The waiter returned with their food. Liyun’s smoked beef brisket was presented on a wooden tray with a dip of special sauce, fresh green salad drizzled with lemon, and a bowl of thinly sliced potato chips. A crumbled biscuit mixed with a slice of orange completed the meal. Shoji’s roast beef came with mushroom sauce and the same salad and dessert. Instead of potato chips, his was served with French fries, lightly flavoured with sea salt.

Liyun cut a small portion of the meat and brought it to her mouth, savouring it slowly. ‘Hmmm,’ she mumbled. ‘This is wonderful. The meat is so tender and aromatic. It’s slightly spicy, which gives it a nice punch.’ She cut another piece and this time dipped the meat into the condiment. ‘The sauce is nice too. Demi-glace?’

‘Looks like it.’ Shoji took a bite of his roasted meat. It didn’t disappoint. The beef melted on his tongue, though it did not have the same spiciness as the smoked version.

‘Can I try that?’ she asked.

‘Sure,’ he said, cutting a generous portion for her. ‘But I think the smoked beef is better.’

She put the meat into her mouth. ‘Why didn’t you order the same?’

‘I wanted to try something new.’ He didn’t want to tell her he was trying not to spend too much. ‘I like this too. Just that the flavour isn’t as pronounced as yours.’

She paused for a moment. ‘I prefer yours. Shall we swap?’

He didn’t expect that. ‘Are you sure?’

‘Yeah,’ she said, switching their trays. ‘This is slightly too spicy for me.’

‘Uh, okay.’ He was more than happy to have his favourite dish.

Liyun talked about her early days in Tokyo. She’d had a hard time making friends until she joined the swimming club at Waseda.

‘I was in the swimming club too,’ Shoji said, ‘but just for a short while.’

She cut her beef. ‘Really? You don’t seem like the sporty type.’

He tilted his head. ‘Then what kind of person do you think I am?’

Liyun shrugged. ‘Perhaps the book-club type?’

‘Unlikely.’ Shoji cut some meat. ‘I do love reading, but I’m not sure if I’d like to discuss it with a group of people. I believe books are best indulged in alone. Reading is such a personal experience.’ He took another bite of his favourite smoked beef. ‘But you’re close. I was also in the journalism club.’

‘You’ve always wanted to be a journalist?’

‘I wasn’t completely sure when I had just started. I love reading and I like writing too. But the longer I’ve been in this position, the more I’ve realised this is my calling. Being a journalist, I get to meet lots of people I might not have encountered otherwise, and I have the opportunity to hear their stories. It allows me to gain a new perspective.’