第55話 氷の令嬢の溶かし方
「俺は離れない」
それは、嘘偽りない朝陽の気持ちであり、意思表示だった。
短い言葉に込められた想いは、確かに相手へと伝わったはずだ。
その証拠に、冬華の表情が変わった。
涙でいっぱいになった目が見開かれ、カラメル色の瞳に微かな輝きが灯る。
しかし、冬華は何かを思い出したかのように、ふっと光を消してしまった。
朝陽から視線を逸らし、深く沈み込むように俯く。
一度は暖かい風が吹き込んだ部屋に、再び冷たい空気が漂い始めた。
それでもなお、朝陽は手を差し伸べ続ける。
「なあ、冬華。前に人との付き合い方を変えたいって言ってたよな」
「その結果、大勢に囲まれるようになっただろ。日菜美に千昭、他の生徒も。俺の両親だって。冬華と話したい、仲良くなりたいって人が沢山いる。それは冬華自身も感じているはずだ」
朝陽の問いかけに、冬華は小さな声で相槌だけを打つ。
もしかすると、その僅かな反応が今の限界なのかもしれない。
ただ必ず、声は届いている。伝えたい事も、きっと届いている。
小さいようで、本当に本当に大きかった一歩を冬華は踏み出したのだ。
冷たい過去に自ら立ち向かい、他人と関わろうと頑張っていた。
そして今、冬華はまた怯えている。
朝陽が、日菜美が、千昭が......一人、また一人と関係を絶ってしまう事を恐れている。
「冬華が思う通り、いつかは離れていく奴もいるだろうよ。クラスが変わって、学校が変わって、結局はみんな違う道に進む。当然、全員が全員いつまでも一緒って訳じゃない」
それは、今の冬華に伝えるにはあまりにも残酷な現実。
小学校で、中学校で、高校で、大学で。
人はその一生でいったい何十人、何百人の友達を作るのだろう。
大人になっても、さらにその先も付き合いがあるのはきっと一握りだというのに、人は際限なく誰かとの関わりを求める。
出会いがあれば別れがある。
彼女にとってはそんな当たり前の別れですら、深く刻まれた心の傷を抉り、広げてしまう要因になり得るのだ。
だから、その傷が少しでも癒えるように。
「......だから、俺だけは約束する。絶対に離れないって」
朝陽は真っ直ぐに冬華と向き合い、誓いを持って寄り添う。
何十人、何百人の人間が冬華のもとから離れていったとしても。
自分だけは絶対に離れないと。
たった一人でも。
支えになると信じて。
傷を癒せると信じて。
手を差し伸べる。
そうして、凍てついた氷に確かな熱が加わった。
「学校を卒業してもですか」
「家が隣だろ。いつでも会える」
「引っ越しするかもしれません」
「今の時代は携帯で繋がれる」
「......朝陽くんが、もし私を嫌いになったら――」
「ならない」
朝陽は断言する。
冬華を嫌いにならない。
その確固たる自信があった。
「......本当に、離れないって約束してくれますか」
「約束する。まあ、冬華に嫌われたらどうしようもねえけど」
「私も......朝陽くんを嫌いになんてなりません」
「......なら、大丈夫だろ。安心していい、俺は絶対離れないよ」
今日初めて冬華が力強く声を発して、朝陽は思わず思考が止まった。
それでも、少し間を空けてから、一番伝えるべき言葉を掛ける。
例え、学校が変わっても、住む場所が変わっても。
気持ちが離れない限りは交友を続ける。
その約束は簡単に出来るものではない。
だからこそ、それは互いに信頼している証だ。
そして、友達という枠には収まらない気持ちの表れでもあった。
「......嬉しい」
小さな声で、冬華は言葉をこぼした。
その短い一言にどれだけの想いが込められていたのか、朝陽には分からない。
ただ、どうしようもなく。
久々に浮かんだ冬華の微笑みを、愛おしく感じてしまった。
「今まで一人でよく頑張ったな」
無意識に、朝陽は冬華へと手を伸ばす。
その熱のこもった手のひらを、冷え切った少女の頭へとそっと置く。
何故か、無性に撫でてやりたくなったのだ。
今までの苦労を労うように、少しでも傷を癒せるように。
こんなちっぽけな行動に意味があるとは思えないが。
冬華に触れて慰めたいと、衝動的に身体が動いていた。
「......子供扱いですか」
「そういうわけじゃないけど......すまん、調子乗った」
「......やめちゃうんですか」
「だって、嫌なんだろ」
「そうは言ってません」
じゃあどうすればいいんだと、朝陽は行き先を失った右手を空に彷徨わせる。
その手を、冬華の小さな両手が包み込んだ。
「......少しだけ、こうしていてほしいです」
結局、朝陽は冬華の頭を撫でることになった。
ゆっくりと優しく、グレージュの綺麗な髪に触れる。
暫くして、小さな嗚咽が聞こえてきた。
今まで抑え込んでいた感情が今になって溢れ出したのだろう。
朝陽の膝に、ポロポロと大粒の涙がこぼれ落ちる。
華奢な身体が小刻みに震えているのが手のひら越しに伝わった。
ただひたすらに、朝陽は無言で冬華の頭を撫で続けた。
涙が止まるまで、震えが収まるまで。
その手を冬華から離すことはなかった。
「落ち着いたか?」
「......はい。でも、あまりこっち向かないでください」
「何でだよ、別にいいだろ」
「よくありません......こんなぐちゃぐちゃの顔、朝陽くんに見られたくないです」
そう言われても、どこに視線を持っていけばいいのか分からない。
最終的に、真っ赤に腫らした冬華の目を見つめると、それ以上に赤く染まった頬が可愛らしく膨らんだ。
何はともあれ、ようやく涙は枯れ果て、震えも収まった。
そして、冬華は至って冷静に、淡々と語り始める。
朝陽の胸に残る疑問に、穏やかな声で答えに導く。
「......一昨日はお母さんの命日で、私はお墓参りに出向いたんです。そこで、半年ぶりに再会した誠さんの目はやっぱり私を見ていませんでした。一言も言葉も交わさずに、その場を去って行ったんです。それで、昔を思い出してしまって......」
「学校を休んだのは、そういうことか」
「......みんなと会うのが怖くなってしまいました。また傷つくかもしれないって思うと、顔を合わせる事が出来なくて......」
また少しだけ、暗い表情が冬華に浮かぶ。
ただ、それも一瞬の事だった。
「でも、もう大丈夫です。私には朝陽くんがいますから」
まるで、最終確認のように冬華は淡く微笑む。
「ああ、そうだな」
その問いに朝陽はスラスラと解答を書き入れた。
今までと、特に関係が変わるわけではない。
言ってしまえば、死ぬまで仲良しとか、ずっと友達でいようとか、そんな重くて軽い口約束の延長線上だ。
それでも、朝陽と冬華にとっては大きな意味がある。
短くて長い交流の中で深めた、揺るぎない信頼関係が二人を結ぶ。
「......改めて私、朝陽くんに出会えて本当に良かったです」
その満面の笑みを見て、朝陽は自分の気持ちにようやく整理がついた。
思えば、最初から気付いていたのかもしれない。
本当は、気付かない振りをして、知らない振りをして。
きっと、初めて抱くふわふわとした感情に戸惑い、悩み、無意識に否定していたのだ。
そうするうちに、いつしか想いが溢れて抑えきれなくなった。
冬華の様々な一面を見て、多彩に変わる表情を見て。
綺麗だと思う気持ちが。
可愛いと思う気持ちが。
冬華を想う気持ちに名前を刻む。
これが好きと呼ばれる感情なのだと。
その瞬間、朝陽の世界は恋色で染まった。
「朝陽くん、何だか顔赤くないですか?」
「......気のせいだろ。そういう冬華だって真っ赤だぞ」
「それも......気のせいです」
互いに頬を染めて見つめ合う時間が非常にむず痒く、朝陽はもう一度、想い人の頭に触れた。
冬華は抵抗する素振りを見せずに、その大きな手を受け入れる。
「......朝陽くんに撫でられると心と身体がポカポカします」
「何だそれ」
「落ち着くってことです」
「これくらいならいつでもしてやるよ」
「......ありがとうございます」
温かい熱がじんわりと伝わる。
冷たい氷がゆっくりと溶けていく。
もうそこに、氷の令嬢の姿はなかった。
Ch 55
"I'm not going anywhere."
This was Asahi's feeling and intention in its truest form.
The thoughts and feelings that were put into those short words must have certainly been conveyed to the other person.
As proof of this, Fuyuka's expression changed.
Her eyes filled with tears opened and a faint glow lit up her caramel eyes.
However, that light in her eyes suddenly disappeared as if she remembered something.
She turned her gaze away from Asahi and looked downward.
The once warm atmosphere was replaced by the cold air again.
Nevertheless, Asahi continued to reach out to her.
"Say, Fuyuka. You said before that you wanted to change the way you interacted with others."
"As a result, you're surrounded by many people. Hinami, Chiaki, and the other students. Even my parents. There are many people who want to talk to you and get to know you. I'm sure you, yourself, understand that the most."
In response to Asahi's question, Fuyuka only let out a small voice of affirmation.
Perhaps that slight reaction was her limit now.
But he was sure that his voice had reached her. The things he wanted to say should have reached her.
Fuyuka had taken a small but really, really big step forward.
She had confronted her own cold past and tried her best to interact with others.
And now, Fuyuka was frightened again.
She was afraid that Asahi, Hinami, and Chiaki would... That another person would leave her again.
"Just as you think, some will leave someday. Classes will change, schools will change, and eventually everyone will go their different ways. Of course, not all of us will stay together forever."
A reality that was too cruel for her to hear.
In elementary school, middle school, high school, and college.
How many dozens or hundreds of friends a person would make in their lifetime?
Even though there were only a handful of people that they would have relationships with in their adult life and beyond, people were still endlessly looking for someone to be involved with.
Where there were encounters, there were also partings.
For her, even such an ordinary parting could be a factor that could gouge out and widen the deeply etched wounds in her heart.
Therefore, in order to heal her wounds as much as possible.
"...That's why I promise, I'll never leave you be."
Asahi faced Fuyuka straight on and leaned in close with a vow.
Even if dozens or hundreds of people left her.
He, alone, would never leave her.
Even if it was just one person.
Believing that it could support her.
Believing that it could heal her wounds.
And reach out to her.
And so, a certain warmth was added to the frozen ice.
"Even after graduation?"
"You live next door. We can meet anytime."
"I may have to move."
"In this day and age, we can talk via cell phone."
"...Asahi-kun, If you start to hate me..."
"That won't happen."
Asahi assured her.
He won't ever hate her.
He had that firm confidence.
"...Do you really promise, you won't leave?"
"I promise. Well, there's nothing I can do if you start to hate me."
"I... won't ever come to hate you, Asahi-kun."
"...Then, it should be fine. Don't worry, I'll never leave you."
Fuyuka spoke out forcefully for the first time today, and Asahi stopped thinking.
Still, after a short pause, Asahi said the words that needed to be said the most.
Even if she changed her school, even if she changed where she lived.
As long as he didn't let go of these feelings, he would continue this relationship.
That promise was not an easy one to make.
That was why it was a sign of mutual trust.
It was also a sign of feelings that did not fit into the frame of friends.
"...I'm glad."
In a small voice, Fuyuka spilled out words.
Asahi didn't know how much thought was put into that short word.
He just couldn't help.
It had been a long time since he had seen Fuyuka's smile, and he felt it was quite endearing.
"It was tough, right?"
Unconsciously, Asahi reached for Fuyuka.
He gently placed his warm palm on the chilled head of the girl.
For some reason, he felt an irresistible urge to pet her.
As if to reward her hardships she had been through, so that it could heal her wounds as much as possible.
It might seem irrelevant.
His body was moving impulsively, wanting to touch Fuyuka and comfort her.
"...Are you treating me like a child?"
"It's not like that... Sorry, I got carried away."
"...You're not continuing?"
"You don't like it, right?"
"I didn't say so."
"What should I do then?" Asahi's right hand wandered in the sky, having lost its destination.
Fuyuka's two small hands wrapped around his hand.
"...I want to stay like this for a little while."
In the end, Asahi ended up patting Fuyuka on the head.
Slowly and gently, touching her beautiful glazed hair.
A few moments later, he heard a small sob.
The emotions that had been suppressed until now must be overflowing now.
Large tears spilled down onto Asahi's lap.
He could feel her slender body trembling in small increments through his hand.
Just like that, Asahi continued to silently pat Fuyuka's head.
Until her tears stopped, until she stopped trembling.
He never let go.
"Have you calmed down?"
"...Yes. But please don't look at me too much."
"Why not? It's fine."
"It's not... I don't want you to see my messed up face like this."
That being said, he didn't know where to put his gaze.
Finally, Asahi stared into Fuyuka's bright red, swollen eyes, and her cheeks, which were even more red, puffed up in a cute way.
At any rate, her tears finally dried up and she stopped trembling.
Then, Fuyuka began to speak calmly and indifferently.
The question that lingered in Asahi's mind was answered in a calm voice.
"The day before yesterday was the anniversary of my mother's death, and I went to visit her grave. There, I saw Makoto-san for the first time in half a year. He left without saying a word to me. Because of that, I remember about the past..."
"So that's why you missed school."
"I'm afraid to see everyone... I couldn't face them, thinking that I might get hurt again."
Another slightly gloomy expression appeared on Fuyuka's face.
However, it only lasted for a moment.
"But I'm fine now. Because, I have you, Asahi-kun."
Fuyuka smiled faintly, as if she was making a final confirmation.
"Yeah."
Asahi smoothly wrote down the answer to the question.
Their relationship was not particularly different from what it was before.
In other words, it was an extension of a heavy and light-hearted promise to be good friends until death, or to stay friends forever.
Still, it meant a lot for both of them.
An unshakable relationship of trust, deepened through short and long exchanges, bound them together.
"...Once again, I am very happy to have met you, Asahi-kun."
Seeing that big smile on his face, Asahi finally got his feelings in order.
Thinking about it, maybe he had noticed it all along.
The truth was, he pretended to not notice, pretended that he didn't know.
He must have been confused, troubled, and unconsciously in denial of the feelings that he was experiencing for the first time.
As he did so, his feelings overflowed and he couldn't control them anymore.
Seeing the various sides of Fuyuka, and her diverse and changing expressions.
The feeling of thinking she was beautiful.
The feeling of thinking she was cute.
Asahi carved Fuyuka's name into his feelings.
This was the emotion called "love".
At that moment, Asahi's world was immediately dyed with the color of love.
"Asahi-kun, aren't you a little red?"
"...It's your imagination. You're also a little red too, you know."
"That's just your imagination..."
The time spent staring at each other was very itchy, and Asahi touched his loved one's head once again.
Fuyuka accepted the large hand without showing any sign of resistance.
"I feel warm when you stroke my head like that, Asahi-kun."
"What do you mean?"
"It means I feel relaxed."
"If it's just this, I'll do it any day."
"...Thank you very much."
The warm heat was soothing.
The cold ice was slowly melting.
The "Ice Lady" was no longer there.
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