For people who don’t have anywhere to grab a single blunt nose syringe for a reasonable price, go to your local pharmacy and see if they can sell you a single syringe with a gauge of 23 or lower. I found larger pharmacies and ones attached to hospitals have a larger selection. When you get home, carefully grind down the sharp bit using a sharpening stone or a patio stone. Once that’s done, give it a rinse by running some dish soap and water through it and you are good to go. It might be a little awkward to ask for a single needle, but if it makes you feel better, you can always tell them you need a blunt nose syringe to transfer liquids into a small container and can’t find one so you’re making one yourself.
I think I will echo everyone else. A Platinum Preppy fine will be a great choice for a first time fountain pen user to decide whether a FP is right for them. $6 is not a big loss if it turns out you don’t like it. It seals incredibly well and the pen can last a long time if you aren’t too rough with it. It’s definitely not a pen you can throw at the bottom of a backpack then toss the bag around (compare to the Lamy Safari which can take a good bit more abuse.).
The fine might be a touch scratchier since a Japanese F is usually more like a western EF. If you using a lot of garbage paper, definitely go with the EF. If you’re working with paper that’s more liquid ink friendly, maybe consider M for a slightly smoother experience.
Definitely buy a bunch of samples and a blunt tipped needle to fill the cartridge that comes with it in that order. If you aren’t sure about 100% committing to FPs in that order, fill the rest of your cart for free shipping with stuff you could use otherwise. In terms of paper, I would say Rhodia and Clairefontaine are decent budget friendly paper. I am told Clairefontaine is dirt cheap in France. If you’re in the UK, I’m also told Optik paper from Oxford is widely available for a good price there. Maybe consider some pens or pencils if the retailer has them.