The woman hesitated for a moment, then disappeared into another room. The group exchanged nervous glances, a fragile hope hanging in the air. After what felt like an eternity, she emerged, holding a worn leather-bound notebook in her hands.
"I found this tucked away in a closet," she explained. "It looks like a school notebook, filled with notes."
She handed the notebook to Nobita. His fingers brushed the worn cover, a wave of emotions washing over him.
Hesitantly, Nobita opened the notebook. The first page was filled with neat handwriting, instantly recognizable as Dekisugi's. It was a simplified explanation of a complex scientific concept, filled with colorful diagrams and playful doodles – a clear attempt to make the topic easier for Nobita to understand.
A lump formed in Nobita's throat. Dekisugi... he had always been there for him, even in the little things. Tears welled up in his eyes, blurring the words on the page.
"Thank you," he choked out, his voice thick with emotion.
The group offered their goodbyes, the weight of the discovery settling heavily upon them. As they walked away, Nobita clutched the notebook to his chest as a silent promise to never lose hope of finding Dekisugi!
Back in his apartment, Nobita sank onto the sofa, the notebook open on his lap. He spent hours flipping through the pages, each one a memory, a testament to their unique bond. He saw glimpses of Dekisugi's brilliance, his humor, and most importantly, his unwavering support.
Lost in his thoughts, Nobita didn't notice his phone buzzing on the table. Finally, the insistent ringing jolted him back to reality. He picked it up to see a video call from Professor Yamanaka, his esteemed senior from college.
Professor Yamanaka, a renowned scientist, had always been a source of inspiration for Nobita. Now, the professor's face filled the screen, his expression serious.
"Nobita," he began, "I have an opportunity for you. A chance to work on a groundbreaking scientific project in Milan, Italy."
Nobita's breath hitched. Working under Professor Yamanaka, in the heart of scientific innovation, was a dream come true.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Nobita," Professor Yamanaka continued, his voice filled with encouragement.
Nobita stared at the screen, the image of Dekisugi's notebook flashing in his mind.
Taking a deep breath, Nobita made his decision. "Professor," he said, his voice filled with determination, "I'm in. I'll be in Milan in 2-3 days ."
Professor Yamanaka beamed. "Excellent! This is going to be incredible, Nobita. We have a lot of work to do."
He took a deep breath and started typing in friends group chat.
💬Nobita: Guys... I have some bad news...
The message sat there for a moment, then dots appeared as Shizuka began typing.
💬Shizuka: Nobita? What's wrong?
💬Gian: Did someone eat your last Doracake?
💬Suneo: Don't tell me you forgot your swimsuit again!
💬Nobita: I can't go on the vacation trip. I have to move to Milan for work.
💬Gian: WHOA! Milan?! Seriously, Nobita? That's incredible! But... what about the trip?
💬Shizuka: Yeah, Nobita. We were all really looking forward to it. Are you sure you can't work it out?
💬Nobita: I'm so sorry, guys. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to work with a famous scientist on a huge project. I can't pass it up.
💬Shizuka: We understand, Nobita. This is a huge opportunity. We'll miss you tons, though. Promise to keep in touch?
💬Nobita: Of course! I'll call you guys as soon as I get settled in.
💬Gian: Send us pics of all the cool stuff, And who knows, maybe we can visit you in Milan someday! That would be epic!
💬Suneo: Yeah, and we'll send you tons of vacation pics to make you jealous! (Just kidding... mostly )
💬Nobita:(chuckles ) Thanks, guys. You're the best!
He closed the chat window.