Dekisugi's Shocking Debut! "Doraemon and Dorami-chan" / The Love Triangle of Nobita, Shizuka, and Dekisugi (1)

We are finally entering the core articles of "Doraemon".

As you know, Nobita was originally destined to marry Jaiko. ("From a Faraway Country" 1970)

However, with the arrival of Doraemon, the future changed, and the marriage partner was changed to Shizuka at a relatively early stage. A son named Nobisuke was also born between the two. ("Nobita's Bride" 1972)

With this, Jaiko's role was lost, but she later reappeared as an aspiring manga artist. ("Manga Artist Jaiko" 1980)

The event of Nobita and Shizuka's engagement was also depicted, and it seemed that Nobita's future was secure. ("Romance in the Snowy Mountain" 1978)

However, in Sewashi's time, the life of poverty continued, so it seems the future of the Nobi family has not yet been clearly changed. ("Alone in the Future City" April 1979)

There is no doubt that Nobita is on the path to marrying Shizuka, but it has not yet become a definitive fate.

So, what (or who) is interfering with Nobita's love life?

Yes, it is Nobita's greatest romantic rival, Hidetoshi Dekisugi, whose presence is the obstacle.

Dekisugi suddenly appeared in the world of "Doraemon," and not only was he quickly recognized as a genius who could do anything, but he also became close with Shizuka. ("Doraemon and Dorami-chan" September 1979)

And from this day on, Nobita would spend most of the 80s suffering through a love triangle between Dekisugi and Shizuka.

To state the conclusion first, the romantic battle between Nobita and Dekisugi ends in Nobita's victory. However, the true resolution would not come for more than 10 years. ("Win Back Shizuka" June 1989 / "Complete Space Encyclopedia" May 1990)

In this series of four articles, I will introduce one work each that features the love triangle between Nobita, Shizuka, and Dekisugi. I would like to look at Nobita's agonizing days with plenty of empathy.

"Doraemon and Dorami-chan"
"CoroCoro Comic" September 1979 issue / Complete Works Vol. 20

This work, which is Dekisugi's first appearance, was not included in the "Tentomushi Comics" and was an episode known only to those in the know at the time. (It was later first published in a volume in "Doraemon Plus")

As written in various places, he was not called "Dekisugi" at the time of his first appearance, but "Akechi". Of course, this has been corrected now. Regarding Dekisugi, there is also the first name issue, but I will omit that in this article.

At the beginning, Nobita, Shizuka, and Dekisugi are walking home from school. Shizuka seems to be having more fun talking to Dekisugi than she does when talking to Nobita. In fact, after parting ways with the two, Nobita gets the impression that "Shizuka seems to have become colder toward me, or maybe it's just my imagination."

"I talked to Dekisugi 23 times. She only talked to me 3 times. She was smiling when she talked to Dekisugi. She had a bored look on her face when she looked at me."

It's endearing that he actually counted Shizuka's reactions... And then he tries to speak ill of Dekisugi, but...

"What's so great about Dekisugi!! That guy is smart, handsome, athletic, and cheerful... He doesn't have a single bad quality. What if Shizuka falls in love with him?"

He just ended up praising Dekisugi's perfection.

In this single page of his first appearance, Dekisugi's characteristics are revealed, and the new relationship between the three is perfectly depicted. It is a truly efficient character introduction.

The title of this work is "Doraemon and Dorami-chan". Dekisugi is actually just one of the ingredients, and the main theme lies in the rivalry between the siblings Doraemon and Dorami, and beyond that, the friendship between Doraemon and Nobita. In that sense, the story structure is a bit difficult to follow.

When Nobita returns home to consult someone about the relationship between Shizuka and Dekisugi, Dorami-chan is waiting in his room. He is told that Doraemon is at the factory for a regular inspection and maintenance (a physical check-up?).

Although Dorami is his caretaker while he is away, Nobita doesn't feel like talking about Shizuka.

"It's embarrassing, and I can't confide this worry to a little kid like her."

he thinks to himself. For Nobita, Doraemon is not just a caretaker robot, but a reliable confidant.

Nobita calls Shizuka to ask her to hang out, but she declines, saying, "I'm going to Dekisugi's house for homework." Seeing this, Dorami brings out a gadget called "Come-Come Cat", which can lure a target person to the house.

When Dorami kindly uses the "Come-Come Cat" without telling Nobita, Shizuka picks up a postcard addressed to Nobita and heads over to deliver it. Nobita, unaware of this, imagines Shizuka asking Dekisugi for help with her homework and being happy, saying, "You're so smart," and he goes mad with jealousy.

Then Doraemon returns from the future. The "Premonition Bug" chirped, so he thought something troublesome had happened to Nobita and cut his schedule short. Nobita cries and asks for advice, and although Doraemon reacts coldly, saying, "Jealousy? That's not very manly," he brings out a gadget called "Go-Go Dog".

This is a gadget that pairs with the "Come-Come Cat" and has the effect of making the target person leave the house. If he uses this to get Dekisugi out of his house, Shizuka won't be able to visit him.

Dekisugi is forced to leave his house because the area around it suddenly becomes noisy due to construction, but he happens to run into Shizuka, who was delivering the postcard to Nobita, and the two head toward Shizuka's house, feeling a sense of destiny.

As a result of Dorami and Doraemon each taking action, they actually ended up bringing Shizuka and Dekisugi closer together. Seeing the two of them, Nobita becomes even more depressed, and Doraemon and the others start arguing. (Also, pay attention to Dekisugi's pun.)

After that, following a bit of a scuffle between Doraemon and Dorami, the story returns to the point that Nobita and Shizuka have no choice but to be alone together, as the only option.

Dorami brings out a special tool called the "Mood Stand". It is an item that feels very much like something a girl robot would have; when you turn this stand on, the room is enveloped in a soft light and quiet music plays, creating the perfect mood.

As soon as she activates the Come-Come Cat to call Shizuka, Nobita's package is accidentally delivered to Shizuka's house, and Shizuka and Dekisugi come over to deliver it. Dorami leaves the house, saying she'll leave the rest to them.

Then, Nobita, who was at home, receives a phone call. It seems to be about Doraemon, but after hearing the call, Nobita is greatly shocked and says, "Whaaat?!". And even though Shizuka is about to arrive, he rushes out of the house.

Where Nobita rushes to, Doraemon has collapsed. He says that while he was flying, his energy pump malfunctioned and he fell. Nobita carries Doraemon on his back and runs toward the house, saying, "I have to get you to the factory for repairs quickly." All the while thinking, even though Doraemon weighs 123.4 kilograms...

Dorami cries, saying it's her fault for scaring him with a mouse, but Nobita says

"That's not it. I've always made you take care of me over trivial things."

and continues to blame only himself.

Meanwhile, Shizuka and Dekisugi, who carried the luggage, are spending time entranced in the room with the "Mood Stand" that Dorami prepared. When Nobita and the others return, they say "Let's go home" and the two of them hold hands and leave the room. It ended up being a result where he completely helped the two of them get together.

Seeing Shizuka and Dekisugi, Doraemon worries about Nobita, but Nobita acts as if he doesn't care, saying, "Just go to the factory quickly." And then,

"Don't worry, I still have ten years until I'm an adult. In that time, there's sure to be a chance for a comeback!!"

he says, showing a very positive attitude. Doraemon cheers him on, saying, "That's the spirit!"

This work is a story where Shizuka and Dekisugi's relationship progresses, but at the same time, it is a work that shows the passionate friendship between Nobita and Doraemon, as well as the spirit of winning the future with one's own hands.

Stories where Nobita prioritizes Doraemon's needs when Doraemon is feeling unwell or taking a vacation include "The Guiding Angel" and "A Holiday for Doraemon!!". Nobita is a man who always puts his friendship with Doraemon first.

Now, Dekisugi, who first appeared as a highly polished character, immediately joined the regular cast and took on the role of making Nobita jealous. In the next installment, I would like to continue following the love triangle between Nobita, Shizuka, and Dekisugi.

I am doing a lot of analysis on "Doraemon".