CM Chapter 37

Chapter 37 – You Can’t Escape

Chapter 2, Part 6.1

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*

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“Hosokawa-sensei, are you being picked up again today?”

As Minato was finishing work early and getting ready to leave, a fellow instructor at the next desk called out to him.

“Was he one of your former students? He seems to be quite fond of you. He’s in his late twenties, right?”

“Yes, that’s right. He should be in his late twenties by now.”

“He certainly stands out even just by standing there, and it seems like he’s quite popular—among the students and even the parents.”

“Ah… Is he causing any trouble?”

When Minato asked the question, sensing a hidden meaning in his words, the instructor next to him waved his hand dismissively.

The instructor was responsible for the high school English classes and was a year younger than Minato. While not particularly striking, he had a charming face and, combined with his easygoing personality, was quite popular with both students and parents. Perhaps because many students grew fond of him, he was well-versed in gossip.

“He’s not causing trouble. The people in the office are actually happy to have him around as eye candy, and I think the students and parents feel like they’ve discovered an idol.”

“Sorry, I keep telling him he doesn’t need to come, but he insists.”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s only until your ankle heals, and some people are even expressing regret about that.”

With a carefree laugh, the instructor apologized, and Minato felt a complicated mix of emotions. He gathered his things and grabbed his crutch, carefully avoiding putting weight on his still-painful ankle. He then made his way toward the exit of the cram school.

When there are students or parents waiting at the main entrance after class, Minato usually takes the side entrance. Being cautious with the unfamiliar crutch, he took the longer route out and saw the moon shining brightly in the indigo sky.

On his way to his usual spot, the door of the coffee shop across the street opened, and Ogiwara appeared.

He was likely staying in the coffee shop to avoid drawing attention to himself while waiting for Minato. However, with the entire shop having glass walls, no matter where he sat, he would still be visible, and in a way, it almost seemed like he was drawing in spectators.

He grabbed Minato’s bag, and with a prompt, said, “Shall we go?”

After they got into the car, which was parked a few minutes away in a coin parking lot, Minato voiced his usual hope, even though he knew it was futile.

“My ankle’s been feeling better, so I think I should be able to go back to my apartment now.”

“No, you can’t. If you fall again and hurt yourself, what are you going to do? If it’s just a sprain, that’s one thing, but what if you end up breaking a bone?”

“You’re being overprotective. I’m not a kid, I can take care of that kind of thing myself.”

“Even adults fall sometimes. You’re surprisingly careless, Minato-sensei.”

―――That’s what happens when you say one thing and he says another. 

With a sigh, Minato fell silent as Ogiwara, who was holding the steering wheel, spoke to him sideways.

“I won’t stop you if you say you want to go home, but I’ll drag you back by force. And once I do, I’ll make sure you can’t escape.”

What’s frightening is that this didn’t sound like a joke. In the end, Minato could only let out an exaggerated sigh.

The next morning, after spending the night in an unfamiliar apartment, Ogiwara took Minato back to his own apartment. 

However, Minato only waited in the car. He relayed what he needed for the day’s work, and Ogiwara went to fetch it before taking him to his workplace.

Naturally, Minato intended to return home that evening. But, when he finished work and left the cram school, Ogiwara was once again waiting for him. Minato insisted that he would take the train, but Ogiwara begged him to let him accompany him to the nearest station, making sure to remind him to get off at the station. However, Minato was taken back to that same apartment instead. From then on, despite repeatedly refusing, Ogiwara wouldn’t back down, and Minato found himself staying at the apartment and being chauffeured to and from work.

He knew it was his own fault for not being able to reject him properly. Although he understood that, there were reasons why he let himself be pushed into it.

In the living-dining room of the apartment, Minato had dinner with a store-bought bento and miso soup that Ogiwara had made. After they took turns using the shower, Minato sat on the sofa and spread out the work he had brought home.

Ogiwara answered a phone call, responding with a slightly troubled tone. When Minato glanced up, he was frowning as he ended the call. Noticing Minato’s gaze, Ogiwara gave a wry smile and said: “Sorry, I’m going to go do some shopping.”

“At this hour? Are the stores even open?”

“It seems that they are. I was told to go specifically at this time. I’ll be back as soon as I can, but if you get tired, you can rest first.”

The time was approaching eleven at night. As Minato watched Ogiwara’s back as he left the apartment with large strides, he wondered where and what he was going to buy. When he heard the sound of the front door closing, an uneasy feeling settled over him.

The only reason he was able to stay here was because Ogiwara had the key, which made him swallow his doubts and stay. But when he was alone, he suddenly felt out of place.

The calendar with flower photos was not a mass-produced item but a handmade one. Whether it was something Ogiwara had made himself or received as a gift, the delicate use of color and craftsmanship suggested that it was made by a woman.

From the first day until today, the four days that have passed, the woman who appears to be the owner has not shown herself even once. There is no nameplate at the entrance or in the mailbox at the entrance, and there is nothing visible that would let anyone know the name of the resident. As a result, Minato still doesn’t know whose home this is.

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Next update: 2026.09.01

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