261 慎重に動く時と、迅速に動く時
待ち人来ず。
なんてことはなく、むしろ待ち人は俺で、待っているのは南だ。
「食ってから話せ」
こんな時間にそんなでかいパフェのスプーンを咥えながら話すなと注意すれば、ゴクンと何かを飲み干し改めて。
「食べ終わってからでいいでござるか? アイスが溶けてしまうでござる」
食べるのかよというツッコミは呼びだした手前、仕方ないと割り切り飲み込むことで我慢し、代わりに食べ終わるまでの時間つぶしのために俺は俺でコーヒーを頼む。
店内は空いていたため、すぐに来たコーヒーをすすり、南の様子を見れば普通の女子大生が幸せそうにパフェを頬張っているようにしか見えない。
これでもうちのパーティーの司令塔。
状況に合わせて多種多様のサポート魔法を駆使し、うちのパーティーを支えてくれる屋台骨の一本。
ダンジョン内では頼りになる存在なのだが、ここまで緩んだ顔を見せられるとそうは見えないだろうな。
「ふむ、では改めて、遅いでござるよ」
「俺が待たせたのは事実だが、食うのを待ってた俺からすればその言葉は理不尽だぞおい」
時間にして三十分ほどだろうか。
最後のアイスを食べ終え、満足そうな笑顔になった南は待たせたことに対して俺に苦情を申し付けてきたが、さすがの俺もその言葉は許容できなかった。
これから大事なことを話すと言うのにと、溜息を吐きそうになった時だった。
「まぁ、いい。それで来てもらったわけだが」
「勝のことでござろう?」
パフェのスプーンをゆらゆらと揺らし、何が問題になっているかを悟っているかのように彼女は俺の返事を待たず。
「拙者だけが呼ばれればそれくらいわかるでござるよ。けどリーダーの様子を見る限り、あまり状況は良くなさそうでごるなぁ。それにしてもまぁた、勝は悩んでいるのでござるか」
過去にも同じことがあったと言うかのように南は話を進めていく。
「またって、お前は勝の状況を把握していたのか?」
「してたというのは近いでござるがすこし違うでござるなぁ。経験で半分確信していた予想みたいなものでござるよ~そこから少し考えればちょちょいのちょいでござる。大方、拙者が普通に生活するようになって手持ち無沙汰になったことに不安を覚えて、今の立場にしがみつこうとしている。本当に前と同じでござるなぁ」
予想と口にしていたが、南にとって今の状況は歓迎していないのはわかる。
それはどういった理由でなのかは見当がつかない。
だが、南の話しぶりからするといずれこうなるのがわかっていたようにも聞こえる。
「その言い方になると、だ。お前の今まで面倒だと言ってたのはやはり演技ってことになるが?」
「いや、それは素でござるよ~拙者、興味がなかったり本当にやりたくないことはやらないたちでござる。ただまぁ、必要最低限の生活能力がないと言われれば違うと言うでござるよ~」
霧のような存在。
元々掴みどころのない性格だと思ってはいたが、ある程度付き合いもあり南の性格は把握していたと思っていた。
だが、その認識を少し改める必要がある。
霧と称した今の彼女の思考の奥を垣間見、さらに見えなくなり、どういった意図があるのかがわからない。
勝を今のような状況に追い込んだのはワザとかと問えば、違うと聞こえつつ肯定しているようにも聞こえるような答えが返ってくる。
「そろそろ、限界だったんでござるよ。勝との関係も、勝自身も」
だが、彼女はその霧の奥からすっと宝箱を差し出すように俺の知りたい情報を述べてくる。
「勝はしっかりしているようで、そうじゃないでござるよ。だから今回みたいにちょっとでも自分の立場に影響が出るとぐらつく。他人に大部分を依存して、自主性がないんでござるよ。いつも、追いかけて自分で前に出ない」
「南?」
さっきまでおいしそうにパフェを頬張っていた姿は跡形もなく、寂しそうに窓の外を見る。
「まぁ、拙者も人のことは言えないでござるねぇ。拙者も同じでござるよ。拙者はただの敗者、拙者はただの負け犬でござるよ」
普段の場の雰囲気を盛り上げる彼女とはかけ離れた、観客がいなくなったサーカスの天幕のステージに一人佇む道化師のように、南は言葉を紡ぐ。
それは舞台裏で語られる話。
「別の女に憧れてた年下の男の子に恋してしまった、馬鹿な女の惨めな悪あがきでござるよ」
Another side
所沢勝と知床南という男女の出会いはただの親戚の付き合いからだった。
そこに何か特別なことがあるかと言われれば、そんなものはないと彼らは断言する。
当時南は中学生で勝は小学生。
大人同士が難しい会話をしている間、子供は暇になるというありふれた光景。
そんな最中、勝という少年は周囲の大人が立派だと称するように物静かに、ただただ両親の側にいて、文句も言わずじっと両親の話が終わるのを待っていた。
正反対に南は、親同士の会話に早々に飽きて持ってきたゲームにいそしんでいた。
互いの子供の評価は正反対。
勝は小学生だと言うのに立派だと言われ、南はゲームばかりしてと叱られる。
互いに親戚だと認識はしていたが、接点はそれ以外なかった。
歳の離れた異性ということもあったが。
南からすれば自分よりも評価されている年下の男の子ということで思春期に入っている彼女からすれば気に入らない存在だった。
勝からしても叱られ続ける南に関わりたいとは思っていなかった。
このまま行けば、絶対に関わり合いにならない二人を結びつけたのはさらにその場にいた年上の少女だった。
南よりも年上、高校生であった彼女は南からすれば、一番この場で関わりたくない存在だった。
「わ! 勝君元気かな!」
こっそりといたずらをしようとわざとらしく足を忍ばせ、親戚一同が何をするのかわかっている中で、こっそりと勝の背後に回り驚かし、その表情を見て笑顔になる少女。
その雰囲気は場を照らし、その笑顔は様々な人を笑顔にし、その人当たりの良さで彼女に対して悪感情を抱くことはない。
南は理解していた。
この感情は嫉妬、ない物強請りをしている醜い心だと。
常に彼女と比べられ続けた南は、スッとゲームから視線を上げる。
そこには、ほっと安堵の表情を見せる少年、勝の姿があった。
その勝に声をかける少女、川崎翠と勝の二人が仲がいいのは周知の事実。
勝と南が彼女に向ける感情は正反対と言っていい。
片や憧れといった憧憬を、片や無いものを持つ存在として嫉妬を。
そんな子供の感情など、周囲の大人には関係ない。
その光景を見て、南は関係ないと思いスッとゲームの世界に戻っていた。
画面の向こうには、自分が育てた存在が現実とは異なる世界を旅していた。
いつからだろうと南は思う、こんな現実に期待せずにこの画面の向こうに期待していたのは。
それが無駄なことだと理解しているというのに、期待だけは止められなかった。
「ほら! 南ちゃんも一緒に!!」
そんな異なる世界に目を向けていた彼女の視界にも明るい言葉が差し込んだ。
自身の名前を呼ばれれば当時の南はゲームを中断し。
「いえ、私は大丈夫です」
しっかりと相手の顔を見て断る。
明確な拒絶、けれど言葉を選び最低限相手が不快にならないように気を配る。
周囲の視線はせっかく翠が誘ったのにと眉をしかめ、隣に座る人と小声で会話。
「せっかく翠ちゃんが誘ってくれてるのよ。あんたも、ゲームばっかりしていないで」
実の母親からも注意を受けてしまえば、南に抗うという選択肢はなくなる。
だからこそ、南は数の暴力に流され。
「......わかりました」
「良かった!」
ため息を吐くのをこらえ、周囲の意見に流される。
この太陽のような笑顔に敗北する、いつも繰り返される光景。
いや、南だけが敗北感を味わい、翠からすれば勝負にすらなっていないだろうやり取り。
意志を貫くこともできず、ただただ周りの意見に流されこの太陽が正しいのだと自分に言い聞かせ続けた。
そんなことが繰り返される親戚の集まりに呼ばれるたびにこの光景は繰り返される。
そして月日は流れ南が高校生の時だ。
彼女も色々と学び、処世術というのを身に着けた。
学業は平均よりも高く取っていれば周囲から文句言われない。
親の言うことには逆らわない。
そうすれば自分の世界は守られる。
「やっほ! 南ちゃんお久しぶり元気にしてた?」
「お久しぶりです。翠さん」
この日も親戚の集まり、行くのは嫌であったが行かなかったら後で何か言われるのを理解していた南は体調が悪いのを隠しこの日も無難に過ごすつもりであった。
語られるのは過去の彼女。
昔は少し暗かったが、成長したと褒められる。
だが。
「翠ちゃんが一緒にいたおかげかねぇ。あんたも随分と明るくなって」
いつもこの言葉が纏わりつく。
親戚からすれば、何気ない言葉だろうが南からすればさらに頭痛がひどくなる言葉であった。
そんなことはないと声高々に否定したいが、それをする労力とリターンを天秤にかけることを覚えた南はあっさりとその気持ちを仕舞い込む。
ただでさえ今日は調子が悪いというのに、精神的にも厳しくなれば体調の悪さが顕著に感じる。
少しトイレにと席を立ち、廊下に出る。
大丈夫まだやれると、少し外の空気を吸って気分転換をしようとした時だった。
「南さん大丈夫ですか?」
閉めたはずのドアが開き、そこから小柄でも中学生に成長した勝が出てきた。
「ええ、大丈夫ですよ」
一瞬ドキリとしたが、気づかれたはずはないと南は思い笑顔でこの場を乗り切る。
「失礼します」
そう思ってたはずなのだが。
背伸びをしてすっと手が伸び、ピタリと手が南の額に添えられ。
「こっちで休みましょう」
たとえ、偽善だとしても、たとえこの少年が太陽の女性に近づきたいと願いこういった行為をしようとしたとしても。
「あ、はい」
誰にも気づかれないように手を引き心配してくれる行為に戸惑っていた。
勝は南のことを嫌っていたと彼女自身理解していたと思っていたからなおのこと不意を打たれた。
テキパキと布団を敷き、休めるようにして、体温計や水分を用意したり。
なぜ、そこまで熱心にやるのかと南の頭の中に疑問符が浮かぶ。
だが、その疑問は口にすることなく。
「ありがとう」
ただ南はお礼の言葉を口にした。
この言葉が、初めて南と勝を繋げる言葉だと南は思った。
勝は覚えていないのかもしれない。
ただ、確かにこの日南は初めて、勝という少年を意識するようになった。
そして、同時に。
「あれ? 南ちゃんどうしたの? 体調悪いの?」
「こんにちは勝君。遅れちゃってごめんね」
勝がなんで南に対してこんなに熱心に看病した理由が南には理解できた。
「それで看病してたのか~えらいぞ! さすが男の子!」
その雰囲気だけで南は察した。
儚い、男の子の恋。
少しでもかっこよく見せたいと思った男の子の努力の結果。
南の中でいつも真剣で真面目で堅物かと思った少年であった勝にもかわいらしい部分があるのだと理解した。
南とて花の女子高生。
恋の話に興味がないわけではない。
南には縁がないだろうと思っていた青春。
その様子を見て、この嫌な親戚の集まりにも少しだけ南に楽しみができた。
「それじゃ、おじさんたちに説明してくるから!」
「はい、お願いします」
一通り褒められて、親戚の集まりに顔を出しに行った翠を見送った南は。
「翠さんのこと好きなの?」
「え!?」
今思えば本当にわかりやすかった勝を、生まれて初めてからかうのであった。
今日の一言
時と場合によって、どう動くかで結果は変わる。
267 261 When Moving Carefully And Quickly
No one is waiting.
Rather, I'm the one waiting, and South is waiting.
Talk to me after you eat.
I warned him not to talk at this hour with such a big parfait spoon in his mouth, but he took a gulp and drank something down.
"Can I finish my food first? The ice cream is going to melt, that is.
I'm going to ask for a coffee instead to pass the time until I finish eating.
The store was empty, so I sipped my coffee that came quickly, and looking at the south, it looks like an ordinary college student happily munching on a parfait.
This is still the commander in chief of our party .
You can use a variety of supportive magic to suit the situation and is one of the backbone of our party.
It's a reliable presence in the dungeon, but it wouldn't look so good if it showed this much slackness.
Then again, it's late.
It's true that I made you wait, but that's an unreasonable thing for me to say as I was waiting to eat.
It took me about 30 minutes to finish the last ice cream.
After finishing the last ice cream and with a satisfied smile, Minami complained to me about making me wait, but even I couldn't tolerate her words.
I was about to let out a sigh when I was going to tell you something important.
Well, okay. I guess that's why you're here.
"Isn't it about victory?
She doesn't wait for my answer as she shakes her spoon of parfait, as if she realizes what the problem is.
I would understand if I was the only one called in, that I would. But looking at the leader, the situation doesn't look good. But still, well, you're troubled, that I'm not sure.
Minami proceeded as if to say that the same thing had happened in the past.
"Again, were you aware of Katsu's situation?
It's not quite that close, that it is, but it's a little different. It's like a prediction that I was half convinced by experience, that it's just a little bit, that it's just a little bit, that it's just a little bit. Most of them are trying to cling to their current position because they are anxious that I've come to live a normal life and am no longer handy. It's really the same as before, that it is.
I know you've been talking about expectations, but I know that this is not a welcome situation for the South.
I have no idea what the reason for that is.
But from the way Minami talks, it sounds like she knew this would happen eventually.
When it comes to the way you talk, that is. When you say it that way, you're still acting out what you've been saying about being a pain in the ass, right?
I don't do things that I'm not interested in or don't want to do, that I don't do. But if you say that I don't have the minimum standard of living skills, I'd say that's not true.
A misty existence.
I thought he was elusive to begin with, but I thought I knew the personality of the south because I knew him to some extent.
But I need to change that perception a bit.
I have a glimpse into the depths of her current thoughts, which she called the fog, and I'm even more blinded, and I don't know what her intentions are.
If you ask her if it was intentional for her to get into the situation she is in now, the answer will sound like she is affirming it while sounding different.
It's time to go to the limit, that it is. Your relationship with Katsu, and Katsu himself.
But then she comes out from behind the fog like she's holding out a treasure chest of information that I want to know.
"You seem to be on your feet, but you're not, that you are. That's why you're wobbly if your position is affected even a little bit, as it was here. He depends mostly on others and has no autonomy, that he does. Always chasing and not coming forward on your own.
"South?
There is no trace of the figure that had been deliciously munching on the parfait just a moment ago, looking out the window sadly.
Well, I can't speak for others either, that I can't. It's the same with me, that I can't speak for others either. I'm just a loser and I'm just a loser, that I am.
Like a clown standing alone on the stage of a circus tent where the audience has disappeared, far removed from her usual atmosphere, Minami spins words.
It's a story told backstage.
This is the miserable struggle of a foolish woman who fell in love with a younger boy who had a crush on another woman, that is.
Another side
A man and a woman named Tokorozawa Masaru and Shiretoko Minami met just because they were relatives.
If you ask them if there is anything special about it, they assure you that there is not.
At the time Minami was a junior high school student and Katsu was an elementary school student.
It's a commonplace scene of adults having a difficult conversation with each other while children are bored.
In the midst of all this, a boy named Masaru, quietly, as the adults around him would have it, simply stands by his parents' side, waiting for them to finish their conversation without complaint.
On the contrary, Minami had quickly become bored with the conversation between the parents and was absorbed in the game he had brought with him.
Their children's evaluations of each other are diametrically opposed.
Masaru is called respectable even though he is in elementary school, and Minami is scolded for playing games all the time.
They recognized each other as relatives, but that was the only point of contact.
It was partly because of the age difference between them.
From Minami's point of view, he was a younger boy who was more respected than she was, and she didn't like him as she was entering puberty.
I'm not sure I want to have anything to do with Minami, who is constantly scolding me.
The two, who would never get involved if this was the case, were brought together by a girl who was even older than them.
She was older than Minami, a high school student, and from Minami's point of view, she was the last person she wanted to be associated with.
Wow! How are you doing, Masaru?
The girl who deliberately sneaks around to play a prank on you, knowing what your relatives will do, and surprises you by sneaking around behind your back and smiling at your face.
Her atmosphere lights up the place, and her smile makes all sorts of people smile, and with her good-natured nature there is no ill feeling towards her.
South understood.
This emotion is jealousy, an ugly mind that is coveting.
Minami, who was constantly being compared to her, quickly raised her gaze from the game.
There was a young boy, Masaru, who showed a look of relief.
It's no secret that the girl who calls out to Katsu, Midori Kawasaki and Katsu are close friends.
You can see that the feelings that Katsu and Minami have for her are diametrically opposed.
You'll be able to see that you're not the only one who's longing for them, but also jealousy that they have something that they don't.
The emotions of a child are irrelevant to the adults around them.
Seeing this scene, Minami had returned to the game world without a care in the world.
On the other side of the screen, the being he had raised was traveling in a world different from reality.
Minami wondered how long she had been expecting the other side of this screen without expecting such a reality.
You understand that it was a waste of time, but you just couldn't stop hoping.
See! Minami-chan with you!
Even as she was looking at such a different world, a bright word came into her sight.
At the time Minami interrupted the game when her own name was called and said, "No, I'm fine.
No, I'm fine.
Look the other person square in the face and say no.
A clear refusal, but at the very least you choose your words and take care not to make the other person uncomfortable.
The people around you are frowning at Midori's invitation, and you are having a whispered conversation with the person sitting next to you.
"Midori invited me here. You too, don't just play games.
Once he received attention from his own mother as well, there was no choice but to resist South.
That's why the South is driven by violence in numbers.
"...... Okay.
"Thank God!
Stifle a sigh and be carried away by the opinions of those around you.
This sunny smile is defeated, a scene that is always repeated.
Only Minami feels defeated, and from Midori's point of view, it wouldn't even be a match.
You can't keep on telling yourself that this sun is right just because of the opinions of the people around you, without being able to follow your will.
This scene was repeated every time I was invited to a gathering of relatives.
And the time passed and it was when Minami was in high school.
She learned a lot and learned the art of living.
People won't complain about you as long as you have a higher-than-average academic score.
Do not go against your parents' wishes.
That way, your world is protected.
"Yoo-hoo! Minami-chan, long time no see, how have you been doing?
It's been a long time. Midori-san.
It's also a relative's gathering, and although I hated to go to this day, I understood that if I didn't go, I would be told something later, so I hid my poor health and intended to spend this day in peace.
The story is about her past.
She used to be a little dark, but she's been praised for growing up.
But.
Maybe it's because Midori was with me. You've grown up a lot more.
The word always haunts me.
To a relative, it may be a casual word, but to Minami, it was a word that gave her an even worse headache.
You want to loudly deny that this is not true, but Minami, who has learned to weigh the effort of doing so against the return, easily put away her feelings.
Even though you're in bad shape today, you'll feel noticeably worse when you're mentally challenged.
You get up and go out into the hallway to use the restroom.
It was time to take a breath of fresh air to refresh yourself.
Are you all right, Mr. Minami?
The door that was supposed to be closed opened, and out of it came a petite but grown-up middle schooler named Katsu.
"Yes, it's okay,
For a moment there was a thrill, but Minami thought it couldn't have been noticed and got through the moment with a smile.
Excuse me.
That's what I should have thought.
I stood up straight and reached out and put my hand on Minami's forehead.
"Come and rest.
Even if it is hypocrisy, even if this boy wishes to be close to the Master of the Sun and tries to do this kind of thing.
Oh, yes.
She was perplexed by the act of pulling back her hand and worrying about her without anyone noticing.
She was even more caught off guard because she thought she herself understood that Masaru disliked Minami.
Quickly lay out the bedding, make sure it was rested, prepare thermometers and water, and so on.
The question of why he would be so eager to do so much work came into Minami's head.
But the question remained unspoken.
Thank you.
Just a few words of thanks.
This is the first time Minami thought that these words were the words that connected Minami and Katsu.
Katsu may not remember.
It's just that this is certainly the first time that Nichinan became aware of the boy named Katsu.
And at the same time.
"Huh? What's wrong, Minami? Are you sick?
Hi, Masaru. Sorry I'm late.
It's a good thing that you're able to understand why Masaru nursed Minami so diligently.
"So you've been taking care of him...great! That's a boy!
Just from the atmosphere alone, Minami could tell.
A fleeting, boy's love.
The result of the boy's efforts to appear as cool as possible.
In Minami's mind, the boy who had always been serious, serious, and uptight, understood that even Katsu, who had always thought him to be a serious boy, had a cute side.
Minami is a flower girl.
It's not that I'm not interested in talking about love.
The adolescence that Minami thought would be unrelated to her.
Seeing that, this disgusting family gathering also gave Minami a little fun.
I'll go explain it to my uncles then!
"Yes, please.
After receiving a round of compliments, Minami saw Midori off when she went to show up at a relative's gathering.
"Do you like Midori?
"What?
Looking back, it was really easy to make fun of Katsura for the first time in my life.
Word of the Day
Depending on the time and how it works, the result will vary.
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