クールで素っ気ないお隣さんとお互いの得意分野を教え合う関係が始まってから数日後。
夕飯の買い出しからマンションに戻った朝陽は、冬華が住む部屋から見知らぬ女性が出てくるのを見た。
背丈が高く、朝陽と同じかそれ以上はあるかもしれない。スレンダーなスタイルと相まって、ビジネススーツがよく似合っていた。
「はあ......」
女性は氷室と書かれた表札に目を向けて、セミロングの黒髪を控えめにかきあげた。小さなため息はイラついた気持ちを吐き出しているように思えたが、何かを心配しているように見える。
(氷室の母親か?)
真っ先に家族の存在を思い浮かべたが、それにしては顔が似ていない。母親ではないとすると、親戚だろうか。女性の正体はわからないが、家から出てきた以上は冬華と近しい関係にあるはずだ。
「こんばんは」
女性は朝陽に気付くと軽く会釈をした。
「......こんばんは」
朝陽も挨拶を返し、さっさと自分の部屋に戻ろうとする。
「もしかして、あなたが火神朝陽くん?」
「......どうして俺の名前を?」
「冬華お嬢様に聞きました」
女性は朝陽の顔と火神家の表札を交互に見て、「なるほど」とひとりでに納得した。
しかし、朝陽は全く状況を飲み込めていない。冬華お嬢様、という呼び方が気になって仕方がなかった。
「申し遅れました。わたくし、氷室家の家政婦を務めさせていただいている、
困惑気味の朝陽に気付いたのか、香織と名乗った女性は丁寧に自己紹介をした。オフモードから切り替えたのか、口調はテキパキとしたものになっている。
どうやら冬華が令嬢だという噂は事実らしい。突然現れた家政婦の存在は、冬華の育ちの良さを裏付けしていた。
「冬華お嬢様をよろしくお願いします。あの方は冷徹で、冷酷だと思われてしまうかもしれませんが、本当は繊細で傷つきやすいから......」
香織はそれだけ言って、深々と頭を下げた後に、朝陽の横を通り過ぎた。
頼られたところで何をすればいいのか全くわからない。現状、朝陽に出来るのは、料理を教えることくらいだった。
「繊細で傷つきやすい、か......」
香織の言葉を思い出しながら、朝陽はゆっくりと自宅の鍵を回す。それと同時にガチャリ、とお隣の鍵が開く音がした。
「よっ。今、買い出しから帰って来たとこ」
時計を見れば集合時間の五分前を指している。集まるには丁度いい頃合いだ。
「入れよ、寒いだろ」
「......あの」
どこかぎこちない様子の冬華に呼び止められ、朝陽は玄関で立ち止まる。
「先ほど、スーツ姿の女性を見ませんでしたか?」
「見た。氷室の家政婦らしいな」
「どうしてそれを......」
「さっき自己紹介された」
「あの人は......」
小さく項垂れた冬華は、やがて意を決したように朝陽に向き直った。
「火神さん。後で少しお話があります」
***
「で、話っていうのは?」
夕食を食べ終わり、洗い物を済ました後。食休みの時間に朝陽はお預けになっていた話を切り出した。
「話とはあの人......立花さんのことです」
冬華曰く、香織は氷室家の家政婦で間違いないようだ。それもただの家政婦ではなく、氷室家お抱えの家政婦らしく、専属で働いている優秀な人材らしい。
「やっぱり凄いお嬢様だったんだな」
「凄いのは私ではなく父ですけどね......この家に一人で住むことになってから、家政婦を派遣してくれました」
「なるほど、だから一人暮らしでも何とかなったのか」
「......馬鹿にされていませんか?」
朝陽が取り繕うと、冬華は小さなため息を吐く。
「立花さんに食事の管理を始め、家事の全般を担当してもらっています。あなたの言う通り、ここでの生活は随分と助けられていますね」
「へえ、そりゃいいな......ん? ちょっと待て」
冬華の話に引っ掛かりを覚え、朝陽はこれまでのことを整理してから口を開く。
「その家政婦がいるなら、どうして今まで頼らなかったんだ?」
朝陽が言う今までとは、冬華が熱で倒れてから今日までのことだ。発熱で倒れた際や手を怪我してしまった間などは、朝陽に頼らずとも家政婦の存在があったはずだ。
今だって、朝陽ではなく家政婦に料理を教わるという選択肢があってもおかしくない。
「それは......ご家庭の都合で、立花さんはしばらく休養を取っていたんです」
「なるほど。じゃあ、さっきのは復帰の挨拶か」
「いえ、むしろその逆です。復帰が長引きそうだと。そして、別の人を雇ってはどうかと言われました」
淡々と説明する冬華からは少し寂しげな表情が伺える。香織が冬華の身を案じていたように、冬華もまた香織に対して何か思うところがあるのかもしれない。
「それで、氷室はどうすんだ」
「私は......立花さんが戻るのを待ちます」
「......家事、大丈夫か?」
「やっぱり馬鹿にしていますね......」
ジロリ、と睨まれ朝陽は思わずたじろぐ。しかし実際、冬華に家事ができるかどうかは怪しい。触れてこなかったが、密かに心配していたことだった。
「立花さんは毎日いるわけじゃありませんから。掃除も洗濯も私がやることだってあります」
「確かに、それはそうだな」
そういうことなら朝陽の心配は杞憂に終わる。ただ一つを除いては。
「食事は?」
「......作り置きしてもらっていました」
わかっていたことだが、冬華は料理が苦手もとい出来ない。これまで家政婦に頼り切りだったわけで、食事に関してはかなり心配が残ってしまう。
「......あなたがいるでしょう」
「ん?」
覇気のない小さな声に思わず聞き返すと、今度は珍しく冬華が語気を強めた。
「昨日の約束、もう忘れたんですか!」
「ああ、そういうことね」
つまり、料理に関しては任せると言いたいらしい。
「もしかして、このこと家政婦さんに言ったのか?」
「なるほど、だからよろしくってわけね」
冬華の料理の腕を知っていれば、家政婦さんが心配になる気持ちも十分にわかる。
「家政婦さんの為にも頑張らなきゃな」
「......頑張ります」
どういうわけか、顔を少しだけ赤く染めた冬華はクッションで顔を隠してしまう。朝陽が話しかけても、うんともすんとも言わず。勉強会を始めるまで、冬華はずっとそのままでいた。
A few days after starting a relationship with his cool and blunt neighbor, teaching each other's expertise.
When Asahi returned to his apartment after shopping for dinner, he saw an unknown woman coming out of where Fuyuka lived.
She was tall, maybe as tall or taller than Asahi. Combined with her slender figure, she looked good in a business suit.
"Sigh..."
The woman looked at the nameplate that read "Himuro" and discreetly brushed her semi-long black hair. The small sigh seemed to be an exhalation of irritation, but she seemed to be worried about something.
'Is that Himuro's mother?'
The first thing that came to mind was a family member, but their faces didn't look similar. If it wasn't her mother, then it was probably a relative. He didn't know who the woman was, but since she came out of the house, she must be close to Fuyuka.
"Good evening."
The woman greeted Asahi when she noticed him.
"...Good evening."
Asahi also returned the greeting and quickly tried to return to his room.
"Are you, by any chance, Kagami Asahi-kun?"
"...How did you know my name?"
"I heard it from Miss Fuyuka."
The woman looked at Asahi's face and the nameplate of the Kagami Family, "I see." and proceeds to nod.
However, Asahi was not able to follow the situation at all. He couldn't help but be bothered by the way she called Fuyuka, "Ojou-sama."
"Forgive me. I am a housekeeper of the Himuro Family, Tachibana Kaori."
Perhaps noticing the bewildered Asahi, the woman named Kaori, politely introduced herself. Maybe she had switched from off mode since her tone was brisk.
It seems that the rumor that Fuyuka was a woman of a high status was true. The sudden appearance of the housekeeper confirmed that Fuyuka had a good upbringing.
"Please take care of Miss Fuyuka. You may think that person is cold-hearted, and ruthless, but in reality she is delicate and vulnerable so..."
That was all Kaori said, and after bowing deeply, she walked past Asahi.
He had no idea what he was supposed to do. At the moment, all Asahi could do was to teach her how to cook.
"Delicate and vulnerable, huh?"
Remembering Kaori's words, Asahi slowly turned the key to his house. At the same time, he heard the sound of his neighbor's door unlocking with a click.
"Yo, I just came back from shopping."
He looked at his watch and saw that it was five minutes before the meeting time. It was just about time to gather.
"Come in, it's cold out here."
"...Um."
Fuyuka, who looked somewhat awkward, stopped Asahi at the entrance.
"Have you seen a woman in a suit just now?"
"Yeah, I heard that she's your housekeeper."
"How did you.."
"She introduced herself earlier."
"She is..."
Fuyuka, who had shed a small tear, eventually turned to face Asahi as if she had made up her mind.
"Kagami-san. I'd like to have a word with you later."
--
"So, what do you want to talk about?"
After they finished eating dinner and washed the dishes. Asahi brought up a subject that had been put off for a while.
"It's about that person... Tachibana-san."
According to Fuyuka, Kaori was definitely the housekeeper of the Himuro Family and she was not just a housekeeper, she seemed to be a housekeeper for the whole Himuro Family, and an excellent employee working exclusively for them.
"I knew it. You're a great young lady."
"It's not me who's great, though, it's my father... Since I've started living alone in this house, he's sent me a housekeeper."
"I see. That's why you were able to get by living alone."
"...Are you making fun of me by any chance?"
As Asahi glossed it over, Fuyuka let out a small sigh.
"Tachibana-san has been taking care of all the household chores, including managing my meals. As you said, she's helped me a lot in my life here."
"Hmm, that's nice... Hm? Hold on."
Fuyuka's story caught him off guard, and Asahi opened his mouth after sorting out everything that had happened so far.
"If you have a housekeeper, why haven't you relied on her before?"
What Asahi was referring to was the time from when Fuyuka fell ill with fever and until today. During the time when she had collapsed from the fever or injured her hand, she would have had the presence of a housekeeper without having to rely on Asahi.
Even now, she could have chosen to have her housekeeper teach her how to cook instead of Asahi.
"That's because... of family reasons, Tachibana-san took a break for a while."
"I see. So that was a greeting to say that she was back."
"No, rather the opposite. She said it would be a long time before she could return to work. And suggested that I hire someone else."
Fuyuka's expression was a little sad as she explained the situation without hesitation. As Kaori was worried about Fuyuka's well being, Fuyuka may also have some thoughts about Kaori.
"So, what are you gonna do?"
"I'll wait... until Tachibana-san returns."
"...What about the chores?"
"...I knew you were making fun of me."
She glared at him. But in reality, it was doubtful whether Fuyuka could do housework. He hadn't mentioned it, but it was something he was secretly worried about.
"It's not like Tachibana-san is here every time, so sometimes I even do the cleaning and laundry."
"That's true."
If that's the case, Asahi's worries were unfounded. Except for one thing.
"What about meals?"
"...I've been having instant meals."
He knew that Fuyuka was hopeless at cooking, or at least not good at it. She had always relied on her housekeeper, so he was quite worried about her meals.
"...There's still you."
"What?"
She replied back in a small voice that didn't seem to be dominating, however, this time Fuyuka's tone became unusually stronger.
"Have you already forgotten the agreement yesterday!"
"Oh, yeah."
In other words, she wanted to say that she would leave the cooking to him.
"Did you tell the housekeeper about this, by any chance?"
"I see. That's why she said that."
Knowing Fuyuka's cooking skills, he can fully understand why the housekeeper would be worried.
"Looks like you need to work hard for the housekeeper's sake too."
"...I'll do my best."
For some reason, Fuyuka's face turned a little red and hid her face with a cushion. She didn't say a word when Asahi spoke to her. Fuyuka remained as she was until the study session began.
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