第9話 バカップル
想定通り、勉強会を最後に朝陽と冬華が会話をしたり、関わりを持つことは一切なかった。
何度か姿を見かけた際には相変わらず人を寄せ付けない空気を身に纏っていて、氷の令嬢の健在ぶりを匂わせる噂を何度も耳にした。
その度にお腹の音を恥じらう姿や穏やかに柔らかく微笑む姿が思い出されて不思議な気持ちになるが、だからといって何かが変わるわけではない。
ほんの少し些細な変化があったとすれば、マンションで顔を合わせた時に小さく会釈をされるようになったくらいか。
結局は赤の他人のまま、一週間と少しが流れるように過ぎていった。
「朝陽ってこんなに頭良かったっけ」
「......少なくともお前よりは」
「それは自明だろ。万年赤点ギリギリの俺と比べるな」
四日間に及ぶ地獄の定期テストを乗り越えた後、暫しの解放感に活気づいた学生達は答案返却日を迎えて再び顔の色を曇らせた。
数人は周りと対照的に明るくはしゃいでいるが、その全員のテストの点数が良かったわけではない。寧ろ、現実――つまりは成績表を直視することを止めた人こそ多く見られる。
そして、千昭もまた例に漏れず、凄惨な成績表を隠すことなく両手で広げて呑気に笑っていた。
「いやでも本当、二十位台は凄いと思うぜ。成績優秀者として張り出されるレベルじゃん。何か特別な勉強とかしたのか?」
「あー......まあ、そんなところかな」
「何だその曖昧な返事。俺にも教えろよ高得点の秘訣」
「......誰かに教えてもらう、とか」
二人は数少ない気心知れた友人であり、何だかんだ言っても一緒にいるのは居心地がいい。
見間違いようもなく、買い物かご片手に店内を歩いているのは氷の令嬢その人だった。
Ch 9
As expected, no conversation or interaction happened between Asahi and Fuyuka after the study session.
When I saw her a few times, she still had that cold atmosphere around her, and heard many rumors that indicated that the "Ice Lady" was still alive and well.
And every time I do, I feel strange as I recall her embarrassment about her stomach and her gentle, soft smile, but still, that didn't mean something would change.
If there was a slight change, it was that she started to make small bows to me when I met her at the apartment.
In the end, we remained as strangers, a week and a bit passed like clockwork.
"I didn't know you were this smart, Asahi."
"...At the very least, more than you."
"That's obvious. Don't compare someone who's always on the edge of failing to you."
After four days of hellish tests, the students, who had been energized by a sense of release, once again turned pale when the day came to check their marks.
A few of them were cheerful and excited in contrast to the surroundings, however not all of them had good scores. In fact, many of them had stopped looking at reality, or rather their marks.
And Chiaki, as usual, was not hiding his horrible score, but was instead spreading it out in his hands and smiling cheerfully.
"But really, I think the 20th place is great. That's the level of being an honor student. Did you do any special studying or anything?"
"...Well, something along those lines."
"What's with that vague reply? Why don't you tell me the secret of those scores?"
"...Get someone to teach you or something."
They are still two of the few good friends I have, and I feel comfortable with them, no matter what.
There was no mistaking it, it was the Ice Lady herself, walking through the store with a shopping cart in her hand.
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