第19話 Mvpの伝説
「なあ、朝陽。ヒナがお前の家に行きたいって言ってるんだけど別にいいよな?」
「絶対に嫌だ」
藪から棒な提案を間髪入れずに断れば、千昭から不満気な声が漏れる。
その隣には日菜美の姿もあり、こちらも分かりやすく頬を膨らませて抗議の意を示していた。
最近の昼休みは千昭と日菜美の二人に囲まれることがやたらと多い。
朝陽の交友関係の狭さを考えれば珍しい光景では無いものの、それにしてもほぼ毎日というのは初めてだ。
その度に何かと嫌な予感がするのだが、今日もまた例に漏れず面倒くさいことが始まりそうだった。
「そんなに即答しなくてもいいじゃんかー! 私、朝陽の家に行きたいだけだよ?」
「そうだそうだ。俺がいいんだから、ヒナが付いて来ても構わないだろ」
「......それが嫌なんだよ。お前らが揃うとイチャイチャし始めるに決まってる」
「え、ダメなの?」
何だよそれ、と千昭からツッコミが入るが、説明してもどうせ理解されることではないだろう。
恋は盲目とはよく言ったもので、無自覚な千昭と日菜美のイチャイチャにはもうすっかり慣れたとはいえ、自宅でやられるとなると話は大分違ってくる。
本来は憩いの場でなくてはならない一人暮らしの家で、しばしば二人がハグやキスなどしている場面を思い出すことがあれば地獄に等しい。
「それじゃあ、私だけ行くのはアリなの?」
「ナシだな。そうだろ、彼氏?」
「いや、アリだろ。何がダメなんだ?」
絶対にいかがわしい気持ちは無いと断言できるが、友達の彼女を家に招く行為はあまり気乗りしない。
とにかくダメだと強引に押し通せば、ブーブーと文句を言う日菜美の後ろから千昭もこれ見よがしに加勢を始めた。
天然な一面がある日菜美が何も意識していないのとは対照的に、絶対に千昭は色々と気づいた上ですっとぼけているから質が悪い。
朝陽が日菜美の対応に困っている様子を楽しんでいるのだろう。千昭の表情を見れば憎たらしいニヤニヤ顔が浮かんでいる。
「大体、俺の家はゲームくらいしかないぞ? 日菜美が来ても何も面白くないだろ。それとも何だ、千昭みたいに飯目的か?」
「だったらこの前、肉野菜炒め食べたろ」
「あれはお弁当だしちょっと違うじゃん! 作り立てがいいの。それも、ビーフシチューとか豪華な奴!」
お願い朝陽シェフ、と聞き覚えのあるセリフを並べて頼み込まれてしまえば、無下に拒むのも悪いような気が段々としてくる。
家に招くこと自体はそこまで嫌じゃないし、手料理を振る舞うことは寧ろ楽しみといったプラスの感情に分類される。
それでも日菜美の頼みに首を横に振っているのは、ただ単に自宅でイチャイチャを見せつけられるのが嫌なだけ。
裏を返せば、そこさえクリアしてもらえば拒む理由は見当たらない。
「......過度なスキンシップを始めたら直ぐに追い出すからな」
「それって家に行っていいってことだよね!? ちーくん、やったよ! 許可もらえたよ!」
「良かったじゃん。ずっと朝陽の手料理食べたいって言ってたもんな」
渋々、唐突な頼みを承諾すると、日菜美は大袈裟に両手を挙げて喜び、太陽の様に眩しい満面の笑みを浮かべた。
イチャイチャ禁止、という注意事項を理解しているかは怪しいが、そこまで喜んでもらえるなら悪い気はしない。
「お礼に明日、MVP取れたら朝陽に賞品あげるね!」
「いや、それは......お前なら噂で回ってる伝説くらい聞いてるだろ?」
「もちろん知ってるよ? 好きな人に渡すと恋が叶うってやつでしょ?」
いよいよ明日に控える球技大会で種目ごとのMVPに送られてる特別な賞品。
日菜美は随分とあっさり言ったが、主に女子を中心として最近は学校中この話題で持ちきりだ。
それこそ、毎日一度は耳にする氷の令嬢の噂がぱったりと途切れるほど。
「大丈夫。私はちーくんと付き合ってるから伝説無効! 朝陽が誰かにあげて初めて効果が出るんだよ」
「そういう裏技みたいなのがあるわけね。まあ、そもそも伝説自体が眉唾物だしどうでもいいけど」
「うわっ、身も蓋もねえことを......。女子が聞いたら泣くか怒るぞ」
「そうだよ朝陽、そんなこと言ってたら女の子にモテないよ」
「うるさい、余計なお世話だ」
容赦のない総スカンをくらったが、朝陽は伝説など興味がないし、信じてもいない。
聞いた話によると、MVPに与えられる賞品は三本の薔薇があしらわれたブローチらしく、その花言葉が告白という事で恋愛成就の伝説として昇華されたという経緯がある。
「てか、日菜美はMVP取れる自信あるのか? バスケって結構な激戦区だろ」
「うーん、多分取れると思う。氷室さんが怖かったけど、怪我しちゃったみたいだし」
「氷室ってそんなに凄かったのか」
「私もよく知らないけど、バスケ部顔負けの上手さなんだってさ」
「ふーん......。全国区の選手にそこまで言わせるとはねえ」
「元、だけどね。朝陽の為に頑張っちゃうよ」
「じゃあ、俺も朝陽の為に頑張ってMVP取っちゃおうかな」
「気持ちは嬉しいけど、二つも要らねえよ......」
千昭も日菜美も中学時代はそれぞれのスポーツで名が通った有名選手だったので、本気を出せば本当にMVPを取りそうで冗談に聞こえない。
一つでも余す代物を、二つも持つこととなれば宝の持ち腐れどころの話ではなくなる。
ただ、日菜美の言葉に朝陽は一つ思うところがあった。
(氷室はやっぱり不参加だと思われてるのか)
現時点で誰も実現するとは思っていない、日菜美と冬華の対決。
ブローチを渡す相手は決まったのかと気が早すぎる恋バナを振ってくるバカップルを無視して、冬華の怪我の経過具合を知っている朝陽は、心の内で密かに好カードの実現を楽しみにしていた。
Ch 19
"Hey, Asahi. Hina wants to go to your house, that's fine with you, right?"
"Absolutely not."
When I rejected his suggestion without hesitation, a frustrated voice leaked out from Chiaki.
Next to him was Hinami, who was pouting as a sign of protest.
Recently, during lunch break, I had been surrounded by Chiaki and Hinami more often than not.
It was not an unusual sight considering Asahi's lack of friends, but even so, it was the first time that they had seen him with them for almost the whole day.
Every time they do, I get a really bad feeling about something, and today it seems something troublesome was going to happen.
"You don't have to deny it that fast! I just want to go to your house, okay?"
"That's right. Since I'm good, you don't mind if Hina tags along, right?"
"...I'd hate that. Because when you guys are together you're just gonna start flirting."
"Eh, we can't?"
"What's up with that?" Chiaki asked, but even if I explained it to him, he wouldn't be able to understand it anyway.
As they say love was blind, and even though I had gotten used to them flirting around, it was a different story if it happened at my home.
It would be h**l if I recall a scene where these two were making out on a corner of where I live, which should be a place of rest and relaxation.
"So then, it's fine if it's just me?"
"No."
"It's fine, right? Why is it not allowed?"
I can assure you that I have absolutely no disreputable feelings, but I'm not too keen on the act of inviting my friend's girlfriend to my house.
In any case, when I refused, Chiaki started to join in from behind the complaining Hinami.
In contrast to Hinami, who had a natural side to her, and was not aware of anything, Chiaki was definitely aware of a lot of things and just taking advantage of the situation.
He must be enjoying the fact that Asahi was having trouble dealing with Hinami. If you look at Chiaki's expression, you could see a hateful grin on his face.
"My house has nothing but games, you know? There's nothing that will interest you, Hinami. Or what, are you also after for food like Chiaki?"
"You already ate some the other day, right?"
"That was just a bento! I want something freshly made, a beef stew for starters!"
If she asked me like that, I would start to feel bad about refusing her outright.
I don't mind inviting people over to my house, and I even enjoy cooking for them, especially when seeing them happily eating.
Still hesitating at Hinami's request, because he just didn't want to see them making out at his home.
On the other hand, as long as they don't flirt, I don't see any reason to refuse.
"...I'll kick you out immediately as soon as you start making out with each other."
"That means we can go, right? Chi-kun, I did it! I got permission!"
"That's good. You said that you've always wanted to eat Asahi's homemade food."
When I reluctantly agreed to the sudden request, Hinami exaggeratedly raised her hands in joy and smiled as dazzling as the sun.
I'm not sure if she understands about no flirting, but I don't feel bad if she's that happy.
"As a thanks, I'll give you the prize if I got MVP, Asahi!"
"You have at least heard that it's just a legend, right?"
"Of course I know. It's the one where if you give it to the person you love, it comes true."
A special prize was given to the MVP of each event at the ball game that was coming up tomorrow.
Hinami said it quite simply, but the whole school had been talking about it lately, especially the girls.
To the extent that rumors about the "Ice Lady" would disappear.
"It's alright. I'm going out with Chi-kun, so the legend won't activate! It'll only work if Asahi gives it to someone else."
"So there was such a secret technique. Well, I don't really care about the legend itself, since it's a load of bunk."
"Wow, you're so blunt... If a girl hears that, she'll cry or get angry, you know?"
"That's right, Asahi, you'll never be popular with girls if you keep talking like that."
"Shut up. It's none of your business."
Although he received a relentless scolding, Asahi was not interested in legends, nor did he believe in them.
According to what I heard, the prize given to the MVP was a brooch with three roses on it, and it seems in flower language it meant confession, it was sublimated as a legend for love success.
"So, Hinami, are you confident you can get MVP? Basketball is a pretty fierce competition."
"Mhm, I think I can get it. I was a bit afraid of Himuro-san, but it looks like she got injured."
"I didn't know Himuro was that great."
"I also don't know much about it, but I hear she's as good as a player from the basketball team."
"Hmm... Even a player from nationals says that much, huh?"
"Former to be exact, but I'll do my best for you, Asahi!"
"Well, maybe I'll do my best to win MVP for you too, Asahi."
"I appreciate the sentiment, but I don't need two."
Both Chiaki and Hinami were well known and famous in their respective sports in junior high school, so it didn't sound like a joke when they said that they would take the MVP.
Having two would be more than just a waste of treasure.
However, Asahi thought about Hinami's words.
'Do they think that Himuro still can't participate?'
The confrontation between Hinami and Fuyuka, which no one expected to happen at this point.
Ignoring the couple who asked if he had decided who to give the brooch to, Asahi, who knew how Fuyuka's injury was progressing, was secretly looking forward to the realization of a good card.
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