第27話 氷の令嬢はリベンジを誓う
今日は冬華の料理の腕を見極めるため、絶対に口出しをしない。
そう決めて、調理の邪魔にならないようにカウンターから見学を始めて一時間。
ようやく完成したカレーライスが食卓に二つ並んだが、ここまでの間、両手の指で数え消えれないほどには思わず口を開きかけた。
包丁の扱い方、調理の工程、煮込みの拙さなどなどツッコミどころを挙げればキリがない。
その手際の悪さと危なっかしさは朝陽の想像以上で、我関せずを貫き通すにはかなり胃が痛かった。
唯一の救いといえば、しつこく教えた甲斐があって、冬華が猫の手を使ってくれたことだろう。
ぎこちないながらもしっかりと丸められた左手が功を成し、鋭利な刃物が食材以外に牙を向くことはなかった。
ただ、裏を返せばそれくらいしか良い点を見出せなかったことになる。
「......美味しくありませんね」
いただきます、と行儀よく手を合わせて食事を始めてから初めに口を開いたのは冬華だった。
「うん、普通に美味しくない」
暫く無言でカレーを口にした後、朝陽もまた冬華と同じ言葉を口にした。
一口食べて分かる味の薄さが目立つ水っぽさ。
二口食べて分かる火が通っていない不揃いで大きな野菜たち。
三口食べて分かる全体的なとろみの不足。
総じて、不味くはないがお世辞にも美味しいとは言えない出来上がりだ。
「......異論はありませんが、随分とはっきり言いますね......」
「オブラートに包んだほうが良かったか? それともお世辞をご所望で?」
「いえ、そのままで結構です。上辺だけの言葉など意味がありませんから」
「そうだな、こういう時は正直な感想を言うべきだと俺も思う」
朝陽は基本的に作り手への最低限の感謝として「美味しい」の一言を欠かさないようにしているが、今回は話が違う。
冬華の料理の腕を上げるという目的があるので、下手に気を遣って褒め言葉を口にするべきではないはずだ。
ただ、美味しくないと厳しい評価を与えるだけなら誰にだってできる。
朝陽に求められているのはその後、失敗を糧に、改善策を提示し、成功へと導くこと。
どうすれば美味しく作れるのかを冬華に一から教えることだ。
その為に、何がダメだったのかを一つ一つ確かめていく必要がある。
それは目に見えて課題が山積みな調理中の話だけではなく、完成した料理の味の中にも突き詰めていかなければならない。
細かな改善点を見つけようと、振る舞われたカレーを時間をかけて味わいながら胃に流し込む。
そうして半分以上を平らげたところで、ふと顔を上げると何やらも物憂げな様子の冬華と目が合った。
「......無理して食べなくてもいいですよ」
「ん? いつ俺が無理してるって言った?」
「美味しくない、そう言ったじゃないですか」
恐らく、料理が上手くいかなかったことを気に病んでいるのだろう。
普段は淡々としている声音は少しだけ震えているし、表情は僅かながらに曇っている。
ほんの些細な変化だが、最近はこの微妙な違いも大体分かるようになってきた。
「私に遠慮せず残してください。今からでも出前を取るなり、あなたが作るなりした方が良いと思います。お金はもちろん出しますから」
「......確かにこのカレーは美味しくないな」
「だったら――」
「でも、氷室は一生懸命作ってただろ。そんな料理を粗末にできるかよ」
料理を粗末にしてはいけない、そんなことは常識以前の話だ。
口に合わないから、お腹がいっぱいだから。
そうして料理を残す人を全否定するわけではない。
ただ、どんな料理にも作り手が存在する。
その人のことを思えば、況してや目の前にすれば、朝陽の中で料理を残すという選択肢は存在しない。
「俺から氷室への最初のアドバイス。料理において一番大切なのは味じゃなくて愛なんだよ」
「......つまり、恋慕の情ということですか?」
「それは料理を美味しくする絶大な隠し味ってとこかな。今言ったのは、料理を振る舞う人への気持ちのこと。誰でも修得できる、でも意外と難しい基本の基だ」
小さい頃、全く同じことを母親から言われ、子供ながらに妙な納得を覚えたことを朝陽は話すと同時に思い出した。
そして、最近では偶然にも千昭が同じ言葉を口にしていた。
あれは、彼女の前でカッコつけるためであって、深い意味を込めてはいなかったように思えるが、実際に愛を込めて作ってきた日菜美のお弁当は絶品だった。
やはり、好きの気持ちは何より料理を美味しくするらしい......ただ、冬華には相当難易度が高いものだろう。
伝えるべきは、何事も基本からだ。
「最初は誰でもこんなものだろ。俺も初めから料理ができたわけじゃないし。だから、そんなに気にすんな。俺が美味しく作れるようになるまで教えるからさ」
なるべく優しい口調で、少しでも励ましになるように言葉を選んで朝陽は声をかけた。
上から偉そうに話すだけでは、教えられる側としては面白くない。
いつか、ふとした瞬間に心が折れてしまう時もある。
だから、飴と鞭という言葉があるように、適度なタイミングで頑張りたいと思える言葉をかけることが教える側としては大切だ。
自分が何故ここまで料理の腕を上げることができたのか、過去を振り返って両親から受けた言葉を思い出せば自ずと分かることだった。
「念の為確認するけど、氷室は料理が上手くなりたいんだよな?」
「......その為に、こうして恥を忍んであなたの目の前で料理をしました」
「自分で恥って言っちゃってるけどいいのか」
「この際、隠しても仕方がありませんから。私は見ての通り、料理が不得意です......でも、あなたが教えてくれるのでしょう?」
「ああ、任せとけ。明日から本格的に教えていくから覚悟しろよ」
「望むところです。でも、私は今日から厳しく教えるつもりですよ」
「うっ......そこはお手柔らかに頼むわ」
暫くはお互いに忙しく、そして厳しい日々が続きそうだと朝陽は頬を引き攣らせた。
ただ、不思議と嫌な気持ちはしない。
口に含んだカレーもいつの間にか、ほんの少しだけ旨味を感じられるように思える。
「ごちそうさま」
美味しかった、といつもは続ける言葉を朝陽は口直しの水と共に飲み込んだ。
それでも、作り手への感謝は忘れない。
米の一粒も残さず完食し、少し早めに食べ終わっていた冬華に向かって両手を合わせる。
「......いつか、あなたに美味しいと言ってもらえるように頑張りますね」
そう言って、冬華は桜色の薄い唇をたゆませた。
見間違いでなければ、乳白色の肌が淡く紅潮しているように思える。
一つ確かなのは、冬華が微笑んだということだ。
他でもない朝陽に向かって、今度は確実に、意識的に笑いかけている。
(いつも笑ってればいいのに......)
洗い物をすると言って、二人分の食器をシンクへと運び入れた冬華はもう既に普段と同じクールな表情を浮かべている。
ただ、段々とその普段の顔つきも、この家の中では穏やかで柔らかいものになっているような感覚を覚え、朝陽もまた小さく笑みをこぼした。
Ch 27
Today, in order to assess Fuyuka's cooking skills, I would definitely not interfere.
I decided to do so, and started observing from the counter so as not to disturb her and an hour later.
The curry and rice were finally finished and were lined up on the table, and I almost opened my mouth more than I could count.
There were so many things to complain about, such as the way the knife was handled, the cooking process, and the poor way of simmering.
Her ineptitude and carelessness were far worse than Asahi could imagine, and it was quite painful for him to remain indifferent.
The only thing that saved me was that Fuyuka used the cat's paw, thanks to my persistent reminder.
Her awkwardly but firmly curled left hand did the trick, and the sharp blade never cut into anything but the ingredients.
However, in reverse, that was the only good thing I could find.
"...It doesn't taste good."
"Itadakimasu." Fuyuka put her hands together in a polite manner before eating.
"Yeah, it doesn't taste good."
After tasting the curry in silence for a while, Asahi also said the same words as Fuyuka.
In the first bite, you could tell it was bland.
In the second bite, you could tell that the vegetables were undercooked.
And the third bite, you could tell the roux lacked any thickness.
In general, the result was not that bad, but not great either.
"...I don't disagree, but you're being quite direct."
"Should I have been more subtle? Or would you rather be complimented?"
"No, it's fine as it is. Since, superficial compliments are meaningless."
"Yeah, I agree with you, we should be honest in these situations."
Fundamentally, Asahi never failed to say "delicious" as a minimum of gratitude to the creator, but this time was a different story.
The purpose of this was to improve Fuyuka's cooking skills, so he shouldn't sugarcoat words.
However, just about anyone could give a harsh evaluation that it was not tasty.
What Asahi was expected to do afterwards was to use the failures as a springboard to present a plan for improvement and lead her to success.
The idea was to teach Fuyuka how to make it delicious from scratch.
To do this, they needed to find out one by one what went wrong.
This was not only limited to the cooking process, where there were a lot of visible errors, but also in the taste of the dish.
I took my time savoring the curry that was served to me and pouring it down my stomach, trying to find the smallest details.
When I had eaten more than half of it, I looked up and met Fuyuka's eyes, who looked somber.
"...You don't have to force yourself to eat it."
"Hm? I'm not forcing myself."
"It doesn't taste good. That's what you said."
Perhaps she was worried that her cooking did not go very well.
Her normally indifferent voice sounded a little shaky, and her expression was slightly clouded.
It was only a small change, but recently he had come to understand these subtle differences.
"Please don't force yourself. I think it would be better if you order a delivery, or make it yourself. I'll pay for it, of course."
"...You're right, this curry doesn't taste good."
"Then--"
"But, you worked hard to make it. I can't waste it like that."
Don't waste food, that was common sense.
It doesn't suit my taste, I'm already full.
This was not to say that I deny all people who leave comments like this.
However, every dish had its creator.
Thinking of that person, and seeing him or her up front, it was not an option to waste the food.
"My first advice for you, the most important thing in cooking isn't taste, it's love."
"...So you're saying it's the matter of feelings?"
"It's like a secret ingredient that makes food taste good. What I'm talking about is how you feel about the person you're serving the food to. It's a basic technique that anyone can master, but is surprisingly difficult."
As he spoke, Asahi remembered that her mother had told him the exact same thing when he was a child.
And recently, by coincidence, Chiaki had uttered the same words.
That was just him showing off, and I don't think he put any deep meaning into it, but Hinami's bento, which was made with love, was excellent.
In the end, the feeling of love made the food much more delicious. But it would be quite difficult for Fuyuka.
The message to be conveyed was that everything started with the basics.
"Everyone is like this at first. I didn't start out as a good cook, either. So don't worry about it so much, I'll teach you until you learn how to make it good."
He tried to be gentle, and chose his words to be as encouraging as possible.
It was no fun to be taught by someone who just spoke arrogantly.
One day, her heart may break at a moment's notice.
So, as a teacher, it was important to give them words that would make them want to do their best.
Looking back on the past and remembering what my parents had said to me, it was easy to understand why I had been able to improve my cooking skills so much.
"Just to make sure, you want to be a good cook, right?"
"...Yes, that's why I let myself be shamed like this."
"You're dissing yourself, is that fine?"
"Since it came to this, there's no point in hiding it. I'm not very good at cooking, as you can see. But you'll teach me, right?"
"Yeah, leave it to me. I'll start teaching you seriously tomorrow, so be prepared."
"As you wish. But I'm going to be harsh on teaching you today."
"Ugh... Please go easy on me."
Asahi's cheeks twitched as he realized that they were going to keep each other company busy for a while.
But strangely, I don't feel bad about it.
Before I knew it, the curry in my mouth seemed to have just a hint of flavor.
"Gochisousama." [Thanks for the food.]
"It was delicious." Asahi said while swallowing the words with a mouthful of water.
Still, he never forgot to thank the creator.
Finishing the meal without leaving a single grain of rice, and clasped his hands together towards Fuyuka, who had finished eating earlier.
"...I'll try my best to get you to say it's good someday."
Fuyuka's thin, cherry-red lips twitched as she said this.
If I'm not mistaken, her milky-white skin seemed to be faintly flushed.
One thing was for sure, Fuyuka smiled.
She smiled at none other than Asahi, this time was definitely done consciously.
'She should be smiling like that all the time.'
She already had the same cool expression on her face as usual as she carried the dishes for the two of us into the sink, saying she was going to wash the dishes.
However, Asahi also gave a small smile as he felt that his face was gradually becoming softer and calmer.
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