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Chapter 670 Digital Game Blocker and Zaboru Scolded.
🕑 Added 2025-09-26 02:26:29 +0000 UTCFriday 14 May 1996.
Zaboru was now inside the bustling workspaces of ZAGE USA, where he approached Gaben with curiosity. Gaben, eager to share their latest progress, began demonstrating a prototype for a game launcher. The launcher was designed to allow users to purchase and download digital games directly—an ambitious leap for 1996. Although still in its early stages, the concept was promising and already generating excitement among the team.
Gaben then said, “Honestly, boss, even though we somehow managed to create a proper launcher to sell our games there, I don’t think it’s very practical right now. The size of our games is around 500MB, and for most people, that’s massive. It takes forever to download—sometimes a whole day—especially if the internet connection isn’t stable or gets cut off mid-download. And on top of that, I still haven’t figured out how we can implement a proper system to pause and resume downloads. Right now, if someone loses connection halfway through, they’d have to start all over again.”
Zaboru nodded slowly, trying to hold back a smirk. It was a strange, almost surreal moment for him. In this timeline, 500MB was seen as an enormous file—practically unmanageable for average users. But in 2024, the time he came from, 500MB was barely even a blip—considered a tiny file by modern standards. Even smartphones could download that in seconds.
He leaned against the desk and folded his arms. It reminded him just how far behind this era still was when it came to technology infrastructure. “It’s kind of funny,” he thought, “how something that used to feel so insignificant now poses such a major hurdle.”
Zaboru then said, “It’s fine for now, Gabe. Let’s focus on making the UI the best it can possibly be. Once we’ve nailed that, we can start thinking about the download functionality. Honestly, let’s just hope there’s a breakthrough in internet speed soon—because that would fix our major problem.”
Gaben nodded in full agreement, clearly on the same page.
Zaboru then thought about how different the pace of technology was in this world compared to the one he came from. It seemed like technological development here was progressing much faster. For instance, in his previous world, Windows 95 had launched in 1995, but in this timeline, it had already been released in 1994 as Windows 94. Even now, there were already rumors swirling about a new version—Windows 97—just around the corner. That kind of acceleration was impressive, and it made him curious about what else might arrive ahead of schedule in this timeline.
He reflected on how fortunate that could be, especially for a company like ZAGE, which was trying to push boundaries. The idea of launching a digital platform for buying and downloading games was visionary, but without fast and reliable internet infrastructure, it could fall flat. He hoped a breakthrough in network technology or a massive leap in internet speed would come soon. It wasn’t just a wish—it was a necessity. ZAGE needed it to stay ahead. If dial-up was going to be the bottleneck, then no amount of innovative UI or marketing would make up for the sheer frustration users might face.
Still, the potential was there. Maybe this accelerated timeline meant that fiber optics or broadband internet could emerge sooner than it had in his original world. He could only hope—and maybe, just maybe, influence it too.
Or maybe he would consider investing in certain companies that specialized in developing faster internet technology. It could be a strategic move—not just for profit, but to push the infrastructure forward and help pave the way for ZAGE’s vision. Only time would tell how that gamble would play out, but either way, one thing was clear: good internet speed wasn’t a luxury anymore—it was a critical necessity for ZAGE’s future.
And with that, Zaboru continued working late into the evening. Around 20:00, just as he was about to take a short break for dinner, the door to his office unexpectedly swung open. He looked up, surprised—but his surprise quickly turned into a warm smile. Standing there were his family and girlfriend, their faces lit up with excitement. They had come all the way to America to visit him.
This wasn’t their first time visiting the U.S., so they had traveled on their own this time without needing his help. Still, their sudden appearance caught him off guard—in the best way possible. His heart felt lighter just seeing them, and the long hours of work suddenly felt worth it.
“Hello, guys... Eh? Mom, why do you look so angry...?”
Zanichi, Zaboru’s father, shook his head silently with a knowing smile, while Sanika giggled beside him.
“Hehehe, Nii-san, you are so dead,” she teased, unable to hide her amusement.
Keiko brought Zaboru a warm plate of food, but instead of setting it down right away, she crossed her arms and gave him a pointed stare. “Is there a certain someone who said he wanted to spend more time with his family?” she asked sharply. “But instead, he keeps working and working like the world’s going to end?”
Zaboru broke into a nervous sweat, scratching the back of his neck. “Huh? Mom… I mean, yeah, but I’m just really busy right now—there’s so much to do.”
Keiko clicked her tongue in disapproval. “No. Not today. Tonight and tomorrow, you’re not allowed to be busy. You’re coming with us, and you’re going to enjoy some proper family time while we’re here in the U.S.”
She placed the food on his desk with finality. “You can’t say no, Zaboru. That’s an order, not a suggestion.”
Zaboru blinked, realizing he had no room to argue. His mother wasn’t just delivering dinner—she was delivering judgment. And in this courtroom, there were no appeals..
Zaboru sighed and chuckled, “Fine, Mom… but did you bring food for me?”
Keiko nodded enthusiastically with a warm smile. “Of course! Since we’re in America, I decided to cook you something fitting—homemade hamburgers! I hope you’ll love it!” She turned around and called out, “Sani-chan, Ayumi-chan, come eat! You too, honey,” she added, motioning to Zanichi, who gave a small nod of appreciation.
Zaboru’s eyes lit up with excitement. Just the aroma alone made his mouth water. No matter where he was in the world, his mom’s cooking never failed to lift his spirits. Honestly, it wasn’t just good—it was next-level. The kind of food that made even the most expensive gourmet meals taste bland by comparison. He’d eaten dishes that cost hundreds of thousands of yen, prepared by world-renowned chefs, but nothing could compete with the flavors of home.
He eagerly grabbed the hamburger, taking a generous bite. It was juicy, rich, perfectly seasoned. The kind of taste that could stop time. As he chewed, he looked around the room—his family all gathered, smiling, laughing, chatting. This simple moment, filled with warmth, laughter, and the smell of food made with love, felt like something priceless.
Later that evening, Zaboru spent some quality time with his family inside the cozy office. The atmosphere was light and cheerful, with everyone enjoying each other’s company after a long day. Keiko chuckled warmly and leaned over toward Zaboru and Ayumi. “Hehehe, I still can’t believe you two will be married soon! Zaboru, I expect a grandson as soon as possible!” she teased with a playful but hopeful tone.
Zaboru let out an exaggerated sigh, although there was a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. Meanwhile, Ayumi blushed furiously, trying to hide behind her hamburger as she took a slow, quiet bite, clearly flustered.
“Don’t worry about it, Mom,” Zaboru said, trying to lighten the mood. “Heheh, I’ll give you a bunch of grandsons! Right, Ayumi?”
Ayumi blushed deeply and gave Zaboru a playful smack on the shoulder. “Zabo!” she scolded with a mix of embarrassment and affection, her face flushed red as the room burst into laughter.
Sanika chuckled and leaned forward, teasing her brother further. “Well, if the news that Nii-san is getting married spreads, there will be a wave of broken hearts all across Japan! Hahaha! Honestly, Nii-san, you’re so popular it’s unfair!”
Zaboru sighed dramatically and ran a hand through his hair, clearly enjoying the attention. “Well, it can’t be helped if you’re as awesome as me,” he said with mock arrogance, striking a ridiculous pose that made everyone laugh even harder.
Ayumi rolled her eyes but couldn’t help grinning. “Yeah, it can’t be helped,” she replied sarcastically, still blushing but clearly playing along.
Zaboru’s eyes widened in mock horror. “Hey! You’re supposed to be mad and pouty right now—not grinning like that! You’re ruining the whole act!”
Keiko and Sanika burst into laughter at his flustered expression, and even Zanichi, usually the more composed one, let out a hearty chuckle. The room was filled with joy, teasing, and the kind of warmth that only came from true family bonds.
Zaboru, along with his family and his girlfriend, spent the rest of the night and the entirety of Saturday fully immersed in holiday fun. They explored the nearby city sights, shared stories over warm meals, visited quirky local shops, and even took dozens of silly photos together. Laughter echoed through their day, the kind that made their sides ache and their hearts feel full.
For once, Zaboru let go of his usual worries about work and deadlines, fully embracing the moment with those he loved most. It was a refreshing escape from his high-pressure job and a rare chance to recharge emotionally.
By the end of Saturday, as the sun set, they all returned to the house full of souvenirs, memories, and leftover burgers, and honestly Zaboru thought it was the best feeling ever.
To be continue
