After the New Year celebration, it was now January 1, 1993. Zaboru went back to his usual work routine—until Ayumi showed up at his house.
"Zabo, my family… They want to meet you. They've invited you to the Hamazou HQ. Is that okay with you?" Ayumi clearly had trouble asking Zaboru for this.
Zaboru looked up, surprised. "Hmm? Why all of a sudden?"
Ayumi shrugged. "I'm not sure. My grandfather suddenly insisted on it. He's been really persistent, but he promised it's nothing bad."
Zaboru chuckled. "Alright then. Let's go."
They made their way to the Hamazou Family HQ in Ayumi's car, with her personal driver, Junjou, at the wheel.
When they arrived, they were led into the main meeting room. Inside were Azai Hamazou, Akira Hamazou, and Akechi, already waiting.
Azai smiled broadly. "Welcome, young Zaboru. Please, have a seat," he said with a grin.
A servant entered and handed Zaboru a cup of green tea. His eyes lit up.
"Ooh, nice green tea. May I?" Zaboru inhaled the aroma of the tea — fragrant and soothing. "Not bad at all," he murmured appreciatively.
Azai laughed. "Hahaha, go ahead! Refill as much as you like."
"Then don't mind if I do," Zaboru said with a smirk, taking a sip and clearly savoring it.
Azai leaned forward, smiling. "First of all, thank you, Zaboru. Your influence has done wonders for our family. Things are genuinely better now."
Zaboru nodded politely. "You're welcome, Azai-san."
It was true — ever since the Hamazou family met Zaboru, his involvement had made a real difference. The family had become more open, more social, and more connected, both with each other and with the outside world.
Azai's grin widened. "But the main reason we called you here today is this… your engagement to Ayumi."
Ayumi's eyes flew wide open. "W–what!?" She was clearly caught off guard — completely surprised by the sudden announcement. Still, despite her shock, she didn't hate the idea.
Zaboru, on the other hand, chuckled calmly. "If it's Ayumi, I don't mind. I've been planning to marry her anyway."
Ayumi blushed furiously. 'Z–Zabo, what are you saying...'
Azai burst into laughter. "HAHAHA! That's the spirit, young man! Then it's settled — you two are officially engaged! Get married whenever it feels right!"
Zaboru smiled. "Well, I suppose I'll need to find a proper engagement ring first. As for the wedding… I want it to be special, so it might take some time. Plus, we're both still young."
Zaboru looked at Ayumi tenderly. "It's okay, right... wife?" he teased with a playful grin.
Ayumi turned beet red, immediately covering her face with both hands in embarrassment. 'What's gotten into Zabo today? Why is he teasing me so much?... But somehow, it doesn't feel bad at all,' Ayumi thought, flustered yet smiling behind her hands.
Akira and Azai grinned, clearly enjoying the sight of Ayumi blushing so deeply — though she looked genuinely happy. Akechi simply smiled and nodded in quiet approval.
Azai nodded in agreement. Akira added warmly, "Welcome to the family, Zaboru."
"Thank you, Akira-san," Zaboru replied.
Just then, Asumi—Ayumi's energetic older sister—burst into the room.
"Zabo! You're here! Come with me, I'm hooked on your games now! Let's play!"
She led Zaboru to the newest entertainment room in Hamazou HQ, a space packed with consoles: ZEPS, ZGB, even the Mugen Game Box (MGB). Asumi began showcasing a gamplay of Rollerdance and played enthusiastically.
"Zabo, how do you beat Kazu? I can't seem to land a hit — he's way too fast!" Asumi said, her eyes glued to the screen.
Zaboru smiled. "You need to wait for the right moment. He'll bounce around a few times, then dash straight at you. If you time it right, you can counter just as he strikes. That's the key to beating him."
Zaboru guided her through the game, offering tips and encouragement, which completely delighted Asumi. Asumi love for gaming is started as casual curiosity soon turned into genuine enthusiasm. At first, she was only mildly interested, but after a few sessions, it was clear — Asumi had fallen in love with gaming.
Soon, Akechi, Ayumi, and Akira joined them. Zaboru was surprised to see Akira playing Harvest Moon on ZEPS.
Akira grinned. "I picked up this game to try something new—turns out it's great! Very relaxing. I've even started gardening as a hobby because of it." Akira said while tending to his in-game tomato crops. "And hey — it's even helped with my anger issues. Total win-win! Hahaha!"
Zaboru laughed. "That's great to hear." He was genuinely happy to see his work bring joy to others.
Akechi took a seat beside him, curiosity evident in his eyes. "Zaboru, what's your take on a game where you play as the villain?"
Zaboru raised an eyebrow. "If executed well, it could work. It'd definitely offer a unique experience for the player — something morally complex and emotionally engaging."
Akechi nodded thoughtfully. "But wouldn't that be risky? Some players might be turned off by being forced to do cruel things. How do you make a villain protagonist feel compelling without alienating your audience?"
Zaboru leaned back slightly. "The key is motivation. If the player understands why the character does what they do — even if they don't agree with it — they stay invested. Make the story about consequence, redemption, or even tragedy. Give the villain depth, not just evil for evil's sake."
Akechi's eyes lit up. "So you say, narrative choices should always reflect gameplay. If the villain's story arc is about control, then give the player mechanics that reinforce that feeling?"
"Exactly," Zaboru said, pleased. "Gameplay and story should be in sync. One supports the other. Even a simple mechanic — like limiting the player's choices over time — can reinforce a narrative theme, like a descent into obsession or the cost of power."
Ayumi then asked, "But does playing as the villain really feel right? I mean, in most games, we're used to beating the villains — not being them."
Zaboru shrugged. "That's a fair point. But every villain sees themselves as the hero of their own story. If the player can understand — or even sympathize with — that mindset, it creates a powerful and unique atmosphere."
Akechi leaned forward. "So it's about reframing perspective. Making players question their assumptions. That's risky... but bold. Would you ever build a game around that?"
Zaboru nodded. "Absolutely. It could challenge the way people think about morality in games. If done well, it wouldn't just be fun — it would be thought-provoking."
Ayumi's eyes lit up, and she nodded slowly. "That... actually sounds really interesting."
Zaboru spent the rest of the day with the Hamazou family, sharing laughs, ideas, and tea. And honestly—it didn't feel half bad.
To be continued...
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