Difficulty Waking Up

"I'm home."

The door to the Nohara House opened, and a weak voice drifted in from outside.

"It should be 'I'm home'," Miya poked her head out from the kitchen. Seeing Shin-chan covered in dirt, she was startled. "Oh dear, how did you get like this?"

Instead of rushing towards snacks as usual, Shin-chan slowly walked to the dining table, plopped down, and sprawled across it.

"Mother."

"What is it?"

"I'm so tired."

Miya walked over and touched his forehead. "Is cultivation that tough?"

Shin-chan buried his face in his arms and said in a muffled voice, "That Thick-Eyed Uncle made me do handstands, push-ups, frog jumps, and tree climbing. He kept talking about youth and limits. I'm completely exhausted."

Miya couldn't help but laugh. "Exercising your body, isn't that a good thing?"

"It's not good," Shin-chan raised his head, his face serious. "Mother, let me tell you, children are really troublesome. I just can't refuse."

"Hm?"

"If you promise someone something, you have to do it, or they'll be sad," Shin-chan sighed. "But if I do it, I get so tired."

Miya was taken aback.

"So you agreed to continue cultivating with them?"

Shin-chan nodded. "Might Guy cried so pitifully, I couldn't bear to refuse."

Looking at her son's dirty little face, Miya suddenly felt a surge of warmth.

This child, although usually lazy, was quite reliable when it mattered.

"Shin-chan, wait here."

Miya turned and walked into the kitchen. When she came out, she was holding a plate.

The plate was full of Chocolate Sticks.

Shin-chan's eyes lit up instantly. "Chocolate Sticks!"

"It's your first day of school, and I wanted to celebrate for you anyway," Miya placed the plate in front of him. "Now, this is an extra reward because you kept your promise."

Shin-chan stared at the Chocolate Sticks, his mouth watering.

"There's more," Miya went back into the kitchen and brought out plate after plate: Fried Shrimp, Hamburger Steak, Miso Soup, and Rice, filling the entire table.

"Wow!" Shin-chan's eyes widened, "What day is it today?"

"It's to celebrate your first day of school," Miya said, sitting down and looking at him with a smile. "Even though your Father is on a mission and not home, we should still celebrate properly."

Shin-chan picked up his chopsticks and looked at the table full of dishes. He suddenly asked, "Mother, when will Father come back?"

"Maybe in a few days," Miya patted his head. "What's wrong, do you miss Father?"

Shin-chan thought for a moment. "Not really, I just want him to see that I did Push-ups today."

Miya couldn't help but laugh. "When your Father comes back, you can show him."

"Okay!" Shin-chan picked up a Fried Shrimp and stuffed it into his mouth. "Mmm, delicious."

"Eat slowly, no one's going to fight you for it."

Shin-chan Gobbled, his cheeks puffed out like a hamster's.

Outside the window, the moon rose.

The night in Konohagakure was quiet and warm.

The next morning.

Miya was busy in the kitchen, beating eggs while occasionally glancing at the clock on the wall.

6:50.

She put down her chopsticks, wiped her hands, and walked towards the bedroom.

Yesterday, Shin-chan went to training with that Might Duy (he). When he came back, he was covered in dirt. Although he seemed energetic at dinner, this morning, he would definitely be sore all over and unable to get up.

Miya thought, and pushed open the bedroom door.

A small lump bulged under the Quilt, and the lump was slowly squirming.

"Shin-chan?" she called out tentatively.

"Mmm..." A muffled sound came from under the Quilt.

"You're awake?"

"Mmm..."

Miya walked over and threw off the Quilt.

Shin-chan was curled up like a shrimp, his eyes tightly shut, a familiar trace of drool hanging from the corner of his mouth, just like yesterday morning.

"Shin-chan, time to get up," Miya nudged him.

"Mmm... five more minutes..."

"Doesn't your body hurt?"

Shin-chan opened one eye, looking groggily at Miya: "Hurt? What hurts?"

"You cultivated for so long yesterday, don't your legs and arms ache?"

Shin-chan blinked, as if just realizing the question. He slowly sat up, stretched, then raised his arms and rotated them, and kicked his legs.

His movements were fluid, his expression calm.

Miya watched him nervously: "How is it?"

Shin-chan tilted his head, thought for a moment, then yawned: "Doesn't hurt."

"What?"

"Just a little sleepy." Shin-chan finished, then snuggled back into the quilt. "Mother, I'm sleeping five more minutes."

Miya grabbed him by the nape of his neck: "No, get up!"

"Wow, so violent."

"Less nonsense!"

"But I'm really sleepy."

A cross appeared on Miya's forehead: "I'll give you three seconds. One, two..."

Shin-chan didn't move, he even closed his eyes.

"Three!"

Miya yanked him out of the quilt, like picking up a disobedient kitten.

Shin-chan dangled in the air, his eyes still closed: "Mother, I can sleep like this even if you're holding me."

"Wake up!"

Miya put him on the ground. Shin-chan stood for two seconds, then his body slowly started to tilt to the side.

Just as he was about to fall back onto the floor, Miya quickly caught him.

"Shin Nohara!"

"Here."

"Are you going to get up or not!!!"

Shin-chan opened his eyes, his face full of innocence: "I'm trying to get up, but my body doesn't want to."

Miya took a deep breath.

This familiar dialogue, familiar scene, familiar rise in blood pressure.

Five minutes later, Shin-chan was dressed in his red short sleeve and yellow shorts, although the clothes were on backward.

Miya turned him around and dressed him again.

Another five minutes later, Shin-chan had brushed his teeth, although there was still a bit of toothpaste foam on the corner of his mouth.

Miya took a towel and wiped it clean for him.

Another five minutes later, Shin-chan had washed his face, although foam had gotten all over the mirror.

Miya was too lazy to wipe it.

"Alright, time to eat!" Miya pushed Shin-chan towards the dining table.

Shin-chan sat at the dining table and looked at the egg, bread, and milk in front of him. He suddenly asked, "Mother, is there chinjao today?"

"How could there be chinjao for breakfast?"

"That's good." Shin-chan sighed in relief and started eating.

Miya watched him from the side, and the more she looked, the more unbelievable she found it. This child, after cultivating like that yesterday, was actually full of energy today.

"Shin-chan, does it really not hurt?" Miya couldn't help but ask again.

Shin-chan's mouth was full of rice, and he mumbled indistinctly: "Mmm... it doesn't hurt... I'm just sleepy..."

"How is that possible? You did so much exercise yesterday."

Shin-chan tilted his head and thought for a moment, swallowing the rice in his mouth: "Maybe it's because I'm not made of muscles?"

"Then what are you made of?"

"I'm made of chocolate sticks."

Miya's mouth twitched, and for a moment, she didn't know how to retort.