Sweet Cohabitation Romcom With My Senior Girlfriend and Alcohol Starts At Twenty - Volume 1 Chapter 3.2

Wanting to Be Lovey-Dovey After a Day at University

Of course, as a university student, skipping too much is problematic, and indeed, the friend I’d asked to cover for me had been threatening me with “You owe me more and more. You know that, right?”

Even without this incident, I owed that friend for various things, so I couldn’t afford to skip any more classes.

For instance, the fake wall behind the bed the other time.

“…Well, I guess I have no choice but to go.”

“Cheer up, Takashi-kun!”

“It’s like it’s none of your business!? You’re going to university with me, Senpai!?”

“Eh~?”

“Don’t ‘Eh~?’ me!”

I pulled up my reluctant Senpai, and despite being late, we headed to the afternoon classes, hand in hand, making our way to the entrance.

“By the way, I’ve already sent a message to my friend saying, ‘I’ll be busy flirting with my younger, handsome boyfriend, so please cover for me~.’ ”

“Isn’t that a bit too strong?”

While chuckling wryly, I wondered how serious the content of Senpai’s message was.

***

“Ah, you finally show up, you truant. I was thinking of letting you treat me to yakiniku today after covering for you again, but thanks to you, that plan’s gone out of the water.”

“That was close. Yuu’s appetite is seriously no joke…”

“Ah, I was actually planning on something other than all-you-can-eat.”

“You’re seriously dangerous!!!”

As soon as I arrived at the university, I was being scolded by my best friend who had been in the classroom attending the lecture before me.

The reason was clear; it was a tacit way of saying “You’ve been skipping too much.”

No matter how much freedom a university student has to attend or skip classes, there’s a limit to how much I can rely on others. And today was the last day of that limit.

Next to such a friend called Sonoda Yuu, I set out my notebook and writing utensils on the desk beside my reliable female friend, determined to listen to the lecture, even if it was partway through.

Contrary to the tomboyish manner of speaking, she was petite, and her oversized hoodie, based in blue and white, was perhaps the only thing that emphasized this.

“So, why did you skip for three days? Depending on the reason, I might let you off the hook. Specifically, I might forgive you if you treat me to desserts in the cafeteria until I’m satisfied.”

“That doesn’t sound like being forgiven at all.”

“Just spit it out. Otherwise, I’ll force you to treat me to yakiniku.”

“Alright, I’ll say it. I’ll tell you!”

“If you understand, then good. Go ahead, let’s hear it.”

It seemed that Yuu had no intention of letting me attend the lecture properly, as she kept tugging at my sleeve, eager to find out what I had been doing for the past three days. And of course, it was under the assumption that I would be treating her to a meal.

As usual, she was hiding her face deep under the hood of her black hoodie, making her expression unreadable, but I was sure she was smirking to herself.

Like Kureha Senpai, it seems that I’m easily teased by women.

Or perhaps I have some sort of fate with women who like to tease people?

***

While pondering my situation, I recalled my current balance.

Roughly five thousand yen. Considering Yuu’s deceptive appearance and her voracious appetite, treating her to desserts or yakiniku would stretch my modest funds.

Yet, not answering was not an option. Yuu would choose yakiniku without hesitation. And not just any yakiniku, but the expensive kind.

In a situation where escape was not permitted, I muttered my answer.

“…I skipped because I wanted to be lovey-dovey with Senpai.”

“Alright, we’re going to the ATM later. You’re treating me to yakiniku with your money.”

“Can’t you just forgive me with a dessert?!”

“I said it depends on the reason, didn’t I? What’s this? I’ve been exploited just so you could be lovey-dovey with your lover!!”

So unreasonable. I had simply answered honestly.

Even if I had lied, she would have opted for yakiniku.

Sonoda Yuu, my friend who detests lies, had cornered me, and it was truly unreasonable.

There was no escape.

But it can’t be helped. Wanting to be lovey-dovey with Kureha Senpai is my true desire.

My best friend is that kind of person. She hates lies, is honest with her appetite, and on top of that, she has sharp intuition.

She’s a person you can’t let your guard down around, and she’s different from Kureha Senpai in that respect.

However, even though I thought this, the fact that I had been lovey-dovey didn’t change.

So, I frantically threw out an excuse to Yuu in an attempt to protect myself even a little.

“I-I couldn’t help it! Kureha Senpai suddenly showed up at my place with her stuff, saying she was moving in!!”

But that was a mistake.

The situation wouldn’t have gotten worse if I hadn’t said anything unnecessary.

“Wait a minute.”

“What now…?”

“What’s this about suddenly showing up with her stuff and moving in?”

“Just like it sounds, I’m currently living with Senpai in my room…”

“I haven’t heard anything about that.”

“Well, that’s because I haven’t mentioned it.”

Yuu’s voice gradually became heavier as I spoke with my usual tone.

At that moment, I was not only oblivious to this change but also completely unaware of the reason behind it.

“So, Takashi, as usual, you got overwhelmed and just went along with it? You’re always so weak.”

“It’s not like I was overwhelmed or anything… I’ve always thought about wanting to spend more time with Kureha Senpai…”

“Despite that, you’re always being teased. Even now, isn’t this just going to end up being a joke where it turns out to be just a sleepover?”

“Senpai isn’t the type to play that kind of jokes!!”

I was too busy explaining the living situation with Kureha Senpai to notice the shift in Yuu’s tone.

In fact, I was getting heated up because I felt like Kureha Senpai was being ridiculed.

Senpai truly likes me.

After spending three days together, I understood that painfully well.

Even if it was my best friend Yuu, I couldn’t forgive her for dismissing our living situation as a “joke” without really understanding.

That’s why I raised my voice a bit more than I intended.

Naturally, most of the people in the classroom started looking at me and began to murmur.

However, Yuu and I continued our conversation without caring about the surrounding gazes.