Mou nannen mae ni naru ka omoidasenu ga hi wa oboete iru. Kure mo oshitsumatta nijuu roku-nichi no ban, tsuma wa gejo o tsurete shita ya marishiten no ennichi e dekaketa. Juu-ji sugi ni kaette kite, tamoto kara omiyage no kintsuba to yakiguri o dashite yo no nooto o yonde iru tsukue no sumi e sotto nosete, benjo e haitta ga yagate dete kite aoi kao o shite tsukue no soba e suwaru to douji ni kyuu ni seki o shite chi o haita. Odoroita no wa tounin bakari de wa nai, sono toki yo no kao ni mattaku chinoke ga nakunatta no o mite, issou ki o otoshita to kore wa ato de hanashita.

Akuru hi gejo ga kusuritori kara kaeru to kyuu ni hima o kure to iidashita. Kono hen wa bussou de, otsukai ni deru to kitto iya na itazura o saremasu no de, dou mo osoroshikute bukimi de tsutomarimasenu to myou na koto o iu. Shikashi miru toori no byounin o kakaete ima kyuu ni omae ni kaerarete wa tohou ni kureru. Semete kawari no hito no aru made shinbou shite kure to, yoshiya mada ikkai no shosei ni shiro, tonikaku ikka no shujin ga nakanu bakari ni tanonda no de, sono hi wa douyara omoi todomatta rashikatta ga, yokujitsu wa kunimoto no oya ga taibyou to ka iu wake de toutou kaette shimau. Kaketori ni kita kurumaya no baasan ni tanonde, nan de mo yoi kara to keian kara tsurete kite moratta no ga Miyo to iu onna de atta. Saiwai to kore ga kidate no yasashii shoujikimono de, motto mo sukoshi bon'yari shite ite, tanuki wa hito ni bakeru mono da to iu you na koto o shinjite ita ga, tonikaku chuujitsu ni byounin no kango mo shi, shikararete mo hara mo tatezu, soshite toki ni shikujiri mo yatta. Chouzubachi o zashiki no mannaka de toriotoshite kouzui o okoshitari, kotatsu no osagari o irete nete futon kara tatami made kei isshaku hodo no yakiana o koshiraeta koto mo atta. Sore ni mo kakawarazu yo wa ima ni itaru made kono Miyo ni taisuru kansha no nen wa usuraganu.

Byounin no youdai wa yoi to mo warui to mo tsukanu uchi ni toshi wa yousha naku kurete shimau. Shinnen o mukaeru youi mo shinakereba naranu ga, nani o katte dou suru mono yara wakaranu. Sore de mo Miyo ga byounin no sashizu o kiite sore ni jibun no iken o mazete ichinichi isogashisou ni hataraite ita. Oomisoka no yoru no juuni ji sugi, shouji no anmari hidoku yaburete iru no ni ki ga tsuite, gaitou no zukin o hikkaburi, sara ichi mai o sagete morikawachou e go-rin no nori o kai ni ittari shita. Miyo wa kono yoru sanji sugi made musubikonnyaku o koshiraete ita.

Seken wa medetai oshougatsu ni natte, atatakai tenki ga tsuduku. Byounin mo sukoshizutsu yoku naru. Kaze no nai hi wa engawa no hinata e dete kite, kami no oriduru o ikutsu to naku koshiraete mitari, hizou no ningyou no kimono o nuute yattari, kumotta samui hi wa toko no naka de "Kurokami" o hiku kurai ni natta. Soshite tokidoki kokorobosoi guchippoi koto o itte wa yo to Miyo o komaraseru. Tsuma wa sono koro mou Miomo ni natte ita no de, kono gogatsu ni wa uizan to iu onna no tainan o hikaete iru. Omake ni juukyuu no taiyaku da to iu. Miyo ga yadoiri no yoru nado, kogarashi no oto ni majiru rinshitsu no sabishii neiki o kiki nagara tsukue no mae ni suwatte, ramupu o mitsumeta mama, nagai iki o suru koto mo atta. Tsuma wa isha no maniai no kiyasume o sukkari shinjite, mattaku ichijiteki na kikan no shukketsu de atta to omotte itarashii. Sou de nai to shinjitaku nakatta no de arou. Sorede mo dokoka ni fuan na nen ga hisonde iru to miete, tokidoki "Hontou no haibyou datte, naoranai to kimatta koto wa nai no deshou ne" to konna koto o kiita koto mo aru. Mata aru toki wa "Anata, kakushite iru deshou, kitto sou da, anata sou deshou" to urusaku kiki nagara, yo no kaoiro o yomou to suru, sono inoru you na kidukawashige na manadukai o miru no ga kurushii kara "Baka na, sonna koto wa nai to ittara nai" to jaken na henji de uchikeshite yaru. Sore de mo ichiji wa manzoku suru koto ga dekita you de atta.

Byouki wa sukoshizutsu yoi. Nigatsu no hajime ni wa furo ni mo hairu, kami mo yuu you ni natta. Kurumaya no baasan nado wa "Mou sukkari gozenkai da sou de" to, hitori de kimete shimatte, sotto futokoro kara kanjougaki o dashite "Dou mo taihen ni, ohayaku gozenkai de" to iu. Isha no tokoro e itte kiku to, yoi to mo warui to mo iwazu, "Nanishiro choudo goninshinchuu desu kara ne, kono gogatsu ga yohodo odaiji desu yo" to kokorobosoi koto o iu.

Sore ni mo kakawarazu sukoshi zutsu yoi. Tsuki no juu nannichi, kaze no nai atatakai hi, isha no kyoka o eta kara shokubutsuen e tsurete itte yaru to iu to taihen ni yorokonda. Dekakeru to natte ni wa e oriru to, kami ga anmari hidoi kara chotto nadetsukeru made matte choudai to iu. Futokorode o shite en e koshikakete sabishii koniwa o mimawasu. Kyonen no karegiku ga hikareta mama de, aware ni kuchite iru, sore ni chiyogami no kireka nanika ga hikkakatte kaze no nai no ni, samusou ni furuete iru. Chouzubachi no mukai no ume no eda ni ni-rin bakari mankai shita no ga aru. Chikaduite yoku miru to tsukuribana ga kuttsukete atta. Ookata byounin no itazura rashii. Chanoma no shouji no garasu goshi ni nozoite miru to, tsuma wa kyoudai no mae e suwatte tokashita kami o nigitte barari to sage, kushi o tsukatte iru. Chotto nadetsukeru noka to omottara jibun de arata ni makinaosu to mieru. Yoseba yoi no ni, hayaku shinaika to sekitatete oite, zashiki no hou e modotte, yoko ni natte kesa mita shinbun o nozoku. Hayaku shinai ka to oogoe de unagasu. Sonna ni sekitateru to, nao deki ya shinaiwa to iu. Damatte daidokoro no yoko o mawatte mon e dete mita. Ourai no hito ga jirojiro mite tooru kara shikata nashi ni arukidasu. Hanchou bakari burabura aruite furikaette mo mada dete konu kara, mata hikikaeshite moto kita toori daidokoro no yoko kara engawa e mawatte nozoite miru to, tsuma ga toshigai mo naku nakifushite iru no o Miyo ga nadamete iru. Anmarida to iu. Hitori de dokoe de mo irasshai to iu. Maa tomokaku mo to Miyo ga sukashi nadamete, yatto dekakeru koto ni naru. Jitsu ni ii tenki da. "Ningen no kokoro ga jouhatsu shite kasumi ni narisou na hi dane" to ittara, ikken bakari ato o setta o hikizuri nagara, taigi sou ni tsuite kita tsuma wa, ee to ki no nai henji o shite muri ni egao o koshiraeru. Kono toki hajimete ki ga tsuita ga, naruhodo hara no obi no tokoro ga hitonami yori daibu ookii. Arukikata ga yohodo hen da. Sorede mo tounin wa heiki de kuttsuite kuru. Miyo to futari de yokoseba yokatta to omoi nagara, mugon de hochou o hayameru. Shokubutsuen no mon o haitte massugu ni hiroi daradarazaka o nobotte hidari ni oreru. Odayaka na nikkou ga hiroi en ni ippai ni natte, hana mo midori mo nai jiban wa sanagara nemutta you de aru. Onshitsu no shironuri ga kirakira suru you de sono mae ni ni､sannin futokorode o shite mado kara naka o nozoku hitokage ga mieru bakari, funsui mo dete inu. Suiren mo mada tsumetai doro no soko ni manatsu no kumo no kage o matte iru. Onshitsu no naka kara gatagata to geta no oto o tatete, inaka no baasantachi ga shi､gonin, kitsune ni tsumamareta you na kao o shite dete kuru. Yora wa kore to irechigatte hairu. Katsuryoku no michita, shimeppoi nettai no kuuki ga hana no ana kara nou o osou. Yashi no ki ya ryuukyuu no bashou nado ga, ima sukoshi nobitara, kono yane o dou suru tsumori darou to itsu mo omou no de aru ga, kyou mo sou omou. Jaba to iu kuni ni wa haibyou ga kaimu da to dareka no itta koto o omoidasu. Tsuma wa nouryoku ni shu no hanten no haitta kusa no ha o ijitte iru kara "Oi yose, doku ka mo shirenai" to ittara, awatete hanashite, iyana kao o shite yubisaki o mitsumete chotto kaide miru. Sayuu no kairou ni wa tokorodokoro akai hana ga saite, sono naka kara nonkisou na hito no kao mo achikochi ni mieru. Tsuma wa nanda ka kibun ga waruku natta to iu. Kaoiro wa taishite waruku mo nai. Kyuu ni namaatatakai tokoro e haitta tame darou. Hayaku soto e deta hou ga yoi, ore wa mosukoshi mite iku kara to ittara, chotto tameratta ga, otonashiku dete itta. Akai hana dake mite sugu deru tsumori de itara, hito to hito to no aida e hasamatte, chotto desokonatte, yatto dete miru to tsuma wa soko ni wa inu. Doko e itta ka to mimawasu to, haruka mukou no azumaya no benchi e chikara nasasou ni motareta mama, kocchi o mite waratte ita.

En no shizukesa wa mae ni kawaranu. Nikkou no me ni mienu chikara de chijou no subete no katsudou o sotto osaetsukete aru you ni mieru. Kibun wa sukkari yoku natta to iu kara, mou sorosoro kaerouka to iu to, sukoshi odoroita you ni yo no kao o mitsumete ita ga, sekkaku kita kara, mou sukoshi, ike no houe de mo itte mimashou to iu. Sore mo sou da to sochira e muku.

Gake o orikakaru to shita kara daigakusei ga ni､san-nin, kiiroi koe de arisutoutoru ga dou shita toka iu you na koto o giron shinagara nobotte kuru. Ike no kojima no azumaya ni, sanjuu kurai no megane o kaketa hin no yoi saikun ga, kaigunfuku no otokonoko to chiisai onnanoko o asobasete iru. Kaigunfuku wa koishi o hirotte wa koori no ue o suberasete kokoroyoi oto o tatete iru. Benchi no ue ni wa shiwakucha no hanshi ga hirogerarete, sono ue ni kasutera no ookina hen ga notte iru. "Anna onnanoko ga hoshiiwa nee" to tsuma ga itsu ni nai koto o iu.

Deguchi no houe to gake no shita o aruku. Nan no miru mono mo nai. Ushiro de tsuma ga "Oya, donguri ga" to fui ni ookina koe o shite, michiwaki no rakuyou no naka e haitte iku. Naruhodo, rakuyou ni majitte musuu no donguri ga, iteta gakeshita no tsuchi ni korogatte iru. Tsuma wa soko e shagande nesshin ni hiroi hajimeru. Miruma ni hidari no tenohira ni ippai ni naru. Yo mo hitotsu futatsu hirotte mukou no benjo no yane e nageru to, karakara to korogatte mukougawa e ochiru. Tsuma wa obi no aida kara hankechi o toridashite hiza no ue e hiroge, nesshin ni hiroi atsumeru. "Mou taigai ni shinai ka, baka dana" to itte mita ga, nakanaka yamesou mo nai kara benjo e hairu. Dete miru to mada hirotte iru. "Ittai sonna ni hirotte, dou shiyou to iu noda" to kiku to, omoshirosou ni warai nagara, "Datte hirou no ga omoshiroi ja arimasen ka" to iu. Hankechi ni ippai hirotte tsutsunde daijisou ni shibatte iru kara, mou yosuka to omou to, kondo wa "Anata no hankechi mo kashite choudai" to iu. Toutou yo no hankechi ni mo nangou ka no donguri o mitashite "Mou yoshiteyo, kaerimashou" to dokomade mo iiki na koto o iu.

Donguri o hirotte yorokonda tsuma mo ima wa nai. Ohaka no tsuchi ni wa koke no hana ga nanben ka saita. Yama ni wa donguri mo ochireba, hiyodori no naku oto ni ochiba ga furu. Kotoshi no ni-gatsu, akete muttsu ni naru wasuregatami no Mitsubou o tsurete, kono shokubutsuen e asobi ni kite, mukashi nagara no donguri o hirowaseta. Konna sasaina koto ni made, iden to iu you na mono ga aru mono daka, mitsubou wa hijou ni omoshirogatta. Itsutsu muttsu hirou goto ni, iki o hazumasete yo no soba e tonde kite, yo no boushi no naka e hirogeta hankechie nagekomu. Dandan emono no mashite iku no o nozokikonde, hoo o akaku shite ureshisou na tokesou na kao o suru. Arasowarenu haha no omokage ga kono mujaki na kao no dokoka no sumi kara chirari to nozoite, usurekakatta mukashi no kioku o yobikaesu. "Otousan, ookina donguri, koi mo koi mo koi mo koi mo koi mo minna ookina donguri" to chiisai doro darake no yubisaki de boushi no naka ni ruirui to shita donguri no atama o hitotsu hitotsu tsuttsuku. "Ookii donguri, chiichai donguri, miinna rikou na donguri chan" to detarame no shouka no you na mono o utatte tobitobi shi nagara mata hiroi hajimeru. Yo wa sono tsumi no nai yokogao o jitto miitte, naki tsuma no arayuru tansho to chousho, donguri no sukina koto mo oriduru no jouzu na koto mo, nan ni mo iden shite sashitsukae wa nai ga, hajime to owari no hisan de atta haha no unmei dake wa, kono ko ni kurikaesasetaku nai monoda to, shimijimi sou omotta no de aru.

( Meiji sanjuu hachi-nen shi-gatsu)

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