CH-12: Want To Eat Pumpkins! Really?

The morning sun filtered through the canopy in long, golden shafts, turning the ranger station clearing into a patchwork of light and shadow. The elephants had been moved to a shaded enclosure for further treatment; soft trumpets and the rustle of leaves filled the air like a quiet conversation.

A girl stepped out from the small cottage at the edge of the clearing. She was about Saki's age, with short dark hair tied back in a loose braid and a simple green jacket over her shirt. Lily. She carried a small basket of bandages and paused beside her mother, who knelt beside one of the calves, gently wrapping a fresh dressing around its foreleg.

"Mom..." Lily said softly, eyes fixed on the group of students gathered near the bus. "I want to go to school like them."

Her mother looked up, wiping her hands on a cloth. "Lily, you know how things are here. We have the animals—"

"I know," Lily interrupted gently. "But I've never even sat in a real classroom. I just... want to try."

Hensudo, standing a few paces away and pretending to inspect the bus tires, overheard. Without thinking, he waved a dismissive hand. "The bus is already packed, and we don't even have a driver anymore!"

Yudashi turned sharply, giving him a warning look that clearly said: Think before you speak to a girl.

Hensudo's eyes flicked toward Lily. Their gazes met. His brain short-circuited.

"Ah... I... I-I-I'm really... s-so sorry," he stammered, words tumbling over each other. "I didn't know... it was you. Seriously. If you... want to come... right? Sensei?"

Mr. Hoshino folded his arms, expression calm but faintly amused. "I am the teacher, Hensudo. Not you."

Hensudo rubbed the back of his neck, cheeks steadily reddening. Lily tilted her head, confused but curious.

Dave leaned in, nudging Hensudo's ribs. "Someone's got a crush?"

Yudashi caught the implication and let out a startled laugh. Michi and Saki exchanged puzzled glances, still not quite following. The other students nearby began snickering quietly.

Hensudo buried his face in his hands, mortified.

Lily turned back to her mother, voice small but determined. "Mom, please..."

Her mother sighed, then smiled softly. "All right. Go pack a small bag. But you behave, understand?"

Lily's face lit up. She dashed back toward the cottage, braid bouncing.

Mr. Hoshino exhaled through his nose. "I'll make room for her."

Tison raised an eyebrow. "We still have a bus driver?"

Mr. Hoshino met his gaze evenly. "This time, I will drive."

A stunned silence fell over the group. Their teacher—behind the wheel of a full-size bus?

The head ranger chuckled and handed out sealed packets of fruit, nuts, and bottled water for the journey. "Safe travels. And thank you again."

Half an hour later, the previous driver had been quietly handed over to local police. The students filed back onto the bus, quieter now, still processing the night before. The elephants gathered at the edge of the clearing as the engine started. One by one, they extended their trunks in slow, deliberate farewell—gentle brushes against shoulders, soft nudges against palms.

Lily boarded last, clutching a small backpack. She hesitated, then took the seat directly behind Mr. Hoshino.

Mr. Hoshino adjusted the mirrors, cleared his throat, and eased the bus onto the road.

From the back rows, Hensudo kept stealing glances at the back of Lily's head. Every time someone whispered about the elephants or the fight, he felt compelled to add commentary—loudly, confidently—as though he were suddenly the class expert on everything.

"...and obviously I could've taken those poachers myself if I hadn't been shot," he declared to no one in particular.

Lily turned slightly in her seat. Their eyes met again.

She cleared her throat.

Hensudo's face ignited. He whipped his gaze out the window so fast he nearly gave himself whiplash.

Dave leaned over, stage-whispering, "It's getting hot in here, isn't it?"

Yudashi grinned. "Do you smell that? Lily flowers... so fragrant."

Michi and Saki finally understood. They exchanged glances and stifled giggles.

Tison, unable to resist, crumpled a piece of paper into a ball and lobbed it gently toward Lily. She caught it, unfolded it, and read:

You made someone flustered.

Her cheeks pinked. She crumpled the note and tossed it back without looking, lips twitching into a tiny smile. She stared out her window, mind clearly spinning: Who?

From somewhere in the middle rows, a brave (or foolish) boy cupped his hands around his mouth and bellowed in an exaggerated imitation of Hensudo's voice:

"I LOVE YOU, LILY! PLEASE BE MY GIRLFRIEND!!"

The bus erupted in laughter. Hensudo dropped his forehead into his palms, wishing he could disappear.

Mr. Hoshino cleared his throat—loudly. The noise died down instantly.

Lily muttered under her breath, "Everyone here is a joker..." but she was smiling.

Hensudo peeked through his fingers, caught her chuckle, and immediately buried his face against Dave's shoulder like a toddler hiding from embarrassment.

Dave patted his head dramatically. "Hey! I already have a girlfriend! Michi will get jealous!"

Michi blinked. "When did I become your girlfriend?!"

"You hugged me after I pranked you about the heart attack," Dave replied smugly. "That's basically a proposal in my book."

Michi's mouth opened in outrage. She swatted the back of his head—gently this time—and pouted. "You're impossible."

Hensudo pulled away from Dave's shoulder, still red, and stared out the window.

Yudashi sipped his water, hiding a grin.

Saki, clutching the bag with the prototype a little tighter, suddenly spoke up—innocently, trying to join the teasing.

"Hensudo... do you want to eat pumpkins?"

The entire bus went still.

Yudashi choked on his drink. "Saki... you just said that?!"

Dave and Tison exploded into laughter. Michi covered her mouth. Even Mr. Hoshino's shoulders shook once before he forced them still.

Hensudo and Lily both turned scarlet—Hensudo from mortification, Lily from sudden understanding.

Saki's eyes widened in panic. "Did I... say something wrong?"

Yudashi leaned close, whispering, "It's... uh... an indirect way of telling two people to get a room."

Saki's face drained of color. "I didn't mean—! I didn't mean that! I just thought... pumpkins are orange... like tangerines...?"

The bus dissolved into fresh laughter.

Mr. Hoshino coughed loudly—twice—signaling for silence. The giggles tapered off, though grins lingered.

A red light appeared ahead. The bus slowed.

A line of preschool children crossed the road, each holding a small cat in their arms. The cats looked utterly unimpressed; the children waved excitedly at the bus.

Lily cooed softly at the sight. "They're so cute..."

Hensudo's blush returned full force.

Dave smirked. "She wasn't cooing at you, lover boy. Come out of your dreams."

Hensudo pouted, crossed his arms, and closed his eyes, pretending to sleep.

Tison suddenly hiccupped. "What the—? Who's thinking about me right now?"

He glanced out the window and spotted his little brother among the preschoolers, proudly pointing at the bus and clearly bragging about "my big brother on TV or something."

Tison slid down in his seat, hiding his face.

The light turned green. The bus rolled forward again.

Lily drifted off to sleep, head resting against the window.

A few rows back, someone produced a portable microphone. A girl stood up, grinning, and pressed play on her phone.

The opening notes of "Tangerine Pop" by PRISMA-X filled the cabin.

She began to sing—clear, bright, fearless.

Sun-kissed morning, bright orange glow Juicy little burst, ready to go...

One by one, voices joined. Hands clapped. Feet tapped. The chorus hit, and the entire bus erupted:

Tangerine pop, pop, pop! (Hey!) Tangerine pop, fizz and drop! (Yay!) Sweet like sunshine, cool like the breeze Tangerine pop, put me at ease!

Mr. Hoshino kept his eyes on the road, but the corner of his mouth lifted—just a little.

One of the boys noticed.

"Sensei likes the song!"

A chorus of teasing "Awwws" swept through the bus.

Mr. Hoshino's ears turned pink. "Shut up," he barked—but there was no real heat in it.

The singing continued, louder, brighter, carrying them down the highway toward home.

------------------------XOXO------------------------