[b]Kotori Shirohane - Warakuma Shopping District: Shirohane Flowershop | After School[/b]

Following Tsubame's question, the tall Third Year quickly answered that he was here for a daily order, much like Kotori's mother had already heard - though an oddly familiar smile came over her as he mentioned for whom this should be. As he then went on to say that he first wanted to ask for some advice on a matter he'd already consulted Kotori on, the smile took a turn for the bemused, given the way this tall, muscular young man was so politely asking both her and her daughter for advice. "Of course," Tsubame immediately agreed, turning a similarly bemused smile to Kotori who had been quietly keeping out of the conversation and a little off to the side throughout - a smile which only grew as she just got a questioning look back. "What would you like to know?"

Kotori blinked behind her glasses, a little confused at the look her mother had shot her - was it something she'd said? Or had she somehow missed something funny happening? Unsure about it, she wondered about it, even as Alexei relayed his question to Tsubame who was listening closely and who, at the end of it all, gave a thoughtful look and tapped her finger at her lips - a gesture, it seemed, that had somehow been passed from mother to daughter. A moment later, she glanced first to Kotori, then back to the answer-awaiting boy; having readied her answer. "If you give a gift, it's got to be the thought that counts," she said in such a matter-of-fact tone that she may as well have been stating that the sun shines.

After a brief pause, Tsubame went on: "If it's about flowers, you have three options: One you know they'll like, one you think suits them particularly well - or one which has the meaning you're trying to convey," she said - before giving another smile as she added one more thing. "But at the end of the day, there's definitely no girl who wouldn't like receiving flowers, so you can hardly go wrong," Tsubame declared, only to give another of her small smiles to her daughter. "Isn't that right, Kotori?"

It took a moment before Kotori realised that the question was directed at her - and even then she at first just blinked once or twice in confusion before giving a surprised "Eh?" at so suddenly being questioned. Luckily for her flustered self though, she was interrupted by the ringing bell behind her, signalling the entrance of another customer. Turning around, Kotori saw yet another tall student, another Third Year much like the one standing next to her already, in the form of Toma Tanaka. The red-headed older boy began to adress her - only to stop and look between her and her mother whom, as became obvious from his next words, he confused for her sister.

Another "Eh?" was Kotori's immediate reaction, looking from Toma to her mother; only making the connection a moment later - even while her mother simply smiled at the sudden intrusion, an amused "My, my" being all she said to it. Sure, she'd asked her daugher to bring by some classmates if she got the chance, but she certainly hadn't expected her to bring along two at a time. As the new arrival then bowed, apologising for his sudden interruption, Tsubame gave a small chuckle - both to show that is was no grave matter and that she was actually a little amused by the politeness of both these young men.

Kotori, having remained torn between not wanting to make someone who had just entered feel uncomfortable as well as speak out of turn for both Alexei and her mother and therefore just looking between the three, gave a surprised look when, after introducing himself, Toma then said he'd like to ask her a question; the way he said so making it clear that he wasn't meaning her mother. Even before Kotori could say anything, Tsubame quickly spoke up. "Of course," she said with a wide smile before giving a reconfirming nod as Kotori looked over to her; evidently unsure if she should just leave Alexei like that, even if it just mean turning around and moving a step or two away.

Seeing as Alexei had come here mainly to talk to her mother as opposed to her, Kotori stepped to the side before turning fully to face the other Third Year, a questioning look about her as she asked a quiet "Yes?" for him to go on whilst Tsubame in turn awaited what Alexei had to say.