After the confession and making love with his wife, Zaboru found himself unable to sleep. While Ayumi was resting peacefully beside him, he quietly got up and made his way to the 51st floor, where his private workshop was located. Once there, he stood in silence, gazing out the large windows at the city lights below, lost in thought and somehow the decision that Ayumi made started to make no sense for him.
"Is this alright?" Zaboru whispered to himself, still staring out into the city lights. No one understood Ayumi's dream better than he did. More than anyone, Zaboru knew how deeply she wanted to become a renowned game developer. It wasn't just a passing goal — it was her passion, her identity. And truthfully, she had all the talent in the world to make it happen.
Unlike Zaboru, who relied heavily on the knowledge and shortcuts granted by his previous life, Ayumi was what people would call raw, natural talent. She wasn't just good — she was extraordinary. Her coding was elegant and efficient, her art had character and soul, and her ability to grasp new technology was frighteningly fast. She absorbed information like a sponge, always improving, always learning. That was part of why Zaboru always wanted her at ZAGE. Not out of favoritism, but because she could elevate any project she touched.
And yet, she had always refused. She didn't want her success to be tied to him. She wanted to prove, to herself and to the world, that she could create great games on her own — without leaning on Zaboru's name, reputation, or connections. That fierce independence, that confidence, was one of the things he loved most about her.
And besides all that, Ayumi was basically Zaboru's first true disciple. She had learned so much from him over the years — not just how to code or design, but how to think about games, how to break down what makes them fun, and how to approach development from both a technical and creative standpoint. Zaboru had taught her how to see the bigger picture, how to structure mechanics around core themes, and even how to challenge the idea of what a genre could be. She absorbed all of it eagerly, and it showed in everything she made.
She also hadthat unique signature which every truly great game developer seemed to carry in Zaboru's previous life. For Ayumi, it was her deep obsession with rabbits. Nearly all of her games featured rabbit-themed characters, worlds, or mechanics. It wasn't just a gimmick; it was part of her artistic identity. That recurring motif made her work instantly recognizable. People could pick up one of her games and immediately say, "Ah, this must be an Ayumi game." That sense of personal style and consistent vision was what set her apart — and what made her not just talented, but genuinely special in the world of game development.
Now, all of that — her dream, her ambition — she had set aside. Not because she failed, but because she chose to stay home and raise their son. She had made that decision so Zaboru could keep chasing his vision without hesitation. And that knowledge sat heavy in his chest. She wasn't giving up because she had to — she was sacrificing because she loved them. And Zaboru could feel the weight of that trade-off, deeper than anything he'd felt in a long time.
"That's really freaking unfair for her," Zaboru muttered under his breath, sighing heavily. It really was cruel, and it hit harder the more he thought about it. "But what can I do? This was her choice…"
He leaned his forehead against the cool glass of the window. A memory surfaced. "Wait… didn't Dad do the same thing? Didn't he give up his dream of becoming a mangaka so he could be a better husband for Mom?"
It was a strange connection, but it suddenly felt important. "I need to ask Dad tomorrow," he said, rubbing his temples. "But for now… I need to clear my head."
His thoughts were tangled — guilt, admiration, confusion. He felt honored by Ayumi's sacrifice, but also ashamed. It was too much, and he needed to sweat it out before the pressure consumed him. So he decided to hit the gym.
Zaboru headed to the ground floor, exited the tower, and crossed the street to the dedicated ZAGE Gym building. Despite the late hour, the lights were still on inside. As he stepped in, he was surprised to see someone still cleaning up.
It was Toji Bakurou — the son of Toki, owner of Bakudan Arcade — and the man Zaboru had personally hired as the gym's head instructor. Toji was wiping down the benches and re-racking weights, humming quietly to himself.
Toji looked up, eyebrows raised. "Huh Zaboss? Didn't expect to see you this late."
Zaboru gave a tired smile. "Yo Toji Couldn't sleep. Figured I'd sweat some thoughts out. You mind if I train for a bit?"
Toji nodded with a grin. "You came to the right place. Let me set you up. You want to hit the bags or go with light sparring?"
"Bags. I'm not in the mood to get punched," Zaboru chuckled, rolling his sleeves.
"Fair enough," Toji said. "Want to talk about it, or just punch stuff?"
"Maybe both."
So under the quiet hum of gym lights and the distant sound of city nightlife, Zaboru threw punches — venting everything he couldn't say with words — while Toji offered advice and quiet support between rounds while Suprised how much power Zaboru punch generate. It wasn't a solution, but it was a start.
The next morning, Wednesday, January 9th, 1998, at ZAGE Tower, Zaboru made his way to his father's office. Zanichi was busy with the final touches on Lunar Knight 2, eyes focused on his screen.
Zanichi looked up and smiled. "What's up, Boss?"
Zaboru sat down across from him and let out a quiet sigh. "Well, Dad… I wanted to ask you something. It's not work-related. It's about Ayumi."
Zanichi's brow rose slightly. He leaned back in his chair, giving Zaboru his full attention. His son rarely came to him with personal matters, so he knew this was serious.
"And what is it, son?"
"Well… she wants to quit her dream of becoming a video game developer. And you know as well as I do, she's really good at it — insanely good, even. I've always admired her skill. That's why I kept asking her to join ZAGE every chance I got. I saw what she was capable of, and I wanted her to thrive. But she always refused. She wanted to prove she could make it on her own, without anyone's help — especially mine."
Zanichi raised an eyebrow in surprise. "So she's stepping away from all of that to focus on raising Zenshin? To give you more time to work on your own goals?"
Zaboru nodded slowly, his voice uncertain. "Yeah. I… I don't know what to do, Dad. I mean… didn't you do something like this in the past? Didn't you give up your dream of becoming a mangaka to become a better husband and get a more stable job for Mom?"
He leaned forward, his voice quieter now. "I need your take on this. I really do. Zaboru then though to himself 'Even though I was already fifty years old in my previous life, I never had to deal with anything like this. This is all new to me. Completely new. And I feel so lost right now.'
Zanichi chuckled and leaned back in his chair. "As usual, you can be ridiculously smart when it comes to games or art, but when it comes to this kind of thing, you're pretty damn clueless, son. And let me guess — you didn't say anything when she told you she wanted to quit, did you?"
Zaboru lowered his eyes and gave a small nod. "I... didn't realize it fully until last night."
Zanichi laughed again, though it was softer now. "Well, let me tell you something. Her situation and mine? Totally different. Back when I started dating your mom, I was broke. I'd been kicked out of my family's house, had nowhere to go, and I was scraping by. I had dreams of becoming a mangaka, sure, but reality hit hard. I knew I needed to be a responsible man. I wanted to elevate your mom's life — give her stability, give us a future. That's why I let go of that dream and went into tech. Then I worked with Sonaya, made money, built something secure. But I didn't have a lot of options back then. It was either survive or stay stuck in a fantasy."
He paused and pointed a finger toward Zaboru. "But you? And Ayumi? You two are in a completely different place. You've got money, status, connections, time, even people who care about you. You've got options. Hell, more than you realize."
Zanichi let out a long sigh, his tone now a blend of affection and honesty. "So don't just sit there whining like you're powerless. You're not.
"First of all, you're loaded. Why haven't you considered hiring a couple of professional nannies to help with Zenshin? You and Ayumi both have demanding careers. It's not a crime to get some help — that's what resources are for," Zanichi said, raising an eyebrow. "And don't forget about Keiko. She adores her grandson. She'd jump at the chance to help out more, and honestly, it'd make her happy to feel needed."
He leaned forward, tapping the desk for emphasis. "Second — if Ayumi really wants to spend more time with Zenshin during these early months, that's fine. Then make a middle path. Let her take care of him until he's around one year old, but don't let that time go to waste. Set her up at home with proper game development tools. Get her the best hardware, software, whatever she needs. Let her sharpen her skills, build prototypes, even test out new ideas. That way she's still connected to her dream, even while being a full-time mom."
Zaboru's eyes widened in realization. "That's… that's actually brilliant, Dad!" he exclaimed. "I'll get her a full dev setup — the best I can find! There's no way I'm letting her give up on her dream. Not on my watch."
His eyes lit up with determination. "I've been so stupid not seeing it this way sooner. She can do both — be an amazing mom and keep growing as a developer."
Zanichi grinned, clearly pleased. "Now you're thinking like a partner. And a leader."
Without wasting another second, Zaboru excused himself and rushed out of the room. He immediately contacted his staff and ordered them to search for the best development hardware and prepare ZAGE software packages . This wasn't just for convenience. It was for Ayumi — to keep her dream alive, to remind her she mattered beyond the home, and because deep down, Zaboru still wanted to play the kinds of games only she made.
Meanwhile Ayumi are now in deep talk with his Big Brother Akechi Hamazou in Hamazou Household
To be continue
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