26. Gamer

Scene: Marinette's room. Marinette is writing in her diary.

Marinette: Dear diary, guess what? I was two spots away from transforming back and revealing my true identity to Cat Noir.

Tikki: Hey Marinette, weren't you meeting Alya back at school this afternoon to research your term paper?

"Thank goodness for Tikki! Otherwise, I might've researched our term paper all by myself," Alya said in a mockingly frustrated tone and Marinette playfully shoved her in response.

Marinette: Oh no, I'm late! Again! (Marinette puts her diary in her box, grabs her purse and goes to school.)

Scene: Collège Françoise Dupont. Suddenly, Marinette hears something from the Library.

Tikki: What's that noise?

Marinette: Hide, Tikki! (In the library, the students are playing Ultimate Mecha Strike III. Adrien and Max are playing while Alya records them.)

"Is that Ultimate Mecha Strike III you guys are playing?" Tom asked excitedly.

"Yes it is, Mr. Dupain. You know that game?" Max asked, surprised as well as the rest of the teens.

"Of course! My family and I play it whenever we can in our free time," Tom said as Sabine and Marinette nodded in confirmation.

"Well, that explains Marinette's kick-butt skills on that game!" Alix said excitedly and the people who are close with Marinette murmured in agreement.

Kim: Come on, Max.

Marinette: (Sees Alya recording) What's going on, Alya? (Alya shushes her)

Rose: Try-outs for the Paris Ultimate Mecha Strike III Tournament! This school sends the two students with the highest scores!

Kim: Actually, the tryouts offer a partner to team up with Max in the tournament.

Marinette: Why Max?

Kim: 'Cause he's unbeatable! He's a total rocksord! He's got the highest APM over anyone!

"Well, you were mistaken there, Kim. I'm certainly wasn't unbeatable," Max said, kind of sad to relive that moment again.

Marinette: APM?

Kim: Actions per minute? This tournament is his whole life! He's been grinding all year to level up. (Adrien's robot, NAD03, uses his special attack on Max's robot, MX-01. MX-01 is crushed and NAD03 wins.)

Miss Bustier: Adrien is now in the lead.

Kim: What happened, Max?

Max: Hmm. Awesome job. We're gonna make a killer combo. (Adrien high fives him and Marinette and the rest of their class are cheering for both of them)

Marinette: So let me get this straight. If someone manages to beat Max's score, they'll team up with Adrien at the tournament?

Kim: No one can beat Max. Or rather Max and Adrien. It's a slam dunk. They're our school's dream team! (Alya takes Marinette by her hand and drags her to a book shelf)

Alya: I see where you're going with this, little lady.

Marinette: Just imagine, teaming with Adrien!

Alya: Are you out of your mind, girl? This is about stepping up and representing! Not snuggling up and snogging! This is serious business!

Marinette: Seriously Alya, you think I'd actually go through with that?

"Yeah! Because I know you so much, girl!" Alya said exasperated while the others chuckled in agreement.

Mr. Damocles: Well, I think we have our two champions lined up for the Paris tournament.

Marinette: Wait! Uh, Is it too late... to try out? (Kim and Rose gasp)

Mr. Damocles: Well, the library is closing up in five minutes, but...

Alya: Oh, boy... (Marinette sits down and Adrien gives her his joypad.)

Marinette: Adrien's joypad! Ohhh...! (rubs it on her face)

"Seriously?! How did I not notice that?" Adrien asked laughing along with the others while Marinette blushed in embarrassment.

Kim: Is she serious? There's no way!

"Why not, Kim? Because I'm a girl?" Marinette teasingly asked Kim while the others laughed, the girls the hardest.

"No! No! It's just I thought Max was the best gamer out of all of us," Kim answered, his hands up in defense while the others continued laughing.

Alya: Unless the particular player has a particular motivation.

Max: The rules are elementary, You battle each other's robots with your own and...

Marinette: Please... Every time you win, you loot its items and gain XP, which upgrades your mech. I'm not a noob, thank you very much. (A flashback of Marinette and her father playing the game is seen.)

"So, have you been an avid gamer your whole life?" Adrien asked curiously.

"Pretty much. But I blame my parents' influence for that," Marinette answered, and her parents chuckled and nodded in response.

Max: Ah, sounds like you have a sufficient amount of knowledge. Let's see if it's enough to beat me.

Chloé: Seriously? How could anyone spend so much time in front of a screen?

Sabrina: I know, as if. (They start texting. Marinette chooses LB-03, the ladybug robot, while Max chooses MX-01.)

"I know, as if!" Alya mocked at the irony with the two girls blushing in embarrassment and the others laughing.

Kim: Come on, Max, you can do it! (Marinette and Max start playing. The others see how Marinette is winning.)

Marinette: And now, a quarter super plus heavy kick, and Flying Hyper Storm! Triple head combo, Marinette style! Booyah! (Marinette wins the game) Woo! Yeah! Woo hoo! I win! Uh-huh!

"Wow! I did not see that coming!" Luka commented, surprised as the people who weren't there at the time.

"Yeah. Marinette is much more skilled at the game than I anticipated," Max said, part-impressed and part-sad at seeing his defeat again.

"Wow! Not only are you an A designer, but you're also good at video games? Is there anything you're not good at?!" Lila asked in a fake sweet voice but with a slight twitch in her left eye.

"Not being clumsy and talking to Adrien properly!" Marinette jokingly answered and everybody laughed hard in agreement. Meanwhile, Lila silently growled at her enemy.

Kim: Wha! I can't believe it! She... she beat him?

Alya: Beat him? She pulverized him!

Rose: The king's been knocked off his throne!

Max: I accept this defeat. I relinquish my position at the tournament. Congratulations, Marinette. And Adrien.

Adrien: Max, wait!

Kim: Oh, Max...

Max: Look. I'm fine, I lost fair and square. But if you don't mind, I'd like a little solitude.

Mr. Damocles: So, Marinette Dupain-Cheng and Adrien Agreste will represent Françoise Dupont High School at the Paris Ultimate Mecha Strike III Tournament. Good luck to both of you.

Adrien: Well, I guess I'll be coming over to practice. With my new partner. See you later.

Marinette: See... ya...

Alya: Now you gotta win and you're gonna be representing the school, not just hanging out with Adrien.

Marinette: Oh, Adrien...

Alya: Oh, brother... (Alya facepalms)

"We're all Alya at this point!" Alix snorted and everybody laughed in agreement except for Marinette who blushed heavily.

Scene: Streets of Paris. Max walks angrily.

Max: This is a travesty. An unequivocal travesty!

Scene: Hawk Moth's lair.

Hawk Moth: (His window opens) Ah, a competition. I know you like that, my little evil akumas. Where there's a winner, there's always a loser. (turns a butterfly into an akuma) Fly away, my little akuma, and evilize him!

Scene: The streets. Max laments not going to the tournament. The akuma flies after his glasses.

Max: I should've been going to that tournament. I was the chosen one! I worked so hard for it! Inconceivable!

"Wow! I was a real sore loser, wasn't I?" Max asked as he winced at his anger that day.

"You may have overreacted a little, but it wasn't right for me to take that spot just to spend time with Adrien. I'm really sorry, Max," Marinette said guiltily.

"It's okay, Marinette. I got over it. Plus, I got to be in the tournament with you, so it all worked out," Max said as he gave the girl a forgiving smile.

Hawk Moth: Gamer, I am Hawk Moth. I'll help you win the tournament of your life. But in return, you must help me achieve my high score.

Max: Absolutely, Hawk Moth. Game on! Now to see who's the greatest gamer in Paris! (Max gets transformed to Gamer by the akuma)

Scene: Outside Collège Françoise Dupont

Marinette: Ah, training with Adrien! Adrien!

Tikki: If all you wanted to do is spend time with Adrien, there are other ways to do that!

Marinette: What are you getting at?

Tikki: You know how much Max wanted to be in that tournament. Kim said he'd been training for it all year.

"Again, sorry about that!" Marinette once again apologized to Max, and he waved it off indicating his forgiveness.

Marinette: Right. All I could think about was Adrien. Hey! Adrien's coming to my house. (gasps) Adrien's coming to my house! No, this is a total disaster! I have to... clean my room!

Scene: Marinette's room. Marinette is scared that Adrien will see all the photos of him.

"Wow! This is hilarious!" Alix snorted as she laughed hard along with everybody else while Marinette blushed in embarrassment.

Tikki: That's what I've been trying to tell you all along.

Marinette: Oh, this... is not... happening!!

Tikki: Calm down, Marinette. You still have time. It's not like he's gonna show up this very minute. (The doorbell rings. With Tikki's help, Marinette takes the photos of Adrien from the wall to hide them from him)

"And of course, the universe wants to mess with you by having Adrien show up right after Tikki says that line," Alya deadpanned jokingly as she laughed with everybody else.

Sabine: (downstairs) Marinette! Someone's here to see you!

Marinette: Uh... Coming!

Adrien: Marinette and I are finalists in the Paris Ultimate Mecha Strike III Tournament.

Tom: No way. Well, she did learn from the best Tom style! Booyah!

Sabine: Marinette never told us about this tournament.

Adrien: We were just paired up today.

Sabine: You two are a pair, huh? I'm not surprised. Marinette talks a lot about you, you know?

"Dude, that's practically code for my daughter's got a huge crush on you!" Nino said, laughing along with everybody else while Marinette and Adrien blushed heavily at each other and smiled.

Marinette: Mom! ...Come up, Adrien!

Adrien: Uh, very nice to meet you.

Tom & Sabine: Ohhh...

Scene: The streets of Paris. The Gamer's ship appears.

Hawk Moth: Gamer. It's time to get to the next level and show everyone that you're the best!

Gamer: No time like the present! (his ship starts trapping people in green spheres. The ship absorbs them) Hahahahaha!

Scene: Dupain-Cheng House, Marinette's room. Marinette and Adrien start practicing for the tournament.

Marinette: Oh! Hahaha. Sorry.

Adrien: No, you go.

Both: I'll use the other one. (both take each other's hands) Ah! (each take their controllers)

"Wow! You two are so awkward with each other!" Alix pointed out, laughing along with everybody else while the two heroes still blushed.

"I know! It's so adorable!" Rose gushed.

"Adrien has so liked you back, girl!" Alya said and everybody chuckled in agreement except for Lila who just scowled.

Adrien: Your parents seem nice.

Marinette: Oh yeah, they are. But... sometimes... (sees Tikki on a photo of Adrien) Ahhhh! (takes the photo of Adrien away)

"You look like you're about to have a heart attack, Marinette!" Kim said, laughing along with everybody else.

"Would it be really that bad if I found that picture of me?" Adrien asked with a teasing smirk.

"A framed picture of you? Of course! You would ask embarrassing questions!" Marinette answered loudly if it were obvious. Adrien nodded in understanding as he can't really argue with that.

Adrien: Sometimes what?

Tom: (opens the hatch) Everything going good? I thought just in case you wanted something to eat...

Marinette:' Uh... no thanks, Papa. We're training.

Tom: Well then, uh, maybe you could use a few tips, you know... dad style.

Marinette: Thanks, but no thanks! Papa! (Tom closes the door) Sometimes my parents could be a little nosey. (sees Tom and Sabine entering the room, they close the door) Where were we?

"Why didn't you lock the door?" Chloe asked.

"Because we would knock and knock until we can see what's going on up there," Tom jokingly answered and everybody laughed in response.

Scene: The streets of Paris. The Gamer's ship continues absorbing people.

Gamer: I'll be at level 2 in no time! My skills are indisputable! (his ship absorbs people and vehicles) I am unstoppable! Hahahaha! (his ship evolves into a two-legged robot) Excellent! (the robot starts absorbing people, gaining more power)

"Hawk Moth sure made you act like a maniac, man," Kim said in response to Max being akumatized and everybody nodded in agreement including Max himself.

Scene: Marinette's room. Marinette and Adrien win a round.

Adrien: Wow! We won again, thanks to you!

Marinette: Yeah, um, yes we did.

Adrien: We? That was practically all you. You're amazing, Marinette. I guess you wouldn't even need me. I'm so lame compared to you...

Marinette: Um, no no no, I... No, you're so good. I mean, I'm the one who's not good. I mean... I'm lucky, that's all.

Tom: (opens the trapdoor) Anyone want cookies? They hot from the oven! (Adrien wants a cookie but he groans when he didn't take a cookie from the plate)

"Honey, it is not polite to answer for both you and Adrien. He clearly wanted a cookie, but you stopped him from taking one," Sabine jokingly reprimanded her daughter, making everybody else chuckle.

Marinette: Papa, we're trying to work here! (Tom exits the room) Actually, you know what? I've got a secret. (shows him her lucky charm) This is why I win.

Adrien: Are you messing with me?

Marinette: Try playing a match with it. (Adrien takes the lucky charm. Tom and Sabine open the door)

"I still have it, m'lady," Adrien said with a sweet smile as he took out the lucky charm from his pocket.

"And I still have the one you made for my birthday, kitty," Marinette said back with a sweet smile, taking out the lucky charm she has from her pocket.

"Awww! Even when you guys weren't officially yet a couple at the time, you still exchanged something special with each other like one," Rose gushed as everybody looked at the young couple with loving gazes except for you-know-who.

Seriously, those ugly-looking worthless things are special?! When I get my hands on him, I will have him actually give me actual valuable and expensive jewelry! Lila thought as she winced at the lucky charms in disgust.

Sabine: How about a delicious salmon and spinach pie? You can tell me what you think of it?

Adrien: Uh, Marinette. A little snack wouldn't hurt, would it?

"A salmon and spinach pie? That sounds too delicious! Must get food!" Kim said, figuratively drooling at the pie on-screen and went to get more food from the buffet. Meanwhile, everybody rolled their eyes in amusement.

Scene: The Place des Vosges. Marinette and Adrien are eating a snack.

Marinette: Uh, I'm really sorry. It's impossible to get anything down with my parents around.

Adrien: That's okay. (eats his pie) I didn't know your dad made such yummy pie!

"It's true," Adrien said as he smiled at the memory of that pie.

"Thank you, son. I wouldn't be a good baker if my pies weren't good, would I?" Tom rhetorically asked and everybody nodded in agreement.

Marinette: Oh, uh, I... yeah! So, shall we go back?

Adrien: Let's see if it works. (he has Marinette's lucky charm. Suddenly, the Gamer's robot appears. Marinette and Adrien notice it)

Marinette: Tell me this is some kind of publicity stunt for the tournament!

Gamer: Well, well. Marinette, let's see who's victorious this time.

Adrien: Doesn't look like a publicity stunt to me. (The Gamer's robot fires a laser at them) Look out! (sees Marinette) Uh, we better get outta here! (Marinette and Adrien run holding their hands, but they separate and go their ways. Marinette runs out of the park, the Gamer chasing her. Suddenly, the Gamer's robot stands in front of her)

"Awww! The moment between you two was so romantic!" Rose once again gushed at the couple, as if she's wishing that for herself.

I know! It makes me sick! Lila thought in her head as she's resisting the urge to throw up.

Gamer: Game over, Marinette!

Marinette: How does he know my name? Max! (the Gamer's robot fires lasers at her) I guess he really did want that spot on the tournament!

"No kidding, girl!" Alya deadpanned jokingly and everybody else laughed in response.

Adrien: Time to transform.

[Transformation Sequence]

Adrien: Plagg, claws out! (Adrien transforms into Cat Noir. Meanwhile, Marinette still runs away from the Gamer's robot. But she falls. As soon as the robot is about to fire a laser at her, Cat Noir's staff appears and hits the robot)

Gamer: Game over!

Cat Noir: Not yet! Here comes a new challenger!

Marinette: Cat Noir! Hey! Over here! (Cat Noir rescues Marinette while dodging the robot's lasers. He jumps from ceiling to ceiling until he reaches the Grand Paris Hotel.)

Cat Noir: I heard Miss Video Game Champion really took down the final boss.

Marinette: Well it doesn't give him extra points to go transforming everyone. Hey, wait, Cat Noir! I left my friend Adrien at the park! He might be in danger, we have to go back!

Cat Noir: Uh... don't worry. Adrien's not in danger. He'll be fine. You'll be safe here. Just stay put. Don't worry, Cat Noir will take care of everything. I should leap and do a barrel roll!

Marinette: Uh, he's always so over-the top.

"Admit it. You were impressed by my moves," Adrien teased his girlfriend with a smirk.

"In your dreams, kitty!" Marinette said as she playfully shoved him in response, and the audience laughed at the exchange except for Lila who's just annoyed.

Tikki: If ever there was a game to win, this is it! Let's go!

[Transformation Sequence]

Marinette: Tikki, spots on! Ha! (Marinette transforms into Ladybug)

Scene: The streets. Cat Noir follows the Gamer's robot, and sees he is heading for a bus. Cat Noir goes to where the bus is.

Cat Noir: Get away from here! As far as you can! (sees the robot) Hurry! (The people run away) Hey, tin can! Over here!

Gamer: My calculations indicate that your system's about to crash! (Ladybug ties the two legs of the robot with her yo-yo)

Ladybug: You're the one crashing, robot! (pulls the yo-yo's string, making the robot fall)

Cat Noir: He's a life-size robot, from Ultimate Mecha Strike!

Ladybug: I know! And it's nearly at level 3. 4 is the highest level!

Cat Noir: Wait, you know that game?

Ladybug: Duh! Of course!

Cat Noir: See? You and me! It was meant to be. (The Gamer sees the bus. He absorbs it and evolves into level 3) Uh, I think our problem just got a whole lot bigger.

"By that logic, kitty, my perfect match would've been Max," Marinette said, giggling along with everybody else while Adrien blushed in embarrassment at the flirty line he made.

Gamer: Level 3. Hahahahahaha!

Hawk Moth: If you want to be the most powerful robot in the world, you must capture Ladybug and Cat Noir's Miraculouses. Then it really will be Game Over.

Gamer: Those Miraculouses are mine! (starts attacking Ladybug and Cat Noir. He fires lasers at them, but they run away)

Ladybug: We have to get him out of here before he destroys all of Paris! (Ladybug looks at a billboard for the tournament)

Ladybug & Cat Noir: The stadium! (they go to the stadium)

Scene: The Parc des Princes Stadium. Ladybug and Cat Noir appear to fight the Gamer.

Ladybug: Where has Clunky got to? (The Gamer's robot appears behind them. Ladybug and Cat Noir throw their yo-yo and staff at him to try to defeat the robot but didn't work)

Gamer: Hahahaha! (his robot smashes them, but Ladybug and Cat Noir dodge. They run away from its laser.)

Ladybug: Attack the robot with your Cataclysm Power! It might be enough to shock him!

Cat Noir: My pleasure. Two can play this game. Cataclysm! (uses his Cataclysm to destroy the Gamer's robot)

Gamer: Nooooo!

Ladybug: Smackdown, Cat Noir! (She gives him a high five)

Cat Noir: Cat Noir Style! Booyah! (A floating red sphere appears between them.) Whoa ha ha! Check out that loot!

"Already acting like part of our family, son!" Tom noted about Adrien's "booyah", which brought an amused smile from the boy.

Ladybug: System crash, Gamer!

Gamer: Hahahaha! You've forgotten the rules. I saved my last level! (touches his glasses and a more powerful robot appears) Respawn!

"Well, that's annoying," Marc said, noting about Gamer's robot being rebuilt again due to the spawn point glitch, and everybody else nodded in agreement.

Cat Noir: Aww, not the old spawn point glitch again.

Ladybug: Yeah, but did you see he pushed that button on his glasses? I bet the akuma's in there. (Ladybug touches the red sphere and a red and black robot appears. Ladybug and Cat Noir stand on it) Ha! We've leveled up too!

Cat Noir: (his Miraculous beeps) Okay, but I only got a few minutes left. (Ladybug and Cat Noir enter their robot's cockpit.) I'll man it, you shoot!

Ladybug: Why do you get to man it?

Cat Noir: What do you say we flip for it? (Ladybug and Cat Noir start controlling the robot, but the Gamer's robot smashes it.) Okay, you man it and I'll fire.

"As usual," Adrien said, noting about Ladybug's leadership during their battles with akumas.

"Kitty, we're equals. You can be in charge if you cut back on the flirting, jokes, and puns," Marinette jokingly noted and everybody else chuckled in agreement.

"Now that I think about it, I prefer doing the comedic stuff while you take charge," Adrien said, teasing his girlfriend, making her groan which made everyone else laugh harder.

Ladybug: Look out! Here it comes again... (The Gamer's robot attacks Ladybug and Cat Noir's robot. Ladybug mans the robot) We'll let it go to your head! (uses a rocket punch) Booster! (the punch knocks down the head of the Gamer's robot. The Gamer puts it back on)

Gamer: Hahahahaha! Huh? (Sees Ladybug and Cat Noir's robot still standing)

Ladybug: Round two, Gamer.

Gamer: Arrrghhh... Gamer Missiles! (his robot shoots missiles out of its shoulders)

Ladybug: Forcefield, Cat Noir!

Cat Noir: Got it. Forcefield activated! (activates the robot's forcefield, destroys the missiles) Cat Saber! (takes the robot's tail off and uses it as a saber)

Gamer: Gamer-Drill! (activates a drill on the robot's arm, and charges on Ladybug and Cat Noir's robot. The two are still charging)

Cat Noir: This Gamer's way powerful. He just took out our forcefield!

Ladybug: We're gonna have to manage without. Lady Bombs! (shoots bombs out of the robot's shoulders)

Gamer: Laser Wall! (a laser wall appears and blocks the Lady Bombs)

Ladybug: Lady Helix! (the robot's two shields fly over to the Gamer's robot, but his robot blocks them)

Cat Noir: Bullet! (the robot's two arms fly over to the Gamer's robot, but his robot neutralizes them) Ear Thunder! (uses the robot's two cat ears to make thunder, but the Gamer's robot blocks it with its own thunder)

Ladybug: He's anticipating all of our attacks!

Cat Noir: Watch out, Ladybug! (the Gamer's robot charges at them, the two robots fight)

Gamer: Gamer Fire! (fires a blast of energy, appears next to Ladybug and Cat Noir's robot, and pushes their robot to the energy orb. Then his robot fires an eye beam to their robot) Hahahahaha! Today I shall be victorious!

Cat Noir: (the robot stands up, charges a blast of energy and fires it at the robot) Catouken! (Ladybug and Cat Noir's robot slams the Gamer's robot to the floor, but the Gamer's robot disintegrates and forms again, still standing)

Gamer: I am the strongest player in the world! Hahahaha!

Cat Noir: How are we supposed to beat him if we can't even catch him?

Ladybug: We have to beat him harder and jam the system! Tatsu-Lady! (kicks the robot with a spinning kick)

Cat Noir: Catouken! (fires a blast of energy at the robot)

Gamer: Gamer Crusher! (spins at Ladybug and Cat Noir's robot, but they dodge)

Ladybug: Shoryubug! (does a Shoryuken at the Gamer's robot)

Cat Noir: Catouken! (fires a blast of energy at the robot, knocking it. The Gamer's robot stands up. The two robots fight)

Ladybug: We've gotta get inside his cockpit!

"Finally! The robot battle was getting nowhere!" Chloe said in response to the cockpit plan and everyone reluctantly murmured in agreement.

Cat Noir: Go for it. You're in charge!

Ladybug: Take the controls, Cat Noir. I'll be right back.

Cat Noir: Right back? Where are you going?!

Ladybug: (goes out of the cockpit) It's just us two now, Gamer!

Gamer: What are they...

Ladybug: Lucky Charm! (a graffiti can appears) Huh? Graffiti? Spray paint? Arts and crafts? (Ladybug uses her Lucky Vision, and the robot's left arm and eye flash) Bingo. (Ladybug runs to the Gamer's robot. She reaches its eye and sprays graffiti on it.)

"Simple, yet brilliant, Marinette," Kagami noted about Marinette's use of the Lucky Charm and everybody else murmured in agreement.

"If it were me, I'd wanna make some crude artwork out of it," Alix said as spray-paint art is her specialty.

Gamer: Aghhh! You won't get away with this! (goes out of the cockpit, and Ladybug takes his glasses off)

Ladybug: Game over, Gamer. (breaks the glasses) Game's over for you too, akuma. Time to de-evilize! (catches the akuma with her yo-yo) Gotcha! (releases the akuma, turning it into a normal butterfly) Bye bye little butterfly. Miraculous Ladybug! (Throws the Lucky Charm into the air, and everything turns back to normal. The Gamer is turned back into Max)

Max: What am I doing here?

Ladybug & Cat Noir: Pound it!

"Pound it!" Marinette and Adrien once again fist-bumped and kissed in victory.

Hawk Moth: Such pitiful insolence! The moment you challenge me is the moment you seal your fate! This battle is not yet over...

Scene: The Parc des Princes. The gaming tournament is about to start.

Announcer: So remember, the High Score to beat is 24500, so gamers, hit those consoles. Game on!

Alya: You bent over backwards to be in the team and now you wanna pull out?

"You're the one who discouraged me from trying out!" Marinette playfully argued against her best friend.

"Yeah, but I was starting to come around since you proved yourself to be the most awesome player!" Alya playfully argued back as everybody else chuckled in agreement.

Marinette: It's just that I feel so bad for Max. And well, it just wouldn't be right.

Alya: (stops her) You're doing the right thing. But honestly, it's not like you get the chance to play with Adrien everyday...

Marinette: ...Max? I've thought about this a lot, and...

Announcer: And now, representing Françoise Dupont High School...

Marinette: Well, I think you should be playing tonight, Max.

Max: What?

Marinette: Don't get me wrong! I love gaming, but it's not my heart and soul. This is your baby. It's your tournament, Max. I don't wanna take that away from you.

Nino: Dudes, make up your minds. They're waiting for you.

Marinette: I insist! (gives Max the controller)

Max: I don't know how to thank you.

Adrien: By winning the tournament... with her. (Adrien walk over to Marinette by putting his hand on her right shoulder and she is shocked and he gives his controller to her)

Marinette: Huh?

"You should see the look on your face, girl! Disappointment and confusion at the same time!" Alya pointed out and everyone laughed hard in agreement while Marinette blushed heavily.

Adrien: Go on, Marinette. You're a hundred times better than me. You belong on the team. Win the tournament for the school. I know you can do it. (Alya facepalms)

Nino: Go on, dudes! They're waiting for you! (Nino takes her by the shoulder)

Marinette: No, uh, I... only with you?

Max: Let's show them who's gold. (Marinette nods. She and Max enter the gates as the other students cheer them on.)

"And we 100% annihilated that tournament, Marinette!" Max said loudly as he and Marinette say while they hi-five each other, "Booyah!" Everyone cheered and applauded for the video game champions except for Lila of course.

"Kick-butt superhero, extremely talented designer, and awesome at video games! You cannot be any more attractive to me, m'lady!" Adrien said as he kissed Marinette on the cheek much to everyone else's amusement and Lila's chagrin.

Aren't girls who play video games considered geeks and losers?! Lila asked in her head in jealousy.

"So, four more episodes until the first season is finished," Angel announced. "And the next episode is Juleka's episode, Refleckta."

"Wait, Jules…you've been akumatized?" Luka asked, clearly unaware about his sister's akumatization.

"Yeah, for like three times, Luka. You didn't know?" Adrien asked curiously as everyone else.

"She never told me," Luka answered, then turned his attention back to his sister. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I was embarrassed," Juleka reluctantly and very quietly answered.

"Jules, almost everyone here including me has been akumatized. That's nothing to be ashamed of," Luka said.

"Yeah, Juleka. Blame Hawk Moth, not yourself," Marinette said and everyone murmured in agreement, making Juleka feel better.

"OK, onto the episode," Angel said as the episode started playing.