Sunday 24 March 1998 Renkonan Household Japan.
After Zaboru had finished assigning tasks to his USA-based Team Tempest and wrapped up a series of administrative matters at ZAGE USA, he didn't waste any time returning to Japan. He had just arrived back the day before, and true to his disciplined routine, he was already out and about in the early morning. Despite having only just landed, he resumed his usual Sunday ritual — a routine that was more intense than it sounded. While most would call it a "morning jog," for Zaboru, it was closer to a high-speed endurance run. His sessions typically lasted two full hours and were a mix of marathon pacing and interval sprints, something only possible thanks to his Enlightenment-enhanced body.
This wasn't just for fitness — it was part of his mental preparation, a grounding routine he valued. He did it every Sunday without fail, rain or shine. His route rarely changed, and it always ended the same way: at his favorite hidden gyoza restaurant. The small eatery, tucked away on a quiet street, only opened its doors in the early morning, and unofficially, it catered exclusively to him during these hours. From 5 AM to 8 AM, after done Jog Zaboru would spend time there enjoying freshly made dumplings, hot tea, and a moment of peace clearly enjoyable
This peaceful slice of his Sunday morning — the fast-paced run followed by quiet gyoza breakfast — had become a small but cherished ritual. It helped him reset, especially after long international trips like the one he'd just returned from.
Then, when he finally came home around 8 AM, he noticed an unexpected buzz of activity coming from the "Developers Room" in the Renkonan household. This space, which had once been a plain old garage, had long since been transformed by Zaboru into a multipurpose creative studio. Recently, it had evolved into a full-fledged development hub. Rows of high-spec PCs lined the walls, each equipped for various stages of game design — from coding to playtesting. Music instruments were stacked in one corner, ranging from keyboards to a well-maintained electric guitar. Nearby, art supplies, sketch pads, drawing tablets, and reference books were scattered across the large shared desk. Game consoles, , were hooked up to a TV for testing and inspiration.
And in one quieter corner, Zaboru had even placed a small crib — a cozy space for baby Zenshin to nap while Ayumi worked. That room had become a symbol of balance in their life: a space where creative passion met family responsibility. Ever since Zenshin was born and just recently, Ayumi had made the bold decision not to give up her career as a game developer. Instead, she adapted, and this room — both chaotic and productive — was where she now spent most of her free time. Whether she was debugging scripts, drawing character sheets, the space had become her second home.
And now, stepping into the Developer Room, Zaboru was taken aback by the unexpected sight before him. His younger sister Sanika and her boyfriend Hidetaka Miyazaki were already settled in front of their respective PCs, fully immersed in work as if it were the middle of the afternoon instead of barely past eight in the morning. The hum of machines and the clatter of keyboards filled the air. Zaboru, still shirtless and glistening with sweat from his intense morning run, stood at the entrance blinking.
He sighed with a mix of confusion and mild amusement. "Sani-chan, what are you doing? It's still early morning. And what are you doing here with your boyfriend at this hour?"
Sanika barely glanced up from her screen, letting out an exasperated sigh. "Nii-san, I know you're proud of your body , but could you please wear a shirt? And wipe off that sweat before you drip on the floor! Me and Hide-chan are busy brainstorming game ideas, so please don't distract us."
Hidetaka Miyazaki, visibly awkward, rubbed the back of his head and gave a small, apologetic bow. "Umm… Zaboru-san… I didn't want to come this early, but Sanika dragged me here. She said we needed to make the most of our free day. I'm sorry…"
The room, filled with tension for a split second, quickly dissolved into a lighthearted scene as Zaboru shook his head and let out a quiet chuckle. It wasn't exactly how he expected his peaceful Sunday morning to continue, but it was oddly in character for Sanika — driven, determined, and slightly overbearing when it came to projects she cared about.
Zaboru chuckled to himself. He knew full well what was going on, but he didn't mind Sanika bringing her boyfriend along — especially since Hidetaka Miyazaki was polite, respectful, and showed genuine interest in game development. Not to mention, Zaboru couldn't help but find it amusing that someone who would one day become a legendary creator was now nervously brainstorming in his garage.
"Fine, fine," Zaboru said with a relaxed grin. "Carry on with whatever you're doing. I'm gonna go take a shower first." With that, he turned and left the room.
As he headed toward the bathroom, the rest of the household began to stir. It wasn't long before his father, Zanichi, emerged from his bedroom and noticed the unfamiliar shoes at the entrance. Peeking into the Developer Room and spotting Hidetaka, he raised an eyebrow. Without saying a word, he wandered into the kitchen and began brewing a pot of fresh coffee — his usual ritual when guests were around. As the aroma filled the house, he returned to the Developer Room and casually sat beside Sanika, clearly observing Hidetaka with a quiet intensity. He didn't say much, but his watchful eyes never left the boy.
Sanika, already flustered from trying to focus, shot her father a sharp glare. "Dad, can you not stare like that? It's super creepy!" she muttered under her breath.
Before things could get any more awkward, Keiko — their mother — appeared at the doorway, towel in hand. "Zanichi," she said firmly, "stop bothering them. Let them work."
Zanichi let out a resigned sigh and stood up, grabbing his coffee cup. "Fine, fine," he mumbled, retreating to the living room instead. As he walked away, he muttered something about needing to check the morning news, but it was clear he just didn't want to admit he was still wary to Hidetaka.
The morning continued with quiet clatter of keyboards, the hum of machines, and the soft bubbling of coffee in the kitchen. It was shaping up to be one of those Sundays where creativity, family, and a bit of chaos all blended together — just the way things tended to go in the Renkonan household.
Not long after Zaboru finished cleaning up, he returned to the Developer Room. This time, Ayumi, his wife, was there along with Sanika and Hidetaka Miyazaki. Their son, little Zenshin, was nowhere to be seen.
"Where's Zenshin, Ayumi?" Zaboru asked.
Ayumi chuckled. "He's out on a morning walk with Mom and Dad," she replied casually.
Zaboru smiled and walked over to her. "So, how's the dev team doing in here?"
Ayumi gave a warm laugh. "This setup really helps. I actually enjoy teaching Sanika and Hidetaka — they've been coming here quite often lately."
Sanika giggled and added brightly, "Ayumi-nee is the best! She's really good at teaching me!"
Zaboru raised his eyebrows in exaggerated surprise. "Better than me?!"
Sanika smirked and said, "Hmm… well, yes!"
Everyone burst into laughter, the room filled with light-hearted energy and an easy sense of camaraderie.
Then Ayumi's expression turned serious. "Sanika, I think it's okay to tell your brother what's been bothering you."
Hidetaka nodded in agreement. "Yes, Sanika. You can talk to him. It's alright."
Sanika grew visibly nervous, fidgeting slightly, while Zaboru looked at her with a puzzled expression. "Hmm? What's going on?" he asked, his tone both curious and concerned.
Sanika sighed, clearly trying to gather her thoughts. "Nii-sama, it's like this... You know how much I love video games, right? I've always loved playing them ever since I was first playing your Mario Bros game in your room back then. But over time, that love turned into something more — I started loving the process of making them. And when it comes to creating games, my biggest strength lies in crafting stories and producing the artwork to support those stories. I'm really confident in those areas because I've always been good at drawing, and writing stories just feels natural to me."
Zaboru nodded thoughtfully. He was well aware of Sanika's talent in those aspects. She had a vivid imagination, a unique visual style, and a strong sense for emotional storytelling. While she was still lacking in technical areas like programming or systems design, she had been making consistent progress — always eager to learn and improve.
Sanika continued, her voice more hesitant now. "But... to be honest, I don't really have a knack for designing gameplay. I can write characters, worlds, and plotlines — and I love illustrating scenes and bringing them to life — but when it comes time to think of how the actual game will play, I get stuck. I finish the story and the visuals, and then I just stare at them, not knowing what kind of gameplay would bring it all together. Sometimes I feel like I might be better off just making manga instead."
She paused, frustration creeping into her voice. "But I don't want that. I don't want to give up on games. I want to make games because I believe in them. Especially nowadays — games are finally being recognized as powerful storytelling mediums. You can tell amazing stories through games, ones that move people and stay with them like your games Nii-san. But no matter how strong your story is, it still needs to be supported by good gameplay. Without that, the experience doesn't come together the way it should."
Zaboru leaned back in his chair, folding his arms as he thought. "So you're saying you struggle to come up with gameplay ideas that match your story and art style?"
Sanika nodded slowly, clearly frustrated but relieved to be understood. Zaboru let out a small chuckle. "Well, to be honest, that's pretty normal. Making video games isn't something one person is always meant to do alone — not completely. You already have the most difficult parts down: you can craft compelling stories and create beautiful, expressive artwork. That's more than most people can say. As for gameplay, there are people — whole teams, in fact — who specialize in just that. Game development is a collaborative effort for a reason."
Sanika frowned and leaned forward, voice raised just slightly. "But you made a lot of games all by yourself!"
Zaboru laughed, a bit nervously this time. "Ah, that... Well..." He trailed off, unable to say the truth — that he was a reincarnator with decades of experience and knowledge from a future world.
Before he had to come up with an excuse, Ayumi chimed in with a sigh. "That's exactly what I've been telling her, Zaboru. But she's incredibly stubborn about this. She really wants to experience what it's like to make a game from start to finish on her own — even if it's difficult."
Zaboru looked at his sister again, this time with a bit more admiration. "Figures," he said. "That's Sanika for you. Always pushing herself — even when she doesn't have to."
Sanika pouted, visibly frustrated. Zaboru let out a small chuckle, trying to ease the tension.
"So you want to create games, but you're struggling with the gameplay part, even though you're fully capable when it comes to storytelling and art. Then maybe you should shift your focus a bit. Why not try creating a game where the core design centers entirely on narrative and visual presentation?"
He leaned forward a little, warming to the idea.
"Its possible to create games where gameplay isn't about action or mechanics — it's about the emotional journey, the characters, and how the visuals and words tell the story. Actually, come to think of it... I made something like that a while ago. It's a game I built based on one of my own one-shot manga stories. I never published it, but it's fully playable."
Sanika's eyes widened, her frustration replaced by intrigue.
"Huh!? Seriously!? You made a game like that? Can I see it? Please, Nii-san!"
Zaboru grinned and nodded.
"Of course. Wait here. The files are in my room."
He stood up and left the room. A few minutes later, he returned with a CD in hand. Scribbled on the label in permanent marker were the words:
"Fate/Stay Night – Prototype."
"This game is based on my one-shot manga story, Fate/Stay Night," Zaboru explained. "The gameplay focuses entirely on artwork and text — those are the core elements. It's more like an interactive novel than a traditional game."
Sanika, Hidetaka, and Ayumi leaned in, visibly intrigued. Their eyes followed Zaboru as he carefully inserted the Fate/Stay Night CD into the PC and began the installation process. The room was filled with a quiet anticipation, the kind that settles in when something personal and creative is about to be shared.
To be continue
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