Parameter Supremacy: The Man Who Seizes a Harem Through Sheer Effort. - Chapter 40.

Episode 40: Movie Date.

As usual, I woke up early and headed out alone for morning practice. It was Saturday, so Shiina wasn’t joining. More importantly, today was the date.

Even during practice I felt a little restless, my feet lighter than they should have been. Still, I ran through the full routine without cutting corners—jogging, then the fundamentals of kendo. In this world, sharpening yourself was non-negotiable. I finished off the sports drink I’d bought from the vending machine and jogged home at an easy pace.

Back at the house, I showered, prepared breakfast, and ate something simple. With time still left before the meet-up, I settled in to kill the remaining hours with the movie’s original novel, the one I’d bought ahead of time.

The story went something like this:

Childhood friends—a boy and a girl—parted ways without ever confirming each other’s feelings. Years later they met again by chance, only for the boy to be hiding a terminal illness. Even as they cherished each other, time slipped away. In the end, through a letter he left behind, the girl learned she had always been loved. A brief, bittersweet reunion wrapped in quiet warmth.

Simple, straightforward, and heartbreaking. The structure was tight, the emotional beats perfectly placed; the dialogue between the leads and their inner thoughts were drawn with real skill. Reading it, my eyes would sting without warning. I let just a trace of that quiet ache settle in my chest—something to carry with me into the date.

The station wasn’t far from my place; leaving thirty minutes early would be more than enough. Meet-up was 12:30 at the ticket gates. I checked my phone: exactly noon. I was already ready.

The outfit Shiina had… well, “helped me choose” yesterday? Sure, let’s call it that. Plain T-shirt, denim pants, and simple low-top sneakers. Nothing flashy, but it felt right. A pleasant kind of nerves hummed under my skin.

The temperature was high, the air thick and muggy. Strong sunlight poured down, the sky a vivid blue dotted with drifting cumulonimbus. Cicadas droned everywhere, mixed with the distant rumble of the city. Perfect date weather. I walked with a bounce in my step, already starting to sweat a little, but my stride stayed light.

***

Noon on a Saturday at the station wasn’t as packed as a weekday morning rush, but the flow of people never really stopped. Families and couples drifted past the gates and along the platforms; here and there, students in club tracksuits laughed together as they walked—probably heading to or from practice.

I climbed the stairs into the station building and headed for the gates. I didn’t even have to search.

There she was.

The sight hit me hard enough that—embarrassingly—my heart actually trembled.

“Good morning, Shiina.”

She turned at my voice. For a second I forgot how to breathe.

Shiina today was breathtaking.

Her black hair was pulled high into a ponytail that swayed with every small movement; the exposed nape of her neck carried a mature allure that her usual look never quite showed. The empire-waist dress—white with tiny embroidered red and orange flowers—looked cool and crisp yet carried a dignified elegance that amplified her natural beauty. Purity and subtle sensuality existed side by side; she simply standing there turned the whole summer backdrop into something secondary.

“Good morning, Ryuuji-kun.”

She spotted me too, cheeks tinting faintly pink as she offered a gentle smile.

“Shiina… you look really beautiful today. The dress suits you perfectly.”

Her cheeks darkened further. She glanced away, a little shy.

“Thank you… You look… really nice too, Ryuuji-kun.”

Hearing that made me happy in a simple, honest way. “Thanks,” I said, the word coming out naturally.

“Sorry if I kept you waiting.”

“No, you’re right on time. I just got here way too early.”

She laughed, a touch embarrassed.

“I was so excited since this morning I couldn’t sit still… Even Mom told me, ‘Just go already.’”

The way she said it, laughing softly, made me smile too.

“Got it. Then let’s head over. I’ve been craving caramel popcorn.”

“Pfft, what are you, five?”

“Come on, let’s go, Ryuuji-kun.”

With that she looped her arm through mine again. The soft press of her chest against my arm still felt new and unfamiliar—but of course I didn’t mind. Embarrassing as hell, though.

***

We passed through the gates and descended the stairs to the platform. Cicada song rode the breeze, mingling with distant car engines. The time of day meant the platform was fairly quiet.

“This way.”

Shiina tugged my arm gently and walked a step ahead. Her black hair and summer dress fluttered in the wind; the sight stole my breath for a second.

The next train was already pulling in, sending faint vibrations through the platform.

“Train’s here.”

Shiina smiled up at me. I returned it without thinking and we boarded together. Warm outside air rushed in as the doors opened. We found seats; Shiina sat beside me and turned her gaze to the window.

Summer scenery streamed past. The mostly empty car was pleasantly cool from the air conditioning; my sweat had already dried. Shiina looked comfortable too, gazing out the opposite window at the blue sky and the glimpses of horizon visible between distant buildings.

Without really planning to, I spoke while watching the view slide by.

“I hope things go well for Isshiki and Satou on their date.”

I hadn’t been dwelling on it, but the thought just came up. Shiina paused for a moment before answering.

“Yeah… Moe’s been thinking about Minato-kun a little more lately, so I hope it becomes a good chance for them.”

Her voice was soft, but there was something layered beneath it.

“Really?”

“I can’t say anything specific… but yeah.”

The train curved; the car swayed slightly and our shoulders brushed.

“I wouldn’t know, but… being childhood friends sounds tough.”

“Yeah. You’re childhood friends, but everyone grows up eventually. You can’t stay kids forever.”

Shiina said it quietly, eyes fixed on the passing scenery. From the side, a faint shadow of loneliness seemed to linger on her profile.

“I see.”

“Mm.”

After that short exchange, curiosity got the better of me.

“What about you?”

“You want to know?”

“Uh… never mind.”

“Hehe, meanie.”

The train slowed as it approached the next station. The scenery eased to a stop. Doors opened; humid heat poured back in. We stood.

“All right, Ryuuji-kun. Let’s go.”

Shiina gave a small smile and lightly tugged my arm. We stepped off, passed through the gates, and melted into the city crowd on our way to the theater.

***

The summer sun scorched our backs as we walked side by side toward the cinema. The heat clung, but Shiina didn’t seem to sweat at all—she just kept smiling lightly. Our linked arms were warm, but the gentle weight of her against me felt good.

Inside the building, cool air conditioning brushed over my skin and I let out a relieved breath. The lobby was already lively: lines at the ticket machines, the sweet smell of popcorn drifting from the concession stand and blending with summer itself. People checked seat assignments on their phones or stared up at the overhead trailers; the overlapping voices created a pleasant buzz.

We fed the invite vouchers into the machine and got our 1:30 tickets. Still some time left. Shiina’s eyes were already sparkling—she darted from poster to poster, picked up free flyers and murmured “Hmm” or “Ohh,” pointed at upcoming titles with an excited “I want to see that one!” She traced her finger along character merchandise at the counter, whispering “cute” to herself. When she found the pamphlet rack she straightened proudly and declared, “I’m the type who buys it after watching.” Her innocent enthusiasm made me grin despite myself.

Fifteen minutes to showtime. We headed to the concession stand for drinks and popcorn. The thick, sweet smell of caramel hit me and instantly ramped up that special pre-movie excitement.

“Ryuuji-kun. Caramel popcorn time at last.”

“Yeah. That sticky, over-the-top caramel coating only exists in movie theaters.”

“Hehe, then let’s get the big one to share.”

We bickered playfully over whether to split the cost, laughing the whole time before finally paying. Arms full of a giant paper cup of popcorn and drinks, we stepped into the dim theater.

We settled into our seats. Cool air drifted down; Shiina gave a tiny shiver. I handed her the rentable lap blanket; she smiled and whispered “Thank you.”

The lights dimmed slowly. Darkness folded over the room.

The screen flickered to life with commercials, sound echoing off the walls as the audience chatter gradually hushed.

—Beeeep.

With that distinctive chime, the movie began.