The only shell missing from Toya's collection is the murex shell, a slender shell with spikes... which is often found deep in the depths, which is why Toya doesn't have it. The depths of the sea are filled with creatures, specifically cecaelias. People above water refer to them as octopus mermaids, but they are absolutely not close to mermen and mermaids like Toya! It's all blasphemy! To be compared to such creatures is... Ugh! Every mer is afraid of those creatures – they're cruel, most are very hideous, and just... just not good to encounter!

But... Toya wants to finish his seashell collection, so he sneaks out from his white limestone home during the evening, hoping he won't get caught.

Eventually, he swims to the black sand where sunlight doesn't reach, being careful to be quiet as he searches. The shells are usually found in piles... Mostly in caves. And coincidentally enough, a big cave is close!

Toya makes his way into the cave, already spotting a murex shell, ready to grab it... But he notices a very weird, slightly slimy, dark orange tail wrapped around the rock where the shell is. Ermmm... Doesn't look like a fish tail, so... What the hell is that?!

"Hello...?"

Toya speaks up quietly, expecting no response. He just assumes the tail is from some animal... But it starts to move creepily! Yikes! And gosh, are those... olive green eyes!? They look so creepy in the dark cave, with the light of the entrance reflecting onto them!!!