Monday 4 January 2001 Apple HQ Usa.
Right now, while Zaboru and his family are enjoying their holiday, the fact that Nayuta Mase's interview has blown up across the industry has only a limited effect on certain companies. Some of them are already too deep into their own plans, fully focused on their upcoming releases for 2001, and one of those companies is Apple.
For Apple, the situation is different. Their development for the next console has already entered a critical phase, where delays, mistakes, or miscalculations could cost them everything. They are not working alone either—the collaboration with ZUSUGA and Philips has pushed the project into something far more ambitious than a standard console release. Multiple teams, multiple technologies, and multiple expectations are all converging into a single product.
Steve Jobs himself believes strongly in this project. In his mind, this will not just be another console—it will be the console of the "New Century." That phrase alone has already begun to shape their internal direction, becoming both a vision and a marketing strategy. It's not just about performance or features anymore, but about presenting something that feels like a generational leap, something that defines the future rather than follows it.
And because of that belief, Apple continues to move forward without hesitation, fully confident that what they are building will stand at the top when it is finally revealed.
But now, Apple HQ is far more intense than usual. The atmosphere has shifted ever since Zaboru's statement during the ZAGE end-of-year event—announcing that ZEPS 4 would be released as their "best" console yet, with a target launch in 2002. That single statement alone has stirred unease across the room, turning what should have been a confident development phase into something far more pressured. And Steve Jobs knows… this could become a real threat.
It's not just about competition anymore—it's about timing, perception, and expectation. ZAGE has a reputation that no other company can easily match, and when Zaboru speaks with that level of confidence, it doesn't feel like empty words. Even if logic suggests otherwise, the weight of his track record makes it difficult to ignore.
Right now, Steve Jobs is sitting together with Zanki Zagashira, the CEO of ZUSUGA—Apple's key partner responsible for game development and assisting in the creation of their console. The room is quiet, but beneath that silence lies a shared understanding: whatever ZAGE is preparing, it cannot be taken lightly.
Both of them know that what comes next may very well define the balance of power in the industry.
"Zanki… do you think Zaboru is bluffing? Or will ZEPS 4 actually exceed all of our expectations?" Steve Jobs asked, his tone calm but carrying a subtle tension beneath it.
Zanki didn't answer immediately. Instead, he paused, clearly analyzing the situation. His gaze lowered slightly as if organizing his thoughts before speaking.
"Honestly, it depends, Mr. Jobs," he said slowly. "If they release earlier than us, then yes… they could completely blow people's expectations. Timing plays a huge role, especially when it comes to shaping public perception."
He leaned back slightly, his tone becoming more confident.
"But if they release later than us, then the situation changes. By that point, we would already have established our presence in the market. First impressions matter, and if we execute properly, we can define what the 'next generation' looks like before ZAGE even enters the field."
Zanki then grinned, a hint of confidence flashing across his face.
"And besides… it's not like we'll be overshadowed that easily. Our console is going to be unique—fresh in design, and far more advanced compared to their current ZEPS 3. We're not just competing… we're offering something fundamentally different."
He glanced back at Steve Jobs, finishing his thought.
"So yeah… from a logical standpoint, I think Zaboru is bluffing. Or at least exaggerating to create pressure on the market."
Steve Jobs nodded slowly. "That's what logic says as well…" he replied, his voice even, almost reassuring on the surface.
But the feeling didn't leave him.
Somewhere beneath that calm reasoning, an unease lingered—quiet, persistent. ZEPS 4… the way Zaboru spoke about it, the confidence, the certainty—it felt wrong to dismiss it completely. Not because of any concrete evidence, but because of a pattern Steve had learned to recognize.
When Zaboru spoke like that, it usually meant something was already in motion.
He exhaled softly, folding his hands together for a moment. "If you break it down logically, it doesn't make sense," he continued, more to himself than to Zanki. "There's no clear path for them to leap that far ahead again… not at that pace."
And yet, the thought remained.
ZEPS 4… borderline scary.
Steve frowned slightly, then shook his head as if to clear it. Instinct and logic didn't always align, and right now, logic had to take priority. There was too much at stake to rely on a feeling he couldn't prove.
"Still," he said quietly, straightening his posture, "we move forward."
For now, he chose to set that unease aside—pushing it to the back of his mind, where it wouldn't interfere with the decisions he had to make.
Zanki grinned, a sharper edge to his confidence as an idea formed. "We can actually turn this into a marketing angle," he said. "Frame Zaboru's words as exaggerated—build a narrative around it—and then counter it subtly when we reveal our console."
He leaned forward slightly, voice lowering as if outlining a strategy. "Not by attacking him directly, but by letting the product speak. When we launch—with our high-tech features and fresh design—people will connect the dots on their own. They'll remember what he said… and compare it to what we're showing."
Steve Jobs' lips curled into a faint smile. When it came to outmaneuvering competitors, he had always enjoyed the game. "I like the direction," he said calmly. "But we do it seamlessly—no direct mentions, no cheap shots. It has to feel inevitable, not forced."
Zanki nodded without hesitation. "Obviously. It'll be clean. We let expectation build, then we undercut it with reality. No noise—just impact."
Meanwhile at Microsoft, Bill Gates only smiled, a quiet confidence settling on his face as he thought to himself, "Zaboru… Zaboru… you can talk like that now, but once our console is released… everything you said will become an embarrassing past." The thought lingered with a steady certainty, not born from arrogance but from years of calculated decisions and technological momentum that Microsoft had been building behind the scenes. To him, this wasn't just a contest of words—it was a matter of execution, and he believed that when the time came, reality would speak far louder than any declaration.
His gaze remained fixed on the screen in front of him, where early console designs were displayed on his engineer's PC. The blueprints were still incomplete, systems still being refined, teams still working relentlessly to bring the vision to life. Yet even in this unfinished state, Bill could already see the direction clearly.
"In the end," he continued in his thoughts, "your words won't matter. Because what we are building… will introduce features players never even imagined having."
He leaned back slightly, folding his arms as a faint smile formed again. For him, this wasn't just competition—it was inevitability. Microsoft had the resources, the infrastructure, and the mindset to push technology further than anyone else.
Around him, engineers continued their work, quietly moving between stations, refining systems, testing prototypes, and solving problems one by one. The console was still in development, still little bit far from completion—but that didn't shake his confidence in the slightest.
Bill Gates never worried.
Because in his mind, it was already decided.
Microsoft's console would be superior—not just in power, but in vision, in capability, and in what it could offer to the future of gaming. ZAGE's reputation was formidable, yes—but to Bill, it was simply another challenge to be met and surpassed.
He had never been the type to step away from competition. If anything, he moved toward it. Pressure sharpened his focus, and rivalry clarified his direction. Where others hesitated, he calculated. Where others doubted, he committed.
In his view, victory wasn't about a single feature or a single launch—it was about building an ecosystem, a long-term advantage that competitors couldn't easily replicate. Hardware, software, services—everything had to align into one coherent strategy.
And if the path required difficult choices… he wouldn't flinch.
Because in the end, Bill Gates intended to win—by innovation, by execution, and, if necessary, by playing the game harder than anyone else.
While at Sonaya HQ, their CEO and major shareholder, Hikaru Kurata, leaned back in his chair and let out a slow sigh.
"ZEPS 4, huh…? Somehow it brings back bad memories, doesn't it, Junpei?"
Junpei let out a light laugh, though there was a hint of understanding behind it. "Hahahaha… yeah. I get what you mean. People are probably getting hyped right now, especially after Zaboru himself said it would be 'the best console in ZAGE history.' That alone is enough to stir the entire market."
He paused briefly, his expression turning more thoughtful as he continued.
"But at the same time, we've also been hearing the rumors. Apple and Microsoft are definitely cooking something behind the scenes. They're preparing to release their own consoles into the market, and from what we can gather… they're not holding back either."
Junpei crossed his arms slightly, his tone becoming more grounded.
"And honestly, we still don't know what those consoles are truly capable of. Their technology, their direction, their overall quality… it's all still uncertain. We've seen glimpses, heard bits and pieces, but nothing concrete enough to make a real judgment."
He glanced toward Hikaru, finishing his thought calmly.
"So in the end… we can't really say anything for sure yet. Not about ZAGE, not about Apple, and definitely not about Microsoft. Everything is still up in the air."
Hikaru Kurata nodded, his expression steady as he spoke. "Regardless of all this, we need to approach it carefully. We can never underestimate ZAGE ever again—we both know what they're capable of."
He paused briefly, letting the weight of those words settle before continuing in a calmer tone. "We've seen it before. When we thought we understood them… we didn't. And that mistake cost us more than we expected."
Junpei nodded in agreement, his posture relaxing slightly. "Yeah… it's better to focus on our own direction right now rather than trying to antagonize them again."
He folded his arms, then added with a faint grin, "Honestly, I bet that's exactly what Microsoft and Apple are trying to do at this moment—challenge ZAGE head-on, thinking they can shake things up."
Junpei let out a small chuckle.
"They'll learn… just like we did in the past."
Hikaru Kurata's lips curved into a subtle grin at that, a quiet sense of satisfaction appearing in his eyes. It wasn't arrogance, but recognition—of experience, of mistakes, and of lessons learned the hard way.
In a way, knowing that others might walk the same path he once did… brought him a strange sense of calm.
Because this time—
he would be ready.
To be continue
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