R11:CO2 06.txt

気がつくと、私の前に内海が立っていた。%K%P
When I came to, Utsumi was standing in front of me.

また、飛んだ……？%K%P
I jumped again...?

慌ててベッドの上の目覚まし時計を見る。%K%P
Flustered, I looked at the alarm clock above the bed.

６時０３分だった。%K%P
It was 6:03.

すると突然、内海が私の腕を掴んだ。%K%P
As I turned to look, Utsumi had suddenly grasped my arm.

鬼気迫るような……いや、とても不安そうな顔だ。%K%P
Her face had a ghastly expression... no, more one of anxiety.

こころ「どうかしましたか？」%K%P
Is something wrong?

内海「何かね……こう、胸騒ぎがするの」%K%P
Something... I... I feel uneasy.

こころ「胸騒ぎ？」%K%P
Uneasy?

内海は小さくうなずく。%K%P
Utsumi nods slightly.

内海「とても、嫌な予感が……」%K%P
I have a very... bad feeling...

内海「例えば……そう」%K%P
For example... yes.

内海「今にも地震がきそうな気配……みたいな」%K%P
Like an earthquake is about to happen...

こころ「地震……ですか？」%K%P
An... earthquake?

内海「ええ。私の気のせいなら、良いんだけど……」%K%P
Yes. It'd be nice if it were just my imagination...

こころ「あの、ここって北海道ですよね？」%K%P
Um, this is Hokkaido, isn't it?

内海「そうよ。稚内の沖合の島」%K%P
That's right. An island off the coast of Wakkanai.

こころ「北海道って、地震多いんですか？」%K%P
Does Hokkaido get a lot of earthquakes?

こころ「私のイメージでは、地震イコール東海地方って感じがして」%K%P
My image of "earthquake" equals the Tokai region, around the eastern sea.

内海「地震は日本中起こるわ」%K%P
Earthquakes happen all over Japan.

内海「北海道でも、大きな被害を出した地震が発生してる。%TS025奥尻島%TEの地震とかね」%K%P
Even in Hokkaido, there are instances where earthquakes cause a lot of damage. Like the case of the %TS025Okushiri Island%TE earthquake, right?

その地震には聞き覚えがあった。%K%P
I remember hearing about that earthquake.

内海は優しく微笑んで、%K%P
With a kind smile, Utsumi said,

内海「ごめんなさい。気のせいだったらいいの。不安にさせたら、謝るわ」%K%P
Sorry. It's fine if it's just my imagination. I apologize if I made you feel anxious.

こころ「いいえ」%K%P
Not at all.

内海「……また、冬川さんになったのね」%K%P
...You've become Fuyukawa-san again, haven't you?

私が『はい』と返事をしようとした時だ。%K%P
This time I answered with a "yes."

床が消えたように感じた。%K%P
It felt as if the floor had disappeared.

落ちていくように、身体が浮く。%K%P
My body floated as if it were falling.

違う――大きな揺れ――地震だ！%K%P
No――A big tremor――It's an earthquake!

内海「やっぱり！」%K%P
As I thought!

よろめく内海を、私は抱き留めた。%K%P
I caught the staggering Utsumi in my arms.

ふたりして、落下物から身を守るように、その場にうずくまる。%K%P
Huddling together, the two of us crouched to protect ourselves against falling objects.

キッチンの方から、物が落ち、割れる音がした。%K%P
Crashing sounds came from things falling in the kitchen.

きっと、散々なくらい酷い状態になっていることだろう。%K%P
This was probably a pretty severe one.

後かたづけが大変だな……。%K%P
It's going to be a lot of trouble to clean up....

そんなことを考えていた瞬間――%K%P
The moment I had that thought――

耳障りな音とともに、全ての灯りが消えた。%K%P
Along with the ear-splitting sounds, all the lights disappeared.

地震による停電！？%K%P
The earthquake caused a blackout?!

遠くから、悲鳴が聞こえてくる。%K%P
We heard a scream from a distance.

ゆにの声だ。%K%P
It was Yuni's voice.

穂鳥も声にならぬ声で叫んでいるかもしれない。%K%P
Hotori was probably screaming voicelessly as well.

内海「……行ってあげなきゃ！」%K%P
...I have to go to them!

激しい揺れの中、内海は立ち上がろうとした。%K%P
Within the violent shaking, Utsumi tried to stand.

私は彼女の腕を掴んだ。%K%P
I grabbed onto her arm.

こころ「ダメ！　今、歩き回っては危険です！」%K%P
No! Walking around now would be dangerous!

内海「でも、あの子達が……！」%K%P
But, the children...!

こころ「揺れが収まったら行ってあげましょう！」%K%P
Let's go when the shaking settles!

激しい震動は３０秒ほどで収まった。%K%P
The intense tremors settled down after about 30 seconds.

内海は弾かれたように立ち上がると、部屋を飛び出す。%K%P
Utsumi stands up to snap to her feet, and flies out of the room.

私も後に続いた。%K%P
I followed after her.

ゆにの部屋へ！
Yuni's room!

穂鳥の部屋へ！
Hotori's room!

こころ「私、ゆにの方見てきます！」%K%P
I'm going to check on Yuni!

内海は振り返らずに頷くと、穂鳥の部屋へと走っていった。%K%P
Utsumi nodded without turning and ran toward Hotori's room.

こころ「ゆに！　無事！？」%K%P
Yuni! Are you okay?!

私はゆにの部屋へと飛び込む。%K%P
I came flying into Yuni's room.

彼は部屋の隅でうずくまって、毛布をかぶっていた。%K%P
He was crouching in the corner of the room with a blanket pulled over his head.

この部屋で最初に会った時のように。%K%P
It was like when we first met in this room.

恐怖に歪んだ顔。%K%P
Face distorted in terror.

その双眸から、大粒の涙がぽろぽろとこぼれ落ちている。%K%P
Large teardrops flowing from his eyes.

ゆに「怖いよぉ……怖いよぉー！　こころーん！」%K%P
I'm scared... I'm scaaaared! Kokoron!

こころ「もう、大丈夫、大丈夫だから！」%K%P
You're safe now!

飛行機で墜落した時のことを思い出したのかも知れない。%K%P
He may be remembering the plane crash.

ガクンと落ちるような感覚は、重力を失った飛行機のそれに近かったようにも感じる。%K%P
The sensation of falling with a sudden jerk was similar to the gravity loss on that airplane.

ゆに「こころん！　ぼくをひとりぼっちにしないでよぉ！」%K%P
Kokoron! Don't leave me!

こころ「大丈夫だよ、ここにいる」%K%P
It's all right, I'm here.

こころ「手、繋いでてあげるから、ね？」%K%P
I'll hold your hand, okay?

私はゆにの手のひらをしっかりと握りしめた。%K%P
I gripped onto Yuni's palm firmly with my hand.

墜落する、あの時のように。%K%P
Just like at that time, in the crash.

ゆに「あ、あなたは……こころんじゃないよぉ……」%K%P
Y, you... aren't Kokoron...

泣きながら、ゆには私に抱きついてきた。%K%P
Crying, Yuni clung to me.

ゆに「怖かったよぉぉ……！」%K%P
I was so scared...!

こころ「泣かないで。泣かないで。大丈夫だからね」%K%P
Don't cry. Don't cry. It's okay now.

彼が泣きやむまで、ゆにを抱きしめた。%K%P
Still crying, Yuni hugged me tight.

その小さな背中を、幾度もいくどもさすってあげる。%K%P
I rubbed his small back again and again.

内海「ゆにくんは、無事だった？」%K%P
Is Yuni-kun safe?

内海が、部屋へやってきた。穂鳥の肩を抱いている。%K%P
Utsumi had entered the room. She was gently holding Hotori's shoulder.

穂鳥も青い顔をしているが、ケガなどはないようだ。%K%P
Hotori's face was blue, but it didn't seem as if she was injured.

こころ「なんとか、無事です」%K%P
Somehow, he's all right.

幾分安堵の表情に変わったが、まだ内海の顔はこわばっていた。%K%P
A somewhat relieved look had appeared on Utsumi's face, but her expression was still stiff.

内海「良かった……」%K%P
Thank goodness...

内海「でも、まだ安心はできないわ」%K%P
But we can't relax yet.

こころ「どうしてですか？」%K%P
Why?

内海「津波が来ないとも、限らないから……」%K%P
Because it's not certain that there won't be a tsunami...

こころ「つな……み……？」%K%P
Tsuna... mi...?

冬の海と津波というイメージが、一瞬繋がらなかった。%K%P
The image of a tsunami and the sea during winter didn't connect immediately.

内海「ええ。奥尻の地震では、津波によって大きな被害が出たの」%K%P
Yes. In the Okushiri earthquake, a lot of damage was caused by a tsunami.

内海「青鷺島も地理的に同じような位置関係にある……安心はできないわ」%K%P
Aosagi Island is in a similar geographical position... We can't let our guard down yet.

穂鳥は不安そうな顔で内海の腕を掴んだ。%K%P
Hotori grabbed onto Utsumi's arm with anxiety on her face.

彼女の頭を撫でながら、%K%P
While gently stroking her head,

内海「大丈夫よ。私が守ってあげるからね」%K%P
It's going to be fine. I'll protect you.

内海「最後まで、ちゃんと」%K%P
Properly, until the end.

ゆに「ぼ、ぼく達、死んじゃうの？」%K%P
A, are we going to die?

こころ「そんなわけないでしょ？　ゼッタイに平気だよ」%K%P
There's no way that'll happen, right? We'll definitely be fine.

震えるゆにの手を、もう一度強く握ってあげた。%K%P
Feeling Yuni's hand shaking, I clasped it tightly once again.

こころ「津波を防ぐ手だてはないんですか？　高いところに上るとか」%K%P
Isn't there any way to protect ourselves from a tsunami? Like climbing up to higher ground?

ゆに「と、時計台はどうかな？　あそこなら」%K%P
H, how about the clock tower? If we're there――

内海は首を横に振った。%K%P
Utsumi shook her head from side to side.

内海「時計台は……登る方法がわからないの」%K%P
I don't know... how to get up to the clock tower.

こころ「え？　わからない？？」%K%P
What? You don't know??

内海「ええ、優希堂くんなら、知ってるかも知れないけど……」%K%P
Yes. Yukidoh-kun might know, but...

でも、悟の人格は今、ここにはいない。%K%P
However, Satoru's personality isn't here right now.

こころ「それじゃ、津波が来ないことを祈るしかないってこと……？」%K%P
Then we can only pray that there won't be a tsunami...?

内海「そうなるわ」%K%P
It seems so.

こころ「私、穂鳥ちゃんの方見てきます！」%K%P
I'm going to check on Hotori-chan!

内海「わかったわ」%K%P
Understood.

内海はゆにの部屋へと走っていった。%K%P
Utsumi ran toward Yuni's room.

こころ「穂鳥ちゃん！　無事！？」%K%P
Hotori-chan! Are you okay?!

私は穂鳥の部屋へと飛び込む。%K%P
I came flying into Hotori's room.

穂鳥「あ……うあ……」%K%P
Ah... Uah...

穂鳥は恐怖に耐えられなかったのか、微かなうめき声をあげながら部屋の隅で震えていた。%K%P
Unable to endure the fear, Hotori was shivering in the corner of the room while moaning weakly.

それも尋常な震え方ではない。%K%P
And it wasn't a normal way of shivering.

目はうつろで、歯の根もかみ合わず、ガクガクと痙攣するように震えている。%K%P
Her eyes were blank, her teeth were gritted, and she was shivering as if she were having convulsions.

まるで、極寒の地にでも放り出されたかのように。%K%P
It was as if she had been thrown out onto the coldest ground.

こころ「ケガはない！？」%K%P
Are you hurt anywhere?!

私が尋ねると、彼女は抱きついてきた。%K%P
She grasped onto me as I asked.

私の胸元に頬を付け、すがりつく。%K%P
Placing her cheek against my chest, she clung to me.

こころ「怖かったのね……もう大丈夫だから」%K%P
I bet you were scared, huh...? It's safe now.

穂鳥は唇をふるわせながら、うなずいた。%K%P
Hotori nodded, her lips quivering.

その長い髪を、ゆっくりと撫でてやると……やがて彼女の身体の震えは収まっていった。%K%P
I gently stroked her long hair... and with that, her shivers subsided.

内海「穂鳥ちゃんは、無事だった？」%K%P
Is Hotori-chan safe?

内海が、部屋へやってきた。ゆにの肩を抱いている。%K%P
Utsumi had entered the room. She was gently holding Yuni by the shoulder.

ゆにも青い顔をしているが、ケガなどはないようだ。%K%P
Yuni's face was blue, but it didn't seem as if he was injured.

こころ「なんとか、無事です」%K%P
She's all right, more or less.

幾分安堵の表情に変わったが、まだ内海の顔はこわばっていた。%K%P
A somewhat relieved look had appeared on Utsumi's face, but her expression was still stiff.

内海「良かった……」%K%P
Thank goodness...

内海「でも、まだ安心はできないわ」%K%P
But we can't relax yet.

こころ「どうしてですか？」%K%P
Why?

内海「津波が来ないとも、限らないから……」%K%P
Because it's not certain that there won't be a tsunami...

こころ「つな……み……？」%K%P
Tsuna... mi...?

冬の海と津波というイメージが、一瞬繋がらなかった。%K%P
The image of a tsunami and the sea during winter didn't connect immediately.

内海「ええ。奥尻の地震では、津波によって大きな被害が出たの」%K%P
Yes. In the Okushiri earthquake, a lot of damage was caused by a tsunami.

内海「青鷺島も地理的に同じような位置関係にある……安心はできないわ」%K%P
Aosagi Island is in a similar geographical position... We can't let our guard down yet.

ゆに「ぼ、ぼく達、死んじゃうの？」%K%P
A, are we, going to die?

内海「大丈夫よ。私が守ってあげるからね」%K%P
It's going to be fine. I'll protect you.

内海「最後まで、ちゃんと」%K%P
Properly, until the end.

こころ「津波を防ぐ手だてはないんですか？　高いところに上るとか」%K%P
Isn't there any way to protect ourselves from a tsunami? Like climbing up to higher ground?

ゆに「と、時計台はどうかな？　あそこなら」%K%P
H, how about the clock tower? If we're there――

内海は首を横に振った。%K%P
Utsumi shook her head from side to side.

内海「時計台は……登る方法がわからないの」%K%P
I don't know... how to get up to the clock tower.

こころ「え？　わからない？？」%K%P
What? You don't know??

内海「ええ、優希堂くんなら、知ってるかも知れないけど……」%K%P
Yes. Yukidoh-kun might know, but...

でも、悟の人格は今、ここにはいない。%K%P
However, Satoru's personality isn't here right now.

こころ「それじゃ、津波が来ないことを祈るしかないってこと……？」%K%P
Then we can only pray that there won't be a tsunami...?

内海「そうなるわ」%K%P
It seems so.

津波が襲ってくるまで、遅い場合は十数分掛かることもあるという。%K%P
In slower cases, it can take a tsunami over ten minutes to come.

暗闇の中、私達はほとんど手探りでリビングに移動した。%K%P
In the darkness, we made our way to the living area mostly by touch.

大きな窓のあるリビングは、多少は明るかったからだ。%K%P
Because the living area had a large window, it was slightly brighter there.

リビングやキッチンは、地震のせいか食器などが床に散乱していた。%K%P
Tableware had scattered on the floor of the kitchen and living area in the shock of the earthquake.

割れているものもある。%K%P
There were also broken objects there.

包丁なんかも落ちていて、危なっかしい。%K%P
Things like kitchen knives had fallen too, so it was dangerous.

こうして見ると、改めて大きな地震だったことを実感する。%K%P
Looking at it made me once again realize that a huge earthquake had occurred.

テレビの電源を入れてみたが、停電のためかつかなかった。%K%P
The television was still plugged into the power supply, but the blackout had made the screen go dark.

情報を得ることができない。%K%P
We're unable to obtain any information.

震えるゆにの肩を抱き、私達は身を寄せ合うように、息を詰めていた。%K%P
With me holding onto Yuni's trembling shoulder, we gathered ourselves together and held our breath.

津波の音が来るのではないかと、耳を澄ましながら。%K%P
Thinking we might be able to hear the sound of a tsunami approaching, we strained our ears.

永遠とも思えるような、十数分が過ぎ去った。%K%P
The ten or so minutes that passed felt like an eternity.

聞こえてくるのは、ただゴウゴウと逆巻く吹雪の音だけ。%K%P
What we heard was only the roaring of the raging snowstorm.

不吉な波音は近づいては来なかった。%K%P
The ominous sound of an approaching wave never arrived.

ゆに「ぼ……ぼく達、助かったのかな……こころん」%K%P
I... I wonder if we're safe now... Kokoron.

彼は私をこころんと呼んだ。%K%P
He called me Kokoron.

その呼び方は、気が動転していたとしか言いようのないものだった。%K%P
He had only ever called me that when he was scared.

だが、こころんと呼んでくれたことが、なんだかとても嬉しかった。%K%P
But it made me really happy whenever he called me Kokoron.

彼の手を握りながら、私は口を開いた。%K%P
Grasping his hand, I opened my mouth.

――墜落の時は最後まで一緒にいてあげられなかったみたいだけど……今度は一緒にいられたね。%K%P
――We couldn't stay together until the end at the time of the crash... but we're together now, right?

そう言うつもりだった。%K%P
That's what I intended to say.

しかし、私の意識はそこで途切れた――%K%P
However, my consciousness was cut off there――