When I received the offer, it said “dates limited.” Does that mean we’ll meet if the proposed date and time work for me, or does it mean this is a one-time arrangement just for that day? We’re meeting tomorrow, and I’ve only just started wondering about it now.

People who are in town on business trips often make offers for specific dates only. Since my availability for dates is limited, even when our schedules happen to align for the first meeting, the timing doesn’t work out for their next trip—or the one after that—and things eventually fizzle out. When it comes to people visiting on business, I think it’s difficult to maintain the relationship unless one of you is very flexible with your schedule. Marika

“Limited dates” could mean: ① He’s coming to town on a business trip that day, so he can’t go on a date any other day. ② The woman he originally planned to meet suddenly became unavailable, and since the restaurant reservation is already set, he’s looking for someone who can meet that day. In case ①, he may be looking for someone just once, or he may come on business every month and be looking for someone he can meet monthly. Either way, you should be able to figure out which type of man he is while talking over dinner. So if he invites you somewhere afterward, I think it’s fine to ask something like: “I can’t accept a one-time relationship. Would you be willing to continue seeing me in the future?” However, even if he says he’ll meet you again, there’s no way to force him to follow through. You need to carefully judge during dinner whether he’s sincere. In other words, asking or not asking may amount to the same thing, so I think it’s best to decide based on whether you feel you can trust him during the meal. In case ②, you may feel like you’re just a backup, but that’s only based on him looking at your profile. Once you actually go on a date, he may find you to be better than expected, so I think it’s worth putting in a little more effort than usual. I’m sure you have various concerns, but with a dating club that starts with a meal, the point is that you get to assess the other person at that stage. It’s a good idea to develop your ability to judge men. It may be difficult to figure someone out during a single meal, but as you go on more dates, I think you’ll gradually get a feel for it. For example, if something about him leaves you feeling uneasy, you could offer a higher allowance. If the allowance is generous, you may be able to accept it even if it’s only a one-time arrangement. Conversely, if he says the allowance is too high, you won’t have to be the one to turn him down. In that case, perhaps you were simply destined to part ways after dinner anyway. That said, if you think he’s a good man, you also need to make an effort not to make him dislike you.

I’m Chino, a staff member. Thank you for your question. If your schedules align on the dates you suggested, you can arrange to meet. Any relationship after the first date is entirely up to the two of you, so the club cannot get involved. I hope you have a wonderful date!

I think it means, “We’ll meet if our schedules work for the proposed date and time.”