第8話:これから
「明日からまた学校だけどどうしよっか? ゆーくんさ、昨日の今日で羽月ちゃんと顔合わせるの辛いよね?」
奏は心配そうな顔をして、俺のことを見上げてくる。
俺たちは昨日とは別の(人が少ない)喫茶店で、今後どうするかを決めるために集まった。さすがにあの喫茶店に入るのは、今の俺にはきつすぎる。
「そうなんだよな。問題は登校と昼食かなぁ。それ以外はクラスも違うし、授業が終わってもこっちは部活で、羽月は塾だからなんとかなると思うんだ」
「そうだよねぇ。じゃあさ、来週の土曜日にさ試合があるじゃない? その試合に向けて、朝と昼に自主練をするっていうのはどうかな?」
新チームになって約8ヶ月年。みんなでチーム作りをして来た成果を試す、重要な一戦と位置付けられている試合が迫っていた。俺が朝昼と一週間練習に専念してもおかしくはないか......。
「うん。確かに奏の案が一番違和感なくて良いかもな」
「でしょ? 確かさ、あの2人も試合の観戦に来るんだよね?」
「今のところはそういうことになってるな」
「だよね。ゆーくん、昨日の今日でこんなことを聞くのは酷だとは思うんだけどさ、これからあの2人との関係はどうするの? このまま知らないフリをし続けるの?」
奏は毛先を指でクルクルといじっていた。これは奏の昔からの癖で、不安なことや心配なことがあると、自分でも無意識に毛先をいじってしまうのだ。俺はその仕草から、奏が今不安がっているのを察した。
「正直知らないフリなんて俺にはできないな。実は来週の試合終わりに、あいつらをちょっとした罠に嵌めたいなって思ってるんだ。もし良かったら奏も協力してくれないか?」
「もちろん協力するよ! だってあの2人のことを許せないのは私も一緒だから」
「そう言ってくれると助かるよ。なんか最近は奏に頼ってばっかりだな、俺は」
「もっと頼ってくれても良いんだよ。弱ってるときはお互い様だと思うんだ」
「うん。ありがとな」
俺は自分のことばかりだったけど、奏だって幼馴染みの2人が黙ってあんなことをしてたんだから、大きなショック受けたはずなんだよな。それなのに、俺のことを気遣って手伝ってくれるっていうんだから本当に最高の幼馴染みだよ。
奏と別れて家に戻った俺は、羽月にRINEを送った。
『悪い。明日の登校と昼休憩なんだけどさ、来週の試合に向けて自主練しようと思うんだ。だから、一週間は友達と昼食とか取ってくれるか?』
例えテキストのみのやりとりだったとしても、あのときの羽月が思い浮かんでしまって、文字を入力する指が震えてしまった。そして、送り終わった今は羽月からの返信が恐ろしくて仕方がない。あいつは俺とRINEをして何を感じてるんだろうか。何も知らずに騙されていると笑っているんだろうか。
俺の知ってる羽月は、影で人を笑うような人間ではない。だけど、それは幻想なのだとこの間思い知ってしまったのだ。
怖い。俺は今羽月のことが心の底から恐ろしくて仕方がなかった。俺が布団の中で蹲っているとスマホの画面が光った。
『分かったわ。来週の試合は大切って言ってたものね。当日は私も応援に行くから練習頑張ってね』
羽月の裏切りを知らなかったら、このメッセージを見て俺はめちゃくちゃ気合いが入っていただろうけど、今の俺には何も響かなかった。むしろ嫌悪感さえ抱いてしまうほどだ。羽月には家族以上の想いがあったのに、こんなにも心が冷え切ってしまうことがとても寂しく思えた。
月曜日から俺は宣言通り早くに学校へ行って朝練をし、昼もグラウンドに出て練習をするようにした。奏もマネージャーだからと言って、朝から付き合ってくれたのだが、チームメイトから「お前彼女いんのに奏と2人っきりで練習してて良いのかよ」って揶揄われてしまった。俺の気持ちも知らずに好き勝手言いやがって! とは、少ししか思っていない。
羽月とは予想通りあまり学校で会うことがなかった。クラスも放課後の行動も別なのだから、登校時と昼休憩の時間さえ回避できたらほぼ会うことはないのだ。授業の間の短い休憩時間も、クラスからすぐにいなくなるという念の入れようだ。
しかし、俺のそんな努力も、木曜日の昼休憩で台無しになってしまうのだった。
「優李。ちょっとだけ良いかしら?」
チャイムが鳴り練習に行くかと腰を上げたタイミングで、教室の扉から俺を呼ぶ声が聞こえた。声がした方を見ると、案の定羽月がそこにいた。
「最近は休憩時間になるとすぐにいなくなってしまうみたいだから、授業が終わってすぐに来てみたの。まだ教室にいてくれて良かったわ」
羽月の言う通り、今週が始まってから俺は、チャイムが鳴るとすぐに教室から出るようにしている。それはもちろん羽月に会いたくないからだ。目の端では、心配そうな顔で俺と羽月を見ている奏が映っている。
俺たちは教室から離れて、人があまり来ない音楽教室の前に移動した。
「最近忙しくてな。すぐに移動することが多かったんだ。ひょっとして何回か様子を見にきてくれてたのか?」
「えぇ。今週は登校もお昼も一緒にいれないから、ちょっと寂しくなっちゃったのよ」
「それはごめんな。試合が終わったらいつも通りだから、明日まで我慢してくれ」
「大丈夫よ。我儘を言ってあなたを困らせるつもりはないわ。ただ少しの時間でも優李の顔を見ながらお話ができたらって思っただけなの」
俺はそんな殊勝なことを言う羽月の言葉に苛々してしまう。
巫山戯るなよ。俺を困らせる気はない? お前はもう俺のことを徹底的に裏切ってるじゃないか。
「寂しい思いをさせてごめん。来週はまた登校もお昼も一緒にしような。じゃあ、俺は練習に行ってくるな」
俺は腹の底から湧き上がってくる憤りを悟られないように、俺はグランドへ足早で向かう。すると背後から羽月が俺に声をかける。
「分かった。忙しいのにありがとうね、優李。練習頑張って」
俺は羽月に顔を見られないように、振り向かずに手だけをあげた。今の俺は醜く歪んでいることだろう。こんな顔を羽月に見せるわけには行かなかった。
「土曜日にたっぷりと話をしような、羽月」
Volume 1 - Ch 8
"Tomorrow is school day again so what are we going to do? Yuu-kun, it's hard to see Hazuki after yesterday, isn't it?"
Kanade looks up at me with a worried look on her face.
We got together at a different (less crowded) coffee shop than yesterday to decide what to do from here on out. As expected, going into that coffee shop is too tough for me right now.
"I guess it is. The problem is going to school and having lunch. I think I can handle it because we are in different classes, and after classes, I have club activities and Hazuki has cram school."
"That's right. Well, there is a game next Saturday, right? How about we practice in the morning and at noon for that game?"
It has been about eight months since the new team was formed. A game was coming up, an important test of the results of the team's hard work. Wouldn't it be okay if I devoted myself to morning, noon, and a week of practice...?
"I'm sure it's not the worst idea. It's true that Kanade's idea might be the most comfortable."
"Right? I'm pretty sure those two are coming to watch the game too, right?"
"That's how it's going to be for now."
"Yeah, I guess so. Yuu-kun, I know this is a terrible thing to ask you after yesterday, but what are you going to do about your relationship with those two? Are you going to continue to pretend that you don't know?"
Kanade was twirling the ends of her hair with her fingers. This is an old habit of Kanade's. Whenever she is anxious or worried about something, she unconsciously fiddles with the tips of her hair. I could tell from the gesture that Kanade was worried.
"I couldn't honestly pretend that I didn't know anything about it. I'm actually thinking of setting up a little trap for them next week at the end of the game. If you'd like to help me, Kanade?"
"Of course, I'll help! Because I can't forgive those two either."
"I'm glad to hear you say that. I've been relying on Kanade a lot lately."
"It's okay for you to rely on me more. I think we both need each other when we're weak."
"Yeah, I know. Thank you."
I was only thinking about myself, but Kanade must have had a big shock too because two of her childhood friends did that to her without telling her. And yet, she's really my best childhood friend because she cares about me and is willing to help me out.
After I left Kanade and went home, I sent RINE to Hazuki.
"Sorry. I'm going to school tomorrow and have a lunch break, but I'm going to train on my own for next week's game. So can you have lunch with a friend or something for the week?"
Even if it was a text-only exchange, I couldn't help but think of Hazuki at that moment, and my fingers trembled as I typed. And now that I've finished sending it, I'm dreading Hazuki's reply. I wonder how she feels about doing RINE with me. Is she laughing at me for being cheated on without knowing anything about it?
The Hazuki I know is not the kind of person who laughs at people behind their backs. But I realized the other day that this is an illusion.
I am afraid. I was scared of Hazuki from the bottom of my heart. As I was crouching under the covers, the screen of my phone lit up.
"I understand. You said next week's game is important. I'll be there to cheer you on that day, so practice hard."
If I hadn't known about Hazuki's betrayal, I would have been extremely enthusiastic when I saw this message, but nothing resonated with me now. It was more like disgust. I had feelings for Hazuki that were more than just family, but I felt so sad that my heart had become so cold.
From Monday, I started going to school early and practicing in the morning as I had planned, and also went out to the field to practice in the afternoon as well. Kanade also went along with me in the morning because she was my manager, but one of my teammates made fun of me saying, "You have a girlfriend and you're allowed to practice alone with Kanade? You don't even know how I feel!" Well, I understand a little bit.
Hazuki and I didn't see each other at school very often, as expected. Since we are in different classes and have different after-school activities, we almost never see each other as long as we can avoid the time when we go to school and during lunch break. Even during the short breaks between classes, I was very careful to disappear from the class immediately.
But all my efforts were ruined by the lunch break on Thursday.
"Yuuri. May I have a moment?"
Just as I sat up to go to practice when the chime rang, I heard a voice calling me from the classroom door. I looked in the direction of the voice and sure enough, there was Hazuki.
"I came here right after class because lately, you seem to disappear as soon as it's break time. I'm glad you're still in the classroom."
Hazuki was right, since the beginning of this week, I have been trying to leave the classroom as soon as the chime rings. That is, of course, because I don't want to see Hazuki. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Kanade looking at me and Hazuki with a worried look on her face.
We move away from the classroom to the front of the music class, where not many people come.
"I've been busy lately. I've had to move quickly. Did you come by a few times to check on me by any chance?"
"Yes. I haven't been able to come to school or have lunch with you this week, so I've been a little lonely.
"I'm sorry about that. It's going to be the same as usual until the game, so just bear with it until tomorrow."
"That's all right. I don't mean to be selfish and make you feel uncomfortable. I just wanted to talk to you while seeing your face for a little while."
I was annoyed by Hazuki's words, which sounded so sentimental.
I'm not going to be a wimp. You're not trying to make trouble for me? When you've already betrayed me so badly.
"I'm sorry I missed you too. We'll go to school and have lunch together again next week. Well, I'm off to practice."
I quickly make my way to the field, trying not to let the resentment welling up in the pit of my stomach get the better of me. Then Hatsuki calls out to me from behind.
"I understand. Thanks for your time, Yuuri. Good luck with practice."
I only raised my hand without turning around so that Hazuki wouldn't see my face. I am sure I look ugly and distorted right now. I couldn't let Hatsuki see my face like this.
"I'm sure we'll have a lot to talk about on Saturday, Hazuki."
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