第91話 眩しい先へ
じめじめとした雨続きの日が終わり、外は明るく温かい陽光に包まれていた。
夏が近づくにつれ、不思議と気分が高揚するのは、長期休みが待っているからだろうか。
山に海、プールにバーベキュー、お祭りは毎日のように開催され、特大の花火が夜空を彩る。
嫌がらせかと不満を言いたくなる大量の課題から目を逸らせば、大抵の学生にとって夏休みとは夢のような日々だ。
友達と遊ぶも良し、祖父母の家に帰省するも良し、はたまた自分だけの時間を存分に楽しむのも良し。
そんな楽しい未来を前にして、ぼーっと呆けている男が一人。
夏の暑さにやられてしまったのか。それにしては空調が効いて、涼しい空間にいる。
薄暗い部屋は広々としていて、目の前だけが眩しく照らされていた。
いい雰囲気だな、と直感的に思う。
宝石のような瞳は僅かに潤み、桜色に染まる頬から恥じらいが見て取れた。
甘い吐息が、肌に触れる。
「愛してる」
その一言を境に、二人の唇が重なった。
と、スクリーンに映るキスシーンを見ながら朝陽はふと考える。
映画の中のカップルは数々の試練を乗り越え、幸せの絶頂を迎えていた。
たった2時間弱の映像だが、作中時間では1年が経過していることになる。
客観的に見れば、とても遠回りでもどかしく、直線距離を教えてあげたくなる恋路だった。
この映画に登場する男女のように、現実の恋愛も当事者とそうではない人では見え方が違ってくるのかもしれない。
ふと隣を見れば、冬華が静かに涙を流していた。
その美しい横顔に、つい見惚れてしまう。
「いい映画でしたね......!」
エンドロールが流れ、館内の照明が一斉に光を宿す。
その明るさに負けず劣らず、嬉々として感想を語る冬華の目は輝いていた。
ひとまず席を立つことにして、近場のカフェへと移動する。
「ラストの演出が特に良くて、あの伏線がまさかここで回収されるとは」
熱く語る冬華と、相槌を打つ朝陽。
実を言うと、最後は隣に夢中で内容を覚えていないのだが、総じていい映画だったという評価は頷ける。
「冬華はこれが好きなんだな」
朝陽が言うと、冬華は少し照れくさそうに頷く。
今日こうして二人で映画を見に来たのは、とある告白をきっかけに由来する。
告白と言っても、恋愛感情を伝えたわけではないが。
それと限りなく近い気持ちをお互いにさらけ出した結果だ。
お互いのことをもっと知りたい。
決して悪い意味ではなく、それが一番だと二人が願ったのだ。
「この映画、冬華が前に読んでた小説が原作なんだろ?」
「かなり前の作品なのですが、今になって映画化、そして大ヒットのようです」
「今度それ貸してよ」
「小説も読んでくれるんですか?」
「うん。普通に興味あるし」
正確には、冬華が好きなものに、だが。
冬華は嬉しそうに微笑んで、次々とオススメの作品を紹介していく。
砂糖を入れ過ぎて甘くなったカフェオレを片手に、朝陽もまた口元を緩めて話を聞いた。
そして今度は冬華の誘いで、有名な料理店に行くことになっている。
こちらは朝陽がいつか行きたいと話していたお店だ。
こうやって二人は前よりも会話が増え、理解が深まり、何より一緒にいる時間が増えた。
お互いにどこか吹っ切れたように晴れやかな表情をしていて、意識し合いながらも大きくは変わらない日常が続く。
しかし、いつまでもこのままではいられない。
このままで終わらせたくない、と強く思うようになった。
「冬華」
「はい?」
唐突に名前を呼ばれ、冬華は首を傾げる。
「夏休みの初め、近くで大きな祭りがあるの知ってるだろ?」
言い淀むことなく、朝陽は言葉を続ける。
「一緒に行こうぜ」
準備はもう、できている。
「......実は、私も誘おうとしていました」
「マジか、そりゃ偶然だな」
「朝陽くんは浴衣着ますか?」
「そうだな......冬華に合わせるよ」
冬が過ぎ、春が来て、夏が近づく。
移ろう季節の中で、二人の関係性も変わろうとしていた。
Ch 91
The damp, rainy day ended, the sun was shining all bright and warm outside.
As summer approached, everyone felt strangely uplifted, perhaps because of the long vacation that awaited them.
Mountains and seas, pools and barbecues, festivals were held every day, and oversized fireworks lit up the night sky.
For most students, summer vacation was a dream come true, that was if they could turn their attention away from the large amount of assignments that made them feel like they were in h**l.
You could play with your friends, go back to your grandparents' house, or just enjoy your own time to the fullest.
In the face of such a joyful future, there was one man who was in a daze.
Had the summer heat gotten the best of him? For that matter, he was in a room with air conditioning.
The dimly lit room was spacious with light arriving in front of him.
'It's a nice atmosphere.' He intuitively thought.
Her jewel-like eyes moistened slightly, and he could see the shame in her cherry-red cheeks.
Her sweet breath touched his skin.
"I love you."
With those words, their lips met -
As Asahi watched the kissing scene on the screen.
The couple in the movie had overcome many trials and tribulations and were at the peak of their happiness.
The film was only less than two hours long, but in production time, a year has passed.
Objectively speaking, it was a very roundabout and frustrating way to express your affection for someone.
Like the man and woman in the film, real life love may look different for those who were involved and those who were not.
When Asahi looked next to him, he saw Fuyuka quietly shedding tears.
He couldn't help but admire her beautiful profile.
"That was such a good movie...!"
The credits played, and the lights in the theater all lit up at once.
Fuyuka's eyes were as bright as her cheerfulness as she happily shared her impressions.
They decided to leave their seats for the time being and moved to a nearby cafe.
"The last part of the movie was particularly good, and I didn't expect that foreshadowing to be resolved at the ending."
Fuyuka spoke enthusiastically, and Asahi gave his opinion.
As a matter of fact, he was so engrossed looking at her at the end that he didn't remember the content, but he couldn't help but appreciate that it was a good movie in general.
"So this is what you like."
When Asahi said this, Fuyuka nodded, looking a little embarrassed.
The reason why they came to see a movie together today was because of a certain confession.
Though it was called a confession, nothing romantic related was spoken.
It was the result of exposing each other to their feelings deep within.
They wanted to know more about each other.
Not in a bad way, but it was what they both hoped was best.
"This movie is based on a novel that you've read before, right?"
"It was written quite some time ago, but now it's being made into a movie and it seems to be a big hit."
"Can I borrow it sometime?"
"Will you read the novel too?"
"Yeah. I'm quite interested."
More precisely, to what Fuyuka liked.
Fuyuka smiled happily and introduced the recommended works one after another.
With a cup of cafe au lait sweetened with too much sugar in his hand, Asahi also listened with a relaxed mouth.
And now Fuyuka had invited him to go to a famous restaurant.
This was the restaurant that Asahi had been talking about going to someday.
In this way, they were able to talk more, understand each other more, and most importantly, spend more time together than before.
They both looked radiant, as if they'd been afloat, and their daily lives continued, largely unchanged despite their awareness of each other.
But they couldn't stay like this forever.
Asahi began to feel strongly that he didn't want things to end like this.
"Fuyuka."
"Yes?"
Fuyuka tilted her head when her name was suddenly called.
"You know there's gonna be a big festival nearby at the beginning of summer vacation, right?"
Without hesitation, Asahi continued to speak.
"Let's go together."
He was already determined.
"...Actually, I was just about to ask you too."
"Really? Man, what a coincidence."
"Will you be wearing a yukata, Asahi-kun?"
"Let's see... Alright, I'll match with you, Fuyuka."
Winter had passed, spring had come, and summer was approaching.
In the midst of the changing seasons, their relationship was about to change.
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