Chapter 3: Chatting with Nohara Misae
"Oh, so Kawakami-san wants to be a mangaka. That's really wonderful." Nohara Misae nodded in agreement.
"Do you have any works you can share right now?"
That was a perfect question.
These past few days, after learning about this world, Kawakami Yuichi had been staying home, working overtime nonstop.
He'd finally finished the first chapter of Doraemon. His hands were still a little numb from drawing so much.
But that was just his imagination, because he could use Mew's healing ability to relieve his fatigue—which was why he'd been able to finish the first chapter so quickly.
As for why he was rushing to draw manga, it was because he was almost out of money. If he didn't have any income soon, he'd be starving next month.
Nodding slightly and ending his brief daydream, Kawakami Yuichi replied, "Yes, the work is called 'Doraemon,' and the first chapter is complete."
"I mailed it to Shogakukan yesterday—we should hear back in a few days."
"I believe I'll definitely become a great mangaka."
Nohara Misae looked somewhat surprised. "That famous Shogakukan?"
"Kawakami-san seems very confident in your work."
"Then I wish you the best of luck with the submission process."
"Thank you for your kind words," Kawakami Yuichi replied happily.
"Speaking of which, Nohara-san, is your husband not home? Is he working overtime even on Sunday?" Kawakami Yuichi asked curiously.
Hearing this question, Kawakami Yuichi clearly noticed that Nohara Misae's expression suddenly became somewhat dejected.
"Papa... he's abandoned us and left this home," Shin-chan, standing nearby, answered Kawakami Yuichi's question with a forlorn expression.
But as soon as he finished speaking, Nohara Misae delivered a hard chop to his head, making it spin around.
Then, Nohara Misae gave Kawakami Yuichi an awkward smile and explained,
"It's nothing. This kid just likes to say nonsense. His father went out early this morning to play golf with clients!"
"Owww~, Mama, I know I was wrong!" Shin-chan pleaded.
"If you know you were wrong, then don't say things that are easy to misunderstand!" Nohara Misae scolded loudly.
If it weren't for knowing Shin-chan's mischievous nature, Kawakami Yuichi might have actually been fooled.
However, seeing Shin-chan being lectured made him feel a warmth he hadn't experienced in a long time.
In his previous life, Kawakami Yuichi had been alone with no family to speak of.
So he decided that in this life, he absolutely had to find a suitable partner and build a warm family.
"Nohara-san, since Shin-chan knows he was wrong, how about letting him off this time?" Kawakami Yuichi began to plead for Shin-chan after ending his wandering thoughts.
It seemed that Kawakami Yuichi's plea had worked—or perhaps Nohara Misae had already finished her scolding—because she let Shin-chan go.
Having successfully escaped Nohara Misae's wrath, Shin-chan said to Kawakami Yuichi, "Arigatō gozaimasu, Danna-sama!"
"Danna-sama?" What the heck?
The next moment, Kawakami Yuichi finally realized what was going on and replied with a wry smile, "Shin-chan, you probably meant to say 'Onii-chan, arigatō,' right?"
"Something like that," Shin-chan replied, scratching his head sheepishly.
Then, as if he'd spotted something, he dashed into the bedroom.
Nohara Misae knew her son very well. The senbei on the table weren't even finished, and Shin-chan's sudden departure aroused her suspicion.
So, as soon as Shin-chan left, Nohara Misae followed.
However, because she was carrying Himawari, she was much slower than Shin-chan.
When she arrived in the bedroom, she found a gift bag lying beside Shin-chan, and Shin-chan was secretly eating a box of Chocobi in the corner.
"Nom nom~" The sound of munching on chocolate biscuits rang out.
Shin-chan, enjoying the delicious Chocobi, seemed to sense the murderous aura behind him and mechanically turned his head.
Seeing that it was his mother, he turned back and quickly shoved the entire biscuit into his mouth, making his cheeks bulge like a hamster's.
His movements were incredibly fluid—he must do this often.
After swallowing the Chocobi, Shin-chan said to Nohara Misae, "Mama, Onii-chan is so awesome! He even gave us Chocobi!"
Nohara Misae corrected Shin-chan, "Shin-chan, you should say 'generous,' right?"
"And you little brat, you ate them all! You didn't leave a single one for Mama!" Saying this, she went to Shin-chan's side and grabbed his head with both hands, twisting it back and forth.
After dealing with Shin-chan, Nohara Misae returned to the chabudai and said to Kawakami Yuichi, "Thank you so much for the gift."
"No, no. It's just a small token. I'm so glad Shin-chan enjoyed it." He then secretly glanced at Shin-chan sprawled on the floor.
Then he noticed the clock on the wall—it was already eleven o'clock. He said, "It's getting late. I have some things to take care of, so I'll take my leave, Nohara-san."
"It's a real shame I didn't get to meet Nohara-san's husband this time! I hope we can meet next time."
"Mew, let's go."
Hearing Kawakami Yuichi's call, Mew wriggled out of Himawari's arms and scampered over to Kawakami Yuichi's shoulder.
As for why it didn't fly, it was because Kawakami Yuichi had told Mew not to fly in public to avoid causing unnecessary trouble.
"Aah~" Himawari's mood clearly dipped after Mew left her embrace.
No one knows a daughter better than her mother. Nohara Misae produced a bromide photo of Takeshi Kaneshiro from somewhere and handed it to Himawari, whose mood immediately brightened.
Takeshi Kaneshiro's charm on Himawari actually surpassed that of Mew.
Does that mean we both lost? Seeing this, Kawakami Yuichi and Mew exchanged a glance.
After comforting Himawari, Nohara Misae said to Kawakami Yuichi, "Kawakami-san, remember to visit often when you have time! Hima-chan really loves Mew."
"Shin-chan, Hima-chan, come say goodbye to Onii-chan."
Shin-chan: "Bye-bye, Onii-chan!"
Himawari: "Bai bai~"
Kawakami Yuichi responded, "Goodbye, goodbye! I live right next door, so you can come over to play anytime. I'd love to have you!"
"Shin-chan, I still have two more boxes of Chocobi at home. I'll save them for you. Remember to come visit another day!"
"Okay~! I'll go right now!" Shin-chan replied excitedly and was about to head to Kawakami Yuichi's apartment.
But Nohara Misae grabbed him.
"Shin-chan, Mama is very busy right now. You can go next time. Besides, you promised Mama you'd help with the housework today. I won't let you weasel out of it."
"Fine..." Hearing the word "housework," Shin-chan immediately deflated.
As for Kawakami Yuichi, he left the Nohara house and returned to his apartment.
[End of Chapter 3]