第71話 からかい上手の氷室さん
高校二年生としての生活が始まってから一週間。
教室全体でまだ一定の距離感があり、各々が少人数のグループを作って様子を伺う。
そのほとんどは部活仲間だったり、去年のクラスメイトだったり。
新しい環境の中で、知り合い同士集まる流れは当然と言えよう。
朝陽もその例に漏れず、仲の良い千昭と行動を共にしていた。
席順が前後だった事も幸いし、高一と変わらない日常を過ごす毎日。
正確には、高一の三学期と同じような日常だ。
「はいっ、ちーくん。あーん」
「あーん......おおっ、めちゃくちゃおいしいな」
「でしょー! 今日は上手に作れたんだー!」
千昭とイチャイチャする日菜美は相変わらず。
そして、教室でお弁当を囲む輪には、冬華が当然のように加わっていた。
「朝陽くん、このお弁当どうでしょう?」
「どうと言われても......普通においしそうだな」
当り障りのない答え方をしたはずが、冬華が嬉しそうな顔をする。
「実はこれ、私の手作りなんですよ」
「マジで? 家政婦さんがいつも作ってくれるんじゃ......」
「誰かさんに口うるさく言われましたから。自分でも作れるようになろうと思って」
「なっ......俺は冬華の体調を心配して......」
「冗談ですよ冗談。朝陽くんの気遣いは伝わってます」
ふふっ、と冬華が柔らかく笑う。
春休みが明けてから、何となく距離が近くなったと感じるのは気のせいだろうか。
今のやり取りのように、ふとした所作に小さな変化があるような。
「まだ朝陽くんには遠く及びませんが......ほら、この玉子焼きはとても上手に出来たんです」
「本当だ。綺麗に巻けてるし、形も崩れてない」
「見た目だけじゃなくて、味も自信作なんですよ?」
そう言って、冬華は丁寧な箸遣いで玉子焼きを掴む。
そのまま、朝陽の口元に手を伸ばし。
「どうぞ」
朝陽に向けられるカラメル色の無垢な瞳。
流石にこれは、と戸惑う朝陽が思わず目を逸らすと。
(あいつら......)
ニヤニヤとこちらに目を向ける、バカップルが目には入った。
お前らの影響だぞ、と心の中で悪態を付いても仕方がない。
迷いに迷ったあげく、朝陽はゆっくりと口を開いて。
「あーん......なんちゃって」
「......は?」
「相葉さんの真似をしてみましたが、やっぱり恥ずかしいですね」
どうやらこれも、冬華なりの冗談だったらしい。
えへへ、と照れ笑いを浮かべた冬華は玉子焼きをお弁当箱の蓋に置いた。
「改めて、味見してください」
促されて冬華お手製の玉子焼きを口に入れると、ふんわりとした食感に優しい甘さが広がる。
「......おいしい」
一言感想を呟くと、冬華はまた一つ笑顔を咲かせた
最近はこうやってからかってきたり、なんちゃってなどと言ってみたり、本当によく笑うようになって――やはり距離が幾分か近いように思える。
ただ、それもこれも、あくまで友達として。
仲の良い友人、という距離間である事は変わっていない。
だからこそ、水族館での思い出は甘い幻想のようで。
最後の一歩を踏み出せない朝陽にとっては悩ましい日々が続いていた。
「イチャイチャは終わったか?」
「......それはこっちのセリフだ」
いつの間にか日菜美と離れた千昭が、朝陽にだけ聞こえる声で小さく囁く。
「注目浴びてますぜ、お兄さん」
その言葉の意味はわざわざ確認する必要もない。
お昼休みこそ三学期の流れで集まっているが、休み時間や放課後は基本、冬華は別の誰かと一緒に居る。
その姿を眺めていれば、氷室冬華と仲良くなりたいという気持ちが伝わるものだ。
背中に集まる視線もそういう事だと理解が出来る。
お昼ご飯を一緒に食べたい、そう思っているのだろう。
ただ、これは冬華の希望なのでどうすることもできない。
試しに一度、他の友達と食べないのかと聞いてみた時。
「最近、あまり話せていないので、せめてお昼ご飯は一緒に......」
そう、少し寂し気に言われたら断れないに決まっている。
時々、チクチクと刺さる見えない棘を迷惑だなと思いながら、朝陽はそっと小さくため息をついた。
「言うまでもなく、氷室さんは大人気だ」
「......知ってる」
「後ろから刺されないようにな」
何の忠告だよ、とツッコむ前に千昭が笑って話を変えた。
というより、日菜美がヒソヒソ話に興味を持ったので変えざるを得なかったようだ。
「なになにー、二人で何話してるの?」
「新学年早々、人気者は大変だなって話」
「ほー? つまりは私のことだね」
「......そうそう」
「朝陽、絶対思ってないでしょ!」
軽妙な掛け合いに、ケラケラと笑う三人と頬を膨らませる日菜美。
「分かってますー、人気者と言えばふゆちゃんでしょ」
「わ、私はそんな......」
「いやいやー、男女問わずみんな目をハートにしてるんだから」
さっきの仕返しなのか、日菜美は朝陽の方をじっと見る。
その視線を無視して避ければ、今度は冬華と目が合った。
無言で「そうなのですか?」と聞かれてる気がする。
その可愛らしさに目がハートになりそうで、何を言えばいいか対応に困ってしまう。
そんな朝陽を救ったのは、教室に響いた猫なで声だった。
「龍馬ー! もうミーティング終わったの?」
「うん、今日はビデオ見るだけだったから」
「じゃあ一緒に昼ご飯食べよ? 私、龍馬のこと待ってたの!」
声がする方に振り返ってまず見て取れたのは、背の高い爽やかイケメン――山田龍馬の姿。
部活の集まりが終わり、教室に戻って来た瞬間に注目が集まるのは流石の人気度といったところか。
千昭の言う通り、人気者は大変なのだろう。
早くも龍馬は女子に取り囲まれ、その中心に猫なで声の主はいた。
着崩した制服に派手めのメイク、そして何より目立つ金色の髪。
(あいつは確か......)
朝陽が思考を巡らせる前に、偶然にも龍馬と目が合った。
人の好い笑みを向けられ、朝陽も軽い会釈で応じる。
そして、龍馬の視線が少しだけ横にズレた。
その瞬間、一瞬だけ表情が暗くなったような。
龍馬はすぐに笑顔に戻り、今度は控えめに手を振る。
手を振り返したのは、隣に座っている冬華だった。
「山田と仲いいんだな」
朝陽の口から無意識に、そんな言葉が飛び出した。
「そうですね。趣味が似ているので、話していて楽しいです」
質問に対する冬華の答えは至って普通だったが、やはりモヤモヤと気持ち悪い感情が渦巻く。
そんな朝陽を千昭と日菜美は生暖かい目で見守っていた。
そして、もう一人。
金髪の女子生徒も、横目で朝陽をじっと見つめていた。
Ch 71
A week had passed since he started his life as a sophomore in high school.
The class was still acting reserved to each other, but some had formed small groups.
Most of the students who formed groups were either clubmates or classmates from last year.
In a new environment, it was natural for people who knew each other to stick with each other.
Asahi was no exception, and was with his good friend Chiaki.
Fortunately, they were seated in the same order as last year, and their daily lives were all the same.
To be exact, it was the same routine as the third semester of freshman.
"Here, Chi-kun! Ahn~!"
"Ahn~ Oh! That's super good!"
"I know, right!? I made it pretty well today!"
Chiaki and Hinami were flirting, as usual.
And in the circle inside the classroom, Fuyuka had naturally joined everyone.
"What do you think about this bento, Asahi-kun?"
"What do I think...? It looks pretty good, I'd say."
Asahi answered the question with a bland reply, but Fuyuka looked pleased.
"Actually, I made this myself."
"Seriously? I thought your housekeeper always made it for..."
"Since, I was nagged by a certain someone. I wanted to be able to make it myself."
"Wha- I was just worried about your health..."
"I'm just kidding. I can feel your concern, Asahi-kun."
Fuyuka softly laughed.
Asahi wondered if it was just his imagination that the distance between them had somehow become closer ever since spring break.
Like the exchange they just had, there was a slight change in the way she suddenly behaved.
"I'm still not as good as you, Asahi-kun. But...look, this omelet turned out very well."
"Right. It's curled nicely, and it's not out of shape."
"It not only looks great, but it also tastes great."
With that, Fuyuka grabbed an omelet with chopsticks.
And, she reached for Asahi's mouth.
"Here you go."
Asahi saw her innocent caramel eyes.
He was immediately confused and looked away.
'Those two...'
Asahi saw the lovebirds grinning and looking at him.
He couldn't help but swear in his heart "This is because of you guys' influence."
After some hesitation, Asahi slowly opened his mouth.
"Ahn... just kidding!"
"...What?"
"I tried to imitate Aiba-san, but it was still embarrassing."
Apparently, this was just another one of Fuyuka's jokes.
With a shy smile, Fuyuka placed the omelet on the lid of his lunch box.
"Starting again, please taste it."
When prompted, Asahi put Fuyuka's homemade omelet in his mouth, and its soft texture and gentle sweetness spread.
"...Delicious."
After muttering a few thoughts, Fuyuka's smile blossomed once more
Lately, she had been teasing him like this, saying things like "Just kidding!" and laughing really often - it seemed like they were now somewhat closer.
However, this was just as a friend.
The distance between them, as good friends, had not changed.
That was why his memories of the event that happened in the aquarium were like a sweet fantasy.
The days continued to be troubling for Asahi, who could not take a step forward.
"Are you done flirting?"
"...That's my line."
Chiaki, who had somehow separated from Hinami, whispered quietly in a voice that only Asahi could hear.
"You're getting a lot of attention there, pal."
Asahi didn't bother checking the meaning of those words.
At lunchtime, they gathered together as in the third semester, but during breaks and after school, Fuyuka was usually with someone else.
If one were to look at her, they would want to be friends immediately with the individual named Himuro Fuyuka.
Therefore, Asahi could understand why people were looking at his back.
They wanted her to have lunch with them , which was what they were probably thinking.
However, this was Fuyuka's wish and there was nothing he could do about it.
Once he tried asking her if she could eat with other people.
"I haven't been able to talk to you much lately, so at least have lunch with me..."
She said so with a hint of sadness in her words.
Thinking that the invisible thorns that pricked him from time to time were annoying, Asahi softly let out a small sigh.
"Needless to say, Himuro-san is very popular."
"...I know."
"Try not to get stabbed in the back."
Chiaki laughed and changed the subject before Asahi could ask him what he was talking about.
Rather, he had to change it because Hinami was interested in eavesdropping.
"What's this? What are you two talking about?"
"Talking about how tough being popular at the start of a new school year is."
"Hoh? So, you're talking about me?"
"...Yeah, yeah."
"Asahi! You definitely don't think that, do you?"
The three of them giggled and Hinami's cheeks puffed up at the lighthearted banter.
"Hmph. I know, Fuyu-chan is the popular one."
"I- I'm not really..."
"No, no. Everyone, men and women alike, have hearts in their eyes"
Perhaps it was payback for earlier, but Hinami stared at Asahi.
Asahi ignored her gaze and avoided it, but this time his eyes met Fuyuka's.
As he looked at Fuyuka, he felt like he was being asked "Is that so?"
The cuteness of it almost spawned a heart in his eyes, and he had a hard time knowing what to say in response.
What saved Asahi was a catcall that echoed through the classroom.
"Ryoma! Is the meeting over already?"
"Yeah, we were just watching videos today."
"Let's have lunch together. I've been waiting for you, Ryoma!"
The first thing Asahi saw when he turned toward the voice was a tall, fresh-looking man named Yamada Ryoma.
The moment he came back to the classroom after the club activity meeting, he became the center of attention.
Chiaki was right, it must be hard to be popular.
Ryoma was already surrounded by girls, and the owner of these catcalls was the center of it all.
Her stylish school uniform, flashy make-up, and most noticeably, her golden hair.
'I believe that's...'
Before Asahi could put his thoughts together, he happened to lock eyes with Ryoma.
He smiled, and Asahi responded with a light bow.
Then Ryoma's gaze shifted slightly to the side.
At that moment, his expression seemed to darken for a moment.
Ryoma quickly returned to smiling and this time waved modestly.
It was Fuyuka, sitting next to Asahi, who waved back.
"You're close with Yamada?"
These words came out of Asahi's mouth unconsciously.
"I suppose. We have similar hobbies, so it's fun talking to him."
Fuyuka's answer to his question was quite normal, but he still felt bewildered and uncomfortable.
Chiaki and Hinami looked at Asahi with warm eyes.
And another person.
The blonde-haired schoolgirl was also staring sideways at Asahi.
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