(Tom & Sabine Boulangerie Patisserie)
Jazik moved with a quiet efficiency, wiping down the bakery counter until it gleamed under the soft morning light. The scent of warm bread hung heavy in the air, a comforting anchor. His Gochizos, usually a playful, bouncing presence, remained carefully hidden, a secret collection of tiny, colorful companions. He had tucked them away in a flour sack, knowing their usual antics might attract unwanted attention. Tom and Sabine had left earlier to restock, leaving Jazik in charge of the morning rush.
A bell above the door chimed, a bright sound that always meant a new customer. Jazik's Gochizos instantly sensed the presence, pressing themselves deeper into their floury sanctuary. He glanced up, a polite smile already forming, then his eyes met hers. It was Alya, standing in the doorway, her usual energetic aura a vibrant contrast to the bakery's calm.
"Jazik! You won't believe what I found!" she practically shouted, waving the book.
Jazik, his hands dusted with flour, calmly continued kneading a batch of dough on the counter. The sweet scent of rising bread filled the air around him.
"Is this another Chloé situation?" he asked, his voice low and dry, not looking up from his work.
Alya scoffed, pushing her glasses up her nose. "No, no, this is way bigger than Chloé! This is about Ladybug's identity!"
She paused, waiting for a reaction, but Jazik just kept rhythmically folding the dough.
"I already posted my theory on the Ladyblog," she announced, a hint of pride in her voice.
Jazik finally looked at her, his indigo eyes holding a subtle question. "I have not seen it," he admitted quietly. "I do not have a phone."
Alya's jaw dropped slightly. Her frenetic energy seemed to hit a sudden, invisible wall. "You… don't have a phone?" she asked, a genuine bafflement softening her assertive tone. "What kind of person doesn't have a phone in this day and age? How do you even live?"
She shook her head, dismissing the thought almost immediately. The mystery of Ladybug was far more pressing.
"Never mind that, check this out!" Alya showed a history textbook.
"Why are you showing me our history book?" Jazik asked, glancing at the cover with a hint of concern. He knew they had a test on Egyptian history in a few days. He hadn't forgotten his studies, even with everything else happening.
Alya grinned, pushing the book closer. "This isn't just a history book, Jazik. This is the history book. Ladybug's history book."
Jazik paused, a spoonful of dough suspended over the mixing bowl. He raised an eyebrow, a subtle question in his eyes.
"It's simple, really," Alya continued, her voice dropping conspiratorially. "This specific edition? It's only used by Collège Françoise Dupont. Our school. That means Ladybug is one of us, one of the girls right here at our school."
She leaned in, her eyes shining with triumph.
"All I have to do is find the girl who is missing her history textbook, and bingo," Alya finished with a snap of her fingers. "Ladybug's identity revealed!"
Jazik offered a noncommittal, quiet hum. "That is an interesting conclusion," he stated, his gaze fixed on the dough.
"Marinette lost her textbook recently, too," Jazik mentioned quietly, turning the dough in his hands.
Alya blinked, then a wide smile spread across her face. "Marinette? Ladybug?" she mused, a playful lilt in her voice. "Oh, that's just too perfect! My best friend, the most clumsy person I know, secretly the hero of Paris? She'd trip over her own yo-yo." Alya giggled, clearly finding the idea amusing, a sharp contrast to her usual investigative intensity. "Hmm… maybe," Jazik responded, a subtle flicker in his eyes as he considered the thought, though he offered no further elaboration. The idea of Marinette as Ladybug was certainly… unexpected, but not impossible, he supposed.
"Hey," Jazik continued, his tone softening slightly, "I made some marshmallows earlier. Would you like to try one?"
Alya's eyes lit up, her earlier teasing forgotten. "Marshmallows? You made marshmallows? I'd love to!"
"Here," he offered softly. "Try one."
Alya took the marshmallow, a hint of curiosity replacing her intensity. She bit into it, and her eyes widened further, a small gasp escaping her lips.
"Oh my gosh!" she exclaimed, her voice momentarily losing its journalistic edge. "This is incredible, Jazik! It's so… fluffy! And sweet, but not too sweet!"
Just then, Marinette skipped down the stairs, her pigtails bouncing as she came into view. She noticed the marshmallow in Alya's hand.
"What's that?" Marinette asked, her eyes already shining with interest.
"Here," Jazik offered softly, extending another marshmallow towards Marinette. "It is marshmallows that I made, would you like one too, Marinette?"
Marinette's eyes lit up, the earlier frustration about the textbook momentarily forgotten.
"I would love to!" she exclaimed, taking the fluffy treat.
She bit into it with a joyful sigh. Her cheeks puffed out slightly as she chewed, a soft smile spreading across her face.
"Wow, Jazik, this is amazing!" Marinette praised, her voice warm with genuine delight. "It's so light and perfect! You really outdid yourself."
Alya, still holding her textbook, nodded enthusiastically. "Seriously, Jazik, you've got skills! These are way better than the ones from the store."
Jazik felt a small, unfamiliar warmth spread through his chest at their praise. He was glad they liked the marshmallows.
Marinette's eyes, bright with an idea, suddenly darted between Alya and her textbook. "Hey, Alya! This reminds me! I was actually heading to the Louvre today."
Alya tilted her head, a question in her gaze.
"I heard there's a new Egyptian exhibit," Marinette whispered, leaning in conspiratorially. "And maybe… some clues about Ladybug's origins?"
Alya's eyes lit up, the textbook forgotten as she practically vibrated with renewed investigative zeal. "The Louvre? Ladybug clues? You're serious, girl? That's brilliant!" She clapped her hands together, already imagining the blog post.
She turned to Jazik, her excitement almost palpable. "You have to come with us, Jazik! It'll be a prime opportunity for research, and maybe you can help me spot something important."
Jazik considered the invitation. Observing a museum might provide useful information about this world, and spending time with Marinette and Alya felt less like a chore and more like a quiet privilege.
"I will come," he said, a subtle smile touching his lips. "It sounds… educational."
Alya grinned, her phone already out. "Awesome! This is going to be epic. Operation: Ladybug at the Louvre is a go!"
Marinette giggled, clearly pleased with her plan. "Let's go!"
***
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