I switched from pay-per-meeting at 50,000 yen to a monthly 100,000-yen arrangement at his request. We planned to meet twice a month, but now he’s asking to meet a third time (and go to a hotel). I’d be fine with dinner instead of a hotel, but how can I say that without offending him?

Maezawa from the CEO’s Office here. Thank you for your question. You went from 50,000 yen per meeting to a monthly arrangement of 100,000 yen for two meetings a month? I’m not sure what benefit there was to making it monthly, but it sounds like you agreed because the man suggested it. In that case, I think you should try telling him you’d like to go back to 50,000 yen per meeting. Alternatively, you could say, “If we’re switching to a monthly arrangement, I’d like it to be 200,000 yen. That would allow us to meet up to four times.” (The idea is that meeting two or three times would give the woman a slight advantage.) Either way, if you’re already having trouble now, this is probably someone who will continue making demands that cause problems for you. If you discuss it with him and he still won’t compromise, he may be someone you’re better off parting ways with. I think you should carefully consider whether this is something you can put up with.

I’m Paper Airplane, a male member. Since he says he’s busy, I think you should make sure your schedules don’t line up and look for another man. When you meet him next month, tell him you’d prefer a pay-per-meeting arrangement. But honestly, if he were a normal guy, he’d usually increase the allowance after the third date under the terms described in your question… So there probably isn’t much hope, right? (Most people wouldn’t agree to such a strange, two-meeting-only arrangement in the first place.)

I’m Kazu, a male member. It sounds like they’re simply using the monthly arrangement as an excuse to effectively lower the allowance. Since it’s 50,000 yen per meeting or 100,000 yen monthly, I think you should just say that the monthly arrangement covers up to two meetings.