Chapter 5
Nobita stretched his arms as he stepped out of his house, the morning sun casting a warm glow over the neighborhood. Today felt different—not in a way he could immediately place, but there was an undeniable energy in the air.
He had been spending a lot of time with Ariana lately, and things between them had been natural, easy. Unlike his childhood days of chasing after Shizuka's attention, he didn't feel the need to prove himself. With Ariana, conversations flowed effortlessly, and her sharp wit kept him on his toes.
As he walked toward school, he spotted her ahead, adjusting her bag strap while glancing at the sky. She always seemed lost in thought, as if she were observing something the rest of them couldn't see.
"Hey, Ariana!" he called out.
She turned, her light brown eyes meeting his. A small smile appeared on her lips as she waited for him to catch up.
"You're on time today," she teased.
"I've changed," he said, puffing out his chest dramatically. "I'm a new Nobita. A refined, responsible man of—"
She raised an eyebrow. "You forgot your notebook yesterday."
His confidence crumbled instantly. "…That was one time."
Ariana chuckled. "Don't worry, I got it for you." She pulled out the notebook from her bag, handing it over.
Nobita sighed in relief. "You're a lifesaver."
"I know," she said smugly, flipping her hair over her shoulder in an exaggerated motion.
They reached the school gate, and Nobita immediately sensed trouble. Gian and Suneo stood near the entrance, both with a strangely smug look on their faces. That could only mean one thing—Gian had some new ridiculous challenge, and Suneo was his hype man.
"Oi, Nobita!" Gian bellowed, waving a thick envelope in the air. "We've got something important for you."
Ariana leaned in. "Do I even want to know?"
"Probably not," he muttered before putting on a smile. "What's up, guys?"
Suneo grinned. "Gian's entering a music competition, and guess who's going to be his assistant?"
Nobita blinked. "…Not me, right?"
Gian threw an arm around Nobita's shoulder. "Of course it's you! You're the only one who won't run away halfway through practice."
Ariana covered her mouth, failing to hide her amusement. "That's… quite the honor."
Nobita groaned. He had been dragged into Gian's singing ventures before, and it was always a disaster. But before he could protest, Gian shoved the envelope into his hands.
"You'll help me rehearse after school, right? We're performing at the neighborhood festival."
Nobita stared at the paper. This wasn't just any competition—it was a live performance, meaning the entire town would witness the chaos.
"I…" He glanced at Ariana, who was barely containing her laughter.
"Come on, Nobita," Suneo said with a smirk. "What's the worst that could happen?"
Everything.
But before he could come up with an excuse, Gian grinned and patted his back. "Great! See you after school."
As Gian and Suneo walked ahead, Ariana finally let out a giggle. "You're doomed."
Nobita sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know."
"You could just say no."
"I could," he said, stuffing the envelope in his bag, "but Gian might throw me into the performance anyway. If I refuse, he'll just chase me down."
Ariana tilted her head. "Fair point."
The school bell rang, and they both quickened their pace toward class. Nobita glanced at Ariana, noticing the way her hair caught the sunlight. Despite the impending disaster that was Gian's singing, he found himself smiling.
Maybe today wouldn't be so bad after all.