Sunday, 15 September 2001.
Zaboru had only recently returned from ZAGE USA in California, but his schedule was already waiting to drag him away again. The following week, he would travel to China and Korea to handle several matters involving ZAGE's branches in both countries. For now, however, he had claimed one quiet Sunday at the Renkonan household before returning to airports, meetings, development reports, and problems that somehow multiplied whenever he crossed a national border.
The house was comfortably lively. Zaboru sat at the dining table eating a chicken-breast steak Keiko had prepared for him. It was simple food compared to the extravagant meals he could easily afford, but he ate it with obvious satisfaction. The chicken was tender, properly seasoned, and covered with a light homemade sauce that made him take another bite before he had even finished appreciating the first one.
"Mom's cooking is still dangerous," Zaboru muttered happily. "She makes healthy food taste good enough to make me overeat it."
Keiko, who was arranging several dishes nearby, gave him a small smile. "Then eat slowly."
"I am eating slowly."
"You have already finished half of it."
"That is because the plate is small."
"The plate is normal."
Zaboru glanced down at it, then quietly continued eating without defending himself.
A short distance away, Ayumi sat on the carpet playing with Arumi. Their daughter was trying to stack several colourful blocks into a tower, though she seemed more interested in knocking it down whenever it became slightly stable. Ayumi patiently rebuilt it with her, only for Arumi to destroy it again with a delighted laugh.
Zenshin, as usual, was sitting nearby with a book far too serious for a four-year-old. He was reading quietly, occasionally lifting his gaze whenever Arumi's tower collapsed, but otherwise remained focused. Outside on the veranda, Zanichi drank coffee and smoked while tinkering with an old radio he had found somewhere. He had already opened the casing and arranged its small parts across a cloth, treating the outdated machine with the same care he would give a revolutionary prototype.
Sanika, meanwhile, was absent.
She had gone on another date with Hidetaka Miyazaki.
Zaboru had already stopped pretending to be surprised by that.
The television in the living room was showing a replay and analysis of the recent ZEMITSU Podcast episode involving Buran Ken. Clips from the debate had spread everywhere over the last day. Gaming programs replayed Kiara's confrontation with Buranki, magazines quoted his statements, and online forums continued arguing about whether Zaboru's silence regarding The Dark Guild meant anything.
Zaboru glanced toward the television while chewing another piece of chicken. Buranki was shown explaining that Zaboru might be becoming more calculating as ZAGE expanded.
A faint smile appeared on Zaboru's face.
"Heh. They really think highly of my reviews, huh?"
Ayumi heard him and chuckled while helping Arumi rebuild the block tower. "Of course they do, Zabo. You clearly underestimate yourself."
Zaboru pointed his fork toward the television. "But this much? They made an entire podcast episode because I didn't talk about one game."
Ayumi looked at him as though the answer should have been obvious. "Your reviews have a large effect. Even when you only write a short review of one of Akaishidan's games on your ZAGE Forum account, the sales increase noticeably afterward. Sometimes people discover strengths in the game because you point them out. You're also good at explaining weaknesses without making the game sound worthless."
Zaboru raised an eyebrow. "You've been studying my reviews?"
"I study everything you do related to game development."
"That sounds slightly dangerous and obsessive?."
"I'm your disciple. Of course I study you."
Zaboru smiled at that, but Ayumi continued more seriously, "You can describe why a mechanic works, why something feels frustrating, or why a game's design becomes memorable without spoiling the story. Many reviewers only say whether they had fun. You usually explain why they had fun. That is why developers and players care about your opinion."
Zaboru looked back at the television. A caption beneath Buranki's face read: HAS ZABORU THE GAMER BECOME ZABORU THE BUSINESSMAN?
He nearly laughed again. "Still, isn't this excessive? Apparently I'm corporate greed now because I didn't review The Dark Guild. Not corporate or greedy separately. I have evolved into the complete creature."
Ayumi giggled. "That caption is dramatic."
"It sounds like I woke up one morning, looked at a pile of money, and forgot what a controller was."
Although he treated the controversy lightly, Zaboru already understood what was happening. In his previous life, he had lived through the internet culture of the 2010s and 2020s. He had seen sponsored reviewers, manufactured outrage, paid influencers, hidden marketing campaigns, and commentators who built a reputation for independence precisely so their controlled opinions would appear more trustworthy later.
Buranki's approach was familiar.
He did not openly praise Apple without criticism. He occasionally attacked iPlay and questioned Apple's decisions, allowing him to appear balanced. Then, when Apple truly needed him, his defence carried more credibility. He did not need to tell an obvious lie. He only needed to select one truth, repeat it constantly, surround it with implications, and allow the audience to complete the accusation themselves.
Zaboru was almost certain that Apple—or more likely Zanki—had paid or supported him in some way.
However, he had no intention of publicly accusing Buranki without proof. That would only make the situation larger and give the man more attention. Besides, hidden sponsorship rarely stayed hidden forever. Money created records. Early access created patterns. Private coordination created witnesses. Someone would eventually speak too much, become unhappy with payment, or find evidence worth exposing.
The internet in this world was still young. Many users had not yet developed the instinct to question whether a supposedly neutral personality was being quietly supported by a company. They often treated confidence as honesty and disagreement with popular opinion as proof of independence.
Zaboru knew that innocence would not last.
For now, he continued eating his chicken as his mom made a lot for his appetite as though the entire controversy were merely another strange television programme.
Ayumi placed another block on Arumi's tower, then looked at her husband thoughtfully. "But Zabo… I know you played The Dark Guild."
Zaboru's fork stopped for the smallest moment.
Ayumi noticed.
"You played it for hours," she continued. "You even used the online multiplayer. You seemed to enjoy it a lot."
Zaboru casually took another bite. "Hmm. Did I?"
Ayumi stared at him. "Yes."
"I play many games."
Ayumi smiles "But you enjoy the dark Guild don't you?"
Zaboru slowly lowered his fork.
Ayumi's smile became slightly amused. "You also said the co-op scaling was surprisingly good, the character roles were meaningful, and the camera was occasionally stupid near walls."
From the carpet, Zenshin quietly turned a page of his book, though the faint movement at the corner of his mouth suggested that he was listening.
Zaboru scratched his cheek. "Apparently I gave the review at home already."
"You clearly liked the game," Ayumi said. "So why didn't you review it publicly? That isn't like you."
Zaboru sighed quietly.
There was no chance he would tell Ayumi the complete truth. He could not casually explain that Apple and Zanki had been preparing to damage her reputation by using her past and her relationship with Aoshidan. He also had no intention of mentioning that Akechi had nearly punched him after learning he wanted to review the game.
Technically, Akechi had only said that he would hit him.
But the sincerity in his eyes had made the difference mostly academic.
More importantly, Zaboru did not want Ayumi to carry that fear while pregnant. If she discovered that their enemies intended to turn her life into a weapon against him, she would blame herself even though none of it was her fault. She might push herself harder, become more involved in Akaishidan security, or try to confront the problem directly.
Zaboru wanted her focused on her health, their twins, and the game she was developing.
He could carry this one quietly.
"Well, Ayumi…" Zaboru began, deliberately keeping his tone casual. "I simply didn't feel like reviewing it. The game is good, but I've started noticing that constantly reviewing competitors' games may not be a smart business move."
Ayumi blinked. "You?"
"Yes, me."
"You suddenly realised that?"
"I am capable of growth."
Ayumi looked unconvinced.
Zaboru grinned and shrugged. "Maybe I'm becoming wiser as I get older. A mature 50-year-old man is slowly forming inside me."
"You're just almost 27 Zabo."
"Then he is forming early."
Ayumi gave him a patient look. "But you reviewed Sonaya's newest Sherif Juan game not long ago."
Zaboru's confident expression weakened immediately. "Well… that was different."
"How?"
"Different circumstances."
"What circumstances?"
"Sherif Juan circumstances."
Ayumi stared at him for several seconds.
Zaboru smiled innocently and returned to his chicken.
She clearly understood that he was hiding something. Zaboru's explanations were usually detailed, even when nobody asked for them. Whenever he suddenly gave an answer as vague as "different circumstances," there was always another reason underneath it.
However, Ayumi did not press him further.
She trusted that if the matter directly concerned her, he would eventually tell her when the time was right. More importantly, she could see that Zaboru was not hiding something out of embarrassment or selfishness. There was a protective softness in his eyes that appeared whenever he believed he was carrying a burden for someone else.
Ayumi returned her attention to Arumi and quietly said, "Fine. I won't force you. But I still think you are a terrible liar."
Zaboru placed one hand over his chest. "That is a cruel accusation." Zaboru sigh "And true as well"
Zaboru smiled, then looked back toward the television. The programme had moved from the podcast controversy to sports and gaming news. A brief headline appeared at the bottom of the screen, mentioning the ongoing DOTA: HIGH FLY Tournament in Korea.
Zaboru's eyes widened slightly.
"Oh, right! AKAI-Kuma is playing today."
Ayumi looked over. "AKAI-Kuma?"
"The DOTA team I sponsor. Their match should be happening right now in Korea." Zaboru quickly finished the last piece of chicken and placed the plate down. "I almost forgot because people are too busy discussing my silence."
Ayumi nodded with recognition. "The team that followed your special training plan? I heard they have improved tremendously."
Zaboru stood and moved toward the television controls. "They were already talented. I only helped reorganise how they trained and reviewed their matches. But tournament performance is different from practice. Let's see whether they can actually handle the pressure."
Ayumi lifted Arumi onto her lap and moved closer to the couch. Even Zenshin lowered his book slightly, apparently interested despite pretending otherwise. Keiko came from the dining area after hearing the discussion, while Zanichi remained outside with his radio, though the veranda door was open enough for him to hear the broadcast.
Zaboru changed the television to the YaDo channel.
The screen briefly turned black before the live tournament broadcast appeared. A packed Korean venue filled the display, with flashing stage lights, cheering spectators, and two team booths positioned across from one another.
The match currently being streamed was:
AKAI-Kuma versus Samsung Fabulous.
Zaboru sat forward, his earlier amusement fading into focused interest as the broadcast prepared to begin.
To be continued.
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