岸上家の朝・休日編
目に刺さる日光と、誰かが動く気配で眠りから覚めた。
ぼやけた視界で壁掛け時計を確認すると、普段よりもかなり寝坊している。
でも、今日は朝の内は誰も出掛けないからな......多少の寝坊は許されるだろう。
そのまま半身を起こして部屋をぼんやりと見回すと、ベッドの傍で固まる理世と目が合った。
......。
「何、してる......? 理世......」
「起きてしまいましたか、兄さん......残念です。まだ数枚しか......」
言葉からして、起こしに来てくれたわけじゃないのか。
その片手で握ったままのスマホは何に使ったのだろう?
「それにしても珍しいですね、兄さん。朝からこんなにゆっくりしているなんて」
「あー、まあ......昨夜の大会、結構時間を取られたからな。楽しかったけど、少し疲れた」
「良い事です。疲れた時は家事も私達に任せて全部お休みにして、ゆっくり遊んでいても構わないのですよ?」
「嬉しいしありがたいけど、そういうわけにも......ん? 私“達”?」
さんが朝食を用意してくれました。待っていますから、一緒に下に降りましょう」
えっ、本当か?
さんが料理をしてくれるのなんて、一体何年ぶりだろう......?
俺は理世に先に行ってくれと声を掛けて、寝間着を脱ごうと――
「......あの、理世さん?」
「何ですか? 兄さん」
「いや、俺、今から着替えるから。出来れば部屋から出て行って欲しいというか」
「私のことならお構いなく。ここで待っていますから」
「うん、兄妹だからそういうの気にしないって理屈なら分かるし納得なんだが......そんなに血走った目全開でじっと見られてると、さすがに......」
「お構いなく! ――ああっ、なにするんですか! 離してください! いえ、むしろずっとこのまま離さないでください!」
でも動かないという鋼の意志を見せる理世を、ひょいと抱えて持ち上げると部屋の外へと置いてくる。
こういう時は軽い体なので抵抗できないのだ。
呪詛を呟きつつ外からドアを引っ掻く理世が怖いので、手早く着替えて朝食を摂りに行くことにした。
トーストが焼ける香り、それとコーヒーの香りがリビングに満ちていた。
キッチンで鼻歌を口ずさみながら、縛った髪が機嫌良さげに揺れている。
と、そこで俺達の足音で気付いたのかこちらを振り返って微笑む。
「おはよ、亘」
「おはよう、母さん。朝食用意してくれたんだって?」
「簡単なのだけだし、たまにはね。でも亘、起きて早速で悪いんだけどなーんか物足りなくない?」
示されたテーブルの上を見るとトーストの他にはハムエッグ、付け合わせに茹でたブロッコリーか。
野菜が足りないけどスープ......は今からだとちょっと時間が掛かるか。
それなら、そうだな。
「野菜ジュースでも作ろうか? 野菜の赤みが足りない気がする」
「あら、良いわね。理世ちゃんは何味にしたい?」
言いつつ、母さんはデレっとした顔で理世の頭を撫で回している。
今に始まったことじゃなく再婚前から娘が欲しかったそうで、理世が家に来てからは一貫してずっとこんな態度だ。
今日は二人で一緒に買い物に行くそうで、輪を掛けて朝から機嫌が良いのはそのおかげなのだろう。
理世も特に嫌がらずにそれを受け入れているので、我が家の家族仲は安泰である。
「......なら、オレンジベースのものが飲みたいです。確かまだ残っていましたよね?」
「あるある。じゃあ、後はシンプルに人参を入れて赤野菜をプラスしよう」
他の料理は出来ているので、ちゃっちゃと皮を剥いて適当なサイズにカット。
ミキサーに少量の水、レモン等と一緒に入れたら
オレンジも人参も一緒に買った同じ生産者の物は甘かったので、それ以上は特に手を加えなくても、このまま美味しく飲めるだろう。
三つのコップに中身を注ぎ、食卓にフレッシュな香りが加わったところで......
三人で手を合わせた。
やっぱり人に作って貰った食事は違うな。
簡単な物ばかりとはいえ、久しぶりに母さんの料理を食べられて嬉しかった。
それを素直に伝えると、嬉しそうにしながらもこんな反応をされてしまった。
「でも、とっくに亘の方が料理が上手なんだから、緊急時以外に母さんが作る理由はあんまり無いわよねぇ?」
「まあ、仕事が忙しい母さんに作れと強制はできないけどさ。俺のばっかじゃなくて、自分好みの味で作りたくなったりはしないの?」
「アッハッハッハ!」
「何その笑い」
「うん、短距離走の世界記録を持ってる人に君の方が速い! って言われた気分。無いわよ、負けるのが分かってて自分で作りたくなることなんて」
また分かりにくい例えを......。
褒められている――のか? これは。
マスター配合のブレンドコーヒーを飲みながら、微妙な表情の俺を見て母さんが更に笑う。
「この前も、何だっけ? あの具沢山の、トマトのリゾットに似た――」
「ターゲンですか? 兄さん、土鍋で丁寧に作って下さいましたよね」
「それそれ。私が知らない美味しい料理まで作ってくれるし、お弁当もいつも綺麗で美味しいしで自慢の息子よ。それを知らない新人の子に、お弁当のおかずのレシピを聞かれるとウッてなるけど......でも、こんなに家事をしなくて済む母親も珍しいんじゃないかしら?」
「あー、褒めすぎ褒めすぎ。背中がむず痒くなるからやめてくれ」
さんそっくりねえ......」
瑞人というのは俺が五歳の時に亡くなった実の父親だ。
ちなみに理世の父は「
どちらも若くしての病死であり、そういう意味では母さんはとても運が悪いと言えるかもしれない。
そんな暗い過去を感じさせないパワフルさと見た目の若さではあるのだが。
もう再婚する気はないのかと訊いたところ「三度目はちょっとねえ」だそうだ。
「で、二人は食休みしたらもう出掛けんの? 昼は?」
「お昼はどこかで適当に食べてくるわ。亘は一緒に行かないんでしょう?」
「あー、未祐と秀平が家に来るって言ってたから。昼はその三人で何か用意して食べるよ」
むくれる理世を母さんがまあまあと抱きしめる。
こうして並んでいるところを見ると、血は繋がっていなくとも年の離れた姉妹と間違われるのも分からないでもない。
一緒に住んでいるからなのか、理世もどことなく雰囲気が母さんに似てきているんだよな。
不思議だなあ......。
「大丈夫よ、理世ちゃん。夜の亘はあなただけのものだから、沢山甘えるといいわよ?」
「え? ちょっと、何勝手なことを――」
「本当ですか? 明乃さん。じゃあ、今夜は兄さんと一緒に寝ても良いですか?」
「いいわよ!」
「いいわよ! それなら理世ちゃんを何処かに嫁に出す事も無くなるし! 亘、ついでに未祐ちゃんも嫁に貰っちゃいなさい! あの子も良い子だから!」
「何でだよ!? 何から何までおかしいわ! しかも他所様の家の大事な一人娘を、ついで扱いすんな!」
この人、単に自分の手元に娘を置いておきたい一心で無茶苦茶なことを言っていないか......? 俺の意思は......?
実の息子として愛されているのか少し不安になる、そんな朝の出来事だった。
Chapter 79 - Morning In The Kishikami Household*Rest Day Edition
When I noticed the sunlight piercing my eyes, I was awoken from my sleep by the presence of someone moving around.
Within my blurred vision, I checked the clock on the wall and noticed that I had overslept a fair bit.
However, no one is going out today in the morning so...guess they'll forgive me for oversleeping a bit.
I pulled up my upper body and absentmindedly looked around the room and locked eyes with a stiffened Rise, who was close to my bed.
...
[What are you...doing? Rise...]  (Wataru)
[So you woke up, nii-san...that's a shame. I still only had taken a few...]  (Rise)
Judging from her words, it doesn't seem like she came here to wake me up?
What was she doing with that smartphone?
[But this is quite unusual, nii-san. For you to take it this easy in the morning.]  (Rise)
[Ah, well...last night's tournament took quite the long time after all. It was fun, but it was quite tiring.]  (Wataru)
[That's a good thing. Whenever you are tired, leave the housework to us and just rest, we wouldn't mind you just playing around you know?]  (Rise)
[That makes me happy and grateful, but I can't do...hmm? "Us"?]  (Wataru)
[That's right. Akeno-san made breakfast this morning. She's waiting for us, so let's go downstairs.]  (Rise)
Eh, really?
For mom to cook, I wonder how many years it's been since the last time she did...?
When I told Rise to go ahead and tried to take off my pajamas-
[...Excuse me, Rise-san?]  (Wataru)
[What is it? Nii-san.]  (Rise)
[I mean, I, I'm about to change my clothes. I'd honestly appreciate if you left the room.]  (Wataru)
[Don't mind me. I'll wait for you right here.]  (Rise)
[Yup, if you were to say that there was no need to mind since we are siblings I'd understand and actually accept...but when you are looking at me with those bloodshot eyes fully opened, it's kind of...]  (Wataru)
[Don't mind it! ...Aah, what are you doing!? Please, let go of me! No, in fact, let's stay like this and don't let go!]  (Rise)
I held Rise, who was showing an iron will and refusing to move, up in my arms and let her down outside the room.
At times like these, she can't really fight back because of her light body.
Having Rise scratching the door and murmuring curses is scary, so let's change fast and go get some breakfast.
The smell of toast and the fragrance of coffee filled the living room.
While humming inside the kitchen, her tied up hair was swaying around because of her good mood.
Then, she probably heard the sound of our footsteps and she turned around to smile at us.
[Good morning, Wataru.]  (Akeno)
[Good morning, mom. I heard you made breakfast?]  (Wataru)
[It's only easy stuff, so it's not bad once in a while. However, Wataru, sorry for saying this as soon as you woke up, but don't you think that it's kind of lacking?]  (Akeno)
Once I looked over at the table she was pointing at, I saw toast and ham and eggs, and boiled broccoli was used as a garnish.
It's lacking in vegetables but soup is a bit...if I were to make that it would take too much time.
In that case, let's see...
[Should I make some vegetable juice? I get the feeling there's a lack of vegetables.]  (Wataru)
[Oh, that would be nice. Rise-chan, what flavor do you want?]  (Akeno)
While saying that, mom stroked Rise's head while wearing a love-struck expression.
This is not something that just started happening, it seems like she wanted a daughter since she remarried, she's been like that since Rise came to this house.
It seems like they are going to go shopping together today, so I guess the reason she's wearing her ring and has been in a good mood since this morning is that.
Rise didn't show any signs of hating it and just accepted it, so the relationships within our family are good.
[...In that case, I would like to drink some orange juice. If I remember correctly, there was still some left right?]  (Rise)
[Yes there is. In that case, let's make something simple and add some carrots into it.]  (Akeno)
Since the rest of the food is already made, I peeled them swiftly and cut them in suitable sizes.
I added some water in the mixer and mixed them along with some lemon and it was done.
Since the oranges and carrots were bought at the same time and were from the same brand and sweet, even if we didn't add anything else, it'll taste good like this.
I poured the contents into three cups and a fresh fragrance was added to the dining table...
We clasped our hands.
As expected, a meal made by another person is a completely different thing.
Even if it was something really simple, I was really happy to have eaten something made by mom since it had been a while.
Once I honestly told her that, she gave me this reply while looking really happy.
[But, since Wataru is way better at cooking than me already, there's no need for mom to cook outside of emergencies, right?]  (Akeno)
[Well, I can't really force you since you are busy with work. Don't you feel you'd like to make something to your own tastes rather than eating my food all the time?]  (Wataru)
[Ahahahaha!]  (Akeno)
[What's with that laugh?]  (Wataru)
[Yup, you are faster than the current holder of the world record for short distance running! It feels like you said that to me.
There she goes again with the hard to understand examples...
Is she...praising me?
While drinking Master's Blend coffee, mom looked at my complex expression and laughed even more.
[The one from a while ago, what was it again? That thing with lots of ingredients that looked like a tomato risotto...]  (Akeno)
[You mean the Tagen? Nii-san, you made that very carefully with an earthenware pot right?]  (Rise)
[It's a bit awkward when new people at work that don't know about that ask me for the recipes for the side dishes though...but, I wonder if it's unusual for a mother to feel this at ease even if she doesn't do the housework at all?]  (Akeno)
[Ah, you are praising me far too much. I'm starting to get itchy so please stop.]  (Wataru)
[When it comes to things like this, you are exactly like Mizuhito-san...]  (Akeno)
Mizuhito is the name of my real father, who died when I was just 5 years old.
By the way, Rise's father is a man called [Satoru-san] , when I was in middle school he...
They both died from illness at a young age, in a way, you could say that mom had really bad luck.
Though she does have this powerful aura for not being bothered by such a murky past and her appearance is really young.
When I asked her if she was going to remarry again she replied with [A third time is a bit...] .
[So, are you both going after taking a break? What about lunch?]  (Wataru)
[For lunch we'll just eat wherever. Wataru, you are not coming with us right?]  (Akeno)
[Yeah, Miyu and Shuuhei said that they'd come over. For lunch I'll just prepare something for us.]  (Wataru)
Mom hugged Rise, who had grown sullen, to console her.
When looking at them from the side like this, even if they are not related by blood, it wouldn't be weird for people to mistake them for sisters that hadn't seen each other for years.
Maybe it's because they've been living together, Rise's aura vaguely resembles that of mom.
That's quite mysterious...
[It's fine, Rise-chan. Wataru belongs to you at night, you can have him spoil you lots you know?]  (Akeno)
[Eh? Wait a moment, what are you going about on your own-]  (Wataru)
[Really? Akeno-san. in that case, can I sleep with nii-san tonight?]  (Rise)
[Of course!]  (Akeno)
[Sure! That way, there wouldn't be a need for you to wed into another family! Wataru, while you are at it, take Miyu as your wife too! She's such a nice girl after all!]  (Akeno)
[Why would I do that!? What you are saying is so wrong that I don't know where to begin! Besides, don't go treating the important only daughter of another family as if she was an extra!]  (Wataru)
This woman, isn't she saying really unreasonable things because she...simply wholeheartedly trusts her daughter to do whatever she wants? Where do I get a say in this...?
As her real son, I'm slightly anxious if she loves me or not, this was an event that happened that morning.
VRMMO no Shien Shokunin ～Top Player no Shikakenin～
ＶＲＭＭＯの支援職人　～トッププレイヤーの仕掛人～
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/vrmmo-no-shien-shokunin-%ef%bd%9etop-player-no-shikakenin%ef%bd%9e/
Action Adventure Comedy Fantasy Harem Slice of Life
Adventurers Beautiful Female Lead Blacksmith Brother Complex Calm Protagonist Childhood Friends Clan Building Cooking Crafting Curious Protagonist Dense Protagonist Elemental Magic Fantasy Creatures Game Ranking System Gamers Hard-Working Protagonist Healers Level System Love Interest Falls in Love First Love Rivals Male Protagonist Misunderstandings MMORPG Ninjas Possessive Characters Priests Siblings Siblings Not Related by Blood Sword And Magic Virtual Reality Younger Love Interests Younger Sisters
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4014ds/
二階堂風都