Cartoonist in Doraemon

The clock struck eight, and class officially began. Mr. Eiichiro Narei stood at the podium, his usual stern expression in place. His eyes swept across the classroom, and when they landed on Nobita Nobi's empty seat, a familiar sigh of helplessness escaped him.

Nobita's chronic tardiness was a problem Mr. Narei had long given up trying to fix. Despite countless scoldings and parent-teacher meetings, Nobita could only manage a week of punctuality before reverting to his old ways.

Clearing his throat, Mr. Narei addressed the class. "Alright, everyone, take out your textbooks and turn to the first chapter."

Before he could proceed further, a familiar voice interrupted.

"Huff... Huff... Sorry, teacher! I'm late!"

Nobita burst into the classroom, out of breath.

"Nobita! Late again? Two days into the semester, and you've already broken your streak! Out to the corridor—stand there until the second period!"

Head hung low, Nobita muttered a reluctant, "Yes, sir..." and shuffled out to his usual punishment spot. The class erupted into quiet laughter, a daily ritual they seemed to enjoy. Ashton, watching from his seat, shook his head in mild amusement.

Unlike his classmates, Ashton's attention was drawn to Nobita's bruised face and the bandage on his forehead. It brought back memories of yesterday, when Gian had dragged Nobita away in a fit of rage. The aftermath of their encounter was now evident.

The morning classes passed quickly, and Nobita was finally allowed back into the classroom after the second period. He slumped into his seat, reaching for his textbook, only to find Shizuka standing in front of him.

"Nobita, why were you late again? And what happened to your face?"

Shizuka's gentle concern was a stark contrast to the laughter of their classmates. Despite Nobita's poor habits and lackluster academic performance, Shizuka always treated him with kindness.

Nobita's eyes welled up, but he forced a weak smile. "I… I just tripped on my way home yesterday. I'm fine."

"Be more careful next time, okay?" Shizuka said, her voice warm and understanding.

"Thank you, Shizuka. I will," Nobita replied, her kindness soothing his embarrassment.

Ashton watched the scene unfold, noting the unique bond between the two. Despite his flaws, Nobita was lucky to have a friend like Shizuka, whose genuine care never wavered.

While Nobita was still reeling from yesterday's events when Gian accidentally triggered the Lover's Umbrella effect. Nobita's plan had been simple: use the umbrella's magic to make Shizuka fall for him. Instead, Gian became its unintended target, robbing Nobita of his opportunity to get closer to her.

While this alone was frustrating, what truly pushed Nobita to his limits was Gian's unrelenting enthusiasm. Inviting Nobita to a private concert and offering him a taste of his infamous cooking was nothing short of a nightmare.

Gian's singing wasn't just bad—it was legendary for its soul-crushing intensity. No one had survived an entire performance without succumbing to the auditory onslaught. Adding his "dark cuisine" to the mix was pure torture; Nobita knew this from bitter experience.

Desperate to avoid both the concert and the meal, Nobita tried to resist Gian's advances, ultimately causing Gian to step out of the Lover's Umbrella's range. The spell broke, and Gian snapped back to his usual self. Furious at Nobita's refusal, Gian rewarded him with his signature "Big Fist Set Meal," leaving Nobita bruised and battered for school the next day.

Reflecting on his predicament, Nobita could only blame himself. If he hadn't sought Doraemon's help in the first place, none of this would have happened. Yet, learning from his mistakes was not one of Nobita's strong suits, as evidenced by his chronic tardiness and his inability to avoid the teacher's scoldings.

---

By lunchtime, the morning classes had flown by. While most students unpacked sushi or rice balls, Ashton opened his insulated lunchbox to reveal fragrant egg fried rice sprinkled with green onions. The aroma quickly caught the attention of his classmates, especially Shizuka, who was seated next to him.

"Ashton, is that egg fried rice?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Yeah, that's right," Ashton replied with a smile.

Shizuka looked surprised. "Just egg fried rice?"

"Why? Is something wrong?" Ashton asked, noticing her reaction.

Shizuka explained, "In Japan, egg fried rice is usually considered a side dish. It's common to eat it with staples like rice balls or ramen. So when I saw you eating just egg fried rice, I was curious."

Understanding dawned on Ashton. "Ah, I see. No wonder my classmates were giving me strange looks earlier. It must be a cultural difference—where I'm from, fried rice can be a full meal."

Shizuka smiled warmly. "Every place has its customs. Don't worry about what others think, Ashton."

Ashton chuckled. "I wasn't too bothered, but I appreciate your thoughtfulness, Shizuka."

Changing the subject, Shizuka asked, "The fried rice smells amazing. Did your mom make it for you?"

"No, I made it myself," Ashton said casually.

Shizuka's eyes widened in surprise. "You made it yourself? That's impressive!"

Ashton's skill in cooking was yet another layer of intrigue for Shizuka, who found herself admiring his self-sufficiency.