Previously on Oranges to Grapes: The Tree of Masks...

The Pomegranetes arrive in Kitakami, but what started as a pleasant welcome turns pear-shaped as a male rabbit challenges Pico to a Pokemon battle... and gets his cottontail handed to him. Meanwhile, mysterious, sinister figures are watching the events unfold for who-kows-what...

-

Inside the back of the community center, Gari was sleeping comfortably in his alloted bed... or trying to, anyways, while Camilla, Pico and Balto were out in the hallway to talk about what happened before they got inside. "So, uh," Balto said, trying to break the ice, "do I want to know what all that hot blood was about?"

"Well, I don't know about how Pico's blood got heated up," Camilla said, "but the reason I yelled was because I was trying to stop him from doing something he'd regret."

"Hey, you were there when it happened," Pico stated. "That guy was looking to start a fight, and all I did was shut him up and down. Besides, why would you care?"

"Because that 'guy,' as you put it so bluntly, was not looking to start a fight," the bunny girl said. "He was only trying to say hi to me."

"Okay, two questions about that sentence," Pico said as he held up two fingers. "One, you know that other rabbit?"

"Yes," Camilla answered. "That was my cousin, Samuel."

"And two, then what was 'not so fast' about?"

"That was his way of trying to get our attention," Camilla replied. "How was he supposed to know I'd have friends who'd take it as a challenge?"

"I wouldn't be too sure about that," Balto chimed in. "The way he countered Apple with his Mightyena looked like he knew what he was doing to me."

"And why would you think he'd think you were a pushover?" the lapine demanded.

"We're in a land outside of Paldea! I don't know what to think!"

Three taps on the door they were next to halted the discussion before Gari called out, "Could you guys quiet down out there? I'm trying to get some sleep for tomorrow!"

"Sorry, Gari!" Camilla called back. "We'll move further away for you!"

"Good, because it's 8:45," Gari stated as the group moved further away from his door. "Have some courteousy!"

"Look," Pico said once the conversation was moved, "perhaps I have been a little on edge since the domes came up and we've had to get rid of them, but it hasn't let me get rid of... other things I can't say in mixed company. And until I can come back and do so discreetly, I'm gonna lash out."

"That's it?" Camilla asked. "If all you have is a case of that, I'm sure you can duck into the bathroom and deal with it there."

"You know what he means?" Balto asked. "I thought you were ace."

"Just because I have no interest in engaging in that behavior doesn't mean I don't know that others do," Camilla explained. "So Pico- wait, where did he go?"

Indeed, in her lapse of focus on Pico, Camilla saw empty air. "Well, if I were a bettin' bow-wow," Balto supposed, "I'd say he took your advice and ran with it, literally."

"Well, I hope it works out for us," Camilla said. "Meanwhile, I'm gonna make a phone call to try and do some damage control."

"Good idea," the husky said. "That way he won't set all the others on us."

"What do you mean, all?" Camilla asked suspiciously.

"You know, crying back to the family about Pico, and then we'd have to defend ourselves from Kim, Beth, Alice, Jen..."

"Oh, because he and I are rabbits and we have notoriously big families?" Camilla asked, but Balto still rattled off names.

"Betty Lou, Betty Jo, Betty-Betty-Bo-Betty-Banana-Fana-Fo-Fetty, Dawn, Eris..."

"Not every rabbit has a thousand relatives, you know!"

"Mary-Anne, Florence McGee, Rachel, Beth Jr-"

"ALRIGHT I GET IT!!!" Camilla shouted, and that earned her three louder bangs on Gari's door.

"For real, though! Put the dang cork in it!"

"Isn't your bed four feet away from the door?" Balto called back.

"Extendable crutches!" Gari finalized.

"Just go to bed," Camilla said before she retreated into her own alloted quarters... but Balto simply went the other way.

-

Inside each of the sleeping quarters were basic furniture: a bed, a side-table drawer to place belongings, and even a sink with a mirror. Camilla had already placed her backpack on the side-table and flopped onto the bed with a "poomf" before she took out her Rotom Phone, scrolled through her contacts, and decided to text so she wouldn't disturb anyone else.

-

Cammie: Hi, Sammy. Sorry this afternoon welcome turned out to be a bust.
Sammy: A bust? Team Plasma's conquest of Unova turned out to be a bust. I was attacked for saying hi without a chance to defend myself.
Cammie: I know, and I'll make sure he apologizes in the morning tomorrow. He's not a bad person, I promise.
Sammy: Tell that to my stung paw. But he is right about one thing.
Cammie: What's that?
Sammy: That Academy doesn't raise pushovers. How else were you able to stop him when he was about to go for the kill?
Cammie: I guess there's that. Look, just let me talk to him tomorrow, and you can see for yourself that he's on our side.
Sammy: Alright, but I'll need a signal so I don't walk into another spaz attack. When he's settled down enough to be open to my approach, just send the message, "The stovetop has cooled."
Cammie: Alright, fair enough. See you tomorrow, then. Goodnight.
Sammy: Goodnight, then.

-

Meanwhile, back in Paldea.

-

Ko was still trapped in his current state by Oranguru, but the Rotom Phone he was watching had long since gone blank because the battery had run out of juice. As his bloodshot eyes were unable to blink while he stared at the black rectangle, a knock on the door was heard, and Oranguru finally released its hold on the bear.

"Augh! Finally I can blink!" Ko said as his watcher answered the door, and found the director there.

"Ah, I see the phone fainted," Clavell said. "And how did Master Kosaru handle the consequence?"

"Oran," the orangutan Pokemon said with a thumbs-up.

"No," Ko argued. "No, I did not handle that all right. My eyeballs are thirsty as all get-out here. Who the hab do you think you are!?"

Deciding to test something, Clavell jokingly said, "I'm a female Pokemon who has a chance to disprove your rumor about Sawk and Throh being unable to produce Eggs without a Ditto."

"Well, then that would make you part of the Human-Like Egg Group, and I d-" Ko started, but caught himself saying what he said. "How is this coming out of my mouth!?"

"That means the consequence worked, and you have learned your lesson," Clavell reasoned as he picked up the black rectangle. "I only have one thing to say: the next time you come up with a code, try to think of something that doesn't undermine the Academy's educational system."

"Yes, Director Clavell," Ko said, hoping to put the day behind him at long last.

"Now, Oranguru, return." After the Sage Pokemon was put back in its Poke Ball, Clavell added before walking out, "Now, while I go back and recharge my Rotom Phone, I'd suggest you get some rest, Master Kosaru. I'd imagine you'd have no problem closing your eyes, so I shall turn out the light for you, if I may."

"Thank you, sir," Ko said as he settled down for the night. "Good night, good night, Director Clavell."

"Good night... Ko."

As the room went dark, Ko heard the director call him by his nickname, which made him smile.

-

To be continued.