CM Chapter 36

Chapter 36 – Unfamiliar Place

Chapter 2, Part 5.2

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*

֍֍֍

“Thank you for coming all the way here. But I’m going to take a taxi. You have work tomorrow, don’t you, Ogiwara-kun? In that case, you’d better head home and get some rest.”

Minato looked up with a bitter smile, but Ogiwara didn’t respond. Instead, he stared at Minato with a face that seemed to want to say something, looking sulky.

Minato was taken aback by the same expression Ogiwara used to have ten years ago.

“Minato-sensei, do you not want me to take you home? You don’t want to ride in my car?”

“It’s not that…-“

“-Then, would you mind riding with me? It doesn’t really make much difference timewise whether I drop you off at your apartment or just go home now.”

“But I’ve already caused so much trouble today.”

“It wasn’t trouble, you helped me. If I had fallen, I might’ve hurt my right knee again. Please, let me take you.”

Even though it was night and the hospital was relatively empty, Minato was at a loss as Ogiwara bowed deeply in a place where there were still a few people.

At this point, Ogiwara wouldn’t back down easily. No matter how much they argued, the result would be the same. It would be better to give in quickly so as not to attract attention.

“…….In that case, can I ask you to take me to the nearest station?”

At Minato’s words, Ogiwara lifted his head. He looked relieved, and Minato was slightly surprised by his expression.

***

The journey to Minato’s home was farther than he had expected. If he had taken a taxi, he might have found himself terrified of the meter.

It might have been better to be scared of the meter, though.

Just sitting in the passenger seat of the RV, the pain seemed to come from all over his body. Minato should probably prepare himself for a second taxi ride tomorrow.

Ogiwara, who was driving, had been silent ever since they left the hospital. He didn’t seem upset, but Minato couldn’t figure out what he was thinking.

The main reason Minato wanted to refuse Ogiwara’s offer to take him home was something else entirely. On nights when they faced each other, it was customary for them to share a bed. Ogiwara never hesitated in this regard. If Minato complained of being unwell, he would say that he would take care of everything, including the ride and any other needs.

Minato thought that tonight, at least, it wouldn’t be the same, but he couldn’t be sure. There was only one bed in his apartment, and the floor was hardwood. Although there was a rug, he couldn’t ask him to sleep there with just a blanket.

Tonight, Minato desperately wanted to rest alone and recover. If they slept in a single bed together, there would be no way to avoid being close to each other, and that would definitely cause him pain.

Minto wondered if Ogiwara would quietly go home.

As he kept glancing out the window, the car turned onto an unfamiliar street and stopped in a wide area. Judging by the lines on the asphalt, it seemed like a parking lot.

They had stopped by a convenience store a few minutes earlier, so maybe Ogiwara had forgotten something. As Minato idly thought this, Ogiwara opened the passenger door from the outside. Seeing his face, Minato felt a sense of déjà vu and an unpleasant premonition.

“Can you get out on your own, or would you like me to help?”

“Huh, me getting out too?”

“Yes. It’ll be quick.”

After looking at his hand, which he had extended as if it were the most natural thing, Minato reluctantly accepted. With his support, he got out of the car, and a sense of unease began to creep over him.

No matter how he looked at it, this wasn’t a store. It was a parking lot attached to what looked like an apartment building.

“Ogiwara-kun, where is this?”

“We can pick up the necessary things for you at your apartment tomorrow morning. My camera is over there, so it’s a win-win.”

“No, wait a second.”

“Please lower your voice. It echoes.”

Ogiwara, who spoke as if it were the most natural thing, grabbed Minato’s arm and made him walk, using his shoulder for support. Minato’s crutch had been left in the car, and with no chance to escape, he was led into the entrance and into the elevator. They got off on the sixth floor, and as soon as the elevator doors opened, he was led into an apartment right next to it.

“Can you take off your shoes? …I’ll help you.”

Ogiwara took care of Minato efficiently. He was then seated on the sofa in the living room just past the entrance. While he was still trying to process everything, Ogiwara left the room, leaving him alone in the unfamiliar space.

“…Is no one else here?”

It seemed to be a 1LDK apartment. The area right after the entrance was the living-dining room, with a single armchair and coffee table placed toward a TV stand, all in wood tones and white. The kitchen was set in a slightly recessed area, with a refrigerator and a small cupboard, and in front of that, a small round table with chairs. Through a sliding door that was about a third open, the bedroom was visible, with part of the bed showing.

From the furniture to the contents of the cupboard, to the small items scattered here and there, everything made it obvious this was a woman’s apartment. It was not a model room; the signs of life that filled the space made that clear. Because of that, Minato felt uneasy, as if he might be reproached by the resident who had just returned.

“What are you doing? Just sit down.”

Just as Minato was about to get up, Ogiwara returned and put the bento he had bought into the microwave. After using the stove and pot with a practiced hand, he served Minato the heated bento and soup.

“Um, Ogiwara-kun, I’m going to go back to my apartment.”

“That’s impossible. Do you think you can climb up to the fourth floor like that?”

“But there’s a crutch and a handrail.”

“You were still unsteady even with the crutch. If someone who works on their feet develops an ankle problem, that would really cause trouble.”

“But they said it would heal in ten days.”

“What if you fall down the stairs again in those ten days? Just give up and stay here until you’re fully healed.”

Ogiwara spoke in a tone that left no room for argument, but even then, Minato tried to protest.

“If I stay here for too long, the original resident of this place will definitely be troubled. Besides, barging into someone else’s place like this—”

“Don’t worry. Right now, I’m the one living here, and no one else is coming in or out.”

Once again, Minato was overruled by Ogiwara’s firm declaration. He was then led to the bedroom, as if Ogiwara had been waiting for him to finish his meal.

“We’ll skip the bath tonight, but tomorrow morning, I’ll have you wipe yourself with a towel. It’ll be uncomfortable to sleep like this, so change into something here and sleep. Don’t worry about the bed cover—it’s brand new, so it’s fine.”

Minato stared at the closed sliding door, feeling at a loss.

The time on his wristwatch had already passed eleven at night. Minato could call a taxi with his phone, but he didn’t know the address or name of this building. Even if he managed to call a taxi and go back, it would be tough to climb four flights of stairs in this condition, with pain starting to spread all over.

He also had work tomorrow. There were all sorts of small tasks related to the new semester, so he couldn’t afford to be late.

Minato felt unsettled, but for today, there was nothing he could do but accept it. With a sigh, he changed into the spare clothes and reluctantly got into bed.

The shape of the bed, the decorations in the room, and the vanity clearly belonged to a woman, but the bed linen was plain gray. The creases and scent were obviously brand new. Minato probably wouldn’t have been able to lie in bed if it hadn’t been for that.

―――Where will Ogiwara sleep?

Minato thought for a moment and quickly figured it out. —Of course, he’ll sleep in this bed as well. It was a double, with plenty of space, and more importantly, there was nowhere else to sleep.

―――Right now, I’m the one living here, and no one else is coming in or out.

Minato recalled Ogiwara’s earlier words. If a woman of a certain age were to give up her entire apartment like this, who would that person be? He thought about it, and the answer that came to mind made his heart ache.

He shook his head, trying to push the heavy thoughts away. He didn’t want to think about that right now.

֍֍֍

*Translator’s Note: Okay. Give me permission. I really wanna slap Ogiwara on the face! -K

Next update: 2026.08.31

֍֍֍

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