A/N: Thanks to all who enjoy this story, and thank you to everyone who's asked me if they can draw punk!Nozomi. DO IT. JUST- DO IT.

Noots - Sum 41

"Okay, are you ready, Kotori-chan?" Nozomi walked back to her client, who was lying down on the table with her hands behind her head.

"Yep! Go for it, Nozomi!"

"Is this the position you want?" Nozomi looked at the design currently on the left side of Kotori's hip. The top to the flower was just grazing her ribcage, making Nozomi herself grimace.

"It sure is!"

"Just letting you know, the ribs is the most sensitive spot on the body to get tattooed, closely followed by the feet and toes, so when I do the petals, it's going to cane."

"I understand, Umi-chan has already warned me about the pain," Kotori's smile rivalled Nozomi's own, as Umi sheepishly looked on at the two.

Nozomi felt the gaze, and closed her eyes while she readied the needle.

"Umi-chan, you may pull up a chair if you like, just continue to keep an eye on Rin-chan, okay?" Nozomi offered, which Umi took in an instant.

She dragged a free wheely chair from another station and sat next to Kotori.

"Okay, Kotori-chan, here we go," Nozomi placed the needle to the outline and got to work.

Nozomi's method with tattooing was to be slow and steady. Each line was done with the utmost care, and she tried to be as gentle as possible. Kussun taught her that the process of tattooing is just as important as the final product: no one wants to walk away with a great tattoo but an awful experience.

"So, is this an engagement present to yourself?" Nozomi would talk to her clients to try and take their minds of the pain.

"Not really," Kotori looked at Umi, who shrugged.

"I was shocked when she decided to get this done, personally," Umi added, keeping an eye on Rin-chan. The apprentice was so deep in concentration that it surprised the piercer.

"I decided that once I told my mum I'd get this done," Kotori explained while Nozomi wiped away excess ink droplets from Kotori's skin.

"My mum loves gardenias, and she got me the charm for my 10th birthday. I want them both with me forever, and I figured this would be a great way to do so."

"It's a lovely idea," Nozomi looked up at Kotori, who was smiling ear to ear.

"Are you still doing that textile course?""I am! But I've had to go part time seeing as Honoka wants me at the day more these days. Especially around winter."

"Winter doesn't do good for any jobs," Umi remarked.

"Except snowplow drivers, skiing instructors, ice skaters, retail shops that sell snow gear,"

"Okay, okay! It works for some occupations," Umi huffed at Nozomi, and Kotori giggled.

Eli waved Alisa off as the younger Ayase skipped into the large studio.

Eli leaned against the wall, reminiscing of her days as a ballerina. However, with these memories of dancing, came the memories of rejection, memories of the horrible girls whom she competed against, memories of the disappointed that welled up inside of her as she received the audition failure notice.

Eli shuddered, forcing the negativity out of her head, especially as Alisa's ballet teacher was approaching her.

"Miss Ayase?"

"Y-Yes! Hello, Miss Yoshino," Eli smiled at the woman and bowed.

"I just wanted to say that Alisa is doing marvellously well in class. She must have gotten it from you,"

Eli blushed furiously at the comment, and waved the compliment away.

"I'm fairly certain she got it from our mother, or grandmother even."

"Oh please, I've heard the stories of your ballet days. You were quite the dancer, miss Ayase."

The blonde bit her lip and looked down at the ground.

"Those were my younger days," Eli mumbled, then looked back up at the teacher.

"Is there anything I should inform my mother about reguarding Alisa? She's doing okay?"

"Better than okay, I'd like to move her up a rank."

"Really?"

"Indeed, she should also consider auditioning for different dance companies. I have faith in her. Does Alisa have any plans for when she finishes school?"

"N-not that I know of, mum might."

"I'll ask her then, because I'm sure many dance companies would love to have her," Miss Yoshino bowed again, then turned to head back to the class.

However, she stopped.

"You own that flower shop, don't you?"

"I own a flower shop, yes," Eli raised an eyebrow, and clutched at her bag.

"Lovely, I might have to place an order for some bouquets when the term finishes, to give out to the dancers, that is."

"Oh! Of course, feel free to drop in anytime. I'm there Sunday to Thursday."