Yoichi's "Kasukabe Defense Force Energy Combo" was a massive success.
Not only did it strengthen the partnership between Futaba Trading Company and Kasukabe Supermarket—
It also made Yoichi famous overnight within the company.
Kawaguchi patted his shoulder, his stern face finally breaking into a smile.
"Yoichi-kun, well done! I knew I was right about you!"
Hiroshi went around proudly telling everyone:
"This is my cousin! Pretty amazing, right?"
He looked so pleased, you'd think he came up with the idea himself.
Just as Yoichi thought he could finally relax—
Kawaguchi called him over again.
"Yoichi-kun," he said seriously, "due to your outstanding performance, the company has decided to give you a bigger opportunity."
Yoichi had a bad feeling.
"There are issues with our Nepal branch. We need someone capable to go there for a month and reorganize the local sales channels."
"…Nepal?"
Yoichi froze.
That was far.
Very far.
Sending a rookie like him overseas for a whole month—
Wasn't that a bit too much?
"Department Head, I—"
"This is the company's trust in you," Kawaguchi interrupted firmly. "And the allowance is generous. When you return, a promotion and raise are very likely."
Allowance.
Promotion.
Raise.
Yoichi hesitated—
Then clenched his fists.
"…Alright. I'll go."
That evening, Yoichi told the Nohara family.
Misae looked worried.
"Nepal is so far… will it be safe? Yoichi-kun, you have to take care of yourself."
Hiroshi patted his shoulder.
"Don't worry. I've been there before. It's a bit underdeveloped, but people are warm. If anything happens, call me."
Shin-chan tilted his head.
"Nepal? Are there elephants there? Uncle Yoichi, bring one back for me!"
Yoichi: "…"
He ruffled Shin-chan's hair.
"There are elephants, but you can't bring one home. I'll be back in a month."
"A whole month…?"
Shin-chan's expression fell.
"So I won't see you for a whole month?"
Yoichi paused.
Then smiled gently.
"Yeah. But I'll bring you a gift. What do you want?"
"An Action Kamen Nepal limited-edition toy!"
"…Got it."
On the day of departure—
Misae and Hiroshi came to see him off at the airport.
"Yoichi-kun, be careful," Misae said, handing him a backpack filled with snacks and medicine. "Eat properly, and don't stay up too late."
"I will. Don't worry."
Hiroshi added:
"Listen more, learn more when you get there. If you don't understand something, ask your colleagues. Don't embarrass the Nohara family!"
Yoichi smiled.
"Don't worry."
Just as he was about to enter security—
He felt someone tug his sleeve.
He turned.
Shin-chan was standing behind a pillar, peeking out.
His eyes were red.
"Shin-chan… why are you here?"
"…Uncle Yoichi… come back soon."
Yoichi's heart softened instantly.
He crouched down and gently patted his head.
"I will. And while I'm gone, be a good boy. Listen to Mom and Dad, okay?"
"I will…"
Then—
Shin-chan suddenly hugged his leg.
"Bye, Uncle Yoichi."
"…Bye, Shin-chan."
After boarding, Yoichi looked out the window.
Kasukabe slowly grew smaller and smaller.
For the first time since arriving in this world—
He was leaving.
He didn't know what awaited him in Nepal.
But he knew one thing—
He couldn't afford to fail.
More than ten hours later—
The plane landed in Kathmandu.
A local employee was already waiting.
"Welcome, Mr. Nohara! I'm Sanjay—I'll be assisting you."
"Nice to meet you. Thank you."
The following days were intense.
More intense than Yoichi had imagined.
The Nepal branch was in chaos—
Disorganized sales channels Low employee morale Difficult distributors
Yoichi spent his days running across markets, meeting partners—
And his nights analyzing data and building plans.
Overtime became the norm.
He was exhausted.
But he didn't complain.
Because this—
Was his chance.
Meanwhile—
Back in Kasukabe—
A completely different "operation" had begun.
The day after Yoichi left—
Shin-chan returned home and noticed something.
Yoichi's room was empty.
His luggage was gone.
He immediately ran to Misae.
"Mom! Where's Uncle Yoichi?! Did he leave forever?!"
Misae laughed softly.
"Of course not. He just went on a business trip to Nepal. He'll be back in a month."
"Nepal…?"
Shin-chan tilted his head.
"Is that far?"
"Very far."
Shin-chan froze.
Then—
His expression turned serious.
Minutes later—
He grabbed the phone.
"Emergency assembly! Emergency assembly!"
He called Masao, Kazama, Nene, and Bo-chan.
"Uncle Yoichi has been captured by bad guys and taken to Nepal! We have to save him!"
Soon—
The Kasukabe Defense Force gathered.
Masao trembled.
"Sh-Shin-chan… is that true?"
"Of course!" Shin-chan said confidently. "Mom said Nepal! That must be the villain's base!"
Kazama adjusted his glasses.
"…Nepal is far. We don't have money. Or passports. How are we going?"
"I have a plan!" Nene declared.
"I'll ask my mom to take us there! We'll say it's a vacation!"
"…Will she agree?" Bo-chan asked quietly.
"She will," Nene said proudly. "If I act cute, she says yes to everything!"
And just like that—
Through Nene's overwhelming "cute attack"—
Her mother agreed.
A trip to Nepal was set.
Meanwhile—
Yoichi, buried in work—
Had no idea.
That somewhere far away—
Five small "troublemakers" were already on their way.
Occasionally, late at night—
He would think of Shin-chan.
Then smile.
No matter how hard things were—
It felt worth it.
He didn't know—
That very soon—
On the streets of Nepal—
He would see five extremely familiar faces.
And at that moment—
His world…
Would completely collapse.