Thursday 27 March 1992
After the great debate with Jun Kirizou on television, the buzz had yet to die down. Newspapers continued running follow-up articles, radio hosts dissected Zaboru's arguments, and magazines featured interviews with various industry professionals about the future of gaming. Even though it was the second day since the debate, the footage kept circulating, fueling conversations everywhere. Some people supported Zaboru's stance wholeheartedly, while others continued to side with Kirizou, arguing that gaming was still an unnecessary distraction. But for Zaboru, all of this was background noise. He wasn't concerned with how the public interpreted the debate—he had games to release and projects to oversee.
His progress on the handheld console was steady. He had already assembled a new R&D team dedicated to developing handheld components, though he kept the full scope of the project under wraps. It wasn't just about launching a new product; it was about revolutionizing the market.
The deal with HanDai for ZAGE-branded toys and action figures had also been finalized the previous day. Merchandising was going to be a key component in strengthening the ZAGE brand, and he knew that if done right, it would be another steady source of revenue. Meanwhile, his PC game development team had been briefed on the ambitious new project he envisioned, and so far, things were moving forward smoothly. Fınd the newest release on 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝⁂𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖⁂𝕟𝕖𝕥
As for Ayumi, she had continued visiting his office every night, making sure he wasn't overworking himself, pampering him in ways she thought would make up for what her father had done. Even though Zaboru had told her countless times to stop feeling guilty, she was stubborn. He wasn't going to argue against it—her presence was always welcome, and honestly, he liked having her around.
By 8:00 PM, most of the office had cleared out, leaving just the two of them. Zaboru remained focused on his work, reviewing reports and planning new marketing strategies, while Ayumi sat beside him, flipping through some documents absentmindedly. He could tell something was on her mind. Then, after a long silence, she finally spoke.
"I think I'm going to quit college."
Zaboru paused mid-typing and turned to her. "Huh? What brought this on?"
She exhaled deeply, as if she had been holding this thought in for a long time. "I only went because my family wanted me to. But after what my father did to you, I realized I don't need to follow the path they set for me. I want to work full-time with Akaishidan Studio , Nii-Sama studio and create my own game for ZEPS. College feels pointless. If I want to learn about technology, I'd rather learn from you. You are better at teaching me anyways. Besides, the guys there won't leave me alone. They make me uncomfortable."
Zaboru leaned back, considering her words carefully. "If that's what you want, then do it. If you feel like college isn't helping you and you're ready to chase your dreams, I'll always support you."
Ayumi smiled softly, but then her expression turned teasing. "You're not jealous that guys are all over me in college?"
He chuckled. "Nah. You probably just give them that icy glare of yours. And if they still don't get the message, I bet your underlings take care of them."
She grinned. "That's about right." She moved closer, wrapping her arms around him from behind. "No one compares to you, Zabo."
He kissed her cheek. "Same to you. But let me finish my work first, alright?"
She nodded, understanding how busy he had been lately. A while later, Zaboru packed up, walked Ayumi home, and then headed back to his own place with his Silver Wrecker after closing the office.
When he arrived, his father, Zanichi, was seated in the living room, sipping tea and reading the newspaper. He glanced up and smirked. "You've really made a name for yourself, huh, son? But I still don't get why you insist on wearing that helmet."
Zaboru grinned. "To avoid unnecessary trouble. And because it's fun."
Zanichi shrugged. "Well, suit yourself. Oh, by the way, do you have any plans to expand ZAGE further? Maybe build a skyscraper for the headquarters?"
Zaboru nodded. "That's the plan, but I don't have the capital for it just yet. Maybe by the end of the year, we can start planning for office expansion. It's a long-term goal."
Zanichi nodded approvingly. "Good thinking. Also, once I officially join ZAGE, can I develop a game myself? I still want to create something for fun."
Zaboru smirked. "Of course. In fact, one of our employees is getting their first game published this April, and I'm really excited about it."
Zanichi leaned forward with a grin. "That's good to hear. But just so you know, the game I make is going to outshine all of yours."
Zaboru laughed. "Ha! You wish."
They both chuckled, spending the rest of the night talking before finally heading off to bed.
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