星の花が降るころに安東みきえ 銀木犀の花は甘い香りで、白く小さな星の形

星の花が降るころに
安東みきえ


銀木犀の花は甘い香りで、白く小さな星の形をしている。そして雪が降るように音もなく落ちてくる。去年の秋、夏実と二人で木の真下に立ち、花が散るのを長いこと見上げていた。気がつくと、地面が白い星形でいっぱいになっていた。これじゃ踏めない、これじゃもう動けない、と夏実は幹に体を寄せ、二人で木に閉じ込められた、そう言って笑った。

──ガタン！
びっくりした。去年の秋のことをぼんやり思い出していたら、机にいきなり戸部君がぶつかってきた。戸部君は振り返ると、後ろの男子に向かってどなった。
「やめろよ。押すなよなあ。おれがわざとぶつかったみたいだろ。」
自習時間が終わり、昼休みに入った教室はがやがやしていた。
私は戸部君をにらんだ。
「なんか用？」
「宿題をきこうと思って来たんだよ。そしたらあいつらがいきなり押してきて。」
戸部君はサッカー部のだれかといつもふざけてじゃれ合っている。そしてちょっとしたこづき合いが高じてすぐに本気のけんかになる。わけがわからない。
塾のプリントを、戸部君は私の前に差し出した。
「この問題わかんねえんだよ。『あたかも』という言葉を使って文章を作りなさい、だって。おまえ得意だろ、こういうの。」
私だってわからない。いっしょだった小学生のころからわからないままだ。なんで戸部君はいつも私にからんでくるのか。なんで同じ塾に入ってくるのか。なんでサッカー部なのに先輩のように格好よくないのか。
「わかんないよ。そんなの自分で考えなよ。」
隣の教室の授業も終わったらしく、いすを引く音がガタガタと聞こえてきた。私は戸部君を押しのけるようにして立ち上がると廊下に向かった。
戸部君に関わり合っている暇はない。今日こそは仲直りをすると決めてきたのだ。はられたポスターや掲示を眺めるふりをしながら、廊下で夏実が出てくるのを待った。
夏実とは中学に上がってもずっと親友でいようと約束をしていた。だから春の間はクラスが違っても必ずいっしょに帰っていた。それなのに、何度か小さなすれ違いや誤解が重なるうち、別々に帰るようになってしまった。お互いに意地を張っていたのかもしれない。
お守りみたいな小さなビニール袋をポケットの上からそっとなでた。中には銀木犀の花が入っている。もう香りはなくなっているけれどかまわない。去年の秋、この花で何か手作りに挑戦しようと言ってそのままになっていた。香水はもう無理でも試しにせっけんを作ってみよう、そして秋になったら新しい花を拾って、それでポプリなんかも作ってみよう……そう誘ってみるつもりだった。夏実だって、私から言いだすのをきっと待っているはずだ。
夏実の姿が目に入った。教室を出てこちらに向かってくる。
そのとたん、私は自分の心臓がどこにあるのかがはっきりわかった。どきどき鳴る胸をなだめるように一つ息を吸ってはくと、ぎこちなく足を踏み出した。
「あの、夏実──」
私が声をかけたのと、隣のクラスの子が夏実に話しかけたのが同時だった。夏実は一瞬とまどったような顔でこちらを見た後、隣の子に何か答えながら私からすっと顔を背けた。そして目の前を通り過ぎて行ってしまった。音のないこま送りの映像を見ているように、変に長く感じられた。
騒々しさがやっと耳に戻ったとき、教室の中の戸部君がこちらを見ていることに気づいた。私はきっとひどい顔をしている。唇がふるえているし、目の縁が熱い。きまりが悪くてはじかれたようにその場を離れると、窓に駆け寄って下をのぞいた。裏門にも、コンクリートの通路にも人の姿はない。どこも強い日差しのせいで、色が飛んでしまったみたい。貧血を起こしたときに見える白々とした光景によく似ている。
私は外にいる友達を探しているふうに熱心に下を眺めた。本当は友達なんていないのに。夏実の他には友達とよびたい人なんてだれもいないのに。

帰りは図書委員の集まりがあったせいで遅くなった。のろのろと靴を履き替えていると、校庭からサッカー部のかけ声が聞こえてきた。
もう九月というのに、昨日も真夏日だった。校庭に出ると、毛穴という毛穴から魂がぬるぬると溶け出してしまいそうに暑かった。
運動部のみんなはサバンナの動物みたいで、入れ替わり立ち替わり水を飲みにやって来る。水飲み場の近くに座って戸部君を探した。夏実とのことを見られたのが気がかりだった。繊細さのかけらもない戸部君だから、みんなの前で何を言いだすか知れたものじゃない。どこまでわかっているのか探っておきたかった。だいたいなんであんな場面をのんびりと眺めていたのだろう。それを考えると弱みを握られた気分になり、八つ当たりとわかってもにくらしくてしかたがなかった。
戸部君の姿がやっと見つかった。
なかなか探せないはずだ。サッカーの練習をしているみんなとは離れた所で、一人ボールをみがいていた。
サッカーボールは縫い目が弱い。そこからほころびる。だからグリスをぬってやらないとだめなんだ。使いたいときだけ使って、手入れをしないでいるのはだめなんだ。いつか戸部君がそう言っていたのを思い出した。
日陰もない校庭の隅っこで背中を丸め、黙々とボールみがきをしている戸部君を見ていたら、なんだか急に自分の考えていたことがひどく小さく、くだらないことに思えてきた。
立ち上がって水道の蛇口をひねった。水をぱしゃぱしゃと顔にかけた。冷たかった。溶け出していた魂がもう一度引っ込み、やっと顔の輪郭が戻ってきたような気がした。
てのひらに水を受けて何度もほおをたたいていると、足音が近づいてきた。後ろから「おい。」と声をかけられた。戸部君だ。ずっと耳になじんでいた声だからすぐわかる。
顔をふきながら振り返ると、戸部君が言った。
「おれ、考えたんだ。」
ハンドタオルから目だけを出して戸部君を見つめた。何を言われるのか少しこわくて黙っていた。
「ほら、『あたかも』という言葉を使って文を作りなさいってやつ。」
「ああ、なんだ。あれのこと。」
「いいか、よく聞けよ……おまえはおれを意外とハンサムだと思ったことが──」にやりと笑った。「──あたかもしれない。」
やっぱり戸部君って、わけがわからない。
二人で顔を見合わせてふき出した。中学生になってちゃんと向き合ったことがなかったから気づかなかったけれど、私より低かったはずの戸部君の背はいつのまにか私よりずっと高くなっている。
私はタオルを当てて笑っていた。涙がにじんできたのはあんまり笑いすぎたせいだ、たぶん。

学校からの帰り、少し回り道をして銀木犀のある公園に立ち寄った。
銀木犀は常緑樹だから一年中葉っぱがしげっている。それをきれいに丸く刈り込むので、木の下に入れば丸屋根の部屋のようだ。夏実と私はここが大好きで、二人だけの秘密基地と決めていた。ここにいれば大丈夫、どんなことからも木が守ってくれる。そう信じていられた。
夕方に近くなっても日差しはまだ強い。木の下は陰になって涼しかった。
掃除をしているおばさんが、草むしりの手を休めて話しかけてきた。
「いい木だよねえ、こんな時期は木陰になってくれて。けど春先は、葉っぱが落ちて案外厄介なんだよ、掃除がさ。」
私は首をかしげた。常緑樹は一年中葉っぱがしげっているはずなのに。
「え、葉っぱはずっと落ちないんじゃないんですか。」
「まさか。どんどん古い葉っぱを落っことして、その代わりに新しい葉っぱを生やすんだよ。そりゃそうさ。でなきゃあんた、いくら木だって生きていけないよ。」
帽子の中の顔は暗くてよくわからなかったけれど、笑った歯だけは白く見えた。おばさんは、よいしょと言って掃除道具を抱えると公園の反対側に歩いていった。
私は真下に立って銀木犀の木を見上げた。
かたむいた陽が葉っぱの間からちらちらと差し、半円球の宙にまたたく星みたいに光っていた。
ポケットからビニール袋を取り出した。花びらは小さく縮んで、もう色がすっかりあせている。
袋の口を開けて、星形の花を土の上にぱらぱらと落とした。
ここでいつかまた夏実と花を拾える日が来るかもしれない。それとも違うだれかと拾うかもしれない。あるいはそんなことはもうしないかもしれない。
どちらだっていい。大丈夫、きっとなんとかやっていける。
私は銀木犀の木の下をくぐって出た。

結果 (英語) 1:

By the time rain-star flowerMiki Ando-eh Silver sweet osmanthus flower is fragrant and has a small star-shaped white. And without sound as it snows falling. Last fall, summer fruit and was looking at that long standing alone beneath the trees and scattered flowers. In the notice, and the ground is white star had become bloated. It cannot move anymore, owning it, and Natsumi is trunk closer, by two people trapped in the tree, said and laughed. ─ ─ Gaetan! I was surprised. If you had dimly recall last fall that desk has knocked you Tobe suddenly. Tobe is turned around and shouted behind men's."Stop. I like hitting. I want to hit on purpose? 」 Classroom study time, went into the lunch break were noisily. I suspected you Tobe."Something for? 」"I'm here because I'm asking homework. Then I suddenly pushed them. 」 Tobe is always flirting with someone of the football team, are playing each other. And a little kodzuki is each other, and quickly becomes a serious quarrel. Do not know why. Cram print you Tobe held out in front of me."This problem don't know I'm. "If, that is, make sentences using the words. Would you're good at this. 」 I'm not sure. Do not know since elementary school went out. What is Tobe always me or closely related. What comes to the same school? But what a football club as good not good for you."I'm not. Do not think so much of yourself. 」 You pull the Chair would be ended next to the classroom could hear rattled. Mandated to Tobe and I got up and headed into the hallway. No time is related to you Tobe. I have decided to make peace with it. Waited while watching was poster and posted pretending to come out summer fruit in the hallway. Up to junior high school and summer fruits also have been with friend and had promised. So the different classes during the spring came always together. Nevertheless, several small parted and misunderstandings come out separately to take I. It may have had stubbornness to each other. Kissed the amulet, like a small bag from the top of the Pocket. While in silver sweet osmanthus flowers. The scent is gone now, but I don't care. Was supposed to leave, saying last fall, try something handmade in flowers. Perfume is once again not even try to make SOAP to try and fall picking up a new flower, so let's make a potpourri there as well. It was going to look so inviting. Natsumi even begin to say I should be waiting for I'm sure. Appearance of the summer fruit into your eyes. Out of the classroom to come. As soon as that I have where my heart has been clearly understood. Smoking one to appease the chest pounding sound and foil, awkwardly step."ANO, Natsumi ─ ─" I called and spoke to the summer fruit next to the class children were at the same time. After seeing this at the moment frustrated face Natsumi, while next to the child to answer something from me abruptly turned away. And we went past the front. Are watching the video without sound often feed the long felt. Noticed that when the tumult has finally returned to the ear, is Tobe in the classroom are watching here. I will have look awful. Hot's eyes and trembling lips. The jump was too embarrassed to leave and ran to the window and looked down. Also, the gate and the concrete walkway was not. Nowhere because of strong sunlight, flying colors I like. The clearness and the spectacle look anemic when similar. I looked in the intently under way looking for my friends outside. It really has no friends. No one no one at other summer fruit with my friends and I want to have. Library Board meeting was way back in late. Wear shoes change slowly and heard of soccer club from the schoolyard. I told you September midsummer day was yesterday. Slimy and melts soul from pore to leave and it was hot so I put out. Everyone in the Athletic Department at like animals of the savanna, drinking all kinds of ways to come. Sitting near a watering hole, I looked for you Tobe. Seen that Natsumi was worried. No shred of subtlety it's not known what you Tobe and then begins to say in front of everyone. Know where ever I wanted to explore. It might be about why that scene looked leisurely. Nikurashikute mood held the weaknesses and think about it and find out, had no choice. Tobe-Kun is finally found. Should find it. Away and everyone to soccer practice, had brushed his balls per person. Soccer ball seams are weak. Apart from there. It's so useless and not do it through the grease. I'm using it only when you want to use, and are without the care of useless. I remember that was said Tobe you. In the corner of the yard without shade back rounding, and ball is the Polish seemed to be to you Tobe you I was watching, I thought my terribly small and silly. Got up and turned on the water faucet. Water splashing water and put on the face. Cold. Had a soul had to melt again, finally back facial contours. Palm received water and knocking on the cheek several times, heard footsteps approaching. From behind "dude. "And was called. Tobe-Kun. Village had become familiar with ears much more clearly. While blowing the face looking back, you Tobe said."I thought. 」 A hand towel out of the eyes, stared at you Tobe. Or told what a little fear and silence."You know,"as if"that we make a sentence using the word guy. 」"Yeah,. That's that. 」"Context is everything, okay?... Thought you think me handsome ─ ─ "smiled and laughed. "─ ─ it might be. 」 I do not know does not Tobe-Kun. Put the face alone and began to blow. From becoming a junior high school student, her face never noticed, but it should be lower than I am of Tobe you back somewhere along the line I have been higher than that. I focused my towel and laughed. Has been soaked with the tears because of too much laughter is, maybe. From the school at the back, with a little detour, shiroki Rhino Park. Evergreen's silver tea olive all year round shigette leaves. Dome room's like a prune, clean it and put under the tree. Here by I love summer fruit and I, had decided that only two secret bases. If you are here from okay, what protects trees. It was believe. Even getting close to the evening sun is still strong. Under the cool shade. Resting the hand weeding of the aunt who cleaned and spoke to me."It's good wood Hey, this shade was a me. But early spring is bare of leaves unexpectedly nasty I'm clean,. 」 I was puzzled. Even though evergreens year round leaves shigette is supposed to be."And is nothing like the leaf doesn't fall far. 」"Believe it or not. I'm getting old leaves sprout new leaves as falling. Oh yeah. You can not afford, how much wood I can't live 」 The face in the hat looked white as teeth dark and I couldn't, but I laughed. Aunt may think and say, with a broom and walked on the other side of the Park. I stood underneath, looked at the silver osmanthus trees. Shone like a star twinkles in the semi-spherical air sinking Sun sunshine glimmered and from between the leaves. Out of plastic bag from his pocket. Squashed smaller petals, other colors are all faded. Open the mouth of the bag, dropped on the ground and star-shaped flowers. Here some day and summer fruit and flowers can be found at day might come. Or you could pick up with someone different. Or maybe don't do that anymore. Good either. Okay, I managed to get. I got the silver osmanthus trees.

結果 (英語) 2:

Star of flowers around with full
Mikie Ando


of silver Osmanthus flowers are sweet smell, in the form of a white small star. And falling without a sound as snow. Last autumn, standing beneath the tree in Natsumi and two people, was looking up a long time that the flowers fall. When the notice, the ground had become filled with white star-shaped. Not stomping'm this, this' s not move anymore, and Natsumi has asked the body to the trunk, was trapped in a tree with two people, I laughed to say so.

── Gatan!
I was surprised. When I remembered vaguely that of last fall, it has suddenly hit the Tobe-kun on the desk. When Tobe kun look back, I yelled toward the back of the boys.
"I Stop. I wish I Do not press.'d Like I was hit on purpose."
The end is self-study time, classroom went into the lunch break had been hum.
I glared the Tobe-kun.
"For something?"
"I'm came wanted to listen to homework. And then Aitsura has been pressed suddenly."
Tobe-kun are each other playful always playfully someone of soccer. And become serious about the fight as soon as a little dig each other is Takaji. So I do not know.
The school of print, Tobe it is held out in front of me.
"I'm do not know this problem. Make a sentence using the word" as if ", because. You'll good, saying like this."
Do not know Even me. You leave do not know since I was in elementary school we were together. Why Do the Tobe-kun come in always involved me. Whether incoming why the same cram school. Why Do not in style as a senior to a soccer club.
"I do not know. I Do not think in such of their own."
Also seemed finished next to the classroom teaching, sound to pull the chair has been heard and rattled. I went to the hallway and stand up so as to push away the Tobe-kun.
Tobe not have time to have each other involved in you. We have decided to bury the hatchet is what today. While pretending to look at the Hara posters and posted, was waiting for the Natsumi in the corridor comes out.
And Natsumi had a promise and I will be in the best friend much even up to the junior high school. So during the spring was back always together also different class. And yet, several small passing and misunderstanding among overlap, has become to go separately. It might have been pitched nasty to each other.
The charm like a small plastic bag stroked gently from the top of the pocket. That contains the silver Osmanthus flowers in. It does not matter but is no longer the other smell. Last fall, was supposed to leave it to say that the attempt to challenge something handmade in this flower. Perfume Let's make the soap to try even more impossible, and pick up new flower Once in the fall, so potpourri was going to try to be invited so ...... Let's make something. Even Natsumi, should the from me break the ice of waiting I'm sure.
Appearance of Natsumi gets into your eyes. Out of the classroom coming towards here.
That moment, I know what my heart is where there's clearly. When the foil smoked one breath to appease the pounding sound chest, it took the awkward foot.
"That, Natsumi ──"
and I was talking to the child next to the class spoke to Natsumi was simultaneous. Natsumi is after seeing here in the face, such as puzzled for a moment, it turned away a straight face from me while answering something next to the child. And I had to go past the front of the eye. As is watching the video with no sound frame advance, it felt strangely long.
When the tumult has returned to the ear finally, I noticed that the Tobe-kun in the classroom are looking at here. I have a terrible surely face. It lips are trembling, eyes of the edge is hot. When the rules leaves the place as was repelled bad, except for the lower running up to the window. Also back gate, there is no appearance of humans in the path of the concrete. Where also because of the strong sunlight, like the color went flying. It is very similar to the scene in which the white people to look at the time that caused the anemia.
I looked down to eagerly Fu looking for friends who are outside. Actually though Nobody friends. Though no one anybody you want is called a friend in addition to the of Natsumi. Return slowed due there was a collection of books committee. If tardily are in place to wear the shoes, I heard a shout of soccer from the schoolyard. To say that another September, was a hot day yesterday. Upon exiting in the schoolyard, it was hot to seem to get melted To soul slimy from the pores of pores. Everyone's motion part is like a savannah animals, come to drink the turnover Standing instead water. I was looking for a Tobe Mr. sitting near the water fountain. I had seen the thing with Natsumi was disturbing. Because not even Tobe Mr. pieces of delicacy, not a thing that may what break the ice in front of everyone. I wanted to explore how far it has been found. Roughly wonder was why leisurely look at the Anna scene. With that in mind will feel that was held a weakness, there was no way to detestably also been found to hit eight. Appearance of the Tobe-kun was finally found. You should not find easily. Away from the guys that are the practice of football, he had polished the one person the ball. Soccer ball is the seam is weak. Unravel from there. So it's useless unless Yara painted the grease. Use only if you want to use,'m useless to have not a care. Tobe Mr. remembered had said so someday. Rounding the back in the corner of no shade schoolyard, when I look at the Tobe-kun that the silently ball polishing, it is terribly small that had to somehow suddenly thought of their own, have seemed silly thing. Twisted the faucet stand up. Water was subjected to Pashapasha and face. It was cold. Retraction soul that has been melted once again, and feel like I have finally the contour of the face is back. And many times in response to the water and knock the cheek in the palm of your hand, footsteps approaching. It was accosted as "nephew." From behind. Tobe's you. Soon be seen because it is the voice that was familiar to the ear much. Looking back while wiping the face, Tobe-kun said. "I, I was thinking." I stared at Tobe-kun from the hand towel with only the out eyes. What it said was silent a little afraid. "I know," as if "guy I Make a sentence using the word." "Oh, What. Thing of it." "I say, well Kikeyo ...... that you are that I thought it was surprisingly handsome me There ── "he grinned laughed. "── might if they were." I thought I Tobe-kun, do not know is divided. I began to wipe postponed the face by two people. But I did not notice because I had never faced properly become a junior high school, back of Tobe Kimi would have been lower than I have imperceptibly become much higher than me. I was laughing by applying a towel. I blame that too laugh so much is the tears have blurred, perhaps. Way back from school, I stopped at a park with a silver Osmanthus and the detour a little. Silver Osmanthus is wooded the leaves all year round because it is evergreen. Since it trim clean round, it seems to be of the cupola room if put under the tree. Natsumi and I love here, it had decided the secret base of only two people. Okay If you are in here, trees protect us from any thing. It was needed to believe so. Even close to the evening sun is still strong. Under the trees was cool in the shadow of. Aunt that the cleaning is, spoke to me resting the hand of weeding. "Hey I'm a good tree, this time is me made ​​in the shade of a tree. But the early spring,'m unexpectedly nasty fall is leaves, cleaning can be." I was puzzled. But it should evergreen has leaves all year round are lush. "For example, do you not it leaves will not fall much." "No way. As come Whoa more and more old leaves,'m grow a new leaf in its place. Well Is the so. In Without Anta, not live much Even tree It. " but the face in the hat did not know well dark, only laughed teeth looked white. Aunt, walked to the opposite side of the park and facing a cleaning tool to say that alley-oop. I looked up at the tree of silver Osmanthus standing beneath. Inclined sun shimmering To insert from between the leaves, was glowing like stars twinkling in the air of the semi-circular spheres. It took out a plastic bag from his pocket. Petals shrink small, the other color is completely faded. Open the mouth of the bag, I dropped To pattering the star-shaped flower on top of the soil. Here might pick up day will come someday also Natsumi and flowers. Or you might pick up a different someone. Or such a thing may not longer. Both Even good. Okay, Ikeru surely doing somehow. I went duck under a tree of silver Osmanthus.

結果 (英語) 3:

It"s time to star flowerMikie AndoIn the sweet fragrance of Osmanthus fragrans flowers, a small white star. Then, as the snow falling down without a sound. Last autumn, summer and in two of the tree and looked up at that long to fall. And the ground is white star was full. This is not, this is another one is stuck, and by the stem, trapped in a tree, he laughed.He snapped!I"m surprised. I vaguely remember that last fall, all of a sudden you tobe bumped against the desk. Look back, and you tobe back toward the man shouted."It. A push. I would like a hit on purpose. "In the end, the study hour lunch break the noise in the classroom.I thought you tobe."For you?""It was troubling to come. Then they suddenly pushed. "You tobe and who always like playing football. And like to be around a little soon serious quarrel. I don"t know why.In school, you tobe printed out in front of me."Hey, I know this problem. The word "if", even to make a sentence. You will be good at this. "I don"t know. I don"t know from me was when I was in elementary school. Why do you always put me tobe come in. Why are in the same school will come. So why is not cool, but senior football club."I don"t know. I think of myself. "Next to the classroom teaching, and pull the chairs. I went up in the hallway as tobe push you.You tobe in no time. I decided to make up that day. Put posters and pretended to look at the post, while in the hallway and waited for the coming summer.To love and to all friends in the middle rising. So during the spring back is always different classes together. However, some small misunderstanding and overlap each other, one has to go. Each of his might.Like a charm quietly patted on the pocket a small plastic bag. Are composed of Osmanthus fragrans flowers. Though there may be no more fragrance. Last fall, this flower is trying to say something that is handmade. Perfume is already impossible even to try to make soap, and in the fall when the new flowers picked up, so... I also made potpourri... I was going to do me in. Natsumi, I should tell you to wait.Natsumi figure of his eye. Leave the classroom in this way.At that moment, I felt my heart where it is found. In a soothing sounds to beat breast suck on one breath, and awkward."" then, NatsumiAs I was, but simultaneously the child to Natsumi next class. Natsumi like him in the face for a moment and look after the children while you say something to me quickly turned away. Then, before passing away. Like a top feed without sound, watching video, have long felt strange.When I returned to the noise of the ears, you tobe noticed in the classroom can see here. I will have to face. His lips are hot, one"s eyes. Embarrassed as bad flipped and leave the window and looked down over. In the back of the concrete is not the passage of a person. Where is the strong sunlight, like flying. When causing anemia, and are very similar to the scene.I looked down on the way, looking for a friend. Though there is no truth. Natsumi on other people and not with my friends.The return of the library collection and because he was late. And they left shoe, and slowly I heard shouts from the football club.Another September