第51話 氷の令嬢と遊園地
家族連れやカップルの姿が目立つ大型遊園地の入場口で、天に向かって右手を突き出す元気いっぱいな少女が一人。
「今日はとことん遊ぶぞー!」
「おー!」
日菜美の高らかな宣言に千昭も続く。
その微笑ましい光景に人目が集まるが、二人は全く気にしていない様子。
「ほら、二人もおーって!」
「嫌だよ恥ずかしい。なあ、冬華」
「......おー」
「きゃーっ、冬華ちゃん可愛い!」
「マジか、やるのかよ......」
隣で控えめに拳を上げた冬華を驚いて見れば、長い髪から覗く耳元がほんのり赤く染まっている。
恥ずかしいならやらなければいいのに、なんてツッコミは野暮なので朝陽は黙って見て見ぬ振りをすることにした。
きっと、日菜美も、千昭も、そして冬華もテンションが高まっているのだろう。
一番最初に乗ると決めたアトラクションに向かう三人の足取りは自然とスピードを上げ、会話は明るく楽しく弾んでいる。
それは、一人冷静を装っている朝陽も同じだった。
「遊園地なんて久しぶりだな......」
記憶を遡れば、最後に遊園地で遊んだのは一年と少し前。エアコンが効いた涼しい部屋から千昭に連れ出され、仲の良い友達数人と一日中遊びつくした中学三年生の夏休み以来だ。
インドア派の朝陽は最初、夏の暑さに辟易していたものの、帰り際には充足感で溢れていたのをよく覚えている。
ニヤニヤと意地悪い笑みを始め、親友はあの時とほとんど変わっていないが、唯一にして大きな変化は隣に日菜美がいることだ。
少し前を歩くバカップルの表情を覗き見れば、幸せそうな笑顔がはじけていた。
そして、朝陽の隣もまた、気の知れた男友達ではなく可憐な少女に変わっている。
聞いた話によると、冬華が最後に遊園地を訪れたのは数年前の事らしく、最新型のアトラクションを見つけては目をキラキラと輝かせていた。
「冬華はジェットコースター初めてなんだよな」
「そうなりますね。前は身長制限で乗れなかったので」
「キツかったらすぐに言えよ。今から絶叫系乗りまくるらしいし」
「お気遣いありがとうございます。でも、私は朝陽くんの方が心配です」
「俺か? 何か心配されるようなことあったっけ」
「透子さんが、朝陽くんはジェットコースターが苦手って」
一体いつの話をしているのか。
苦手としていたのは子供用のジェットコースター擬きで、それこそ身長制限に引っ掛かる頃の話だ。
今では気持ちに余裕を持って本物に乗れるし、楽しいと感じるまでに成長している。
そもそも、何がきっかけでその様な話になったのか。
後ほど母親を問い詰める事は確定として、朝陽は轟音と悲鳴が入り混じるアトラクションへと意識を向けた。
「俺は普通に乗れるぞ。苦手だったのは昔の話だ」
「では、緊張しているのは私だけですか......」
「いい事を教えてやるよ。今から乗る奴は日本一速いらしい」
「......それ、いい事じゃないですよね」
「楽しみになって来ただろ?」
「全くの逆効果です。より一層不安になって来ました......」
「ちょっと、朝陽! ふゆちゃんに意地悪しないの!」
開園から間もないために比較的空いている列に並びつつ、ちょっと冬華を揶揄って見れば、すぐさま元気溌剌な声が介入して来る。
「それを言うなら、ジェットコースター三連続を企画した日菜美の方がよっぽど意地悪じゃないか?」
「うっ......でも、ふゆちゃんの反応次第ではプラン変えるもん」
「そのプランは知らなかったな。何で遊ぶつもりなんだ?」
「俺も聞いてないぞ。そんなこと言ってたっけ?」
あからさまに目を泳がせる日菜美が何も考えていないことは明らかで、こんな事なら作戦会議とやらをもっと真剣にやるべきだったと朝陽は軽く後悔をする。
苦手意識はないとはいえ、朝陽は絶叫系に何度も続けて乗った経験はない。
隣で緊張している冬華はもちろん、千昭も正直怪しいだろう。
「でもね、絶対楽しいから安心して!」
結局、日菜美の根拠のない説得で絶叫系を連続して乗ることになった朝陽たちは、苦笑いと共に最初のアトラクションへと乗り込んだ。
「......朝陽、大丈夫か」
「千昭こそ......顔色悪いぞ......」
ジェットコースター三連続にフリーフォール、お昼ご飯を挟んで回転ブランコに、もう一度フリーフォールからのジェットコースター。
これだけ絶叫系アトラクションを乗り続ければ、誰しも気持ち悪くなること間違いなし......のはずなのだが。
「日菜美は凄いな。元気有り余ってたぞ」
「氷室さんもピンピンしてたな。まさか、男二人が揃って脱落するとは......うっぷ」
「おい、ここで絶対吐くなよ」
「それは振りと受け取っても?」
「いいわけないだろ。死ぬ気で我慢しろ」
笑顔溢れる遊園地内のベンチでぐったりとする朝陽と千昭は、ジェットコースター三種類をもう一周と意気込む日菜美に待ったをかけ、休ませてもらっている。
ある程度は予想していたものの、こうして常人がダウンするまで付き合わされるとは思っていなかった。
情けないなー、と手痛い言葉をいただいてしまったが、日菜美が元気過ぎると言った方が正しいはずだ。
そして予想外だったのは、絶叫系初経験の冬華が普段あまり見せない無邪気な笑顔でジェットコースターやフリーフォールを楽しんでいたことだろう。
絶叫系アトラクションは身体構造の影響で、男性より女性が強いと言うが、まさにその違いが表れたと言ってもいいかもしれない。
「そういや、昨日山田に何て言われたんだ?」
「......随分唐突だな」
「だって、せっかく二人きりになれたから」
「その裏声やめろ......うっぷ」
気持ち悪そうな千昭に気持ち悪い言い方をされ、朝陽は思わず吐き気を催しそうになった。
意識を昨日の放課後に持っていき、どうにか気を紛らわせようとする。
ただ、山田との会話を思い出しても、心が休まるどころかモヤモヤするのだから逆効果だ。
「別に、他の奴らと同じような感じだったよ」
「ほー。じゃあ、強力なライバルの出現ですな」
「ライバルって......お前までそう言うのかよ」
「あれ、もしかして山田に直接言われた?」
「......ノーコメント」
「なるほど、了解。いやーしかし、一度振られたらしいのに凄いな......」
無駄に洞察力の高い千昭は何かを察したようだが、朝陽はあくまで無言を貫く。
「いいのか? 山田が氷室さんと付き合うみたいなことになっても」
「......別に俺には関係ないだろ」
「ふーん。その割には険しい顔してますけど」
「それはお前も同じだろ。さっきからずっと」
「確かに、言えてる」
心身共に疲弊した二人の表情が険しいのは本当の事だ。
それは、絶叫系アトラクションの影響でもあり、朝陽の場合は他の要因も影響していた。
「おーい、二人ともお待たせ! 飲み物買って来たよー」
「サンキュー、ヒナ。かなり助かる」
千昭との会話は自販機から帰って来た日菜美と冬華によって打ち止めになった。
朝陽としては良かったと思う反面、胸に若干の黒い靄が残る。
ただ、そんな小さな心の淀みは端正な微笑を浮かべる冬華によって掻き消されることに。
「朝陽くん、これをどうぞ」
「ん、ありがと......うまいな、生き返る」
「それは良かったです」
冬華から受け取ったミネラルウォーターを口に流し込めば爽快感が広がり、身体と心が一気に軽くなる。
流石に午前中のような無茶はできないが、一つや二つの絶叫系は問題なく乗れるだろう。
一番は他のジャンルのアトラクションに乗る事なのだが。
「よーし、二人が回復したところで新しい絶叫系アトラクションにゴー!」
日菜美が提案したのは、やっぱり絶叫系だった。
「......ん? 今、新しいって言ったか?」
「絶叫系はもう全種類乗ったよな」
「そうですね、回転ブランコが最後だと思いますが......」
新しい、というワードに首を傾げる三人の前で、日菜美がニヤリと何やら企み顔を披露する。
その表情は誰に向けられているのか知らないが、とにかく楽しくて仕方がないといった感じだ。
「まだ一つ、絶叫系アトラクションが残ってるんだよ! みんな付いてきて!」
正直、不安しか残らないが、日菜美の後ろに続く以外の選択肢はない。
朝陽と千昭は顔を見合わせ肩を竦め、冬華は何故か少しだけ血の気の色が引いていた。
Ch 51
At the entrance of a large amusement park, where families and couples looked conspicuous, there was one energetic girl who was happily waving her hands.
"We're going to play hard today~!"
"OH!!!!"
Chiaki followed Hinami's high-pitched declaration.
This joyful scene attracted a lot of attention, but the two didn't seem to mind at all.
"Come on, you two, do it too!"
"I don't want to, it's embarrassing. Right, Fuyuka?"
"...Oh-"
"Kyah~! Fuyu-chan you're so cute!"
"Seriously, you're doing it...?"
Looking at Fuyuka, who raised her fist modestly next to him, it was a surprise to see her ear, peeking out from her long hair, was slightly tinted with red.
'If you're embarrassed, why do it?' Asahi thought.
It seemed that Hinami, Chiaki, and Fuyuka were all very excited.
As they headed for the first three attractions they decided to ride, their steps sped up and conversations were cheerful and joyful.
It was the same for Asahi, who was trying to remain calm.
"It's been ages since I've been in an amusement park."
Looking back in his memory, the last time he went to an amusement park was a little over a year ago. The summer vacation of his third year in junior high school, when Chiaki took him out of his room and they spent the whole day playing with a few good friends.
As an indoor person, at first, Asahi was fed up with the summer heat, but he remembered well that he was full of satisfaction when they finished.
His best friend hadn't changed much since then, but the only and biggest change was that Hinami was next to him.
Peeking at the faces of the lovebirds walking a little ahead of him, he saw happy smiles bursting from their faces.
And the person next to Asahi was a lovely girl instead of a friendly male friend.
According to what he heard, it had been several years since Fuyuka had last visited an amusement park, and her eyes sparkled when she found the latest attractions.
"Fuyuka has never been on a roller coaster before, right?"
"Yes. I couldn't ride before because of height restrictions."
"If it's too hard, tell me right away. I heard that there's gonna be a lot of screaming."
"Thank you for your concern. But I'm more worried about you, Asahi-kun."
"Me? Did I do something to worry you?"
"Touko-san said that you don't like roller coasters."
Yi How old do you think I am?
What he didn't like was roller coasters for kids, and that was back when he was under the height limit.
Now he could ride the real thing with a sense of comfort, and he had grown to enjoy it.
'What led to such a discussion in the first place?'
Determined to question his mother later, Asahi turned his attention to the attraction, which was a mixture of roars and screams.
"I can ride just fine. It was a long time ago when I wasn't good at it."
"So am I the only one who's nervous...?"
"I'll tell you something awesome. I heard that what we're about to ride is the fastest in Japan."
"...That's not a good thing, is it?"
"Isn't it exciting?"
"It has the exact opposite effect. It's making me even more anxious..."
"Hey, Asahi! Don't be mean to Fuyu-chan!"
As they stood in line, which was relatively empty since the park had just opened, Asahi decided to tease Fuyuka for a moment, and a cheerful voice immediately intervened.
"If you put it that way, aren't you someone who is being much meaner than me for planning three roller coasters in a row?"
"Ugh... But depending on Fuyu-chan's reaction, I'll change my plan, hmph!"
"I didn't know about that plan. What rides are we gonna go to?"
"I didn't hear it either. Did she say anything about that?"
It was obvious that Hinami was not thinking about anything as her eyes swam, and Asahi lightly regretted that he should have taken the strategy meeting more seriously.
Even though he was not afraid of it, Asahi had never ridden three roller coaster rides in a row.
Chiaki was questionable, not to mention Fuyuka who was nervous.
"But don't worry, it'll be fun!"
In the end, Hinami's unfounded persuasion led to a series of intense rides, and Asahi and the others boarded the first attraction with a wry smile.
"...Asahi, you good?"
"...Chiaki, you're looking a little pale there..."
Three roller coasters in a row, a free fall, a spinning swing after lunch, a free fall again, and then a roller coaster.
After riding so many intense attractions, anyone should be able to feel sick... or should have been the case.
"Hinami is amazing. She has so much energy."
"Himuro-san also looks lively, too. I didn't expect us two men to drop out together... Ugh..."
"Hey, don't ever throw up in here."
"Are you acting tough?"
"Of course not. Hold it in with your life on the line."
Asahi and Chiaki were slumped on a bench in an amusement park full of smiling faces, and Hinami was eager to go on another lap of the three roller coasters, so they waited for her to let them rest.
Although he had expected it to some extent, Asahi did not expect to be kept in company like this until he was down.
He might look pathetic, but it would be more accurate to say that Hinami was too energetic.
And what he didn't expect was that Fuyuka, who had never experienced such intense rides before, was enjoying the roller coaster and free fall with an innocent smile on her face that she rarely showed.
They say that women were stronger than men at intense attractions due to their body structure, and this was exactly what happened.
"Oh yeah, what did Yamada say to you yesterday?"
"...That's pretty abrupt."
"Because now that we're alone..."
"Stop imitating a girl... Ugh..."
Asahi felt like throwing up when the creepy-looking Chiaki spoke to him in such a creepy way.
Asahi brought his mind back to yesterday after school and tried to distract himself somehow.
However, remembering the conversation with Yamada was counterproductive because it made him feel bewildered instead of rested.
"Nothing, it was just like the rest of them."
"Hoh, then we have a powerful rival."
"Rival? ...Even you?"
"Eh, did Yamada tell you directly?"
"...No comment."
"I see, roger. Then again, I heard he got rejected and he's still trying, that's amazing."
Chiaki, who was unnecessarily insightful, seemed to have sensed something, but Asahi remained silent.
"Are you okay with that? If Yamada starts to go out with Himuro-san."
"It's none of my business."
"Hmm. But you look so grim for that."
"It's the same for you. It's been happening ever since."
"Yeah, you're right."
It was true that both of them were exhausted both physically and mentally, and their expressions were grim.
This was partly due to the intense attractions, and in Asahi's case, other factors were also at play.
"Hey, you two! I brought you drinks!"
"Thanks, Hina. This is quite helpful."
Asahi's conversation with Chiaki was cut short by Hinami and Fuyuka returning from the vending machine.
While he was happy, it left a slight black haze inside his chest.
However, such a small stagnation in his heart was drowned out by Fuyuka's neat smile.
"Asahi-kun, please take this."
"Hm, thanks... I feel alive."
"That's good to hear."
The mineral water he received from Fuyuka made him feel refreshed and lightened his body and mind.
They couldn't be as reckless as we had been in the morning, but they could probably ride one or two intense rides without a problem.
The best thing he could do was to ride attractions of other genres though.
"Alright, now that you two are recovered, let's go to the new intense attraction!"
Hinami's suggestion was still an intense ride.
"...Hmm? Did you just say new?"
"We've ridden all the intense rides, right?"
"Yes, I believe the spinning swing was the last one."
As the three of them tilted their heads at the word "new," Hinami grinned and made some kind of scheming face.
Asahi didn't know who that look was directed at, but it seemed like she was having fun.
"There's still one more 'intense' attraction left! Everyone follow me!"
Asahi was left with nothing but anxiety, but he had no choice but to follow behind Hinami.
Asahi and Chiaki looked at each other and cowered, while Fuyuka, for some reason, looked a little pale.
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