Monday, 12 August 2001. Apple offices.
Inside one of Apple's private meeting rooms, the atmosphere was tense before the AKAI Showcase even reached its main presentation. Steve Jobs stood near the large monitor with his arms crossed, staring at ZAGE's live YouTube broadcast as if the screen itself had personally insulted him. Zanki sat nearby with his usual calm smile, though even he looked more focused than usual. The room was filled with Apple engineers, marketing staff, and business executives, all watching carefully because everyone understood one simple truth: whatever AKAI revealed today could affect The Dark Guild's release week.
But there was one person in the room who absolutely did not belong there.
Bill Gates.
He sat comfortably on one of the chairs, legs crossed, hands relaxed, wearing the expression of a man who had come for "important reasons" but was clearly enjoying himself far too much. Officially, Bill had come to discuss business coordination related to Microsoft and ZUSUGA's broader relationship with Apple. Unofficially, Steve knew exactly why he was here.
Bill wanted to watch Apple get mocked by ZAGE in real time.
Steve slowly turned his head toward him. "So, Bill, what do you really want?"
Bill smiled politely. "Nothing special. I just thought watching the live broadcast from here would be useful. Since we are all affected by ZAGE's movement, it makes sense to observe together."
Steve stared at him.
Bill's smile did not move.
Steve narrowed his eyes. "You came here because you want to see my reaction."
"That is a very hostile interpretation."
"Is it wrong?"
Bill paused for half a second. "Not completely."
Zanki lowered his head slightly, hiding a small smile behind his hand. Steve noticed it immediately and glared at him too. Zanki straightened his posture and returned to his professional expression, though the damage was already done.
The showcase continued.
On the screen, Zaboru appeared wearing the now-infamous I PLAY FEELINGS shirt. The moment Steve saw it again, his face darkened.
Bill adjusted his glasses. "That shirt is surprisingly effective marketing."
Steve's jaw tightened. "It is childish."
"It is memorable."
"It is childish and memorable."
Bill nodded. "Yes. That is usually how ZAGE wins, they do stupid things especially their bosses and audience love it anyway."
Steve shot him a cold look. "You are enjoying this too much."
Bill looked at the screen calmly. "I am Not."
Zanki coughed once into his fist, trying not to laugh. Steve turned toward him again. "Do you have something to add?"
Zanki immediately answered, "No, Mr. Jobs."
"Good."
On-screen, Zaboru began introducing the AKAI Black Berry Z01. The full QWERTY keyboard appeared on the giant presentation screen, and the Apple meeting room went quiet. The joking atmosphere disappeared almost instantly. Steve's eyes sharpened. Bill leaned forward slightly. Zanki's smile faded into serious calculation.
For Steve, the device was especially painful.
Because the idea was not unfamiliar to him.
A phone with a proper keyboard. A phone built for communication, internet, email, messaging, and media. A phone that felt less like a calling device and more like a pocket computer. This was something Steve had already imagined in fragments. He had thought about it. He had discussed similar future directions. He had seen the possibility of turning mobile phones into something far more elegant and useful.
But Zaboru had reached it first.
And worse, Zaboru was presenting it with jokes.
Steve muttered, "Damn it."
Bill glanced at him. "Hah I know it, You thought of something similar right?"
Steve did not answer.
Bill's smile became smaller, sharper. "I see."
Steve turned his head slowly. "Do not say that like you discovered a secret."
"I didn't discover it. Your face announced it."
Zanki looked between them carefully, then returned his attention to the screen. He was not stupid. He understood the meaning immediately. The Black Berry Z01 was not only dangerous because it was advanced. It was dangerous because it occupied a future direction before Apple could claim it. If consumers began associating full-keyboard smart communication phones with AKAI and ZAGE first, Apple would have to fight uphill later.
Then Zaboru demonstrated BBM.
The Apple room became even quieter.
They watched as Zaboru sent text messages, images, short videos, and even music files between Black Berry devices. The live audience on the broadcast laughed and clapped, but inside Apple's room, no one laughed. The feature looked too practical. Too sticky. Too socially dangerous.
Bill spoke first, his tone now genuinely analytical. "That messenger system is not just a feature. It is a habit trap."
Steve's eyes remained fixed on the screen. "I know."
"If people start asking each other for ZAGE ID instead of only phone numbers, AKAI gains a social layer."
"I know."
"And once communication becomes tied to their device ecosystem—"
"I know, Bill."
Bill leaned back slightly. "Just confirming." he trying to be relaxed but there are deep concern in his eyes clearly Bill Gates don't under estimate this.
Steve exhaled sharply through his nose.
Zaboru then moved to Little Steam. The moment ZGB Classics and selected ZEPS 1 Classics appeared, several Apple engineers exchanged worried glances. A phone with games was one thing. A phone with an official digital storefront was another. A phone that could legally sell classic games through that storefront was something else entirely.
Zanki frowned. "He is turning the phone into a platform."
Bill nodded. "Yes. Not just hardware. Platform, identity, messaging, store, media, games. Very aggressive."
Steve said nothing, but his expression was growing colder by the second.
Then the price appeared.
799 USD. 79,900 yen.
Zanki's eyes narrowed immediately. "I can't believe it… under one thousand dollars? How can they afford that?"
Bill crossed his arms, looking genuinely puzzled and impressed at the same time. "Just like usual. They take less margin than expected, then compensate through ecosystem revenue. Games, services, accessories, music, messaging, store fees, future upgrades. It looks foolish if you only judge the hardware profit."
Zanki nodded slowly. "But it is not foolish."
"No," Bill said. "That is the annoying part. Sometimes ZAGE looks like they are leaving money on the table, but later you realize they were buying the table."
For once, Steve did not argue.
Because Bill was right.
Zaboru's strategy was often infuriating because it looked generous on the surface but aggressive underneath. The price made consumers happy, but it also made competitors suffer. If Apple wanted to create a similar device later, customers would already have a price expectation. If Microsoft wanted to build a connected mobile ecosystem, ZAGE was already training people to use one. If iPlay wanted attention this week, AKAI had just thrown a technological bomb onto the same calendar.
Then Zaboru announced the release date.
Friday, 16 August 2001.
Steve's expression snapped.
The room felt colder.
Zanki closed his eyes for a moment, as if he had expected disaster but still hated seeing it arrive in such a clean shape.
Steve spoke through clenched teeth. "ZAGE definitely planned this."
Bill looked at the screen and gave a small, almost sympathetic smile. "Yes. Absolutely."
Steve glared at him. "You could pretend to be less amused."
"I could."
"But you won't."
"No."
Steve looked like he wanted to throw something but respected the furniture too much.
Zanki leaned forward and spoke carefully. "Steve, we cannot back off now. If we delay The Dark Guild again, it will look like fear. The game is good. The trailer response is strong. The quality is proven. We release it anyway and fight through the noise."
Steve remained silent, staring at the Black Berry Z01 rotating on the screen.
Zanki continued, "The AKAI phone will dominate technology media, yes. But The Dark Guild can still dominate iPlay discussion if we push the co-op angle hard enough. We need reviews, player impressions, and online multiplayer footage ready immediately. We must not let ZAGE define Friday as only a phone release day."
Steve slowly nodded, though the anger did not leave his face. "Fine. We release it anyway."
Bill stood from his chair and adjusted his jacket. "Well, thankfully, Xbox will release some of our own game materials tomorrow."
Steve slowly turned toward him. "You came here, watched my launch week get attacked, smiled the entire time, and now you are leaving after saying Xbox has tomorrow?"
Bill smiled politely. "I told you I had important reasons."
Steve stared at him. "You are a terrible guest."
"Maybe. But I brought strategic awareness."
"You brought irritation like usual bastards."
Bill Grinned "Hey Bastard is strong word but Also useful." He grinned
Zanki once again looked down, fighting the urge to smile. Steve noticed but was too tired to scold him again.
Bill walked toward the door, then paused and looked back at the screen. Zaboru was still smiling on the broadcast, standing in front of the Black Berry Z01 as the crowd applauded. For a moment, Bill's amused expression faded into something more serious.
He thought quietly, That guy is really dangerous.
Zaboru had refused to work with him. That still bothered Bill more than he liked to admit. It was not only pride. It was strategy. Microsoft and ZAGE together could have built something enormous, but Zaboru clearly had no intention of letting Microsoft stand too close to his future. That meant cooperation was limited. Competition was inevitable. And if Zaboru continued expanding like this, then Microsoft could not afford to treat him as merely a gaming rival.
Bill's eyes narrowed slightly.
Zaboru… you don't want to work with me, so I'm sorry. I will do my best to make your reputation plummet.
Then, as if correcting himself, he added in his mind, Nothing personal.
But deep down, Bill knew that was not completely true.
Because with men like him, Steve, Zanki, and Zaboru, business was never purely business. Pride always found a way to sit at the table.
Bill smiled one last time and left the Apple office.
Behind him, Steve Jobs remained in front of the screen, still watching the broadcast with a face full of barely restrained anger. Zanki stood beside him, calculating damage control. Apple's staff quietly worked around them, already preparing the next marketing push for The Dark Guild.
Once again, Zaboru had made Steve Jobs furious.
And this time, Bill Gates had enjoyed every second of it.
To be continued.
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