第41話 氷の令嬢と年末の一日
クリスマスが過ぎれば、一週間もしないうちに年明けを迎える。
街中には門松を始めとした和の装飾がちらほらと見られるようになり、クリスマスツリーとサンタクロースはすっかり姿を消していた。
ただ、イルミネーションは引き続き、日常を彩る役目を与えられたらしい。
夜になると、厳かな雰囲気を漂わせる門松を最新式のLEDライトが照らすという新たな和洋折衷が誕生していた。
そして、お正月の空気は最寄のスーパーにも顕著にみられ、鏡餅やおせち料理が店頭の目立つ位置にずらりと並ぶ。
大幅に値下げされた売れ残りのクリスマスケーキなども、今年の終わりを感じさせる大きな要因かも知れない。
もう幾つ寝るとお正月、そんなフレーズが頭をよぎる頃。
この時期は、凧を揚げたり、独楽を回したり、鞠や追羽根をついたりと期待が膨らむ一方で、年が明ける前にやっておきたい事もまた多く浮かぶ。
例えば、一カ月前に誓ったリベンジとか。
――今日は私に作らせてください。
そう、冬華に強い眼差しで懇願されてから三十分と少し。
食卓には食欲そそる匂いを漂わせる、具材たっぷりの
「......どうでしょうか?」
ダイニングテーブルを挟んで、冬華が不安げな、そしてかなり緊張した面持ちで覗いて来る。
胸の辺りでギュっと握った両手は、良い結果を祈っているのだろうか。
その姿は、黒を基調とした露出の少ないルームウェアと相まって、西洋のシスターに見えなくもない。
朝陽はモグモグと咀嚼しながら、一口、二口と忙しくスプーンを動かす。
その食べるスピードこそが、一つの答えだった。
素材からにじみ出る旨味。
何を取っても、特に文句の付け所がない。
「......美味しい」
「うん、本当に美味しい」
二度誉め言葉を口にすると、ようやく冬華の表情が明るくなる。
誰しも手料理を振るまえば、美味しいの四文字を望む。
「リベンジ成功ですね」
へらっ、と子供っぽい笑い方は可愛らしく、朝陽もまた自然と笑みがこぼれた。
「それにしても、よくここまで上達したな。秘密の特訓でもしたのか?」
「特訓は......ちょっとしました」
「なるほど、それでか」
「でも、一番は朝陽くんの教え方が良かったからです」
「......煽てても何も出ないぞ」
「そ、そんな意図はありません。本当に、そう思っているんです」
「ん、なら素直に受け取っておく」
確かに、ここ最近の冬華の成長は著しかった。
特に、包丁使いは目に見えて良くなり、今では安心して任せることができる。
それは恐らく、互いの呼び方が変わってからだ。
正確には、初めて冬華の手に触れた、あの時から。
「この完成度なら自炊も問題ないだろうし、俺に教わらなくても――」
「そ、そんなことありません! まだ......朝陽くんに教わりたいです。できれば、毎日」
「凄いやる気だな......。まあ、うん。大抵暇してるし、俺は構わないよ」
いくらでも教える、と宣言した手前、今さら断る気はない。
珍しく語気を強めた冬華に対して曖昧に頷けば、ホッとしたような安堵の表情が浮かんだ。
その後、ゆっくりと口角が上がって嬉しそうな微笑みに変わる。
これくらいで喜んでもらえるなら、教える側としても嬉しいものだ。
本当に毎日来るのかは分からないが、予定がない限りは応じよう。
そう、考えて朝陽は直近の予定を思い出し、少しだけ顔をしかめた。
「そういや、冬華は正月どうするんだ?」
「......普通に家に居ますよ」
何も予定はありません、と続けて発した冬華から笑顔がすっと引いていく。
単純に、実家が遠いからという理由ではなさそうだし、冬華が家族に対して何らかの問題を抱えていることは間違いなさそうだ。
帰れないのではなく、帰りたくない。そんな気持ちが見え隠れする。
ただ、朝陽は冬華に暗い表情をさせたかったわけではない。
「なら、俺と同じだな」
「......朝陽くんは帰省しないのですか?」
「俺もそのつもりだったけど、今年は親がこっちに来ることになった」
何でも、一年弱ぶりに朝陽の新居に顔を出したいとのこと。
正月早々、あの両親が来訪すると思うと、帰省するよりも気が重いが、今回ばかりは良かったのかもしれない。
「大晦日、何か食べたい物あるか?」
様々な言葉を飛ばした質問は、どうやら冬華の理解に及ばなかったらしい。
もしかすると、理解した上でなのかもしれないが、きょとんと呆けた顔をしていた。
「毎日教わりたいって言ったのはそっちだろ」
「......そうですね」
ぶっきらぼうに言葉を付け足せば、冬華はようやくコクリと頷く。
「年越しそばとか食べてみたいです」
「そばは流石に俺も初挑戦だな......てか、年越す前提なのな」
「いや、全然良いけど......」
大晦日の夕食を共にするだけでなく、一緒に来年を迎えるとなると、色々と気持ちの持って行き方が変わってくる。
もう、先程の暗い表情は笑顔の前に消えている。
「手打ちって楽しそうですし、きっと私にも作れますよね?」
「まあ、根気さえあれば多分」
「......多分?」
「冬華が作ると何が起こるか分からないからな」
「むぅ......馬鹿にしてますね」
久々に意地悪されました、と頬を膨らませる冬華の文句を適当に受けながし、朝陽は両手をそっと合わせる。
「ごちそうさま。美味しかったよ」
ご飯粒一つ残らず平らげたお皿を前に感謝の言葉と改めて感想を伝えると、同じく両手を合わせる音が聞こえる。
何故か、冬華は照れくさそうに頬を染めて微笑んでいた。
Ch 41
After Christmas, the new year would arrive in less than a week.
The Christmas tree and such decorations in the city disappeared and instead were replaced with paper lanterns.
However, it seemed that the illumination had taken the role of continuing to brighten people's daily lives.
At night, a new mix of both Japanese and Western style was born, with the latest LED lights giving light to the solemn paper lanterns.
The New Year's atmosphere was also evident at supermarkets, where Kagami mochi and Osechi were prominently displayed.
Unsold Christmas cakes and other items that had been drastically reduced in price may be a major factor in making people feel the New Year's atmosphere.
(It's that time of the year.) Such thoughts would come to mind.
At this time of the year, people were flying kites, spinning tops, playing oibane, and there were many things that would come to mind that someone would like to do before the year ended.
For example, a revenge that somebody vowed a month ago.
--Please let me cook for today.
Right, it had been a little over thirty minutes since Fuyuka asked with a strong look in her eyes.
On the table, there was a curry that had an appetizing aroma.
"...What do you think?"
Across the dining room table, Fuyuka peeked with a quite anxious and nervous look on her face.
It seemed that she was hoping for a good outcome with her hands clasped tightly on her chest.
Her appearance, combined with her black clothing that was not too revealing, made her look like a sister.
Asahi munched and chewed, busily moving the spoon from one bite to the next.
The speed at which he ate was an answer.
The flavor that oozed out from the ingredients.
No matter which side one looked at, there was nothing to complain about.
"...Delicious."
"Yeah, it's really delicious."
After getting praised, Fuyuka's expression brightened.
Everyone would want to hear the word "delicious" when they served a meal to someone.
"Revenge is a success."
Her childish laugh was so lovely that Asahi naturally smiled.
"I didn't know you improved so much. Did you secretly train or something?"
"I did... a little bit of training."
"Oh, so that's why."
"But most of all, it was because Asahi-kun taught me."
"...Even if you praise me, you're not getting anything from me."
"T-that's not my intention. That's just what I really think."
"Well, if that's the case, I'll gladly take it."
Indeed, Fuyuka's growth recently was remarkable.
In particular, her use of knives had visibly improved, and now she was fine on her own.
That was probably because they had changed the way they addressed each other.
To be precise, from the moment Asahi first touched Fuyuka's hand.
"With this level of completion, you should have no problem cooking your own food, so you don't need me to teach you anymore--"
"T-that's not true, I still want to be taught by... Asahi-kun. If possible, every day."
"You're awfully enthusiastic... Well, yeah. I'm mostly free so that's fine with me."
Having declared that he would teach her as much as she wanted, Asahi had no intention of backing down now.
Asahi nodded to Fuyuka, who was speaking unusually strongly, and an expression of relief appeared on her face.
Then the corners of her mouth slowly turned up into a happy smile.
If this was enough to make them happy, it made him happy to teach them.
Asahi didn't know if she would really come every day, but unless she had plans, he would comply.
After thinking about it, Asahi remembered his most recent schedule and frowned a little.
"Right, what are you going to do for New Year's, Fuyuka?"
"...I'm normally at home."
"I don't have any plans." The smile on Fuyuka's face faded as she continued.
It didn't seem to be simply because her parents live far away, and there was no doubt that Fuyuka had some problems with her family.
It was not that she couldn't go home, but that she didn't want to. Such feelings were hidden.
However, Asahi didn't want Fuyuka to look gloomy.
"Then you're just like me."
"...Are you not going home, Asahi-kun?"
"That was the plan but my parents are coming over this year, you see."
What was more, they wanted to show up at Asahi's new house for the first time in a year.
The thought of his parents coming to visit him early in the New Year was more depressing than going home, but maybe it was a good thing for once.
"Do you want anything to eat for New Year's Eve?"
The question, which skipped various words, was apparently not understood by Fuyuka.
Perhaps she understood, but she looked puzzled and dumbfounded.
"You're the one who said you wanted to be taught every day."
"...That is true."
When Asahi added the words bluntly, Fuyuka finally nodded her head.
"I'd like to try Toshikoshi Soba."
"It will be the first time that I try to cook soba noodles... So, it's given even after New Year's Eve?"
"No, it's all good..."
When you would not only be sharing a New Year's Eve dinner together, but also welcoming the new year together, you would have to change your mind in many ways.
The dark expression on her face from earlier had already disappeared before her smile.
"Handmade soba sounds fun, and I bet I can make it too, right?"
"Well, if you have the patience, probably."
"...Probably?"
"After all, you never know what might happen when you make it."
"Hnn... Making fun of me."
"It's been a while since you've teased me." Fuyuka pouted and Asahi clasped his hands to avoid her complaint.
"Thank you for the food. It was delicious."
When Asahi expressed his gratitude in front of the plate without leaving a single grain of rice, he heard the same sound of clasping hands.
For some reason, Fuyuka smiled with her cheeks tinted with embarrassment.
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