16 January 1993, Saturday
The news of ZAGE acquiring Marvel was still making waves in the Japanese media, but Zaboru had other priorities. Today, he was focused on something more immediate: inspecting a potential new office building for ZAGE's Osaka branch. His father, Zanichi, had mentioned it earlier in the week, and now the two were flying to Osaka to check it out.
During the flight, Zaboru turned to his father. "So Dad, is this building really that good? And do you trust the owner?"
Zanichi chuckled. "Don't worry. The owner is an old friend of mine, and the building is solid. It's a five-story place that can house over a hundred people. It's more than enough for our branch."
Zaboru raised an eyebrow. "I wonder what the price tag looks like. Our finances are solid, but acquiring Marvel this month was a heavy expense."
Zanichi waved off his concern. "Let me handle that. We can pay in installments, and I already cleared it with Sayuri. She's confident in our financial standing. Even with another big expense, we're more than okay."
Zaboru grinned. "Good thing I kept you in the loop Dad."
He always took delight in entrusting his father with important matters, especially knowing how incredibly capable he was. There was never a moment of doubt or mistrust—Zaboru had unwavering confidence in his father's competence, and it always paid off.
"By the way," Zaboru added, "would you consider becoming head of the Osaka branch?"
Zanichi shook his head. "Your mom and Sanika are in Tokyo. I'd rather not be based far from them."
Zaboru nodded thoughtfully. "Alright, but what about the other higher-ups at ZAGE? Shinsuke-san, for instance—do you think he'd be a good fit for the Osaka branch leadership? I mean, how does his vision align with ours in terms of team management and innovation?"
Zanichi chuckled. "He's definitely more capable in some ways, but he wouldn't take it. He thrives on the energy of constant movement. His head of marketing role lets him travel across cities, connecting with clients and overseeing campaigns. He'd hate to be confined to one office building, even one as important as this."
Zaboru leaned in, thoughtful. "But isn't there a benefit to grounding a branch with someone who understands the bigger picture? He's been with us long enough to embody the culture."
"True," Zanichi nodded, "but leadership isn't just about insight. It's about presence, too. And I don't think he'd find satisfaction in staying put, even for a strategic role like this."
Zaboru sighed. "Then who should we consider?"
Zanichi smiled. "Boss, let's table that discussion until Monday. We're technically off duty."
Zaboru laughed. "Fair enough."
The two then decided to lighten the mood on the plane ride by chatting about more casual topics. They laughed over recent football scores, with Zanichi teasing Zaboru about his favorite team's loss. The conversation then shifted to gaming, where Zanichi excitedly shared some experimental ideas for a new action RPG. Zaboru offered a few creative suggestions of his own. Their discussion was filled with playful banter, showcasing not only their shared interests but also the close bond they enjoyed outside the business world.
Upon arrival in Osaka, the father and son took a cab to the prospective office building. It was a five-story commercial property—unassuming, but clean and well-maintained.
Zaboru examined it from the outside. "Not bad at all."
Just then, a middle-aged blonde foreginer woman approached them.
"Zan-chan!"
Zaboru blinked. "Zan-chan?"
The woman smiled brightly as she walked over. "Zan-chan, long time no see! And this must be your son, Zaboru! I'm Catherine Shimura. Lovely to meet you."
Soon after, a middle-aged Japanese man joined them. "Zanichi, it's been a while."
"Seiya! Catherine! Great to see you both," Zanichi greeted warmly. "Zaboru, meet Seiya Shimura and his wife, Catherine Shimura"
Zaboru offered a polite nod and handshake. "Pleasure to meet you."
Catherine giggled. "Okay then I'll leave you boys to it. Time for a hair appointment. Take care, Zan-chan, Zaboru-kun. And you, my knight~"
Seiya blushed. "Take care, honey."
Seiya and Catherine were formerly colleagues of Zanichi at Sonaya. Eventually, they chose to branch out and pursue new careers as property owners. Today, Seiya is considered one of the most successful property owners in Osaka, managing a range of well-maintained buildings across the city. Catherine, on the other hand, has carved out her own niche by owning and operating several popular hair salons in Osaka.
Zanichi chuckled. "Still lovey-dovey, huh?"
"Guilty as charged," Seiya laughed. "Come on in. The building's vacant, but I have it cleaned regularly."
Seiya gave them a tour, and Zaboru found himself impressed by the layout and upkeep. As Seiya and Zanichi began discussing pricing, Zaboru chose to stay quiet and observe. The negotiation was smooth—Zanichi had everything under control.
With business matters squared away, Seiya's enthusiasm shifted.
"Zaboru-kun, I've got to say, I'm a huge fan of your games—especially Zabo-man! That Ryuseiken move is just incredible, like a meteor shower lighting up the screen. I learned the technique name from ZAGE Power magazine. If I'm not mistaken, Zabo-man who using that technique are Zabo-man in Final Fight and in Choujin Sentai Z-Man, right? I hope seeing that technique more!.
Zanichi chuckled. Seiya's love for games came as no surprise. Back in the day, Seiya was a regular at arcades—even when the games weren't particularly impressive. His passion for gaming never wavered, so it made perfect sense that he'd be playing ZAGE games now. Zaboru just gave a wry smile.
'His name's Seiya, and he loves Ryuseiken? Just like Seiya from Saint Seiya in my past life. What are the odds?' This world keeps surprising him.
He responded, "Funny you mention that. Ryuseiken is actually the signature move of a character I call Saint Seiya. Spoiler alert—I'm planning a game based on him."
Seiya's eyes sparkled. "Seriously!? That's amazing! I can't wait! and what a coincidence!"
Zanichi looked intrigued. "You're making a game based on that character? Saint Seiya? Is that an actual character from something, or did you create him yourself? What's the story behind him?"
"Yeah, Dad. I've got the designs. You can check them out later."
"Can I see them too?" Seiya asked eagerly.
Zaboru laughed. "Sorry, Seiya-san. Not yet."
Seiya sighed in mock disappointment.
Zanichi chuckled. "How's business going these days, Seiya?"
Seiya let out a light laugh. "It's been so-so, I suppose. The property business takes time to really take off, so I'm just pacing myself. No rush."
Zanichi tilted his head, curious. "Do you still find it fulfilling? I mean, compared to when we were in development, building electronics and chasing innovation?"
Seiya smiled thoughtfully. "It's a different kind of fulfillment. Less adrenaline, more patience. But I get to see tangible results—a building well-managed, a tenant satisfied. It's not as flashy as the electronic industry, but it's steady."
Zanichi nodded with a half-smile. "Well, as long as you're happy, that's what counts."
Zanichi then asked again, "How are your son and daughter doing?"
Seiya chuckled warmly. "They're doing great—healthy and full of energy. They're staying at their grandma's house this weekend. Sano is in third grade and Katarina just started first grade. They're both lively little sparks. And get this—they're big ZAGE fans, especially your games. They can't get enough of Pokémon either. It'd be amazing if they could meet you someday, Zaboru. I think they'd be over the moon."
Zaboru smiled, visibly touched. "I'd love that, Seiya-san. It would be an honor to meet your kids."
The hearty conversation continued until they wrapped up the meeting with a promise to reconvene next week for final paperwork. Zanichi and Zaboru then headed to a nearby restaurant.
Zanichi slurped his noodles. "Great building, huh?"
Zaboru nodded. "Absolutely. A little touch-up and it'll be perfect for our Osaka branch."
"Let's talk logistics on Monday," Zanichi said. "For now, let's enjoy this meal."
"Agreed," Zaboru replied with a smile.
Zaboru slurped his noodles, then glanced at his father with a raised eyebrow. "So... Zan-chan, huh? That's quite the nickname. What's the story behind that?"
Zanichi chuckled, wiping his mouth. "Ah, Catherine gave me that nickname back in the Sonaya days. She used to have a little crush on me, but you know me—my heart has always been with your mother. I kept my distance, gave her the cold shoulder."
Zaboru leaned in, intrigued. "But Catherine and Seiya seem like such a perfect match. Was that your doing?"
"In a way, yes," Zanichi nodded. "Seiya always had a thing for her. He just didn't know how to express it. I gave him a nudge, a bit of advice, and over time they clicked. It was obvious they belonged together."
Zaboru nods and keeps focusing on eating his ramen. "I See."
To be continued.
AN : this seiya guy will be important but …
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