R11:CO5_08.txt

食後、私は食卓でひとり座っていた。%K%P
After the meal ended, I was the only one sitting at the dining table.

ゆには私を避けるように、リビングへ上がっていった。%K%P
Yuni went into the living area, as if avoiding me.

ソファに座り、穂鳥にじゃれついている。%K%P
He sat on the sofa, playing with Hotori.

その姿を、私はキッチンから眺める。%K%P
I gazed at the two of them from the kitchen.

強い疎外感を感じながら。%K%P
While feeling a strong sense of alienation.

ゆに「かーごめ、かーごめ」%K%P
Kagome, kagome...

ゆに「かーごのなーかのとーりーは」%K%P
The bird within the cage...

ゆに「いーつ、いーつ、でーやーる」%K%P
When oh when will you come out?

ゆに「よーあーけーのーばーんにぃ」%K%P
In the evening lit by the dawn...

ゆに「つーるとかーめがすーべった」%K%P
The crane and the turtle slipped and fell...

ゆに「うしろのしょーめんだーれ？」%K%P
Who's that behi――ind you?

穂鳥ふたつのまぶたは、ゆにの手のひらによって覆われていた。%K%P
Yuni's hands were covering Hotori's eyes.

ふたりは、ふたりだけで『かごめかごめ』をしているのだ。%K%P
The two of them were singing "Kagome Kagome" by themselves.

穂鳥は腕を組んで、うーんうーんと考え込んでいた。%K%P
Hotori was crossing her arms and nodding as if pondering it.

しばらくして、穂鳥は手にしたメモ帳に……%K%P
After a while, Hotori took the notepad in her hand...

『ゆにくん』と書いた。%K%P
And wrote "Yuni-kun."

ゆに「あったりぃ～！」%K%P
Bingo～!

ゆに「正解は、楠田ゆにくんでしたぁ～！」%K%P
The correct answer was Kusuda Yuni-kun～!

ゆにが嬉しそうな声をあげて手のひらを離す。%K%P
Letting out a voice full of joy, Yuni lifted his hands away.

穂鳥もニコニコと笑っていた。%K%P
Hotori was grinning and laughing as well.

ふたりは無邪気で、それだけを見れば、とても楽しそうな光景だった。%K%P
If you just saw what they were doing as innocent play, it would have looked like a very enjoyable scene.

しかし、そこには穂鳥とゆに、ふたりだけしかいないのだ。%K%P
However, Yuni and Hotori were the only ones there.

いったい何が楽しいのだろうか？%K%P
Just what was fun about that?

考えようによっては、気味の悪い遊びに思えた。%K%P
If you think about it, their play was kind of creepy.

かごめ歌……。%K%N
The Kagome song....

過去に何度も、ゆにが口ずさんでいた歌。%K%N
It was the song Yuni had sung to himself many times in the past.

あの旅客機で、避難小屋で、スフィアで。%K%N
On the plane, in the shelter cabin, and in SPHIA.

避難小屋は２０１１年、スフィアは２０１２年……だと私は思っている。%K%N
It was the year 2011 in the shelter cabin, and the year 2012 in SPHIA... that's what I concluded.

ゆにはやはり、私達と同じように意識だけ転移をしたのだろうか？%K%N
Was Yuni like us after all, in that only his consciousness was transferring?

いや、それ以前に……%K%N
No, before that...

それ以前にもっと重要なことが、考えなければならないことがある。%K%P
Before that, there's something even more important I have to think about.

先ほどと同じ疑問が頭の中をよぎる。%K%N
The same question from before crosses my mind.

ゆにはどうして、穂鳥を怖がらないのだろう？%K%N
Why wasn't Yuni afraid of Hotori?

ゆには間違いなく穂鳥に額を切られたのだ。%K%N
Yuni had unmistakably gotten his forehead cut by Hotori.

それが故意によるものでないとしても、だ。%K%N
That was the truth, even if she hadn't done it intentionally.

普通なら、相手を警戒して避けるはずだ。%K%N
Normally, you'd be cautious of a person who did that and try to avoid them.

ふたりの様子からは、避けるどころか、より仲良くなっているような印象を受ける。%K%N
But looking at the two of them, rather than trying to avoid her, you'd get the impression that they were getting along even better than before.

なんでだろう？%K%P
So why?

気づくと、ゆには今度は内海の側にいた。%K%P
When I snapped out of my reverie, I saw that Yuni was now sitting beside Utsumi.

内海に寄り添うようにして、ゆには彼女に話しかけている。%K%P
Cuddling himself close to Utsumi, Yuni began talking to her.

母親に甘える子どものように。%K%P
Like the way a spoiled child behaves with his mother.

ゆに「カーリーが言ってた通りだね。一緒に食べた方が安心だったよ」%K%P
It was just like you said, Kali. It's much more relaxing when we eat together.

ゆに「とっても美味しかったし」%K%P
And it was really delicious.

内海「それはよかったわ」%K%P
I'm glad to hear that.

ソファに座るふたりは、そんな話をしていた。%K%P
The two sat on the sofa, saying that.

なんのことだろうか？%K%P
What were they talking about, I wonder?

食事中に私が感じたように、全員がバラバラに食事をするよりも、一緒に食べた方が毒殺の危険性が減るということかもしれない。%K%P
It may have been about the same thing I felt during the meal, about the chance of poisoning decreasing when we eat together rather than apart.

ゆには、必要以上に内海にくっついていた。%K%P
Yuni was sticking even closer to Utsumi than necessary.

そんな彼を、内海は撫でてあげている。%K%P
Even so, Utsumi pats him gently.

優しく目を細めた、慈愛に満ちた表情で。%K%P
While narrowing her kind eyes, and with an affectionate expression.

ふたりはまるで、本当の親子のようにすら見えた。%K%P
The two looked as if they were truly mother and child.

ゆに「カーリー……ぼく怖いよ……」%K%P
Kali... I'm scared...

内海の腕におでこをつけながら、ゆには呟いた。%K%P
Yuni muttered as he pressed his forehead against Utsumi's arm.

小さく震えているようだ。%K%P
It looked like he was trembling slightly.

ゆに「次は……ぼくが殺されちゃうかもしれない……」%K%P
I might... be the next one to be killed...

ゆに「やだよ……死にたくないよ……」%K%P
I don't want that... I don't want to die...

内海「ゆに……」%K%P
Yuni...

震える彼を落ち着かせるように、内海はゆにを抱き寄せる。%K%P
As if to sooth his trembling, Utsumi embraces Yuni.

髪に唇を寄せた後、彼の顔にほおずりをした。%K%P
After brushing her lips against his hair, Utsumi nestles his face into her arms.

内海「大丈夫よ……」%K%P
It's okay...

内海「何かあっても、絶対に私が守ってあげるわ」%K%P
No matter what happens, I'll definitely protect you.

ゆに「カーリー……」%K%P
Kali...

ゆにも内海の背中に手を回し、抱きしめ返す。%K%P
Yuni wrapped his arms around Utsumi's back as well, and returns her hug.

しばらく抱擁していたが、ゆには身体を離した。%K%P
They embraced each other for a while, but Yuni soon separated from her.

心配げな顔で続ける。%K%P
Worry still showed on his face.

ゆに「カーリーが守ってくれたら嬉しいけど……」%K%P
I'd be happy if you could protect me...

ゆに「で、でもさ……カーリーがいないところで、襲われちゃったら、どうするの？」%K%P
B, but... what if I'm attacked while Kali isn't there? What do I do then?

ゆに「ぼく……怖いよ」%K%P
I'm... scared.

内海「…………」%K%P
......

内海は悲しげな瞳でゆにを見つめていたが……%K%P
Utsumi looks at Yuni with sad eyes, and then...

内海「そうだわ」%K%P
That's right.

ポケットを探った。%K%P
She reached into her pocket.

赤い文字の書かれた紙包みを取り出す。%K%P
She took out something wrapped in paper with red lettering.

包みの中には、お守りが入っていた。%K%P
Inside the wrapping was a charm.

内海「これをあげる」%K%P
I'll give you this.

ゆに「お守り？」%K%P
A charm?

内海「そうよ……」%K%P
Yes...

内海「このお守りはね、怪我をしたりしないようにっていう願いのこもったものなの」%K%P
You see, this charm has a wish inside it to protect you from injury.

内海は、聖母を思わせる表情で、お守りをゆにに手渡した。%K%P
Wearing an expression like the Virgin Mary, Utsumi handed the charm over to Yuni.

ゆには、それを手に乗せて、不思議そうに見つめている。%K%P
Yuni placed it into his hand and stared at it with a mysterious look.

私は目を疑っていた。%K%P
I began to doubt my eyes.

あのお守り……！%K%P
That charm...!

避難小屋で、震えながらゆにと一緒に祈った、あのお守りだ……！%K%P
In the shelter cabin, through our shivering, Yuni and I had prayed to that charm...!

なぜ……？%K%P
Why...?

どうなってるの……？%K%P
What's going on...?

内海はゆにに優しく言い聞かせている。%K%P
Utsumi speaks gently to Yuni.

内海「きっと、お守りがあなたを守ってくれるわ……」%K%P
I'm sure the charm will protect you...

ゆに「ぼくがもらってもいいの？」%K%P
Is it okay for me to take this?

内海「ええ、持っていて……」%K%P
Of course, you hold on to it...

内海「手遅れにならないうちに、持っていて欲しいの」%K%P
I want you to carry it with you before it's too late.

ゆには初め、戸惑ったような表情を浮かべていたが、やがて小さくうなずいた。%K%P
Yuni wore a puzzled expression at first, but eventually gave a small nod.

大事そうに、お守りを胸に抱く。%K%P
Like something precious, he held the charm to his chest.

ゆに「ありがと、カーリー」%K%P
Thank you, Kali!

内海は、もう一度ゆにを強く抱きしめた――%K%P
Utsumi hugged Yuni tightly one more time—―

内海は、キッチンへと入り、洗い物をはじめた。%K%P
And then, she headed into the kitchen to do the dishes.

ゆには自分の部屋へと戻ろうとしている。%K%P
Yuni started heading back to his room.

私はゆにと話がしたかった。%K%P
I wanted to talk to him.

近づいていくと、ゆにはビクッと怯えたような表情を浮かべ、足を止めた。%K%P
As I approached him, Yuni suddenly jumped and froze where he stood as a frightened expression appeared on his face.

目を合わせようともしない。%K%P
He wouldn't look me in the eyes.

手にしていたお守りを握りしめている。%K%P
He gripped the charm in his hand.

こころ「……どうしたっていうの？」%K%P
...What does this mean?

ゆにの気持ちが、よくわからない。%K%P
I didn't really understand what Yuni was thinking.

ゆには、穂鳥に傷つけられた。%K%P
Yuni was hurt by Hotori.

額をナイフで切られたのだ。%K%P
He had his forehead cut with a knife.

それなのに、彼女のことは怖がっていない。%K%P
Even so, he wasn't afraid of her at all.

だがゆには、内海に話していたように、何者かに怯えている……%K%P
However, while Yuni was speaking to Utsumi, it sounded as if he was afraid of someone...

もしかして、悟が知らないうちにゆにに何かしたのだろうか？%K%P
Could it be that Satoru did something to Yuni without me knowing?

それで、怖がってるの？%K%P
And because of that, Yuni was afraid?

考えるだけの気力が、私にはもうなかった。%K%P
I didn't have the energy to think about it anymore.

私は思いきって話しかけることにした。%K%P
I tried my best to talk to him.

こころ「ゆに、ちょっといい？」%K%P
Yuni, can I have a moment?

ゆに「ひっ……！」%K%P
Hii...!

ゆに「な、何……！？」%K%P
W, what...?!

吸血鬼に十字架を向けるかのように、ゆにはお守りを胸に抱いた。%K%P
Yuni held the charm to his heart, as if turning a holy cross toward a vampire.

こころ「怯えないで……なんにもしないから」%K%P
Don't be afraid... I'm not going to do anything.

こころ「そんなに怖がられたら、辛くなっちゃうよ……」%K%P
It will only complicate things if you act so scared...

ゆに「…………」%K%P
......

ゆには唇を噛み、私をジッと睨んでいる。%K%P
Yuni bit his lip and glared at me.

こころ「ねえ、ゆに……穂鳥ちゃんのことは、怖くないの？」%K%P
Hey, Yuni... aren't you afraid of Hotori-chan?

ゆに「……どうして？」%K%P
...Why?

こころ「だって、その額のキズ、穂鳥ちゃんに切られたんだよ？」%K%P
Because, that wound on your forehead is from Hotori-chan cutting you, right?

こころ「私、ゆにが死んじゃったかもって、本当に不安だった……」%K%P
I thought you might've died, and I was really worried...

額から血しぶきをあげて倒れるゆにを見た私は、一瞬ゆにが死んでしまったと思った。%K%P
When I saw Yuni fall down with blood spraying from his forehead, for a moment I thought he was dead.

ゆにが死んでしまうなんて……いま思い出しても、身震いがする光景だ。%K%P
The thought of Yuni dying... even remembering that scene makes me start to shiver all over.

こころ「ねえ、穂鳥ちゃんは怖くないの？」%K%P
Hey, aren't you afraid of Hotori-chan?

ゆには自分のつま先を見つめていたが、やがて決然と顔を上げた。%K%P
Yuni stared at his toes for a moment, but finally raised his head, with a resolute look on his face.

ゆに「怖くないよ。前より、仲良しだよ」%K%P
I'm not afraid. We're getting along better than before.

こころ「どうして仲良くなったの？」%K%P
Why did you start getting along?

ゆに「穂鳥は、時々ヘンになる……」%K%P
Once in a while, Hotori acts kind of strange...

ゆに「怖い顔するときもある」%K%P
And there are times when she makes a scary face.

ゆに「でも、人を殺したりなんてしないから」%K%P
But she wouldn't ever kill someone.

こころ「殺したりしないって……！」%K%P
Wouldn't kill someone...!

穂鳥こそ、１２人もの人間を虐殺した稀代の女殺人鬼――犬伏景子だ。%K%P
Hotori is a thankfully rare murderous monster, the one who slaughtered twelve people――Inubushi Keiko.

そのことを、ゆには知らないのだろう。%K%P
Yuni probably doesn't know about that.

ゆにがそのことを知らずに、穂鳥に近づきすぎれば、危険かもしれない。%K%P
If Yuni gets too close to Hotori without knowing that, he might be in danger.

迷った私は、婉曲に伝えてみた。%K%P
Confused over what to do, I tried to tell him indirectly.

こころ「よく考えてみてよ。穂鳥ちゃんは、男の人が死んでる部屋で……ナイフを持って立ってた」%K%P
Think about it carefully. Hotori-chan was standing in the same room as a dead man... holding a knife.

こころ「穂鳥ちゃんの人格は優しいかもしれないけど……危ない本性があるかもしれないよ？」%K%P
Hotori-chan's personality may be gentle, but... there might be a dangerous part to her, you know?

私の言葉に、ゆには強く首を振る。%K%P
Yuni starts to violently shake his head at my words.

ゆに「そんなことないよ！　穂鳥は、あの男の人、殺してない！」%K%P
That isn't true! Hotori didn't kill that man!

こころ「どうして、そんなこと言えるの！？」%K%P
How can you be so sure of that?!

ゆに「だって、ぼく、見たんだ！」%K%P
Because I saw it!

こころ「なにを！？」%K%P
What?!

ゆには声を潜める。%K%P
Yuni lowers his voice.

ゆに「……男の人が……」%K%P
...I saw that man...

ゆに「……殺されるとこ」%K%P
...get killed.

こころ「犯人を見たの？」%K%P
Did you see the culprit?

ゆには、小さくうなずいた。%K%P
Yuni nodded slightly.

お守りを握る手に、さらに力を込める。%K%P
Still grasping the charm, he squeezes it even more tightly.

こころ「誰が殺したの？」%K%P
Who was it that killed him?

こころ「犯人を教えて！」%K%P
Tell me!

私が詰め寄ると、ゆには後ずさった。%K%P
As I drew closer, Yuni shrank from me.

恐怖に顔を歪めながら。%K%P
His face was warped in fear.

こころ「どうしたの！？　黙っててもわかんない！」%K%P
What's wrong?! I won't understand if you just go silent!

こころ「教えてよ！」%K%P
Tell me!

ゆに「…………」%K%P
......

ゆには恐怖と悲しみとが混じり合った表情で立ち尽くしていた。%K%P
Yuni stood frozen, fear and sorrow mingled on his face.

こころ「ねえ、どうしたの……？」%K%P
Hey, what's wrong...?

ゆに「…………」%K%P
......

長い、あまりにも長い沈黙の後――%K%P
After a long, long silence――

その小さな手が――%K%P
from one small hand——

突き出された人差し指が――%K%P
he extended his index finger――

私を、真っ直ぐに指した――%K%P
and pointed it straight at me――

こころ「…………え？」%K%P
......Eh?

まるで死刑の宣告をするような口調で、ゆには言った。%K%P
In a tone as if declaring a death sentence, Yuni said it.

ゆに「――おまえが、殺したんだ」%K%P
――You killed him.