murakami, haruki - Norwegian wood

"I'll take anything you want to give me," I said. I picked up the
Spanish textbook on his desk and stared at it. "You're starting
Spanish?"
"Yeah. The more languages you know the better. And I've got a knack
for them. I taught myself French and it's practically perfect.
Languages are like games. You learn the rules for one, and they all
work the same way. Like women."
"Ah, the reflective life!" I said with a sarcastic edge.
"Anyway, let's eat out soon."
"You mean cruising for women?"
"No, a real dinner. You, me and Hatsumi at a good restaurant. To
celebrate my new job. My old man's paying, so we'll go somewhere
really expensive."
"Shouldn't it just be you and Hatsumi?"
"No, it'd be better with you there. I'd be more comfortable, and so
would Hatsumi."
Oh no, it was Kizuki, Naoko and me all over again.
"I'll spend the night at Hatsumi's afterwards, so join us just for the
meal."
"OK, if you both really want me to," I said. "But, anyway, what are
you planning to do about Hatsumi? You'll be assigned overseas when
you finish your training, and you probably won't come back for years.
What's going to happen to her?"
"That's her problem."
"I don't get it," I said.
Feet on his desk, Nagasawa took a swig of beer and yawned.
"Look, I'm not planning to get married. I've made that perfectly clear
to Hatsumi. If she wants to marry someone, she should go ahead and
do it. I won't stop her. If she wants to wait for me, let her wait. That's
what I mean."
"I have to hand it to you," I said.
"You think I'm a shit, don't you?"
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