Since last month, ever since Zaboru decided to establish the ZAGE Foundation for cancer patients, everything had already begun moving forward at a steady pace. What started as a personal conviction quickly transford into a concrete initiative, supported by planning docunts, early coordination, and long-term roadmaps.
When Zaboru first brought the idea to ZAGE's top leadership—most notably his father Zanichi, the CTO of Japan; Gabe Newell, the CTO of ZAGE USA; Sayuri, the head of finance; and several other departnt leaders—the response was overwhelmingly positive. There was no hesitation, no prolonged debate. Everyone present imdiately understood Zaboru's vision and the sincerity behind it. Sayuri, in particular, reassured the group with confidence, stating that ZAGE's financial health was not just stable but exceptionally strong. With current profits, reserves, and assets, the company could more than afford to support a foundation of this scale without risking its operations or future growth.
Sayuri's husband, Shinsuke Yamaguchi, who also served as ZAGE's marketing lead, shared his perspective as well. He acknowledged that the foundation would naturally elevate ZAGE's brand image and strengthen the company's reputation on a global scale. However, he was careful to emphasize that this reputational benefit was never the core motivation behind the decision. From a marketing standpoint, goodwill would co organically as a byproduct of doing the right thing, not as a calculated objective. In his view, the mont charity beca a branding stunt, its value was lost—and ZAGE had no intention of crossing that line.
And so, ZAGE's legal teams from both Japan and the United States moved quickly to formally approach their respective governnts and present the proposal. What surprised many inside the company was how smoothly the process went. Both governnts agreed without prolonged resistance or bureaucratic delay. The Japanese and U.S. administrations were already well aware of ZAGE's exceptional reputation, its transparency, and its long track record of responsible corporate conduct. In fact, several officials openly admitted that they had hoped a private organization like ZAGE would step forward to lead an initiative of this scale.
Compared to Zaboru's previous world, the governnts in this reality were far less entangled in corruption and political obstruction. Rather than slowing the project down, they actively supported it. To accelerate the foundation's launch, both governnts even offered to provide office buildings free of charge for ZAGE Foundation operations. ZAGE, in turn, would handle everything else—staffing, equipnt, dical partnerships, logistics, and long-term funding. This cooperation eliminated months, if not years, of administrative delay. As a result, by early December, the ZAGE Foundation was already firmly on the path toward full establishnt, laying the groundwork for a future dedicated to supporting cancer patients on a global scale.
Both governnts agreed not only to lend ZAGE office spaces for the foundation's operations, but also to assist with recruitnt by connecting ZAGE with local healthcare professionals, administrators, and logistical staff. This cooperation was unprecedented—proof of how much trust the public sector placed in ZAGE's ability to handle sensitive, large-scale humanitarian projects with care and efficiency.
However, Zaboru knew that trust alone was not enough. No matter how honest or well-funded a project was, the risk of corruption always lingered in the background. That's why, in a decisive move, he authorized the involvent of Akechi—his brother-in law of the elite private security and intelligence firm which forr Yakuza of Hamazou, The Aoshidan. Zaboru personally requested that mbers of Aoshidan be planted discreetly within the ZAGE Foundation as internal security auditors. Their mission wasn't to interfere but to monitor quietly, ensuring that no one attempted to exploit the foundation's funds or manipulate the system for personal gain.
Zaboru was unflinching in his stance: if anyone tried to steal from a project ant to save lives, especially vulnerable cancer patients, then that person was worse than the devil himself. No rcy would be shown. Even though this world's governnts were far less corrupt than in his past life, he wasn't willing to take any chances. The stakes were too high, and the mission too sacred.
Looking ahead, Zaboru envisioned the ZAGE Foundation growing into sothing far greater than what it was at its inception. His dream wasn't just limited to supporting cancer patients—he wanted the foundation to expand its reach to those suffering from all forms of terminal illnesses. Whether it was rare diseases, untreatable genetic conditions, or end-stage chronic ailnts, Zaboru wanted ZAGE to be at the forefront of research, support, and care.
But that was only part of his long-term ambition. Zaboru also planned to develop and distribute affordable dicine on a global scale, especially for developing nations where access to life-saving drugs was either limited or financially out of reach. He believed that life-saving treatnts should not be a luxury but a basic right. And beyond health care, Zaboru had already instructed a separate division within the foundation to begin planning a disaster response program. Natural disasters—earthquakes, floods, typhoons—had always left communities in chaos, and he wanted the ZAGE Foundation to be capable of responding swiftly with supplies, shelter, dical support, and rebuilding efforts.
All of this stemd from one simple truth: Zaboru was incredibly wealthy in this world, more than he had ever imagined possible. And with that wealth ca a responsibility he refused to ignore. He didn't want to be rembered only as a genius businessman or a gaming mogul. He wanted to be rembered as a proper human being.
And Aldrich Kirk—the young boy currently undergoing treatnt—was already showing encouraging signs of improvent. While not all of the progress was drastic or imdiately life-changing, it was clear to everyone that his condition had stabilized and certain symptoms had started to ease. Considering this was only his very first round of treatnt, the results were hopeful. Doctors noted better responsiveness, improved appetite, and higher energy levels. He wasn't fully healed, of course, but there was montum, and in cases like this, montum ant everything.
Perhaps it was the quality of care, or perhaps it was the emotional lift of being in Japan—surrounded by supportive people, state-of-the-art dical technology, and a new sense of purpose—but Aldrich's spirit had visibly risen. He smiled more, talked more, and even asked the nurses questions about the machines around him. It wasn't just the dicine working; it was the environnt, the hope, the belief that he was finally in a place where healing was possible. That spark of hope alone had already begun to change his life and both his parents are insanely happy.
Now it was already December 21st, 1998. The year was winding down, and anticipation was building as both the ZAGE End-of-Year Event and the FamiCom Ga of the Year Awards rapidly approached. The entire company was buzzing with activity, preparing for celebrations, announcents, and upcoming launches. Yet, despite the looming events and the growing global spotlight on ZAGE, Zaboru was nowhere near the company's headquarters.
Instead, he chose to spend this peaceful afternoon at ho, sitting quietly in the backyard of the Renkonan family residence. The winter air was crisp but not too cold, and the golden light of the late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the garden. Beside him sat his father, Zanichi, calm as ever, sipping on a steaming cup of coffee. Zaboru, mirroring him, held his own cup gently between his hands, savoring both the warmth and the rare mont of calm. It was a mont of reflection—one he had learned to treasure amid the whirlwind of success.
"Dad… do you think the ZAGE Foundation will succeed? Do you think it'll really help a lot of people?" Zaboru asked quietly, his eyes gazing down at the steaming cup of coffee in his hands.
Zanichi took a slow sip of his own coffee, then chuckled with the calm of a man who had watched his son grow into sothing far greater than he ever imagined. "Son… you've already done more than most people ever will. You've poured nearly all your money into this project, haven't you? At this point, I'm not even sure if you technically qualify as a billionaire anymore," he added with another laugh. "At least not if we don't count the assets."
Zanichi's voice was filled with admiration, tinged with a father's quiet concern. He knew very well that Zaboru had never drawn a high salary from ZAGE, despite being its founder and heart. Most of his wealth was tied up in investnts or funneled back into the company. He rarely spent anything on himself. His generosity wasn't for show—it was simply who he was.
"Relax," Zanichi continued, his voice reassuring. "It's going to work. Absolutely. You've built sothing real, sothing aningful. And you know what? You can always ask your celebrity friends to get involved in the foundation. I'm sure they'd be more than happy to help. They all seem like good people, and from what I've seen, they genuinely respect you—not just for your success, but for the kind of man you are."
Zanichi chuckled again, but this ti with a little more emotion behind it. "You've always been too humble to see it, but you've already done more than enough. And you're not done yet."
Zaboru smiled faintly, though his gaze remained lowered, his expression clouded with the weight of mory. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't shake the lingering image of Aldrich Kirk's desperate, hopeful plea. It wasn't just sothing he recalled—it was sothing he relived. His reincarnation ca with many gifts, but among them was the gift or curse of absolute mory, a deep-dive cognitive ability that allowed him to recall any mories and so the emotions, voices, and expressions he can still rember it all with painful clarity. Every tear, every whispered fear, every flicker of hope etched itself permanently into his mind, looping over and over like an unskippable film reel. And since Zanichi could see that his son was overthinking again he didn't have to ask.
"You don't need to carry that bla, Son," Zanichi said gently, his voice breaking the silence. "Cancer isn't your fault. Misfortune in this world isn't sothing you created. What you did create is sothing to be proud of. You've risen to beco one of the world's youngest billionaires, but even with all that success, you never changed—not where it mattered."
He placed his coffee cup down and looked at his son more directly. "You didn't put on a mask. You stayed humble. You stayed real. You love only your wives, even though you've got the attention of won all around the world who'd throw themselves at you without hesitation. You don't chase fa, you don't crave attention. You love helping people. That's who you are."
Zanichi smiled, pride glowing behind his eyes. "You've already beco a great human being, Son. And I know you're just getting started."
Then soone ca—Ayumi, gracefully stepping into the backyard, gently cradling little Zenshin in her arms. Her presence alone brought a soothing warmth to the mont, like sunlight breaking through the quiet air. She approached them with a soft smile on her lips and a gentle sparkle in her eyes. "Dad is right, Zabo… you're already the best husband I could ever ask for," she said tenderly, her voice filled with unwavering affection and pride.
At that exact mont, Zenshin reached out one of his tiny hands with bright, playful energy. "Papa! Let's go play!" he called with pure joy. The sound of his innocent voice lit up the space like music. Zaboru couldn't help but laugh—an honest, heartfelt laugh—and bent down to lift his son into his arms. Holding Zenshin close, he felt the warmth of his family radiating through him. That simple gesture—the arms of his child, the smile of his wife, the steady support of his father—reminded him that no matter the burdens he carried, he was never alone.
He was surrounded by people who truly cared. Who saw not the wealth or the title, but the man who gave everything for others.
And so, as the sun began to dip behind the trees, casting golden hues across the sky, the ZAGE Foundation quietly continued to develop to its rise.
To be continue
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