Becoming Lila Rossi

The door opened and Miss Bustier entered. Lila noted the teacher's warm smile and welcoming demeanor, sharply contrasting the subtle tension rippling through the room.

"Good morning, everyone!" Miss Bustier announced cheerfully. "Before we begin, I'd like our new student, Lila Rossi, to introduce herself to the class."

Gracefully, Lila stood despite her "injury," placing the crutch carefully within easy reach. The bandage on her ankle was visible, adding to her carefully crafted vulnerability. She inhaled deeply, meeting the eyes of every student, feeling the weight of their mixed gazes: intrigue, curiosity, skepticism—exactly as she planned.

"Hello, everyone! My name is Lila Rossi. I'm thrilled to be here and get to know all of you. Paris is such a wonderful city, and I'm excited to experience it and make new friends."

Her smile was warm, eyes sparkling with what seemed genuine enthusiasm. Her tone was sweet, yet confidently measured—designed to enchant Adrien and leave a positive impression on the class.

Most students visibly warmed to her charm, leaning in with admiration and curiosity, their faces lighting up as if caught by her glow. A few took notes, clearly intrigued.

Lila sat down and leaned ever so slightly toward Adrien, her bandaged ankle angled outward in a way that seemed both fragile and elegant. The glow of the morning sun from the classroom windows cast a soft light on her features. Her smile was gentle, her presence magnetic. Around her, the room quietly stirred, but she heard it all.

And she evaluated.

Alya Césaire. The girl with the blog. Observant, skeptical, and dangerously loyal to Marinette. Lila could tell from the subtle way Alya kept stealing glances—not at Adrien, but at her. The hesitation, the curiosity, the suspicion. Alya wasn't easy to fool.

She's the kind of girl who wants a story, not just a friend, Lila thought. And if I give her the right story... she'll turn her own best friend against herself without realizing it.

Lila made a mental note to compliment Alya's blog later—nothing too obvious, just enough to make Alya second-guess her assumptions.

Nino Lahiffe. Loyal to Adrien, relaxed, and blissfully simple. Lila watched the way he leaned over to whisper something to Alya, his tone low and amused. He wasn't a threat. In fact, he might even be useful. If Adrien trusted him, and he found her charming, Nino could become an unintentional ally.

He follows vibes, not facts. That makes him easy.

Then there was Chloé Bourgeois.

Lila didn't need to guess what Chloé thought of her. The scowl across the room said it all. Arms crossed. Head tilted in disdain. A territorial lioness sizing up an intruder. Lila didn't mind. In fact, she welcomed it.

Chloé plays offense. That's her mistake. She makes her hostility obvious—and that makes it easy to turn people against her. Especially Adrien.

Her eyes flicked to the boy beside her.

He wasn't talking much, but his body language spoke volumes. He sat comfortably beside her. Alert. Curious. Concerned when she'd sighed. He was paying attention, even if he didn't realize it yet.

The first row was perfect. Sitting so close to Adrien meant she could lean slightly toward him, her presence unobtrusive yet magnetic. Every movement, every glance, every delicate gesture would be noticed by him.

The desk arrangement allowed her to be within arm's reach, so she could weave casual conversation or even an innocent touch into her plan, subtly influencing his thoughts and reactions. This was a position of power, and Lila intended to exploit it fully.

Adrien Agreste, she thought, her gaze lingering. He's the key to everything. The soft-hearted prince. Untouchable to most... but he wants someone to protect. Someone to understand.

Lila let the silence sit just long enough to feel intimate, then whispered, "Paris feels so big when you're new. Like everyone already has their place except you..."

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Marinette.

Alone in the back. Rigid posture. Eyes sharp. She hadn't written anything down. Her pen hovered midair as if forgotten.

And there she is, Lila thought. The girl who thought she had him wrapped around her little finger.

Marinette's hands were clenched tight in her lap. Her face was calm, but her knuckles were pale. She wasn't hiding her discomfort well.

Lila's internal voice purred. You know he's slipping away. You can feel it, can't you?

She turned back to Adrien, smiling softly.

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Adrien tried to focus on the date Miss Bustier had just written on the board, but his mind kept drifting back to the girl beside him.

Lila Rossi.

There was something... delicate about her. Not just the crutch or the bandaged ankle—though that had obviously caught his attention when she'd arrived this morning. It was the way she carried herself. Gentle. Warm. Almost too kind, given the reactions she was getting.

He'd seen Chloé glaring daggers at her, and Marinette—Marinette had been acting strange. She hadn't even said hello to the new girl. Just sat there, silent and tense.

And Lila... hadn't complained once.

She didn't seem to want attention. She wasn't trying too hard. She just... existed in this soft, quiet way that made him feel protective.

It's probably tough being the new kid, he thought. I should help her feel welcome.

When she said, "Paris feels so big when you're new," he heard something more beneath it—like she wasn't just talking about the city.

"I could... show you around sometime, if you want?" he offered before he could overthink it.

The way her face lit up—that made him feel like he'd done something right. Something good.

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From the back of the classroom, Marinette sat frozen, her world narrowing to a pinpoint of sound: Adrien's voice.

"I could... show you around sometime, if you want?"

It hit her like a punch to the gut.

The words echoed in her mind, relentless, suffocating. She stared ahead blankly, but her heart was pounding, loud in her ears. Her throat felt tight. Her stomach twisted.

Adrien had just offered to spend time alone with her.

With Lila.

Marinette blinked rapidly, trying to focus on Miss Bustier's notes on the board, but they blurred together into nonsense. Her pen still hadn't moved. Her fingers were locked around it like a lifeline.

No. No, this wasn't happening. This wasn't how today was supposed to go.

This was supposed to be a normal day. A simple day. Maybe she'd bump into Adrien at lunch. Maybe they'd laugh about something silly. Maybe he'd look at her the way he used to—soft and curious and kind. But instead...

Instead, this girl had floated in on a crutch and taken everything.

Marinette's eyes flicked to the front of the classroom. Lila sat with perfect posture, her bandaged ankle angled like a prop, her smile a careful weapon. And Adrien—sweet, trusting Adrien—was smiling back.

Marinette's jaw clenched. Her chest burned.

How could he not see it?

How could he not feel the way the air had changed, the way Lila's presence sucked all the light toward her like a black hole dressed in a silk ribbon?

Marinette didn't trust her. Not for a second. That girl was too composed. Too charming. Too perfect. And perfect people always had something to hide.

She glanced at Alya, who had turned slightly in her seat, shooting Marinette a quick look—a mix of worry and warning.

Even Alya could see something was off.

But Adrien? He was looking at Lila like she was some lost butterfly he wanted to rescue from a windowsill.

Marinette's breath hitched.

She gripped her desk, white-knuckled, and forced herself to smile. Forced herself to breathe. The edges of her vision pulsed. She couldn't afford to fall apart in the middle of class. Not with everyone watching. Not with Lila watching.

Because that's what this was. A game. A performance. And Marinette wasn't about to let herself be outplayed.

Let her have this moment, she told herself. Let her enjoy it. Because it won't last.

Marinette was many things—clumsy, anxious, unlucky—but she was also determined. And if Lila thought she could walk in here and replace her? She had no idea who she was dealing with.

Still...

Adrien had smiled at her. Offered to show her around. Spoke to her like he cared.

Marinette's throat tightened again, and this time she couldn't stop the flare of emotion behind her eyes.

She ducked her head, hair falling like a curtain to hide her face.

Please don't cry, she begged herself. Not now. Not here.

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Lila's stomach fluttered—both from Adrien's words and from the ripple they caused.

She caught Marinette flinch. Alya turned toward Marinette with subtle concern. Chloé groaned loudly and muttered something under her breath.

And Adrien?

He was watching her with those golden eyes, kind and open.

Hook, line, and sinker.

The delicate watch on her wrist pulsed again.

SYSTEM UPDATE – NEXT DECISION NODE UNLOCKED:

Would you like to:

1. Suggest a specific time and place to meet Adrien after school.

2. Invite Alya and Nino to join as a group to weaken Marinette's bond with them.

3. Ask Adrien if Marinette might want to come too—then subtly manipulate her into declining.

Lila smiled as her finger brushed against the invisible interface. Her answer was clear.