Cartoonist in Doraemon

"Here, Shizuka, this is for you," Ashton said, handing her the roasted sweet potato.

Before Shizuka could react, the warm, fragrant treat was already in her hands. The enticing aroma wafting from it made her stomach rumble quietly, but she quickly tried to suppress her embarrassment.

"Y-You can have it back," she stammered, attempting to return it.

Shizuka felt conflicted—eating something like roasted sweet potatoes, known for being simple comfort food, in front of a male classmate, especially on their first day meeting, was mortifying to her.

However, Ashton anticipated this and easily dodged her attempt to return it. "Shizuka-san, you treated me to rice balls earlier. This is my way of saying thank you. Why would you refuse? Or is there something you're worried about?"

His question, though casual, caught her off guard. She hesitated, unsure how to respond, but Ashton pressed on, his tone light yet earnest.

"In my hometown, wasting food is frowned upon. And you see, this roasted sweet potato smells amazing—it must taste even better. I love these kinds of treats, don't you?" he added with a playful grin, peeling the skin off his own sweet potato and taking a bite.

Shizuka, watching him enjoy it so wholeheartedly, couldn't help but feel torn. The reasoning Ashton gave was sound, but her own self-consciousness held her back.

"Come on, Shizuka," Ashton urged, noticing her hesitation. "If you wait too long, it'll get cold, and it won't taste as good. If you're worried about anything, deal with it after you eat."

His straightforwardness chipped away at her defenses. Then, with a gentle smile, he added, "You know, Shizuka, it's okay to enjoy something you like. You shouldn't care so much about what other people think. No one's judging you, I promise."

Those words hit home, and Shizuka's embarrassment deepened as Ashton's observations revealed a truth she thought she had hidden well.

"Ashton... how did you know I like roasted sweet potatoes?" she asked, her voice soft with both surprise and unease.

Ashton smiled knowingly. "The way someone reacts to something they love—it's not hard to notice if you're paying attention. Your eyes light up just a bit when you smell roasted sweet potatoes."

He chuckled and added, "Besides, I'm the observant type. When I saw how you reacted to the smell earlier, it wasn't hard to guess."

Shizuka fidgeted, her cheeks flushing. "But I… I've never told anyone about this."

"Exactly. You've been keeping it to yourself, haven't you? But honestly, why? It's just roasted sweet potatoes. If you love them, enjoy them. There's no need to feel embarrassed about something so simple."

Ashton's words were disarming, a mix of sincerity and playfulness that made her heart soften.

With Shizuka's naturally shy personality, voicing a reason she found a little embarrassing would have been too much for her to bear. If pressed further, she might truly have broken down.

Though it was a small matter—enjoying food she liked—the fact remained that today was only the first day they had met. There would be plenty of time to get to know each other better in the future, so there was no need to rush things.

Even as a fifth-grader, Shizuka had her pride, and Ashton understood this. Now was the time to show patience, gentleness, and consideration. His goal was simple: to help Shizuka feel comfortable enough to enjoy her favorite food without overthinking.

"Alright…" Shizuka murmured softly, her face flushed as she finally relented.

Ashton's words left her little room for refusal. Any further resistance on her part would feel insincere. Slowly, she unwrapped the roasted sweet potato in her hand and began eating it in small bites.

Oddly, after Ashton's encouragement, Shizuka no longer felt that eating roasted sweet potatoes in front of him was as embarrassing as she'd imagined. His genuine attitude had reassured her, and with that, the need to hide her love for the food faded.

As Ashton had pointed out, roasted sweet potatoes tasted best when hot—soft, sweet, and fragrant, with the aroma filling the air as steam rose. Each bite was a comforting delight, and Shizuka found herself savoring it.

Ashton watched her eat with a warm smile, pleased to see her relax. It seemed his effort had paid off, as she had finally set aside her hesitation to enjoy the treat.

"So, how is it? I told you it's delicious, didn't I?" Ashton asked with a playful grin, taking several big bites of his own sweet potato to make her feel even more at ease.

"Hm… It is," Shizuka admitted with a shy nod, her cheeks still pink. Then, as if wanting to say something but hesitating, she stammered, "Um, Ashton-san, can you—"

Before she could finish, Ashton chuckled. "Don't worry. I get it. I won't tell anyone you like roasted sweet potatoes. Let's just keep it as our little secret."

He gently patted his chest in a mock gesture of solemnity, earning him a quiet, "Thank you…" from Shizuka.

Though still embarrassed, she felt relieved that Ashton had guessed her thoughts and promised to keep her secret. His thoughtfulness and understanding made her feel more comfortable around him.

For Shizuka, the idea of eating roasted sweet potatoes—known for their tendency to make people gassy—in front of familiar faces like Nobita, Gian, or Suneo would have been unthinkable. But somehow, with Ashton, it didn't feel as embarrassing.

His encouragement had given her the courage to enjoy the simple pleasure of her favorite food. And as she quietly ate, the awkwardness she'd initially felt toward him seemed to dissipate.

It was strange. They had only met today, yet being with Ashton felt like reconnecting with an old friend.

Shizuka's mind wandered as she ate, curious about the new transfer student. What kind of person was he, really?

For Ashton, what he did might have seemed insignificant, but for Shizuka, it meant much more.

"It's no big deal," Ashton said with a small smile when she thanked him. "Besides, I'll need your help showing me around next."

Blushing slightly, Shizuka nodded. "Alright. This way…" she said, picking up her pace to lead him toward the shopping street.

---

"DO!! RAE!! MON!!"

Nobita burst into his house, shouting his trademark cry as soon as he stepped through the door.

Upstairs, Doraemon sat cross-legged on the tatami, enjoying dorayaki while reading a comic book. Hearing Nobita's familiar yell, Doraemon sighed, his ears almost ringing from the overused call.

Again? he thought, his face shifting to one of helpless resignation.

It was the same story every time: whether it was being scolded by his teacher, bullied by Gian, humiliated by Suneo, or struggling to talk to Shizuka, Nobita would always come home to Doraemon to vent his frustrations.

Today was no different. Despite it being the first day of the new semester, Nobita had somehow already managed to find trouble. Hearing his cries from below, Doraemon could only shake his head, bracing himself for another round of complaints from the boy who never seemed to grow up.