Notes:The Japanese word for seagull; umineko, literally means "sea-cat," referring to their meow-like call.

The heikegani (Heikea japonica) are a type of crab local to Japan.

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The street-reflectors rumbled down below. They had only cut off a slow motorcyclist when a large truck got in their path. Yukari Tanizaki sped as fast as she could to make sure that she would make it to the beach house before Minamo Kurosawa, that overrated bubble-head slow-poke, did.

Kurosawa-sensei, known by her coworker Yukari Tanizaki as "Nyamo", wasn't aware that right now she was also being called a bubble-headed slow-poke. She parked her car next to the gate while she waited for Chiyo to step out and explain the locking mechanism. Chiyo-chan explained neatly "This is a new gate my dad installed as part of the security measure. All we have to do is - EEEEEEK!" A gray car suddenly shot down the path and smashed into the gate. Out of it came a visibly shaken Kagura and Sakaki, as well as a disappointed Tomo-chan.

"What is this?!" Yukari-sensei screamed suddenly, kicking open the door.

"It's the security gate." Chiyo-chan replied.

Tomo-chan stopped rubbing her head to ask, "How did that bubble-headed slow-poke get here so fast?"

"Bubble head? We lost you when you tried to rout that old monk."

"But we…." Yukari-sensei practically pleaded.

"She warned us about the two gates and the burgular alarm," argued Yomi.

Yukari sensei floated nearly head-height by in rage.

Before the gate was opened Yukari-sensei and Tomo-chan had lashed out in a fit of complete rage.

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Kagura stared at the house in amazement. She had never imagined that her friends had been hiding so much away from her. Chiyo-chan was actually exceedingly rich, despite how modest she might act; who would have guessed she had such a sunny, calm, resort? Not having sat down on a plopped down on a hard sunny floor while being able to smell polished wood and the sea in a while, Kagura did just that. Yomi, sat by her and unzipped her backpack. This house was wonderful, and as long as she sat still, no one else felt any urge but to relax here for a while (with the execption of Tomo, for, she knew, it wouldn't be long before she rushed out in her blue bikini). Ahh, this was enjoyable.

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That afternoon, while sitting at the beach, Sakaki saw a seagull land next to her. It looked curiously at her holding her small towel. Sea cat. She moved the tiniest bit closer to see how it would react to her hand. Then, Osaka popped over, looking – innocent, Sakaki sadly noted - in her pink one-piece, saying, "Aaah. Are you trying to pet the seagull?"

"Ummm..errr.." Why must this always happen to me?

Osaka sat down next to her.

"Hey, Sakaki, You know a lot about animals, don't you"

"Yeah."

"If a shark stopped moving it would die right?"

"…yeah" She tried to say through the yelling of Tomo chasing Chiyo through the sand behind her.

"And since it lives in the ocean that isn't a problem, but if sharks could walk it would always have to find someplace to go to."

"I guess."

"And why do sharks swim near the surface, if dolphins and turtles are the only things that swim up there?"

Waves churned nearby.

"I don't really like sharks."

"Oh really. Well, you know that tuna travel in large schools for camouflage, but wouldn't they would be harder to see if they just traveled alone?"

"But I guess that wouldn't be very easy since there are so many. Oh look, a heikegani crab!" Osaka abruptly ran off carrying Sakaki's towel.

Sakaki chased after Osaka, in her regular murmur trying to explain that that was her towel, when Chiyo-chan and Tomo-chan ran into her from behind.

"Waaaa!!!" They all got knocked into the sandy, foamy sea.

Smelt like fun, this ocean...

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Kurosawa "Nyamo" sensei relaxed under the parasol, as Yukari-sensei soaked up sun rays next to her.

Nyamo thought as she watched the carefree kids splashing in the water.

"Do you ever wonder why we don't offer some more parenting to these kids?"

"We're too young."

"Most people our age are just starting families"
"Nah, That's too many responsibilities; feeding the baby, putting it to sleep, changing dirty diapers"

"But as they grow up you would have someone to love you when you came home everyday"

"What the point of getting them up everyday their elementary school years and their middle school years?"

"And after that they get to high school, like our students already are."

"Then they grow up and move away"

"Uh-huh. And that's why I don't have kids"

On that moment, Kurosawa sensei felt a little less attuned that parental urge to mother her students.