Previously on Oranges to Grapes...

Rosita continues her journey with Conner, during which she uses one of her bought Poke Balls to capture a Maschiff and lets go of her grief, but has to reach a stopping point in an alcove so she can rest...

-

Meanwhile, back at the Academy, Camilla, Pico and Balto were just wrapping up the first in-dorm cram session of their week of recuperation and recovery. Since they couldn't participate in the Treasure Hunt themselves until they were healed, they were given special permission to continue their classes through virtual presence devices, as well as take supsequent classes right after without needing badges to do so. However, with 7 subjects containing 8 classes each (counting midterms and finals, of course), they didn't have to take all 56 classes in one go... not like anyone could. So, they only had to take 8 classes per day in any order they chose, and after that was free time until curfew.

-

"Whew!" Camilla said as she shut off the laptop on her desk. "That was an ordeal... but now that my maximum of 8 classes have been cleared, there's only one thing to do..."

"Hah!" Pico said after shutting off his laptop. "Okay, now that I got my 8 classes taken care of, next on the agenda is..."

"Finally!" Balto breathed after closing HIS laptop. "After slogging through 8 classes and getting them over with, only one thing comes to mind..."

"Shower time!" all three of them said in unison without knowing. After picking out an outfit for tomorrow (which, let's face it, was a copy of the same one they had because that was mandated by the Academy's first rule of conduct), they quickly ducked into their dorms' personal bathrooms and locked the doors behind them.

-

Meanwhile, Director Clavell had just wrapped up work in his office for the day, and now that he had some free time, his mind was a tangle of questions. 

Was he doing the right thing keeping three of his students from participating in the Treasure Hunt just because they got hurt? 

Would they be able to handle such a stiff punishment, and if not, how would he address that? 

And what of the Diademons that were enrolled in the Academy he was directing? 

Would anyone take notice of them missing since they were destroyed? 

And how could he know they were only posing as students, and could there be more?

...Come to think of it, where were all the other students?

But the director only shook his head and dismissed them all with a thought of, No. You are not to worry about any of the students, unless they are in dire straits. You promised yourself years ago that you would stop being ashamed of the Academy's failures, and started being proud of its successes. Who are you to go back on that word now?

Figuring he needed to clear his head, Clavell got up from his desk to have a cup of coffee from the staff room...

-

(Scene transition: Academy crest)

-

As soon as he entered the room, several of the teachers were waiting for him. "Good evening, Director Clavell," Ms. Tyme greeted.

"And a good evening to you as well, Ms. Tyme," Clavell responded. "Do not mind me, I was just happening by to see if the newly-installed coffee maker was still functional."

"What a coincidence," Ms. Raifort interjected. "I was just brewing up a fresh pot for the room since I polished off the last cup."

"Actually, Director Clavell," Mr. Salvatore added, "we were kind of hoping we could talk to you for a few minutes."

"Oh?" Clavell asked, but then...

"Ro-to-to-to-to..."

"My apologies, dear faculty, but I need to take this." The Rotom Phone then flew in front of his face and lit up, revealing: "Professor Jacq? What brings your voice to my device at this hour?"

"Yeah, sorry for calling on such short notice," Jacq said, "but I think you need to hear this. Also, are you in the staff room? Hi, everybody else! Long time no see!"

"Hi, Professor Jacq!" the other teachers present said.

"Anyway, down to business," Jacq said, giving Clavell his focus back. "Turns out those crystal humanoids are called Diademons, and the trigger to activate them is just 'look how green the grass is in here.' I gathered a crowd back in Artazon yesterday, and they were recording the phenomenon happening and broadcasted the footage, so now everyone knows what to do to purge the menace from Paldea!"

"I see," Clavell said, listening to every word. "And did you ever discover why the menace was in Paldea in the first place? Did you ever think to figure out their motives for invading our fair region?"

"Er..." Jacq said uneasily, feeling back on his Tauros pies. "Not exactly..."

Clavell let out a sigh of exasperation. "So, once again I ask you for assistance with a matter, and once again you fail. Is it too much to ask for your personal feelings not to get involved?"

Ms. Tyme overheard the conversation, and couldn't bear to hear Clavell continue to bully Jacq even after he was laid off. "Now, Director, there's no need for that. He was only trying his best to help."

"Ms. Tyme," Clavell sharply cut in, "this does not concern you. This is between Professor Jacq and I, the former of whom has failed to provide answers to my inquiry."

"As I seem to recall, Director," Ms. Raifort added, "Professor Jacq doesn't work for you anymore. You laid him off."

"If you must know," Clavell countered, "I had tasked him with a favor because of our time together, and was under the assumption that he could handle it. But I suppose I was mistaken."

"Then perhaps we could be informed of that task?" Mr. Salvatore hazarded. 

"That is none of your concern. Remember, I am the Director of the Foremost World-Renowned Pokemon Academy of Paldea. You are simply the faculty members hired to educate the students."

"And we all fully understand that," Ms. Tyme talked back, "but if you don't stop bullying Professor Jacq like you're still his boss, we'll have to get Chairwoman Geeta involved!"

"MAYBE I'D RATHER SHE GET INVOLVED THAN HAVE TO KEEP WORKING IN CONSTANT FEAR OF HER AND YOU!!!"

That seemed to freeze time itself. Clavell had never raised his voice at anyone before, but it seemed that there was only so much he could take before he finally snapped. Everyone had fallen deathly silent, too stunned to say anything in defense until Jacq put himself back in the conversation with, "Clavell, Tyme... please stop fighting."

Clavell closed his eyes for three seconds, and spoke up. "My apologies for the outburst, but I must explain myself. Yesterday, before the students were sent on their independent study project, there was an incident in the schoolyard. As it turns out, three of our students were, in fact, sleeper agents who were sent on an apparent mission to invade Paldea, somehow connected to the Great Crater falling into darkness two years ago. Not only did I want to know what that mission was or the motives behind it... but so did one of our loyal students. Now I find out that question remains unanswered, both for her and myself. It just gives me grief to find out that we will be disappointed, and I wanted to stop feeling that since four years ago. Not to mention the disrespect I faced back then, the rememberance of which frustrates me ever so..."

"Oh," Ms. Tyme said, understanding fully. "Director Clavell, I'm so sorry-"

"It's all right," Clavell said calmly. "I'm through cowering in my office anyway. But you are correct. I should not expect miracles like I did so long ago. But understand this, all of you, and understand it well: whatever perils the students face on their Treasure Hunt, I am not responsible for whatsoever. So do not use any of that as an excuse to throw me under the bus for whatever reason."

"Yes, Director Clavell."

"As for you, Professor Jacq," Clavell said to his phone, still connected, "I believe an apology is in order, both for today and for any other such altercations in the past. So... I am sorry."

"Ah, no worries," Jacq said. "And don't worry, the next time I call, I'll give you as much information as I can!"

"That is all that I ask," Director Clavell said, and the call was ended quickly. "Now, back to that coffee."

And since that night, no one ever questioned Director Clavell again...

-

To be continued.