Chapter 37 A Date is About Aligning Values

A Date is About Aligning Values

“Hey, Kanade. Is a date really just about relaxing? For me, a date is about ‘making her happy, seeing her smile, and finding the motivation to keep trying.’ Isn’t it supposed to be about sharing enjoyable moments together?”

“Ugh, there’s so much I want to critique! But you’re not entirely wrong… It’s just, hearing that from Ariga-cchi’s mouth feels so weird~!”

“Uh… Are you okay, Kanade?”

I glanced at her as she held her head, groaning dramatically.

She shrugged her shoulders in mock exasperation when she saw my reaction.

“Hey, just to check—maybe this is just my bias, but…”

“Yeah?”

“You didn’t have a girlfriend in high school, did you, Ariga-cchi?”

“Well, I was always studying. Sad but true—I didn’t. The only real relationship I’ve had was with my ex-wife.”

“Hmm… I see. That explains a lot.”

Kanade paused, seemingly processing this, before nodding with a knowing expression.

Then, out of nowhere, she jabbed her finger toward my nose, her eyes brimming with resolve.

The suddenness of it made me flinch backward on reflex.

“Alright, for today’s date, I need you to put all those usual ideas of yours on hold!”

“On hold? What do you mean?”

“I mean, I don’t want you overdoing it or pushing yourself too hard—it’ll just make me worry! A date is supposed to be something fun, free from worries. It’s a special day where you go out, relax, and let both your heart and body enjoy themselves. Isn’t that what a date should be?”

She added with a slightly bashful smile, “Well, at least, that’s how I imagine it.”

Seeing her expression stirred something inside me.

Quietly, I closed the rental car reservation page on my phone.

“You’re not wrong that some people might find joy in their partner thinking about ‘what kind of present to give… how to surprise them.’ But that kind of thing doesn’t always work in the long run, does it? Eventually, it gets old. And when it does, people start wanting more extravagant things. Don’t you think, Ariga-cchi?”

“…Yeah, you’re right. I can’t deny that.”

I’d taken my ex-wife to places she liked, bought her things she wanted, and catered to her love for flashy displays…

At first, she’d been thrilled. But over time, her reactions dulled.

Even as I kept trying to please her, the cost kept rising, and I started sacrificing everything else in my life.

Now, I can’t even understand why I went that far.

But whenever I hear the word “date,” I can’t help but remember those intense memories.

Kanade must have noticed, having been around me all this time.

“You know, I think a date is more than just having fun—it’s about ‘aligning values,’ too.”

“Aligning values?”

“Yeah. This is just my take, but I think a date is about spending enjoyable moments together while figuring out if your values align. That’s why people date before getting into a relationship, continue to date after becoming a couple, and even after getting married. It’s something essential to building a relationship.”

“Values, huh… If they don’t align, it can make things really tough. I’ve experienced that firsthand—realizing things too late or noticing things after marriage that weren’t apparent while dating.”

“It’s tricky, isn’t it…”

“Yeah.”

My ex-wife’s drastic change—or maybe I’d just been too blinded by love to see the signs…

Thinking back, we clashed on so many things.

How we spent money, our favorite foods, what we watched on TV… the list goes on.

I kept compromising, thinking it was the right thing to do to avoid conflict.

I didn’t want her to dislike me.

I didn’t want the relationship to fall apart…

But it fell apart anyway—and Kanade made me realize that.

As I mulled over these thoughts, Kanade smiled gently at me.

“I’ve said a lot, but in the end, what matters is ‘mutual care.’ It can’t be one-sided—it only works if both people are looking out for each other, right?”

“So, caring about each other, huh…”

“Exactly! It sounds simple, but it’s an eternal challenge. If only one person is satisfied, that’s not a date—it’s just spoiling someone. It’s no different from throwing money at an idol.”

“Spoiling someone, huh… Haaah…”

I let out a deep sigh, slumping my shoulders.

…Spoiling someone.

That phrase echoed repeatedly in my mind.

She’s right, but realizing it now only filled me with regret.

Thinking about all the money I’d wasted brought another sigh out of me.

“Hey, don’t get so down~! I know I was a little harsh, but…”

“…My entire way of thinking has just been flipped upside down. How can I not be down?”

“Ah, but look! The fact that it crumbled so easily means you already had doubts, right, Ariga-cchi? Now that it’s resolved, isn’t that a good thing?”

“I guess so… But there’s still a lot I don’t feel settled about.”

Changing deeply ingrained beliefs isn’t easy.

This new perspective was challenging my entire foundation, making me second-guess myself.

“Hey, Ariga-cchi. I know you’re struggling, but for now, why not just enjoy spending time with me today? Think about everything else afterward.”

“Think about it later, huh…”

“Yep! Once you see ‘this kind of date is possible,’ your thoughts will naturally settle. Comparing different experiences makes things clearer, right? There’s no need to rush—take your time figuring it out.”

“Is it really okay to take it so easy?”

“Of course!”

She replied brightly, her carefree laugh filling the air.

Puffing out her chest proudly, she looked like she was enjoying herself immensely.

“That’s why you can leave everything to me today! That’s the reason I had us start at your place.”

“Wait, really?”

“Yep! Knowing you, I figured you’d waste money on some elaborate surprise. I was worried you’d overspend, so I decided to prevent that by starting here.”

“Haha… Your prediction was spot on—I can’t even argue.”

“Fufufu~. I know you like the back of my hand, Ariga-cchi.”

“…Are you some kind of stalker?”

“No way! Call it ‘strong love,’ okay!?”

“Haha, don’t say that yourself.”

“What’s the big deal~?”

“If you say it too much, it’ll lose its meaning, you know.”

“I know, but if I don’t say it, how else will you understand?”

Her serious gaze made me chuckle despite myself.

Back in high school, I’d brushed off Kanade’s affection as overly friendly or just part of the student-teacher dynamic.

But seeing her now, I felt both embarrassed and oddly happy.

When our eyes met, we both burst out laughing.

“Alright, let’s go, Ariga-cchi!”

“Yeah.”

And so, our Kanade-led date began.