Parameter Supremacy: The Man Who Seizes a Harem Through Sheer Effort. - Chapter 69.

Episode 69: The Last Night.

“Thank you for the meal.”

“““Thank you for the meal.”””

Tonight was my final night staying with the Isshiki family. In honor of the occasion, Masaya-san had gone out of his way to buy A5-grade beef from the department store, treating us to a luxurious shabu-shabu dinner. My stomach was already completely full—there wasn’t even the tiniest bit of space left.

“I can’t eat another bite. I’m in heaven.”

I sat beside Moe, clutching my belly.

“Ufufu. You really ate a lot, Ryuuji-kun~”

Moe gazed at me with a gentle, affectionate smile.

“I don’t get to eat meat this good very often when I’m living alone.”

“Ryuuji-kun, Moe—wait just a moment. I’ll brew some coffee~”

Midori-san called out cheerfully from the depths of the kitchen. By now, my personal coffee cup had been prepared as a matter of course, and it had become a daily ritual for Midori-san to make coffee for me after dinner.

I had grown so accustomed to life in the Isshiki household that I accepted these kindnesses as naturally as if I were a real member of the family. I had once felt guilty and offered to make it myself, but Midori-san had politely refused. Apparently, doing this for me brought her joy as well.

But even this would end today.

Masaya-san, who had been so considerate at the beginning, headed straight for the bath after the meal as usual. Moe had told me that was simply his normal routine. The fact that he could continue his everyday life even with me around made me feel warmly welcomed—like I had truly become part of the family.

Yet that warmth would end today as well.

“I’m going to feel so lonely…”

Moe murmured beside me, looking down.

“Yeah. I’ll be lonely too. I never imagined I’d feel this way before I came to stay here.”

When I said that, Moe turned toward me with a faintly happy expression.

“My, my. What a lovely atmosphere.”

Midori-san skillfully carried three cups of coffee and took the seat across from us.

“Mom!”

Moe puffed her cheeks out in protest.

“Here you go.”

Midori-san placed the cups in front of Moe and me, then spoke with deep emotion.

“It really is going to feel lonely, isn’t it?”

“Yes. It felt like a long time, but it passed in the blink of an eye.”

“Fufu. When time flies like that, it means you were truly enjoying yourself. I’m glad.”

“Truly… thank you for everything.”

“It’s nothing. You’re Moe’s savior, after all. Come visit anytime.”

“Yeah. Ryuuji-kun, you can come over whenever you want~”

It felt so warm. For someone who had grown used to living alone, this kindness was like a powerful medicine. Life with the Isshiki family had become so precious that I was even starting to worry whether I could handle spending nights by myself again starting tomorrow.

“You’re welcome to stay over too. We know you’re a trustworthy boy now, Ryuuji-kun.”

Midori-san said it with a slightly mischievous look.

“Though honestly, I’m more worried about our daughter’s safety. I fear for your chastity, Ryuuji-kun.”

“Huh?”

What was she talking about? The only risky thing Moe had done was ambush me in the bathroom—nothing else came to mind.

“Pffft!”

Moe suddenly spat out her coffee beside me. What’s wrong, Moe? Got a guilty conscience?

“……”

I gave her a sharp, suspicious look, but she quickly averted her eyes. As far as I could remember, Moe had always been a cute and good girl. There was probably nothing to worry about.

“So, you two… have you made any progress?”

“Progress?”

When I asked that, Moe’s face turned bright red beside me.

“Mom! Don’t say unnecessary things!”

Moe was clearly furious. Midori-san looked at her and smiled.

“Alright, alright. I understand. Mom will go get kicked by a horse now~”

With that, she picked up her coffee cup and retreated from the living room into the kitchen.

“Ryuuji-kun. Sorry about Mom…”

“She’s a good mother. You’re lucky, Moe.”

“…Yeah. I know.”

Moe smiled happily as she looked at me.

***

Tonight would be my last night in this room. After finishing my studies and nightly muscle training, I laid out my futon and sat on top of it. I was planning to sleep, but I found myself looking around the room. It had only been a short time, yet the space already felt familiar. Knowing it was my “last night” made it feel too precious to fall asleep easily.

Knock, knock.

There was a soft knock on the door.

“Ryuuji-kun. Is it okay if I come in now~?”

It was Moe’s voice. We had been alone in this room several times before, but this was the first time she had visited at this hour.

“Sure.”

The door clicked open.

“Good evening~”

Her usual adorable, slightly lisping voice.

“What’s up? At this hour?”

It was already past midnight. Neither Moe nor I were the type to stay up late. It wouldn’t have been strange for us to already be in bed by now.

“Um… Can I sleep with you tonight?”

The suggestion was far more shocking than I had expected. Sleep together? Me and Moe? I stared at her in blank surprise, mouth slightly open.

“Um… Is that no good?”

My brain, which had been blaring error messages, slowly rebooted.

“No, sleeping together is definitely not okay.”

I stated the obvious. What a boring guy I was, Sagara Ryuuji. Was this some kind of prepared feast? Should I eat or not? Even as those thoughts crossed my mind, Shiina’s face remained firmly in my head.

“Aww~ I thought maybe on the last night it would be okay…”

She seemed to have been planning something outrageous. But it was for the best. It felt a little—no, quite—a shame, but I couldn’t afford to make any mistakes.

“Sorry. I’m Shiina’s boyfriend. I can’t betray her trust.”

***

Ping.

My smartphone on the pillow lit up with a message notification.

Shiina: It’s okay to sleep with Moe tonight♪

Shiina: But don’t do anything inappropriate before me!

I closed the phone and set it back down.

***

Sigh. That girl is a traitor.

“Shii-chan?”

“Huh? Oh, you knew?”

“Yeah. Sort of.”

Moe’s tone was vague.

What was this? I felt like both Shiina and Moe had teamed up to cut off all my escape routes. It was like being Ishida Mitsunari and getting betrayed by Kobayakawa at Sekigahara.

Still, the fact that Shiina was actively encouraging us to sleep together made the conversation we had after her confession feel all the more real. Perhaps this was another stepping stone toward dating both Shiina and Moe at the same time.

“……”

I hesitated, unsure whether to accept or firmly refuse. As I wavered—

“Just thinking about you not being here starting tomorrow… makes me so lonely…”

When she looked at me with moist, glistening eyes like that, the scales in my heart tipped.

“Haah… Fine. Let’s sleep together tonight.”

In the end—well, I hadn’t exactly put up much resistance. I had accepted sleeping together with Moe.

***

“Ufufu.”

Moe lay beside me under the same futon, smiling happily. It was a little too warm for a tropical night. It seemed the air conditioner was running at full blast tonight.

“You look really happy.”

“Yeah. I’m happy I get to lie next to the awake Ryuuji-kun.”

“Hm? Awake?”

“Never mind~”

I thought I heard something slightly ominous, but the feeling of her arms wrapping tightly around mine in the narrow futon overwrote my thoughts.

Her… chest…

Moe pressed her generous bosom—by my estimate well over an F-cup—firmly against me. Her head rested just below my chin. Her hair tickled my jaw, and the sweet scent of her shampoo filled my nose.

I felt like I was going insane. Endure. Endure. Endure. I sealed away every last masculine urge.

Moe’s legs tangled around my lower body. I was completely embraced, turned into a human body pillow. I couldn’t move an inch.

The desire I had sealed away peeked out as if to say, “You called?” Shut up. Don’t get hard. You’re showing up way too fast. I mentally scolded my own lower half.

“Ryuuji-kun. Thank you… for protecting me.”

Her voice was more serious than usual, cooling my heated mind just a little.

“You don’t have to thank me for that day. I’m just glad you’re safe. That’s all.”

“Yeah. Ever since that day… you’ve been special to me, Ryuuji-kun…”

Special, huh. What a convenient word.

A lover is special.

Someone you like is special.

A best friend is also special.

I didn’t know how to respond to a word that could carry so many different meanings.

“That day at the library… you told me you’d consider it seriously.”

The day at the library. A second girlfriend. If Shiina allowed it. If it was Moe. Yeah… I did say that.

“Yeah. I’ll consider it seriously.”

“Ryuuji-kun… I…”

Her voice faded away. The second half was so quiet I couldn’t catch it.

I don’t remember much of what happened after that. We only exchanged a few more words.

I didn’t do anything. The only thing I clearly remembered was lying there stiff as a board while Moe clung to me. Before I knew it, morning had come, and all that remained beside me was the lingering warmth of her body.

***

“Thank you for everything.”

“No need. Come visit anytime.”

Midori-san drove me home, and I stood in front of my rundown apartment with a large amount of luggage. My dream-like life together with Moe had finally come to an end. While I had felt reluctant leaving the Isshiki house, standing in front of my own door brought a small sense of relief. Moe, who had come to see me off all the way to the door, still looked reluctant to part.

“Thanks for taking care of me.”

“…Yeah. I had fun too. Thank you~”

We exchanged thanks, and a slightly awkward atmosphere settled between us. We couldn’t stay like this forever.

“Come on, Midori-san is waiting. Besides, we’re going to the beach next week, so we’ll see each other soon.”

“…Yeah. That’s true.”

Moe’s lonely expression shifted into one of determination.

“Um, Ryuuji-kun.”

“What is it?”

“Um… messages and stuff… even if there’s no reason… is it okay if I still send them?”

Seeing her desperate face making such a simple request, I couldn’t help but smile.

“Yeah, anytime. Just don’t go overboard.”

When I said that, Moe smiled happily and took my hand.

***

After parting with Moe, I opened the door to my room. It had been a while since I’d been in my own space. In the quiet, empty room, I whispered softly.

“I’m home, Mom.”