I
knock on Natsume's front door and wait. I'm not sure what to expect
when she opens the door. I know this is our first date, but Natsume
has never struck me as the type to get dressed up to the nines, to
matter what the occasion. Sure enough, when she answers the door
she's wearing a plain black T-shirt and jeans. I'm guessing this is
as dressed up as she gets, and to be honest, it makes me feel a
little silly for having worn a suit. This feeling is compounded a
moment later when Natsume suddenly bursts out laughing.
“You're
seriously wearing the suit?!” she exclaims. “I'm sorry, I didn't
realize we were going to the opera or something!”
I
scowl slightly. “We're not going to the opera,” I say. “We're
just going on a normal date to this restaurant I know, and I figured
that since it's our first date, I should dress the part.” [AUTHOR
NOTE: Should I make wearing the suit a player option?]
“You're
dressing for the wrong part!” says Natsume. “You look like
you're off to another match! Come on, it's a date, for crying
out loud! You should loosen up, have a little fun!”
“Well,
that was the plan,” I say. “I just-”
“Oh,
relax!” says Natsume. “Look, just… gimme your jacket and tie.”
“What?”
Natsume
holds out her hand. “Come on, hand 'em over!” she says. “You'll
look better without 'em, trust me.”
If
the alternative is going home and changing, then I guess this is the
better option. I take off my suit jacket and tie, as requested, and
hand them over to Natsume. She then carelessly flings the garments
over her shoulder into the hallway behind her, before slamming the
front door shut and locking it behind her. “Alright,” she says.
“Lead the way.”
“I've
parked just over here,” I say, as I start to lead Natsume towards
my car.
“We're
taking your car?” she says. “Alright. What kinda car you drive? I
bet it's something really boring.” She points at a white Toyota
Prius parked on the pavement nearby. “Please tell me it's not the
Prius.”
“It's
not the Prius,” I tell her. “It's the one behind it.”
Natsume
seems surprised to see the red Toyota MR2 parked behind the Prius. As
I fish out my keys, her expression changes, and I can tell she's
impressed by it. “I guess I had you pegged wrong,” she remarks.
“Maybe you do have some style.”
“Of
course I do,” I say. “I wore the suit, didn't I?” I unlock the
car and climb into the driver's seat, and Natsume scoffs at my remark
as she opens the passenger-side door.
“So,
how far is it to the restaurant?” asks Natsume, as she climbs into
the passenger's seat.
“Not
that far,” I reply. “Maybe ten minutes.”
“Alright
then,” says Natsume. “That gives us a little time to chat before
we get there. You know, get to know each other better.”
“Isn't
that what the date is for?” I ask.
“Uhh,
news flash, genius: you're already on the date,” said
Natsume. “And to be honest, you've been pretty shaky so far.”
This
isn't good. We're not even at the restaurant and already I'm screwing
things up. “Sorry,” I say as I pull away “I guess I'm a little
out of practice. I haven't really dated since high school.”
Natsume
just laughs it off. “Relax,” she says. “Your problem is, you're
trying too hard. I mean, look at me. Do I look like the kinda girl
who wants to be impressed by flashy suits and posh restaurants and
stuff like that? Naaah. I'd be happy enough if you just took me to
some dingy bar somewhere and we had a few beers and played pool. The
important thing is that we have fun on this date. If a date's not
fun, it's not a good date.”
“I
guess so,” I say. “So… should we do that instead?”
“What,
just go to a bar and get drunk?” repeats Natsume. She seems a
little surprised that I had made the suggestion, but then she breaks
out into a grin. “Sure. Sounds like more fun than some stuffy
restaurant.”
“Alright
then,” I say. “Change of plans. I assume you know where the good
bars are?”
“Of
course,” says Natsume. “There's one real close to here. Hang a
right at the next set of lights and we'll be there before you can say
“hangover”.”
“Oh,
right, that reminds me,” I say, snapping back to serious mode. “As
your manager-”
“Oh
great, here we go,” Natsume interjects.
“-as
your manager, it's my responsibility to tell you to take it easy
tonight,” I say, turning on my indicator. “I wouldn't want you
showing up for training tomorrow with a hangover. But as your date…
let's just say you don't have to worry about that.”
“Alright!”
says Natsume, as I take the right-hand turning as directed. “Let's
go get hammered!”
