Sweet Cohabitation Romcom With My Senior Girlfriend and Alcohol Starts At Twenty - Volume 1 Chapter 1.2

Can Legally Drinking Alcohol and Living Together After Turning Twenty

“I’m sorry, but I can’t talk about that.”

“The more curious I get if you say that~”

“No, it’s not okay. You must have one or two secrets you wouldn’t want to be known to me too, right, Senpai?”

“If Takashi-kun really wants to know, I can talk about them as much as you’d like~”

“That’s…”

“Ahaha, your face is all red. You’re really cute, Takashi-kun.”

See, just as I thought. She overwhelms me with her incredibly sweet voice if I try to fight back even a little.

“Cute” She says that while gently stroking the edge of my face with the back of her index finger. With a half-finished lemonade in one hand, she continues to dote on me.

This is unbearably pleasant, and it’s a real problem. It makes me fall for Senpai even more when what I really want is for Senpai to fall for me more…

“Anyway, please double-check with your family again! That’s where the conversation should start!”

“Okay, I’ll ask them right now~”

“Yes, please do that.”

Anyway, I’m going to get scolded by my parents in the end. That’s what I’ve resigned myself to when Kureha Senpai makes a call to her family. The Senpai who was just now overwhelmed with a sense of tragedy is nowhere to be seen, nor is the Senpai who loves to tease me. It’s just a seriously attractive woman, Ootani Kureha, sitting beside me.

“Ah, hello mom? You know, about the living together thing we talked about the other day, is it okay to talk about it now? Yeah. That’s right, about the boyfriend I mentioned before…”

The person Senpai is calling is her mother. I can hear her mother’s relaxed voice leaking through. I can’t make out the words, but judging by Senpai’s expression, they must be kind to her.

I feel relieved seeing the seemingly good relationship between Senpai and her mother.

That aside, it seems they really had talked about living together before, which makes me worry about their family relationship.

“…Huh?”

While I’m lost in thought watching Senpai on the phone, Kureha Senpai gives me a sweet look and lightly tugs at the hem of my shirt.

Phone.

Her lips, wet from the alcohol, move to convey that word to me. They open, close for a moment, and then open again. When they open the second time, I think I hear a small popping sound, but it’s probably just my imagination.

Senpai’s lips are so glossy, I can’t help but wish she would make a “Mwah…” sound.

It must be just a weird desire because I’m a little bit indulgent today.

While aware of my excitement about spending my birthday with my lover, I nod vigorously.

“Got it. Just wait a sec… Takashi-kun, my mom says she has something she wants to tell you at the end.”

She hands me the smartphone that’s still on the call. The screen reads “Mom.”

“Hello, I’ve taken over the phone, Suzuki Takashi speaking. I’ve been in a relationship with Kureha-san for about a year now.”

I greet her cautiously, pressing the phone to my ear. I try to be as polite as possible, to be worthy of being Senpai’s boyfriend.

“Oh, you’re quite proper, aren’t you? I thought you’d be more… well…”

“More…? Is there something wrong?”

“No, it’s nothing. It’s not something to bring up now, anyway.”

“Is that so?”

The first impression I had when I heard her mother’s voice was one of warmth. It reminded me of Kureha Senpai’s laid-back way of speaking. But it wasn’t just that; I could also sense a mother’s firmness. That was the impression I got.

And that impression continued even as we got to the main topic.

“Ah, right. About the living together matter, if Kureha is okay with it, I don’t mind at all.”

“That easily…?”

“I’ve given it some thought, you know? Even though she’s an adult, she’s still my dear, dear daughter.”

Silence. I found myself unable to speak. No, it felt like I shouldn’t speak. I didn’t have the words to interject into her serious conversation. It was clear how much she cared for Kureha Senpai, even in her relaxed manner.

“But, if my daughter prefers to be with you… with Takashi-san, then I’m happy to send her off.”

“Ah, thank you so much…!”

“Hehe, you’re welcome.”

I couldn’t help but feel grateful. Grateful for her mother’s decision to acknowledge the relationship between Kureha Senpai and me.

“Ah, but do be careful, okay?”

“Be careful…? About what exactly…?”

“If anything happens to Kureha, you know how her father will become… I think you’re sensible enough to understand what I mean by that.”

“Yes…!”

I swallowed hard. Her father. Kureha Senpai’s father. The man Senpai herself often complained about as being strict.

I couldn’t afford to make a mistake. Instantly, I realized I was being warned.

“By the way, I’m all for the relationship, just so you know~”

Even as her mother’s words of approval were spoken, I was struck by the enormity of the warning she had just given.

“Well then, please take good care of Kureha~”

The call ended abruptly, yet her voice remained calm and carefree.

“What was Mom talking about?”

“Um… take care of her daughter…”

“Classic Mom. Quick and to the point and makes things easier for me.”

I handed back the smartphone, and there was Senpai, looking anxious, asking about the outcome. Upon closer inspection, I noticed she was tightly gripping the hem of my shirt.

Even if the family had been informed, it didn’t guarantee a favorable outcome. This uncertainty was casting a shadow over Senpai’s expression.

Of course, her face brightened up immediately after I shared the good news.

It wasn’t so much a transformation as a return to her usual self. I always want Senpai to be happy and energetic.

“I like you, Senpai.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too, Senpai.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Hehe, I know that. I know very well.”

Today was my sweet twentieth birthday, a day I had hoped would be special. And on this day, I received parental approval for us to live together.

It was too much of a surprise for someone like me who couldn’t even drink alcohol yesterday yet…