Monday 8 February 1996.
In the morning, Seto Kawami, a salaryman who lived and worked in Kobe, had taken a rare day off — something he seldom did. And the reason? Simple: he wanted to play Kirby's Dream Land 2 from ZAGE, a game he had been waiting weeks to enjoy. Seto had always adored the pink, round puffball. He thought Kirby was not only adorable, but also incredibly strong — a small hero with a big heart and surprising power. Just thinking about spending the entire day playing made Seto grin from ear to ear.
He had prepared everything for the perfect gaming experience. His living room was clean, the curtains drawn just enough to let in a soft morning light, and his favorite snacks — potato chips, canned coffee, and melon soda — were lined up on the table beside him. He even bought a sets of Kirby Pillow just for this. He looked at the screen like a child seeing fireworks for the first time, heart full of joy. completely unaware of the disaster looming just hours away.
"This day can't be better! Hehehe," he laughed to himself, feeling like a kid on holiday. He had taken two full days off — time off he had barely been granted after last year's intense project proposal. He was also lucky to have an additional day before returning to work, which gave him a much-needed three-day weekend. Since Saturday, Seto had already been deep into marathon gaming sessions, cycling through a stack of titles he'd been meaning to finish.
He'd beaten a few platformers, revisited some old classics, and even tried out a couple of new action games. It had been one of the most relaxing stretches he'd had in months. But today was the grand finale — the day reserved solely for Kirby's Dream Land 2. Everything was lined up for a perfect experience: no interruptions, his favorite drink chilled and ready, and the game cartridge already inserted. As he picked up the controller with excitement practically radiating from him, Seto whispered, "This is going to be amazing."
He played for an hour, completely immersed in the colorful world of Kirby. The levels were imaginative, the music cheerful, and the gameplay as smooth as he had hoped. Seto laughed out loud as Kirby transformed, floated, and swallowed enemies with his trademark charm. It was clear — this was the best Kirby game he had ever played. ZAGE had truly delivered another masterpiece.
Just as he reached what looked like a boss stage, with his fingers tight on the controller and his focus razor-sharp, the floor beneath him began to tremble. At first, he thought it was just a passing truck — but then the rumbling grew stronger. The TV screen wobbled. His eyes widened. His heart slammed against his chest. The earth was shaking. Hard.
"Oh no! Earthquake!?" he shouted, trying to get up from his couch, but the shaking made it nearly impossible. He lost his balance and slipped, hitting the floor hard. A loud crash followed — his cupboard toppled toward him. Instinct kicked in, and he rolled to the side just in time, narrowly avoiding being crushed.
Panic surged through him. Seto was terrified. "I can't die yet!" he gasped, scrambling with all his strength. He forced himself toward the wooden table in the corner of the room — the only sturdy furniture nearby. Thankfully, it wasn't far. With a desperate dive, he managed to slide underneath it, curling up and covering his head.
The earthquake raged on. From under the table, Seto could hear the violent rattling of furniture and the sickening shatter of glass breaking around him. His TV fell. Shelves collapsed. Cabinets split open. But none of that mattered. He didn't care about the mess, or the damage. All he could do was hold on tight, eyes clenched shut, silently praying over and over, "Please let me live… please let me live…"
After a full minute, the earthquake finally stopped. Seto held his breath, bracing himself as the world around him settled into an eerie silence. Slowly, he crawled out from under the table, his muscles trembling from the tension. But the moment his eyes scanned the room, the sight brought tears to his eyes.
The house — the one he had worked so hard to buy with his own money — was almost in ruins. Furniture was strewn across the floor, shattered and overturned. Deep cracks split across the walls, chunks of plaster scattered everywhere. The cozy home he had built for himself was now barely recognizable.
Then he saw it — his gaming corner. His beloved collection. His ZEPS 1, ZEPS 2, and the Titan Drive — all crushed beneath the fallen cupboard and broken television. Controllers snapped. Cartridges cracked. The entire shelf had collapsed under the weight of debris. It felt like watching his memories being erased.
Devastated, Seto wiped his tears and steeled himself. As much as it hurt, he knew he had to look outside and see what was happening beyond his shattered walls. But nothing could have prepared him for what he was about to witness.
Almost all the houses around him were broken — entire neighborhoods reduced to piles of wood, glass, and concrete. Cries filled the air. "HELP! HELP! My husband is still in there!" a woman screamed in desperation, waving frantically at a crumbled home. A small child wailed, "Mommy! Mommy!" as her father struggled to lift a massive boulder blocking their path. People were crawling out from debris, covered in dust and blood, calling for their loved ones or searching for anyone left alive.
Seto's eyes widened in fear. His legs felt weak, and for a moment, the primal urge to hide or run away overtook him. His breath quickened. The devastation was overwhelming. But then, in the midst of the chaos, his mind drifted to the heroes he always admiring: Kirby, Link, Ryu Hayabusa, and so many others. In his imagination, he could hear Kirby's cheerful determination, Link's quiet courage, Ryu's deadly focus. What would they do if they were here?
'I can't run. I need to help. I should help. What would Kirby say if he saw me cowering while others suffered?' he thought.
His fear didn't vanish, but he pushed it aside. Gritting his teeth, Seto steeled himself and ran toward the cries for help. He didn't have training. He didn't have strength. But he had heart — and he had hands. He pulled aside rubble, helped an old man out of a collapsed doorway, and shouted directions to people who seemed lost. It was chaos, but he refused to freeze.
It would still take time for any government assistance to arrive — maybe hours — and every second mattered. So, without hesitation, Seto kept going. He was just one man in a sea of brokenness, but today, he refused to be just a bystander. He was going to help. No matter what.
Meanwhile, not long after the earthquake struck, the Japanese government became quickly aware of the devastating event. Within minutes, emergency alerts were triggered, and officials began coordinating a national-level disaster response. High-ranking members of the disaster management bureau gathered in Tokyo to assess the scope of the destruction. Without hesitation, they authorized the dispatch of military personnel, medical teams, search-and-rescue units, and emergency supplies to the affected areas — with Kobe at the top of the list.
Television stations across the country interrupted their regular broadcasts. A red banner reading "Breaking News" flashed on screens as images of crumbled buildings, smoke rising from fires, and dazed survivors streamed in live. News anchors struggled to maintain their composure while relaying the scale of the tragedy. It was clear that this was no ordinary tremor — it was a national emergency.
Helicopters took off from nearby prefectures, while convoys of fire trucks, ambulances, and military transport rolled through highways. Every available responder was being mobilized. Across Japan, viewers watched in silence, their hearts heavy as the enormity of the disaster became apparent. The country was moving — fast — to save as many lives as possible.
Meanwhile, at the ZAGE offices, Zaboru's eyes widened in shock. He couldn't believe what he was seeing on the TV screen — scenes of destruction pouring in live from Kobe. His heart pounded. This earthquake wasn't supposed to happen now. In his previous life, he distinctly remembered it occurring on January 17, 1995 — not today.
But none of that matters because Zaboru and ZAGE will help!.
To be continue
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