第75話 バカップルの成長
横浜で行われる校外学習を前にして、遠足気分で浮き立つ高校二年生。
班決めを行い、行き先を決め、いよいよ当日を待つのみ。
学校側の目的通り、クラスメイトの輪は既に広がりを見せ、新学期当初と比べれば数段賑やかな教室が五月の燦々とした太陽に照らされていた。
「えー、来週から定期試験が始まる。くれぐれも赤点など取らないように各自勉強するように」
じゃないと俺が怒られる、と本音が漏れている竹内先生の気だるげな声。
そんなやる気のないホームルームとは裏腹に、教室の雰囲気は幾分か引き締まったように思えた。
恐らくそれは、気のせいではないのだろう。
校外学習の前に控える中間テスト。
新学年初めての定期試験は出題方式や問題傾向が一切わからず、試験勉強は困難を極めるのだ。
それ故に多くの生徒は早めに勉強を始め、膨大な試験範囲を一つ一つ確認していく。
ホームルームが終わり、早速対策ノートを開いた朝陽もまた、最初の試験に向けて普段より力を入れて勉強をしていた。
「なあ、朝陽。今日の放課後空いてる?」
「見ての通り、勉強するから遊びは断る」
どうせ、ファミレスかゲーセンに行こうという話だろう。
そう思って、後ろの席の千昭が話しかけて来たのを朝陽は目を向けずにあしらったのだが。
「勉強教えてほしいんだけど......ダメか?」
勉強、という言葉が聞こえ、朝陽は耳を疑った。
聞き間違いかと後ろを振り向くと、両手を合わせたお願いポーズをする千昭が申し訳なそうな表情を浮かべていた。
「毎度のことで悪いんだけど、今回の範囲結構難しくてさ。去年、サボってたツケが回ってきたというか......」
「......千昭が試験一週間前から勉強だと」
「注目するとこそこ!?」
「だって、いつもお前が勉強始めるの直前じゃん」
「今年からはそうもいかなくなったってわけよ。ほら、一応月初めくらいからまとめノート作ってるし」
千昭はカバンから複数のノートを取り出し、朝陽に差し出す。
表紙には各教科の名前、内容は言葉通り授業のまとめ。
意外にも綺麗な字で要点をしっかりと押さえているそれは、朝陽の対策ノートとよく似ていた。
「朝陽のマネてみた」
どうやら、千昭は勉強に対して真摯に向き合うようになったらしい。
今までなら、対策ノートなど作らず朝陽に頼ろうとしていただろう。
「何か身体に悪いものでも食べたか? いや、この場合は頭に悪いものか......」
「毒されている前提かよ......俺だって自発的に勉強するわ!」
そう言って、千昭はつらつらと自分の置かれた状況の説明を始めた。
無駄に長ったらしいその話を要約すれば、大学受験に向けてバカのままだと非常にマズいということである。
「親が勉強しろってうるさくてよ。定期試験で平均下回ったら問答無用で予備校行き。そしたら日菜美との時間が......はっ、これが遠距離恋愛!?」
それは違う、と冷静なツッコミを入れながら、朝陽はふと教室を見渡した。
先程まで校外学習で盛り上がっていたクラスメイトは大分静かになり、それぞれが自分の机に向かってペンを走らせている。
朝陽が通う学校は世間から見れば進学校に分類され、生徒の大半は大学進学を志す。一年生時から予備校に通う生徒も少なくなく、千昭のように高校二年生から本格的に勉強を始める生徒も珍しくない。
他校に比べて授業スピードが速く、難易度が高いこともあって、一度置いていかれたら追いつくのが難しいのが進学校の実態だ。
「そういう訳で、よかったら勉強会を......」
「やっぱ厳しいよな......っていいの!?」
「真面目にやる気があるなら」
「真面目だし、やる気はある! よっしゃ、先生ありがとう!」
「先生はやめろ先生は」
何はともあれ、千昭が勉強に本腰を入れ始めたというのは良い傾向だ。
一友人として、いつまでも赤点ギリギリの成績を見せられると気が休まらない。
「今日の放課後だよな。図書館でいいか?」
「あそこは声出せないから微妙」
「なら教室かファミレス?」
「どっちかだな」
前者は完全下校時間という時間制限ありだが、人は少なめで勉強会の環境としては良い。
後者は実質時間無制限だが、集中して勉強をしたい場合は疑問が残る。
さてどうしようかと朝陽が悩んでいると、千昭が今日初めてニヤリと笑った。
「どこで勉強するかはあの二人に決めてもらおうぜ」
「......あの二人?」
「ほら、あそこ」
千昭に促されて視線を向けると、廊下側の席の日菜美がいつの間にか窓側、冬華の席へと移動していた。
そして、何やら言葉を交わした後に、二人は朝陽たちの方へと近づいて来る。
「ふゆちゃんオッケーだって!」
「こっちもオッケーもらったぜ」
イエーイとハイタッチするバカップルを前に、朝陽と冬華は目を合わせて首を捻る。
「日菜美に何て言われた?」
「二年生から本気を出すから勉強を教えてほしいと」
「遠距離恋愛が何とか言ってた?」
「言ってましたね」
恐らく、日菜美も千昭と同じ理由で勉強をする気になったのだろう。
そして、冬華もまた、朝陽と同じくテスト対策をお願いされた。
「またこの四人ですね」
そう呟いた冬華は小さく笑って、千昭と日菜美の会話に参加した。
教室かファミレスか、二択から選んでほしいという話だ。
一方で朝陽は、自分で作った対策ノートをペラペラとめくる。
(確か、苦戦している問題あったよな......)
自力ではわからない範囲をいくつかピックアップする。
その問題の数だけ、学年一位の才女に教えてもらえるはずだ。
そう自分に言い聞かせて、朝陽はピンク色のノートを見返した。
Ch 75
High school sophomores were getting in the mood for their school trip to Yokohama.
After deciding on the group and destination, all they had to do was wait for the day of the event.
As the school had intended, the students felt much closer than before, and the classrooms were much more lively than they had been at the beginning of the new school year, illuminated by the brilliant sun.
"Exams start next week. Make sure you study hard so that you don't get any red marks."
Takeuchi-sensei's languid voice leaked his true intentions, "Otherwise, they'll get mad at me."
Despite the uninspiring homeroom, the atmosphere in the classroom seemed to have somewhat tightened up.
Perhaps it wasn't just an imagination.
The midterm test was coming up before the school trip.
Studying for the first exam of the new school year could be a difficult task, as they wouldn't know any of the question schemes or question trends.
Therefore, many students would start studying early and go through the exam syllabus one by one.
After homeroom, Asahi immediately opened his preparation notebook and was also studying harder than usual for the first exam.
"Hey, Asahi. Are you free after school today?"
"As you can see, I have to study, so I'll pass."
'He was probably gonna talk about going to a diner or an arcade anyway.'
With that in mind, Asahi brushed aside Chiaki's attempt to talk to him without looking at him.
"I need you to teach me how to study, can't you?"
When he heard the word "study," Asahi couldn't believe his ears.
When he turned around to see if he misheard it, he saw Chiaki with an apologetic expression on his face, holding his hands in a begging pose.
"I'm sorry to say this, but this one was pretty difficult. I guess that's what I get for slacking off last year."
"...Chiaki is gonna study a week before the test? What?"
"...That's what you are focusing on?"
"I mean, you always start to study right before the exam."
"Well, I can't exactly do that anymore. Look, I've been making a summary notebook since the beginning of the month."
Chiaki took out several notebooks from his bag and presented them to Asahi.
On the cover was the name of each subject, and the contents were, as the title saids, the summary of lectures.
Surprisingly, it was written neatly, much like Asahi's countermeasure notes.
"I tried to copy you."
Apparently, Chiaki was beginning to take his studies more seriously.
In the past, he would have tried to rely on Asahi instead of making notes.
"Did you eat something bad? No, in this case, it would be something bad for the head..."
"You're assuming I'm poisoned...Even I can study voluntarily."
Chiaki then began to explain his situation in detail.
To summarize the long and useless story, it would be very bad if he remained stupid for the university entrance exam.
"My parents insisted that I study. If I fall below average on a regular exam, I will go to a prep school without question. Then, I'll spend less time with Hinami...and that would be a long distance relationship!"
"That's not true." Asahi said calmly as he looked around the classroom.
His classmates, who had been excited about the school trip earlier, had become much quieter, and each of them was at his or her own desk, scribbling with a pen.
The school that Asahi went to was classified as a preparatory school by the public, and most of the students aspired to be admitted to a university. There were many students who would even attend prep schools from their freshman year, and it was not uncommon for students like Chiaki to start studying earnestly in their second year of high school.
The speed of classes was faster and more challenging than other schools, and it was difficult for students to catch up once they were left behind.
"That's why I'd like to invite you to a study session..."
"I guess not... Wait, it's all good?!?"
"If you're serious about it."
"I'm serious and I'm willing! All right, thank you, teacher!"
"Stop that."
At any rate, the fact that Chiaki was starting to get serious about his studies was a good trend.
As his friend, Asahi didn't feel comfortable if he was forever being shown grades that were on the edge of failing.
"It's after school today, right? Is the library good?"
"I can't speak loud there, so no."
"So, classroom or diner?""
"It's one or the other."
The former had a time limit since the school would close early, but there were fewer people, making it a good environment for studying.
The latter was practically unlimited in time, but was questionable if you wanted to concentrate on your studies.
As Asahi was wondering what to do now, Chiaki grinned for the first time today.
"Let's let them decide where to study."
"...Them?"
"Look, there."
At Chiaki's urging, Asahi looked over and saw that Hinami, who was seated in the middle, had somehow moved to the window side, to Fuyuka's seat.
After exchanging a few words, they came closer to Asahi and Chiaki.
"Fuyu-chan says it's all good."
"This one, too."
In front of the lively lovebirds, Asahi and Fuyuka looked at each other and tilted their heads.
"What did Hinami say to you?"
"She said she was going to study seriously, so she wanted me to teach her."
"Did she say something about long-distance relationship?"
"She did."
Hinami was perhaps motivated to study for the same reason as Chiaki.
And Fuyuka was also asked to help them study, just like Asahi.
"It's the four of us again."
Muttering this, Fuyuka gave a small laugh and joined the conversation between Chiaki and Hinami.
They were talking about choosing between two options: classroom or diner.
Meanwhile, Asahi flipped through the notes he had made.
'As I recall, there was a problem I was struggling with...'
Picking up a few areas that you couldn't figure out on your own.
As many problems as there were, the most brilliant girl in the grade would be able to teach him.
That was what he told himself, and Asahi looked back at the pink notebook.
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