Cartoonist in Doraemon

"Let's go then" Ashton nodded, glanced at Nobita, and then walked out of the classroom with Shizuka carrying their schoolbags.

Nobita was left alone watching them leave, biting his lips unwillingly.

"I actually made an appointment with Shizuka to go shopping together. That abominable...!"

"Ahhh... Doraemon...!"

As the saying goes, when the situation gets tough, Doraemon is always there to save the day.

Whenever something goes wrong or a challenge arises that Nobita can't handle, his first instinct isn't to tackle it on his own but to turn to Doraemon for help.

This has become a psychological habit. Although Doraemon has no choice but to be entangled by Nobita every time, it really makes him quite troubled.

In the end, he had no choice but to lend those props to Nobita for use after being annoyed by him.

Many times, Nobita would secretly take Doraemon's gadgets and cause trouble without his knowledge.

In the end, it was always Doraemon who had to step in and clean up the mess.

As expected, Nobita would inevitably run back to Doraemon to complain once things went wrong.

Ashton was new to this world, so he could only take things one step at a time. His first priority was securing a stable life here.

Although the inheritance from his parents in his previous life could sustain him temporarily, Ashton had no intention of returning to the poverty he had endured before. Especially now, as a fifth-grader, proper nutrition was crucial for his growing body. Living off instant noodles, as he had in the past, wasn't an option.

Drawing comics seemed like the most practical way to make money. It was his livelihood in his previous life, though the oversaturated market at the time limited his success to just scraping by.

But now, in the late 20th century, things were different. Many iconic comics hadn't been created yet, presenting Ashton with a golden opportunity. With his unique creativity, he was confident he could make a fortune. After all, even in the world of Doraemon, having money meant freedom. Even Nobita, with all of Doraemon's magical gadgets, would envy a wealthy lifestyle. This was the power of capitalism.

"By the way, Ashton-san, what exactly do you want to buy?" Shizuka asked, tilting her head. Without knowing his plan, she wasn't sure where to take him.

"Pens and drawing paper—for making comics," Ashton replied casually, smiling.

"Comics? Are you planning to draw them yourself?" Shizuka asked, surprised.

Her reaction wasn't unusual. For a fifth-grader, creating comics seemed far-fetched. Schools typically encouraged sketching or crafts, but full-fledged comic creation wasn't common for someone their age.

"Yeah, I've always had a hobby of drawing comics. But since I moved here, I couldn't bring my materials and tools, so I need to restock," Ashton explained with a smile. It wasn't a lie—his sudden journey here left no time to pack supplies.

"Wow, Ashton-san! That's amazing! When you finish your comics, can I see them?" Shizuka asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Of course! That's no problem," Ashton replied confidently. He had no reason to hide his work, as his planned comics weren't anything embarrassing.

"Great! Let's make that a promise," Shizuka said with a grin. "I know a shop that should have everything you need. Let's cross the street and head there."

Shizuka, being a local, quickly recalled a nearby store that sold art supplies. Just as they were about to cross the road, a tantalizing aroma filled the air.

It was the unmistakable scent of roasted sweet potatoes. Ashton couldn't help but smile as he noticed Shizuka's nose twitching cutely, her own smile growing wider.

Though it wasn't clear if they were near the snack street, the fragrance was enough to awaken their appetites. Their shared lunch earlier had been modest, and neither of them had eaten their fill.

Boys tend to have bigger appetites than girls, and Ashton was no exception. Even though he now had the body of a fifth-grader, he still needed plenty of energy and nutrients.

What made Ashton smile, however, was a little secret Shizuka didn't know. Fans of Doraemon would be familiar with Shizuka's sweet and adorable personality, but no one is perfect. While Gian's singing is infamous, Shizuka has her own quirks—such as her love for roasted sweet potatoes.

This fondness, however, was a closely guarded secret. Shizuka didn't want anyone to know, not even her closest friends like Nobita, Gian, or Doraemon. Ashton, having watched the anime, was well aware of this little detail.

"Shizuka-san, do you smell something?" Ashton asked casually, pretending to sniff the air as they waited at the crosswalk.

"Smell? Hmm… I don't think so…" Shizuka replied, a momentary look of surprise crossing her face before she quickly masked it.

"It smells like food. Maybe roasted sweet potatoes?" Ashton teased lightly, watching her reaction.

"Ah… now that you mention it, I think I do smell something," Shizuka said, her tone a little stiff as she tried to appear indifferent.

Shizuka's love for roasted sweet potatoes came with an embarrassing side effect—she worried about ruining her ladylike image. She only indulged in her favorite snack when she was completely alone, ensuring no one would find out.

Ashton, understanding her hesitation, smiled. "Let's grab something to eat. My treat, as a thank-you for showing me around." Without waiting for a response, he stepped forward as the light turned green, heading toward the source of the scent.

"O-Okay…" Shizuka stammered, momentarily flustered. She couldn't think of a good reason to refuse, especially since Ashton framed it as gratitude. Though embarrassed, she followed him across the road.

Ashton knew Shizuka's polite nature would make it hard for her to object, and he found her flustered reaction endearing. They walked together toward a roasted sweet potato stand, and Shizuka's heart skipped a beat when Ashton stopped in front of it.

Shizuka wasn't used to buying her favorite snack with someone else around. Normally, she would wait until she was alone and sneak off to buy it. Now, with Ashton beside her, she felt a mix of panic and

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(A/N: I've decided to refer to Takeda as Gian, as he's more commonly known by this name.)