Chapter 6 Calm before the storm pt2

APOLOGIES FOR THE SMALL CHAPTER

A week passed. Madness in the sky ceased it's unearthly phenomenon and the world could finally get out the raging storm. What caused all this, the main core source remains unknown to this point. Well, nobody attempted to investigate to begin with to be honest. Let alone coming up with those nonsensical theories or the reality behind it. It's possible, satellites or higher ups might have saw what they saw and maybe even privately looking for answers for themselves. Who knows? The world is strange. Nothing makes sense if you think of it.

What matters is that the annoying storm mostly died down, allowing the caged up civilization to breathe fresh and warm air. No clue how long things remains calm before all hell breaks loose again. Except for that concern, things are going normal for everyone, including the gang.

That day is a Sunday morning. Their usual playtime. Since moving to new school, they're glad they don't have to do the homeworks and the weekend feels like a real day off. It's all different and they so far loving it.

Nobita didn't have a clue they still play here after all this time. The playground reminded him of all those wonderful memories and their last day together two years ago. It's strange to say that. Because he's here and thinking of the day he thought he and his friends never see each other again. And to top it all, he's the first to be there, and observed every part of the place to find it changed overtime. Grass overgrown and tree behind the pipes thick and long. Overall, the three pipes remains unchanged. They spent all their lives playing here and leaving was so painful. He noted that at the english country, no place has this type of play areas. Or he was just being unknowingly picky about it. Whatever that was, no place could replace the good old playground with the attractive concrete pipes. Sounds strange but facts nonetheless.

"I missed your comfort." Mumbled as if the playground could hear him. Two years apart and back again, makes it like, Tokyo and Nobita is inseparable. One way or another, he ended up where he belongs.

He slowly climbs up the top pipe layed on it like he used to. Nostalgia hit hard and a sense of relief washed his heart. He was enjoying the moment until he heard footsteps approaching him. "Getting cozy aren't we?" A familiar sound said.

Nobita sighed in irrigation and lifted himself into a sitting position, facing her. He don't feel like arguing. Sure he care less about anyone else, but today he wants peace. He shook his head and looks at her. His usual cold eyes brimming with some unreadable emotions. "Want me to move?"

His reply took her off-guard. She's not used to him being a less jackass and which surprised her. Eventually she was able to snap out it. "Sure. That's my place to rest ass on. Now why not give me my seat back?" She arrogantly said.

Nobita didn't reply or move and stared directly into her eyes making her a little... nervous? Great, now he has a new affect on her. His blank eyes sometimes can scare the living daylight off of anyone. Nobita reminded him not to loose his temper and slowly climbed off the pipes and took a place on the bottom one to the left side.

"Wow, I had no idea you were quite a listener, huh? If you have done it before, Shizuka won't get mad at me."Yumi said climbing on top of the pipes. Nobita ignored her and leaned on the pipe and closed his eyes.

"I'm talking to you, glasses. I expect a reply when I say something. I hate the quiet ones." Yumi said.

Nobita so badly want to keep his calm. At least he wants peace where he lost it two years ago. He's hoping to free himself from the demons that keep haunting him. But sadly a loudmouth ruined that for him.

He sighed and looks at her. "You want me to disappear? I'll gladly do it, but I'm pretty much a corpse without any of this." He mumbled enough for her to hear and points around the playground. "I lost everything once. I'm not tough enough to go through all that pain again." He finally let his emotions to say his words. He meant it. What's the point of hiding anything when you are pretty much a soul with shattered glass heart. Yumiko or not, he stopped caring what's he's saying. If his voice of defeat shuts her up, he gladly do so. "All I'm asking you is to let me have some moment. I'm just feeling myself again." He said and there was a silence.

Yumi didn't spoke anything. She thought so differently of him, but now? This person is a stranger who has a heart. Unlike the one she met a week ago, this one is more fragile than a glass.

He's just a dying soul inside a tough boy act. Nobi Nobita finally allowed himself to be him again.

Yumi looks down on him and all she saw wasn't someone who's lying, arrogant or a jerk. Instead there sat a weak sensitive boy. Another day he would have shown her hell because her foul attitude. Today however, he's overwhelmed by the memories. Even though he's back with his friends, his brother is no longer with him. Doraemon will never return. He's gone for good.

Finally, Yumi remained silent allowing him to enjoy his playground he thought he'll ever see again. Feels like heaven or dream but he told himself it's all real and he's not going away. He's thankful she listened, but didn't bothered to talk to her again.

"Hey guys, how you two doing?" They heard Dekisuki ask as he and Shizuka entered the playground. Nobita was lost in his comfort and see their presence.

"Not that fine I guess." Yumi replied, waving her hand with boredom. Shizuka forgave her though, and Yumi' happy about that one. She wanted to trash talk about Nobita, but somehow she cannot. Is she acknowledging the fact that, he's not the person she thinks he is? Or she felt bad for him? Whatever is going on, she can't believe someone she met just a weak ago could make her go through various emotions so easily. This guy is the first to enter her life with a mysterious exterior that's impossible to see through. He's a baddest jerk one second and the next second he's broken little boy who is confused and hurt. Which one is the real him? She doesn't know that. Even her friends' discription of him doesn't match who he is right now. How was he like? Yumi will never know.

Wait a minute. Was she thinking about him? She's a someone who care less about the likes of him and still she thinks of him? Strange indeed.

"What does that mean? Are you doing alright?" Shizuka shows her concern.

"I'm stuck with someone here I guess." Yumi replied and surprisingly she had to try hard to say that about Nobita. He's really getting into the deepest part of her brain.

Dekisuki and Shizuka shook their heads and looks at a zoned out Nobita. Their breathing hitched unknowingly as they saw the eyes of that old Nobita. The one when he's sad and worried. For a second that old Nobita is there but they realised it won't last long. Yumi saw their face change and which confused her more.

'Who are you, Nobi Nobita? How could someone like you end up in my life? Why are you so....' her questions cannot be fully turned to fruition because there's no words to ask.

"Umm....are you alright, Nobita?" Shizuka asked as she touched his shoulder, making him flinch. However he heard and his jaws clenched and eyes turned bloodshot.

He stood so quick making Shizuka and others to flinch as well. "I'M. NOT. ALRIGHT, DAMMIT. I'M NOT ALRIGHT. I'M... I'M..." He screamed in anger and he breathed in and out like an animal, which scared them. The looks on their faces made him recall his surroundings and tried his best to calm down.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to." He apologized but his voice was so quiet. They heard him though. "I don't know what happened to me. Please forgive me." He apologized again. His expression turned rock cold and his emotionless face has returned. But his words were genuine.

"It's okay. Don't apologise, okay? We should have been more soft. It's our mistake too. Sorry to startle you." Dekisuki calmly said and Nobita just nodded, knowing there's no point in saying sorry. If he apologize again, they do the same and he don't want that.

They spent next few minutes silently and was worried about Nobita' condition. He definitely need support. With that breakdown, they realised how much hurt he really is.