Still at the ramen shop, Zaboru approached Shinji Mikami. "Oh, hello! What's wrong with your head?" Zaboru asked, smiling gently as he glanced at the bandage on Shinji Mikami's head, his eyes briefly flickering with concern. Shinji Mikami gave an awkward shrug, brushing it off. "It's… nothing. Just a rough day." He paused, then nervously added, "Anyway, Zaboru-san, I'm a big fan of yours. I myself am a video game developer." Zaboru chuckled softly, folding his arms with a relaxed grin. "Oh, really? Neat." There was a warmth in his voice, making Mikami feel unexpectedly at ease despite his nerves.
Zaboru then sat beside Shinji and ordered, "Boss, I want a gyoza — make 'em plenty." The ramen owner laughed, wiping his hands on a towel. "Heh, you just ate 10 bowls of my ramen!" Zaboru grinned, patting his stomach. "There's always room for gyoza, Boss." The boss and his son laughed together, shaking their heads. "Coming right up!" The savory aroma of sizzling dumplings soon filled the air, mingling with the chatter of the small shop, making the moment feel both humble and strangely special.
Shinji Mikami smiled. "You sure can eat, Zaboru-san… And, um, why does a man like you — I mean no disrespect — a billionaire, eat at a small restaurant ?" Zaboru shrugged casually. "Well, that's just my taste. You find real flavor in small places — it's got heart. Anyway, what's your name, mister?" Shinji blushed, realizing he'd forgotten to introduce himself. "S-sorry! I'm just nervous. My name is Shinji Mikami…" Zaboru nodded with a knowing look and thought, Figured. Orıginal content can be found at 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩⁂𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾⁂𝔫𝔢𝔱
Shinji continued, "I… until today, I was a video game developer at ZUSUGA, the company behind ZU Gen 1… And I acted as lead in the video games sector." Zaboru's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of intrigue sparking in his gaze, and he thought, Well, Shinji Mikami became head of ZUSUGA? Maybe because Capcom doesn't exist in this world? He let the thought linger, reflecting briefly on how much the absence of such industry giants could ripple across the gaming landscape. Indeed, Zaboru had never found any trace of Capcom, SNK, or SEGA in this world — unlike Nintendo, which he found and acquired as Ninzendo, still a hanafuda card company, now producing card-related games for ZAGE.
Acting surprised, Zaboru said, "Wait, you were the head behind those 10 games released alongside ZU Gen 1?" Shinji's eyes widened; he trembled and lowered his head. "Y-yes…" Mikami's voice was barely audible, his hands tightening on his knees. He was afraid that Zaboru was disappointed in him, the weight of failure pressing down harder with every second of silence.
Zaboru looked at the shaken Shinji Mikami. He could sense how hard it must have been for him, the exhaustion etched on his face, the weight of recent days heavy on his shoulders. Gently, he placed a hand on Shinji's shoulder. "Mikami-san… it must have been hard, yes?" Shinji's eyes widened, blinking in surprise. "H-huh?" Zaboru gave a warm, understanding smile and calmly sipped his mineral water. "ZUSUGA management must've been assholes, right? Just demanding results, never listening to your warnings, ignoring what you and your team were really going through. Even though you were the head of video game development, right?" Shinji Mikami was taken aback but then slowly nodded, his voice small but honest. "Y-yes, Zaboru-san! That's exactly what happened… it was overwhelming."
Their food arrived — Shinji's ramen and Zaboru's gyoza. The owner quietly placed the dishes and left.
Shinji began to rant, tears building in his eyes. "I kept telling Zukechi Zagashira it was impossible to release 10 games by October! But he didn't care! He always said, 'You must try harder, Mikami!' I'm so pissed off! I… I wanted to be a good video game developer. I've loved video games even before your era in 1991, Zaboru-san. I always wanted to be one…" His voice cracked slightly as he wiped at his eyes with the sleeve of his jacket, his shoulders trembling. "I just… I wanted to create something people would remember, something fun, something with heart. But they only cared about numbers… deadlines… profit. I'm so tired, Zaboru-san… I'm just so tired."
Zaboru sighed. It must have been tough for Mikami. He didn't mock a man's tears — men can cry too. He nodded. "Well, it's not really your fault, Mikami-san. From what my father says, there are plenty of assholes like Zukechi in business." Mikami nodded and ate his ramen silently, the steam fogging his glasses slightly as he focused on the bowl. Zaboru devoured his dumplings in silence too, savoring the crisp skin and flavorful filling, glancing now and then at Mikami with a quiet, thoughtful look, as if already seeing the potential they might unlock together.
Zaboru thought about Shinji Mikami — the legendary figure from his past life. So many iconic games were created through Mikami's hands, or under his leadership as executive producer or director. Games like God Hand and Resident Evil were among Mikami's most notable works, titles that shaped genres and inspired countless developers. The guy had an undeniable knack for action design, sharp pacing, and clever difficulty planning, combining intensity with creativity in ways few others could match.
ZAGE could definitely use a talent like him — especially as the company kept growing. Once the ZAGE tower was finished, Zaboru planned to create many teams across Japan and the USA. Mikami had experience leading teams even in this world, and his leadership could help shape upcoming projects, nurture younger developers, and push innovation forward. With someone like Mikami, ZAGE wouldn't just grow in size — it would grow in creative power and reputation.
Zaboru ate his gyoza, savoring each bite, then casually asked Shinji Mikami with a relaxed tone, "Mikami-san… want to join ZAGE?" Shinji, who was drinking his ramen broth, almost choked and quickly grabbed his water, coughing a little before managing to reply. "W-what? Zaboru-san, but… I was the lead on the video games that made 10 trash titles… There's no way ZAGE could or would want to welcome me…" His voice trailed off, eyes darting away in embarrassment, his fingers nervously tapping the rim of his bowl as doubt clouded his expression.
Zaboru chuckled softly. It seemed Mikami still wasn't in the right mindset to recognize his own worth. "Do you know who you're talking to, Mikami-san?" he asked with a teasing glint in his eye. Mikami's eyes widened — he realized: Zaboru is the owner of ZAGE! If he was inviting him… it meant… he could join ZAGE! A mix of surprise, doubt, and a flicker of hope crossed Mikami's face as the weight of the moment began to settle in.
But Mikami hesitated, his fingers fidgeting with the edge of his sleeve. "B-but… can I, Zaboru-san…?" Zaboru smiled patiently. "Do you still have a contract with ZUSUGA?" Mikami shook his head slowly. "N-no, they terminated my contract. But it's more like… you know, do I even deserve it?" His voice softened at the end, eyes downcast, the weight of self-doubt heavy on his shoulders.
Zaboru smiled. "Well then — after this, let's do a quick interview and see if you're worth it. I invite you to the ZAGE offices." Mikami's eyes widened. "B-but… it's already night…" Zaboru raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in his gaze. "So you don't want to?" Mikami steeled his will, slurping his ramen broth. "NO! I want to! Please interview me!" Zaboru chuckled, his eyes crinkling with genuine amusement. "That's a great spirit, Mikami-san." The tension between them softened, and for the first time that night, Mikami felt a flicker of hope spark inside him, warming him more than the ramen ever could.
Zaboru finished his gyoza, reached into his pocket, and handed over three 10,000-yen bills. "Boss, here's the money. Keep the change — also, this covers this guy's ramen too." The boss's eyes widened. "That's too much, Zaboru-boy…" Zaboru grinned warmly. "Don't worry about it — your ramen tastes way better than its price. It's all worth it." The boss nodded and sighed, shaking his head with a small smile. This wasn't the first time Zaboru had done something , and the owner was always thankful, quietly admiring Zaboru's generosity and humble nature.
Zaboru and Shinji Mikami headed to ZAGE HQ in Tokyo. It was Mikami's first time inside the ZAGE building, and he couldn't help but admire the vibrant posters, detailed artwork, and the electric energy filling the halls. Everything about the place radiated passion and creativity. Zaboru led Mikami to a sleek meeting room with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city lights. "Want coffee, Mikami-san?" Zaboru asked with a small grin. Mikami shook his head, managing a nervous smile. "I… just had canned coffee earlier, Zaboru-san." Zaboru chuckled softly, nodded, poured himself a drink, and sat across from Shinji, his gaze both calm and welcoming.
Shinji smiled, a bit shyly. "You… you've already created so many vibrant and great characters, Zaboru-san. It's really amazing." Zaboru grinned playfully. "Flattery already?" Shinji's eyes widened, flustered. "A-ah, it's not like that!" Zaboru chuckled softly and nodded. "I'm just joking, Mikami-san." Then, as Zaboru looked at Mikami, his eyes seemed to glimmer for a brief moment — a sharp, almost otherworldly spark — and Mikami blinked, rubbing his eyes quickly. Am I too nervous? Am I hallucinating? he wondered, a nervous breath escaping. No way eyes can shine like that… right?
Meanwhile, stats appeared in Zaboru's mind he using Game Scanning Eye to Shinji Mikami:
Shinji Mikami — Game Developer Skills:
Game Creation Creativity: A
Game Design (Art Style): B
Game Creation Leadership: B
Zaboru smiled. Even his Game Scanning Eye gave Shinji Mikami good stats — and he could still improve. But Zaboru wouldn't just depend on the scan.
"So, how confident are you in coding video games, Mikami-san?" Mikami nodded thoughtfully, his brow furrowing as he gave an honest answer. "I understand the flow and terms, and I'm comfortable working as part of a team or leading one, but if I had to create everything completely on my own from scratch, I might struggle."
Zaboru nodded. "For you, when creating games, what are the most important things? You can name more than one." Shinji answered, "First, certainty — you can't rush it. We need to ensure the game works properly, with minimal bugs, so player satisfaction isn't ruined. Next, in gameplay terms — it's subjective, but I think good gameplay is everything. And next is the story — for me, the story should follow the gameplay background and feel like a natural extension of it." Zaboru listened intently, his fingers steepled, occasionally nodding with genuine interest. He asked more detailed questions — about balancing mechanics, player feedback, innovation — and Mikami answered them thoroughly, his initial nervousness slowly giving way to passion as he spoke about the craft he loved.
After a while, Zaboru smiled. "See? You're competent enough. Anyway — tomorrow, bring your CV and come to the ZAGE offices. Just give your name, and my secretary will lead you to HR to discuss the contract and everything related." Mikami's eyes widened, blinking rapidly. "I… I'm hired?" Zaboru nodded with an encouraging grin. "Unless you don't want to?" Mikami shook his head quickly, a spark of determination lighting up his expression. "N-no! I want to! Tomorrow morning, I'll deliver my CV!" He stood and bowed deeply, his voice trembling with emotion. "Thank you, Zaboru-san! For this chance — I won't disappoint you!" Zaboru chuckled, giving a reassuring nod as Mikami, cheeks flushed with excitement and nerves, quickly left the ZAGE offices and headed home, he really happy and excited
Meanwhile, Zaboru sat in his office — it was already 22:00. He leaned back.
"Haha… Shinji Mikami, get…" Zaboru grinned. Another talented soul was always welcome at ZAGE.
With that, he continued his work — at the moment, carefully crafting numerous English songs for his upcoming video game arcade, aiming to pack it with as many great English rock tracks as possible. He tapped his pen against the desk in rhythm, occasionally humming a line, and testing lyrics.
AN : Shinji Mikami is just my guy
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