The now new group formed by an alliance called "DoraLlumia" had agreed to go to Erufu tomorrow morning for a crucial mission: Get the last elemental weapon. Since it was Devan's territory, it was going to be a risky mission. Everyone had retired to their rooms, while Suneo and Gian were in the hallway waiting for the bathroom to empty, Doraemon and Nobita were in the room, everyone had gone to take a bath before going to rest, so everyone was in their pajamas, of course, except for Doraemon who didn't need to use one.
-Nobita- Says the blue cat -Could you take off your pajama top for a while?-
-Uhhh...Okay- The silly boy agrees and takes off his shirt, revealing his torso and chest. Doraemon looks at the bandage he had around his shoulder and part of the ceiling.
-Also the bandages, pal- Nobita sighs because he already knew how the cat would react if he took off the bandage, but he still does it little by little. Doraemon is shocked by the large scar that started from his right shoulder almost near where his heart was housed. -This... It was because of what happened in Shiroitoppu. Right?- Doraemon asks to which Nobita nods his head.
-The evil clown who tried to hurt Lillie on Devan's orders and I stepped in to save her, almost cut off my entire arm. Thank goodness I have improved resistance. No? - Nobita says, smiling nervously.
-So what I felt wasn't a coincidence- Nobita is confused by what his friend says -When we were at the Water Sanctuary, I felt serious pain in my right shoulder, I felt like I was drowning and my strength was gone. I could feel how you were dying-
The silly boy just holds his shoulder with a look of sadness -I'm sorry you had to feel that. Being on the verge of death was horrible- the boy just sits on his bed -My body froze quickly, my tears came out but I couldn't scream because of the pain and the blood coming out, I felt like my vision was going out and more blood came out from my mouth while it was harder for me to breathe. The truth was a feeling that I wouldn't want to repeat again- Nobita holds his shoulders trembling, Doraemon sadly sits next to him. -Although... If someone I love is in danger again. Would I do it again, you know? Either Lillie, or Shizuka. Especially you too-
-Don't say those things, you can't do that again after almost having died. Your life is as valuable as those of all of us, I'm not saying this because you are the Summoned One, but because it would hurt me to see you die, even if it's for watching my back. Promise me you'll be more careful next time- Doraemon says worriedly.
-I don't know if I can promise you at this point in a world of survival but... I'll try to be more careful- Nobita says looking at his partner who just sighed worriedly.
-It seems that you have already adapted to this place. No?- Says Doraemon
-I feel that being an adventurer has helped me a lot, I have been busy raising my level and rank to at least know how to take care of myself and not be a burden to others.- Nobita gets up and approaches the window to see the starry sky. -It's the first time in a long time that I feel useful. Do you know? When I did complicated missions like defeating a monster or one as simple as carrying a little boy who got lost in the woods, it felt good to be thanked. And if it still didn't involve any profit, it was born of myself to help someone. Because that's what Sakura says: An adventurer is one who helps those who need it.-
-There I heard while we were passing through some villages about the story of a young swordsman adventurer who was part of a group that was dedicated to doing missions that did not even pay him but he smiled every time he helped others, one whose nickname is The Lightning Swordsman- Doraemon looks askance at Nobita and he answers with a smile, sticking out his tongue while winking at him -Heh. But of course, I should have known that they were referring to you, maybe that would have helped me understand your real situation, but I didn't understand it since they didn't say it with your name but with that nickname-
-Lightning swordsman? I like the sound of that. And yes, as I said, it feels nice when they thank you, which has become more common to me without being able to help it - Nobita says scratching his cheek while he shows a blush of pride. -Maybe for me in my world it was difficult to study or be good at sports and that's why I was the least expected in the neighborhood. But here something was born inside me, I think it's the spark of the adventurer. The reason I didn't want to meet with you yet was because I felt this was an opportunity to show you that I could do it.-
Doraemon sighs again -Nobita, you didn't have to prove anything in a situation like this...-
-Yes, yes I had!- The silly boy interrupts -When I had the nightmare of my bad memories, I thought I was sentenced to be nobody. But I also remembered the good times, which is why I didn't fall under Devan's influence. But anyway I felt frustrated at repressing myself, and I understood that that day in the slime forest.- Nobita clenches his fist indignantly -Everyone was trying hard and I was the helpless weak one who saw himself as a burden to all. After all, you always stressed it to me, right? That I couldn't get a good grade, that I could never have hit a home run without cheating. That I just needed to "not ruin" anything. On the one hand, it has hurt me that everything the people think of me in my world is an inevitable fact in everyone's thoughts.-
-On the other hand, I feel that it hurts me because it's the truth, I have given a bad image of myself all these years that now people find it difficult to believe when I make an effort from my heart sometimes. I think coming to Illumia as an unknown starting from scratch helped me see what was wrong with me-
-Nobita- Doraemon exclaims with a sad look at his friend, he gets up from the bed and approaches him -You took that abduction as an opportunity to improve, and that's not a bad thing. In fact, I admit that at certain times I didn't recognize you when we were fighting Rioku.- The blue cat touches his friend's tummy, who releases an involuntary giggle. -Even your body no longer feels like a bouncy flan.- Nobita laughed at that
-Ok, ok, I admit that the flan thing made me laugh- The silly boy laughs -But yes, since I have decided to make an effort I no longer feel so tired when walking, nor have I needed my naps as much, my reflexes and my resistance improved. I learned to handle the sword and hit if I need to, although compared to Gian, my punches aren't very strong. I even learned to swim! Well, almost if I only can the doggy swim- says Nobita smiling sadly.
-I have to thank Kioji for that, after all he decided to be your teacher- says the blue cat laughing.
-Yes, at first it was TOO hard for me and I wanted to throw in the towel but... I think the desire to prove that I could and knowing that Illumia was in trouble motivated me to keep trying- Nobita says determined -This place has given me so much, I want to give it back to it, this was a world I wanted to escape from, but I think... Now it feels like my second home. I really love being the Lightning Swordsman- The silly boy notices concern in Doraemon's eyes. -But, that doesn't mean that I don't miss my first home, I miss mom and dad, I also miss my house. I miss spending my days playing in the vacant lot or sleeping on the concrete pipes. It's hard for me to say it, but I even miss school.- Nobita just scratches the back of his neck nervously because he missed even that last bit.
Doraemon realized that having spent months in Illumia even changed Nobita's self-esteem, this was a world where they didn't know him at all even though he was like a kind of chosen one, a blank canvas for a boy like him to draw his way as his like. Having to survive in a fantasy world that led even boys his age to work early, risking their lives, had awakened the survival instinct that was dormant in Nobita, which would explain his recent physical improvement, of course, he wasn't a Samson, but compared to his old self from months ago, he had grown up.
He hadn't seen Nobita so happy with himself in a while, he still got down but not as much as before, he didn't cry except on certain occasions and although he was still skittish, he wasn't so much anymore. The truth was he was proud, but Doraemon was also worried at the same time, all this that had happened had divided the heart of his friend in two: His love for the Earth and his love for Illumia.
Which made him a little afraid that he might want to stay after fulfilling the Summoned One's prophecy, after all, the boy felt like what he wanted from the beginning before the whole invocation thing; a hero, at least, a notable adventurer known to the Illumians, though he would miss those he loved and the things he was accustomed to. And if he returned home, there might be an improvement that would help his future, at least physically, but he would still have to work hard academically. And having tried to be adventurous, the kid would feel some nostalgia when returning to a "normal" routine.
If so, what life would his friend choose?
Will he be Nobita again? The 11-year-old boy with a simple life in the neighborhood, taking naps and playing with strings, rolling 0s
Or will he prefer to be The Lightning Swordsman? The young adventurer who travels through Illumia doing missions, being little by little exalted by a different world
Doraemon also notices that Nobita had bandages on his hands, takes one of them and notices that there was fresh blood. -Are these other wounds? These bandages have become stained!-
Nobita is sad and nods -I have scars and blisters from practicing with the sword and with my fists, plus a large scar on each palm from having faced a giant ice mantis, now that I have faced Rioku, the scars opened a little and I was supposed to let them rest and not press hard for a couple of days, but with the swordsman gloves you can't see that-
-WHAT?!- Doraemon shouts stunned
Shizuka enters the room, knocking before of course, and sees the pair, but she is scared when she sees the large scar on the silly boy's shoulder and the bandages with almost reddish tones due to the new blood stains, she just covers her mouth in surprise. -Oh, excuse me, I wanted to know how you were doing-
-Hi Shizuka! We are just talking, having been separated for 4 months has made us sentimental- Nobita says smiling when he sees his friend.
-I'll go get Gian and Suneo to talk, but first...- The cat takes the Doctor's Bag out of his pocket and puts it on the bed -I have to heal you and change those bandages on your hands, I also have to bandage your scar of the shoulder, that seems to be the most recent. If we are all going to go, you must be 100%- Doraemon says to which Shizuka approaches.
-I'll take care of curing Nobita, don't worry Doraemon, you will go-
-Shizuka- The clumsy boy says with a little blush on his cheeks.
-Oh, okay, I'll leave him in your hands, while you do it, I'll take the opportunity to look for Suneo and Gian to discuss something important that you should also listen, Nobita, I'll be right back- The robot cat leaves the room, while Shizuka takes Nobita's wrist to avoid hurting his hands and makes him sit on his bed near the briefcase and begins to remove the bandages from his hands. Shizuka is perplexed by how bruised and blistered they were, also by the large scar he had in both palms.
The girl with the pigtails just looks at the boy sympathetically and begins to heal his hands using the support of the briefcase. Nobita jumps just a little because of the pain. -I'm very glad that you are making an effort to increase your self-esteem after everything that has happened, but you should also be careful and take it a little more calmly, I wouldn't want you to get hurt more than you already are-
Nobita just looks to the side blushing because the friend he was in love with is healing his wounds, but he feels a little pain from his hands. -Ouch, ouch. Y-y-yes I know, thank you for helping me with the injuries, Shizuka-
The girl just smiles -You're welcome- She stops for a moment to look a little sad, but she decides to be honest -Do you remember that you asked me what my biggest fear was that materialized because of Alessandra?-
-Oh, it's true! What was it?- Nobita asks confused.
Shizuka only remembers that moment where a corrupted version of her friend was trying to harm her, turned into a loyal servant to the Demon King, which makes her look into the silly boy's eyes.
-I saw you Nobita, a version of you dominated by the Demon King, with the swordsman's clothes that you have but in duller colors, you didn't recognize me, you wanted to finish me off-
Nobita jumps in fear -But I would never hurt you like that!-
-I know that, a while ago I imagined that many horrible things happened in Akuman and that all of that would lead you to be dominated by them, the truth is...- Shizuka continues healing the wounds while smiling sweetly -My fear was losing you and you mean a lot to me, you know?
Nobita can't help but blush again, he had always dreamed of that moment where his great love said those sweet things to him, although the curious thing is that no matter how beautiful he felt that, his reaction was less than expected, which confused the boy a little but he didn't give it any importance for now. -Did you really miss me?-
-Of course, that question is unnecessary- The girl with the pigtails laughs as she bandages the swordsman's hands with new bandages while letting out a light blush. -That was a fear that had arisen from how much I was worried about you and that grew every day that we were apart, you are a great friend to me, I may sometimes get angry over the smallest things, but I wouldn't leave you aside for anything.-
When finished, Shizuka looks sadly at the large scar on her friend's shoulder but begins to bandage it with bandages taken from the briefcase -It makes me happy to see that you have not stopped being the Nobita who cares about the feelings of others and wants to protect those feelings, but also be more careful with yourself, okay? I wouldn't want you to go through what you went through again and that's why you got that scar, it makes me sad to know that you will have to live with that for the rest of your life-
-Thank you very much Shizuka, I'll keep that in mind- says the silly boy, still blushing while scratching the back of his neck, the girl only saw him smiling with a blush on his cheeks.
The atmosphere was becoming adorable until Doraemon enters with Suneo and Gian. -Well guys, attention, since we are all here, we must discuss the topic of the ISEKAI Project-
-ISEKAI Project?- Nobita asks as he puts his pajama shirt back on.
-The bad thing is that although we have the elemental weapons of lightning and light, we couldn't get the notebooks from those sanctuaries.- Suneo says, closing the door to the room.
Giant crosses his arms annoyed -And is there no way to enter those sanctuaries again to get them?
-I'm afraid not- Answers the dwarf.
Hearing the words "notebooks" and "ISEKAI Project", Nobita remembers what Hanya told him when he was in limbo and is startled, which Doraemon notices.
-You probably don't know it Nobita, but I'll explain to you about what I discovered from the first elemental sanctuary, you see...-
The jet interrupts the blue cat -"When all the notes are together and deciphered by the hand of the future, you will know about the Origin and a door"- What the boy with the glasses said left all of his friends confused.
-Since when have you been a physiologist?- Asks the confused Gian.
-I think you meant "philosopher"- Suneo says indifferently.
Nobita is startled -I think I got it! -The boy with the glasses stands up suddenly, approaches his bag and starts searching in it.
-What are you looking for?- Shizuka says curiously.
-I think I can help with that- The clumsy boy takes out the two notebooks from the shrines of lightning and light -TARA!- Everyone else is perplexed, especially Doraemon. -I found them in the shrines, they looked like they were some kind of gadgets of yours, I tried to read them but I didn't understand anything that was written on them, so I decided to save them to give them to you when we met.- Nobita says smiling
Doraemon smiles too -Good job Nobita!-