The afternoon felt quiet.
Too quiet.
Nobita and Doraemon sat in front of the TV, the sunlight warm on the floor tiles. Everything looked normal — peaceful Tokyo, children laughing outside, birds chirping.
But Nobita's heart…
It wasn't calm.
He felt something.
A pressure.
A memory.
A warning.
Doraemon switched channels lazily.
"Hmm… nothing interesting today…"
Suddenly—
FLASH
The screen changed.
Smoke.
Sirens.
People running.
Gunshots.
A newswoman screamed:
"BREAKING NEWS! AN OUTBREAK HAS STARTED IN TALL OAKS CITY—"
Nobita froze.
Tall Oaks.
His blood turned cold.
Doraemon blinked.
"Huh? Which country is that?"
Nobita stepped closer to the TV, eyes shaking.
On the screen…
Two figures fought through a crowd of zombies.
A man with a handgun.
A woman with a shotgun.
Shooting.
Protecting civilians.
Covered in dirt and blood.
Nobita whispered without thinking:
"…Leon… Helena…"
Doraemon turned sharply.
"Eh? Nobita? Who are they?
And how do you know their names?"
Nobita swallowed hard.
"I… I saw them die.
I saw this outbreak.
The gas… the missiles… Tall Oaks collapsing."
Doraemon stared like Nobita was speaking another language.
"Nobita… what do you mean 'saw'?"
Nobita's voice trembled but stayed steady.
"I lived this already.
I died in your arms.
Leon and Helena died with me.
The whole world fell apart."
Doraemon's eyes widened in fear.
The TV showed more chaos:
Cars exploding
Zombies chasing pedestrians
Leon protecting survivors
Helena yelling for backup
Doraemon grabbed Nobita's shoulders.
"Nobita! This must be a movie—"
But Nobita shook his head.
"No.
This is the beginning."
A trembling silence filled the room.
---
Doraemon Checks the Time TV
With shaking hands, Doraemon pulled out a familiar gadget:
The Time TV.
It shows future timelines.
He pointed it at the real TV.
The screen flickered—
…glitched—
…and then showed a horrifying future:
Cities burning.
Skyscrapers destroyed.
People turning into monsters.
The entire world in chaos.
Doraemon dropped the gadget.
His face went pale.
"This… this is real…"
"Nobita… everything you said…"
He looked at Nobita with fear.
"…you already lived through this, didn't you?"
Nobita nodded slowly.
Doraemon stared at him — not with pity, but with shock.
"But… you're so calm…?"
"I'm trying to be stronger."
---
Mental Upgrade
Nobita closed his eyes.
The Survival System activated.
> [Mental Resistance Training Complete]
[Fear Suppression: 100%]
[Host has reached Mental Level 2]
[Effects: No fear. Enhanced focus. Clear thinking under stress.]
Nobita took a deep breath.
"I won't freeze anymore.
Not when the world needs me."
Doraemon looked at him like he was a stranger.
This Nobita was sharper.
Calmer.
Focused.
A new person.
---
Walking Outside — The Test
The two walked down the street silently.
Doraemon kept stealing glances.
'He isn't trembling…
He isn't looking around nervously…
He's walking straight…
Who is this Nobita…?'
Just then—
Someone big blocked the road.
Gian.
His face red from anger.
He cracked his knuckles.
"I'm in a BAD mood today!
Mom scolded me for nothing!
I need to HIT someone!"
Doraemon gulped.
"N-Nobita, let's go back—"
But Nobita kept walking
without stopping.
Without turning.
Without fear.
He just said:
"…Move."
Gian blinked.
"What did you say?"
But Nobita walked past him calmly.
No shaking.
No crying.
No begging.
Just… confidence.
Gian's face twisted.
"You IGNORING ME?!"
WHAM!
Gian punched Nobita hard in the back.
Nobita hit the ground.
"NOBITAAA!" Doraemon screamed.
But Nobita did not cry.
He did not panic.
He slowly got back up.
His eyes were calm.
Not broken.
Not scared.
Just… determined.
---
System Activation
A blue screen flickered only for Nobita.
> [Warning: Host's physical stats are extremely low.]
[Recommendation: Begin physical training immediately.]
[Host must grow mentally and physically.]
[New Quest: 'Strengthen the Body']
[Failure Penalty: Host will not survive apocalypse.]
Nobita clenched his fists.
He whispered:
"…I'll get stronger."
Doraemon heard him and felt a chill.
This wasn't the old Nobita.
This was someone who had died once
and returned with purpose.