𝘔𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘛𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘴: Soul Bound - DISCONTINUED

𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗

-Prickly Needles and Ruffly Feathers-

➳ 𝔰𝔬𝔲𝔩𝔟𝔬𝔲𝔫𝔡

"You have only one day to work on your or your team's design." The principal started as he stood in front of the class, his hands behind his back. "In ten hours will it be judged by Gabriel Agreste—the father of our very own student, Adrien Agreste—and the Seinfeld Family. The winner's design will be the inspiration for Alessandra Seinfeld's suit, which Adrien will wear in his next photo shoot. So, good luck, participants!"

Whispers rang across the class, and Alya Césaire and Marinette Dupain-Cheng were more prominent than the others. As the principal was about to leave, he suddenly remembered something. "This year's theme will be Derby Hats, by the way!"

"DERBY HATS?!" Marinette's shriek broke through the peace at the campus, making people stare annoyed at the flustered girl before returning to their previous task.

Dealla had long slept through the whole predicament, head tucked between her folded arms on the table the moment she and her friends stepped inside the cold and quiet room of the library.

"What's Dealla's story as the judge?" The brunette male had asked the two blondes—one of them working on his school assignment and the other doom scrolling through her phone.

Adrien was the one who answered, glancing at the aforementioned teen situated across from him with a frown on his face. He ripped his gaze from Dealla, forcing his hands to finish his work. "Father proposed the idea to her parents and asked for their daughter to design the suit that would match the winner's derby hat." He said, letting out a sigh as he set his pen down, leaning his back to the chair. "That's the gist of it, though. Father never tells me anything."

Chloé, who sat beside Dealla, hummed. "This girl despises designing clothes. Said that 'It isn't her thing'." The blonde snorted, raising her striking blue eyes to meet Nino's chocolate ones. "But she still designs them, through her parents' persistence, of course."

The three paused their conversation as the main character of their topic stirred, mumbling something in her sleep before yawning, turning her head to the other side before going right back to her slumber, a small snore punctuating her actions.

Nino was the one to break the small silence. "Anyone know why she hasn't been sleeping lately?"

○○○

"Achoo!"

Chloé took out an alcohol spray, facing it towards Dealla's direction before hitting the trigger. The brunette gagged at the smell, swatting Chloé's hand while glaring at her.

"Had to take some precautions." The blonde said before scoffing through her nose, going back to sketching her derby hat's design.

Dealla stood a good few feet away from her, knowing that looking at the drawings on someone else's shoulders would make the artist's anxiety spike. The teen had her bare feet propped on Chloé's desk, fingers scrolling mindlessly on a reading platform on her phone. "I'm still surprised you listened to me on making your own design." She stopped her fingers, bringing a hand to cover her nose and mouth as a sneeze escaped her lips.

"You think so lowly of me, huh?" Chloé slid the alcohol spray towards her sneezing friend after spraying some on her hands. She hummed, erasing a part of her drawing. "For your info, I never planned to plagiarize someone's drawing."

Dealla didn't get to reply as another wave of sneezing overtook her senses. Chloé had to kick her out of the hotel with a dozen disinfectants as a souvenir.

○○○

The brunette was walking down the path to her parents' house when a sharp pain erupted in her hand. The pack of alcohol suddenly felt heavy, and she almost dropped it from her hold.