第70話 新学年
風が吹き、桜が舞い、温かな日差しが差し込む四月の初旬。
新入生は期待に胸を膨らませ、少し大きめの制服に袖を通して門をくぐる。
ピカピカの上履きは眩しくて、それ以上に彼ら彼女らの晴れやかな姿がとても輝いていた。
「いやー、見事に揃ったな」
始業式を終え、教室の窓から新入生の姿を眺めていた朝陽は、いつの間にか隣に立っていた千昭との雑談に応じる。
どうやら、高校二年生に進級して新しいクラスになっても腐れ縁は切れないらしい。
「......真似すんな」
ニシシ、と変な笑い方をする千昭から目を逸らして教室を見渡せば、チラホラと知っている顔が見えた。
去年のクラスメイトに中学からの友達、沢山の女子生徒に囲まれている山田の姿もある。キャーキャーと黄色い声が飛び交う中で、一際目立っている派手なメイクをした金髪ギャルもどこかで見たことがあるような。
そして、中でも一番目に入るのは、教室の中心で穏やかな笑みをたたえる冬華の存在だ。
去年のように――真偽はともかく――「私に近づかないでください」と言い放ち、他人を拒絶し心を閉ざしてはいない。
少し戸惑いながら、誰に対しても笑顔で優しく接する冬華の姿はそれだけで注目を集め、仲良くなろうと近づく生徒が我先にと押し寄せていた。
「ピピッー! そこ、近づき過ぎ! あっ、ボディータッチはNGだよ!」
目立つといえば、冬華に対して距離感が近い生徒(主にやんちゃな男子)相手にボディーガードというかマネージャーみたいな仕事をしている日菜美も目立つ。
身近な存在であの性格のために忘れがちだが、日菜美も学校で名高い可愛さを誇る。
冬華と日菜美が仲良くしている姿は大層絵になり、遠目から微笑ましそうに、羨ましそうに見つめる生徒も少なくなかった。
「いいのかあれ、氷室さん大人気だけど」
「何言ってんだ。いいに決まってんだろ。冬華が変わろうとしてるんだから」
「ほー、流石。手繋ぎ男は余裕が違いますな」
「......おい」
「はいはい、お口チャックですねわかりましたっ!」
大袈裟に敬礼する千昭を軽く睨み、朝陽は廊下側の自分の席へと戻る。
「それにしても、楽しいクラスになりそうだなー」
「そうだな」
「新しい友達に豊富なイベント。二年生って最高じゃね?」
「勉強も忘れるなよ。赤点補習コースは去年より厳しいらしいぞ」
「......なんとかなるっしょ」
「俺は教えないからな」
「そ、そんな......助けてくださいよ朝陽先生!」
新クラスとあって、席順は男女混合の出席番号順。火神朝陽と吉川千昭は前後の席で、結局席に座っても千昭と話す事に。
しかし、一度睨んだ甲斐あって話題は他へと変わった。
これ以上、水族館での出来事を掘り返されたくなかった朝陽は内心ほっと息をつく。
あの日の事を思い出すと、否応なく頬が熱くなるのだ。
チケットを渡してくれた千昭に聞かれて断片的に話をしたとはいえ、イルカショーやペアルックの話などはしていない。
伝えたら絶対に弄られると分かり切っている。現に弄られているのだから、迷子防止に手を繋いだことだけに留めて正解だっただろう。
そんなわけで、新しい先生の予想や難易度が上がる授業への不安など、当たり障りの無い会話に興じながら、朝陽は何度か冬華へと目を向ける。
「やっぱり気になってるじゃねーか」
「......そういうお前も日菜美しか見てないだろ」
「俺はいつでも日菜美しか見てないぞ」
「自信満々に言うことかそれ......」
彼女第一の千昭は置いといて、朝陽は改めて冬華の姿を見た。
大勢の生徒に囲まれる冬華は楽しそうに笑っていて、周りもつられて笑顔が浮かんでいる。
氷の令嬢としてではなく氷室冬華として、彼女の魅力が伝わり、輪が広がる。
思えば今日一日、まだ冬華と話していない。
正確には「同じクラスになれましたね」と一言交わしたが、その時の可愛らしい笑みを見た切りだ。
今まで朝陽と千昭、そして日菜美くらいとしか付き合いがなかった冬華が確実に友達を増やしている。
それは朝陽が望み、背中を押した結果であり、喜ばしいことであるはずなのに。
どうしようもなく胸がモヤモヤとするのは何故だろうか。
「安心しろ。お前は特別だよ」
「......何の話だ」
千昭が珍しく、爽やかな笑みを浮かべたと思いきや、すぐにおどけて元に戻る。
高校二年生という新しい環境の中で、胸に秘めた思いは人それぞれ。
勉強、部活、遊びに恋愛。
出会いと別れの季節に、新たな物語が始まろうとしていた。
Ch 70
In the wake of early April, the wind was blowing, the cherry blossoms were dancing, and the warm sun was shining.
The freshmen walked through the gate in their slightly oversized uniforms with their hearts filled with anticipation.
Their shiny blazers were dazzling, but more importantly, their radiant appearance was very bright.
"Man, it's all coming beautifully together."
After the opening ceremony, Asahi was looking out the classroom window at the freshmen and before he knew it, Chiaki was standing next to him as he spoke.
It seemed that even if he moved up a year and the class changed, their inseparable relationship would not be broken.
"...Don't copy me."
Asahi turned away from Chiaki, who was smiling in a strange way, and looked around the classroom, and saw a few familiar faces.
There was Yamada surrounded by girls and in the midst of squealing, there was a blond girl who wore flashy makeup that stood out from the crowd.
The most striking thing of all was the presence of Fuyuka in the center of the classroom with a gentle smile on her face.
She didn't reject others nor closed her heart, as she did last year.
Although she was a little confused, Fuyuka's smile and kindness to everyone attracted a lot of attention, and many students were eager to get to know her.
"Whistle! You! You're getting too close, also body contact is not allowed!"
Speaking of standing out, Hinami, who worked as a bodyguard or manager for Fuyuka to protect her from people(mostly n*****y boys), also stood out.
Although it was easy to forget because of her familiarity and that personality, Hinami was also famous at school for her cuteness.
The sight of Fuyuka and Hinami getting along was very picturesque, and a few students looked at them from a distance, smiling and envious.
"Are you sure that's good? Himuro-san is popular, you know?"
"What are you talking about? Of course it's good. Fuyuka is trying to change."
"Hoh, as expected. A man who holds hands with a woman has a lot of room to maneuver."
"...Hey."
"I know, I know, keep my mouth shut, right?"
Asahou lightly glared at Chiaki's exaggerated salute and he then returned to his seat.
"It looks like it's gonna be a lively class."
"I guess so."
"New friends, plenty of events. Isn't sophomore year great?"
"Don't forget to study, too. I heard the test for make-up is tougher than last year."
"...It's probably gonna be alright."
"I'm not gonna help.."
"P-please don't say that, Asahi-sensei!"
As it was a new class, the seating order was in the order of attendance numbers, mixed gender. Kagami Asahi and Yoshikawa Chiaki were seated back to back to each other, and he ended up talking to Chiaki when he sat down.
But thanks to his glare earlier, the topic changed to something else.
Asahi breathed a sigh of relief as he didn't want to be asked any more information about what happened at the aquarium.
When he remembered that day, his cheeks would undeniably heat up.
Even though Chiaki, who gave him the ticket, asked him about it, he only told him bits and pieces. He didn't mention him about the dolphin show or the matching outfits.
Asahi knew that if he told him, he would definitely tease him about it. Since he was already teasing him, it was probably a good idea to not mention anything else.
So, while indulging in a bland conversation about what to expect from the new teacher and his anxiety about the increasing difficulty of the class, Asahi turned his attention to Fuyuka several times.
"I knew you'd be curious."
"...Says the guy, who's just looking at Hinami."
"I'll always have eyes only for Hinami."
"That's not something you say with confidence."
Leaving aside Chiaki whose priority was his girlfriend, Asahi took another look at Fuyuka's figure.
Surrounded by many students, Fuyuka was smiling happily, and those around her were smiling along with her.
Not as the "Ice Lady," but as Himuro Fuyuka, her charm was conveyed and the crowd expanded.
'Thinking about it, I still haven't talked to Fuyuka all day today.'
They exchanged a few words to be exact "We're in the same class, aren't we?", but he only saw her lovely smile.
Fuyuka, who had only ever been friends with Asahi, Chiaki and Hinami, was definitely making more friends.
This was the result of Asahi's desire, and it should have been a joyous occasion, yet.
'What's this uncomfortable feeling?'
"Don't worry. You're special."
"...What are you talking about?"
Chiaki revealed a rare refreshing smile but then quickly reverted.
In the new environment of being a sophomore in high school, everyone had their own thoughts and feelings.
Academics, club activities, entertainment, and love.
In a season of encounters and partings, a new story was about to begin.
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