Sunshine Agnès/Chapter 1

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|-|English=Chapter 1 - The Cream-Colored Girl
Edwin Arnold had never been able to get the better of that girl. Not even once. He was confident in his physical strength and thought himself fairly sharp to boot. Yet despite that, he was caught in a losing streak that left him at a loss for words.
Not much had changed since that day, two years ago...
The ticking of the grandfather clock served as a reminder that time continued to pass inside the cafe. The 19-year-old Edwin, however, paid it no mind as he mumbled to himself in his usual spot by the counter.
'That's about as perfect as this article can get... Right?'
Having fully incorporated the details from his interviews and proofread the writing three times already, he continued grumbling as he quickly made his final edits.
If his piece could withstand the scrutiny of the afternoon's editorial meeting, he would finally get to be published. Edwin wasn't about to let a chance like that pass him by. He needed to make sure there wasn't a single period out of place.
The boy raised his head and looked across the counter.
'...What do you think, Agnès?'
'Heck if I know. Who even cares?'
Agnès passed by with a yawn. Her curly, cream-blonde locks--which hadn't changed in two years--bounced and swayed with her every motion, as if dancing in a nonexistent wind.
'Why'd he have to come barging in here this early in the morning? We're not even open yet!' She quibbled to herself as she dried the glass in her hand and placed it back into the cupboard.
'Come on, just look at it! I mean--please check it over. You know how rare it is for a rookie reporter like me to even get a shot at having their own column, don't you?!'
Edwin pressed his hands together and bowed.
Agnès stared down at him in silence.
She had long gotten used to how much he depended on her for help, even though she was two years his junior. 'Geez, is he annoying,' she thought to herself. Nevertheless, she relented, scanning the page as she dried another glass.
'Impressive work, ace. You've racked up three spelling mistakes. And isn't the date wrong?'
'Ah, of course...' Edwin thought. He raised his red pen once more and began making his corrections.
'...It's not like fixing those will help you much now.'
'What? If you've got something to say, then just say it. I'm putting my all into this!'
'Chill out. It's just a cooking column...'
'So what? An article is an article!'
'I guess everyone starts somewhere... Still, I'm not sure you've got what it takes to be a reporter, Ed,' she grumbled to herself while he toiled away at his corrections. 'You're a slow writer, you have zero attention to detail, and you're a numbskull, to boot. Sure, you passed the paper's preliminary exam, thanks to my help, but isn't it a stretch to think you could become a real reporter?'
Agnès had long wondered why a terrible student like Ed would want to be a journalist. Even so, she immediately regretted speaking up as Edwin collected his draft, stood, and donned a wide smile.
'Whatever. Being a righteous reporter is cool!'
He told Agnès to expect good news and bounded out of the cafe, leaving the room silent--save for the chime of the bell above the door.
'How very Edwin...' Agnès shrugged. On the counter beside her, a drowsy black cat let out a yawn.
|-|Japanese=第１回　クリーム色の少女
エドウィン・アーノルドがその少女に勝てたことは一度としてなかった。少なくとも覚えている限りは一度もだ。腕っ節には自信があったし、これでもそこそこ頭も切れる……つもりなのだが、出会った瞬間から今日まで、ぐぅの音も出ないほど負け続けている。
そう、２年前のあの日からずっとだ。
大時計がコチコチ鳴って、その年季の入った喫茶店に今も時間は進んでいる事を知らせている。でも１９歳になったエドウィンは、そんな事にはお構いなしにそのいつものカウンター席でウンウンと唸っていた。
「いやいや完璧だろう、今日の記事は」もう３回も見直したし、取材してきたコメントもちゃんと盛り込んだ。ペンでカリカリとアンダーラインを引きつつ、エドウィンはもう一度唸った。
午後の編集会議で通れば、ようやく自分の書いた物が紙面に掲載されるのだ。今日という今日は手が抜けなかった。ここは一つ、万全を期すとしようじゃないか……。
エドウィンは上目遣いでカウンターの先を伺った。「……アニエス、どう思う？」
「さあね、しらない」
一つあくびをしながら、クリーム色の髪が横切っていく。アニエスの２年前と何も変わらないその癖っ毛は、動きに合わせてくるくると巻いて、風も無いのに踊っているかのようだ。
まだ営業時間じゃないんだけどなー、どうしてこの人は朝っぱらから押しかけてるのかしら。そんな事を呟きつつ、手にしたグラスの水気を素早くふき取って食器棚へと返していく。
「いいから見てくれ！
……いや、お願いします見てください。知ってるだろ？
新米記者の俺が
コラムを取るチャンスなんだって！！」エドウィンはぴたっと手を合わせて頭を下げた。「……………………………………」
エドウィンは２つ年下の自分にも、いもなくそんな事ができるのをアニエスは知っていた。だから困るんだよね、もう。また１つ洗いあがったコップを取りつつ、アニエスはチラリと視線を走らせて言った。
「スペルミスが３箇所もあるわ。わぁびっくり。
あと日付が間違ってるんじゃない？」なるほどな。エドウィンは即座に赤ペンに持ち替えてチェックを始めた。
「……イマサラだけど」
「なんだよ。言いたい事があるならいえ！俺はこのコラムに命賭けてるんだ！」
「お料理コラムだけどね」
「お料理コラムでも記事は記事だぜ」
「まあね。……でも、エドに記者の仕事は向いてないと思うんだ」だって記事書くの遅いし、注意不足だし。鈍感じゃない。私が特訓してあげたおかげで通信社の試験にパスできたのはいいけど、そんなので記者をやっていく、なんて無理じゃないの？
アニエスはずっと前から不思議に思っていたのだ。どうみても勉強が得意じゃないエドが、どうして記者なんて目指したのか。
でもすぐに後悔した。エドが原稿をトントンと揃えニヤリと笑って立ち上がったからだ。「フン……正義の記者ってカッコイイだろ！！」
朗報を期待しててくれと言い残したとき、エドの姿はもうなく、ただカラカラと扉の鈴が鳴っていた。
はいはい、そんな事だろうと思った。肩をすくめたアニエスの傍で、寝ていた黒猫がブニャーと鳴き声を上げた。</tabber>
Category:Trails to Azure Books