Sweet Cohabitation Romcom With My Senior Girlfriend and Alcohol Starts At Twenty - Volume 1 Chapter 8.4

Reflections After a Night

“Takashi-kun, you’re drinking heartily yourself. It looks like you’ve really gotten used to the taste of alcohol~”

“Well, yeah… It’s fun to drink with you, Senpai…”

“You say such nice things. Do you want to drink more? Or get lovey-dovey?”

“Am I not already getting lovey-dovey, with my hand being held, my arm being pressed against your chest, and you occasionally breathing into my ear!? And yes, I’ll have another drink, please.”

Despite my strong words about getting lovey-dovey, I don’t try to escape the situation.

Instead, I grip her hand back firmly, snuggle up to my lover on my own, and even lean in to her hair, seemingly enjoying the current situation.

As if seeing right through me, Senpai momentarily pulls away.

But it’s not because she’s fed up with my behavior. She simply went to get a new drink.

“Here, a strong one for you~”

“Ah, thank you.”

Senpai hands me a can of Chuhai with a significantly higher alcohol content than what I usually drink. And in her other hand, she holds another one just like it.

It’s something I definitely wouldn’t drink normally. Even if it were handed to me, I probably wouldn’t drink it if I were in my usual mood.

But I’m not in my usual mood today.

“So, you’re saying you want to get more lovey-dovey?”

“No, that’s not it! I’m saying, isn’t this already lovey-dovey enough?”

“Takashi-kun, don’t you want to be more lovey-dovey with me?”

“…It’s not that I don’t want to, but…”

“But? What’s the matter?”

“I just think that maybe this sort of thing should be reserved for when we’re just a couple…”

“Even after you proposed to me?”

“Ugh…”

Teased, seduced, and gazed at with longing… Senpai’s every gesture and her ever-changing expressions all shake my feelings, making it impossible to stay in a normal mood.

It’s to the point where I can’t handle it without drinking.

Yet, there’s still a part of me that tries to hold back, not wanting to rely on alcohol.

I think to myself, what am I saying after I proposed under the influence of alcohol yesterday?

And as always, Senpai sees right through me.

“Maybe I should pour you a little more drink. I’ll bring some buri daikon. It’s a bit salty, but that should help the alcohol go down.”

“Um, I’m not planning on getting any more lovey-dovey than this, okay…?”

“Don’t worry, I won’t do anything like attack you. I wouldn’t do anything to you that I wouldn’t like to do to myself. I would never.”

“If you say so…”

Senpai stands up for the second time and retrieves the buri daikon from the refrigerator, bringing it over steaming hot, as if it were just made, looking glossy and perfect as a snack to accompany the alcohol.

“How about we talk about the future today? We have plenty of time, after all.”

With that, she places the buri daikon on the table.

It’s saltier than I expected when I try it, but not so much that I reject it.

Rather, it’s just the right amount of saltiness to accelerate the intoxication.

The conversation about our future, which I can’t have without a drink, is about to begin… or so I thought until the doorbell rings.

“Hello? Who is it?”

“I’ve come to take my daughter back.”

“…Y-yes!?”

“Bring Ootani Kureha to me. I am her father.”

“Ah, uhh…”

“What are you doing? Hurry up!”

Standing at the door is a man in a suit with a stern expression.

Despite the wrinkles on his face, his solid build is clearly visible even through the suit.

Faced with such a man, I can only meekly comply.

I knew I had to confront the strict father of my lover eventually.

“Who was it? Did you order some naughty magazines or something? You can’t do that, you know, you should pick them up at the convenience store.”

Unaware that her father is approaching, Kureha Senpai says this as she walks to the entrance.

Her atmosphere is always the same, no matter the situation.

Her expression remains serene and unchanged.

To such a senpai, my pathetic self from moments ago vanishes.

I can’t remain bogged down by those pitiful feelings forever, especially since conversations with Senpai are far from boring.

“I haven’t ordered any recently, okay!? Besides, that’s the least of my worries right now!!”

“Hmm?? Teasing Takashi-kun aside, what could possibly be so important that you’re in such a panic?”

“Senpai, your father is here!!!”

Conversations with Senpai are always fun.

Since I never know what topic will come flying out of Senpai’s mouth next, I find myself both nervous and excited.

But this time, it seems difficult to feel excited.

Because the man who arrived was far more imposing than the one I had heard about from Senpai.

“Eh… why…?”

“It’s obvious, isn’t it? Because you haven’t been contacting us properly.”

“!?”

The moment Senpai sees her father peering in from the entrance, her expression turns stern.

The usually cheerful Senpai now has a furrowed brow, clearly showing her displeasure.

“I always tell you, no matter how busy you are, to at least keep in touch with us.”

“But I have been keeping in touch with mom?”

“It’s not just mom, I’ve told you to contact me as well.”

“It should be enough that I’m contacting mom! Why do I have to report everything to dad as well?”

“But you used to contact me properly at the beginning of university. Why has it suddenly become just mom?”

“Because you’re always so nitpicky and persistent dad!!”

“Persistent―!?”

…Yeah, it’s time to stop this.

The argument is escalating, and Senpai’s irritation is becoming more apparent.

Seeing Senpai talking in this tone is rare, and while I feel a sense of nostalgia, I can’t bear to watch her father showered with shocking words any longer.