After what happened in the bathroom, I was in an incredibly good mood.
I couldn't help but smile the whole time.
The old gold coins that Doraemon and I brought back have been taken care of by Doraemon.
Originally, Mom wanted to sell them herself. But I told her: don't show off our wealth—especially since we might have to pay taxes.
With Doraemon's gadgets, we didn't even have to leave the house. We used the Useful Vending Machines to appraise and sell them right away.
Through that vending machine, the coins sold for over ten million yen (don't take that number too seriously!).
Now, the debts at home and some other expenses could finally be covered.
At least we could live well for a few years. But if there's no new income for a while, I'd still have to find work.
When she saw the stack of bills Doraemon put on the table, Mom was overjoyed.
At least our immediate troubles were over.
She even let out a sigh of relief.
But honestly, I wasn't satisfied. This much money won't last that long, not to mention my real goals.
"Mom, please believe me. From now on, I'll work hard to make money.
So, don't go out and work, okay? I'll make sure you live as well as before—or even better," I said, looking her straight in the eyes.
"Okay, okay, I believe you. But you should still study hard right now," she said, smiling.
"Mom, I—" I tried to argue.
"But all right, I promise, I won't go look for work for now," she agreed, even though I'm not sure she understood why I didn't want her to work.
"Okay, okay, with this much money, our problems are solved. Today's a good day! I'll cook a big feast to celebrate. And I'll buy an extra-large dorayaki for you too!" Mom quickly changed the subject when she saw I was about to say more.
"Yay! Mom's the best!" Doraemon cheered, waving his little hands in the air.
It was clear Mom didn't want to talk about it more, but at least she agreed not to go out to work. That alone was enough for me.
…
Dinner was wonderful, but there wasn't any special treat for me tonight like last night.
I felt a little disappointed.
But as I thought things over, I came up with a great money-making idea.
"Doraemon?"
That night, I went to ask Doraemon for help. I had some inspiration, but needed a good way to make it happen.
And what's the best way? Of course, ask Doraemon—my very own human cheat code.
"Doraemon, do you have any gadgets that can help me draw manga?"
Yes, that's my idea—drawing manga.
In the Doraemon world, almost everyone loves manga.
Being a manga artist is a respected profession.
"Manga? Why the sudden interest, Nobita? Are we running out of money already? Didn't you just get a ton from those coins?" Doraemon asked in confusion.
"It's just… I see how hard Mom works for our family. I want to see if I can earn money too, to take some pressure off her.
That's the only way I can really become an adult," I said, trying to sound as mature as possible.
"Amazing, Nobita! I support you!" Doraemon said, clearly moved.
"Let me see…" Doraemon rummaged through his four-dimensional pocket.
"Here! The Thought-Imprint Drawing Paper. Whatever you imagine, it draws!
And here's the Writer's Can—once you go in, you won't be disturbed until you finish drawing."
"Go ahead, Nobita!" Doraemon said, grinning.
"Alright!" I tiptoed into the can.
It looked small from the outside, but inside was a whole other world.
Going down a short staircase, I found myself in a room the size of a decent apartment—fifty or sixty square meters, with a bathroom, shower, even food. It had everything.
Time to get to work.
But what to draw?
Bleach? One Piece?
No, those are too high-level for the Doraemon world. The best-selling manga here are all-ages, simple enough for adults and kids alike.
Plus, I've forgotten a lot of Bleach and One Piece—I couldn't fully recreate them anyway.
It would be better to use a set template, and add some local flavor.
Suddenly, it hit me.
On the Thought-Imprint Drawing Paper, words started to form:
"Title: Ninja Way.
In a world called the Ninja Continent…"
Then I sketched Naruto from memory.
Next, the story: Uzumaki Naruto. A loser who challenges everything in ninja way…
A set formula, a proven template, suitable for all ages. What could be better?
If I had to pick a local flavor, Naruto is the top choice.
Will this series be a hit?
I think so!
I drew and drew in the can, getting more excited as I went.
When the series was finally finished, I let out a sigh of relief and put down the stack of drawing paper.
The pile was taller than me.
Suddenly, the can opened, and I climbed out, trying to be as quiet as possible.
"How did it go, Nobita?" Doraemon asked, eyes full of anticipation.
"It's done, Doraemon! Here, take a look at my first volume."
I handed him the first completed volume.
Of course, I'd finished all the manga for the monthly, but I could only carry one volume at a time. Still, the first volume was plenty.
After all, with manga, just like novels, the key is a steady stream. If you finish it all at once, there's nothing left.
From now on, as long as I turn in each chapter before the deadline, I'll have a steady income.
Not to mention other revenue—anime, merchandise, and more.
In the future, I can just sit back and watch the money roll in.