It is a well-known fact that Justice Academy was, by far, the richest school in Tokyo.

However, it is almost as well a known a fact that the *reason* that Justice is so darned rich is because, not only do lots of rich parents send their kids there, but they tend to be cheapskates.

This is not the case with Gorin High School. Unlike Justice, who is wont to spend what little funds they *do* on shiny new upholstery and multimedia equipment, Gorin set its sights on real estate. Sports-related real estate.

With what they owned of the large central park, they'd built a baseball diamond. For the volleyball games, they owned a large chunk of beachfront property on the coastline. Gorin High School was presently rumored to be building a HUGE three-acre convert-a-stadium to house all of their specialty sports, with the floors being made of state-of-the-art astroturf, and the ability to change to different types of sports fields (as in, from baseball to soccer) at the touch of a button.

But that's getting ahead of ourselves, once again. After all, this presently non-existent convert-a-stadium wasn't what Justice Academy's clean-up squad had to tackle this week.

The beach *was*.

The beach was not very crowded today--with summertime having only recently ended, the usual hordes were either at school or at their respective places of employment. However, there were still a good number of folks around, most of them watching one of Gorin High's volleyball games...

"This is May Shiratori for the Combo News At Noon. At the request of Gorin High, the Rampaging Justice Academy Cleanup Crew continues to wreak its orderly havoc across their grounds. I am here live at Gorin Beach, where just behind me, you can see a local volleyball game taking place... which we should *not* be seeing. Can we PLEASE get shots of the cleanup crew? Oy...

"Okay, that's better. The twenty-man--or, shoudl I say, 20-*boy* crew from Justice is helping out in any way they can. They're cleaning the beach of everything from lost spades to broken glass. We've even got a few in the water watching over the little ones so that they don't go too far out. And what's this?"

The camera panned over to catch a shot of a prepubescent girl in a pink one-piece bathing suit and... peach facepaint?... happily burying one of the hapless Justice students in the sand.

"Oh, my," May sad. "That's just so incredibly cute..."

Momo Karuizawa said nothing, but simply smiled for the camera, and then sang a little song as she stomped sand in place around the student's head, which was by now all that was visible of him.

With his scuba flippers dangling over the edge of his lifeguard's chair, Nagare Namikawa anxiously awaited his help.

"Deputy" lifeguard, hm? As if he needed one. But the school *insisted* on bringing him one of those Justice people to help him for a day, because he "deserved an easier time". Strange how he finally got an assistant on one of the beach's *off*-days. Would it have killed them to send someone during the summer? Oh well. He'd make the best of it.

"Hey! Hey, you!" a female voice yelled from below.

Nagare looked down to see one of the most beautiful women he'd ever laid eyes on, wearing a form-fitting green one-piece bathing suit and spectacles. <Oh, my.>

"Are you the lifeguard?" the woman asked.

"Yes," Nagare answered.

"Hi! I'm Kyoko Minazuki, from Justice Academy. I think we're working together today?"

&rt;...oh, THANK YOU.>

Nagare smiled, his mood having been brightened in a matter of seconds.

"You look familiar," Nagare said afer the two had introduced themselves more formally. "Did you... used to work at a hospital?"

"...yes. At Tokyo General," Kyoko replied. It was a subject she didn't like to talk about much.

"As a nurse, right?"

"Yes," Kyoko said. She looked at Nagare a little more closely. "Have we... met?"

Nagare nodded. "Three years ago, my best friend suffered a horrible swimming accident. Broke his leg in two places because he botched a dive. I accompanied him to the emergency ward of Tokyo General Hospital. They put him under your care."

Kyoko's eyes widened as she began to remember. "You're that boy who stayed by his side whenever he could, aren't you?" She chuckled. "I remember when you threw a fit at the receptionist one time when she tried to tell you that visiting hours were over!"

Nagare laughed. "Oh yeah, that. What can I say? I was worried. But with you looking after him, I was worried for nothing. Thank you, Mrs. Minazuki."

The two shared a small hug. "You're welcome," Kyoko said. "After all, it was my job."

"I just want you to know that I bear no ill will towards you or your students. I mean, all of us Gorin kids knew that you were just being puppets and everything. But the administrators want to milk your little community service thing for all they can get."

"Well," Kyoko sighed, "they're doing a good job of it."

"Don't worry. It may not look like it, but the *kids* in all the schools, at least, have found it in their hearts to look past recent events. Well, except maybe Gedo..."

Silently, the two of them looked out into the ocean waves, checking for signs of anyone in trouble.

--Gorin Beach--

On the deserted far side of the beach, an unhappy student and his fairly frustrated teacher walked alone.

"All right, man. Just where are you taking me anyway?" Satoshi Kurenai snarled.

Hideo Minazuki smiled a bit. "Well, you see, Satoshi, my dear boy, I thought you'd like to make up for that four hours of absolutely *nothing* you did last week. After all, I know how you just *love* doing the right thing."

"Just get to the point, old man. I'm sure not even *you* like gloating all the time."

"You'd be surprised." Hideo handed Satoshi a pick. "Get to work. This part of the beach is quite messy. You'll be here for a while. And it's the only way you'll learn--nobody gets special treatment under *my* tutelage. The world doesn't cut you a break, ever. So don't expect it from me."

Satoshi simply stared at the cleanup tool, almost as if he didn't believe that he actualy had to... work. Ew.

"We've got all day, you know," Hideo said. "It's not as if your parents will be wonderin where you are. That's the beauty of boarding schools. The longer you stand there, the longer we stay out here."

Grumbling, Satoshi set to work.

On the other side of the beach...

"But don't you want to watch Natsu's volleyball game during your free afternoon?" Roberto had said.

"Nah," Shoma had replied. "Don't really feel like it."

"I think she'd like it if you would."

"I just don't want to, okay?"

Nevertheless, Shoma Samawura was now walking just a little distance away from the beach's volleyball net, where the game was taking place. He *still* wasn't sure whether to actually go *over* there or not. After all... she might try and throw a ball at him.

As Shoma stood there in his bathing trunks, wondering whether or not to just go over there, he looked down... and saw a smiling, peach-painted face staring up at him from about a foot below. It was a little girl in a pink one-piece. A *very* litle girl.

"Hi!" the girl said, tottering back and forth on her heels in a digustingly cute fashion.

"Hey, kid. I'm busy," Shoma replied curtly.

"Okay!"

Shoma began walking. The kid followed.

"I'm Momo!"

Shoma grumbled. What was this kid doing? "I'm... Shoma."

"Yay! Now we know each other! Let's have fun! I can bury you in the sand!"

"No thanks. And don't walk so close to me."

Shoma continued walking. Momo continued to follow. Why?

Momo giggled. "Hee. You're cute!"

"And you're jailbait." Shoma didn't even bother looking at her.

"What's that?" Momo scratched her head.

"...forget it."

"Okay!"

Shoma continued walking.

That Momo kid was STILL following him.

Damn it.

Shoma broke into a run. "Get away from me, kid."

THAT was a mistake. "Wheeeeeeee! Great idea! Let's play tag!" Momo gave chase.

"No, I don't *want* to--get away from me already!"

"Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"

Suddenly, Natsu's game was beginning to sound pretty good right now...

--Justice High School--

"Shigeru?"

"Yes, Kenji?"

"You think the new nurse quit? I haven't seen him yet."

"Boy, I hope so--"

"Oh, girls?" a deep, syrupy--and all too familiar--voice emanated from the nurse's office. The faces of the crowd of schoolgirls in front of the door brightened instantly.

"So much for that," Kenji sighed.

"Now, now, girls," came the voice once again. "I'm sure you can't *all* be hurt. You should give those with legitimate concerns priority!"

"Actually, I think I've come down with a fever," one of the girls said, breathing deeply.

"And it's contagious," another one piped up. This naturally caused the entire crowd to burst into helpless giggling.

Finally, the nurse stepped out, all in his bishounen-esque glory. But today, something was different about him...

"Hey! His hair's all wavy now!" one of the girls shouted!

The room seemed to sigh just a dreamily as the gathered masses did.

"I'm still scared," said Shigeru.

"Man, I'm past that stage," Kenji replied. "I'm in denial." He shut his eyes tightly. "I'm not here, this isn't happening..."

--Gorin Beach--

"Go get 'em, Natsu!"

"Yeah!"

"You got it, guys! One Ayuhara Brand Special Serve, coming right up!"

Natsu threw the volleyball straight up--and let it drop to the ground in front of her. "Just making sure you girls are ready," she taunted to the opposing team. "After all, if you're not careful... this might sting a bit!"

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw... Shoma?... walking past the game. He'd actually decided to attend? This was great! She decided to show off a bit. "Here it comes!" She threw the ball up...

"Wheeeeee! Tee hee hee! Shoma, you're the *coolest!*"

"Ow! Agh! Get away from me, you crazy girl!"

"C'mon, Shoma! More horsey! MORE!"

Natsu turned her head. Just what was Shoma *doing?* And why was that... that *girl* just *clinging* to him like--

*BONK*

Natsu didn't notice the volleyball land on her head until it was too late. "Owww..." she whined, rubbing the sopt where it had hit.

The referee blew the whistle. "Ball changes sides!"

As the laughter of the other team rang in her ears, Natsu muttered, "Damn you, Shoma..." under her breath.

When it came right down to it, 5,000 yen was still good for a few video games. With that in mind...

"Miss Kyokooooo! Isamu is drowning!" One of the students ran up to the nurse.

"WHAT?"

Indeed, using her binoculars, she could see one of her young charges flailing about helplessly some distance out in the water. She looked around for Nagare--nowhere to be found. That's right, he'd gone to get lunch for the both of them.

*Damn.*

She took out a small two-way radio that she and Hideo used to keep in contact whenever separated on trips such as this one...

On the other side of the beach, Hideo heard his radio crackle to life. "Honey? I'm going to try and save one of our student's lives, now. If I don't make it... um... *adopt.* Okay? Okay!"

With that, the feed cut.

"Kyoko?" Hideo yelled into his receiver. "KYOKO!" Nothing. Getting off of the rock he had been resting on, he looked at Satoshi.

"You... don't you go *anywhere.*"

Satoshi simply smiled back. Sighing, Hideo ran off to the swimming area.

&rt;Been so long since I've done this,> Kyoko thought as she swam. &rt;Kick, kick, stroke, stroke...> She finally reached Isamu's body, floating less than an inch below the water. &rt;Oh *no!* I may be too late!> Quickly, she scooped him up in her arm, and swam back to shore.

By now a crowd had gathered, including Hideo, Nagare, and some concerned citizens, who all applauded Kyoko as she ran back on shore.

"Kyoko," Hideo said, "don't *ever* scare me like that again!"

"Well, I'll try," Kyoko answered.

The student that had told Kyoko of the drowning in the first place ran up to her. "He's not moving!"

"I know," Kyoko sighed, and pressed her fingers to his neck. "He's still got a pulse though. A pretty quick one, too."

"That means you have to give CPR, right?"

"Yeah, exactly."

&rt;Perfect!> Isamu, who had heard everything, waited in grateful anticipation. The contest was his! As was the prize money! Almost drowning for *real* just to make it believable was worth it! And most importantly, he would finally taste the luscious lips of Kyoko herself--

*POP*

"Nyyyyyeeeeeeerrrrrrrrowww!" Isamu let out a painful groan as Kyoko's hands firmly--and painfully--pressed against his ribs. He opened his eyes--Kyoko's face was just an inch away from his. No! So close...

"Isamu?" Kyoko said. "You're awake! Thank goodness, I was so worried..."

"Yeah, I... guess I am..." Isamu sniffed in utter sadness.

Where was that bat-wielding moron? Somehow, Shoma had managed to completely disappear after the game. They'd won, but no thanks to *him.* It was a good thing he'd left, Natsu thought to herself as she walked into the beach locker room. She'd have definitely shown him what for!

And just what was all the commotion in here about, anyway? The victory parties usually weren't *this* loud...

"Natsu!" One of her teammates shouted. "We've got a problem."

A problem? "What is it, Ayame?"

"The... the twins, they..."

Unable to get the words out, Ayame simply took Natsu by the wrist and led her heround the corner to the lockers which belonged to Eiko and Mio, two freshmen volleyball players that were practically demons on the court. Neither one was quite as good as Natsu, but if they kept at it, they'd land a few volleyball scholarships, no problem.

Natsu looked inside the girls' lockers.

PROBLEM.

"It wasn't us!" Eiko was pleading. "We would *never* do that! You believe us, don't you?"

"Please say you do, Natsu..." Mio added.

Two drug needles, obviously recently used, lay in Eiko and Mio's lockers.