Midnight Murmurs | Romance in the Analog Era | Unparalleled Resolve and Effort

Back in my student days, I went to great lengths just to get in touch with a girl I was interested in.
That's only natural, as this was over ten years before mobile phones (and email) became widespread among the general public.

It was what we call the analog era.

We had one landline phone with a rotary dial and a black body, located in the entryway (under the stairs).

"Chiriririn~ Chiriririn~"
The bell built inside would vibrate to signal an incoming call.

Who in the family would pick up the receiver was purely a matter of luck.

1. Whoever happened to be nearby,
2. Whoever was watching TV in the living room on the first floor,

Even if there were unspoken rules within the family, I still think it was nothing but luck.

In such an environment, once my heart started racing with the desire to contact a girl I liked, I had to prepare myself for an extraordinary amount of trouble.

1. What is she doing right now?
Is it bath time? Has she started her homework?

2. If I call now, will she be the one to answer?
What should I say if a family member answers?

3. What if her father, mother, sister, or brother answers?
I hear her father is very strict.

4. If it's not her, what should I say?
Should I start with, "It's about homework"?

5. Isn't it already too late?
I must remember to say, "Sorry for calling so late."

6. I need to think of an excuse to go to the phone booth.
Should I leave silently? Or say I'm going to buy a canned drink?

7. I must make sure I have plenty of 10-yen coins.
The clinking sound in my jersey pocket is annoying. Plus, it makes my pants sag.

8. Will the phone booth I'm aiming for actually be free?
If there's someone already there, where should I go next?

9. I must keep a calm expression when I head out.
I can't look too happy. I can't look too nervous either.

10. By the way, what should I say to her on the phone?
I want to ask her to a movie, but what's a good topic to start with?

11. Long calls are a no-go, but how many minutes would be okay?
Should I settle for just 10 minutes? Will that be enough?

12. Will she be able to talk freely?
Is anyone nearby? Is she too hot? Too cold? Too sleepy?

13. I absolutely must secure a promise for the next call!
What day (what day of the week) and what time will she be able to pick up?

14. What if the phone booth is occupied or I can't get out?
Should I write a letter? Leave a small note in her shoe locker? Beg her best friend for help?

I would focus all my nerves and energy onthe moment I could talk to herand meticulously craft my strategy.

For days and days,

unable to muster the courage,

unable to find the right opportunity to go out,

telling myself, 'Tomorrow, I'll do it tomorrow,'

the days went by with my heart trembling.

Even though I was so interested in her, when we met at school, I couldsay absolutely nothing.

In this way, I missed the chance to invite her to the local Bon Odori festival, and it wasn't until a month before Christmas, near the end of the year, that I finally managed to secure a promise to go to the movies together.

From then on, a routine began where I would call her from a phone booth at 8:00 PM almost every day, and she would answer the phone directly.

'I'll let the phone ring once, just a 'chirp'!'

'If it rings again, that's me!'

'Pick it up right away!'

(Back then, the term 'one-ring call' didn't even exist yet.)

There were also nerve-wracking days when she would call my home once a week.

(The awkwardness of whispering hung in the space under the entrance stairs.)

I had spent an incredible amount of effort, energy, and time just to secure the date promise of 'Let's go see a movie together!'

Postscript

What was important in the dating techniques of the analog era were 'promises' and 'trust'.
Since we couldn't know the other person's situation immediately,
no matter what obstacles stood in our way, we built 'trust' for the next time by always keeping the promises we made.
Thinking back on it now, I am impressed by what a patient and romantic era it was.

I will dare not mention the comparison to the modern day.
It has become far too convenient, making it an entirely different dimension.

Thank you for staying with me until the end.

May today be a wonderful day for all of you as well.




* * * * *
※ Points of concern for this article (I have started noting things I was unsure about in terms of expression)
・I fondly remembered the dating scene from my middle school to high school days. I feel that the world has completely transformed with the spread of mobile phones (smartphones, the internet).
・I felt that I don't want to forget the simple heart of the analog era.

*Reference/Citation

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Phone Booth | Produced by K&R
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