III - SWORD OF THE BRAVE // Doraemon Fanfic

8 - CRIES OF HELP

Doraemon was waiting in the playground for Nobita to show up, pacing back and forth in anxiety and impatience.

"Hey pal," Nobita waved at him, reaching the place. "Sorry for the slight delay. Sorta got caught in the traffic on my way here."

Glancing at him, Doraemon smiled, "Yeah, no issues. I understand."

The playground had changed a bit since the time they were kids. There were two painted benches installed in two corners of the small ground now and the stack of huge water pipes was gone.

Nobita made his way to one of the benches and gestured at Doraemon to take a seat. The latter agreed and the two of them sat down on the bench side by side.

"So," Nobita rubbed his palms together and said, "Go on. What's up?"

He turned and noticed the worried look on his friend's face and asked, "What did you want to talk about, Doraemon?"

"I don't know, Nobita. I don't know how to do it. I have no idea." Doraemon said in a vulnerable tone, his eyes tearing up.

"Do what?"

Doraemon broke down and started to cry.

"Hey, hey, hey~" Nobita wrapped his arm around Doraemon and tried to console him. "It's okay. Calm down and tell me... what is wrong?"

"It's Kiyoshi. I don't know how to help him. It seems like the more I try to reach out to him, the more he drifts away from me."

Nobita did not say anything and preferred to continue listening to him rant.

"It was so easy with you, Nobita. You were already such a good kid."

Nobita chuckled on hearing that. "Bullshit! That is not true at all."

Doraemon's head sprung around at Nobita and glaring at him, he rebuked, "What?"

Nobita turned and met the other's eyes. "I mean it was never easy with me, you idiot. I wasn't always like this. You changed me. You- changed me, Doraemon. It was you who made that scared little crybaby into what I am now. You gave me the strength to do that. It had always been you. Not me."

Doraemon remained silent.

"No words, right? I knew it." Nobita teased Doraemon and looked away. He added, "Stop whining and get your ass back into the game, dumbass. Don't doubt yourself for one second. You fixed me and I'm sure you can fix Kiyo too. I believe that. You just need to be yourself. Trust your instincts."

Nobita got up from his seat and tucked his hands into the pockets of his hoodie. "And then if you need any help from me, I'm always here for you. Anything you need."

"In that case, can you talk to him once?"

Nobita scrunched his face in confusion, "Sure. But why do you think that'll help?"

"It's because Kiyo listens to you more then any of us. From the very beginning, the kid respects you. So if there's anyone he'll listen to, open up to, it's gonna be you."

Nobita thought about it and concurred that Doraemon might be right in a sense. Kiyo did listen to him every time. Even in the underground tunnels during that whole Shizuka and Cash incident.

He nodded, "Alright. I'll do that. Don't stress, okay, Doraemon?"

He glanced at Doraemon one last time before leaving. Doraemon gave him a soft smile and Nobita smiled back. He left.

After that chat with Nobita, Doraemon was feeling a bit better than before. He made his way back.

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