drink?
- No, thanks.
So what's going on?
What do you mean?
You and Goto.
I just met him today.
A mutual friend introduced us.
Didn't I introduce you?
I was first.
- But...
- But what?
A man in my office named Sugiyama
is also a friend of Goto's, so he...
Forget about Sugiyama.
How do you feel?
- About what?
- About Goto.
I just met him today.
You already said that.
I hate it
when you tease me like this!
I'm not teasing.
I'm serious.
Well?
Goto's a good man, isn't he?
You like him, don't you?
I don't know.
You don't know? Really?
I don't know!
Don't know, eh?
You're not making this easy.
But I think we can agree
he's nice, right?
Say you decide you like him.
What would you do?
Seems simple enough.
What?
Marriage.
No.
No? I see.
Anyway, hypothetically speaking,
even if I did fall in love,
there might be reasons
why I couldn't marry him.
Really?
What kind of reasons?
Financial reasons,
for example?
- Possibly.
- What else?
In my case,
I'm still living with Mother.
So what?
If that's your reason,
you'll never get married.
That's fine by me.
Nonsense.
Women need...
For me, love and marriage
don't necessarily go hand in hand.
What's that supposed to mean?
Well, that means...
You're for having affairs?
That's not what I mean!
Really? I'm sorry.
It would be ideal if love
and marriage always went together,
but even if not,
life is still worthwhile.
In fact, cases where they don't
aren't rare.
I suppose.
But won't you be Ionely?
I don't think so.
It's not like when you were young.
That's true.
I enjoy being with Mother.
I'm quite happy like this.
You must really love
your mother.
I guess I do.
We still quarrel a lot.
That's proof of your love.
Parents and children
who aren't close can't even squabble.
You think so?
Of course.
She's a fine mother,
and you're quite a good daughter.
Young women
are straightforward these days,
though a few are pretty odd.
But I can see her side.
How so?
About love and marriage
being separate.
That makes
for a cold world.
Does Ayako seem
to be falling for the boy?
Looks like it to me.
She claimed they only met once,
but I'll bet it was
their second or third date.
Who's this Sugiyama
who introduced them?
He's not in the picture.
So her mother's really
the main issue?
That's right.
- Then it's simple!
- How so?
- Get the mother to remarry.
- Remarry?
That's right.
And then marry off the daughter.
Kill two birds with one stone.
- Will that work?
Sure!
It's just a matter of tact.
That's so crazy
it just might work.
That would be perfect,
if we could pull it off.
We'll pull it off.
Akiko's still a beautiful woman.
She could have her pick.
Then you go sound her out.
See how she feels about it.
Me?
Of course.
It was your idea!
You're the man for the job.
Come on.
Give it a try.
I guess I could try.
Do that.
But we don't a have a groom.
What about Hirayama?
Me?
Yeah, that's so crazy
it just might work.
Stop kidding around.
I'm not ready for that kind of thing.
She's the widow
of an old friend!
Don't be so straightlaced.
Forget it!
Out of the question.
It's downright immoral.
What's so immoral?
You're a widower. She's a widow.
Maybe so,
but I still won't do it.
Count me out.
So much for that.
- Find out how she feels anyway.
- All right.
Don't mention my name,
you hear?
What a waste!
What's the point of being a widower
if you let a chance like this slip by?
Yeah, what I'd give
to be in your shoes.
Same here...
same here.
- Welcome home.
- Hello.
- Welcome back.
- You're here too?
- Have you eaten, sir?
- Yes.
What about you?
I couldn't wait all night,
so I went ahead.
I see.
How did you do?
Did you win?
Just so-so.
- What's the matter?
- Why?
You seem a little down.
What happened?
- Nothing in particular.
- What do you think?
- About what?
There was some talk of marriage,
but I refused.
- For me?
- No, for me.
You?
Who's the lady?