第4話:楽しい買い物
「そろそろ総体の予選に向けて、練習試合がたくさん組まれるでしょ? それでさ、買いたい物が結構あるんだけど、私一人だと大変だからゆーくんも一緒について来てくれないかな?」
「あぁ、もちろん付き合うよ! っていうか、もっと頼ってくれていいんだからな」
奏は本当に一流のマネージャーだと思う。
効率的に上達するために必要な練習道具や備品を準備したり、最新の練習メソッドを勉強してはそれを練習に組み込んでくれる。最初は半信半疑だったチームメイトも、奏の言う通りにしたら本当に試合に勝てるようになっていったので、今となっては監督よりも信頼度が高いかも知れない。
ちなみに監督は、英語の教鞭を振るっている平家先生だ。もちろんサッカーは素人である。最初から信頼度など高いわけがなかった。
次の総体で俺たち3年生は部活動から引退することになるのだが、レギュラーメンバーがいなくなるよりも、正直奏が抜けるのがチームにとって大打撃だろう。それくらいチームにとって奏は欠かせない存在なのだ。
「ちなみにどこまで買いに行くんだ?」
「電車でちょっと行ったところに、大型のスポーツ用品店が出来たの知ってる? そこにさ、サッカーの特設コーナーがあって、海外のチームで取り入れられてる商品とかも展示してるんだって。そこに見に行きたいんだよね」
「そんなのができたんだ! それは行ってみたいな! けど奏はその展示物が目当てなのか? 部費で買える気がしないんだけど......」
「あっ、ごめんごめん。実際に買うのは別だよ。スポドリとかプロテインとかそっち関係が目当てなの。だけど、海外チームが練習に取り入れてる機材だよ? そんなの見てみたくなっちゃうよ」
「奏は本当に好奇心旺盛だよな! そのお陰でチームが強くなったんだからやっぱり奏は凄いよ」
チラッと奏を見ると、顔を真っ赤にして照れているのだとひと目でわかる。昔から奏はそうだった。俺が褒めるとすぐに顔を赤くしてモジモジし始めるのだ。それを見るのが楽しくて俺はついつい調子に乗って褒めまくってしまう。
「この3年間を振り返るとさ、どれだけ奏の存在が俺の中で大きかったのかって本当に分かるよ。お前がいなかったら絶対に今の俺はなかったって断言出来るぜ! いつも一緒に頑張ってくれて嬉しいよ」
奏はアウアウ言いながら、スカートをギュッと握りしてめ......俺のことを睨んできた。
「ゆーくんの意地悪。そうやっていつも私を照れさせて楽しんでるんだから......」
「ははっ、悪い悪い。お詫びに買い出しのときにカフェで奢るから許してくれよ」
「むぅー! 仕方ないなぁ! 絶対だからね!」
「うぉぉ! ここのスポーツ用品店は本当にめちゃくちゃ広いな!」
国内最大級を誇るこのスポーツ用品店は、サッカーや野球、テニスなどのメジャー競技はもちろん、クリケットやスカッシュなどのマイナー競技のアイテムを取り揃えている。
「本当だねぇ。端っこが見えないよ!」
奏がピョンピョンとジャンプしながら、店内の端を見ようと努力している。つか、今日はスカートなのに、ジャンプなんてしてるから中が見えそうになってるじゃねぇか! もうちょっと自分が可愛い女の子だって気付いてくれ!
「おい、奏......スカートの中が見えそうになってるぞ。ったく、気を付けろよ」
「うわっ! ......ゆーくんひょっとして見たの?」
スカートを手で押えながら、上目遣いでジト目なんて......ご褒美じゃないか!
......いや、違う。今はそんな場合じゃない。
「いや、見てない! 見てないから!」
「本当かなぁ? けど、今日の水色の下着はお気に入りだから、見られてもあんまり恥ずかしくないけどね!」
「え? 薄いピンクじゃなかった??」
..................あっ。
「んんん~~~~! ゆーくんのばかぁ!!!」
「本当に悪かった! 反省してる! だからそろそろ機嫌を直してくれよ。カフェでスイーツも奢るから、なっ!?」
するとさっきまで頬を膨らませていた奏が、ニヤリと笑った。
「ふっふっふ! ゆーくん言ったね? じゃあ、ここの近くにオシャレなカフェがあるからそこに行こうよ! バスクチーズケーキが有名らしいんだよねぇ!」
「おっ、お前! まさか俺にスイーツを奢らせるために剝れてやがったな!」
「ふふーん。さぁ、どうでしょうか? けど、奢るってもう言っちゃったから、やっぱやーめたーはダメなんだからね!」
「ったく。奏には本当に敵わないよ」
俺は頭をガリガリと掻きながら言うと、奏は満足気な顔をして店内を物色し始める。俺はそんな後ろ姿を見ながら、奏はどうして俺のことをそんなにも気にかけてくれるんだろうって思った。幼馴染み......というだけでは、こんなにも親身になってくれないだろう。
多分奏は俺のことを......。
俺が勘違いクソ野郎じゃなければ、奏の気持ちはそういうことなのだろう。だけど奏からの好意は、他の子たちとは違って打算をあまり感じることはなかった。
ありがたいことに、羽月と別れたことに周囲が気付き始めてから、性別関係なくたくさんの人からお誘いを受けることがあった。だけど、恋愛絡みに発展しそうなお誘いが多くて、今の俺にはちょっとツライなっていうのが正直なところだった。ちなみに男からのお誘いは合コンだ。決してそういうお誘いではない。
だから、そういう裏の狙いを全然感じない奏といることが、今の俺にとって一番の癒しになっていた。
「んん〜〜〜! 美味しい! 最近流行ってたから食べてみたかったのよ」
頬に手を添えながら、モグモグとバスクチーズケーキを食べてる姿はまるでリスのようだった。奏は身長も高くないし、小動物感がハンパないんだよな。俺は目の前で幸せそうにしてる奏を見ているだけで、心が温かくなるのを感じていた。
「おいおい、そんなに急いで食べるなよ。別に誰も取らないって」
「だって! めちゃくちゃ美味しいんだよ! こんなにチーズの味が濃厚で、しっとりしたチーズケーキ初めて食べたよ! しかもね、全然くどくないから、最後まで美味しく食べられそう!」
「奏がスイーツ好きって知ってたけど、まさか食リポするくらい語るとは思わなかったわ」
そういうと、自分でも興奮しすぎたと思ったのか、フォークの先端を口で加えながら顔を赤らめて俯いてしまった。そして、上目遣いで俺の顔を見てくる。
「だってさ、こんなに美味しいの久しぶりに食べたし、ゆーくんとはいつも駅前のチェーン店くらいしか行ったことがなかったじゃない? だからさ、これからはもっと色々なところに行って、ゆーくんと遊びたいなって思ってるんだけど。............ダメかな?」
「奏にそんなこと言われてダメなんていう男はいないだろ! 色々なところに一緒に遊びに行こうぜ!」
「うん! ありがとう! あとさ、悟くんや梢ちゃんも誘って一緒に遊びたいよね!」
「あぁ、そうだな。とりあえず部活は総体で一区切りつくし、その後に遊びに行きたいよな。来年は受験もあるから、毎日のようには遊べないけど、みんなんで一緒に高3の思い出作りしたいよな!」
「したいしたい! 絶対に楽しいよ! んふふ。今から楽しみになっちゃったなぁ」
「どう考えても気が早いだろ。ひとまずは総体まで一緒に全力で頑張ろうな!」
「サポートは任せてね! 全力で取り組むからさ」
そのあと俺たちは、これから始まる総体予選と体育祭の話で盛り上がった。こんなに楽しいって思った時間は久しぶりだったな。本当に奏には頭が上がらないや。
Volume 2 - Ch 4
"You know there are going to be a lot of practice games soon for the qualifying rounds of the national tournament, right? Well, I have a lot of things I want to buy, but it's going to be hard for me to do it by myself, so I was wondering if you could come with me."
"Oh, of course, I'll go with you! I mean, you can rely on me more.
I think Kanade is a really top-notch manager.
She prepares the necessary practice tools and equipment for efficiency improvement, studies the latest practices, and incorporates them into our practices. My teammates, who were skeptical at first, started to win games when they followed Kanade's advice, so I think she may be more reliable than the coach.
The coach, by the way, is Heike-sensei, who teaches English. He is, of course, an amateur soccer player. There was no way he could be trusted from the beginning.
The next general competition will mark the retirement of the third-year students from club activities, and the loss of Kanade will be a bigger blow to the team than the loss of regular members. Kanade is such an indispensable member of the team.
"By the way, where do you go to buy stuff?
"Do you know that there is a new large sporting goods store just a short train ride away? There, they have a special section for soccer, and they display products used by foreign teams. I'd like to go there and check it out."
"I didn't know they had such a thing! I want to go there! But is Kanade there for those items on display? I don't think we can afford it with the club's expenses..."
"Ah, sorry, sorry. I'm not actually buying those things. I'm looking for sports drinks, protein, and that kind of thing. However, I'd like to see the equipment that foreign teams use for training. I'd love to see that."
"Kanade is really curious, isn't she? It's because of this that the team has become stronger, so Kanade is great."
When I glanced at Kanade, I could tell at a glance that her face was bright red and she was embarrassed. It has always been like that with Kanade. Whenever I give her a compliment, she immediately starts blushing and fidgeting. It was fun to watch, and I would get carried away and give her lots of compliments.
"Looking back over the past three years, I realize how much Kanade has meant to me. I can say with absolute certainty that I wouldn't be where I am today without you! I'm glad you've always worked so hard with me."
Kanade said "uuuuuu", squeezing her skirt and glaring at me...
"Yuu-kun's mean. That's how you always enjoy making me embarrassed..."
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'll buy you a drink at the cafe when we go shopping to make up for it."
"Mouu! I can't help it! You promised okay!"
"Wow! This sporting goods store here is really insanely spacious!"
This sporting goods store, one of the largest in Japan, stocks items for major sports such as soccer, baseball, and tennis, as well as minor sports such as cricket and squash.
"It's true. I can't see the end!"
Kanade jumps and jumps as she makes an effort to see the edges of the store. You're wearing a skirt today, and you're jumping around so much that I can almost see what's going on inside! You should know you're a pretty girl already!
"Hey, Kanade... I can almost see the inside of your skirt. Be careful!"
"Mwaaa!... Did you see it by any chance?"
Holding your skirt down with your hands, and looking up and jittery eyes is a... reward isn't it...!
...No, no. Now is not the time.
"No, I-I didn't see it! I didn't look!"
"Really? But today's light blue underwear is my favorite, so I wouldn't be too embarrassed if you saw me!"
"What? Wasn't it light pink?"
.........Ah
"Hnnn... Yuu-kun no bakaaa!!!"
"I'm so sorry! I'm remorseful! So it's time for you to get in a better mood. I'll even buy you some sweets at the cafe."
Then Kanade, whose cheeks had been puffed out earlier, grinned.
"Pfft! Yuu-kun, you said that, right? Well then, there's a fashionable cafe near here, let's go there! I hear they're famous for their basque cheesecake!"
"Oh, you! No way, you've sulked to get me to buy you sweets!"
"Hmmm. I don't know. But you already said you'd buy me a drink, so you can't just quit!"
"My goodness. I really can't compete with Kanade."
I scratched my head and said to Kanade, who looked satisfied and started looking around the store. As I watched her back, I wondered why Kanade cared so much about me. I don't think she would be so sympathetic to me just because we've known each other since childhood...
Maybe Kanade is about me...
If I'm not a misunderstood b*****d, that's probably how Kanade feels about me. But unlike the other girls, I didn't get much of a sense of calculation from Kanade's favors.
Thankfully, since people around me started to notice that I had broken up with Hazuki, I have received invitations from many people, regardless of gender. However, there were many invitations that seemed to develop into romantic relationships, and I have to admit that it's a little hard for me right now. Incidentally, the invitations from men were for blind dates. It was never that kind of invitation.
So, being with Kanade, who I don't feel is trying to get me to do anything, is the most comforting thing for me right now.
"Mmmmmm! Delicious! It's been all the rage lately, so I had to try it."
She looked like a squirrel as she mugged and ate her bask cheesecake with her hand on her cheek. Kanade isn't very tall, and she doesn't look like a little animal. I felt my heart warm just watching Kanade looking so happy in front of me.
"Hey, hey, don't eat so fast. No one is going to take it."
"Because! It's so delicious! I've never had a cheesecake with such a rich and moist cheese flavor! And it's not at all bland, so I'm sure I'll be able to enjoy it all the way through!"
"I knew Kanade liked sweets, but I didn't think she would talk about it enough to do a food report."
When I said this, she blushed and turned her head over while adding the tip of the fork with her mouth, as if she thought she had gotten too excited herself. Then she looked at me with an upward glance.
"I hadn't had such a delicious meal in a long time, and Yuu-kun and I had always only gone to chain restaurants in front of the station. I'd like to go to more places and have fun with Yuu-kun from now on. ...Is it okay?"
"No man would say no to Kanade when she says that! Let's go play together in various places!"
"Yes! Thanks! Also, I want to invite Satoru-kun and Kozue-chan to hang out with us too!"
"Oh, yes, that's right. We'll have a break from club activities after the tournament, and after that, we'll go out and have fun. Next year, we will have to take the entrance exam, so we won't be able to play every day, but I want to make memories of my senior year with everyone!"
"I want to do it! It's definitely fun! I'm really looking forward to it. I'm really looking forward to it."
"I don't think it's too early to say. Let's just do our best together until the competition."
"I'll do my best to support you. I'll give it my all."
After that, we had a lot of fun talking about the upcoming qualifying rounds for the national team competition and the gymnastics festival. I haven't had this much fun in a long time. I really can't thank Kanade enough.
After Being Betrayed By My Beloved Childhood Friend and Best friend, It Was Another Childhood friend Who Saved Me
最愛の幼馴染みと親友に裏切られた俺を救ってくれたのはもう一人の幼馴染みだった
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/after-being-betrayed-by-my-beloved-childhood-friend-and-best-friend-it-was-another-childhood-friend-who-saved-me/
Drama Romance
Beautiful Female Lead Betrayal Childhood Friends Depression First Love First-time Interc**rse Love Triangles Male Protagonist Modern Day Netorare Obsessive Love Revenge
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n0937hf/
音の中