After the movie ended, the two of them walked out of the theater.
"It's getting late. Let's have dinner before we go back," Senichi suggested with a smile.
"Sure, but I'm not very hungry," Ayako looked at Senichi and smiled. "Don't order too much food later. I won't be able to eat it all."
"In that case, why don't we go to a snack street? We can take a walk and try different foods," Senichi proposed after giving it some thought.
"If that's the case, I know a place I'd like to go," Ayako nodded, her face filled with nostalgia. "I haven't been there for a long time since university. I miss it."
It was clear that Ayako really liked that place, and in this aspect, she and her sister were similar. They didn't have any airs of being wealthy and never believed themselves superior to others.
That was one of the things Senichi really liked about Ayako. Even if she were a rich heiress, she was still humble.
Has he become proud of her?
Ahem, let's get back on track.
Since Ayako had a place she wanted to go, they naturally set off.
Led by Ayako, the two of them quickly took the subway and arrived at Shinjuku District. And this place was their destination for today.
Around Ome Street, located at the west exit of Shinjuku Station, there was a place called "Omoide Yokocho."
The so-called "yokocho" actually meant alleys and narrow streets.
But in this alley, there were large and small izakaya pubs and various kinds of snacks, brimming with a lively atmosphere.
This place was full of a sense of the Showa-era. Stepping into the alley, it felt like going back to the Showa era of the 1960s.
The famous setting for the later well-known "Midnight Diner" was actually here.
Walking into the alley, you could feel that it was completely different from the coldness of Tokyo, with a strong scent of fireworks, as if you had arrived in another place.
People were coming and going, groups of three or five entering the restaurants, creating a lively scene.
Under Ayako's guidance, the first thing they tasted was the grilled chicken skewers commonly found in izakaya pubs.
Instead of choosing to sit in a shop, they only ordered six skewers, paid for them after they were grilled, and walked along the street while eating.
The savory taste, paired with tender and juicy chicken, along with the sauce prepared by the shop, released a rich flavor in their mouths.
Next was a famous eel restaurant with over forty years of history. Senichi truly enjoyed eating the grilled eel skewers.
The beloved eel rice that Genta most enjoyed was just a few large pieces of eel placed on top of the rice, and the "three bites of eel rice" method was used to eat it.
Although it had a unique taste when paired with white rice, it didn't compare to the satisfaction of eating grilled eel skewers.
Many friends who have had the experience of eating a rice bowl with toppings would understand.
It's supposed to be a rice bowl with toppings, but the meat, like chicken cutlet, that was added on top was too little and was eaten up quickly, leaving only the white rice in the end.
The feeling of dissatisfaction ran deep. Eating grilled eel skewers at this moment was so enjoyable because they could eat without any worries!
Genta, who loved eel, would probably be drool at this scene.
They bought two cups of juice and strolled leisurely along the street. Finally, they entered a seafood barbecue restaurant and took a seat.
"Senichi-kun, do you like this place a lot?"
Ayako, acting as the "tour guide," skillfully ordered the dishes. Seeing Senichi looking excited after coming to "Omoide Yokocho," she couldn't help but ask with a smile.
"Ah, I'm quite interested in old alleys like this," Senichi smiled. "After all, when I was in school, I was always focused on studying and didn't have much time for entertainment. But this place has a strong sense of time, and every place we visit feels fascinating."
Of course, that was just one aspect. Another reason was that Senichi hadn't lived in a Japanese city in his previous life.
So when he came here, everything before his eyes was new, and every day felt like a new adventure.
"In that case, how about meeting sumo wrestlers?" Ayako suggested after thinking for a moment. "My mom wanted me to attend a banquet before, but I turned it down. She might have invited sumo wrestlers to entertain the guests."
"Now, no one in my family is willing to attend the banquet, so I guess it will be postponed if no one goes. If you're interested, I can accompany you."
"Sumo wrestlers?" Senichi thought for a moment and felt that it would be nice to witness the unique, big-bodied men in Japan.
Actually, the origin of sumo was a sport called "Jiao Di" during the Spring and Autumn period to the Qin and Han dynasties, and it was later transmitted from the Tang Dynasty to Japan.
But now, it has basically lost its development space in its home country and has instead become a national treasure of Japan after continuous localization.
"Sumo wrestlers" have become representative symbols like "samurai."
"Well then, I'll trouble you. I'm quite interested in meeting sumo wrestlers," Senichi chuckled. "Please help me get an autograph for my father. He should be very happy."
That wasn't an exaggeration. Sumo was regarded as the "national sport" in Japan, and the social status of sumo wrestlers in Japan was even higher than that of superstars. Many female celebrities wanted to marry sumo wrestlers.
Many people even consider it an honor to receive a postcard blessing from a sumo wrestler when they move.
"It's nothing. I'm happy just to be with you." Ayako said softly, feeling a bit shy.
This was Ayako's first time gathering the courage to take the initiative and reveal her feelings. Unfortunately, her voice was too low, and combined with the noise in the restaurant, Senichi couldn't hear her clearly.
"What did you just say?" Senichi asked again, not catching what she said.
"It's nothing." Faced with Senichi's question, Ayako waved her hand in a hurry and changed the topic. "I'll check the banquet schedule later and contact you in advance."
"Alright." Senichi nodded and handed the grilled seafood to Ayako. "Eat it quickly, it won't taste good when it cools down."
"Okay."
...
"I had a great day today. See you at the banquet."
"Yeah, be careful on your way back." Senichi smiled and bid farewell. "See you next time."
"Yeah, See you next time." Ayako blushed and withdrew her right hand from Senichi's warm palm, shyly waving goodbye.
After dinner, their first date at this place came to an end. They didn't plan to continue the evening further.
The current progress was just right, and there was already some substantial development between the two of them.
After all, it was their first date. Excessive actions were unnecessary, and the societal atmosphere in this era wasn't like in his past life, where things would quickly become passionate after just two or three days. Everyone treated relationships more seriously.
Senichi also enjoyed this gradual and subtle increase in affection. In his previous life, he didn't like fast-paced relationships and hoped to meet a lover with whom he could gradually build a relationship. Unfortunately, in his previous life, things moved too quickly, and nobody had the time for that.
But he didn't expect to encounter someone he couldn't meet in his previous life in this lifetime. Thinking about this, his mood couldn't help but improve.