Cartoonist in Doraemon

Originally, Ashton and Shizuka planned to shop for comic-drawing supplies, but since they weren't in a rush, their outing gradually turned into a casual shopping date. They wandered through the busy streets, chatting, eating, and enjoying the vibrant atmosphere.

Ashton was more than happy with the change in plans. By now, Shizuka treated him like an old friend. Their conversation felt natural, and any initial awkwardness between them had vanished.

At one point, they stopped in front of a street vendor selling small accessories. Rings, earrings, hairpins, and necklaces filled the stall, creating a dazzling display. Among them, a butterfly-shaped hairpin immediately caught Shizuka's eye.

Drawn to its delicate design, she picked it up to examine it more closely. Despite being inexpensive, the hairpin was exquisitely made. The butterfly design looked almost lifelike, as if it might flutter away at any moment.

"Little girl, this hairpin suits you perfectly. There's a mirror here—you should try it on," the vendor, a cheerful woman in her forties, suggested kindly.

"Oh, no, thank you, ma'am. I was just looking," Shizuka replied with a polite smile, preparing to put the hairpin back.

She hesitated because Ashton had already spent a lot on snacks during their outing. Even though he insisted he still had money, Shizuka didn't want to burden him further.

"It's fine, Shizuka," Ashton interjected, noticing her hesitation. "Just try it on—it doesn't cost anything to see how it looks, right, ma'am?"

Catching Ashton's subtle wink, the vendor chimed in with a smile. "Exactly, dear. Go ahead and try it on. No harm in that."

"Well... alright, just for a moment," Shizuka said shyly, unable to resist. She fastened the hairpin in her hair, stepping in front of the mirror.

The hairpin's elegant design complemented Shizuka's natural beauty perfectly. Combined with her radiant smile, the sight was truly stunning. Even Shizuka couldn't help but smile at her reflection, clearly pleased with how it looked.

"See? I told you it would look amazing on you," Ashton said with a grin.

"...I suppose," Shizuka admitted, her cheeks tinged pink from both delight and embarrassment.

But she quickly removed the hairpin and handed it back, saying, "It's beautiful, but I can't let you buy it for me. You've already spent so much today."

"Excuse me, ma'am, how much for this hairpin? Please wrap it up," Ashton said before Shizuka could protest further.

He paid the vendor swiftly, leaving Shizuka flustered. She hesitated to refuse, realizing it would only seem ungrateful at this point. Still, her curiosity about Ashton deepened.

Who was this international transfer student? Where did he come from? Why was he so generous and thoughtful? Although she was dying to ask, it felt too soon to delve into personal matters after only knowing him for a day.

"Shizuka, why take it off?" Ashton asked, noticing her hesitation. "You didn't put it on quite right earlier. Here, let me fix it for you."

Without waiting for her response, Ashton gently took the hairpin and moved to clip it back in her hair.

Shizuka was taken aback by the gesture. Other than her mother, no one had ever done something so intimate—not even Nobita, her long-time friend. Yet, instead of rejecting Ashton's offer, she found herself lowering her head slightly, her cheeks warm with shyness.

Ashton's steady demeanor gave her an inexplicable sense of trust and security. Despite her embarrassment, she allowed him to adjust the hairpin, feeling her heart flutter as he did so.

Just then, as fate would have it, Nobita happened to walk by on the opposite side of the street.

When his eyes landed on the scene—Shizuka standing quietly, head lowered, as Ashton gently fixed her hairpin—his entire world seemed to collapse.

Boom!

It was as if a bolt of lightning had struck him on a clear, sunny day. Nobita froze, his mind utterly blank.

Shizuka, the girl he adored, was standing so intimately with someone else—a new transfer student, no less. Nobita couldn't believe what he was seeing. His heart ached, his mind raced, and jealousy burned within him.

It wasn't surprising that Nobita was so shocked.

After all, he and Shizuka had been classmates for years. They had developed a good friendship, and he had always thought of her as his special person. But now, this new international transfer student, Ashton, who had only joined the class today, was already on such familiar terms with Shizuka.

Not only that—he had even done something as intimate as helping her put on a hairpin! How could Nobita not be surprised?

But shock quickly gave way to jealousy.

"Shizuka… how could you do this?" he muttered to himself, his heart aching.

Then his thoughts turned bitter. "And Ashton… what makes him so special?!"

Although it seemed like Shizuka was more proactive in this situation, Nobita couldn't bring himself to blame her. She was, after all, the girl he adored. So naturally, his resentment shifted entirely onto Ashton, whom he now saw as the biggest obstacle to his happiness with Shizuka.

Nobita clenched his fists, determination lighting up his eyes. He had to act.

With that resolve, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a transparent cylindrical container. Inside it floated a small, dark cloud.

"Shower cloud, come out!" he said, releasing the gadget from its container.

The tiny dark cloud floated upward, expanding as it rose. Within moments, the clear afternoon sky changed dramatically. Clouds gathered, the sunlight disappeared, and rain began to fall.

The light drizzle quickly intensified, turning into a sudden downpour.

The rain was so unexpected that even the street vendors were caught off guard.

"I could've sworn the forecast said it'd be sunny all day…" muttered the jewelry vendor as she scrambled to protect her merchandise with an umbrella.

Other vendors, like those selling snacks, were also rushing to cover their goods from the rain.

Shizuka, too, was puzzled. "It's strange. The forecast didn't mention any rain today."

Having no umbrella, she and Ashton took shelter under the jewelry vendor's awning. Since they had just bought the hairpin, the vendor didn't mind letting them stay there temporarily.

Ashton, however, found the situation odd. The weather had been perfectly clear moments ago, and such sudden changes didn't seem natural.

"This rain… something feels off about it," he thought, his instincts telling him there was more to it.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the street, Nobita smirked, holding up his umbrella. "Doraemon's gadgets really are amazing. Now Shizuka and I can share an umbrella and walk home together. Perfect!"

Eager to put his plan into action, he jogged across the street toward Shizuka and Ashton.

"Shizuka~! I'll take you ho—"

Before Nobita could finish his sentence, someone suddenly ducked under his umbrella.

"Isn't this Nobita? What a coincidence. Thanks for the umbrella!"

It was Gian, carrying a bag of groceries. He had been out running errands for his mother and hadn't brought an umbrella, assuming it wouldn't rain. The sudden downpour had caught him off guard, but seeing Nobita with an umbrella was an opportunity he couldn't resist.

"Gian?! What are you doing here?!" Nobita exclaimed, startled. "Wait, no! You can't use this umbrella right now!"

But Gian wasn't one to listen. "What's that, Nobita? Say it again if you dare!"

"I mean it! Please, Gian, I need this umbrella!" Nobita pleaded, trying to wrest it back.

Gian's expression darkened. "Hmph, seems like someone needs a reminder of who's in charge."

With that, he wrapped an arm around Nobita's neck and raised his fist, delivering one of his infamous "friendship punches" to the back of Nobita's head.

Bang!

The sound of the blow was muffled by the rain, but it was enough to draw Ashton and Shizuka's attention.

Through the curtain of rain, they could see two figures under an umbrella, but the distance and weather obscured the details. To them, it looked like two people standing close together, partially hidden.

"What's going on over there?" Shizuka wondered aloud.

Ashton narrowed his eyes but said nothing, his focus still lingering on the strange rainstorm.