503

"If you ask me, it lacks romance."

I was playing Lupin as background music while I worked, and Jigen said that with a knowing look.

Lacks romance...?

Ro-man...?
ROMANCE!!
That is what being a man is all about!!

I'm not as strong as Jigen, nor as flashy as Lupin, but I was convinced.
If it lacks romance, it's meaningless.

Since I'm a man, romance is important.

When you think about it, that longing for adulthood we felt as children is a kind of romance, isn't it?
Don't you ever suddenly remember commercials you saw when you were a kid?
I remember a few nostalgic commercials, but lately, I've been thinking about the EDWIN 503 commercial a lot.

Brad Pitt was playing the guitar, singing, and laughing happily.
I remember that song vividly.

"Go-marry-san-Edwin-
Go-marry-san-Edwin-"

That commercial I saw as a child was a bundle of adult romance.
I thought, what a cool adult.

Back then, I wasn't even interested in Brad Pitt's movies, but that smile alone captured my heart.

But I wonder.
Am I able to laugh like Brad Pitt now?
From the perspective of my nephews and nieces,
do they feel even a little bit of "romance" from me?

In the first place, what is "romance"?
This vague question has been stuck in my head lately.

Even while eating.
Even on the train platform.
Even when lighting a cigarette.

Today, as I was spending my time thinking about such vague things, I happened to see a sign in the train station restroom.

"Step one step forward"

If you're a man, you'll understand, but it's often written in restrooms, isn't it?

Isn't that a bit romantic?

Even though no one will praise you for it,
you take one step forward for the sake of someone else.

It's subtle, but I felt romance in that warning.

"Go-marry-san-Edwin-
Go-marry-san-Edwin-"

Before I knew it, I was humming that song in the station restroom just like Brad Pitt.

Looking at the sign, all by myself.

Thank you, Brad Pitt.
Thanks to you, I feel like I've understood in my own way what the romance Jigen was talking about is.

By the way, a guy who walked in at that exact moment looked at me like I was some kind of weirdo, but I don't care at all.

Worrying about what others think, that kind of thing,
if you ask me, lacks romance.