Chapter 10: Making the First Arcade Console
Chapter 10: Making the First Arcade Console
After gaining Zanichi's approval, Zaboru wasted no time. "Alright, this is it. I need to move quickly and make the most out of this opportunity," he thought as he grabbed his wallet and headed out to the largest electronics store in town. This time, the console he planned to build would have enhanced performance, even if it meant compromising on weight or design.
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When Zaboru arrived at the electronics store he frequented, the familiarity of the place comforted him. Strolling through the aisles, he grabbed components with purpose. "I need better power output... stronger processors... and something to hold it all together," he muttered under his breath. As he approached the cashier, Hinoko, his acquaintance, greeted him with a teasing smile.
"Huh? Another big project, Zabo?"
"Yup, Hino-san," Zaboru replied with a grin. "This one's going to be even better, but I might need to come back for more later."
Hinoko chuckled as she bagged his items. "Alright then, genius. That'll be 38,000 yen this time."
Zaboru quickly handed over the money, excitement bubbling inside him. "This is just the start," he thought as he walked out of the store, his arms laden with bags.
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Back at home, Zaboru decided his next stop would be Uncle Yuki's secondhand television shop. "I'll need screens for these arcade consoles," he reasoned, "and they don't need to be perfect. Just functional."
"Hello, Uncle Yuki," Zaboru greeted as he entered the store. "Do you have any cheap TVs available?"
The middle-aged owner, a friendly man with a perpetual grin, looked up from his desk. "Ah, it's you, Zabo. I might have some 14-inch TVs in the back. They work, but the antenna ports are busted—so no TV broadcasts, only video input. Probably not useful for most people."
Zaboru's eyes lit up. Perfect. "That's fine. How many do you have?"
Yuki rubbed his chin. "Let's see... I've got five in that condition."
Zaboru did a quick calculation in his head. "This could work. Five arcade consoles, five screens... it's just enough to start."
"How much for all five?"
Yuki grinned. "You're really buying all of them? Interesting. Alright, I'll let them go for 5,000 yen each. Nobody's buying them anyway, so I'll cut you a deal."
"25,000 yen... not bad," Zaboru thought, nodding. "Deal! But can you deliver them to my house?"
"There's a delivery fee—500 yen. That work for you?"
"Deal!" Zaboru quickly handed over 25,500 yen, receiving a receipt in return. "Every step brings me closer," he thought as he left the shop, mentally planning the next phase.
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After eating a quick lunch, Zaboru didn't have to wait long before the TVs were delivered. Yuki's son, Yuta, pulled up to Zaboru's house with the screens loaded in the back of his small truck.
"Oh, Zaboru, here's your order. Where should I put them?"
"In the garage," Zaboru replied, opening the doors and helping Yuta unload the TVs.
When they were done, Yuta wiped his brow and asked, "What are you planning to do with all these TVs, anyway?"
Zaboru grinned. "It's for a project. Nothing big—yet."
Yuta raised an eyebrow but smiled. "Alright, I'll hold you to that. Let me know when it's done—I want to see it."
"Sure thing, Yuta-san," Zaboru said with a nod as Yuta drove away.
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Now came the real challenge: transforming his home console into an arcade machine. Standing in the garage workshop, Zaboru rolled up his sleeves. "I can't cut corners this time. It has to be durable, even if it's heavy and ugly."
Starting with the base console design, he worked tirelessly. Unlike his home consoles, this one needed to handle more power and integrate directly with the TV. "It doesn't need to look sleek. Just functional," he reminded himself.
Seven hours later, the prototype was complete. It was bulky and unattractive, but it worked. "Well, look at this monstrosity," he thought with a smirk. "Ugly, but functional. Now to make it handle four games at once so players can choose from the start menu."
Instead of using cartridges, Zaboru embedded the games directly into the console. "This isn't a long-term solution, but for now, it's the most practical."
Little did Zaboru know, this handmade console would become a collector's item decades later, one of only three surviving units worth millions. But that's a story for another time.
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As Zaboru continued tinkering with the software, his mother, Keiko, peeked into the garage.
"Zaboru, you've been at this for hours. Come eat something, honey."
Zaboru set down his tools and smiled. "Alright, Mom. Let's eat."
Meanwhile, Zanichi, who had been observing from the doorway, felt a surge of pride. He joined the family at the dinner table, watching his son with admiration. "That boy's going to change the world," he thought with a smile.
To be continued…