I'm so close! Alya thought. It had taken her 3 weeks to search and edit to get a clean sound clip of Ladybug's voice, and Alya had finally found Ladybug's age and gender using the best voice age software she could get on a limited budget. There's no way to deny it, Ladybug is a 16 year old girl! She realized excitedly. I can't believe that Ladybug is the same age as me!
Alya flopped backwards onto her bed and sighed, holding her phone close to her heart. She had always loved superheroes, and Paris got two new superheroes as soon as she moved there. I am so lucky. Ladybug is the best thing that happened to me. It just seemed so impossible to Alya that this was even happening. I also made a best friend, Marinette! I am glad that we moved to Paris. OMG! Mari! I totally forgot about her. I have to tell her that I am this close to figuring out Ladybug's identity. She thought.
Alya quickly whipped her phone out of her pocket and pressed Mari's contact, soon hearing the telltale ringing that signaled the call coming through. The ringing abruptly cut off.
"Alya?"
"Hi Mari. I made an important development with Ladybug's identity!"
"Really?" Marinette giggled nervously.
"Yes, girl! I can't believe how close I am."
"Wow!" She giggled again, with true anxiety now. "What k-kind of development?"
"Ladybug is a 16 year old girl! Our age. I suspected it when she dropped the history textbook before The Pharaoh, but my voice recognition software confirmed it! Ladybug is our age, maybe even in our grade."
"T-t-t-that's amazing A-a-Alya."
"I know, right! What amazing development! Soon girl, I might be revealing Ladybug's identity to the world."
Oh no! Marinette thought. If she reveals my identity, I might have to give up my miraculous! Then I can't protect Paris with Chat Noir. I would be mortified. Ladybug is my alternate personality, but if everyone knows who I am, I will just be Marinette all over again. Chat Noir! I almost forgot about him. He won't be able to resolve the akumas without me, and if Alya reveals my identity, she might be able to figure out his too.
"Ummmm, Alya."
"What is it girl?"
"What about Chat Noir? What will happen to him when Ladybug's identity gets revealed? Will you reveal his identity too?"
"Chat Noir? No, I won't. No one really wants to know his identity. Anyways, I mean it's not as if Ladybug will stop protecting Paris if her identity is revealed."
If Alya knew that I'm Ladybug, she definitely wouldn't put as much faith in me. Marinette thought. She would understand about how I definitely couldn't be Ladybug after that. I think. I mean, at least I hope so…
"Marinette. Matrinette. Marinette! MARINETTE!" Ms. Bustier said with an annoyed look on her face.
"Huh? What!" Marinette abruptly woke up from her mid-class nap. Alya's stressful phone call last night made her stay up late worrying, trying to figure out what to do. Although Mari knew the fact that Alya would never suspect Marinette to be Ladybug, her bestie was still really smart, and Mari knew that she would figure it out eventually. So, with her lack of sleep from the night before and her extreme natural hatred for mornings, especially Monday mornings like today, was the reason that Marinette found herself in this position. When Marinette didn't respond, Ms. Bustier's annoyance was quickly escalating into anger. As Ladybug, she couldn't let Ms. Bustier be akumatized because of her, and as a civilian, she didn't want to be yelled at.
"S-s-sorry Ms. Bustier."
"You will be sorry when you talk to me after class." Ms. Bustier said. Chloe snickered. Marinette sat up as Ms. Bustier continued the lesson, groggily rubbing her eyes. With Alya too close to her identity, Mari wasn't sure what to do. As much as she hated even the idea of it, she would have to reveal her secret identity to someone, Mari just wasn't sure who.