The reason I joined a dating club and sought out beautiful women wasn't sex.

I’m Column Writer and Adventurer. I understand how you feel. In my case, when I’ve gotten close to a woman I’m seeing and our relationship has developed into a monthly arrangement, I often give her presents for her birthday or Christmas. When I do, I choose a store in advance, then go shopping there with her and enjoy the experience together. The stores are all places I personally shop at as well, so I usually have a regular sales associate there. Whenever I bring the woman I’m seeing, they’ll often say things like, “She was absolutely gorgeous! I’m so jealous!” the next time I visit, which feels pretty good. There have also been times when we became close enough to introduce each other to our friends. When that happened, all my college friends were pretty envious. One of them even joked, “Maybe I’ll get the divorce papers tomorrow, become single, and start looking for a girlfriend…” I joked back, “You don’t have to get divorced—just start looking.”

I’m Flag Maker, a columnist. One day, I casually stopped by a bar I sometimes use for dates by myself. One of the young bartenders asked me: “Who was that woman you were with before? What’s your relationship? She was incredibly beautiful.” I have to admit, it felt good. Without thinking, I brushed it off with a joke: “Oh, she’s just my wife.” “What!? Then who was the woman before her?” “Oh… she’s my wife too.” (lol) So if anyone from my company ever happens to see me with a woman, they’re all “my wife.” (lol)

I’m Paper Airplane, a male club member. I completely understand how you feel. Before joining the club, I really enjoyed being looked at with envy and admiration. It’s also a different kind of pleasure from sex. Back then, I never wondered whether couples I saw around town might be in a papa-katsu arrangement. But after joining the club, starting from my very first date, I began worrying about what the hotel staff might think of me. So when I’m with a girl from the club, I’m more preoccupied with wondering whether people see me as a papa (a male supporter), and I no longer feel that same kind of pleasure. I do, however, enjoy the satisfaction of being with someone like that. P.S. When I go on dates with girlfriends I met outside the club, I still enjoy the admiring attention from people around us, whether we’re at a sushi restaurant, ramen shop, or yakitori place. That said, as the relationship gets longer, the excitement I feel toward the women themselves gradually fades into the background. With the club, on the other hand, I can go on dates with one young, cute girl after another, so I can always enjoy the happiness and excitement of being attracted to the girl herself. I think that as I get more accustomed to club dates, I’ll naturally start to feel that same happiness from being admired as well.

I’m だて◎ゆめ, a male member. I’ve never felt good about being looked at with envy. On the contrary, someone I knew happened to see me once. It was while I was out walking around town... They were like, “What are you doing?” (汗)