Wednesday 9 January 1998.
Meanwhile, on Ayumi's side, she called Zaboru in the morning and told him she wanted to visit her parents' home — the Hamazou Household, also known as the Hamazou HQ. She mentioned that she would bring Zenshin along, as her parents were eager to spend some quality time with their grandson. Even though the place was still commonly referred to as the "Hamazou HQ," that title had mostly become symbolic. Over the recent years, the Hamazou family had stepped away from the underworld, gradually shifting their focus to legitimate businesses in various sectors like real estate, security , tech, and red district entertainment.
Zaboru didn't mind her going at all. In fact, he was glad Zenshin would get to bond with his extended family. However, he told her he wouldn't be able to come along due to his heavy workload. Ayumi understood completely and didn't push him. She reassured him it was fine, and soon after, she left with their driver, Junjou, who regularly handled their family transport.
As the car pulled away from their home, Ayumi relaxed in the back seat beside her baby, who was already dozing off in his carrier. She watched the city pass by through the window, unaware that Zaboru, back in his office, wasn't really focused on work at all his thoughts never strayed far from their earlier conversation.
At the Hamazou household, Zenshin was passed happily from his grandfather to his grandmother, and even to his great-grandfather, each one taking turns doting on the infant with smiles and soft laughter. Ayumi stood nearby, watching them with quiet amusement, her heart warm at the sight of her family bonding with her son. It was rare to see them all so relaxed, and the scene brought her a deep sense of peace. She chuckled softly, savoring the moment.
Before long, her older brother Akechi approached. As always, his face was unreadable — the same stoic expression he wore since they were kids. "Ayumi, let's talk," he said calmly, his tone neutral but direct. He glanced briefly at Zenshin, now content in their grandfather's arms. "Zenshin's having a great time with the others. You can take a breather."
Ayumi smiled and nodded, sensing the seriousness in his voice. "Sure thing, Nii-sama."
Then Ayumi and Akechi walked quietly through the peaceful garden behind the Hamazou household. The early January breeze was crisp, and the sound of gently rustling leaves gave the moment a quiet weight. Akechi sighed, his arms crossed as he looked toward the koi pond.
"You really quit Akaishidan, Ayumi?" he asked, his voice low but clearly troubled.
Ayumi smiled softly and nodded. "Yes, Nii-sama. I know it's hard for you to hear that, but this is my decision — at least for now."
Akechi let out another sigh, this one deeper. "You could've just hired nannies, you know. For Zenshin. I get that you want to be with him all the time, I really do. But dropping your dream like this? That's not the Ayumi I know." He turned to face her directly, his sharp gaze meeting hers. "You've always been someone who chased what she wanted — fearless, driven. This... this just doesn't feel like you."
He paused, then added with a knowing smirk, "And right now, Zaboru might be okay with it. He might even seem like he supports it without saying a word. But give it a few days. When he fully realizes what this means for you, he'll come to his senses. I'd bet money he'll be asking you to return and chase your dream again. You'll see."
Ayumi let out a long breath, her eyes dropping to the stone path. "Yes, I know that's definitely the case. He probably will say something soon..." she admitted. "But Nii-sama, I... I don't want Zenshin to turn out like me."
She looked up, her eyes a little distant now. "I remember when we were kids. Our parents were always busy — caught up in the underworld, handling the business. I were raised mostly by nannies and caretakers. Sure, they looked after me, but... it made me feel so distant from Mom and Dad. Like we were just another responsibility to be outsourced."
She turned her gaze back to Akechi, her voice quieter. "I don't want Zenshin to feel that same distance. I want to be there when he smiles, when he cries, when he takes his first steps , when he grow up. I don't want to miss it all just because I'm chasing something, even if it's something I love."
Akechi sighed and asked, "Can I smoke here?"
Ayumi let out a soft sigh and gave him a small nod. Akechi pulled out a cigar, held it in his hand for a moment, then slowly put it back in his pocket. "Sigh... not now, perhaps," he muttered, glancing up at the sky. "Anyway, this might sound rich coming from a guy like me — someone who's never been a parent and probably never will be — but I do know what it's like to grow up under bad parenting."
He paused, his voice quieter now. "When I was a kid, my treatment was way harsher than yours. You got some of the pressure, sure, but I caught the worst of it. Expectations were suffocating. Our parents were absent, too busy handling the dirty business of the underworld and they are cruel to mee too. They thought money and protection were enough. But you and I both know… they weren't."
He crossed his arms and leaned slightly against the wooden pillar beside him. "But let's not get too deep into that now. What I'm saying is — I believe you can still be an incredible parent and still chase your dream. You don't have to choose one or the other. You just need to find the balance. It won't be easy, but it's possible."
He looked at her again, more seriously now. "Have you talked to Zaboru's parents about this? I'm guessing you haven't."
Ayumi hesitated, then nodded. "No, I haven't. I'm afraid they'll reject it. Especially Zaboru's mother. She's... she's more of a mother to me than our own ever was, Nii-sama. And I know she genuinely cares for me. That's what makes it harder — I don't want to let her down."
Akechi chuckled quietly and shook his head. "Ayumi, if she really cares about you, then she'd never want you to give up your dream out of fear. She'd support you in doing what makes you whole. That's what real proper mothers do."
He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Please, Ayumi. Reconsider quitting. Don't throw everything away. You can take a year off — focus on Zenshin while he's still a baby. Be there for him, love him, build those memories. But when the time is right, come back. Akaishidan needs you. We need your creativity, your ideas, your passion. You're part of our foundation. And no one can replace that."
Ayumi's eyes widened, and she bit her lower lip. "But… Zaboru…" she murmured, uncertainty flickering in her voice.
Akechi raised an eyebrow and answered with confidence, "Zaboru will support you. I can almost guarantee that by tonight or tomorrow, when you come home, he'll show up with a high-end PC, a full workstation setup, maybe even furniture to build a dedicated room just for your game development. That's how he is. He won't just talk — he'll act. Because deep down, he still wants to see you become the game developer you were meant to be. He believes in you."
He softened his tone as he continued, "And don't worry about Zenshin. He's not going to suffer from this. He'll still be surrounded by love. You can hire a couple of reliable nannies, and Zaboru's mother — you know how much she adores Zenshin. She'd be more than happy to help. You don't have to carry everything on your own."
Akechi sighed deeply. "Akaishidan is in a really strong phase right now, Ayumi. Ever since you stepped away — since giving birth — we've seen a noticeable drop in our creative output and development momentum. Our manpower took a big hit. You were one of our best game developers, and honestly, that's not something we can easily replace. Your presence, your input, your design instincts — they made a real difference. You always brought fresh ideas and knew how to push the team in the right direction."
He continued, his tone becoming more animated. "Right now, our latest titles for the ZEPS 3 are nearing completion, and they're looking promising. But we're already thinking about what's next — the next big concept, the next genre to explore, the next hit. And we need you for that. We need your leadership, your vision. You're one of the top development leads in Akaishidan, Ayumi. Hell, you're the only person I know who comes close to matching Zaboru's insane skills. And even then, Zaboru is kind of a monster-level outlier," he added with a chuckle.
Then his face turned serious, his eyes locking with hers. "But this isn't just about the games. Akaishidan is vital to the Hamazou family now. It's become one of our most successful and legitimate sources of income. We're not just dabbling in legal businesses anymore — this studio is a cornerstone. A real, clean path forward. You know how hard I've been trying to bury the old ways, to leave behind the shadow of our yakuza past. Akaishidan is the future I believe in. And I want you there with us, building it."
Ayumi sighed, her voice soft but resolute. "I see, Nii-sama... I'll talk to Zaboru and his parents about everything after this."
Akechi gave her a satisfied nod. "Good. That's all I wanted to hear. Well then, I'll excuse myself — I need a smoke," he said casually before walking away toward the side of the garden.
Ayumi stayed behind for a few more moments, letting her thoughts settle before heading back inside the Hamazou household. As soon as she stepped in, Zenshin reached out for her from his grandmother's arms. She smiled, scooped him up, and spent the next hour simply enjoying time with her family. They laughed, shared tea, and shared old stories. Even her still energized grandfather laughs a lot and her family becomes warmer over time.
By the time night had fallen, Ayumi returned to the Renkonan household. With Zenshin asleep in her arms, she gently knocked on the door to Keiko's study. Keiko welcomed her in with warmth, and after settling the baby in a crib nearby, Ayumi sat down and poured her heart out.
She explained everything — her decision to quit Akaishidan, her worries about parenting, and her fears of disappointing those she cared about. When she was finished, Keiko didn't respond with silence or sympathy. Instead, she scolded her gently but firmly.
"You can't stop chasing your dream, Ayumi," Keiko said, her tone calm but unwavering. "You're far too talented and passionate to simply walk away. I understand wanting to be a good mother — that's admirable. But being a good mother doesn't mean you have to lose yourself in the process."
Keiko stood, walking over to rest a hand on Ayumi's shoulder. "Just like your brother said, you don't have to do this alone. You can hire nannies — I can help with that by looking for the right person. I'll help with Zenshin too. I want to. You have a family here that supports you. Don't forget that."
That same night, just as Ayumi had finished getting ready for bed, the loud sound of truck engines rumbled outside the Renkonan household. She peeked through the window and was stunned to see two large trucks parked outside. Moments later, Zaboru appeared at the door, grinning widely, followed by several workers carrying equipment into the house.
He had brought everything — a top-of-the-line developer PC setup, ergonomic office furniture, a large drawing tablet, monitors, soundproof panels, lighting gear, and other tools that would make any professional game developer's heart skip a beat. The hallway was quickly filled with boxes, cables, and assembly tools.
Zaboru looked at her and declared with a proud, teasing smile, "Ayumi, even if you step back from Akaishidan for a while, you shouldn't quit being a game developer. That's who you are."
Ayumi blinked, half stunned, half amused. She let out a small laugh, shaking her head in disbelief. "Nii-sama was right again… scary how spot-on he always is."
She stood there, arms folded but smiling warmly as she watched the workers set everything up with practiced speed in the vacant room beside the garage. Her heart swelled with gratitude. Despite all her doubts and fears, the people around her continued to show up — believing in her, supporting her, refusing to let her give up.
Looking at Zaboru, who was now directing the team on where to place the workstation, she felt a wave of love and admiration. He hadn't just listened — he'd acted. That was who he was.
Ayumi stepped beside him and softly said, "Thank you, really… for everything."
She took a long breath, feeling more grounded than she had in weeks. Her mind was clearer now. She realized she didn't have to give up her dream — she only needed to pace it.
"I won't quit Akaishidan," she finally said aloud, her voice steady. "I'll take a break. Just until Zenshin turns one. Then I'll return. And I'll come back stronger — for him, for myself, and for everyone who believed in me."
Zaboru gave her a warm, approving nod and grinned. "Hehehe, that's the Ayumi I know."
Ayumi chuckled and teased, "But your response was kind of late, don't you think?"
Zaboru scratched the back of his head, looking sheepish. "Well... yeah, I guess so, hehehe. Took me a bit to figure out the right move."
She smiled at him warmly. "Better late than never."
He grinned back. "Exactly. As long as I'm here when it counts."
Ayumi blushed and looked away slightly. "But… after everything I said last night, I... well, it kind of makes me blush just thinking about it."
Zaboru chuckled. "Hehehe, don't worry, my love. You were seriously cool last night. Actually... have you ever considered joining ZAGE?"
Ayumi laughed, shaking her head. "Only if Nii-sama acknowledges it. You know how he is."
Zaboru sighed dramatically. "There's no way Akechi-san would approve. That guy's terrifying…"
Ayumi burst into laughter.
And so Ayumi is still becoming a Game Developer. She will not quit and just took a short break.
To be continue
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