"Coming throught!"
The moment the words left his mouth, Nobita took off. Both he and Fuuko were already drenched; there was no way they could've made it home before the downpour hit. Not that it had anything to do with the full hour they'd spent loitering in the pastry shop, of course.
But really, who could blame them?
For the past week, Nobita and Fuuko have survived on nothing but instant noodles, fried rice and convenience-store junk, the classic diet of high schoolers struggling to live on their own.
Fuuko didn't actually need food the way humans do, hot air was her true source of energy. Still, she loved nibbling on human food, especially sweets. Nobita, for his part, figured he deserved a reward after seven straight days of junk food. And so, the two of them had patiently queued for nearly an hour just to snag a pair of chocolate mound cakes at a twenty-percent student discount. Honestly? Totally worth it. Those cakes were divine.
That said, it was a little embarrassing to see everyone else calmly walking under umbrellas. They clearly prepared for the season's sudden showers. So why on earth hadn't Nobita thought about bringing one during the rainy season? Fuuko couldn't figure it out. Then again, she also forgot about it, so can't really blame him can't she?
"Almost home, Fuuko!"
Ah, who cares, it's more fun running in the rain anyway! With that thought, she picked up speed, chasing after Nobita.
The two of them kept running through the rain. Cold raindrops slapped against Nobita skin and seeped into his clothes, making him shiver as he dashed through the streets. His breath came in sharp bursts, mingling with the roar of rainfall. The slick pavement forced him to watch his footing as he weaved between storefronts and hurried pedestrians.
The sensation was hard to pin down, a mix of exhilaration and strain. And with Fuuko gliding right at his side, it felt as if he were racing the storm itself.
Then, as he sprinted across a deserted intersection, the sight ahead stopped him short.
Police cars. Dozens of them.
Armed officers in bulletproof vests stood in formation. Some carried SMGs, others hefted assault rifles. German Shepherds sat at the ready, leashes taut. Radios crackled nonstop. A rather bizarre scene.
"Quite the heavy police presence, they even brought in K9 units. What's going on?"
Questions crowded Nobita's head, but he had no time to dwell on them. The rain was still pelting down, and home was waiting.
By the time Nobita stumbled into his apartment hallway, he was soaked through, panting from the long run. He shook out his jacket in the lobby to keep from dripping everywhere before heading for the elevator.
The lift was eerily quiet. He stared at his reflection in the steel doors: hair plastered down, clothes clinging to his skin, every inch of him clammy and uncomfortable. The thrill of running through the storm had already ebbed away, leaving only a bone-deep weariness.
Finally, his floor.
He kicked off his waterlogged shoes the moment he entered his apartment, welcoming the warm air that enveloped him. Peeling off his soggy jacket, he grimaced at the chill of fabric against his skin.
First order of business, a hot shower. Right away.
"Fuuu!"
Fuuko squeaked, about to suggest drying him off with her wind magic first. But Nobita had already dashed into the bathroom. She could only shake her head helplessly.
Let's just hope he doesn't wake up with a cold tomorrow… she thought, drying herself with a gentle current of air.
***
"Reports of wild animal attacks on humans have risen sharply in recent weeks. Experts warn that human encroachment and destruction of natural habitats are driving the wildlife to become more aggressive..."
Nobita switched off the TV once he decided he didn't need more background noise, the sound of rain outside was enough. Besides, which teenager watches TV these days anyway? Everyone has moved on to social media or streaming platforms for entertainment.
Still, the news lingered in his mind.
In truth, Nobita is concerned about wild animal attacks. Nerima Ward is a peaceful place, and the Back Hill is a haven for wild animals who seek refuge from the harsh wilderness. But with wild animal attacks becoming more common, that leniency and welcoming gesture to wild animals might one day be its undoing.
"Animals attack huh... Maybe I should call Mom and Dad to check in."
His dad usually got home around 6:30. Accounting for dinner, a bath, and some rest, eight o'clock seemed like a safe time to call.
***
"Yeah, yeah, I get it. I'll sleep soon. Good night, Mom, Dad, stay safe."
Nobita let out a small sigh of relief as he hung up. Leaning back in his chair, he stretched with a wide yawn. He hadn't done anything too exhausting today, yet somehow fatigue clung to him.
"All that just from a bit of running? No way… It's nothing compared to back when I was always running from Jaian." He chuckled wryly, shaking his head.
"Fuuuu..."
Fuuko's drowsy voice snapped Nobita back to the present. Right, dinner. Time to get started.
"Ah, sorry, Fuuko. Let me whip something up, okay?"
Good old spam fried rice. Simple, filling, and his specialty. If there was one thing Nobita had mastered besides sleeping, it was cooking meals out of canned food and leftovers.
And so, his culinary trial began. Yesterday's leftover rice was perfect, everyone knew freshly cooked rice was too moist, but day-old rice from the fridge had just the right texture for fried rice. With practiced hands, Nobita diced the spam into neat cubes, then prepared chopped green onions and minced garlic. Tossing them into the wok, he added the rice, a drizzle of soy sauce, and a touch of sesame oil. Twist, flip, turn, the spatula danced in his grip. Soon, the savory aroma of ham and soy sauce filled the air.
"Fuuko, dinner's ready!"
The wind spirit let out a lazy yawn, floating toward the table. But the smell hit first, snapping her wide awake. Fuuko perked up, chirping excitedly as Nobita set down a steaming bowl. One bite later, she gave a happy squeak and a thumbs-up with hers tiny hand, making his grin.
You'd think after all that cake earlier, Nobita wouldn't be hungry. But he was still a growing boy, and his appetite knew no bounds. It didn't take long before both bowls were scraped clean. He washed them with quiet satisfaction, a small smile tugging at his lips.
Gaining a sense of independence while living on his own here was, arguably, the highlight of his life. He had relied on Doraemon and his family for so long, but not anymore. He'd already begun looking for part-time jobs to ease his parents' burden. Nothing solid yet… But maybe working as a barista, or a store clerk, would be the first step.
Lost in thought, Nobita finished washing the bowls before he even realized it. After stacking them neatly in the cupboard, he quickly went back to his room and sat down at the PC.
"Everyone's probably already on voice chat by now… Wait... What time is it?"
Picking up his phone to check the time, he noticed several unread messages, one of them from the class's Line group.
"What? Class is canceled until further notice!?"
The message was short and to the point, posted by none other than Ms. Mami. Dozens of classmates had asked for an explanation, but she hadn't replied to a single question. Strange. Today had already been filled with oddities, and now this.
Determined to get some explanation, Nobita typed into the squad group chat, "Wonderful Childhood." to see if they can shed some light on the situation.
Sharpshooter (Nobita): Hey, just got a message from Ms. Mami. Classes are canceled until further notice. Did you guys get the same thing?
Rookie Ninja (Kenichi): Yeah, my class also got the same announcement. Weird.
Magical Girl (Eri): I knew it! Something big is brewing, has to be connected to those damn attacks.
Ex-Time Patrol (Ream): It's hard to say, but you might be right. Most of the reports are erased. Can't find anything now.
Rookie Ninja (Kenichi): Wdym?
Ex-Time Patrol (Ream): I spent an hour searching news sites earlier. Nothing came up. The pages that had news related to those attacks either won't load, or return domain-not-found.
Magical Girl (Eri): See? Told you (¬_¬).
Oboccha Manbo (Suneo): Guys, my dad just called. He told me to pack my stuff and come home immediately.
Amateur Inventor (Eiichi): Did he say why?
Oboccha Manbo (Suneo): No. Just said don't ask questions and get back right now.
Sharpshooter (Nobita): If Mr Hokenawa is panicking, then yeah… this is serious.
Space Drifter (Miki): GUYS, CHECK THE NEWS NOW!
Sharpshooter (Nobita): … What?
Startled by Miki's all-caps message, Nobita scooped Fuuko into his arms and hurried to the living room, flicking on the television. The usual comedy programs had vanished, replaced by the emblem of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, a bold white line of text beneath it:
"NATIONWIDE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE TOKYO METROPOLITAN MINISTRY OF HEALTH WILL BEGIN SHORTLY."
Nobita frowned.
"What the hell is going on?"