Nobita ran all the way home, tears streaming down his face as a wave of grievances and frustration filled his heart. Nobita might fail at many things, but when it came to Chu Mushan (Dekisugi), he could never admit defeat. After all, Shizuka had a soft spot for Dekisugi, and Nobita couldn't handle that. He couldn't bear the thought of someone else getting closer to her.
However, the long time Nobita spent secretly following Dekisugi and Shizuka meant he was now running half an hour later than usual, and his mother, Tamako, had been waiting for him to return so they could cook together. Nobita knew what was coming. Before he could even reach his room, he was already about to face his mother's reprimand.
"Nobita! Didn't I tell you to buy food quickly? Where did you go playing all this time?!" Tamako scolded her son with frustration.
She scolded him for a good half hour. Usually, the reprimand would last much longer, but tonight it was cut short, as Tamako had to prepare dinner. Nobita barely managed to take the verbal beating. His mood was crushed, and after a few moments, he climbed up to his room, his steps slow and tired.
When he opened the door, he saw Doraemon, happily munching on dorayaki and reading a comic book. Nobita, exhausted from everything, sobbed as he walked into the room, and before he could say anything, he threw himself into Doraemon's arms.
"Doraemon~!! Wuu...!!" Nobita sobbed uncontrollably.
Doraemon, startled at first, quickly hugged him and gently patted his back. "What's wrong, Nobita? Why are you so upset? Did Jaian and Suneo bully you again? It's okay, I'll teach them a lesson for you!"
Nobita sniffled, wiping his tears, but this time, it wasn't Jaian and Suneo who were the problem.
"No, it's not that, Doraemon," Nobita began, his voice shaky. "It's... it's because Shizuka wants to exchange diaries with Dekisugi! You promised me that Shizuka would marry me, Doraemon! What do I do now?"
Doraemon blinked in surprise, unsure of how to respond. Nobita's cry was filled with emotion, and his words left Doraemon a bit taken aback.
Doraemon knew his purpose here was to help Nobita become a better person, so after a moment, he spoke, trying to comfort him.
"Nobita, the future isn't set in stone. Things change all the time. Your future may involve marrying Shizuka, but you need to work for it. The future is uncertain, and the more you work on yourself, the better your chances."
Doraemon paused, considering his words carefully. "I know you've worked hard, but you can't relax just because you think everything will fall into place. You have the potential to change your destiny, Nobita. But you need to put in the effort!"
Nobita looked up at Doraemon, sniffling but listening closely. Doraemon continued with a smile.
"Remember, Nobita, you've already made progress. You changed your future once by getting closer to Shizuka. You can change it again. You just need to work harder, and I'm sure you'll overcome Dekisugi, too."
Although Doraemon spoke with conviction, he secretly doubted whether Nobita could actually defeat Dekisugi. He had faith in him, but it was difficult to imagine Nobita pulling ahead of someone like Dekisugi. Still, he didn't voice those doubts—encouragement was what Nobita needed most.
Just then, Nobita's mother opened the door and, seeing the still-crying Nobita, placed a letter and a stamp on his desk. She had long gotten used to his emotional outbursts and knew better than to try and comfort him when he was like this. After all, Nobita had cried over many things, big and small, since he was young.
Tamako spoke matter-of-factly, "Nobita, do you know that you're supposed to write a thank you letter to Uncle? Your automatic pen was a gift from him."
With that, she closed the door, leaving Nobita alone with his thoughts.
Nobita looked at the letter on his desk, still feeling the weight of Doraemon's words. Despite being a bit mischievous, foolish, and often cowardly, Nobita wasn't someone who would ignore advice. He stood up, wiping away his tears, and shouted to himself.
"Okay! I'm not going to let Doraemon or Shizuka down! I'll work hard!" he declared, determination starting to form in his voice. "But first, I need to write the letter!"
He rushed to grab the pen and paper, determined to fulfill his responsibilities even as he thought about what he could do to change his situation.
Meanwhile, Dekisugi, at home alone, was engrossed in reading the manga Lion Mask, a best-selling series he had picked up recently. Despite not finding it very exciting, Dekisugi still read it carefully. He wasn't really interested in the story, but it gave him an idea. With his allowance now exceeding 10,000 yen, he realized how quickly his money could disappear, especially when buying snacks, which often cost a hundred yen or more.
But more importantly, Dekisugi had been thinking about something more serious—his fighting skills. He had started training to improve his abilities, hoping to eventually reach an advanced level. He knew that no matter how much he trained, the human body had limits, and he couldn't become invincible. He was realistic about his chances against larger crowds or stronger opponents, but he hoped that with enough effort, he could defend himself if needed.
It wasn't just about self-defense, though. Dekisugi also realized that martial arts training required money—for equipment, classes, and the necessary resources. That's why he continued reading the Lion Mask manga, even though it wasn't particularly thrilling. He needed to learn, and that was what mattered most to him.
Dekisugi glanced at the clock—it was already half-past nine in the evening. His parents hadn't returned yet; they often worked late. In fact, it was probably because of this environment that Dekisugi had grown so independent and mature for his age. He decided it was time for bed. Being a child, he was still growing, so he needed his rest.
Before going to sleep, Dekisugi remembered the promise he'd made to Shizuka. He took out his diary and quickly jotted down a few notes, placing it carefully in his school bag. He'd make sure to bring it to Shizuka tomorrow.
And with that, Dekisugi turned off the light and fell asleep, thinking about the day's events, his progress, and the future ahead.
.........................................................................
Please give me power stones...
Add this book in the library...