Chapter 18: Zaboru’s First Student and Assistant

Chapter 18: Zaboru's First Student and Assistant

Zaboru flopped onto his bed, still trying to process what had happened earlier at the Bakudan Arcade. The encounter with Ayumi Hamazou had completely thrown him off. She was the daughter of a powerful Yakuza family, known for her elegance and beauty. Her sharp black hair and graceful demeanor made her the center of attention at school, yet no one dared approach her. And now, she wanted to learn game development from him.

'What the hell? A princess from the Hamazou family, obsessed with video games and wanting to create them? That's... so bizarre. Still, I shouldn't judge her. Let's just hope she's not annoying or impossible to deal with.'

He sighed deeply, his mental fatigue taking over. Normally, he'd unwind with music or jot down game ideas, but tonight, he simply turned off the lights and drifted into a much-needed sleep.

---

The next morning, Zaboru woke up earlier than usual. Refreshed, he showered, ate a quick breakfast, and headed to school. Staying up late hadn't been an issue last night, so he managed to stay awake in class. Not that he was paying much attention.

His notebook quickly became filled with more sketches and notes for the ZEPS (ZAGE Entertainment Playing System), his custom gaming console. His mind wandered to bigger ambitions—expanding his reach, creating a company, and building something that could leave a legacy.

Then he froze, his pencil pausing mid-stroke.

'Oh crap! I never told Ayumi my address! How is she supposed to find my house?'

Groaning, he tried to focus, but the thought lingered.

When school ended, Zaboru pedaled toward the gate on his bike, eager to get home and fix the situation. Suddenly, Ayumi stepped in front of him, her composed smile as radiant as ever.

"Hello, Zaboru. Let's go to your house together."

The nearby students gasped. Whispers erupted like wildfire.

"Did Ayumi Hamazou just say she's going to Zaboru's house?"

"Wait, the Yakuza Princess is going with him?!"

Zaboru stiffened, acutely aware of the attention. "Umm, Ayumi-san, could you not say it like that? You're going to make this worse..."

Ayumi chuckled lightly, clearly unfazed by the scene. "Oh, come on. Anyway, let's take my car."

"But what about my bike?"

She tilted her head slightly, as if considering the question. "I'll have someone deliver it to your house. Don't worry about it."

Zaboru hesitated. He didn't doubt Ayumi's ability to make it happen, but he was still attached to his bike. "Fine. Just... make sure it gets there, okay? It's important to me."

She nodded, her smile softening. Moments later, a sleek black sedan pulled up to the school gate. A tall, older man stepped out, bowing politely.

"Hoho, you must be Zaboru. My name is Junjou. I'm Ayumi-sama's driver. Pleased to meet you."

"Uh, hello, Junjou-san," Zaboru replied awkwardly, returning the bow.

They climbed into the car, leaving the other students in stunned silence.

---

The ride was quiet at first, an awkward tension hanging in the air. Zaboru fiddled with his hands, unsure how to break the silence. Eventually, he spoke.

"Umm, Ayumi-san, why do you want to make video games? I get liking them, but making them is... really hard. The learning curve is steep, especially for beginners."

Ayumi's expression softened as she looked at him. "I guess it's because games captivate me. They're more than entertainment—they're immersive worlds, places where you can create, explore, and tell stories. Playing your game yesterday inspired me. It showed me that, even as a high schooler, it's possible to create something amazing." She paused, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Though to be fair, you're an anomaly."

Zaboru gave a wry smile. Anomaly was putting it lightly. His Deep Memory Dive ability let him recall every detail of his past life, including the countless hours he spent mastering game development. But there was no way he could tell her that.

---

When they arrived at his house, Zaboru's mother, Keiko, was outside cleaning the yard. She looked up and froze, her eyes darting between her son and the elegant girl stepping out of the car.

"Oh my, Zaboru! Who's this lovely young lady? Is she your girlfriend?"

"M-Mom! She's not my girlfriend!" Zaboru sputtered, his face burning. "She's my classmate. She just wants to learn how to make games."

Ayumi approached Keiko gracefully and bowed. "Nice to meet you, Madam Renkonan. My name is Ayumi. As Zaboru said, I'd like to learn from him. I hope I'm not intruding."

Keiko's face lit up. "What a polite girl! Of course, it's no trouble at all. Zaboru spends so much time in his workshop, I was starting to worry he didn't have any friends. Hohoho!"

"Mom, please," Zaboru groaned, his face now crimson. "Let's just go, Ayumi."

Ayumi nodded and bowed again before following Zaboru to the garage.

---

The garage was more than a workspace—it was Zaboru's haven. The walls were lined with blueprints, circuit diagrams, and concept art for his projects. Tools and parts were organized meticulously, and several prototypes of the ZAS console sat on a long workbench.

"This is... incredible," Ayumi whispered, her eyes wide as she took in the room. She walked to a wall covered in blueprints, her fingers lightly tracing the lines. "You did all of this yourself?"

Zaboru nodded. "Yeah. It's taken a lot of time, but I'm almost done assembling the internal components for the ZAS. Here, let me show you."

He picked up a motherboard and began explaining each component, from the processor to the custom-designed graphics chip. Ayumi listened intently, occasionally asking questions or confirming details. Zaboru was surprised at how quickly she grasped the concepts.

"Wow," Ayumi said, jotting down notes in her notebook. "I didn't realize how intricate this was. But it's... exciting. I feel like I'm learning so much."

Zaboru gave her a rare smile. "You're doing well. Most people would've been overwhelmed by now."

---

Hours passed as Ayumi continued to observe and assist. She was careful not to disturb Zaboru's flow, stepping in only when needed. Her eagerness to learn impressed him, and he found himself growing less wary of her presence.

Just as the sun began to set, Keiko entered with a tray of snacks and drinks. She beamed at the sight of Ayumi and Zaboru working side by side.

"You two look like a married couple already," she teased, setting the tray down.

"Mom!" Zaboru groaned, nearly dropping a screwdriver.

Ayumi chuckled softly but said nothing, sipping her tea instead.

---

By the time night fell, Ayumi stood to leave, stretching slightly. "Thank you, Zaboru. I've learned so much today. I hope I can continue tomorrow."

Zaboru nodded. "Yeah, sure. Just... don't cause a scene at school again, okay?"

She laughed lightly. "No promises. See you tomorrow."

As her car disappeared down the street, Zaboru sighed, only to hear Keiko's teasing voice.

"She's lovely, Zaboru. Maybe I'll have a granddaughter in five years?"

"Mom, stop!" he groaned, retreating to his workshop.

Despite his embarrassment, he couldn't help but feel a small sense of pride. For the first time in a while, he felt like his work was being truly appreciated.

To be continued…