第97話 告白
花火大会の会場を離れ、薄暗いわき道を歩き、ゆるやかな勾配を登る。しばらくすれば、開けた場所に着いた。
知る人ぞ知る穴場スポットだが、見たところ周りに人はいない。
老朽化したベンチに腰掛け、木々の間から夜空を見上げる。
すでに花火は打ち上がっていた。
轟音を置き去りにして、煌びやかな火花が舞い散る。
赤青黄色、緑に橙、紫やピンクまで。漆黒の海に、極彩色の花々が咲いていた。
「綺麗だな」
月並みな感想に笑い合う。
星の光に負けず劣らず、一瞬の輝きが瞳に焼き付いて離れない。
そう、冬華の横顔を見て思った。
「不思議な気分ですね」
ふと冬華が口を開く。
首を傾げると、隣に小さな微笑みが浮かんだ。
「朝陽くんと二人で、夏を楽しんでいることです」
今から一年前、冬華から向けられた表情は真逆だった。
突き放すような冷たい視線が、凍てついた心を分厚い壁で覆っていた。
誰に対しても極端に距離を取り、必要以上の会話はせず、表情はいつも真顔のまま変わらない、氷の様に冷たいお嬢様。
「出会った頃とは大違いだもんな」
「それは......あまり思い出さないでもらえると助かります」
「いいや、絶対忘れないね」
「ダメです、記憶から消してください」
忘れられるはずがない。
この少女と紡いだ、氷を巡る物語を。
それから二人は、思い出話に花を咲かせた。
きっかけは、冬華が高熱で倒れてから。
助けの手を拒む少女を見捨てられず、朝陽は親切を押し通して看病をした。
その後、冬華はお礼として勉強会を開くことに。
成り行きで夜ご飯を一緒に食べ、そこで二人の関係は途絶える、はずだった。
球技大会を前に、冬華は手首に怪我を負ってしまう。
一人暮らしで利き腕が使えない状況が、いかに厳しいか想像にたやすい。
例によって朝陽はお節介を焼いた。
怪我が治るまでの間、代わりに夕飯を作ろうかと提案したのだ。
意外にも、冬華はそれを了承した。
二人の関係は奇妙な縁で続いていく。
大きな変化があったのは、球技大会の後だった。
勉強を教えてもらいたい朝陽、料理を教えてもらいたい冬華。
双方の利害が一致した結果、二人は相互扶助関係を結ぶことになる。
一緒に料理を作り、一緒に勉強をして、時には一緒に外出した。
クリスマス、お正月、遊園地。
いつだって隣には冬華がいた。
そして、その日は天気が荒れていた
冬華は学校を欠席し、冷たい雪が絶え間なく降りそそぐ。
彼女の身に何かが起こったのは明らかだった。
だからもう一度、朝陽は温かな手のひらを伸ばした。
言葉を交わすことなく、冬華はそれを受け入れる。
語られたのは、辛く苦しい過去。
冬華は言った。
また誰かが離れていくのは嫌。
朝陽は言った。
俺は離れない。
かくして氷の令嬢は姿を消した。
互いを想う気持ちに名前がついてからは、すべてが新しかった。
決して平坦な道ではなかった。
随分と遠回りをした。
ベンチに添えられた手の指先が触れ合う。
一度は離れ、また触れた。
やがては冬華の小さな手を、朝陽の大きな手のひらが覆う。
「私は臆病だから、人付き合いを避けていました。そしたら朝陽くんが手を差し伸べてくれて。私はその手を受け入れて、たくさん友達ができて。凄く、すごーく嬉しかった」
彩り豊かな夜の空に、一つ一つと言葉が消える。
「だから怖かった。また離れていくことが。関係が壊れてしまうのが、どうしようもなく怖かった」
遠くを見る瞳はなにを思い描いているのだろうか。
「でも、朝陽くんは離れないって言ってくれましたから」
切なげな表情が一変し、晴れやかな笑顔が朝陽の胸を熱くした。
「俺はずっと傍にいるよ。今も、これからも。冬華の隣にいたいって、そう思ってる」
どこかの誰かが言った。
告白は確認作業だと。
二人で過ごした日々を思い返し、これからの日々を想像する。
その未来に相手がいるかどうか。
火神朝陽には氷室冬華が。
お互いの気持ちは気付いている。
そうまでしないと怖いのだ。
友達のままでいられたらどんなに楽か。
今の関係を続けるだけでも十分かもしれない。
それでもその先を望んでしまう。
友達以上でありたいと、心が叫んで仕方ない。
その想いを人は恋と呼び、恋は人を盲目にする。
それでも目を離さなかった一握りの人間が幸せを掴み取る。
「冬華」「朝陽くん」
愛しい名前を呼ぶ声が重なった。
二人の視線が交差して、思わず笑ってしまう。
花火の音は聞こえない。
脈を打つ心音で頭がいっぱいだ。
今まで言えなかった、言いたかった言葉がある。
「好きだ」
二人だけの世界で愛が紡がれる。
「俺と付き合ってほしい」
朝陽は真っ直ぐ視線を注ぐ。
冬華もまた見つめ返す。
お互いに目を逸らさなかった。
「返事は決まっているって、言いましたよね」
重なる手のひらに、もう片方の手が重なる。
「朝陽くんが好きです。大好きです。狂おしいほど、あなたが好きなんです」
その瞳が映すのは、最愛の人。
愛しくて、愛しくて、愛してやまない人。
「私と付き合ってください」
互いに返事はしなかった。
想いが通じていれば、言葉はいらなかった。
朝陽と冬華はゆっくりと距離を詰める。
この瞬間だけは、目を閉じて。
そっと唇が重なった。
「好きだよ、冬華」
「大好きです、朝陽くん」
二人はもう一度、想いを確かめるようにキスをする。
照れくさそうに笑った冬華は、世界で一番可愛いかった。
Ch 97
Leaving the riverside, they walked along a dimly lit side street and climbed a gentle slope. After a while, they arrived at an open space.
It was a spectacular spot for those who knew it, but from the looks of it, there were no people around.
Sitting on a decrepit bench, he looked up at the night sky through the trees.
The fireworks had already gone off.
Leaving a roar behind, glittering sparks danced around the night sky.
Red, blue, yellow, green, orange, purple, and even pink. The jet-black sea was filled with flowers of extreme colors.
"It's beautiful."
They laughed at each other's bland impressions.
The ephemeral glow, as bright as the starlight, was burned into their eyes and would not leave.
That was what he thought while looking at Fuyuka's profile.
"It's such a strange feeling."
Fuyuka suddenly opened her mouth.
Asahi tilted his head and a small smile appeared on the person next to him.
"That I'm enjoying summer right now with you, Asahi-kun."
A year ago, the expression on Fuyuka's face was the exact opposite.
The cold gaze that seemed to shun anybody covered her frozen heart with thick layers of ice.
She always kept her distance from everyone, never spoke to anyone beyond what was necessary, and always maintained a straight face. A lady that was as cold as ice.
"There's certainly a great difference from when we first met."
"That's...it would help if you don't remind me of it so much."
"No, I'll never forget it."
"No, please erase it from your memory."
How could I forget?
The story I began with her, a story about ice.
Then the two of them reminisced.
It all started when Fuyuka collapsed with a high fever.
Unable to abandon the girl who refused his help, Asahi nursed her with his kindness.
Afterwards, Fuyuka decided to tutor him as a thank you.
It resulted in them having dinner together, and their relationship was supposed to end there.
Before the ball tournament, Fuyuka injured her wrist.
It was easy to imagine how difficult it was to live alone and not be able to use your dominant arm.
And as usual, Asahi meddled in.
He suggested that he could cook dinner for her instead while she healed from her injuries.
Surprisingly, Fuyuka agreed to it.
The relationship between the two of them continued with a mysterious connection.
The big change came after the ball tournament.
Asahi, who wanted her to mentor him in his study, and Fuyuka, who wanted to be taught how to cook.
As a result of the mutual interests of both parties, the two entered into a mutually supportive relationship.
They cooked together, studied together, and sometimes went out together.
Christmas, New Year's, amusement parks.
Fuyuka was always next to him
And the weather was rough that day.
Fuyuka was absent from school, and the cold snow fell incessantly.
It was obvious that something happened to her.
So once again, Asahi extended his warm palm.
Fuyuka accepted it without exchanging a word.
The story that was told was of a painful and difficult past.
Fuyuka said.
I don't want anybody to leave me again.
Asahi said.
I'm not going anywhere.
And thus, the "Ice Lady" disappeared.
Once we identified our feelings for each other, everything felt new.
It was not a smooth road.
We certainly took the long way.
The fingertips of the hands on the bench touched each other.
It separated again, and touched once again.
Eventually, Asahi's large palm covered Fuyuka's small hand.
"I'm a coward, so I avoided socializing. But then you reached out to me, Asahi-kun. I accepted your hand and made many friends. I'm really incredibly happy."
One by one, the words were spoken in the colorful night sky.
"That's why I was afraid. I was afraid that we would drift apart again. I was helplessly afraid that our relationship would fall apart."
He wondered what her eyes looking into the distance were thinking about.
"But you said you wouldn't go anywhere, Asahi-kun."
The sad expression on her face changed, and the radiant smile on her face made Asahi's heart rumble.
"I'll always be here for you. In the present and even in the future. I want to be next to you, that's what I think."
Somebody once said.
That a confession was a confirmation process.
He thought back to the days they spent together and imagined the days to come.
Whether or not their partner was there in the future.
Kagami Asahi had Himuro Fuyuka.
They were aware of each other's feelings.
Therefore, they had to do it.
How much easier it would be if they could remain friends.
And just continuing their current relationship might be enough.
But still they wanted to go beyond that.
They couldn't help but feel their heart screaming to be more than friends.
People called that feeling love, and love made people blind.
Still, a handful of people who kept their eyes forward would find happiness.
"Fuyuka." "Asahi-kun."
The voices calling their beloved's name overlapped.
Their gazes crossed, and both of them couldn't help but laugh.
They couldn't hear the fireworks.
Their heads were filled with the sound of their own pulsating heartbeat.
There were many words that they couldn't convey before.
"I love you."
Love was spun in the world of just two people.
"I want you to go out with me."
Asahi poured his gaze straight on.
Fuyuka also returned his gaze head on.
They didn't look away from each other.
"I told you that my answer is already decided."
The palm of one hand overlapped the palm of the other.
"I love you, Asahi-kun. I love you. I'm madly in love with you."
Her eyes reflected the person she loved the most.
A person who she genuinely loved.
"Please go out with me."
Neither of them answered.
There was no need for words, as long as their feelings were mutual.
Asahi and Fuyuka slowly closed the distance between them.
Just for this moment, they closed their eyes.
Gently, their lips met.
"I love you, Fuyuka."
"I love you too, Asahi-kun."
They kissed again, as if to confirm their feelings.
The embarrassed smile on Fuyuka's face was the cutest thing in the world.
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