It didn't take long before everyone arrived at the lounge. Even Zaboru's mother and his children came along, though they stayed a little farther out on the grassy area. The lounge itself was large and open, connected to the outdoors, and the weather was pleasantly warm, making it the perfect place to relax. Because of that, Keiko chose to stay with the kids, letting them run around freely while she watched over them with a gentle smile, occasionally calling them over to eat.
Meanwhile, Zanichi was already there, sitting comfortably as if he were in his own home, enjoying his coffee with complete ease. Akechi sat beside him, the two of them engaged in a calm conversation, their voices steady and relaxed. Not far from them, Ayumi and Sanika stood together, though they kept a bit of distance from the men. Their conversation carried a different tone—more personal, more intimate—as Sanika asked Ayumi for advice on various "women's" matters, her curiosity clear while Ayumi answered with a knowing smile.
The entire scene felt peaceful and natural, like a brief pause from their usual busy lives, where everyone simply settled into their own small corner of comfort.
When Zaboru arrived, he let out a small chuckle, his presence immediately drawing their attention.
"Heh… glad you all are already here. Sorry to bother you guys. And Dad… did you seriously bring that coffee here? I mean, there's plenty of high-quality coffee around this place."
Zanichi chuckled in response, lifting his cup slightly with a proud expression.
"You don't understand. This is my craft—my brew, my pride. Of course I have to bring it everywhere."
Akechi nodded calmly beside him, clearly understanding the sentiment.
"I understand exactly how you feel, Zanichi-san. Something like that isn't easily replaced."
Zaboru chuckled and let out a light sigh. "Suit yourself…"
Then he walked over toward Sanika, a grin forming as he caught part of her conversation with Ayumi.
"Huh… so, Sani-chan, when's the wedding? Hehehe."
Sanika immediately blushed, clearly flustered by the sudden tease.
"Who said anything about a wedding, Nii-san!"
Her voice softened a bit after that, almost pouting.
"Hide-chan… still hasn't proposed yet… even though I've already been giving him hints…" she sighed quietly, her shoulders drooping a little as she looked away, clearly frustrated but also a bit embarrassed. "I mean… I thought I was being obvious enough, but maybe I'm not… or maybe he's just taking his time…"
Zaboru chuckled again, shaking his head slightly.
"Well, men usually want to make sure everything is in place first. It's not that he doesn't want to—he just wants it to be right. For guys like him, it's not just about the moment, it's about making sure he can stand proudly when he does it, without regrets later. He probably wants everything to feel perfect, not rushed or half-prepared.
But trust me, Hide-chan is the right man for you. I've seen how he looks at you, how he acts around you… that's not something fake. Just give him a little more time. And if needed… I'll help push things along a bit, make sure he doesn't take too long thinking, hehehe."
Ayumi let out a sigh, crossing her arms with a playful expression, though there was a hint of genuine emotion behind it.
"Zabo… you're one to talk. Do you even know how many times I wanted you to propose earlier, but you didn't notice at all?"
She looked at him with a slightly narrowed gaze, but the warmth in her eyes made it clear she wasn't truly upset—just teasing him while recalling those moments.
Zaboru scratched his head awkwardly, letting out a small laugh, clearly caught off guard.
"Well… I did propose in the end, okay? Hehehe."
He shifted slightly closer, his expression softening as he reached out and gently caressed Ayumi's hair, his touch slow and familiar.
"Still… best decision in my life."
There was a quiet sincerity in his voice this time, something that made the moment feel more real than just casual teasing.
Ayumi's cheeks turned slightly red at that, her earlier playful attitude fading for a brief second as she looked away, clearly flustered by the sudden sincerity.
Meanwhile, Sanika watched from the side, grinning widely, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she took in the entire exchange, clearly enjoying every second of it.
Then Zaboru walked over to a nearby spot and pulled a chair forward, settling himself where he could clearly see his mother and his children playing. Arumi and Zenshin were running around happily on the grass, their laughter light and carefree, while Keiko watched over them with a warm smile, occasionally calling them closer to feed them a few bites. The simple scene carried a quiet comfort—something that softened Zaboru's expression for a brief moment as he took it in.
He rested his arms lightly on his knees, glancing between his family before speaking, his tone calm but carrying a hint of seriousness.
"Anyway… thanks for coming here. I just wanted to ask for your opinions, you know…"
He paused slightly, choosing his words more carefully.
"The discussion from The Tech Talk Japan… Nayuta Mase's opinion that ZAGE is becoming too dominant. That it might be slowing down or even discouraging other video game developers…"
Zaboru exhaled softly, his gaze drifting for a moment before returning to them.
"I've been thinking about it more than I expected. So… I'm wondering what your opinions are regarding this."
Akechi grinned, glancing toward Zanichi with a knowing look. "See, Zanichi-san? I told you he would ask us about this sooner or later. When it comes to video game stuff and strategy, this guy is a frightening genius—almost scary, honestly."
He let out a short chuckle, then added with a teasing tone, "But when it comes to things like this… he can be a complete idiot."
Zanichi let out a slow sigh, taking another sip of his coffee before replying.
"Couldn't agree more."
There was no real malice in their words—just a familiar, easy banter. The kind that only came from people who understood Zaboru well enough to speak bluntly without holding back.
Zanichi took another sip of his coffee before speaking, his tone calm but firm. "Why do you care about stuff like that? And who is Nayuta Mase, anyway? You're letting one voice get too much space in your head."
He set the cup down lightly and looked straight at Zaboru. "Listen, Son. The video game industry isn't the way it is because of luck—it's because of you. You created the environment everyone is working in right now. You gave third-party developers the best possible conditions to grow, even your competitors. You support them, you praise their games when they deserve it, and you never shut them out."
Zanichi leaned back slightly, his expression steady. "That already means you've done more than enough."
He continued, his voice gaining a bit more weight as he set his cup down with a soft click. "And about ZAGE 'doing too much'… remember this, Zaboru Renkonan—there is no such thing as 'too much' in business. The only real question is: is it enough? And 'enough' isn't measured by how comfortable others feel—it's measured by whether your vision is being realized."
He leaned forward slightly, eyes steady. "If the answer is yes, then you move forward without hesitation. If the answer is no, then there's always room to improve—process, people, ideas, execution… everything. That's the game you chose to play."
He gave a small nod, emphasizing the point. "You don't hold yourself back because others can't keep up. You don't dim your light so others can shine. You build something so strong that it forces the rest of the field to evolve. That's how industries grow."
Zanichi paused for a breath, then added more quietly, almost as advice meant only for his son. "And don't confuse responsibility with guilt. You're responsible for what you build—not for how others react to it."
He picked up his coffee again, taking a measured sip before finishing in a calmer, more personal tone. "So learn this, Son… respect yourself a little more. What you've built isn't something you should doubt so easily. Stand by it—and keep moving forward."
Akechi grinned, his expression calm yet confident as he looked at Zaboru. "Don't worry, Zaboru. Third-party game developers are not as fragile as Nayuta Mase thinks. People like him tend to look at things from a narrow perspective, focusing too much on pressure instead of adaptability."
He leaned back slightly, continuing in a steady tone.
"Just look at Akaishidan. We might not be capable of creating the same level of quality and quantity as ZAGE, at least not consistently, but we're still moving forward. We adapt, we find our own pace, and we carve out our own space in the market."
Akechi crossed his arms lightly, his gaze thoughtful.
"The market for us is still huge. There are plenty of players who want something different, something outside of what ZAGE offers. And our fans… they're loyal. They support us not just because of our games, but because we exist in the environment that ZAGE helped create."
He gave a small nod, as if acknowledging that point.
"That support from ZAGE—it matters. It gives developers like us a foundation to stand on. And we're not the only ones. There are plenty of other studios out there, each finding their own way, each growing in their own direction."
His tone became a bit firmer.
"And those who can't keep up? Then maybe they're simply not cut out for this industry. It's harsh, but that's reality. Not everyone survives in business."
Akechi's grin returned, sharper this time.
"Business has always been cruel. That hasn't changed… and it never will."
Sanika let out a light chuckle, raising her fist slightly with a bright, encouraging smile. "Yess, Nii-san! Who cares about what they said! Just keep doing your best, like always. Right, Ayumi-nee?"
Ayumi chuckled softly and nodded, her expression warm and reassuring as she looked at Zaboru. "Of course. You've always done things your way—and it worked for a reason."
Zaboru exhaled slowly, the smile on his face fading just a little as his thoughts returned.
"But… if it continues like this… if ZAGE keeps expanding at this pace," he said, his voice quieter now, "there's still a chance that what Nayuta Mase said might become true."
He paused, glancing briefly toward the distance before continuing.
"That one day, third-party developers might stop releasing games altogether… not because they want to, but because they feel like they can't compete anymore. And in the end… it might just be us left."
His tone wasn't fearful—but it carried a weight that hadn't been there before, as if he was seriously considering a future he didn't want to see.
Zanichi let out a short laugh, shaking his head slightly as he looked at Zaboru.
"That's not going to happen. You'll see. You've already given third-party developers an environment they've never had before—a great one at that. Don't worry, they'll thrive. People are more resilient than you think, Son. Don't underestimate them just because things look overwhelming right now."
He paused for a moment, then added in a calmer, more grounded tone.
"If anything, pressure like this is what forces people to grow. Some will fall behind, sure… but the ones who stay will become stronger. That's how industries evolve."
Akechi nodded beside him, clearly agreeing, his expression relaxed but confident.
"Exactly. Just focus on what you can do, Zaboru. You don't need to carry everyone else's worries on your shoulders."
He gave a small shrug before continuing.
"People will think what they want to think anyway. Whether you slow down or keep going, someone will always complain. So there's no point trying to satisfy everyone."
Akechi leaned slightly forward, his tone turning more direct.
"Just keep moving forward the way you always do. That's more than enough."
Zaboru smiled and nodded slowly. "I see…"
Ayumi let out a soft chuckle, tilting her head slightly as she looked at him. "And besides… what kind of advice is that Nayuta guy even giving to 'fix' this? ZAGE should release fewer games?"
She raised an eyebrow, clearly amused.
"That's basically like saying, 'You're too good, so try not to be like that!' It doesn't make any sense at all. It's ridiculous, Zabo."
A small laugh escaped her as she continued, her tone light but confident.
"Hehehe… you should just keep doing your best like you always do. If anything, the rest of the industry will just follow your lead eventually, adapting in their own way. Right, Sani-chan?"
Sanika nodded furiously, clearly agreeing without hesitation, her expression bright and supportive.
"Exactly! Nii-san, you don't need to hold back for anyone!"
Zaboru chuckled again, a lighter expression returning to his face.
"I'll see… thanks, everyone. This really clears things up."
He glanced around at them—his family, the people he trusted the most—then his grin widened slightly.
"Because of all this… I'm actually really hungry now. Let's go get something to eat. My treat."
A few of them laughed at that, the tension from earlier dissolving into something warm and relaxed. Ayumi shook her head with a soft smile, while Sanika perked up immediately, clearly excited by the idea.
"Finally!" she said, almost too quickly, earning a small laugh from the others.
One by one, they began to stand, gathering their things as they prepared to leave the hotel lounge. The atmosphere felt noticeably lighter now, as if the weight that had been on Zaboru's mind had eased, even if only a little.
They walked together toward a nearby high-end yakiniku restaurant that Zanichi had mentioned earlier. The place had a refined but lively feel, and even from outside, the rich aroma of grilled meat drifted through the air.
As they settled into their seats, conversations naturally shifted into something more casual—light jokes, small stories, and relaxed chatter. Zaboru watched them for a moment, quietly taking it all in.
In the end, he paid for everything without hesitation.
Their words, their honesty… it had helped more than he expected.
And for now that was enough.
To be continue
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