Renai Jidai (Love Generation, 恋愛時代)

We're divorced.

Eh?

Anyway eating together after we broke up it's weird.

I'll find myself a lover and next time I marry I won't let things like this happen.

Next time I'll be completely fine.

I don't wanna do ever again something as tiresome as that.

Then I'll introduce you to someone! The one you'll marry.

I'll make you happy with my own hands!

Haru-san dressed in white was so beautiful that I couldn't look away.

Eh?

From back then...Aah...

Please introduce me to your ex wife!

You two

would still be together if something like that didn't happen, right?

Who should I introduce to him?

If you need someone

to introduce to him, how about yourself?

C-san, grow up!

I'll grow up...that's why once again I want...

I'll introduce you. Someone you can marry.

Nagatomi-san.

I'm Eto Haru. I'm divorced.

Ah! Wait...Natagomi-san!

Haru?

It's me. Ogasawara Kasumi.

We were together in elementary and in middle school.

- Ah... - Are there any good men around here?

I'm used to see brides since I attend wedding ceremonies every day.

But Haru-san was the first one ever. The first generation.

- Nagatomi-san. - Ah, Haru-san, good morning.

Good morning. Did you came here to swim?

But we'll be open at 8.30

No, I wanted to see your face no matter what, before work.

Uhm... I'm sorry I have to tell you this but

this is my place of work.

I'm bothering everyone, right? Next time I'll wait outside.

- You mean... - Yes.

Just a moment.

I'm sorry.

Uhm I didn't really think that Hayase would introduce someone to me

so soon. That's why...

That's why?

This would be the second marriage but you can never know how to date a person.

I'm sorry.

Do you think like this because I said that

I fell in love at first sight?

Before the wedding ceremony Hayase-san was anxious so I heard everything from him.

Eh?

How he asked you out the first time you met.

About the memo where he asked "Would you take a cup of tea with me?"

Different things since you stared dating...

That guy...

I heard everything about what you did or what you said.

I'm sorry. I'm apologizing instead of him.

No... Thanks to what I've heard I could

see clearly the woman called Eto Haru.

You're full of spirit and you speak without reservation

You're someone said "Why do you have to use your chopsticks that way?"

since the first date.

I thought you were very cute.

Haru-san in the wedding dress was very beautiful.

Aaa...but I didn't fell for you just because of that.

I don't want you to think that. I...

I thought that a girl like the one from the stories was wonderful

and then after that I saw you and you were very beautiful too.

I'm sorry. Anyway, I know more than you may think

about you Haru-san.

Please think about it carefully.

Am I not good enough?

Anyway. Please leave for today.

Oh yeah... see... this one this one...

- What are you looking at? - It's ok. See?

It's so nostalgic, right?

Haru, you sure are tall now compared to that time.

But you sure understand me just by looking at that.

I don't have anyone else besides my pastor and my daughter.

If your last name was different because you married

then I wouldn't remember you though.

I'm divorced.

We were married for 4 years before we hit rock bottom two years ago.

I was married for 2 years too.

Really? When did you get married and when did you break up?

We got married 4 years ago and broke up 2 years and a half ago.

Then... wouln't that mean you were married for 1 year and a half?

You don't have to show-off in front of me. We're both divorced after all.

- I'm not showing-off - You are. I understand you.

I was 22 years old when I got married

but I always say that I was halfway through my twenties.

Eh? Why?

I don't want anyone to tell me that I divorced because

I married too young.

Thank you.

I admit that I was too impulsive but

I decided by myself not to worry about it.

Since I understood that marriage is not all roses,

next time I'll think more carefully.

Eh? Next time?

The next one. The average age for a woman to get married is 29.3 years old right now.

We'll be 29 next year. We can start over again.

Well... I still can't think about such thing.

Is that so? Men are tiresome when they're around but I still prefer to be with one.

Ah... Is this your ex husbant?

Ah... yes.

- Did you divorce because he cheated on you? - Nope.

- Did he have debts or was he violent? - You're wrong.

Are you still in touch with him? Does he have a girlfriend?

Of course he doesn't. I'm supposed to find him a partner to marry.

Wouldn't I do?

Eh?

Introduce me to him. As a potential partner to marry.

Who could have thought you would breathe again the same air the husband you divorced.

Do you think my personal virtue is an act?

This has always been my favorite bookstore.

Since before you started working here.

Needle phobia! Haru, how many times do I have to tell you?

Don't call me by my first name. Somehow...

I feel like I belong to you. Do you have a superiority complex?

- It's just a habit. - That's why I'm telling you to stop this habit!

Why are you following me?

How are things with Nagatomi-san?

How?

I'm just worried something might not go well.

Won't he fall out of love with you once he sees your true colors?

That won't happen. He came to see me at the gym before work.

He said he wanted to see my face.

- Did he do that? - He did.

I'm responsible for introducing him to you so I'll bear your complaints.

- I'm telling you he's not very good at saying stuff like that. - Even though he's not very good, I've made up my mind.

It's been awhile since someone said things like that to me. I was a bit happy.

"In life, the second time is crucial"

I'll buy this one!

Please.

Do you actually go to see a woman before your important job?

What's with that? Generation educated under the "pressure-free" system?

That's what happens when you introduce her someone you don't know well.

Ah... instead of letting her find someone by herself

I'll find that someone and introduce him. Wasn't you too impulsive?

Did he hit the mark?

Maybe I was a little. I'll admit it.

But you know, it's not that I wasn't thinking when I introduced them.

In order for Haru to be happy she needs someone

who knows and understands about us.

Why?

Whoever hears the reason of our divorce

could think I'm stupid or that I'm a terrible guy.

Whichever word would be appropriate.

From now on she'll be happy

It's better to end this without saying painful things.

You know, if only this man

could say all these words to Haru-chan.

Yes open them. Be aware of the muscle of the arm.

Please try not to bend you back.

I'm doing everything you told me to

but I can't see results at all! - Excuse me for a moment.

I don't want to hear that. It's your fault for not telling me since the first time.

- What's the problem? - There are no results at all!

Because you haven't come here for two weeks.

- I was busy! - I'm sorry.

In order for you to attend even when you're busy

let's recheck your hours.

Dah....

Good work for today.

A lot of things happened today but

somehow I managed to survive.

Are you ok, Haru-san?

"Men are tiresome when they're around but I still prefer to be with one."

Somehow, I managed to survive too.

Shouldn't the two of us that survived

take a breath now?

Fast...

"Won't he fall out of love with you once he sees your true colors?"

That won't happen.

Until the next break.

By the way to fall in love at first sight with a bride

is not something you should be proud of. - I know. I know.

Love at first sight is too easy!

Didn't you fall in love at first sight too?

I'm fine now.

- Don't sleep here. Do you hear me? - Yeah. I know. I know.

- Ok ok...see you. - Bye bye!

It's from my childhood so I don't remember the title.

But it had a black cat on the cover. It' wasn't the cute type.

It had evil features.

Probably there are a lot with a cover like that.

It was about this kitten who was taken to the library by a grown cat.

For me it was an important book.

Uhm... Wait a moment.

I'm sorry.

Uhm... could it be this one?

Ah... It's this one.

I thought so.

You were very good at figuring it out from my description.

Great...

I'm glad you found it.

Thank you very much.

Kasumi?

Ah... You saw me.

- You have a kid. - Yeah.

It's very hard to raise her alone

I left the technical school and didn't work anywhere