Cartoonist in Doraemon

Shizuka, sheltering from the rain with Ashton, squinted through the heavy downpour at two figures arguing in the distance.

"Huh...? Was that Nobita and Gian just now?" she wondered aloud, recognizing their voices despite the muffling rain.

The rain made it hard to see clearly, and Nobita's attempt to call her name had been cut off by Gian, so she hadn't heard it distinctly.

"Really?" Ashton glanced in their direction, his tone neutral but observant. "They seem to be getting along well."

Unlike Shizuka, Ashton was paying close attention to the situation. The sudden and bizarre rainfall had already made him suspicious, and Nobita's presence here only added to the mystery.

The timing was too coincidental. Street vendors always prepared for unexpected weather, yet Nobita had shown up with an umbrella during a downpour that no one could have predicted. That was suspicious enough—but Ashton knew there was another possibility.

"Could it be... a Doraemon gadget?" he thought, recalling the futuristic tools that Nobita often used to create chaos.

If that was the case, Ashton wasn't too worried. Being familiar with many of Doraemon's inventions, he already had a few precautions in mind. Nobita wouldn't succeed in any schemes that easily.

Meanwhile, under the umbrella, Nobita and Gian's argument escalated.

"I told you, I need this umbrella!" Nobita pleaded.

"And I told you to hand it over!" Gian growled, fists clenched.

When Nobita refused yet again, Gian's temper flared. "You're asking for it, Nobita!"

He raised a fist, ready to deliver another "lesson."

But just as Gian was about to strike, his demeanor changed entirely. His expression softened, his eyes turned into cartoonish pink hearts, and he exclaimed, "Nobita! Wow, you're so handsome today! You're my idol!"

Gian's sudden shift stunned Nobita.

"Since you're using the umbrella, let's use it together!" Gian beamed, all aggression gone. "I'm sorry for misunderstanding you earlier. You're so amazing, Nobita!"

He even handed over the cakes and fruit he had just bought for his family. "These are for you! Please enjoy them!"

Nobita stared, dumbfounded. Then, realization dawned.

Doraemon's warning echoed in his mind:

"This Lover Umbrella has a special effect. If someone stands under it with you for one minute, they'll fall head over heels for you. This works on anyone—male, female, even animals. Be careful how you use it."

The full weight of his mistake hit him. "Oh no..."

Nobita had intended to use the umbrella to win over Shizuka. Instead, it had backfired spectacularly, and now Gian was hopelessly infatuated with him.

"Shizuka… my Shizuka…" Nobita thought despairingly as Gian dragged him off, babbling compliments and showering him with affection.

Before disappearing from view, Nobita cast a tearful glance toward Shizuka. How close he had been to inviting her to share the umbrella with him! But instead of the sweet, gentle Shizuka, he was stuck with a lovestruck Gian.

What a disaster.

On the way, Gian's constant flirtations made Nobita's stomach churn, but he forced himself to endure it. He knew all too well what Gian would do if he noticed any sign of disgust.

---

Back at the jewelry stall, the rain abruptly stopped, and the sky cleared up as quickly as it had darkened.

Shizuka glanced up at the now-cloudless sky. "That was strange. The rain didn't last long at all."

Ashton nodded and thought 'That confirms it. That sudden downpour was definitely Nobita's doing.'

He shook his head with a wry smile. 'But it looks like he's paid the price for it.'

With the little episode behind them, Shizuka and Ashton continued their shopping, picking up some tools and drawing paper Ashton needed for his comics.

When it was time to head home, they discovered something surprising: their houses were in the same direction.

Ashton explained, "The house I'm staying at—it's not far from yours. My parents left it to me, and it happens to be on the way to school."

Shizuka smiled warmly. "That's convenient! We can walk together from now on."

And so, the two set off together, the earlier rainstorm now just a passing memory.

"Ashton-san, thank you so much for treating me to so many delicious meals and giving me gifts today."

When they reached her doorstep, Shizuka gave a polite bow, her voice full of gratitude.

In Japan, even elementary school students are taught proper etiquette, and Shizuka felt it was only right to thank Ashton for his generosity.

"It's nothing, Shizuka-san. I should be the one thanking you for keeping me company and helping me pick out everything I needed today." Ashton smiled warmly and gave a slight wave, lifting the shopping bag in his hand. Then he added with a chuckle, "Oh, and you don't have to be so formal. Just call me Ashton—or Ash, if you like."

Shizuka giggled. "Well, if that's the case, you can just call me Shizuka."

"Deal. See you tomorrow, Shizuka," Ashton said with a grin.

"See you tomorrow, Ash. Please be careful on your way back," Shizuka replied with a kind smile before stepping into her house.

After waving goodbye, Ashton turned and began walking home, a gentle breeze accompanying the fading twilight.

By the time Ashton reached his house, night had fallen, and the streets were quiet. The solitude of the small house felt comforting after the day's bustling activity.

Since he and Shizuka had indulged in plenty of street food earlier, Ashton wasn't hungry. Instead, he decided to head straight to the bedroom on the second floor with the tools and materials he'd bought for his comic project.

The house was modest—a two-story home with a combined area of around 120 square meters. Compared to Nobita's family home, it was much smaller, but for Ashton, living alone, it was more than enough.

In his bedroom, a desk by the window served as his workspace. Ashton unpacked his new tools and neatly arranged them on the desk. Taking a deep breath, he sat down, sketch pen in hand, and began brainstorming.

Creating a comic wasn't easy. Without a clear vision, his efforts could end up meaningless. As he pondered how to start, a sudden voice echoed in his mind.

[Ding! The host has a strong desire to create comics. Activating the Super Comic System...]

[Ding! The Super Comic System has been successfully activated and is binding to the host. Please wait...]

Ashton froze. The unexpected announcement sent a jolt through him.

As a transmigrator, he was well aware of the concept of a "system." Many stories he'd read featured protagonists equipped with systems that acted as ultimate cheat codes, helping them achieve greatness.

When he first arrived in this world, Ashton had tried to summon a system without success, leading him to wonder if such privileges were just a myth. But now, it had finally appeared—and at just the right moment.

A semi-transparent interface materialized before his eyes, displaying various stats and information:

---

System: Super Comic System

Host: Ashton Lin

Age: 11

Constitution: 6 (Average for a normal person is 10)

Reputation: 0

Skills:

Drawing: 3 (Slightly above average)

Storytelling: 2 (Novice level)

Storyboarding: 1 (Beginner level)

Features:

Reputation Exchange Mall: (Requires reputation points)

Reputation Lottery Pool: (Requires reputation points)

---

Ashton quickly grasped the system's mechanics. Its primary function was to enhance his comic creation abilities—drawing, storytelling, and storyboarding could all be improved using reputation points.

Reputation points served as the system's currency and were earned through fame. The more popular and widespread his comics became, the more points he would accumulate.

Points could be spent in two ways: the Lottery Pool, where random items or skills could be obtained, or the Exchange Mall, where specific abilities and tools could be purchased.

The system even hinted that, with enough points and luck, he could unlock items or abilities that might grant him unimaginable power in this world.

[Ding! As this is the host's first time using the system, a novice gift package is being provided. Would you like to open it now?]

Ashton's lips curved into a smile. "Of course! Open it now!"

[Congratulations, host! You have received the work: Demon Slayer.]

Ashton's eyes widened in surprise. Demon Slayer was a legendary anime and manga from his original world. It had taken the industry by storm, dethroning long-standing giants like One Piece and becoming a cultural phenomenon.

He could hardly believe that such a famous work had been given to him right at the start.

"The system really knows how to make an entrance," Ashton muttered, chuckling to himself.

With the contents of Demon Slayer now available to him, Ashton felt a surge of confidence. If he could bring this masterpiece to life in this world, it would undoubtedly be a game-changer.

For the first time since arriving in this world, Ashton felt the thrill of true potential. His journey as a comic creator—and perhaps much more—was just beginning.