Basement-Dwelling Loser VTuber

Ding-dong!
Why did it end up like this?

In the lonely hospital room, Yuzuru wept.

He had never smoked a cigarette, didn’t even like drinking, and had been exercising regularly for his health.

The outcome of it all? Pancreatic cancer.

According to the doctor, he needed to prepare his heart for what was to come.

“Why…?”

He has a beloved wife.

He has the cutest daughters in the world.

He just wanted to live happily with his family.

What he thought was a simple dream had turned into the hardest dream to achieve in the world.

“…I don’t want to.”

Still, Yuzuru wiped his tears and stood up.

He would not give up.

He had been told to prepare his mind, but the possibility wasn’t zero, they said.

Then he couldn’t give up.

As Seona’s husband.

As Yuki and Mina’s dad.

He couldn’t show them his weak side.

So even if it was hard, he wouldn’t show his struggles.
He would always smile, believing he could overcome this.

That was definitely the best effort he could offer, Yuzuru thought silently.

★

“If we assume the surgery goes ahead, the success rate is about 15%…”

At the doctor’s words, Seona quietly bit her lip.

It was the doctor’s suggestion to try a newly developed cancer treatment method on Yuzuru.

She knew.

Though 15% seemed like a low chance, in reality, it was much more than that.

At first, they said the chance of Yuzuru being alive a year from now was below 3%.

But now, it wasn’t just life support, it was a chance of full recovery at 15%… Clearly, it was Yuzuru’s last opportunity.

Still, Seona felt it was too low of a percentage.

Money wasn’t the issue.

What troubled Seona was whether she could endure if this 15% failed… If it happened, she felt she might blame the hospital for giving her false hope.

…But for Seona and Yuzuru, there was no choice left.

In the end, Seona quietly nodded.

“I understand. I’m counting on you.”

★

“15%…”

“Apparently, it’ll be much harder than typical chemotherapy. But is that okay…?”

Seona’s worried gaze fell on Yuzuru.

Seeing her like that, Yuzuru smiled quietly and caressed Seona’s cheek.

“It’s okay. No matter how hard it gets, there’s a possibility of full recovery, right? That’s enough for me. I’m Seona’s husband and the dad of Yuki and Mina… I can endure the pain.”

“Yeah. Thank you…”

Seona cried as she embraced Yuzuru.

Yuzuru warmly held her close.

But he didn’t shed any tears.

The 15% chance. His last opportunity that had been given to him.

He vowed to himself that he would overcome it, putting on a determined face.

And so… Yuzuru’s chemotherapy began.

★

Without painkillers, the agony came relentlessly.

Dizziness was just the beginning, and he couldn’t count how many times he vomited in a day.

The grueling chemotherapy lasted nearly a year.

Yet Yuzuru never once showed any sign of complaint.

He always smiled, enough to amaze the doctors and nurses.

Especially when he was with his family, Yuzuru looked like the happiest man in the world.

Supporting him with her gentle smile was Seona.

His eldest daughter Yuki always wore a worried expression.

And his youngest daughter Mina, who was too young to truly understand Yuzuru’s situation, often complained about her dad always being in the hospital.

Yuzuru genuinely believed that as long as he was with his family, he could overcome anything.

And it was finally time for the surgery date to be set, as if to give him one last chance.

If this surgery succeeded, Yuzuru’s chance of recovery would improve dramatically.

It was practically a miracle.

The opportunity to grasp that miracle stood right before him.

On surgery day, as Yuzuru was being wheeled to the OR, someone grabbed the doctor.

“Um, um…”

It was a little girl.

Her hair fell to her waist, a light brown like Yuzuru’s.

With beautiful blue eyes that carried their mother’s cold aura, she was his daughter, Mina, who was cuter than most child actors.

Mina looked up at the doctor, hiding shyly behind Seona’s leg.

“What’s the matter?”

“Uh, uh….”

As the doctor smiled kindly, Mina fiddled with her fingers and hung her head.

But soon, she looked up.

“I heard that today, this has to succeed for Dad to not be sick anymore…. So please….”

“Please make it successful,” Mina said tearfully.

Nobody could give a definite answer to her words.

They knew it wasn’t best to provide blind hope.

And it was Yuzuru, the one about to have surgery, who answered her.

“Mina, I’ll definitely come back successfully. You trust me, right?”

“…Yes!”

To Mina, those were the words of the coolest hero in the world, and she smiled broadly as she nodded.

Thus, Yuzuru was wheeled into the surgery room.

As he began to be put under anesthesia, Yuzuru felt his consciousness slipping away.

Before losing himself entirely, he thought of the two most beloved daughters in the world.

“I still want to do so much with Yuki and Mina.”

So he whispered one last time,
“I want to live….”

★

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. But just to be safe, please continue to come to the hospital for check-ups.”

“Did it really… succeed?”

At Yuzuru’s question and Seona’s gaze, his doctor Takeshi smiled.

“Yes. You truly worked hard, Yuzuru.”

The declaration of full recovery from the doctor brought tears of joy and relief to both Yuzuru and Seona.

“Really, it’s a miracle.”

“Yes, it is. And in my opinion, Yuzuru, you more than deserve that miracle.”

Having watched Yuzuru for over a year, Takeshi genuinely believed that.

If someone who had never lost their smile through such challenging treatments and surgeries couldn’t grasp a miracle, then miracles did not exist in this world.

“Thank you. Thank you…”

As they bowed their heads in gratitude, Takeshi grinned and continued,
“For a while, you’ll need to avoid such festivities. I’ll prescribe a few medications…”

With his last words, Yuzuru and Seona’s eyes widened in surprise as they looked at each other.

“The date for your discharge is… June 12th. Mina’s birthday.”

★

“I’m going to be your bride!”

“Isn’t this the time to say you’re going to be Dad’s bride instead?”

“Huh? Dad is Mina’s hero! Not my husband!”

As Mina shook her head firmly, Yuzuru sighed.

“Well, Dad’s bride is Mom, you know.”

“Yeah. So Mina belongs to me.”

Yuki said proudly, raising her chin.

It was a sight that couldn’t have been imagined just a few days ago.

As Seona silently wiped her tears at that sight, Yuzuru affectionately caressed her.

“Oh, come to think of it, I guess I didn’t have a chance to say it earlier, Mina.”

“Huh?”

Mina’s eyes lit up as she looked up at Yuzuru.

Her expression showed that just being able to be together was enough for her.

Looking at his lovely daughter, Yuzuru smiled gently and said,
“Happy seventh birthday.”

“…Yay!”

Seeing Mina’s genuinely delighted laughter made smiles bloom on Yuzuru, Seona, and Yuki alike.

“But Mom and I congratulated you as soon as we woke up… don’t you think it’s too late, Dad?”

“Could you overlook it if I say I was busy?”

“…Yeah. I’m really glad.”

Today was June 12th.

It was Mina’s birthday.

…And it was when they would return to their daily life.

★

While the family was spending a cozy time together at home, ding dong, the doorbell rang.

“I’ll go check it out.”

Yuki stood up from her seat and checked the intercom.

Yuki thought perhaps Aunt Shia had come, but standing there was a woman she had never seen before.

She was a glamorous beauty with golden hair and soft blue eyes.

“Excuse me… is this Seona’s house?”

As soon as she confirmed that she was mom’s guest, Yuki called for Seona.

“Mom, I think you have a guest!”
“…Could it be?”

After a moment’s thought, Seona was surprised and stood up.

Checking the intercom, Seona covered her mouth in shock.
“Renka….”

“Aikawa?! ”

At those words, Yuzuru also stood up in surprise.

★

“I’m really sorry. I should have come sooner to apologize, but seeing you both made me feel too guilty and scared…”

“It’s okay. I’m just glad we can talk now.”

Seona and Renka quietly sipped wine, chatting together.

Yuzuru smiled as he watched them from the side.

Mina had already fallen asleep in her room before Renka arrived, and Yuki decided it was time for bed as she got up to leave.

Now, it was the adults’… time of the three long-lost friends.

“I’m really glad, Yuzuru-kun. And even though it’s too late, congratulations to you both.”

Renka hadn’t attended their wedding in the past. She hadn’t congratulated them.

She truly hated them back then.

But now she could say it.

She realized just how foolish she had been in the past.

“You two really suit each other. I’ve always thought so.”

“…Thank you.”

At the words of her closest friend, both Seona and Yuzuru blushed and felt shy.

As they shared stories of the years gone by while reminiscing their adventures,

“Dad, Mom….”
“Oh my, Mina! Did you wake up?”
“Yeah… My sister hugged me too hard when she congratulated me. Today I want to sleep with Mom and Dad…”

Mina, rubbing her eyes, came out to the living room.

Yuzuru stood up and scooped Mina into his arms.

“Second daughter?”

“Yup. Isn’t she super cute?”

As Yuzuru proudly grinned, Renka nodded in agreement.

Mina was undeniably cute, not just in empty compliments.

“I think she would do great as an idol in the future, just like Yuki. If she’s interested, she can come to our agency.”

“Absolutely not! I can’t let my lovely daughters do that! If they have to become idols, I don’t know what might happen with those beasts and their fans…”

“Dad, you’re being loud…”
“Sorry, Mina. Are you going to sleep soon?”
“Yes…. But who is this auntie…?”

Realizing there was a stranger in their house made Mina tense, hiding her face in Yuzuru’s shoulder.

“She’s a friend of Mom and Dad. Ah, Aikawa, today is our Mina’s birthday. Could you congratulate her?”

“…Of course. But, do I need to speak in Korean? I’m still awkward with Korean…”

“No, you can just speak naturally.”

“Thank goodness. Mina-chan, happy birthday.”

“Thank you…”

Mina nodded, grateful for the congratulations.

With that conversation wrapped up, Yuzuru headed to his room, ready to sleep with Mina.

“She’s really cute…”

“Yeah. She’s our treasure.”

Time flowed on.

The two friends, reuniting after a long time, reminisced about their past.

Mina’s birthday.

Yuzuru’s discharge.

Reconnecting with old friends.

Seona genuinely thought this moment was a miracle.

★

“Ah?! Dad! I told you to wash my clothes separately from yours today!”

“Unfair~.”

“Ugh, seriously! This is frustrating…!”

When I protested, Dad just grabbed me with joy.

I’ve always thought this, but my dad is such a doting dad…!

Of course, I don’t dislike Dad.

I love him very much.

He’s my hero, the coolest one in the world.

But still, this isn’t okay.

Today is finally the day of my high school entrance ceremony.

I deliberately chose a really far school to make my high school debut, but if my clothes carry even a hint of Dad’s smell, it’s all over.

My goal is to make friends!

I want to enjoy a normal school life at least once in this life!

But if my clothes smell like Dad, I’ll definitely become a laughingstock among the top-tier classmates…

Though I’ve never actually thought my clothes smelled like Dad.

In fact, I thought Mom always made sure I had a nice scent.

But still, you never know, right? Yup.

“I’m off…!”

“Take care.”

“Before you go, Mina….”

Mom waved goodbye while Dad gently hugged me.

“We’ll always be cheering for you, Mina.”

“…Yes.”

“Then as your dad, there’s something you should do for me~?”

“Ugh, seriously!”

Do I still seem like a kid to you? Seriously.

…Well, I guess it’s true.

Thinking that, I did what Dad probably wanted me to do right now.

Smooch! A light kiss on the cheek.

“Wah?! ”

Dad lifted me high and declared loudly,
“Thanks to Mina, I can muster up all my strength today!!!”

“Mom, does Dad act like this outside too?”

“…No.”

When I looked at Mom, still hanging from Dad, she quietly averted her gaze.

Ah, I see.

…But I didn’t feel bad about it.

I was really happy that Dad loved me.

★

On my way to school via subway,
“Wah?!”

“Ah!”

I bumped into someone at a corner.

“Excuse, excuse me…. I’m so sorry…!”

“No, it’s my fault for not paying attention.”

The person I bumped into… was a fleetingly beautiful woman.

Her flawless white hair and contrasting red eyes were stunning.

So strangely beautiful.

“I have to go now… If there’s any issue, please call this number.”

“Oh, it really isn’t necessary…”

“Then I’ll take my leave. Sorry!”

The woman really seemed busy, bowing her head as she dashed off in the opposite direction.

…By the way, that voice. It sounds familiar…

“Oh…!”

For now, let’s hurry to school.

It’s my high school debut, after all.

It’s best to go prepare ahead of time.

And so, a new day began.

And during the most important self-introduction time of the high school debut, I said,
“I’m K, Kayanoh, M, Mina. My hobbies are l-listening to music and… gaming…”

Epic fail.

…Huh?

Why?

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