Chapter 16: Meeting with Ayumi Hamazou

Zaboru barely kept his eyes open as he dozed off in class, his cheek resting against his palm. The exhaustion was inevitable. After the intense Sunday spent installing the ZAS machines at Bakudan Arcade, he'd spent the night strumming his newly bought second-hand guitar. Though he was still a novice in his past life, this world seemed to grant him an innate dexterity that allowed him to improve rapidly.

In just a few hours, his skills had surpassed his previous lifetime's casual proficiency. He marveled at his progress. If I want to make great games, I need to master visuals and music. Both are essential to creating something extraordinary, he thought. The ambitious multitasking had come at a cost—his energy.

Yumi-sensei, standing at the front of the classroom, glanced at the sleeping Zaboru and sighed. She knew about his "project," as the students called it. While sleeping in class would normally earn her ire, Zaboru's consistent top-tier grades gave him a bit more leeway. Let him rest, she thought.

As the final bell rang, Zaboru woke with a start. Stretching and rubbing his eyes, he gathered his things and made his way out. Once outside, his thoughts shifted gears. His father's old truck was parked in the school lot, and he drove straight to the electronics store to buy components for five more ZAS machines. Though he hadn't sealed the deal with Dream Catcher Arcade's owner, Satonaka, Zaboru preferred to stay ahead of the game.

He wasn't the only student with big plans, though.

---

Back at Bakudan Arcade, Ayumi Hamazou surveyed the bustling scene with curiosity. Though she was no stranger to attention—being the daughter of the influential Hamazou Yakuza family and one of the most talked-about students at their school—she preferred to blend into the background when she wasn't dealing with family affairs. Today however, she couldn't resist checking out the arcade machine everyone had been whispering about.

Ayumi's piercing gaze landed on the five ZAS machines, each surrounded by players and onlookers.

"Toki-san," she called, her voice cool and authoritative.

The arcade owner nearly jumped out of his skin. "Y-yes, Hamazou-san?"

Ayumi raised a brow. "Call me Ayumi. What's with all the excitement over there?"

Toki gulped and adjusted his glasses. "Ah, those are new machines we installed yesterday. Each has four games: Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, Mario Bros., and Super Mario Bros. They're the creation of a local developer. Believe it or not, he's a high school student."

That caught Ayumi's attention. "A high school student? What's his name?"

"Zaboru Renkonan," Toki said. "He'll be here tonight to check on the machines."

Ayumi froze for a moment. She recognized the name. Zaboru was in her year at school, though their paths rarely crossed. He wasn't part of the popular crowd, yet he'd made enough of an impression to earn a reputation for his intelligence and mysterious projects.

Her curiosity piqued, Ayumi decided to try the machine herself. She stood in line, observing the players ahead of her. The craftsmanship is impressive, she thought, noting how smoothly the games ran and how engaged the players were.

When her turn finally came, Ayumi stepped up to the machine, inserted a 10-yen coin, and explored the game menu. The vibrant animations accompanying each game choice intrigued her, as did the sound effects that played when she highlighted a title. She selected Pac-Man first.

As she guided the little yellow character through the maze, avoiding ghosts and collecting pellets, she marveled at how intuitive the controls were. The game was deceptively simple yet utterly addictive. Ayumi found herself leaning closer, her focus sharpening as the levels grew harder.

"Next," she murmured, exiting Pac-Man and selecting Donkey Kong.

The shift in style was immediate, and Ayumi grinned as she maneuvered the iconic jumpman up ladders, dodging barrels thrown by the titular ape. The game was fast-paced and challenging, yet never unfair. She appreciated the clever design of each level.

Her next choice was Mario Bros., and this time she invited one of the onlookers to join her. The competitive element added a new layer of fun, as they worked together to clear the screen of enemies while also trying to outscore each other. Ayumi laughed aloud when her opponent slipped on an enemy shell, and the bystanders cheered as the match became more intense.

Finally, she selected Super Mario Bros., the most visually striking of the four. As the cheerful music played, Ayumi found herself immersed in the colorful, expansive world. The gameplay felt smooth, and the progression through levels was satisfying. Each jump, stomp, and power-up added to her excitement.

By the time she finished, Ayumi was thoroughly impressed. This isn't just a game; it's an experience, she thought.

She turned back to Toki. "This Zaboru Renkonan… he's will come here tonight isn't he?"

Toki blinked. "Yes, he is."

Ayumi smirked, a spark of determination lighting in her eyes. "I need to meet him."

---

By 10:00 PM, Zaboru arrived at Bakudan Arcade, parking the truck nearby. His mind buzzed with curiosity about how the machines had performed throughout the day.

"Good evening, Toki-san!" he greeted as he stepped inside. "How were the sales today?"

Toki's grin stretched ear to ear. "Boy, your machines sold like hotcakes! The place was packed all day!"

Zaboru chuckled, pleased. "That's great to hear. Let me check on the machines."

As he worked, Zaboru tallied the day's earnings: 6,600 yen from the five machines, giving him a hefty 4,875 yen share. Toki, though earning less, was thrilled with the extra food sales and the buzz the machines had brought to the arcade.

After settling accounts, Zaboru prepared to leave, only to notice a sleek black sedan pulling up outside. His stomach dropped when he saw who stepped out.

Ayumi Hamazou, dressed casually but exuding her usual air of authority, approached him with two suited men in tow.

Zaboru recognized her instantly. After all, who didn't know Ayumi Hamazou? She was as famous for her beauty and intelligence as she was for her family's reputation.

"You must be Zaboru Renkonan," she said, her tone calm but commanding.

Zaboru swallowed nervously, acutely aware of the growing crowd of onlookers. "Y-yes, that's me… and you are?"

Ayumi's lips curled into a faint smile. "Ayumi Hamazou. I want you to…."

Her words hung in the air, and Zaboru's world tilted on its axis.

What could the princess of the Hamazou family want with me?

To be continued…