Friday 24 September 1996
Yuki Ryonaku is one of the survivors of the Kobe Earthquake a few months ago. Now in his third year of high school, he's doing relatively well given the circumstances. Although he lost both his little brother and his father in the disaster, the Ryonaku family has managed to hold themselves together. Yuki's mother works as a baker, and Yuki himself is juggling multiple part-ti jobs, which has significantly boosted their household inco and helped keep food on the table.
Much of this was possible thanks to ZAGE's influence. When the earthquake struck, ZAGE didn't just offer financial aid—they went above and beyond. They partnered with the governnt to help rebuild damaged infrastructure, including public buildings and essential facilities. Beyond that, ZAGE opened several official shops in Kobe, providing much-needed employnt opportunities for locals—both full-ti and part-ti.
They also played a direct role in rebuilding businesses like the bakery where Yuki's mother worked. Yuki himself found part-ti work at one of the ZAGE retail shops and also in a local arcade owned by his neighbor, which featured a strong focus on ZAGE titles. These jobs beca a vital lifeline for his family and many others in the recovering city.
Not to ntion, Yuki's younger sister had beco noticeably happier after receiving a ZGB handheld console—one of many that Zaboru generously distributed to Kobe earthquake survivors. It wasn't just a toy to her; it was a source of comfort and distraction during incredibly difficult tis. Whenever she played it, her mood lifted, and for those precious monts, the heaviness in their household lightened.
Yuki himself had never been into gaming. He used to scoff at it, believing video gas were a waste of ti—sothing for people who didn't want to deal with reality. But out of curiosity and perhaps a bit of longing, he picked up the ZGB one night and gave it a try. To his surprise, he actually enjoyed it. For the first ti in months, he felt a flicker of happiness. It wasn't just the gaplay; it was the emotional connection.
As he played, mories of his late younger brother ca rushing back—how his brother used to smile endlessly while mashing buttons, how he'd go on and on about characters and levels. In that quiet mont, Yuki could almost see his brother beside him, laughing and playing just like before. It made the experience feel sacred.
Now, gaming wasn't just a pasti. It beca a small bridge to the past, a way to heal. Watching his sister laugh at ga sound effects or cheer when she beat a level reminded Yuki of how far they'd co—and how far they still had to go. In a strange way, that little console had brought light back into their lives.
Even their mother began joining in during family ga nights, sitting with Yuki and his sister as they played together. These monts, simple as they were, beca special. The laughter, the friendly competition, and the shared joy brought a sense of normalcy and healing to their ho—making both Yuki and his sister feel lighter and more connected as a family.
His family's ability to survive and slowly rebuild was largely thanks to ZAGE's swift and wholehearted response in the aftermath of the Kobe disaster. Yuki often thought about it—how ZAGE had gone beyond what any corporation was expected to do. They could have done the bare minimum, offered token support, and still co out looking good in the public eye. But they didn't. They poured in resources, manpower, and personal attention, unlike any other major company.
That selflessness left a mark on Yuki. A debt he knew he could never truly repay. It weighed heavily on him. And the more he thought about it, the more he realized how wrong his past actions were—especially the one mont he deeply regretted. The guilt had been simring inside him for months, and now, with clearer eyes and a heavier heart, he understood the depth of his mistake. That's why the feeling of regret wouldn't let go.
On a quiet street in Tokyo, Yuki let out a heavy sigh. "I actually punched Zaboru Renkonan…" he muttered to himself, the mory hitting him like a wave. Grief over his father and little brother had clouded his mind back then. It was during a mont ant to bring hope—Zaboru had been smiling warmly, handing out ZAGE souvenirs to Kobe earthquake survivors. But instead of gratitude, Yuki had been overwheld by pain and rage.
Blinded by emotion, he had done the unthinkable—he punched Zaboru in the face.
His mother had been horrified, imdiately dropping to her knees, begging Zaboru for forgiveness. At the ti, Yuki couldn't understand it. He'd even been angry at her, wondering how she could lower herself like that. But now, with a clearer mind and a heart weighed down by remorse, he understood exactly why she did it.
And he hated that it took him this long to realize it.
Yuki hadn't just punched one of the youngest and most famous billionaires in Japan—he had struck the Hero of Kobe. The man who gave everything he could to help the city rebuild after the devastating earthquake. That's why so people in Kobe who knew what happened couldn't forgive Yuki. To them, it was unthinkable—how could he raise his hand against soone who had done so much for their community?
Even worse, Zaboru didn't retaliate. He didn't press charges or make a public statent. Instead, he calmly reassured Yuki's mother that everything was fine. And true to his word, no legal action or public backlash was directed at Yuki. That silence spoke volus. It showed Zaboru's character—and made Yuki's regret even heavier.
Yuki shuddered. "If it wasn't Zaboru and the others, my career might've been over already." His mother had explained to him just how dangerous it could be to offend people in positions of power—especially soone as influential as Zaboru. The thought made Yuki's stomach twist with anxiety. He knew now that what he did could have destroyed his future.
That fear, combined with the guilt he still carried, left him with only one path forward in his mind: he had to apologize directly. Face-to-face.
'I'll kneel and beg if I have to,' Yuki thought, clenching his fists. He couldn't undo the past, but he could take responsibility for it.
Before long, Yuki arrived at the ZAGE headquarters in Tokyo. As he stepped inside, he couldn't help but take in the elegant interior—clean, minimalistic, yet full of personality with art pieces lining the walls and carefully placed lighting that gave the space a calm, modern warmth.
As he stood there, slightly overwheld, a receptionist approached him with a professional yet friendly smile. "Excuse , sir, is there anything I can help you with? What brings you to our offices today?"
Caught off guard by how polite and direct she was, Yuki hesitated for a second before replying, "Umm, Miss… is it possible to et Zaboru Renkonan?"
The receptionist's smile didn't waver as she asked, "Do you have an appointnt?"
Yuki shook his head. The receptionist gave a small nod and asked with a curious smile, "I see... are you a fan?" It was a question she had asked many tis before—plenty of fans had shown up hoping to et Zaboru in person. But she was caught off guard when Yuki shook his head again, more firmly this ti.
Scratching the back of his head, Yuki muttered, "Umm... how do I put this... Can you tell him that the guy who punched him in the face back in Kobe is here to see him?"
He was trying to be as direct as possible, and the boldness of his words left the receptionist montarily stunned.
"Huh? What do you an?" The receptionist asked, a little nervous Yuki said. "Please… just tell him. He'll definitely know, Miss."
The receptionist let out a soft sigh. Her first instinct was to call security, just in case. But then she rembered—her boss, Zaboru Renkonan, had a history of strange and unexpected visitors. He never seed to mind. After a brief pause, she decided to trust her gut. She nodded to Yuki and picked up the phone to call Zaboru's secretary, Yumi Ichijou.
Not long after, in Zaboru's workshop, he remained in his office, preparing to leave within the hour for rehearsal of his newest song, "Brave Heart." Just as he was finishing up so notes, his secretary, Yumi Ichijou, entered the room.
"Boss, there's a teenage boy asking to see you," she said. "He says he's the one who punched you in the face back in Kobe. Ring any bells?"
Zaboru's eyes widened briefly in surprise, then he chuckled. "Yes, Yumi-san... interesting. I didn't expect him to show up. I wonder what brings him here."
Still smiling, he added, "Lead him to the eting room. I'll head there shortly."
Yumi nodded and quickly went to carry out the request.
anwhile, Yuki was still waiting in the reception area when a striking woman with glasses approached him—her confident presence practically radiating the words "professional hottie."
"Are you Yuki? The guy who smacked our boss?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Yuki blushed and scratched the back of his neck. "Y-yes."
Yumi sighed to herself. This was how teenage boys were supposed to act—awkward, flustered, unsure. Not like Zaboru, who even as a teenager had been composed and unshaken in her presence. Still, she found it a little refreshing back then.
"Co with ," she said. "Our boss wants to see you."
Yuki nodded, and the two of them made their way toward the eting room, where Zaboru was already waiting.
After Yumi escorted Yuki to the eting room, she politely excused herself, leaving him alone with Zaboru. The mont felt heavier than Yuki had expected. Zaboru smiled calmly at him, radiating a quiet presence that made Yuki gulp nervously and think, W-what an aura...
Just being in the sa room with Zaboru made him feel incredibly small. There was sothing about him—an intensity that wasn't forced but natural. His presence filled the room, effortless and overwhelming. That's because Zaboru aura of Influence Power are activated right now.
Zaboru chuckled softly and said, "So, I rember—you're Yuki Ryonaku, right? Please, have a seat."
He couldn't forget this boy, even if he tried. Zaboru had been the one to find the lifeless body of Yuki's younger brother, Yuusha, during the evacuation efforts in Kobe. The image was burned into his mory—Yuusha, clutching a ZGB in his hands, even in death. And even if Zaboru wanted to push that mory away, he couldn't. His Deep mory Dive ability made it impossible to forget things that left such an emotional mark. That mont had stayed with him ever since.
Yuki nodded and said, "Y-yes, Renkonan-san."
Zaboru leaned back with a relaxed smile. "Take it easy—just call Zaboru. So, why are you here? Planning to smack again?" he said with a playful grin.
Yuki's eyes widened as he shook his head. "N-no, Zaboru-san."
Zaboru chuckled. "I'm just joking. I understand what you felt that day—it's not a big deal. So, how's your family doing in general? Are they doing well?"
Yuki nodded. "Thanks to your company, ZAGE, we've been able to support ourselves."
Zaboru nodded back, his smile warm. "I'm glad to hear that. So then—what's the reason you ca to see today?"
Yuki took a deep breath and steadied himself. "Zaboru-san," he said, then stood up and gave a deep, formal bow. "PLEASE FORGIVE FOR HITTING YOU!" he shouted.
Zaboru blinked in surprise. "Hey, relax. Like I said—it's fine."
But Yuki didn't move. He remained bowed, his voice trembling. "No, Zaboru-san. What I did was terrible. You were the one helping us the most, and I struck you out of my own selfishness!"
Zaboru smiled gently and sighed. "Alright. Apology accepted. The fact that you ca all this way to say that is more than enough. Yuki, raise your head."
Yuki slowly lifted his eyes and t Zaboru's gaze. "Zaboru-san... is there any way I can repay your kindness—and make up for what I did?"."
Zaboru sighed and gestured toward the seat. "First of all, sit down."
Yuki nodded quickly and sat down, though tension still radiated from his posture.
"Like I said, you owe nothing. Okay? What happened back then—it's over," Zaboru said, his tone calm, yet firm.
Yuki looked down, his hands tightly clenched in his lap. His voice ca out quieter, but full of weight. "B-but Zaboru-san… I can't just walk away like this. I won't be able to sleep knowing I left things unresolved. I need to do sothing—anything—to repay you."
Zaboru raised an eyebrow, slightly taken aback by the sincerity in the boy's voice. Most people, once forgiven, would've taken the relief and left it at that. But this kid was different. There was no hint of pride in his words, only urgency—like this apology was only the beginning of sothing bigger he needed to do.
"You're really serious about this, aren't you?" Zaboru asked, now fully attentive.
Yuki nodded, not looking up. "I can't carry this guilt forever without trying to turn it into sothing. If there's even one thing I can do—just tell , and I'll do it."
Zaboru leaned back in his chair, arms crossed as he studied Yuki carefully. He sighed again, this ti less out of frustration and more from reluctant admiration. This wasn't just about making ands—it was about purpose.
"You're persistent," Zaboru said at last, a faint smile tugging at the edge of his lips. "That's rare."
He paused, letting the silence stretch for a beat.
"Alright… maybe there is sothing."
"Alright then. If I'm not mistaken, you're still in your third year of high school, right?" Yuki nodded, and Zaboru continued, "Good. Then here's what you can do—start learning. Whether it's ga design, coding, pixel art, storytelling, or anything else related to making gas, pick a path and start walking it. If you decide to go to college, great. Learn everything you can. If you'd rather dive straight into work, that's fine too. I'm not here to dictate your journey."
He leaned forward slightly, his tone steady but encouraging. "But soday—whether it's five years from now, or even ten—I want you to create a ga that genuinely impresses . Not because you owe , but because I want to see what you can beco."
Zaboru smiled. "I'll be waiting."
Yuki's eyes widened in surprise, but a grin quickly broke across his face. "YES! Zaboru-san! I'll do my best to beco a ga developer and create sothing that truly impresses you! I swear it!"
Zaboru chuckled and nodded. "Sure thing, Yuki-kun. Try your best."
Yuki gave one final, respectful bow before excusing himself. As he left the room, Zaboru leaned back in his chair with a quiet laugh.
"Heh... I wonder how far he'll go," he mused aloud. "Or will he abandon his dream and move on? Well, only ti can tell."
He stood, straightened his jacket, and began preparing to leave for rehearsal with his band, Zankoku. What he didn't know was that this wouldn't be the last ti he saw Yuki. Their story was only just beginning.
To be continue
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