The Virgin Hero Who Fought in the Dungeon for 20 Years Returned to the Surface Only to Find the Population of the World Has Dropped Drastically, with a Male-to-Female Ratio of 1:1000 - 78

Chapter 78: Success Is 80% Preparation

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“What are we watching today?”

“Uh, it’s a revival screening, so I’m a bit embarrassed to say it, but… It’s The Notebook.”

Haruka replied to Ryuuto’s question.

“No, no. That movie is fine by me. They don’t really make many new movies these days anyway, right?”

That was true. Just as Ryuuto said, film production had been steadily declining ever since the drastic drop in population. While the rise of streaming and subscription services had played a part, the biggest issue was the lack of male actors in the entertainment industry.

In today’s world, advanced AI and CG technology could easily fill out crowd scenes and background extras, but even so, the presence and movement of real human beings simply couldn’t be replicated.

They say God is in the details—and the same goes for film. 

No matter how advanced CG became, it just couldn’t compete with real, living actors. Unlike in the past, when manpower flowed like water, nowadays male actors were mostly reserved for the main roles. It couldn’t be helped. Using synthesized background characters made everything feel flat, and the number of new releases naturally plummeted.

That meant theaters had to rely on classic hits, but surprisingly enough, that worked out for the best. Lately, there had been a major boom among young people who found charm in older films, and watching old movies in theaters had become a full-blown movement. That enthusiasm translated directly into box office revenue, and the cinema industry was beginning to regain its momentum.

“The Notebook,” huh…

“Oh! Have you seen it before, Ryuuto-san?” 

Haruka asked, pressing a hand to her mouth with a sheepish look. Ryuuto quickly waved his hand to deny it.

“No, no. I just saw the beginning of the movie. I got an emergency call-up right after the movie started, so I never saw the end. Come to think of it, that might’ve been the last movie I saw in a theater.”

“I see. It’s a really moving love story. The first time we watched it, we all cried.”

“Yeah. Like Haruka said, it’s a tearjerker.”

“America sure knows how to throw a fastball right down the middle. Personally, I love this one too.”

“This is seriously one of my favorites. Uh, Ryuuto-san, you’re not… Um, not into romance movies, I suppose? Would you have preferred something more action-packed?”

“No, I like everything, really. I don’t have any strong preferences and I never got to watch this one all the way through, so getting to see it on a big screen sounds great. So…”

“Hm? What is it?”

“Isn’t it about time we head in? Haha.”

“Hmhmhm? Ah!”

Before they realized it, a crowd of women had gathered around them. It wasn’t surprising—men going to see a movie at a public theater was extremely rare. And Ryuuto, at first glance, looked like a teenager. Dreamy and passive as many of these women were, their curiosity flared up and they began eyeing him with open interest.

“Die.”

“Back off.”

Rion and Kyouka were glaring daggers, clearly warning the others to stay away from their prey. If this were a delinquent manga from its heyday, fists would be flying by now. But in reality, it was more like a tense standoff at arm’s length.

“Come on, Ryuuto-san. We’ve got great seats, so let’s gooo!”

“Y-Yeah.”

Ryuuto followed the half-smiling Haruka, and they got in line. The place was fairly packed. Without missing a beat, Kyouka came running over, balancing a tray of drinks and snacks.

“Here you go, Ryuuto-san.”

“Ah, thanks. Sorry to make you run errands for me.”

“No worries! I never let guys do chores. I’m super devoted, you know? Ufufu.”

“Haha, is that so?”

Kyouka leaned in close, blatantly emphasizing her cleavage. Ryuuto forced a smile, barely keeping it together—but he couldn’t quite tear his eyes away from the voluptuous display.

“Well then, shall we?”

They had reserved their tickets online, so Haruka held out her phone for the QR code to be scanned by the staff.

Huh. So this is how movie theaters work nowadays, huh?

Ryuuto’s knowledge of cinemas had been frozen in time twenty years ago, so the fully smartphone-based process still felt new to him.

“Ah, ah, ah!”

“Hm?”

He glanced over and saw a young female staff member staring wide-eyed like a kodama from Spirited Away, her mouth hanging open as she trembled violently. She was a cute girl with short, light brown hair, and Ryuuto couldn’t help but smile at the sight.

“Uh, um, h-here! This is my phone number! I-I-I-if you’d like, maybe we could get tea or something after the movie—”

“Okay, THAT’S a no-goooo!”

“Hyaggh!”

Kyouka, now wearing a dress, shouted and clotheslined the poor staff girl with a brutal lariat. Rion, who had been waiting behind her, swiftly wrapped her arms around the girl’s waist and locked in a tight clutch.

“Hiyaaah!”

“Nnbuh?!”

With a clean, perfect arc, she executed a German suplex. Ryuuto was stunned as he watched Rion slam the girl to the ground with her legs wide open. He nearly dropped the tray in his hands from the shock.

“Whoa there.”

Haruka caught the tray just in time.

“You’re a few million years too early for that.”

“Phew. Job well done.”

“H-Haha. Everyone… Please keep it down in the theater, okay?”

Ryuuto let out a dry, nervous laugh at that.

“Ufufu.”

Haruka smiled sweetly, resting her hand on her cheek. Meanwhile, Ryuuto was thoroughly overwhelmed by the outrageous behavior of these free-spirited young ladies.

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