After checking on the progress of ZAGE's U.S. office buildings, Zaboru turned his focus to a new agenda: researching the current state of entertainment and media in this version of the world, followed by identifying companies worth investing in. But for today, he wanted to focus solely on the entertainment and media landscape. Though it seemed to mirror 1983 in many ways, there were plenty of odd exceptions. To dig deeper, Zaboru decided to explore the United States firsthand — and James, ever enthusiastic, offered to drive him around — despite still having work to do at Emerald Wings. Ryan also agreed to let James join Zaboru, and James himself was really eager to accompany Zaboru on his exploration.
Zaboru initially hesitated, not wanting to impose, but James insisted. He was genuinely curious about what Zaboru would seek out or buy.
"Don't you have work, James? I can go by myself, you know?" Zaboru asked, raising an eyebrow.
James grinned. "Eh, nothing pressing. I just really want to tag along for your adventure."
With a smile and a shrug, Zaboru accepted the offer. The two set off together in James's car, ready for whatever surprises the day would bring.
In the car, James glanced over with a grin. "So, where to first, boss?"
Zaboru sighed. "First of all, I'm not your boss, James. And take me to the biggest music and movie store in the city — somewhere that stocks all the major albums and films."
James chuckled. "You technically own part of Emerald Wings, so yeah, you kinda are my boss. And honestly? I'd be honored to work under the God of Video Games."
Zaboru groaned. "Ugh, not that title again. I didn't even invent video games — I just helped revive them. That title's way too much." Zaboru actually loathed that title. It was far too grandiose and exaggerated for his taste. He hated it to the core, preferring something more lighthearted — like 'Zabo-Man' in real life. That kind of title felt more like him.
James just laughed. "You're too modest, man. Alright, let's hit up a place called Regional Fire. It's the biggest music store chain in the country right now."
"What kind of place is that?" Zaboru asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You'll see when we get there," James replied with a smirk. "It has everything you asked for — and maybe more."
When they arrived at Regional Fire, Zaboru raised an eyebrow. 'This store didn't exist in my previous world… and what kind of name is "Regional Fire" anyway?' he thought. He sighed again, realizing this world continued to diverge from his expectations.
Inside, Zaboru's mood lifted instantly. Rows and rows of CDs filled the store, and he was pleasantly surprised to see compact discs already dominating the market, just as they had in his previous life. Though movie tapes and cassette tapes were still widely on display, they were clearly being overshadowed by the growing dominance of compact discs.
Without hesitation, he made a beeline to the music section. His eyes lit up as he spotted classic albums of famous band and singer Fleetwood Mac, David Bowie, The Clash, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, The Eagles, Pink Floyd — the list went on. With zero restraint, he eagerly piled his arms with every album he loved. Once he had gathered an impressive stack, he carefully placed them into a shopping basket that the store had thoughtfully provided.
James blinked in disbelief. "Damn, you're going all in!"
Zaboru shrugged. "What can I say? I missed these."
Next, he headed to the movie section. Just as he expected, the film selection mirrored early '80s releases — and he couldn't be happier. He grabbed copies of Mad Max, The Godfather, Superman, and several Jackie Chan classics. Then, a particular cover caught his eye: a man with a bandana and a machine gun. It looked just like Rambo from his original timeline, but the title read Raven.
Zaboru smirked. 'They changed the name… probably because of my character Rembo from Contra being so iconic here. That's hilarious.' He grabbed the movie without hesitation.
With his haul complete, Zaboru approached the cashier with a mountain of CDs and DVDs. The young employee blinked in shock.
"Um, sir, are you sure about all this—wait, I know you! You're Zaboru Renkonan! The owner of ZAGE! The god of video games!?" The employee's shout drew the attention of nearly everyone in the store. Zaboru rolled his eyes and muttered inwardly, 'That damned title again...'
Soon, a small crowd gathered. Fans surrounded him with excited whispers and curious stares. Zaboru kept a polite smile as he leaned toward the cashier.
"Wow, what an attractive man," a girl in a flashy outfit gushed, clearly starstruck as she edged closer, trying to catch Zaboru's attention. Several others quickly joined in — some snapping photos with portable cameras, others whispering to one another excitedly.
A man nearby, holding his young son by the hand, shouted, "Damn, Zaboru! Can I get your autograph? My kid's a huge fan — and so am I!"
Zaboru gave a light sigh, but he nodded with a small smile. "Sure. Just one at a time."
He signed a few posters, CD cases, even someone's T-shirt. One fan nervously handed over a ZAGE POWER magazine with Zaboru and Mario on the cover.
"I've been holding onto this since coming back to Japan!!" The man said, grinning.
Zaboru raised an eyebrow but chuckled as he signed. "Well, that takes dedication."
After a few more autographs, compliments, and a barrage of selfies, Zaboru gently held up a hand. "Alright, that's enough for today. I've got to check out."
The crowd reluctantly backed off, still buzzing with excitement, as Zaboru turned to the cashier.
"Just ring them up, please. I'm in a bit of a hurry," Zaboru said calmly.
The cashier, still a bit starstruck, quickly nodded and began scanning the mountain of CDs and DVDs. Despite his trembling hands, he worked swiftly, clearly honored by the encounter.
Once everything was tallied, Zaboru reached into his coat and handed over his signature card — a sleek black with silver Z Card embossed with his full name, Zaboru Renkonan, in silver letters. The cashier accepted it with wide eyes, holding it as if it were a priceless artifact.
"Thank you, Zaboru! This… this is amazing."
Zaboru gave a small, polite nod. "Keep up the good work."
The moment the card changed hands, a ripple of curiosity surged through the crowd.
"What kind of card is that?" one fan asked, craning their neck to see.
"Is that some kind of elite VIP pass?"
The cashier, still holding the card like sacred treasure, grinned awkwardly. "It's a Z Card. Custom-made for Zaboru himself… you don't just see these lying around."
Several people leaned over the counter, snapping photos. A few bold fans pleaded, "Can we get a closer look? Just for a second?"
the cashier from carefully placing it on the counter for a brief moment, letting fans admire it from a safe distance before returning it to Zaboru with reverence.
"Still," one girl whispered to her friend, "that's the most badass card I've ever seen. its literally Zabo-man card!"
Once everything was scanned, bagged, and paid for, he and James stepped out into the sun.
James chuckled. "Must be tough being that famous."
"Yeah, it's a real hassle most of the time — the attention, the interruptions, the noise. But… sometimes it's kind of nice," Zaboru admitted with a soft exhale, watching the crowd disappear behind them. He leaned back against the seat, letting the weight of the moment settle. "Let's just go to the comic book store as our next destination" James giggle "Sure thing Boss."
They climbed back into the car and headed toward the biggest comic store in Los Angeles. What Zaboru found inside the comic stores would leave him speechless.
To be continued...
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