Previously on Oranges to Grapes...

Camilla, Pico and Balto are finally sent off on their Treasure Hunt to remove the domes all over Paldea, with the Hell-Sent girls as bodyguards and guides...

-

But before we delve into that journey, there's still someone we've been neglecting at the Academy.

Back in his dorm, Ko was still conked out from his own Treasure Hunt of comparing shifts at the Academy because he wasn't getting enough sleep at night. As he laid in his big, comfy bed, something was unfolding in his mind...

-

Ko was dreaming of being in his dorm kitchen, stirring something in a pot on a stove while fanning himself with a paper plate. Meanwhile, Camilla and Balto were standing at the countertop bar near some boxes of different Berries.

"I swear to legends above," Ko said as he fanned and stirred, "I don't know why the Academy can't hold these fundraising picnic bazaars during the cold seasons when people can stand to cook in their kitchens."

Suddenly, the door swung open, and there stood Pico carrying a box of mason jars, panting and gasping for breath as he walked up to the bar himself. "Ay dios, it is blazing out there," he huffed.

"Pico, where in blue crystal caverns have you been?" Ko asked, turning away from the pot.

"Just getting these jars ready for your multi-Berry jam, thanks for asking," the lizard said as he flopped the box on the bar in exhaustion before regarding the other fellow students. "Camilla."

"Pico," the bunny responded simply.

"Balto, you're closer to the fridge," Pico said after. "Fetch me a soda, would you please?"

"Sure thing, Pico," the husky said as he swiveled to the other side of the bar.

"A soda at this hour?" Ko demanded as he stopped stirring.

"I need to take the edge off," Pico explained as he was given the bottle of bubbling nectar. "The reason I was late getting here was because my Flying Taxi ride got delayed in Levincia by a battle-spat between a Corviknight and a Tinkaton, so Hilda had to park the cab there until the fight was over."

"You were in Levincia, Pico?" Camilla inquired. "I guess I must've missed you there, because I was there myself to pick up more Berries from the Aquiesta Supermarket this morning."

"Some Berries," the bear said in response. "One taste of those things, and I might as well have been making marmalade out of lemons. Which reminds me: Balto, did you remember to buy the sugar?"

"I did," Balto answered. "I put it in your cabinet for you while you were in the bathroom washing up."

"Good," Ko said as he reached in the cabinet for the measuring cup and the sugar. But after he set the items down on the counter, he noticed the box of jars and spoke, "Pico, did you say you got these jars ready before the cab was stopped?"

"I did."

"Then explain these spots," Ko said as he lifted the jars one by one, revealing water spots on each one. "You really expect me to put this jam I poured so much into in spotty jars?"

"What, you can't take a dish towel and rub the spots off instead of harp about it?" the lizard retorted.

"Well, good idea," Ko said as he reached into the drawer and pulled out some towels. "In fact, why don't we all do that so we can get them clean quicker? I have enough for each of us!"

"Nice one, Pico," Camilla said with sarcasm as she was handed a green towel and a jar.

"Yeah," Balto added as he got a blue towel and another jar. "Rubbing jars together as a group, sounds like fun."

"How was I supposed to know he'd try to trap us?" Pico said as he rubbed a third jar with the red towel he got.

"Trap?!" Ko spat back with his gray towel in one paw and another jar in the other. "Did it ever occur to you three that I begged and pleaded and cried for you to join me for a reason? I wanted to show you all the joy and comfort of spending happy family moments in the warmth of a kitchen with friends-"

"Oh, stow it, Ko," Pico dismissed.

"Yeah," Balto added, "did it ever occur to you that the three of us had actual families who made plans for us before that? My dad was planning a road trip to go see my mom after the divorce to reconnect with her."

"And I was invited by my cousin in Kitakami for a chance to have tea with him," Camilla added.

"Not to mention my sister coming to visit Mama and I for a few days before she has to go back to Unova," Pico tacked on.

"And where does all that malarkey leave me!?" Ko said with more heat under the collar.

"Hey!" Balto barked as bubbling was heard. "Don't get all popping mad with us because we had a life outside of you!"

"Popping-" Ko started, but then he heard the bubbling too and realized he wasn't stirring the jam! "Oh, flapknackers, the Berries are starting to bust!"

"Should've kept stirring," Camilla taunted.

"How could I have with your cranky-cranky-gripe-gripe?!" the frazzled bear shouted as he stirred again. "Ah! Foot! They're starting to stick! I'm gonna have to transfer these to another pot pronto! Would it be too much to ask one of you to get the stew pot out of the pantry?!"

"Fine!" Pico said. "Let's all do Ko this one kindness, and then we can get out."

"Here, I'll get the pot," Camilla said as she reached into the pantry by the bar.

"Wait, I wanna give him the pot!" Balto whined as he grabbed for it.

"Why can't I get the pot?! I suggested this!" Pico shouted, and soon all three of them were pulling on the pot this way and that.

"Would it kill any of you to think of the jam for once!?" Ko hollered over the racket.

"I've never given a crap about some guy's hot goo, and I'm not about to start now!" Camilla retorted.

"We're giving you the pot as fast as we can!" Balto barked. "Now horn out!"

"NO!" Ko screamed in frustrated anger that boiled over along with the jam! "I WILL NOT HORN OUT UNTIL SOMEONE GIVES ME THE DAMN POT!"

"Alright, puto, you want this thing so badly!?" Pico threatened, but together with Camilla and Balto...

"YOU CAN HAVE IT!!!"

PONK! CT-TRSH! TSSSSSSSSSS!

-

"AAAHHH!!!" Ko was snapped out of his snooze with his eyes wide open, bolt upright in a cold sweat, soon panting and gasping as he held his paw to his chest, feeling his heart jackhammering away until he willed it to slow down by looking around and seeing everything in his dorm exactly the way it was. "Huh... hah... hoh... ho, what a horrible nightmare."

Suddenly, a soft knock was heard. "Is everything okay in there? I thought I heard someone scream."

"Who is it?" Ko called out to the door.

"Miss Miriam."

"Oh, yeah, I'm okay," Ko answered once he knew who it was. "I just woke up from an awful dream, is all. Thanks for checking on me, though."

"Awful dream?" Miriam asked. "You, uh... want me to come in so we can talk about it?"

"Actually... I do," Ko said. "Please come in." The door was then opened, and there stood Miss Miriam, willing to lend a sympathetic ear to the bear's plight...

-

To be continued.