Chapter Text
Thud.
“What?” Marinette snapped from Kagami to the sound of the freezer door, which was now shut all the way.
The two girls turned towards the freezer door, and then realized what has just happened. One of them rushed for the entrance.
“No no NO!” Marinette cried out while shaking for the freezer door, hoping that it would reopen.
It wouldn’t.
“This can’t be happening.” Kagami sighed and crossed her arms. “Of all people to be locked in an old freezer, it had to be a Dupain-Cheng.”
To think the worst of enemies would end up locked together inside of a freezer.
“If she thinks she’s going to best us, then she’s got it all wrong.” Sabine bursted as she smacked the dough in front of her.
Tom and their daughter, Marinette, watched as Sabine kept up with her rant. It was very rare that Sabine ever got this angry, but when those moments came, it was always best to leave her be. From a distance.
“Well, we can’t just say no to the Mayor, dear.” Tom began, attempts to calm his wife down in full display. During times like this, Tom always had to make sure his wife didn't suppress further into her anger. No one wanted to see her worst state. “Besides, let’s look at the bright side. It’s a great way to show that our bakery is the best.”
“Of course it is!” Sabine let out in excitement. The beat up dough in front of her finally catching a break. “We’ll show those Tsurugi’s whose the best! Isn’t that right, Tom?”
Her husband smiled at the sight of his wife back to her usual cheerful self. “That’s right!”
For about as long as Marinette could remember, there was only one person that could get her sweet and kind mother all angry and aggressive, and that woman was none other than “Tsurugi”, as her mom simply called her.
All things aside, however, that’s about all Marinette knew about the other woman. Her parents never brought up what exactly caused this war between bakers and chocolatiers, but that’s all Marinette needed to know to take her family’s side. The rare meetings with the Tsurugi girl that was around Marinette's age only strengthened her stand on things, anyway.
There were certain moments where the Dupain-Cheng’s and Tsurugi’s had to cross paths publicly, and those were commonly moments in which either family was put up to the test as to who should cater the dessert for an event, or worse, . . . When both families had to cater desserts for the same event.
This was the exact case this time around, unfortunately.
Mayor Bourgeois was throwing a birthday party for his daughter dearest, Chloe Bourgeois. About several important people would be in attendance, such as Jagged Stone, Clara Nightingale, and even THE Gabriel Agreste. It was an event not to be missed, and not to forget, a huge opportunity to rack in serious business.
The event itself was only a few days away, but the time frame itself, was no challenge the Dupain-Cheng family couldn’t handle.
At first Marinette’s parents were thrilled upon hearing the news that they’d help out with such a big event. . . That was until Mayor Bourgeois ended the call with:
“Excellent! I expect you and the Tsurugi Chocolatiers to present amazing desserts!”
With those words the call ended. . . and began Sabine’s fury.
Now, Marinette watched her parents plan for the event that was approaching them all with full haste. All Marinette had to do at the event was help give out the pastries and get people interested in the bakery. Maybe sneak in a few glares at her worst enemy from the chocolatier side in between, but none the less, the job was simple. The best part was that she got to dress up for the event, and she already had a pink spotted creation in mind.
However, if Marinette had to be honest, she didn’t really care for taking part in the battle. If anything, it placed a lot of stress on for her because she always had to be striving to outbest the enemy. All Marinette wanted to do was to focus on her leading her own life and maybe pick up on bringing her fashion creations to life, but the battles of the bakery always had to come first. There were times where Marinette wondered if this would all stop one day. And if so, what would even stop it?
She let out a sigh, and stood from her seat on the stool near the kitchen counter.
“Marinette?” Sabine looked over at her daughter. “Ready to bake away desserts for the day?”
“Of course, mom!” The younger girl smiled at her mom, hiding her burden. "Where do I start?"
“Wonderful! Help out your father while I start sectioning off this dough.”
Marinette happily made her way to her father over by the bakery oven.
She didn’t look forward to the few stressful days that was preparation for the big event, but at least the decoration part of the pastries put her mind at ease.
“Are you worried?” A concerned man questioned towards a woman standing over a window.
“Me?” a stern woman of a Japanese background scoffed at the sudden question. Her deep black hair was tied in low bun and she wore shades. “No such thing. If Cheng wants to go head to head, so she will have this battle. I’m only honoring her wishes.”
“As it shall, Tsurugi-san.” Her right hand chocolatier bowed at the woman. “We will begin preparations for the event. We cannot disappoint the Mayor.”
“And disappoint we wont.” The dark haired woman replied, and then turned her head over to a young girl with short hair standing by a corner. She raised her hand for the girl, but her gaze didn't see her.
“Kagami, dear.” the woman called.
Kagami walked over to her mother. “Yes, okaasan?”
Her mother smiled down at the sound of her voice. “Would you please be so kind to help Keiji and Alexandre with decorations? Given the last minute notice, we can’t let those Chengs get the best of us, now can we?”
Kagami bowed before her mother. “Of course, mother.”
“Very well, off you go." The older woman nodded her head at the reply and then returned her unseeing gaze towards the warmth coming from the window where she stood. "I'll check in on the craftsmanship of the chocolates once you're all finished.”
Kagami nodded and headed for the decoration counter around the kitchen area of the business.
To the other Chocolatiers, Kagami would be best described as an obedient daughter. If her mother asked for her to do something, there were never any complaints from the girl.
The truth to the matter was, that Kagami just didn’t want to disappoint her mother. At school, Kagami was an amazing fencer, and everyone knew it. Yet, ever since her mother lost her sight, she had become far more invested in bringing that Dupain-Cheng bakery down. Wishes of having her mother ever seeing her fighting and winning in a fencing match we're all next to impossible, but the chances that she'd at least show some care in her own daughter's interests were not. In the end, Kagami figured the best way to keep her mother content was by following her mother’s own wishes about knocking down the rival business. If it meant keeping her mother happy, Kagami could put aside what made her happy.
Kagami thought to herself often if this fight would ever end, but as things were going, nothing seemed like it pointed towards that possibility. For now, she stood in front of the decoration table awaiting to begin.
“Let’s start with a few chocolate flowers!” Keiji, her mother’s right hand chocolatier spoke as he pulled a batch of melted chocolate in front of them. “We hear the Mayor’s daughter loves flowers, so starting these will do well.”
Kagami silently nodded and got to work.
Decorations were the only thing she didn’t mind doing.
"Oh! I'm so tired." Marinette let out as she slumped over her best friend's shoulder.
"Tell me about it." Alya replied, the same tone of frustration matching Marinette's. "My mom gets to cater the main food at the event and it's been nothing but a wreck at home."
Marinette sat up straight now, and looked over to Alya, frustration now dramatically switching to compassion. "I feel for you. How will we ever survive this mess?"
The girls burst into laughter. The park outside of Marinette's house was a good hangout spot for both girls, especially for lunch periods. They still had a good hour left on their break.
"Okay, girl, no need for the dramatics." Alya laughed and tapped at Marinette's shoulder. "Nino loves parties and all, but as soon as I told him it was Chloe's party he backed out."
"I'm honestly surprised not everyone hasn't, actually." Marinette replied. "That girl is so entitled."
Moments in which Alya and Marinette crossed paths with the one and only Chloe Bourgeois were never pleasant, to say the least. Since their families were in the food business, they both had the frequent "pleasure" of dealing with Chloe whenever they were catering events. Chloe, being the unkind person she was, always went out of her way to try and humiliate the girls either by giving rude remarks or trying to trip them in public. Out of both girls, however, Chloe always seemed to have it for Marinette. Sometimes this fact caused Marinette to question why she even put up with her mess. Likely, if Marinette didn't have Chloe's constant threat to ruin her family's business in favor of the Tsurugi Chocolatiers lingering over her head, she probably would have punched Chloe in the face long before already. Alas, not all wishes can be fulfilled unfortunately.
"Right? How could he let me fend for myself against her?" It was now Alya's turn to be dramatic. "He's supposed be my knight that's there to protect me from all things evil!"
Marinette giggled, but then stopped, finding herself caught up on a train of thought that has crossed her mind multiple times before. "You know, I wonder if I'll ever have a my own knight one day."
Alya looked over at her best friend, who now slouched. "Marinette, please, I'm sure you'll have your own knight in shining armor soon. Look at Nathaniel! The boy had been crushing on you since the day he met you!"
"Yeah, but, I just didn't feel the same way." Marinette replied guiltily. She could remember the day he confessed to her like it was yesterday. It wasn't easy telling a really nice person that she just couldn't see herself with him. "I'm surprised he took my rejection so well last year."
"And then there was that really hot musician . . ." Alya continued and help up her fingers, keeping count of 'Marinette pursuers'. "What was his name again?"
"Luka?" Marinette side-eyed Alya. 'She's really going there, isn't she?'
"Yes! Luka! He was a real cutie." Alya kept up with her tallies. "But he had to move so that's understandable. That was a shame."
"Had he stayed anyway, I don't think I would have really worked out with him." Marinette admitted before returning back to her slouch of guilt. "It was just for the best."
"Look, and that's okay girl!" Alya placed a hand of encouragement on Marinette's shoulder. "There's plenty of fish in the sea and I'm sure the right one will come soon. . . like maybe at tomorrow's party, perhaps?"
"You really think I'll find love?" Marinette doubtfully looked up at Alya. She had heard many wild ideas come from Alya in the past, but this one had to take the cake for craziest yet. "At Chloe's party of all places?"
"You never know. . ." Alya hummed with a tone of thoughtfulness. "After all, I hear Gabriel's hot model son, Adrien, is going to be there."
Marinette tensed up. She knew who she was referring to, but considering he was also a famous person, the thought that he was just another pretentious rich kid rubbed her the wrong way. "How do I not know he's just as stuck up as Chloe?"
"Well, I've met him before actually. He's a good friend of Nino's." Alya admitted as she tapped her finger lightly in remembrance. "He's nothing like Chloe, trust me."
"If he's friends with Nino then I believe it." Marinette now sat up straight, her face turning into a glare. "I just don't look forward to running into that Tsurugi girl."
"Ah! This. I was wondering how long it'd take for you to bring this up." Alya let go of Marinette's shoulder and got comfortable in her seat. The following rant was all to familiar to her by now.
"Like can you believe it? It's like the Mayor himself wants us to not only supply the desserts, but some battle for entertainment too." Marinette carried on with her ramble. "And then that girl is such an ice queen with that high and mighty attitude of hers. . . And then the way she makes me feel like I'm nothing compared to her. Ugh! I can't stand her!"
"Don't worry, if 'ice queen' tries it she'll have to go through me." Alya recited the same words she said over and over when Marinette got into her moments of rage regarding this topic. "Just worry about the hand outs and looking pretty tomorrow, okay?"
"Right, the hand outs." Marinette took a deep breath. Glare now gone. She and hew mother obviously shared the same trait of being able to switch from riot to quiet. "Just gotta focus on that."
"Thats the spirit!" Alya said as she now stood and twirled in a spin, already mimicking a dance for the party. "Just picture it. You'll be looking all dolled up, in a pretty dress, catering tasty desserts, and more worried about finding your significant other than instead of ripping the throat out of some girl. Sound like a plan?"
"Yup." Marinette sighed at Alya and then stood up from her seat the bench. "Can't wait."
Marinette wasn't hiding her sarcasm. Alya got the hint and stopped her twirling with a laugh.
"Good. Now let's go back." Alya reached for their things under the bench. "Don't want to be running late."
And late, they weren't.
Marinette stood in a crowded ballroom the Bourgeois owned hotel used for important events. It was no secret that this party was going to be massive, but it still surprised her at the amount of people that filled the massive room.
She wore a pink off-shoulder dress with a polka dot pattern she made herself for the event. It was one of the only things that brought her happiness at the moment.
"Things are going well so far. No Tsurugi or cat fights yet." Alya commented as she walked up to Marinette. She wore a clementine colored dress the hugged her figure with a beaded necklace. "Also no Chloe."
"That's because Chloe loves being fashionably late, as always." Marinette sighed in relief. "And Tsurugi has stayed in her lane tonight. So things are indeed going well."
"So you already saw her?" Alya gasped as she stole a macaroon from the tray Marinette held. The tone of her voice was that of someone who was almost impressed upon hearing the information. "And you said nothing?"
"No, but judging by the chocolates I've seen around, they're here already too." Marinette observed as one fo the nearby guest held a chocolate flower. If she didn't hate those chocolatiers so much, Marinette would have even admitted that the craftsmanship of the chocolate flowers for the event was impressive. Of course, she'd never openly admit that. "It's a good thing this hotel is so big."
"Yup! Sure is. But enough of that. Give me the tray." Alya didn't wait for Marinette to answer before she snatched the tray and set it on the table where the rest of the main pastries were. Once that was set, she grabbed the pig-tailed girl's hand and led her away into the crowd.
"Uh, Alya?" Marinette looked unsure. Being at the event, her parents allowed her to take moments to socialize and enjoy the party herself, but that was something Marinette didn't quite feel comfortable in doing. "Where are we going?"
"I told you already." Alya hummed but kept her gaze fixed a specific person they were nearing. "We're gonna try finding you the one tonight."
Marinette's faced sinked to further uncertainty. "Look, Alya, I know what I said but if I'm not doing the hand o--"
"Ah-ah!" Alya interrupted. "Relax a little. It'll only be a few minutes."
"A few minutes for what?"
Suddenly Alya came to a full stop, causing Marinette to bump into her. Before she could complain, she noticed a blonde handsome boy with green eyes standing before them. He wore a black suit that fit the formal theme of the party. The blonde turned to look over at Alya, which judging by the recognition he displayed in his expression, gave away that they both knew each other already.
"Alya? I didn't know you'd be here!" He said and hugged Alya. "Nino didn't mention it."
"Yeah, well he also didn't bother coming." Alya replied and pulled away from the friendly embrace. She now brought Marinette forward. "However, my best friend here didn't leave me hanging. This is Marinette Dupain-Cheng, she's into fashion."
The boy looked at Marinette, and she did have to admit his looks were through the roof. He was one fo the most gorgeous boys she'd ever set eyes on. Despite this, however, she couldn't bring herself to exactly "swoon" over him. She figured she just needed to get to know him better.
"Hi, I'm Adrien." he reached his hand for Marinette to shake. "Adrien Agreste."
"Oh, I'm Marinette, obviously." she said cheaply and shook his hand. "I'm a big fan of your father's work, by the way. His Spring collections are always to die for. "
"Thanks, father works hard for every collection." Adrien replied, giving the girl a warm smile. "He never disappoints."
"That he doesn't." Marinette nodded in agreement. For someone she originally thought was going to be a nightmare to deal with, Adrien really was as nice as Alya said. It was a nice change.
Of course, this moment was short lived by another blonde wearing a golden dress jumping her way towards Adrien.
"Adrikins! I'm so happy you came!" Chloe let out as she hugged Adrien in a tight hug. He was visually uncomfortable.
Alya and Marinette scowled. Their night was going so well up until now.
"Heeeey, Chlo!" Adrien replied, still polite despite his discomfort. "Father and I couldn't miss your birthday."
"Why of course, you wouldn't even if you tried!" Chloe finally let go of Adrien only to notice Alya and Marinette. The smile on her face faded. "Ugh, are these low-lifes bothering you, Adrikins? I swear, daddy needs to lay down some ground rules for the caterers to not bother the guests. They're here to cater, not annoy."
"Whoa! I'm sorry. Low-lifes?" Alya began in retaliation, getting into a defense stance, but was pulled back by Marinette before she could take a step forward.
"Let it go, Alya," Marinette whispered. She shared her best friend's rage, but knew how to control it by the amount of times this happened. "It's not worth it."
"No, Chlo. They're my friends," Adrien clarified. His expression hinted that this wasn't the first time she acted that way and that, unfortunately for Chloe, he didn't agree with her behavior.
"Friends? Please, they're just here to cater. Nothing more." Chloe bursted out laughing and then reached for his hand to lead away from the two girls. "Come on, let's hang out with Sabrina. Not these losers."
Before Adrien could retaliate, he was already too far gone into the crowd, and out of sight from the two girls. Alya took a breath to calm down and then looked over at Marinette, who still had her hand on her shoulder as a form of restraint.
"Well, queen bitch aside, that went well." Alya finally let out. "So what do you think?"
"Think about what? You already know what I think about Chloe." Marinette gave her best friends a puzzled look, finally setting her hand down. "And you more than anyone know it's nothing positive."
"I meant Adrien, girl." Alya laughed. At least she wasn't furious anymore. "You saw him for yourself. He's nice and good looking, right?"
"Well. . ." Marinette looked down at the ground thoughtfully. He was very much all of those things, but she didn't really feel anything about him yet other than the fact that she just met him. "Yeah, he is."
"Then get to know him more sometime, if you'd like. You guys may get along just fine." Alya began walking Marinette back to the table she was previously at. "The bright side to it if you two don't click is that he can still be a good friend. He could even give you some advice about breaking into the fashion industry, too."
"Yeah, at least there's always that." Marinette was still unsure about the whole thing and being anything more than friends with Adrien Agreste, but in the end she was thankful her best friend was trying to get her out there. The effort was sweet.
Before Marinette reached for her tray, she felt a sudden sensation that she was being stared at. She turned to her right and caught sight of a white figure with red spider lilies standing a few feet away from her. She focused her sight on the figure's face and then realized who it was. First Chloe, now. . .
"Tsurugi." Marinette growled.
"Dupain-Cheng." Kagami greeted in a similar defensive tone. "I see the pastries were so bitter you just had to leave them behind for a while. Our chocolates would never cause such a reaction."
"Oh, here we go." Alya sighed. She'd seen these confrontations many times in the past, and till this very day, she still didn't quite understand why the two insisted at taking a verbal stab at each other when the real problem was between their mothers, of all people.
"Ever heard of a break?" Marinette snapped at the taller girl. "Even ice queens such as yourself need to cool down too, no?"
"Really?" Kagami bursted out laughing. It was far from friendly. "That's the best you can do tonight? It looks like even your whit has gotten stale."
"Look, just stay in your lane, Tsurugi." Marinette rolled her eyes and grabbed her tray. "I really don't wanna do this tonight."
"Gladly, I don't need your presence spoiling my night." Kagami walked past Marinette just slowly enough to get one last jab in. "It's still ripe and hanging close to you would only ruin it."
Marinette watched with glaring blue eyes as the short-haired girl disappeared into the crowd. She felt like she was going to burst in flames.
"Ugh!" Marinette grunted. "Can you believe her? That high and mighty attitude of hers is gonna drive me to do something unthinkable. I can feel it."
"Just ignore her, girl." Alya answered calmly. "The more you engage her, the worse it'll only get."
"You're right." Marinette agreed and took a deep breath. "I have macaroons to give out, and guests who I'm sure would love them." '. . .and they're not stale.'
"Good," Alya smiled. "Let's get on with it."
Kagami set her tray down of chocolate flowers and let out an angry grunt.
The night for her was going well up until she had to run into her worst enemy. If Kagami could, she would just simply ignore her, but every time she saw that girl, she couldn't help but feel her blood boil. Like if she just needed to engage her in "battle" every time she crossed paths with her.
"This business rivalry is getting to me," she muttered to herself.
Now that her mother and her overseeing main assistant, Keiji, were all occupied with other things for the event, Kagami took this as the right opportunity to sneak away to her favorite hiding place in the hotel and just relax for a while. Since her family got hired to cater at the Mayor's hotel often, Kagami liked to sneak away and sit inside of an old freezer she learned the hotel used as storage. What made this freezer ideal for alone time was that no one entered it during events.
Kagami looked around in the crowd around her to confirm her mother and her employees were no where in sight. Once she confirmed there was no one form the family business to notice she was gone, she quickly vanished for the empty kitchen.
She just needed some time alone.
Away from any business.
"You know, I don't like that baker girl." Chloe stated. "Adrien wouldn't stop talking about her. Like what does he even see that seems so special about her? She's just the bakers' daughter. Nothing more."
She now stood with a red-head wearing glasses and a teal puffy dress. They both stared at Marinette handing out pastries from a distance. Adrien had gotten swept away by his father's assistant to deal with business matters, so now it was just the two girls. Chloe's face was full of disapproval.
"Well, why don't you do something about it?" The red-head advised. "It is your day after all."
"Good idea, Sabrina." Chloe now smiled, but not in a way that can be described as well-intended. "Seeing as this party is getting boring. . . I think I've got just the plan."
"Ooo!" Sabrina clapped her hands in excitement."Is it, chilly, by any chance?"
"It sure is." Chloe nodded, not taking her icy blue eyes off of her soon to be victim. "Now come on and help me."
Both girls walked up to where Marinette and Alya stood. Upon noticing the sudden approach, Marinette rolled her eyes.
"What do you want now, Chloe?" was all the bluenette said.
"Oh thank you for offering!" Chloe gave a devilish giggle. "I want you to go get some more decorative plates from the storage freezer. I noticed we're running low."
"What?!" Marinette gave an offended look and squeezed her hands on the tray she held, causing the macaroons on it to rattle slightly. "Chloe, that's not even m--"
"Oh, please," Sabrina interrupted and took the tray of pastries from Marinette. "You don't wanna disappoint the birthday girl on her special day, do you?"
"She's right, it's not like I can just tell daddy that your family's pastries didn't measure up and cause it to indirectly hurt their business. . ." Chloe pouted, but then gave a grin. She knew just the right words to cause Marinette to fall into her plan. ". . . or anything."
"Oh! But then wouldn't that mean that ALL of Paris will pick the Tsurugi Chocolatiers if THE Mayor says anything like that?" Sabrina added mockingly, making sure to fully spell out Chloe's intentions. "That would truly be unfortunate."
Alya now forcefully took the tray back from Sabrina. "Listen, Chloe, just because it's your party and all, it doesn't mean you can--"
"Alya, it's fine." Marinette sighed in defeat. By this point, it was only the norm for her to put up with this.
Sabrina and Chloe's grins only widened.
"Great! Now go on!" Chloe began pushing Marinette in the direction of the kitchen Sabrina followed closely behind. "My party needs them!"
Alya watched as Marinette was led away, and then sighed. It really surprised her that her best friend really would do anything for her family's bakery.
Marinette entered the kitchen once Chloe and Sabrina let go of her, and made her way to the old freezer the hotel didn't use often.
She stepped inside, trying to find the plates so she could return to Alya and the party as soon as possible. From further in the back, she caught sight of the bag of specific plates Chloe needed so badly.
"Why couldn't she just get them herself?" Marinette said under her breath and reached for them.
Once she grabbed them and turned for the door, a sudden voice caused her to drop the bag.
"Is someone there?" they called out from within the freezer.
Marinette's eyes widened, but then settled back once she realized another caterer was probably getting supplies just like her. She let out a sigh of relief as she heard footsteps nearing her from somewhere inside the old freezer.
"Oh, yes. Sorry, it's just that Chloe wanted these plates and if I don't bring them out she'd only get. . ."
The other figure now stepped out from behind a rack.
'Upset'
Marinette then caught full sight of the other person who was inside the freezer with her, only to reveal themselves to be none other than. . .
"Tsurugi." Marinette growled. All politeness in her voice from before was now gone.
"Are you kidding me?" Kagami scoffed in disbelief. "I only want just a few minutes away from you and here you are, coming to find me."
Marinette laughed. This was too good. "Please, as if you're that special to follow after."
"You wouldn't know anything about being special, Dupain-Cheng." Kagami smirked.
"Look, I don't care to do this right now." Marinette decided enough was enough and raised the bag of plates again. "Have fun in your ice den."
Before she could turn back to the door, an unexpected sound came from the entrance.
Thud.
“What?” Marinette snapped from Kagami to the sound of the freezer door, which was now shut all the way.
The two girls eyes then settled towards the freezer door, and then realized what had just happened. One of them rushed for the entrance.
“No no NO!” Marinette cried out while shaking for the freezer door, hoping that it would reopen.
It wouldn’t.
“This can’t be happening.” Kagami sighed and crossed her arms. “Of all people to be locked in an old freezer, it had to be a Dupain-Cheng.”
This remark caused Marinette to snap a glare at Kagami.
“Please, as if I asked for this.” Marinette retaliated. “Whose to say you didn’t plan this, Tsurugi.”
Now it was Kagami’s turn to return the glare.
“Oh! That’s rich coming from you! As if I would stoop to such a low level.” Kagami uncrossed her arms. “Besides, what good would it do to lock myself in here too?”
Marinette turned her attention back to the door. Finding a way out was more important than fighting with someone who wasn’t worth her time. She inspected the door and searched for a lock on their side, but found nothing. The only way they could get out was if someone came looking for them.
“Look, I’m sure someone will come unlock the freezer.” Marinette finally said and faced Kagami again. “I told Alya I’d be back soon, so once she sees I'm taking too long, she’ll come looking for me. I know it.”
“So what? We just sit here?” Kagami questioned.
“Unless you know how to unlock a freezer door from inside, then pretty much.” Marinette set the bag of special plates Chloe requested to the side of the entrance and sat down in front of the giant door.
Kagami watched as Marinette got comfortable, and then let out a frustrated sigh. She walked over to her side and sat down as well, not caring if her white dress got dirty. Her mother’s judgement hadn't involved anything visual for a long time.
At least the freezer air was a tolerable chilly temperature.
"Oh, hey Alya."
Alya turned to the sound of her name form where she stood, still waiting for Marinette. By this point, Marinette had been gone for far longer than she was supposed to and Alya took it upon herself to snack on the food set near her. It was a party after all. She noticed Adrien was now standing next to her.
"Adrien! Hey!" Alya greeted back as she helped herself to a macaroon from Marinette's bakery. "Need something? Perhaps a macaroon? Or maybe I could interest you in a soufflé?"
"No, not exactly. But thank you for the offer." The boy laughed, and scratched the back of his head nervously. "Actually, I was wondering if you knew where Marinette went? I don't think I got to meet her properly earlier. Besides, Chloe kind of got in the way of our meeting."
"Oh?" Alya's friendly smile now turned into one of mischief. "Could it be you're interested in my best friend?"
"Oh, well, it's nothing like that! She just seems really nice, is all." Adrien's face lightly flustered and he shook his hands in denial, but his facial expressions contradicted his motions. "But I do want to get to know her."
"Mmm-hmm." Alya nodded and reached for another macaroon. She was very pleased with the reaction she was seeing, but the fun had to come to stop, after all. "She's actually getting a few things right now, but when she's back, I'll make sure to let you know."
"Thanks, Alya. I just didn't feel right just leaving a bad first impression." Before Adrien could say anything else, he caught sight of a woman in glasses nearby motioning for him to come to her. He sighed. His father's assistant never took breaks, it seemed. "Looks like duty calls again, I'll see you around, Alya."
"See you around, Adrien." Alya smiled as she watched the blonde walk away. She then looked down at her phone for the time, and realized Marinette had been gone for far too long by this point. Fetching a bag of plates should have been a quick errand.
Alya sighed and shook her head in disbelief. "Just where even is that girl? It's been way over fifteen minutes already."
Familiar distant giggling suddenly caught Alya's attention, which judging from the direction originating away from the party, it only made her curious to investigate. She walked towards the sound coming from a nearby deserted hallway. Once Alya got closer and noticed it was Chloe and Sabrina, she hid behind an open doorway and listened in. They were the last two she saw with Marinette, and Alya didn't have a good feeling about it.
"It was so perfect! I can't believe she absolutely fell for it." Sabrina let out, barely breathing from laughing so hard.
"Of course it is," Chloe smiled happily. "After all I came up with the whole thing."
"You're a genious!" Sabrina wiped her tears caused from the laughter and then looked a little serious. "But how long should we leave her in there for? The temperature in there is tolerable and all, but shouldn't we let her out eventually?"
"I dunno." Chloe began adjusting her golden dress, as if she'd done nothing wrong. "I've got a party to attend to. It's not my problem."
"You're right. Let's go." Sabrina smiled again and then followed Chloe back into the busy ballroom.
Once the girls were gone, Alya growled and came out of her hiding spot, storming towards the kitchen. Mean and vicious as those girls were, they had gone too far this time.
“So… what were you doing in here?” Marinette suddenly spoke up, but then smirked. “I thought an ice queen such as yourself would prefer a much colder temperature than this.”
Kagami snapped at Marinette. “What, now you wanna do small talk?”
Marinette rolled her eyes. “We don’t know how long we’re gonna be in here, okay? Might as well keep ourselves entertained.”
Realizing that her previous remark wasn’t exactly a good way to start a conversation, Marinette then looked back at Kagami, this time with lament.
“Sorry. I take back that last comment, okay?” The apology, to a sort, did feel like a breath of fresh air to her. "It was really uncalled for."
The short haired girl closed her eyes. She couldn’t believe what was supposed to be just a usual catering event ended up with her locked up with her only enemy. With a sigh, Kagami reopened her eyes, but didn't look at the girl next to her.
“I just needed a break from my mom and the business.” Kagami finally confessed.
Marinette’s eyes widened in shock. What she used to see as a high and mighty girl that annoyed her, was now revealing herself to be just another girl in a similar situation just like her.
‘She… feels the same way I do…’
“Okay fine! The truth is I don’t actually care about this whole rivalry our families' businesses have. I only act this way to respect my mother's wishes.” Kagami continued, suddenly feeling a lot lighter than she did all night. “What I really want is to just go a day where I don’t have to go under my mom’s orders, however. Right now that's next to impossible. . . but I can only hope, right?”
A few minutes of silence lingers in the air between them, but then a sudden giggle from the pig-tailed girl interrupted it.
“Ugh!” Kagami glared at the giggling Marinette beside her, her usual glare now back. “Just what’s so funny? You think you’ve won this battle, Dupain-Cheng?”
“No!” Marinette let out before finally catching her breath to fully speak again. “No. It’s just that … That’s exactly how I feel sometimes too.”
The other girl’s eyes now widened, the previous glare now gone. “… Really?”
“Yes!” Marinette giggled a little more. “Don’t get me wrong, I love my parents and all, but I’m just so tired of all this fighting. You see, I'd like to seriously pursue fashion design, but this whole 'Whose got the best desserts in all of Paris?' thing keeps me from even working on anything like that. Can’t we all just get along and make wonderful desserts together?”
Then as if that was supposed to be an inside joke between the two, they both bursted out laughing. They didn't have to worry about being heard.
To think that all this time, the glares, the verbal fights, and need for wanting to be as far away from each other, was all just a shield to hide the fact that they were both in the exact same place. Eventually, Kagami spoke up after the laughter between the two settled.
"Look, I'm sorry for how I've been towards you before." The apology felt fresh to Kagami, as well. "Who knew the sweets business was this cut-throat."
Marinette let out another giggle.
"Me too. . ." Her blue eyes now settled on the hem of her pink dress. “I just didn’t expect you, of all the people I know. . . that you’d feel the same way, Tsurugi.”
Both girls looked at each other, both of their eyes now met. No animosity in the others' eyes present when normally it would be.
“Kagami.” The brown eyed girl replied. “You can call me Kagami.”
“Marinette.” Marinette held up her hand to Kagami, giving her one of the most warmest smiles she’d ever seen. It was at this moment that Kagami noticed just how bright blue her eyes were, and that for some unknown reason. . . she didn't want to look away. “And you can call me Marinette.”
Kagami looked down at the hand stretched out to her, and reached out to shake it. Once her finger tips touched hers, she couldn’t explain this feeling that suddenly filled her chest. Marinette shook her hand slowly too, but didn’t let it go either. Instead drawing her gaze down at their hands.
Despite being locked up in an old freezer that was still chilly, both girls couldn’t explain why all of a sudden, the air around them felt so warm.
It was a moment neither girl wanted to end.
Who knew shaking hands with your worst enemy was one of the most sweetest feelings in the world?
While still holding hands, they both locked eyes again, and took in each other's features once more. Marinette found herself looking down at Kagami's full lips, which were only slightly parted. In this moment, she couldn't help but wonder what they felt like. Would it be wrong to touch them? And would they feel just as sweet as they looked?
These were thoughts Marinette never expected to have, but in that moment, she didn't care. She was beginning to slowly lose herself.
As if Kagami could read her mind, she too was now studying Marinette's lips, finding herself to be thinking similar thoughts. Without realizing, Kagami slowly pressed her hand to cup Marinette's chin. At this point, they both were no longer in control of their actions. Instead, they were just letting their inner desires guide them.
Before any other words could be spoken between the two, Kagami softly pulled Marinette's face closer to hers. Both girls felt their faces slowly lean in closer to the other's, not really understanding what was happening to the both of them, but accepting it as they closed their eyes. It was now something both girls fully wanted to do.
Why would something that seemed so wrong, be so right to do?
The air around them felt to be getting much warmer.
Out of nowhere, the freezer door suddenly slid open behind them, and the hand that was once guiding Marinette's chin closer to Kagami's face flew back. Both girls turned in shock at whoever stood at the entrance, still holding on to each other’s hand.
'Did they see? Will they tell on us?' was all that went through their heads.
Alya looked down at both girls in front of her, confused at the sight before her. She expected to find Marinette alone, but seeing her holding hands with Kagami was certainly new. After shifting her eyes from girl to girl and then to their hands, she finally broke the awkward silence.
“Um,” Alya finally spoke up. “Am I interrupting something?”
As if woken up from a trance, Marinette and Kagami let go of each other and stood up from the freezer ground.
The chilly feeling was back.
"We were locked in." Kagami was the first to respond.
"Y-Yeah!" Marinette added while doing her best to hide the blush she felt incoming. "I was on my way out but then the door shut and suddenly locked before I could even maki out. Weird, right?"
"Yup, it was weird." Kagami smiled. A nervous smile at that.
Alya still looked confused. She couldn't understand how just a few hours ago both girls were ready to claw each other, but now they seemed at peace next to each other. Something was up, but Alya couldn't place what it was.
"It was Chloe and Sabrina." Alya clarified and crossed her arms. "Chloe being Chloe, got bored and decided it would be fun to lock you in here. . . She just probably didn't expect she would be trapped in here, too."
"Of course," Marinette sighed and then looked at the taller short-haired girl next to her. "Kagami, I'm sorry you got caught up in this."
"It's fine. It had a good time, Marinette." Kagami dusted her dress from the dust it collected from the floor and then walked past Alya. "I need to get back now. I'm sure my mother and the others are probably looking for me, by now."
'. . . She had a good time?'
Smiling, Marinette nodded and then began to walk out too, except Alya stopped her in her tracks.
"Okay, did you two fall into a black hole while locked in here or something?" Alya finally questioned. The real questions she had in her head this time. "First, you apologized to her, then she didn't say anything insulting to you, and now you're both on first name basis? Without ANY growling in the pronunciations? Had I known the two of you were locked in here together, I would have expected your throats to be ripped out from each other!"
Had Alya gotten there a lot later, chances were a few things involving their throats would have indeed happened. . . it just probably would have involved more tongue than teeth. Those thoughts immediately made Marinette nervous. She cleared her throat.
"W-we just got around to talking is all." she eventually half admitted. "I learned she's not bad, and we actually have a lot in common. . . So we kind of get along now?"
Alya squinted her eyes at the response, but then sighed and gave in. "At least the good thing here is that the two of you won't kill each other anymore."
"Yeah, there is that." Marinette quickly dusted her dress. She didn't want to explain herself further over something even she herself didn't fully understand. "Now come on before my parents wonder where I went off to."
Once they rejoined the ballroom, Marinette headed for the table where her tray was still sat, but was stopped halfway by a tall blonde she had already met.
"Marinette!" Adrien let out happily.
"Oh, hello, Adrien." Marinette returned the smile. "Enjoying the party?"
"Yeah, now that I've gotten away from Chloe." he sighed.
Alya smiled between the pair and then noticed the song around them switched to that of a slow dance. "Oh look at that! It's a slow dance."
"It is." Adrien nodded and then held out his hand for Marinette to grab. "Wanna dance?"
"Me?" Marinette didn't expect that. "Uh. . ."
"Go for it, girl." Alya winked and then went for the tray. "I'll handle the sweets for you. Have fun!"
And with that, Marinette found herself being led off by one of the most handsomest boys she's ever seen into the center of the dance floor. As they were dancing, she could feel people staring at her. From the corner of her eye, she caught Chloe storming off angrily and Sabrina chasing behind her to return. She had to admit the sight was amusing, but that was it.
The entire thing as a whole felt like it was supposed to be the "big" moment where the girl falls in love with the handsome guy dancing with her. That this would only clarify to her enemy that she had "won" in this fairytale, or something along those lines. It was as if this very moment, to be far more specific, was supposed to have her falling deeply in love with Adrien, but that just wasn't happening. Perhaps in another universe, things would have gone like that, just not this one.
Marinette looked past Adrien's shoulder and then met a pair of pretty brown eyes complimented by freckles. Upon doing that, she looked away and felt an odd feeling she couldn't describe she felt previously in the freezer come back. Something that the boy dancing with her just couldn't cause her to feel.
From the side, Kagami watched Marinette dance with the other boy she knew too well as Adrien. She couldn't explain it, but she suddenly felt a knot in her stomach. Most would say it was because she saw her rival being noticed by one of the most well known guys in Paris, but the reality of it, that only Kagami just realized herself. . . was that her "rival" was with someone else. Not her.
Now that the topic came up to her mind, Kagami suddenly felt herself fall into a number of realizations that only just now hit her. She thoughtfully ran her fingers through her lips.
'We . . . were really going to kiss in there, weren't we?'
Then there was the fact that she was the first to grab Marinette's chin to pull closer to her. . . It all just felt so odd to think about now that the she was out of the freezer. Kagami knew growing up that she didn't care much for boys, but girls. . . ? That was something that never crossed her mind up until tonight.
She now looked down and frowned. If it was true that she really was finding herself interested in another girl, she couldn't imagine the outrage her mother would be in to not only find this out, but also that this other girl was none other than the baker's daughter. A Cheng.
Kagami sighed.
"Keiji mentions the Dupain-Cheng girl was asked to a dance by Gabriel's son," Kagami's mother spoke up from beside her. The woman wore a similar white dress to her daughter's, but hers was a lot longer. "Cheng probably thinks she's all special now that her daughter is dancing around with an Agreste."
Her mother then turned her head to where Kagami stood, and noticed she was being silent. Her mother may be blind, but emotion was still something Kagami could never hide from her. "Oh, dear, don't be sad now. I'm sure a much better boy will notice you. You'll see."
'. . . But what if it's not a boy, who I want to notice me?'
Before Kagami could comment some excuse, another woman's voice spoke up in retaliation, and she knew all to well who that voice belonged to.
"Tsurugi. . ." Sabine spoke with her arms crossed. "It's best we leave our daughters out of this, don't you think?"
Kagami kept quiet. Around her mother and her rival, it was for the best if she didn't interfere.
"Noted, Cheng." The Japanese woman retaliated, but didn't turn in the direction of the other woman. "My daughter can do much better than that, anyways."
With that, both women scowled at the other's presence and walked in opposite directions that was anywhere but near each other, Kagami remained in her spot.
Now that she got clarification on where her mother stood as well as getting an idea of her own feelings, Kagami made a decision that she hoped Marinette would agree to. She made her way to a table where her family's business cards were and began scribbling down something on the back side of one of the cards.
If she wanted to get to get taking with and know Marinette better. . . it would have to be in secret from their families.
Kagami would only have to make sure her mother's staff, Keiji specifically, never saw her interacting with Marinette, because if any of them did. . .
It would all be over before it even started.
After the dance had ended, Adrien led Marinette back to the main table where she originally left her tray and thanked her.
"Thank you for accepting last minute, Marinette." Adrien said with a smile. "I felt so bad about after Chloe interrupted our meeting, but I do hope to see you around more."
"It was no problem!" Marinette returned the thanks. "I'm sure Alya and Nino will bring us along for plenty of hangouts in the future."
"I look forward to it. See you around." And with that, Adrien parted.
Marinette watched him return to the crowd to where his father stood waiting for him. He really was a great guy, just Marinette felt guilty that she couldn't see him as more than a friend.
“I see that you're an excellent dancer. Which reminds me, I never did mention that I love your dress." a familiar voice she had just recently grown so fond of spoke up. "Did you create it?"
Blue eyes darted to her right only to be met with those familiar brown ones from earlier. Such pretty eyes. . .
Marinette found herself smiling again, but looked away in order to not give away that they both got along now. In case her parents saw.
“You noticed?” Marinette replied, surprise on her face. Only her parents and Alya knew the difference between her creations and just clothes she put together, so getting the recognition from the other girl only made her all the more special to Marinette.
“It was hard not to.” Kagami laughed. A sweet laugh. "It's just as unique as you."
Before the freezer incident, Marinette probably would have thought she was being mocked, but she now knew the difference between mocking and appraisal when it came down to the other girl, and this was no mocking. Marinette found herself now in a web of questions as she saw the other girl laughing.
Was she always this breathtaking? And did Marinette just now realize?
“Look, we should meet up and get to know each other properly.” Kagami continued as she refilled her tray. “Our families may hate each other, but that doesn’t mean we should anymore. You're not that bad to talk to.”
Marinette felt herself get happy from inside. “I agree. Wanna meet up at the Pont Des Arts sometime?”
“Sounds like a plan.” Kagami finished refilling her tray and walked slowly past Marinette, managing to slip a a business card in her hand while giving her a wink. “Just say when, Marinette.”
With those words, Kagami walked deeper into the crowd and began to offer chocolates to the other guests. All Marinette did was watch, and then looked down at the scribbles on the back of the card in her hands. It was her phone number.
Marinette felt a blush develop on her face.
She couldn’t explain why talking to her made her feel so lively when just earlier that night, it boiled her blood. Before it angered so much when she called her by her last name only, but now that she heard her say her name. . . it made Marinette feel warmth.
Maybe they'd get to talk about what the other's intentions were before they were let out of the freezer. Perhaps further conversation about what could have happened had they been left in the freezer would also come about. . .
Either way, Marinette still felt giddy about it.
“Soo, I see that the two of you hit it off then?” Alya suddenly chimed in with a teasing tone.
“U-uh, what? With who?” Marinette's face went a deep red and she quickly hid the note inside one of the hidden pockets she made in the pink dress. Did Alya see that? "I have NO clue what you're talking about."
“Oh, you know!” Alya laughed and took a macaroon from the abandoned tray Marinette had still yet to pick back up. “With Adrien?”
Right, the dance.
“Oh, uh. Kind of.” Marinette blabbed, and trying her hardest to suppress the raging blood she felt on her face. It sort of worked. “He’s great.”
“See? I knew it! You did find someone tonight.” Alya celebrated and spunk around like she did the previous day at the park. “Looks like the princess found herself a knight with green eyes, after all.”
Marinette laughed nervously and then turned to where she saw Kagami across the crowd, who also happened to be looking at her back. Both girls smiled upon the eye contact.
Alya had one thing right. Marinette did find her knight that night of Chloe’s party. . .
. . . But her eyes weren’t green . . .
. . . and her armor was in the appearance of a white dress with red spider lilies.
If anything, she would be better described as something sweet.