Between the Lines of Love

Chapter 5: The Weight of Discovery

The days that followed Nobita and Dekisugi's subtle, silent confession were filled with a mixture of quiet joy and unease. There was a comfort in knowing that they had finally acknowledged their feelings for each other, but with it came the growing tension of secrecy. Neither had said anything to the group yet, and the weight of that unspoken truth was beginning to press down on them, especially as their feelings continued to grow stronger.

Nobita, in particular, found it difficult to maintain the facade of normalcy. Every time Dekisugi was near, every time their hands brushed or their eyes met, Nobita's heart raced. He couldn't help but wonder if the others had started to notice the change between them.

A week later, the group gathered at Shizuka's house for a movie night. It was supposed to be a casual evening of fun, but Nobita was on edge from the moment he arrived. He had always been terrible at hiding his emotions, and now, with his feelings for Dekisugi barely contained, he felt like he was walking on a tightrope.

As they settled in to watch the first movie, Nobita sat on one end of the couch while Dekisugi took a seat at the other. The rest of the group—Shizuka, Gian, Suneo, and Doraemon—filled in the spaces between, oblivious to the quiet tension that Nobita felt radiating from Dekisugi.

The lights dimmed, and the movie began, but Nobita found it hard to focus. Every so often, he would glance over at Dekisugi, catching him in brief moments of distraction. It was clear that Dekisugi was struggling with the same things Nobita was—the need to act normal, to hide what they felt—but it was becoming harder and harder to do so.

About halfway through the movie, Nobita felt his phone buzz in his pocket. Confused, he pulled it out and saw a message from Shizuka.

Shizuka: You okay? You seem kind of distracted.

Nobita's heart skipped a beat. He glanced over at Shizuka, who was sitting across from him, her eyes fixed on the screen but a small, knowing smile playing at her lips. She didn't look at him directly, but it was clear she had noticed his discomfort.

Nobita's fingers hovered over the screen as he considered how to respond. Should he tell her the truth? She already knew something was up between him and Dekisugi, but he wasn't sure if now was the right time to talk about it.

Before he could reply, another message popped up.

Shizuka: Don't worry. I'm not going to say anything. But if you need to talk, I'm here.

Nobita let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He typed a quick reply.

Nobita: Thanks, Shizuka. I'll tell you everything later.

Satisfied with his response, Nobita slid his phone back into his pocket and tried to refocus on the movie. But his mind was racing. Shizuka knew—at least partially. Would it only be a matter of time before the others found out?

After the movie ended, the group took a break to grab snacks and stretch their legs. The mood was light, filled with laughter and playful banter. Nobita found himself caught in a conversation with Gian and Suneo about their plans for the summer, but his mind kept wandering back to Dekisugi, who was helping Shizuka prepare drinks in the kitchen.

As Nobita watched them from across the room, he couldn't shake the feeling that he and Dekisugi were standing on the edge of something. Sooner or later, someone was going to figure it out. They couldn't keep their secret forever, and the longer they waited, the more complicated things would become.

It wasn't that Nobita didn't trust his friends—he knew they cared about him. But he wasn't sure how they would react, especially Gian and Suneo, who could be... unpredictable. Would they understand? Or would things get awkward between them?