第61話 おあいこ?
どの部活にも所属していない朝陽は基本的に、放課後はすぐに帰宅する。
友達と談笑したり、遊びに行くときを除き、寄り道せずに帰るのが日常だ。
それは、時間を無駄に過ごすのが嫌だとか、早く帰って趣味に没頭したいとかいうわけでもなく。単純に一人の時間を好み、ベッドでだらだらしたいという至って平凡な理由から。
一人暮らしをしている以上、掃除に洗濯、料理などの家事を自分でやる必要があることも、少なからず関係している。
そんな朝陽にしては珍しく、今日は何の予定もないというのに教室に残っていた。
その目的は他でもないバレンタインデーという特別なイベントであり、氷室冬華という想い人の存在だった。
しかし、肝心の冬華が家に帰ってしまったと分かれば学校に残る理由はこれといってない。
暫くイチャイチャを続けるであろう千昭と日菜美と別れ、朝陽は一人教室を後にする。
すると、下駄箱に向かって廊下を歩く途中でふいに名前を呼ばれた。
「火神くん」
振り返ると、龍馬が人の好みを浮かべている。
その両手は、大きな紙袋が二つ引っ提げられていた。
「大変そうだな」
「大変、と言うのは失礼かもしれないけどね。まあ、見ての通りかな」
少し困ったような顔で、龍馬は両手の紙袋を持ち上げる。
その中身は恐らく全て、女子から貰ったチョコレートだろう。
どうやら学年一の人気者というのは伊達ではないらしい。
普段の様子や球技大会から十分にわかることだが、こうして明確な形として見ると再確認せざるを得ない。
「一人で食べられる量じゃないだろこれ」
「そうなんだよね、部活で過度な糖分摂取は禁止されてるし......」
「どうするんだ?」
「もちろん全部食べるよ」
「一年はかかりそうだな。そして大いに太りそうだ」
「みんな僕のために用意してくれたんだし、僕が食べるのが誠意だからね。流石に多すぎるから、家族に分けたりはするよ」
それが当然とばかりに龍馬は小さく笑う。
こういう人が出来ているところも人気の秘密か。
長身で、爽やかで、眉目秀麗で、運動神経が良くて、性格も完璧。確か勉強も得意としていて、よく頼りにされていたはずだ。
朝陽は別クラスで関わりが薄いが、龍馬がとにかく目立つので自然と人となりを知ることになる。
それはまるで、かつての氷の令嬢のようで。
この王子様のような男が冬華を好きだと言っていたのを朝陽は思い出す。
その時は冬華に対する気持ちをはぐらかし、自分には関係ないと達観していたが。
今となっては、強力な恋敵として否応がなく朝陽の前に立ち塞がる。
「そういえば、火神君は氷室さんに貰ったの?」
「......何の話だ?」
「今の話の流れでわかるでしょ」
ほら、と龍馬は大袈裟に両手を上げる。
その仕草が示すものは明らかだ。
「貰ってない」
事実を答えると、龍馬は少し驚くような表情を見せた。
そして、すぐその後に小さな小さな微笑が浮かぶ。
「じゃあ、今日のところはおあいこかな」
どうやら龍馬も冬華からチョコレートを貰っていないらしい。
朝陽の中で、自然と安堵の気持ちが芽生える。
それでも、爽やかに笑っていられる龍馬と気持ちの持ち方で大きな差があるように感じられた。
「それだけ貰えたら十分じゃないのか?」
「まさか。お腹は満たされるけど、心は満たされないさ。火神くんもわかるはずだよ」
「そんなキザったらしい話は理解できないな」
「うっ......自分でも、恥ずかしいことを言った自覚はある」
本人は恥ずかしがっているが、その容姿と性格から然したる違和感はない。
それに、言葉では否定しつつ、内心理解できるところもあった。
朝陽の場合は、満たされない心の中に、モヤモヤとした嫌な気持ちが入り込む。
龍馬は相変わらず爽やかな笑みを浮かべているが、心の中では同じような感情なのだろうか。
一つ確かに言えることは、二人の想い人が同じだということだった。
いつもより少し遅く帰宅して、まずは洗濯物を取り込む。それから一人で夕食を作り、食べて、洗い物をする。
そうして静かな時間が意味もなく過ぎていく。
カーテンの隙間から覗く外の世界はすっかり闇に覆われていた。
「やっぱ来ねえよな......」
無気力にベッドに転がりながら、朝陽はまだどこか期待していた。
しかし、この時間になってしまえば可能性はゼロに等しい。
まさか、チョコレート一つでこんなにも振り回されるとは朝陽も思っていなかった。
もしかすると、距離感が近くなったから貰えるに違いないと、どこかで自惚れていたのかもしれない。
そんな女々しい自分と痛々しい自分に板挟みにされ、朝陽は顔を深く枕に埋める。
このまま眠ってしまおうか。
そう考えたまさにその時だった。
「......まさか」
夢の世界へ逃げ込もうとした朝陽の意識が現実へと引き戻される。
そのきっかけとなったのは、静寂の中に響いた電子音。
朝陽は心を落ち着かせて、ゆっくりと玄関の前に立つ。
鍵を回して扉を開けると、小さな紙袋を両手に持った少女の姿がそこにはあった。
Ch 61
Asahi, who was not a member of any club, basically went home right after school.
Except for chatting with friends or going out to play, he routinely went home without taking any stops.
It was not that he didn't like to waste his time, or that he wanted to go home early and immerse himself in his hobbies. It was simply that he liked to spend time alone and wanted to relax in bed.
As he lived alone, the fact that he needed to do his own housework such as cleaning, laundry, and cooking had also something to do with it.
And unusually for Asahi, he stayed in the classroom even though he had no plans for the day.
The reason for this was the special event called Valentine's Day and the existence of the love of his life, Himuro Fuyuka.
However, there was no longer a reason for him to stay at school if he knew that Fuyuka had gone home.
Asahi left the classroom alone, leaving Chiaki and Hinami to continue their lovey-dovey time.
Then, as he was walking down the hallway toward the shoe box, he suddenly heard his name being called.
"Kagami-kun."
When he turned around, he saw Ryoma standing there.
In the person's hands were two large paper bags.
"Looks rough."
"It would be rude to call it rough. But, as you can see."
With a slightly annoyed look on his face, Ryoma lifted the paper bag in both hands.
The contents were probably all chocolates given to him by girls.
It seemed being the most popular person in the school was not just for show.
Asahi knew enough about his popularity, but after seeing it clearly like this, he felt it was quite impressive.
"That's more than what one person can eat."
"Yeah... and excessive sugar intake is prohibited in club activities."
"What are you gonna do?"
"Of course I'll eat it all."
"It's going to take a year. And that's a lot of sugar."
"They've prepared it for me, and it's in good faith that I eat it. But I can't handle it all, so I'll share it with my family."
Ryoma gave a small laugh, as if it was natural.
Being popular sure sounded rough.
He was tall, fresh, athletic, and had the perfect personality. And he was also good at his studies and was often relied upon.
Asahi was in a different class and didn't have much to do with him, but Ryoma stood out so much, so he naturally knew him.
It was like the past "Ice Lady".
Asahi remembered that this prince-like man had told him that he liked Fuyuka.
At the time, he was dismissive of his feelings for Fuyuka, but he knew that it was none of his business.
However, now he stood in front of Asahi undeniably as a powerful rival.
"Oh, by the way, did Himuro-san give you any?"
"...What do you mean?"
"You know what I'm talking about."
"Look." Ryoma said, raising his hands in an exaggerated manner.
The gesture was obvious.
"I didn't get any."
When he answered the truth, Ryoma looked a little surprised.
And right after that came a tiny little smile.
"Then, I guess we're even for today."
It seemed that Ryoma hadn't gotten any chocolate from Fuyuka either.
Asahi naturally felt a sense of relief.
Still, there seemed to be a big difference between Ryoma, who could smile refreshingly, and how he felt.
"Wouldn't it be enough if you got that much?"
"No way. It may fill your stomach, but it won't fill your heart. You know that, don't you?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Ugh... I'm aware of the embarrassing things I've said."
He was embarrassed, but his appearance and personality said otherwise.
And while Asahi denied it in words, there was a part of him that understood it inside.
In the case of Asahi, a bewildering and unpleasant feeling entered his unfulfilled mind.
Ryoma was still smiling freshly, but Asahi wondered if he felt the same way as he did.
One thing was for sure: they had feelings for the same person.
Asahi came home a little later than usual and took care of the laundry first. Then, cook dinner by himself, ate it, and did the dishes.
And so the quiet time passed without meaning.
The world outside, peeking through the curtains, was completely covered in darkness.
"I guess she's not coming after all..."
As he rolled lethargically in bed, Asahi was still somewhat hopeful.
However, by this time, the possibility was close to zero.
Asahi didn't expect to be swept away so much over a chocolate.
Perhaps he was somewhat smug that he would get any because of the distance between them.
Caught between his feminine self and his painful self, Asahi buried his face deep into the pillow.
'Should I just go to sleep?'
It was at that very moment.
"...No way."
As he was trying to escape into the dream world, Asahi's consciousness was pulled back to reality.
What became the trigger was an electronic sound that echoed in the silence.
Asahi calmed himself down and slowly stood in front of the doorway.
He turned the key and opened the door to find a girl holding a small paper bag in her hands.
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