「なんでござるかその目は」
唖然とは、このことだろうか。
南がなんで勝がああなったか語り始めて、シリアスな空気になってしまっていたがつい、えっ!と疑いの視線を向けてしまった。
「いや、お前の標準語とか敬語とか想像できなくてな」
「たまになっていたでござるよね!? こう、真面目なときとか、拙者とて最初からこうだったわけではなかったでござるよ!?」
申し訳ないが、普通の陰キャだった南など想像がつかない。
海堂と一緒にうちのパーティーでギャグキャラの双璧なのにな。
こうなんて言うか、振り切れた感じなのが南であって社会に合わせてひっそりと過ごすのはなんとなく南ではないと理屈ではなく感情で否定してしまっている俺がいる。
いや、真面目な話をしているのは理解できる。
そこに横槍を入れるのもどうかと思う気持ちもある。
ただまぁ、理屈よりも感情が表情を作ってしまい、そこに南がジト目でツッコミを入れてしまってついポロリと言葉がこぼれてしまったわけだ。
「すまんすまん、いや、まぁ、確かに南の言う通りだが、それでなんだ? 川崎の奴に恋した勝があれか? 南に恋愛相談でもして失恋でもしたか?」
苦笑一つ、さすがにここで話の腰を折るわけにもいかず軌道修正をはかる。
その行動に対して仕方ないとジト目からいつもの表情に戻った南であったが。
「失恋なんてしてないでござるよ、勝はあの女と一時であったでござるが確かに恋仲でござったよ」
すぐにその表情も不機嫌になった。
「むしろ振られた方がまだマシでござった」
その顔には過去の話であっても、いまだ納得も理解もせず怒りがくすぶっているように見えた。
そんな鬱憤を少しでも晴らすように俺は話の先を促すのであった。
Another side
あの一言からいっきに仲が良くなる。
なんてことは勝と南にはなかった。
多少距離感は縮んでも、それは相手を多少なりとも許容できるようになっただけ。
そこに特別な感情はなかった。
「へぇ、そんなことがあったんだ」
「ええ」
それでも親戚の集まりがあれば会話をするようになっただけまだ進歩したと言える。
口調も砕け、多少遠慮というものもなくなった。
しかし、それだけとも言える。
互いに家も近いが、会いに行くという機会はほぼない。
「ふ~ん、それっていいことじゃないの?」
南は本を読みながら勝の話を聞く。
適当に聞き流しているようにも見えるが、南はしっかりと彼の話を聞いていた。
「ふ~んって、もう少し真面目に聞いてくださいよ」
「聞いてる聞いてる」
おまけに勝と翠は年齢が離れすぎている。
中学生と大学生。
加えて年齢もそうだが、経済的にも子供な勝を異性として意識させるのは少々ハードルが高いという事実が南にアドバイスの選択肢を狭めさせる。
これで成功したらすごいなと他人事のように南は思う。
だが、勝にとっては親や同級生といった関係のなかで一番この手の話がしやすいのは南だったため、引き下がれない。
真面目に聞けと注意をする。
「......お弁当でも作ってみたら?」
正直その反応に対して面倒くさいと思っていた南であった。
なので、適当に知識にある中で無難な選択肢を提示した。
中学生である勝のお小遣いでブランド物の衣服など用意することもできず、かといって美容院に行けるわけもなく、特別なプレゼントを用意できるわけでもない。
異性として見れるかどうかはさておき、料理がおいしいという部分はプラスになるだろうという浅はかな南の考えで現実的なボーダーラインを提示したつもりだ。
「料理なんて、したことないし」
「そう、なら君の想いはその程度ってことだよ」
それ以上の世話は焼かない。
あとはするかしないか。
好奇心半分、看病してもらった恩半分の義理も過去含めての相談で相殺でいいだろうと南は判断し。
はっきり言えば、南の言い分も間違ってはいない。
好きだという異性に対してやったことがないからという理由で行動ができないのはマイナス要素でしかない。
そうやって失敗を恐れて尻込みする程度なら早々に諦めた方が当人のためになる。
そういう話もあるが、当然南はそんなことを考えるはずもない。
『そういえば、攻略対象にお手製の弁当が好きなキャラがいたな』
という、ゲーム脳に準じた判断基準だ。
幸い勝と翠が向かう先は動物園と、弁当を持っていってもなんら違和感はない。
おまけに。
「そ、そんなことない!」
あからさまであるにもかかわらず、南の挑発に乗って勝はやる気を見せた。
「だったらやってみれば?」
「やってやるよ!」
そのやる気を見て、勝をからかうのに少し楽しみを見出していた南はちょっとだけ彼の背中を押してやろうと思った。
「え? 私の好きな食べ物?」
「ええ、そういえば聞いたことがなかったので」
親戚一同が揃う席。
その場は年齢が近いメンバーが集まる。
南、勝、翠も年が近いということで食事の席は近かった。
普段は黙々と食べるだけの南が翠に質問したことは彼女にとって意外だったのか、目を何度か瞬かせた後、少し考えこんだ。
「う~ん、卵焼き?」
「ええ~、南ちゃんから聞いてきたのにその反応は寂しいな」
「いえ、なんとなく思っただけなので」
気まぐれはあくまで気まぐれ、耳を大きくしていた少年への気遣いはここまで。
これ以上面倒ごとはごめんだと南はさっさと興味を逸らし、ねぇねぇと絡んでくる翠を適当にあしらう。
これで、少しは勝率が上がっただろうと自己満足し、すぐに話題を振ってきてくれたことに喜んだ翠の絡みに早々に後悔する南であった。
どうせ失敗するであろうと思っていたこともあり、せめてもの手向けだと振られる未来の少年の思い出程度になるだろうと思っての行動は。
「ありがとうございました」
お礼をもって報われてしまった。
「え?」
「お弁当、おいしいって言ってくれました」
最初はなんのことかと思った。
南からすれば完全に忘れた内容だった。
わざわざ振られることを報告しに来るとは思っていなかったため、完全に忘れていた。
「へぇ、うまくいったんだ」
だからだろう、ついその先を促してしまった。
そこからの勝は嬉しそうに動物園であったことを事細かく、それこそ子供のように語ってくれた。
そして、一度成功したのならもう一度と頼ってくるのは仕方ない流れだった。
なんで年下の惚気話を聞かないといけないんだと辟易していた南は、一瞬断るかと思ったが目を輝かせ頼ってくる少年の視線をわずかでもいいなと思ってしまい。
それが、間違いだったと後悔すると南は思わなかった。
Another side End
「おまえ、結構いいやつだったんだな」
「この話を聞いて、拙者を良い人と呼べるリーダーはすごいでござるなぁ」
話すのに疲れ、小休憩と言わんばかりにジュースを注文し、それをチビチビと飲みながら俺に向けて呆れたように言う。
「いや、聞いた話だけをまとめれば親切心で助けた年上の姉って感じだろう?」
「小さなお節介大きなお世話ともいうでござるよ。拙者はそっち側だっただけでござる」
「リーダーの想像している通りでござるよ、問題が起こったのはこの後でござるが......話すのも面倒なので三行にまとめるでござるよ~」
話せる部分だけ話す。
それで、どうにかしてもらおうという南の魂胆が見える。
その陰にこれ以上は可能だったら話したくないという感情も見えてしまった。
それでいいと頷き先を促した俺に対して南はわずかに安堵し、少し考えてから。
「変なくらいにうまくいって勝は交際開始。
拙者は励ましている間に勝に惚れて。
翠の海外留学が決まって勝が振られる。
「それだけ聞けば普通に青春が終わっただけの話なんだがなぁ」
すこしふざけた南の説明にそれだけじゃないんだろと視線で聞いてみれば、そうだとも違うとも言わない。
そしてここまでの話で、どうして勝があんな状態になったかという話もまだ聞いていない。
「南」
シリアスな話で進んでいるが、俺から見ればそれだけじゃないように見える。
嘘を隠すには九割の真実の中に一割のウソを隠すのが鉄則。
だが、そうじゃないと俺の勘が告げる。
あの状況の勝を放置するのは、事が事なのでさすがに追及する。
「何があった?」
この段階で嫌な予感はあった。
これ以上追及するのは南と勝の関係に土足で踏み込むのに等しい。
沈黙を選ぶ南の気持ちもわからなくはない。
何より、これ以上踏み込めば後戻りできないと理解できる。
後頭部を掻き、これ以上踏み込むか踏み込まないか悩むも、これを放置していいかと考えればNoと俺は言う。
それを承知で、一歩踏み出す。
だから一つだけカードを切る。
「勝の両親が原因か?」
「!?」
その言葉に対しての南のリアクションは異常だった。
何を知っていると、一瞬であったが俺のことを敵のように睨みつけた南に、俺はただ落ち着けと言い説明する。
「一応、俺はお前たちを面接した立場だからな、履歴書くらいは見れる。その時に見た保護者の欄が、な」
切ったカードがクリティカルヒットした。
一瞬見せた南の瞳は刀かと錯覚するくらいに鋭かったが、知っている理由を言えば脱力し南は観念した。
「......不幸な事故でござったよ。ただ、タイミングが悪かっただけでござる」
仕方ないかと自分に言い訳しているのか、それとも別の意味があるのか。
ポツリポツリと南は自身が知る情報を語り始めた。
「最初は翠が海外留学に行くっていう話で、遠距離恋愛は無理ってことであいつが勝を振ったことが始まりでござった。それ自体は勝自身も受け止めていたでござるよ。失恋のショックはあったでござるが、立ち直れる範囲でござった。その傷は時間が癒してくれるはずだった。ただ、不幸っていうのは重なるのでござる」
それは一つの事故だった。
勝の履歴書には父親の名前しかなかった。
最初は父親しか書かなかったのかとも思ったが、家族構成の欄には母親も書かないといけなかった。
そのことに関して入社当時に勝に聞いたことがあった。
その時勝は。
『母は......』
何やら言いづらそうにしていた。
何か事情があると思い、その時は追及せず俺もそれ以後聞くことはなかった。
「勝の母親は浮気をしていたんでござるよ。それも、結婚する前からでござる。うまくごまかしていたでござるが、翠が海外留学した後についにそれがばれたんでござるよ。当時は揉めに揉めて、勝のDNA鑑定までやったでござる。その結果が最悪でござった。勝は父親と血縁関係はなく、赤の他人だったでござる」
ござると言う口調がふざけているのではなく、少しでも気を紛らわせなくてはという南の心の表れだった。
「その事実に勝の父親が耐えられなかったんでござるよ。育ていた息子が他人の子供だと知って激怒して、母親だけじゃなくて勝にも当たったでござる。それで勝はだいぶまいってしまったでござる」
どこの昼ドラかと言いたくなるような重い話に俺は黙って聞いているしかなかった。
「勝の家は空中分解寸前、いや、もう秒読み段階でござった。それでも不幸っていうのは重なるでござるよ。ここで勝の母親が勝を守れば勝もああはなっていなかったでござろうなぁ」
間を置かねば話せない、昔を思い出すようにグラスを両手で持ち、南は俺とは視線を合わさずグラスの中の氷を見る。
「勝の母親は勝を残して逃げたんでござる。血の繋がった息子を捨てて。母方の親戚が探したらしいでござるが見つからなかったそうでござるよ。今じゃどこにいるかもわからないらしいでござるよ。残ったのは血の繋がらない父親と子供」
頼れる存在を一気に失った勝の心情を推し量ることなんてできない。
ただただ、不憫だという同情しかわいてこない。
「宙ぶらりんになった勝はかろうじて成人するまでは父親が育てることが親戚の会議で決まったでござるが、父親は必要最低限のことしかしなくなったでござる。仕事に打ち込んで家にはほとんど寄り付かないらしいでござるよ」
思春期真っ盛りの勝にその環境はかなり劣悪だと言える。
「あとはまぁ、そんな勝に恋していた拙者が弱った勝を助けたいと必死に頭を捻って考えた結果が」
「必要としている存在がいると思わせるために、その立ち位置を取ったか」
当時高校生であった南にとって苦肉の策としか言いようのない行動。
依存させることによって勝の精神を安定させようとしたのだ。
寄り掛からせるのではなく、寄り掛かることによって支えたのだ。
幸い、南の行いは報われた。
勝の普段の行いが良かったため親戚一同の印象は良かったのも後押しした。
勝の父親にとって勝は裏切りの象徴であったが、ある意味で他人事であった親戚には関係なかった。
南の両親が勝に好意的だったということも南の策を盤石にしたのだろう。
「さて、話せることは話したでござるよ。それで、リーダーは何をしてくれるんでござる?」
そんなことを何年も続けてきた南の瞳が俺を貫くのであった。
今日の一言
安易な行動、自重せよ。
けれど、覚悟を決めたのなら進め。
"What's with the eyes, that is.
Is this what it means to be stunned?
The air was getting serious as Minami began to talk about how Katsu became like that, but I couldn't help but look at him with suspicion.
"No, I can't imagine your standard language and honorific speech.
"Sometimes it has been, that it has been! I wasn't always like this in earnest, that I wasn't always like this, either!
I'm sorry, but I can't imagine such a thing as the South, which was just an ordinary shady character.
I can't imagine her being the twin peaks of the gag characters in our party with Kaido.
I'm not sure what to say, but I'm in emotional disagreement with the idea that it's the South that seems to be shaken off, and that it's not the South to spend time quietly in line with society.
No, I understand that we are talking about seriousness.
Part of me wonders if I should not interfere with that.
But, well, my emotions made my face more than the logic, and I couldn't help but speak out because Minami gave me a joke with her eyes.
You will be able to get the best results from your own personal computer. Is that that Katsura who fell in love with a guy from Kawasaki? Did you get your heart broken by asking the South for love advice?
I'm going to try to correct the trajectory of the story, but I can't break the story here.
You can't blame her for that behavior, and she returned to her usual expression.
It's not that I didn't get my heart broken, that I didn't, but I was in love with that woman for a while, that I was.
Soon the expression on his face turned sullen.
"I'd rather have been dumped.
It was a story of the past, but it was still unconvincing and uncomprehending, and anger seemed to be smoldering on its face.
You're going to be able to get rid of such resentment as much as possible by going ahead with the story.
Another side
From that one word, we became friends instantly.
It never happened to Katsura and Minami.
Even if the distance between them had grown a little, it was only because they had come to tolerate the other person a little better.
There were no special feelings there.
"Wow, I didn't know that happened.
Yes.
Still, I would say I've made progress just because I've learned to converse at any gathering of relatives.
My tone of voice has become more even and a little less reserved.
But that's all I can say.
Although we live close to each other, we rarely get the chance to see each other.
It's a good thing, isn't it?
Minami listens to Katsura while reading a book.
Although it may seem like he was just listening to the story, Minami was listening to him carefully.
Hmmm, you need to listen to me more seriously.
I'm listening to you.
On top of that, Masaru and Midori are too far apart in age.
A junior high school student and a college student.
It's not only the age of the person, but also the fact that it's a bit difficult to make the childlike Katsura to be considered as the opposite s*x, which limits the choice of advice for Minami.
It's a great idea if you succeed in this, Minami thinks as if it were someone else's business.
But for Katsura, Minami is the easiest person to talk to about this kind of relationship with his parents and classmates, so he cannot back down.
I warned him to listen seriously.
...... Why don't you try to make your lunch.
Honestly, it was Minami who thought the reaction was troublesome.
So, I offered a safe choice.
It is not possible to prepare brand-name clothes with the pocket money of a junior high school student, nor can you go to the hairdresser, nor can you prepare a special present.
Aside from being seen as a member of the opposite s*x, I thought I had presented a realistic borderline with the shallow idea that good cooking would be a plus.
I've never cooked.
Yeah, then that's the extent of your feelings.
I'll take care of you no more.
The rest is done or not.
Minami is half curious and half grateful to you for taking care of her, but she decides that this can be offset by a discussion of the past.
You will be able to see that Minami's argument is not wrong.
The fact that you can't act on the opposite s*x you love just because you've never done it before is just a negative factor.
It's better for you to give up early for fear of failure.
There is such a story, but of course Minami would never think of such a thing.
I remember there was a character who liked homemade bento boxes as a strategy target.
That's the criterion according to the game brain.
Fortunately, Masaru and Midori are headed to the zoo and there is no difference between them, even if you take your lunch with you.
What's more.
That's not true!
In spite of the obvious, Katsura was motivated by South's provocation.
"So why don't you try it?
Let's do it!
Seeing his enthusiasm, Minami, who was having a little fun teasing Katsu, decided to give him a little push.
"Huh? My favorite food?
Yes, I hadn't heard of it before.
All relatives sit together.
The members were close in age.
The table was close to the dining table, as Minami, Shou and Midori were also close in age.
The fact that Minami, who usually eats quietly, asked Midori a question was surprising to her, or perhaps she blinked her eyes a few times and thought about it.
"Hmmm, omelet?
"Yes, that's a sad reaction to hear it from Minami.
No, I was just wondering.
A whim is just a whim, so much for caring for a boy with big ears.
I'm not going to get into any more trouble, so Minami quickly diverted his attention away from the subject and dealt with Midori, who was involved with hey hey hey.
It's a good thing that you have a good chance of winning, and you regret early on that Midori was so happy that she immediately brought up the subject.
It's a good thing that you're not going to be able to get your hands on any more than a memory of a future boy who's going to be rejected because he thought he'd fail anyway, and that's what he did.
Thank you.
I was rewarded with a thank you.
"Huh?
She said her lunch was delicious.
At first I wondered what he was talking about.
From Minami's point of view, I had completely forgotten about it.
I didn't expect him to come all the way to report my rejection, so I had completely forgotten about it.
"Wow, it worked!
I guess that's why I urged him to go on.
From there, Katsu happily recounted the details of what happened at the zoo like a child.
And if he had succeeded once, it was inevitable that he would ask again.
It's a good thing that the boy's eyes were shining, because he was fed up with the fact that he had to listen to a younger man's love story, and for a moment he thought he would refuse, but then he saw the boy's eyes shine and asked for help.
It was a mistake, and the South never thought it would be regretted.
Another side End
You've been a pretty good guy.
It's amazing that a leader can call me a good person after hearing this story, that I am.
Tired of talking, she takes a short break and orders a juice, then turns to me while sipping it and saying, "No, I've heard it all before, you're the older sister who was kind enough to help, right?
"No, just from what I've heard, you're the older sister who helped out out of kindness, right?
It's also called little meddling, that it's a big deal. I was just on your side, that I was.
"As the leader imagines, that is, the problem arose afterwards, that is, but I'll summarize it in three lines at ......, that is, because I'm too lazy to talk about it.
I'll only tell you what I can tell you.
I could see Minami's intention to get him to do something about it.
Behind that, I could also see that she didn't want to talk any more if she could.
When I nodded my head and said it was okay to go ahead, Minami was slightly relieved and thought for a moment.
Weirdly enough, it worked out well and Sheng started dating.
I fell in love with Katsu while I was encouraging him.
Midori decided to study abroad and Masaru was dumped.
"That's all you need to know, it's just the end of my youth.
I asked him if there was more to Minami's slightly joking explanation, and he didn't say that there was.
And so far, I still haven't heard how Katsu got to be in such a state.
"South
It's going to be a serious story, but it looks like there's more to it than that from my point of view.
To hide a lie, the rule is to hide the 10% lie within the 90% truth.
But my gut tells me otherwise.
Leaving Katsu in that situation is a matter of life and death, so we have to pursue the matter.
"What happened?
I had a bad feeling at this stage.
To pursue it further would be tantamount to stepping into the relationship between Minami and Masaru.
It's understandable that Minami would choose to remain silent.
Above all, I understand that if you step in any further, there is no turning back.
He scratches the back of his head and wonders if he should take any more steps or not, but I say no, if I'm going to let it go.
Knowing that, I take a step.
So I'll just play one card.
"Was it because of Katsura's parents?
!
Minami's reaction to those words was extraordinary.
You'll be able to find out what you know," she said, glaring at me like I was an enemy, and I just told her to calm down and explain.
I'll be able to see your resume. That's when I saw the guardian section.
The card you cut was a critical hit.
For a moment, the eyes of the South were so sharp that you might have thought they were swords, but when I told you why I knew, I became weak and South gave up.
...... That was an unfortunate accident. It was just bad timing, that it was.
Do you tell yourself that you don't have a choice, or is there another meaning?
I'm not going to be able to tell you what I know.
It started with Midori going abroad to study, and she dumped Katsu because she couldn't have a long-distance relationship. Katsu herself had accepted that fact, that she had accepted it. The shock of heartbreak was there, that it was, but it was within the range of recovery. Time should have healed that wound. However, misfortunes do occur at the same time, that they do.
It was a single accident.
There was only his father's name on Katsura's resume.
At first I thought he only wrote his father's name, but in the "Family Structure" section, he had to write his mother's name as well.
I asked Masaru about this when I joined the company.
At that time, Masaru said, "My mother is .
My mother is ......
He looked like he was having a hard time saying something.
I thought there was something going on, so I didn't pursue it at that time and never asked again.
Katsu's mother was having an affair, that she was. Even before we were married, that it was before. I had a good handle on it, that I did, but after Midori went abroad to study, that I finally found out. I was in such trouble at the time that I even had a DNA test done on Masaru, that I was in trouble. The result was the worst. Masaru was not related to his father, that he was a stranger.
The tone of voice was not a joke, that it was, but an expression of Minami's desire to distract herself from the situation.
"It's because Katsumi's father couldn't stand that fact, that he could not. When he found out that the son he was raising was a stranger's child, he was furious and hit not only his mother, but also Katsu, that he was furious. That's why Masaru was so devastated.
I could only listen to the heavy talk that made me wonder which daytime drama I was on.
Katsu's house was on the verge of falling apart. Even so, misfortunes are bound to happen. If only Katsu's mother had protected him, I'm sure Katsu wouldn't have been in the same situation.
I have to pause to talk, holding the glass in my hands as if reminiscing about the past, Minami looks at the ice in the glass, not making eye contact with me.
"Katsu's mother ran away, that she did, leaving Katsu behind. Abandoning her flesh and blood son. Her relatives on her mother's side looked for her, that they did, but they couldn't find her. They don't even know where he is now, that they don't know where he is. All that's left is a father and his child who are not blood relatives.
It's impossible to imagine how Masaru feels after losing her reliable presence all at once.
The only thing I can do is to feel sorry for him.
It was decided at a relative's meeting that his father would raise him until he came of age, but he did the bare minimum, that he did. He threw himself into his work and rarely came home, that he did.
The environment is quite unfavorable for Katsu in the prime of adolescence.
I was in love with Masaru, and I was desperately trying to think of a way to help him in his weakness.
"Did you take that stand to make them think there was a need?
For Minami, who was a high school student at the time, this action could only be described as a desperate measure.
He tried to stabilize Katsu's mind by making her dependent on him.
She didn't make him lean on her, but supported him by leaning on her.
Fortunately, Minami's actions were rewarded.
Masaru's good behavior made a good impression on his relatives, which helped.
To Masaru's father, Masaru was the symbol of betrayal, but in a sense, it didn't matter to his relatives, who were someone else's problem.
The fact that Minami's parents were friendly to Katsura may have helped to solidify Minami's plan.
Well, I've told you what I can tell you, that I have. So what is the leader going to do for us, that he is?
The eyes of the south, which had been doing that for years, would pierce me.
Word of the Day
Act rashly, desist.
But if you are determined to proceed.
Entering a Company From Another World!?
異世界からの企業進出！？転職からの成り上がり録『祝1億PV突破！！』　
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/entering-a-company-from-another-world/
Action Adventure Comedy Ecchi Fantasy Harem Romance Shounen
Adapted to Manga Angels Average-looking Protagonist Beautiful Female Lead Childcare Demon Lord Demons Dungeons Elves Fallen Angels Fantasy World Game Elements Human-Nonhuman Relationship Level System Male Protagonist Modern Day Monsters Older Love Interests Polygamy Pregnancy R-15 Summoned Hero Transported to Another World Vampires Weak to Strong
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n1881dn/
七士七海