The scene shifted abruptly to Rose, now carrying Shine effortlessly on her back, while Hugo was a whirlwind of chaotic energy, sprinting and darting around like a madman in the throes of desperation.
His wild search sent leaves, twigs, and the occasional startled animal flying as he frantically scanned every inch of the forest.
"WHERE IS IT?!" Hugo bellowed, his voice echoing through the trees as he leaped over fallen logs, climbed low-hanging branches, and even stuck his head into a hollow stump. "I need just ONE badge! Come on, world, throw me a break here!"
Rose, walking calmly with Shine slung over her shoulders, couldn't help but grin.
"Is this guy for real?" she asked, glancing at Shine, who looked like he was trying not to laugh.
"He's… uh… really dedicated." Shine replied, clearly unsure how to describe Hugo's current state.
Hugo suddenly froze mid-run, his sharp blue eyes locking onto a suspicious patch of dirt.
"There! That's gotta be it!" he declared dramatically, diving headfirst into the ground and clawing at it like a dog digging for a bone.
Rose raised an eyebrow. "What do you think he's gonna find?"
"Probably disappointment…" Shine said under his breath.
Sure enough, Hugo popped up a moment later, holding a perfectly round stone. He stared at it for a beat before letting out a dramatic wail.
"IT'S JUST A FREAKING ROCK!" he screamed, hurling it into the forest with enough force to scare off a nearby squirrel.
Rose couldn't hold back anymore and burst into laughter, nearly dropping Shine in the process. "Oh, this is gold. I could watch this all day."
"You're not helping!" Hugo snapped, pointing an accusatory finger at her before charging off again.
Shine chuckled softly. "You know, maybe we should actually help him. He's gonna give himself a heart attack."
"Nah." Rose said with a smirk, shifting Shine on her back. "This is way more entertaining."
Meanwhile, Hugo had climbed halfway up a tree, clinging to its trunk as he peered into a bird's nest.
"Nothing here either? Are you kidding me?!" He slid down dramatically, landing in a heap at the base of the tree.
Rose strolled up to him, her grin widening. "What's the plan now, Badge-less Hugo?"
"I'm thinking, okay?" Hugo muttered, brushing leaves out of his hair. He stood up, scanning the area with a look of intense concentration. "They've gotta be somewhere. Maybe… underground? Or underwater? Or inside a squirrel's—"
"Whoa there, champ." Rose interrupted, holding up a hand. "Don't go traumatizing the local wildlife."
As if on cue, a flock of birds erupted from the trees Hugo had been shaking moments ago. "Sorry, birds!" he shouted after them. "I'm just trying to graduate here!"
Rose finally set Shine down on a nearby log, her arms crossed as she watched Hugo pace back and forth. "Alright, I'll give you a hint."
Hugo's eyes lit up as he turned to her. "Really? You will? What's the hint?!"
Rose smirked, clearly enjoying herself. "Stop running around like a lunatic. That's your hint."
Hugo groaned, slumping to the ground. "Wow, thanks. That's so helpful."
Shine chuckled. "Maybe if you calmed down, you'd actually notice something."
Hugo sat up, his expression skeptical. "Calm down? How am I supposed to calm down? There's only—"
But the second a shiny glint caught his eye in the distance, he was off like a rocket, yelling at the top of his lungs. "BADGE! I SEE A BADGE!"
Rose and Shine exchanged a knowing look before bursting into laughter.
"This guy." Rose said, shaking her head as she picked Shine up again. "He's gonna kill me one day."
"Yeah." Shine agreed, smiling warmly. "But it's kind of fun watching him try."
Continue...