Sweet Cohabitation Romcom With My Senior Girlfriend and Alcohol Starts At Twenty - Volume 1 Chapter 8.2

Reflections After a Night

“Are you still hung up on what Takashi said yesterday? About getting married?”

“Of course. I haven’t seen Takashi-kun that serious in a long time.”

My agitation settled down as I continued the straight-to-the-point conversation with Yuu-chan.

It was hard to believe that I was the same person who had been fretting over last night’s blunder upon waking up.

It’s not like Takashi-kun would get tired of me just because of one or two mistakes.

If the man I truly loved was that fickle, I wouldn’t have even thought about seriously learning to cook from my mother.

At most, I would have stuck to simple dishes.

I would never bother to learn something as complex as simmered dishes just for myself. It was because of Takashi-kun that I could become serious.

Yes, I was supposed to be serious…

“Ah, I thought I was ready for this…”

I hadn’t expected him to come at me with such seriousness.

Maybe the words from yesterday were just blurted out in the heat of the moment, but he was completely earnest the second time he spoke.

His face was red, and if I hadn’t been so flustered, I would have definitely teased him, saying he looked “so cute like an apple, I could just eat you up.”

He was so adorable and yet—so cool that I fell for him all over again.

That’s why I was surprised at myself for not being ready to accept Takashi-kun’s words.

Despite my daily advances, this was how I reacted when it was my turn.

But it seems that my reaction was considered normal by society.

“Ready? We’re still university students, you know?”

“But we’re adults. It wouldn’t be strange for us to get married at any time.”

“Are you really serious…?”

Yuu-chan looked a little, no, quite puzzled.

“Of course I am. I seriously think it’s okay for me to marry Takashi-kun.”

“No wonder I lose.”

“Lose what?”

“No, it’s just something on my side.”

I didn’t quite understand what Yuu-chan meant by losing, but it seemed my resolve was a bit different from the norm.

But I think that’s okay. Just as love doesn’t need a reason, there’s no need for a reason to want to monopolize someone you love, right?

As I thought about this, my feelings naturally calmed down.

“For now, I’ll go back to Takashi-kun’s place a bit earlier than the lunchtime I told him, tease him a little, and then think about it.”

“So, it’s the usual after all.”

“I just won’t feel at ease if I don’t stick to the usual.”

Indeed, the most fun and thrilling part of communicating with Takashi-kun is when we’re teasing each other.

With that excitement, I’ll continue from where we left off yesterday.

Surely, Takashi-kun will forgive me.

I couldn’t wait to see Takashi-kun. Even though our conversation at the entrance was ongoing, my feet were already pointing me back to him.

Seeing me like this, Yuu-chan asked with a smile.

“Senpai, can I ask one last thing?”

“What’s the matter? You’re being so formal.”

“You mentioned that you saw Takashi’s serious face for the first time in a long time, but where did you see it?”

“Well…”

I couldn’t tell what Yuu-chan’s intention was with her question, but I had my answer ready and responded immediately.

“I guess it was when I first received a love confession from Takashi-kun.”

After that, Yuu-chan told me, “I see. You can go now,” and I left her room.

Heading towards my beloved Takashi-kun.

***

“I want to make Takashi-kun my bride!!!”

As soon as I returned to my lover’s room, I blurted out such a thing without much thought, just reflexively.

Instinctively, I wanted to be with Takashi-kun.

If you’re shown such a display of feminine prowess… whether it’s a boyfriend or not, you’d want to make them your bride.

“Um, Senpai? I know my marriage remark yesterday was sudden, and I do apologize for that, but are you so confused that you don’t even know your own gender anymore? You’re the bride, Senpai.”

“But with things like this, how can you tell who’s the girl!!!”

“What…”

While Takashi-kun was bewildered, I was in shock, staring at the ingredients for French toast that he must have prepared for me.

Meanwhile, in my hand was the failed pot dish from yesterday at Yuu-chan’s house.

It was supposed to be a simple throw-in-the-pot dish where you just cut ingredients, put them in a pot, and simmer with soy sauce, mirin, and sugar. Yet, even such a simple dish was a failure in front of the stylish homemade French toast.

Any girl would crave such an ideal breakfast menu that Takashi-kun had prepared. It’s clear who the girl is. Yes, Takashi-kun, a boy, is the girl.

“Um, Senpai? I understand that you’re shaken by what I said yesterday, but you’re overreacting. I’m a guy, and you’re the girl, Senpai.”

“A boy can become a bride too!”

“No, they can’t, and I won’t. The bride is supposed to be you, Senpai.”

“Both of us as brides…?”

“There’s only one bride, Senpai.”

Despite my agitation, Takashi-kun calmly unraveled my confusion.

With a part of my heart admitting, “I’m no match for him…” I gradually began to calm down.

But as I calmed down, a wave of embarrassment washed over me.

Moreover, Takashi-kun was too calm, making me feel as if I were the one being teased.

“Please forget what happened just now.”

“No way, that’s impossible. Besides, you were cute when you were flustered just now, Senpai.”

“I’m always flustered, so that makes it sound like I’m always cute.”

“…? That’s what I meant.”

“!?”

Takashi-kun’s eyes were simply staring straight at me, with no malice to be felt.

They were nothing like mine. Just pure eyes that I love so dearly.

Eyes that seemed to draw me in endlessly, the eyes I fell in love with.

I remembered the time at the drinking circle when I was pestered and he came to my rescue. The eyes he had when he confessed to me in the heat of the moment. The eyes of the clumsy him that I fell in love with.

Back then, Takashi-kun said, “I didn’t intend to say it at such an embarrassing moment…” and tried to take back his confession.

His sincerity only made me fall deeper in love.

Before I knew it, I was asking my mother for advice on how to win over the boy I liked.

One result of that advice was the pot dish I had attempted at Yuu-chan’s house.