第66話 初デート?
ホワイトデーの後日、終業式と卒業式を終え、約二週間の春休みが始まった。
冷たく厳しい冬は過ぎ去り、心地の良い風が肌を撫でる。
降り注ぐ日差しは暖かく、春の訪れを感じさせた。
そうして、冬華と予定を合わせて決めた日はあっという間にやって来た。
今日までずっとそわそわしていたのに、いざ当日となっても朝陽の心は落ち着く様子がない。
約束の時間まで、あと十分。
待ち合わせ場所の駅に着いた朝陽は小さく深呼吸をする。
「変じゃないよな......」
ワックスで軽く流した髪に、パーツの整った凛々しい顔。
長身とは言えないが、平均を軽く超える身長。
駅中のショーウィンドウを鏡代わりに全身を見れば、そこそこ見栄えが良い男の姿が映る。
普段よりも気合を入れて身嗜みを整えたし、洋服はこの日のために新調した。
一緒に洋服店を回ったオシャレ男、千昭のお墨付きなので大丈夫だと思うが、やはり気になるものは気になる。
何せ、冬華と二人で遊びに行くのはこれが初めてだ。
正確には、クリスマスイブを含めて二回目だが、あの時とは状況が大きく異なる。
例えば、服装が自由で無数の選択肢があったり、目的地が完全に私用で娯楽地だったり。そして、一番の違いは冬華に対して抱く気持ち。すなわち、恋心の存在。
時計の針が進むにつれ、胸の鼓動も一定のリズムを刻む。
いつしかそのセッションに、パタパタと可愛らしい足音も加わった。
「お待たせしました」
「大丈夫、俺も今来たところだから」
「それならよかったです」
約束の時間ぴったりに表れた冬華はもちろん、朝陽と同じく私服を着ていた。
小花柄のワンピースに、水色のカーディガン。
露出は少なく、清楚なイメージを与えるコーデは春にぴったりで、爽やかな印象は水族館という場所にもマッチしている。
そして何より、冬華自身によく似合っていた。
「......私の顔に何かついていますか?」
「そのセリフ、久々に聞いたな」
「だって、朝陽くんがこっちを見つめるから......」
ついつい見入ってしまったせいで、冬華が少し不安気な顔で覗き込んで来る。
同時に、何かに期待しているような。そんな表情にも見える。
少し前なら、こういう時は適当に誤魔化していたが。
今の朝陽は、そして今日という日は違った。
「......から」
「えっ......?」
「二回目は恥ずかしいんだけど」
「も、もう一回お願いします!」
「......次はもう言わないからな」
そう前置きして、朝陽は言葉を紡ぐ。
「私服が可愛いかったから。それで、見てた」
最後は平常通り、ぶっきらぼうな感じになった。
ただ、今度はちゃんと伝わったはずだ。
「好き」はまだ言えなくても、「可愛い」なら。
小さな小さな好意を、朝陽は言葉として形にする。
「......ありがとうございます」
少し間を空けて呟いた冬華は、ほんのりと頬を赤く染めた。
服だけではなく、本人も可愛いのだからどうしようもない。
朝陽の心臓がまた一つ、スピードを上げて――
「朝陽くんもいつもより、カッコいいです」
いつもより、ということは普段もカッコいいと思ってくれているのだろうか。
とにかく、今は忙しく脈打つ鼓動を落ち着かせるのに精いっぱいだ。
「こんなやり取り、クリスマスイブにもしたよな」
自然と二人、目的地に向かって歩を進める。
この流れもイブと似ていた。
そして、一度は否定した考えもまた蘇る。
これは断じて恋人同士のデートではない。
ただ、どうしてもその言葉を意識してしまう。
「そういえば、どうして待ち合わせがここだったんだ?」
照れくさい空気と妄想を振り払い、朝陽は聞きたい事ついでに話を変えた。
二人は同じマンション、それも隣部屋に住んでいるため、待ち合わせは玄関の扉を開けた先で済む。
それなのに、冬華が提示した待ち合わせ場所は水族館の最寄り駅だった。
お陰で心の準備に時間をかけれたが、どうも気になってしまう点ではある。
「それは......最近読んだ小説に影響を受けて......」
「多分それ、恋愛小説だよな」
冬華が小さく頷く。
そして、暫く口を噤んだ後に。
「......こういうの、デートみたいでいいなって」
「......え?」
「あ、憧れみたいなものです! 決して他意があるわけじゃ......なくもないんですけど......」
最後の方は聞き取りづらかったが、どうやら冬華も少しは意識してくれているらしい。
それが、朝陽のような片想いとは違い、フィクションへの憧れだとしても。
思春期の男子からすれば、十分過ぎるほど嬉しかった。
(......初デートって考えるのは馬鹿らしいな)
外面はあくまで平静を保ち、内面もどうにか落ち着かせる。
冬華に対する恋心だけが、優しく吹き込む春風のように、静かに騒めいていた。
Ch 66
The day after White Day, the closing ceremony and graduation ceremony ended and the two-week spring break began.
The cold, harsh winter had passed and a pleasant breeze could be felt.
The sunshine was warm, reminding everyone that spring had arrived.
And so, the day that he had planned with Fuyuka came in a flash.
Even though he had been anxiously waiting for it, Asahi's mind did not seem to calm down when the day arrived.
Ten minutes were left until the appointed time.
When he arrived at the station where they were supposed to meet, Asahi took a small deep breath.
"I don't look weird, right...?"
His hair was lightly waxed down with his face well-parted and dignified.
He was not tall, but he was well above average.
Gazing at his whole body using the windows in the train station as a mirror, you would see the image of a man who was reasonably good looking.
He put more effort into his appearance than usual, and he even bought new clothes for the occasion.
Chiaki helped him to pick some clothes out, so it should be fine but still it was bothering him a little.
After all, this was the first time that Fuyuka and he would be going out together.
To be precise, this was the second time, during Christmas Eve, but the situation was very different from that time.
For example, there was no dress code and there were countless choices, and the destination was a completely private and recreational place. And the biggest difference was the feelings he had for Fuyuka. In other words, the existence of a love interest.
As the hands of the clock moved forward, his heart beat in a steady rhythm.
At some point, the sound cues were joined by pattering, cute footsteps.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"Don't worry, I just got here myself."
"I'm glad to hear that."
Fuyuka showed up at the exact appointed time, and of course, like Asahi, she was wearing casual clothes.
A floral print dress and a light blue cardigan.
Her looks gave off a clean and pure image, perfect for spring, and the refreshing impression matched the location of the aquarium.
And most importantly, it suited Fuyuka herself well.
"...Do I have something on my face?"
"I haven't heard that line in a while."
"Because, you keep on staring, Asahi-kun..."
Fuyuka peeked at him with a slightly uneasy look on her face.
At the same time, she looked as if she was expecting something. That was what it seemed like.
Not so long ago, he would have just put on a farce in these situations.
However, both him and today were different.
"...cute."
"Eh...?"
"I'm embarrassed to do it a second time."
"Please, say it again!"
"...Next time I won't say it again."
With that preface, Asahi opened his mouth.
"I saw how cute you were dressed in casual clothes. So I kept looking."
At the end, he was blunt as normal.
However, he made sure to get the message across this time.
Although he couldn't say "I love you" yet, he could at least say "you're cute."
Asahi gave shape to his small and little fondness for her.
"...Thank you."
Fuyuka muttered after a short pause, and her cheeks turned slightly red.
He couldn't help it, not only were her clothes cute, but so was the person herself too.
Asahi's heart sped up one more time--
"You're looking even cooler than usual, Asahi-kun."
More than usual, did that mean she usually thought him as cool too?
Anyway, right now he was busy trying to calm his pulsating heartbeat.
"Didn't we have this exchange on Christmas Eve?"
The two of them walked naturally towards their destination.
This process was similar to Eve's.
And the thoughts he once rejected rushed back.
This was definitely not a date between lovers.
However, he couldn't help but be conscious of it.
"Come to think of it, why was the meeting place here?"
Shaking off the air of embarrassment and his fantasy, Asahi changed the subject to what he wanted to ask.
They live in the same apartment building, next door to each other, so they could just meet up at the front door.
Yet, the meeting place that Fuyuka suggested was the station nearest the aquarium.
It gave him time to prepare himself, but it was a point that bothered him.
"It was...inspired from a novel I read recently."
"I think that's probably a romance novel."
Fuyuka gave a small nod.
Then, after holding his word for a while.
"...I kinda like this, it's like a date."
"...Eh?"
"I-it's just something I admire, I don't mean anything bad by it..."
It was hard to hear the last part, but apparently Fuyuka was a little conscious.
Even if it was a longing for fiction, as opposed to a crush like Asahi's.
For an adolescent boy, it was more than enough to make him happy.
'It's kind of silly to think of this...as a first date.'
Staying calm on the outside and somehow calming himself down on the inside.
Only his love for Fuyuka was quietly making noise, like a gentle spring breeze blowing in.
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