Ayumi Hamazou was the daughter of one of the most powerful Yakuza families in Japan. Her father, Hamazou, led a fearsome syndicate with an iron will, and Ayumi had grown up surrounded by luxury, authority, and danger. But even though she was treated like a princess within her family, Ayumi never liked that world. She hated violence. What she truly loved were things that embodied peace and innocence—especially rabbits. Their soft ears, gentle eyes, and harmless nature made her fall in love with them from a young age. Her room was filled with rabbit plushies, drawings, and ornaments. She even had a bunch of live pet bunnies, one of them named Momo that followed her around like a tiny shadow when she's in her backyard.
While her father tried to groom her into a role of respect and fear within the Hamazou clan, Ayumi's heart belonged to something else entirely: video games. Her fascination with games started when she was just a child and wandered into one of the arcades her family owned. The lights, sounds, joy and thrill of competition captivated her instantly. Wanting to indulge her, her father bought her a personal arcade cabinet and even created a special place only for her. At first, it was everything she wanted. But over time, Ayumi realized the joy of arcade gaming came from sharing that experience with others, the excitement of crowding around machines, shouting strategies, and laughing at near-misses.
As she grew, her love for gaming deepened. She was especially fond of the old Atari console and its colorful cartridges. But when the home console market in Japan and around the world collapsed, leaving gamers starved for new content, Ayumi sank into a slump. Her beloved Atari console gathered dust as publishers went silent and arcades began to lose their spark. She clung to her cherished collection of titles, replaying them out of nostalgia rather than excitement. The vibrant pulse of gaming that once fueled her joy now felt dim. That thrill of something new, of challenge, and discovery had all but vanished. She was starting to wonder if gaming itself had run its course.
And then, as if summoned by destiny, she discovered something that reignited everything.
One day, while wandering through an arcade near her school, Ayumi stumbled upon an unusual-looking machine tucked into the corner. It had a glowing blue screen and no flashy decals, unlike the other cabinets screaming for attention. What caught her eye was the mysterious simplicity of it—and the label: ZAS. Intrigued, she slipped a coin into the slot and selected a game from its surprising catalog. Instead of the usual one-game setup, this single machine contained a whole bunch of games, each more fascinating than the last.
And instantly, she was hooked.
ZAS featured a collection of original games, unlike anything she'd ever played. The gameplay was addictive, the pixel art imaginative, and the music unforgettable. Ayumi was in awe. She played through every title, marveling at the creativity and polish packed into each one. She became obsessed with discovering who had made it. After some digging and bribing of staff which is easy for her reputation, she learned the creator's name: Zaboru Renkonan.
What shocked her the most was that Zaboru was the same age as her and he even went to the same school with her
Fueled by admiration and curiosity, Ayumi arranged a meeting with him. It wasn't easy; she may have used her Yakuza family name to get his attention, a tactic she later regretted. But when she finally met Zaboru, she was blown away by his humility, talent, and razor-sharp vision. Instead of treating her like a delicate princess or a threat, he saw her as a peer. Someone who could learn, improve, and grow.
That meeting changed her life.
From that day forward, Ayumi became fully committed to becoming a game developer. With Zaboru's guidance and her own tireless dedication, she immersed herself in learning everything she could and she was also already learning programming, pixel art, English, and the fundamentals of storytelling. The process was grueling at times, and she occasionally felt overwhelmed. But every time she faltered, Zaboru was there. He encouraged her, challenged her with thoughtful feedback, and most importantly, never stopped believing in her potential. Under his mentorship and after countless revisions and late nights, Ayumi completed her first full game: Karate Bunny. It was a charming side-scrolling platformer about a rabbit martial artist defeating that kicking ass. For Ayumi, it wasn't just a game—it was a milestone. Proof that she could dream, build, and bring something to life.
And she owed it all to him.
She had always been aware of her beauty and how people admired her for it. At lavish banquets, countless men would try to win her favor, offering flowers, jewelry, even cars. But none of them ever truly saw her, not like Zaboru did. With Zaboru, however, it was different. He didn't care about her lineage, her wealth, or even her looks. His world revolved around creation ideas, innovation, and passion for games. She could tease him all she liked, and though he'd blush like any teenage boy might, he'd always return to work with razor-sharp focus. Zaboru treated her like she possessed incredible potential in game development, and he was always genuinely proud whenever she created something or made progress. He praised her efforts not just to be kind, but because he truly believed she had what it took to become a great developer.
And for that she fell in love.
Not a fleeting crush or a fairytale fantasy, but a love rooted in admiration and respect. Ayumi didn't want to wait around for Zaboru to notice her feelings—she knew he was too focused on his work to make the first move even in a million years. Zaboru would never confess because of how focused he is on making games. So she confessed. And to her surprise, he said yes.
That should have been her happily ever after, but things were never so simple.
After that, happiness seemed just her constant companion until tragedy struck. Her father, enraged by her relationship with Zaboru, physically assaulted him. It wasn't just a warning or a threat—he had intended to end Zaboru's life. If Akechi, her protective older brother, hadn't arrived in time, she knew deep down that Zaboru might not have survived.
In the aftermath, when everything felt like it could shatter into pieces, Zaboru never once blamed her. He didn't hold her accountable for her father's actions. He didn't distance himself out of fear or resentment. Instead, he looked at her with the same kindness and affection as before. He reassured her through his bruises and exhaustion that his love had not changed.
And that moment, more than anything else, proved the depth of his feelings. Zaboru truly loved her—not as someone flawless, but as someone worth standing beside, no matter the trials they faced.
Zaboru even wrote a song just for her called "Machine Gun Kiss," a rock ballad that expressed his feelings in a way only music could. Then, in a bold and heartfelt move, with her brother Help Zaboru brought his Zankoku band to perform it live at the Hamazou Clan's headquarters the very stronghold of Ayumi's Yakuza family. Despite the intimidating audience of hardened men in suits and cold stares, Zaboru don't really cared and played with everything he had, pouring his heart into each note. Ayumi, watching from the front row with wide, tear-filled eyes, was overwhelmed. At that moment, surrounded by the stark contrast of violence and beauty, she knew with absolute certainty: she was in love with him and very much so.
Now, months later, Ayumi sat in her cozy new apartment—one she bought herself with her earnings as a developer in Akaishidan Studio, the company of her brother Akechi . A gentle breeze came through the open window, fluttering the edges of photos on her desk. Most of them were pictures of her and Zaboru, smiling awkwardly, sharing ramen, or holding hands during rare breaks.
"Hehehehe, Zabo, I really miss you..." she murmured to herself, running a finger over the frame. Her cheeks flushed with affection. Part of her wanted to drop everything and rush to ZAGE headquarters, just to sneak in a hug and maybe steal a kiss.
But she knew better.
Zaboru was working tirelessly, especially with the ZGB release in America. He was already dealing with enough pressure. So, instead, she smiled and whispered, "I can't slack off. I have to keep up. I have to keep getting better. I want to be someone you can always rely on—not just as your girlfriend, but as your partner."
Fueled by that thought, Ayumi rolled up her sleeves and turned to her desk, where her notebook of ideas sat waiting. She flipped it open to a blank page and began sketching a new character. Something bold, yet cute. A bunny-themed hero? Maybe a dreamy sci-fi setting? Whatever it became, she would pour her heart into it.
She had come a long way from the girl who only knew how to play games. Now, she was building them. And she would continue to grow for herself, and for the one who inspired her to begin with.
To be continued.