At least someone was able to get the flowers intact. By the time Clara wiggles the flowers out all by herself, the stems were half bent and leaves crumpled by her efforts. Oh phooey.

Not that she concentrates on them a lot. Heiji's question about childrearing takes her by surprise, evident by how the flowers phase through her hand and fall harmlessly to the grassy patch. She doesn't notice it because she's looking at him now, brow furrowed and frown prominent on her face. "Oh? Um-- Why yes! I did."

"Two boys," she explains, "and they were the rowdiest things when growing up. Especially when puberty kicked in. Why do you ask?"