第86話 雨のち涙
キンコンカンコンと陽気なチャイムの音が鳴り響く。
六時間目が終わり、放課後が訪れた教室は賑やかで騒がしい。
そんな明るい雰囲気とは対照的に、外の空気はどんよりと重くなっていた。
灰色の雲が燦々と光り輝く太陽を覆い隠し、地上には暗い影が差す。
「雨、降りそうだな」
教室で窓側の席に座り、朝陽は外を覗き込む。
今にも降り出しそうな雲は、見ているだけで気分が沈んでいく。
それはもちろん天気のせいでもあったが、朝陽の心に深く靄がかかるのは、今まさに学校のどこかで二人きりの生徒が関係していた。
山田龍馬と氷室冬華。
昼休みに約束した二人は、放課後になって教室から姿を消していた。
既に大半の生徒は帰宅するなり部活に行くなりして、教室に残っている生徒は少ない。
はじめは数人の野次馬もいたが、いつの間にか散り散りになっていた。
「お兄さんお兄さん。顔が怖くなってんぞ」
対面に座る千昭に指摘され、朝陽は窓から目を離す。
千昭は苦笑いを浮かべ、その隣に座る日菜美は少し怯えるような表情をしていた。
「朝陽、大丈夫だよ。だから安心、はできないよね......」
珍しく気を遣うような声音の日菜美に、朝陽は強張っていた顔を少しだけ緩める。
友人がなにを心配しているのか、朝陽は十分わかっていた。
それは龍馬本人から聞いていたことだ。
すなわち、龍馬から冬華への告白。
二人がどこかへ行ってから、三十分は経っている。
もう龍馬は告白したのか、冬華はどう返事をしたのか。
仮に二人が付き合うことになった場合、その未来を考えそうになって朝陽は目を瞑った。
想像したくない未来の代わりに、ファミレスで龍馬に言われた言葉を思い出す。
――だから、邪魔しないでね。
それは、冬華に告白すると宣言された後の一言だ。
『なっ......邪魔ってどういうことだよ』
『そのままの意味だよ。僕が告白するまで火神君は動かないでほしい』
龍馬は真摯な目で、朝陽に訴えかけるように言葉を続けた。
『僕は去年から言っていたはずだ。氷室さんが好きだと、火神君をライバルだと......でも、君は動かなかった』
その一言に、朝陽はゴクリと唾を飲み込む。
動かなかった、そう言われて否定できない自分がいた。
冬華が好きだと自覚してから、朝陽なりに好意を伝える努力をした。
それでも関係を進めようと一歩踏み出したのは最近で、気持ちを伝えるには程遠いことも自覚している。
だから、積極的にアピールする龍馬を凄いと思う一方、胸に湧き起こるモヤモヤを抱えていた。
そして、いつかこういう日が来るであろうことも、どこかできっとわかっていた。
『君は人の告白を遮るような奴じゃないだろ?』
しかし、その目に優しさはない。あるのは強い意志を持つ、覚悟を決めた瞳だった。
「おーい、朝陽?」
「本当に大丈夫か? 顔色悪いぞ」
日菜美と千昭の声で、短い回想から目を覚ます。
二人に大丈夫だと伝え、朝陽はもう一度視線を外に向けた。
いつの間にか、透明な窓ガラスには小さな雨粒が、地上を覆う雲はより一層、重く暗く揺らいでいた。
どのくらいの時間が経っただろうか。
教室には朝陽と千昭、日菜美だけが残っている。
朝陽は古い壁時計を見ようとして、スライド式の扉が開くのを視界に収めた。
「......あっ」
短い声が教室に響く。
時同じくして、強く激しい雨が轟音と静寂をもたらす。
「冬華......?」
教室に戻って来た少女の名前を誰よりも先に朝陽が呼んだ。
すぐにその近くに駆け寄り、目線を合わせて問いかける。
「泣いてるのか?」
冬華の目には小さな涙の粒が浮かんでいた。
透明な雫は頬をつたい、静かに床へと滴り落ちる。
どうして、は聞かなかった。
泣いている冬華は見たくない。
その一心で朝陽は、無意識に指先を伸ばす。
すると、冬華は一歩後ろに下がり、自ら涙を拭った。
それは朝陽にしてみれば、明確に距離を取られたようで、いつの日かの氷を思い出すものだった。
「ふゆちゃん、どうしたの!?」
遅れて日菜美が駆け寄ってきて、続けて千昭が近づいてくる。
「......今は一人にしてください」
一言、それだけ言って冬華は自分の席から荷物を手に取った。
それからなにも言うことなく、朝陽たちから背を向ける。
「......また明日」
弱弱しく、頼りない声を残して冬華は逃げるように廊下へと駆けた。
「待ってくれ冬華!」
朝陽は手を伸ばして、足を踏み出し、小さな背中を追いかける。
しかし、その途中で大きな壁が立ちふさがった。
「今はそっとしてあげてほしいかな」
遅れて教室に戻って来た龍馬が朝陽の前に割り込み、その間に冬華の姿が見えなくなる。
「お前が冬華を泣かせたのか?」
「まあ、そうなるね」
「好きだったんじゃねーのかよ」
「好きだから、こういう結果になったんだよ」
意図の掴めない問答に、朝陽は次第に怒りを募らせていった。
冬華を泣かせた龍馬にも、冬華に寄り添えない自分にも。
煮え切らない感情が、朝陽の胸の中で激しく渦巻く。
「少し話をしようか」
その表情はとても辛そうで、とても悲しそうだった。
Ch 86
A cheerful chime rang.
Sixth period was over and the classroom was bustling with noise as after school arrived.
In contrast to the cheerful atmosphere, the air outside was heavy and dull.
Gray clouds obscured the brilliant sun casting dark shadows on the ground.
"Looks like it's gonna rain."
Sitting on the window seat in the classroom, Asahi peeked outside.
The clouds looked like they were about to start pouring, and just looking at them made him feel depressed.
It was due to the weather, of course, but the deep haze in Asahi's mind had to do with the two students who were alone somewhere within the school right now.
Yamada Ryoma and Himuro Fuyuka.
They had arranged a meeting during lunchtime, so they had disappeared from the classroom after school.
Most of the students had already gone home or gone to their club activities, there were only a few students left in the classroom.
At first there were a few onlookers, but before long they had scattered.
"Brother, your face is looking scary."
Chiaki, who was sitting on the other side of the room, pointed out his expression. In doing so, Asahi had taken off his gaze from the window.
Chiaki smiled bitterly, and Hinami, sitting next to him, looked a little frightened.
"It's alright, Asahi. So you can be relieved, or not..."
When Hinami's voice sounded unusually caring, Asahi's tense face relaxed a little.
Asahi knew exactly what his friend was worried about.
That was what Ryoma himself had told him.
In other words, Ryoma's confession to Fuyuka.
It had been at least thirty minutes since they had gone somewhere.
Had Ryoma already confessed, and how did Fuyuka respond?
Asahi calmed his mind, almost thinking about the future if they were to go out.
Instead of a future he didn't want to imagine, he remembered what Ryoma had said to him in the diner.
--So, don't get in the way.
That was what he said after he announced that he was going to confess to Fuyuka.
[What do you mean, 'to not get in the way'?]
[It's what it says. I don't want you to make a move until I confess.]
With a sincere look in his eyes, Ryoma continued his words as if appealing to Asahi.
[I've been telling you this since last year. I told you that I liked Himuro-san and that I was your rival...but you didn't act.]
At that comment, Asahi gulped and swallowed his spit.
He didn't act, he couldn't deny it when he was being told that.
After realizing that he liked Fuyuka, Asahi made an effort to convey his feelings in his own way.
Still, he had only recently taken the first step to move forward with the relationship, and he was aware that he was far from being able to express his feelings.
So, while he thought Ryoma's aggressive appeal was admirable, he had a nagging feeling of bewilderment welling up in his heart.
And somehow, Asahi knew that this day would come.
[You're not the kind of guy to interrupt someone's confession, are you?]
However, there was no tenderness in his eyes. What was left was a strong-willed, determined look within those eyes.
"Hey~ Asahi?"
"Are you sure you're okay? You don't look so good."
The voices of Hinami and Chiaki woke him up from his brief daydream.
Informing them that he was fine, Asahi turned his gaze outside once more.
Before he knew it, there were tiny raindrops on the transparent window panes, and the clouds covering the ground were much more heavy and grim.
How much time had passed?
Asahi, Chiaki and Hinami were the only ones left in the classroom.
Asahi tried to look at the old wall clock and saw the sliding door open in his vision.
"...Ah."
A short voice echoed through the classroom.
At the same time, a strong and heavy rain brought a roar of silence.
"Fuyuka...?"
Asahi called out the name of the girl who came back to the classroom before anyone else.
He immediately ran up to her, looked at her, and asked her a question.
"Are you crying?"
Fuyuka's eyes were filled with small teardrops.
The clear drops trickled down her cheeks and silently dropped to the floor.
He didn't ask why.
He didn't want to see Fuyuka crying.
With that one thought in mind, Asahi unconsciously stretched out his fingertips.
Then Fuyuka took a step back and wiped her own tears.
It was clear to Asahi that she was keeping her distance, and it reminded him of the 'ice' sometime before.
"Fuyu-chan, what's wrong?!"
After a delay, Hinami came running up to her, followed by Chiaki approaching.
"...Please leave me alone for now."
After a few words, Fuyuka picked up her stuff from her seat.
Then, without saying a word, she turned away from Asahi and the others.
"...See you tomorrow."
Leaving behind a weak and helpless voice, Fuyuka ran to the corridor as if to escape.
"Wait, Fuyuka!"
Asahi reached out, stepped out, and chased after the small back.
However, a major obstacle stood in the way.
"I think you should leave her alone for now."
Ryoma came back to the classroom late and interrupted Asahi, while Fuyuka disappeared.
"Did you make Fuyuka cry?"
"Well, I suppose I did."
"I thought you liked her."
"I like her. That's why it turned out like this."
Asahi grew increasingly angry at his vague answer.
Both to Ryoma for making Fuyuka cry, and to himself for not being there for Fuyuka.
Uncontrollable emotions swirled violently in Asahi's chest.
"Let's talk for a bit."
The look on his face was very painful and very sad.
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