第72話 金髪ギャルはよく目立つ
地上には桜が舞い散り、大空には鯉が舞い上がる。
四月が過ぎ去り、五月が始まり、待ちに待ったゴールデンウィークに突入。
その間、特に何もなかった。
学校生活は今まで通り。
私生活も然したる変化はない。
朝陽を含め、教室全体がそういう雰囲気だ。
まだ、交友関係が広がる手前。
お互いがお互いを探り合っている時期。
だからこそ、目立つ生徒は本当に良く目立つ。
例えばそれは、氷室冬華。
朝のホームルーム前、クラスメイトと談笑する姿は見慣れた光景となっている。
例えばそれは、山田龍馬。
朝練帰りの爽やかイケメンは、廊下で沢山の女子に囲まれていた。
例えばそれは、吉川千昭と相葉日菜美。
朝陽が教室全体を見渡している間、その隣でイチャイチャラブラブ。
「お前ら、今月末のテスト勉強してるんだろうな」
「「......なんのことでしょう」」
「今年は絶対教えてやらん」
「そう言って、結局助けてくれるのが朝陽という男」
「まったくもう、朝陽は本当にツンデレなんだからー」
「......は?」
「「すいませんでした!」」
相変わらず息ピッタリで仲睦まじい二人はいつもに増してテンションが高い。
詳しく話を聞けば......というより聞かされれば、ゴールデンウィークの予定が帰省で埋まり、一度も会えなかった反動らしい。
春夏冬の長期休みと比べれば期間は大分短いが、絶対に会えないとわかっている状況が辛いのだと熱弁してくれた。
その考えを馬鹿らしいとあしらいつつ、朝陽も少しだけ気持ちを汲み取れた。
「朝陽くん、おはようございます」
「ん、おはよう」
「五日ぶり、ですかね? 何だか久しぶりな気がします」
クラスメイトとの談笑を終えたのか、冬華が朝陽の席へと訪れる。
その言葉通り、こうして顔合わせるのは久しぶりだった。
ゴールデンウィークに冬華を遊びに誘おうか、とは思った。
しかし、一般的な学生の例に漏れず、朝陽にも帰省の予定が立ち塞がる。
そんな心境を見抜いたかのように、届いた二件のメッセージ。
朝陽の父、火神和明曰く。
『予定があるなら家に残ってもいいぞ!』
朝陽の母、火神透子曰く。
『大切な時期でしょう? 遠慮しなくていいのよ』
豪快な父と繊細な母。
可愛がってくれた祖父にお線香を上げたいという気持ちも強い。
何を言われようとも、メッセージへの返信は決まっていた。
『絶対に帰省する』
そういう訳で、冬華とは五日ぶりの顔合わせとなる。
バカップルに共感できるのは、そういう事情があったからだった。
「吉川くんも、日菜美さんも......おはようございます」
冬華はやんわりと微笑みながら、自然と三人の輪の中へ入り込む。
吉川さんから吉川くんに。相葉さんから日菜美さんに。
呼び方にまだ違和感を感じるが、次第に耳が慣れていくはずだ。
何より一番慣れていないのは冬華自身で、少し気恥ずかしそうにしている。
対する日菜美はとても満足そうに、千昭もやんわりと口角を上げていた。
高校二年生になって、冬華が自主的に変えた呼び方。
初めて名前で呼ばれた時の日菜美のはしゃぎようは記憶に新しい。
こうやって、四人の仲が深まる一方で。
友達のその先へ、関係を進めたい朝陽。
それでも色々と考えてしまい、足踏みしてしまう現状。
ただ、いつまでもこのままではいけないと理解もしている。
だからこそ、どこかで一歩を踏み出すタイミングを朝陽は見計らっていた。
恐らく、教室全体が何かしらのきっかけを待っている。
勉強、運動はもちろん、交友関係や色恋沙汰。
今はまだ、立ち止まっている生徒が大半だ――その中で。
「おっはよー!」
教室全体に響く明るい声に、クラスメイトの視線が集まる。
朝陽も思わず声の主へ目を向けると、そこには予想通りの人物が立っていた。
もしかすると、その生徒は一番目立っているかもしれない。
そう思うのは、彼女が立ち止まる事を知らないからだ。
「龍馬ー! 今日の放課後空いてる? 部活オフっしょ?」
「オフだけどごめん、部活仲間に誘われちゃって」
「えー、残念。一緒に遊びたかったのにー」
「じゃあ、俺達と一緒にカラオケ行かね? 丁度メンバー集めててさ」
「そう言う事じゃないのー! 私は龍馬がいいんだもん......」
申し訳なさそうな龍馬と、あっさり振られて苦笑いを浮かべるクラスメイト。
その中心に、ウェーブのかかった金色の髪が靡く。
「ごめんね、明日香。また今度、空いてる時に誘ってよ」
「......うん。また今度ね、楽しみにしてる!」
一瞬下を向いて、すぐに満面の笑みを咲かせた女子生徒――宮本明日香は校内でちょっとした有名人だ。
純粋な日本人には有り得ない髪色。
着崩した制服から大胆に露出する肌。
遠目からでもわかる派手めのメイク。
第一印象は金髪ギャル。
しかし、彼女が目立つ理由はそれだけじゃない。
わかりやすいにも程がある好意のアプローチ。
どこまでも自分の気持ちに正直な言動。
朝陽はとても眩しいと思った。
「宮本さん、凄いですね」
教室に形成された四角形。
その内面はとても綺麗な極彩色で。
今にも崩れてしまいそうな、歪な形をしていた。
Ch 72
Cherry blossoms danced on the ground and soared into the sky.
April had passed, May had begun, and the long-awaited Golden Week had arrived.
In the meantime, nothing special happened.
School life was the same.
Everyday life had not changed much either.
That was the atmosphere in the entire classroom, including Asahi's.
People were still in the process of expanding their friendship.
A time where everyone was getting to know each other.
Therefore, students who stood out really well would be in the limelight.
For example, the girl named Himuro Fuyuka.
The sight of her chatting with everyone before morning homeroom was a familiar one.
Another example was Yamada Ryoma.
On his way home from morning practice, the fresh, handsome man was surrounded by many girls in the hallway.
And also the lovebirds, Yoshikawa Chiaki and Aiba Hinami.
While Asahi was looking over the entire classroom, they were flirting next to him.
"You guys better be studying for the test at the end of this month."
"...What did you say?"
"I'm not teaching you guys this year."
"He says this, but in the end he's gonna help either way."
"Good grief, Asahi is such a tsundere."
"...Ha?"
"Please forgive us!"
The two of them, still in perfect harmony and on good terms with each other, were even more excited than usual.
It seemed that they hadn't seen each other during Golden Week and now they were making up for it.
Although the period was much shorter than the long vacations during the spring, summer and winter, he passionately said that it was hard for him to be in a situation where he knew he couldn't see her.
While he dismissed the idea as ridiculous, Asahi could also understand his feelings a little.
"Good morning, Asahi-kun."
"Mhm, Morning."
"It's been five days, right? I feel like it's been a long time."
Fuyuka arrived at Asahi's seat, probably after chatting with her classmates.
As she said, it had been a long time since they had seen each other like this.
Asahi thought about inviting Fuyuka to play with him during Golden Week.
However, as was the case with most students, Asahi had plans to return home.
Two messages arrived as if someone had seen through his state of mind.
Asahi's father, Kagami Kazuaki, said.
[If you have any plans, you don't have to come home!] 
And according to Asahi's mother, Kagami Touko.
[Isn't it an important time period? Don't be shy.] 
A dynamic father and a sensitive mother.
He also had a strong desire to offer incense to his grandfather who cared for him.
No matter what they said, he already knew what to reply.
[I'm definitely coming home.] 
That was why he hadn't seen Fuyuka in five days.
The only reason he could empathize with the lovebirds was because of the circumstances.
"Yoshikawa-kun and Hinami-san, good morning too."
Fuyuka smiled softly and naturally entered the circle of three people.
From Yoshikawa-san to Yoshikawa-kun. From Aiba-san to Hinami-san.
Asahi still felt uncomfortable hearing it, but his ears should gradually get used to it.
Above all, it was Fuyuka herself who was the most unaccustomed to it, and she looked a little embarrassed.
In contrast, Hinami looked very satisfied, and Chiaki softly smiled.
Fuyuka voluntarily changed the way she called them when she became a sophomore.
Hinami's excitement when she was called by her name for the first time was still fresh in his mind.
In this way, the four of them grew closer together.
Asahi, who wanted to take the relationship to something beyond friends.
But he was still thinking about it a lot, and was at a standstill.
However, he also understood that this couldn't go on forever.
That was why Asahi was in search of the right moment to take a step forward.
Perhaps the entire classroom was waiting for some kind of trigger.
Studying, athletics, and of course, friendships and love affairs.
Most of the students were still standing still at the moment - and among them.
"Gooood Morning~!"
The bright voice that echoed throughout the classroom drew the attention of many.
When Asahi turned his attention to the source of the voice, he found the person he had expected standing there.
Perhaps the student that would stand out the most.
Asahi thought so because she didn't know when to stop.
"Ryoma! Are you free after school today? You're not doing club activities, right?"
"Yeah, but I'm sorry, I was invited by a fellow club member."
"What a pity. I wanted to play with you."
"Then, want to go to karaoke with us? We're gathering people to come with."
"That's not what I meant! I want the two of us..."
Ryoma looked apologetic, and his classmate smiled bitterly after being easily rejected.
At the center of it all, her wavy golden hair swept over her.
"I'm sorry, Asuka. Ask me out again sometime when I'm free."
"...Okay. See you next time, I'm looking forward to it!"
Miyamoto Asuka, the girl who looked down for a moment and immediately broke into a big smile, was a bit of a celebrity in the school.
Hair color that was impossible for a Japanese person.
Her skin was boldly exposed through her untidy uniform.
Flashy makeup that could be seen from a distance.
First impression would be a blonde gal.
But that was not the only reason why she stood out.
The way she approached the one she liked was beyond obvious.
Her words and actions were overly honest.
Asahi thought she was dazzling.
"Miyamoto-san, sure is amazing."
A rectangle formed in the classroom.
The inside of it was very beautiful and very colorful.
It had a distorted shape that looked as if it would collapse at any moment.
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