Cartoonist in Doraemon

The reason Nobita had been jealous of Ashton initially was simple—Ashton had quickly become the center of attention in their class, effortlessly drawing everyone's interest.

Adding to Nobita's frustration was the fact that Ashton had been assigned as Shizuka's deskmate. Their frequent interactions had made Nobita uneasy, as he harbored a long-standing crush on Shizuka.

However, now that Nobita understood Ashton's living conditions, his perspective began to shift. Shizuka's kindness toward Ashton suddenly made sense. Nobita knew Shizuka well—she was a compassionate person who always went out of her way to help others.

"If I'd known about Ashton's situation earlier, maybe I wouldn't have been so jealous," Nobita thought to himself with a pang of guilt.

Meanwhile, Ashton, being a gracious host, offered his guests drinks. "You two sit on the sofa for a while; I'll grab some juice."

Despite the modest state of his home, Ashton upheld the art of hospitality. He handed them each a glass of juice before settling into the seat opposite them.

"Um… Ashton, you really live here alone?" Nobita asked hesitantly, still struggling to process the idea.

From the tidiness of the furniture to the neatly arranged space, it was clear Ashton was independent—a stark contrast to Nobita, who still needed to be woken up for school and couldn't handle basic chores.

"Yes, Nobita, you've asked this before," Ashton replied with a gentle smile, taking a sip of his juice.

Nobita scratched his head awkwardly. "Right… but still, it's amazing you're managing everything on your own. My full name is Nobi Nobita. I'm sorry if I said or did anything wrong before."

Nobita then stood up suddenly, bowed slightly, and thumped his chest with a dramatic gesture. "As a classmate, if you ever have any trouble, just come to me! If I can't solve it, I'll ask Doraemon to help. He's amazing at fixing problems!"

Ashton blinked, a bit taken aback by Nobita's sudden declaration. But he could see that Nobita was sincere, and even a little embarrassed about his previous behavior.

"Nobita-san…" Ashton murmured, surprised by how smoothly things were unfolding. Nobita might be clumsy and jealous at times, but he had a good heart.

Reflecting on how he had sulked over Shizuka's kindness toward Ashton, Nobita's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. He now realized Ashton might have genuinely needed help yesterday. Determined to make amends—and perhaps to impress Shizuka—he had stepped up.

"In that case, thank you, Nobita-san," Ashton said warmly.

"No need to thank me!" Nobita grinned, his confidence inflating. "Classmates should help each other, right? Hahaha!"

True to form, Nobita's pride swelled with Ashton's praise, his energy nearly overflowing.

Shizuka, delighted to see the two getting along, chimed in. "By the way, Ash, didn't you buy some tools for drawing comics yesterday? Can we see what you've drawn?"

"Comics? You draw comics, Ashton-san?" Nobita's eyes widened in surprise, his juice momentarily forgotten.

Ashton smiled modestly. "Well, it's just a hobby. If you're curious, I don't mind showing you. I've only finished a cover and two rough drafts, though, so there's not much to see yet."

He led them toward the stairs, explaining, "I stayed up late last night working on them, but I underestimated how much time it would take."

"It's fine! We're just curious to see your work," Shizuka assured him.

"Yeah!" Nobita added enthusiastically. "I love comics, so I'd love to check it out!"

Before heading upstairs, Ashton paused and turned to Nobita with a small smile. "By the way, you don't have to call me Ashton-san. Just call me Ash—or Ashton if you prefer. Can I call you Nobita?"

"Of course! Ash it is!" Nobita replied cheerfully.

_____

Nobita's favorite pastime was simple: lying in his small room, enjoying comic books with some afternoon snacks, and drifting off into a peaceful nap when he felt tired. To him, it was pure bliss.

"Let's go. You can take a look and maybe give me some suggestions," Ashton said with a smile, leading the way upstairs.

His home wasn't large—just a small single-family house. The first floor comprised the living room, kitchen, and bathroom, leaving the second floor for his personal space.

"These are the drafts I worked on yesterday," Ashton explained as he approached his desk. He carefully arranged the drawings before handing them to Shizuka. "The lines are still rough, and there's plenty of room for improvement, but I'd love your feedback."

Though Ashton's skills were still developing, his work reflected a clear sense of precision and organization. Thanks to the guidance of his system and the detailed blueprint of the comic in his mind, the drawings looked clean, with minimal corrections.

"Wow! This cover is so intricate!" Shizuka exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. "Ash, did you really draw this just last night? It's incredible!"

Ashton had created a cover for Demon Slayer, depicting Tanjiro holding his sister Nezuko protectively while gripping his Nichirin sword. The artwork captured every detail with stunning clarity, but it also conveyed an unsettling tension.

Nezuko's sharp fingernails glinted ominously, her fierce expression subtly contrasting with her brother's calm demeanor. Her half-open mouth revealed sharp teeth, and her claws gripped Tanjiro's clothes tightly, as though she were a predator eying prey.

Meanwhile, Tanjiro remained stoic, his sword poised to defend against the surrounding demons. The contrast between the siblings—the bond of love and the lurking danger—created a striking visual narrative.

Both Shizuka and Nobita were mesmerized.

"Yeah, I stayed up late working on it," Ashton replied modestly, smiling at their praise.

Seeing their genuine appreciation filled Ashton with satisfaction. He wasn't immune to the joy of having his efforts acknowledged, and their reactions reassured him that his work had an impact.

Even Shizuka, who wasn't typically drawn to comic books, appeared captivated. For Ashton, this was a significant boost to his confidence—proof that his work had the potential to resonate with people.

"Shizuka, hurry up and check out the rest!" Nobita urged impatiently, eager to see what lay beyond the cover.

Shizuka smiled at his enthusiasm and turned the page, revealing the prologue.

The scene unfolded in a snow-covered wilderness, where a young boy with a fiery red scar on his forehead struggled through the cold, carrying an unconscious girl on his back.

The boy's breath misted in the frigid air, forming a hazy barrier around him. Blood dripped from the girl's clothing onto the pristine snow, staining it like scattered crimson petals.

"Hold on, Nezuko," the boy murmured, his voice filled with determination. "Don't die... Brother will definitely find a way to save you."

Sweat and tears froze on his face as he trudged forward, leaving uneven footprints behind. Despite his exhaustion and the biting cold, the fire of resolve in his eyes burned brightly.

The draft ended there, but the raw emotion and attention to detail left Shizuka and Nobita speechless.

"That was... amazing," Shizuka finally said, her voice tinged with awe.

"Yeah," Nobita agreed, flipping through the two pages repeatedly, hoping to find more. "Ash, is that all you've done so far?"

"That's all for now," Ashton said with a sheepish grin. "I couldn't finish more last night."

"Oh, what a pity!" Nobita exclaimed. He leaned forward eagerly, clasping his hands together. "Ash, promise me you'll let me see the next draft as soon as you finish it! I have to know what happens next!"

Ashton chuckled, amused by Nobita's earnestness. "Of course. I'll let you know as soon as it's ready."

Sometimes, Nobita's simplicity was endearing—he didn't hesitate to speak his mind or show his excitement. Watching him act so openly made Ashton laugh, feeling a growing warmth for the boy who had once resented him.