Chapter 28: Zaboru in the Eyes of the Hamazou Family

As the car carrying Zaboru, Ayumi, and Junjou disappeared down the driveway, the remaining Hamazou family members gathered in the main hall. The air buzzed with curiosity and opinions about their unusual guest.

Azai, the family head, leaned back in his chair with a wide grin. "So, what do you all think of the boy?"

Minami, the matriarch, sipped her tea delicately, her serene demeanor unchanging. "He seems like a good young man—determined and passionate about his dreams. I truly believe he has the potential to succeed."

Kyouko, Ayumi's mother, nodded in agreement. "Yes, he's different. He genuinely seems to see Ayumi as a friend, not as someone to exploit for her position. In fact..." She chuckled softly. "He doesn't seem interested in her romantically at all, which is surprising given how beautiful Ayumi is."

Azai let out a booming laugh. "That's a relief! If he showed even a hint of lust for Ayumi, I'd have given him a lesson he wouldn't forget!"

The room echoed with chuckles, except for Akira, who crossed his arms and scowled. "I didn't expect him to stand his ground against me like that. Either I'm going soft, or he's bolder than he looks."

Kyouko placed a comforting hand on her husband's arm, her voice teasing. "Don't worry, Akira-sama. You're still as intimidating and... attractive as ever."

Akira's cheeks turned red at the compliment, and he quickly cleared his throat, pretending to adjust his collar. "Ahem. Well, he still caught me off guard. I'll admit that much."

Azai's grin widened as he stroked his chin thoughtfully. "He looked like a nervous wreck at first, but that boy has guts. I like that!"

Asumi, playing with a strand of her hair, chimed in with a mischievous smile. "He's kind of cute, though. Maybe I should steal him from Ayumi~."

Her father, Akira, sighed heavily. "Asumi, don't you already have... what, three boyfriends? Can you stop fooling around and act like a proper lady for once?"

Minami also shook her head, clearly exasperated. "Asumi, you're going to give your poor parents a heart attack one day."

Asumi waved them off nonchalantly. "Those guys were boring. I dumped them all ages ago. Besides, Zaboru is way more interesting."

Azai chuckled heartily at her antics. "Asumi, you need to find yourself a proper man. But for now, let's focus on protecting Zaboru. He's under our watch now. We can't let him get caught up in any street fights or become a target for other families."

Akira nodded seriously. "I'll take care of it, Father. But speaking of Zaboru, where's Akechi? Didn't he go with Ayumi and Zaboru to her room? Why didn't he leave with them?"

Asumi smirked knowingly. "Maybe Nii-sama got hooked on Ayumi's new toy?"

The entire room fell silent for a moment, stunned by her suggestion.

"Wait, you mean the video game?" Kyouko asked, blinking in disbelief. "Akechi?"

Azai burst into laughter. "Our silent and serious Akechi, interested in video games? That's something I never thought I'd see!"

Even Akira raised an eyebrow, his expression somewhere between surprise and skepticism. "If Akechi's actually enjoying himself, then maybe I'll stay out of it. But don't expect me to play along."

Azai chuckled again. "Hahaha! This is too good. I should try those video games myself sometime."

"Please, Father," Akira muttered, rolling his eyes. "Just don't ask me to join in."

The conversation turned lighthearted, and the family continued their discussion, though the thought of Akechi engrossed in a game lingered humorously in everyone's mind.

---

Meanwhile, in Ayumi's Bedroom

Akechi was indeed still there, completely absorbed in Super Mario Bros. The usually stoic man now sat with the controller gripped tightly in his hands, his brows furrowed in concentration. His lips twitched slightly every time Mario jumped over an enemy or avoided a tricky pit.

The game had captured him entirely, and for the first time in years, Akechi felt genuinely entertained. The vibrant colors, the catchy music, and the simple yet challenging gameplay had drawn him in.

"So this is the power of ZEPS..." he thought, leaning closer to the screen.

As he continued playing, he muttered under his breath, "I wonder if there are more games like this..."

Unbeknownst to him, this moment marked the beginning of Akechi Hamazou's quiet but steadfast fascination with video games—a fascination that would later lead to unexpected changes within the family.

To be continued…