R11:CO5_07.txt

気がつくと、私は悟の部屋に立ち尽くしていた。%K%P
When I came to, I was standing perfectly still in Satoru's room.

また転移したのだ。%K%P
I transferred again.

時刻を見る。%K%P
I checked the time.

午後１０時２０分。%K%P
10:20 PM.

ドアの向こう側から美味しそうな匂いがする。%K%P
A delicious smell was coming from beyond the door.

私は匂いにつられるようにして、部屋を出た。%K%P
Lured by the smell, I left the room.

テーブルの上……私の目の前に、温かなご飯があった。%K%P
On the table, right in front of my eyes... was a warm meal.

白く輝く白米が、美味しそうな湯気を上げている。%K%P
The shining white rice was letting off steam and looked delicious.

その隣には、ナスのおみそ汁。%K%P
Right next to it was a bowl of eggplant miso soup.

焼き鮭。ほうれん草のおひたし。%K%P
Grilled salmon. A vegetable side dish of spinach.

大皿には、筑前煮が入っている。%K%P
There was a large platter full of diced chicken and vegetables.
//see http://www.bob-an.com/recipe/dailyjc/ref/chkzen/chkzenj.html for photos of it.

私は堪らず悲しくなった。%K%P
I became unbearably sad.

ここには、ご飯がある。%K%P
There was food here.

３人の空腹を満たすだけの食糧がある。%K%P
There was just enough food to satisfy the hunger of three people.

私は黄泉木達をここに連れてきてあげたかった。%K%P
I wanted to bring Yomogi and everyone else here as well.

そうすれば、もう、食べ物で言い争いしなくてもいいのに。%K%P
If I could, we wouldn't have to quarrel over food anymore.

知らないうちに自分が犯してしまっていた重大な過ちも、それによって失った信頼も、目の前の温かい食事が帳消しにしてくれるのに。%K%P
If I could, the sin I had unknowingly committed, as well as the trust in me that had been lost as a result, would all be canceled out by the food right in front of my eyes.

みんな笑って、私を許してくれるのに。%K%P
If I could, everyone would forgive me with a smile.

内海「……どうしたの？」%K%P
...What's wrong?

こころ「え？」%K%P
Eh?

内海「突然、泣き出したりして……」%K%P
You suddenly started crying...

横に座っていた内海が、眉根を寄せて私の顔を覗き込んでいた。%K%P
From where she sat across from me, Utsumi raised her eyebrows and peered into my face.

食卓の向こうには、ゆにと穂鳥が座っている。%K%P
Yuni and Hotori were sitting at the other end of the dining table.

確かに私は涙を流していた。%K%P
She was right; there were tears running down my cheeks.

突然泣き出した私を、ふたりはあっけにとられたように見つめていた。%K%P
The two of them stared at me in surprise, as I had unexpectedly started crying.

内海「ご飯、呼びに行かなかったのが……そんなに悔しかったの？」%K%P
Are you... really so upset that we didn't call you for dinner?

こころ「い、いえ……」%K%P
N, no...

こころ「そうじゃ、ありません」%K%P
That's not it.

こころ「私、ちょっと考え事してて……」%K%P
I just... had something on my mind...

内海「あら？　その口調……冬川さん？」%K%P
Hmm? That tone... Fuyukawa-san?

こころ「はい」%K%P
Yes.

内海「そう……」%K%P
I see...

内海「だったら、ごめんなさいね」%K%P
In that case, I'm sorry.

内海「呼びにいく前に、先に食べてしまって」%K%P
We started eating without calling you.

こころ「い……いえ……」%K%P
It's... all right...

避難小屋にいる全員が、空腹を満たせるだけの食事がここにある。%K%P
The amount of food here would be just enough to satisfy the hunger of all the people at the shelter cabin.

食事さえあれば、あのギスギスした雰囲気も少しは和らぐのに……%K%P
If they only had something to eat, then that foul and edgy atmosphere would calm just a bit...

人格交換は、とても残酷だと感じた。%K%P
I felt that the personality exchange was an extremely cruel thing.

避難小屋の私は、認めたくはないけれど、３人分のカンパンを食べたおかげでお腹が満たされていた。%K%P
Even though I don't want to admit it, I was only full because I had eaten three people's shares of hard tack back at the shelter cabin, leaving the others starving.

でも、悟は空腹だったようだ。%K%P
However, it seems that Satoru was hungry.

今は強い空腹感を感じる。%K%P
Right now, it feels like I'm starving.

私は……%K%p
I...

食事に手をつけた
Reach for the food

食べるのをやめた
Don't eat

避難小屋のみんなのことを考えれば、私がこんな美味しい食事をとるなんて、許されないことのような気がする。%K%P
When I think about the people at the shelter cabin, it felt like it would be unforgivable for me to accept such delicious food.

しかし、ここで食べるのをやめたことによって、悟が空腹となり……%K%P
However, if I were to not eat here, Satoru would get hungry...

彼の身体に支障が出ることは、本意ではない。%K%P
I had no intention of hindering his body.

もちろん、悟がカンパンを食べてしまったのだろうから、彼に文句を言いたい気持ちはあるけれど……%K%P
Of course, because it was probably Satoru that ate all the hard tack, I'd like to tell him a thing or two, but...

私は複雑な気持ちで食事に手をつけた。%K%P
I started in on the food with mixed feelings.

私は箸を置いた。%K%P
I put down my chopsticks.

自分には記憶はないのだけれど、私はゆにや黄泉木の食糧をひとりで食べてしまった。%K%P
I don't actually remember it, but I had eaten Yuni and Yomogi's food all by myself.

その私だけが、こんなに美味しい食事を取るなんてことは、許されないことのような気がしたのだ。%K%P
I felt it was unforgivable for me to accept such delicious food in spite of that.

ふたりのことも考えて、私も食事を断つことにしよう。%K%P
Thinking of those two, I'll abstain from eating as well.

しかし――%K%P
But――

内海「うふふ、お腹空いてるのね」%K%P
Ahaha, it seems you're hungry.

穂鳥も声を立てずに笑っている。%K%P
Hotori was laughing voicelessly as well.

悟の空腹は、相当なもののようだ。%K%P
It seemed Satoru was considerably hungry.

こころ「すみません……」%K%P
I'm sorry...

私は小声で謝りながら、食を断っていいものかどうか迷った。%K%P
As I apologized in a soft voice, I was hesitating as to whether it would be okay for me to refuse the food.

私の気持ちとしては、避難小屋のみんなに操を立てて、食事を断ちたいという思いがあった。%K%P
As far as my own feelings went, I wanted to keep my honor with those in the shelter cabin by abstaining from eating.

でも、そうしたところで、苦しむのは悟なのだ。%K%P
However, if I did that, Satoru would be the one to suffer.

もちろん、悟がカンパンを食べてしまったのだろうから、彼に文句を言いたい気持ちはあるけれど……%K%P
Of course, because it was probably Satoru that ate all the hard tack, I'd like to tell him a thing or two, but...

ここで食事を取らなかったことによって、悟が殺人鬼から逃げられないなんてことになっては困る。%K%P
If I didn't eat here, it'd be a problem if Satoru didn't have the energy to run away from the murderous monster.

私は複雑な気持ちで箸を取った。%K%P
I picked up the chopsticks with mixed feelings.

食事に手をつける。%K%P
I'll eat it.

食べながら、同じ食卓を囲む３人の様子を窺った。%K%P
While eating, I looked at the other three people around the dinner table.

妙な違和感を感じる。%K%P
Something felt off.

どうして、４人そろって食事なんてしてるんだろう？%K%P
Why is it that the four of us are gathered around a table eating right now?

先日、殺人事件があったばかりなのだ。%K%P
There was a murder here just the other day.

しかも、その犯人が、この３人の中にいる。%K%P
Moreover, the culprit is among these three people.

落ち着いて食事なんてしている場合じゃないだろう。%K%P
It's not the time to be calmly eating here.

それなのに、どうして？%K%P
But even so, why?

全員で集まって食べた方が安全だという判断だろうか？%K%P
Did they decide that it'd be safer for everyone to eat all together?

毒殺を防ぐためには、全員が同じものを食べた方がいい。%K%P
To prevent any one of us from being poisoned, everyone should be seen eating the same thing.

そこで私は思い出した。%K%P
That's when I remembered.

そうだ、悟は毒を盛られたのだ。%K%P
That's right, Satoru was poisoned.

前回、転移したときは、ひどく体調が悪かった。%K%P
The last time I transferred, his body was in terrible condition.

私は天井を仰ぎ見た。%K%P
I looked up at the ceiling.

視界の歪みや、目眩などを感じないかどうか試したのだ。%K%P
I checked to see whether my vision was blurry or if I'd become dizzy.

でも、まったく正常だった。%K%P
However, everything was perfectly normal.

身体のダルさなども、完全になくなっている。%K%P
My body didn't feel dull at all, either.

悟がなんらかの対処をしてくれたのだろうか？%K%P
Did Satoru deal with it somehow?

と、内海が心配そうに声を掛けてきた。%K%P
Then, Utsumi spoke in a voice that betrayed worry.

内海「勢いよく食べたかと思ったら、今度は急に箸が止まって……」%K%P
I thought you were really wolfing it down, but now your chopsticks aren't even moving...

内海「どうかしたの？　気分でも悪い？」%K%P
Is something the matter? Are you feeling unwell?

こころ「いえ、大丈夫です」%K%P
No, I'm fine.

私は慌てて首を振った。%K%P
Panicking, I shook my head.

内海「そう」%K%P
I see.

内海「最近みんな、ろくなもの食べてなかったから、栄養が足りないわ」%K%P
No one has been eating well lately, so we haven't gotten enough nutrition.

内海「それに、冬川さんはこの３日間、何も食べてなかったんだから」%K%P
And besides, Fuyukawa-san hasn't eaten anything for the past three days.

こころ「そ、そうですね……」%K%P
T, that's true...

内海「食べられるだけでいいから、食べてね」%K%P
Just eat what you can, okay?

そう言えば、私と悟は毒殺を恐れて食事を断っていたのだった。%K%P
Now that she mentions it, Satoru and I had been refusing food for fear that it was poisoned.

もう食べてもいいのだろうか？%K%P
Would it be okay for me to eat now?

というか、もう食べてしまった。%K%P
Actually, I've already eaten some.

手遅れだ。%K%P
It was too late.

ごめん、悟。%K%P
Sorry, Satoru.

もし、これで死んでしまったら……許してね。%K%P
If you die from this... please forgive me.

どうか、どうか、毒が入っていませんように……。%K%P
Please, please, don't let there be any poison in it....

穂鳥が大皿からゆにの分の筑前煮を取り分けてあげていた。%K%P
Hotori took some of the diced chicken and vegetables from the large platter and put it in Yuni's bowl.

ゆに「ありがと。穂鳥」%K%P
Thank you, Hotori.

こころ「あ、ゆに……！」%K%P
Ah, Yuni...!

ゆには、それになんの躊躇いもなく箸をつける。%K%P
Yuni grabbed it with his chopsticks, without showing any hesitation.

ゆに「……な、何？」%K%P
...W, what?

タケノコを飲み込んだゆには、怯えたような上目遣いで尋ねてきた。%K%P
Swallowing down a piece of bamboo shoot, Yuni glanced up at me, startled.

こころ「……ううん。なんでもないの」%K%P
...No. It's nothing.

同じ大皿から穂鳥も自分の分を取って、口にした。%K%P
Hotori served herself from the same platter, then brought the food to her mouth.

毒が入ってる様子はない。%K%P
There wasn't any sign that it was poisoned.

私は覚悟を決めて食事をすることに決めた。%K%P
Gathering my resolve, I decided to continue with the meal.

内海の作った料理は、とても美味しかった。%K%P
The food that Utsumi had made was very delicious.

食卓の雰囲気も、和気藹々としたものだった。%K%P
The atmosphere at the table was peaceful and happy as well.

ゆにはよく食べ、よく喋った。%K%P
Yuni ate a lot, and talked a lot as well.

内海もそれに答えて笑っている。%K%P
Utsumi, too, answered him with a laugh.

ゆにの隣に座る穂鳥も、笑顔でうなずいていた。%K%P
Hotori was sitting beside Yuni, nodding at their conversation with a smile.

まるで、初日の食事のようだ。%K%P
It was like the meal we had on the first day.

殺人があったことが、まるで嘘のように感じられる。%K%P
It was almost like the murder that had taken place was just a lie.

遠い世界の、悪い夢。%K%P
A bad dream, of a world far away.

でも、初日の食事とは、違う部分もあった。%K%P
However, there was something different from the meal on the first day as well.

こころ「……ねえ、ゆに。お醤油とって」%K%P
...Hey, Yuni. Pass the soy sauce.

何気ない私の呼びかけに、ゆにはビクッと身体を震わせた。%K%P
When I casually called out to him, Yuni flinched, and his body trembled with surprise.

怯えた目で、私を見ている。%K%P
He stared at me with eyes full of fear.

こころ「ゆに……」%K%P
Yuni...

こころ「どうして……そんな目で……？」%K%P
Why are you... looking at me like that...?

ゆに「…………」%K%P
......

内海「はい、これ」%K%P
Here you go.

私の問いを遮るように、内海が醤油を取ってくれた。%K%P
As if to interrupt my question, Utsumi passed me the soy sauce instead.

こころ「すみません……」%K%P
Sorry...

ゆには、妙に私（悟？）を恐れている。%K%P
Yuni was oddly afraid of me (Satoru?).

それが最も大きな違いだった。%K%P
That was the biggest difference.

そして、もう一点――%K%P
And there was one more difference――

穂鳥が、ゆにの肩を軽く叩いた。%K%P
Hotori lightly tapped Yuni on the shoulder.

ゆに「どうしたの、穂鳥？」%K%P
What's wrong, Hotori?

穂鳥は自分の頬を指さした。%K%P
Hotori pointed her finger at her own cheek.

ゆに「ほっぺがどうかした？」%K%P
Is there something about your cheek?

困ったように穂鳥は首を傾げたが、ゆにの頬に手を伸ばした。%K%P
Hotori shook her head as if troubled, and then reached over to Yuni's cheek.

頬にご飯粒がついていたのだ。%K%P
There was a grain of rice stuck there.

穂鳥は自分の口にそれを運ぶ。%K%P
Hotori puts it into her own mouth.

ゆに「♪おべんと　つけてっ　どっこいっくの？　…ってヤツだね？」%K%P
♪Where are you going with your lunch on your face～? ...Or something like that?
//http://yokohama.cool.ne.jp/nrsaurus/anasuki.htm

穂鳥は嬉しそうにうなずく。%K%P
Hotori smiled happily.

ゆに「んもう、新婚さんみたいじゃ～ん？」%K%P
Geez, we're like newlyweds, hu～h?

彼女の腕にじゃれるようにもたれて、ゆには微笑んだ。%K%P
Yuni smiled while leaning against her arm, as if teasing her.

穂鳥は、新婚という単語に反応したのか、赤い顔をしてうつむいた。%K%P
Hotori, as if reacting to the word "newlyweds," looked down as her cheeks turned red.

ゆに「照れすぎだよぉ、穂鳥ぃ」%K%P
You don't need to get so embarrassed, Hotoriii.

穂鳥とゆにが、妙に仲良くなっていた。%K%P
Hotori and Yuni were getting along unusually well.

私は、お醤油を垂らしたおひたしを口に運びながら、思う。%K%P
I thought, as I bring one of the vegetable side dishes dripping with soy sauce into my mouth.

ゆにの額には、キズがあるはずだ。%K%P
Yuni's forehead should be wounded.

今は、前髪に隠れて見えないが、真新しいキズが。%K%P
It wasn't visible right now because his bangs were hiding it, but it was a new wound.

それは、間違いなく穂鳥によって切られたものだ。%K%P
And it had unmistakably been inflicted by none other than Hotori.

それなのにどうして、ゆには穂鳥を警戒しないんだろう。%K%P
So then, why wasn't Yuni on his guard against Hotori?

どうして恐れるどころか、仲良くなっているんだろう。%K%P
Why is it that, rather than being scared of her, he seemed to be getting along with her so well?

大きな疑問を残したまま、食事は終わった。%K%P
The meal ended, leaving behind that huge question.

こころ「ごちそうさま……」%K%P
Thanks for the food...

私は手を合わせながら、同時に心の中で謝った。%K%P
I put my hands together, and mentally apologized while doing so.

ごめんなさい。%K%P
I'm sorry.

私だけ、ご飯を食べてごめんなさい。%K%P
I'm sorry for being the only one to eat.

避難小屋にいるみんなは、今も空腹を堪えているのだ。%K%P
All the people at the shelter cabin were enduring their hunger right now.

この精神的充足は、私にさらなる罪悪感を感じさせるに充分だった。%K%P
Being able to fulfill myself spiritually by eating like this was more than enough to further my feelings of guilt.

気がつくと、私は悟の部屋に立ち尽くしていた。%K%P
When I came to, I was standing perfectly still in Satoru's room.

また転移したのだ。%K%P
I transferred again.

時刻を見る。%K%P
I checked the time.

午後１０時２０分。%K%P
10:20 PM.

ドアの向こう側から美味しそうな匂いがする。%K%P
A delicious smell was coming from beyond the door.

私は匂いにつられるようにして、部屋を出た。%K%P
Lured by the smell, I left the room.

テーブルの上……私の目の前に、温かなご飯があった。%K%P
On the table, right in front of my eyes... was a warm meal.

白く輝く白米が、美味しそうな湯気を上げている。%K%P
The shining white rice was letting off steam and looked delicious.

その隣には、ナスのおみそ汁。%K%P
Right next to it was a bowl of eggplant miso soup.

焼き鮭。ほうれん草のおひたし。%K%P
Grilled salmon. A vegetable side dish of spinach.

大皿には、筑前煮が入っている。%K%P
There was a large platter full of diced chicken and vegetables.
//see http://www.bob-an.com/recipe/dailyjc/ref/chkzen/chkzenj.html for photos of it.

私は堪らず悲しくなった。%K%P
I became unbearably sad.

ここには、ご飯がある。%K%P
There was food here.

３人の空腹を満たすだけの食糧がある。%K%P
There was just enough food to satisfy the hunger of three people.

私は黄泉木達をここに連れてきてあげたかった。%K%P
I wanted to bring Yomogi and everyone else here as well.

そうすれば、もう、食べ物で言い争いしなくてもいいのに。%K%P
If I could, we wouldn't have to quarrel over food anymore.

内海「……どうしたの？」%K%P
...What's wrong?

こころ「え？」%K%P
Eh?

内海「突然、泣き出したりして……」%K%P
You suddenly started crying...

横に座っていた内海が、眉根を寄せて私の顔を覗き込んでいた。%K%P
From where she sat across from me, Utsumi raised her eyebrows and peered into my face.

食卓の向こうには、ゆにと穂鳥が座っている。%K%P
Yuni and Hotori were sitting at the other end of the dining table.

確かに私は涙を流していた。%K%P
She was right; there were tears running down my cheeks.

突然泣き出した私を、ふたりはあっけにとられたように見つめていた。%K%P
The two of them stared at me in surprise, as I had unexpectedly started crying.

内海「ご飯、呼びに行かなかったのが……そんなに悔しかったの？」%K%P
Are you... really so upset that we didn't call you for dinner?

こころ「い、いえ……」%K%P
N, no...

こころ「そうじゃ、ありません」%K%P
That's not it.

こころ「私、ちょっと考え事してて……」%K%P
I just... had something on my mind...

内海「あら？　その口調……冬川さん？」%K%P
Hmm? That tone... Fuyukawa-san?

こころ「はい」%K%P
Yes.

内海「そう……」%K%P
I see...

内海「だったら、ごめんなさいね」%K%P
In that case, I'm sorry.

内海「呼びにいく前に、先に食べてしまって」%K%P
We started eating without calling you.

こころ「い……いえ……」%K%P
It's... all right...

避難小屋ではいまも、みんなが飢餓に苦しんでいる。%K%P
Everyone in the shelter cabin was suffering from their hunger even now.

私だけが、食事をしてもいいのだろうか？%K%p
Would it be okay for me to be the only one to eat?

食事をする
Eat the food

食べるのをやめる
Don't eat the food

避難小屋のみんなのことを考えれば、私がこんな美味しい食事をとるなんて、許されないことのような気がする。%K%P
When I think about the people at the shelter cabin, it felt like it would be unforgivable for me to accept such delicious food.

しかし、ここで食べるのをやめたことによって、悟が空腹となり……%K%P
However, if I were to not eat here, Satoru would get hungry...

彼の身体に支障が出ることは、本意ではない。%K%P
I had no intention of hindering his body.

私は複雑な気持ちで食事に手をつけた。%K%P
I started in on the food with mixed feelings.

私は箸を置いた。%K%P
I put down my chopsticks.

私だけが、こんなに美味しい食事を取るなんてことは、許されないことのような気がしたのだ。%K%P
I felt it was unforgivable for only me to accept such delicious food.

避難小屋のみんなのことを考えて、私も食事を断つことにしよう。%K%P
Thinking of everyone in the shelter cabin, I'll abstain from eating as well.

しかし――%K%P
But――

内海「うふふ、お腹空いてるのね」%K%P
Ahaha, it seems you're hungry.

穂鳥も、声を立てずに笑っている。%K%P
Hotori was laughing voicelessly as well.

悟の空腹は、相当なもののようだ。%K%P
It seemed Satoru was considerably hungry.

こころ「すみません……」%K%P
I'm sorry...

私は小声で謝りながら、食を断って良いものかどうか迷った。%K%P
As I apologized in a soft voice, I was hesitating as to whether it would be okay for me to refuse the food.

私の気持ちとしては、避難小屋のみんなに操を立てて、食事を断ちたいという思いがあった。%K%P
As far as my own feelings went, I wanted to keep my honor with those in the shelter cabin by abstaining from eating.

でも、そうしたところで、苦しむのは悟なのだ。%K%P
However, if I did that, Satoru would be the one to suffer.

ここで食事を取らなかったことによって、悟が殺人鬼から逃げられないなんてことになっては困る。%K%P
If I didn't eat here, it'd be a problem if Satoru didn't have the energy to run away from murderous monster.

私は複雑な気持ちで箸を取った。%K%P
I picked up the chopsticks with mixed feelings.

食事に手をつける。%K%P
I'll eat it.

食べながら、同じ食卓を囲む３人の様子を窺った。%K%P
While eating, I looked at the other three people around the dinner table.

妙な違和感を感じる。%K%P
Something felt off.

どうして、４人そろって食事なんてしてるんだろう？%K%P
Why is it that the four of us are gathered around a table eating right now?

先日、殺人事件があったばかりなのだ。%K%P
There was a murder here just the other day.

しかも、その犯人が、この３人の中にいる。%K%P
Moreover, the culprit is among these three people.

落ち着いて食事なんてしている場合じゃないだろう。%K%P
It's not the time to be calmly eating here.

それなのに、どうして？%K%P
But even so, why?

全員で集まって食べた方が安全だという判断だろうか？%K%P
Did they decide that it'd be safer for everyone to eat all together?

毒殺を防ぐためには、全員が同じものを食べた方がいい。%K%P
To prevent any one of us from being poisoned, everyone should be seen eating the same thing.

そこで私は思い出した。%K%P
That's when I remembered.

そうだ、悟は毒を盛られたのだ。%K%P
That's right, Satoru was poisoned.

前回、転移したときは、ひどく体調が悪かった。%K%P
The last time I transferred, his body was in terrible condition.

私は天井を仰ぎ見た。%K%P
I looked up at the ceiling.

視界の歪みや、目眩などを感じないかどうか試したのだ。%K%P
I checked to see whether my vision was blurry or if I'd become dizzy.

でも、まったく正常だった。%K%P
However, everything was perfectly normal.

身体のダルさなども、完全になくなっている。%K%P
My body didn't feel dull at all, either.

悟がなんらかの対処をしてくれたのだろうか？%K%P
Did Satoru deal with it somehow?

と、内海が心配そうに声を掛けてきた。%K%P
Then, Utsumi spoke in voice that betrayed worry.

内海「勢いよく食べたかと思ったら、今度は急に箸が止まって……」%K%P
I thought you were really wolfing it down, but now your chopsticks aren't even moving...

内海「どうかしたの？　気分でも悪い？」%K%P
Is something the matter? Are you feeling unwell?

こころ「いえ、大丈夫です」%K%P
No, I'm fine.

私は慌てて首を振った。%K%P
Panicking, I shook my head.

内海「そう」%K%P
I see.

内海「最近みんな、ろくなもの食べてなかったから、栄養が足りないわ」%K%P
No one has been eating well lately, so we haven't gotten enough nutrition.

内海「それに、冬川さんはこの３日間、何も食べてなかったんだから」%K%P
And besides, Fuyukawa-san hasn't eaten anything for the past three days.

こころ「そ、そうですね……」%K%P
T, that's true...

内海「食べられるだけでいいから、食べてね」%K%P
Just eat what you can, okay?

そう言えば、私と悟は毒殺を恐れて食事を断っていたのだった。%K%P
Now that she mentions it, Satoru and I had been refusing food for fear that it was poisoned.

もう食べてもいいのだろうか？%K%P
Would it be okay for me to eat now?

というか、もう食べてしまった。%K%P
Actually, I've already eaten some.

手遅れだ。%K%P
It was too late.

ごめん、悟。%K%P
Sorry, Satoru.

もし、これで死んでしまったら……許してね。%K%P
If you die from this... please forgive me.

どうか、どうか、毒が入っていませんように……。%K%P
Please, please, don't let there be any poison in it....

穂鳥が大皿からゆにの分の筑前煮を取り分けてあげていた。%K%P
Hotori took some of the diced chicken and vegetables from the large platter and put it in Yuni's bowl.

ゆに「ありがと。穂鳥」%K%P
Thank you, Hotori.

こころ「あ、ゆに……！」%K%P
Ah, Yuni...!

ゆには、それになんの躊躇いもなく箸をつける。%K%P
Yuni grabbed it with his chopsticks, without showing any hesitation.

ゆに「……な、何？」%K%P
...W, what?

タケノコを飲み込んだゆには、怯えたような上目遣いで尋ねてきた。%K%P
Swallowing down a piece of bamboo shoot, Yuni glanced up at me, startled.

こころ「……ううん。なんでもないの」%K%P
...No. It's nothing.

同じ大皿から穂鳥も自分の分を取って、口にした。%K%P
Hotori served herself from the same platter, then brought the food to her mouth.

毒が入ってる様子はない。%K%P
There wasn't any sign that it was poisoned.

私は、覚悟を決めて食事をすることに決めた。%K%P
Gathering my resolve, I decided to continue with the meal.

内海の作った料理は、とても美味しかった。%K%P
The food that Utsumi had made was very delicious.

食卓の雰囲気も、和気藹々としたものだった。%K%P
The atmosphere at the table was peaceful and happy as well.

ゆにはよく食べ、よく喋った。%K%P
Yuni ate a lot, and talked a lot as well.

内海もそれに答えて笑っている。%K%P
Utsumi, too, answered him with a laugh.

ゆにの隣に座る穂鳥も、笑顔でうなずいていた。%K%P
Hotori was sitting beside Yuni, nodding at their conversation with a smile.

まるで、初日の食事のようだ。%K%P
It was like the meal we had on the first day.

殺人があったことが、まるで嘘のように感じられる。%K%P
It was almost like the murder that had taken place was a just lie.

遠い世界の、悪い夢。%K%P
A bad dream, of a world far away.

でも、初日の食事とは、違う部分もあった。%K%P
However, there was something different from the meal on the first day as well.

こころ「……ねえ、ゆに。お醤油とって」%K%P
...Hey, Yuni. Pass the soy sauce.

何気ない私の呼びかけに、ゆにはビクッと身体を震わせた。%K%P
When I casually called out to him, Yuni flinched, and his body trembled with surprise.

怯えた目で、私を見ている。%K%P
He stared at me with eyes full of fear.

こころ「ゆに……」%K%P
Yuni...

こころ「どうして……そんな目で……？」%K%P
Why are you... looking at me like that...?

ゆに「…………」%K%P
......

内海「はい、これ」%K%P
Here you go.

私の問いを遮るように、内海が醤油を取ってくれた。%K%P
As if to interrupt my question, Utsumi passed me the soy sauce instead.

こころ「すみません……」%K%P
Sorry...

ゆには、妙に私（悟？）を恐れている。%K%P
Yuni was oddly afraid of me (Satoru?).

それが最も大きな違いだった。%K%P
That was the biggest difference.

そして、もう一点――%K%P
And there was one more difference――

穂鳥が、ゆにの肩を軽く叩いた。%K%P
Hotori lightly tapped Yuni on the shoulder.

ゆに「どうしたの、穂鳥？」%K%P
What's wrong, Hotori?

穂鳥は、自分の頬を指さした。%K%P
Hotori pointed her finger at her own cheek.

ゆに「ほっぺがどうかした？」%K%P
Is there something about your cheek?

困ったように穂鳥は首を傾げたが、ゆにの頬に手を伸ばした。%K%P
Hotori shook her head as if troubled, and then reached over to Yuni's cheek.

頬にご飯粒がついていたのだ。%K%P
There was a grain of rice stuck to his cheek.

穂鳥は、自分の口にそれを運ぶ。%K%P
Hotori puts it into her own mouth.

ゆに「♪おべんと　つけてっ　どっこいっくの？　…ってヤツだね？」%K%P
♪Where are you going with your lunch on your face～? ...Or something like that?

穂鳥は、嬉しそうにうなずく。%K%P
Hotori smiled happily.

ゆに「んもう、新婚さんみたいじゃ～ん？」%K%P
Geez, we're like newlyweds, hu～h?

彼女の腕にじゃれるようにもたれて、ゆには微笑んだ。%K%P
Yuni smiled while leaning against her arm, as if teasing her.

穂鳥は、新婚という単語に反応したのか、赤い顔をしてうつむいた。%K%P
Hotori, as if reacting to the word "newlyweds," looked down as her cheeks turned red.

ゆに「照れすぎだよぉ、穂鳥ぃ」%K%P
You don't need to get so embarrassed, Hotoriii.

穂鳥とゆにが、妙に仲良くなっていた。%K%P
Hotori and Yuni were getting along unusually well.

私は、お醤油を垂らしたおひたしを口に運びながら、思う。%K%P
I thought, as I bring one of the vegetable side dishes dripping with soy sauce into my mouth.

ゆにの額には、キズがあるはずだ。%K%P
Yuni's forehead should be wounded.

今は、前髪に隠れて見えないが、真新しいキズが。%K%P
It wasn't visible right now because his bangs were hiding it, but it was a new wound.

それは、間違いなく穂鳥によって切られたものだ。%K%P
And it had unmistakably been inflicted by none other than Hotori.

それなのにどうして、ゆには穂鳥を警戒しないんだろう。%K%P
So then, why wasn't Yuni on his guard against Hotori?

どうして恐れるどころか、仲良くなっているんだろう。%K%P
Why is it that, rather than being scared of her, he seemed to be getting along with her so well?

大きな疑問を残したまま、食事は終わった。%K%P
The meal ended, leaving behind that huge question.

こころ「ごちそうさま……」%K%P
Thanks for the food...

私は手を合わせながら、同時に心の中で謝った。%K%P
I put my hands together, and mentally apologized while doing so.

ごめんなさい。%K%P
I'm sorry.

私だけ、ご飯を食べてごめんなさい。%K%P
I'm sorry for being the only one to eat.

避難小屋にいるみんなは、今も空腹を堪えているのだ。%K%P
All the people at the shelter cabin were enduring their hunger right now.

もちろん私の身体だって、飢餓感に苛なまれているはずだが……この精神的充足は、私に罪悪感を感じさせるに充分だった。%K%P
Of course, my own body was feeling hunger as well, but... the spiritual fulfillment I was able to gain by eating like this was more than enough to further my feelings of guilt.