Cartoonist in Doraemon

The publication of a comic is often the spark that ignites its popularity, primarily because it captures readers' interest. Only when readers are intrigued by the story will they continue to follow it, eager to explore the exciting content that lies ahead.

For Ashton, the immediate goal was clear: finish the first three chapters of the comic, a crucial requirement for submission.

It would be another sleepless night.

---

The next morning, sunlight poured into the room through the windowsill as Ashton opened his eyes. Despite pulling a late-night marathon to complete his manuscript, he didn't feel so drained that he couldn't get out of bed.

Shizuka's parting advice to prioritize rest lingered in his mind, making him smile wryly. It wasn't that he disregarded her concerns, but the effort he put in now was a necessary step toward a more comfortable future. For Ashton, this level of work intensity was manageable, especially with the system's vivid recall of every scene from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. His job was merely to replicate the mental images onto paper.

Although the process demanded both time and precision, it was well within his capabilities.

After freshening up and eating breakfast, Ashton carefully packed the manuscript into his school bag. He knew he would be visiting Nobita's house after school, and by bringing the drawings along, he could use the lunch break to polish his work without needing to return home. It was a small but efficient plan.

---

Ashton happened to pass by Shizuka's house as she was stepping out. They exchanged smiles and greetings before walking together toward school.

"Did you get enough rest last night, Ash?" Shizuka asked, noticing him stifling a yawn.

"Uh..." Ashton hesitated, a flicker of embarrassment crossing his face. The memory of staying up late to finish his work was still fresh, and his answer lacked conviction.

"Really, Ash," Shizuka chided gently. "If you keep staying up late, it'll take a toll on your health."

Her tone held a mix of admiration and concern. She could see how dedicated Ashton was to his craft, but she also knew how grueling and exhausting creative work could be.

Ashton smiled, brushing it off. "Look at me now—don't I seem fine? I just had a great idea last night and wanted to get it down while it was fresh. Don't worry, I won't make a habit of it."

Though his response was little more than an excuse, Ashton appreciated Shizuka's care. Her concern warmed him, and he couldn't help but feel that he'd earned a small but meaningful place in her heart.

Shizuka sighed softly but chose not to press the issue.

---

As they rounded a corner, they spotted a familiar figure ahead. The yellow shirt, blue shorts, and slumped posture made it clear—it was Nobita.

To their surprise, he wasn't late for once. Judging by his groggy demeanor, though, it seemed likely that either Doraemon or his mother had forcibly dragged him out of bed.

"Nobita!" Shizuka called cheerfully.

"Huh? Shizuka?" Nobita perked up instantly, shaking off his sleepiness as he turned to greet her.

"Good morning, Nobita. It's nice to see you on time today," Shizuka said as she and Ashton caught up to him.

"Ahaha... yeah," Nobita replied awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. The truth was, mornings were his nemesis—getting out of bed felt like an uphill battle every day.

"By the way, Nobita," Shizuka said suddenly, "did you review your homework last night? There's a test today."

"A... test?" Nobita froze.

The word sent a chill down his spine as the realization dawned on him. He hadn't reviewed a single thing. His fear was palpable—tests were always a source of torment for him.

Not only did he dread the anxiety of taking the exam itself, but he also feared the aftermath: facing his mother's wrath when the results came in. Over the years, Nobita had developed a skill for hiding his failed tests, but even that wasn't foolproof.

Nobita winced at the memory of his mother's legendary scoldings. She once lectured him for an astonishing 2 hours, 15 minutes, and 59 seconds. In Nobita's eyes, Tamako's stern discipline could rival any villain from Doraemon's adventures.

"Ahhh, what do I do?!" Nobita wailed, breaking into a run as if fleeing from his impending doom.

Shizuka sighed, shaking her head with a mixture of exasperation and amusement. Ashton, watching the scene unfold, chuckled softly to himself.

"Really, Nobita, you must have been lazy and didn't review your homework last night," Shizuka said with a sigh, seeing Nobita's panicked expression.

She could easily guess what had happened—after leaving Ashton's house the previous evening, Nobita must have gotten distracted playing with Doraemon instead of studying. If he'd even crammed a little, he wouldn't look this flustered now.

"Shizuka..." Nobita mumbled, realizing there was no point in trying to lie. Shizuka knew him too well.

But the reality of the day's test was hitting hard. Nobita had managed to wake up early and avoid being late, but now he had to deal with the anxiety of the impending exam. It wasn't shaping up to be a great day.

"How about this, Nobita," Shizuka said after a moment. "Once we get to the classroom, there'll still be some time before the test starts. I'll lend you my notebook so you can review. Try to memorize as much as you can."

"Really? Thank you, Shizuka! You're the best!" Nobita's eyes lit up with hope. It was moments like these that made him admire Shizuka so much. Her kindness always seemed to shine through when he needed it most.

Shizuka shook her head, smiling. "It's nothing. Let's just get to class quickly so you have more time to study."

Ashton, walking beside them, didn't object. He hadn't reviewed his homework either, but he was confident he could handle a fifth-grade test without preparation. Meanwhile, Nobita, determined not to fail spectacularly, quickened his pace.

---

The trio arrived at the classroom faster than usual.

"Here, Nobita," Shizuka said, handing over her notebook. "A lot of the test content should be from the teacher's lessons, and I've written everything down. Read it carefully, okay?"

"Got it, Shizuka. Thanks!" Nobita replied, holding the notebook like a lifeline. Though his expression was serious now, Ashton could already picture Nobita struggling to make sense of the notes. It was no surprise—Nobita had a habit of dozing off in class, and trying to cram at the last minute was an uphill battle.

The classroom buzzed with a tense energy. Most of the students were already at their desks, flipping through books or notes in preparation. Even Gian and Suneo, usually more focused on goofing off, were poring over their textbooks with uncharacteristically serious expressions.

Ashton glanced around, smiling slightly at the atmosphere. It reminded him of his own school days, though he couldn't help but notice how disciplined Japanese elementary students seemed to be.

---

A hush fell over the classroom when their teacher, Mr. Eiichiro Narei, walked in. With his briefcase under one arm and his usual stern demeanor, he surveyed the room. His gaze softened briefly when he noticed that Nobita was actually on time for once, though his expression remained firm.

"Ahem... students," Mr. Narei began, his voice commanding attention. "Today is the third day of the new semester. As is customary, we'll have an in-class test to assess how well you retained what you learned over the holidays. I expect you all to do your best."

His words carried a weight that added to the students' tension. Even Shizuka, usually calm and collected, looked a bit nervous.

"For the next ten minutes, use your time wisely to review," Mr. Narei continued, checking his watch. "I'll return shortly with the test papers."

With that, he left the classroom, leaving the students to their final moments of preparation.

---

"Hey, Ash, aren't you going to review?" Shizuka asked, noticing that Ashton wasn't flipping through notes like the others.

Ashton smiled confidently. "I reviewed everything last night. I'll be fine."

"Really? Alright, then." Shizuka nodded, reassured by his confidence, and returned to her own studies.

Ashton leaned back slightly, observing the room. It was amusing to see how seriously even the usually carefree students like Gian and Suneo were taking the test. Of course, whether they truly understood the material was another matter entirely.

Before long, Mr. Narei returned, a stack of test papers in hand. The room grew silent as the students braced themselves.

"Alright, class," he announced. "The first in-class test of the new semester begins now."