Previously on Oranges to Grapes...

Rosita and Jessica have a simple toast-picnic with their new friend, Eartha Crust. They then explain their situation to her, as well as the reason for their travels, but it all seems a lot for the fennec fox to take...

-

Back at the Academy, Camilla, Pico and Balto found a good stopping point in their studies for some lunch in the cafeteria. Camilla was noshing on a Potato Salad sandwich, Balto chose Peanut Butter, and Pico went for Five-Alarm.

"Isn't this nice, guys?" the husky said as he swallowed his mouthful. "Granted, we still can't go on the Treasure Hunt yet, but the three of us together in person sharing a meal with our fellow students makes me feel like I can do anything after the incident."

"Yea, verily," Camilla agreed. "Although I can't shake the feeling that something still seems... different here."

"Well, you're right, Cammie," Pico chimed in. "Something is different here in the Academy's cafeteria today. Most of our fellow students are still out on their Treasure Hunt."

"Except for that one," Balto said, pointing out a lone student in a Winter uniform. "But in Pico's defense, he did say 'most of.'"

"Strange," Camilla supposed. "He's probably lonely all by himself, not on his Treasure Hunt like the rest of us."

"Should we invite him over?" Balto asked. "Maybe we could help him feel better."

"OR," Pico interjected, "he could be another sleeper agent for those Diademon things, and if we don't do anything about him, he could set us back further from going on our Treasure Hunt."

"Honestly, Pico," Camilla said in response. "Are you really so paranoid that you'll make us cut off contact with other people?"

"Not other people," the lizard answered. "Just ones that we don't know anything about."

"Well, I'm going for it," Balto said as he stood up and took his sandwich with him. "If I say the trigger phrase, and he doesn't respond with 'I remember,' we're joining him." He then walked up to the lone student, seeing behind his hat that he was a bear with white fur and black hair, with his bangs in a cute little curl. Another glance told the husky that he and the bear were eating the same kind of sandwich as well. "Excuse me, mind if I join you?"

"Hmm?" The bear looked up and saw who was talking. He then held up a finger-bean as he was still chewing... then after he swallowed, he said. "Sure, have a seat."

"Thanks," Balto said before he sat down across from the bear. "First of all, hello. My name's Balto, nice to meet you."

"Kosaru, Ko for short, likewise."

"Second of all, cards on the table before this goes any further," the husky added before taking on a more serious tone, "look how green the grass is in here."

That was only answered with an incredulous look as Ko said, "What are you talking about? What grass?"

"Okay, good, you passed the test." Balto said. "You can come over, guys! He's clean!"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, what's going on?" Ko demanded.

"Sorry about all this, Ko," Balto said before Camilla and Pico joined them, "but let me explain."

-

40 seconds of explanation later.

-

"And now, here we are," the husky finished.

"Well, first off," Ko said after he was allowed to speak, "hello, Camilla... and Pico. Second of all, my condolences about your injuries, hope you're doing okay. And thirdly, I must've been in another class at the time, because I don't remember anything about a... 'dying demon,' was it?"

"Diademon," Pico corrected.

"Yeah, that."

"Well, in fairness," Balto supposed, "the whole thing was three days ago, and you've probably kept yourself busy with something else."

"Yeah, but with what, exactly?" Camilla asked. "I'm just curious, but shouldn't you be participating in the Treasure Hunt, too?"

"Mmm, kind of am," Ko answered. "Sort of a 'personal project' of my own going on."

"Right here in the Academy?" Pico pressed.

"Yes, right here in the Academy," Ko repeated.

"Can we ask what it is?" Balto asked with a head tilt.

Ko swallowed another bite of his sandwich before saying, "I could tell you, but it may take a long time. Maybe we could meet up later at the libratrium to discuss it?"

"Libratrium?" Pico asked, confused.

"Library atrium."

"You mean the entrance?" Camilla guessed.

"Yes, the entrance, if you want to call it that," Ko said, then took another bite.

"Sounds like a plan, then," Balto said. "We'll meet you there after we're done with our classes for the day. Sound good?"

"Mmm-hmm," Ko said muffled, as he was still chewing.

With that, the bunny, lizard and husky started gobbling down their sandwiches before they left for their next classes, leaving the bear behind to finish his in peace.

-

To be continued...