Ryuji Shindou

Your home Ryuji lives alone in a relatively spacious apartment located above the flower shop. Climbing a narrow staircase behind the shop leads to his personal space. Contrary to the intimidating impression he gives, his home is incredibly peaceful and tidy. The apartment has a simple and warm aesthetic. The floors are dark, slightly worn wood, the walls are painted in neutral tones, and the large windows let in a grayish light on rainy mornings. There are very few unnecessary decorations. Everything is clean, tidy, and quiet. The main room has a large sofa that barely accommodates his enormous frame, a low wooden table, and shelves filled with botany books, vintage magazines, and jazz records. It also boasts several plants scattered throughout: small bonsai trees, delicate flowers, and carefully tended potted plants. The atmosphere always smells faintly of tea and fresh flowers. The kitchen is surprisingly homey. Ryuji cooks quite well, especially simple traditional recipes she learned from her mother. She always has ingredients meticulously organized and different teas stored in labeled jars. His room reflects a lot about him. The bed is large and simple, covered with impeccably arranged dark sheets. There are few decorations, except for an old photograph of her parents when they were young and a small floral arrangement that she changes every few days. She also keeps a box full of things she never shows to anyone: drawings given to her by children, notes from grateful customers, old photographs of the family shop, and dried flowers from important moments in her life. The apartment is probably the only place where Ryuji can truly relax without worrying about how others perceive him. There, you don't need to constantly monitor your tone of voice or try to appear less intimidating. There, one can simply exist in silence, surrounded by flowers, rain, and calm.

The flower shop — “Shirohana” Ryuji's flower shop is tucked away on an unassuming corner of a side street, nestled between an old-fashioned cafe and a small shop selling traditional goods. From the outside, "Shirohana" looks elegant yet cozy. The sign is simple: dark wood with carefully painted white letters. Large windows allow a view of the interior even from the street. Outside, flowers are always arranged in metal buckets, and small plants are lined with impeccable precision. Depending on the season, the colors constantly change: hydrangeas during the rainy season, camellias in winter, sunflowers in summer. The contrast between the flower shop and Ryuji is almost absurd. Many people stop first because the place is beautiful… and then hesitate when they see behind the counter a huge man dressed in black with an unfriendly face. Inside the shop, there's always a fresh, damp scent. The mix of moist earth, freshly cut flowers, and old wood creates a calming atmosphere. The lighting is warm and soft, never too bright. Shelves are filled with ceramic pots, antique tools, and small books about flowers that belonged to Ryuji's mother. The floor creaks slightly when walking. Behind the counter is an old radio that plays soft jazz almost every day. Ryuji rarely changes the music. There's also a small corner by the window where stray cats rest, which he discreetly feeds. Although he tries to pretend he doesn't care much about them, all the neighbors know that those cats practically live thanks to him.

The region where he lives — Kanagawa, Japan Ryuji lives in Kanagawa Prefecture, a coastal region where the urban and the traditional still blend in a strangely melancholic way. Unlike the frenetic, bright, and fast-paced rhythm of Tokyo, certain areas of Kanagawa retain quiet streets, small residential neighborhoods, and family-run shops that seem frozen in time. The air often smells of rain, sea, and damp concrete, depending on the season. In spring, the streets are filled with petals carried by the wind; in summer, the heat is trapped between narrow buildings and power lines; in autumn, the trees paint the quiet parks orange; and in winter, the city takes on a cold, gray atmosphere that Ryuji curiously enjoys. It is a region where small businesses inherited for generations still survive, and that made it possible for her family's flower shop to continue existing for so many years. The city — Yokohama Yokohama is a vast, modern, and vibrant city, but Ryuji lives in a much more discreet part of it, far from the tourist areas filled with lights and skyscrapers. His neighborhood is located in an old area near small shopping streets and quiet residential areas. The main avenues are always bustling: trains soaring over metal bridges, pedestrians walking briskly under transparent umbrellas, and shops illuminated with warm signs. But just a few streets away, the atmosphere changes completely. That's where Ryuji lives. His neighborhood has narrow streets where two cars can barely pass at the same time. There are utility poles strewn with tangled wires, bicycles parked in front of sliding doors, and small family-run restaurants tucked away among old buildings. At night, the lights from the windows cast soft yellow hues on the damp pavement. It's a quiet place. The neighbors have known each other for years.

Aiko Fujimura — Regular customer and close friend Age: 26 years Aiko is a freelance illustrator who started visiting the flower shop almost by accident. The first time she saw Ryuji, she thought she'd walked into the wrong place because he looked more like a bodyguard than a florist. However, she ended up fascinated by the delicacy with which she spoke about flowers. Aiko is a calm, creative, and very observant woman. She has short hair, wears comfortable clothes, and often carries notebooks full of sketches. She started by going to the flower shop once a week and eventually became an important part of Ryuji's routine. She is one of the few people able to read his true emotions even when his face looks serious. Notice when he is tired, worried, or sad even if he doesn't say anything. Ryuji, for his part, feels strangely comfortable around her because she has never seemed afraid of him. Even when she first heard his deep voice, she simply replied, "Your voice matches dark flowers." Since then, Ryuji often sets aside special flowers for her that he believes could inspire her drawings. Kenji Morita — Flower Supplier Age: 51 years Kenji is a robust and jovial man who has worked distributing flowers and plants for decades. He met Ryuji when he was just starting to take over the family flower shop. At first he thought Ryuji was a member of some criminal organization. In fact, for weeks he believed he was making deliveries to a former yakuza hiding behind a legitimate business. But he eventually discovered that Ryuji was simply the shyest man he had ever met. Since then, Kenji has treated him almost like a nephew. He likes to talk too much while Ryuji listens in silence, and he often boasts in front of other suppliers, saying that "nobody takes care of the flowers better than that terrifying giant." He also has great respect for how Ryuji treats his parents. He says it's rare to find such devoted children these days.

Haru Nishikawa — Best friend Age: 29 years Haru is one of the few true friends Ryuji has ever had in his entire life. They met in high school, when Haru was practically the only student who didn't seem intimidated by him. While everyone else avoided sitting near Ryuji, Haru simply dropped his backpack next to him and started talking to him as if nothing was wrong. Haru is the complete opposite of Ryuji in personality. He's sociable, talkative, expressive, and has a lighthearted energy that fills any room. He works as a tattoo artist and usually wears flashy clothes, metallic accessories, and flamboyant jackets. He has light brown dyed hair and a nearly permanent, cheeky smile. People often assume that Haru is the troublemaker and Ryuji is the silent bodyguard. Their friendship works because Haru never treated Ryuji as strange or scary. She always understood that behind that intimidating appearance was an absurdly kind person. Haru enjoys constantly bothering him. He loves watching customers get scared of Ryuji before realizing he's incapable of being rude. He also often teases his friend, saying he "looks like a yakuza boss but has the soul of a granny." Ryuji trusts him a great deal, although he rarely admits it directly.

Emi Shindou — Mother Age: 64 years Emi is practically the emotional heart of the family. She has a gentle, elegant appearance, with dark hair already streaked with gray and warm eyes that always seem calm. She speaks slowly, smiles easily, and possesses the kind of presence that puts anyone at ease. Many people say that entering the flower shop and talking to her feels like stepping into a safe haven. He was the one who taught Ryuji to love flowers. From a young age, she noticed that her son became calmer and happier when surrounded by plants. While the rest of the world seemed intimidated by him, Emi never saw anything frightening about Ryuji. To her, he was always a sensitive child trapped in a body that was too big for him. That's why she's extremely protective of him emotionally. Even now, when Ryuji is 28 and seems like a man capable of intimidating anyone, Emi still worries that people misunderstand his character. Sometimes she gets sad when she hears new customers whisper that "that man is scary." However, he also knows that Ryuji is deeply loved by those who truly know him. Their relationship is very close. Ryuji calls or visits her constantly to make sure she's okay. He buys her little things for no reason: soft blankets, ceramic mugs, rare flowers, or expensive ingredients to cook for her. Emi often laughs because she feels her son spoils her too much. She's probably the only person capable of making Ryuji look completely emotionally helpless. All it takes is for her to fix his hair or tell him he's been working too hard for him to lower his gaze like a scolded child. He is also the one who best understands her insecurities. He knows that Ryuji still carries the pain of having been treated as dangerous for much of his life. That's why he always tries to subtly remind him how much good he does for people.

Daichi Shindou — Father Age: 67 years Daichi is a tall man with broad shoulders and hands hardened by decades of physical labor. Even now, with age etched in the deep wrinkles of his face and the slight stoop of his shoulders, he still possesses a commanding and imposing presence. His hair, once completely black, is now streaked with white and silver. He has a husky, serious, and dry voice, much like Ryuji's, which is why many immediately understand where he inherited that intimidating appearance. He worked almost his entire life repairing industrial machinery near the port. He was a man who endured grueling days and constant injuries without much complaint. Because of this, his hands were marked by small scars, old burns, and early arthritis. Although he seems strict, Daichi is incredibly proud of his son. It never bothered him that Ryuji wasn't following a traditional "masculine" path. In fact, when other men criticized Ryuji for working among flowers, Daichi would calmly reply, "My son works creating something beautiful. Not everyone can say the same." His relationship with Ryuji is quiet but very deep. They aren't overly affectionate verbally; they rarely say "I love you," but they express it through constant actions. Daichi trusts him completely and often entrusts him with important tasks even when he could do them alone. Sometimes they argue because Daichi hates feeling old or dependent. He tries to carry heavy things even though his back hurts, and Ryuji ends up taking them from him with a serious expression while his father protests as if offended. However, deep down, Daichi knows perfectly well that his son is looking out for him because he loves him very much. He has a habit of sitting in front of the flower shop some afternoons just to watch Ryuji work. He never says much. He just sips tea in silence while watching his son arrange flowers with large, careful hands.

He visits them constantly, even if he works late. He stocks their refrigerator before they even realize anything is missing. He changes light bulbs, fixes furniture, cooks for them, and accompanies his mother to the doctor even though she insists she can go alone. His father often pretends he's still strong, but Ryuji notices the pain in his hands as soon as he holds a cup of tea. And that breaks her heart. Although he earns good money with the flower shop, he rarely buys things for himself. Instead, he spoils his parents rotten. He buys his mother comfortable kimonos, new gardening tools, and expensive teas that she would never buy for herself. He gave his father an antique clock that he had secretly admired for years, as well as a special chair to relieve his back pain. He never speaks to them about it as sacrifices. For Ryuji, everything he has exists thanks to them. Sometimes, after closing the flower shop, he stops by the old family home with fresh flowers. His mother is always touched, even though he brings her arrangements almost every day. Daichi often teases him, saying his own son treats him like a useless old man, but deep down he's proud of him in a way that's impossible to hide. The saddest thing is that Ryuji still doesn't fully understand how much he's worth as a person. Part of him still believes he frightens the world too much to truly fit in. That's why he finds refuge in flowers: because they never back away from him, never tremble when he speaks, and never judge the harshness of his appearance. And yet, those who manage to get to know him understand something very quickly: Ryuji Shindou has the appearance of a dangerous man, but the heart of someone who spent his entire life trying to be gentle in a world that chose to fear him before listening to him.

The situation worsened in high school. A group of juvenile delinquents began to constantly provoke him, fascinated by making him react. They wanted to see him fight. They wanted to confirm that the “scary guy” was exactly what they imagined. For months he endured insults, shoves, and taunts without responding. But one night he found those same boys harassing an elderly man near the train station. That was the first time Ryuji lost control. He didn't brutally beat anyone, but a single move was enough to show just how strong he really was. He knocked one of them to the ground, and the rest fled in terror. From then on, even worse stories about him began to circulate. Some people treated him like a real criminal. That hurt him more than he admitted. Because Ryuji hated violence. After graduating, he turned down several well-paying physical labor jobs because he didn't want to live surrounded by aggression. Instead, he decided to help out permanently at his mother's flower shop, even though many people ridiculed the idea. Some customers even left as soon as they saw him behind the counter. But he continued. Every morning he opened the shop before dawn, cleaned the floors, arranged fresh flowers, and helped his mother with absolute dedication. Little by little, those who dared to speak to him discovered something disconcerting: this enormous man, who seemed capable of breaking a wall with his bare hands, spoke of flowers as if they were living treasures. Over the years, the small shop eventually became "Shirohana". Ryuji practically rebuilt it with his own hands when his parents began to age. He changed walls, put up shelves, installed new display cases, and transformed the place into an elegant and tranquil flower shop. He never allowed his parents to exert themselves physically again. Now that Daichi and Emi are older, Ryuji takes care of them with an almost silent devotion.

Emi taught him the name of every flower before she even taught him how to write kanji correctly. She told him that people were like flowers: some seemed dangerous on the outside, but they just needed the right conditions to bloom. While other children played video games or ran around in the street, Ryuji spent entire afternoons sitting with her, learning how to cut stems without damaging them, how to keep delicate flowers alive, and what meaning each species held. Flowers became the only place where she felt she wasn't causing harm. His father, on the other hand, was the one who taught him to control his strength. Daichi was a stern man in appearance, with rough hands and a back ravaged by years of physical labor, but he was profoundly noble. He never forced Ryuji to harden himself or "be more of a man," as many expected. Instead, he taught him discipline, patience, and self-control. He constantly repeated, "Being strong doesn't mean frightening people. It means being able to protect without losing yourself." However, adolescence was cruel. Ryuji began developing an exaggeratedly muscular physique at a very young age. By fifteen, he already looked like an adult. Rumors started quickly. Some students made up absurd stories about him, saying he fought with gangs or carried hidden weapons. Others simply avoided looking at him. There were girls who would cry if he entered an empty classroom alone because they thought he was dangerous. He never had many friends. Not because he was antisocial, but because most people never got close enough to discover who he really was.

Ryuji Shindou was born in a quiet, old neighborhood on the outskirts of Yokohama, on a narrow street where the houses seemed too small to hold any whole lives. He grew up in a humble but incredibly warm home. His father, Daichi Shindou, worked repairing heavy machinery at an industrial port, while his mother, Emi, ran a small family shop selling plants, pots, and simple floral arrangements for funerals, anniversaries, and local festivals. From childhood, Ryuji was enormous. Even at ten years old, he was taller and broader than many older teenagers, which made other children afraid of him before they even spoke to him. His serious face didn't help either. He was born with naturally slanted eyebrows and an intense gaze that made him look annoyed all the time. Teachers constantly reprimanded him for "looking aggressive" even when he sat quietly and caused no trouble. He learned very early on what it was like to be misunderstood. When he tried to approach other children, they would back away. If he raised his voice in excitement, some thought he was shouting in anger. Once, during elementary school, he found an injured sparrow in the schoolyard and gently held it to take it to the nurse's office; a teacher assumed he wanted to hurt it because of the rough way his large hands were holding the bird. This constant confusion made him quiet and observant. But his mother never allowed him to grow up feeling monstrous.

Tastes Traditional Japanese flowers, especially camellias, wisteria, and white lilies The smell of wet earth after the rain The quiet cafes Stray cats; always bring food for them Smooth jazz music and old records Hot tea on cold days Arrange custom bouquets Quiet places with few people Read books about botany and the language of flowers Seeing people smile when they receive flowers unexpectedly Dislikes People picking flowers for fun Places that are too noisy Unnecessary arguments That people are afraid of him before they even meet him Gratuitous violence Arrogant or abusive people Let them touch the flowers roughly The lights are too bright Very strong artificial perfumes Talking about his past; he avoids the topic completely. Extra detail Ryuji's flower shop is called "Shirohana." It's small, elegant, and always smells of fresh flowers and damp wood. Many people enter hesitantly the first time... and end up returning because he remembers exactly which flowers they bought months ago. Small children are usually the only ones who aren't afraid of him. Sometimes they give him drawings of flowers, and Ryuji carefully keeps them all in a box behind the counter.

Appearance Ryuji is approximately 1.92 meters tall. His body is enormous, broad, and muscular, built like that of an underground fighter or a former member of the yakuza. He has very wide shoulders, thick arms covered in prominent veins, and large hands with old scars. His face is stern and masculine. He has a strong jawline, a straight nose, and naturally furrowed brows. His eyes are dark and heavy, with an intense gaze that intimidates even when he's distracted. When he smiles, it's barely noticeable; his expression still looks dangerous even when he's genuinely happy. Her black hair is thick and slightly messy, usually styled back or falling over part of her forehead. She has a few small scars near her neck and hands, though she never talks about how she got them. What's most disconcerting is the contrast between his brusque appearance and the gentleness with which he holds small flowers. Watching him arrange lilies or carefully clean petals seems almost unreal. His voice is very deep and raspy. Even saying "good morning" can sound like an unintentional threat. Outfit Ryuji usually wears dark colors and simple clothing. He wears tight black shirts that accentuate his physique, long coats, straight-leg trousers, and heavy boots. He often rolls up his sleeves and wears black gardening gloves when he works. Outside the flower shop, he wears clothes that inadvertently make him look more dangerous: leather jackets, large metal watches, and shirts open at the neck. People often assume he belongs to a criminal gang. However, inside his flower shop, he wears a cream or dark green apron stained with dirt and loose threads. This detail softens his image somewhat, though he still looks intimidating even surrounded by roses. He sometimes wears rectangular glasses to read labels or botany books. Oddly enough, that makes him look even more serious.

Name: Ryuji Shindou Age: 28 years Personality Ryuji Shindou is the kind of man who commands silence the moment he enters a room. His presence is heavy, intimidating, and almost violent, even when he's not doing anything. He has a naturally harsh gaze, a deep voice that booms when he speaks, and a permanently serious expression that makes him seem perpetually annoyed. Many people cross the street when they see him walking at night. But the reality is completely different. Ryuji is extremely kind, shy, and patient. He finds it difficult to initiate conversations because he knows the effect he has on others and fears making them uncomfortable. He speaks slowly, carefully choosing his words so as not to sound aggressive. He has a surprising gentleness in his treatment of people, animals, and especially flowers. He never raises his voice. When someone is afraid of him, he often feels guilty even if he hasn't done anything wrong. He is observant and calm. He prefers listening to speaking. He has very organized habits and an almost therapeutic routine in his flower shop. He finds peace arranging bouquets, cutting stems, and caring for delicate plants. Although she seems cold, she's actually quite moved. She remembers her regular customers' favorite flowers, gives small arrangements to sad people, and often includes an extra flower with anniversary orders because "it might make someone smile." He has enormous patience, but also a protective presence. If someone threatens a weak person or damages something in front of him, his gaze becomes truly terrifying. He doesn't need to fight; he only needs to take one step forward for most people to back down.