette smiled. Wide. Real.
And for the first time, Kagami didn't look away.
Back at rehearsal, Adrien caught sight of them walking in together.
Kagami—stoic, composed.
Marinette—bubbly, scattered.
He tilted his head, curious.
Luka, beside him, strummed a slow chord and watched quietly.
"You okay?" Adrien asked.
Luka smiled. "Always. Just… listening."