Friday, January 1, 1992
After celebrating New Year's with his family and Ayumi, Zaboru quickly returned to work. The holiday festivities were almost over, and now he was focused on ZAGE's future. He spent the morning planning new gas, advancing the handheld division, and laying out the groundwork for a PC gaming sector within ZAGE. The clock neared 11:00 AM when the phone on his office desk suddenly rang.
"Huh? I wonder who this could be," Zaboru murmured as he picked up the receiver. "Hello, Zaboru Renkonan speaking."
A voice on the other end responded with enthusiasm. "Whoa! You actually answered. Ah, I'm sorry, Renkonan-san. My na is Kyotaro Shinomori. I'm the head of the Tokusatsu departnt at TOEI."
Zaboru's eyes widened in surprise. He knew that na well—Kyotaro Shinomori, a legend in the Tokusatsu industry and one of its key visionaries.
"Oh! I know you, Shinomori-san. I'm actually a big fan of your work," Zaboru admitted, leaning back in his chair.
Kyotaro chuckled. "That's funny, because I'm a fan of yours as well, Renkonan-san. Your work with ZAGE has been truly inspiring. Anyway, I was wondering—could we et up today? I'd love to chat with you if possible."
Zaboru hesitated for a mont. He was busy, but this was Kyotaro Shinomori—the father of Tokusatsu! There was no way he could pass up this opportunity.
"Sure, Shinomori-san. How about you co to my office? I'm alone right now, so we'll have plenty of ti to talk."
"Sounds perfect. Please give your address."
After exchanging details, Kyotaro headed over in his own car. Not long after, the office doorbell rang.
Zaboru quickly got up and opened the door. "Hello, Shinomori-san. It's an honor to finally et you in person."
Kyotaro grinned as he extended his hand. "Likewise, Renkonan-san."
"Please, co in," Zaboru gestured, leading him inside. As Kyotaro stepped in, he imdiately noticed the vibrant graffiti-style artwork covering the office walls. Many of the characters from ZAGE's gas were prominently featured.
"Whoa! It's so lively in here," Kyotaro marveled. His eyes locked onto a large mural of Z-Man in a dynamic pose. "Ah! Z-Man! He looks incredible!"
Zaboru chuckled. "I'm glad you like it."
The two made their way to Zaboru's personal office space. Kyotaro took a mont to take in the room's atmosphere before nodding in approval.
"This place is fantastic, Renkonan-san. It's not overly large, but you can feel the appreciation and dedication poured into it."
Zaboru smiled. "You flatter , Shinomori-san. Anyway, would you like sothing to drink? I have plenty of beverages here."
"Just so plain water will do," Kyotaro replied.
Zaboru nodded and handed him a chilled bottle of water before taking a seat across from him. "So, Shinomori-san, what brings you to today?"
Kyotaro leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with excitent. "When I saw your Z-Man advertisent, I was blown away. I never imagined Sentai could be presented in such a fresh and exciting way. That got thinking—are you interested in Ultraman or Kan Rider as well?"
Zaboru raised an eyebrow. "Of course, I'm a huge fan of both. But I haven't really planned on making gas for them... at least, not right now."
Kyotaro nodded thoughtfully. "I see. Well, let be direct, Renkonan-san. I'm a firm believer in true talent. I don't care about age, nationality, or any of that—what matters to is skill and vision. And you, Renkonan-san, are exceptional. You're incredibly young yet already shaping the entertainnt industry, especially in gaming.
So, I have a proposal for you. Would you be interested in collaborating with on a new Tokusatsu series? It doesn't have to be full-ti—just occasional involvent. I'd like to consult with you on designs, lore, and creative direction. Of course, we would compensate you, and you'd be credited as part of the production team. In addition, TOEI would officially partner with you on Tokusatsu-related projects. This ans that if you ever want to make an official Ultraman or Kan Rider ga, we'd help make that happen—just like how you developed Z-Man Sentai."
Zaboru took a deep breath, absorbing the offer. "So... you're saying you'd like my input occasionally, particularly during the early developnt stages?"
Kyotaro nodded. "Exactly. Especially in the first season—on the world-building, the suits, the thematic elents. I'll still be directing everything, but I want your insights to refine it."
Zaboru was taken aback. "Why go to such lengths? Why put so much trust in ?"
Kyotaro grinned. "Because my gut tells you're the right person for this. If I consult with you, I believe we can make Sentai even cooler! I don't care about pride or doing everything myself. What matters to is creating sothing that truly resonates with the audience."
Zaboru chuckled to himself. So this was the kind of man Kyotaro Shinomori was—soone who trusted his instincts, soone willing to collaborate for the sake of the craft. There was an undeniable sincerity in his words. He wasn't driven by ego; he was driven by passion.
Zaboru extended his hand. "Alright then. Deal, Shinomori-san."
Kyotaro's smile widened as he shook Zaboru's hand firmly. "I'm looking forward to working with you."
The two continued to chat for a while, discussing various aspects of the Tokusatsu industry, video gas, and storytelling. Eventually, Kyotaro bid farewell, leaving Zaboru with a new opportunity—and a new adventure—on the horizon.
To be continued...
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