Volume 3 Chapter 5 Model’s Despair꞉ A Quest for Healing and a New Career Hope
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Alone in the confines of her room late at night, a woman’s tears spilled silently. Her hand rested gently over the hollow space where her right breast had been. She was consumed by the grief of her loss, utterly adrift in her sorrow.
That woman was Nikaido Koi, a model, only twenty-five years old.
For nearly a decade, since her teens, she had been working the runways and photoshoots. She was the kind of star who would be able to smoothly transition to modeling for ‘mommy magazines’ even after getting married and starting a family. That was the level of attention she commanded.
But all those plans shattered with the grim diagnosis of ‘breast cancer.’
It forced her to undergo a complete mastectomy of her right breast, saving her life but destroying her future. Her modeling work would have to be severely restricted; swimsuit shoots were now completely out of the question.
Nikaido Koi now stood at the precipice, forced to decide if she could even continue her career as a model.
She knew about reconstructive surgery, of course. Yet, it was a process that spanned a long time. Even if they said the results could be beautiful these days, there was no guarantee it would match her own ideal. Moreover, the hormonal upheaval might affect her ovaries, potentially making it impossible to conceive a child. Worse still, she was tormented by the possibility that men wouldn’t want to date a woman with a missing breast—the symbol of her femininity.
These thoughts spiraled into a deep, dark despair. It felt as if her entire life as a woman—her very essence—had been irrevocably lost. Nikaido Koi was utterly crushed by this hopelessness. The diagnosis had not yet been made public, only the announcement of a ‘long-term leave of absence’ was given.
”Hah… what am I supposed to do with my life now?” she sighed, the lonely room only echoing her breath into the void.
* * *
Some time after her breast cancer treatment had concluded:
”Nikaido-san—”
”Midori-chan.”
It was the day that Hourai Midori, the young mistress of the Adventurer-specialized talent agency, ‘Treasure Next,’ came to check on Koi.
”I can’t offer any empty platitudes. But… even so… I’ll be waiting for the day you can return, Nikaido-san,” Midori offered gently.
”Thank you, sweetie. I thought maybe I’d wake up and my chest would be big again, but I guess it doesn’t work that way,” Koi whispered with a dry, sad laugh.
”…” Midori didn’t know how to respond to that.
However, the key phrase, ‘my chest would be big again,’ suddenly struck her. A startling realization hit Midori with the force of a flicker of lightning.
”Wait… no… could it be…” she mused aloud, her eyes widening.
”What is it?” Koi inquired, a slight curiosity in her voice.
”I—I can’t say just yet. But—I’ll call you again! Please wait for me!” Midori practically declared, her voice now ringing with determination.
”Huh? Oh… she’s gone,” Koi murmured, watching Midori rush out. Midori’s visit, to check in, had barely lasted fifteen minutes, with almost no real conversation.
As she left the house, Midori immediately placed a call to a person she’d recently become acquainted with. She desperately pleaded and asked if something was even possible. The person on the other end responded with an honest ‘I don’t know.’ But they suggested it would be faster to ask the person directly, so a meeting was set up.
* * *
The air was getting colder, almost ready for December.
Rindou Hibiki, Takanashi Hirose, Ihara Kairi, and a middle school student sat together in the meeting room at the ‘Treasure Next’ headquarters.
“Ugh… uuuh…”
”Thank you for making time for us today,” Midori greeted them politely.
”Oh, no problem at all. But… wow, it’s the real Koi-chan…” Rindou Hibiki gasped, her hands visibly trembling with excitement.
”Totally awesome,” Kairi breathed out, equally awestruck.
Hibiki adored fashion models. Her appreciation wasn’t just about her own Gift for Beauty; she deeply admired their appearance and their way of life. Koi Nikaido, in particular, was a celebrity known to almost everyone. Kairi felt the same way. That’s why Hibiki had been so excited about meeting Koi Nikaido today.
”Thank you all for coming today. I’m Nikaido Koi,” said the model with the long, flaxen hair. Hibiki was not the only one unable to contain her emotions upon meeting the real-life celebrity.
”W-w-wow. Hibiki-senpai, it’s the real deal!” Aoi whispered in excitement.
”I know, I know! Now, quick, introduce yourself. I’m Rindou Hibiki. This is Takanashi Hirose, and our junior, Suzukawa Aoi,” she directed. The introduction included Hirose and Aoi, the latter having joined them after quitting the basketball club and breaking up with her boyfriend. Bringing Aoi here had a specific, deliberate purpose.
”If we could get straight to the point. Nikaido Koi here had her right breast completely removed due to breast cancer.”
”—!”
A wave of sharp tension immediately filled the room. Midori had only informed them that Koi was ill, not the grim details. The four guests collectively held their breath, overwhelmed by the sheer weight of the news. After all, this conversation would decide the very future of Koi Nikaido’s career.
”Don’t look so down. Well, I was depressed during my entire hospital stay, too. I never thought I’d be diagnosed in my twenties,” Koi commented, trying to lighten the mood.
”What about your modeling career…?” Hibiki asked, her voice tight with concern.
”I… I’m not sure. But, what if this hollow chest could somehow be fixed… That’s why Midori-chan introduced you guys to me, hoping for a possibility…”
”Hirose…”
”Yeah,” he nodded, his gaze serious.
The real discussion was just beginning. But first, they had to ensure complete secrecy. Kairi used her Gift to establish the ‘Pledge,’ guaranteeing that Hirose’s Skills would never be spoken of outside this room. Koi willingly accepted the terms. Once the ‘Pledge’ was set, Hirose explained his Skills.
”I had Hirose-senpai use his ‘Breast Growth’ Skill to enlarge my breasts! I was originally an AAA-cup, but I grew to a C-cup!” Hibiki exclaimed excitedly, pointing to herself.
”I see…” Koi murmured, her gaze fixed.
”But, I don’t know if it’ll work on something that’s been surgically removed,” Hirose admitted honestly. ‘Breast Growth’ was usually only good for a single cup size increase. Based on that information alone, he couldn’t guarantee success.
”If there’s one possibility, it would be using my Skills simultaneously,” Hirose offered.
”Simultaneously?” Koi questioned, a flicker of hope in her eyes.
”Yes. I also have a Skill called ‘Skin Quality Improvement.’ I’ve used it before to completely heal a burn from a ‘Curse,’” he explained. The memory of Shishido Asumi (a female A-rank Adventurer) being horribly afflicted by a Dragon monster’s ‘Curse’ in an A-rank dungeon was still fresh, even though it had happened a year ago. Hirose’s skill had saved her from the brink of death and healed the wounds perfectly.
”‘Skin Quality Improvement’ has an effect that essentially regenerates tissue. So, if I combine it with ‘Breast Growth’…” Hirose had used two Skills together before, but never specifically to create a synergistic effect like this. His plan was to use ‘Skin Quality Improvement’ to regenerate the breast’s skin cells and tissue, and then use ‘Breast Growth’ to fully expand the new tissue back to its original state.
”Nikaido-san… what do you think? We can take some time to decide—”
”I’ll do it… I want to do it… If there’s even the slightest chance…” Koi replied instantly.
”Koi-chan…! It’s okay… you’ll be cured… you will be cured!” Midori cried, tears welling up in her eyes. Koi’s quick acceptance caused Hibiki’s eyes to tremble with emotion.
With that, the meeting concluded for the day. They agreed to schedule the procedure soon.
”—Hey, Hibiki. Why didn’t you use your Gift?” Hirose asked as they left the ‘Treasure Next’ building.
Hibiki usually checked the efficacy of Hirose’s Skills using her own Gift. Because Koi was her idol, she might have been even more inclined to do so.
”Oh, I did… I did use it…” Hibiki murmured softly.
Meaning, she hadn’t said anything during the meeting.
”Oh, I see. So?”
”He was glowing… Hirose was glowing! But, I just couldn’t say anything! I didn’t want to mislead anyone by saying something weird!” Hibiki confessed, her voice a mix of anxiety and certainty. While speaking up might have calmed everyone, she felt the need to be cautious about a ‘what if’ scenario.
”Got it… But that’s good. It means if I do this right, it will work, huh?”
”Yeah… I think so. So—please. Bring Koi-chan back to normal for us,” Hibiki urged, her plea sincere.
”You got it. If I’m the only one who can do this… I’ll make sure I do it right,” Hirose vowed, gently stroking the top of Hibiki’s head to comfort her.
Watching this exchange, Aoi and Kairi began to fidget, squirming slightly with suggestive intent.
”Hirose-senpai…”
”Hirose~~!”
”What is it?”
”Let’s do it right after this!” “Let’s do it after this!” they both suggested, their tone highly suggestive.
”You two are totally ruining the mood,” Hirose sighed, the peaceful, comforting atmosphere he’d created with Hibiki immediately shattered by their overtly sexual eagerness.
—
Summary:
A top model, Nikaido Koi, sinks into despair after a radical mastectomy leaves her feeling broken and facing the end of her glamorous career. Her loyal friend, Midori, refuses to let her give up and brings in Hirose and his Adventurer crew—including his excited fan, Hibiki—to the Treasure Next agency for a secret, high-stakes consultation. With Hirose’s rare healing skills, a desperate new hope is kindled: the possibility of using combined magic to regrow her lost breast tissue. This emotional drama closes with a classic scene of playful, suggestive teen romance as the adventurers celebrate their renewed purpose.
—
Character Insight:
Nikaido Koi’s internal conflict shows the depth of her dependency on her feminine identity for her career and self-worth, making her illness a double-tragedy. Hirose confirms his growth from an uncertain hero to a compassionate problem-solver, willing to combine his unique skills for a truly life-changing healing miracle. Hibiki, despite her star-struck anxiety, prioritizes the outcome over her own feelings, showing a mature empathy that undercuts the usual adventurer comedy.
—
Behind the Scene:
Midori’s quick-thinking realization about Hirose’s breast enhancement skill sets the entire plot into motion, showing her fierce loyalty to Koi. The meeting’s tension highlights the high stakes—a successful procedure could redefine the use of Hirose’s Gifts and create a career comeback for a beloved figure. Kairi and Aoi’s immediate, suggestive reaction to the comforting moment between Hirose and Hibiki serves as a comedic release, showing the easygoing, sexually charged dynamic of their group.
Notes:
• Nikaido Koi – a 25-year-old top model. She has long, flaxen hair and a striking but currently despairing look. For a decade, she’d been a rising star, expected to transition into motherhood modeling. Her world was shattered by a breast cancer diagnosis, leading to a mastectomy. Her current relationship status is unclear, but she worries about her future as a woman and a model. She is currently desperate for a solution to continue her career.
• Hourai Midori – 17-year-old classmate, daughter of a famous manager, target of assassination attempt. Have Pale Green Hair (Long).
• Ihara Kairi – Short, pale blue hair and D-cup (F, 159cm), Kairi is Hibiki’s sharp-witted friend. She’s known for her cute smile but is frequently suspicious and inquisitive regarding her classmates’ secrets. Kairi’s interactions highlight Hirose’s growing circle and the effect of his skill.
• Rindou Hibiki – Hirose’s cheerful, bold classmate who is the first to request his Beauty skill. Hibiki (F, pink bob hair, 158cm, F-cup) is outgoing, expressive about her interests, and quickly becomes Hirose’s girlfriend after an explicitly intimate scene. Her reactions help set the adult tone of the story.
• Suzukawa Aoi – 15-year-old, 3rd-year middle schooler, ace of basketball club. Have brown bob cut. She overhears Hayato admitting he prefers ‘big boobs,’ causing her deep distress over her A-cup size.
• Shishido Asumi – Calm, beautiful fire mage and model (F, 18yo, 163cm, long straight black hair, F-cup). Suffering burns in the past, Asumi is healed by Hirose, symbolizing the skill’s healing and beautifying powers. She’s mature and quietly supportive.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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