I guess, in the end, I should have figured that this was what Linus had in mind when he asked me out on a date.
 
No man or woman is dressed in anything but their finest, their formality only matched by that of their surroundings: rich red wallpaper adorns the walls as the city lights far below flicker and glow. Combined with the ancient hum of quiet speech and the high-picked clattering of cutlery and wineglasses, the mood is very formal, yet relaxed enough for me not to feel too uptight despite this being our first real date.
 
Once we get seated, our waiter leaves to attend to others with a quick bow, after a nod from Linus. I'm always surprised at how well he manages to navigate himself around, despite the unfamiliar environment. A light brush here and there, and with me giving him some subtle guidance, and he's able to orient himself as needed.
 
I look into his eyes. I can tell from his face that he's listening to his surroundings just as hard as I'm listening. Though. . . truth be told, my eyes are lingering on him each time they sweep across the room. Burgundy's not a color just any guy can pull off, but Linus wears it well. I even detect the slightly fresh scent of cologne as he sits and stares blankly into the distance.
 
He makes me feel dowdy. I'm wearing the only nice dress I brought with me to Yamaku: a simple black sheath dress that reaches to just above my knees. I'm also wearing the only jewelry I happen to have: a gold necklace with a sapphire pendant that my mother gave me, and a pair of pearl earrings I got for a sixteenth birthday present. Considering the environment, I guess this fits the setting about as well as could be hoped.
 
"So," I say, nervously. "Do you take girls here often?"
 
"Actually, this is my first time in a place like this," Linus says cooly.
 
"Oh." I nervously open and close my hands in my lap. "Um. You know, don't feel you need to top yourself for our next date. I think I'd die if we only went to fancy places like this, and it can't be easy on your wallet."
 
Linus smiles. "Thanks for your concern. No, let's consider this a special occasion, then?"
 
I chuckle at that, and Linus seems to relax. His hand hovers just over the tablecloth until it touches the menu, which he picks up and holds in front of him. He runs his hand over it briefly, then a sheepish grin touches his lips. "I keep forgetting," he says. "If you would?"
 
"No problem." I pick up my own menu, and frown as I notice something. "Hm. Weird. My version doesn't seem to have any prices on it."
 
"Oh." Linus shakes his head. "I've heard about this, but it's my first time seeing it for real."
 
"What How so?"
 
"Well, some of your fancier restaurants like to have two different menus. The one they give to the woman doesn't have any prices on it. I'm not sure what sort of message that's supposed to send."
 
"Can I use your menu then?"
 
"Why do you need to?"
 
"Well, you want to know the prices, right?"
 
"Hisako, don't worry about it. Just pick out something that sounds nice for the both of us."
 
"Fine, then." I frown as I scan the list, reading out some of the names in my mind. I suddenly realize that I have no idea what half these things are. "Look, you can't just tell me to pick out something without giving me something to go off of," I point out.
 
"Fair enough. Do they have any fish dishes? Nothing in a heavy cream sauce or anything. Something light."
 
"Yeah. . . Hm." I scan over the list carefully. The problem I'm having is that most of the seafood sounds incredibly expensive, and as much as Linus tells me that price is no object, I really would feel bad spending too much of his money. "How about a. . . Provencal Tuna Salade Nicoise?" I ask. "Seared ahi tuna, sliced anchovies, tomato wedges, hard boiled eggs and olives, over a bed of red and green lettuce, arugula, and other greens."
 
"That sounds perfect. And you?"
 
"I think I'll have the same," I say. "The rest of this sounds way too fancy for my tastes."
 
"Yes, I can tell. This place smells. . . expensive." Linus tips his head back and frowns, concentrating. "I hope we won't offend anyone if we only have salad."
 
"I don't think so. Most of the other guests are eating pretty light as well. I guess this is that sort of restaurant."
 
Our conversation is interrupted by the arrival of a portly waiter in an alarmingly tight vest. Linus makes a show of studying the menu for a moment, then passes it to the waiter without looking. "Two Provencal Tuna Salade Nicoise, please. And a glass of Chardonnay for me. Hisako?"
 
"Oh. Make that two, please?"
 
The waiter nods and leaves, and I suddenly realize what it is that I did by mimicking Linus's order. Memories of an awkward night rise unbidden to my mind. "Alcohol. . . ?"
 
"Just a glass this time," Linus says, smiling reassuringly. "I have no wish to repeat the morning after Hayato's birthday."
 
"Fine, but I'm cutting you off at one, all right?"
 
"Deal," Linus says, smiling.
 
"I'm just surprised they didn't ask to see our IDs," I point out. "Although, I guess we do look pretty mature for our age."
 
"Or this is just the sort of establishment that doesn't ask questions," Linus points out.
"Ah. I'd forgotten that."
 
I fiddle with my napkin as I look around the restaurant. In a few moments, the waiter comes back with two empty glasses and a bottle. He uncorks it carefully and passes the cork to Linus, who squeezes it, sniffs it, then nods to the waiter. The waiter pours a small amount of the wine into a glass, which Linus picks up and takes a sip of, before nodding in approval. The waiter nods back and fills both our glasses before leaving.
 
"That was. . . interesting," I point out?"
 
"Hm?"
 
"That thing you just did. With the cork and the wine glass and everything. Where did you learn that?"
 
"Oh." Linus smiles as he lifts his glass and swirls it a bit, letting the liquid move around the glass. "I looked up some books on wine appreciation in the library, after Hayato's birthday party. I figured I might as well learn to appreciate the stuff, if I was going to drink it again." His smile turns a bit sheepish. "Akira gave me some advice too. He recommended this place, actually. He takes his clients here quite often."
 
Aha. So that's what those two were conspiring about on Friday. "You're like that, aren't you?"
 
"Hm?"
 
"Always analytical. You like to learn about things you like as much as possible."
 
"I suppose so. It's part of what made my teachers at my former school so fond of me." He smiles again and rubs the palm of his left hand with his thumb. "Actually, I'm finding some of the more useless lessons they taught us there fairly useful. I never thought memorizing the difference between a fish fork and dinner fork would ever actually come in useful."
 
"Oh." He'd mentioned his previous school before, but now I'm a bit curious. "What kind of school did you go to, anyway? Before Yamaku?"
 
"It was a prestigious Catholic boy's school. My parents liked it for those reasons. It was the kind of school that the sons of wealthy families all go to. You would have liked it: an entire school filled with boys in nice suits walking around. Your imagination would have run wild."
 
"I. . . I can imagine." I try to wrap my head around the image of Linus wearing a nice black suit with an ascot, walking around with other boys dressed like that. It makes dangerous ideas come into my brain, ideas I stifle by changing the subject. "Were the teachers very strict? I've heard stories about nuns. . ."
 
"Mmm. It was certainly stricter than Yamaku. Thankfully, I managed to adapt well: thankfully, because boys outside the presence of girls tend to act rather. . . uncouth." He sighs. "I suppose that's where my brother picked up all his bad habits: hanging out with repressed sons of rich families. He got into trouble a few times, you know. We all expected he'd come to a bad end, but he surprised us all by getting into university on his own." He smiles. "In retrospect, I suppose he did it to get away from that school as soon as possible."
 
"You know," Linus goes on, "Akira's always been like that. Traditionally, the first son is supposed to be the obedient one, but Linus always likes to be the atypical one. It brings him into conflict with my father quite a bit." He sighs. "You know, their biggest argument was over me."
 
Oh. When Linus' parents decided to go to Scotland and leave him and his brother behind in Japan. "Do you. . . resent that? Your parents sending you to boarding school, then leaving?"
 
"Not at all," Linus admits. "As harsh as it may sound, by sending me away, my father was doing the best that he could for me. In the end, he valued my education and well-being over my company. Although the business comes first, he's always cared for me and seen to my well-being."
 
I wonder if that's true. Linus has always downplayed the impact that his blindness has had on the rest of his family. "I guess you're better than I am. I resented my parents quite a bit for sending me away."
 
"Mmm. I don't know if it has to do with being a better person. It's just the kind of person I am. I always try to see the best in everyone, you know." He raises his glass and takes a sip. "But enough about me. Tell me a bit about your schooling?"
 
"It wasn't nearly as interesting as yours. It was just an ordinary public school. A bit bigger and busier than normal, maybe." I lean against the table and swirl my glass, lost in nostalgia. "I did decently in class, and I played soccer. My parents both work late, and I'm an only child, so I spent a lot of time shopping and hanging out with my friends." I chuckle softly. "There was a coffee shop we used to go to all the time. They had some of the best parfaits. I kind of miss it, even now."
 
"I see," Linus says. "It sounds like a lot of fun."
 
"It does, now. At the time, it seemed really boring and ordinary. I guess what they say is true: you don't really appreciate what you have until it's gone. Not that I would trade that old life for what I have now. I never imagined a place as peaceful as Yamaku could exist, not to mention my new friends: Shigure, Misha, Hayato. . . and of course, there's you."
 
Linus smiles at me again: a deep, genuine smile, as he reaches his hand across the table and caresses my cheek. I close my eyes and enjoy the feel of his warm hand upon my face for pleasant, comfortable moment.
 
I wish I could stay like that forever. Unfortunately, the moment is broken by the sound of the waiter approaching with our meals.