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ひとり寿司第9章パート4




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ひとり寿司



寿司シリーズの第一作

キャミー・タング

西島美幸 訳

スポーツ狂のレックス・坂井 —— いとこのマリコが数ヶ月後に結婚することにより、「いとこの中で一番年上の独身女性」という内輪の肩書を「勝ち取る」ことについては、あまり気にしていない。コントロールフリークの祖母を無視するのは容易だ —— しかし、祖母は最終通告を出した —— マリコの結婚式までにデート相手を見つけなければ、無慈悲な祖母は、レックスがコーチをしている女子バレーボールチームへの資金供給を切ると言う。

ダグアウトにいる選手全員とデートに出かけるほど絶望的なわけではない。レックスは、バイブルスタディで読んだ「エペソの手紙」をもとに「最高の男性」の条件の厳しいリストを作った。バレーボールではいつも勝つ —— ゲームを有利に進めれば、必ず成功するはずだ。

そのとき兄は、クリスチャンではなく、アスリートでもなく、一見何の魅力もないエイデンを彼女に引き合わせる。

エイデンは、クリスチャンではないという理由で離れていったトリッシュという女の子から受けた痛手から立ち直ろうとしている。そして、レックスが(1)彼に全く興味がないこと、(2)クリスチャンであること、(3)トリッシュのいとこであることを知る。あの狂った家族とまた付き合うのはごめんだ。まして、偽善的なクリスチャンの女の子など、お断り。彼はマゾヒストじゃない。

レックスは時間がなくなってきた。いくら頑張っても、いい人は現れない。それに、どこへ行ってもエイデンに遭遇する。あのリストはどんどん長くなっていくばかり ——

過去に掲載済みのストーリーのリンクはこちらです。

***


**********


「行くぞ」エイデンは、スポーツブラをした可愛いバレーボール選手をナンパしているスペンサーを急かした。

スペンサーは、名残惜しそうに下着同然の女の子とお別れし、駐車場までエイデンを追った。「もう行くのか? トーナメント、最後まで見るんだと思ってたよ」

「体育系がお前のタイプとはね、知らなかったよ」エイデンはボタンを押して、SUVのアラームを解除した。

「そうだけど」スペンサーがニヤリとした。「向こうから近づいてきたんだぜ」

この社交的な友人は、野良犬がソーセージのトラックに群がるように、女の子を引きつけた。「まあ、今日は十分バレーボールを見たけどね」

スペンサーは助手席側のドアを開けた。「それで、俺のいうことを聞いて、やってみるのか? バレーボール」

エイデンはためらった。

「何だよ」スペンサーは乗り込んで、シートベルトを締めた。「バレーボールで怪我をする患者をよく看るんだろ? 自分でもやってみたら、怪我のこともよく分かるようになるだろうから、一石二鳥じゃないか」

エイデンが窓越しに公園の方を見ると、黄色いシャツを着た背の低いアジア系の女の子と話しているレックスが目に留まった。レックスの方がトリッシュより細身で、上品に見える。声も低く、積極的に発言する。

「お前があの子に話しかけてるのを見たぞ」スペンサーは、からかうように言った。

「俺って、自虐的かな」

「何だよ、それ?」

答えがなかった。何もしない方がいい。リチャードが不注意に、芝生のバレーボールコートにいる妹を指さしたときも、放っておけばよかった。

「誰だよ?」

「あのトリッシュって子、覚えてるだろ?」

「お前に気があった、あの子か?」

「そのいとこだよ」

スペンサーは、目を凝らして、もう一度レックスをじっと見た。「彼女って、トリッシュに似てない?」

「クリスチャンだよ」決定的だ。そう、レックスに対する彼の興味は、正式になくなった。

スペンサーはため息をついたが、宗教についての話をまた持ち出すことはしなかった。

少し遅れて、エイデンは遠回しに侮辱していたことに気がついた。「悪気はないんだけどさ」

スペンサーは、意味ありげに片眉を上げた。「気にしてないよ」

エンジンをかけた。レックスに会ったのは、いいことだったのだろうか。彼女はトリッシュにそっくりだった。トリッシュよりずっと魅力的だということを除けば。そして彼は、反対方向に走り出すべきだろう。

だが、バレーボールのコートでプレイしている彼女は美しかった……

レックスは無愛想で、失礼に近いところもあった。彼女が自分ほど惹きつけられていないことに気がついたとき、エイデンが感じていた彼女の魅力は激減した。

駐車場から出ようとした途端、クラクションが鳴った。エイデンはブレーキを踏んだ。大きいフォードのエクスプローラが轟音を立てて過ぎていった。

参った。あの子に殺されるのではないかと考えていたところだった。

***

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