I’m Saito, a columnist♪
I was surprised to read this question because the person I met for the third time yesterday gave me cookies. Haha.
For a moment, I thought it was about me and was genuinely shocked, but it was someone else.
Actually, there were quite a lot of them, so my family and I ate them. But there were heart-shaped cookies mixed in, which made things a little awkward…
As everyone else has said, something small is perfectly fine.
I just wanted to say that. Haha.
Maezawa from the Corporate Planning Office here as well.
> I’m happy to say that I’m scheduled to meet him soon. Would it be okay for me to give him something too?
I think men would be happy to receive something, so I’d recommend giving him a gift.
The question is what to get him. Since this will be your third meeting, ideally you would have asked about his preferences by the second meeting. But if you’ve noticed any hints during your previous meetings, something related to that would be a good choice.
Even if nothing specific comes to mind, he’ll probably appreciate something that shows you gave it some thought, like, “I thought you might like this.”
> Taking inspiration from this person, I brought some sweets to another man on our first date, but he told me he wasn’t fond of sweet things.
Maybe chocolate would be the safest option?
If you choose something with around 50% cocoa, it should be fine even for people who don’t like very sweet things, while still being just sweet enough for those who do. Around 45–55% would probably be about right.
With high-cacao chocolate, 70% or 80% is common, but at that level it can be too bitter for people who prefer sweeter things. ><
> Is it possible to ask about a man’s preferences in advance?
You can ask him once you receive the offer.
When replying about the date, you could ask something like, “Do you have a sweet tooth, prefer savory flavors, or like both?”
You could also mention that you have a sweet tooth yourself. Some men might not understand exactly why you’re asking, but simply answer anyway.
(That said, if you say you have a sweet tooth, he might take you to a dessert place, so it may be better to think of another way to phrase the question.)
If you directly say, “I’m thinking of getting you a present,” he’ll probably respond with something like, “No, no, you don’t have to go to any trouble,” and you won’t get an answer.
I’m だて◎ゆめ, a male member.
Three offers in one month—I figured she must be quite an appealing person.
I’m not particularly picky, so if an attractive woman gave me cookies right from the start, I’d say, “Thank you!” and be completely knocked out.
Even if she gave me something I wasn’t fond of, I’d probably still say, “Thank you!” Though a small part of me might think, “A kiss would’ve been nicer…” I don’t have any experience with this, so apologies.
Some people don’t like sweets, others don’t like salty snacks, and some can’t stand things that lack flavor. Since everyone has different preferences, it seems like people usually feel each other out at first while figuring out what the other person likes.
I think it’s perfectly fine to treat the first meeting as a bit of reconnaissance. Don’t worry too much about it—just take things at your own pace so you don’t get worn out… (laughs)
If, during your first meal, she says, “This cake is delicious,” and you reply, “I like sweets too,” then bringing some sweet treats next time would definitely be an option.
You could also ask the staff about her preferences. Though I’m not sure how things are now, I don’t think they asked me about mine during my interview.
