Shattered Petals

A Soft Beginning

Mei barely slept that night.

Not from sadness this time…

but from replaying Keiji’s voice in her head.

“I wanted to. You looked like you needed someone to be kind today.”

No one had ever said something like that to her—not sincerely, not gently.

Certainly not someone like Keiji.

By morning, Rina was already awake, sitting cross-legged on the bed with a grin.

“So,” she began. “Are you going to text him first?”

Mei hugged her pillow. “I don’t want to look desperate.”

“Mei,” Rina said. “A guy brought you taiyaki because you were sad. The man is already invested.”

Mei blushed and looked at her phone.

Maybe… just a small message wouldn’t hurt.

She typed slowly:

“Good morning.

Thank you for yesterday… it meant a lot.”

She hesitated before hitting send.

Within seconds, Keiji replied.

“Good morning, Mei.

I’m glad you’re feeling better.

Can I walk you to class today?”

Mei’s hand flew to her chest.

“Rina…” she whispered. “He wants to walk me to school.”

Rina squealed. “Say yes!”

Mei typed back:

“Yes. But… where should we meet?”

“Outside your gate in 20 minutes.”

Keiji, in the Daylight

Mei spent the next fifteen minutes applying powder, lip gloss, brushing her hair repeatedly, and changing her outfit three times.

Rina laughed. “He already saw you crying yesterday. Relax.”

“That’s the problem!” Mei whispered harshly.

When she finally stepped outside, Keiji was leaning against a clean, black car—his car—waiting quietly with his hands in his pockets.

He looked up when he heard her footsteps.

A slow, warm smile formed on his lips.

“Hi, Mei.”

Her heartbeat quickened. “Hi…”

“I didn’t want you walking alone today,” he said. “Not after everything.”

Mei lowered her eyes. “How did you know I wasn’t okay yesterday?”

He hesitated, then answered honestly.

“I’ve seen you around for months. You always walk like you’re carrying something you don’t want to share. Yesterday… it looked heavier.”

Mei blinked.

“You noticed… all that?”

“Yes,” he said softly. “I notice you.”

Her stomach fluttered.

He notices me.

The Walk to Campus

As they walked along the quiet street, the morning breeze lifting their hair, Keiji kept a respectful distance—but his attention stayed on her, steady and grounding.

“Can I ask something?” he said gently.

“Sure.”

“Who hurt you yesterday?”

Mei swallowed.

“Hana,” she whispered. “She… said some things.”

“Bad things?”

“Very.”

He nodded slowly. “Do you want to tell me?”

“I… I don’t know if you want to hear it. It’s messy.”

“Then I’ll listen messily,” he said with a small smile. “However it comes out.”

Mei felt her chest warm. She found herself talking—carefully at first, then pouring out more than she expected. Not every detail… but enough.

Keiji listened. Really listened.

No interruptions.

No judgment.

Just presence.

When she finished, he looked at her with a seriousness she hadn’t seen before.

“Mei,” he said softly, “none of that was your fault. Not your body. Not your feelings. Not the way they treated you.”

She looked away, blinking fast.

Keiji’s voice lowered even further:

“And if anyone makes you feel small again… tell me.”

Her breath caught. “Why?”

“Because I don’t like seeing people hurt you,” he said.

“And because someone should protect you… the way they didn’t.”

Mei’s cheeks heated, her steps slowing.

“Keiji…”

He smiled a little. “Don’t worry. I’m not pushing you. Just… don’t hold everything alone anymore, okay?”

Mei nodded slowly. “Okay.”

When They Reached Campus

Students were rushing around, chatting loudly, the morning sun catching on backpacks and bicycles.

But a few heads turned.

Because Keiji stood out.

He looked expensive.

Charming.

Confident.

And he was walking beside Mei.

A few whispers floated around them.

“Who’s that guy with her?”

“He looks like he comes from money.”

“He’s handsome…”

Mei blushed, feeling awkward.

Keiji leaned slightly toward her. “Ignore them.”

“But—”

“No,” he said gently. “You deserve to be walked by someone who values you. Let them stare.”

Her heart thudded.

As they reached her department building, Keiji paused.

“Can I see you again after class?” he asked.

“Yes,” she said immediately—too fast, too eager.

Keiji laughed quietly. “Great. I’ll text you.”

Before he left, he hesitated.

Then, with a soft expression, he brought his hand up briefly—as if he wanted to tuck a strand of her hair back—but stopped himself.

“See you later, Mei.”

“See… see you later,” she whispered.

He turned and walked away, sunlight catching the sharp line of his jaw, the wind tugging his shirt.

Mei stood frozen.

Rina had been right.

Something was beginning.

Something warm.

Something real.

Something she never expected to find right after heartbreak.

A soft beginning…

with the richest boy she had ever met.

Mei’s classes passed in a blur.

She tried to focus, but her mind kept slipping back to Keiji—

his calm voice, the way he walked beside her, the way he noticed her pain without her saying a word.

When the lecturer dismissed them, Rina rushed to her seat immediately.

“So?” she whispered loudly. “Did he text you? Is he outside? Does he want to buy you lunch? Did he—”

“Rina,” Mei hissed. “Calm down!”

Rina leaned closer, smirking. “But you like him.”

“I… don’t know him well,” Mei murmured, though her smile betrayed her.

Before Rina could reply, Mei’s phone buzzed.

Keiji: “I’m waiting near the East Gate. No rush.”

Rina squealed internally and grabbed Mei’s arm. “Go!”

Meeting Keiji Again

Keiji stood near the gate, leaning against a railing as a few students stared—mostly girls whispering under their breath.

Mei felt nerves twist in her stomach.

What if he realized she wasn’t as pretty as other girls?

What if she disappointed him?

But when he saw her, his entire expression softened, like he’d been waiting only for her.

“There you are,” he said warmly. “Ready to go?”

Mei nodded shyly.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“I thought you might want fresh air,” Keiji said. “There’s a quiet tea shop nearby.”

Her heart fluttered. “That sounds nice.”

As they walked, Mei noticed how naturally his steps matched hers—slow, patient, unhurried. Like he adjusted to her pace without thinking about it.

At the Tea House

The place smelled like honey and roasted tea leaves. Soft music played. Keiji chose a booth by the window, away from other customers.

He waited for Mei to order first.

He listened as she spoke.

He watched her like her words mattered.

And Mei… felt seen.

Not because she was trying.

Not because she was pretending.

Just because she was Mei.

“So,” Keiji said, sipping his drink, “you seem lighter today.”

“I think it’s because…” she paused, embarrassed.

“Because?”

“…you showed up,” Mei whispered.

Keiji’s fingers froze around his cup.

He met her eyes.

“I’m glad,” he said softly. “I want you to feel safe with me.”

Mei swallowed, emotions rising unexpectedly.

“You don’t even know me well.”

“I know enough to see the way you shrink yourself,” Keiji said gently. “I’d like to be someone who helps you unlearn that.”

Her breath caught.

But the Outside World Wasn’t Quiet

As they walked back toward campus, Mei noticed a familiar figure ahead.

Suki.

Her posture stiffened immediately.

Suki saw them—then paused, eyes widening as she took in the sight of Mei walking beside a sophisticated, handsome man.

Then Suki’s expression shifted.

Confusion.

Shock.

Then something darker—disbelief mixed with irritation.

“Mei,” she called out, her tone overly bright. “Wow! Who’s your… friend?”

Before Mei could speak, Keiji stepped forward politely.

“Keiji Sakamoto,” he said. “Nice to meet you.”

Suki blinked rapidly—recognizing the surname.

Everyone in the town did.

The Sakamoto family was wealthy. Influential. Untouchable.

“You’re with Mei?” Suki asked, forcing a smile.

Mei felt her stomach twist.

Keiji, however, seemed unbothered. “Yes. Why?”

“Oh nothing,” Suki said too quickly.

“Nothing at all. Just… surprising.”

Keiji’s eyes sharpened slightly.

Mei felt the air tighten.

“I’ll walk Mei home,” Keiji said calmly.

Suki’s eyebrows rose. “That’s… nice of you.”

Her tone wasn’t friendly.

When Keiji and Mei walked past her, Suki watched them with a calculating expression—one Mei had seen before on Hana.

Rina had it too sometimes.

It wasn’t admiration.

It was envy mixed with disbelief.

How dare you have something we don’t?

How dare you be chosen?

How dare you be noticed?

Mei felt her heart sink.

Keiji noticed her shoulders tense.

“Someone you know?” he asked.

“Yes,” Mei whispered. “Too well.”

He didn’t press further.

The Message Arrives

Later that night, after Mei returned home, her phone buzzed repeatedly.

A group chat message.

Hana: “Suki said you were walking around campus with some rich guy? Seriously?”

Rina: “Mei, who is he? Why didn’t you tell us?”

Mei’s heart dropped.

And then Hana sent:

“So that’s why you acted all heartbroken? You were already looking for a replacement?”

Mei’s hands shook with anger.

She typed back slowly:

Mei: “Keiji isn’t a replacement. He’s someone who treats me with respect. Something none of you did.”

The chat instantly went silent.

Mei put her phone down, her chest tight.

Meanwhile, Keiji…

Keiji sat in his room, staring at Mei’s contact name.

He replayed the way she smiled when he complimented her.

The way she held her cup carefully with both hands.

The way her voice shook when she spoke about past pain.

He leaned back in his chair, brows furrowing slightly.

He wanted to protect her.

Deeply. Instinctively.

But he also sensed something else.

The people hurting her weren’t done yet.

And Keiji Sakamoto was not the type to stay passive when someone he cared about was being targeted.

He picked up his phone.

Keiji: “Mei, are you okay?”

He waited.

Mei’s reply came quickly:

Mei: “I will be… now that you texted.”

A small smile formed on Keiji’s lips.

“Good,” he whispered.

“Because I’m not going anywhere.”