第88話 氷河期再び
狭いようで広い学校という箱庭で、儚くも切ない誰かの恋が終わったとして、なにか特別な変化が起こるわけではない。
平日には授業があり、生徒は教室に集まる。放課後になればそれぞれ部活に行くなり遊びに行くなり、大抵は帰宅することで散らばっていく。そうして迎えた休日はそれぞれの生活が待っているだろう。
そんな当たり前のサイクルは、当たり前のように続いていく。
それでも人間関係というものは、大なり小なり日々変わっていくものだ。
特にいち恋愛事においては、当事者だけでなく周りも巻き込んで複雑に絡み合う。
想い想われ、振って振られて、惚れて腫れる。
たとえ恋が成就しようとも、たとえ友達のままでいたとしても、たとえ人知れず失恋したとしても。
良くも悪くも恋は人を変えてしまうのだ。
そしてそれは、通り雨のように突然訪れた。
「朝陽お前、氷室さんのこと怒らせた?」
放課後のファミレスで、千昭が単刀直入に聞いてくる。
ポテトをケチャップに付けるその手は、いつになく雑でやる気のない。
対する朝陽は珍しく弱気で、ドリンクバーの安っぽいカフェオレを口にした後、ため息交じりに項垂れた。
「もしかしたら怒らせたのかもな」
「自覚はないと?」
「あったら即謝ってる」
「まあそうだよな」
あっという間にカップが空になり、朝陽は二杯目を注ぎに行こうと席を立つ。
すると千昭が一気にジュースを飲み干し、無言でグラスを差し出した。
どうやらついでに頼む、ということらしい。
「ご注文は?」
「コーラで」
それだけ聞いて、朝陽はドリンクバーのコーナーへと向かう。
「氷室さん、どうしちゃったのかねー」
背中越しに聞こえた千昭の声はどこか他人事だった。
しかし、朝陽にとっては気が気でない。
ここ数日、明らかに冬華に避けられているのだ。
話しかけると、曖昧な返事をされる。
近づくと、さりげなく遠ざかる。
目が合った際には、思いっきりそっぽを向かれた。
果てにはいつも夕食を共にする週末に、予定があると言って断られた。
それはいつかの氷を思わせる態度で。
あの時と比べればまだ暖かくて。
けれども避けられているのは事実で。
何よりも、その氷が
日菜美を始めとして、千昭や明日香、その他クラスメイトに友達と冬華は変わりなく接しており、ぎこちないながら龍馬とも交流しているようだ。
会話はもちろん、時には笑顔も浮かべる。
そこに朝陽の姿はなく、傍から見つめているだけ。
ある日突然、百八十度世界が変わってしまったかのように。
朝陽と冬華は遠く遠く距離が開いてしまった。正確には、距離を取られてしまった。
唯一わかっているのは、こうなったきっかけ。
(龍馬が冬華に告白した、その後からだよな......)
あの日から、冬華はよそよそしくなった。
それだけははっきりとしている。
しかし、告白をして振られた龍馬が避けられるならまだしも、第三者である朝陽が避けられる理由は見つからない。
もしかすると、教室に戻ってきた際に浮かべていた涙と関係あるのだろうか。
的を得ないながら、龍馬は冬華の涙の理由に気付いているようだった。
しかし、肝心の龍馬は話を濁したいようで、こればっかりは聞いても仕方がない。
結局、冬華に避けられているという事実だけが、今まで以上に朝陽を悩ませていた。
「随分と遅かったな」
「すまん、考え事してた」
「なるほど、だから俺のコーラが緑色なのか」
「メロンソーダじゃなかったっけ?」
「それ、俺が飲み干したやつな。頭冷やそうぜ、疲れてるぞ」
千昭にそう言われるのは癪だが、図星に近いのでなにも言えない。
アイスコーヒー砂糖入りを流し込み、朝陽はまたしても深く息を吐く。
「だいぶ参ってるみたいだな」
千昭は苦笑いを浮かべ、グラスの氷をカランと鳴らした。
「で、このままでいいのか?」
「いいわけないだろ」
「おっ、声出るじゃん。そうだよな、このままじゃダメだよな」
「そうだといいけど」
「だったら本人に直接聞くのが早いんじゃねーの?」
さらっと言われ、朝陽は口を閉ざす。
冬華から直接聞こうとは、もちろん一度は考えた。
しかし、そもそも避けられている状況で朝陽の声は届かない。
龍馬に背中を押され、一歩を踏み出そうとした矢先にこれだ。
「俺は今、冬華にどう接すればいいかわからないんだ。......拒絶されるかもしれないと思ったら、どうしても前に進めない」
辛い胸中を吐露しながら、朝陽は顔をしかめる。
一番仲の良い、千昭の前だからこそ相談できることだった。
弱さを曝け出し、その上で意見を求める。
朝陽からファミレスに誘ったのも、たった数日で耐えられなくなったからだ。
冬華がいない日常に、心に穴が開いた思いがする。
その穴を埋められるのは、他でもない冬華しかいない。
「もう答えはでてると思うけどな」
千昭は穏やかに微笑むが、朝陽は笑えたものじゃない。
「そう言うと思って、今日は強力な助っ人をお呼びしました」
聞いてない、と朝陽が言うより早く背後に気配がした。
振り返るとそこには、茶髪と金髪が仲良しこよしで隣り合っている。
「やっほー! 恋のことならおまかせ、ひなちゃんとー?」
Ch 88
In the small but spacious space of the school yard, no special change would occur after someone's fragile and tragic love ends.
On weekdays, there were classes and students gathered in the classroom. After school, they attend their club activities or play, and most of them go home. On weekends, each student had his or her own life to lead.
Such a natural cycle of daily life would continue as it always had.
Still, relationships changed daily, to a greater or lesser extent.
Especially in the case of a romance, it was complicated and involved not only the people themselves but also the people around them.
Love, be loved, reject, be rejected, fall in love, be swollen.
Even if your love was fulfilled, even if you remained friends, even if you were secretly heartbroken.
For better or worse, love could change a person.
And it would arrive as suddenly as a passing rain.
"Asahi, did you make Himuro-san angry?"
At a diner after school, Chiaki asked him point-blank.
The hand that dipped the fries in ketchup was as messy and unmotivated as ever.
Asahi, on the other hand, was unusually weak. After sipping a cheap cafe au lait he got from the drink bar, he sighed and looked down.
"Maybe I did."
"Are you saying you're not aware of it?"
"I would have apologized immediately if I was."
"Well, I guess so."
In no time at all, the cup was empty and Asahi left his seat to go pour a second cup.
Then Chiaki drank the juice in one gulp and silently held out the glass.
Apparently, he wanted him to get some while he was at it.
"What would you like?"
"Cola."
After hearing that, Asahi headed to the drink bar section.
"I wonder what's going on with Himuro-san?"
Chiaki's voice over his back sounded like it was someone else's problem.
But for Asahi, it was unnerving.
It was obvious that Fuyuka had been avoiding him for the past few days.
When he tried to talk to her, she would just give him a vague response.
As he approached, she casually moved away.
When their eyes met, she turned away from him as hard as she could.
Eventually, on the weekend when they usually had dinner together, she refused to come, saying she had plans.
It was an attitude reminiscent of the "ice" from some time ago.
It was still warm compared to that time however.
But it was true that she was avoiding him.
More than anything, Asahi was baffled by the fact that the "ice" was directed only at him.
Starting with Hinami, Chiaki, Asuka, and her classmates and friends, Fuyuka was still exchanging conversation with them, and she seemed to be interacting with Ryoma, albeit awkwardly.
Conversation, and sometimes even a smile.
There was no sight of Asahi there, just him staring from the side.
It was as if one day the world had suddenly flipped over on its head.
The distance between Asahi and Fuyuka had grown far, far away. To be more precise, they had been distanced.
The only thing he knew was how this happened.
'Ryoma confessed to Fuyuka, and then after that...'
Since that day, Fuyuka had become distant.
That much was clear.
However, if Ryoma, who had confessed and been rejected, was not being avoided, Asahi couldn't find any reason why he, a third party, was being avoided.
'Perhaps it had something to do with the tears that were on her face when she came back to the classroom?'
Although he was missing the point, Ryoma seemed to realize the reason for Fuyuka's tears.
However, Ryoma wanted to make it vague, so there was no point in asking him.
In the end, the fact that Fuyuka was avoiding him was the only thing that bothered Asahi more than ever.
"You're late."
"I'm sorry, I was just thinking."
"I see, that's why my cola is green."
"I thought you said melon soda."
"That's the one I just drank. Look, you're tired. Cool up a bit."
Asahi was annoyed to hear Chiaki say that, but he couldn't say anything because it hit close to home.
After pouring down his iced coffee with sugar, Asahi exhaled deeply again.
"You look like you've been through a lot."
Chiaki chuckled bitterly and clinked the ice in his glass.
"So, are you fine like this?"
"Of course not."
"Oh, now we're talking. You're right, it can't go on like this."
"I hope so."
"If that's the case, wouldn't it be faster to ask her directly?"
When he was told plainly, Asahi shut his mouth.
Of course, he thought at one point to ask Fuyuka directly.
However, Asahi's voice couldn't reach her in a situation where he was being avoided in the first place.
Just as he was about to take the first step, pushed by Ryoma, this happened.
"I don't know how to treat Fuyuka right now. I just can't move forward thinking she might reject me..."
Asahi frowned as he revealed his painful feelings.
It was something he could discuss only in front of Chiaki, his closest friend.
Exposing your weaknesses to ask for opinions on them.
The reason why Asahi invited him to the family restaurant was because after only a few days, he couldn't stand it anymore.
He felt a hole was dug inside his heart without Fuyuka in his daily life.
The only person who could fill that hole was Fuyuka.
"I think you already have the answer, though."
Chiaki smiled serenely, but Asahi felt it was no laughing matter.
"I figured you'd say that, so I've called in some powerful helpers today."
"I didn't hear anything about this." Asahi said, and before he could say anything else, he felt a presence behind him.
When he turned around, there was a brown-haired girl and a blond-haired girl standing next to each other, getting along well.
"Hi there! When it comes to love, leave it to Hina-chan and~?"
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