On the day of the Chunin Exam, Hiroshi had specially taken the day off.
In the bedroom, Hiroshi stood by the bed with his hands on his hips and took a deep breath.
"Shin-chan, time to get up."
A little lump under the blanket didn't move.
Hiroshi waited two seconds, then raised his voice. "Shin-chan, get up. We're going to watch the Chunin Exam today."
The lump rolled over and made a muffled sound. "Mmm… five more minutes…"
Hiroshi scratched his head and waited another two minutes. "Five minutes are up. Come on, get up."
"Five more minutes…"
"You already said that once."
"Then let me say it one more time…"
Hiroshi scratched his head again and gave him another push. "Shin-chan, come on. Everyone's waiting for you."
"Who's waiting?"
"Mom is, and I am."
"Oh," Shin-chan said. "Then you two go first."
Hiroshi opened his mouth, then closed it again, not knowing what to say.
He glanced back at the doorway. Misae was leaning against the frame with her arms crossed, wearing an expression that clearly said, I knew this would happen.
Hiroshi turned back and tried pushing him again. "Shin-chan, stop messing around and get up."
"I'm not messing around. I'm sleeping."
"The sun's already shining on your butt."
"Then let it shine a little longer."
A cross-shaped vein popped on Hiroshi's forehead.
"Get! Up!"
Shin-chan cracked one eye open, glanced at him, then closed it again.
"Dad, you're really close. I can smell your morning breath."
Hiroshi's face froze.
Misae sighed and walked over. "Move."
Hiroshi stepped aside immediately.
Misae crouched down, yanked the blanket off, grabbed Shin-chan by the back of the neck, and hauled him upright.
"Get up!"
Shin-chan dangled in the air and swayed twice, his eyes still closed.
"Mom, I'm sleepy…"
"What do you mean sleepy? Who told you to stay up so late last night?"
She set him on the floor. He stood there for two seconds, then slowly started tipping sideways. Misae caught him, shoved him toward the sink, and said, "Brush your teeth, wash your face, and be out in three minutes."
Still half asleep, Shin-chan picked up his toothbrush, squeezed out toothpaste, and brushed his teeth. Foam ended up all over his face.
After brushing and washing, his eyes finally opened to narrow slits.
He staggered to the table and dropped into a seat, head bobbing while he drifted in and out of sleep.
Hiroshi sat across from him, watched him for a second, then said, "Misae."
"Hmm?"
"Is this what you deal with every morning?"
"Pretty much."
Hiroshi went quiet for a second. "You've had it rough."
"You finally get it now, don't you?"
Hiroshi nodded. Going head-to-head with this little brat every morning really was a kind of training.
After two bites of breakfast, Shin-chan seemed to wake up a little.
"Dad, you're not going to work today?"
"I took the day off," Hiroshi said. "I'm going with you two to watch the exam."
"Oh." Shin-chan nodded and took another bite of rice.
After breakfast, Misae checked over everything one more time.
Hiroshi stood by the door, fussing with his appearance in the mirror again and again.
"Alright, you look fine."
Hiroshi adjusted his collar once more. "Really? Is this formal enough?"
"You're going to watch an exam, not going on a date."
"But it's the VIP section…"
"Come on already." Misae shoved him toward the door. "If you keep dragging your feet, we will be late."
Shin-chan was squatting in the entryway putting on his shoes. Shiro circled around his feet, tail wagging like a fan.
"Shiro, do you want to go too?"
"Woof!"
"Then be good. No running off."
"Woof!"
Shin-chan finished putting on his shoes and pushed the door open.
A red carpet stretched from their front step all the way to the street corner.
At the far end of it stood a black carriage.
Beside it was a butler. The moment he saw Shin-chan, he bent slightly at the waist.
"Good morning, Master Shin-chan. Her Highness has sent me to escort all of you."
Shin-chan looked down at the red carpet, then up at the carriage. "That's a huge carriage."
"Please, step inside."
Shiro sniffed the carpet, tapped it twice with his paws, then suddenly took off running, his little legs pumping furiously.
"Shiro, wait for me!" Shin-chan shouted as he ran after him.
Hiroshi stood in the doorway with one foot hanging over the threshold, unable to put it down.
Misae stood beside him, frozen too, gripping Hiroshi's sleeve tightly.
"This is here for us?"
"Looks like it."
"We're supposed to walk on the red carpet?"
"Looks like it."
Misae took a deep breath. "My legs feel a little weak."
"Mine too," Hiroshi swallowed and said.
The two of them stood there like pillars.
Over by the carriage, Shin-chan had already run one full circle around it, with Shiro chasing happily behind.
"Dad, Mom, hurry up!"
The butler turned toward them and bowed again, extending a hand in invitation.
Hiroshi took a deep breath, lifted his foot, and stepped down. The carpet felt softer than he'd expected.
Misae followed right behind him, still clutching his sleeve.
"Hiroshi."
"Yeah?"
"Am I walking with the same hand and foot?"
Hiroshi glanced at her. "No."
"Then why does it feel like everyone's staring at me?"
By the time they reached the carriage, the butler had already opened the door and pulled out a folding step stool, placing it on the ground.
"Please."
Hiroshi got in first.
The carriage interior was luxurious, but he had no idea where he was supposed to sit.
Misae climbed in after him and froze too.
Shin-chan had already come in from the other side, plopped himself in the deepest seat, and bounced once on the soft cushion.
Shiro hopped in after him, circled once by his feet, then lay down.
"Dad, Mom, sit down already." Shin-chan patted the seat beside him. "It's so soft and comfy."
Hiroshi and Misae exchanged a look, then sat side by side, stiff as boards.
Shin-chan had already started wriggling around on the seat. "This cushion is so bouncy. Dad, look."
He bounced hard once and nearly popped up off the seat.
"Shin-chan, stop moving." Misae hurriedly pressed him down. "What if you break their carriage?"
"I won't." Shin-chan bounced again. "See? It's really sturdy."
The door closed.
The wheels rolled over the road with a soft rumbling sound, smooth and steady enough that you could barely feel the motion.
Misae lifted the curtain just a little and looked outside.
People on the street were all staring at the carriage. Some pointed. Some whispered to each other.
She hurriedly let the curtain drop again, her heart pounding.
Shin-chan crawled over to the window, yanked the curtain open wide, and waved at the people outside.
"Hello, everybody!"
Hiroshi nearly jumped out of his skin and quickly pulled him back. "Don't do that!"
"Why not? There are lots of people outside."
"That's exactly why!"
Misae added, "Shin-chan, sit properly and stop fidgeting."
Shin-chan tilted his head, unable to understand why having lots of people outside meant he couldn't wave at them.