CM Chapter 31

Chapter 31 – A Message

Chapter 2, Part 3.1

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*

֍֍֍

Ten years into his professional life, Minato never thought he’d experience something like this for the first time.  

“Hosokawa-san, you don’t look well. Are you okay?”  

“I’m fine. Just a bit sleep-deprived,” Minato replied with a strained smile to the administrative assistant who greeted him as soon as he arrived at work.  

“But you usually take the train, and today you came by taxi. And you seem to be walking with difficulty… Is it a cold? Should I grab some medicine for you during lunch?”  

She was a veteran assistant who had worked at the school for over 20 years when Minato first joined. With a motherly air, she often looked out for the single instructors, including him.  

“I have medicine on hand. Thank you for your concern. I know the cause, so I’ll take care of it myself.”  

“Alright, but don’t hesitate to let me know if you need anything. Oh, and here, a little pick-me-up,” she said, handing him an energy drink before leaving.  

Though attentive, she was considerate enough not to pry further when sensing he didn’t want to discuss it.  

Watching her petite figure walk away, Minato headed for the instructors’ lounge. Sitting at his desk, he felt as if his body might collapse to the floor.  

When he woke up that morning, he found himself in his own bed.  

The familiar sight of his room almost convinced him that last night had been a dream. But the soreness that shot through his joints and in unexpected places as soon as he sat up dispelled that notion. While changing clothes, he noticed unfamiliar red marks scattered across his skin.  

Still unable to fully process the events, he got ready and left his apartment. Even though he’d started early, his slow pace made him miss his usual train.  

His body ached, but all he wanted was to focus on work. He managed to maintain his usual demeanor during classes, answering students’ questions and moving through the day. However, during his last class, the sight of Irino sitting at the front row brought his thoughts back to Ogiwara, overwhelming him.  

―――You’re such an idiot.

He muttered the insult to himself silently while conducting the lesson.  

Minato thought he’d learned his lesson when he graduated college: to Ogiwara, he was nothing more than a curiosity, someone not worth taking seriously. Even during their reunion two days ago and again yesterday outside the school, all Ogiwara had shown was annoyance.  

Falling for his sulking remarks and following him like a fool—he had no one to blame but himself. To Ogiwara, Minato was nothing more than an amusing oddity to stave off boredom.  

A hopelessly one-sided relationship. Minato knew this, yet he repeated the same mistake from ten years ago, leaving himself utterly disgusted with his actions.  

Bitterly self-deprecating, he made it through the class, answered questions, and saw his students off. As his duties were now complete, Minato prepared to wrap up for the day. He tidied the classroom as usual while chatting briefly with the next group of students arriving for their lesson. After finishing, he left the room.  

“Hosokawa-sensei, may I have a moment?”  

Startled, he turned to see Irino looking up at him with an almost animal-like expression.  

“Whoa, you surprised me. What’s up? Do you have a question?”  

“Not a question—more like a message. Ogiwara said he’s waiting at the same place as yesterday.”  

The unexpected words stopped Minato’s thoughts completely.  

“Sorry for leaving without saying anything this morning. I forgot to mention I had work early. I’ll make it up to you today,” Irino conveyed his message.  

“…Irino-kun is familiar with Ogiwara?”  

Minato managed to force the words out, and Irino nodded enthusiastically.  

“Ogiwara-san is my uncle’s apprentice.”  

Irino’s uncle was a professional photographer who often left early in the morning for shoots. Irino, who had a habit of walking his dog early, had taken a route past his uncle’s house that morning. His uncle had been loading a car with equipment in the garage, and Irino had called out to him.  

“He introduced Ogiwara-san as his current work partner. Then Ogiwara-san asked if I knew you, Hosokawa-sensei.”  

When Irino mentioned he’d be going to the cram school that day, Ogiwara entrusted him with the message.  

“Ogiwara-san said he used to be your student. He was praising you a lot, saying your teaching was clear and thorough, and you never gave up on anyone.”  

Seeing the boy’s flushed and animated face as he recounted the praise, Minato felt as if he were being bound by invisible threads. Unable to respond, he listened as Irino continued proudly.  

“Ogiwara-san is so cool, isn’t he? It’s no wonder my sister fell for him at first sight, or that he didn’t reciprocate—makes sense to me. My uncle was super jealous, saying Ogiwara-san lives with a beautiful girlfriend.”  

“…I wouldn’t know all that. We just met again for the first time in ten years, so I don’t know him that well yet.”  

“Oh, right. Speaking of which, my sister mentioned that Ogiwara-san asked her for your home address.”  

Irino nodded to himself as if everything made sense now, leaving Minato with mixed feelings.  

Come to think of it, Minato didn’t know where Ogiwara lived, what kind of work he did, or anything about his relationship status. He didn’t even have Ogiwara’s contact information. That was the level of connection Ogiwara had decided was sufficient.  

And yet, why was he going out of his way to meet?  

“It’s almost time for your next class. You’d better head to the classroom,” Minato said, checking his watch and prompting Irino to leave.  

“Oh, one more thing. Ogiwara-san said that if you can’t make it, he’ll just go straight to your place.”  

Watching Irino disappear into the next classroom, Minato returned to the instructors’ lounge. Sorting through some necessary documents, he realized something belatedly.  

How had he gotten home from that seaside hotel last night?  

His memories ended while he was being thoroughly fucked on the bed. What he vaguely recalled, as if in a dream, was being supported by the waist, gripping a railing as he climbed stairs, and rummaging through his bag for the key in front of his familiar apartment door.  

When he woke up that morning, the keychain and keys were lying on the floor just inside the door. It was as though someone had locked the door from the outside and dropped the keys through the mail slot.  

“Ogiwara-kun… brought me home?”  

In that state, it was hard to imagine he could have made it back on his own. No matter how considerate a taxi driver might be, it was unlikely they’d escort a first-time passenger up to a fourth-floor walk-up, lock the door, and leave.  

Eliminating the impossible left only one answer.  

“I suppose… I should thank him.”  

If he’d been left at the hotel, he would almost certainly have been late or absent today. Carrying someone up four flights of stairs must have been no small feat.  

Ogiwara always followed through when he said he would come. Minato resolved to hear him out, say his thanks, and end things quickly. With that decision made, he grabbed his bag and exited through the staff door.  

It was already past six, and the sky outside was dark. However, the streets were brighter than they had been the previous night, thanks to the time of day. Across the street, leaning against the wall of a building, Ogiwara stood watching him intently.  

The expression on Ogiwara’s face resembled the one he had during the time Minato used to think he was loved, and the sight caused a pang in his chest. Careful not to show it, Minato approached him.  

“…What do you want today?”  

“We’ll talk in the car. I’ll drive you home, too.”  

“I’m not getting in the car. Say what you need to here.”  

֍֍֍

*Translator’s Note: Ogiwara-kun, stop doing this to Minato… He approached Irino because the day before Minato mentioned him, right? That was kinda like indirectly threatening Minato of how he could insert himself in his life little by little so that he can’t cut him off again. How insidious. I was kinda hoping the wife-chasing crematorium would be satisfying, but then again…this is a Japanese light novel, not a danmei. Let’s not put too much hopes up. Lol. -K

Next update: 2026.08.26

֍֍֍

I’m working for free. Would appreciate some donation. Thank you!