Slurping his soba that was mixed with the salty, savory broth that had a hint of umami, Nifuji took the eggplant tempura, which he placed on the bowl, making the batter soft and wet before lightly biting it.
As he chewed his food, he made a fist and put it in front of his mouth as he thought that the restaurant where his junior, Eri, had wanted to visit was good, but while he enjoyed his food, it didn't seem to be the case with her.
"What's wrong? Do you want my eggplant, too?"
"...it sounds strange when you say that."
"Here, open your mouth."
He thought to tease her, holding his wet eggplant near her small, sweet lips that were neatly covered in the mauve pink color of lipstick.
The pink color might appear a gaudy color, but this one was natural, blended well with her lips well, natural, and made her lips moist and alluring.
Still, Eri just remained silent, blank, with an emotionless gaze as she kept staring at him for a while, before lightly tucking her stray hair behind her ear and opening her lips as she licked the tip of his large eggplant with her wet tongue slightly before she took a light bite, but as it was too big, she had to open her mouth even wider before she covered her lips with her palm as she chewed it.
"..."
"...how was it?"
Nifuji never expected that she would really take a bite of his large, tempura eggplant.
"Well... It's crispy and nice."
"Right? There isn't much oil either."
While he enjoyed his food, it didn't seem to be the case with Eri. "That's true, but, Senpai..."
"Yes?"
"Are you really going to Goukon later, Senpai?"
Goukon, aka a dating party.
While it may be an unfamiliar event in some places, it is extremely common in this country. Everyone wished to be together with others, date, and have someone to love them, but unfortunately, as they were all in society and had to work, their time to meet others was limited.
If there was someone with potential in their office, it might be fine, but as many of those who had potential stock were all taken, they could only search in another place, and with "Goukon," aka a "dating party," it was possible.
A man and a woman knew each other, then they called their friends and invited them to gather together in a certain place, where they drank, ate, and got to know each other.
If they were interested, they would move on, getting deeper, and might even date with the purpose of marrying.
If they weren't interested, then they would just move on.
So, was it a good event?
Naturally, especially for single men and single women who wish to date or marry someone.
Still, did it mean that Nifuji had an interest in dating someone?
He didn't have much of an interest, but—
"I will."
"Why?!"
"What do you mean, why? Is it weird of me to wish to get a girlfriend?"
He didn't really have an interest in dating, but if he found someone that he suited to, then why not, right?
"I am not young anymore, and my career is stable enough, so I think that it is a good chance to start to date someone."
As he said so, he took a bite of the tempura eggplant as he continued to eat his soba noodles.
Yet, while his expression was as blank as ever, wondering what kind of women would join the group date later at night, on the other hand, Eri blushed, puffed her cheeks, as she cursed him inwardly!
Scumbag!
How could this bastard play with her heart?!
After being so close for so long, and even toyed with her heart by feeding her play and even took her first indirect kiss with a man, how could he so callously tell that he would join the group date and date someone else!
What about her?!
Did he not even think to date her?!
"...are you looking for an older woman, Senpai?"
"No."
"Then, do you like the younger one? Also, by the way, how old are you? 28? 29?"
"I am 27."
"That's still young!"
"I am about to become 30."
In other countries, many had become parents when they were 18 or even younger, yet here he was still single.
Still, with how he was before, he couldn't say that he was ready, as there were many things that he had to watch out for, especially when he had never thought he would become a salaryman in his new life, but it was different now.
He had a system, after all.
"That's still young!"
When Eri said those words, Nifuji couldn't help but look at her helplessly.
Thirty.
When he was twenty, he had never thought of something far away, but as he got closer to thirty, he couldn't help but feel a certain anxiety, like how a normal person was, such as wondering when they would marry, their career, what they had achieved, or wondering whether he would stay how he was, stuck forever.
It was like his head had become trash for all of the worries that kept emerging in his head.
Still, if there was something fortunate, it was that his job was good, his company was stable, and he also got a system, which made his life as good as bright.
Lastly, it was also fortunate that he was a guy, since unlike a woman, who had societal pressure and the desire for a stable family, fear of being left alone, or a biological "clock" to have children.
Yup, being a woman was more troublesome, he thought, and he was glad that he was a guy.
Nevertheless, even if many had married before thirty, it had also become extremely normal to marry past thirty, especially with the current economic conditions, and it wasn't cheap to have children.
However, the worry of marriage, future, and many other aside, it would be unfortunate not to try to be someone just because of those reasons when being with someone would color the life brightly, and because of that—
"Then, date me, Senpai."
"....."
Nifuji blinked his eyes, as he was startled by the sudden confession from his junior, yet he could tell that she wasn't joking, especially with how nervous she was, clutching her skirt as she lowered her head and didn't dare to look at him after she confessed to him.
Yet—
"I don't mind."
"Really?!"
Eri quickly looked up in excitement as she heard his answer.
"Yes."
His beautiful junior confessed to him, so why should he refuse?
But—
"I don't mind, but..."
"But..."
As she noticed his confusion and doubt, urging him to continue with his words, he asked, "Aren't you more interested in a woman than a man?"
"..."
At that moment, everything stood still and quiet, and only the slurping noodle sounds of the guests and busy chefs could be heard as Eri stared dumbfoundedly at him.
"Eh?"