Okashina hagaki ga, aru doyoubi no yuugata, Ichirou no uchi ni kimashita.

Kaneta Ichirou sama 9-gatsu 19-nichi

anata wa, gokigen yoroshii hode, kekko desu.

ashita, mendona saiban shimasu kara, oide

n nasai. Tobidogu motanai de kunasai.

Yamaneko hai

Konna no desu. Ji wa marude heta de, sumi mo gasagasa shite yubi ni tsuku kurai deshita. Keredomo Ichirou wa ureshikute ureshikute tamarimasen deshita. Hagaki o sotto gakkou no kaban ni shimatte, uchijuu tondari hanetari shimashita.

Nedoko ni mogutte kara mo, yamaneko no nyaanimaru to shita kao ya, sono mendou da to iu saiban no keshiki nado o kangaete, osoku made nemurimasen deshita.

Keredomo, Ichirou ga mewo samashita toki wa, mou sukkari akaruku natte imashita. Omote ni detemiru to, mawari no yama wa, minna tatta ima dekitabakari no you ni uruuru moriagatte, massao na sora no shita ni narande imashita. Ichirou wa isoide gohan o tabete, hitori tanigawa ni sotta komichi wo, kami no hou e nobotte ikimashita.

Sukitootta kaze ga zaatto fuku to, kuri no ki wa barabara to mi o otoshimashita. Ichirou wa kuri no ki o miagete,

"Kuri no ki, kuri no ki, yamaneko ga koko o tooranakatta kai." to kikimashita. Kuri no ki wa chotto shizuka ni natte,

"Yamaneko nara, kesa hayaku, basha de higashi no hou e tonde ikimashita yo." to kotaemashita.

"Higashi nara boku no iku hou da nee, okashii na, tonikaku motto itte miyou. Kuri no ki arigatou."

Kuri no ki wa damatte mata mi o barabara to otoshimashita.

Ichirou ga sukoshi ikimasu to, soko wa mou fuefuki no taki deshita. Fuefuki no taki to iu no wa, masshirona iwa no gake no nakahodo ni, chiisana ana ga aite ite, soko kara mizu ga fue no you ni natte tobidashi, sugu taki ni natte, gougou tani ni ochiteiru no o iu no deshita.

Ichirou wa taki ni muite sakebimashita.

"Oioi, fuefuki, yamaneko ga koko o tooranakatta kai."

Taki ga piipii kotaemashita.

"Yamaneko wa, sakki, basha de nishi no hou e tonde ikimashita yo."

"Okashii na, nishi nara boku no uchi no hou da. Keredomo, maa mosukoshi itte miyou. Fuefuki, arigatou."

Taki wa mata moto no you ni fue o fukitsudukemashita.

Ichirou ga mata sukoshi ikimasu to, ippon no buna no ki no shita ni, takusan no shiroi kinoko ga, dotteko dotteko dotteko to, henna gakutai o yatteimashita.

Ichirou wa karada o kagamete,

"Oi, kinoko, yamaneko ga, koko o tooranakatta kai."

to kikimashita. Suru to kinoko wa

"Yamaneko nara, kesa hayaku, basha de minami no hou e tonde ikimashita yo." to kotaemashita. Ichirou wa kubi o hinerimashita.

"Minami nara acchi no yama no naka da. Okashii na. Maa mosukoshi ittemiyou. Kinoko, arigatou."

Kinoko wa minna isogashisouni, dotteko dotteko to, ano henna gakutai o tsudukemashita.

Ichirou wa mata sukoshi ikimashita. Suru to ippon no kurumi no ki no kozue wo, kuririsu ga pyon to tondeimashita. Ichirou wa sugu temanegi shite sore o tomete,

"Oi, risu, yamaneko ga koko o tooranakatta kai." to tazunemashita. Suruto risu wa, ki no ue kara, hitai ni te o kazashite, ichirou o minagara kotaemashita.

"Yamaneko nara, kesa mada kuraiuchi ni basha de minami no hou e tonde ikimashita yo."

"Minami e itta nante, futatoko de sonna koto o iu no wa okashii naa. Keredomo maa mosukoshi itte miyou. Risu, arigatou." risu wa mou imasen deshita. Tada kurumi no ichiban ue no eda ga yure, tonari no buna no ha ga chiratto hikatta dake deshita.

Ichirou ga sukoshi ikimashitara, tanigawa ni sotta michi wa, mou hosokunatte kiete shimaimashita. Soshite tanigawa no minami no, makkuro na kaya no ki no mori no hou e, atarashii chiisana michi ga tsuite imashita. Ichirou wa sono michi o nobotte ikimashita. Kaya no eda wa makkuro ni kasanari atte, aozora wa hitokire mo miezu, michi wa taihen kyuu na saka ni narimashita. Ichirou ga kao o makka ni shite, ase o potopoto otoshinagara, sono saka o noborimasu to, niwaka ni patto akaruku natte, me ga chikutto shimashita. Soko wa utsukushii kin'iro no kusachi de, kusa wa kaze ni zawazawa nari, mawari wa rippa na ORIIBU iro no kaya no ki no mori de kakomarete arimashita.

Sono kusachi no mannaka ni, sei no hikui okashina katachi no otoko ga, hiza o magete te ni kawamuchi o motte, damatte kocchi o miteita no desu.

Ichirou wa dandan soba e itte, bikkuri shite tachidomatte shimaimashita. Sono otoko wa, katame de, mienai hou no me wa, shiroku bikubiku ugoki, uwagi no you na hanten no you na henna mono o kite, daiichi ashi ga, hidoku magatte yagi no you, koto ni sono ashisaki to kitara, gohan o moru hera no katachi datta no desu. Ichirou wa kimi ga warukatta no desu ga, narubeku ochitsuite tazunemashita.

"Anata wa yamaneko o shirimasen ka."

Suruto sono otoko wa, yokome de ichirou no kao o mite, kuchi o magete niyatto waratte iimashita.

"Yamaneko sama wa ima sugu ni, koko ni modotte odeyaru yo. Omae wa Ichirousan da na."

Ichirou wa gyotto shite, hitoashi ushiro ni sagatte,

"E, boku ichirou desu. Keredo mo, doushite sore o shittemasu ka." to iimashita. Suru to sono kitai na otoko wa iyoiyo niyaniya shite shimaimashita.

"Sondara, hagaki midabe."

"Mimashita. Sore de kita n desu."

"Ano bunshou wa, zuibun heta da be." to otoko wa shita o muite kanashisou ni iimashita. Ichirou wa kinodoku ni natte,

"Saa, nakanaka, bunshou ga umaiyou deshita yo."

to iimasu to, otoko wa yorokonde, iki o haahaa shite, mimi no atari made makka ni nari, kimono no eri o hirogete, kaze o karada ni irenagara,

"Ano ji mo nakanaka umai ka." to kikimashita. Ichirou wa, omowazu waraidashinagara, henji shimashita.

"Umai desu ne. Gonensei datte anokurai niwa kakenai deshou."

Suruto otoko wa, kyuuni mata iyana kao o shimashita.

"Gonenseitte iu no wa, jinjou gonensei da be." sono koe ga, anmari chikara naku aware ni kikoemashita no de, ichirou wa awatete iimashita.

"Iie, daigakukou no gonensei desu yo."

Suru to, otoko wa mata yorokonde, marude, kaojuu kuchi no you ni shite, nitanita nitanita waratte sakebimashita.

"Ano hagaki wa washi ga kaita no da yo."

Ichirou wa okashii no o koraete,

"Zentai anata wa nani desu ka." to tazunemasu to, otoko wa kyuuni majime ni natte,

"Washi wa yamanekosama no basha bettou da yo." to iimashita.

Sonotoki, kaze ga dou to fuite kite, kusa wa ichimen namidachi, bettou wa, kyuuni teinei na ojigi o shimashita.

Ichirou wa okashii to omotte, furikaette mimasu to, soko ni yamaneko ga, kiiro na jinbaori no you na mono o kite, midoriiro no me o manmaru ni shite tatte imashita. Yappari yamaneko no mimi wa, tatte togatteiru na to, ichirou ga omoimashitara, yamaneko wa pyokotto ojigi o shimashita. Ichirou mo teinei ni aisatsu shimashita.

"Iya, konnichiwa, kinou wa hagaki o arigatou."

Yamaneko wa hige o pinto hippatte, hara o tsukidashite iimashita.

"Konnichiwa, yoku irasshaimashita. Jitsu wa ototoi kara, mendou na arasoi ga okotte, chotto saiban ni komarimashita no de, anata no okangae wo, ukagaitai to omoimashita no desu. Maa, yukkuri, oyasumi kudasai. Jiki, donguridomo ga mairimashou. Doumo maitoshi, kono saiban de kurushimimasu." yamaneko wa, futokoro kara, makitabako no hako o dashite, jibun ga ippon kuwae,

"Ikaga desu ka." to Ichirou ni dashimashita. Ichirou wa bikkuri shite,

"Iie." to iimashita ra, yamaneko wa ooyou ni waratte,

"Fufun, mada owakai kara, " to iinagara, MACCHI o shutto sutte, waza to kao o shikamete, aoi kemuri o fuuto hakimashita. Yamaneko no basha bettou wa, ki o tsuke no shisei de, shanto tatte imashita ga, ikanimo, tabako no hoshii no o muri ni koraete irurashiku, namida o boroboro koboshimashita.

Sono toki, Ichirou wa, ashimoto de PACHIPACHI shio no hazeru you na, oto o kikimashita. Bikkuri shite kagande mimasu to, kusa no naka ni, acchi nimo kocchi nimo, kin'iro no marui mono ga, pikapika hikatte iru no deshita. Yoku miru to, minna sore wa akai zubon o haita donguri de, mou sono kazu to kitara, sanbyaku demo kikanai you deshita. Waawaa waawaa, minna nanika itte iru no desu.

"A, kita na. Ari no you ni yattekuru. Oi, saa, hayaku BERU o narase. Kyou wa soko ga hiatari ga ii kara, soko no toko no kusa o kare." yamaneko wa makitabako o nagesutete, ooisogi de basha bettou ni iitsukemashita. Basha bettou mo taihen awatete, koshi kara ookina kama o toridashite, zakku zakku to, yamaneko no mae no toko no kusa o karimashita. Soko e shihou no kusa no naka kara, donguridomo ga, giragira hikatte, tobidashite, waawaa waawaa iimashita.

Basha bettou ga, kondo wa suzu o garangaran garangaran to furimashita. Oto wa kaya no mori ni, garangaran garangaran to hibiki, kin no donguridomo wa, sukoshi shizuka ni narimashita. Miru to yamaneko wa, mou itsu ka, kuroi nagai shusu no fuku o kite, mottairashiku, donguridomo no mae ni suwatte imashita. Marude nara no daibutsusama ni sankei suru minna no e no you da to ichirou wa omoimashita. Bettou ga kondo wa, kawamuchi o nisanben, hyuu pachi', hyuu, pachi' to narashimashita.

Sora ga aoku sumiwatari, donguri wa pikapika shite jitsu ni kirei deshita.

"Saiban mo mou kyou de mikkame da zo, ii kagen ni nakanaori o shitara dou da." yamaneko ga, sukoshi shinpai sou ni, sore demo muri ni ibatte iimasu to, donguridomo wa kuchiguchi ni sakebimashita.

"Ie ie, dame desu, nan to ittatte atama no togatteru no ga ichiban erai n desu. Soshite watashi ga ichiban togatte imasu."

"Iie, chigaimasu. Marui no ga erai no desu. Ichiban marui no wa watashi desu."

"Ookina koto da yo. Ookina no ga ichiban erai n da yo. Watashi ga ichiban ookii kara watashi ga erai n da yo."

"Sou de nai yo. Watashi no hou ga yohodo ookii to, kinou mo hanjisan ga osshatta ja nai ka."

"Dame da i, sonna koto. Sei no takai no da yo. Sei no takai koto nanda yo."

"Oshikko no erai hito da yo. Oshikko o shite kimeru n da yo." mou minna, gayagaya gayagaya itte, nani ga nan da ka, marude hachinosu o tsuttsuita you de, wake ga wakaranaku narimashita. Sokode yamaneko ga sakebimashita.

"Yakamashii. Koko o nan to kokoroeru. Shizumare, shizumare."

Bettou ga muchi o hyuu pachitto narashimashita no de donguridomo wa, yatto shizumarimashita. Yamaneko wa, pin to hige o hinette iimashita.

"Saiban mo mou kyou de mikkame da zo. Ii kagen ni nakanaori shitara dou da."

Suru to, mou donguri-domo ga, kuchiguchi ni iimashita.

"Ie ie, dame desu. Nan to ittatte, atama no togatteiru no ga ichiban erai no desu."

"Iie, chigaimasu. Marui no ga erai no desu."

"Sou de nai yo. Ookina koto da yo." gayagaya gayagaya, mou nani ga nan daka wakaranaku narimashita. Yamaneko ga sakebimashita.

"Damare, yakamashii. Koko o nan to kokoroeru. Shizumare shizumare."

Bettou ga, muchi o hyuu pachitto narashimashita. Yamaneko ga hige o pin to hinette iimashita.

"Saiban mo mou kyou de mikkame da zo. Ii kagen ni nakanaori o shitara dou da."

"Ie, ie, dame desu. Atama no togatta mono ga ." gayagaya gayagaya.

Yamaneko ga sakebimashita.

"Yakamashii. Koko o nan to kokoroeru. Shizumare, shizumare."

Bettou ga, muchi o hyuu pachitto narashi, donguri wa minna shizumarimashita. Yamaneko ga ichirou ni sotto moushimashita.

"Kono toori desu. Doushitara ii deshou."

Ichirou wa waratte kotaemashita.

"Sonnara, kou iiwatashitara ii deshou. Kono naka de ichiban baka de, mechakucha de, marude natte inai you na no ga, ichiban erai to ne. Boku osekkyou de kiita n desu."

Yamaneko wa naruhodo to iu fuu ni unazuite, sore kara ika nimo kidotte, shusu no kimono no munaeri o hiraite, kiiro no jinbaori o chotto dashite donguridomo ni moushiwatashimashita.

"Yoroshii. Shizuka ni shiro. Moushiwatashi da. Kono naka de, ichiban erakunakute, baka de, mechakucha de, tende natte inakute, atama no tsubureta you na yatsu ga, ichiban erai no da."

Donguri wa, shiinto shite shimaimashita. Sore wa sore wa shiin to shite, katamatte shimaimashita.

Soko de yamaneko wa, kuroi shusu no fuku o nuide, hitai no ase o nuguinagara, ichirou no te o torimashita. Bettou mo ooyorokobi de, goroppen, muchi o hyuupachi', hyuupachi', hyuuhyuupachitto narashimashita. Yamaneko ga iimashita.

"Doumo arigatou gozaimashita. Kore hodo no hidoi saiban wo, marude ippunhan de katadukete kudasaimashita. Douka kore kara watashi no saibansho no, meiyo hanji ni natte kudasai. Kore kara mo, hagaki ga ittara, douka kitekudasaimasen ka. Sono tabi ni orei wa itashimasu."

"Shouchi shimashita. Orei nan ka irimasen yo."

"Iie, orei wa douka tottekudasai. Watashi no jinkaku ni kakawarimasu kara. Soshite kore kara wa, hagaki ni kaneta ichirou dono to kaite, kochira o saibansho to shimasu ga, you gozaimasu ka."

Ichirou ga "Ee, kamaimasen." to moushimasu to, yamaneko wa mada nani ka iitasou ni, shibaraku hige o hinette, me o pachipachi sasete imashita ga, toutou kesshin shita rashiku iidashimashita.

"Sore kara, hagaki no monku desu ga, korekara wa, youji kore ari ni tsuki, myounichi shuttou subeshi to kaite dou deshou."

Ichirou wa waratte iimashita.

"Saa, nan da ka hen desu ne. Soitsu dake wa yameta hou ga ii deshou."

Yamaneko wa, doumo iiyou ga mazukatta, ika nimo zannen da to iu fuu ni, shibaraku hige o hinetta mama, shita o muite imashita ga, yatto akiramete iimashita.

"Sore dewa, monku wa imamade no toori ni shimashou. Sokode kyou no orei desu ga, anata wa kin no donguri isshou to, shiozake no atama to, docchi o osuki desu ka."

"Kin no donguri ga suki desu."

Yamaneko wa, shake no atama de nakute, maa yokatta to iu you ni, kuchibaya ni basha bettou ni iimashita.

"Donguri o isshou hayaku mottekoi. Isshou ni tarinakattara, mekki no donguri mo mazetekoi. Hayaku."

Bettou wa, sakki no donguri o masu ni rete, hakatte sakebimashita.

"Choudo isshou arimasu."

Yamaneko no jinbaori ga kaze ni batabata narimashita. Sokode yamaneko wa, ookiku nobiagatte, me o tsubutte, hanbun akubi o shinagara iimashita.

"Yoshi, hayaku basha no shitaku o shiro." shiroi ookina kinoko de koshiraeta basha ga, hippari dasaremashita. Soshite nandaka nezumiiro no, okashina katachi no uma ga tsuiteimasu.

"Saa, ouchi e ookuri itashimashou." yamaneko ga iimashita. Futari wa basha ni nori bettou wa, donguri no masu o basha no naka ni iremashita.

Hyuu, pachi'.

Basha wa kusachi o hanaremashita. Ki ya yabu ga kemuri no you ni guragura yuremashita. Ichirou wa kin no donguri o mi, yamaneko wa toboketa kaotsuki de, tooku o mite imashita.

Basha ga susumu ni shitagatte, donguri wa dandan hikari ga usukunatte, mamonaku basha ga tomatta toki wa, atarimae no chairo no donguri ni kawatte imashita. Soshite, yamaneko no kiiro na jinbaori mo, bettou mo, kinoko no basha mo, ichido ni mienakunatte, Ichirou wa jibun no uchi no mae ni, donguri o ireta masu o motte tatteimashita.

Sorekara ato, yamaneko hai to iu hagaki wa, mou kimasen deshita. Yappari, shuttou subeshi to kaite mo ii to ieba yokatta to, Ichirou wa tokidoki omou nodesu.

(2006-6-24)