Sunday, 23 August 2001. Osaka, Yuta's house.
After Yuta and his friends finally arrived at his house, the living room became noisy in the usual way. Yuta placed the ZAGE Store bag on the table, trying to look calm, but the grin on his face already exposed him. Shoei sat near the television, Haru leaned over the game case with curious eyes, and Ishi dropped himself onto the floor like he had been invited only to judge everyone.
"Move a bit," Yuta said, nudging Shoei with his knee. "I bought the game, so I sit in the center."
Shoei clicked his tongue but shifted aside. "Fine, fine. Don't act like a king just because you bought one game."
Ishi smirked. "He kind of is the king today. His money, his house, his ZEPS."
Haru looked at the cover and smiled. "Cyborg Kuro-chan… okay, this actually looks cool."
Yuta immediately pointed at him. "See? I told you."
"I didn't say you were right," Haru replied. "I only said the cover is cool."
"That means I'm right enough."
Yuta opened the game case carefully. For a moment, the boys became quieter. The fresh disc, the manual, the clean plastic, and the new-game smell made the whole room feel different. Even Ishi stopped teasing for a second. Yuta took out the disc, placed it into the ZEPS 3, and sat back as the screen turned black.
Then the ZAGE logo appeared.
All four boys watched silently.
The opening cinematic began with the night sky above Earth. Ten years ago, countless meteors had fallen across the world. But inside those meteors were not normal stones. They were enhanced robotic cats, strange beings with advanced bodies, artificial intelligence, emotion circuits, and technology far beyond anything humanity had ever built.
The narration called them Robo-Cats.
They had come to Earth searching for something called "The Neko Joy."
Nobody knew exactly what The Neko Joy was. Some scientists believed it was an energy source. Some governments believed it was a weapon. Others believed it was something spiritual, something connected to the bond between Robo-Cats and humans. Whatever it was, the Robo-Cats changed the world. Their technology helped humanity advance in robotics, medicine, communication, energy, and transportation. Over time, every country began treating its own Robo-Cat as something more than a machine.
A symbol.
A protector.
A spiritual leader.
A superhero.
Then Japan's Robo-Cat appeared.
Cyborg Kuro.
A black robotic cat with red eyes, hidden weapons, and a wild grin stood on top of a broken tower while a giant monster roared below him. Kuro lifted a massive cannon almost bigger than his own body.
"Ore wa Kuro!" he shouted. "If you touch my city, I'll turn you into scrap!"
The cannon fired, and the screen exploded in white light.
Yuta's eyes widened. "Bro…"
Haru leaned closer. "Okay. That was sick."
Shoei nodded honestly. "The cannon is really good."
Ishi smiled. "Yeah, that opening knows what it's doing."
Then the cinematic introduced Matabi. Compared to Kuro's explosive, mechanical power, Matabi looked slimmer, faster, and sharper. He fought with claws, kicks, counters, and fast melee combos, moving almost like a martial artist. If Kuro was a walking weapon, Matabi looked like a fighter who could cut through enemies before they even understood what happened.
Haru immediately raised his hand. "I want Matabi."
Yuta looked at him. "Of course you do."
"He looks fast."
"He looks annoying," Ishi said.
Haru smiled. "That's why I like him."
The opening ended with Kuro and Matabi standing back-to-back under a sky full of glowing meteors. Behind them, five locked silhouettes appeared, each one shaped like another Robo-Cat from another part of the world.
The title appeared.
CYBORG KURO-CHAN.
Press Start.
Yuta pressed Start.
The main menu appeared with a punchy rock theme. The graphics looked impressive for ZEPS 3: anime-like characters, bold outlines, colorful effects, expressive animation, and side-scrolling stages with 3D depth in the background. It felt like playing through an action anime, but with the sharper, enhanced look that ZAGE had become known for.
Yuta selected New Game.
Only two characters were available at first.
Cyborg Kuro.
Matabi.
Below them were five locked slots.
Shoei leaned forward. "So there are seven characters?"
Ishi nodded. "Looks like it."
Yuta selected Kuro for Player 1. Haru quickly grabbed the second controller and selected Matabi.
Shoei looked at him. "You moved fast."
Haru hugged the controller. "That is called preparation."
Yuta sighed. "Fine. Me and Haru play first. Shoei and Ishi switch after this stage."
The first stage began in Neo-Tokyo Outskirts, near an old meteor crater where strange scrap monsters had started attacking the city. Kuro dropped from above like a small metal cannonball, cracking the ground beneath him, while Matabi landed beside him with a smooth flip.
Yuta tested Kuro's controls first. Kuro punched with heavy mechanical fists, fired small cannons from his arms, and launched mini-rockets when his meter filled. Every attack felt heavy and loud. When several scrap dogs rushed toward him, Yuta fired a cannon blast and sent them flying backward into each other.
He smiled immediately. "Kuro is insane."
Haru was already testing Matabi. Matabi dashed faster than Kuro, clawed enemies rapidly, launched them into the air, and followed with spinning kicks. His attacks were not as explosive, but the movement felt smooth.
"Matabi feels really good," Haru said, focused on the screen. "Look, I can chain this."
He dashed into three enemies, launched one upward, then accidentally landed in front of a bigger scrap robot and got punched across the screen.
Yuta laughed. "Nice chain."
Haru kept a serious face. "I was testing enemy damage."
Ishi nodded. "Useful research."
The boys settled into the game quickly. Yuta used Kuro to clear groups with explosions, while Haru used Matabi to rush down faster enemies. Shoei kept giving simple advice from behind them, usually too late, while Ishi watched quietly and only commented when someone messed up.
"Jump there," Shoei said.
"I know," Yuta replied.
"You didn't jump."
"I was busy shooting."
"Then jump while shooting."
Yuta glanced back. "You play later, genius."
Haru laughed, then missed his own jump.
Ishi pointed at the screen. "Both of you are equally talented."
"Shut up," Yuta and Haru said at the same time.
By the end of the stage, they had fought through the outskirts and destroyed a mini-boss called Scrap Bulldog. After the battle, a short cutscene played. Kuro complained that the monsters smelled like old oil, while Matabi said they were probably being controlled by a mysterious signal from deeper in the city.
Kuro aimed his cannon toward the skyline and grinned. "Then we break the signal."
Matabi asked, "Do you even know where it is?"
Kuro answered, "No. But if we blow up enough things, we'll find it."
Yuta laughed. "I like him."
Haru nodded. "Very direct."
Ishi smirked. "Maybe too direct."
The second stage suddenly changed style.
Motorcycle Stage: Highway Meteor Chase.
Kuro rode a heavy mechanical motorcycle with front-mounted guns, while Matabi rode a slimmer bike that could jump higher and slash nearby enemies. The highway was filled with broken cars, flying drones, glowing meteor fragments, and collapsing roads. The music became faster, and the game immediately felt more intense.
Shoei sat up straighter. "Wait, this game has motorcycle stages too?"
Yuta's grin became wider. "Now you understand."
The stage was harder than the first. Drones dropped bombs, parts of the road broke apart, and enemies attacked from both sides. Yuta kept getting too excited and shooting everything in front of him, while Haru focused more on dodging.
"Careful, bridge," Haru said.
"I see it," Yuta replied.
"You don't."
Kuro fell into the gap.
Haru sighed. "You didn't."
Yuta frowned. "The jump timing is weird."
Ishi calmly said, "The timing is fine. Your thumb is weird."
Shoei laughed, then immediately tried to explain how he would do it better, even though he was not holding a controller.
Halfway through the stage, a giant armored truck appeared behind them, covered in spikes and robotic arms. It chased them down the highway while firing rockets. Yuta and Haru both leaned forward, suddenly serious. Haru dodged between rockets and slashed one of the truck's arms, while Yuta waited until Kuro's special meter filled.
A prompt appeared.
Kuro Special: Rocket Overdrive.
Yuta pressed it.
Kuro's motorcycle transformed. Side cannons opened, the exhaust flared blue, and dozens of rockets launched forward. The truck broke apart piece by piece before flipping backward into a huge explosion.
For a few seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Shoei said quietly, "Okay. That was amazing."
Haru nodded. "Yeah. That was worth buying."
Yuta tried to look smug, but he was too happy to hide it. "I know."
After the second stage ended, Shoei and Ishi took their turns. Shoei used Kuro, while Ishi selected Matabi. Yuta sat behind Shoei and immediately became annoying.
"Don't waste the special," Yuta said.
Shoei frowned. "Let me play."
"I'm just saying."
"You're saying too much."
Haru leaned toward Ishi. "Matabi is fast, so don't play him like Yuta plays Kuro."
Yuta looked offended. "What does that mean?"
"It means don't explode first and think later."
"That is Kuro's identity."
The third stage began inside the Neko Joy Temple, an ancient underground structure built around one of the original meteor impact sites. The stage mixed old stone ruins with glowing Robo-Cat technology. Blue energy lines ran through the walls, cat-shaped statues watched from the shadows, and strange symbols lit up as Kuro and Matabi moved deeper inside.
The story became more mysterious here. The game hinted that The Neko Joy might not be a normal object. It could be emotional energy, something connected to the bond between humans and Robo-Cats. After living with humans for ten years, some Robo-Cats began to believe that The Neko Joy might be hidden inside laughter, courage, friendship, dreams, and the small chaotic moments that made life feel alive.
Yuta stared at the screen. "Wait, why is this actually kind of deep?"
Ishi nodded. "It's weird, but I like it."
Haru smiled. "Maybe Neko Joy is this."
Shoei looked at him. "What?"
Haru gestured at all of them, the controllers, the snacks, and the glowing television. "This. Playing together."
For once, nobody roasted him immediately.
Then Yuta looked away and muttered, "That was actually nice. Annoying, but nice." then he grinned "But cringe as F*ck" Ishi laugh and everyone then laugh as they continue to play.
The stage itself was more difficult. It had moving platforms, energy traps, temple guardians, and switches that required both players to coordinate. Shoei struggled with Kuro's heavier movement, while Ishi handled Matabi surprisingly well.
"Jump earlier," Yuta said.
"I am trying," Shoei replied.
"You keep jumping late."
"I know!"
Ishi dashed across the platform smoothly and hit the switch on the other side.
Haru stared at him. "Why are you good at Matabi?"
Ishi kept his eyes on the screen. "Because I'm calm."
"That sounds so f*cking fake."
"Itt's fact deal with broo."
The mid-boss was a giant stone guardian shaped like a lion-cat statue. It attacked with heavy paw slams, laser eyes, and floor shockwaves. Shoei kept getting knocked back at first, but slowly began learning Kuro's rhythm. He blocked more, waited for openings, and used explosive attacks when the boss exposed its armor. Ishi used Matabi to dash behind the boss and strike the glowing core.
After a long fight, a prompt appeared.
Combination Attack: Neko Burst.
Shoei and Ishi pressed the buttons together.
Kuro launched Matabi into the air like a missile. Matabi spun downward with glowing claws, striking the guardian's core, while Kuro fired a massive cannon blast from below. The two attacks combined into a huge cat-shaped explosion, shattering the guardian completely.
The boys erupted.
"Bro!"
"That combo was sick!"
"The explosion had a cat face!"
Shoei raised both hands. "I did it."
Yuta pointed at the screen. "You almost died, but yeah, you did it."
Ishi smiled faintly. "Good enough."
After the boss, Kuro and Matabi reached a sealed meteor core. The core showed visions of other Robo-Cats around the world: a desert guardian cat, a knight-like cat, a martial artist cat, a jungle cat, and a dark silhouette hidden in shadow. The five locked characters from the opening appeared again.
Yuta leaned closer. "So that's the rest of them."
Haru whispered, "The dark one looks like a rival."
Shoei nodded. "The knight one looks cool too."
Ishi looked at the silhouettes carefully. "If each one plays differently, this game is going to be huge."
The stage ended with Kuro and Matabi escaping the temple as the meteor core awakened. The screen faded to the stage clear result.
Stage 3 Clear.
Then a new message appeared.
New Character Unlocked: Dr. Go-Tora.
All four boys immediately leaned forward.
Yuta quickly returned to the character select screen. A new Robo-Cat appeared beside Kuro and Matabi: Dr. Go-Tora, a small scientist-type Robo-Cat wearing goggles, a short coat, and mechanical gloves. His description said he used gadgets, drones, healing capsules, electric traps, and strange experimental tools.
Ishi's eyes sharpened slightly. "Support character."
Haru smiled. "He looks annoying in a good way."
Shoei nodded. "I want to see what he does."
Yuta stared at the screen, then slowly grinned. "We already unlocked a third character after three stages…"
For a moment, the room became quiet in a good way. The afternoon sunlight entered through the window, the ZEPS 3 hummed softly, and the character select music looped in the background. Only a few stages had passed, but the game already felt bigger than they expected. Meteor cats, city fights, motorcycle chase, temple ruins, mysterious lore, combo attacks, and now a new playable character.
Yuta looked at his friends. Shoei was still focused on the screen, Haru was already thinking about Dr. Go-Tora's gadgets, and Ishi looked calm, but his eyes clearly wanted another turn.
Yuta felt a little proud.
This was what he wanted from a new game.
Not just playing alone, but having everyone around him react, argue, laugh, fail, and somehow enjoy it together.
Haru glanced at him. "One more stage?"
Yuta looked at the clock, then at the screen.
He tried to act annoyed, but he was already smiling.
"Fine," he said. "One more."
Shoei immediately sat closer. "I want to try Dr. Go-Tora."
Ishi raised an eyebrow. "You just got used to Kuro."
"That's why I want to try someone else."
Haru laughed. "You're going to press everything randomly."
Shoei picked up the controller. "Maybe that is how scientist cats work."
Yuta shook his head and selected the next stage.
The living room became noisy again, but this time Yuta did not mind at all.
Somehow, that noise made the game even better clearly this are real Joy.
To be continued.
AN: I miss moments like this, for real. I used to do this all the time with my friends, but now… just look at life. Busy as hell.
Honestly, it's been forever since I last played a game, bro. Life has been so busy, especially since I'm also trying to change myself. I've been working out and becoming healthier too.
It's honestly a miracle that I still have ideas for writing these stories. My passion never died—I'm just exhausted because I don't have any goddamn time. T_T
Please give me your power stone and if you want to support me and get minimum 50+ advance chapter and additional 1 chapter a week for 4$ considering subscribe to my patreon patreon.com/Zaborn_1997
Or buymecoffee https://buymeacoffee.com/Zaborn_1997 which same with patreon
current Patreon/buymecoffe chap 1325
Also Join my discord if you want https://discord.gg/jB8x6TUByc