Shortly after registering, I received several “likes.” I also sent “likes” in response to some of them. As a result, we matched, and a private messaging thread began between us.
While exchanging messages, I could infer the personality of the other person from the timing of their responses and their choice of words. Often, some would suddenly stop replying, or I would feel uncomfortable and decide not to respond anymore.
The first person I actually met was a male video creator. His messages were filled with a polite self-introduction and the reasons for his “like.” I was impressed. We met up near my closest station and spent around two hours chatting in a nearby café. He was skilled at drawing manga illustrations and showed me a picture he drew of Luffy, the protagonist from “ONE PIECE.” It was surprisingly well done. In our conversation, we discussed topics such as the irregular working hours in the television industry and how workplace romances can become awkward if they end. We exchanged LINE contacts afterward.
After a while of chatting, the topic came up that I watch movies using a projector. He then mentioned, “I’d like to visit your house, Ryoko.” To which I replied, “Only my boyfriend is allowed in my house.” After that, I didn’t hear from him anymore.
The next person I met was a bank employee, the same age as me. He also arranged to meet near my station at a café. He had played rugby during his student days, and he said that experience had been beneficial during his job hunting. Being of the same generation, we found many points in common. Despite having a job at a major company, he also invested in real estate and shared various stories about it. We exchanged LINE contacts after our café chat, but there was no follow-up communication.
The third person I met was a tall company employee who looked good in glasses. We met at a bar in the evening. He spoke about his previous marriage and his current life. I was a bit skeptical, wondering if he really was single, but his reasons for the divorce were clear, so I believed he was. He emotionally shared how challenging his past marriage had been, perhaps influenced by alcohol.
After we parted ways, he messaged me saying he wanted to meet again. So, we did – we had tea at a local café and went window shopping at nearby stores like Muji. It was enjoyable, and I thought we might meet a third time. However, a few days later, he informed me that he started dating another woman, and that was the last I heard from him.
In summary, none of these encounters led to a romantic relationship, but meeting various people was a valuable experience for me.
Also, sometimes the topic of stock trading would come up during these dates. Conversations with men who traded stocks often revolved around that, and men who didn’t sometimes viewed me with skepticism. Some tried to act superior, so eventually, I began avoiding the topic of stocks.
