The warehouse was cold and quiet. A single bulb swung above the round table, humming faintly.Shinchan sat with his fists pressed against the wood, his face hard. No jokes. No silly grin. Only fire in his eyes.
His friends exchanged worried looks.
Masao tried first. He forced a laugh."You know… Umbra probably has dandruff under that creepy hood. Imagine him scratching his head while giving a scary speech—flakes flying everywhere!"
Nene smirked. "Or Glacira. She looks like she hasn't bathed in twenty years. She must smell like an old freezer."
Bo-chan's lips twitched. "…Jokerbane laughs too much. Maybe he swallowed a clown toy."
Even Kazama added a weak joke, then whispered, "It's strange. Usually Shinchan makes us laugh. Now we're the ones trying to make him laugh."
But Shinchan didn't smile. He just stared at the table, jaw tight.
Finally, he spoke, voice low but steady."Twenty years ago… when the heroes chose us. Do you remember what they told us?"
Kazama's eyes widened. "Dhyaan. Meditation. One day and one night. That's how our powers awakened."
Nene gasped. "If we try again… maybe the powers will return!"
🌌 The Dhyaan Begins
That night, the five sat cross-legged on the cold warehouse floor. Eyes closed. Breathing slow. Searching deep inside themselves.
It wasn't easy.
Kazama's mind was restless with plans and fears.Masao's legs cramped until he whimpered.Nene kept scolding the boys for twitching.Bo-chan drifted into sleep more than once.And Shinchan—though still as stone—felt a storm of fear and anger crushing his chest.
Hours passed. Slowly, their minds calmed. Nothing could disturb them now.
By dawn, their hands were still empty. No light. No power.
Masao whispered hoarsely, "Maybe… it's gone forever."Nene clenched her fists, tears in her eyes. "What if we can't save Ai-chan? What if we fail again?"Even Kazama lowered his head. "…Without powers, we're nothing."
Then Shinchan opened his eyes. His voice cut through the gloom.
"We're not nothing."
The others looked up.
Shinchan stood tall, his silhouette dark against the pale sunrise."Maybe the powers haven't returned. Maybe they never will. But that doesn't matter. What matters is that we're together. And together, we've beaten them once before."
He met each of their eyes."We don't give up. Not now. Not ever. Ai-chan is waiting for me. Kasukabe is waiting for us. We are the Kasukabe Defense Team. As long as we breathe—we fight."
His words lit sparks in their hearts. The despair melted. Their spines straightened. Hope burned again.
🌅 Family Support
As the sun climbed, their families came.
Misae rushed to Shinchan, tears in her eyes. "I'm sorry. For grabbing your collar. For doubting you. I was scared. But now… now I trust you."
Hiroshi placed a strong hand on his son's shoulder. "You're not a child anymore. You're a man. Kasukabe needs you."
Shinta puffed his chest. "Papa, I'm coming too! We'll save Mama together!"
In Misae's arms, baby Shin-ai giggled, "Yai yai!"Shiro barked loudly, his little pups yipping in agreement.
Shinchan gently took Shin-ai from Misae and hugged her, along with Shinta and Shiro's pups. Then he looked at his mother with concern."Mom… why bring her here? We're going to fight! It's dangerous!"
Misae sighed, guilt in her voice. "She wouldn't stop crying. She wouldn't stay with the neighbors. We had no choice… and maybe, Shinchan, she's here for a reason. Sometimes even babies carry strength we can't see."
Kazama frowned. "Wait… where's the baby?"
Himawari crossed her arms with a pout. "Relax, smarty-pants. I left her with the neighbors before coming."Then her eyes turned serious. "Big Bro. Umbra said it himself—he took Ai-chan to the place of your first fight. He said the last battle will happen there again. So tell us… where was it?"
The warehouse went silent.
Shinchan's eyes widened, then narrowed. His fists clenched."Our first fight… our last fight… It's at the villains' palace. That's where it began. That's where it ends."
Nene's voice trembled. "But why did Umbra only kidnap Ai-chan? We all defeated them."
Misae's face turned pale. "Because… Umbra doesn't only want to destroy Shinchan. He also loves Ai-chan. He said… he wants to marry her."
The words froze everyone. Shinchan's whole body shook with fury."And you didn't tell me?!"
Misae's hands trembled. "I tried, Shinchan. But you didn't listen. You stormed out."
Shinchan's teeth clenched. His voice was pure rage. "He dares… to touch her…"
Hiroshi's deep voice steadied him. "Turn that anger into strength. That's how you'll win."
Kazama lifted his head. "Shinchan, you're not alone. We're with you."Bo-chan muttered, "…This battle won't be easy."Masao whispered, "But what can we do without power?"
Nene glared at him. "Masao! If we lose hope, Shinchan will only worry more. Stand tall!"
Shinchan nodded firmly. "She's right. We're stronger than fear. With or without powers, we fight together."
Shiro barked again, his pups yipping fiercely.
The Kasukabe Defense Team stood shoulder to shoulder, their families behind them. Dawn burned at their backs.
Together, they shouted:"Kasukabe Defense Team—FIRE!"
Today, they would march into darkness.Today, they would take Ai-chan back.
🌑 Foreshadowing
Far away, inside the black halls of the villains' palace, Lord Umbra stood before a burning cauldron. The dark flames showed him Shinchan and his friends shouting their vow.
A slow, chilling smile spread across his shadowed face."So… they come at last. Just as I wished."
His cloak rippled as Thornfang, Glacira, and Jokerbane stepped out from the shadows behind him.
Umbra's voice echoed like thunder."Let them come. This time… Kasukabe will burn."