I’m the one who asked about the second round.

Maezawa from the Corporate Planning Office here as well. After hearing the details, I can’t help feeling a little sorry for the person who asked the question. I’d always assumed a date would normally last a few hours, so I hadn’t imagined spending an entire day at a hotel. If you’re staying overnight, I suppose spending time together in the evening and again in the morning is fairly normal. That said, I think the man probably likes you. Perhaps he wants to be with you because he has feelings for you. It’s difficult to say exactly what you should do, but I think it would be good to gently tell him how you feel. I wouldn’t recommend bringing up additional payment, but if you’re talking about your feelings, hearing that from a woman he likes might lead to some change.

I’m Rula, a male member of UC and a member of the new salon. First of all, not just when it comes to today’s topic—the “second round”—but whenever you’re seeing someone through a dating club, you should stop yourself from thinking, “I can’t say it because they’ll be disappointed.” You need to make a point of always saying what you want to say and expressing what you’re really thinking. Otherwise, the relationship will gradually become less enjoyable, and in the worst case, it could seriously affect your mental health. That said, once you’ve decided that you’ll always speak up, you should put serious thought into how to communicate it so the other person can understand. If they end up disappointed or angry, that’s simply something you’ll have to accept. Now, regarding the issue of the second round… To put it in somewhat of an analogy—sorry if this makes it even more confusing—it reminds me of wondering whether dessert served with a French lunch course counts as lunch or as an afternoon snack. If you start a French lunch course shortly after noon and take your time, dessert might not be served until nearly 3 p.m. I’ve actually wondered whether that dessert should be considered “lunch” or “a 3 p.m. snack” (laughs). The same goes for a second round of intimacy. Depending on whether you see it as an extension of the first time or as something completely separate and independent, your view of the allowance may change as well. Ideally, rather than treating each time as “Okay, that’s one count,” I feel that allowing the second round to happen naturally, in the course of a sweet and intimate time together, is more likely to deepen the relationship for both people. Of course, if the man is focused on value for money and thinks, “If I’m paying the same amount, it would be a waste not to do it twice,” that kind of natural atmosphere probably won’t develop. In that case, I think the woman should judge for herself and, if it doesn’t feel right, feel free to cut ties without hesitation.

I’m Saito, a columnist♪ I felt the same way as everyone else—I thought it was awful. It’s like getting unlimited access on the cheap, even less expensive than some adult entertainment services… Rather than a fantasy romance, it seems to have become more like being treated as someone’s sexual outlet… Above all, please take care of yourselves. You’re the only one who can protect you.