SCARS & PETALS

"The world does not pause for pain, yet in its relentless march, it of ers small mercies—petals drifting on soft breezes, sunlight weaving through their fragile descent, and the quiet resilience of a heart that, like a flower, dares to bloom again even after its petals have been torn and scattered by the storm."

Tsukiko Takamura had always carried an air of quiet grace, drawing attention without ever seeking it.

Soft-spoken yet determined, she possessed a resilience that stemmed from a childhood shaped by loss.

Orphaned young, she was raised by her loving grandmother in a small, peaceful home on the outskirts of the city.

Her grandmother's wisdom and warmth became the foundation of Tsukiko's strength, guiding her through life's hardships.

Flowers were her solace—not just for their beauty, but for their resilience. She spent countless hours in a small flower shop after school, tending to delicate blooms and finding comfort in their quiet endurance. But Tsukiko's ambitions stretched beyond arranging petals; she dreamed of becoming a scientist, uncovering the hidden potential of plants to help the world.

Now, years later, Tsukiko had transformed into an entirely dif erent figure. No longer the shy, soft-spoken girl who once greeted customers with a gentle smile, she now led Petals.Co's Advanced Biotechnology Division—a position that came with prestige and fear in equal measure.

Her colleagues saw her as a perfectionist, a woman of few words whose sharp gaze could silence a room.

The warmth she once carried so easily had been buried beneath layers of discipline, her once-open heart guarded by the weight of her past.

Yet, despite the walls she had built around herself, the essence of the girl who once found solace in flowers remained.

Somewhere beneath the cold exterior was the same Tsukiko—one who still believed

in the quiet strength of resilience, even as she struggled to let it bloom again within herself.