Masato looked at Arthur with concern. He had learned from his friend Ryu that Arthur had been struck on the head while driving. Masato asked if his head hurt, but Arthur only looked at his uncle and told him not to worry.
Staring out the window, everything seemed clearer. He remembered that the game was called Mario and that it belonged to a company called Nintendo. However, it wouldn't truly appear until the following year, inside another game: Donkey Kong. Arthur already had the ideas—he just needed to create an entertainment company where he could keep the copyrights. But being a minor, that would be difficult. Then he remembered his uncle could be of great help.
"Uncle, I have an idea, but I need to know something."
Confused, Masato looked at Arthur. "What do you need?"
"How much money do you have?"
With the plan in mind, Masato parked the car and stepped out to talk with his sister about what had happened inside. Arthur had asked him if he was satisfied with his life as an office worker, or if he wanted to be his own boss. Masato had only replied that he had never thought of being his own boss, but at least he wanted respect. Then Arthur shared the idea of an entertainment company that could bring his ideas to life—from video games to movies and songs. At first, Masato looked at Arthur with doubt, but as Arthur explained more about the films and everything else he had in mind, he managed to convince him. That was why Masato went to speak with his sister.
Both spoke in Japanese. Thanks to his golden finger, Arthur was already able to understand the language better, though it left him exhausted.
"Sister, your son is strange, but he has very interesting ideas. He wants to start an entertainment company to make his dream come true—free from debt."
"Masato-kun, you know that's a lie. How could a 15-year-old have ideas strong enough to free you from debt? Remember, you're the one who owes money, not him."
Masato realized he couldn't trick his sister, so he tried another approach.
"All right then, lend me some money—or better, think of it as an investment. It's for your son too. Remember, since he's a minor, he can't create a company on his own. I can help with that, and together we'll be free from debt. Come on, sister, don't look at me like that—it's for his future."
Yumi Tanaka only looked at her son, then back at her brother.
"If it doesn't work, I'll send him to live with his father."
Masato jumped with joy. "Don't worry, sister! My old comrades from the Yakuza will help us."
Yumi stared at him with suspicion. "You told me you no longer had contact with them."
Masato only looked up at the sky. "Without them, my fingers would already be cut off for all the debts I have."
"Arthur, come here. I convinced your mother."
Yumi looked at her son tenderly as he approached. "My son, the truth is I can't be sure what you're about to do will succeed. But at least you have your uncle—he knows the people who can help you." She hugged Arthur and whispered in his ear: "If you fail, you'll return to your father. No pressure."
After saying this, Yumi went into the house, leaving Arthur deep in thought. Masato, confused, asked:
"What did she say, Arthur?"
"Nothing, Uncle. She just wished me the best for our company."
Masato looked at him happily. "And have you thought of a name yet?"
Arthur paused for a moment, thinking about video games. In 1980, giants like Namco and Taito dominated the arcades with Pac-Man and Space Invaders. But other companies that would later change the industry had not yet been born.
Capcom, for example, didn't officially exist. It was still just a small company in Osaka called Japan Capsule Computers, manufacturing electronic machines—unaware that in a few years, it would launch games like Ghosts 'n Goblins and Street Fighter.
Arthur smiled to himself. Maybe no one else could see it at the time, but the stage was already set. Japan was in the golden age of arcades, and a new wave of companies was about to emerge. If he could move early, he could seize the future.
"Yes, Uncle," Arthur finally said. "We'll call it ATOM."