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7 years later
Seven years had passed since Dekisugi's abrupt disappearance. The once-vibrant childhood neighborhood now held a bittersweet nostalgia for Nobita Nobi. Gone were the days of climbing trees with Shizuka, chasing after runaway baseballs with Gian and Suneo, and the stolen glances exchanged with a shy Dekisugi.
*Nobita nobi*
Nobita, now a young handsome man of twenty years old, was a struggling junior scientist. He spent his days in laboratory. Doraemon has returned to his own world after Nobita graduated high school.
While Nobita grappled with adulting, Shizuka had blossomed into a beautiful young woman. She pursued her dream of becoming a veterinarian, her clinic a haven for injured animals. A framed photo on her desk, a picture of their childhood group, held a silent reminder of the missing piece – Dekisugi.
Gian
Gian, ever the boisterous one, had surprisingly taken over his family's responsibility. Opened a restaurant after becoming world's top chef. His booming voice could still be heard echoing through the neighborhood, but it held a new maturity, a responsibility that surprised everyone.
Suneo
Suneo, once the flamboyant show-off, had surprised them all too. He channeled his love for gadgets into a thriving tech company, his inventions making life easier for countless people. Still, a playful glint in his eyes hinted at the mischievous boy beneath the successful businessman.
*****
Their lives, once intertwined in the carefree tapestry of childhood, had diverged into independent threads. Yet, a common thread remained – the unanswered question of Dekisugi's whereabouts. The boy who had vanished without a trace, leaving behind a lingering mystery.
One rainy evening, Nobita found himself at Gian's restaurant, seeking refuge from the storm and the gnawing loneliness in his apartment. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air as Gian offered him a comforting mug.
"Still no leads on Dekisugi?" Gian asked gruffly, his usual boisterousness subdued.
Nobita shook his head, a familiar pang of frustration tugging at his heart. "Nothing. It's like he vanished into thin air."
Suneo, who had joined them, sighed. "I even tried using my company's resources to track him down, but nothing. It's as if he doesn't exist."
A heavy silence descended between them. The once playful banter of their childhood days was replaced by a shared sense of loss and a yearning for the simpler times.
Suddenly, Shizuka walked in, a stray cat nestled in her arms. The rain had soaked her coat, creating a halo of damp curls around her face. She looked older, more mature, but her eyes still held the same gentle kindness.
"Hey guys," she said softly, placing the cat on the table.
As they caught up on their lives, a familiar ache settled in Nobita's chest. He would always cherish his friendship with Shizuka, but his feelings for Dekisugi remained a tangled knot deep within him, a question forever unanswered.
Later that night, as Nobita walked back through the rain-slicked streets, a stray thought flickered in his mind. Was finding Dekisugi truly the objective anymore? Or was the journey of self-discovery, the acceptance of his own complex emotions, the real treasure hidden within this bittersweet mystery?
Nobita stopped beneath the familiar oak tree, their childhood fort now a weathered frame against the night sky. He reached out and touched the rough bark, a silent tribute to the boy who had left a mark on his life. Perhaps finding Dekisugi wasn't about a grand reunion, but about cherishing the memories they shared and embracing the person he had become, a person shaped in part by the love and loss of a childhood friend.
With a newfound sense of resolve, Nobita looked up at the star-dusted sky. "Wherever you are, Dekisugi," he whispered, "I hope you're happy."
The rain continued to fall, washing away the dust of the past but leaving the memory of Dekisugi forever etched in his heart.