第9話:試合
「さて、行くかな」
家から出て空を見上げると、雲ひとつない青空が広がっていた。サッカーの試合をするには最高のコンディションと言えるだろう。だが、空の澄み渡る青さと裏腹に、俺の心は泥のように濁っている。
それはもちろんスマホ越しであんな行為を見せつけられてしまったからだ。あれから俺は羽月を憎んでると言っても過言じゃない。羽月の顔も見たくないし、声も聞きたくない。あいつの顔を見るだけで俺は苛々して、罵詈雑言を打ち撒けたい欲望を抑えるのに苦労をした。
しかも、夜に一人で部屋に篭っていると、どうしても羽月との楽しかった記憶や、幸せだった記憶、嬉しかった記憶が頭の中を過ってしまい、腹の底から吐き気のようなズクズクとした何かが込み上げてきて、俺は気付いたら涙を流していた。
さっさと寝てしまおうとしても、目を瞑るとあの光景がフラッシュバックするので眠ることも出来なかった。
(地獄だったな、この一週間は......)
俺は足取り重く集合場所へ向かって歩き始めた。
「ゆーくん、おはよー」
声がした方を振り向くと、いつもの明るい笑顔を浮かべながら、小走りで近寄ってくる奏がいた。俺は奏の顔を見た途端に、ホッしてしまう。
「おはよ。今日の試合頑張るな」
「うん! 今日の相手はうちよりも強豪校だけど、ゆーくんなら大丈夫って思ってるよ」
「奏にそこまで言われたら頑張るしかないよな」
「そうだよ! みんなもたくさん頑張って来たんだもん! 絶対に勝てるよ!」
俺が通っている高校は進学校だが、サッカー部は県内で比較的強い方だとされている。実は奏がマネージャーになって、練習方法を大改革してくれた成果だった。
「それにしても、昨年度のインハイ出場校に良く練習試合を承諾してもらえたよな」
「私たちも前回大会では比較的良い結果を残したしね。あちらも意識してくれてるのかな? それとも強すぎず弱すぎないチームに勝つことで、自分たちに勢いをつけるためだったりね」
「どっちもありそうだよな。だったら尚更負けるわけには行かねぇよな!」
「その意気だよ! あちらをブチのめしてこっちが勢いに乗っちゃおうね!」
俺と奏はたくさん話をして、たくさん笑い合った。試合が終わってからのことで頭がいっぱいのはずなのに、お互いがそれに一切触れようとしない。俺も奏も不安なのだ。だって、今までの俺たちの人生で大きな割合を占めていた人間関係を、自らの手で断絶しようとしているのだから。
「絶対に勝つぞ! 気合い入れろぉ!!!」
「「「「「おぉぉぉぉ!!!!!!!」」」」」
新チームになって最初の試合が、いよいよ始まろうとしている。相手校のグラウンドで試合をすることもあり、ギャラリーは相手チームの応援に来た人たちでほとんどだ。
観客席を見渡すと、羽月と光輝が並んで立っているのが見えた。俺が見ていることに気付いたのか、羽月は手を振ってジェスチャーで頑張れと応援をしてくれている。俺は軽く手を上げて、すぐに後ろを振り向きチームメイトの元へ向かった。
試合は大方の予想に反して、ウチが圧倒的に攻勢だった。その要因になったのは何を隠そう、この俺だ。
最悪なコンディションのときにベストパフォーマンスなんて皮肉なものだよな。多分俺がこの試合にかける意気込みは、正直みんなよりも低い。モチベがゼロってことはないのだが、どうしてもこれからのことを考えると完全に集中することなんて出来なかった。
結局試合は3対1でうちの勝利で終わった。俺は1ゴール2アシストという結果となり、今回のヒーローと言ってもいいだろう。
試合終了の挨拶が終わると、チームメイトが俺を囲んでベチベチと背中を叩いてくる。痛ぇよって笑いながらベンチを見ると、奏は他のマネージャーと抱き合って喜びを分かち合っていた。
チームメイトたちからの手荒い祝福からなんとか逃れた俺は、ベンチに座って身体を休めながら観客席に目線を送った。そこには羽月と光輝がハイタッチしながら喜んでいる姿が目に入る。
(やめてくれ......そんな姿を俺に見せつけないでくれ......)
羽月と光輝の姿を見てしまうと、心が壊れてしまう感覚になる。あいつらは彼女が寝取られてることにも気付かずに、部活でちょっとヒーローになったくらいで浮かれてやがるって笑い合ってるんだろうか。ハイタッチまでしてそんなに俺がピエロになるのが嬉しいのかよ。
俺は苛々を抑えることができなかった。しかし今俺が考えていることは全て被害妄想なのだ。分かってる。分かってるけどそんなの関係ないだろ。俺にはどうすることもできないだろ。クソ......。
「ゆーくん......」
ベンチに座りながら、下を向き頭を抱えている俺の肩に奏が手を置いた。
「大丈夫? ううん。大丈夫な訳ないよね。だけど一人で抱え込まないで。私がいるから。ゆーくんが辛い気持ちを私も背負うから」
俺が顔を上げると、いつもの笑顔を浮かべた奏がいた。
「だってさ、私たち幼馴染みじゃない」
「あぁ。うん、そうだよな。本当にありがとな、奏。いつも俺のことを助けてくれて」
「小学生のときなんて、もっとたくさんゆーくんのこと助けてたもんね。これくらい余裕だよ! 元気出たみたいだし、次の勝負も頑張ろうね」
「奏のお陰でなんとかなりそうだ。頼りにしてるよ」
「悪い! 今日の対戦校からさ、試合だけじゃなくてこれから一緒に練習しませんか? って言われちゃってさ。急遽合同練習をすることになったんだよ。だからさ、羽月と光輝だけで先に帰ってくれないか? せっかく応援に来てくれたのに本当にすまん! 今度埋め合わせするからさ」
手を合わせて下を向き、極力2人の顔を見ないように説明をする。今この2人と正面から顔を突き合わせられるほど俺の心は強くない。
「別に気にしなくても良いわよ。それにしても今日の優李は本当にかっこよかったわよ。優李って勉強もできるし、サッカーでも中心選手だなんてちょっとしたチートよね」
「いや、マジで凄かったぞ! 次の試合も応援に来るからな! 別に今日のことは気にするなよ! 羽月はちゃんと送り届けるから安心しろな」
(送り届けるってどこにだよ?)
2人の関係がバレていないと思っている光輝が、クズな発言をしたことでブチ切れそうになってしまったが、なんとか理性を手放さないことができた。
「あぁ、ありがとな、二人とも......。じゃあ、俺はそろそろ行くな」
「頑張ってねー」「奏にもよろしくな」と俺の背中に声を送ってくれるが、振り向きもせずにチームメイトの元までダッシュで駆け抜けた。
Volume 1 - Ch 9
"Well, let's get going."
As I walked out of the house and looked up at the sky, I saw a blue sky without a single cloud. The conditions were perfect for a soccer match. But despite the clear blue of the sky, my mind was as muddy as mud.
That is, of course, because I had been shown such an act through my phone. It is no exaggeration to say that I have hated Hazuki ever since then. I don't want to see her face, and I don't want to hear her voice. Just looking at her face makes me so irritated that I have a hard time suppressing my desire to hurl cuss words at her.
Moreover, when I was alone in my room at night, memories of the fun, happiness, and joy I had with Hazuki would flood my mind, and something like nausea would well up in the pit of my stomach, and I would find myself in tears.
I tried to fall asleep quickly, but I couldn't because the scene kept flashing back to me when I tried to meditate.
(This past week has been hell...)
I started walking heavily toward the meeting place.
"Yuu-kun, good morning."
I turn toward the voice and see Kanade approaching me at a trot with her usual bright smile on her face. I was relieved as soon as I saw her face.
"Good morning. Good luck in today's game."
"Today's opponent is a stronger school than ours, but I'm sure Yuu-kun will be fine."
"If Kanade told me that much, I have no choice but to do my best."
"That's right! Every one of us has been working very hard! I'm sure you'll win!"
The high school I go to is a preparatory school, but the soccer team is considered one of the stronger ones in the prefecture. In fact, it was the result of Kanade becoming the manager and revolutionizing the way we practice.
"I'm glad the school that competed in last year's In-High School tournament agreed to play a practice match with us."
"We did relatively well in the last tournament, too. I wonder if they are aware of that. Or is it to give themselves a boost by beating a team that is not too strong or too weak?"
"It could be either. If that is the case, we can't afford to lose, can we?"
"That's the spirit! Let's beat them and get our momentum going!"
We talked a lot and laughed a lot. We were both so preoccupied with what we were going to do after the match, but neither of us wanted to talk about it. Both Kanade and I are worried. Because we are about to sever by our own hands the relationships that have made up such a large part of our lives until now.
"We're gonna win! Get fired up!!!!"
"""""OOO!!!!!!!!"""""
The first game of the new team is about to begin. Since the game is to be played on the opposing school's field, the gallery is mostly made up of people who have come to cheer on the opposing team.
I look over at the bleachers and see Hazuki and Kouki standing side by side. Perhaps noticing that I was looking at her, Hazuki waved her hand and gestured for me to do my best, and cheered me on. I raised my hand lightly and quickly turned around and headed back to my teammates.
Contrary to most expectations, ours was by far the most aggressive team in the match. I was the one who was responsible for that.
It's ironic that my best performance comes in the worst conditions. I probably have less enthusiasm for this match than everyone else, to be honest. It's not that I have zero motivation, but I just couldn't fully concentrate on what I was going to do.
In the end, the game ended in a 3-1 win for us. I ended up with one goal and two assists, so I guess you could say I was the hero of the game.
After the game was over, my teammates surrounded me and slapped me on the back. Laughing at the pain, I looked at the bench and saw Kanade hugging and sharing her joy with the other managers.
I managed to escape my teammates' rough congratulations, and I sat down on the bench to rest my body while I looked out at the audience. There I saw Hazuki and Kouki high-fiving each other in delight.
(Please stop ...... don't let me see you like that ......)
When I see Hazuki and Kouki, I get the feeling that my heart is broken. I wonder if those guys don't even realize that she's getting laid and are laughing at each other about how they're just floating around being a bit of a hero in club activities. I wonder if they even high-five each other and are that happy to see me turn into a clown.
I couldn't suppress my irritation. But everything I'm thinking right now is paranoia. I know that. I know, but it doesn't matter. I can't do anything about it. Damn it...
"Yuu-kun ......"
I was sitting on the bench, looking down and holding my head, when Kanade put her hand on my shoulder.
"Are you okay? No, of course not. There's no way you're okay. But you don't have to go through this alone. I'm here. I'll bear the pain you're going through."
I looked up and saw Kanade with her usual smile on her face.
"Because, you know, we've known each other since childhood."
"Ah. Yeah, you're right. I really appreciate it, Kanade. You always helped me out."
"When I was in elementary school, I helped Yuu-kun a lot more. I can afford this much! It looks like you're feeling better, so let's do our best in the next round."
"Thanks to Kanade, I'm going to be able to manage. I'm counting on you."
"My bad. The opposing school today asked me if I would like to practice with them from now on, in addition to the game. It was decided suddenly to have a joint practice. So, Hazuki and Kouki, could you just go home first? I'm really sorry for coming all this way to support us! I'll make it up to you next time."
I explained to them by putting my hands together, looking down, and trying not to look at their faces as much as possible. My heart is not strong enough to face these two people head-on right now.
"You don't have to worry about it. Yuuri was really cool today, by the way. Yuuri can study well, and he's also a soccer player, which is a bit unfair, isn't it?
"No, seriously, you were awesome! I'll be there to cheer you on in the next game! Don't worry about what happened today! I'll make sure Hazuki gets home safe and sound."
(Where the hell are you sending her off to?).
Kouki, who thinks their relationship is unknown, almost snapped when he made the scummy remark, but he managed to keep his reason in his hands.
"Oh, thanks, you two... well, I'd better be on my way."
He sends a shout to my back, "Good luck," and "Say hi to Kanade for me," but I don't even turn around and dash past them to my teammates.
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