CM Chapter 13

Chapter 13 – The Kind of Person You Are

Chapter 1, Part 5.3

Novel Title: ひとりじめ (Completely Mine)

Author：椎崎 夕 (Shiizaki You)

Illustrator：小山田 あみ (Oyamada Ami)

Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)

Protagonists: 細川 湊 (Hosokawa Minato -MC) & 荻原 浩志 (Ogiwara Koushi -ML)

*Please read at knoxt.space, the original site of translation. TQ*

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Perhaps due to the concerns that had been growing stronger since his teaching practicum, his response came out vague. Noticing this, Ogiwara carefully asked:

“By the way, Sensei, why did you decide to become a teacher? Is it because you’re good at math?”

“Quite the opposite. I was terrible at math and always at the bottom of the class. I was so bad that when I started cram school early in middle school, they gave up on me because I just couldn’t understand it.”

Ogiwara widened his eyes at Minato’s admission, and the unusual expression made Minato smile slightly.

“In the second year of middle school, my homeroom teacher, who was also my math teacher, called me in right after the results of the placement test at the start of the school year. I hadn’t even scored half the average, so I went in braced for a scolding. Instead, the teacher gave me a simple test and told me to just fill in the answer sheet, even if I didn’t know the answers.”

Since it had come to that, he filled in the blanks as best as he could and submitted it. A few days later, he was called in again and handed a makeshift problem set clipped together, along with the words, “The deadline is one week.” Each answer space had a sticky note with what seemed to be a hint.

“I figured I’d try since there was a deadline, and thanks to the hints, I managed to solve it somehow. After that, each time I submitted my answers, I got another problem set. At some point, the sticky notes stopped appearing. By then, the teacher told me, ‘If you can’t solve a problem, write down what exactly you don’t understand.’”

From there, he started understanding at a surprising pace. The formulas and equations that had seemed like gibberish began to make sense, and before he knew it, he was looking forward to math class.

Apparently, the teacher had used the same approach with several students, though Minato was the only one who stuck with it until the end. The teacher told him this as a parting comment when they transferred schools at the end of the year.

“The direct reason I wanted to become a teacher was my younger brother. Like me, he was bad at math and would come to me in tears over his homework. At the time, I was confident enough to teach him, but it just didn’t go well.”

Despite his efforts, his brother kept asking the same questions with a furrowed brow, and Minato grew irritated, wondering why he couldn’t understand something so simple. Then, he happened to find the old problem sets tucked away in the bookshelf.

“I thought maybe he was struggling because he didn’t understand where he went wrong, so I closely examined his incorrect answers. As I started changing how I explained and asked questions, my brother, who had been sulking, began to smile. Before I knew it, I found teaching enjoyable. If I could make others that happy, being a school teacher might be a good idea…”

Raising his head casually, his voice trailed off.

Ogiwara, leaning forward in his chair, was watching Minato with a serious expression.

Embarrassed by how unusually talkative he had been, Minato started to look away. But Ogiwara broke into a gentle smile.

“I think I kind of get it now—what kind of person you are, Sensei.”

“…What do you mean?”

“There were a few things I’d wondered about regarding you, Sensei. Hearing your story cleared them up.”

“What kinds of things?”

Minato cautiously asked, and Ogiwara gave him a mischievous smile.

“That’s a secret. Let’s just say it’s a student privilege.”

True to his word, Ogiwara didn’t answer the question no matter how much Minato asked.

***

By the time they finished their planned three hours of studying, the sky outside was already tinted with twilight.

“I’ll be fine, Sensei. I can get home by myself.”

“No way. I brought you here, so it’s my responsibility.”

After some back-and-forth, Minato locked the apartment door. As they descended the stairs together, with Minato pocketing his keychain, Ogiwara seemed to be in a good mood.

“Minato-sensei, you’re overprotective. Probably just with me.”

“I know, but I’m not budging on this one. I’m not going to push you, though.”

The nearest station was only about a five-minute walk. But it was rush hour, so the trains would be packed.

“It’s not like I’ve been overexerting myself.”

As they stepped outside, the streetlights were already on. Despite the setting sun, the sky was still bright, making the artificial light seem out of place. As they confirmed the schedule for Ogiwara’s next tutoring session two days later, a familiar car pulled over on the roadside ahead of them. The driver’s window rolled down, revealing Nagashima in the driver’s seat.

“Figures it’s you, Minato. Perfect timing. You haven’t had dinner yet, right? I’m heading to Yoshiharu’s for drinks. Why don’t you come along?”

Nagashima was always too sociable for his own good. It was clear he’d noticed Ogiwara next to Minato but acted as if he wasn’t there.

“Sorry, I’ve got plans tonight. Maybe next time.”

“Plans? Don’t tell me it’s just more thesis work. You need to take breaks, or you’ll end up flat on your back with a fever like last time.”

“That was three years ago. Don’t make it sound like it happens all the time.”

As Minato replied with some exasperation, Nagashima grinned and rested his chin on his folded arms atop the steering wheel.

“Once is enough to make it a mark on your record. Anyway, I’ve got something else to discuss with you. Come on. And—isn’t that Ogiwara-kun I’ve heard about? Are you giving him a ride home?”

“Exactly,” Minato affirmed, knowing there was no use reprimanding Nagashima when he was already well aware of what he was doing. Nagashima continued.  

“Well then, I’ll give you a ride too. After dropping Ogiwara-kun off, Minato, you’re coming straight to Yoshiharu’s place.”  

“Eisuke, don’t just decide things on your own,” Minato protested.  

“This is the car you used to drive me around before my hospitalization, right? So, it wasn’t yours, Minato-sensei?”  

Ogiwara’s voice overlapped Minato’s. When Minato turned to look at him, Ogiwara was staring intently at Nagashima’s car.  

“I don’t own a car, so I borrowed it.”  

“Is that so? … Nice to meet you, I’m Ogiwara. Thank you for the favor,” he said, bowing politely.  

“I lent the car to Minato, so I don’t need any thanks from you,” Nagashima replied curtly, his eyes narrowing at Ogiwara’s formal greeting.  

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Next update: 2026.08.11

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