Seisaku wa, saa higure da zo, higure da zo to iinagara, hie no nemoto ni sesseto tsuchi o kakete imashita.

Sono toki wa mou, akagane zukuri no ohisama ga, minami no yamasuso no gunjou iro o shita toko ni ochite, nohara wa hen ni sabishiku nari, shirakaba no miki nado mo nani ka kona o fuite iru you deshita.

Ikinari, mukou no kashiwa bayashi no hou kara, marude choushi hazure no tohou mo nai hen na koe de,

"Ukon shappo no KANKARAKAN no KAAN." to donaru no ga kikoemashita.

Seisaku wa bikkuri shite kaoiro o kae, kuwa o nage sutete, ashioto o tatenai you ni, sotto socchi e hashitte ikimashita.

Choudo kashiwabayashi no mae made kita toki, Seisaku wa fui ni, ushiro kara erikubi o tsukamaremashita.

Bikkuri shite furimuite mimasu to, akai TORUKObou o kaburi, nezumi iro no hen na dabudabu no kimono o kite, kutsu o haita muyami ni sei no takai me no surudoi ekaki ga, punpun okotte tatte imashita.

"Nan to iu zama o shite aruku n da. Marude hau you na anbai da. Nezumi no you da. Douda, benkai no kotoba ga aru ka."

Seisaku wa mochiron benkai no kotoba nado wa arimasen deshita shi, mendou kusaku nattara kenka shite yarou to omotte, ikinari sora o muite nodo ippai,

"Akai shappo no KANKARAKAN no KAAN." to donarimashita. Suru to sono setaka no ekaki wa, niwakani Seisaku no kubisuji o hanashite, marude hoeru you na koe de warai dashimashita. Sono oto wa hayashi ni konkon hibiita no desu.

"Umai, jitsu ni umai. Dou desu, sukoshi hayashi no naka o arukou ja arimasen ka. Sousou, dochira mo mada aisatsu o wasurete ita. Boku kara saki ni yarou. Iika, iya konban wa, nohara niwa chiisaku kitta kageboushi ga baramaki desu ne, to. Boku no aisatsu wa kou da. Wakaru kai. Kondo wa kimi da yo. Ehen, ehen." to iinagara ekaki wa mata kyuu ni iji warui kaotsuki ni natte, nanameni ue no hou kara keibetsu shita you ni Seisaku o mioroshi mashita.

Seisaku wa sukkari dogimagi shimashita ga, choudo yuugata de onaka ga suite, kumo ga dango no you ni miete imashita kara awatete,

"Etto, konbanwa. Yoi oban de gozaimasu. Etto. Osora wa kore kara gin no kinako de mabusaremasu. Gomennasai."

to iimashita.

Tokoro ga ekaki wa mou sukkari yorokon de, te o pachipachi tataite, sore kara haneagatte iimashita.

"Oi kimi, ikou. Hayashi e ikou. Ore wa kashiwa no ki daiou no okyakusama ni natte kiteiru n da. Omoshiroi mono o miseteyaru zo."

Ekaki wa niwaka ni majime ni natte, aka dano shiro da no guchagucha tsuita kitanai enogu bako o katsuide, sassa to hayashi no naka ni hairimashita. Sokode Seisaku mo, kuwa o motanaide te ga hima nano de, burabura futte tsuite ikimashita.

Hayashi no naka wa asagiiro de, nikkei no you na nioi ga ippai deshita. Tokoro ga iriguchi kara sannbonme no wakai kashiwa no ki wa, choudo kataashi o agete odori no mane o hajimeru tokoro deshita ga futari no kita no o mite marude bikkuri shite, sore kara hidoku hazukashigatte, ageta kataashi no hiza o, ma ga warusou ni berobero namenagara, yokome de jitto futari no toorisugiru no o miteimashita. Koto ni Seisaku ga torisugiru toki wa, chotto azawaraimashita. Seisaku wa doumo shikata nai to iu you na ki ga shite damatte ekaki ni tsuite ikimashita.

Tokoroga doumo, dono ki mo ekaki niwa kigen no ii kao o shimasu ga, Seisaku niwa iyana kao o miseru no deshita.

Ippon no gotsugotsu shita kashiwa no ki ga, Seisaku no tooru toki, usukuragari ni, ikinari jibun no ashi o tsukidashite, tsumazukaseyou to shimashita ga Seisaku wa,

"Yo' to sho." to iinagara sore o hanekoemashita.

Ekaki wa,

"Douka shita kai." to itte chotto furimukimashita ga, mata sugu mukou o muite dondon aruite ikimashita.

Choudo sono toki kaze ga kimashita no de, hayashijuu no kashiwa no ki wa isshoni,

"Seraserasera Seisaku, seraserasera ba a." to usukimi no warui koe o dashite Seisaku o odosou to shimashita.

Tokoro ga Seisaku wa kaette jibun de kuchi o suteki ni ookiku shite yoko no hou e magete

"Heraherahera Seisaku, heraherahera, babaa." to donari tsukemashita no de, kashiwa no ki wa minna dogimo o nukarete shiin to natteshi maimashita. Ekaki wa ahhaha, ahhaha to bikko no you na waraikata o shimashita.

Soshite futari wa zuutto ki no aida o tootte, kashiwa no ki daiou no tokoro ni kimashita.

Daiou wa daishou torimazete juukyuuhon no te to, ippon no futoi ashi to o motte orimashita. Mawari niwa shikkari shita kerai no kashiwadomo ga, majime ni takusan ganbatte imasu.

Ekaki wa enogu bako o KATAN to oroshimashita. Suruto daiou wa magatta koshi o nobashite, hikui koe de ekaki ni iimashita.

"Mou okaeri ka no. Matte mashita ja. Sochira wa atarashii kyakujin ja na. Ga, sono hito wa yoshinasare. Zenkamono jazo. Zenka kujuuhappan ja zo."

Seisaku ga okotte donarimashita.

"Uso o tsuke, zenkamono da to. Ora shoujiki da zo."

Daiou mo gotsugotsu no mune o hatte okorimashita.

"Nani o. Shouko wa chan to aruja. Mata choumen nimo nottoru ja. Kisama no warui ono no ato no tsuita kujuuhachi no ashisaki ga ima demo kono kayashi no naka ni chanto nokotte iru ja."

"Ahhahha. Okashina hanashi da. Kujuuhachi no ashisaki to iu no wa, kujuuhachi no kirikabu darou. Sore ga doushita to iu n da. Ore wa chan to, yamanushi no tousuke ni sake o nishou katte aru n da."

"Sonnara ore niwa naze sake o kawan ka."

"Kau iware ga nai"

"Iya, aru, takusan aru. Kae"

"Kau iware ga nai"

Ekaki wa kao o shikamete, shonbori tatte kono kenka o kiite imashita ga kono toki, niwaka ni hayashi no ki no aida kara, higashi no hou o yubisashite sakebimashita.

"Oioi, kenka wa yose. Manmarui taishou ni warawareru zo."

Miru to higashi no toppuri to shita aoi sanmyaku no ue ni, ookina yasashii momoiro no tsuki ga nobotta no deshita. Otsukisama no chikaku wa usui midoriiro ni natte, kashiwa no wakai ki wa mina, marude tobi agaru you ni ryoute o socchi e dashite sakebimashita.

"Otsukisan, otsukisan, ottsukisan,

Tsui omisore shite sumimasen

Anmari onari ga chigau no de

Tsui omisore shite sumimasen."

Kashiwa no ki daiou mo shiroi hige o hinette, shibaraku umuumu to iinagara, jitto otsukisama o nagamete kara, shizuka ni utaidashimashita.

"Koyoi anata wa toki iro no

Mukashi no kimono tsuke nasaru

Kashiwa bayashi no kono yoi wa

Natsu no odori no daisan ya

Yagate anata wa mizuiro no

Kyou no kimono o tsuke nasaru

Kashiwa bayashi no yorokobi wa

Anata no sora ni kakaru mama."

Ekaki ga yorokonde te o tatakimashita.

"Umaiumai. Yoshiyoshi. Natsu no odori no daisanya. Minna junjun ni koko ni dete utau n da. Jibun no monku de jibun no fushi de utaun da. Ittoushou kara kutoushou made wa boku ga ookina METARU o kaite, ashita eda ni burasagete yaru."

Seisaku mo sukkari ukarete iimashita.

"Saa koi. Hetana hou no ittou kara kutou made wa, ashita ore ga SUPON to kitte, kowai toko e tsuretette yaru zo."

Suruto kashiwa no ki daiou ga okorimashita.

"Nani o iu ka. Burei mono."

"Nani ga burei da. Mou kyuuhon ru dake wa, tou ni yamanushi no tousuke ni sake o katte arun da."

"Sonnara ore niwa naze kawan ka."

"Kau iware ga nai."

"Iya aru, takusan aru."

"Nai."

Ekaki ga kao o shikamete te o sewashiku futte iimashita.

"Mata hajimatta. Maa boku ga ii you ni suru kara uta o hajimeyou. Da n dan hoshi mo detekita. Iika, boku ga utau yo. Shouhin no uta da yo.

Ittoushou wa hakkin METARU

Nitoushou wa kiniro METARU

Santoushou wa suigin METARU

Yontoushou wa NIKKERUMETARU

Gotoushou wa totan no METARU

Rokutoushou wa nisegane METARU

Nanatoushou wa namari no METARU

Hachitoushou wa buriki no METARU

Kutoushou wa MACCHI no METARU

Juttoushou kara hyakutoushou made

Aru yara nai yara wakaranu METARU."

Kashiwa no ki daiou ga kigen o naoshite wahahawahaha to waraimashita.

Kashiwa no kidomo wa daiou o shoumen ni ookina wa o tsukurimashita.

Otsukisama wa, ima choudo, mizuiro no kimono to torikaeta tokoro deshita kara, sokora wa asai mizu no soko no you, ki no kage wa usuku ami ni natte ji ni ochimashita.

Ekaki wa, akai shappo mo yurayura moete mie, massugu ni tatte techou o mochi enpitsu o namemashita.

"Saa, hayaku hajimeru n da. Hayai no wa ten ga iiyo."

Sokode chiisana kashiwa no ki ga, ippon hyoitto wa no nakakara tobidashite daiou ni rei o shimashita.

Tsuki no akari ga patto aoku narimashita.

"Omae no uta wa dai wa nan da." ekaki wa mottomorashiku kao o shikame te iimashita.

"Uma to usagi desu."

"Yoshi, hajime, " ekaki wa techou ni kaite iimashita.

"Usagi no mimi wa naga."

"Chotto matta." ekaki wa tomemashita."Enpitsu ga oreta n da. Chotto kezuru uchi mattekure."

Soshite ekaki wa jibun no migiashi no kutsu o nuide sono naka ni enpitsu o kezuri hajimemashita. Kashiwa no ki wa, tooku kara mina kanshin shite, hisohiso hanashiainagara mite orimashita. Sokode daiou mo toutou iimashita.

"Iya, kyakujin, arigatou. Hayashi o kitanaku semai to no, sono okokorozashi wa jitsu ni katajikenai."

Tokoro ga ekaki wa heiki de

"Iie, ato de kono kezurikuzu de su o tsukurimasu kara na."

to henji shita mono desu kara sasuga no daiou mo, sukoshi guai ga warusou ni yoko o muki, kashiwa no ki mo mina kyou o samashi, tsuki no akari mo na n daka shiroppoku narimashita.

Tokoroga ekaki wa, kezuru no ga sunde tachiagari, yukai sou ni,

"Saa, hajimete kure." to iimashita.

Kashiwa wa zawameki, tsukiakari mo aoku sukitoori, daiou mo kigen o naoshite funfun to iimashita.

Wakai ki wa mune o hatte atarashiku utaimashita.

"Usagi no mimi wa nagai kedo

Uma no mimi yori nagakunai."

"Waa, umaiumai. Aahaha, aahaha." minna wa warattari hayashitari shimashita.

"Ittoushou, hakkin METARU." to ekaki ga techou ni tsukenagara takaku sakebimashita.

"Boku no wa kitsune no uta desu."

Mata ippon no wakai kashiwa no ki ga dete kimashita. Tsukiakari wa sukoshi midoriiro ni narimashita.

"Yoroshii hajime'."

"Kitsune, konkon, kitsune no ko,

Tsukiyo ni shippo ga moedashita."

"Waa, umaiumai. Wahhaha, wahhaha."

"Dainitoushou, kiniro METARU."

"Kondo wa boku yarimasu. Boku no wa neko no uta desu."

"Yoroshii hajime'."

"Yamaneko, nyaago, gorogoro

Sato neko, takko, gorogoro."

"Waa, umai umai. Wahhaha, wahhaha."

"Daisantoushou, sugin METARU. Oi, minna, ookii yatsu mo deru n da yo. Doushite sonna ni guzuguzu shiteru n da." ekaki ga sukoshi ijiwarui kaotsuki o shimashita.

"Watashi no wa kurumi no ki no uta desu."

Sukoshi ookina kashiwa no ki ga hazukashi sou ni detekimashita.

"Yoroshii, minna shizuka ni suru n da."

Kashi no ki wa utaimashita.

"Kurumi wa midori no kiniro, na,

Kaze ni fukarete suisuisui,

Kurumi wa midori no tengu no ougi,

Kaze ni fukarete baran baran baran,

Kurumi wa midori no kiniro, na,

Kaze ni fukarete sansansan."

"Ii TENORU da ne e. Umai ne e, waawaa."

"Daiyon shitoushou, NIKKERU METARU."

"Boku no wa sarunokoshikake desu."

"Yoshi, hajime."

Kashiwa no ki wa te o koshi ni atemashita.

"Kozaru, kozaru,

Omae no koshikake nureteru zo,

Kiri, posshan posshan posshan,

Omae no koshikake kusareru zo."

"Ii TENORU da nee, ii TENORU da nee, umai nee, umainee, waawaa."

"Daigotoushou, totan no METARU."

"Watashi no wa shappo no uta desu." sore wa ano iriguchi kara anbanme no ki deshita.

"Yoroshii. Hajime."

"Ukon shappo no KANKARAKAN no KAAN

Akai shappo no KANKARAKAN no KAAN."

"Umai umai. Suteki da. Waawaa."

"Dairokutoushou, nisegane METARU."

Kono toki made, shikatanaku otonashiku kiiteita Seisaku ga, ikinari sakebidashimashita.

"Na n da, kono uta nisemono da zo. Sakki hito no utatta no mane shita n da zo."

"Damare, burei mono, sono hou nado no kuchi o dasu tokoro de nai." kashiwa no ki daiou ga buriburi shite donarimashita.

"Na n da to, nisemono dakara nisemono to itta n da. Namaiki iu to, ashita ono o mottekite, katappashikara kitte shimau zo."

"Nani o, koshaku na. Sono hou nado no buzai de nai."

"Baka o ie, ore wa ashita, yamanushi no tousuke ni chan to nishou zake o katte kuru n da"

"Sonnara naze ore niwa kawan ka."

"Kau iware ga nai."

"Kae."

"Iware ga nai."

"Yose, yose, nisemono dakara nisegane no METARU o yaru n da. Anmari sou kenka suru na yo. Saa, sono tsugi wa dou da. Deru n da deru n da."

Otsukisama no hikari ga aoku sukitootte sokora wa mizuumi no soko no you ni narimashita.

"Watashi no wa Seisaku no uta desu."

Mata hitori no wakai ganjou sou na kashiwa no ki ga demashita.

"Nan da to, " Seisaku ga mae e dete naguri tsukeyou to shimashitara ekaki ga tomemashita.

"Maa, machi tamae. Kimi no uta datte waruguchi tomo kagiranai. Yoroshii. Hajime."

Kashiwa no ki wa ashi o guragura shinagara utaimashita.

"Seisaku wa, ittousotsu no fuku o kite

Nohara ni itte, budou o takusan tottekita.

To kouda. Dareka ato o tsuzuketekure."

"HOU, HOU." kashiwa no ki wa minna arashi no you ni, Seisaku o hiyakashite sakebimashita.

"Shichitoushou, namari no METARU."

"Watashi ga ato o tsukemasu." sakki no ki no tonari kara sugu mata ippon no kashiwa no ki ga tobidashimashita.

"Yoroshii, hajime."

Kashiwa no ki wa chiratto Seisaku no hou o mite, chotto baka ni suru you ni waraimashita ga, sugu majime ni natte utaimashita.

"Seisaku wa, budou o minna shiboriage

Satou o irete

Bin ni takusan tsumeko n da.

Oi, dare ka ato o tsuzuketekure."

"HOHHOU, HOHHOU, HOHHOU, " kashiwa no ki domo wa kaze no you na henna koe o dashite Seisaku o hiyakashimashita.

Seisaku wa mou tobidashite minna katappashi kara bunnagutte yaritakute muzumuzu shimashita ga, ekaki ga chan to mae e tachi fusagatte imasu no de, doushitemo deraremasen deshita.

"Daihachitou, buriki no METARU."

"Watashi ga tsugi o yarimasu." sakki no tonari kara, mata ippon no kashiwa no ki ga tobidashimashita.

"Yoshi, hajime'."

"Seisaku ga naya ni shimatta budoushu wa

Junjo tadashiku

Minna hajikete nakunatta."

"Wahhahhahha, wahhahhahha, HOHHOU, HOHHOU, HOHHOU. Gayagayagaya."

"Yakamashii. Kisamara, na n datte hito no sake no koto nado oboete yagaru n da." Seisaku ga tobidasou to shimashitara, ekaki ni shikkari tsukamarimashita.

"Kyuutoushou. MACCHI no METARU. Saa, tsugi da, tsugi da, deru n dayo. Doshidoshi deru n da."

Tokoro ga minna wa, mou shin to shite shimatte, hitori mo deru mono ga arimasen deshita.

"Kore wa ikan. Dero, dero, minna denai to ikan. Dero." ekaki wa donarimashita ga, mou doushitemo tare mo demasen deshita.

Shikata naku ekaki wa,

"Kondo wa METARU no un to iiyatsu o dasuzo. Hayaku dero." to iimashitara, kashiwa no kidomo wa hajimete zawa' to shimashita.

Sono toki hayashi no oku no hou de , sarasara sarasara oto ga shite, sorekara,

"Norozuki ohon, norozuki ohon,

Ohon, ohon,

Gogi no gogi no ohon,

Ohon, ohon, "

to takusan no fukurou domo ga, otsukisama no akari ni aojiroku hane o hirugaeshi nagara, surusurusurusuru dete kite, kashiwa no ki no atama no ue ya te no ue, kata ya mune ni ichimen ni tomarimashita.

Rippa na kinMORU o tsuketa fukurou no taishou ga, jouzu ni oto mo tatenaide tondekite, kashiwa no ki daiou no mae ni demashita. Sono makkana me no kuma ga, jitsu ni kitai ni miemashita. Yohodo toshiyori rashii no deshita.

"Konbanwa, daiou dono, mata kouki no kyakujin gata, konbanwa choudo wareware no hou demo, tobikata to tsukami-saki-jutsu to no daishiken de atta no ja ga, tadaima yatto owarimashita ja.

Tsuite wa kore kara rengou de, dai-ranbukai o hajime te wa dou jarou. Amari nimo taenaru uta no shirabe ga, warera no madoi no naka ni made hibiite kita ni yotte, kono you ni makari demashita no ja."

"Taenaru uta no shirabe da to, chikushou." Seisaku ga sakebi mashita.

Kashiwa no ki daiou ga kikoenai furi o shite ookiku unazuki mashita.

"Yoroshuu gozaru. Shigoku kekkou de gozarou. Iza, sassoku tori hajimeru to itasou ka."

"Sareba, " fukurou no taishou wa minna no hou ni muite marude kurozatou no you na amattarui koe de utai mashita.

"Karasu kanzaemon wa

Kuroi atama o kuurari kurari,

Tonbi to uzaemon wa

Abura isshou de tourori torori,

Sono kurayami wa fukurou no

Isami ni isamu mononofu ga

Mimizu o tsukamu toki naru zo

Netori o osou toki naru zo."

Fukuroudomo wa mou minna baka no you ni natte donari mashita.

"Norozuki ohon,

Ohon, ohon,

Gogi no gogi ohon,

Ohon, ohon."

Kashiwa no ki daiou ga mayu o hisomete iimashita.

"Doumo kimitachi no uta wa katou ja. Kunshi no kiku beki mono dewa nai."

Fukurou no taishou wa henna kao o shite shimaimashita. Suruto aka to shiro no ju o kaketa fukurou no fukukan ga waratte iimashita.

"Maa, konya wa anmari okoranai you ni itashi mashou. Uta mo kondo wa joutou no o yarimasu kara. Minna issho ni odori mashou. Saa ki no hou mo tori no hou mo youi iika.

Otsukisan otsukisan manmaru marururun

Ohoshisan ohoshisan pikari pirirurun

Kashiwa wa kanka no kankara karararan

Fukuro wa norozuki ohho hoho hohohon."

Kashiwa no ki wa ryoute o agete sorikaettari, atama ya ashi o marude tenjou ni nageageru you ni shitari, isshoukenmei odori mashita. Sore ni awasete fukurou domo wa, sassatto giniro no hane o, hiraitari tojitari shimashita. Jitsuni sore ga umaku atta no deshita. Tsuki no hikari wa shinju no you ni, sukoshi oboro ni nari, kashiwa no ki daiou mo yorokonde sugu utai mashita.

"Ame wa zaazaa zazza zaza zazaa

Kaze wa doudou doddododododou

Arare paraparaparaparattataa

Ame wa zaazaa zazza zaza zazaa"

"A' dameda, kiri ga ochite kita." to fukurou no fukukan ga takaku sakebi mashita.

Naruhodo tsuki wa mou aojiroi kiri ni kakusarete shimatte bootto maruku mieru dake, sono kiri wa marude ya no you ni hayashi no naka ni furiorite kuru no deshita.

Kashiwa no ki wa minna do o ushinatte, kataashi o agetari ryoute o socchi e nobashitari, me o tsuriagetari shita mama kaseki shita you ni tsuttatte shimaimashita.

Tsumetai kiri ga satto Seisaku no kao ni kakarimashita. Ekaki wa mou dokoe itta ka akai shappo dake ga houri dashite atte, jibun wa kage mo katachi mo arimasen deshita.

Kiri no naka o tobu sube no mada dekite inai fukurou no, batabata nigete iku oto ga shimashita.

Seisaku wa sokode hayashi o demashita. Kashiwa no ki wa minna odori no mama no katachi de zannen sou ni yokome de Seisaku o miokuri mashita.

Hayashi o dete kara sora o mimasu to, sakki made otsukisama no atta atari wa yatto bonyari akarukute, soko o kuroi inu no you na katachi no kumo ga kakete iki, hayashi no zuutto mukou no numabayashi no atari kara,

"Akai shappo no KANKARAKAN no KAAN." to ekaki ga chikara ippai sakendeiru koe ga kasukani kikoemashita.

(2006.2.18)