Parameter Supremacy: The Man Who Seizes a Harem Through Sheer Effort. - Chapter 47.

Episode 47: At the Hospital.

Isshiki Moe’s POV.

The moment the ambulance arrived, the paramedics rushed over and carefully lifted Ryuuji-kun from my arms. He was swiftly transferred onto the stretcher and wheeled away.

I, too, was helped into the ambulance by one of the crew. They gave me basic first aid, but even though I was technically a victim, my injuries were minor—just scraped palms and a bit of abrasion on my legs from falling. After a quick interview, all they did was press a gauze pad soaked in disinfectant against the wounds.

Even though I was conscious, I barely registered what the paramedics were asking me. I think I just kept nodding through my tears.

Ryuuji-kun’s face and body were a mess of blood and wounds. His eyelids were swollen, his lips split, deep gashes carved across his arms. How much pain must he have endured? The mere thought sent fresh tears spilling down my cheeks.

“Ugh… ugh… uuuu…”

All because of a promise he made to someone like me… I could only stifle my sobs, biting them back.

Right after Ryuuji-kun was loaded, the inside of the ambulance had been chaotic, but now that initial treatment was over, a fragile calm had settled over the vehicle.

An oxygen mask covered his face, and an IV line was taped into his arm. The sight of him—so battered, so fragile—made the weight of my own responsibility crush down on me.

Ryuuji-kun… I’m so sorry.

All I could do was cry and pray. Please, let him regain consciousness. The mere idea of a world without him filled me with such terror I felt I might lose my mind.

“Isshiki-san, you’re going to be all right. We’ll take it from here.”

The paramedic’s voice was steady and composed. Ryuuji-kun remained unconscious; only the rhythmic beeps of the heart monitor and the steady hiss of the oxygen filled the cabin.

In reality it was probably only a few dozen minutes, but to me that ride felt like it would stretch on forever.

***

The ambulance came to a stop. The doors opened, and Ryuuji-kun was smoothly transferred—monitors, oxygen mask, and IV already secured—straight into the treatment room. I stood frozen outside the doors, clenching both fists so tightly my nails bit into my palms.

Later, the hospital staff asked if they could contact my guardian. I agreed. Mom was on her way.

From behind the closed doors came the faint sounds of doctors and nurses rushing in—examinations and urgent procedures beginning.

“Blood pressure?”

“Check respiration!”

The clatter of metal instruments, the sharp pip-pip-pip of warning alarms. Every sound leaking from the treatment room twisted my anxiety tighter.

“Sniff… I’m sorry…”

That was all I could whisper, over and over.

Eventually I was led to the waiting area. I sat alone, crying quietly, until Mom arrived. The moment she wrapped her arms around me, worry etched deep in her face, I broke completely. I sobbed against her chest until it felt like every drop of moisture in my body had been wrung out.

***

Kayano Shiina’s POV.

I stood there in a daze, watching the ambulance carrying Ryuuji-kun and Moe speed away, siren wailing into the distance.

Red patrol lights spun across the neighborhood, painting the night in flashes. I could sense neighbors and curious onlookers watching from a careful distance. Then two uniformed officers approached.

“You’re the one who was at the scene with them, right?”

The low, calm voice made me flinch. One officer opened a small notebook and held a pen ready.

“First, could you give us your name, date of birth, and contact information?”

My voice trembled as I answered. The other officer—stockier, with a kinder look in his eyes—stepped forward slightly.

“Take your time. No rush. Just tell us what happened, step by step, whenever you’re ready.”

Honestly, I barely knew anything myself. I’d only run over when I heard the screams, found Minato-kun, and then saw Moe cradling an unconscious, blood-soaked Ryuuji-kun while she cried.

—Ah, Minato-kun…

I suddenly remembered him and told the officers. He might be an important witness.

They asked for his contact information. I tried calling Minato-kun, but the line didn’t connect. In the end I sent him a short message explaining the situation, and my interview concluded.

The officers said they were heading to the hospital next to speak with Moe. When I begged, “Please let me come too,” the stockier one thought for a moment before nodding. “That’s fine. But only if your parent is informed.”

I immediately called Mom.

“Shiina? What’s wrong? You’re still not home?”

“I’m sorry, Mom… Moe got attacked…”

“What?! What do you mean? Is Moe-chan okay?”

Mom’s voice sharpened; she’d caught the urgency instantly.

“Moe only has minor injuries, but Ryuuji-kun…”

“Ryuuji-kun? Your kendo club friend, right? The one you’ve been doing morning practice with lately?”

“Yeah…”

“What happened to him?”

“He’s… covered in blood… ugh, he’s unconscious… uuu…”

The dam finally broke. Hearing Mom’s voice shattered the last of my composure.

“…”

She stayed silent, simply waiting for me to continue.

“Sniff… ugh…”

“And… sniff… we’re going to the hospital now…”

“I understand. I’ll come too. Wait for me there, okay?”

“Sniff… yeah, it’s okay. The police officer said he’ll take me…”

“Good. Tell me the hospital name and I’ll meet you.”

After I gave her the name, I hung up. Then I climbed into the patrol car and was driven toward the hospital where Ryuuji-kun and Moe were waiting.

***

Isshiki Moe’s POV.

“You okay now?”

Mom’s gentle voice finally pulled me back to myself. I’d cried so much my head felt foggy, my throat parched like desert sand. I took a sip of the green tea she handed me; the cool liquid spread across my tongue and let me finally draw a proper breath.

At that moment the waiting-room door opened. Two uniformed officers stepped in, and behind them—Shii-chan. The air in the room instantly tightened. I swallowed hard on reflex.

“May we speak with you for a moment?”

The interview. Memories I desperately wanted to bury flashed through my mind. But for Ryuuji-kun’s sake, I couldn’t run. I straightened my posture and answered in a trembling voice.

“…Yes.”

I told them everything.

How that man had approached me before at the game center. His appearance. How he suddenly appeared today while I was with Minato-kun. The violence he unleashed on Minato-kun, the words he spat at me. And… everything up to the moment Ryuuji-kun collapsed.

While I forced the words out, Mom pressed a hand to her mouth, her face growing steadily paler.

The officers listened gravely, then spoke matter-of-factly.

“That man matches the description of a suspect who’s been named in several recent cases of assault on women. There’s a strong possibility he’s connected to an organized group.”

The perpetrator from this morning’s news report. I never imagined that shadow had crept so close. Could this morning’s me have even dreamed this future was waiting?

When the interview ended, one officer said, “We’d like to speak with your mother as well,” and led Mom to a quiet corner of the hallway.

Left alone, my gaze naturally drifted to Shii-chan.

She ran over and threw her arms around me without a word. The moment I felt her trembling shoulders, the tears came flooding back.

“Sniff… Shii-chan, I’m sorry…”

“Huh?”

“This happened to Ryuuji-kun because of me… I told him violence was wrong, that he shouldn’t… even though he’s so precious to you, Shii-chan…”

My voice cracked mid-sentence; a sob rose from deep in my throat. Shii-chan whispered through her own tears, “It’s okay… he’ll be fine, I know it,” and hugged me tighter. I clung to her warmth, hugging her back with everything I had. The two of us sank to the floor together, muffling our cries as best we could.

***

Kayano Shiina’s POV.

Eventually the hallway grew noisy again. Nurses hurried past, stretchers rattled, and tension flooded the air once more. Moe and I instinctively left the waiting room and hurried toward the treatment area.

There, standing in the corridor, were an older man in a suit and a middle-aged woman who carried an air of quiet intelligence. Both wore rigid expressions, silently pouring all their hope and fear into waiting.

Then the treatment-room doors opened, and a stretcher emerged.

Ryuuji-kun lay on pure white sheets. Thick bandages were wrapped around his arms; the IV line swayed gently. His face was deathly pale, eyelids closed.

“…Ryuuji-kun!”

The cry escaped me before I could stop it. The lead paramedic glanced back and spoke in a low voice.

“There is no threat to his life. The wounds on his arms have been sutured. Bleeding has been controlled. However, he sustained a blow to the head. We’ll admit him for observation.”

Those words loosened the knot of fear just enough for my legs to nearly give out. I barely managed to step beside the stretcher.

“…Thank goodness…”

The words slipped from my lips like a prayer. Beside me, Moe bit her lip hard, fighting to hold back fresh tears.

The stretcher continued on toward the ward. We weren’t allowed inside, but we watched until he disappeared behind the doors, sending every ounce of our prayers after him.

Then a nurse’s voice rang out.

“Sagara-saaan!”

The instant I murmured “Eh?”, the older man and woman who had been standing in the corridor quietly stepped into the room.

—Ryuuji-kun’s… family…?