Saturday, September 27, 1992
After ZAGE and Erald Wings won the lawsuit against Universal Studios, Zaboru finally returned to Japan. The trial had been a rollercoaster, but the outco had lifted a huge weight off his shoulders. He knew this victory was not just for himself, but for creative freedom in the gaming industry.
Coincidentally, today also marked the official release day for two new ZEPS titles: Fist of the North Star and Dragon Quest II. Before he left for the U.S., Zaboru had ensured both gas were completed, debugged, approved, and scheduled for release without delay. He had even personally reviewed the final versions and given the greenlight to the distribution team.
After landing at Narita Airport, Zaboru decided to return ho first before heading to the office. His mother Keiko welcod him with a big hug. Sanika, his younger sister, asked him a million questions about Arica, the courtroom, and whether or not he brought back souvenirs. His father, Zanichi, gave him a subtle nod that said everything—it was a nod of pride, trust, and relief.
But as much as Zaboru enjoyed spending ti with his family, he was itching to get back to work. So, after a quick rest and change of clothes, he grabbed his trusty silver bicycle—lovingly dubbed the "Silver Wrecker"—and headed toward ZAGE HQ.
It was a crisp autumn morning. As he pedaled through the neighborhood streets, he started noticing sothing odd. People were staring at him. Not in a hostile way, but with familiarity. So smiled, so nudged their friends or families and whispered. Others pointed.
Zaboru slowed down, confused.
Then, as he passed by a nearby park, a family of four—two parents and their two kids—noticed him. The older child, a boy who looked like a fifth grader, suddenly shouted, "It's Zaboru!"
Zaboru blinked and ca to a slow stop. He parked his bike and approached the family. "Excuse ," he said, adjusting the strap on his backpack, "do you know ?"
The father's eyes lit up. "Of course we do! My family and I are big fans!"
The mother pulled out a ZGB from her purse. The kids each had their own handheld consoles, complete with Pokemon Red and Tetris cartridges. The boy excitedly showed him his current party in Pokemon, proudly pointing to his Charleon and Butterfree.
Zaboru chuckled. "I see. But how do you know what I look like? I usually wear my helt on TV."
The girl, younger than her brother, piped up. "We saw you during the trial on TV! They showed your face And all the magazines have your picture now!"
Zaboru's smile faded slightly. "Ah. So the lawsuit coverage made it back here, huh?"
The father nodded. "The whole country was watching the news. And honestly, you did us proud. Thank you for standing your ground. We're glad ZAGE didn't back down."
The mother then asked, "Would it be alright to take a photo with you?"
Zaboru hesitated, then smiled. "Sure. Why not?"
The family stood around him, posing cheerfully as the father snapped a photo with a compact cara Canon Snappy LX. Other passersby started noticing and observing them.
After waving them goodbye, Zaboru quickly rode toward a nearby convenience store and bought a baseball cap. Pulling it low over his face, he sighed. "I think I'm famous now."
He arrived at the ZAGE building about twenty minutes later. Although it was a Saturday, most of ZAGE's employees had voluntarily co in for overti to ensure the new ga releases went smoothly. The lobby was livelier than usual, a steady buzz of activity flowing through the space. As soon as Zaboru stepped through the doors, several employees paused mid-conversation and turned. A few gasped softly. In public he was no longer just the enigmatic figure behind ZAGE, hidden beneath a helt—he was now a recognized public figure. People murmured greetings, so even nodding with admiration as he passed. The atmosphere shifted slightly, a mix of awe and excitent following in his wake.
"Welco back, Boss!" Yumi, his loyal assistant, greeted him as he walked through the doors. She looked a little amused. "You're trending everywhere, you know. The video of your speech after the trial went viral in Japan."
"I noticed," he muttered, tapping the brim of his cap.
"Also," she added with a smile, "the two new gas were released this morning, and so far the reception has been exactly what we hoped for. People are still actively buying ZEPS titles, even with the recent hype around our ZGB."
"That's great to hear," Zaboru said with a tired but satisfied grin. "Let's schedule a full team eting for Monday. In the anti, anyone who's still working can head ho early today. I'll hold down the fort for now."
Yumi nodded, professional as always. "Already on it and I've sent out the internal mo."
Zaboru sat down in his office, finally feeling at ease. He looked out the window at the town beyond. The sky was clear, the sun warming the glass. Below, he could spot a young boy walking with a ZGB in hand, playing while his mother guided him along.
Fa wasn't sothing he had asked for. But if it helped spread the spirit of fun, creativity, and resilience—then maybe it wasn't so bad.
Zaboru opened his notebook and jotted down an idea for a new ga. Sothing small. Sothing personal. But he smiled, because he knew he was just getting started.
To be continued...
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