The morning alarm clock beeped with every passing second, making the person sleeping soundly in the room groan in annoyance.
Nobita sighed in frustration and tried to silence the alarm by fumbling around and slapping at the button on top of the digital clock. After several failed attempts, he finally managed to stop the hateful device that had ruined his peaceful sleep.
He exhaled and burrowed deeper under the blanket, savoring the quiet.
However, the peace didn't last long.
"Fuu!" Quick pokes on his cheek from the mischievous orange Dorakokko doll made Nobita groan again. He turned over, rolling around in an attempt to ignore the tiny hand jabbing at his left cheek. But in the end, Nobita gave up and threw the blanket aside.
The blank white ceiling came into view, bringing with it the harsh reality of a Monday morning, waking him completely. He had class in less than an hour, no more time for laziness or stalling.
Almost without thinking, Nobita hand reached out to pat Fuuko's head. The adorable "child of typhoon" gave a pleased hum, twirling happily in the air. She had been with him for some time now, and every glance at her pulled him back to those quieter, simpler days in Nerima Ward with his family, his friends, and, most of all, with Doraemon.
Nobita's heart tightened at the thought of his best friend. Doraemon had been forced to return to the 22nd century when Nobita entered high school, and to keep Doraemon from worrying, Nobita had made a promise: he would grow, he would become better. He would no longer rely on others. He would become stronger. And that promise was what had brought him here, to one of the most prestigious schools in Tokyo, where he hoped he could prove himself…
Suddenly, Fuuko zipped away, then returned a few seconds later with a toothbrush, toothpaste already squeezed neatly onto the bristles. Nobita laughed and patted Fuuko's head again. "Thanks, Fuuko. Guess I really do have to get up now."
Acknowledged, Fuuko spun happily in the air while Nobita got out of bed to prepare for a new day. After finishing his morning routine and breakfast, he quickly changed into his familiar outfit: navy shorts and a yellow polo shirt. Finally, he adjusted his glasses, making sure they sat straight on his face, completing his signature look. Satisfied with his reflection in the mirror, Nobita turned to Fuuko and said: "Let's go!"
The two stepped out onto the bustling streets of Tokyo. Towering skyscrapers loomed overhead, starkly contrasting with the quiet, familiar neighborhoods of Nerima Ward. Lining the streets were rows of upscale restaurants and shops, while the roads were jammed with cars, buses, and bicycles weaving through the throngs of people.
The daily chorus of honking horns and wailing sirens echoed in the distance. At first, it had all been overwhelming. But Nobita had grown used to it. He no longer felt the same fear or strangeness as when he'd first arrived.
No matter how chaotic life became, he refused to falter. He had promised Doraemon he would change, and he would not break that promise. Each day was another step toward standing tall on his own.
As he walked, Fuuko playfully swirled around him, her cheerful, lively presence putting him at ease in this ever-moving world. Thanks to a device Doraemon had installed in Fuuko's outfit that emitted a special hypnotic wave, everyone around them saw the flying plush toy as something completely normal.
"Uwah, I hope Ms. Mami lets us out early today."
Nobita's complaint earned an agreeing nod from Fuuko. Ms. Mami, the beloved homeroom teacher, was friendly and approachable to all her students. But what truly made her stand out was her vast knowledge in many fields and her ability to understand her students far beyond textbook lessons.
Despite her excellent academic background, she disliked judging students solely based on tests or exams. To her, it didn't matter who was the top student in school, the most important thing was one's ability to connect with others and offer help when needed.
Of course, nobody is without flaws. In Ms. Mami's case, she had a habit of letting her lessons run over time. As a result, Nobita had never once gotten out of her class early...
The lively chatter of students rang out, snapping Nobita out of his thoughts.
Stepping into the shade of the sidewalk, the two finally arrived at the school's grand gates. Students from all walks of life gathered, chatting and joining activities together. Nobita looked at them and couldn't help but... Smile. He really had come a long way, huh, from the timid boy who had once struggled to find confidence in himself after Doraemon's departure, to standing here at this prestigious school…
As he walked into the school's main hall, a familiar figure in a buttoned black shirt and gray jeans slowly approached him, a half-smile tugging at his lips.
His stylish sunglasses were neatly tucked into his breast pocket, making him look as though he had just returned from some glamorous event.
"Well, well, running late again, Nobi-kun."
Suneo's voice still carried its familiar arrogance. Though he never tired of boasting about his wealthy upbringing, he was one of the few faces from Nerima who had come to this academy as well.
That boastful streak had never disappeared. But in his own way, Suneo had matured a lot compared to before.
"Yo, Suneo. You're here pretty early," Nobita replied, adjusting his backpack strap.
"Still full of energy as always, huh, Fuuko!"
Suneo waved at Fuuko, then shoved his hands into his pockets and shot Nobita a sly grin. "Having your own car really makes all the difference, you know…" he bragged.
Nobita sighed, far too used to this kind of talk. Suneo was always showing off his luxurious lifestyle, and studying at a prestigious academy in Tokyo only gave him more reasons to boast.
"Yeah, yeah… But seriously, how the heck did you even get past all the traffic jams this morning?" Nobita asked, genuinely curious.
Suneo shuddered, his confidence faltering for a moment. "With sheer willpower, lots of patience... and, uh, a little lane-switching technique." He coughed lightly, clearly still not over the stressful ordeal. Gas wasn't cheap, and being stuck in one spot for twenty minutes straight had been far from enjoyable.
Nobita chuckled, shaking his head as he walked alongside his old friend. The bustling city around him somehow felt less overwhelming when familiar faces were by his side, with Fuuko spinning joyfully around him and Suneo rambling endlessly about the latest luxury goods.