Sweet Cohabitation Romcom With My Senior Girlfriend and Alcohol Starts At Twenty - Volume 1 Chapter 4.4

The First Bar Visit

“Next, I’ll have a Peach Fizz, and for this man next to me, a Cassis Orange, please.”

“Certainly.”

Kureha Senpai and I quickly finished our rich peach cocktails, the Fuzzy Navels.

Unlike me, who was feeling a bit tormented by the memory of our peach liquor-flavored kiss, Senpai, who was accustomed to drinking, ordered the next drink as if it were nothing.

Senpai continued with a peach-based cocktail while I was given an orange cocktail with a name I seemed to have heard somewhere before.

Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect, and at that moment, I didn’t really care.

‘This man next to me.’ (tonari no kare)

I couldn’t help but feel a jolt at the casual way Senpai used that phrase.

Was it referring to me as a boyfriend or just as a person next to her?

I hoped it was the former.

While harboring such greedy thoughts, I gripped Senpai’s hand even tighter, conveying my anxious feelings directly.

“Um… Senpai? Is it really okay to drink so quickly? With the alcohol and everything…”

“Are you worried about the money? If that’s the case, you don’t have to worry.”

“Even if you say so, I’m still worried.”

“Ehehe, Takashi-kun, you’re so kind~”

“Is this really the time for teasing?”

We had been in the bar for only ten minutes.

My glass was still half full, while Senpai’s was already empty.

No matter how much one likes sweet drinks, drinking at a bar is different from drinking at home.

The more you drink, the more money you spend, with no limit.

Despite being told before coming that “money is no concern,” I couldn’t help but worry.

Yet, Kureha Senpai only looked at me with melting eyes while gently stroking my tightly held hand, seemingly without a care in the world.

I couldn’t understand how she could be so relaxed.

“Don’t worry, it’s all good. Nothing like what you’re thinking will happen.”

“If you say so…”

“But maybe I should clear things up if you’re too worried about money to focus on me.”

Seeing me still anxious despite her loving gaze, Senpai brought over a menu that had been lying face down on the counter.

On it was written, “University Students Special! All-you-can-drink cocktails for 2,000 yen!”

“What, all-you-can-drink for 2,000 yen…? For cocktails!?”

“Yeah. Surprised?”

“It’s more than surprising! And it looks like there’s no time limit written here either…”

“That’s right. The owner decided on this to encourage word-of-mouth. Well, as you can see, despite being in a back alley, it’s not really attracting crowds.”

It was beyond surprising. An all-you-can-drink deal with no time limit.

You could enjoy cocktails, which normally take more effort to prepare than regular drinks, to your heart’s content for just two thousand yen. And it wasn’t just cocktails—beer and sake were also unlimited.

It was the kind of generosity that made you question the sanity of the owner.

Even if it was a promotional stunt to attract customers, it would surely be the perfect spot for anyone who loved a good drink.

In reality, due to the eerie neon lights and its back alley location, there were hardly any people around…

“Sorry for the wait, here’s your Peach Fizz and Cassis Orange. Please continue to enjoy your time at your leisure.”

While we were talking, the drinks Senpai had ordered arrived.

I downed the remaining Fuzzy Navel in my glass and handed over my empty glass along with Senpai’s.

Seeing my actions, Senpai spoke with a satisfied look.

“Now, you don’t have to worry about money anymore, right?”

Even though they were sweet drinks, alcohol was still alcohol.

My head, which had been clear until a moment ago, was starting to feel a bit fuzzy.

At the same time, I felt a slight surge of boldness within me.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Then, you’ll be able to immerse yourself in drinking with me, won’t you? It’s our first time together at a bar. I want to spend a nice time getting thoroughly and slowly drunk with you.”

“I, too… want to enjoy the drinks slowly with you. Senpai!”

“Hehe, look at you, all excited and nervous.”

“You’re one to talk, Senpai. You’re just as excited.”

As usual, I responded to Senpai’s teasing while casually throwing back a retort.

It wasn’t that I had planned to get back at her, it just happened before I realized it.

Senpai’s body was felt through our intertwined arms. It was her usual tactic to deliberately make me restless.

However, it seemed Senpai wasn’t as composed as usual behind her appearance, as her ears were slightly red.

I knew very well that this wasn’t the redness of being drunk. When Senpai got drunk, her cheeks would flush.

The redness of her ears now was from genuine embarrassment.

But I had let my guard down.

“It’s natural… I’ve been looking forward to holding hands like this for a long time.”

“Senpai…”

I should have known Senpai wouldn’t just let herself be outdone.

I gulped down the Cassis Orange placed in front of me immediately… to avoid meeting the triumphant gaze of the red-eared Kureha Senpai.

“Oh, hiding your embarrassment with a drink?”

“It’s not to hide my embarrassment! I just wanted to check the taste with a sip!”

“Then tell me, what does it taste like?”

“It’s…”

“Huh, you can’t even say it.”

Of course, I couldn’t.

I had taken a sip not because I couldn’t look at her face… I just needed an excuse.

The Cassis Orange I had taken a sip of quickly passed through my throat, only accelerating my intoxication.

Still, there was no way Senpai, the confident Kureha Senpai, would stop her attack.