第74話 一か八か
遠足気分の校外学習とはいえ、学校行事である以上は教師側の意図が組み込まれる。
その最たる例が、午前中の資料館巡りだ。
クラス毎に団体で行動し、展示物を見て、ガイドの説明を聞く。
そうして歴史を学び、古き良き知識を身に付けよとのこと。
正直な所、大半の学生にとって資料館巡りは退屈で窮屈なのだが、その後のお楽しみを考えれば文句を言う生徒はいなかった。
竹内先生から配られたプリントにはこう書かれている。
昼食を挟み、午後からは自由行動。
全国的に有名な遊園地に水族館、他と一線を画す美術館や博物館、広々とした自然公園があれば、人工的なランドマークも際立ち、果てには国境を越えて人が集まる中華街などなど。
半日では到底遊び尽くせない数々の名所が横浜には存在する。
「赤レンガ倉庫気になるんだよねー」
「カップラーメン作ろうぜ!」
「中華街は外せないとして......」
くじ引きで行動班を決めた後、教室は午後の行き先選びで盛り上がっていた。
一方で、不満気な生徒もちらほらと見られる。
「先生、くじ引きのやり直しは!?」
「何か正当性のある理由があれば認める」
「私と龍馬が同じ班じゃない!」
「却下だ」
またも正論で跳ね返された明日香はぷっくりと頬を膨らまる。
元々、我儘が通らない事くらいは承知だったのだろう。
素直に自分の班が集まっている席に戻ると、明らかに不機嫌な顔が伺えた。
「せっかくの遠足なのにテンション下がるー」
開口一番、本音を隠さずにぶつける明日香。
その態度に黙っていないのが他の女子だ。
「ちょっと、その言い方はないでしょ」
「思った事をそのまま言っただけじゃん」
「つまり、私達とじゃ不満って事ね」
「そうは言ってないでしょ!」
早速始まった女子同士の喧嘩に、朝陽は小さくため息を吐く。
(あっちは楽しそうだな)
朝陽が目を向けた先には、一際目立つ班が机を囲んで談笑していた。
バカップルとして有名な千昭と日菜美。
爽やかイケメンの龍馬と陽気な関西弁を話す男子生徒。
そして、楽しそうにガイドブックを見つめる冬華の姿。
朝陽が他の班の様子を眺めていると、すぐ近くから口論が聞こえて来る。
和気藹々とした一班とは対照的に、朝陽が引いた八班はギスギスとした雰囲気で悪目立ちしていた。
言わずもがな、その原因は金髪ギャルの明日香と敵対する二人の女子だ。
「火神くん、僕たちどうすれば......」
「落ち着くのを待つしかない」
「そ、そうだよね......」
一緒の班になった男子が大きめの観光マップで顔を覆う。
どうやら、物理的に現実から目を逸らそうという試みらしい。
朝陽も同じ気分だったが、残念ながら地図は一枚しかない。
「ねえ、火神! どっちが悪いと思う!?」
ふいに名前を呼ばれて顔を向けると、睨む勢いの明日香と目が合った。
思わず目を逸らして隣を見ると、同じ班の眼鏡君が安堵の息をつく。
矛先が自分ではなかったことにほっとしているのだろう。
こんなことなら先に地図を手に入れるべきだった、と後悔しても時すでに遅し。
「......とりあえず予定決めようぜ」
どっちが悪い、と迫られても回答に困る。
どちらかの肩を持てばどちらかと対立し、どちらもと答えれば第三勢力になってしまう。
そういう訳で、苦肉の策として朝陽は話題を変えた。
しかし、女子たちにとっては気に入らない回答だったらしい。
「「「ちゃんと答えて」」」
こういう時だけ息がぴったりなのは何故なのか。
その調子で仲良くしてほしいのだが、残念ながら現実はそう上手くいかない。
「......いいのか? 予定表の提出が遅れると竹先に勝手に決められるぞ」
「それマジ?」
「あの人はマジでやる」
「急いで決めなきゃじゃん!」
幸い、竹内先生の適当さが功を成し、女子の喧嘩は一先ず中断となった。
これでようやく落ち着ける。
そう思っていた矢先。
「そこは絶対つまらないでしょ!」
「それだって遠くて行けないから!」
別の話題でも喧嘩が始まり、朝陽は隠さず大きなため息をつく。
くじ引き前は楽しみだった校外学習も今となれば随分と気が重かった。
「......朝陽くん」
喧嘩中の女子三名と現実逃避中の男子一名。
一人取り残された朝陽を鈴を転がすような声が呼んだ。
振り向くと、冬華がガイドブックを両手に立っている。
「どうした?」
「少し、お話したいことがあって」
小声で喋っているのは周りの邪魔をしない為か。
少なくとも八班は朝陽以外、誰も冬華に気付いていない。
「そっちの班はいいのか」
「行き先は大体決まりました」
「それはいいな......」
冬華の言う通り、一班は午後の予定が概ね決まって暇になったらしい。
何やらいつものニヤニヤ顔をしている千昭と日菜美、そしてじっとこちらを見ている龍馬が目に入る。
恐らく、冬華は一班を代表して何かを聞きに来たのだろう。
予想通り、会話の先には質問が待っていた。
「八班の行き先は決まりましたか?」
「どっちだと思う?」
「決まってないでしょうね......でも、丁度良かったです」
どういう事だろう、と聞く前に冬華がガイドブックの一ページを広げる。
そこには横浜中華街の詳細が綺麗な写真と共に掲載されていた。
「私達、解散前の一時間は中華街を観光することになりました」
それで、と冬華が言葉を続ける。
「朝陽くんたちも一緒にどうかな、と思って」
「それは一緒に回るって事か?」
「皆さんが良ければですが......」
願っても無いお誘いに、朝陽は自分の班へと顔を向ける。
眼鏡君は良いとして、女子たちをどう説得するか。
最後の一時間を中華街で、一班と一緒に行動する。
その提案をする前に、今日一番の明るい声が響いた。
「冬華ちゃん、ナイスアイディア!」
いつから聞いていたのか、明日香が会話に飛びついてくる。
「みんなもいいよね! 大勢で回った方が絶対楽しいし!」
「あんたは山田君目当てでしょ」
「うん、そうだよ」
ここまでオープンだと、むしろ何かを言う気にならないらしい。
「......まあ、いいんじゃない」
「中華街は行きたいしね......」
女子たちの総意が取れ、眼鏡君も赤べこのように激しく頷く。
勿論の事、朝陽も賛成に票を投じた。
「それではみんなに伝えておきますね」
そう言い残し、冬華は軽い足取りで一班へと戻っていく。
最後の一時間だけだが、冬華と一緒に居る事が出来る。
くじ引き後は気が重かった校外学習も今となれば随分と楽しみだった。
Ch 74
Even though it was something like a school trip, it was still a school event so the teachers still had a say in the matter.
The best example of this was the morning tour of the museum.
Students would work in groups by class, look at the exhibits, and listen to the guide's explanation.
All in order to learn about history and acquire good old-fashioned knowledge.
However, for most of the students, the museum tour would bore them, but considering the fun that was to follow, no one complained.
The handout provided by Takeuchi-sensei mentioned,
[After lunch, the afternoon was free time.] 
There existed nationwide famous amusement parks, aquariums, museums, spacious nature parks, man-made landmarks, and even a Chinatown that attracted people from all over the world.
There were also many places of interest in Yokohama that could not be fully explored in half a day.
"I'm curious about the Red Brick Warehouse."
"Let's make cup noodles!"
"Chinatown can't be missed so..."
After deciding on the group by drawing lots, the classroom was abuzz with excitement about choosing their afternoon's destination.
On the other hand, there were a few discontent students here and there.
"Sir, can we redo the draw lots?"
"I'll accept it if there's some justification."
"Me and Ryoma are not in the same group!"
"Rejected."
Asuka's cheeks puffed up as she was rebuffed with another sound argument.
She should have known that she couldn't be selfish.
When she returned to the seat where her group was gathered, it was clear to observe that she was not happy.
"Even though it's a school trip, I don't feel excited."
Asuka opened up and didn't even bother to hide her true feelings.
The other girls didn't let her slide with that attitude.
"Hey, that's not a nice thing to say."
"I just said what was on my mind."
"You mean you're not happy with us."
"That's not what I said!"
Asahi let out a small sigh as the fight between the girls started immediately.
'Looks like fun over there.'
Asahi turned his attention to where the most prominent group was chatting around a desk.
Chiaki and Hinami were famous as lovebirds.
A fresh, handsome Ryoma and a male student who speaks in a cheerful Kansai dialect.
And then there was Fuyuka, happily staring at the guidebook.
As Asahi was looking at the rest of the group, he could hear them arguing from his location.
In contrast to the harmonious first group, the eighth group, which Asahi pulled out, was notorious for their crusty atmosphere.
The reason for this was Asuka, the blonde gal, and the two hostile girls.
"What should we do, Kagami-kun?"
"We'll just have to wait for things to settle down."
"I-I suppose..."
A boy in his group covered his face with a large tourist map.
Apparently, it was an attempt to physically distract himself from reality.
Asahi was in the same mood, but unfortunately there was only one map.
"Hey, Kagami! Who do you think is wrong?"
When his name suddenly got called, Asahi turned his head and met Asuka's eyes, which were glaring at him.
When he gazed away and looked at the person next to him, he saw Glasses-kun from the same group breathing a sigh of relief.
He was probably relieved that he wasn't the one to bear the brunt of it.
Asahi regretted that he should have made his move on the map first, but it was already too late.
"...For now, let's set up the schedule."
It was hard to answer the question, "Who is in the wrong?"
If you stood on the shoulders of one of them, you would be in conflict with one of them, and if you answer "neither," it would also not end well.
That was why, as a bitter measure, Asahi changed the subject.
However, the girls did not like the answer.
"Answer properly."
'Why is it that only at times like this they're on the same page?'
Asahi would like to see them get along like that, but unfortunately, reality didn't work that way.
"...You sure? If we're late in submitting the schedule, Tazezaki will decide on his own."
"Is that for real?"
"That man is for real."
"We have to decide quickly!"
Fortunately, Takeuchi-sensei's appropriateness paid off and the girls' quarrel was put to rest for the time being.
'Now we can finally calm down.'
'Just as I was thinking that.'
"It's definitely boring there!"
"That's too far too!"
A fight started on another topic, and Asahi sighed loudly without hiding it.
Before the raffle, he had been looking forward to the field trip, but now he was feeling quite overwhelmed.
"...Asahi-kun."
Three girls in a fight and one boy escaping reality.
A voice that sounded like the rolling of a bell called out to Asahi.
He turned around to see Fuyuka standing there with a guidebook in her hands.
"What's wrong?"
"I'd like to talk to you about something."
She was whispering so as not to disturb the people around.
At least no one in group eight noticed Fuyuka, except for Asahi.
"Is your group all good?"
"We've pretty much decided where we are going."
"That sounds great..."
As Fuyuka said, the first group had decided on the afternoon schedule and were now free.
Asahi saw Chiaki and Hinami with their usual grin on their faces, and Ryoma staring at him.
Perhaps Fuyuka had come to ask something on behalf of the group.
As expected, a question awaited at the end of the conversation.
"Have you decided where your group is going?"
"What do you think?"
"I'm sure you haven't decided yet... perfect."
Before Asahi could ask what she meant, Fuyuka unfolded a page from the guidebook.
There was a detailed description of Yokohama Chinatown with beautiful pictures.
"We decided to go sightseeing in Chinatown for an hour before dismissal."
"So," Fuyuka continued.
"I was wondering if you guys would like to join us."
"Does that mean we're going around together?"
"If it's alright with everyone..."
At the unexpected invitation, Asahi turned to his group.
'The guy is one thing, but how can I convince the girls?'
Spending the last hour in Chinatown along with group one.
Before he could make that suggestion, the brightest voice of the day sounded.
"Fuyuka-chan, nice idea!"
Asahi didn't know how long she had been listening, but Asuka jumped into the conversation.
"You guys in, right? It's definitely more fun to go around with a bunch of people!"
"You're just in it for Yamada, right?"
"Of course."
It was not hard to guess when she was so open about it.
"...Well, it should be fine."
"I want to go to Chinatown after all..."
The girls' consensus was reached, and Glasses-kun nodded vigorously as if he were a redhead.
Of course, Asahi voted in favor of the proposal.
"I'll let everyone know then."
After saying that, Fuyuka walked back to her group with a light step.
'It's only for the last hour, but I can be with Fuyuka.'
After the raffle, he was very nervous about the field trip, but now he was looking forward to it a lot.
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