The morning sun painted Tokyo in a soft gold, its rays slipping through the trees and rooftops like a gentle promise. Birds chirped above, school bells rang in the distance, and the streets slowly came alive.
Satoshi stepped outside, dressed in his school uniform, hair slightly damp from the cold splash of water he always used to wake himself up. His schoolbag was neatly packed, his lunchbox prepared with the help of his grandmother. The air smelled of warm rice and early beginnings.
Waiting at the corner, he spotted Nobita waving frantically, already late as usual.
"Sorry! Sorry! I overslept again!" Nobita shouted, half-laughing, half-panicked.
Satoshi chuckled and caught up with him. "One day you'll wake up on time and I'll faint from the shock."
"No promises," Nobita grinned, scratching the back of his head.
Soon after, Shizuka joined them—neat and calm as always. Gian stomped over with his heavy steps, and Suneo followed, wearing a smug grin, showing off a new gadget his dad had brought home.
"Check this out," Suneo said, lifting a tiny robot toy that buzzed and spun in the air.
"Cool!" Nobita said.
"Rich boy stuff," Gian scoffed.
"Don't be jealous," Suneo teased.
By the time they reached the school gate, their laughter had already drawn attention.
The familiar brick building stood tall, the corridors echoing with children's voices. Inside the classroom, as Satoshi took his seat beside Nobita, a new student walked in—tall for his age, well-dressed, glasses perched neatly on his nose.
The teacher introduced him: "Class, this is Dekisugi Hidetoshi. He transferred here from another district."
Dekisugi bowed politely. "Pleased to meet you."
Nobita immediately leaned toward Satoshi and whispered, "He looks smart. We're doomed."
Satoshi laughed under his breath. "Or maybe he's friendly."
And friendly he was. By lunch break, Dekisugi had already joined their group. Shizuka welcomed him with a smile, Suneo tested his knowledge with rapid-fire questions, and even Gian grudgingly approved after Dekisugi mentioned he liked baseball.
Under the schoolyard tree, they ate together, trading snacks and jokes.
"I like it here," Dekisugi said. "You all get along so well."
"That's because we don't have a choice," Shizuka said, laughing.
"We're stuck with each other for life," Gian added.
Satoshi looked around at his friends—laughing, arguing, sharing food—and felt something warm bloom inside him. A deep-rooted peace.
So this is what it means to belong.
He leaned back against the tree, eyes half-closed.
The sun filtered through the leaves in golden fragments. Suneo was laughing at something Gian said. Shizuka was helping Nobita clean up spilled rice. Dekisugi was calmly reading, and Satoshi just sat there, soaking it in.
Life is beautiful, he thought.
Just like her.
The thought of Nobita's mom suddenly crossed his mind. Her tired eyes. Her gentle smile. Her quiet strength. She didn't laugh as loudly as a child or complain like a tired adult. But in her silence, in the way she placed hot food on the table and whispered to herself while folding laundry, there was something sacred.
A softness that held everything together.
The final bell rang, breaking him from his thoughts. Together, they waved goodbye to each other and headed their separate ways.
Satoshi reached home as the sun began its slow descent. The house stood still, peaceful, with a few birds resting on the boundary wall.
He stepped inside, calling out gently, "I'm home."
There was a clatter in the kitchen, followed by the soft voice of Nobita's mom humming an old tune. The scent of miso soup and simmering vegetables floated through the air. Satoshi slipped off his shoes, walking softly toward the kitchen.
There she was.
Wearing an apron, sleeves rolled up, her hair tied into a loose bun. She looked every bit like a housewife. Not just Nobita's mother doing part-time chores—but someone who had rooted herself into this home.
But her brows were slightly furrowed as she stirred the pot. Something troubled her. Perhaps bills. Perhaps Nobita. Perhaps just exhaustion.
Satoshi stood silently for a moment, watching her from behind. His chest tightened—not with pity, but something deeper.
She shouldn't have to carry everything alone.
Quietly, he stepped forward. And without a word, he wrapped his arms around her legs from behind, pressing his small face against the back of her apron.
She startled, nearly dropping the spoon.
"Eh?!" she gasped, turning.
Then she saw him.
A child. Just a child. But the look in his eyes wasn't ordinary.
"Don't be worried," Satoshi said, his voice small but certain. "I'll protect him. In school. Always."
Her eyes widened. She crouched down slowly, touched his cheek, and smiled—but her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
"You're a sweet boy, Satoshi-kun," she whispered.
That evening, dinner was quieter than usual—but peaceful. She served food with care, gently scolding the grandma to eat more, and chuckled when Satoshi tried to help with the dishes.
It wasn't grand.
But it was home.
---
Five Years Later…
Time, as always, moved on—softly, yet relentlessly.
Satoshi grew.
From a small, polite child into a sharp-eyed, reliable boy of ten. He had grown taller, stronger, and faster—thanks to daily system-assigned exercises. The system rewarded him with stat points every day without fail, and he never skipped even once.
But more than his stats, it was the life around him that changed.
He still walked to school with Nobita, Gian, Suneo, Shizuka, and Dekisugi. Their group became inseparable—defending each other during class, pulling pranks, studying hard (well, some more than others), and racing to buy popsicles after school.
Satoshi was always there.
When Gian got into a fight with an older student—Satoshi stood between them.
When Nobita failed yet another test and cried behind the school—Satoshi sat beside him.
When Shizuka got sick, it was Satoshi who brought her notes and helped explain them with patience.
And at home… nothing changed. And yet, everything did.
Nobita's mother still came part-time. Still wore the apron. Still cooked with love. But now, she was family. She laughed more. Wore brighter colors. Decorated the corners with flowers and even grew fond of humming songs while folding Satoshi's clothes.
One night, Satoshi sat by the window, looking out at the city lights, thinking.
This world—the people, the warmth, the struggles—it was all so fragile. And precious.
"I'll protect it," he whispered.
Because this time…
He had a reason to live.
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