As the morning sun gently cast its rays through the windows of my dorm room, I returned from my first class of the day, Classic Literature, feeling a mixture of exhaustion and anticipation. Despite the stimulating discussions and intellectual engagement, there lingered an unsettling unease within me— a subtle whisper of unresolved thoughts and emotions.

With a soft sigh, I dropped my bag by the door and made my way to the neatly arranged study desk nestled in the corner of the room. The familiar sight of my diary resting atop the wooden surface beckoned to me, its pages waiting patiently to absorb the musings of my mind.

Seating myself with a sense of purpose, I opened the diary and picked up the pen, the cool ink poised to capture the tumultuous currents swirling within my heart. As the words flowed onto the pristine pages, I felt a cathartic release—a comforting embrace of self-expression amidst the chaos of uncertainty.

0000

Dear Diary,

'My morning class was intellectually stimulating as always, yet beneath the surface of scholarly discourse, I find myself grappling with a sense of disquiet. Perhaps it is the weight of expectations, both self-imposed and external, that weigh heavily upon me. Or perhaps it is the ever-present specter of the unknown, casting its shadow across the path I tread.'

With each stroke of the pen, the knots of tension loosened, allowing clarity to emerge from the depths of introspection. I wrote of my aspirations and fears, my dreams and doubts, laying bare the inner landscape of my soul with unflinching honesty.

'I miss Hachiman. I miss his warmth and the feeling of being connected during our intimate embrace.

The following list is of places, I want to go on a date with Hachiman.'

1. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

2. Tokyo Disneyland

3. Shibuya Crossing

4. Ueno Zoo

5. Odaiba Seaside Park

6. Tokyo Skytree

7. Meiji Shrine

8. Akihabara Electric Town

9. Yokohama Chinatown

10. Kamakura's Great Buddha

11. Roppongi Hills

12. Tsukiji Fish Market

13. Tokyo Tower

14. Harajuku Takeshita Street

15. Asakusa Senso-ji Temple

16. Tokyo Imperial Palace

17. Yoyogi Park

18. Ginza Shopping District

19. Odaiba Palette Town

20. Ikebukuro Sunshine City

21. Tokyo Dome City

22. Shinjuku Samurai Museum

23. Nakano Broadway

24. Hachiko Statue in Shibuya

25. Tokyo National Museum

26. Yanaka Ginza Shopping Street

27. Tokyo Sea Life Park

28. Ueno Park

29. Shimokitazawa Bohemian Neighborhood

30. Tokyo Joypolis

31. Oedo Onsen Monogatari

32. Ghibli Museum

33. Tokyo Midtown

34. Rainbow Bridge

35. Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

36. Tokyo DisneySea

37. Yebisu Garden Place

38. Inokashira Park

39. Kawasaki Warehouse

40. Tokyo Big Sight

41. Sumida Aquarium

42. J-World Tokyo

43. Tokyo Character Street

44. Tokyo One Piece Tower

45. Tokyo Solamachi

46. Kagurazaka Street

47. Tokyo Dome City Attractions

48. Edo-Tokyo Museum

49. Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum

50. Tokyo Joypolis

Until next time,

Yukinoshita Yukino

'Never mind.'

Dear Diary,

'As I reflect on potential dating spots in Japan, I realize that not all of them would have been suitable for a date with Hachiman. Here's the revised list after removing five options including a footnote on the reason I removed them:

1. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

2. T̶o̶k̶y̶o̶ D̶i̶s̶n̶e̶y̶l̶a̶n̶d̶

3. Shibuya Crossing

4. U̶e̶n̶o̶ Z̶o̶o̶

5. T̶o̶k̶y̶o̶ S̶k̶y̶t̶r̶e̶e̶

6. Meiji Shrine

7. Akihabara Electric Town

8. Yokohama Chinatown

9. Kamakura's Great Buddha

10. Roppongi Hills

11. Tsukiji Fish Market

12. Tokyo Tower

13. Harajuku Takeshita Street

14. Asakusa Senso-ji Temple

15. Tokyo Imperial Palace

16. Yoyogi Park

17. Ginza Shopping District

18. Odaiba Palette Town

19. Ikebukuro Sunshine City

20. Tokyo Dome City

21. Shinjuku Samurai Museum

22. Nakano Broadway

23. Hachiko Statue in Shibuya

24. Tokyo National Museum

25. Yanaka Ginza Shopping Street

26. T̶o̶k̶y̶o̶ S̶e̶a̶ L̶i̶f̶e̶ P̶a̶r̶k̶

27. Ueno Park

28. Shimokitazawa Bohemian Neighborhood

29. Tokyo Joypolis

30. Oedo Onsen Monogatari

31. Ghibli Museum

32. Tokyo Midtown

33. Rainbow Bridge

34. Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building

35. Tokyo DisneySea

36. Yebisu Garden Place

37. Inokashira Park

38. Kawasaki Warehouse

39. Tokyo Big Sight

40. Sumida Aquarium

41. J-World Tokyo

42. Tokyo Character Street

43. Tokyo One Piece Tower

44. Tokyo Solamachi

45. Kagurazaka Street

46. Tokyo Dome City Attractions

47. Edo-Tokyo Museum

48. Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum

49. Tokyo Joypolis

Footnotes: My remarks on why those locations are bad dating spots for us:

- Tokyo Disneyland: Although it's a magical place, it might be too crowded for a peaceful date.

- Tokyo Skytree: The height might make Hikigaya uncomfortable, considering his aversion to crowds and heights.

- Ueno Zoo: Animal captivity might not align with Hikigaya's principles.

- Shibuya Crossing: The bustling crowds and noise might overwhelm Hikigaya, making it difficult to enjoy the date.

- Tokyo Sea Life Park: Hikigaya might find the enclosed spaces and large crowds stressful, detracting from the date experience.

These adjustments align more closely with my current objectives and sensibilities.

Until next time,

Yukinoshita Yukino

0000

As I closed the diary, a sense of peace settled over me, a quiet reassurance that amidst the chaos of life, there exists a sanctuary within— a sanctuary I carry with me wherever I may roam.

After contemplating the various dating spots, I decided to take a break and grab lunch at a quaint café nearby. As I entered, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods enveloped me, instantly lifting my spirits. I found a cozy corner table by the window and settled in, enjoying the warm sunlight streaming through the glass.

Perusing the menu, I opted for a simple yet comforting meal: a bowl of creamy tomato basil soup accompanied by a fluffy grilled cheese sandwich. As I waited for my order, I couldn't help but reminisce about the times Hikigaya and I shared meals together back in Japan.

When my lunch arrived, I savored the first spoonful of the velvety soup. The tangy sweetness of the tomatoes blended harmoniously with the fragrant basil, warming me from the inside out. Paired with the crispy yet tender grilled cheese sandwich, oozing with melted cheddar and gruyere, it was a match made in culinary heaven.

Lost in the deliciousness of my meal, I momentarily forgot about the distance separating me from Hikigaya. But as I took another bite of the perfectly toasted sandwich, I couldn't help but smile, knowing that no matter where we were in the world, our bond remained unbreakable.

With each spoonful and bite, I felt a sense of contentment wash over me, grateful for the simple pleasures in life and the memories that lingered in every dish. As I finished my lunch, I made a mental note to explore more of the UK's culinary delights, knowing that each new flavor would be a reminder of the experiences that shaped me and the people who mattered most.

With a satisfied sigh, I paid the bill and left the café, ready to face whatever adventures awaited me in this unfamiliar yet exciting new chapter of my life.