第16話 氷の裏に潜む本心
ごちそうさま、と両手を合わせた後、朝陽は洗い物をするため直ぐにキッチンへと向かった。
クールで素っ気ない美少女との勉強会が控えているといったような特別な事情が無い限り、食事後の食器はなるべく早く洗浄したほうがいい。
汚れが浮いている内に洗えば手間が省けるし、シンクを清潔に保つことができる。
理想としては、調理しながら使用した調理器具を洗うことだが、これは何を作るかによって可能不可能が分かれてしまう。
今日は炒め物だったために手を離す時間が無く、シンクにはそこそこの数の洗い物が控えていた。
「......で、何で氷室はまだうちに居るんだよ」
「夕食をいただいて直ぐに帰るほど、図太い神経は持ち合わせていません」
「別に気にしなくていいけどな。こっちは材料費負担してもらってるし」
「それは当たり前のことです。手の怪我さえなければ私が洗い物をしたいくらいなのですから」
「手の怪我がなければ、そもそもこの状況が有り得ないと思うぞ」
「......確かに、そうですね」
どうやら洗い物が終わるまで家に居るらしい冬華は、ソファーに座って持ち込んだ小説のページをめくっていた。
表紙とタイトルからして恋愛小説なのは間違いないが、どうも冬華のイメージと合わない。
休み時間は恋愛小説を読むことが多い、と氷の令嬢の噂が流れてきたときも同じ違和感を感じたし、実際クラスメイトも騒ぎ立てていた記憶がある。
「相合傘の知識も小説からか?」
「......そうですけど、何か?」
「氷の令嬢も恋愛小説を読むんだなと思っ......て」
手を動かして洗い物をしながら、暇をしている口で会話をする。
冬華との距離がほんの少し、心身ともに近づいている間にどうせなら色々と聞いてみようとした矢先だった。
氷の令嬢と言葉を発した瞬間、冬華の表情が僅かながらに強張った。
「すまん、悪気はなかった」
「......いえ、いいんです。私が何と呼ばれているかくらいは知っていますから」
素直に謝罪の言葉を口にすれば、冬華は小さく首を横に振って直ぐに元の表情に戻る。
ただ、一瞬だけ感じた凍てつくような冷たい悪寒は暫く消えることがなかった。
誰に対しても極端に距離を取り、必要以上の会話はせず、表情はいつも真顔のまま変わらない、氷の様に冷たいお嬢様。
今では学校中に広まっているあだ名だが、本人が聞いて気のいいものではないのは確かだ。
「そんなに気に病まなくても。私だって火神さんをお節介過ぎる隣人だなんて呼びましたし」
「それとこれとは違うっていうか......」
「私は気にしていませんよ。全て事実ですし、自分でそうしていますから」
特に何も考えずに口にしてしまったことを反省していると、何故か冬華がフォローをしてくれた。
そのフォローを聞いて、改めて冬華が自ら氷の令嬢として振る舞っていることが気にかかった。
しかし、過去の事を根掘り葉掘り聞くつもりはないし、聞くこともできない。
代わりに朝陽は一つの単純な疑問を投げかけることにした。
「......俺はいいのか?」
「どういうことですか?」
「今まで誰とも関わろうとしなかっただろ。俺はどうなのかと思って」
「......当然、私はあなたとも関わるつもりはありませんでしたよ。それなのに、あなたが......」
「ああ、そうか。俺が無理やり勝手に近づいたのか」
思い返せば、冬華は高熱で倒れた時ですら他人と関わることを拒んでいた。
私に構わないでください、とはっきり朝陽は告げられていた。
その主張を無視して朝陽は冬華を看病する道を選んだからこそ、他にも何かとお節介を焼いたからこそ今がある。
「お節介過ぎて悪かったな」
「......そこに関しても謝る必要はありませんよ」
「そうか? いい迷惑だろ実際」
何度か善意の押し付けをした自覚はあるので、迷惑に思われても当たり前だと朝陽は思っていた。
今日は素直に申し出を受け取られたものの、そもそも氷の令嬢は話し掛けられることすら好まないはずだ。
ただ、結局は受け取り手の印象に全ては委ねられる。
この法則が適用されるのは何も悪い印象だけではない。
「......迷惑、とは思っていません。寧ろ......あなたには感謝していますよ。色々と、その......助けられて、います」
冬華は呆れた様子で小さくため息をついてからゆっくりと口を開いた。
顔を背けられてしまい、途切れ途切れの言葉と共に浮かんだ表情と雪の様に白い肌を染めた色は見ることができない。
唯一、分かったことといえば、冬華の声音に確かな温もりが感じられた。
隠すことなくストレートに伝えられた冬華の本心に、朝陽は暫く洗い物を終えたことを告げるのを忘れ、ただただ呆然とその場に立ち尽くしていた。
Ch 16
After clapping his hands together, Asahi headed straight towards the kitchen to wash the dishes.
Unless there existed special circumstances, such as a study session with a cool and blunt beautiful girl, it was best to wash the dishes as soon as possible after eating.
Washing while the dirt was still floating would save one's time and keep the sink clean.
Ideally, you should wash the utensils you use while cooking, but this was not possible depending on what you were cooking.
Since it was a stir-fry dish today, I didn't have time to take my hands off the stove, and so there were a good number of dishes waiting to be washed in the sink.
"...So, why are you still here, Himuro?"
"I don't have the nerve to leave right away, after getting treated to dinner."
"You don't have to worry about it. After all, you bought the ingredients for the meal."
"That's natural. If it weren't for my injured hand, I'd be the one doing the dishes."
"If it weren't for the injury to your hand, I don't think this situation would be possible in the first place."
"...Indeed, that's true."
Apparently she would be staying until the dishes were done, she sat on the sofa and flipped through the pages of the novel she had brought with her.
Judging from the cover and the title, it was definitely a romance novel, but it didn't really fit her image.
I felt the same sense of discomfort when I heard rumors about the "Ice Lady" who often read romance novels during recess, and I actually remember my classmates making a fuss about it.
"Did you get your knowledge of sharing an umbrella from a novel?"
"That's right, but what of it?"
"I just thought that the 'Ice Lady' also reads romance novels..."
While washing dishes with my hands, I talk with my mouth in my spare time.
Since the distance between us mentally and physically had narrowed, I thought I should ask some questions of my own.
The moment I said the words "Ice Lady", Fuyuka's expression tensed slightly.
"My bad, I didn't mean to offend you."
"...No, it's fine. I at least know what I'm being called."
After I apologized sincerely, Fuyuka shook her head slightly and immediately corrected her expression.
However, the freezing cold chill I felt for a moment did not disappear for a while.
She, who always kept her distance from everyone, never spoke to anyone beyond what was necessary, and always maintained a straight face. A lady that was as cold as ice.
It was a nickname that had now spread throughout the school, but I'm sure it was not something she felt good about hearing.
"Don't worry about it too much. I also called you a neighbor who meddles too much."
"It's not the same..."
"I don't mind it. It's all true anyway, and I made it to be this way."
For some reason, Fuyuka backed me up as I reflected on the fact that I had said it without thinking properly.
Hearing her cheer me up, I was once again concerned about Fuyuka's behavior as the "Ice Lady".
However, I'm not going to and also can't dig up her past.
Instead, Asahi decided to ask one simple question.
"...Am I good?
"What do you mean by that?"
"You've never tried to get involved with anyone before. I'm just wondering, how about me?"
"...Of course I wasn't planning on getting involved with you either. And yet, you're the one who.."
"Oh, I see. Is it because I forcefully approached you?"
Looking back, Fuyuka had refused to get involved with others even when she had collapsed with a high fever.
Please leave me alone. Asahi had been told clearly.
It was only because Asahi chose to ignore it and nurse Fuyuka that this situation was even happening at all.
"My bad, for being too nosy."
"...You don't have to apologize for that either."
"Really? It's bothering you, right?"
Since he was aware that he had imposed his good intentions on several occasions, Asahi thought it was natural for her to be annoyed.
Even though I know that much, I still meddle, and because of that I don't expect to be thanked in the slightest.
However, in the end, everything was left to the impression of the receiver.
It was not only about the bad impression that this rule applied to.
"...I don't think it's a bother. Rather...I'm quite thankful for you. Um, you have been helpful in various things..."
Fuyuka gave a small sigh of dismay and then slowly opened her mouth.
She turned her face away, and I couldn't see the expression that came with her broken words and the color that dyed her snow-white skin.
The only thing I could figure out was that there was a definite warmth in Fuyuka's tone.
Fuyuha's true feelings were conveyed in a honest and straightforward way, and Asahi forgot to tell her that he had finished washing the dishes for a while now and just stood there in a daze.
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