III - SWORD OF THE BRAVE // Doraemon Fanfic

10 - HOUSE OF CARDS

"I'm telling you, Nobitanian, splitting up is the best plan once we get there," Giantosu suggested.

"Absolutely not!" Nobita sternly answered.

It was the next day morning. They had spent the night in the woods, resting up with the bear in company while Nobita stacked up on everything he needed to learn about the situation at hand. Now they were en route to the dragon's lair.

"Hey foxy! Come on, back me up here."

Sunemisi shot back, revolted, "First of all, you're never getting any backup from me if you insist on calling me that."

"Whatever!"

"Second," he turned to Nobita, "Sorry about this, Nobitanian but I too do believe that splitting up is the best strategy."

"No no no, you guys have it all wrong. I know that is the best plan. But the only reason why it is such a great plan is because it involves a decoy setup. Which means, one of us, the one which the dragon chooses to pursue is doomed."

"Well, if it helps the cause I don't see a problem!"

"Exactly," Gian acknowledged.

"I'm sorry but it's still a 'No'"

"But..."

"NO BUTS! I SAID NO," Nobita shouted out. Calming down, he continued looking ahead, "We are never leaving a man behind. No chance I am doing that ever again. We'll figure something else out. So, drop it."

The conviction in his voice made everyone go quiet and continue on their path.

---♧︎︎︎♧︎︎︎---

Everyone woke up at the sound of alarms, the dream coming to a stop. Both Nobita and Doraemon shared a short glance when Nobita immediately looked away.

He pushed away the blanket and getting up, stormed out of there, without saying a word to anyone.

"Nobita--!" Gian called out but to no avail. He was already gone by then.

Gian turned to the others and asked, "You think he is mad?"

Suneo nodded, "I would say so... Yes."

"Why though? Did something happen with you guys?" Kiyoshi asked curiously.

"You-" Doraemon addressed Kiyoshi and then pointed at Christina, "And you- where the hell are you guys in the dream? How come we've all met besides you two?"

Christina said coldly, "Maybe that's how it's supposed to be? Maybe we guys are never supposed to meet!" And she walked out.

"What's wrong with everyone?" Doraemon mentioned, "Why's everyone so pissed?"

"Well, I'm not pissed. Just upset. Looks like all of you remember what is happening in the dream but me," Kiyoshi pointed out.

"You don't remember anything from there?" Doraemon asked.

"Not a thing," he shook his head cluelessly.

"That's weird."

"Maybe it's just like how we can't remember our real lives in the dream, he can't remember his dream life in reality. It's probably meant to be that way," Suneo said inquisitively.

"Still sucks though-- Aahh!"

"What's wrong, Kiyoshi?" Doraemon asked worried.