Without a soft mattress and long accustomed to sleeping on a small futon laid over tatami, Nobi Hiroshi read a few comic books before drifting into a comfortable sleep.
The next day arrived quickly—exam day.
Hiroshi and a confident Nobi Nobita walked into class together.
Unexpectedly, Nobita did not expel all the knowledge he had crammed in.
"Everyone, clear your desks. We're about to hand out the test papers."
Terakoya Eiichirou entered the classroom carrying a stack of exam papers. Once the students had mostly cleared their desks, he began distributing them one by one.
Nobi Hiroshi received his paper, scanned it quickly, and immediately picked up his pen. The paper rustled softly as he wrote.
In just over ten minutes, he had already completed half of the questions.
He paused briefly and glanced sideways at Shizuka. She looked completely at ease, a bright smile on her face.
"Great, I know everything. I know everything. Hehehe, it's just too easy!"
Looking at his test paper, Nobita scribbled furiously, secretly delighted.
Suddenly, his stomach churned violently.
A sharp pain struck, turning his face pale. His pencil rolled off to the side as both hands clutched his abdomen desperately.
"Hiss… what's going on… Te—Teacher, I need to go to the bathroom!"
Trembling, Nobita raised one hand, clutching his backside as he dashed toward the restroom.
Thunder seemed to rumble in the distance.
He had barely stepped out of the restroom when he immediately rushed back in.
"Someone save me!"
By the time the exam was nearly over, a completely dehydrated Nobi Nobita staggered back into the classroom.
There was a strange smell clinging to him. His classmates pinched their noses and kept their distance.
"Nobita, did you fall into the toilet? How did you get marinated?" Suneo sneered, pinching his nose in disgust.
"Hahahaha!!!"
The classroom erupted in laughter.
Nobita lowered his head in shame. His eyes drifted toward Shizuka's seat. When he saw her covering her mouth to hide a smile, he felt utterly humiliated.
"It's all Doraemon's fault for those stupid gadgets, making me have diarrhea and turning me into everyone's joke."
He glanced at the clock. Less than ten minutes remained.
Panicking, he grabbed his pen.
"Ah, what are these questions? Why can't I remember anything?"
"Doraemon!!!!"
…
…
In the afternoon, during the first class, judgment arrived.
Terakoya Eiichirou entered with the graded test papers.
It had to be said—he was an exceptionally efficient teacher. He had already finished grading the exams taken that very morning.
Despite teaching most of the morning classes, three out of four being his, he had still completed everything.
"Now, when I call your name, please come up and collect your paper."
"Demusugi, one hundred points!"
"Nobi Hiroshi, one hundred points!"
"Shizuka, one hundred points!"
"…"
As he handed out the papers, a satisfied smile appeared on Terakoya Eiichirou's face. There was yet another outstanding student in the class.
He was quite pleased with Nobi Hiroshi.
Even if Hiroshi occasionally made small movements with his deskmate during lessons, he clearly mastered the material.
This rather difficult exam was proof enough.
"Suneo, sixty-five points."
"Nobi Nobita… twenty points!!"
"Gian… five points!!!"
As the names continued, Terakoya Eiichirou's expression darkened.
Nobita stared at his paper in disbelief. He had written at least half the answers. How could the score be so low?
Resentment and jealousy flickered in his eyes as he looked at Nobi Hiroshi and Shizuka chatting together again.
"Only Nobita and Gian failed this exam. Everyone should learn from Demusugi, Nobi Hiroshi, and Shizuka."
"Gian, Nobita—after school, I will be visiting your homes."
Terakoya Eiichirou spoke impatiently while staring at the two boys.
"Ah, a home visit!" Nobita and Gian froze on the spot.
Tonight was not going to be easy.
"Thank you, Hiroshi. If it weren't for you, I definitely wouldn't have gotten one hundred points. Mom will be so happy when she finds out."
Shizuka cupped her small face, staring at the bold red "100" on her paper with joy.
"It's nothing. It's not just because I taught well. You're very smart too, Shizuka. Otherwise, you wouldn't have learned so quickly."
Hiroshi smiled gently, like a spring breeze.
"Then… Hiroshi, after school, would you like to come to my house again to do homework together?"
Shizuka lowered her head shyly, her fingers twisting the hem of her skirt. Her voice became even softer and cuter.
"Sure. No problem at all." Hiroshi agreed immediately.
He didn't even have to make a move himself.
After school, Gian suddenly went berserk.
"Stupid Nobita! How dare your score be higher than mine?! Stop right there!"
He charged at Nobita, furious.
"How dare a mere Nobita score higher than me?!"
"Gian, didn't I fail too? Just let me go!" Nobita cried while running.
"Besides, my stomach still hurts! Stop chasing me!"
"That's still higher than me! Stop talking nonsense and taste my fist first!"
Since he was going to be beaten by his mom at home anyway, Gian decided he might as well vent his anger first. Nobita became his punching bag.
"Gian, you can't bully the weak!"
Sweet Shizuka stepped forward first, shielding Nobita.
Gian hesitated. His raised fist froze in midair.
"Shizuka, thank you!" Nobita immediately dropped to his knees, trying to seize the opportunity to hug her leg.
But Hiroshi reacted quickly and gently pulled Shizuka aside.
"Good opportunity!"
Shizuka shifted slightly, creating a gap. Gian slipped through it, and his sandbag-sized fist landed squarely on Nobita's stomach.
"Bu~ bu~ bu~"
A machine-gun-like sound erupted.
Golden "stuff" burst from Nobita's shorts and splattered onto the ground. Some even landed on Gian's pants.
"Hahaha! Nobita pooped his pants! Everyone, come and see!" Suneo shouted at the top of his lungs.
Students on the road turned to look, staring at the spectacle.
Nobita's face turned red like a boiling furnace. He had never suffered such humiliation.
"Ah! How disgusting!"
"Mom, save me! Mom!"
Gian completely collapsed. Forget beating Nobita—he ran home crying for his mother.
Mortified, Nobita clamped his legs together and ran home in despair.
"Ah! Hiroshi, it didn't get on my shoes, did it?!"
Shizuka jumped in fright and clung to Hiroshi's shoulder, her arms wrapping around his neck.
She dared not open her eyes as she looked toward her shiny black leather shoes.
"Don't worry, Shizuka. It didn't get on your shoes."
Supporting her with one hand under her bottom, Nobi Hiroshi carried her away with a look of disgust.
The road was covered with Nobita's scattered "marks."
Like navigating a minefield, Hiroshi carefully stepped around the dangerous area while holding Shizuka.
"Be careful, Hiroshi. You absolutely must not step on it. Nobita is really something. Every time he has to leave a mess."
Shizuka rested her head against Hiroshi's shoulder. Her face turned red from embarrassment at being carried like this.
The posture was awkward.
But at this moment, escaping this "golden road" safely was far more important.