The botanical garden was a giant glass dome surrounded by trees. Without even making their way to the back, Hoshi could already see spiky husks laying amongst the grass. Grim looked around in confusion, "What's up with all these spiky stuff?"
"Hmm..." Hoshi hummed in deep thoughts as a memory easily resurfaced in her mind.
"It looks like we'll have a good harvest this year."
"What are these? They're so spikey. Is it... Is it because there're something tastier underneath the spikes?"
"Haha! That's some smart thinking. That's right. These are-"
"These are chestnut husks. They're spikey on the outside because it is to protect the interior from animals that would eat the inside." Hoshi explained calmly as she held her head with a hand, "That's strange... I can't remember anything else."
"Was that a memory?" Deuce responded in surprise.
Hesitant, Hoshi nodded, "These just came to me... Someone once told me these things, but I don't remember who it was."
"It's better not to rush it." Ace sighed in relief, "At least, you remember something. Hopefully you will be able to go back home soon."
Deuce nodded. Though it was safe on school grounds, that is because this school protects its students from physical harm. However, that doesn't mean they can protect her from getting into conflict with the other guys. Though today's fight said otherwise, they cant' exactly say for sure that it won't happen again. Yet, her knowledge made it easier for them to better understand where the chestnuts were. As they walked along the wall of the glass dome, Grim exclaimed in awe as he began to see more and more of these husks and some with chestnuts in them, "Whoa! There really are a ton of chestnuts just layin' around. I'm gonna be livin' large on chestnut tarts! Mmm!"
He leapt from her arms and reached for one, "Let's get grabbin'-"
"Grim, wait!" Hoshi reached out to grab him but was too slow.
"Myah!" Grim was taken aback in pain as a pawful of chestnut spines got his paw, " The chestnut spines pricked my paws!"
"Did you not hear what I said?" Hoshi sighed and looked at his soft paw for anymore spines.
"I don't think we can do this with our bare hands. And we need something to put them in, too." Deuce suggested.
"Maybe we can find some supplies in the botanical garden?" Ace pointed back at the glass dome.
Deuce nodded in agreement, "Let's take a look."
Once inside, they were caught off guard by a blast of temperate and humid air! Looking around, Hoshi could see a large amount of greenery and plants she have never seen before! The area was also very spacious and the ceiling was so high that not even their tallest tree could reach it. Though that was probably to be expected as the purpose of a botanical garden green house is to house all the plants inside. Still, it was a beautiful place. Ace looked around in awe, "Whoa, I didn't realize this place was so huge."
"If it's this large, it's got to have a groundskeeper. Let's split up and look." Deuce suggested.
"Sure. Dibs on the right side." Ace called out and hurried off.
"Then how about I go left, while Grim and his prefect go straight ahead?" Deuce suggested.
Before Hoshi could agree on it, Grim had already started running ahead giving Deuce the answer he needed.
They looked around for a while. However, Hoshi couldn't find anything in sight as Grim ran from one corner to the next observing the plants and struggling to read the labels. She didn't remember much from the sheer number of plants, but she later found herself having to protect Grim from some plants that tried to eat his head! By the time they escaped the plants, she found herself amongst a more calm area of the garden as she finally released Grim who had already found something else in his line of sight and was making a run for it! Hoshi shook in disappointment as Grim called out to her seemingly unfazed by what had just transpired, "Hey, come take a look at this! There's a ton of fruit growing here! Smells like they're ripe, too!"
"Wait, Grim!" She hurried over hoping to stop Grim from sticking his nose too close to another plant when she felt something underneath her feet and stepped back in surprise, "Feels like I just stepped on something…"
"Hey!" A low and gruff voice called out irritatingly as the bush before them moved and a tall figure rose out from behind it, "You got some nerve steppin' on my tail and just walkin' away!"
Lion ears and tail! Looking at him, Hoshi could sense of dejavu. Does she know him?However, her memories are not coming out this time. So, she might not know him after all. However, she know a few things. One, he is a beastman. Two, that gold and black theme colors means he's from Savanaclaw dorm. Three, he is very angry!
"Are you the groundskeeper?" Grim spoke up in confusion, "Not sure you oughta be talkin' to students that way, pal."
"Grim?!" Hoshi looked to him in disbelief! Did he not notice the uniform?!
"Ain't nothin' worse than bein' in the middle of a good nap and havin' some jerk step on your tail." The lion man scowled.
Well, then he probably shouldn't have left his tail out there in the open!
Though she thought this, she admitted that she was also at fault for not watching where she was stepping. She apologized sincerely, "I am so sorry!"
"You..." The man paused and inched closer as he gave her a sniff before frowning rather unamused, "I know you. You're that herbivore from orientation. That crazy one with the weasel."
"Huh? That's... right...." She nodded as she looked to him in confusion.
Grim pouted, "Hey! I ain't no-"
However, Hoshi swiftly scooped him up and covered his mouth.
"Well, can't say it'd be much fun to hurt someone so helpless." He huffed, "Still gonna do it, though."
As he approached them, Grim muttered with a shiver down his spine, "I dunno what's up with this guy, but when he looks at me, it makes every follicle of fur stand on end..."
"No one gets to stomp on my tail and just walk away without payin' the price." The guy growled at them, "I'm in a bad mood on account of bein' woken up from my nap, too. That's gonna cost you a tooth."
Surprised, Hoshi quickly pulled Grim aside, "Grim, stay behind me."
"What are you saying?!" Grim hissed at her and stepped forward next to her, "You should stay behind me!"
The guy was about to lunge at them when a voice called out to them, "Leona! There you are!"
"Leona?" Hoshi muttered in confusion as she heard the voice and began to feel dizzy as she grumbled, "Leona... Leona King? Um... Falena? Urgh... Raghnall... "
"Hm?" Leona looked to her in confusion as she clutched her head.
"N-Now's not the time to be trying to remember something, Hoshi!" Grim pulled at her pant leg nervously.
"I knew I'd find you here!" A shorter guy with hyena ears hurried over to them, "We got after-school classes today, remember?"
"Ugh... And now I've got this guy on my tail..." Leona grumbled in disdain.
"Leona, you've already had to repeat one year." The hyena boy lectured him, "If you get held back again, we'll be in the same grade!"
"Oh, put a sock in it already. I'm tired of all yer yappin', Ruggie." Leona gave him a glare.
Ruggie?
She repeated the name in her mind as a word slipped through her mouth, "Bucchi..."
"Huh?" They looked to her in surprise. However, pain intruded onto her thoughts as she retreated her steps slowly.
Looking between the two savanaclaw students and Hoshi, Grim pulled on her pant leg in a hurry, "C-Come on, Hoshi! Let's go back!"
Seeing the other two minding their business, Ruggie shrugged and turned his attention back to Leona with a disappointed huff, "Look, you think I like always being on your case? C'mon, man. You act like it'd be hard for you. You could skate through life if you'd just TRY."
Seeing that Ruggie wouldn't get off his case and the other two retreating though not fast enough for his liking, Leona grumbled as he gave them a stern glare, "Hrmph... Next time you stink up my territory, there's gonna be a price to pay, herbivores!"
As the lion beastman stormed away with Ruggie trailing behind him, Grim let go a breath of relief, "Myah! I don't like the sound of that! What is up with this nutso? Hoshi? Hey, HEY! HOSHI!"
Everything quickly fell dark as though the curtains were closed on her. What was going to happen now?