Cold Nobita

Chapter 2

Ever see how a person trying to rein one's rage but failing to do so since no matter what, there are always signs of said attitude: flared nostrils, reddened eyes and clenched fists?

Nobita was used to see it from different people; his teacher, Gian, Suneo or even Shizuka on some occasions. Yet the one from his mother was where he could not be afraid of.

(He wished he could just run away, anything to not see his enraged mother.)

"NOBITA, WHAT IS THIS?!" Tamako started, her eyeglasses glared in the sunlight. "ANOTHER ZERO... JUST WHY?^ prime prime

Nobita couldn't help but to flinch guiltily as she held the offending test paper in front of him.

"Uhh, Mama... I'm sorry. It, uh... I studied the wrong subject," Nobita practically whispered the word 'subject'.

"THAT IS NOT AN EXCUSE, NOBI-CHAN." She slightly lowered her voice; though Nobita could still hear the bitter disappointment as she continued. "If you really wanted a good grade... you need to focus more on your studies."

Outside the living room, Doraemon passed by with a paper bag full of special edition Dorayaki in hand. Curious with the noises in said room, the blue robotic cat peeked inside, to which he was greeted with the usual sight of Nobita getting scolded by his mother.

"As always." Doraemon said with a sigh, shaking his head. After waiting for a while, he continued walking and went upstairs to Nobita's room.

"IF YOU CONTINUE THIS ATTITUDE OF YOURS, YOU WILL NEVER GET THE FUTURE YOU WANTED," Tamako went on giving her only son advices in a stoic, vehement tone, "YOU CAN'T MAKE EVERYONE AROUND YOU HAPPY, ESPECIALLY YOUR WIFE. YOU CAN'T GET A JOB. YOU MAY EVEN BE A HOMELESS PERSON... SO PLEASE, NOBITA... CHANGE! IT'S NEVER TOO LATE FOR A CHANGE."

Nobita remained silent however, processing what his mother had just said to him.

"You can't make everyone around you happy, especially your wife," Those words spoke volumes to Nobita, replaying over and over in the boy's head.

(Nobita never really learn the phrase 'Your actions have consequences of its own, but the more the sentence was repeating in his mind, the more it slowly began to make sense.)

'Huh... If I really want to make everyone... even my wife, to be happy with me, I will have to start it from now on.'

As if a switch flicked in his mind, Nobita felt a rush of strong determination to change. Steeling himself, he slowly held eye contact with Tamako, who was gazing at him with a worrisome look.

She was more than surprised when her son suddenly hugged her, peeling his exam paper away from her hands and muttered, "Thank you, Mama for saying it aloud to me!" before running upstairs.

(She only shook her head before turning the television back on. "I've always said that to you, Nobi-chan," she mumbled and the corner of her mouth lifted to a small smile. "Hopefully it gets to your head this time.")

Doraemon was in Nobita's room, reading some mangas while eating his favorite food, Dorayaki. He grinned in satisfaction as he chewed the desserts.

"Ah, there's no such joy comparable to this lovely Dorayaki. Such perfection must be savored as much as possible," Doraemon said dreamily between his munches.

The sound of footsteps alerted him and he turned his eyes to the red door, which was then swung open by Nobita.

"Hello Doraemon," the bespectacled boy greeted as he passed by the robot.

"Welcome back, Nobita-kun. How's your day-" Doraemon absent-mindedly returned the gesture but stopped halfway because he was now seeing among the rarest things ever since he was sent from the future right in front of him.