If the Great Adventure into the Underworld storyline really was starting now, Lin Yu felt completely unprepared. His only recourse would be to trust in Doraemon and the others, praying that events unfolded mostly according to the original plot, ending with the usual thrilling-but-ultimately-safe resolution. But his own presence here was an unknown variable. What impact would his existence have on the plot? The uncertainty was deeply troubling.
Lost in these heavy thoughts, he arrived back at his own place. The apartment felt cold and empty, lacking any sense of warmth, but Lin Yu barely noticed, his brow furrowed in deep concentration.
'No,' he decided firmly. 'I absolutely cannot just passively rely on Doraemon and the others.'
'I remember in the original story, Miyoko Mangetsu was always her father's assistant, Dr. Mangetsu.'
'But now, she's an assistant manga editor. The plot... it seems it's already started to change from that point.'
'If I just pin my hopes on Doraemon and the others, who knows what other unpredictable deviations might occur...'
'Besides, even in the original plot, their victory was largely down to luck and narrow escapes.'
Lin Yu dropped his schoolbag by the door and went to his desk, switching on the lamp. He stared out the window at the now dark sky, his lips pressed into a thin line.
"Looks like I really need to push myself harder," he murmured. "Speed up the progress. At the very least, before that movie's plot officially kicks off, I need to have some means of protecting myself."
Taking his drafted pages out of his bag, Lin Yu gently patted his own cheeks. "Right! Time to grind! I have to get this manga finished as soon as possible!"
Meanwhile, in Nobita's room.
"So, Nobita," Doraemon sighed, dabbing at his fur with yet another tissue Nobita had soaked with tears and snot earlier, "is that really why you got into a fight with Shizuka?"
"...Yeah," Nobita mumbled pitifully from his corner on the floor, nodding.
"Nobita, honestly, I really don't think you needed to make such a big deal out of it," Doraemon said gently.
"But Doraemon! You're the one who said if I don't marry Shizuka, I'll end up married to Gian's sister for the rest of my life!" Nobita protested anxiously, seeing Doraemon seemed rather unconcerned.
"But based on what you told me, today's incident really was just a misunderstanding," Doraemon reasoned. "He just picked up the wrong glass of milk by accident. He didn't do it on purpose."
"And have you forgotten? Shizuka hates violence and aggressive behavior more than anything! Acting like you did today definitely didn't impress her; it probably just had the opposite effect."
Doraemon finished cleaning himself off, sighed again, and patted Nobita's head reassuringly. "Don't worry so much. You know the future isn't set in stone. Just as things can change for you," he said wisely, "they can change for others too. You feel like Shizuka and Lin Yu are close right now, but what if Lin Yu transfers somewhere else someday? Right?"
"Instead of getting all suspicious and overreacting about small things, which just annoys Shizuka, wouldn't it be better to focus on improving yourself?"
"If you just assume Shizuka will marry you someday and don't make any effort yourself, do you really think she still will marry you?"
Nobita sniffled, pouting.
"So," Doraemon continued reasonably, "think about it. If you become even more impressive than Lin Yu, wouldn't that solve the problem?" Doraemon spread his little round paws, continuing to spoon-feed Nobita bowls of motivational 'chicken soup for the soul'.
Although Nobita had heard this kind of encouragement many times before (usually when he didn't feel any real threat), the appearance of a 'rival' like Lin Yu actually made him consider Doraemon's words somewhat seriously this time.
"Come to think of it," Nobita recalled glumly, "Shizuka seemed to ignore me today because she was watching Lin Yu draw."
"Exactly! See? Someone with talent is naturally going to attract attention," Doraemon pointed out.
"But... I'm amazing at sharpshooting..." Nobita muttered defensively, though even he knew that wasn't quite the same. His gaze then fell upon the fourth-dimensional pocket on Doraemon's belly, and his eyes suddenly lit up.
His tears instantly forgotten, Nobita scrambled closer, putting on his most winning, pleading expression. "Doraemon, I know you're the best! Please, just give me a gadget that can make me amazing right away!"
"Nobita, there you go again! Absolutely not!" Doraemon refused firmly. "Have you already forgotten what happened yesterday? You didn't listen when I tried to explain the gadget, snatched it, ran off, and turned me into a tree for a whole night!"
"Hehe, that was just because I was curious!" Nobita wheedled. "I promise! I absolutely won't misuse it this time! Please, just trust me!"
Seeing Nobita's relentless pleading, Doraemon wavered slightly but hardened his resolve, crossing his arms and turning away pointedly. "No!"
"Besides," Doraemon added sternly, "your Mom specifically told me yesterday that you need to behave yourself and not cause any more trouble, or else... or else I won't get any more dorayaki!"
"I won't cause trouble, Doraemon, I promise! Just help me this once! Just once, please? I'll be really good!"
"No means no! For the time being, you just need to behave yourself. Otherwise, even if I lent you a gadget, you'd just misuse it and make things worse. And if Shizuka gets really angry... maybe you really will end up marrying Gian's sister..."
"Stop! Stop! Stop right there! Don't say another word!" Nobita yelped, a violent shiver running down his spine at the mere thought. (Spending his entire life with Gian's sister... it was a fate too horrific to even contemplate.)
"Alright! Fine! I get it!" Nobita conceded quickly. "So, if I behave myself for a while, then you'll lend me a gadget, right?"
"Yes!" Doraemon turned back, nodding seriously, seeing Nobita seemed to finally be listening. "As long as your Mom isn't angry anymore, and you promise not to cause trouble, then... maybe."
"Okay then! It's a deal!" Nobita declared solemnly, reaching out to shake Doraemon's paw. His eyes shone with renewed determination. This time, he would use a gadget to become amazing, and make Shizuka admire him the way she seemed to admire Lin Yu today!
Doraemon watched Nobita's determined expression and sighed inwardly. He wondered how long this phase would last. He'd seen Nobita get fired up like this countless times before, but his enthusiasm was usually just 'three-minute heat' – intense but incredibly short-lived, forgotten almost as soon as it began.
'Sigh... Hopefully, this time Nobita really understands his shortcomings and is willing to truly try and improve,' Doraemon thought, though not with much conviction.
Doraemon shook his head slightly and retrieved Nobita's schoolbag from outside the door where Mrs. Nobi had left it. "Well, Nobita," he said, dropping the bag in front of him, "if you want to improve, maybe start by actually doing your homework..."