Yuuli Ai: fidgets with her kimono S-so, um... about the wedding. Are... are you okay with it?
looks at Yuuli Ai Yes...but no. I mean...it's not like I'm going into it completely blind. I've met the girl I am to be wed to...and I'm...intrigued.
smiles, relieved Oh, that's a relief. You intrigue me too, Ryan. But are you sure about this arrangement? It's a big commitment, after all.
Arranged marriage doesn't mean love can't blossom organically later on. And who knows...maybe the girl I'm to marry is my destined soulmate. It wouldn't be the first time that's happened because of an arranged marriage.
takes a deep breath That's true, Ryan. Love can grow over time. But what if your soulmate isn't among the chosen ones? What if...
Well then...I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Right now, I'm more interested in getting to know the girl I'm going to marry...and trying to find out if there's any common ground between us. And maybe, just maybe, I can talk to her about taking things slow...no rush.
leans in closer, whispering Ryan, you know I care about you. I don't want to see you trapped in a loveless marriage.
Look, I won't deny that there's some...hesitation on my part. But it's also out of curiosity. Who is this girl I'm supposed to marry? What kind of person is she? What are her interests? Where did she grow up? What are her goals for the future? These are all things I want to know before I make any commitments. And if her ideals and mine don't align...well, then it probably wouldn't work out anyway.
grabs Ryan's hand, squeezing it gently I understand, Ryan. It's natural to have reservations.
smiles softly Thanks, Yuuli. I appreciate your understanding. And hey, if things don't work out with this arranged marriage...well, we'll figure something out. We always do.
determinedly Ryan, I have an idea. Let's gather as much information as we can about the girl you're set to marry.
chuckles lightly Always the researcher, aren't you, Yuuli? Alright, let's do this. We'll gather all the info we can find...and then we'll decide what to do next.
starts rummaging through their shared library, pulling out books and journals We'll start by researching the family background and history.
smirks You're full of surprises, aren't you? Alright, dig in. I want to know everything there is to know.
scribbles notes furiously Okay, Ryan. We'll start with the girl's name and birthdate. Do you know either of those?
leans back in his chair, tapping his fingers on the desk Her name's Sakiko, and I think I've seen her birth certificate somewhere...let's see, yeah, it was 1999. April 14th, to be exact. Does that help?
nods, jotting down the information Got it, Sakiko, April 14th, 1999. Now, let's find out more about her family.
smirks So, what's the next step, detective Yuuli?
begins typing furiously on her computer Now that we have a lead, I'll start searching through online records and social media profiles.
laughs softly You're a regular digital detective, aren't you? Alright, go ahead and dig up whatever you can find.
furrows brows, staring intently at the screen Hmm... Sakiko... Sakiko... Ah, here we go!
leans forward, watching the screen And what does our digital detective find? Any juicy details?
excitedly Ryan, I found her Facebook profile! It's private, but it says she's currently studying business administration at Tokyo University.
chuckles Tokyo University, huh? That's no surprise. She's always been smart, that one. Alright, private profile or not, we've got a starting point.
grinning mischievously Ryan, I also found her Instagram account! It's filled with beautiful nature photographs and quotes.
smirks Nature and quotes, huh? Sounds like she's the outdoorsy type. Maybe we can use that to our advantage...
excitedly Yes, Ryan! I have an idea. We can schedule a hike together and use it as a way to get to know each other better.
laughs A hike, huh? Well, it's certainly original. Alright, Yuuli. Let's plan this outdoor adventure.
starts looking up hiking trails in the surrounding mountains Great! I know just the place with breathtaking views. It's a challenging trail, but I know you can handle it, Ryan.
smirks Challenging trails and breathtaking views, huh? Sounds like you've got this whole hiking thing under control. Alright, Yuuli, let's conquer that mountain together.
rushes off to the local outdoor gear store, picking out backpacks and hiking equipment We need to make sure we have everything we need for the hike.
laughs, following behind Yuuli You're a force to be reckoned with, Yuuli. Alright, let's gear up and show this mountain who's boss.
quickly packs the hiking equipment into backpacks Alright, Ryan, we're all set for the hike.
smirks Let's hit the trails then, leader Yuuli. Show me what you're made of.
leads the way up the hiking trail, navigating through the dense forest with ease Follow my lead, Ryan.
laughs This is your territory, Yuuli. Lead the way and don't look back.
pauses, looking back at Ryan Don't worry, Ryan. I've explored these woods since I was a child.
laughs You're a true nature lover, Yuuli. Alright, lead on. Let's see how deep this forest goes.
continues further along the trail, pointing out various plants and animals Look, Ryan, that's a red-spotted orchid! And over there, a Japanese serow.
raises an eyebrow Nature's beauty, huh? Alright, Yuuli, you're the teacher today. Enlighten me with your knowledge.
cheerfully Absolutely, Ryan! Nature has so much to teach us. Take this red-spotted orchid, for example.
smirks And what does this little beauty teach us, Yuuli?
grabs a red-spotted orchid and shows it to Ryan This beautiful flower thrives in these woods despite the harsh conditions.
smirks Resilience, huh? It's a perfect metaphor for us, Yuuli. We've got to bend, but not break, under pressure.
nods Exactly, Ryan! Nature teaches us many valuable lessons about resilience and adaptability. Take, for example, the Japanese serow.