Regarding Kataoka's "little (wait, what?) friend", the ancient writers said it best:
"Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." - Psalm 2, verse 9.
And Da Coach didn't seem to object at all; rather, she rode "the magic stick" with more fire than the famous Charge Of The Light Brigade.. It's probably only a matter of time before the rest of the swim team come to a certain (cough-cough) conclusion.
Well, at least he's honest enough to come out and say it, while the others are content just ogling.
That ending though. Hmm, yes, they seem to always disappear at the same time. I'd say they're having more...'secret training'. After all, there can never be too much training!