Previously on Oranges to Grapes...

Dina and Pico reunite with Jill in Zapapico, but it doesn't go as smoothly as expected, and it causes a conniption to break out between Rosita and Balto before the group heads out to clear more domes...

-

Back at the Academy, Director Clavell had just called a school meeting in the auditorium for all students to gather. "Attention, all students," his voice spoke through the intercom. "A school assembly has just been issued. Please report to the auditorium for further details."

"Huh," Ko said as he just finished another batch of his multi-Berry jam. "Wonder what that's about. Welp, only one way to find out."

-

(Scene transition: Academy crest)

-

As students filed in to fill the seats, Ko started noticing that there were more students present than he usually saw. He then took his place and waited for the assembly to begin. A buzzer then sounded to signal the audience to be quiet as Director Clavell took the stage.

"Hello, students of the Foremost World-Renowned Pokemon Academy of Paldea," Clavell announced.

"Good morning, Director Clavell," the audience replied in unison, amplified by the sum of its members.

Pleased with the response, Clavell said, "Thank you, all. As you may have noticed, more students have graced the Academy with their presence, and there is a reason for that. As a result of the recent unpleasantness that has plagued the Paldea region, some of the key locations of our homeland have been trapped inside crystal domes that erase the spirit of those who make contact. But three of our students are working hard to correct this at the behest of Chairwoman Geeta, and as a result, our student body is slowly, but surely being replenished. Show of hands, how many of you have come from the Star Training Centers?"

In response, most of the audience raised their hands, surprising those who didn't... including Ko. Well, that would explain things, thought the bear.

"That is indeed a large number," Clavell remarked, "which brings me to the main reason for this assembly. There are still several domes around Paldea that have yet to be cleared out, and chances are, once those domes are cleared out, more students will return to us, which may result in an overcrowd. Now, I have taken the liberty to run the numbers of this situation to Chairwoman Geeta and her secretary, Rika, and they have provided me with the simple solution of expanding the Academy so as to accomodate our returning students. However, the funds to do so are rather slim, so until the situation is remedied, I have issued an emergency quarter-sharing protocol requiring all students to take in as many returning classmates as can be contained. Now I understand that this arrangement may be unpleasant for some, but we must not forget that our fellow students were kept away from the Academy, and some still are. So we must be welcoming to our fellow students until they have their own spaces, or at least until they graduate."

That got some of the students to mutter amongst each other, weighing the pros and cons of the circumstances they were put under. "Excuse me!" one voice called out from the crowd, grabbing everyone's attention.

"Who said that?" the director asked, squinting his eyes towards the audience.

The one voice came from Ko as he stood up from his seat and said, "I did. I have heard the terms you have set upon us and accept them, but I also propose the following: What if the students were to help the Academy raise the money for the expansion, INCLUDING the ones that have returned?"

"Are you proposing a fundraiser," Director Clavell asked, "Master Kosaru?"

"I am," the bear stated.

"Because that could speed up the timetable for the expansion," the director stated, "but I would have to run that by the chairwoman... IF you're willing to state your case to her as well."

"Yes, Director Clavell," Ko said with confidence, "I will state my case to Chairwoman Geeta, and once I do, I am certain that the money can be raised for the expansion- no, the Academy Expansion Fund!"

That got the crowd saying things like, "Yeah, the Academy Expansion Fund!" "A fundraiser sounds like a great idea!" and "Let the bear speak to the Top!"

"Very well," Director Clavell said. "Then, Garaboshi Kosaru, please report to my office for an audience with Chairwoman Geeta."

"Yes!" Ko cheered. "Being told one of my ideas is so good that they want to let their boss in on the ground floor... I've been waiting my whole life for this very moment." As he left the seats to join Clavell, he turned to the audience and called out, "Students of the Foremost World-Renowned Pokemon Academy of Paldea, remain strong! As the legends as my witnesses, the expansion will happen! Mo' money, mo' space! Mo' money, mo' space!"

"Mo' money, mo' space! Mo' money, mo' space!" the audience chanted over and over and over as Ko and Clavell left the auditorium. In fact, they were still chanting as they left the seats themselves...

-

(Scene transition: Academy crest)

-

As the man and bear entered the director's office, Ko shot a look of interest at the lab equipment there and commented, "Hard to believe that the two former students who used all this would produce a child that would become Paldea's best nutritionist. Now all it does is just sit there and gather dust..."

"Not so," Clavell countered. "This room is regularly cleaned and maintained by our janitorial staff who respect this equipment enough to keep it in this state, but you are correct about its former users. Their son has made quite the name for himself. His bestselling recipe book has become a cornerstone text for most of our students in our Home Economics class, as Mr. Saguaro has reported to me before." After a light chuckle, both gentlemen took their seats.

"But enough pleasantries," the director said as his demeanor slightly shifted. "Are you ready to face the Chairwoman herself?"

"Yes, sir," the bear replied with a matching tone, "I am."

"Then let me see if I can get her on the line." After a few taps to start the call and transfer the video feed to the large television, the screen showed an image of Rika sitting at her desk. "Hello, thank you for calling the Pokemon League Headquarters, how may I help you?"

"Hello, Rika," the director said, "this is Director Clavell again."

"Oh," the green-haired secretary responded dully. "We told you, Clavell, we are in no mood to hear your complaints anymore."

"I can assure you, I am not doing that," the director defended. "I am merely calling in response to your suggestion to expand the Academy."

"That still gives you no right to call us out of nowhere while we are trying to tackle important business matters," Rika said without flinching, "especially after the last time we talked."

"Rika?" Geeta's voice said offscreen, making Rika turn around to the side.

"Yes, Chairwoman Geeta?"

"Why is Clavell back on the line with us?"

"I'm not sure. I was just about to tell him that-"

"I shall take it from here," Geeta said as a blue-gloved hand shooed Rika out of her chair. She complied and was replaced by the tall, thin Top Champion herself.

"Ah, Chairwoman," Clavell said, "thank you for taking the time to speak with us."

"Us, you say?" Geeta queried.

"Yes, I said us, Chairwoman, and there is reason for that. I am joined by one of the Academy's senior students, who has a proposition for you regarding the funding to expand the building for the influx of returning students we've been having recently."

"Is that so?" Geeta asked. "And who is this senior student, if I may be so inclined to ask?"

"That would be me," Ko said as he gestured to the screen. "My name is Garaboshi Kosaru, but most people here call me Ko for short. I don't know if you remember me, Miss Geeta, but the both of us met before last year when I first enrolled in the Academy."

Geeta then lowered the corners of her mouth a little as she asked, "Were you one of those battle-happy maniacs traipsing around the Paldea region for crystal dens to ransack one after the next without rest until the Great Crater lost its light, forcing those shoulder-spiked monsters to invade our precious homeland and turn it into their own personal antique shelf slash gulag?"

"No, not at all," Ko replied, starting to have second thoughts.

"Then welcome back, good to have you again," the chairwoman said with a smile. "Now, what was this proposal you wanted to tell me?"

Ko cleared his throat, and he began his case...

-

To be continued.