Blow Away 'Mr. Root Rot'!

'Remission' just won't cut it, will it?

'Complete cure'

No, it has to be a 'radical cure'! That's the thing.

Wait!

Are 'complete cure' and 'radical cure' the same thing? 😅

I have athlete's foot, you see.

To put it simply,

it's 'ringworm'.

Yes.

Sorry about that. 🙇

I've been dealing with 'them' for a long time now.

I vaguely remember it starting around the summer of my first year as a working adult, so it's been over 20 years now.

When I was young, I was a 'few screws loose' kind of person, so I completely ignored 'them' and didn't try to cure them at all.

Basically, my feet were itchy all year round, peaking in the summer, but I wouldn't go to a doctor, instead I would:

1. Take off one leather shoe

2. Use the heel of the foot still in the leather shoe to scratch the foot that I just took the shoe off of

3. Switch feet and repeat steps 1 and 2

4. Eventually, the skin on both feet would peel off, and the 'pain' would override the 'itchiness'

That was my own unique way of dealing with the itch.

Despite that, I miraculously got married afterward, and for the sake of being a mom, I couldn't keep using my 'scratching technique' anymore.

Then, I went to the dermatology department at the hospital where I work, received some ointment, and finally, the treatment for 'athlete's foot' began.

However, as soon as I realized my feet were starting to look clean after two months of applying the medicine, 'Mr. Root Rot'—the owner of a 'lazy heart' that had grown up so well during my single days—woke up inside me.

“The doctor said, ‘It’s a disease that takes a long time to heal, so keep applying it for a month or two even after your feet look clean,’ but I’m out of medicine, and I’m sure it’s fine now. I can handle it.”

And so, without getting a new prescription, I decided to end the treatment on my own.

However, this 'Mr. Athlete's Foot' in question.

Just as the doctor said, it was persistent.

At the edge of the ring, when it was 'almost healed,' its tenacity—its 'tokudawara'—was extraordinary.

Not long after I stopped applying the medicine, my feet quickly returned to 'square one'.

After that, I kept repeating the cycle of 'failing to finish the job, not reaching a full cure, and getting scolded by Mom before going back to the doctor,' but last autumn, my skin was finally pushed to an 'inescapable' state.

One day, while I was working security, my left shoulder and buttocks were abnormally itchy.

When I got home and had Mom check the affected areas, she said both were in a state where 'many red rashes had formed'.

I had her disinfect the areas and apply gauze for about a week while I worked, but the condition of the affected areas showed no signs of improvement at all.

Since it wouldn't be right to burden Mom any further, I went to see a dermatologist.

When I showed the doctor my shoulder and buttocks in the exam room, he nodded and said, 'Ah,' and performed a microscopic examination.

The test result was 'ringworm'.

The name changes depending on the affected area, but in short, it's 'athlete's foot'.

When I got home and reported the results to Mom,

“See? I knew it. You’ve reached the point of no return, Dad~”

“Hmm?”

“Huh? 💢 Why are you making that blank face like, 'what are you talking about'?”

No, no.

I've been telling you for a while now. Get it fixed quickly.

You're right.

Look, look. You always 'pretend' to be humble and repent at first, but in the end, you're sloppy and can't fix it, which is why things end up like this, right?

That's exactly right. 😅

This time, you really need to do it properly. If the boys start complaining about itchy shoulders or bottoms, I really won't forgive you.

Yes... 😢

And so, the 'Operation Exterminate Athlete's Foot' finally, finally began.

From October to the following May. Even though I was busy at the end of the year and missed a hospital visit, resulting in a one-month 'application blank,' I worked hard on seven months of 'serious treatment.'

As a result, there was a significant improvement in symptoms, and just by looking at it, one could judge it as 'cured.'

However, I cannot let my guard down.

First, 'Mr. Athlete's Foot'...

'We've been together for so long, haven't we? Please, I beg you. Don't kill me!'

I defeated him with a knee strike as he let out a death cry and showed 'astonishing tenacity.'

And then, there's one more.

'Hey, hey, Mr. Yokan. Are you really going to cure the "athlete's foot"? Won't you be lonely? Summer is all about that series of "assembly line work" from (1) to (4), isn't it?'

I intend to blow away the final boss, 'Mr. Root Rot,' who says such things, with a body blow followed by left and right hooks.

Now, for the final spurt. I have to settle this during the 'early summer.'

And so, I have brought you a rather voluminous story about 'athlete's foot'.

I just realized this article. I wonder if there is actually any demand for it?

Yeah.

I'm kind of sorry about that🙇