"But if you go over now," Shizuka cautioned, "Nobita's probably still upset. He might not listen to you properly." (When it came to understanding Nobita, Shizuka, having known him since kindergarten, knew his personality inside and out.)
"But his homework is still here," Lin Yu pointed out practically. "If he doesn't take it, he'll just get scolded by the teacher again tomorrow."
Shizuka's mother, overhearing this, wasn't sure what to say but didn't seem overly concerned. Kids squabble all the time, she knew; they usually make up within a couple of days. She turned to Lin Yu. "I was hoping you could stay for dinner, dear, but since this happened, perhaps it's best to take Nobita his homework."
"That poor boy," she sighed, gently stroking Shizuka's hair. "He gets bullied so often by Gian and the others."
"Shizuka," she added, "why don't you go along with Lin Yu? I think Nobita might listen better if you're there. If there's been a misunderstanding, you should talk it through properly. You're all friends, aren't you?"
Shizuka agreed, though still looking a little downcast. Lin Yu added reassuringly, "We understand, Auntie. Don't worry." He shouldered his own bag. "Let's go, Shizuka. Sorry to trouble you with this." Turning back to her mother, he added, "Auntie, thank you again for your wonderful hospitality today."
They collected Nobita's forgotten schoolbag and were just heading out the entryway when Shizuka's mother stopped them again. "Lin Yu, dear," she said, holding out a neatly wrapped package, "here are some of those cookies I just baked. Please take them home if you'd like."
"You seem like such a sensible young man," she added warmly. "If Shizuka and Nobita have any disagreements, perhaps you can help guide them." (Though she'd only just met him, Shizuka's mother already sensed Lin Yu was considerably more mature than Nobita and his usual friends.)
"Thank you, Auntie. In that case, I won't be polite," Lin Yu accepted the cookies graciously. "And please don't worry about Nobita, Auntie. I'll handle things carefully."
Leaving Shizuka's house, Lin Yu carried Nobita's bag as they walked side-by-side again.
"Lin Yu," Shizuka began, sounding a little downcast and kicking listlessly at a small pebble on the path, "thank you for being so understanding about Nobita... about today..."
"Don't worry about it," Lin Yu replied easily, turning his head to smile at her as they walked under the setting sun. "Maybe I just don't fully understand the way things are said here in Japan yet, and it caused a misunderstanding with Nobita?" He sounded completely unbothered by the earlier incident.
"Really? Well, it's kind of you to think that way," Shizuka mumbled, slightly relieved. "Nobita... his personality isn't actually bad, he just... sometimes likes to pull pranks using Doraemon's gadgets..." (Even though the last couple of days had slightly lowered her opinion of Nobita, years of friendship still prompted her to defend him, at least a little.)
But as she was speaking, Shizuka suddenly stopped walking. Looking up at Lin Yu's face, illuminated by the orange glow of the sunset, her own cheeks began to flush faintly pink again.
"Th-that... um... Lin Yu..."
"Yes? What is it?"
"Th-the milk... earlier... w-was it really sweet?" she asked timidly, unable to meet his eyes directly.
Lin Yu paused for a beat, surprised by the question but inwardly amused. Who says kids don't pick up on things? Shizuka clearly understood. He nodded, his smile genuine this time. "Yes," he confirmed softly but clearly. "It tasted very sweet."
Hearing Lin Yu's direct confirmation, an inexplicable wave of happiness washed over Shizuka, completely dispersing the lingering annoyance she'd felt towards Nobita earlier.
"It's getting late, we should hurry to Nobita's house..." Shizuka said brightly, her earlier gloom forgotten, a sweet smile gracing her lips.
Just as she spoke, a young woman approached them on the sidewalk. She was tall, wore a light pink dress, and carried a small handbag. Lin Yu paid the passing woman little attention, turning back to Shizuka. But as the woman passed, she accidentally bumped Shizuka's shoulder slightly. "Oof!" With a soft thud, the woman's small handbag slipped from her grasp and fell to the pavement.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" the young woman exclaimed immediately, turning back with an apologetic smile towards Shizuka. "That was clumsy of me."
"It's okay! I wasn't watching where I was going either," Shizuka replied quickly, waving a hand dismissively. It was just a light bump, no harm done.
Seeing Shizuka wasn't upset, the young woman gave another quick, embarrassed smile, quickly retrieved her handbag, nodded briefly at them both, and hurried off down the street.
"She seemed to be in a real hurry," Shizuka remarked quietly, rubbing her shoulder.
"Maybe she's rushing home. It is getting late," Lin Yu agreed, gently guiding Shizuka towards the inside of the sidewalk. "Better walk over here, it's safer. Less chance of getting bumped." Standing closer to the buildings, with Lin Yu protectively on the street side, Shizuka felt that familiar sense of security again.
"Th-thank you, Lin Yu."
"No need to thank me for something like that," Lin Yu chuckled lightly. "Looking out for girls is what guys are supposed to do." As he spoke, his gaze happened to fall upon the spot where the young woman had dropped her bag. A small, white rectangle lay innocuously on the pavement.
"What's this...?" Lin Yu stooped to pick it up. "A business card."
The card was simple, without any fancy designs, but the name printed clearly in the center made Lin Yu do a double-take: Miyoko Mangetsu.
Staring at the name, Lin Yu's mind instantly flashed back to a Doraemon movie he'd seen countless times in his previous life. If his memory served him right, Miyoko Mangetsu was the main heroine from the movie Doraemon: Nobita's Great Adventure into the Underworld. Her father was the scientist, Dr. Mangetsu.
"What is it, Lin Yu?" Shizuka asked curiously, leaning closer to look at the card. "Do you recognize the name?"
"Not exactly," Lin Yu replied, a thoughtful smile spreading across his face. "But I think I might have just found something very useful." He pointed to the smaller print below the name. "Shizuka, look here. What does this say?"
"'Miyoko Mangetsu... Assistant Manga Editor?'" Shizuka read aloud. The name meant nothing, but the title below it made her eyes light up with excitement. "Wow! That lady from just now is an assistant manga editor!"
"Exactly," Lin Yu confirmed, holding up the card with a grin. "I was just wondering how I should go about submitting my manga once it's ready. But now..." He gave the card a little shake. "It seems like fate just hand-delivered an opportunity right to my doorstep."