Parameter Supremacy: The Man Who Seizes a Harem Through Sheer Effort. - Chapter 37.

Episode 37: Isshiki Moe – The Promise of a Movie Date.

Isshiki Moe’s POV.

Pikon.

That night, my phone chimed with a new message from Shii-chan.

It was our group chat—the one the three of us childhood friends had made together: me, Shii-chan, and Matsuri-chan.

***

Shiina: Hey, so today Tachibana-san gave Ryuuji-kun some movie invitation tickets as an apology for the rumors. There are four of them. Ryuuji-kun said we should go as the four childhood friends, but… what do you guys think?

MOE: Eh? Tachibana-san… you mean Mahiru-chan?

Shiina: Yeah, her. She wanted to apologize to Ryuuji-kun and me about the rumors.

MOE: Apologize? But Mahiru-chan didn’t do anything wrong.

MOE: I get apologizing to Sagara-kun maybe, but why to you too, Shii-chan?

Shiina: Apparently she got misunderstood too, and felt bad about it…

Matsuri-chan♡: Woooow! Mahiru-chan’s doing great work~! Lucky you, Shiina-cchi!

MOE: Ufufu. I can totally picture Shii-chan’s face when she heard that.

Shiina: Hey, stop it already! So… what do you think? Four tickets, so probably us three plus Minato-kun?

Matsuri-chan♡: Minato-kun, huh… Right now, that might be a little tough for me.

Shiina: Yeah, I figured. Then how about we don’t invite Minato-kun and go with Ryuuji-kun instead—four of us?

Matsuri-chan♡: That might be scary in its own way if he finds out.

Shiina: True…

Matsuri-chan♡: Moe-cchi, you said you were going to meet Minato-kun once, right? Perfect timing—why not invite him?

MOE: Eh? Oh… yeah, you’re right…

Shiina: You don’t have to force yourself, you know?

MOE: But I do want to talk to him before summer break starts.

Matsuri-chan♡: Then isn’t this the perfect chance? It’s free tickets anyway—go see the movie with Minato-kun!

Shiina: But Matsuri, you’re not going if Minato-kun’s there, right?

Matsuri-chan♡: Yep~ I kinda want some space from him right now.

Shiina: Then one ticket’s going to be left over!?

Matsuri-chan♡: In that case, just invite Sagara-kun and make it four! Double date♡

MOE: If Sagara-kun’s coming, I feel like Minato-kun might not show up…

Matsuri-chan♡: Ah, yeah, probably. Since Shiina-cchi would be there too~

Shiina: Is me being there a problem?

Matsuri-chan♡: No no, Shiina-cchi is totally fine! It’s just… pairing you with Sagara-cchi makes things a little awkward.

Shiina: ???

MOE: Hey, Matsuri-chan, don’t say weird stuff to Shii-chan!

Shiina: Weird stuff?

Matsuri-chan♡: Sorryyyy~ Forgive me, Shiina-cchi~!

Shiina: Mou… Fine, but you better explain properly next time!

Matsuri-chan♡: Yep, eventually~!

MOE: So… what should we do? I think inviting Sagara-kun is still going to be hard.

Matsuri-chan♡: Hmm, yeah…

Shiina: Hmm… what to do.

Matsuri-chan♡: Hey hey.

Matsuri-chan♡: Why don’t we just use them separately?

Matsuri-chan♡: Moe-cchi and Minato-kun on one date, Shiina-cchi and Sagara-kun on another?

Matsuri-chan♡: They’re invitations, right? Is the date fixed?

Shiina: Doesn’t seem like it.

Shiina: Matsuri, are you really okay with that?

Matsuri-chan♡: Yep, I’m good~.

Matsuri-chan♡: Since they’re free tickets, wouldn’t it be better if couples who actually like each other go?

Matsuri-chan♡: The third wheel will gracefully withdraw!

MOE: I’m fine with it. I think going just the two of us with Minato-kun might help me understand things better.

Shiina: If Matsuri’s okay with it… then I guess we’ll gratefully use them…

Shiina: I actually really want to go see a movie with Ryuuji-kun.

Matsuri-chan♡: Kyaa~ Shiina-cchi is being so honest!

MOE: Hey, I’m kinda jealous now~

Shiina: But Moe, you’re getting a date with Minato-kun too, right?

MOE: I guess so…

MOE: Anyway, I’ll ask Minato-kun. Shii-chan, you invite Sagara-kun too!

Shiina: I’ll do my best!

MOE: And tell Sagara-kun thank you for the tickets.

Matsuri-chan♡: Me too, me too! Say thanks! And tell him we should hang out properly again soon!

Shiina: Got it. I’ll pass it on.

***

—A movie date with Minato-kun.

Something heavy settled quietly in the depths of my chest. Just a little while ago, an event like this would have made my heart race with excitement.

My gaze drifted to my arm—the one Minato-kun had gripped so tightly not long ago. The purplish bruise that had bloomed there had long since faded completely. Yet the dull ache of that moment and the sticky residue of disgust still clung to my skin, refusing to let go.

Even though I’d scrubbed myself clean in the bath, I found myself rubbing the sleeve of my pajama pants roughly over the spot—as if I could wipe away some invisible stain. I already knew it was pointless; I’d tried the same thing countless times tonight.

“Haa…”

A small sigh escaped me.

I needed to face my feelings clearly. Did I still like Minato-kun? The real answer should have been obvious long ago, but the lingering echoes of my old affection kept tangling my thoughts, refusing to let me move forward.

I stared at the phone screen. How much time had passed? When I checked the clock, only five minutes had gone by.

“Okay.”

This was an opportunity Shii-chan and Matsuri-chan had handed me. Thinking of it that way gave me a small spark of energy. I typed out a simple message and pressed send.

MOE: Good evening, Minato-kun. I got some movie invitation tickets—want to go together?

A few seconds later, the read receipt appeared.

MINATO: Moe, huh. A movie? Sure. What movie?

Seeing his reply, I sent the title. A few minutes passed. He was probably looking it up online. Then came the curt response.

MINATO: A romance movie? Not really my thing.

A small wave of relief washed through me as I typed back.

MOE: You don’t have to force yourself.

The read mark appeared instantly.

MINATO: Nah, I’ll go. It’s been a while since we went to the movies just the two of us.

MOE: Thank you. I’m looking forward to it.

MINATO: When were you thinking? I’m free any time on the weekend.

MOE: Do you have a preference?

MINATO: Hmm… Saturday this week sounds good.

MOE: This Saturday, got it. What time works for you?

MINATO: I want to sleep in on Saturday morning, so sometime after noon.

I quickly checked the theater schedule on my phone.

MOE: How about the 13:30 showing?

MINATO: Yeah, that works.

And just like that, our date was officially set.

I reported back to the group chat that the movie with Minato-kun was happening. Both of them replied “That’s great!”

But even now, I couldn’t honestly say whether it really was “great.”

Today’s conversation had made me truly understand how completely done Matsuri-chan was with Minato-kun. And I couldn’t blame her. She’d been cornered by two strange men in a terrifying situation—and seen Minato-kun simply watching from the sidelines. I no longer felt I could defend him.

The person I’d supposedly loved was now someone my best friend couldn’t stand to be near. It should have been heartbreaking.

Yet strangely, my heart remained eerily calm.

What did “like” even feel like anymore?

I pulled an old photo album from the shelf and opened it, tracing memories like flipping through faded pages.

—Fufu. Shii-chan and Matsuri-chan were so cute.

Seeing our younger selves made me smile naturally. I turned another page.

—Ah, me and Minato-kun.

There we were.

In elementary school, I was always watching him. But the girl in the photo wore the happiest smile. —Back then, I admired him so much.

In middle school, a shy, awkward, adorable grin as I struggled to figure out the right distance. —Back then, I was in love with him.

I turned every page, then gently closed the album.

And the recent me? The memories that surfaced were forced smiles, awkward expressions, sad looks.

—I already knew.

Some part of me had been pretending not to notice.

“Haa…”

I let out a long, deep sigh and murmured softly to myself.

“I hope it turns into a fun date…”