第49話 氷の令嬢の絶大な影響
学生にとって、金曜日の放課後は至高の一時と表現しても過言ではないだろう。
明日になれば、二日間の休日が待っている。
そんな状況で過ごす自由な時間はとてつもなく楽しいはずだ。
もちろん、通う学校や所属する部活によっては、そもそも授業があったり、厳しい練習が待っていたりする。
ただ、少なくとも朝陽にとって、土日は休日で、金曜日の放課後は至高の一時であるはずだった。
「朝陽、お前......明日の遊園地がそんなに憂鬱なのか」
「ちげーよ、そういう意味のため息じゃない」
「じゃあ、例の朝陽フィーバーの事か?」
「......まあ、そんなとこ」
最初から分かっていたであろう千昭に対して、朝陽はもうフィーバーとやらに突っ込む気力すら残っていない。
金曜日の放課後だというのに疲労困憊な様子で、何度もため息をついては人の少ない教室に消える。
その一見、不機嫌そうに思える態度は、半ば強制的に決められた明日の予定に対してではない。
寧ろ、久しぶりに遊園地に遊びに行くこと自体は楽しみだった。
朝陽がいつになくため息が多い理由はまた別の話。
千昭の言葉を借りるなら、ここ数日の間、朝陽フィーバーが巻き起こっていたのだ。
それは何も、朝陽がいきなり人気者になったわけではなく、全ては氷室フィーバーの余波。
「火神君って氷室さんとどういう関係なの?」
「おい、裏声で変なマネするな。もう聞きたくない」
「じゃあ、男バージョンにするか?」
「そっちはもっと聞きたくない」
冬休みを境に明らかに変化を見せた氷の令嬢が、唯一下の名前を呼び、他の生徒と比べて距離が大分近い人物。
そんな生徒が存在し、しかもそれが異性となれば、良くも悪くも多方面から目を付けられるに決まっている。
実際、休み時間の度にクラスメイトだけではなく他クラスからも冬華との関係を聞かれ、つい先程に至っては面識がない先輩からも声が掛かった。
「質問への回答はあれでいいわけ? 毎度、ゲームのNPCみたいに同じ言葉を喋ってたけど」
「だって、そう言うしかないだろ。家が近くて、仲良くなった。それ以上でもそれ以下でもない」
「まあ、嘘は言ってないな。過程を省き過ぎなのは置いておいてさ」
ニヤリ、と笑う千昭を無視して、朝陽は机に突っ伏した。
黙秘を貫いても怪しまれるし、かと言って全てを話せば余計な噂が立ちかねない。
結局、当り障りのない回答をくり返すしかないのだ。
聞けば冬華も同じような質問をされているらしく、その場を収めるのに苦労しますと苦笑いを浮かべていた。
「マジで疲れてるじゃん。話すのってそんなに疲労溜まるっけ?」
「......会話自体はそんなに。どちらかと言うと、視線がきつい」
「あー、そういうことね」
「分かるのか?」
「そりゃ、少しは分かるさ。俺も時々感じるし」
互いに明確な言葉にはしないが、朝陽と千昭は意見が通じたようだった。
確かに、所構わずイチャつくバカップルはそういった視線を少なからず向けられたことがあるのかもしれない。
すなわち二人が話しているのは、チクチクと背中に刺さる不快な感情について。
「氷室さんは人気者だからな。恋心を抱いている生徒も多い。その中で一人や二人、朝陽を妬む奴もいるだろうよ」
「そいつらの矛先が俺に向く理由が全く分からん」
「それはもう、他の人と比べて二人の距離感が近いからでしょ。友達以上、恋人未満と言いますか。もしくはもう付き合ってるとか」
「んなことねえよ......」
「そうだよな。朝陽と氷室さんは友達だもんな」
若干、含みを持たせた言い方だったが、初詣の時のようにめんどくさい絡みはしてこない。
また一つ大きなため息を吐いて、力なくテーブルに突っ伏した朝陽の肩を千昭はポンポンと優しく叩く。
どうやら本気で苦労を労ってくれているらしく、いつものニヤついた笑みは鳴りを潜めていた。
「人の噂も何とやら。みんなが落ち着くのを気長に待とうぜ」
「......そうだな」
七十五日も経たずとも、余計な詮索や妬み嫉みから解放される日はそう遠くないと、朝陽は確信していた。
冬華はクラスメイトを始め、ゆっくりと学校に馴染んでいる。
連絡先には少しずつ新しい名前が追加されているらしい。
友達だと確信が持てる存在が増えるのも時間の問題だろう。
下の名前で呼び合う間柄だって、一人、また一人と自然にできるはずだ。
(俺はただ、知り合うのが早かっただけだ)
人を拒まず、言葉を交わし、微笑を浮かべる――そんな氷の令嬢、いや氷室冬華が当たり前の存在として受け入れられる日がきっと来る。
そして、いつの日か氷の令嬢が完全に姿を消す時もきっと。
「......なあ、朝陽。さっき俺、いつか噂が落ち着くって言ったよな」
「ん? ああ、言ってたな」
「すまん、前言撤回するわ」
「......は?」
「いやー、ね。新たなお客さんが来てるもんで」
ほれ、と苦笑い気味の千昭に促され、教室のドアに目を向ければそこに長身の男が立っていた。
その端正な顔は今話題沸騰中の大人気俳優に似ていて、イケメンという言葉がしっくりくる。
朝陽は全く接点がなかったが、顔を見て名前くらいはパッと思い浮かんだ。
そして、何故この場に訪れたのかも九割方察しが付く。
「火神君だよね? ちょっといいかな」
ニコリ、と爽やかな笑みを浮かべる男子生徒の名前は
Ch 49
It would not be an exaggeration to say that Friday after school was the best time for students.
From tomorrow, two days off were much awaited.
Free time spent in such a situation should be tremendously enjoyable.
Of course, depending on the school one went to or club activities one belonged to, they might have classes to begin with or rigorous practices waiting for them.
But at least for Asahi, Saturdays and Sundays were holidays, and Friday after school was supposed to be the best time of the week.
"Asahi, are you... that depressed for tomorrow's amusement park?"
"No, that's not why I'm sighing."
"So then it's because of Asahi FEVER?"
"...Well, sort of."
As for Chiaki, who must have known from the start, Asahi didn't even have the energy left to go along with his jokes.
Even though it was after school on a Friday, he looked exhausted and sighed several times before disappearing into a deserted classroom.
This seemingly grumpy attitude was not in response to tomorrow's half-assed appointment.
In fact, he was looking forward to going to the amusement park for the first time in a long time.
The reason why Asahi was sighing more than usual was due to another story.
To borrow Chiaki's words, the Asahi FEVER had been going on for the past few days.
It was not because Asahi suddenly became popular, but rather it was due to the aftermath of Himuro FEVER.
"What's your relationship with Himuro-san, Kagami-kun?"
"Hey, don't imitate a girl with that voice. I don't want to hear it."
"Shall we do a male version then?"
"No, I'd hate to hear that more."
A student who was called by their first name by the "Ice lady" and looked much closer to her than the other students.
If such a student did exist, he or she was bound to attract attention from many students, both good and bad.
In fact, every time they had a break, not only his classmates but also other classes would ask him about his relationship with Fuyuka, and as recently as a few minutes ago, a senior who Asahi had never met before approached him.
"Are those answers fine? Every time, you spoke the same words, like an NPC in a game."
"Cause that's all there is. We live close to each other and we got along well. Nothing more, nothing less."
"Well, I'm not lying. I'm just leaving out too much of the details."
Ignoring Chiaki's grin, Asahi plopped down on his desk.
If he kept silent, it would look suspicious, but if he told them everything, it might start unnecessary rumors.
In the end, he had no choice but to repeat the same bland answers.
When Asahi asked Fuyuka about it, she smiled bitterly, saying that she was also being asked the same question, and that she would have a hard time containing the situation.
"You're really tired. Is talking really that exhausting?"
"The conversation itself is not so much. If anything, the stares are what tires me out."
"Oh, I see."
"You feel me?"
"Yeah, I know a little bit about that. I feel it too, sometimes."
Although they didn't speak clearly to each other, Asahi and Chiaki seemed to have reached a conclusion.
Indeed, the flirting lovebirds may have received more than a little of that kind of attention at some point.
In other words, they were talking about unpleasant feelings that prickle and sting them in the back.
"Himuro-san is very popular, after all. There are many students who are in love with her. I'm sure one or two of them will be jealous of you."
"I have no idea why they'd turn on me."
"That's because you're closer than most people, aren't you? You're more than friends, but less than lovers. Or maybe you're already in a relationship."
"That's not the case..."
"That's right. Because you and Himuro-san are just friends, right?"
He said it in a slightly suggestive way, but he didn't say it in an annoying way like he did before.
Letting out another big sigh, Chiaki gently pats Asahi on the shoulder as he plops down on the table without strength.
Apparently, he was serious about what he said, and his usual smirk had faded.
"What's the use of talking about others? Let's wait patiently for everyone to settle down."
"...Yeah."
Even though seventy-five days had not passed, Asahi was sure that the day when he would be free from unnecessary prying and jealousy was not far off.
Fuyuka was slowly adjusting to school, starting with her classmates.
It seemed that new names were being added to her contact list little by little.
It was only a matter of time before she made friends.
She would gradually be able to call others by their first names, one by one.
'I just got to know you a little earlier.'
Didn't reject people, able to communicate, and could smile. The day would come when that kind of "Ice Lady" or rather Himuro Fuyuka would be accepted as a natural part of the world.
And someday, the "Ice Lady" will completely disappear.
"...Hey, Asahi. I told you earlier that the rumors would settle down someday, right?"
"Hmm? Yeah, you mentioned it."
"My bad, I take that back."
"...Ha?"
"Well... you know. We've got a new customer."
When Chiaki urged him to look at the door of the classroom, a tall man was standing there.
His neat face resembled that of a very popular actor who was currently the talk of the town, and the word "handsome" fit him well.
Asahi didn't know him personally, but when he saw his face, his name at least came to mind quickly.
And Asahi had a pretty good idea why he was here.
"Kagami-kun, right? Can I talk to you for a second?"
The name of the boy who smiled so freshly was Yamada Ryoma.
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