Setting aside the feelings I currently harbored for Hayashi, I reminded myself of today's purpose. This was to be the final memory we would share. It would be a waste to let my current mood leave even this half-finished.
"Hayashi, so where are we going today?"
By rights, a man was supposed to escort his date. It was a fixed idea, a compulsion, and a point of pride.
Yet, I asked her as if it were the most natural thing in the world. It all came down to my own lack of life experience. I simply didn't know the kind of places a woman like Hayashi would enjoy.
...I’d spoken as though I knew where women other than her would like to go, but I didn't know those, either.
At any rate, I didn't know a single spot that would entertain her. More than anything, the primary objective of today’s date was to help Hayashi relax and recover. I figured the quickest way was to swallow my pride and ask her where she wanted to go.
"True. Is there anywhere you want to go?" she asked.
"Don't worry about me. We should go wherever you want."
"That's not how it works. Today is a date for both of us. There's no point unless we both enjoy it."
She was right; it was a perfectly sound argument. Unfortunately, being someone with few material desires, there wasn't anywhere I particularly wanted to visit.
"...You have that 'there's nowhere I want to go' look on your face."
"Sharp. You're exactly right."
"Why do you look so smug about it? I don't get you."
"I know."
I gave a wry smile.
"...Well, looking at that tidy room of yours, I can tell there's nothing you're hurting for right now."
"That's right. So, I think we should go buy whatever you want. I'll pay, okay?"
"Why?"
"Why? Because... I've heard that on a date, a man just needs to keep his wallet open."
"Huh? Why is this turning into you paying for everything? We split the bill for meals. We buy what we want with our own money. Isn't that common sense? It's because you pay the price with your own money that you feel even happier when you finally get what you wanted."
"Is that how it works?"
"...That's how it works."
Seeing the exasperated look on her face, I scratched my head. I didn't know if her logic applied to women in general, but now that she’d set her mind to it, she likely wouldn't let me pay for her.
...Looking at her now, I was struck by how she was the polar opposite of "The Queen" she had been in High School—a girl who expected everything to be handed to her. Come to think of it, she had always been strong-willed.
"...Then, is there anything you want to eat?"
"Something I want to eat?"
I fell into thought. Recently, I hadn't had any special cravings.
"Then, what do you like?"
"Beef Tongue."
"How sophisticated. You're like an old man."
Did eating Beef Tongue make someone an old man? It tasted great. I used to like Kalbi, but around High School, the heavy grease started getting to me. That was when I first discovered Beef Tongue. The texture, the light flavor—it suited my tastes perfectly.
"...Then let's go to a specialty Beef Tongue restaurant."
"Oh, that sounds good."
When it came to Beef Tongue, Miyagi was the place to be. I’d heard that specialty Miyagi Beef Tongue shops were popping up all over Tokyo lately. Tororo Rice and Beef Tongue—now that she’d mentioned it, I suddenly had a craving for it.
"...Then it's settled."
Hayashi looked satisfied.
"Let's go to Yokohama."
"Yokohama?"
"Yeah. There are Beef Tongue restaurants there, and we can do some shopping in the area."
"...Shopping, huh?"
I didn't mind tagging along, but I really didn't have anything I wanted.
"...Why don't you look at cleaning tools or something?"
"Oh! That's it."
I certainly had a reputation for being a cleaning fanatic. These days, even general stores carried convenient gadgets for tidying up; it wouldn't be bad to take a look.
"...Is that okay with you, though?"
"What is?"
"Since we started talking, it's only been about places I want to go. Don't you have anywhere you want to visit?"
"...Don't worry about me," Hayashi stated flatly. "Because today is a date to show my gratitude to you for everything you've done this past month."
"...We have a difference of opinion, then."
"What do you mean?"
"I accepted the invitation thinking it was a date to cheer you up."
I didn't say anything more than that, but I wanted to convey my intention: I didn't plan on letting the date proceed exactly as she’d arranged it.
"...But actually, I don't really have anything I want in particular, either."
"There must be things you need to prepare for your new life."
"...I've got that sorted out, mostly."
"You do?"
If that was the case, then perhaps Hayashi really didn't have any material desires either. Despite her appearance, she wasn't someone who cared much for "things."
"...Well, there's no point arguing about it here. Let's figure it out once we get there."
"Yeah. That's a good idea."
The details weren't fully settled, but we began walking toward the nearest station.