Tokyo 1970: I'll draw Doraemon?

But recognizing oneself as an ordinary person without talent can intensify the often-overlooked feelings of loneliness and resentment.

Despite being full of dreams and working hard, I always end up with nothing.

It's disheartening and makes you want to give up.

But every evening, thinking of Fujiko's encouragement and the genius Fushimi's "Mothers," filled with hope, Suzuki Jiro gradually persevered.

“I…I can’t compose…” Suzuki Jiro’s voice choked. He tried his best to keep his voice steady, but the trembling words still came out one by one from the bottom of his heart.

"I can only draw backgrounds and assist the teacher, but... but the teacher always had high hopes for me and encouraged me, so I persevered."

He tilted his head back, suddenly bowed deeply to Fujimoto Hiroshi, and said in a tearful voice:

"I am truly grateful to my teacher."

Although it was still uncertain whether his work could be serialized, the fact that it had been approved by Fushimikawa gave Suzuki Jiro a rare sense of satisfaction.

Because he is a genius that I cannot match, if he says it is possible, then it is definitely possible.

"I... I might actually become a cartoonist."

Without Fushimikawa, Jiro Suzuki might have given up his dream of creating manga, or he might have taken over the creation of the Doraemon story after Fujimoto Hiroshi could no longer hold the pen.

But that happened a long time later.

Jiro Suzuki is now so happy he's crying.

Infected by his emotions, Fujimoto Hiroshi's eyes also welled up with tears.

"Suzuki, you should draw manga that will make children happy."

"Ok!"

Suzuki Jiro's eyes welled up with tears, and Fushimikawa felt a pang of sadness in his heart as well.

"Your comics are very interesting."

He gave his comments.

……

Before we knew it, summer vacation was over.

Students resumed attending school as usual.

"Amin, what did you do all summer? You didn't come out and play with us. Didn't you say you weren't going to take the college entrance exam?"

Akira Toriyama's friend Horikawa patted Akira on the shoulder and asked him curiously.

Since Akira Toriyama returned from Tokyo on August 10th and gave him a copy of "Parasyte" with Oikawa's autograph, we haven't seen Akira Toriyama again.

Even when visiting his home, Akira Toriyama's family would always cover their faces and say wearily, "We're busy."

Horikawa felt bad about bothering him, but he was finally able to ask after the start of the semester.

"It's not about college entrance exams." Akira Toriyama looked listless, with a band-aid on his little finger.

Starting on August 11th, he mobilized his family to help him complete the 200-page manuscript assignment given by Mr. Oikawa.

I drew close-up portraits, and my family drew the backgrounds.

In those twenty days, he completed 30 pages of his assignment and finally relaxed his tense nerves.

"I have other things to do."

"what?"

“Horikawa,” Akira Toriyama looked at his friend seriously, “in another six months, we should be working. It’s time to think about the future.”

Horikawa was taken aback, sensing fear in Akira Toriyama's words.

While he was still standing still, his friend had already begun to mature and become more composed, like an adult.

“Yes…yes,” he said dryly.

……

At noon, Horikawa lay on the railing of the school corridor, holding a copy of "Weekly Shonen Sunday" that he had secretly brought in, and began to read the magazine.

Let's think about work in a couple of days.

He started watching the latest episode of Doraemon, "The Day I Was Born".

On August 7th, Nobita was especially excited because it was his birthday.

"What August 9th? It's already September."

Horikawa couldn't help but complain.

"However, given that Oikawa-sensei updates one chapter of 'Doraemon' per month, he must have drawn this scene on August 7th."

The fact that only one episode is released per month is extremely painful for him, a die-hard Doraemon fan.

Fortunately, the number of pages is different from that of a weekly magazine, so there are always more pages, which gave him some comfort.

"But speaking of which, my birthday is coming up soon too." He shook his head. "Da Xiong is really dramatic. He ran away from home because he was criticized by his parents on his birthday."

"What's so special about celebrating a birthday? It's just an ordinary day. I've never celebrated my birthday."

Previously, only my friend Akira Toriyama cared about this day, but...

"That guy is heading towards the future. He gave me a comic book a while ago. He must have forgotten about it this time."

After leaving Nobita's house, Nobita went to find his friends.

However, they each had their own things to do.

Shizuka and her mother went out, Suneo was busy assembling toys, and Gian was running errands for his mother to earn pocket money.

"There is nowhere in this city I can stay."

Nobita is disappointed and dejected because his parents didn't remember his birthday, but after being provoked by Doraemon, he decides to go with him to see the day he was born.

Back in their old home, even with the help of props, they almost couldn't keep up with Xiong's father as he rushed to the hospital.

He ran faster than a car because he heard the news of his son's birth.

In the hospital corridor, Da Xiong felt the joy his family felt at his birth.

They also learned the origin of their name.

"We hope our children can grow up healthy and strong, just like this tree, and grow tall and strong no matter where they go or what kind of environment they are in."

The names parents give their children often carry a certain expectation.

Nobita doesn't have his father's athletic talent, nor his mother's excellent grades.

Nobita has no confidence in scholars, politicians, artists, or anyone who is simply useful to society.

The hospital here will be abandoned, and the trees will be cut down.

Even a magnificent tree can fall.

With a strong sense of expectation, Da Xiong pulled off a branch from the side of the tree and transplanted it to another location.

When he and Doraemon returned to the future and went to look for it again, the branch had already grown into a big tree.

As straight and majestic as ever.

When Xiong's parents came looking for him, they were also moved by the tree.

They remembered the day Nobita was born, told him the origin of his name, and, using Doraemon's gadgets, the Nobita family of four stood on the treetops, looking into the distance, and laughed heartily.

At the end of the manga, Gian takes out the snacks he bought with his allowance, Suneo hands over the robot toy he painstakingly assembled, and Shizuka presents the bracelet she carefully selected.

They were busy doing all this, all to give Nobita a birthday present.

After a happy birthday party, Nobita began to study hard. He wanted to be like that branch, growing tall and strong no matter where he went or what environment he was in.

"It's the same old story, a period of positive progress." Horikawa quipped. "Anyway, in the next episode, he'll just turn back into the lazy Nobita he always was."

but……

"This episode was quite interesting. The love between parents and children, and the friendship between friends, all touched me deeply."

Only Nobita would have these, right?

Horikawa felt that no one would care about his birthday, not even himself.

"Such a beautiful story can only be found in comics."

Horikawa sighed as he weighed the issue of Weekly Shonen Sunday in his mind.

"comics?"

An aged voice rang out.

Instead of walking along the path, someone stepped through the bushes, and an old face appeared before Horikawa.

"Fuji...Principal Fujino!"

The young man from Horikawa stood up straight.

"You brought comic books to school."

Principal Fujino's words made Horikawa very nervous.

Chapter 103 He became a comic book legend?

Comic books are prohibited on campus at the Industrial Middle School, and physical education teachers even conduct checks at the school gate before the start of the semester.

After all, comic books can easily distract students and affect their studies.

Horikawa is now facing the most critical moment.

It wasn't a teacher, but the school's top principal who discovered his misconduct.

"Principal Fujino... I..." Horikawa tried to explain, but his mind became increasingly confused with fear, and in the end, he could only bow deeply, "I'm sorry! I know I was wrong!"

"Why are you so nervous, kid?"

Fujino, his back slightly hunched, smiled as he held the comic book, his wrinkles radiating gentleness: "While bringing 'Sunday' into the school is wrong, but..."

But what?

Horikawa tilted his head back, his heart pounding in his chest.