物語「GreatesT’rip Jum”V”oyage」01 okujyou jum'v'oyage『序』(壱)-1

人がうらやむような、すごい旅に出てみよう、なんて。

お昼の教室は騒がしい。騒がしさの元となっている人たちを観察しながら、気づいたことがある。

　時間があったら聞いてほしい、大した話じゃないけれど。

　大体クラスの人たちは、５〜６種類くらいのグループに分かれると思っている。もっとも、わたしの中学は共学なので、女子校、男子校の場合は分からないけれど。

　まず、女子。教室の中央には、明るい健全優等生グループが輪を作る。集まり方も先生受けもきっちり、ばっちり。でも勉強だけでもなくて、部活とかもちゃんと遣ってる感じ。髪の色は変えていても焦げ茶くらい。男の子受けの良い感じ、一番女の子っぽいし。でも、一番やかましいのも彼女たちだ。メルヘン世界なら森のハチドリ、子鹿、子犬たち楽団の集まりみたい。

　窓側、黒板から離れたところには、ちょっと派手目な子たちが固まっている。髪はブロンドとライトブラウン、パンツ見える寸前のスカート、ベージュのカーディガン、多分ペディキュアもしてる、見えないけれど。自分の学校では派手な部類に入るけれど、同世代なら、まだ普通よりちょっと派手な位。意外と仲間の結束は強いんだよね。なんだか、どこかの特殊部隊みたい、みんな同じ格好だし。

　で、男子。窓側黒板寄りには、快活スポーツ少年たち。机に座りパンをかじっている。多少髪もいじっているけれど、あくまで計算された軽さで、先生にも「全くおまえらは……」とか言われつつも受けは悪くない。クラスのイベントのリーダーはだいたいここと小動物楽団グループから選ばれる。食事もそこそこに、体育館バスケに出かけていく彼らは、いい感じにフツーだ。わたしと相性が良いかは別としても。

　黒板と反対、廊下側でも通路側でもない壁際には、「なんちゃって不良」の人々がたむろしている。髪はやや銀のシャギー、アクセもシルバー、がんばってはいるみたい。でも体育祭や文化祭に。だりいと言いつつも参加しているようじゃ、まだまだ「だだっこストリートギャング」の域を出ない。派手さもあくまで、クラスの中では目立つ、そこまでのレベルだ。まあ、そこにかわいげがあるのかも知れないが。

　廊下側、教壇近くにはインドア派たちが、ゲームや漫画の話をしている。青春とは無縁そうな彼らだが、意外と人当たりは悪くない。男子グループの中で、一番平均の成績がいいのも彼らだったりする。クラスメイトとしては、気のいい人たちだ。童話で出てくるような森の木人たちを勝手に連想する。もっとも、ただ単に扱いやすいだけって考え方もある。

　さて、それではわたしがいったいどのグループに属しているのかというと、そのどれでもない。

　かといって孤高の一匹狼もしくは才媛を演じている、という訳でもない。その方がカッコいい、というのも事実だけれど。

　どちらかというと窓側だけれど忌々しい空の奴は見えず、黒板からも半端に遠く、後ろの壁からも微妙に離れている。教室中央の優秀小動物軍団の計算された愛嬌はなく、「フツー」の彼らほどティーンな感じも乏しい。感じがない、とは自分たちの名誉のために一応言わないでおこう。

　私たちのグループ、というか少なくともまとまりは、大体５・６人で構成されている。あえて無理矢理特徴をあげてみるとすればそれは、特徴がない、ってことだろう。

　格好は地味だ。髪の色は誰も変えていないし（天然で色が薄くて茶色目な子はいる）、長さも耳たぶ以上肩甲骨以下。耳に穴なんて開けているとは思えない。風紀担当の嫌みな先生にも注意されない感じ。かといって『好ましい模範的中学生』としてみられるのではなく、単に安全パイなだけだ。別にあんなルーティーン人間にほめられたくもないけれど、怒られるよりはるかに嫌だ。

　ただ、安全パイ、なのは間違っていないと思う。勉強は中の上、スポーツもそこそこ、イベントがあると控えめながら役割はこなす。ほどほどにルールを守り、空気も読む。部活はテニス、書道、料理あたりの同好会で週２回、間違っても週６で陸上、バレーボール、吹奏楽とかはやらない。昼休みは、至ってのんびり、まったりと過ごす。　

「午後の授業、だるい」

「いい天気、ちょっと寝まっす」

「午後の授業、宿題有ったんだ、忘れてた！　みんな、やってきた？　今やってる？　だよねー」

　こんな感じの、どうでもいいやり取り。崩れて腐ってるわけじゃないけれど、だらけて緩んでは、いる。そして、居心地は悪くない。そんな日々だった。

　まるでナマケモノ、とは言われたくない。

　わたしは勝手に、自分も含めたこのまとまりに、だらーんとひなたぼっこをしているアザラシたちを思い浮かべていた。ひなたぼっこなら猫の方がかわいいけれど、わたしたちには、あんな自立心と尊ぶべきエゴイズムは持てない、そう思ったから。

　そんな日々からの変化に気づいたのは、学年が変わってすぐのことだった。

「ごめん、今日部活のミーティングだから、お昼別でお願い、それじゃ」

　こんな言葉が誰からともなく出てくるようになった。

　もちろん理由は人によって、時によって変わる。ミーティングが昼の練習に、学年委員会その他にかわる。

　それを聞くたびに「うん」とか「わかった」とか「了解｣とか適当な相づちを打ちながら、勝手にイメージする。

　薄い曇りだけれど穏やかな南極圏、氷山の上。日だまりにいたアザラシたちの中の一匹が尾びれで仲間にあいさつをし、群青色の海に飛び込む。ぼちゃん。氷山の上のアザラシたちは、何事も無かったように、またひなたぼっこを始めるのだ。そして、ひなたぼっこは人数や形、場所が変わっても続いていくのだ。そう考えていた。

　しかし、突然その日はやってきた。

アザラシＡ「みんなごめん（顔の前で両手を合わせながら）今日委員会の集まりだからお昼、私抜きでよろしく、それじゃ」ぼちゃん。

アザラシＢ「実は私も美術部の昼ミーティング、定期展が近いから行かなきゃいけないの。悪いけれど、三人で、ね（眼鏡をあげ、「よろしく」を告げる）」ぼちゃん。

アザラシＣ「うそ！　あたしもテニスの昼練、どーでもいいんだけど。先輩たちうるさいから行ってくる。では、仲良くカップルで（意味深な笑みを浮かべて）」ぼちゃん。

アザラシＤ「げほっ、ごほっ。私体調悪いからこれで帰る。あ。（思い出したかのように）先言っとく、げほっ、これ仮病じゃないから、じゃ！　（ほてってのぼせた顔で、しかしさも嬉しげに）」ぼちゃん。

　Ｄ、あんたは病弱かつ仮病の天才だろ、と思いながら、あれ、と教室を見回して違和感に気づいた。赤い魚の群れの中で、一匹だけ混ざった黒い魚のような、嵐の次の日木に一枚だけ残った名画の緑葉のような、さわやかな春風の中ひとり旅立てず取り残された綿毛の種のような。

　教室にはがっちりと築かれた、お城のような５つのグループが有った。

　どうしよう、森の小動物楽隊に果たしてアザラシは含まれるのか、オープンそうで実は規律の厳しい外人部隊に、平和ボケで緩みきった民間アザラシが入れるのか。

　数秒のうちに結論を出した。

「あ、そうだ、わたしも委員会行かなきゃ」思い出したふりをして教室を出て、廊下に向かう。

　こういう時の自分、サイテーだと思う。最低、ではないとしても。

　廊下には誰もいない、当たり前のことだ。みんなそれぞれの場所で、昼休みを過ごしているのだから。

　何もかもが嫌になる。もっといい言い方があるのかもしれないけれど、思いつかない。そんな自分の表現力の少なさにも、腹が立つ。

　窓の外、今日も空は晴れているすごくむかつく。思わず、あの表情を窓から外に向かってする。って、あれ。

　空の横、屋上から一人の少女がわたしを見ていた。

　まずいけどもう遅い。

　次の瞬間には、一番見られたくない顔を、学校の屋上からその子が見下ろしていた。

　誰にでも、見られたくない表情ってあると思う。だからわざと人の居ない廊下から窓の外に向かってした。

　なのに、わたしにとってのそれを、しっかり、見られてしまった。

　わたしと同じ位か、一学年上くらいの彼女。整った顔、すらりと長い手足。自然な色の黒い髪がまっすぐに、肩の少し下まで伸びている。でもこれらの要素が全部自然で過剰じゃない。紺のセーターにひざ上５㎝のチェックスカート、ハイソックスという、地味な格好が逆にそう思わせているみたいだ。

　あまりにも典型的な表現になってしまうけれど美少女だな、と思った。風紀担当の先生が両手でマル、を作りそうな子だ。

　そんな彼女は、多分わたしの顔を、特に犬歯を笑っていたのだろう。脊椎反射的にむかっとして失礼なやつ、と怒ったところで、気がついた。

　屋上って入れるんだっけ。一応ルール上禁止されているらしいけれど、実際はどうなんだろう。

　好奇心がルールに勝った。時間は昼休み、特別他に予定もない。何より顔を見られたお返しに、嫌みの一つもぶつけてやりたい。外に出よう。

　教室は３階、階段を下りた２階は下級生の教室。わいわい明るく騒がしい感じを横目に１階に下り、玄関に向かう。下駄箱から、ボロッちいけれどよくなじんたスニーカーをはいて、外に出た。

　屋上に続く階段の戸は、安全上の都合で校舎内からは開けられないことになっている。非常口のはずなのに、地震や火事のときどうするのかは分からない。なんだかおかしい気がするけれど。

　ひざをくすぐる雑草と、鼻につん、とくる土独特の匂いをあしらいながら進む。

　見えてきた非常階段は、校舎の中からは開かずのスペースでも、外からはただのさびた骨組みだった。

　屋根も外壁もない、年季の入った立入禁止の階段を上がる。かん、かん、という音が「ようこそ」と「来るんじゃねえ」を交互に言っているように聞こえる。

　２階、３階、と往復するようにぐるぐると階段を進み、学校のカリキュラムでは使われることのない、４階＝屋上にたどり着いた。

　初めて見る屋上は、思ったよりも整然としていた。幅１５ｍ、奥行き４０ｍくらいの薄闇のような色のアスファルトが、５ｍくらいごとにゴムパッキンみたいなラインで区切られている。

そして、屋上のほぼ中央に、少女はいた。

彼女は目を瞑り、ラジオ体操第一の深呼吸のパートの３拍目のポーズで、空を見上げていた。

　感じようとしていた、と言った方がいいのかもしれない。やっぱり、その子は美少女だ。９５点を付けてあげてもいい。もちろん、減点５点はわたしの秘密の表情を笑った失礼さによるもの。

　今がチャンス、気づかれないように近づいていって、いきなり一言言ってやる。

「お休みのところ済みませんが、一言言わせて貰います」

　刺客の気持ちで、近づいていく。

　と、急にふわっと風が、浮き上がるように吹き抜けた。

　ふらふらっとして、あわててバランスをとっても遅かった。かばんが落ち、「どさっ」と「がちゃつ」の中間の音を立てた。ダメなやつ。あらためて自分は刺客には向いていないと思った時、少女がこっちに気づく。

　わたしを、そしてわたしの先にある何かを見つめようと、していた。そんなもの、ないはずなんだけれど。

　失礼美少女はわたしに微笑み、実にはっきりとした声で呼びかけてきた。

「ハローボーイ、ご機嫌いかが？」

　何を言っているのは分からず、頭に浮かんだクエスチョンマークがそのまま言葉になった。

「何、どういうこと？」

「あいさつ」それが当然、と言わんばかりに明るく楽しく、失礼少女は答えた。

　いったい何がどうなってそうなってしまうのか、全く分からない。

　って、この説明こそ意味不明だ。言葉で言い返してやろうとしたのに、うまいフレーズが浮かばない。でもなるべく平常心でいようとして、伝えてみる。

「何それ、意味分かんないんだけど」

「だから、はじめましてのあいさつ」

「わたし一応、女なんだけど」見りゃわかるだろーが。

「女装してるんじゃないの？」　

「してない！」

　思わず声がうわずってしまう。やっぱり平常心になんかなれない。とことん刺客には向いていないようだ。

「あ、そうなんだ、失礼しました」

　英語の『パルドン』レベルの軽さとスマイルで謝られた。この分じゃ、わたしの顔を盗み見て笑ったことも、軽く水に流されそうだ。

　でも、ひるんでなるものか。

「さっき屋上から人の顔見て笑ったでしょ。会ったことの無い人の顔をいきなり笑うなんて失礼……

　そこまで口が動いたとき、改めて、目の前の失礼少女の姿がより細かく見えてきた。

　身長は１６０㎝前後、制服はスカートひざ上５㎝、紺の長袖セーター、ともに着慣れた感じ、ボロいって意味じゃなくて。

　自分の判断力を総動員した結果、回答が出た。

　ヤバい、先輩じゃん、多分。

「失礼……なんじゃないですか？」

　こういうのを腰砕け、とか、チキンハートとかいうらしい。偉そうにいろいろと考えるくせに、自分にはよくあることだ、サイテー。

　でも、顔にはそんな気持ちは出していない。

　出てない、はずだ。

「そっか、ごめんなさい」失礼少女の返答。エクスキューズくらい、まだまだ軽い。

「でも」少女は続ける。

「でも？」思わず聞いてしまった。おい自分。

「馬鹿にした訳じゃないよ。だって、かわいかったから。上半身しか見えなかったから、まさか女の子とは思わなかったけれど｣

　喜んでいいのか、怒った方がいいのか、悲しむのが正しいのか、あるいはそのうち２つ以上なのか、分からない。

　もしくは、笑うべきなのか。

　こんなことを考えていると、表情もいまいち冴えなくなる。パレットで原色を混ぜすぎて、黒っぽく濁ってしまった絵の具のような。

　黙っていたら、逆に質問された。

「で、文句を言うためにここに来たんだ？」

「分からな……分かりません、なんか直感で動いたから」

「そう、まあいいよ。ちなみに私、上級生とか気にしないから、普通の言葉でいいよ。お互い何年生か知らないし」

　言われて気づいたけれど、今日まで失礼少女を学校のどこかで見た記憶が無い。もっとも一学年２００人近くいる学校だから、一度も接点が無い人がいても、それほどおかしくない。ましてや、氷山からほとんど出なかったアザラシなら、なおさら。

「そうそう」急に少女がつぶやく。

「何です、じゃなかった、何？」

「さっきどうしてこんな顔してたの？」

　そう言った後、失礼少女改め詳細不明少女は口を開けかみ合った歯を見せた。

　いーっ。

　へんな表情のはずなのに、なぜか詳細不明少女がすると、さまになる。犬で言えば、わたしがする時はブルドックくらいの気持ちでやっているのに、その子はテリアの子犬みたいなのだ。美少女は得、悔しいけれど自然の摂理。

「いらいらしていたから。ただそれだけ」

「何、何があったの？　ケンカ、先生の嫌がらせ攻撃、体育の時間の軽い虐待、ハブる感じのイジメ、試験全滅、はまだ早いかな」

　あくまで軽く、楽しそうに詳細不明少女は聞く。他人事、というのとは違う。何が起きても大丈夫、と言っているような感じ。

　挙げられた理由のどれかに適当にうなづけば良かったのかもしれない、いつもならそうしている。でも、今はそうしたくない。

「全部違う。単に仲のいい友達がたまたま居なくなっただけ」

　はっきりと、言い切った。これでどうだ。

　詳細不明少女は、きょとん、と音が聞こえるような顔をして、言葉の意味を考え、ちょうど１０秒してから答えた。

「かっこいい。孤高のヒーロー、じゃなかった、ヒロインだね」

「だから何がどうなってそういう反応になるのか。意味分かんない」

　んだけれど、という前に言葉にさえぎられた。

「日々を群集にまぎれ、退屈平凡に暮らしていた少ね、じゃなかった、少女。しかし惰性の日々に耐えきれず、彼女——ここは名前の方がいいな。君、名前は？」一方通行でダムが崩れそうな言葉の流れ。

「みのる、だけど」何答えてんだよ自分。

「いい名前。ミノルは教室の教壇の上にスカートひるがえして仁王立ちし、すべての者達に叫んだ。『こんなことやってられるか。お前達、目を覚ませ！　この学校が、世の中がくだらない、腐った場所だってことに、早く気づけ！　

　それまで、わたしは旅に』」

「出ない」

「出ようよ」

「嫌だ。ていうか勝手に人のキャラを作るな。あと、名乗って、人の名前は聞いてきたのにフェアじゃない」

　にらんでみる。風は男の子みたいに短いわたしの髪を揺らすくらいの強さで、ぶおお、と吹いた。

　詳細不明少女は、しばらく上の方、空を見つめていた。風が緩やかに弱まる。と、同時に視線を合わせて、９５点、満点マイナス自分の嫉妬分、の笑顔で答えた。

「シキ。わたしの名前、よろしく」

　それにしても隙がない。正直その子の素振りに少しひるんだ。でも、切り返してやる。

「シキさん」出来るだけ抑揚をおさえながら。

「何でこんなところにいるの？　確かに、いきなり屋上に来たわたしは確かに変かも。だけどそれなら、そっちはなおさら変でしょ」

「そう、変なんだよ、私」

　あっさりと返されるとは予想してなかった。相当手強い。さらに相手の番が続く。

「で、変なんだけど、好きなんだ」

「何が」

「ほら」

　と、詳細不明少女改めシキと名乗った少女は頭上を指差した。

「ああ」見なくても分かる、わたしとは相容れない考え方だ。

「あ、ちょっとムカつく、って顔した。空キライなんだ？」

「好きじゃない。イライラする」

「晴れの日も、雨も、雪も？」

「全部同じ。天気変わっても、空は空」

「ふーん。私は晴れの日も、嵐の日も両方好き。むしろ荒れ模様の方が好きかもしれない。で、この屋上は、特等席でほぼ最前列だって訳。ミノルだって、

　おい、いきなり呼び捨てかよ。

「本当に全然興味無くてキライだったらここに来てないでしょ。ていうか、ミノルって、なんだか空っぽいよ？」
　今度は緩やかに風が吹いた。詳細不明少女改めシキと名乗った少女の黒髪が、やさしく揺れた。わたしのショートの天然茶髪は、びくともしないかわいげもない。

「え、どういうこと？」聞き捨てならない、ってちょっと時代劇っぽい言い回しが浮かんだ。

「よく人のイメージを感じ一文字で表したりするでしょ。例えば五元素ってあるよね、風とか水とか、土とか。花鳥風月、とかもあるみたい」

　シキ、こと詳細不明少女の言うことは何となくイメージできる。

　人にはそれぞれの属性が有って、それで大体分けることが出来る。もちろん細かくは一人一人違うけれど。

　でも、納得はいかない。わたしの憧れをあえて選ぶとすれば、何よりも強く、何もかも焼きつくしてしまう『火』だから。はっきりしない『空』なんかじゃない、絶対に。

　そんな考えとは無関係に、シキは話し続ける。

「ミノルは『空』っぽいよ、やっぱり。だまされたと思って、見てごらん」

　目の前に、青が広がる。すぐそこに有りそうで、でもすっと遠くにあるような。自分が上に、空の奴は下にいるはず、間違いない。なのに、落ちていくような、青に吸い込まれていくような気になる。二人向かい合わせの鏡がお互いを永久に反射し続けるのを見てる、そんな感じ。出られなくような感じがして、少し恐くなった。でも表に出すもんか。

「やっぱり、キライだ！」

　視線を地平線に移す。

「えー、残念」それほど残念そうじゃ無いシキの声が、聞こえた。

　シントシン、高層ビル達は、今日も堂々と、空に伸びている。

「心に雲を持つ少年」

NEXT： 完全版Full Stories ↓   屋上版だけRooftop only↓↓ 

（Awful Eng”r”ish translation ）

Let's go on an amazing trip that people would envy.

The classroom is noisy at lunchtime. While observing the people who are the source of the noise, I noticed something.
　If you have time, please listen to me, though it's not much of a story.
　I think that people in my class are generally divided into about five or six different groups. However, my junior high school is a co-ed school, so I don't know about girls' or boys' schools.
　First, girls. In the center of the classroom, a group of bright, healthy, honor students form a circle. The way they gather and the way they are received by the teachers is perfect, perfect, perfect. But they don't just study; they are also involved in club activities. Her hair color is dark brown, even when she changes it. She is popular with the boys, and is the most girly of the group. But they are also the noisiest. In a fairy tale world, they would be like a group of hummingbirds, fawns, and puppies in the forest.
　On the window side, away from the chalkboard, are a group of slightly more flamboyant girls. Blonde and light brown hair, skirts that almost show off their pants, beige cardigans, and maybe even pedicures, though I can't see them. I'm one of the loudest girls at my school, but for my age, I'm still a little more loud than normal. The fellowship is surprisingly strong. They are all dressed the same, like some kind of special forces.
　And the boys. Near the blackboard by the window are the vivacious sports boys. They are sitting at their desks, chewing bread. They are messing with their hair a little, but it is a calculated lightness, and the teacher says to them, "You guys look like ......," but it doesn't hurt their popularity. The leaders of class events are usually chosen from this group and the small animal band group. They are nice and normal, and go out to play basketball in the gymnasium without even eating. Whether they are good with me or not is another matter.
　Opposite the blackboard, by the wall that is neither on the corridor side nor on the aisle side, there are some "fake delinquents" hanging out. Their hair is shaggy silver, their accessories are silver, and they seem to be trying their best. But they are trying their best at the sports and cultural festivals. But if they are participating in sports festivals and cultural festivals while saying they are "lazy," they are not yet in the realm of a "slacker street gang. He is not even flashy enough to stand out from the rest of the class. Well, maybe that's what makes them so cute.
　On the corridor side, near the podium, a group of indoor enthusiasts are talking about video games and comic books. They don't seem to have anything to do with youth, but they are surprisingly friendly. Among the group of boys, they sometimes have the highest average grades. As classmates, they are pleasant people. They remind me of the tree people in the forest that you might see in a fairy tale. But there is another way of thinking that they are just easy to deal with.
　Now, which of these groups do I belong to?
　I am not playing the role of a lone wolf or a brilliant woman. It is true that I look cool that way.
　I'm rather near the window, but I can't see the damn sky, I'm halfway away from the blackboard, and I'm slightly off the back wall. There is no calculated charm of the army of superior little animals in the center of the classroom, and there is not as much teeny-weeny-ness as the "normal" guys. I won't say "lack of feeling," in case it is to their credit.
　Our group, or at least our cohesion, consists of roughly five or six people. If I had to venture to give them a characteristic, it would be that they have no features.
　The outfits are plain. No one has changed the color of their hair (some of the girls have naturally light-colored brown eyes), and the length of their hair is above their earlobes and below their shoulder blades. I don't think they have holes in their ears. I don't feel even the obnoxious teacher in charge of public morals is paying attention to me. But that doesn't mean I'm seen as a "desirable model middle-schooler," just a safe bet. I don't want to be praised by such a routine person, but I hate it far more than being scolded.
　However, I don't think it's wrong to be a safe bet. I'm a good student, a good athlete, and when there is an event, I do my part, albeit modestly. He obeys the rules moderately and reads the atmosphere. Club activities are tennis, calligraphy, and cooking clubs twice a week, and I don't play track, volleyball, or brass band six times a week. Lunch breaks are spent in a very leisurely, laid-back manner.
"I'm tired of afternoon classes.
It's a beautiful day, I'm going to sleep.
I forgot I had homework for afternoon class!　Have you done it, everyone?　Are you doing it now?　I know, right?
　This is the kind of unimportant exchange. It's not crumbling and rotting, but it's sloppy and loose. And it was not uncomfortable. Such were the days.
　I don't want to be called a sloth.
　I imagined the seals, including myself, lying around and basking in this grouping. Cats are cuter when it comes to basking, but we don't have that kind of independence and egoism that should be respected, or so I thought.
　It was soon after the change of the school year that I noticed a change from those days.
I'm sorry, I have a club meeting today, so please have lunch separately.
　These words came out of everyone's mouth.
　Of course, the reason changed from person to person and from time to time. Meetings turned into lunchtime practices, grade committee meetings, and so on.
　Whenever I hear these words, I imagine them on my own while making appropriate responses such as "yes," "I understand," or "I understand.
　A thin overcast but calm day in the Antarctic Circle, on an iceberg. One of the seals in the pool greets its mate with its tail fin and dives into the deep blue sea. Bo-chan. The seals on the iceberg begin to bask again, as if nothing had happened. And the basking would continue, even if the number of people, the shape, and the location changed. That is what I thought.
　But the day came suddenly.
Seal A "Sorry everyone (clasping his hands in front of his face), we have a committee meeting today, so please have lunch without me.
Seal B "Actually, I have to go to the art club's lunch meeting, too, because the regular exhibition is coming up. I'm sorry, but the three of us, right? (raises glasses and says "hi")" Bo-chan.
Seal C: "No way!　I don't care about the tennis lunch meeting either. The seniors are noisy, so I'm going. Then, let's be a friendly couple (smiles meaningfully)" Bo-chan.
Seal D "Geez, Goho. I'm not feeling well, so I'm leaving now. Ah. (As if remembering) I'll tell you first, Goho, this is not a temporary illness, okay?　(with a hot, flushed face, but looking happy)" Bo-chan.
　D, you're a sickly genius with a fake illness, I thought, looking around the classroom and noticing something strange. Like a black fish mixed in with a school of red fish, like a green leaf of a masterpiece left alone on a tree the day after a storm, like a seed of cotton wool left alone in a fresh spring breeze.
　In the classroom, there were five groups like a castle, tightly built.
　What should we do? Would seals really be included in the small-animal band of the forest? Would civilian seals with a relaxed, peaceful mindset be allowed in the open, but actually strictly disciplined, Foreign Legion?
　I came to a conclusion within a few seconds.
I pretended to remember and walked out of the classroom to the corridor.
　I feel terrible about myself at times like this. I was not the worst, but I was the worst.
　No one is in the hallway, that's a given. Everyone is spending their lunch break in their own places.
　I hate everything. There may be a better way to put it, but I can't think of it. I am also annoyed at my lack of ability to express myself.
　Outside the window, the sky is clear again today. I involuntarily make that expression as I look out the window. And that one.
　Next to the sky, a girl was watching me from the rooftop.
　It's too late.
　The next thing I knew, the girl was looking down at me from the rooftop of the school with the face she most didn't want to be seen with.
　I think everyone has a face they don't want to be seen with. That is why I intentionally looked out the window from the hallway where no one was around.
　And yet, she was able to see my expression.
　She was about my age or a year older than me. She had a well-defined face and long, slender arms and legs. Her naturally dark hair was straight and extended just below her shoulders. But all these elements are natural and not excessive. Her plain outfit of a navy blue sweater, a plaid skirt 5 cm above the knee, and high socks seems to make her look that way.
　It may sound too typical, but I thought she was a beautiful girl. She looks like the kind of girl that the teacher in charge of public morals would make a "maru" out of both of her hands.
　She was probably laughing at my face, especially at my canine teeth. I was about to get angry at her for being rude when I realized what was happening.
　I wondered if I could enter the rooftop. I heard that the rules forbid it, but I wondered what it was really like.
　Curiosity got the better of the rules. It was lunchtime, and I had no other plans. More than anything else, I wanted to give him a sarcastic smack in return for seeing his face. Let's go outside.
　The classroom is on the third floor, and the second floor, down the stairs, is the classroom of the lower class students. I went downstairs and headed for the front door, looking at the bright and noisy atmosphere. I slipped on a pair of battered but well-worn sneakers from the shoe box and stepped outside.
　For safety reasons, the door to the stairway leading to the rooftop cannot be opened from inside the school building. It is supposed to be an emergency exit, but I don't know what they do in case of an earthquake or fire. It seems strange, though.
　I proceeded, avoiding the weeds that tickled my knees and the distinctive smell of the earth that tingled in my nose.
　The fire escape that came into view was an open space from the inside of the school building, but from the outside it was just a rusty skeleton.
　We climbed up the old off-limits staircase, which had neither a roof nor an outer wall. The sound of the staircase's "kan-kan" sounded like an alternating "welcome" and "don't come in".
　I went up the stairs to the second floor, then to the third floor, and so on, until I reached the fourth floor, the rooftop, which is not used in the school curriculum.
　The rooftop, which I saw for the first time, was more orderly than I expected. The asphalt, 15 meters wide and 40 meters deep, was of a dark-colored asphalt, separated by lines like rubber gaskets every 5 meters or so.　

And almost in the center of the rooftop, there was a girl.

She was meditating, looking up at the sky, in the pose of the third beat of the deep breathing part of Radio Gymnastics 1.
　She was trying to feel, or maybe I should say she was trying to feel. She is a beautiful girl, after all, and I'd give her a 95. Of course, the five point deduction was for the rudeness of laughing at my secret expression.
　Now was my chance, so I approached her without being noticed and suddenly said, "I'm sorry to bother you on your day off, but I've got to go.
"I'm sorry to interrupt your vacation, but I have a few words to say.
　I approach with the feeling of an assassin.
　Suddenly, a breeze blew through the air as if to lift me off the ground.
　I was flustered and rushed to catch my balance, but it was too late. The bag fell, making a sound somewhere between a thud and a clatter. No good. Just when I thought once again that I was not suited to be an assassin, a girl noticed me.
　She was trying to look at me and something beyond me. I thought there was no such thing.
　The beautiful girl smiled at me and called out in a very clear voice, "Hello boy, how are you?
Hello boy, how are you?
　I had no idea what she was saying, but the question mark that popped into my head turned into words.
What do you mean?
The girl answered cheerfully and pleasantly, as if it were a matter of course.
　I have no idea what is going on here.
　I don't understand this explanation at all. I tried to retort with words, but I couldn't come up with a good phrase. But I tried to be as matter-of-fact as possible and tried to tell her.
I don't know what that means.
"So, nice to meet you.
I'm a woman, but you can tell by looking at me.
"You're not a transvestite, are you?"
I'm not!
　I couldn't help but to stammer. I can't be normal, after all. It seems I'm not cut out to be an assassin.
"Oh, I see. My apologies.
　He apologized with a smile and a lightness that was on the level of the English word "pardon. At this rate, the fact that he had laughed at me when he stole a glance at my face would be brushed off lightly.
　But I couldn't let that stop me.
You laughed when you saw someone's face from the rooftop, right? It's rude to suddenly laugh at someone you've never met. ......
　When my mouth moved that far, I could once again see the rude girl in front of me in more detail.
　She was around 160 cm tall, her uniform was a skirt 5 cm above the knee and a navy blue long-sleeved sweater, both of which looked familiar, and I don't mean ragged.
　I mobilized all my powers of judgment and came up with an answer.
　Oh no, you're a senior, maybe.
"Excuse me, isn't it ......?"
　I heard this kind of thing is called "chicken-heart. I'm a big thinker, but it happens to me all the time, it's terrible.
　But I don't show such feelings on my face.
　I'm sorry.
I see, I'm sorry," the rude girl replied. I'm sorry," the girl replies, still too light to express her feelings.
But," she continued.
But? I asked unintentionally. Hey, myself.
I didn't mean to make fun of her. Because she was cute. I didn't think it was a girl because I could only see her upper body.
　I don't know whether I should be happy, angry, sad, or more than one of those things.
　Or should I laugh?
　Thinking about these things makes my facial expression not quite so bright. Like paint that has become muddy and black because I have mixed too many primary colors on my palette.
　When I kept quiet, he asked me a question to the contrary.
So, did you come here to complain?"
'I don't know,...... I don't know, I kind of went with my gut.
I don't know, I just had a gut feeling. I don't care if you're a senior or not, so just use normal language. I don't know what grade you are.
　The first thing I noticed was that until today I don't remember seeing a rude girl anywhere in the school. But there are nearly 200 students in one grade in this school, so it is not that surprising that some of them have never had any contact with each other. And if it was a seal that had hardly ever left the iceberg, it would be even more so.

Oh, yes," the girl suddenly murmured.

What," the girl suddenly murmurs.
Why did you look like this just now?"
　After saying that, the girl, whose details were unknown, opened her mouth to reveal a set of teeth.
　I don't know why.
　It was supposed to be a strange expression, but for some reason, when the unknown girl does it, it looks so strange. I'm like a bulldog when I do it, but she's like a terrier puppy. Beautiful girls get it. It's frustrating, but it's the natural order of things.
I was frustrated. That's all."
What, what happened?　I'm not sure if it's too early to say: fights, harassing attacks by teachers, mild abuse in gym class, bullying that made me feel like a victim of bullying, and the annihilation of my examinations.
　The girl asks the details lightly and happily. It's not the same as saying it's someone else's problem. It's as if she's saying that whatever happens, it's okay.
　I could have just nodded my head in agreement with any of the reasons given, which is what I usually do. But now I don't want to.
It's all different. It's just that a good friend of mine happened to be gone."
　I said it clearly. How about that?
　The girl with no details looked at me with an audible pause, thought about the meaning of her words, and after exactly ten seconds, answered, "Cool.
Cool. You're a heroine, not a lone heroine.
I don't understand why you would react that way. I don't understand.
　Before I could say, "I don't know," I was interrupted by a word.
The actuality of the fact that the actual heroine is a heroine is not really a surprise. But she couldn't stand the inertia of her life, so she - I prefer to use a name here. You, what's your name?" A one-way flow of words that seems to break the dam.
Minoru, but" What am I answering myself?
A good name. Minoru stood on the classroom podium in a skirt-flip-down position and shouted to all and sundry, "I can't do this. I can't do this. You people need to wake up!　You've got to wake up and realize that this school is a rotten place, and that the world is a rotten place!
　Until then, I'm going on a journey.
No.
Let's go.
I don't want to. I mean, don't make up your own character. And, it's not fair that I've asked you for your name.
　I glanced at him. The wind blew with such force that it ruffled my short, boyish hair.
　The unidentified girl stared up at the sky for a while. The wind slowly decreased. At the same time, I looked at her and answered with a smile, "Ninety-five points, full points minus my jealousy.
My name is Shiki. My name is Shiki.
　But still, there was no room for error. The first thing to do is to make sure that you have a good time with your friends and family. But I cut her off.
I tried to keep my voice as low as possible.
Why are you here?　It's true that it might be strange for me to suddenly come to the rooftop. But then, you are even weirder, aren't you?
Yes, I am strange.
　 I was very tough. The other party's turn continued.
So, it's weird, but I like you.
What?
See?
　And the girl who called herself Shiki, the girl whose details were unknown, pointed above her head.
I don't have to look at her to know that she is not compatible with my way of thinking.
I'm not sure I'd like that. You don't like the sky?
I don't like the sky. It irritates me.
Sunshine, rain, snow?
It's all the same. The weather changes, but the sky is still the sky.
"Hmm. I like sunny days and stormy days. I like both sunny days and stormy days. And this rooftop is a special seat, almost the front row. Minoru," he said,
　Hey, you call me "Minoru" all of a sudden.
If you really didn't like him, you wouldn't be here. I mean, Minoru sounds kind of empty, doesn't it?"
　This time the wind blew gently. The black hair of the girl who called herself "Shiki," the girl whose details are unknown, swayed gently. My short, natural brown hair was not even a hint of fluttering or prettiness.
What do you mean? I thought of a phrase that sounded a bit like something out of a period drama: "I don't want to hear it.
I was a bit like a period drama. For example, there are the five elements, like wind, water, earth, and flower, bird, wind, and moon. There is also "Kacho-fu-getsu" (flower, bird, wind, and moon).
　Shiki, a girl whose details were unknown to me, gave me a vague idea of what she was talking about.
　Each person has his or her own attributes and can be roughly divided by them. Of course, each and every person is different in detail.
　But I am not convinced. If I had to choose a favorite, it would be "fire," which is stronger than anything else and burns everything to the ground. It's not the indefinable "sky," that's for sure.
　Regardless of these thoughts, Shiki continued speaking.
Minoru seems to be 'empty,' after all. You've been fooled, take a look.
　Blue spreads out before your eyes. It seems to be right there, but it is so far away. I'm sure I'm up there, and the guy in the sky is down there, I'm sure of it. And yet, I feel as if I am falling, as if I am being sucked into the blue. It's like watching two mirrors facing each other reflecting each other forever. I feel like I can't get out, and I'm a little scared. But I don't want to show it.
I hate it!"
　I shifted my gaze to the horizon.
I heard Shiki's voice, which didn't sound so disappointed.
　“Shintshin”, the skyscrapers are still standing tall in the sky today.

(Writter:No.4 ﾔﾔﾂｶ Photo:No.5 ﾊﾙﾅﾂ Auful translation:Deep L & No.0)