Chapter 333: Zaboru In America

Over the course of the week from October 5th to October 11th, 1992, Zaboru was a whirlwind of activity in the United States. With a mountain of responsibilities to handle and a timeline he was determined to beat, he dove headfirst into everything from promotional efforts to groundwork for long-term operations.

One of the first major tasks he tackled was the production of the American ZGB commercial. Zaboru had already written the script, chosen the music, and story-boarded the scenes before even arriving in the States. Thanks to that foresight, the shooting went off without a hitch. The crew was efficient, the cast enthusiastic, and the final cut was scheduled to air on October 24th—just two days before the American launch of the ZGB on Sunday, October 26th. This timing was intentional. Zaboru wanted the buzz from the commercial to drive the weekend release into a frenzy.

But he didn't stop there. Knowing full well that timing was everything, he accelerated the timeline for other ZAGE releases in America. Games released in Japan during September and October would also arrive stateside on October 30th. This would give American gamers a burst of titles to explore, and help cement ZAGE's momentum as a real contender in the U.S. gaming industry.

Going forward, all games released in Japan would also launch in America during the same month—albeit a few days later. This slight delay would allow for final localization and distribution logistics, but ultimately, American audiences would get to experience ZAGE titles nearly in sync with their Japanese counterparts. It was part of Zaboru's broader mission: to make ZAGE a truly global brand.

Zaboru also made arrangements for the launch of the American version of ZAGE Power Magazine. Published under the banner of Emerald Wings, the magazine would begin circulating during the first week of November. The content will be slightly similar with its Japanese counterpart, curated and written by Zaboru himself, and would include game guides, sneak peeks, interviews, and his signature Zabo-man Easter eggs. It would be ZAGE's way of connecting directly with the American player base.

In a move that showed how deeply he was investing in ZAGE's international presence, Zaboru—with Ryan's assistance—secured a sizable building near Emerald Wings' headquarters. It wasn't flashy, but it had everything they needed. For now, it would serve as a base for when Zaboru visited the States. In the future, it would be the official U.S. headquarters of ZAGE. Even though that future seemed distant, he was laying down every brick of it now.

Meanwhile, the influence of the Zankoku Band had begun to seep across the Pacific. Their album, especially the English tracks like "Gas Gas" and "A Whole New World," was gaining traction in local record shops. A few radio stations had started airing clips during game segments or youth talk shows. Zaboru, ever modest, just shrugged it off. Music had always been a hobby—his heart was in game development, and he had no plans to pivot toward a music career anytime soon.

Ryan and James had more to report. They'd found a few promising manufacturing partners in the States that might be able to handle mass production of ZAGE merchandise and components if needed. Zaboru told them to keep digging and get back to him with solid proposals. He wanted options ready for when demand outpaced their current capabilities. At the pace ZAGE was growing, it was only a matter of time.

By Sunday, October 11th, the last full day of his trip, Zaboru found a rare moment to himself. He strolled through the city streets, appreciating the differences between America and Japan—the rhythm, the architecture, the blend of cultures on every corner. It was refreshing, a reminder of how far-reaching his dreams had become.

Then, as he passed a bustling coffee shop, he heard someone shout.

"Wait! Isn't that Zaboru—the guy from ZAGE?"

He turned his head and saw a teenager holding a ZGB, eyes wide in disbelief. A small crowd quickly formed. More fans approached, recognizing him either from interviews or the leaked footage of the recent Universal trial.

"Whoa! It's really him! Zaboru! I'm your biggest fan!"

Zaboru grinned and nodded. "Thanks. I appreciate it."

He signed a few notebooks, posed for a couple of photos, and chatted briefly with the impromptu fan group. It was surreal. Back in Japan, he was famous among gamers, sure—but to be recognized in America, where the ZGB hadn't even launched yet? That was unexpected.

After a few minutes, he excused himself and ducked into a quiet alley. Pulling a face mask from his pocket, he slipped it on before emerging back onto the street. He muttered to himself, half amused, half weary:

"Who knew I'd be famous here, too..."

He spent the rest of his last morning in the U.S. wandering quietly, reflecting, taking mental notes. By lunchtime, he was back at the hotel, bags packed, and car service waiting. As he headed to the airport, his thoughts turned to Japan, to ZAGE, to the October releases, and to Ayumi and his family—who had promised to welcome him home.

One leg of the journey was complete. The next was about to begin and after he came back to Japan he also have big plans to be started

To be continued.

AN: My laptop still not fixed. Thankfully i do have my old laptop but its slow as hell. 

Also my left shoulder is cracked and its hurt as hell but don't matter i still can write lol!

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