Previously on Oranges to Grapes...
Camilla, Pico and Balto are given their starter Pokemon Sprigatito, Fuecoco and Quaxly (respectively) before entering the Academy, while Rosita is abducted to who-knows-where...
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As Director Clavell opened the large, brown doors of the Academy, Camilla, Pico and Balto entered the building... and were treated to the sight of the Academy's lobby: marble-tiled floors, curtains and banners emblazoned with the Academy's crest, and three floors' worth of bookshelves crammed full with books of every subject, all interconnected with stairways to each floor.
"Here is the entrance of the Academy," Clavell explained, "but only one more hurdle remains before you can be fully enrolled. The final step is to register at the front desk, where you shall be given your class schedules, each one tailor-made to suit each of our student's individual needs. Now, proceed."
Camilla was the first to step up to the desk, where she was assigned the STEM track homeroom. Next was Pico, and he was given the general studies track homeroom. And last was Balto, who got homeroom in the humanities track.
"Okay, you three are all set," the front desk lady said. "Enjoy your enrollment!"
"Then it is official," Clavell said proudly. "Camilla Otore, Pico Hatsuki and Balto Mijuumi, welcome to the Foremost World-Renowned Pokemon Academy of Paldea!" Suddenly the first bell rang. "Now, off you go to class. Bye-bye."
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(Scene transition: Academy logo)
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Camilla had entered the Class 1-D, where her assigned homeroom was. She placed her backpack on the hook of her desk and sat down. Little by little, more students came in and sat at their desks as well, and a generic one in a winter uniform even sat next to her.
"Thanks for sharing the desk," the student said.
"Don't mention it," Camilla answered.
"This your first year here?"
"Yep, it is. And you?"
"My second," the student corrected, "but don't worry, you got the easy class. Ms. Tyme is very understanding of her students, and very nice."
That reassurance put a smile on Camilla's muzzle, but before she could thank her new "desk-neighbor," the door was opened and the brick-haired teacher walked in. "Hello, class, and welcome to math class, also known as homeroom for the STEM track! I understand some of you have taken this class last year and are quite familiar, but for those of you joining us for the first time, my name is Ms. Tyme."
"Hello, Ms. Tyme!" the whole class said.
"Well, I see there's a lot of students who remember me!" Tyme said happily. "Makes me wonder if there are any who haven't. If there are, please raise your hand so I can welcome you!"
Camilla shot her paw up eagerly, hoping to make a good first impression.
"Oh, here's one!" Tyme said after spotting the raised paw. "Why don't you come up front and introduce yourself to the class, sweetie?"
"Coming, Ms. Tyme," the bunny said as she got up from the desk and walked up to the front, then turned around to address the class. "Hello, everyone. My name is Camilla Otore, and I want to make friends. I come from the country and live with my grandmother in Los Platos. I enjoy putting puzzles together, and I also like reading books, mostly for research. Oh, and I'm also asexual. Thanks for listening."
As Camilla closed her speech with a polite bow, the class gave her light applause. "Well, thank you for sharing with us, Camilla. I'm sure the whole lot of us will get along just fine with you!" Tyme said. "Now you may go back to your seat, sweetie."
"Thank you, Ms. Tyme," Camilla responded before she returned to her seat.
"Now, class, today is only the first day of the semester, so we won't be learning anything yet," Tyme explained, "because that won't be until the 'special project' gets underway. But in the meantime, let's all use today to meet new friends and maybe catch up with familiar ones here at the Academy. Consider this sort of a... 'Free Period Day,' if you will."
After the class thanked Ms. Tyme again, the students returned to their personal conversations, including Camilla's with her new desk-mate.
"See, what'd I tell you? Understanding and nice."
"You weren't kidding," Camilla agreed. "By the way, what's your name?"
"Oh, right, forgot to introduce myself," the mystery student said. "Well, my name is Sylvan."
"Well, Sylvan," Camilla said, "consider yourself one of the first friends of mine."
"Thanks, Camilla," Sylvan said, and the both of them shook hands...
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(Scene transition: Academy logo)
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Meanwhile, in Class 1-A, Pico had settled into his desk waiting patiently for the teacher to come in. Another generic student in a summer uniform sat down next to him, but he didn't mind.
"How are you?" the student asked.
"A little anxious, to be honest," the lizard answered. "Where's the teacher?"
"She'll be here, don't worry."
"She?" Pico asked suddenly. "I thought the teacher in this class was male?"
"That was three years ago," the student clarified. "But then he was laid off for undermining the director's will or something. Fortunately, that happened to coincide with someone else's desire to become a teacher, so the year after..."
"Sorry I'm late!"
Just then, a pink-and-purple-haired woman in a white jacket came in through the door, and the class settled down. "Okay, let's get this underway. Hello, class, my name is Miss Miriam, your health teacher and homeroom teacher. And while some of you may already know that, the only reason I'm saying this is because I see we have some new students in class. So, who would like to introduce themselves, since learning classes aren't until the 'special project' starts?"
"I'll go," Pico said as he raised his hand. He then walked up to the class and cleared his throat before starting. "Hello, my name is Pico Hatsuki, and I'm hoping to learn a lot in this wonderful school. I live with my mother in Zapapico, and I also have a big sister, so I can be hard-working. My hobbies include eating, but you can't really tell since I have a bit of a high metabolism, I've been told. Also, I'm hoping to find someone to connect with. Anyway, thanks for listening."
"Okay, thanks for sharing, Pico," Miriam said as the intro speech was wrapped up with a bow. "Now, unless there's any other new students here, everyone can go back to their conversations. Just remember rule 3 of the code of conduct: help newcomers feel welcome!"
Pico returned to his seat next to the mystery student, who then said, "So, what'd you think?"
"Well, she wasn't what I was expecting," the lizard admitted, "but she's not bad. I think I'm gonna enjoy her classes."
"Good to know," the mystery student said pleased. "Oh, by the way, my name's Rima."
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(Scene transition: Academy logo)
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Finally, Class 2-G was filling up with students as well, and Balto had found his seat with no trouble. However, another generic student in an autumn uniform was having difficulty, so he decided to help.
"Excuse me, do you need help finding a seat?" the husky asked the mystery student. "Because I'm willing to share this desk with you if you want."
"Wow, really? Thanks!" the mystery student said as he sat down next to Balto. "Nice to meet you, by the way. I'm Spike."
"Hello, Spike. I'm Balto."
As the two new aquaintances shook hands, a man with parted hair in a patterned suit stepped into the classroom. "Hola! Bonjour! Konichiwa! And above all, hello, class!" he greeted with enthusiasm. "It is I, your fabulous and amazing teacher, Mr. Salvatore!"
"Bonjour, Mr. Salvatore!" most of the class replied, since the new students were caught off-guard by the Tower of Babel mannerism.
"Ah, I see we have some nouveaux visages... that is, new faces in the class," Salvatore said, catching the slight dissonance in the greeting. "But that's okay, because this class shall give them a chance to learn the ropes... and perhaps open themselves to new experiences! Now, let me see..." He then scanned the room for any students he couldn't recognize from previous years... and his gaze eventually locked right slap onto Balto! "Ah! Here's someone I haven't met before! Young man, why don't you come up and dites-nous about vous-même... that is, tell us about yourself?"
The husky pup was caught by surprise, but nodded and stood up before walking up to the front desk with his ears folded back in slight nervousness. "Umm... okay," he said before clearing his throat and addressed the class. "Hello, everyone. My name is Balto Mijuumi, and I'm here to prepare myself for the future. I lived with my dad back in Porto Marinada, it's a very busy place. My hobbies include exercise and riding my bike, which seems to puzzle people into thinking I'm the only one in Paldea with a bike... and... that's pretty much it. Thanks for letting me share."
The rest of the class applauded Balto as he bowed. "Muy bien! Ii ne! C'est bon! And above all, very good, Balto!" Salvatore said. "And just like that, you've mastered the gist of my class, because not only am I the language teacher of the Academy... I am also the homeroom teacher of the humanities track, where we learn social skills to bring people closer together. Surely that will help you in votremission... that is, your mission to prepare for the future!"
That sentence put a smile on Balto's muzzle and a wag in his tail as he returned to his seat next to Spike.
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All in all, the first day at the Academy started off a bit rocky, but our three heroes were welcomed with open arms, and it made them feel great. As for the one who was kicked out on arrival... that's another story.
To be continued...
