Sweet Cohabitation Romcom With My Senior Girlfriend and Alcohol Starts At Twenty - Volume 1 Chapter 7.5

Love Calls

“That’s simply who I am, and it’s what I want to do.”

Kureha stated with a smug look on her face.

“What about you, Yuu-chan? Are you okay with how things are? Or is there something you want to do?”

Adding those words, Kureha waited for a response.

“I just don’t want to be treated as someone special.”

Yuu confessed, her voice spilling out from beneath the hood, tinged with loneliness.

It was a fragile tone, completely different from her usual assertive manner when speaking to a close friend.

Yet, it conveyed her deep sincerity to the person she faced.

“Can you tell me more? It’s okay. I’m definitely on your side, Yuu-chan.”

“Really…? You won’t change your mind?”

“I like people who try hard. I love those who strive and strive to change their situation.”

“Like Takashi?”

“Yes, Takashi-kun too. I always get butterflies when I see Takashi-kun trying not to be teased.”

Contrary to the affectionate talk of a lover, Kureha’s eyes were sharp.

While occasionally steering the conversation away, Kureha seemed completely immersed in Yuu’s troubles.

There was none of the sloppiness that she showed in front of Takashi.

On the contrary, there was even a coolness to Kureha’s overly serious expression.

“That’s why, no matter how hard Yuu-chan tries, I won’t change my mind.”

“Is that so…”

Yuu couldn’t help but falter in her words, taken aback by Kureha uncharacteristic attitude.

“Ah, sorry, let me correct that. My feelings might change, actually.”

“Huh?”

“Because I might end up feeling all fluttery about Yuu-chan, right?”

“Ah, haha…”

Yuu stumbled over her words again as Kureha abruptly reverted to her usual self.

“So~? What’s been troubling you, Yuu-chan?”

Kureha pressed on, seizing the moment as Yuu wore a look of anxiety.

But still, her intonation was different from when she spoke to Takashi, showing genuine concern for Yuu’s troubles.

It was a voice meant to break the tension, nothing like the one she used when she wanted to be spoiled by Takashi. And Yuu, who had witnessed Kureha’s changing tone in front of Takashi, understood the intention behind Kureha’s current voice—it was meant to calm her down.

In response to Kureha’s thoughtfulness, Yuu slowly began to reveal what she had been hiding.

“Um, well… it’s this…”

“Wow, it’s white!”

The hair of the girl who removed her hood was pure white, just as Kureha had exclaimed.

It was a natural color, not dyed, but the girl’s face was flushed with embarrassment.

“Hey, hey, is this your natural hair? Can I touch it?”

“Y-Yes, you can…”

“Then I won’t hold back~”

Yuu, who hadn’t shown her white natural hair to anyone outside her family for months, maybe even years, was at the peak of her embarrassment.

On the other hand, Kureha was curious as she reached out to touch the girl’s head.

As soon as she was allowed, she gently stroked Yuu’s head.

Yuu’s hair, pure white and shimmering as if sanctified, was so fine and well-kept that Kureha naturally doubted it was natural.

The quality of the hair is thin yet strong.

“Hmm, it’s nice. So silky~. Well-maintained and delicate! I’m jealous!!”

Kureha continued to stroke Yuu’s head with a covetous look in her eyes, reminiscent of her own hair.

Kureha had beautiful, bright red hair, but she didn’t like her own hair—not the color, but the texture.

Contrary to its lovely color, her hair was coarse and difficult to care for.

That’s why she couldn’t help but feel envious of Yuu’s glossy hair quality.

However, Yuu was surprised by Kureha’s reaction.

“Is that all?”

“What do you mean by ‘is that all’?”

“Um, aren’t you going to say things like… ‘You look like a foreigner’ or ‘You don’t look Japanese’…?”

Yuu found herself unable to suppress her worries any longer.

It was a complex, to say the least. She had a head of white hair, a rarity among Japanese people.

Viewed as a curiosity by society and distanced by classmates, she gradually began to hide her true face.

Her only solace was the words from her parents, “You don’t have to force yourself.”

Yet, the fear of the stares she had felt from those around her lingered to this day.

It was a university Senpai who also had an unusual hair color who broke through this barrier.

***

“Why can’t there be a Japanese person with white hair? I mean, my hair is red, but I’m still Japanese, right?”

“Ah… that’s true…”

Yuu made a close friend who accepted her without her facade, and eventually, she even revealed her true self to that friend’s lover.

No one could have predicted it, and not even Kureha knew that Yuu was troubled by her hair color.

At least, to Takashi, whether Yuu wore a hood or not was of no consequence.

Naturally, he wouldn’t mention it to her lover, Kureha.

The catalyst was a mere coincidence.

“Did someone say something bad to you?”

“W-well… I’ve been wearing a hoodie like this ever since I graduated high school.”

“I see. That must have been tough. I’m sorry for making you feel uncomfortable at the bar the other day.”

“N-no…! I used to get comments like that at my previous job too, so I don’t mind anymore!”

Kureha’s favorite bar happened to be where Yuu worked, and on that particular day, Yuu unexpectedly had to step in to cover the hall.

A series of coincidences revealed Yuu’s complex and a path to resolution began to unfold.

“Are you sure you’re not just numbing your feelings? It’s not good to be dishonest with yourself.”

“Be honest, you say…”

Sometimes, even if you’re not aware of it yourself, a close friend can provide the trigger for self-awareness.

That’s what the path to resolution is all about.

However, the resolution method was very much like Kureha’s.