Doraemon: Starting by Taking Care of Tamako Nobi

Back in his room early, Hiro Nobi dropped off his schoolbag and pulled out his psychic training kit to work on his X-ray vision ability.

Since it was the weekend, he didn't feel rushed to start on homework.

Focusing intently on the training box, he stared until he could see its internal structure clearly.

Ding! X-Ray Vision +1

Ding! X-Ray Vision +1

Ding! X-Ray Vision +1

After a solid hour and a half of practice, Hiro stretched out on the tatami mat, then leaned his head out the window to rest his eyes.

Just then, a man in a blue suit appeared at the front door. It was his father, Nobisuke Nobi.

"I'm home," the man called.

"Welcome back. Dinner will be ready soon," his wife, Tamako, said warmly as she took his briefcase and jacket.

"Ugh, working overtime last night nearly did me in. I need to get some proper rest tonight."

Nobisuke rubbed the back of his neck and slouched forward. His fragile constitution didn't cope well with late nights.

"I'll lay out your futon right away."

Tamako smiled gently as she spoke, though a subtle tension flickered in her expression.

She'd also been exhausted last night—though not from work. And despite her efforts to contain it, the feeling wouldn't fade, like Pandora's box had been opened.

She glanced upstairs.

"Hiro, dinner's ready!"

Sliding open the paper door, her soft voice floated into the room. Before Hiro could respond, a pair of warm hands lifted him into the air.

He had no resistance against it. His cheek pressed against something soft, and he sighed.

"You can put me down now. Didn't you say dinner's ready?"

"No rush... Let's wait a few more minutes. The miso soup's still a bit hot."

Tamako gently cradled the boy, her eyes lingering on him. She had already sent Nobita and Doraemon downstairs, saving Hiro for last.

But Hiro, thoroughly worn out, didn't have the strength—or inclination—for anything more. Still, Tamako wasn't so easily deterred.

With her husband home, she had to carefully seize every opportunity. It was a constant, subtle tug-of-war.

Downstairs, the three of them had dinner as usual. Tamako added an extra dish for herself: spicy mushroom and daikon radish stew.

The next morning, sunlight spilled through the window.

Still curled beneath his blanket, Hiro Nobi was fast asleep. It was Saturday, so there was no alarm to disturb his dreams.

"Hey Nobita, we're all set! Are we heading to that southern island or what?" came a rough voice from downstairs.

Gian stood at the entrance with Suneo and Shizuka, clearly excited.

"You guys are here already!"

Toothbrush still in hand, Nobita hurried to greet them.

"But... you'll need to wait a bit. Hiro's not up yet."

He made a point of saying it while glancing at Shizuka, as if subtly tattling on Hiro for being lazy.

"Well then, go wake him up," Gian grumbled.

"I'll do it," Shizuka offered cheerfully. "You finish getting ready, Nobita."

She slipped off her shoes, her white socks making little squeaks against the polished floor as she bounded up the stairs.

Stopping at Hiro's room, she knocked. No answer. So she quietly pushed the door open.

"Hiro? Still sleeping? We're leaving for the island soon!"

She shook the lump under the blanket. Slowly, Hiro began to stir.

"Oh... hey, Shizuka."

He rubbed his eyes and sat up groggily.

Unaware of the disheveled state of his pajama collar or his tousled hair, Hiro looked every bit like someone who had just woken up—completely oblivious to how that might affect a little girl.

Shizuka's eyes widened for a moment before she quickly turned away, cheeks tinted pink.

"O-okay! Hurry up and get ready. Everyone's waiting downstairs!"

She turned on her heel and left the room, her heart fluttering in confusion.

As she made her way downstairs, she traced her palm absentmindedly, replaying that unexpected moment. She held up her thumb and forefinger in thought... but it still didn't match the diagrams they'd seen in class.

"Alright, everyone! Let's go!"

Once the group had assembled, Doraemon pulled out the Anywhere Door from his pouch and opened it to a tropical, uninhabited island in the south.

"Whoa! The beach!" Nobita was the first to dash through, arriving at the edge of a high cliff that overlooked the vast ocean.

Not a single cloud dotted the sky. The view stretched endlessly toward the horizon.

Hiro followed, stepping out onto the cliff with wide eyes. It was his first time seeing the ocean up close.

Rows of coconut trees lined the sandy beach, while crabs of all sizes scuttled around their roots. The sea sparkled in the sun, reflecting the sky above, while seagulls soared and called out, breaking the stillness of summer.

The salty breeze gently kissed his face. His body, so drained just the day before, now felt refreshed. His spirits lifted with every breath of ocean air.

"What are you looking at, Hiro?" Shizuka peeked over, her gaze following his. All she could see were some scattered rocks.

"Oh, nothing. I'm just trying to take it all in. It's my first time here," Hiro said casually.

"Hey! Everyone, don't run off! Come over here—I've got swimsuits for all of you!" Doraemon called out as he waved them back.

He took out his outfit camera and with a few clicks, everyone was instantly dressed in beachwear.

Shizuka wore a pale yellow two-piece with suspenders, revealing a cute little bellybutton. Her smooth feet left delicate prints in the sand as she splashed into the shallows.

"Hiro! Come on in! The water's great!"

"Coming!"

Hiro ran into the waves alongside Gian and Suneo. The cool ocean water was the perfect escape from the summer heat. They swam and played, launching into a full-on splash war.

Meanwhile, Nobita stood awkwardly at the shore.

That's when it hit him—he didn't know how to swim!

"Doraemon! You've got to help me! They're all having fun and just leaving me here!" he wailed, collapsing on the sand in a dramatic sob-fest.

Doraemon scratched his head, unsure whether to be annoyed or amused.

"Alright, alright. How about this..."

He pulled out a set of transformation cards and a ring that looked like a hula hoop.

But just as he was about to hand them over, he paused.

"Wait a sec. That's too easy. You need to learn how to swim on your own."

"Spartan Coach Mode: Activate!"

He took out a round gadget that clipped around the waist and was connected to a strong safety cord.

"This will help you learn. Don't worry!"

"Really?" Nobita's eyes lit up.

"Totally. Now... in you go!"

Doraemon gave him a hearty shove, launching Nobita into the water.

"Ahhh! Help! I'm drowning!"

"Don't worry! You'll learn through struggling!"

"I'm already drowning while struggling! Pull me out!"

"Sorry, it won't let go until you learn how to swim. You're totally safe... so I'm going to join the others now!"

With a satisfied smile, Doraemon turned and waddled toward the rest of the group, leaving a flailing Nobita splashing helplessly in the water behind him.