第34話 氷の令嬢と初めての待ち合わせ
「オッケー、ASAHI。成績を上げる方法を教えて」
「ひたすら勉強」
「......他には?」
「成績上げるのに勉強以外の方法なんてない」
「そ、そんなあ......」
人影がまばらになった教室の隅で、千昭が情けない声を発する。
終業式を終えた放課後、実質的に冬休みが始まったというのに、その表情は明らかに芳しくない。
千昭が珍しく暗い顔をしている原因は、片手に握られた成績表で、そこには目を背けたくなる凄惨な数字が刻まれていた。
どれも平均点を大幅に下回る酷い成績だが、この程度でへこたれる男ではない。
問題なのは、その中でも一際目立つ赤色の文字。
すなわち、補習対象となる赤点を示すものだ。
「まさか、赤点を取る日が来るとは......」
「むしろ、今まで取らなかったのが不思議なくらいだけどな。これに懲りたら、日菜美との時間を少しは勉強に使ったらどうだ」
「......朝陽は俺に死ねと言っているのか?」
「意訳がすぎるだろ。とにかく、成績上げたかったら勉強あるのみ。勝手に学力が上がるなんてうまい話はない」
「やっぱそうだよなー......学年十位が言うと説得力が違うわ」
「......茶化すなら帰るぞ」
「いやいやいや、違いますやん! 今のはただ褒めただけですやん!」
何故かエセ関西弁になっている千昭を軽く叩いて、朝陽は手元の成績表に目を落とした。
そこには千昭とは対照的に、平均点を大きく上回る点数が並んでいる。
中でも特に目立つのは苦手科目としていた数学と英語の高得点。
過去最高順位を叩き出した前回のテストから、さらに成績を上げた要因は間違いなくこの二科目だ。
そして、元を辿れば苦手科目が得意科目になるまで教えてくれた冬華のお陰ということになる。
「なあ、やっぱ誰かに教えてもらうのって成績上がるの?」
「......何だその質問」
「前に朝陽が言ってたじゃん。高得点の秘訣を聞いた時」
やけにタイムリーな話題を振られ、少し反応が遅れると、千昭の表情が分かりやすく変わった。
さっきまでの落ち込みが嘘だったかのように、今はニヤリと楽しそうな笑みを浮かべている。
「おい、その笑みは何だ」
「別にー? 朝陽の成績が伸び始めたのって夏休み明けからだなーと」
「......帰る」
「ちょっ、もう少し待っ――」
「ちーくん、お待たせー! あれ、朝陽も残ってたの?」
千昭の静止を振り切り、席を立ったところで教室に元気で明るい声が響いた。
教室に残っていた男子の集団が、その場違いな騒がしさの元凶へと疎ましそうな視線を向け......すぐにその目が驚愕と羨望の色へと変わる。
「もしかして朝陽もこの後誰かとデートするの? あっ、もしかして――」
「違う、朝陽はヒナが来るまで俺の話し相手になってもらってたの」
「でも、噂に依ると――」
「それ以上はやめとけヒナ! 今の朝陽を弄っちゃダメ!」
何やら勝手に味方をしてくれる千昭に口を無理やり押えられ、日菜美がモゴモゴと未知の言語で喋り始める。
その楽しそうな微笑ましい光景に、今度こそクラスの男子から疎ましいの意味が込められた視線が飛んで来た。
もうすっかり見慣れてしまったので、朝陽はクラスメイトと同じ気持ちにはなれないが、同情することは辛うじてできる。
今日は終業式で、答案返却日で、冬休みの始まりで。
そして、聖なる夜――クリスマスイブなのだ。
「また来年、かな。じゃあな、朝陽」
「ああ、また来年」
「初詣は一緒に行こうね!」
「ん、予定空けとくわ」
まだお昼前だが、制服を着たまま夜まで遊ぶらしい。
私服はクリスマスに取っておく、二人はそんな事を言っていた。
デート、そんな言葉が浮かんでは消える。
日菜美が言い掛けていた事は半分あっていて、半分間違っている。
この後、冬華と二人で出掛けるが、それはデートではない。
朝陽はまだ明るい空を眺めながら、友達との待ち合わせに万が一でも遅れないよう、少し早めの帰路に着いた。
ピンポン、と来客を伝える電子音が静かに鳴った。
それは、いつもと同じ音のはずなのに妙な緊張感を伴う。
外行き用、それも格式高い場所用の服装をしているからか、全身の動きがどこかぎこちない。
伸ばしっぱなしのボサボサな髪では流石にと、ワックスで自分なりに整えたせいか、頭部にも何とも言えない違和感がある。
とにかく、今日は心身ともに落ち着かない。
「......お待たせしました」
少し熱のこもった掌でドアノブを捻れば、まず最初に透き通る声が聞こえた。
その次に、冷たい冬の風が頬を撫でる。
そして、ようやく視線の先にグレージュの髪を靡かせる少女の姿を捉えた。
夜に映えるネイビーのサテンワンピースに、淡く施された薄化粧。
背景の月と星に照らされ輝く冬華の姿に朝陽は一瞬で目を奪われ――
「......綺麗だな」
そんな、言葉が自然と漏れた。
元から、冬華が並みならぬ美貌の持ち主だとは認識していた。
氷の令嬢というあだ名に相応しい、大人びた美しさ。
その裏側に隠れた、年相応のあどけない可愛らしさ。
今までも、何度か冬華の美貌を称える言葉を口にしかけた。
ただ、実際に言葉にしたのは初めてだった。
半ば無意識に、気づけばその言葉を口にしていた。
それほどまでに、目に映る冬華の姿は美しかった。
「......あ、ありがとうございます」
伏し目がちに言葉を発した冬華の頬はほんのりと赤く染まっている。
今度は、可愛いという言葉がパッと浮かんだ。
ただ、その四文字が声として形になる前に、冬華がポツリと小さく呟いた。
「朝陽くんも......カッコいいと思います」
「......どうも」
頬をさらに赤く染めながら、ゆっくりと俯いた冬華に対して朝陽は短く言葉を返した。
突然の誉め言葉に思考が纏まらず、それしか言えなかったというのが正直なところだ。
今になって、ようやく自分が口走った言葉に羞恥心を覚えたというのもある。
これは断じて恋人同士のデートではない。
そう、頭では分かっている。
分かっているのに、思考はうまく纏まらず、身体は思うように動かない。
「......行こうか」
「......そうですね」
朝陽が促して冬華が応じるまで、現実の時間にしては数秒だった。
ただ、朝陽にとってその時間はとても長く感じられた。
Ch 34
"Alright, ASAHI. Tell me how to improve my grades."
"Just study."
"...What else?"
"There is no other way to get good grades than studying."
"No way..."
In the corner of the classroom, Chiaki made a pathetic sound.
Even though the winter break had started after the closing ceremony, his expression was not that of happiness.
The reason for his unusually gloomy face was the report card he held in his hand, on which were engraved horrible numbers that made him want to disregard it.
All of his scores were far below average, but he wasn't a man to be discouraged by just this.
The problem was the red text that stood out from the rest.
In other words, it indicated a score that was subject to remediation.
"I never thought I'd see the day when I'd get a red dot..."
"I'm actually surprised that you didn't fail before. If you learn from this, how about you spend time studying rather than hanging out with Hinami?"
"...Are you telling me to die?"
"Anyway, if you want to improve your grades, you have to study. There's no such trick that will make your grades improve on its own."
"I guess you're right... It's really convincing when you say it, ranked tenth."
"...If you're gonna poke fun of me, I'm leaving."
"No, no , no! That was just a compliment!"
I lightly slapped him, who for some reason was speaking in a fake Kansai dialect, and looked down at the report card on my hand.
In contrast to Chiaki, the scores were much higher than the average.
Highly notable were the high scores in Mathematics and English, which were my weakest subjects.
These two subjects were undoubtedly the reason why my rank climbed up.
And if I trace it back, It was thanks to Fuyuka, she taught me until I became good at a subject I was not good at.
"Hey, does having someone teach you really help you get better grades?"
"...What's with that question?"
"You said so before, when I asked you the secret of your high scores."
The topic was rather timely, and Chiaki's expression changed when I delayed a response.
As if his earlier sadness had been a lie, he was now grinning and smiling happily.
"Hey, what's with the smile?"
"Nothing really, I just thought your grades started to improve after the summer break."
"...I'm leaving."
"Wait, just wait a sec--"
"Sorry for the wait, Chi-kun! Oh? You're still here, Asahi?"
I shook off Chiaki and stood up from my seat and then a lively and cheerful voice echoed in the classroom.
The group of boys who remained in the classroom looked at the source of the commotion... And immediately, their eyes turned to astonishment and envy.
"Are you also going on a date with someone after this, Asahi? Oh, could it be..."
"No, Asahi kept me company while waiting for you, Hina."
"But rumor has it..."
"Don't say anything any further, Hina! Don't mess with Asahi right now!"
Chiaki took the liberty of siding with me in some way, forcefully covering Hinami's mouth with his hands, and Hinami began to mumble in an unknown language.
The boys in our class gave us a look that meant 'I'm not happy'.
Since I was used to seeing these two like this, I couldn't feel the same way as them, but I feel sorry for them.
Today was the end of the school year, the day for returning the tests, and the beginning of the winter break.
And it was the holy night - Christmas Eve.
"See you next year, I guess. Bye, Asahi."
"Yeah, see you next year."
"Let's go on a Hatsumode visit together!" [First shrine visit of the Japanese New Year.]
"Mhm, I'll keep my schedule open."
It was still before noon, but it seemed they were going to play until night with their uniforms on.
I'll save my personal clothes for Christmas, they said.
Date, I thought of these words but immediately disregarded it.
What Hinami said was half right and half wrong.
After this, Fuyuka and I were to go out together, but it was not a date.
While looking up to the bright sky, I headed home a little early so that I wouldn't be late meeting up with my friend.
The electronic beeping sound rang quietly, announcing the arrival of a visitor.
It was supposed to be the same sound as always, but it was accompanied by a strange sense of tension.
Perhaps it was because I am dressed for going out, and even for a prestigious place, my whole body was moving somewhat awkwardly.
Perhaps it was because I had waxed my hair to make it look better than it was, but I also felt an indescribable sense of discomfort on my head.
Anyway, I'm feeling restless both physically and mentally today.
"...Sorry for the delay."
When I twisted the doorknob with my slightly heated palm, the first thing I heard was a clear voice.
After that, a cold winter wind caressed my cheeks.
Finally, I caught sight of a girl with her glazed hair dominating her gaze.
A navy satin dress that shone in the night, with makeup applied lightly.
The moon and stars in the background lit up Fuyuka's figure, and she instantly caught my eye.
"...Beautiful."
Such words naturally leaked out.
From the beginning, I knew that Fuyuka was a person of extraordinary beauty.
She had a mature beauty that lived up to her nickname, "The Ice Lady."
Hidden behind it was an innocent cuteness appropriate to her age.
I had almost said something in praise of Fuyuka's beauty several times before.
However, this was the first time I had actually put it into words.
Half unconsciously, I found myself saying those words.
That was how beautiful Fuyuka's reflection was in my eyes.
"...Ah, thank you."
Fuyuka's cheeks were slightly tinged with red as she spoke while looking down.
This time, the word "cute" popped into my head.
However, before the four letters could take shape as a voice, Fuyuka muttered quietly.
"Asahi-kun, also... looks really cool."
"...Thanks."
Fuyuka slowly turned over, and her cheeks turned even redder.
To be honest, I couldn't think of anything else to say in response to the sudden compliment.
It was only now that I finally felt a sense of shame about the words I had spoken.
This was definitely not a date between lovers.
Yes, I know that in my head.
I knew, but I can't put my thoughts together and my body doesn't move the way I wanted it.
"...Shall we go then?"
"...Yes."
It was only a few seconds in real time before Asahi urged and Fuyuka complied.
However, the time seemed very long to 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