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ひとり寿司第18章パート2




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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。

***


**********


彼らは彼女をねらっていた。

大学の試合のチケットが、ただで手に入るということを祖母がどうやって知るようになったのか、レックスには分からなかった。レックスの携帯を盗聴したのだとしたら、見過ごすことはできない。

だけど、もうどうでもいい。ニュースは出た。祖母の友人の息子全員に知れ渡ってしまったのだ。

だから、彼らはみな、レックスをねらっていた。

退社しようとコンピュータを消した途端、携帯が鳴り始めた。大変、あと十五分で日系ジムに着けるかな。

「レクソー・坂井さんですか?」その男性の声は日本語のアクセントがとても強く、机の引き出しからカバンをつかむ手が止まった。

「私です」

「はじめまして。僕は赤荻闘也です(日本語で)。あなたのおばあさん——」

「日本語は話しません」しかし少しは分かった。闘也は、絶対にレックスの祖母のことを言った。外へ向かいながら、暗い疑惑のために歯ぎしりした。

「ああ……あなた、話さない?」

「四世だからね、坊や」

「いえ、僕は坊やじゃなくて、闘也——」

「闘也、何の用?」

「あなたのおばあさんが、僕のお母さんの友達」

「うそでしょ」

「君は可愛い、って言った。スポーツ、好き。大学の試合のチケット、取れる。イエス?」

「何?」レックスは車のキーを落とした。「どこで聞いてきたの?」

「お母さんが——」

彼の母親か。「いいえ、興味ないわ、じゃあね」

「だけど——」

電話を閉じて、車に滑り込んだ。電話が鳴った。「もしもし?」

「レック・坂井さん?」

今度は中国語なまり。最悪。もしかしたらカーブボールが投げられるかも。

「(日本語で)もしもし! お手洗いに行ってもいいですか?」

「あの……」

「いち、に、さん、し、ご! ひとつ、ふたつ、みっつ、よっつ!」

「ええと……ニーハオ、マ?」

(早く切ってよ)レックスの日本語の語彙は少ない。「お手洗いに行く」というフレーズを繰り返そうと思った。「お手洗い——(日本語で)」

(カチャッ)

レックスは自分の手の中にある不愉快な電話を見つめた。電源を切ろうか。だけど、ワサマタユからの電話だったら?

鳴った。(ダメ、ダメ、ダメ、ダメ)もう一度鳴るまで待った。サンノゼ市内の番号だが、名前は分からない。痛々しいほど顔をゆがめ、電話のフタを開けた。「も、もしもし?」

「レックス・坂井さん?」アメリカ人のアクセントだ。

「そうですが」

「こんにちは。僕の叔母が、あなたのおばあさんの友達なんですが……」

***

電子書籍
アメリカKindle
日本Kindle
Apple Books
Kobo/Rakuten
Google Play
印刷本
アメリカAmazon
日本Amazon

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