第50話 氷の令嬢とサッカー部のエース
朝陽が山田について知っていることは、サッカー部のエース、イケメン、女子にモテる、この三つくらいである。
千昭によると、男子生徒からの信頼も厚いらしい。
確かに、球技大会の決勝戦ではゴールを決めた山田の元に、男女問わず多くの生徒が集まっていた。
そんな山田に関して朝陽が知っていることがもう一つだけある。
「えっ、この時間に山田君がいるの珍しくない!?」
「今日は久々に部活がオフなんだ」
「龍馬君、来週の試合頑張ってね! 私、応援しに行くから」
「ありがとう、勝てるように頑張るよ」
人がいない所で話したいと二人で廊下を歩く間も、山田への熱い視線と言葉が絶えず飛び交う。
スラっとした長身に程よくついた筋肉、そして爽やかな笑みが眩しい中性的な甘いマスク。
クラスメイト曰く、試合中は頼れるストライカーで、普段は物腰柔らかいというギャップが良いんだとか。
ヒラヒラと女子生徒に手を振る山田の姿を見れば、これはモテるだろうなと頷けた。
「もしかして、さっき取込み中だった? ごめんね、突然呼び出しちゃって」
「いや、大丈夫。他の友達待ってただけだから」
「ならよかった」
教室から連れ出され、やって来たのは人気のない校舎裏。
告白には持って来いの場所だが、今回は誰にも聞かれないという条件に当てはまっただけだろう。
こうして場所を移したことからも、山田の要件は大体予想ができる。
「それで、話ってのは氷室さんの事なんだけど......」
「俺と冬華はどういう関係なんだって?」
「す、凄いね。まさにその通りだよ」
既に何十回と聞かれては、何十回も同じ答えを返しているので、朝陽としては驚きの欠片もない。
今回もNPCのように同じ回答をプレイヤーに伝えるだけだ。
「冬華とは家が近くて偶々仲良くなったってだけ」
「じゃあ、やっぱり氷室さんが変わったのは火神君の影響なんだね」
「それは知らないけど。まあ、普通に友達だよ」
「......本当に?」
「本当に。何で疑うんだよ」
透子に千昭も、クラスメイトに山田のような他クラスの生徒までも。
何故そんなに、友達という至って普通の関係に探りを入れるのか。
どうやらその答えは皆同じらしく、氷の令嬢の距離感が明らかに近いから、だそうだ。
実際、千昭にもそう見えるんだと教えられたし、山田にも同じことを言われた。
ただ、朝陽としては首を横に振って否定するのみ。
知り合うのが早かっただけだ、と何故か少し自嘲気味に笑った。
「てっきり僕は二人が付き合っているのかと......」
「それは壮大な勘違いだな」
「......なら、まだ僕にもチャンスがあるわけか」
ほんの少し強張っていた山田の表情が明確に綻ぶ。
その微笑みが表すのはどういった感情なのか、朝陽には予想がつかない。
「火神君、もう一つだけ質問してもいいかな」
「答えられる質問なら」
「君は氷室さんのことをどう思ってる?」
似たような、というより全く同じ質問を初詣の日に千昭からされたなと思い出す。
お陰で、この抽象的な質問は恋愛感情の有無を聞いているのだと察することもできた。
そして同時に、山田から向けられた真っ直ぐな視線を朝陽は痛いほど感じた。
その眼差しは真剣そのもので、表情が引き締まっている。
強張っているのとはまた違う、まるで球技大会で対戦した点取り屋の姿を見ているような。
「......答えられない質問だったかな」
「いや......」
「大丈夫、無理には聞かないから」
今度は人の好さそうな優しい笑みを浮かべた山田から、朝陽は無意識に目を背ける。
答えられない質問ではなかったはずだ。
千昭には、はっきり友達だと断言した。
ただ、山田を前にして、朝陽は何故か言葉が出なかった。
どこか、心の中で引っ掛かりを感じる。
それは、初詣の時も感じた感情だ。
「僕はね、氷室さんが好きなんだ。一度、告白する前に拒絶されちゃったけど、今なら話してもらえると思う。ゆっくりと、距離を縮めていくこともできるはずだ」
押し黙った朝陽に追い打ちを掛けるように、山田はゆっくりと口を開いた。
「だから、今日は確認しておきたかったんだ。氷室さんにはもう恋人がいるのか。そして、強力なライバルがいるのかどうかね」
「......どうしてそんな話を俺に?」
「あれっ......今の流れでそう言われると恥ずかしいな。一応、ライバル宣言だったんだけど」
「そんな宣言をされる覚えはない」
「みたいだね。でも、火神君には話しておかないとって思ったんだ」
相変わらず爽やかな笑顔で、山田は恥ずかしげもなく冬華への好意を語った。
千昭から話は聞いていたが、山田は本当に冬華に振られてたらしい。
正確には告白すらできずに拒絶されたようだが。
それでもなお恋心を募らせ、もう一度想いを伝えようとしている。
そんな男の表情は穏やかそのものだが、瞳と言葉には熱い何かが宿っていた。
「これからよろしくね、火神君」
そう言い残して、山田は朝陽に背を向け校舎裏から去る。
よろしくね、というのが単なる友達付き合いの話ではない事くらいは、その手の話に疎い朝陽でも重々理解できた。
何を思ったのか知らないが、山田は朝陽を
明確な言葉として真正面からぶつけられた言葉は、自分には関係ないとしつつも、朝陽の心を大きく惑わせた。
「おっ、ようやく戻って来たな」
「朝陽、どこ行ってたの! 私たちより遅いって何事!?」
「悪い、ちょっと取り込んでた」
教室に戻れば、待っていると言っていた千昭だけでなく、頬を膨らませる日菜美の姿もあった。
そして、その隣には若干、お疲れの様子の冬華が佇んでいる。
「今日も凄かったみたいだな」
「聞いてよ、朝陽! 私が隣にいるのに、みんなふゆちゃんふゆちゃんって!」
「金曜日の放課後とあって、いつもよりも人が多くて賑やかでしたね......」
「そりゃお疲れさん。明日に備えてゆっくり寝ないとな」
「そうですね......でも、楽しみで眠れないかもしれません」
「んな、小学生みたいな......」
えへへ、と少しあどけない笑い方をした冬華に朝陽の胸が小さく跳ねる。
可愛い、と月並みの感想を浮かべて。
「ふゆちゃん可愛い!」
と、朝陽の代わりに褒め称える日菜美。
「よーし、みんな揃ったところで作戦会議にレッツゴー!」
学校を出て、向かう先は駅前のファミレス。
何でも、明日遊びに行く予定の大型遊園地は最近オープンしたばかりで大人気らしい。
一日中、めいっぱい遊ぶためには、事前に効率よく回れるよう作戦会議が必要なんだとか。
四人で遊ぶ姿を想像すれば、自然と明日を楽しみとする気持ちが沸々と沸き上がってくる。
そして、隣を歩く冬華への気持ちもまた、朝陽の中でゆっくりと無自覚に熱を上げていた。
Ch 50
Asahi only knew three things about Yamada, he was the soccer club's ace, quite good-looking, and popular with girls.
According to Chiaki, the male students trusted him a lot.
Indeed, many students, both male and female, had gathered around Yamada, who had scored a goal in the finals of the ball game.
There was also one more thing that Asahi knew about Yamada.
"Isn't it unusual that Yamada-kun is here at this time?"
"It's been a while since I've had a day off."
"Good luck in next week's match, Ryoma-kun! I'll be there to cheer you on."
"Thanks, I'll do my best to win."
Even as they walked down the corridor together where no one was around, there was a constant stream of heated glances directed at Yamada.
He had a slender height, well-developed muscles, and a sweet, neutral mask with a dazzling, refreshing smile.
According to his classmates, they liked the gap between him being a reliable striker during games and being soft-spoken in everyday life.
Looking at Yamada's fluttering hands waving at the girls, Asahi affirmed that this kind of man would be popular.
"Were you in the middle of something earlier? I'm sorry, I called you out of the blue."
"No, I'm fine. I was just waiting for my other friend."
"I'm glad."
Asahi was taken out of the classroom and he arrived at the back of the school building, which was not popular.
It was a great place for a confession, but this time, it would pass as a place, perfect for a private conversation.
Yamada's business could be roughly predicted from the fact he wanted to talk at such a place.
"By the way, when I meant 'talk' earlier, It was about Himuro-san."
"About my relationship with Fuyuka?"
"A-amazing, that's exactly right."
Since he had already been asked the same question dozens of times and had given the same answer dozens of times, there was no lack of surprise for Asahi.
Again, like a NPC, he just informs the player of the same answer.
"Fuyuka and I live close by. We just happen to get along."
"So the reason why Himuro-san changed was because of your influence, Kagami-kun."
"I don't know. Well, we're just regular friends."
"...Really?"
"Yeah, are you doubting me?"
Touko, Chiaki, his classmates, and even students from other classes liked Yamada.
Why were they so interested in a perfectly normal relationship as friends?
Apparently, the answer was the same for all of them: the "Ice Lady" was close to him.
In fact, Chiaki told him that it looked like that, and Yamada said the exact same thing.
As for Asahi, he just shook his head and denied it.
'We just got to know each other earlier.' He said, smiling a little to himself for some reason.
"I thought you were dating..."
"That would be a grand misunderstanding."
"...Then, I still have a chance..."
Yamada's expression, which had been slightly tense, clearly broke down.
Asahi couldn't read the kind of emotion that was being expressed by that smile.
"Kagami-kun, can I ask you just one more question?"
"If it's a question that I can answer."
"How do you feel about Himuro-san?"
Asahi remembered that Chiaki had asked him a similar, or rather the exact same question on the day of Hatsumode.
Thanks to that, he could guess that this abstract question was asking if he had romantic feelings about her.
At the same time, Asahi painfully felt the straight gaze being directed at him.
His eyes were serious and his expression was tight.
It was different from being strong, it was as if he was looking at an opponent against a ball game.
"...I hope that was a question you could answer."
"Well..."
"Don't worry, I won't force you to answer."
Asahi unconsciously turned away from Yamada, who now had a friendly smile on his face.
It must not have been an unanswerable question.
He already assured Chiaki that they were just friends.
However, with Yamada in front of him, Asahi was speechless for some reason.
Somehow, he felt a tug in his heart.
It was the same feeling he felt during Hatsumode.
"You see, I really like Himuro-san. She once rejected me before I could confess, but I think she can talk to me now. Slowly, we should be able to get closer."
Yamada opened his mouth slowly, as if to chase after the silent Asahi.
"That's why I wanted to check today, if she already has a boyfriend. And whether or not I had a strong rival."
"...Why are you telling me this?"
"Eh... Now I'm embarrassed to hear you say that with the way things are going. It was a declaration of rivalry, in case you were wondering."
"I don't remember doing anything for you to make that declaration."
"It looks like it. But I thought I should tell you about it."
With a smile as fresh as ever, Yamada was not shy in expressing his fondness for Fuyuka.
Asahi had heard from Chiaki that Yamada had really been rejected by Fuyuka.
To be precise, it seemed that he was rejected without even being able to confess.
Yet, he was still in love with her and was trying to tell her how he felt again.
The expression on the man's face was calm, but there was something passionate in his eyes and in his words.
"Let's get along from now on, Kagami-kun."
With that, Yamada turned his back on Asahi and left the back of the school building.
Even Asahi, who was not familiar with such things, could understand that "Let's get along," was not just talking about friendship.
Asahi didn't know what he was thinking, but Yamada seemed to have recognized him as his rival in love.
The words that hit him head-on greatly confused Asahi's mind, even though he said himself that it had nothing to do with him.
"Whoa, you're finally back."
"Asahi, where have you been? Why are you arriving later than us?"
"My bad, I was occupied with something."
When he returned to the classroom, he found not only Chiaki, who had said he would be waiting, but also Hinami, with her cheeks puffed out.
And next to her stood Fuyuka, who looked a little tired.
"Looks like you had another exhausting day."
"Listen to this, Asahi! Even though I'm right next to her, everyone just kept talking about Fuyu-chan and Fuyu-chan!"
"It was Friday after school, so it was more lively than usual."
"Well, good work. You need to get some sleep for tomorrow."
"Yes... but I may not be able to sleep because of excitement."
"Wha-, you're talking like a 4th grader."
Asahi's heart jumped a little when Fuyuka smiled a little innocently.
'Adorable', he thought.
"Fuyu-chan is so cute!"
And so, Hinami complimented her on behalf of Asahi.
"Al~right! Now that we're all here, let's go to a strategy meeting!"
After leaving the school, they went to a family restaurant in front of the station.
It seemed that the big amusement park where they were going to play tomorrow had just opened recently and was very popular.
In order to have a full day of fun, they need to have a strategy meeting beforehand to make sure they were able to get around efficiently, said someone.
Imagining the four of them playing together, Asahi started to look forward to tomorrow.
And his feelings for Fuyuka, who was walking next to him, were also slowly and unconsciously heating up inside him.
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