Chapter 38: Hamazou Siblings' Discussion

After the Hamazou siblings left, Zaboru sat in his office, deep in thought. He leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling, then exhaled loudly.

"Alright, time to figure out what's next."

The reason he could create games so quickly wasn't just because of his Deep Dive memory ability, but also his habits. Whenever he had free time, he wasn't just idly playing games—he was preparing. He constantly worked on assets that could be used later. Every sprite, every animation, every sound effect he created in advance would be something he wouldn't have to redo later. This allowed him to focus on integration and design instead of building everything from scratch.

Excitebike was a relatively simple game to develop. Its mechanics were straightforward, relying on physics-based momentum and track design. Megaman, on the other hand, was far more complicated. It required multiple enemy behaviors, unique level designs, and a weapon system that allowed for upgrades. Yet, it was still within Zaboru's expertise.

Back in his previous life, one of his biggest hobbies was recreating retro games from scratch. He even went as far as using old computer specs just to experience what it felt like to be a game developer in the past. Thanks to those experiences, the process of making these games felt like second nature to him.

Still, even with all that preparation, he couldn't just produce rushed, mediocre games. Especially not for Akechi.

"600,000 yen for two games… that's a lot of money, but it's also a test," Zaboru muttered.

Akechi wasn't just throwing money around—he was investing in Zaboru's talent. If Zaboru failed him, it wouldn't just hurt his pride; it would damage the trust he had built.

"I can't just make some cheap games and get away with it. I need to make sure they're fun, polished, and something Akechi won't regret buying."

His mind raced through possibilities. Which game should he make next? It had to be something that would hook Akechi just as much as Megaman did. It had to be addictive, challenging, and rewarding. He pulled out his notebook, flipping through his ideas. He had jotted down dozens of potential game concepts, but which one was worthy of Akechi's next purchase?

With that thought, he turned back to his PC and began sketching out ideas, his fingers rapidly moving across the keyboard. The drive to create was burning stronger than ever.

Meanwhile, inside Akechi's car, Ayumi was still buzzing with excitement.

"Nii-sama, Zaboru is amazing, isn't he?" she said, practically bouncing in her seat. "I mean, he created those two games in a week! Sure, I know he must've had some assets prepared, but still, that's crazy, right? I've been working on my own game for almost a month, and it's not even 10% done!"

Akechi chuckled. "Yeah, he exceeded my expectations. I keep underestimating him, and he keeps proving me wrong."

Ayumi blinked. Akechi was known as "Rashomon" in the business world because of his uncanny ability to predict market trends and business flows. He always knew when to invest, when to let go, and when to take risks. And so far, his instincts had never failed him.

"You're telling me that Zaboru is someone even you can't predict?" Ayumi asked, eyes wide.

Akechi shrugged. "Maybe. He's different. He has integrity, which is rare. If it were anyone else, they would've fallen over themselves when I offered 300,000 yen per game. Most people would've taken the money, given me half-baked garbage, and called it a day."

He leaned back against his seat, crossing his arms. "But not Zaboru. He didn't just accept my offer—he countered it. He's willing to give me all future games and consoles his company makes for free, for life. That's not just generosity. That's confidence."

Ayumi nodded. "Yeah… that's so like him."

Akechi's expression turned serious. "It means he values himself properly. He knows exactly what his work is worth, and he refuses to lower himself just to please someone with money. That's rare, Ayumi. Most people would sell their pride for even a fraction of what I offered him."

Ayumi smiled. "He really is cool."

Then, suddenly, Akechi glanced at her and, in a flat tone, said, "Why don't you consider marrying him?"

Ayumi nearly choked. "W-What!?"

Akechi raised an eyebrow. "He's decent, right? And he's literally what you dream of becoming—an amazing game developer."

Ayumi's face turned red as she quickly looked away. "That's so unlike you, Nii-sama! For a second, I thought you were my driver, Junjou!"

Akechi grinned. "Junjou-san just wants what's best for you, Ayumi."

Ayumi huffed, trying to shake off the embarrassment.

When they arrived home, Akechi immediately went to Ayumi's room and booted up Megaman again, completely engrossed in playing. Meanwhile, Ayumi, still flustered, sat down at her desk, staring at her unfinished game.

She clenched her fists. "Alright… if Zaboru can do it, then so can I!"

With renewed determination, she started working on her game again. She had no idea how long it would take, and she knew she'd probably need Zaboru's help, but that didn't matter. What mattered was that she was inspired to push forward.

And for now, that was enough.

To be continued…