第12話:夏祭り
「ゆーくんお待たせ~」
家から出て来た奏を見て、俺は思わず息を呑んで呆然と立ち尽くしてしまった。そんな俺を見て、奏は不思議そうな顔をしながら「どうしたの?」と小首を傾げて聞いて来る。
「い、いや。奏の浴衣姿が可愛すぎて、ちょっと吃驚しちゃっただけだ」
俺は思わず、一切オブラートに包まず、本音を素直に伝えてしまった。奏は顔を真っ赤にして、俯いてしまう。恐らく俺も奏に負けじと劣らず顔を真っ赤に染め上げていることだろう。
今日は総体で敗退した日に約束した、2人きりの打ち上げで夏祭りに行く日だった。
それにしても、奏の浴衣姿本当に可愛いな。普段はカジュアルな感じのヘアスタイルだけど、今日はアップにまとめていていつもより大人っぽく見える。俺は、普段とは違う奏に、微かな胸の高鳴りを感じていた。
「えへへ。そう言ってくれると嬉しいな。ゆーくんも浴衣着て来てくれたんだね。......ゆーくんも、かっこいいよ」
また顔を赤く染めて、奏が上目遣いで褒めてくれた。
こ、こいつ......俺のことをキュン死させるつもりなのだろうか。俺はなんか悔しかったので、胸の高鳴りを抑えて出来る限り普段通りに返事をした。
「ありがとな。じゃあ、早速お祭りに行こうか」
「うん」
俺たちの街で開催される夏祭りは、大きな神社を中心に、付近の町内全てを歩行者天国にする比較的大規模なものだった。所狭しと屋台が立ち並んでいて、活気が遠くからでも伝わってくる。
境内に続く道では、大きな神輿を担いだ屈強な男たちが練り歩く姿も見ることができるので、ちょっと遠くの人もわざわざ足を運んで祭りに参加していた。
「奏と夏祭りに来たのどれくらいぶりだろうな?」
「えっとぉ、中一かなぁ? ゆーくんと夏祭りに行くの本当に久しぶりだからもう嬉しくて仕方ないよ」
「あぁ、俺も奏と来れて嬉しいよ」
中2で羽月と付き合ってから、奏はずっと俺たちに遠慮して別の友達と行ってたんだよな。
そんなことを思いながら隣を歩いている奏を見ると、本当に嬉しいのか心なしか歩くときの手の振りがいつもより大きい気がする。
「ゆーくん。今日は何食べようか? 私はチョコバナナとふわふわのかき氷を食べたいよ!」
「俺はやっぱり焼きそばとたこ焼きかな。それにしてもなんでお祭りで食べるとあんなに美味しいんだろうな? お祭り以外で食べたら絶対に大したことないって思うのに」
「お祭りマジックってかなりあるよね。普段だったら絶対にやらない射的とかムキになってやっちゃうもん」
「そんなことを言って、今日もやっちゃうんだろ?」
「えへへ、バレましたか。今日こそは商品ゲットしてみせるんだよ!」
「程々に頑張れよ。おっ、そろそろ見えて来たぞ」
境内の近くに来ると、朱く灯された提灯が宙を浮かび、色取り取りの屋台から発せられる活気が否応なしに俺のテンションを上げてしまう。それは奏も同様だったようで、「うわぁ」と漏らしながら目をキラキラとさせて周りを見渡している。
奏と俺は境内に入って夏祭りを心の底から満喫した。
今回のハイライトは、奏がついに射的で狙った景品を落としたことだろう。ただ受け取った次の瞬間「なんでこれ欲しかったんだろ?」って呟いたことは聞かなかったことにする。
「あっ」
急に立ち止まってしまった奏を、流れの邪魔にならないように支えながら端に寄せる。
「どうした?」
「ごめん。鼻緒が切れちゃったみたいなの」
「マジか! けど、お祭りもあと少しで終わりだし、そろそろ帰ろうか」
俺はそう言うと片膝を着いて奏に背を向けて、「ほら、乗れよ」と声をかける。ところが、奏が動く気配が全然なかったので、後ろを振り向いてみると、顔を真っ赤にして手をモジモジさせてた。
「何してんの?」
「え、だって、おんぶって......」
「それくらい気にするなよ! 今は引退してるけど、この間まで部活で鍛えてたんだから体力はまだまだあるからよ!」
「うぅ、そういうことじゃないんだけど......。じゃあ、お願いしていいかな?」
「遠慮するなって。ほら、おいで」
奏が俺の肩に手を回して、俺の背中に身を委ねてきた。
小柄なだけあって、重さはそこまで感じない。これなら家まで行けそうだな。
俺がそう思ったその時だった。俺の背中に、柔らかな2つの何かが当たる感触があったのだ。
ふわっ......
あれ? 何この柔らかな感触は?
って、奏って着痩せするタイプだったのか......。それにしても、まさかこんなに密着してくるとは思わなかった。これが幼馴染みの役得というやつなのか......。控え目に言って幼馴染み最高......。
「ゆーくん。私、重くない? おんぶさせちゃってごめんね」
「大丈夫だよ! むしろありがとうな、奏!」
俺は今日イチの笑顔を奏に向けてやった。
「え? ありがとう?」
「いや、こっちの話だから気にしないで!」
奏はキョトンとしつつも、すぐに柔らかな笑顔を浮かべて「こちらこそありがと」と感謝の気持ちを伝えてくれた。
俺たちは背中越しに聞こえる、夏祭りの賑やかな雑踏を感じながら、お互い口を開くことなく余韻に浸っている。
静かな夜道で、俺の肩口に顎を乗せた奏の息遣いだけが聞こえていた。
「ねぇ。昔さ、華花ちゃんが転んで怪我しちゃってさ、ゆーくんがおんぶして帰ったことがあるの覚えてる?」
「ん? そんなこと合った気もするけど、あんまり覚えてないな」
「そっか。そのときにさ、ゆーくんにおんぶされてる華花ちゃんが、とても痛そうにしてたんだけど、どこか安心したような表情を浮かべてたのが、印象的だったから覚えてたんだ」
「そうだったんだな。奏は今ちゃんと安心できてるか?」
俺はいつもの調子で、冗談半分に聞いてみた。
「うん。凄く安心するよ」
そういうと、心做しか俺の抱きつく腕に力が込められた。俺はその腕をずっと離さないで欲しいと願ってしまう。
奏は今何を思っているのだろうか。
俺はそれが気になって仕方がなかった。
Volume 2 - Ch 12.1
"Yuu-kun, sorry to keep you waiting!"
Seeing Kanade coming out of the house, I gasped and stood there stunned. Seeing me like that, Kanade tilted her head and asked, "What's wrong?" with a curious look on her face.
"No, no. Kanade was so cute in her yukata that I just stuttered a little."
I unintentionally told her honestly how I really felt, without using any indirect words. Kanade's face turned bright red and she turned her head down. I was probably as red in the face as Kanade.
Today was the day we were going to a summer festival for a party, just the two of us, as we had promised on the day we were eliminated from the tournament.
By the way, Kanade looks really cute in her yukata. Her hair is usually styled in a casual way, but today she wore it up in an updo, making her look more mature than usual. I felt a slight tingle in my chest at the sight of the different Kanade.
"Hehe. I'm glad to hear you say so. Yuu-kun came in a yukata too, didn't he? ...You look cool too, Yuu-kun."
Kanade looked up at me and complimented me, her face reddening again.
Is she trying to make me die of a heart attack? I was somewhat frustrated, so I suppressed my heart pounding and responded as normally as I could.
"Thanks. So, let's go to the festival."
"Yeah."
The summer festival held in our town was a relatively large-scale event, centered around a large shrine, with the entire neighborhood as a pedestrian zone. The festival is held on a relatively large scale, with a large shrine at the center and the entire neighborhood as a pedestrian zone.
On the road leading to the shrine grounds, strong men carrying large portable shrines could be seen parading around, so even people from a little further away made the effort to visit and participate in the festival.
"How long has it been since I've been to a summer festival with Kanade?"
"Oh, I don't know. The first year of middle school? It's been so long since I've been to a summer festival with Yuu-kun, I'm so happy."
"Yeah, I'm happy to be here with Kanade too."
Ever since I started dating Hazuki in the second year of junior high school, Kanade has always been reserved for us and went with another friend.
I was thinking about this when I saw Kanade walking next to me, and I felt her hand waving louder than usual as she walked, as if she was really happy.
"Yuu-kun. What shall we eat today? I want a chocolate banana and fluffy shaved ice!"
"I think I'll have yakisoba and takoyaki. I wonder why they taste so good when eaten at festivals, by the way? If I ate it outside of a festival, I would think it was nothing special."
"There's quite a bit of festival magic. I end up doing things I wouldn't normally do, like target shooting, because I get so excited."
"So, are you going to do it again today?"
"Heh heh, you caught me. I'm going to get the prize today!"
"Do your best in moderation. Oh, it's almost time to see it."
As we approach the temple grounds, the vermilion lanterns float in the air, and the energy emanating from the colorful food stalls undeniably raises my spirits. It seems that Kanade did the same, looking around with a twinkle in her eye as she let out a "Wow".
Kanade and I went into the precincts of the temple to enjoy the summer festival from the bottom of our hearts.
The highlight of the festival was probably when Kanade finally dropped the prize she was aiming for in the target shooting. However, the moment after receiving the prize, she mumbled, "Why did I want this?" I'll pretend I didn't hear her mutter.
"Ah."
I pull Kanade, who has suddenly stopped, to the edge while supporting her so as not to interrupt the flow.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm sorry. I think I broke the strap of my sandals."
"Really? Well, the festival is almost over, though, so let's get going home."
I said, "Come on, hop on," as I got down on one knee and turned my back to Kanade. However, Kanade didn't seem to be moving at all, so I turned around and saw her face was bright red and her hands were wriggling.
"What are you doing?"
"Yeah, I mean, you know, a piggyback ride is..."
"Don't worry about it! Although I'm retired now, I've been working out in the club until the other day, so I've still got a lot of strength left in me!"
"Ugh, that's not what I meant... Well, can I ask you a favor?"
"Don't be shy. Come on, come on."
Kanade put her hands on my shoulders and leaned down on my back.
She is a small person, so I don't feel that much weight. I think I can make it home.
That's when I thought so. I felt two soft objects hit my back.
Soft...
Huh? What's this soft feeling?
Kanade is the type of person who wears skinny clothes... But still, I didn't expect them to get so close to me. Is this what being a childhood friend is all about?... To say the least, my childhood friend is the best...
"Yuu-kun. I'm not too heavy, am I? I'm sorry I made you carry me on your back."
"I'm fine! Thank you, Kanade!"
I gave Kanade the biggest smile of the day.
"What? Thank you?"
"No, don't worry about it, it's just me speaking to myself!"
Kanade was a bit nervous, but soon smiled softly and thanked me, saying, "Thanks to you too."
We could hear the bustling summer festival crowd behind our backs, and we were basking in the afterglow without opening our mouths to speak to each other.
On the quiet night street, all I could hear was Kanade's breathing as she rested her chin on my shoulder.
"Hey. Do you remember when Hanaka-chan fell down and hurt herself and Yuu-kun had to carry her home on his back?"
"Hmm? I think I did, but I don't remember much."
"I see. At that time, Hanaka-chan who was being carried on her back by Yuu-kun looked like she was in a lot of pain, but I was impressed by the look of relief on her face, which left a deep impression on my mind, so I remembered it."
"I see. Does Kanade feel safe now?"
I asked her jokingly, in my usual tone.
"Yes. I feel very safe."
When she said that, her arms were tightened in my embrace. I wish that she would never let go of my arms.
I wondered what Kanade was thinking right now.
I couldn't help but wonder.
After Being Betrayed By My Beloved Childhood Friend and Best friend, It Was Another Childhood friend Who Saved Me
最愛の幼馴染みと親友に裏切られた俺を救ってくれたのはもう一人の幼馴染みだった
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/after-being-betrayed-by-my-beloved-childhood-friend-and-best-friend-it-was-another-childhood-friend-who-saved-me/
Drama Romance
Beautiful Female Lead Betrayal Childhood Friends Depression First Love First-time Interc**rse Love Triangles Male Protagonist Modern Day Netorare Obsessive Love Revenge
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n0937hf/
音の中