The next morning, sunlight streamed through the windows of the Nohara House.
Miya, wearing an apron, bustled around the kitchen and glanced at the clock on the wall.
Six fifty.
She set down the spatula, wiped her hands, and headed for the bedroom.
The moment she opened the door, she was already braced for what she'd find.
A little lump bulged beneath the blankets.
Miya walked over and yanked them off.
"Time to get up!"
Cold air rushed in, and Shin-chan instinctively curled up.
"Mmm... five more minutes..."
Miya's voice shot up. "Shin Nohara!"
"Coming..."
"You're taking Shiro to school today. Did you forget?"
Shin-chan's eyelids twitched.
"Shiro... school..."
"That's right." Miya put her hands on her hips. "If you don't get up, I'll take Shiro myself and leave you behind."
Shin-chan's eyes flew open, and he scrambled upright.
"No way!"
Five minutes later, Shin-chan had pulled on his red short-sleeved shirt and yellow shorts. He hadn't washed his face properly, and there was still a bit of foam behind one ear.
Miya sighed and wiped the foam behind his ear with a towel.
"Let's go. If you dawdle any longer, you really will be late."
Ninja Academy.
Teacher Ibuki was in the office organizing lesson plans when he heard a knock.
"Come in."
The door opened, and Miya walked in with Shin-chan. He was holding a little white dog in his arms and looking around curiously.
Teacher Ibuki paused.
"Shin-chan? And... what's this?"
Miya stepped forward and said, a little sheepishly, "Teacher Ibuki, sorry for the trouble. This is our Shiro."
"Shiro?"
"Yes." Miya nodded. "I wanted to ask if it could come to school with Shin-chan..."
Teacher Ibuki's eyebrow twitched, and he cut her off. "Come to school? A dog?"
"He's not an ordinary dog," Shin-chan piped up.