Chapter 3- what's on his mind?

Andriette turned around at the sound of the familiar voice.

The moment she saw the girl walking toward them, her eyes widened slightly.

It's her...

She immediately recognized her as the same girl she had accidentally seen earlier in the hallway.

Shizuka walked over with her usual gentle smile.

"Sorry I'm late," she said. "I got held up doing something."

Then her eyes landed on the new students standing with the group.

"Oh?"

She blinked in surprise.

Andriette instinctively looked away for a moment.

Does she know I saw her earlier...?

The thought alone made her feel embarrassed.

Thankfully, Nobita spoke before the silence could become awkward.

"Andriette, Kaito," he said with a smile, "this is Shizuka. She's another member of our group."

Shizuka smiled warmly.

"I saw you and Suneo talking to them during lunch."

"Oh," Nobita laughed sheepishly. "We were just introducing ourselves."

Daiken smiled at Shizuka.

"They're officially part of our group now."

"Really?" Shizuka's smile grew even brighter.

"That's wonderful. Nice to meet you both."

"Nice to meet you too," Kaito and Andriette replied together.

The atmosphere quickly became relaxed again.

After chatting for a little longer, everyone finally began heading home.

Outside the school gate, the group split up as usual.

Dekisugi drove home with Gian, Suneo, Shizuka, and Jaiko in his car.

A black car soon stopped near the gate.

The driver quickly stepped out and opened the back door.

Kaito let out a small sigh before looking at Andriette.

"I'll drop you home," he offered.

"You don't have to," Andriette replied.

"I pass by the block you said your apartment is at anyway."

Kaito smiled gently.

"And it'll be getting dark soon."

After a moment's hesitation, she nodded.

"...Okay. Thank you."

The two waved goodbye before getting into the car.

As it drove away, Nobita watched it disappear down the road.

"Hmm..."

He tilted his head.

Kaito seems to come from a family like ours.

It explained the expensive-looking car that came to pick him up.

Soon, Daiken called out to him.

"Nobi, let's go."

"Coming!"

Nobita hurried over and climbed into the passenger seat while Daiya happily sat in the back.

As the car drove away from the school, Nobita rested his chin on the window and thought about everything that had happened today.

Meeting Kaito.

Meeting Andriette.

Watching two complete strangers become part of their little group in just one day.

A smile slowly appeared on his face.

Then another thought suddenly hit him.

Ah...

His smile disappeared.

I completely forgot.

He had spent the whole day talking to everyone else... and never found the chance to confess his feelings to Shizuka.

He let out a quiet sigh before shaking his head.

There's always tomorrow.

He clenched his fist with renewed determination.

You can do it, Nobita.

The drive home was quiet.

Daiken glanced at Nobita from the driver's seat.

His younger brother had been staring out of the window ever since they left school. He noticed him let out a quiet sigh.

What's on his mind?

He kept his eyes on the road before finally asking,

"What are you thinking about? Is something bothering you?"

Nobita looked at him in surprise.

"How did you know?"

Daiken chuckled and held up one finger.

"First, I'm your big brother. I know you better than anyone."

Then he raised another.

"Second, it was written all over your face."

And another...

"And third... you literally just sighed."

Nobita rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

"It's nothing much, Brother. Don't worry."

Before Daiken could reply, a cheerful voice came from the back seat.

"Oh! I know what's bothering him!"

Both brothers looked at her through the rear-view mirror.

"You do?" Daiken asked.

She nodded proudly.

"Yep!"

"Then tell me."

Before she could open her mouth, Nobita quickly interrupted.

"Wait, Daiya! You promised you wouldn't tell anyone."

"But—"

"No buts."

Daiya puffed out her cheeks and crossed her arms.

Daiken frowned slightly.

What could be so important that he doesn't want me to know?

Then a frightening thought suddenly crossed his mind.

His hands tightened around the steering wheel.

No...

Did he somehow find out?

His heartbeat quickened.

It can't be...

Not now.

We're not ready to tell him yet...

He took a slow breath, forcing himself to stay calm.

But if he knows... how does Daiya know too?

The questions kept circling inside his head.

After a few moments of silence, Daiken smiled gently.

"Leave it, Daiya."

"If Nobi doesn't want to say it yet, then that's okay."

Nobita lowered his eyes.

"It's not that I don't want you to know, Brother."

He smiled awkwardly.

"I'm just... nervous about what you'll think."

Daiken looked at him for a moment.

His heart softened.

Whatever it was, he didn't want Nobita to feel afraid of him.

He reached over and gently patted his head.

"You never have to be nervous around me."

"You're my little brother."

"No matter what it is, I'll always listen first."

Nobita smiled.

"Thank you, Brother."

Just then, Daiken slowed the car.

"Oh."

He looked ahead.

"We're home."

"You two get off first. I'll go park the car."

"Okay!"

Nobita and Daiya climbed out of the car and waited near the front door while Daiken drove toward the garage.

A few minutes later, the three of them entered the house together.

"We're home!"

The household staff greeted them with polite smiles.

"Welcome home, Young Masters. Welcome home, Young Miss."

Daiken nodded politely.

"Thank you."

He looked around.

"Where's Mom?"

One of the maids stepped forward.

"Madam went out with Sir today."

"She asked us to tell you not to wait for them and to get some rest after school."

"I see."

"Thank you."

The three siblings headed upstairs to their own rooms to freshen up and finish the rest of their work.

A few hours later...

The evening sun had begun to set outside.

Homework was finished, baths had been taken, and the three siblings were now relaxing in the living room while watching television.

Not long after, the front door opened.

"We're home!"

The familiar voices made Nobita and Daiya immediately look toward the entrance.

"Mom!"

They ran over together.

Tamako barely had time to put down her handbag before the two wrapped their arms around her.

She laughed softly.

"I understand Daiya..."

She gently pinched Nobita's cheek.

"But Nobita, you're in high school now."

"You're still acting like a little kid."

Nobita gave her his usual bright smile.

"But I'll always be your little kid, Mom."

Tamako's expression softened immediately.

Before she could reply, Nobisuke reached over and patted both Nobita's and Daiya's heads.

"Of course you will be."

Daiken walked over a little more calmly.

"Welcome home, Mom. Dad."

"How was your day?"

"It was good," Nobisuke replied with a smile.

"How about yours?"

"We had a good first day too," Daiken answered.

Nobita nodded excitedly.

"And I made two new friends today!"

"Oh?"

Tamako looked pleasantly surprised.

"Really? Tell us about them."

That was all the invitation Nobita needed.

He happily told them about meeting Kaito and Andriette, how they had welcomed them into their class, introduced themselves during lunch, and later invited them to join their friend group after school.

Tamako and Nobisuke listened with warm smiles.

"I'm glad," Tamako said.

"You did a wonderful thing."

"Making new students feel welcome isn't something everyone thinks to do."

Nobita scratched his cheek shyly.

"I just wanted them to feel less lonely."

His parents exchanged a proud glance.

"Our son has a kind heart," Nobisuke said.

Tamako nodded in agreement.

"Very kind."

Before the conversation could continue, Nobisuke clapped his hands once.

"Alright."

"Enough talking."

He smiled at Tamako.

"If we keep standing here, dinner will never get cooked."

Tamako laughed.

"You're right."

"We'll be back in a few minutes."

She smiled at the children before heading upstairs with Nobisuke.

The siblings remained in the living room, chatting quietly as they waited for dinner.

Meanwhile...

Tamako and Nobisuke entered their bedroom.

The moment the door closed, Tamako looked at her husband.

He simply gave a small nod.

Without another word, she picked out a fresh set of clothes and headed into the bathroom.

As soon as the bathroom door closed, Nobisuke took out his phone and made a call.

"Look into the backgrounds of two students."

"Kaito Tanaka."

"And Andriette Maylor"

"I want every piece of information you can find."

"Yes, sir," the person on the other end replied.

Nobisuke ended the call.

He then changed too while waiting until Tamako finished getting ready.

A few minutes later, the two of them went downstairs together.

The evening passed peacefully.

Tamako went straight into the kitchen to prepare dinner.

Nobisuke sat down in the living room with the children and switched the television to the news channel.

Nobita watched for a few seconds before quietly standing up.

"I'll help Mom."

He walked into the kitchen, rolled up his sleeves, and began helping Tamako prepare dinner.

She smiled softly.

"Thank you, dear."

The two worked side by side while chatting about small things until dinner was ready.

After dinner...

The family cleaned up together before wishing each other good night.

One by one, everyone returned to their rooms.

Inside his room, Nobita opened the journal on his desk.

As he did every night, he wrote about everything that had happened during the day.

His first day of high school.

Meeting Kaito.

Meeting Andriette.

Making two new friends.

A small smile appeared on his face as he closed the journal.

"Tomorrow..." Nobita whispered. "I'll definitely find the courage."

After placing the journal back on the desk, he switched off the light and soon drifted into a peaceful sleep.

Much later that night...

Daiken quietly stepped out of his room.

He first peeked into Nobita's room.

His younger brother was already fast asleep.

Satisfied, he gently closed the door and walked toward another room.

Daiya's room.

He knocked softly before opening the door a little.

As expected...

She was sleeping so deeply that she didn't even notice him.

He sighed with a helpless smile.

"How can someone sleep this much...?"

After calling her name several times and gently shaking her shoulder, Daiya finally stirred awake.

"...Brother?"

She rubbed her sleepy eyes.

"What happened?"

Daiken sat beside her bed.

"Nothing's wrong."

"I just wanted to ask you something."

She blinked.

"What is it?"

"You said earlier that you knew what was bothering Nobita."

"Oh..."

She immediately remembered.

"That."

Daiken nodded.

"So?"

Daiya smiled knowingly.

"Brother has liked Shizuka for a really long time."

"He hasn't been able to confess."

"I'm sure that's what's bothering him."

Daiken stared at her for a moment.

"...That's all?"

"Nothing else?"

She tilted her head.

"No."

"I'm sure that's the reason."

The tightness in Daiken's chest slowly disappeared.

He let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Thank goodness...

Then another question came to mind.

"How do you know about it?"

Daiya looked guilty almost immediately.

"...Well..."

"One day I went into Brother's room while playing."

"His diary was on the table."

"I picked it up... and read it."

Daiken raised an eyebrow.

"You know that's wrong, don't you?"

She immediately joined her hands together.

"I know..."

"Please don't scold me."

He couldn't help smiling.

"Alright."

"I'm letting you off this time."

"But don't touch someone else's things without permission again."

"I won't."

She nodded quickly.

"Promise."

A few seconds later, she yawned.

"I'm sleepy."

"Good night, Brother."

Daiken gently patted her head.

"Good night."

He quietly left the room and returned to his own.

Once inside, Daiken picked up his phone.

There was one person who deserved to know this.

He dialed the number.

The call connected after only two rings.

"Hey."

"What are you doing?"

"I'm trying to sleep," came the sleepy reply.

"What else would I be doing at this hour?"

Daiken smiled.

"What if I told you I found out something interesting?"

"You can tell me tomorrow."

"I'm tired."

"Oh?"

Daiken leaned back in his chair.

"It's about Nobita."

There was a brief pause.

"I'm listening."

Daiken couldn't help chuckling.

Just as I expected.

He told Dekisugi everything Daiya had said.

When he finished, silence filled the call for a few moments.

Finally, Daiken spoke again.

"You already know Shizuka's into girls."

"If He confesses..."

"...he's going to be heartbroken."

"I know."

Dekisugi's voice was quieter this time.

"But you also know he finds me intimidating."

"That's why I haven't done anything."

Daiken looked out of the window at the quiet night.

"I know."

"But then change that."

There was another short silence.

Then Daiken continued.

"If you keep waiting..."

"...someone else might walk into his life before you do."

"I know."

"I only want one thing." Daiken's voice turned serious.

"I want Nobi to be happy."

"If he ends up choosing someone else..."

"I'll accept it."

"But don't lose because you were too afraid to try."

"...I understand."

For the first time during the call, Dekisugi sounded determined.

Daiken smiled faintly.

"Good."

"Good night."

"Good night."

The call ended.

Daiken placed his phone on the bedside table.

As he lay down, one final thought crossed his mind.

I'm counting on you, Dekisugi.

With that, he switched off the light and closed his eyes.

Outside, the night remained calm.

Tomorrow would be another ordinary school day...

...or at least, that's what everyone believed.

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