Now, still on Monday, 17 December 1997, the city had a festive atmosphere—lights on storefronts, children on winter break, and a mood that clearly signaled the holidays were near. Despite this, Zaboru decided not to go into the office. Today, he had something far more important to deal with: getting permission from two of the most powerful people in his life—his wife and his mom. He needed to tell them he was planning to leave the country for several weeks due to urgent business meetings.
And yes, Zaboru knew how ridiculous the timing was. The end of the year was fast approaching, and he had already promised both of them that he would spend the holidays together as a family. Specifically, he'd promised to take them to see the highly anticipated ZAGE-Disney movie, Iron Giant, during its Christmas release window. The film had originally been scheduled for September, but Disney decided to postpone the launch to give their animation team more time to polish it. The new release was set for the end of December—perfectly timed for the holiday season.
Zaboru didn't mind the delay. In fact, he fully supported it. As the majority owner of Disney through ZAGE, he placed full trust in Walt Disney and the creative team. He hadn't assigned them any new projects recently, preferring to give them space to focus on Iron Giant and ensure it would be something truly special. To Zaboru, quality always came first, even if it meant waiting a little longer. But still, despite his calm confidence in business, asking his wife and mother for permission to miss the holidays? That was going to be the real challenge.
Aside from the Disney commitments, what made this decision even harder for Zaboru was the thought of leaving his family—especially his three-month-old son, Zenshin. Right now, Zenshin was at his most adorable stage: wide-eyed with wonder, already curious about the world, and constantly making little cooing noises that melted Zaboru's heart. Every day, the boy discovered something new, and every tiny giggle or movement felt like a miracle. It wasn't just hard to leave—it felt almost impossible. These were moments Zaboru knew he could never get back.
And yet, despite the emotional weight, business couldn't wait. This trip wasn't a vacation or an optional detour. It was a critical move for ZAGE's future. Zaboru needed to travel to Europe and Asia to inspect two important locations for ZAGE's next international offices—one in London, and the other in Beijing. These were the early seeds of the true ZAGE's global expansion, and Zaboru didn't believe in making such decisions from behind a desk. He wanted to see the buildings, get a feel for the environments, and evaluate the potential in person.
He had received glowing reports from Flocks, ZAGE's main distributor in Europe, and Red Falcon, their trusted distribution partner for China and Korea. Both had identified promising sites and claimed that the buildings are proper to build ZAGE offices. But for Zaboru, secondhand reports were never enough. He needed to be there. He needed to see the future of ZAGE with his own eyes.
The problem? These inspections and meetings wouldn't be quick. The trip could stretch for weeks, covering late December and possibly running into the new year. That meant missing Christmas with his family. Missing New Year's celebrations. Missing the quiet moments at home he had been looking forward to all year.
'Let's hope they understand,' Zaboru sighed, rubbing the back of his neck with a mix of guilt and uncertainty.
He walked into the living room where his wife, Ayumi, was gently rocking Zenshin in her arms. His mother, Keiko, sat beside her on the couch, the two women watching TV in quiet comfort. The room felt peaceful—warm with soft lighting and the distant jingle of a holiday commercial playing on screen. As Zaboru entered, he scratched the back of his head awkwardly, already bracing himself for the difficult conversation ahead.
"Umm… Ayumi, Mom, I want to talk about something. It's about… work," Zaboru said hesitantly, scratching the back of his head. His voice was unsure, a rare sight for someone usually so confident. Keiko's brows furrowed immediately. "What? What is it this time?" she asked with suspicion, her tone already on edge. Ayumi, however, remained calm, her expression soft with a slight smile. "What is it, Zabo?" she asked gently.
Zaboru took a deep breath. "Well… it's like this. If possible, I need to fly out at the end of this week. First to London, then to China. I have a series of important meetings there—something about the future of ZAGE's international offices. These visits might take weeks. So… I might not be home for the holidays."
He trailed off, his words fading into the warm air of the living room. The weight of his announcement settled heavily between them. For a moment, no one spoke. The holiday lights twinkled quietly in the background, and then—
"Hey! Zaboru!" Keiko snapped, her voice sharp as her eyes flashed with indignation. "You said you were going to spend time with your family this holiday season! You made a promise! Are you seriously backing out now? After everything you said?"
Zaboru flinched, visibly caught off guard by the sudden intensity. "I'm not backing out, Mom! I swear! I just got this info recently. I wasn't expecting—"
"No excuses, young man!" Keiko interrupted, her tone unforgiving. "A promise is a promise. You looked us in the eyes and told us you'd be here. What could possibly be so important that it can't wait a couple more weeks? Don't you get it? Your family needs you here. Now more than ever."
Zaboru sighed heavily, his shoulders sagging. "Mom, but…"
"No 'but'!" Keiko cut him off again, her voice sharp with frustration yet laced with concern. "You made a promise to spend more time with your family. You're not just a company owner anymore—you're a husband and a father! Do you even stop to consider how Ayumi feels? She puts on a brave face, yes, but even the strongest hearts can wear down. I see it, Zaboru. I see how much she misses you when you're constantly buried in meetings and travel. You may be too busy to notice, but I'm not."
She took a breath, her tone softening with maternal weight. "And if you go back on your word and cancel our holiday plans now, it's not just disappointing—it's hurtful. How many times have we waited for a holiday that never happened because of business? You may think your work is all that matters, but your family... we're the ones who stay. We're the ones who love you unconditionally. We'll still be here when the boardrooms are dark and the offices are quiet. Don't take that for granted, son."
Zaboru sighed deeply and scratched the back of his head, clearly torn. "Sigh… fine then. I won't leave. I'll go on holiday with you all," he said with a tired but genuine smile. There was a beat of silence, and then he let out a chuckle, trying to ease the tension in the room.
Keiko's stern face melted into a warm smile. "Hehehe, now that's my son," she said proudly, her eyes glistening with relief. Ayumi, still holding Zenshin, beamed at him. "Thank you, Zabo," she said with heartfelt sincerity, her voice tinged with emotion.
Zaboru walked over to them and gently scooped up his three-month-old son from Ayumi's arms. Zenshin immediately began to giggle and wiggle, his tiny arms waving in the air. The sound of his child's innocent laughter wrapped around Zaboru like a warm blanket, causing his heart to melt on the spot. He stared down at Zenshin's glowing face and felt a rush of something that no business victory had ever given him—pure, undiluted joy.
As he cradled his son, a thought crossed his mind, slow but powerful: 'Maybe I shouldn't always think about work. I have a family now. A real one. And they need me more.'
He chuckled to himself, then leaned over to kiss Ayumi on the forehead. With Zenshin in his arms and his family beside him, Zaboru felt something he hadn't felt in a long time—peace. He decided, firmly and without hesitation, to spend the rest of the holiday season with them, no distractions, no last-minute flights. Just time. Just love.
To be continue
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AN : yeah i forgot about Iron Giant in september lol