The next day, after playing in Yatuolia for two days, everyone felt a little homesick.
So after bidding farewell to the King and Queen, everyone used the Entering Light to travel through two paintings and returned to Dà xióng's house. Then, they took Doraemon's Time Machine back to the point in time two days prior when everyone had departed.
This time, Kurea did not return with them. After all, as a princess, she had many duties to attend to on a daily basis. Having three days off was already quite a lot.
Another thing was that in these past few days, she had fully absorbed the "Milo Energy," unlike before when she sighed mournfully and wore a long face every day.
The other half of the painting remained in her bedroom. If needed, she could come find Chǔ Mùshān and the others anytime later.
She had gradually accepted the fact that Chǔ Mùshān was from the future, so she didn't feel any particular way about it.
Instead, she was highly motivated to improve herself. She absolutely couldn't be worse than Milo.
Kurea clenched her small fists and waved them in the air, full of fighting spirit as she prepared to go to class.
Let's put Kurea aside for now.
Chǔ Mùshān was at this moment experiencing his first time-space travel. Although, according to previous deductions, he had already entered a space-time tunnel before.
But he had no recollection of it, so it didn't count.
This was his first time!
Everyone sat in Doraemon's Time Machine. Doraemon adjusted the time setting, and then took everyone on their journey.
"What's wrong, Kosugi?"
Jìngxiāng asked, seeing Chǔ Mùshān looking around with curiosity.
"Nothing, I just haven't ridden in one much, so I'm a bit curious."
"How did people in the future research this kind of machine? It's truly amazing!"
"It makes me want to be a scientist in the future, to invent gadgets myself."
Chǔ Mùshān said.
"Invent gadgets yourself? Kosugi, you really have ideas! If you really become a scientist, maybe you'll invent some incredible gadgets."
Pàng hǔ gave him a thumbs up.
"If you ask me, if someone really needs to invent a gadget, I hope for one that makes me handsome and perfect."
Xiǎo fū said narcissistically, smoothing his hair.
"Then I hope for a bed that allows me to sleep anytime. Preferably one that can block out all noise, so I can sleep whenever I want without my mom interrupting me."
Dà xióng clapped his hands gleefully, fantasizing.
"Dà xióng, can't you have a bit more ambition?"
Doraemon said helplessly.
"In that case, I hope for a universal bathtub set! It would be best if I could choose what to soak in, like flower petals, milk, or hot springs. Just thinking about it is so comfortable."
Jìngxiāng said wistfully.
"If you ask me, it's best to have a karaoke machine. As soon as I sing here, the whole world can hear my beautiful voice. That's how it should be!"
Pàng hǔ said proudly, with his arms crossed.
Everyone broke out in a cold sweat. The whole world hearing it? People wouldn't want to live on Earth anymore; they'd emigrate to other planets.
It makes one wonder if they would be arrested for 'illegal immigration,' like in the old US of the previous life.
"Alright everyone, we've arrived."
As they chatted, the Time Machine quickly reached its target time.
Everyone jumped out of Dà xióng's desk drawer again. The painting on the floor was still glowing; they didn't know how long the people at this time point had been inside.
Chǔ Mùshān noticed that Doraemon hadn't intended to put away the painting, neither before they returned in the Time Machine nor now.
It dawned on him that this was because they couldn't break the logic. After all, if it were put away now, then 'they' wouldn't be able to return from the painting later.
That's quite scientific... or not!
Anyway, Brother Dong said that physics no longer existed, so Chǔ Mùshān stopped dwelling on whether these bug-level gadgets were reasonable.
As long as everyone had fun, that was all that mattered.
Seeing that the sun had already half-set in the sky, everyone said their goodbyes and left Dà xióng's house.
On the way back, Chǔ Mùshān took out a pink handkerchief from his pocket. Kurea had specifically given it to him before they parted, asking him to keep it safe.
Chǔ Mùshān knew what this gesture meant, but he still put it away.
He, a chuunibyou teenager, understood a young girl's feelings.
Night, tranquil; moon, bright.
After two days of intense play, everyone enjoyed hot meals prepared by their parents upon their return. After washing up, they quickly drifted off to sleep.
Pàng hǔ snored loudly on the tatami mat. Dà xióng, while asleep, blew bubbles of snot, apparently having a wonderful dream. Doraemon and Jìngxiāng had also fallen asleep.
But Xiǎo fū wasn't asleep yet!
He found all the books in his house that he thought might be useful and started searching through them one by one by elimination.
"There must be a way to find the Yàtuōlìyà Gemstone. It must be written in some book."
X iǎo fū muttered to himself as he flipped through the pages. He believed there would definitely be a way.
He could find the gemstone without Doraemon!
Switching perspective to Chǔ Mùshān's room.
Chǔ Mùshān, who temporarily had no specific goals and nothing to do in the evening,
Fell into a deep sleep after completing his diary. The handkerchief was neatly folded and placed by his pillow, like someone's company.
......
A new day arrived quickly. Chǔ Mùshān opened his eyes on time, ready for his new day's training plan. However, as he got out of bed, he felt a bit groggy.
It seemed like... he had a strange dream.
In the dream, he was hit by a cool, futuristic-looking motorcycle, and then he couldn't remember anything else.
Strange, why would he dream about a motorcycle?
Shouldn't such a lucky occurrence be attributed to great fortune?
Shaking his head, Chǔ Mùshān cast these jumbled thoughts aside and continued his strenuous workout.
"100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and a 10-kilometer run."
"Hoo~"
Chǔ Mùshān sat on a park bench, covered in sweat, after completing his push-ups in sets. With this intensity of training, he didn't know if he would gain immense strength, but for his current physique, it would undoubtedly bring about a leap in improvement.
To be honest, although his body currently had infinite potential, it was still too small. One couldn't expect a ten-year-old elementary school student to shatter a planet with a punch, right?
Chǔ Mùshān quipped, planning to continue his training after a short rest.
Time quickly passed over three days of training and homework.
......
"We're back! Kosugi, are you home?"
Kosugi, who was reading comics upstairs, suddenly heard a gentle voice from downstairs.
Today was the day his parents were returning!
Chǔ Mùshān hurried downstairs and, seeing his parents changing their shoes at the entrance, immediately stepped forward to help carry their luggage.
The load was not light, indicating they had bought some local specialties from that region after visiting relatives.
"How was it when Mom wasn't home? Did you miss us?"
Before Chǔ Mùshān could answer, the gentle woman hugged him tightly, energetically absorbing "son energy."
"Haha, Xiaoshan has never disappointed us. Didn't the teacher even call us specifically to praise him this time?"
On the other side, the mature man, who had finished changing his shoes and bore a strong resemblance to Chǔ Mùshān, laughed heartily.
Chǔ Mùshān looked at them, his heart filled with warmth.
The family was finally reunited!