I’m a male member.

Kida, the representative, would also like to answer. As everyone has said: “We haven’t been able to meet because of COVID.” → It probably has nothing to do with COVID. “We’ve grown distant because we haven’t been able to meet.” → I don’t think the lack of meetings is the real reason. “I want us to continue getting along.” → Have you reflected that feeling in the terms of the arrangement? I imagine the main reason a woman may want to keep her distance is that the terms of the relationship don’t align with her own sense of value. If a woman starts distancing herself, I think something may have occurred to her during your last date. The allowance is meant to make up for those various factors. That said, I’m not sure about transferring an allowance when you haven’t even met. Rather than feeling grateful, I think the woman may start to see you as someone she can get money from without having to meet.

This is columnist Saito♪ You should look for a better woman. If the relationship falls apart just because you can’t see each other for a little while, she’s only taking away time you could be spending on your own growth. Rather than doing things just to make someone like you, simply interact with her in your everyday life while staying true to your own principles and intentions. If that still doesn’t work, then there’s probably a problem with your usual behavior. Unless you identify and correct it, you’ll keep repeating the same pattern. There are a lot of men who keep making the same mistakes.

I’m Date◎Yume, a male member. Because of the coronavirus situation, I think we’re all trying—and being asked to try—various things right now. We’re sorting things out and having things sorted out for us; I agree with what everyone has been saying.

I’m a hopeless romantic, Meg here, one of the female members. > “Somehow, we’ve grown distant.” It may depend on how often you used to see each other, but are you really feeling this way because of COVID? How are you spending the time you can’t meet? Even if you can’t see each other in person, you can still stay in touch through LINE or other messaging apps. You can even make video calls. But more than anything, it’s important to figure out what your partner is looking for from you. To do that, you have to communicate, right? “I feel this way, but what about you?” “What would you like me to do?” and so on. In middle school English class, first-year students learn question words. Do you remember them? Who, when, where, what, why, and how. They’re useful because they encourage the other person to give specific answers. I recommend trying them～. Also, I agree with what Kamihikoki said. It’s precisely at times like this that people’s true feelings come to light. I haven’t seen my papa (a male supporter) in the past month, and I don’t want him to send me any money, either. I’m simply getting through each day by relying on the emails he sends me. Because if I heard his voice, I’d want to see him even more and end up crying. There are occasionally unusual women like me. But I feel that most girls are probably happier receiving things like LINE Pay transfers. > “I can’t help but say something.” That’s so like you, Saito-san♪ “So cool!!! Amazing☆” I thought as I kept reading, but then I burst out laughing at the end. Still, that’s fine too.

I’m Hikōki, a male member. I imagine you’re wondering what to do. I think it’s probably best not to do anything until the day you can meet again. Even if you’re apart, this is a time when it becomes easy to see whether the distance between you will grow smaller or whether a gap will develop. Considering the risk of COVID, some people don’t want to meet even if they have to wait, while others still want to see each other no matter what. And because you aren’t meeting frequently, you may be able to read the true meaning behind the LINE messages you receive more calmly than usual. Since both of you probably have your own intentions, I think your feelings may actually be easier to understand than usual. In April, there were several girls I was considering sending money to without meeting them, but for now, I’m planning not to do that in any of those cases. Even among the girls I gave their allowance to in March, some simply want the money, while others are waiting until we can meet again. Their feelings vary completely from one girl to another. Some girls are willing to wait because they think it’s better not to meet during this period, while others ask me to transfer the money. Right now, it’s perfectly understandable if you go several weeks without contacting each other, so there’s no need to panic. I think it’s fine to make a calm decision. If you don’t make the first move, I think the woman’s true feelings will naturally become clear. P.S. If you feel that she’s becoming distant, then as Mac-san wrote, I think it’s best to give up. P.P.S. A long time ago, during a major earthquake, my then-wife was staying in a safe place far away—a travel destination—and we were both caught in the disaster in separate locations. I thought it would be safer for her not to return, so I had her extend her stay. While it took several months for the gas, water, electricity, and railways to be restored, I struggled on with people trapped alive next door and the surrounding area burned to the ground. When I finally called her back two months later, a huge rift had formed between us—far greater than the physical distance—and it only deepened until it became impossible to repair. What I thought was best for her safety ultimately pushed us even farther apart. It made me realize how important it is for a person to feel that they are needed. Being together when it really matters. Knowing that you need each other… I reflected on how important that is and truly felt its significance. Some couples grow closer through a disaster, while others grow further apart. COVID is different from an earthquake, of course, but because it creates the risk of not being able to meet for an extended period, it may also determine whether a bond grows stronger or a rift develops.

Maezawa from the Corporate Planning Office here as well. > We haven’t been able to meet recently because of COVID. I think it depends on whether the other person is asking to refrain from meeting, or whether you’re the one choosing to stay home. If they’re okay with meeting, I think it would be best to go on a date while taking care to minimize contact with other people. Meeting up, going on a date, and giving them their allowance is the best option. If that isn’t possible, then I think it’s fine not to contact them at all until the day you make plans to meet again, regardless of whether some distance develops between you. If their feelings fade during that time and you end up parting ways, I think it simply means that the relationship was never strong enough to begin with. That said, if you don’t want the distance between you to grow just because you’re doing nothing, transferring their allowance even though you can’t meet could be a good option. However, if you eventually break up, you may find yourself wondering, “Why was I sending them money when we weren’t even meeting?” If you’re confident that you won’t feel that way—that although you might be disappointed, you won’t take it out on them—then transferring the allowance may help improve their feelings toward you, so I think it could be worth trying as one strategy.

I’m Flag Maker, a column writer. This is partly a reminder to myself, but to begin with, there’s always some distance between us. Isn’t it actually a good thing to maintain that distance even when you’re in an adult relationship (intimate)? When men feel that the distance has grown smaller, I think it’s usually because the woman has kindly let them believe that—in a good way. So I don’t think there are many ways to truly close that gap. That said, I can’t imagine any woman being unhappy to receive an allowance, so I think the answer is: “Send the allowance without asking for anything in return.” In the end, that will leave a good impression and hopefully lead to the next meeting.