Chereads / when Nobita married Dekisugi / Chapter 6 - #Episode 6: family pressure

Chapter 6 - #Episode 6: family pressure

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The familiar aroma of miso soup filled the air as Nobita entered his house, the weight of the day's research lingering in his tired shoulders. His parents, ever the picture of domesticity, greeted him with warm smiles.

"Welcome back, Nobita," his mother chirped, her eyes twinkling with a mischievous glint. "Another successful day unraveling the mysteries of science, I presume?"

Nobita managed a tired smile. "Something like that, Mom."

He collapsed onto the worn sofa, letting out a sigh that spoke volumes of his exhaustion. His father, a gentle soul with perpetually concerned eyes, chuckled.

"Don't work yourself too hard, son. Remember, there's more to life than robots and gadgets."

Nobita knew his father was hinting at a different kind of life – a settled life with a wife and children. The topic, especially with Shizuka in the picture, was a recurring one in their household.

As if on cue, his mother chimed in, her voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. "Speaking of wives, Nobita, have you made any progress with Shizuka-chan?"

Nobita groaned internally. Here we go again.

"Mom," he began patiently, "Shizuka and I are good friends. That's all."

"But you've known her forever!" his mother exclaimed, her voice laced with a hint of exasperation. "She's a lovely girl, smart, kind, and even became a successful vet! You two would be perfect together."

Nobita couldn't argue with that. Shizuka was everything his mother described, and a part of him, a small, neglected part, did harbor a childhood affection for her. However, the truth was more complicated. The unresolved question of Dekisugi's feelings, and Nobita's own evolving emotions, made the prospect of romance with Shizuka feel… inauthentic.

"We're just busy with our careers right now, Mom," he offered, hoping to deflect her matchmaking attempts. But his mother wasn't easily deterred.

"Careers are important, Nobita," she conceded, "but so is family. Don't you want a wife and kids someday?"

Nobita hesitated. The question brought a strange image to his mind – an image not of Shizuka, but of someone else, someone with shy smiles and intelligent eyes. He quickly pushed the image away, focusing on the steaming bowl of miso soup his mother placed in front of him.

"I… I haven't really thought about it," he mumbled, avoiding his mother's gaze.

His father, ever the mediator, patted his shoulder gently. "There's no rush, son," he said reassuringly. "Just make sure you consider what truly makes you happy."

Nobita nodded, grateful for his father's understanding. He loved his parents, and he knew their concern stemmed from a place of love. But his happiness, he realized, was a puzzle with a missing piece, a piece he couldn't quite seem to find.

As he slurped down his dinner, the nagging question of Dekisugi's whereabouts resurfaced. Shizuka was a comfortable certainty, but somewhere deep down, a spark of something else flickered. Until he found Dekisugi, or at least some answers, the search for happiness, both for himself and for his parents, would remain incomplete.