A Grumpy Christmas and 50,000 Yen Matsusaka Beef

The woman was in a bad mood.

It was the day of their first Christmas date together. Walking through the city, there were glittering trees decorated everywhere. The Christmas songs drifting from somewhere made her heart flutter. After passing through the main street, the illuminations decorating the square by the sea gifted the two of them with a romantic mood.

...And that was as far as it went.

The problem occurred at dinner time.

On a special day like Christmas, the two of them hadn't prepared anything. There were only restaurants that you couldn't enter without a reservation, or places that didn't require reservations but had long lines. It didn't look like they would reach dinner anytime soon.

Hunger, combined with the fatigue of walking around the city in heels she wasn't used to, caused the woman's bad mood to grow steadily worse.

Why didn't you make a reservation even though it's Christmas!
The woman finally started taking her frustration out on the man.

I'm sorry...
The man hung his head.

In truth, the woman had been expecting something from the man. After all, today was their first Christmas date. She had wondered if there might be some special surprise.

Even though she knew it was selfish to blame only the man, the woman couldn't help but lash out with complaints.

Then, next year! I'll make a proper reservation next year! Okay?
The man desperately tried to smooth things over on the spot and made a promise.

One year later.
The man was in a bad mood.

The problem was dinner time once again.

Determined not to repeat last year's mistake, the man had made a reservation months in advance. A special Christmas course of Matsusaka beef that cost 50,000 yen for the two of them.

Foie gras appeared from the amuse-bouche, and lobster made an appearance in the hors d'oeuvres. The woman was very happy with a dinner that was too luxurious for an act of atonement, and she savored every single dish thoroughly. Seeing that, the man was happy too.

However, as the meal progressed, something strange began to happen to the woman.

The 50,000 yen course was luxurious not just in its ingredients, but in its volume as well. Feeling guilty toward the man, the woman had been desperately forcing the food down, but she finally reached her limit at the most important part: the main dish.

After taking only a tiny bite of the roasted Matsusaka beef fillet, the woman spoke quietly.

"I'm sorry, I can't do it anymore."

The man was shocked. He had prepared everything so carefully, thinking, 'This year for sure...' He had worked hard at his part-time job for this, spending a massive 50,000 yen. How could she not eat the Matsusaka beef, the most important part?

"Wait, you really can't eat it? It's Matsusaka beef, you know? It's the main dish of the day!"
He asked, but the woman only shook her head, looking distressed.

Frustrated, the man ate everything—the food the woman left behind and both of their desserts. He had long since passed his limit.

"How could you not eat the Matsusaka beef? That's impossible, right? It cost 50,000 yen!"

Every year as Christmas approaches, my husband always brings up this story.
He must really be holding a grudge.

It will be November soon.
It's suddenly gotten cold since last week, so it might be about time for this topic to come up.

If it were me now, I would eat every last bite even if it killed me. You rarely ever see Matsusaka beef. Plus, it was a full French course; unlike back then, I might even be the one stealing my husband's dessert.

We got married, had children. Christmas dinner feels like a story from a long time ago. Now, it's more fun for the whole family to munch on chicken and gather around a cake.

But, what if... once the kids have all left the nest? A dinner for just the two of us might be nice.

"Let's go eat Matsusaka beef again someday."
Maybe I'll try saying that to my husband.

Next time, I'll eat it properly.
That's a promise from me.

#noteDeNoelLetter




▼ I am participating in Rin Kiki's note de Noël. Day 7 Theme: Promise