第73話 校外学習
朝陽の通う学校はゴールデンウィークが終わると、校外学習というイベントが控えている。
教師が提示する狙いは主に二つ。
一つは生活圏から離れた街並みに触れ、地域の人々の声を聞くことで歴史と人情を学ぶ事。
二つは目的と行動を共にすることで、クラスメイトとの仲を深める事。
「結局は遠足だよね?」
日菜美の鋭い指摘にクラスメイトも頷く。
その反応に対し、当日の予定を説明をしていた朝陽たちの担任――
「遠足じゃなくて校外学習だ」
キッパリとした訂正にクラスの雰囲気が引き締まる。
明らかに不機嫌そうな表情。
怒らせたか、と誰もが息を呑んだが。
「そう言わないと俺が怒られる」
当の本人は気だるげにため息を吐いて、あれこれと愚痴を言い始めた。
上がうるさいとか、給料が減るとか、監督不行き届きがなんとか。
「先生にあるまじき言動。だがそれがいい」
「去年、平常点オマケしてもらったんだっけ?」
「そうそう。お陰で赤点回避できたのよ」
後ろからVサインを向けて来る千昭に呆れ笑いを返し、朝陽はぼんやりと黒板を見つめる。
高校一年の時も竹内先生、略して竹先のクラスだった朝陽と千昭は既に慣れている光景。
一方で、日菜美を始めとする初対面の生徒はまだ彼のペースに慣れていないらしい。
「まあ、結局は遠足ってことだな」
その一言に教室の空気が弛緩し、日菜美もホッと息をつく。
ようやく竹内先生の適当さに気付いたのか、クラスメイトはざわざわと賑わい始めた。
「ったく、話が逸れちまった。説明続けるからほどほどに聞いとけよ」
面倒臭そうにプリントを読み上げる竹内先生と、一応耳を傾けながらも雑談をする生徒。
朝陽と千昭にとっては懐かしい日常だ。
「去年は山登ってカレー作ったよな」
「千昭が米焦がした記憶しかない」
「その場合は風情の欠片もないな」
「美味い飯には代えられんよ......おっ、今年は弁当配られるのか」
タイミングよくお昼ご飯の説明が始まり、二人は雑談を止めて黒板に目を向けた。
いつの間にか白色が増えていて、意外にも綺麗な字がずらりと並ぶ。
今回の目的とか、地域の歴史とか、おやつは三百円までとか。
箇条書きで要点が分かりやすく纏められている。
その中で、一際目立つ大きな文字。
校外学習:横浜
高校生が遠足気分になってしまうのも仕方がない目的地だ。
教室全体が浮き立ち、いつもより騒がしい。
「それじゃあ、くじ引きで当日の行動班を決めるぞ」
プリントを配り終えた先生が紙袋を教壇に乗せる。
その瞬間、教室が一層沸き立った。
「うちのクラスは四十人。五人八組で各班一人リーダーを選んでくれ」
黒板に一班、二班......と八班まで大枠が書き込まれていく。
各々、思うところがあるのだろう。
雑談があちこちで飛び交う。
そして、威勢よく声を上げる者も現れた。
「先生、くじ引きは嫌!」
「何か他に代案があるのか?」
「好きな人同士で組む!」
「それだと親睦を深める目的と合わないだろ......ってお偉いさんが言ってた」
「えーっ! 私、龍馬と同じ班がいいのに!」
「おうおう、熱いラブコールだな。同じ番号を引けるように頑張ってくれや」
正論を前に抵抗虚しく、明日香は素直に着席した。
頬はリスのように膨らんでいて、明らかに不満そうだ。
そんな彼女自身に不満を持つ生徒もちらほらと見られる。
「山田君絶対困ってるって」
「ちょっと慣れ慣れしいよね」
女子たちの中で明確な派閥があるらしい。
遠慮ない陰口と、敵対心むき出しの視線。
当の本人はというと、全く気にしていないらしい。
「ねえ、龍馬! 一緒の班になれたらシーパラ行こ?」
「そうだね。僕も行きたいと思ってた」
「やった! 絶対、同じ番号引かなきゃ!」
隠す気がない明日香のアピールに龍馬は爽やかな笑顔で応じる。
その視線が一瞬、冬華の方を捉えたのを明日香は気付いているのだろうか。
(宮本も山田も凄いな......)
どうしたらそこまで自分の気持ちに正直になれるのか。
正反対な二人を前にして、朝陽を襲う焦燥感は次第に大きさを増していた。
「氷室さんと同じ班になれるといいな」
茶化すように声を掛けて来た千昭に、朝陽は珍しく素直に応じる。
そうして何となく、窓際の席を見た。
「......あっ」
何の偶然か、目を向けた先の少女と視線が重なる。
暫くそのカラメル色の瞳に釘付けになり、やがて朝陽はぎこちない笑みを浮かべた。
対する冬華はとても自然に、そして柔らかい笑顔を向けて来る。
こういった小さな出来事で朝陽の心は十分に満たされた。
だからこそ、その先に進むことを躊躇ってしまう。
これ以上を求めた結果、今の幸せすらも失ってしまったら。
何が正解で何が不正解なのか。
今進んでいる道の先に答えがあるのか。
この物語は果たしてハッピーエンドなのか。
その結末は誰も知らないし、誰も分からない。
「引いた紙は戻すなよ。あと、自分の班に名前書いといてくれ」
竹内先生が早速、席順で生徒を教壇に呼び、一人一人が紙袋に手を入れる。
誰が何班だったとか、あの人と一緒だったとか、番号を交換したいとか。
教室が今日一番の盛り上がりを見せ、それぞれが一枚の紙に一喜一憂していた。
「朝陽ー、何番だった?」
「八だって。日菜美は?」
「私は一班。残念だけど違う班だね」
駆け寄ってきた日菜美ががっくりと肩を落とす。
どうやら、千昭とは同じ班になれたらしい。
その上でこうして落ち込んでくれるのは悪い気はしない。
しかし、すぐにその表情がガラリと変わる。
「ふゆちゃんは何番かなー」
「......そのニヤついた顔やめろ」
額に軽くデコピンをお見舞いすると、日菜美は他の友達と談笑中の千昭に助けを求めにいった。
そうして一人になったと思いきや、後ろから声が聞こえる。
「朝陽くん、何番でしたか?」
上目遣いで、不安そうに冬華が尋ねる。
その手には四つ折りの紙が握られていた。
「せっかくだし同時に見せようぜ」
「いいですね。せーので開けましょうか」
そんな他愛もない提案を二人で楽しむ。
この瞬間すら、朝陽はとても幸せに感じた。
騒がしい教室の中で人知れず、二人の声が綺麗に重なった。
Ch 73
The school that Asahi attended had an extracurricular learning event coming right after Golden Week.
There were two main goals presented by the teacher.
One was to learn about the history and people of the area by experiencing it and interviewing the locals.
The second was to get to know your classmates better by sharing objectives and activities.
"So, it's basically a school trip, right?"
Her classmates nodded in agreement to Hinami's sharp remarks.
Takeuchi Shigeru, Asahi's homeroom teacher, who was explaining the day's schedule, frowned at the reaction.
"It's not a school trip, it's extracurricular learning."
The atmosphere in the class tightened up at the crisp correction.
He looked clearly unhappy.
Everyone gasped, wondering if they had offended him.
"If I don't say it like that, they'll get mad at me."
The person in question let out a languid sigh and began to complain about this and that.
About the nagging of his superior, the reduction in salary, and the lack of supervision.
"Unbecoming of a teacher. But that's good."
"Didn't he give an extra point last year?"
"Yep. Thanks to that I avoided failing."
Asahi smiled at Chiaki, who gave him a peace sign from behind, and stared blankly at the blackboard.
In freshman year, both of them were in Takeuchi-sensei's class, or Takezaki for short, so they were already familiar with the scene.
On the other hand, it seemed that Hinami and the other students who were meeting him for the first time were still getting used to his pace.
"Well, I guess it's a school trip."
The air in the classroom relaxed at that comment, and Hinami breathed a sigh of relief.
Finally realizing the appropriateness of Takeuchi-sensei,  people became noisy.
"Damn, I'm getting off track here. I'm going to continue explaining, so listen carefully."
Takeuchi-sensei read out the printouts in a tedious manner, while the students listened and chatted.
It was a nostalgic routine for Asahi and Chiaki.
"Last year we climbed a mountain and made curry, right?"
"All I remember was you burning the rice, Chiaki."
"Do you have no shame?"
"There's no substitute for a good meal... Oh, they're giving out lunches this year?"
At the right moment, the explanation of lunch started, and they stopped chatting and turned their attention towards the blackboard.
Before they knew it, the word had increased, and there was a surprisingly beautiful array of handwriting.
The purpose of this trip, the history of the area, the snack limit of 300 yen, etc.
The main points were summarized in bullet points that were easy to understand.
In the midst of all this, there were large letters that stood out.
Extracurricular learning: Yokohama
It was a destination that made high school students couldn't help but feel like they were on a school trip.
The whole classroom was hyped and noisier than usual.
"Then we'll draw lots to determine the groups."
The teacher finished handing out the handouts and put the paper bag on the podium.
At that moment, the classroom became even more excited.
"There are forty students in the class. We'll have eight groups of five, and each group will choose one leader."
On the blackboard, the outline of the first group, the second group... and the eighth group were written.
Everyone had a thought of their own.
Chit-chat was exchanged here and there.
And then some of them appeared, shouting with complaint.
"Sir, I don't want to draw lots!"
"Do you have any other ideas?"
"Team up with other people you like!"
"That doesn't fit with the purpose of getting to know your classmates better... or so the higher ups said."
"What? I wanted to be in the same group as Ryoma!"
"Well, well, well. That's a passionate love call. Good luck in trying to get the same number."
Asuka, unable to resist the sound argument, sat down straightforwardly.
Her cheeks were puffed up like a squirrel's and she was clearly not happy.
There were some students here and there who were dissatisfied with her.
"She's troubling Yamada-kun."
"She's getting a little too familiar."
There seemed to be a definite faction among the girls.
The insinuations and hostile stares.
The person in question didn't seem to mind at all.
"Hey, Ryoma! Let's go to Sea Paradise if we're in the same group."
"I guess so. I've always wanted to go too."
"Yes! Now, I have to get the same number!"
Ryoma responded to Asuka's obvious approach with a refreshing smile.
He took a slight glance at Fuyuka, and Asuka might have caught his gaze.
'Both Miyamoto and Yamada are awesome...'
'How can I be that honest with myself?'
The frustration that assailed Asahi gradually grew as he faced the two opposites.
"I hope you get to be in the same group as Himuro-san."
Asahi responded to Chiaki's teasing call with an unusually straightforward response.
Then, somehow, he looked at the window seat.
"...Ah."
By some coincidence, his gaze coincides with the girl he was looking at.
He was glued to those caramel eyes for a while, and eventually Asahi smiled awkwardly.
Fuyuka, on the other hand, gave a very natural and soft smile.
These small events were enough to fill Asahi's heart with joy.
That was why he was hesitant to make a move.
'What if, as a result of wanting more, I lose even my current happiness?'
What was right and what was wrong?
Was there an answer at the end of the road he was on?
Would this story really have a happy ending?
No one knew how it would end, and no one would ever know.
"Don't put back the paper you drew. Also, write your name on your group."
Takeuchi-sensei immediately called the students to the podium in order of seating, and each one put their hand into a paper bag.
Who was in what group, or if they were with that person, or if they wanted to exchange numbers.
The classroom was getting hype, and each of them was happy and sad about a piece of paper.
"Asahi~, what did you get?"
"Eight. You, Hinami?"
"I'm in the first group. Too bad it's not the same."
Hinami, who had come running up to him, slumped her shoulders in disappointment.
Apparently, Chiaki and her were able to get in the same group.
On top of that, she felt down, which didn't feel bad.
However, her expression immediately changed.
"I wonder what number did Fuyu-chan get?"
"...Stop with the grin."
After giving her a light bump on the forehead, Hinami went to ask for help from Chiaki, who was chatting with his other friends.
Then, just as he thought he was alone, Asahi heard a voice behind him.
"What did you get, Asahi-kun?"
Fuyuka asked anxiously, looking up.
In his hand, he held a folded piece of paper.
"Since we're here, let's show it at the same time."
"Sounds nice. Shall we open it up on three?"
They both enjoyed such an unremarkable proposal.
Even this moment made Asahi feel very happy.
The two voices overlapped beautifully, unseen in the noisy classroom.
How To Melt the Ice Lady
【コミカライズ連載中】氷の令嬢の溶かし方　～クールで素っ気ないお隣さんがデレるとめちゃくちゃ可愛い件～
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/how-to-melt-the-ice-lady/
Comedy Romance School Life Slice of Life
Adapted to Manga Beautiful Female Lead Caring Protagonist Cooking Cute Story Famous Parents Kind Love Interests Kuudere Male Protagonist Modern Day Popular Love Interests
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2567fv/
高峰 翔