Parameter Supremacy: The Man Who Seizes a Harem Through Sheer Effort. - Chapter 55.

Episode 55: Manager.

The afternoon of the day I accidentally pulled off a lucky pervert moment with Midori-san.

School should be holding its closing ceremony right about now. Since I’d been given time off, I was holed up in the room they’d assigned me, using my left hand to grind through my studies.

I replayed the morning in my head. After bumping into Midori-san in the washroom, she’d acted a little awkward and distant until breakfast—perfectly understandable, given the circumstances. But once she’d seen Moe and Masaya off, she slipped right back into her usual composed, adult demeanor. As expected of a grown woman.

I, on the other hand, couldn’t help being conscious of it. Still, I managed to act normal enough on the surface. The real problem was how to deal with this raging lust while staying under the Isshiki roof. That was the pressing issue right now.

What do you mean, “deal with the lust”? Don’t ask stupid questions.

Anyway, because I was so pent-up, I decided—for the time being—to try to erase the memory of Midori-san’s naked body from my mind. …Easier said than done.

I spent the morning spreading out my summer homework and chipping away at it one task at a time.

Normally, summer assignments are a pain, but for someone like me who’s always mindful of parameters and schedules, being forced to study was actually a blessing.

At one point Midori-san came to check on me—probably worried since I’d been shut in my room the whole time. When she saw how seriously I was working, her expression was a mix of admiration and mild exasperation.

Right now I can’t do any physical activity. In another week or so I might manage light exercise, but not yet. For the moment, I focused on grinding my study parameters.

After finishing the assigned homework quota, I moved on to self-study. Gripping the pen awkwardly in my right hand—which still felt foreign after rehab—I slowly wrote out notes.

Over these past two months, one thing had become clear: shifting my mindset from “I’m being made to do this” to “I’m choosing to do this” had the biggest impact on ability growth. The numbers weren’t visible, so it wasn’t hard data, but deep down I was convinced.

***

By the time my studying wound down, it was nearly lunchtime. Just as I was thinking of heading downstairs, voices drifted in from the entrance.

“I’m home〜”

“Pardon the intrusion〜!”

Moe… and Shiina?

I’d fallen asleep last night before I could message Shiina about my current situation. Damn it. Nothing to do but face her now and explain everything.

I dragged my slightly heavier-than-usual body up and headed to the first floor. When I opened the living-room door, there were Moe—in her uniform—and Shiina, already changed into casual clothes, sitting side by side on the sofa.

“Welcome back.”

Moe beamed a full-faced smile and chirped “I’m hooome〜,” while Shiina gave a slightly wry smile and said, “Sorry for barging in.”

“Shiina, sorry. I meant to message you about everything yesterday, but I passed out.”

I bowed my head to her.

“It’s fine! I was actually worried since you’re basically living alone now, Ryuuji-kun. When Moe told me what happened, I felt relieved.”

Shiina answered with another small, wry smile. She seemed to accept the situation, but there was still a faint shadow of unease on her face.

I sat down beside her. The moment I did, Moe let out a little “Ah!” and stood up, walked past Shiina and me, then plopped right down on my other side. Now it was Shiina, me, Moe—three in a row, pressed close.

I shot Moe a silent look. She was smiling like always. But she was way too close. My entire left side was glued to her.

As if confirming it, Shiina on my right stood up slightly, then scooted in until her entire right side was flush against me. She even hooked her arm around mine. …What is this? The air conditioning is on full blast, but I’m burning up. I gave up and just kept talking.

“Shiina, did you go home first?”

She nodded firmly and continued.

“I’m planning to stay over at Moe’s tonight. See, my bag’s right there.”

She pointed, and sure enough, in the blind spot by the living-room door sat a slightly larger-than-usual bag.

“If I left you alone with just Moe, who knows what you’d do〜”

Shiina grinned mischievously, letting out a teasing “Nishishi.”

“Don’t underestimate me. I’m a guest in this house—I wouldn’t do anything to the daughter of the family taking me in.”

I raised my voice to proclaim my innocence. Then Moe murmured,

“That’s… kind of a shame.”

Both Shiina and I whipped our heads toward her. “Eh?”

Moe wore a perfectly composed expression. …Wait, is this the same character? I felt a flicker of panic.

“Moe, jokes only go so far.”

“It’s not a joke, Ryuuji-kun.”

Yeah, this is definitely not her usual character. That smile was so enchantingly seductive it could rival Midori-san’s. While I was still reeling from the exchange, Shiina grabbed both sides of my face with her hands and forcibly turned me toward her.

“You’re calling her by first name now?”

She looked up at me with a faintly dissatisfied pout.

“Ah… well, since I’m staying at the Isshiki house, calling everyone by family name would get confusing…”

“Hmm.”

Wait—didn’t she just accept that I’m staying here a minute ago, Shiina-san?

“Ryuuji.”

“Eh?”

“Ryuuji!”

“Y-Yes?”

When I answered, she gave a small, satisfied smile that didn’t quite hide her pleasure. Then she let go of my face and changed the subject.

“You’re going to the training camp, right, Ryuuji?”

“Y-Yeah. Since I can’t do proper exercise with the injury, I’ll be joining as manager.”

Before I knew it, she’d dropped the “-kun.” Whether it was jealousy or not, I found it kind of nice.

“Right. Then there’s something I need to tell you. Moe?”

Suddenly serious, Shiina turned to Moe. I looked at Moe too. She gave a bright smile and announced,

“Starting today, I’ve become the kendo club’s manager! Looking forward to working with you, Ryuuji-kun.”

“Huh?”

***

“Dinner’s ready〜”

Midori-san’s voice echoed into the living room. A glance at the dining table showed cold sōmen noodles—perfect for a sweltering summer day.

““Yeees!””

Shiina and Moe answered energetically. As for me, I was still stuck on Moe’s earlier words. “Become manager”? What did that mean?

The three of us sat at the table.

“““Itadakimasu.”””

“Please enjoy,” Midori-san replied.

We dug in immediately, slurping the noodles with gusto. Delicious. How can something so simple taste this good?

Outside, the summer heat was boiling. Fierce sunlight poured through the windows. The distant drone of cicadas sounded like pleasant background music in the cool, air-conditioned room.

After finishing the meal, we moved on to beautifully sliced watermelon for dessert. While eating, I spoke to Moe, who sat across from me. Midori-san was washing dishes in the kitchen.

“Why the sudden decision to become the kendo club manager?”

A simple, honest question.

“Am I… bothering you, Ryuuji-kun?”

Moe answered with a hint of anxiety.

“No, not at all. Of course I’m happy to have more teammates.”

“It’s just—the timing felt sudden, so I was curious.”

After thinking for a moment, Moe replied.

“Ryuuji-kun… and of course Shii-chan too—I just wanted to cheer for you both from up close.”

She glanced at my right arm and continued.

“And… I feel responsible for the injury you got. I want to support you as much as I possibly can.”

“You don’t need to feel responsible. This was my own choice.”

I looked down at my right arm too.

“Luckily it didn’t end my athletic career. I just can’t do kendo for a while.”

Guilt twisted in my chest. I never wanted Moe to feel burdened because of me.

“…Sorry. The truth is, ‘responsibility’ is just an excuse. It’s one reason, sure, but…”

“Eh?”

“Is it not okay… if the real reason is that I just wanted to be close to you?”

Moe’s face flushed red as she stared up at me, almost pleading. Beside her, Shiina listened with a complicated expression.

“I-I see. If that’s what you want, Moe, then it’s fine. Right, Shiina?”

Feeling a bit awkward, I tossed the question to Shiina.

“Yeah〜. Honestly, I’m really grateful. Our kendo club never had a manager before.”

“But… I’m a little worried that you and Ryuuji are going to get even closer.”

“Shii-chan, it’s okay! I won’t sneak ahead〜”

The two of them talked about it so openly I could barely keep up.

I was thrown into confusion. Shiina had always been straightforward about her feelings toward me. But Moe? She’d never been the type to push her affection this openly. What changed?

…Actually, I could guess. I looked at my right arm again. That night. That incident must have triggered something inside her.

Curious about how she felt toward Satou Minato now, I decided to ask.

“So… what about Satou? You were going on dates, and you made him bentos every day, right?”

“…You knew about the bentos…”

Moe’s expression turned complicated—like she hadn’t wanted me to know. But after seeing her hand them over day after day, pretending ignorance would’ve been impossible.

“About Minato-kun… yeah, he’s my childhood friend… but right now, that’s all he is.”

“And I already told him I’m stopping the bentos. I’m going to be busy with club activities now. I won’t make them anymore.”

She spoke as if it were nothing.

“Besides… with Ryuuji-kun here, I don’t want to make bentos for any other boy.”

She mumbled the last part so softly I couldn’t quite catch it. Shiina, sitting beside her, wore a faintly troubled look.

***

That night.

Moe was currently in the bath. Midori-san and Masaya had already returned to their rooms. The white cat Milk was curled up at the top of the cat tower. Shiina and I sat together, absently watching whatever was playing on the TV.

“Hey, Ryuuji…”

“Hm? What’s up?”

“I like you.”

With that, Shiina buried her face in my chest. Her small hands clutched the hem of my T-shirt tightly.

“…What’s wrong? So suddenly.”

I placed my left hand on her head and answered as calmly as I could.

“I want… a proper answer soon… maybe.”

She looked up at me with anxious eyes.

I felt disgusted with myself. Shiina had always been honest and direct about her feelings. I’d taken advantage of that and kept dodging. And she must have noticed how Moe was looking at me too. Of course she’d feel uneasy. It was time—past time—for me to give her a real answer.

“During the training camp,”

“Eh?”

The sudden topic shift made her tilt her head worriedly.

“On the last night of camp, there’s recreation—fireworks, right?”

“Yeah.”

“At that time… could I have a little of your time?”

“Mnya〜”

From somewhere farther away, Milk answered with a lazy stretch. Shiina let out a small giggle at the sight.

“Sure.”

She answered softly, then leaned her head against my left shoulder.