Taiwan Travelogue — CHAPTER VIII

1. 1. The narrator observes that Chi-chan has reverted to a more reserved, almost masked demeanor during their hot spring trip to New Hokutō.
2. 2. Chi-chan announces her impending marriage to an older man whose family expects her to primarily bear children, sparking a strong reaction from the narrator.
3. 3. The narrator perceives Chi-chan to be angry or displeased but Chi-chan deflects, claiming the narrator possesses a 'blind spot' that prevents true understanding.
4. 4. The narrator probes Chi-chan about her past, inferring that her exceptional serving skills might suggest a less conventional background than she lets on.
5. 5. Chi-chan provocatively licks miso from the corner of the narrator's mouth, an act that deeply flusters the narrator while Chi-chan remains composed.
6. 6. Chi-chan explicitly states her preference for maintaining a strictly professional relationship, effectively renouncing their developing friendship.
7. 7. Despite Chi-chan's renunciation of their friendship, the narrator finds herself unable to dismiss Chi-chan, acknowledging Chi-chan's earlier claim of being individually treasured by the narrator.
8. 8. The narrator prepares sukiyaki, adapted with pork for Chi-chan, explaining that it is a dish reserved for sharing with 'important' people, signaling Chi-chan's significance.
9. 9. During the second round of sukiyaki, Chi-chan reveals that the narrator is the only person who has ever cooked a meal solely for her, signaling a moment of unmasked vulnerability.
10. 10. Chi-chan promises to prepare clam-boiled noodles for the narrator, a dish deeply rooted in her childhood memories and typically served in large batches, confirming the narrator's 'special' status.
11. 11. Despite the unresolved question of their friendship, the two plan future shared experiences, highlighting an enduring, albeit ambiguously defined, connection.