第11話:証拠
【羽月の視点】
「よう。こんなところで奇遇だな。ところでラブホから出てきたみたいだが、お前ら2人で何してたんだよ?」
私の背中から、ここにいるはずのない人の声が聞こえた。私は恐る恐る振り返ると、そこには優李がニコニコと笑顔で立っていた。表情こそは笑顔だが、優李の眼差しは冷え切っており、一切の感情が抜け落ちていた。
「ゆ、うり......。どうしてここに......」
「ん? 試合終わってからお前たちの後を尾行させてもらったんだよ」
「な、んで......何でそんなことをしたの?」
「んー。ちょっとここじゃ話しにくいだろ?俺の家にでも行ってゆっくり話そうよ」
そう言うや否や優李は表情を崩さずに、私たちの隣をすり抜けて駅に向かって歩いて行った。その後ろを奏が小走りで追って、優李の隣で歩き始める。私はそこで初めて奏もこの場にいることに気付いたのだ。
(え? 何? どういうことなの? 優李は部活の練習があったんじゃないの? 私たちを尾行していた? 何で? どうして怪しいと思ったの? 私と光輝の関係がバレてた? いつ? いつからバレてたの?)
私は混乱していた。今まで生きて来た中で、ここまで心が乱れたことはなかった。
自分でも自覚しているが、私は人よりも比較的落ち着きのある方だと思う。『冷たい』という言われ方をしたことも少なくはない。だけど、そんな私だって悩むことはあるし、泣きたくなることだってある。
「羽月。お前今悩んでることあるだろ? 自分一人で解決しようとしないでいつも俺を頼れって言ってるだろ?」
優李はそう言っていつも私のことを助けてくれた。しかし、今は彼に縋ることができない。それはそのはずだ。だって今私が混乱している原因は優李その人なのだから。
私たちは優李の家の前についた。もう何回この家の中に入ったか分からない。物心付く前から私はこの家の中に入っていた。この家のことは我が家と同じくらい知っている。だけど、家の中に入るのが恐ろしいと感じたことは今まで一度もなかった。
私たちは優李の部屋に通されるものだと思ったが、荷物置き場になっていた空き部屋の前に連れて行かれた。そして優李がドアを開いくと、そこはすでに荷物置き場ではなく、誰かの自室になっていた。そして、その誰かとは優李以外にいないだろう。
「え? なんで部屋が変わってるの?」
私は誰に言うでもなく、ポツリと言葉を漏らした。
「ん? なんだよ羽月。部屋を移動した理由を知りたいのか? 俺が前の部屋で過ごすことができなくなった理由くらいお前には分かるだろ?」
優李は全てを知っている。私と光輝の関係はもちろん、この間優李の部屋で私たちが何をしたも知っているのだ。
私はその場に崩れ落ちた。全身の血が抜け落ちてしまったのかと錯覚するくらいに身体は冷え切って、手と足の指先は痺れている。
「羽月大丈夫か? 部屋に入ってこいよ」
耳に届いたその声は、いつもの優しい声色をしていたので、私は期待を込めて顔を上げた。しかし、その期待はすぐに裏切られた。優李の表情からはすでに笑顔がなくなり、ただ無表情で私を見つめていたのだ。その目を見た私は、全身が震えてしまい身動きが取れなくなってしまった。
そんな私を見るに見かねた奏が「歩ける?」って声を掛けて、部屋の中に入れてくれた。
***
【優李の視点】
全員が部屋の中に入るのを確認した俺は、そこにいるメンバー全員を見渡した。羽月は床に座り、光輝は勉強机の椅子に座っている。奏はドアを背もたれにして体育座りをしながら俺のことを心配そうに見つめていた。
「みんな座ったな。じゃあ、まず最初に羽月と光輝に聞きたいことがある。何でさっきはラブホから2人で出て来たんだ?」
「あっ......それは.........」
「羽月は今混乱してるっぽいからその説明は俺からするわ。それでも良いか?」
「......あぁ」
「試合が終わってから暇になったし、取り敢えずさっきの駅前で遊ぼうってことになったんだわ。それでちょっとプラプラしてたんだけどな、羽月が急に具合悪くなっちまって目の前にあったラブホで休ませてたんだよ。あそこならベッドもあるからな」
「なるほどな......じゃあ俺が疑ってるような、疾しい関係ではないってことで良いのか?」
「あぁ、もちろんだ。お前が俺と羽月が部屋で何かをしたって疑ってるのかも知れないが、それだって誤解だぞ。誓ってもいい。俺と羽月はお前が思っているような疾しい関係なんかじゃない」
「ハハ......アハハハハ.........アーハッハッハッハッハ」
狂ったように笑い出した俺を見て、光輝と羽月は目を見開いて驚愕の顔をしている。
何言ってるんだ、こいつは。誤解? 誓っていい? 何に誓ってるんだよ。お前神なんて信じてないだろ。面白すぎる。まさか、ここまでのセンスがあるとは思っても見なかったよ、光輝。
「何が面白いんだ......」
「悪い悪い。いや、まさかそんな言葉を聞かされるなんて思ってなかったからさ。だって、2人でラブホから出て来たのに、何も無かったなんて誰が信じるんだよ。光輝、お前だったら彼女と一緒にいた男がそんなことを言ってたら信じるか?」
旗色が悪くなったと思ったのか、舌打ちをしてそのまま光輝は黙ってしまった。チラッと羽月を見ると、青褪めた表情でガタガタと震え続けている。
「まぁ、さ。意地が悪かったよな、俺の質問も。けどさ、謝罪をしてくれるって信じてたんだよ。ずっと一緒にいた幼馴染みでもあり、彼氏でもある俺に罪悪感を感じてくれてると思ってたけどそれすらも無かったみたいだな」
その言葉を聞いた羽月の肩がビクッと跳ね上がった。
「ちなみに俺はお前たちの関係を知ってるよ。それを知るきっかけを説明する前にまずは謝罪をしなきゃな。悪い。俺は前の部屋に監視カメラを設置していた」
「え......?」
「お前たちのことを信じることができなかった俺は、部屋に監視カメラを設置して、お前たち2人のことを撮影していたんだよ。先週家で遊んだときに、俺と奏が部活の偵察があるって言って途中で抜け出しただろ? あれは嘘だったんだ。近くの喫茶店に入って、お前らがここでしていたことの一部始終を見させてもらったよ」
「いや、本当だよ。何だったら証拠を見せようか?」
そう言うと俺はスマホのアプリを開いて、一つの動画を再生した。
その動画を観た羽月は頭を抱えて、「やめて。もうやめて......」と涙を流しながら訴えている。光輝は「クソが」と言って舌打ちをしながら俺のことを睨んでいた。
(おいおい。お前たちのリアクション全部俺がしたいことだよ)
「それで優李。お前は俺たちにどうして欲しいんだ? 女々しくグダグダやらねぇでさっさと要望を言えよ」
「おい。逆ギレなんてやめてくれよ。俺なんてもっと前からずっとブチ切れそうになってるのを必死に堪えてるんだからよ」
俺はそう言いながら羽月の方を向いた。
「俺の望みは2つだ。まず1つ目は光輝とこういう関係になった時期と理由を聞きたい。もちろん教えてくれるよな、羽月?」
Volume 1 - Ch 11
[Hazuki's Point of View]
"Yo. What a coincidence to see you here. By the way, you look like you just came out of a love hotel, what were you two doing together?"
From behind my back, I heard the voice of someone who was not supposed to be there. I fearfully turned around to see Yuuri standing there with a smile on his face. The expression on his face was a smile, but Yuuri's eyes were cold and devoid of any emotion.
"Yu, Yuuri... Why are you here...?"
"Hm? I followed you guys after the game was over."
"Wh-why...why did you do that?"
"Hmmm. It's a little hard to talk here, isn't it? Let's go to my house and talk slowly."
As soon as he said that, Yuuri slipped past us and walked toward the station without changing his expression. Kanade followed behind her with a short run and started walking next to Yuuri. It was there that I first realized that Kanade was also present.
(What? What? What do you mean? Didn't Yuuri have club practice? Was he following us? Why? Why did you think it was suspicious? Did he know about my relationship with Kouki? When? How long had they known?)
I was confused. In all my life, I had never been so confused in my mind.
I am aware of it, but I think I am relatively calmer than others. I have been called 'cold' not a few times. But even I have my problems and I sometimes want to cry.
"Hazuki. You have a problem right now, don't you? Don't try to solve it by yourself, always rely on me, right?"
Yuuri always helped me by saying so. But now I can't put my trust in him. That's supposed to be that way. Because it is Yuuri himself who is the cause of my confusion right now.
We arrived in front of Yuuri's house. I don't know how many times I have been inside this house. I have been inside this house since before I can remember. I know this house as well as my own. But I have never felt afraid to enter this house.
I thought we were going to be taken to Yuuri's room, but we were taken in front of an empty room that was used as a luggage storage space. When Yuuri opened the door, it was already someone's room, not a storage room. And that someone would be none other than Yuuri.
"What? Why is the room changed?"
I let out a few words without saying to anyone.
"Hmm? What is it, Hazuki? Do you want to know why I moved rooms? You at least know why I can no longer stay in my old room, don't you?"
Yuuri knows everything. He knows about my relationship with Kouki, and he also knows what we did in Yuuri's room during that time.
I collapsed on the spot. My body was so cold that I felt as if all the blood had drained out of me, and my hands and toes were numb.
Hazuki, are you all right? Come into my room."
The voice that reached my ears had its usual gentle tone, so I looked up with anticipation. However, that expectation was soon betrayed. The smile was already gone from Yuuri's face, and he simply stared at me with a blank expression. When I saw his eyes, my whole body trembled and I couldn't move.
Kanade, who couldn't bear to look at me like that, asked, "Can you walk?" and let me into the room.
*****
[Yuuri's Point of View]
After making sure everyone was inside the room, I looked around at all the members there. Hazuki was sitting on the floor and Kouki was sitting in a chair at his study desk. Kanade was sitting on the floor with her back against the door, looking at me anxiously.
"Everyone sat down. Well, first of all, I want to ask Hazuki and Kouki something. Why did you two come out of the love hotel together earlier?"
"Ah...... that's......."
"Hazuki seems to be confused right now, so I'll explain that to you. Is that okay?"
"Yeah..."
"After the game, I had some free time, so we decided to hang out in front of the station. I was just taking a little stroll and Hazuki suddenly got sick, so I took her to a love hotel right in front of me to rest. There are beds there, you know."
"I see... So you're sure it's not the kind of illicit relationship I'm suspecting?"
"Yes, of course. You may suspect that Hazuki and I did something in the room, but even that is a misunderstanding. I swear. I swear to you, Hazuki and I do not have the kind of illicit relationship you think we do."
"Ha ha ...... ah ha ha ha ......... ah ha ha ha ha!"
Seeing me laughing like crazy, Kouki and Hazuki are wide-eyed and astonished.
What is this guy talking about? Misunderstanding? Did you swear? What are you swearing to? You don't believe in God, do you? This is too funny. I didn't think you had this much sense, Kouki.
"What's so funny?"
"Sorry, sorry. I'm sorry. No, I didn't expect to hear you say that. Because who would believe that nothing happened when the two of you came out of the love hotel together? Kouki, if it were you, would you believe it if the guy she was with said something like that?"
Perhaps thinking he had lost the upper hand, he clicked his tongue and Kouki went silent as it was. I glanced at Hazuki and saw that she continued to wobble and shake with a pallid expression on her face.
"Well, you know. That was mean, wasn't it, even my question. But, you know, I trusted you to apologize. I thought you'd feel guilty about me being your childhood friend and boyfriend who's been with you all your life, but it looks like you didn't even have that."
Hazuki's shoulders jumped when she heard those words.
"I know about your relationship, by the way. Before I explain how I came to know about it, I have to apologize first. I'm sorry. I had surveillance cameras set up in my old room."
"What,...?"
"I couldn't believe you guys, so I set up a surveillance camera in my room to film the two of you. When we hung out at home last week, you remember how Kanade and I said we had to scout for club activities and left in the middle of the day? That was a lie. We went into a nearby coffee shop and I got to see the whole story of what you two were doing here."
"No, it's true. If you want, I can show you the proof."
After saying that, I opened the app on my smartphone and played a video.
Hazuki watched the video and held her head and said, "Stop it. Stop it already ......," she complained with tears streaming down her face. Kouki said, "Damn it," and glared at me with his tongue lolling out.
(Hey, hey, hey. All your reactions are what I want to do.)
"So, Yuuri. What do you want us to do? Don't be a b***h about it, just tell us what you want."
"Hey. Don't be so backhanded. I've been on the verge of losing my temper for a long time now, but I'm trying my best to hold it in."
I turned to Hatsuki as I said that.
"I want two things. First, I want to ask you when and why you started this kind of relationship with Kouki. Of course, you'll tell me, won't you, Hazuki?"
After Being Betrayed By My Beloved Childhood Friend and Best friend, It Was Another Childhood friend Who Saved Me
最愛の幼馴染みと親友に裏切られた俺を救ってくれたのはもう一人の幼馴染みだった
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/after-being-betrayed-by-my-beloved-childhood-friend-and-best-friend-it-was-another-childhood-friend-who-saved-me/
Drama Romance
Beautiful Female Lead Betrayal Childhood Friends Depression First Love First-time Interc**rse Love Triangles Male Protagonist Modern Day Netorare Obsessive Love Revenge
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n0937hf/
音の中