Saturday 13 February ZAGE Offices Morning.
All the employees were enjoying their weekend now, as the aftermath of the earthquake had finally begun to stabilize. The people of Kobe were starting to recover, and the government was already drafting plans for the city's reconstruction. With relief efforts in steady progress, Zaboru decided it was time to return to work. In fact, he was looking forward to it. He hoped that immersing himself in projects and productivity might help blur the haunting images of earthquake victims and the devastation he had witnessed during his days as a rescuer. Maybe, through work, the emotional weight would slowly start to lift.
Ayumi was with Zaboru now, having decided to accompany him because she knew he wasn't in the best state of mind after volunteering as a rescuer during the earthquake aftermath. She understood that the emotional toll had worn him down. Rather than overwhelm him, she simply stayed by his side, offering quiet encouragement and letting him work at his own pace. She knew that distraction and routine were what he needed most right now, and she was more than willing to be there for him in that way.
"Zaboru, here's your coffee," Ayumi said gently. Zaboru gave a small nod in thanks, and Ayumi smiled warmly before leaning down to kiss his forehead. Then she moved to a nearby sofa, settling in with her sketchpad to work on some new art concepts for her next game.
Zaboru returned to his desk and resumed his work. At first, he had considered postponing the February game releases, but after thinking it through, he changed his mind. Instead, he decided to stick with the original plan — the games would launch on February 27, the very last date of the month. He hoped that, even in the midst of all the sorrow and uncertainty, the new ZAGE titles might bring a little spark of joy to people living through dark times.
And so, Zaboru threw himself into work over the weekend with a near-manic intensity. He worked tirelessly and with such efficiency that he managed to complete nearly all the tasks that had been postponed while ZAGE shifted its focus to helping earthquake victims. Surprisingly, the workload became therapeutic. Every task he completed helped him feel just a little lighter. What helped even more was Ayumi. His girlfriend stayed by his side the entire time, quietly supporting him without interfering. Her presence grounded him, and the comfort she brought helped Zaboru slowly regain his emotional footing. His mental state, though still fragile, was steadily improving.
On Monday, ZAGE resumed normal operations, and the employees in both Osaka and Tokyo were stunned to see how much progress had already been made. To their surprise, it turned out that their boss, Zaboru Renkonan, had completed most of the backlog himself. While everyone already knew Zaboru was a workhorse and a powerhouse when it came to productivity, this level of output went beyond even their expectations. It became clear to all that Zaboru had poured his entire focus into work — not as a way to impress, but as a way to cope. And in doing so, he had pulled the company back on track almost single-handedly.
Now on Tuesday 16 February 1996
Zaboru was in a routine weekly meeting with ZAGE's upper management, and in just a few days, he was also scheduled to fly to ZAGE USA. During the meeting, Shinsuke Yamaguchi, head of the marketing team, stood to present.
"Good morning, everyone. In today's meeting, I'll present the latest updates on our marketing and sales performance," he began confidently. Shinsuke then pulled up a graph showing a sharp rise in recent sales.
"In the past week, the sales of ZAGE products and merchandise have increased by nearly 210% compared to our usual numbers," he explained. A wave of surprise rippled through the room as the chart confirmed the dramatic spike in figures.
Shinsuke smiled and said, "This is all thanks to ZAGE's image — the fact that we acted so quickly, just hours after the earthquake, and spared no expense to help the victims really elevated our brand reputation. And… the fact that our boss, Zaboru Renkonan, became a true rescue hero in Kobe… Honestly, I'm so proud to call you my boss."
Zaboru gave only a small nod in response. Shinsuke sighed, sensing that Zaboru still wasn't in the right state of mind — and who could be, after witnessing such tragedy in Kobe? But deep down, Shinsuke believed his boss would find his way back to himself in time.
"Anyway, this surge in ZAGE product sales shows that people are really supporting us — not just here in Japan, but also in Europe, China, Korea, and the USA. Our reputation for genuinely caring has made a global impact. This kind of positive feedback gives us more capital, which means we can reinvest in our donation efforts for Kobe and potentially assist with some government-led recovery projects as well. Right, Sayuri? Boss?" said Shinsuke, turning to his wife, Sayuri Yamaguchi, who also happened to be ZAGE's head of finance. Sayuri nodded in agreement, and Zaboru followed with a quiet nod of his own. He knew this was a good thing.
Zanichi noticed that Zaboru wasn't quite himself. Something was off — his usual sharpness and focus were dulled. As a father, Zanichi knew he had to step in, but he decided to wait until later to speak with his son privately. After the meeting wrapped up, Zanichi quietly made his way to Zaboru's office, determined to help him through whatever was weighing so heavily on his mind.
"Excuse me, boss," Zanichi said with a warm smile as he approached Zaboru. Zaboru returned a faint smile and replied, "Yes, Dad? Do you need something?"
Zanichi stepped closer and gently placed a hand on his son's shoulder. "Do you want to go back to Kobe? Maybe meet the victims? Say something to them?"
Zaboru's eyes widened at the suggestion. He looked down and shook his head slowly. "No, Dad… I don't think I can face them. I failed to help them."
Deep down, Zaboru blamed himself for the disaster. In his heart, he believed he should've been able to prevent it — especially since he was from another world and had known this event would happen, even if the date differed from what he remembered.
Zanichi let out a heavy sigh, clearly frustrated. He couldn't understand how his son — usually so intelligent and composed — had spiraled into this self-loathing state. In a moment of impulse, Zanichi stepped forward and suddenly threw a light punch at Zaboru's chest. BAM! It wasn't hard, but it was enough to shock him. Zaboru jerked back, stunned. His father had never hit him before even in his previous life.
"What was that for, Dad?" he asked, eyes wide.
Zanichi narrowed his gaze and snapped, "Why are you blaming yourself for this disaster? Who do you think you are — a god? A superhero? Just because people call you the 'God of Video Games' doesn't mean your head should be floating above the clouds."
Zaboru opened his mouth, stunned into silence, but Zanichi wasn't finished.
"You're human, son. Yes, you've got a lot of money, and yes, you have influence — but you already did everything you could. The moment you heard about the earthquake, you moved fast. You didn't hesitate. You threw money at the problem, mobilized teams, sent aid, and even put yourself on the ground. You didn't think twice about the cost."
Zanichi stepped in close and gripped his son's shoulders tightly. His tone softened, but it was firm with truth. "You did your best. That's all anyone can do. No matter how rich or powerful you are… you're still human. And being human means having limits. Don't you dare blame yourself for not being able to stop a natural disaster."
Zaboru's eyes welled slightly, and he blinked hard. His father's words hit him harder than the punch. And deep down, he knew — Zanichi was right.
Zanichi smiled gently and said, "So how about it? Want to visit the Kobe victims one last time? Many of them are still living in temporary tents while their homes and buildings are being rebuilt. Maybe you could give them ZGBs and some of our games for free — especially the children. Or we could bring toys, books, or even simple entertainment. Just something to lift their spirits. I think it would mean a lot to them, seeing that you still care and haven't forgotten."
He paused for a moment, watching his son closely. "Of course, it doesn't have to be right away. We can take our time and prepare properly. Make it something special — a day they won't forget."
Zaboru thought about it quietly, letting the idea sink in. He imagined the faces of the kids, the joy they might feel, and the hope it could inspire. After a few moments, he smiled, the weight on his chest lightening just a little.
"Yes, Dad," he said with resolve. "Let's do that. Let's give them something to smile about — something they'll remember even when times are hard."
With that decision, Zaboru and the entire ZAGE team began preparing their final gift for the Kobe victims — and it would be more than just a one-time visit. They were determined to continue supporting the people of Kobe in any way they could, for as long as it took.
To be continue
AN :Zaboru is in big trauma. Can you even begin to forget the things you witness if it's horrible stuff? Yeah ultimate memory super power had the drawbacks
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