Chapter Text
The first rays of morning light spilled into Collège Françoise Dupont, glinting across the windows as students filled the courtyard with chatter and laughter. Ken leaned against the railing by the main hall, headphones draped loosely around his neck, sketchbook resting on one knee. His once-quiet demeanor had shifted lately. He laughed a little easier now, greeted people first, and even teased Nino once about his playlist.
Still, there was something calm and distant about him as if part of him always lingered somewhere else, in shadow and silence.
Zoé crossed the courtyard, her golden hair catching the sunlight. “Hey, Ken,” she called out, waving a small notebook.
“You forgot this yesterday.”
He blinked, smiled softly. “You really didn’t have to bring it-”
Zoé grinned. “Someone will take it otherwise. Consider it as my payback to you.”
A few of their classmates nearby exchanged knowing glances. Ken just sighed, scratching his neck as he looked away, a faint blush brushing his face.
At another table on the second floor, Marinette and Alya watched them.
Alya whispered, “Girl, I’m calling it. He’s totally into her.”
Marinette frowned slightly. “Maybe… or maybe he’s just… being friendly.”
Alya smirked. “Opening up to her, you mean.”
The day passed like any other class, with laughter and bits of teasing here and there. But under that ordinary rhythm, something subtle pulsed.
Kagami leaned on the railing as Ken joined her, the sunset painting the city gold.
“You’ve changed,” she said simply.
Ken tilted his head. “Changed?”
“You talk more. You smile more. But…” her voice softened, “you’re still guarding something.”
He looked out toward the skyline, eyes narrowing slightly. “Guess I’m not as good at hiding as I thought.”
From his bag, a faint flicker of dark aura-Koro. peeked out briefly, just to feel the wind.
“Be careful,” Kagami murmured.
Ken smiled faintly. “I know.”
A sudden gust scattered papers down an alley as a low hum echoed. A new akumatized villain, Vesper, a musician turned destructive by rejection, sent waves of dissonant sound through the streets, distorting reality.
Ladybug and Chat Noir struggled to keep balance as the sound rippled.
“Who even comes up with this stuff?!” Chat yelled.
Ladybug gritted her teeth. “Focus-we can’t get close without being thrown back!”
A faint shimmer of light appeared above them-silver and pale gold intertwined.
Vigil hovered down, cloak fluttering. “Seems you could use some rhythm control,” he said, voice calm and melodic.
Ladybug blinked. “Vigil? I thought-”
“Forget about it,” Vigil interrupted softly, raising her staff. “Cover your ears.”
he swung his swip once. A wave of radiant light rippled outward, bending the sound into silence. The dissonance cracked like glass. The akumatized villain staggered, dazed.
“Now, Ladybug.”
The purification was swift. Within moments, the streets fell silent again-just the hum of the city’s lights returning to normal.
But when Ladybug turned to thank her, Vigil was already gone. Only a few feathers floated down silver with a faint gold hue, glowing faintly before vanishing into the wind.
Ken sat by the window, hair down, chain accessory glinting faintly. Aurora floated near his shoulder, humming a tune softly.
“You did well today,” she said.
He sighed. “It’s getting harder to stay hidden.”
Aurora smiled gently. “You can’t hide forever. Light always finds its way out.”
Ken looked toward the glowing city. “Maybe. But not yet.”
The music from his headphones hummed-soft, melancholic, and peaceful. Outside, Paris slept beneath the stars.
And in the quiet, a voice whispered-Cerise’s voice, distant but sharp:
“So, the light finally shows itself again… perfect.”
End of Chapter