“Clear Skies After Rain”

⸻

After that day in the library, something shifted between them. Not drastically. No declarations. No public scenes.

Just… quiet changes.

Dekisugi started waiting for Nobita outside class. Sometimes, they walked together to the station. Other times, they’d sit in the park, not speaking much—just being. Nobita didn’t know what this was, but it felt safe.

One evening, as the sun dipped behind the Tokyo skyline, Nobita asked, “Do you think we’ll still know each other in ten years?”

Dekisugi looked at him, surprised. “Of course. Why wouldn’t we?”

Nobita stared at his shoes. “I don’t know. Maybe you’ll be a famous scientist. I’ll probably still be messing up job interviews.”

Dekisugi leaned back on the bench, hands behind his head. “Maybe. But maybe you’ll be writing children’s books. Or designing gadgets that Doraemon hasn’t even thought of.”

Nobita laughed. “Now you’re just teasing.”

“I’m serious.” Dekisugi turned his head, expression open. “You have imagination, Nobita. That’s something the rest of us lack.”

Nobita’s chest warmed at the compliment. It didn’t feel like pity. Dekisugi meant it.

⸻

The Cultural Festival

Their class was preparing a haunted house. Nobita, surprisingly, volunteered to help with props. He wasn’t good at cutting or gluing, but he stayed late, trying to do something useful.

Dekisugi stayed late too—painting signs, organizing costumes, laughing softly when Nobita got stuck in fake cobwebs.

At one point, they found themselves alone in the darkened classroom, fairy lights casting soft glows on the walls.

“You didn’t have to wait with me,” Nobita murmured, brushing glitter off his fingers.

“I wanted to,” Dekisugi replied, gently. “I like being around you.”

Nobita swallowed hard. “You… really mean that?”

Dekisugi stepped closer. Not too close. Just enough to be clear. “You don’t have to be perfect for people to care about you.”

Nobita didn’t know how to respond. His heart was loud. He wasn’t used to being wanted like this—quietly, honestly, without expectations.

So he just whispered, “Thank you.”

Dekisugi gave a small, shy smile. “Always.”

⸻

Winter Came

It was nearing graduation. Doraemon was preparing to return to the future soon. The thought made Nobita ache. He couldn’t imagine life without his best friend—or without the safety net.

One snowy evening, Dekisugi found Nobita alone by the school gates, watching the snowflakes fall.

“You okay?” Dekisugi asked, wrapping his scarf a little tighter.

“I’m scared,” Nobita admitted. “Of growing up. Of failing. Of losing people.”

Dekisugi stood beside him. “Even if you lose some people, some stay. I’m not going anywhere.”

Nobita looked up, snowflakes catching in his eyelashes. “Promise?”

Dekisugi nodded. “Promise.”

⸻

Graduation Day

The ceremony was emotional for everyone. Nobita cried, obviously. Dekisugi didn’t—but his voice trembled when he gave the class speech.

Afterwards, as the students scattered with cameras and yearbooks, Dekisugi pulled Nobita aside behind the school building—their old hideaway from exams and stress.

“I have something for you,” he said, pulling out a small, worn book. The Little Prince.

“You gave me this already,” Nobita said, puzzled.

Dekisugi shook his head. “Open it.”

Inside was a handwritten note:

“To Nobita—

You taught me that not everything has to be logical. That emotions are messy, and that’s okay. I used to think I had all the answers, but being your friend showed me there’s more to life than being right. I don’t know where life will take us—but I want to keep finding out, with you.”

Nobita stared at the note, heart in his throat. He looked up.

Dekisugi met his eyes. “I like you, Nobita. More than a friend.”

Nobita stepped forward, voice shaking. “I think I’ve liked you for a while. I just didn’t think I deserved to.”

Dekisugi took his hand, gently. “You do.”

And there, under the sakura trees, they shared their first kiss—soft, slow, and full of all the things they had never said until now.

⸻

[To Be Continued…?]

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