すると、ツバキは頷いて………ミズキの手を、そのまま離した。
*******
ザクロ:「まぁ、さすがに汗を掻いてる状態で風に当たっては体調を崩すようだが」
ミズキ:「………うるさい」
ミズキが目を据わらせて言うと、ザクロは嫌味ったらしく笑って歩き出した。
???:「わっ!」
ザクロ:「っ………」
その刹那、ザクロの前を走り抜けようとした少年が地面に倒れ込む。
どうやらザクロの足にぶつかったらしい。
相変わらず下を見ていないようだ。
*******
Zakuro : “I guess even you can be sick if you are blown by the wind while you are sweating.”
Mizuki :" ……… Shut up!”
His eyes were getting glassy when he said so. And Zakuro walked away with a nasty smirk.
??? : “Oops!”
Zakuro : “Ugh………”
A boy who was running through in front of Zakuro fell down to the ground in a moment.
It seems that he bumped into Zakuro’s leg.
It appears to be that he is not looking down as usual.
***
Zakuro: “Well, I guess you get sick if you get some air when you are sweating.”
Mizuki: “….. Shut up.”
Zakuro started walking, laughing sarcastically when Mizuki said that with his glassy eyes.
???: “Wow!”
Zakuro: “Ouch….”
At that moment, a boy who was running in front of Zakuro fell on the ground.
He seemed to bump into Zakuro’s feet.
Zakuro was not looking down as usual.
*******
Zakuro : "Well, you'll of course catch a cold if you expose yourself to the wind when you are sweating"
Mizuki : "...Shut your mouth"
Mizuki says so with glazed look in his eyes. Zakuro then sarcastically smiles and walks away.
??? : "Whoahhh!"
Zakuro : "urgh...."
Just at that moment, a boy who tried to run through in front of Zakuro falls to the ground.
He seems to have hit against Zakuro's legs.
He doesn't look down, as always.
ミズキはため息を吐く。
周囲の人間はどう見ても貧民街の住人ではないザクロに怯えているようで、座り込んで動けなくなっている少年に近づけないようだった。
ザクロが困りきった様子でミズキを見るが、ミズキは無視する。
貧民街を改善しようとしているなら、この国の王になるのなら、こんな状態なんて簡単にクリアできるはずだ。
ミズキはじっとザクロを見詰める。
意を決したザクロは、まず少年の前に膝を折って目を合わせた。
少年はあからさまに怯えている。
People seemed to be scared of Zakuro, who was apparently not from the poor part of the town, and were not able to approach to the boy who sat on the ground not being able to move.
Zakuro looked at Mizuki confused. But, Mizuki ignored.
If he was serious about improving the poor part of the town and becoming a king of this country, he should be able to deal with this situation easily.
Mizuki stared at Zakuro.
Zakuro made up his mind and fell on his knees to make eye contact with the boy.
The boy was obviously scared.
The people around here seem to be afraid of Zakuro who is not from the slum, and the people can't approach the boy who fell on the ground and are not moving.
Zakuro, with his worried look in his face, looks at Mizuki, but Mizuki ignores him.
If Zakuro is thinking of improving the slum and becoming the king, he should be able to tend to this kind of situation easily.
Mizuki stares at Zakuro.
Zakuro gets ready, first kneels down in front of the boy and looks into his eyes.
The boy is overtly frightened.
母親らしい女性が遠巻きに見ているが、ミズキは何も言わなかった。
ザクロ:「………その」
少年:「………?」
ザクロ:「………大丈夫か? 怪我をしてはいないようだが………」
やった。
何故かミズキが喜んでしまった。
思わず笑みがこぼれてしまう。
少年:「平気だけど………兄ちゃんのが大丈夫か? 手が震えてるぞ」
ミズキ:「っ………あはははは!」
ザクロ:「笑うなミズキ!」
ミズキ:「こ、子供に心配されてやんの! あーおっかし!」
Zakuro: “…. Well”
A boy: “….?”
Zakuro: “I mean…. Are you ok? Looks like you didn’t get hurt….”
He did it.
For some reason, Mizuki was happy.
He could not stop smiling.
The boy: “I’m ok… But, are you ok? Your hands are shaking.”
Mizuki “ Hahaha!”
Zakuro: “Don’t laugh, Mizuki!”
Mizuki: “The, The boy is worried about you! Oh my god, that is so funny!”
Zakuro : ".... Ahm"
Boy : "......?"
Zakuro : ".... Are you alright? It seems you have not injured yourself..."
He did it.
He doesn't know why but Mizuki felt happy.
Mizuki starts smiling in spite of himself.
Boy : "I am okay... but you must be hurt. Your hands are shaking"
Mizuki : "Wa....aaawahahahaha!"
Zakuro : "Don't laugh, Mizuki!"
Mizuki : "Ki... kid is worried about you! Ah! How funny!"
ザクロ:「うるさい!」
少年:「変な兄ちゃんたちだな………まぁいいや。ありがと! ぶつかってごめんな!」
ミズキ:「ちゃんと前見て走れよ」
少年:「うん!」
そう言って少年は駆けていった。
遠くで母親が、こちらに向かって頭を下げる。
ミズキ:「やればできるじゃん」
ザクロ:「あの子供をお前だと思ったら、存外簡単だった」
ミズキ:「俺に謝りまくってるからな、アンタ」
ザクロ:「アンタはやめろと何度言ったら………」
Boy: Strange guys...I don't mind. Thanks! Sorry to bump you!
Mizuki: Look up while you are running
Boy: Yes!
A boy said so and run across the road.
His mother bowed them from distance.
Mizuki: You made it
Zakuro: It was kind of easy when I thought of that kid as you.
Mizuki: Because you always apologize to me, don't you.
Zakuro: How much time I told you don't call me you....
A boy: “You guys are weird…. anyway, Thank you! Sorry for bumping you!”
Mizuki: “Look out where you are going.”
A boy: “Alright!”
The boy ran off as he said and his mother bowed her head from the distance.
Mizuki: “You can do it.”
Zakuro: “It was easier than I thought when I thought the boy was you.”
Mizuki: “You are apologizing to me many times.”
Zakuro: “I told you that don’t talk to me like that so many times.....”
Boy : "How strange these brothers are... Ah, never mind. Thanks! Sorry to have hit you!"
Mizuki : "Look where you are going and run"
Boy : "Yeah!"
The boy then runs away.
His mother bows her head to them in the distance.
Mizuki : "You can do it huh"
Zakuro : "It was so easy when I thought that kid was you"
Mizuki : "Yeah, you always have to apologize to me"
Zakuro : "How many times do I have to tell you not to..."
ミズキ:「アンタだって、俺のこと名前だったりお前だったりめちゃくちゃじゃん」
ザクロ:「………ミズキ」
ミズキ:「なんでしょーか、ザクロサマ」
ザクロ:「わざとらしい呼び方はやめろ」
ミズキ:「はいはい。何だよ、ザクロ」
ザクロ:「………この一週間で、ミズキに色々と教えられたな」
ミズキ:「ははっ。少しずつでいいんだよ。色々知るのは。ザクロはまず、下にも目を向けることを覚えたほうがいいけどね」
ザクロ:「言われなくてもわかっている」
Zakuro: “….. Mizuki”
Mizuki: “Yes, Sir. Mr. Zakuro.”
Zakuro: “Stop calling me like that.”
Mizuki: “All right. What is it, Zakuro.”
Zakuro: “…. I’ve learned a lot from you in this week.”
Mizuki: “Haha. You can learn little by little. You will learn a lot soon. But, first you need to remember to look down.”
Zakuro: “You don’t have to tell me about that.”
Zakuro : "....Mizuki"
Mizuki : "What's the matter, mister Zakuro"
Zakuro : "Don't force yourself to call me that way"
Mizuki : "Yeah yeah, what's up, Zakuro?"
Zakuro : "..... I have learnt a lot from Mizuki in the past week"
Mizuki : "Haha. One at a time. To know lots. Zakuro, you need to first remember to always look down"
Zakuro : "You don't have to tell me that"
ミズキ:「ザクロが王様になれるか、見ものだね」
ザクロ:「では、目にもの見せてやろうか」
ミズキ:「その日を楽しみにしてるよ」
************
ミズキ:「ヒイラギさんの部屋は………どうかな。ちょっと楽しみだ」
ナツメ:「あー、今の時間は中庭かなぁ。まぁいいや。いれば楽しいし、いなかったら仕事が楽だもんね」
ということで、朝食を食べ終えてすぐ、ヒイラギの私室へ向かった。
Zakuro: “Right, you will see it.”
Mizuki: “I am looking forward that day.”
*****
Mizuki: “Well, …. How about Mr. Hiiragi’s room. I’m kind of excited.”
Natsume: “Oh…. He may be at the courtyard around this time. Well. If he is there, that will be fun. But, if not, our work will be easier.”
So, they went to straight to Hiiragi’s private room right after their breakfast.
Zakuro : "Well then, I shall teach you some lessons"
Mizuki : "I shall look forward to the day to come"
**********
Mizuki : "Hiiragi-san's room... I'm not sure. I kinda look forward to it"
Natsume : "Ahh... This time now, he must be at the courtyard. Never mind. If he's around it's fun. If he's not, the work is a lot easier"
Then, they head down to Hiiragi's private room right after they are done with their breakfast.
あの素晴らしい歌を披露するヒイラギの私室であり、国賓に与えられる部屋ということで、どれだけ豪華な内装なのか少しばかり期待していた。
ミズキ:「………」
置かれているベッドは埋もれそうなほど柔らかい。
ソファは何かの動物の鞣革(なめしがわ)が張られている。
他の部屋と違って、部屋の隅にピアノが静かに佇んでいた。
ピアノの良し悪しはわからないが、黒い外装には傷どころか指紋一つ見受けられない。よほど丁寧に扱われているようだ。
Mizuki: “…..”
The bed was so soft that you would be buried.
The couch had some sort of leather on it.
One thing that is different from the other room was a piano, which was placed a corner of the room quietly.
Mizuki did not have any idea about the piano, but the piano had no scratch, not even a finger print on the black surface. It must be taken care of extremely carefully.
Mizuki : "......."
The bed placed in the room is surprisingly soft.
The sofa is covered with some kind of curried animal skin.
This room is different from other rooms, and there is a piano quietly placed at the corner of the room.
Mizuki does not know the good and bad of pianos, but the exterior of the piano has no scratches or finger prints. It must be well taken care of.
部屋自体はミズキたち下男の部屋とは比べ物にならないほど広い。
だが、置かれているのはベッドとソファとピアノのみで、絨毯の毛も固く整えられていた。
掃除がしやすいとは思う。
だが、これが国賓の部屋なのだろうか。
ミズキ:「なんか………質素っていうか、シンプルというか………」
ヒイラギ:「家具を減らしてもらったんだよ。絨毯もしっかり踏めるものにしてもらったし。代わりに良い音が出るピアノを頂いてしまったけどね」
ミズキ:「~~~~~~ッ?!」
However, there were only a bed, a couch, and a piano in the room. And, the carpet was firm.
He thought it is easy to clean.
But, is this really a room for a state guest?
Mizuki: “Well…. It’s very plain or simple….”
Hiirragi: “I asked to get rid of furniture. I also asked to change to the firm carpet. But, I got a wonderful piano instead.”
Mizuki: “~~~~What?!”
But there are only one bed, sofa and the piano. The carpet piles have been stiffly adjusted.
It must be easy to clean this room.
But, is this really a room for the national guest?
Mizuki : "I don't know...... Modest.... or simple...."
Hiiragi : "The furniture had been reduced. The carpet had been changed to something that you can step on. Instead, the beautifully toned piano's been given as a replacement"
Mizuki : "~~~~~~~?!"
音もなく背後に忍び寄っていたヒイラギに驚き、ミズキは声になっていない悲鳴を上げる。
ナツメが声を立てて笑った。
ヒイラギ:「驚かすつもりはなかったんだけど………大丈夫かい?」
ヒイラギは閉ざした目で、ミズキとは違うところを見詰めながら申し訳なさそうに言う。
ミズキは慌てて立ち上がって、見えていないとわかっていながらも「すみません」と頭を下げた。
ヒイラギ:「気にしてないよ」
穏やかに笑うヒイラギ。
余計に申し訳なく感じた。
Natsume laughed loudly.
Hiiragi: “I didn’t mean to surprise you. Are you ok?”
Hiiragi stated at somewhere else with his closed eyes and apologized.
Mizuki stood up quickly and bowed his head, saying “I’m sorry” even though he knew that Hiiragi could not see.
Hiiragi: “I don’t mind at all.”
Hiiragi smiled calmly.
Mizuki felt sorry even more.
Natsume laughs out loud.
Hiiragi : "I didn't mean to shock you... Are you alright?"
With his eyes shut, Hiiragi looks at somewhere different from where Mizuki is looking, apologetically tells Mizuki so.
Mizuki quickly gets up and says "sorry", lowering his head though he knows Hiiragi is not able to see him do so.
Hiiragi : "I am not bothered"
Hiiragi smiles blandly.
That makes Mizuki feel even sorrier.
ヒイラギ:「ところで、君は? 聞いたことのない足音と声だけど………ナツメくんがいるってことは、下働きの子かい?」
ミズキ:「あ………昨日から下働きになった、ミズキです」
ヒイラギ:「ミズキくんだね。綺麗な声だ」
ヒイラギが微笑むが、ミズキは上手く笑えなかった。
その歌声で国賓待遇を受けているヒイラギに声を褒められても、素直に喜べないのだ。
ナツメ:「お掃除をするので、ソファに座って頂いてもよろしいですか?」
ヒイラギ:「わかった」
Mizuki: “Oh…. I am Mizuki. I started working here yesterday.”
Hiiragi: “Ok, Mizuki. You have a beautiful voice.”
Although Hiiragi smiled, Mizuki could not smile well.
He could not honestly accept Hiiragi’s complement because Hiiragi was the one who received an honor to be a state guest with his extraordinary voice.
Natusme: “Would you mind have a seat on the couch, so that we can clean your room?”
Hiiragi: “No problem.”
Mizuki : "Oh..... I am Mizuki, one of the assistant boys since yesterday"
Hiiragi : "Mizuki-kun eh. You have such a beautiful voice"
Hiiragi smiles, but Mizuki is not able to smile back.
Mizuki isn't honestly happy having been told that his voice is great by a person who is treated by the country as a national guest for his voice.
Natsume : "We are going to clean the room. Will it be okay for you to sit on the sofa?"
Hiiragi : "Sure"
ありがとうございました