"Ah. Nobita, you're looking...amazing."
Shizuka stands in front of me, dressed in a white gown spilling across the floor.
"Shizuka, I love you."
Shizuka covers her face, then looked back at me. This cuteness might kill me after all.
"Ahem, ahem. Now. The bride may kiss the groom"
Doraemon stands in background, holding a bible.
Yes, Finally. The moment is here.
"Shizuka~"
"Nobita~"
My lips tightened. With this, I'll finally-
"NOBITA!"
Shit.
I wake up. Sitting in classroom with hands folded. The teacher screamed at me. Though I've already learnt the mastery over 'unsuspiciously sleeping in class'.
"Yes sir"
Ah, I see. The teacher is returning the tests sheets.
"70 marks. Keep working harder."
"Yes sir"
Eh, that's fine. Not in middle atleast. I sit back on my chair, front row, corner of the room. You'll think sleeping in the front row is impossible. It's quite opposite.
Because the teacher is already focusing on troublemakers, it's unlikely he'll notice me.
"Hey, you said you didn't study, you bastard"
Gian. He's furious. I bet he got lower than me. It's probably harder to get things in that gorilla brain of his. That's probably why he's glaring at me, muttering.
At best he'll try to hit me. I'll just have to escape him. If he swings, I'll run. Endurance? Low. Speed? Top tier.
"And we'll end today's class here. Make sure to complete the homework today. Class, dismissed"
Perfect opportunity. I waste no time. I stand up and immediately walk behind the teacher and escaping class before anyone else. Not gonna let him catch me lacking.
"Safe!"
I glide through the hall, stopping before my locker. School shoes, unequipped. Outside shoes, equipped. Returning to main quest.
"Run!"
My top speed is 15 km/hr.
"GRRRRR-BARK, BARK!"
A Dog's 16.
"WAIT, NO SHOO!"
If i was in a competition, i would've definitely... Tripped and fell. I know about my anti-luck quirk.
The pathetic boy, me, ran like a madman. His bag flying like a cape behind him. The dog tires out.
Or maybe I'm out his territory? Anyway, I'm safe.
"Haaa.... Kill that little shit, please god."
I look at a multi story apartment in front of me.
"Old days, huh"
Damn. I'm getting senti. Well, who wouldn't after looking at their favorite playing spot?
"Time to move?"
I asked myself, but i couldn't budge. It's been a long time since i came on this path. Years, probably.
Ever since we shifted from nerima ward to kanfuji because of dad's promotion, I've hardly ever come here.
"Time to move"
I clear a manly tear from my left eye, smiling like an idiot i was. Turning towards my house.
"Oh yeah. I had to pick something from market right?"
I pull out my phone from my pocket and open texts from mom. Today's sweet is pudding. Sweet. Literally.
"Life's worth living, huh."
Putting back my phone, i walk to the market. Shopping shouldn't take too long.
"A pudd-i mean fish please"
Great. I asked for pudding on fish shop. I'm definitely killing myself tonight.
Shopping took longer than i expected. And-hm?
A strange looking robot. Wait, is he? He feels like an insect too. What is he?
"Well... With that, shopping is done"
I ignore him. Walking past the crackes wall, pretending to not notice that giant mechanical butt sticking out of it.
"Don't look back,Nobi. Don't look back"
You expected me to help? Nah. I need much more help than anyone else, lol. I mean therapy especially.
"Let's call them."
I might not be a saint, but I'm no monster. Atleast informing the police is least a responsible member of society can do.
"Hello. Ah yes. There's a strange butt sticking out in the street 5,near market street. Yes. No, i think it might be hostile. Yes, I'll not touch him"
Perfect. Not acting ignorant. Not getting into shit by acting hero. Perfect balance.
I escape the potential main quest and return home.
"I'm back, mom."
"Welcome back, eat your pudding. There's no food today."
Works for me.
"Ok."
I pick the pudding, and start walking up my heaven, i mean room.
"Did you get your result?"
"70."
"You can do better, you know. Keep studying."
Obviously i can. I just don't wanna do anything, in fact.
I don't reply and slide open my door and close it behind.
"Hey"
My room is as beautiful as ever. The bedsheets still open to embrace me. The clothes i removed, waiting for me to embrace them.
"Hello?"
I put my plate down, ignoring the pink haired, tall beauty staring at me with a smile.
"Heyyy?"
I start to undo my-wait.
"Huh?"
Shit. Female. Protocol defense mechanism: established.
"Whoa whoa!"
I trip and fall on ground. Protocol:failed.
"Are you alright?"
She seems in a panic. Do I know her?
"Ah, yes. Sorry."
I get up.
"So who are you?"
She smiles, then puffed her chest. Wow. She feels like she's enjoying looking at this confused boy.
"I'm Riruru. You should be ashamed to have forgotten about me, though."
Riru-
"WHAT THE FUCK-"
"Shhhh! No swearing!"
Gentle hands shut my mouth. Her soft-wait no, no time for that.
"What do... Huh? Wait. Didn't you-"
"Hm? Ah."
She giggles like a teasing fox.
"Wait. It's not something to laugh at! Are you really?"
"Mh-hmm."
She leans in closer. Smelling like rose.
"Wait. But-? How?"
"Well. First of all, sorry. It took so long to come back."
She scratches her cheek and continues.
"Well, after the professor helped me stop my people, there was a slight... Change in past. And that l couldn't remember you for all this time, despite helping me so much. Sorry!"
She bowed down, clasping her hands together.
"Oh, no. No need! Please take a seat!"
My hands move in a frenzy, making a space for her in the messy room. Then we both take a seat, placing the pudding in front of her.
"Please eat up."
"But, isn't that yours?"
"Don't worry! Just eat up."
Riruru smiles, then gently takes the spoon in her hand and takes a bite.
"But man-8 years, no? Wait. Maybe more. Especially with all those time shenanigans i used to do with doraemon"
"Pfft- i can trust that."
"Bet you can! Hahaha"
"Ah, by doraemon. Where is he?"
Ah. I knew it.
"He's..... Gone."
My smile died out. I tried to force it back, but failed.
"What? Where?"
She's surprised. Look at her face. The pudding might fall if she doesn't eat it already.
"Back to his time."
I force out a fake smile.
"Well, he came here because i was a bit of a loser in future. He was sent by my grandson as a guide to help me not turn into the idiot i was going to. Once i started growing better, his job was done."
"Wait wait. Slow down. What are you saying? Wasn't he a friend of yours? Your best friend."
More like a brother. But i don't correct her. Nodding my head was the best option.
"I-.."
She couldn't continue. She sits back, looking down.
"Sorry. I was thinking only about myself."
"It's ok."
Silence. Neither of us could continue talking. Well, it's understandable in her case. She must be thinking of a way to continue without hurting me.
For me though? I just don't want to continue this conversation all together.
"Anyway, how did you remember about me then? Shouldn't you have had forgotten about me all together?"
Anti-awkwardness protocol:disctraction established.
"Oh! Yes. Well, sometime ago, we found a portal back to earth. I was in the survey group. And while surveying, i came across the lab of professor."
Success.
So there were surveying aliens roaming around. Makes sense now.
"Explains the mechanical butt."
"Huh? What?"
"Nothing. Just talking to myself, please continue."
Riruru tilts her head. But then returns to talking.
"There i found the files, records, and... Footage of shizuka and myself helping professor. Seeing that made me remember the erased timeline"
Classic timeline mesh huh.
"Must've been rough, huh?"
She shakes her head.
"Quite the opposite. I'm glad that i remembered the past. I wished to meet you and doraemon immediately. That's why i came here."
Well that explains everything, i guess.
"I see. Man, you made me nostalgic. I'm gonna cry."
Riruru's lips widened.
"I-"
"But i still wanted to ask. Why were your surveying earth anyway?"
She stiffened. Maybe a bit too much? What's wrong.
Wait.
"I- it might seem selfish."
It's coming,isn't it?
"I needed.....help."
Ah. Here it is.