Tuesday, 25 May 2001. AKAI Offices.
Zaboru was currently sitting inside one of AKAI's main meeting rooms with Hyoga Akai and Akechi Hamazou. Unlike ZAGE's massive global meetings, this one was much smaller, but it carried a different kind of weight. AKAI was no longer the weak and struggling electronics company it used to be. After years of growth, restructuring, better products, and Zaboru's aggressive vision, AKAI had already become one of the most respected electronics companies in the world.
The current ownership structure was simple but meaningful. ZAGE owned 40% of AKAI, Hyoga Akai owned 30%, and Akechi owned the remaining 30%.
Akechi's ownership was actually a little funny when Zaboru thought about it. Even before Zaboru bought into AKAI, Akechi had already invested in Hyoga's company. Back then, AKAI was not impressive at all. It was messy, weak, and dangerously close to becoming another forgotten electronics brand. But Hyoga was Akechi's friend, and because of that, Akechi had supported him with money and protection long before AKAI became valuable.
Now, AKAI had become extremely successful, and Akechi's 30% stake was worth a ridiculous amount. There were times when Akechi had offered to give part of his shares back to either Zaboru or Hyoga, mostly because he felt he had already gained more than enough from the investment. But both of them refused immediately.
To Zaboru and Hyoga, Akechi owning 30% of AKAI was not just about money. It meant the Rashomon himself had a direct personal reason to protect AKAI. And in Japan, there were very few things more secure than having Akechi Hamazou decide that your company was his property too.
Zaboru looked at both of them and smiled. "So, thank you for coming today. I know both of you are busy, but I wanted to talk about something important. Today, I want to propose the next major expansion for AKAI."
Hyoga Akai smiled almost immediately. He already looked interested before Zaboru even explained anything. "Boss, honestly, if this is your idea, you probably don't need to make it this formal. Just say the word and I'll most likely agree."
Akechi chuckled from his seat. "He's right. You called us here like we're going to reject you. If anything, you're only doing this because you want to respect us as shareholders."
Zaboru sighed and leaned back slightly. "That's exactly why I'm doing it. You two own a huge part of AKAI. I can't just barge in and say, 'Hey, we're changing the company direction now, follow me.'"
Hyoga grinned. "You absolutely could, though."
Akechi nodded. "And , we would gladly follow."
Zaboru stared at them for a moment, then rubbed his forehead. "You two are making proper corporate governance sound useless."
Akechi smiled faintly. "In normal companies, maybe. But this company has you, so normal is too weak for describe it."
Hyoga laughed, and even Zaboru could not help but chuckle. The atmosphere was relaxed, but beneath the joking, all three of them understood that today's discussion mattered. Zaboru did not gather them just for a small product line or a minor adjustment. Whenever he used the word expansion, it usually meant something large enough to make competitors uncomfortable.
Zaboru picked up the remote and turned toward the projector screen. "Anyway, this is the first expansion."
The slide appeared.
AKAI Software.
Hyoga's smile slowly faded into surprise, while Akechi's eyes narrowed with interest.
Zaboru stood beside the screen and continued, "ZAGE is a video game company. I want it to remain that way at its core. ZAGE can expand, of course, but games, entertainment, platforms, and creative ecosystems are still its heart. AKAI, on the other hand, is an electronics company. Phones, audio devices, and consumer hardware. That identity is already strong."
He paused, then smiled.
"But I don't want AKAI to stop there."
Hyoga leaned forward slightly.
Zaboru clicked to the next slide. "The world is becoming digital faster than most people realize. Computers are no longer just machines for offices or laboratories. They are becoming tools for artists, musicians, writers, editors, students, small businesses, web creators, and eventually ordinary families. Hardware alone will not be enough. If AKAI wants to become truly important in the next era, then AKAI must also provide the tools people use to create."
The next slide showed several temporary names.
Z-Photo.
Z-Draw.
Z-Edit.
Z-Studio.
Z-Sound.
Z-Writer.
Z-Web.
Hyoga's eyes widened as he read the list. Akechi remained quiet, but his expression became sharper.
Zaboru continued, "Z-Photo is photo editing software. Of course, Adobe Photoshop already exists, but I want something easier to learn, cheaper to access, and still deep enough for professionals. Z-Draw is for digital drawing and illustration. Z-Edit is for video editing. Z-Studio is a beginner-friendly game development tool for small developers, students, and hobbyists. Z-Sound is for music and sound editing. Z-Writer is for writing documents, scripts, reports, and books. Z-Web is for assisting web creation."
He glanced back at the screen and tapped the remote lightly against his palm. "The idea is not just to make software. The idea is to create an AKAI creative suite. A full set of tools that ordinary people can actually afford and understand, while still giving advanced users room to grow."
Hyoga slowly nodded, now clearly excited. "So AKAI won't sell the computer But We give people the reason to keep using it."
Zaboru pointed at him. "Exactly. If someone buys computer, I don't want them to wonder what they can do with it. I want them to immediately see the path. Edit photos. Draw. Make videos. Make music. Write stories. Build websites. Even create simple games. We sell the machine, then we give them the world inside the machine."
Akechi smiled slightly. "That sounds bigger than a software division."
"It is," Zaboru replied. "This is infrastructure for the digital world. Not physical infrastructure like cables or factories, but creative infrastructure. If we do this well, AKAI becomes connected to schools, offices, studios, creators, small companies, independent developers, and families. And if we price it properly, we can hit markets that Adobe and Microsoft are too expensive or too complicated to reach."
Hyoga's excitement grew, but then his expression became a little awkward. "Boss, I like the idea. I really do. But... can I say one thing honestly?"
Zaboru raised an eyebrow. "Of course."
Hyoga hesitated, clearly trying to choose polite words. "The names are a little..."
Akechi did not give him time to struggle. "The names suck, Zabo."
Hyoga froze, then slowly looked at Akechi.
Akechi continued calmly, "They work for phones, maybe. AKAI Z-1, Z-2 Flip, are sound cool. But for software? Z-Photo, Z-Draw, Z-Writer? It sounds like you named them in three seconds while eating breakfast."
Zaboru laughed immediately. "Hahaha! Of course these aren't the final names. They're just examples."
He said it with confidence.
But inside, Zaboru was slightly wounded.
Because he actually thought the names sounded cool.
Hyoga looked relieved. "Ah, then it's fine. Temporary names are fine."
Akechi stared at Zaboru for a second, then smirked. "You thought they were good, didn't you?"
Zaboru's smile froze.
Hyoga slowly turned toward him. "Boss?"
Zaboru cleared his throat. "Anyway, naming is not important today."
Akechi just grinned.
Zaboru ignored him with the dignity of a man who had definitely been caught.
Hyoga laughed but quickly returned to the topic. "Still, if AKAI enters this market, we'll definitely create new enemies. Microsoft, Adobe, maybe even other software companies. Are you fine with that, Boss?"
Zaboru's expression became calmer. "If they're afraid of new competitors, then they don't deserve to lead."
The room became quieter.
Zaboru continued, "We're not entering this field just to annoy them. We're entering because there will be demand. There are students who want to draw but cannot afford expensive software. There are small studios that want to edit videos but don't have professional budgets. There are young musicians who want to make songs in their bedrooms. There are writers who want simple but powerful tools. There are people who want to create websites but don't know where to begin. The world is going to be filled with creators, Hyoga. The companies that give them tools early will shape the next generation."
Akechi leaned back, his interest clearly deepening. "So this is connected to what ZAGE said years ago about the Digital World."
Zaboru smiled. "Exactly. Back then, people thought the Digital World was just a big phrase for games, internet services, and online communities. But it's much bigger than that. In the next five years, more people will live part of their daily lives through computers and the internet. They will communicate, buy, learn, work, create, and entertain themselves digitally. AKAI needs to be ready before that becomes obvious."
Hyoga crossed his arms and nodded slowly. "Affordable software with an easy learning curve, but enough depth for advanced users."
"Yes," Zaboru said. "That's the core. Easy to start, hard to outgrow. Cheap enough for ordinary people, strong enough that professionals respect it. We're building an ecosystem."
Akechi gave a low chuckle. "You always say things like that so casually. 'Let's build an ecosystem.' Normal people would call that a decade-long war."
Zaboru grinned. "Then good thing we're not normal."
Hyoga laughed, but his eyes were bright now. He could already see it. AKAI future computers bundled with creative software. Schools using AKAI Writer and AKAI Draw. Young creators learning through AKAI Studio. Small studios choosing AKAI Edit because it was cheaper and simpler. This was not a small side business. If handled correctly, this could change AKAI's identity completely.
Zaboru then spent several more minutes explaining each software category in greater detail. He talked about simple interface modes for beginners, advanced panels for professionals, templates for students, plug-in support, file compatibility, cheaper licensing, bundled versions with AKAI computers, and possible distribution through AKAI's own online store in the future.
Hyoga listened like a man whose imagination had been set on fire.
Akechi listened like a man calculating how many enemies this would create and how many of them would need to be quietly discouraged.
When Zaboru finally finished the software section, Hyoga exhaled slowly. "This is big. Bigger than I expected."
Akechi nodded. "It's risky, but the direction makes sense. If AKAI only keeps selling hardware, eventually someone will copy the hardware. But if AKAI owns the tools people use every day, it becomes harder to replace."
Zaboru smiled. "Exactly."
Hyoga then asked, "What about an operating system? If AKAI wants to make software this seriously, won't we eventually need our own OS too?"
Zaboru grinned, as if he had already expected that question. "Maybe in the future. Actually, I'm almost certain we'll need one someday. But for now, it's too early for that."
Hyoga frowned slightly. "Too early?"
Zaboru nodded. "Yeah. An operating system is not just another product. It's a battlefield. If we make one now, we're not only fighting Adobe or some creative software companies. We'll be directly challenging Microsoft, Apple, and every company connected to computer infrastructure. That kind of war needs preparation. Drivers, developer support, application compatibility, security, updates, hardware partners, business adoption, school adoption, and public trust. If we rush into that, AKAI will bleed money for years without guarantee."
Akechi leaned back and said, "So you're saying the idea is not wrong, but the timing is."
"Exactly," Zaboru replied. "For now, AKAI should focus on creating strong software that can run on existing systems. Let people become familiar with AKAI tools first. Let students, creators, offices, and small studios use our programs. Let AKAI become part of their daily workflow. After that, when our software ecosystem is strong enough, then maybe we can talk about creating our own OS."
Hyoga slowly nodded, understanding the direction. "So before building our own house, we first put our furniture in everyone else's house."
Zaboru snapped his fingers and smiled. "Exactly. Once people like our furniture enough, they'll be more willing to move into our house later."
For a moment, the meeting room felt settled. The first expansion already sounded ambitious enough to keep AKAI busy for years.
Then Zaboru clicked to the next slide.
The screen changed.
AKAI Lifestyle Division.
Hyoga blinked.
Akechi slowly narrowed his eyes.
Zaboru's smile became suspiciously bright. "Next, there is another thing I want AKAI to make."
Hyoga had known Zaboru long enough to understand that smile. That was not the smile of a normal business proposal. That was the smile of a man about to make everyone question reality.
Akechi noticed it too. "Zabo... what are you planning?"
Zaboru clicked the remote again.
The next slide appeared.
AKAI Sneakers.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Hyoga stared at the words as if the projector had made a spelling mistake.
Akechi stared at Zaboru as if wondering whether his brother-in-law had finally gone too far.
The silence lasted long enough to become funny.
Then Hyoga slowly said, "Boss..."
Akechi followed at almost the same time. "Zabo..."
They looked at the screen again.
Then both of them asked in complete disbelief, "AKAI will make what?"
To be continued.
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