#
The silence in Nobita's room stretched on, heavy and suffocating. Dekisugi stared down at the heart-shaped gadget in his palm, its polished surface reflecting the confusion swirling in his eyes. Nobita, his usual bravado replaced by a nervous tremor, awaited Dekisugi's confession with a mixture of dread and… a strange anticipation he couldn't explain.
Doraemon, ever the pragmatist, broke the tension. "Maybe you should just tell him, Dekisugi," he said gently. "Whatever it is, getting it out in the open might be better than keeping it bottled up."
Dekisugi flinched at the suggestion. Unlike Nobita, whose emotions were as transparent as a cheap windowpane, Dekisugi was a master of hiding his true feelings. The thought of publicly declaring them, especially under the influence of a strange gadget, filled him with dread.
Taking a deep breath, he finally spoke. "Nobita," he began, his voice barely a whisper, "this is… complicated."
Nobita, frustrated by Dekisugi's vagueness, blurted out, "Just spit it out, Dekisugi! What were you going to say?"
Dekisugi squeezed his eyes shut, the words catching in his throat. He couldn't bring himself to say it, not with Shizuka's voice a constant reminder just outside the window.
Suddenly, a loud clatter interrupted them. Gian and Suneo barged into the room, their boisterous laughter filling the space.
"Hey, Nobita! You coming to the festival or what?" Gian boomed, oblivious to the tense atmosphere.
Shizuka, following close behind, peeked into the room. "Are you guys alright? We were about to leave."
Nobita, desperate for a way out, used the interruption as an escape hatch. "Oh, right! The festival! Almost forgot."
He grabbed his hat and practically shoved Dekisugi towards the door. "Come on, slowpoke! We don't want to miss the fireworks!"
Dekisugi stumbled slightly, caught off guard by Nobita's sudden urgency. He stole a glance at Nobita's face, searching for any clue about what was going on behind his freckled cheeks. But Nobita's usual goofy grin was replaced by a determined frown.
As they walked alongside Shizuka, Gian, and Suneo, the weight of Dekisugi's unspoken confession hung heavy between him and Nobita. The festive atmosphere of the crowded streets seemed a world away from the turmoil brewing within him.
Throughout the evening, Dekisugi remained withdrawn, his usual playful banter replaced by a quiet contemplation. Nobita, on the other hand, was unusually animated, trying his best to appear carefree. He stole glances at Dekisugi, a mix of curiosity and a strange protectiveness welling up inside him.
When the dazzling fireworks display lit up the night sky, Nobita found himself standing beside Dekisugi, away from the chattering group. The vibrant colors reflected in Dekisugi's dark eyes, making them seem even more mysterious.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Nobita ventured, breaking the silence.
Dekisugi gave a small nod, his gaze fixed on the exploding fireworks. "Yeah," he mumbled, barely audible.
Nobita felt a pang of sympathy for his friend. Dekisugi, always so perfect and composed, seemed burdened by something.
"Hey," Nobita said softly, placing a hand on Dekisugi's shoulder in a rare display of affection. "Whatever it is that's bothering you, you can tell me, you know."
Dekisugi flinched at the touch, but didn't move away. He looked at Nobita, his eyes filled with a vulnerability Nobita had never seen before.
"Maybe… maybe later," Dekisugi stammered, his voice barely a whisper.
Nobita squeezed his shoulder gently. "Okay," he said simply, a silent promise hanging between them in the starlit night.
The fireworks display ended, leaving behind a lingering sense of wonder and a lingering question in Nobita's mind. What was Dekisugi hiding? And how would it change their friendship, forever bound by the weight of an unspoken confession?