Taishou 14 nen 8 gatsu 4 ka no asa Nara no yado o tatte Kii no kuni Kouyasan ni mukatta. Yoshinogawa o watari, sore kara noriai jidousha ni notta koro wa, kore made no tsukare ga ikuraka yasumaru you na kimochi demo atta. Kore made no tsukare to iu nowa, Hieisanjou de renjitsu "uta" no shugyou o shi, shinshin hetoheto ni natta no o iu no de aru.

Noriai jidousha o norisuteru to, O-sensei to watashi towa kago ni nori, T-kun to N-kun towa toho de nobotta. Sou shite, tochuu de shuuu ga haizen to shite futte kita toki kagokaki wa awatete kago ni kappa o kaketari shita. Kagokaki wa nagai aida no shuuren de, muri o suru to iu you na koto ga nai node, kago wa itsumo toho no hito ni oikosareta. Toho no hitobito wa nanika yama no koto nado o hanashi nagara agatte iku no ga kikoeru. Sore o ba kappa kamutta kago no naka ni kiite ite wa, tokitama nemuku nattari suru no mo nandaka yutori ga atte ii.

Kago wa tochuu no chaya de yasunda toki, O-sensei mo watashi mo kago kara orite, soko de cha o nomi nagara keshiki o mite ita. Chaya wa dangai ni sematte tatte iru node, fukai taniai to, sono taniai o koete mukou no sanran o ichimoku ni miru koto ga dekiru. Taniai wa anryoku no mori de umari, sore ga mukumuku to moriagatte iru you ni mieru. Shirakumo ga isogashisou ni sokan o kyorai shite isshu mujou no kansou o ba tsukekuwaeru. Shibaraku keshiki o miteita mina wa, Kouyasan no yoi yama de aru to iu koto ni sugu ki ga tsuita. Toho no futari wa mou genkizuite, kago no tatsu no o matazu ni nobotte itta.

Shikashi, nyonindou o sugite heichi ni natta toki niwa, sokoni heibon na inaka mura ga shutsugen serareta. Kago no orosareta shukubou wa, hishochi no geshukuya no you de atta.

Baiten de, Kouyasan ichiran o kai, chokusetsu ni saba o yaku nioi o kagi nagara, uradoori ni mawatte, yamashita to iu koryouriten nimo haitte mita. Oyuki to iu jochuusan ga mazu kite, sorekara irekawari tachikawari aisou o ii ni jochuusan ga kita.

"Ingehan mo tokitama kinaharimasu"

Kou iu kotoba o sokosoko ni O-sensei o hajime yamashita o deta. Watashitachi wa kono hi reihoukan o tazuneru yotei de atta ga, mada ame ga yamanu no de koko ni hitoyasumi suru tsumori de kite, ame no hareru no o matazu ni koko o deta no de aru. Shikashi jochuusan ga futari de watashitachi o reihoukan made okutte kita. Reihoukan no rouka kara furikaeru to, futari no jochuusan wa mae no baiten no tokoro de nanika hanashikonde iru no ga mieta. Reihoukan dewa, e dano mokuzou dano iroiro no mono o mita ga e niwa mosha mo ari honmono mo atta. Usugurai tokoro de butsuzou nado o mite iru to nemukute nemukute tamaranai koto mo atta. Kore wa senkoku BIIRU o nonda tame de aru.

Sorekara watashitachi wa, sugi no kodachi no shita no sho-daimyou no bosho o tootte okunoin no hou made maitta. Annai no shoudou wa goku muzousa ni daishou kouge no fun'ei o ba setsumei shite kureta.

"Hidarite mukou kinone ippon wa Senshuu Kishiwada Okabe minonokami"

"Kono migite no sanbon wa Tada Michinaka-kou desu. Touzan sekihi no hajimari"

"Hidarite ue no torii sanbon wa Dewa no kuni Yonezawa Uesugi-kou. Sono kamite ni miete aru nowa touzan no hebiyanagi desu"

"Migite torii naka no ippon wa Oushuu Sendai Date Masamune-kou. Akai otamaya wa Ii kamonnokami" kouiu koto o makunashi ni itte noketa.

"Taikou-sama ga Chousen seibatsu no toki, tekimikata senshisha ihai no kawari to shite Shimazu hyougonokami Yoshihiro-kou yori taterareta" to iu sekihi no omote niwa, tame Kouraikoku zaijin no aida tekimikata koushi gunpyou mina reinyu butsudou nari to iu moji ga horitsukete atta. Sou iu tokoro o toorinuke, tamagawa ni katteiru mumyou no hashi o watatte, okunoin ni mairi, senzo daidai no rei no tame ni, sakan ni moeru goma no hi ni ittou o kenjita. Kore wa jishin no sho-akugou o tayasu tame demo aru. Sore kara ura no hou ni mawatte, yuugure ni shukubou ni kaetta.

Sono yoru, okunoin ni Buppousou no naku no o kiki ni itta. Yuushoku o sumashi, chiisai chouchin o karite kyou no gogo ni ouhen shita tokoro o tadotte itta. Kono Buppousou wa Kouyasan ni naku reichou de, un yokuba kikeru, goshou no yokunai mono wa kikenu. Sore de aru kara, kanari nagaku kouya ni komotta mono demo, tsuini Buppousou o kikazu ni gezan suru mono no hou ga ooi. Bunjin no kaita kikou nado o yondemo, kono tori o manzoku ni kiite fude o oroshita mono wa sukunai no de atta.

Watashitachi wa okunoin no urate ni mawari, chouchin o keshite kurayami ni koshi o oroshita. Soko wa makkura de aru ga, sono mukou ni ookina karakane no kanae ga atte, rousoku ga ikuhon to naku tomotte iru. Okunoin no yoru wa sabishiku tomo, shinjin bukai mono no yomairi ga taenu no de, tomoshibi no taeru you na koto wa nai. Mata yogomori suru hitobito mo iru to mie, watashitachi no iru soba ni goza nado ga oite aru. Watashitachi wa hajime wa kogoe de iroiro zatsudan o hajimeta ga, toki ga dandan tatsu ni shitagatte kuchikazu ga hette iki, soko ni yoko ni natte madoromu mono mo atta.

"Kou kaika shite kite wa sanpouchou mo nani mo atta mono ja nai deshou"

"Daiichi, densha no oto ya, noriai jidousha no oto dake demo yatsura ni totte wa daiikaku deshou"

"Sore ni, dokoka no ryodan ka nani ka no hikouki demo kono yama no ue o tobu koto wa aru deshou"

"Iyoiyo mappou desu ka ne"

"Sore ni sanjou kouen no MARUKISHIZUMU to, sakki no jochuu no, ingehan mo kinaharu to de semetaterarete wa sanpouchou mo dame desu yo"

"Yama wa kore demo kanari fukai rashii desu ga ne. Dore, oshikko demo shite kuru ka na"

"Motto oku no hou de nasai yo. Koko datte reijou desu kara"

"Shouchi shimashita"

Sugi to hinoki to ussou to shite shigette, mahiru demo koshitayami o tsukutte iru rashii tokoro ni iki, saku no tokoro de koyou o tashita. Sono hen nimo ikutsuka hokora ga ari, shushu no shinbutsu ga matsutte aru rashii ga, yoru da kara yoku wa wakaranai. Rouboku no kozue niwa tokidoki mimizuku to koumori ga naite, ato wa shin to shite nan no oto mo shinai.

Sore kara koichijikan mo sugite mata koyou o tashi ni kita. Koyou o tashinagara kiku tomo naku kiku to, mukatte migite no yamaoku ni atatte, jitsuni kasuka na mono'oto ga suru. Watashi wa, "hatena" to omotta. Koe wa, cha-cha to iu you ni, futakoe ni tsumatte kikoeru ka to omou to, cha-cha-cha to mikoe no koto mo aru. Sore ga, haruka de kasuka de aru keredomo, kiite iru uchi ni dandan chikayoru you ni mo omoeru. Sore kara futatsu iru you ni mo omoeru. Watashi wa kiso ni hitoban tomatta toki, yofukete ichido kono tori no koe o kiita koto ga aru node, sono toki niwa mou Buppousou to kimete shimatte ita.

"O-sensei, iyoiyo nakidashimashita. T-kun mo N-kun mo kimasen ka"

Yonin wa sugi no ki no nekata no tokoro ni shagami, ki ni motare, saku no tokoro ni karada o oshitsukete sono koe o kiite iru. Koe wa, Kiso de kiita no yori mo, doumo sunde karoyaka de aru. Watashi wa shinchuu hisoka ni, sukoshi utsukushi sugiru you ni omotte kiite ita ga, sono toki ni sudeni shinchuu ni giwaku ga nezashite ita. Shikashi koe wa anadoru bekarazu ii koe de aru. Sono sunde setsujitsu na hibiki wa, hiru naku tori nado ni motomeru koto no dekinai yodori no tokushoku o motte ita.

Sono uchi, koe wa dandan chikayottekita.

Soushite kiku to tori wa masashiku futatsu ite, tagaini naite iru no de aru. Tori wa kanari takai ki no kozue de naku rashii ga, sukunaku tomo gorokuchou o hedatete iru. Watashitachi wa yaku-ichijikan sono koe o kiita.

"Doumo arigatai. You gozaimashita ne"

O-sensei wa kou iwareta. Yonin wa kibisu o kaeshita.

"Kore de iyoiyo, goshou mo waruku wa nai you na mono da" nado to ii ii, ishidan o orite mumyou no hashi no atari ni sashikakatta koro de atta.

"Dou desu ka. Kiso no to onaji desu ka" kou totsuzen T-kun ga watashi ni tazuneta.

"Iya jitsu wa boku mo sakki kara sukoshi utsukushisugiru to omotte kiiteita n da ga" kou kotaeta. Sono aida ni kudoi shiryo o megurasu to iu you na koto mo nakatta.

"Sou de shou. Are wa ayashii desu yo. Hyotto suru to jinkou kamo shiremasen yo. Hidoi yatsu da"

Kou T-kun ga warai nagara itta.

"T-san wa surrudoi kara nee. Are wa doumo honmono da to omowareru. Yappari utagawanai hou ga ii n desu yo" kou O-sensei ga iwareta.

"Iya, watashi hitotsu miyabutte misemasu" T-kun mo kondo wa sukoshiku keshikibande ita.

Yonin wa mou ichido okunoin no kage ni itta. Tori wa aikawarazu naite iru ga, sakihodo yori mo motto chikakunatte kite iru. Sono koe wa toumei de, koubutsu on o majie, rinkan ni hankyou shite iru tokoro nado wa, aruiwa jinkou-teki no mono no you na ki mo suru ga, yokuyoku kiku to, nanika ikimono no seitai no tokoro o shiboru you na nikusei o majiete iru. Watashi wa sekkaku un yokute kiita Buppousou de aru kara narubeku honmono ni shita hou ga guai ga yoi. Shiite sau shiyou to suru no de aru ga, yahari shinchuu ni jama o suru mono ga atte izure tomo kettei shikanete futatabi kibisu o kaeshita. T-kun wa michimichi nimo, are kurai no koe wa renshuu sae sureba jinkou demo dekiru. Sore ni takai gekkyuu o harai ikka souden no gijutsu to shite keiko sasete iru no kamo shirenai nado to iu setsu o mo tateta. Sokode O-sensei o nozoku hoka wa, wakai joudoshuumon no souryo de aru N-kun mo, sore kara watashi mo, ano Buppousou no koe wa jinkou no koe da to iu setsu ni katamukinagara kiro ni tsuita. Toki wa juujihan o sugite ita.

Sono tochuu de hitori no seinen ni atta. Sono seinen wa yahari Hieisanjou de watashitachi to isho ni uta no shugyou o shi, kai no sanjite kara tandoku de Kouya ni ki, ima yahari Buppousou o kiki ni okunoin ni iku tochuu nano de atta.

"Ima shikiri ni naite iru tokoro da kara, hijou ni ii tsugou da. Tada kimi ni tanomu ga ne, nanjigoro made naki tsuzukete iru ka mendou da ga tashikamete kuremasen ka. Bokura wa K to iu shukubou ni iru kara ashita no asa chotto shirashite kuretamae"

Kou T-kun ga seinen ni tanomi, nanika kisuru tokoro ga aru you na omomochi de aruita. Sono toki niwa mou itsu no ma nika ookina tsuki ga dete, Kouya no manzan o terashite ori, kuuki ga sunde iru no de hikari ga ika nimo utsukushiku, akudoku isogashiku seppa tsumatta gense demo, yahari mi ni shimiru tokoro ga atta. Watashitachi wa soredemo chouchin o tsuketa mama toutou shukubou ni kaette ki, nanika hakken demo shita you na kibun de ichiya nemutta.

Yokuasa T-kun wa, okiru to sugu Kouyasan no chizu o katte kite shirabeteita. Mazushii choushoku o sumashite yoko ni natte iru to, soko ni yuube no seinen ga houkoku ni kita. Seinen wa yuube okunoin ni itta toki niwa, tori no koe wa shikiri ni shite otta sau de aru. Sore ga juuichiji-han ni naru to pitari to yande, gozen ichiji made futatabi naku no o matte ita ga, toutou nakazu ni shimatta to iu no de aru.

Kono houkoku wa, T-kun no setsu o tashikameru no ni hijou ni yuuryoku de atta. Sore nomi dewa nai. T-kun no shirabeta chizu ni yoru to, yuube tori no naita houkou niwa sau fukai shinrin ga nai. Mushiro asayama to itte yoi. Sore kara, soko o tsuuzuru douro ga ari soko ni ichiniken no jinka ga aru.

"Dou desu. Koe no hatsugenten wa koko desu yo"

Kou itte T kun wa ookina te no yubi de, sono jinka no tokoro o oshitsuketari shita. Seinen wa saisho wa nan no koto da ka wakarazu, kegen no kao o shiteita ga, Buppousou no koe no jinkousetsu da to iu koto o shitte, "jitsu ni oshii" to iu kao o ariari to shita. Koko ni oite watashitachi no sannin to hitori no seinen to o kuwaete yonin wa jinkousetsu ni katamuite shimatta.

Keredomo, O-sensei wa kono setsu o zenin sarenakatta. "Sore wa, T-san no setsu no you ni jinkou kamo shirenai. Keredomo jinkou de atta to shite mo, suuhyakunenkan kono koto o hoka e morasanai ichizan no hitobito wa erai n desu. Yappari honmono no tori to omotte kikun desu ne. Sore ga kuukai no toku deshou. Masaoka Shiki sensei dewa nai ga, koubou o uzumeshi yama ni kaze wa fukedo tokoshie ni terasu nori no tomoshibi. Desu yo" kou iwareru no de atta.

Watashitachi wa ame no harema o daimon no tokoro no oka no ue ni nobotte, haruka mukou ni yama ga mugen ni kasanaru no o mita toki, sorekara soko no tokoro kara awajishima ga yume no you ni natte yokotawatte iru no o mita toki niwa, Kouyasanjou o dou shite mo sutegatakatta. Mata wa kondau no naka ni ite todoroku raimei o kikinagara, kuukai yonjuunisai no zazou o mite ita toki nado wa, sabishii kokoromochi ni natte kono sanjou o aijaku shita no de aru.

Shikashi aru dounai de, tatami no ue ni agatte sugido no e o miteiru to kobouzu ni togamerareta. Soko ni atakamo seiyoujin fuufu o annai shite kita sou ga ite butsudan no naijin no hou made mo misete iru."are wa doushita no da" to iu."are wa kifu o shita no desu" to kotaeru."baka ie. Bokura mo kifu wa shite iru n da zo" to iu. Kakaru mondou wa ika nimo mazui hyoushutsu no undou de atta. Keredomo kono kien mo Buppousou jinkousetsu ni hitotsu no shiji o ataeta no de aru.

Watashitachi wa kouiu you na keiken o shite Kouyasan o kudatta. Soshite waka no ura made kita ga, mou kaisuiyoku mo sugita koro nano de umai sakana o sugu kuwaseru tokoro mo miatarazu, yukuharu ni waka no ura ni te oitsukitari to iu kukyou nimo tooi no de, soko ni yuugata made ite O-sensei to wakare sannin wa nachi no hou ni iku kisen ni notta node atta.

Sore kara maruichinen ga sugita. Watashitachi wa sakunen yatta you na uta no shugyou no atsumari o ba Bushu Mitsuminesanjou de hiraita. Shikaru ni Mitsuminesanjou niwa Buppousou ga shikiri ni naita. Mou hi ga kurekakaru to naku. Tsukiakari no yoru nado niwa mittsu mo yottsu mo kisotte naita. Sono koe wa ika nimo seichou de Kouyasanjou de kiita no yori mo motto motto utsukushikatta. Sore kara Mitsumine dewa sugu atama no ue de naku node, shiboru you na nikusei mo meiryou deari, jinkou setsu nado no naritatsu yoyuu mo nanimo nakatta. T-kun mo watashi mo shibaraku kushou shite oraneba naranakatta. Tada watashitachi wa omou zonbun Buppousou no koe o kiki, suujitsu shite O-sensei ga yama no ue ni nobotte korareta toki, T-kun mo watashi mo O-sensei no mae ni koufuku shite shimatta.

Watashi no shaseibun wa korede shimai de aru ga, tsuzumete hitokoto to suru koto ga dekiru. Doumo Kouyasanjou no Buppousou no koe wa, are wa jinkou dewa nakatta. Are o jinkou da to utagai, sore o risshou shiyou to shita gakusetsu niwa teochi ga atte, kekkyoku sono gakusetsu wa maketa. Keredomo kou iu koto ga ieru darou. Aa iu yodori wa souban Kouyasanjou kara ato o tatsu kamo shirenai. Soushite omocha no Buppousou o ba asoko no mise de uru toki ga kuru kamo shiren to kou iu no de aru.

(Shouwa ni nen juuni gatsu)

(2006. 9.16)