第21話 球技大会
「くっ......あの時、朝陽の必殺技顔面ブロックが発動してさえいれば......」
「無茶言うな。あのシュートを顔に食らったら間違いなく鼻血じゃ済まないだろ」
雲一つない青空に、秋とは思えないほど暖かな気候。
まさに絶好のスポーツ日和で迎えた球技大会当日、朝陽と千昭の出番は早々に終わっていた。
午前はサッカーとバレー、午後はソフトボールとバスケという日程で行われる球技大会はトーナメント制で、一度負けたクラスはお役御免となる。
非常に残酷なルールだが、三学年全生徒が参加するイベントとなると総当たりや負け同士の対戦などをやっている時間が無い。
その為、一つでも多くの試合を楽しみたい場合は対戦相手の抽選が大切になってくるのだが――
「まさか、一回戦から山田が率いるクラスと当たるとは運が悪い」
「まあ、結果はウノゼロだし、素人の集まりなりには頑張った方だろ」
「確かにそうだな......って、よくそんな言葉知ってるな。もしかして朝陽もサッカーに目覚めた?」
「いや、お前が時々ゲーム中に言ってるから覚えただけ」
イタリア語で一対ゼロで試合を終えることをウノゼロというらしい。
そんなどうでもいい知識に会話が引っ張られてしまう程、球技大会はあっさりと味気のないまま終わった。
不完全燃焼どころか燃え上がる機会すらなかった為、悔しいといった感情すら沸いてこない。
何か思うところがあるとすれば、一回戦敗退の影響であまりまくってしまった暇な時間をどう潰そうかといった事だろう。
勝ち残っているらしい女子のバレーを見に行く手もあるが、どうも身体に力が入らない。
それは密かにMVPの座を狙っていた千昭も同じのようで、人工芝のグラウンドに寝転がり、青空の下でのんびりと日向ぼっこをするに至った。
「そういや、お前何かあった?」
「......何かって何だよ」
「うーん、上手く言えないけど、ぼーっとしてるっていうかさ。試合中もどこか集中力欠けてたし」
暇がすぎるのか、人工芝をむしり始めた千昭から何気なく鋭い指摘が飛んできて、朝陽は思わず頬が引き攣りかけた。
千昭の言う通り、今日は何事にも集中できていない。
その原因は今朝の冬華とのやり取りにあるので、馬鹿正直に全てを話せるはずがなく、朝陽は真顔を貫いてかぶりを振った。
「気のせいだろ。俺はいつも通りだぞ」
「まあ、確かに朝陽は普段からこんな感じだけど......」
さりげなく貶された気もするが、どうにか白を切るため甘んじて受け入れる。
千昭はこういう些細な変化に気づくところがあるので何かと厄介だ。
今も、何を探っているのか、じっと一挙一動を見つめてくるので気が抜けない。
冬華が隣に住んでいる事を始め、千昭は何も知らないはずなのに、このままだと何かしらを勘付かれそうな勢いがあった。
「いたー! ちーくんと朝陽、ついに発見!」
頼むから他の事に興味が移ってくれ、と願ったタイミングで、示し合わせたかのように体育館の方から元気いっぱいな声と軽快な足音が耳に届く。
思わぬ救世主の存在に視線を向ければ、そこには見慣れた天真爛漫な少女の姿があった。
「おー、ヒナじゃん。バレーの応援はどうした?」
「今終わったんだよー。残念ながら、私のクラスは準決勝敗退。だから、早めのお昼ご飯にしようと思って」
「いいね、丁度俺らも暇してたところ。なあ、朝陽」
「そうだな、暇すぎて死にそうだった」
「そこまで? まあ、一回戦負けだったら仕方ないかー」
ありがたいことに、日菜美が来たことによって千昭の意識は完全に彼女へと逸れてくれた。
話題は僅差で敗れた一回戦の話に変わり、試合を観戦しに来ていた日菜美を中心として会話に華が咲く。
そのほとんどが、山田に負けず劣らず活躍していた千昭への誉め言葉だったが、この際文句は言わない。
(まさか日菜美に感謝する日が来るとはな......)
いつもは振り回されてばかりで精神的に疲労が溜まる天敵も、この時ばかりは羽の生えた天使に思え、朝陽は心の中で軽く頭を下げて感謝の気持ちを送った。
「......これ、本当にヒナが作ったのか?」
「もちろん! 五時起きで気合入れて頑張ったんだから!」
まだ人が少ない教室で、えっへんと胸を張る少女が一人。そして、目の前に広がる豪勢なお弁当に唖然としている少年が二人。
日菜美が千昭のためにお弁当を作ってくるという話は聞いていたが、まさかここまでのクオリティに仕上げてくるとは夢にも思わなかった。
だし巻き卵に唐揚げ、ミニハンバーグに切り干し大根と千昭の好物ばかりが並ぶおかずは全て日菜美の手作りらしい。
冷凍食品なら手っ取り早いが、手作りとなるとかなりの手間と時間が掛かる。
更には白米の上に乗せられた海苔がLOVEの文字をあしらっているというバカップル仕様。
総じてまさしく愛のなせる業と言えるだろう。
もうすぐ終わるからと決勝戦を見届けた結果、優勝を勝ち取った山田の人気ぶりに機嫌が悪くなっていた千昭の表情も一変して晴れやかなものになっている。
「ほら、早く食べないと冷めちゃうよ? はいっ、あーん」
「あーん......うおっ、めちゃくちゃ美味しいじゃんこれ。普通に店に出せるレベルだろ」
「もー、ちーくんは褒め上手なんだからー!」
毎度のことながら、一体何を見せられているんだといった感じだが、二人がいつにも増して幸せそうなのでそっとしておく。
こういう時、無性に無言でフェードアウトしたくなるのだが、他でもない千昭と日菜美がそれをさせてくれない。
「朝陽シェフも是非食べてみてよ」
「そうだな、きっと朝陽シェフも舌鼓を打つぜ」
「その呼び方を定着させるな......」
身内に本物のシェフがいるため荷が重いあだ名に辟易しつつ、朝陽は促されるままにミニハンバーグに手を伸ばす。
「......美味い」
「やったー! シェフのお墨付きだ!」
「凄いな、ヒナ。朝陽は滅多に美味いなんて言わないんだぜ。俺がチャーハン作った時なんて......」
「あれはお前が失敗しただけだろ。美味しかったら普通に美味しいって言うわ」
美味しいものに美味しいというのは当たり前というか、作り手への最低限の感謝の気持ちだと朝陽は思っている。
もちろん、千昭のように絶望的な失敗作を前にした時は正直に不味いというが、基本的には無駄に厳しい評価をせず、素直な一言を口にするようにしている。
今も、大袈裟にガッツポーズをして喜んでいる日菜美の姿を見れば、たった三、四文字の言葉が作り手にとってどれほど嬉しいか目に見えて分かるだろう。
その気持ちは朝陽も十分に理解できるので、朝陽は食べ終わってからもう一度「美味しかった」と呟いておいた。
(あいつも今頃昼飯食べてるかな......)
周りを見渡せば、もう既にほとんどのクラスメイトが教室に集まっている。
他クラスも同じような状況のはずなので、朝陽が用意したもう一つのお弁当箱の蓋が開いていてもおかしくはない。
「あれ、朝陽の弁当も今日は何か豪華じゃね」
「本当だ、ちょっと気合入ってる気がする。もしかして、私に対抗したの!?」
「ちげーよ。ただ、少し早く起きて興が乗っただけ」
「あー、なるほど。それで今日はぼんやりとしてたわけか。寝不足だな、こりゃ完全に」
「......ああ、多分そうだな。言われてみればちょっと眠いわ」
勝手に勘ぐって、勝手に勘違いしてくれた千昭に適当に相槌を返して、朝陽は自分の弁当を改めて見つめた。
豪華とは言われたが、日菜美が作って来たお弁当と比べると見た目はかなり劣る。
味の方も、手作りの卵焼きはまだしも、冷凍食品では流石に敵わないだろう。
(もう少し気合入れた方が良かったか)
日菜美のような愛の力を持ち合わせていないので仕方の無いことだが、今頃になって少しの後悔の念が浮かぶ。
願わくば、同じ内容の弁当を前にした少女が美味しいと思ってくれることを期待して、朝陽は自信作の卵焼きを口に運んだ。
Ch 21
"If only...Asahi's special move, 'Face Block,' had been activated at that time..."
"Don't be absurd. If I got hit in the face with that shot, I'm pretty sure it wouldn't end with just a nosebleed."
The sky was cloudless and blue, and the weather was warm enough making it hard to believe it was autumn.
It was a perfect day for sports, and on the day of the ball game, Asahi and Chiaki's turn came to an early end.
Ball games were held in the morning for soccer and volleyball, and in the afternoon for softball and basketball with tournament rules, and the class that lost once would be excused.
The rules were very cruel, but with all three grades participating in the event, there was no time to play round-robin.
Therefore, if you wanted to enjoy as many games as possible, it was important to know who you were up against.
"It's really unlucky to start the first round against a class led by Yamada."
"Well, the result was unozero, so I guess we did pretty well for a bunch of amateurs."
"Yeah, wait...How do you know that word? Do you finally want to play soccer for real?"
"No, I just learned it because you say it often while playing games."
In Italian, it was called "uno zero" when a match ended with a score of one to zero.
The ball game ended easily and tastelessly.
Not only was it incomplete, but I didn't even get a chance to get heated up, so I didn't even feel frustrated.
If I had any thoughts on the matter, it would be about what to do with all the free time I had left due to the first round loss.
I could have gone to watch the women's volleyball game, which they seemed to be winning, but I couldn't muster up the energy to do so.
The same goes for Chiaki, who was secretly aiming for the MVP title, and ended up laying down on the artificial grass field and relaxing in the sun under the blue sky.
"Oh yeah, did something happen with you?"
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know how to put it, but I feel like you were in a daze. Even in the match, it felt like you're looking somewhere else."
As if he had too much time on his hands, Chiaki, who had started plucking the artificial grass, casually pointed out something so sharp that Asahi's cheeks almost twitched.
Chiaki was right, I haven't been able to concentrate on anything today.
The reason for this was because of his interaction with Fuyuka this morning, but there was no way he could be foolishly honest and tell him everything, so Asahi kept a straight face and shook his head.
"You're imagining things. I'm the same as always."
"Well, it's true that you are usually like this but..."
I feel like I've been casually insulted, but I'm willing to accept it in order to somehow escape.
Chiaki had a way of noticing these little things, so it was kind of tricky.
Even now, I couldn't relax as he stared at my every move, wondering what I was searching for.
Chiaki was not supposed to know anything about the fact that Fuyuka lived next door to me, but he was on the verge of figuring something out if I didn't feign ignorance.
"There you are! Chi-kun and Asahi, finally found you guys!"
Just as I was wishing that his interest would shift to something else, I heard the sound of an energetic voice and light footsteps coming from the gym.
When I turned my gaze to the unexpected presence of my savior, there I saw a familiar, innocent girl.
"Oh? It's Hina. What about the cheering for your class?"
"It's over now. Unfortunately, my class was eliminated from the semifinals. So I thought I'd have an early lunch."
"Great, we've just been bored. Right, Asahi?"
"Yeah, I had so much free time I was dying."
"That much? Well, if you lost the first round, I guess you just have to live with it."
Thankfully, Hinami's arrival had completely diverted Chiaki's attention to her.
The topic of conversation turned to the first round, which they lost by a narrow margin, and the conversation blossomed around Hinami, who had come to watch the match.
Most of them were compliments to Chiaki, who lost to Yamada, but I won't voice my complaints.
'I never thought I'd see the day when I'd be thanking Hinami.'
His natural enemy, who usually caused him mental fatigue because he was always being pushed around, seemed like an angel with wings at this moment, and Asahi bowed his head lightly in gratitude.
"...Did Hina really make this?"
"Of course! I woke up at five o'clock and worked really hard to make it!"
In a classroom that was still empty, there was one girl who was boasting. And there were two boys who were stunned by the lavish bento spread out in front of them.
I did hear that Hinami was going to make a bento for Chiaki, but I never dreamed that she would make something of this level.
Dashi-maki omelette, fried tofu, mini burger steaks, kiriboshi daikon. Chiaki's favorite dishes were lined up, all homemade by Hinami.
Frozen food was quick and easy, but homemade food took a lot of time and effort.
In addition, the nori (seaweed) placed on top of the white rice was decorated with the word "LOVE".
All in all, it was truly a work of love.
After watching the final match because it was almost over, Chiaki's expression, which had been in a bad mood because of Yamada's popularity for winning the championship, changed and became radiant.
"Here, eat quickly or it will get cold. Open up."
"This is so good! It's good enough to be served in a restaurant."
"You're such a good complimenter, Chi-kun!"
As usual, I felt like what the h**l am I being shown, but the two of them looked happier than ever, so I left them alone.
At times like this, I want to fade away in silence, but Chiaki and Hinami won't let me.
"Please try it too, Chef Asahi."
"Yeah, I'm sure Chef Asahi will be thrilled."
"Please don't let that nickname stick..."
Fed up with the burdensome nickname because he hasda real chef in his family, Asahi reached for a mini-hamburger without being prompted.
"...Delicious."
"Hooray! I got a Chef's approval!"
"That's amazing, Hina. Asahi rarely says it's good. That one time I made fried rice, it was..."
"That was just a mistake on your part. If it was good, I'd just say it was good."
Asahi thinks that saying "delicious" to something delicious was natural, or at least a minimum level of gratitude to the creator.
Of course, when confronted with a hopeless failure like Chiaki's, he would honestly say that it tasted bad, but he would try not to be unnecessarily harsh in his evaluation and say a few honest words.
Even now, when you saw Hinami's exaggerated fist pump, you could visibly see how much joy a mere three or four words would bring to the creator.
Asahi could fully understand that feeling, so he muttered "It was delicious" again after he finished eating.
'I wonder if she's eating lunch right now...'
I looked around and saw that most of my classmates were already gathered in the classroom.
The other classes must be in a similar situation, so it was not surprising that the lid of the other bento prepared by Asahi was open.
"Eh, Asahi's bento looks kind of fancy today."
"it's true, I think you're a little enthusiastic. Maybe you're trying to compete with me?"
"Not really. I just woke up a little early and got excited."
"Oh, I see. So that's why you were in a daze today. Not enough sleep for sure."
"...Oh, maybe so. I'm a little sleepy now that you mention it."
Asahi looked at his own lunch box again, giving an appropriate response to Chiaki, who had taken the liberty of guessing and misunderstanding him.
I was told that it was lavish, but it didn't look quite as good as the bento that Hinami had made.
As for the taste, as expected frozen goods wouldn't stand a chance.
'Should I have put more effort?'
I don't have the power of love that Hinami had, so it couldn't be helped, but by now a little bit of regret came.
Hoping that the girl in front of the same bento would think it was delicious, Asahi brought the egg roll he had made with confidence to his mouth.
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