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Chapter 660 Zaboru “Tonight Show”
🕑 Added 2025-09-21 01:35:01 +0000 UTC9 April 1996 Night.
After returning to the WWF building, Zaboru continued with another major event—the "Tonight Show." A few years ago, he had already appeared on the "Oprah" show, but now he would finally be a special guest on the "Tonight Show."
“The Tonight Show” crew are a persistent bunch. They’ve been asking Zaboru to appear on the show for years, always sending official invitations and hoping he’d finally say yes. But every time, Zaboru turned them down—either because he was too busy, or just not interested in the spotlight. That kind of attention never appealed to him. He preferred to keep his focus on his work, not late-night television. But today was an exception. There was a Special Occasion that made him change his mind, something that even he couldn’t ignore. It felt like the right moment. So, for the first time, Zaboru agreed to do a live interview on the show. Not only that, he was going all in—he had a special custom suit tailored just for this night. This might his first and last "Tonight Shows" apperance.
"Sigh... let’s hope they don’t mess around," Zaboru muttered. He was already at the Tonight Show offices, preparing for the live interview. Before agreeing to appear, he had made one thing clear: if the show promised not to bring up the Kobe Earthquake disaster, he would do it. The Tonight Show team understood and gave their word—they agreed.
The host, Jay Leno, turned to the audience and said, "Welcome to The Tonight Show Live! And tonight's guest is someone truly special. He’s been called the Saviour of Video Games, the God of Games, the Youngest Billionaire—you name it. Please welcome, Zaboru Renkonan!"
The audience erupted with thunderous applause. Zaboru smiled, stepping confidently onto the stage. He wore a striking black-and-gold suit with a deep red shirt underneath. He looked absolutely radiant under the lights, his presence commanding attention. He smiled warmly at the audience, waved with both hands, and then stepped forward to shake Jay Leno’s hand.
Jay Leno grinned and said, "Whoa! Looking sharp today, Zaboru."
Zaboru nodded with a smile. "Thanks, Jay."
Jay leaned forward and began the interview. "Alright, Zaboru, first question—everyone knows you as the guy who created ZAGE and brought the video game industry back to life. But why video games in the first place? What made you think, 'I want to resurrect the video game industry?'"
Zaboru nodded and smiled, but he knew he couldn’t answer this honestly. If he told the truth, people might think he was insane. The real answer was that he had been reincarnated into the body of his 17-year-old self—and in this world, video games were still on the brink of death. Nintendo and SEGA didn’t even exist here, despite it already being the 1990s. So instead, he gave an answer that sounded good enough to satisfy curiosity without raising suspicion.
“Well, first of all, ever since I was a kid, I’ve loved video games. Arcades, Atari consoles—you name it, I was hooked. I’d spend hours at the local arcade or glued to a screen at home, completely immersed. But even back then, I wasn’t just playing games—I was thinking critically about them. I’d constantly say to myself, ‘This should be like this,’ or, ‘Why didn’t they do it this way instead?’ Ideas just kept flooding my mind, and it got to a point where I started sketching concepts and redesigning game mechanics in my notebooks.
Then came the Atari Crash. Suddenly, everything changed. The video game industry collapsed overnight, and for a while, it felt like gaming was going to fade into obscurity. Most people gave up. But to me, it wasn’t over—it was just paused. I saw it as a challenge, a puzzle to solve. I started thinking, ‘What if someone made something different? Something that could reignite that spark in people and remind them why games mattered in the first place?’
That’s when the real work began. I dove into development, taught myself more about programming, and slowly started building something new. My goal was simple—create a game so compelling that it would pull people back into gaming. I took that risk, and luckily, it paid off. And, well... the rest is history.” Zaboru grinned.
Jay Leno gasped, "Holy moly, that’s a wild flex. So you got into video games just because you had the mindset of, ‘This video game could be better’? That’s seriously impressive—what a bold way to start a career."
Zaboru laughed and nodded. "Yeah, it is what it is."
Jay grinned and leaned in with curiosity. "So, the next question—there’s a rumor that you actually enjoy playing games made by your rivals. Not only that, but you’ve even praised them. Is that true? And why would you do that?"
Zaboru chuckled and nodded. “You’ll see, Jay. I’ve always seen myself as a company owner on paper, a game developer in my head—but in my heart, I’m just a gamer. That’s the core of who I am. And if there’s a game out there that’s truly good, that I personally love, I’ll say it loud and clear, no matter who made it or where it came from. That’s something I’ve always stood by.
ZAGE might have grown into a powerhouse in the gaming industry, but I’ve never wanted to build a monopoly. I believe in competition. I believe in creativity coming from all directions. That’s how the video game industry grows—it thrives on diversity, on bold ideas, on people trying to outdo each other in the best way possible. If everyone’s competing to make the best game, players win. The whole industry levels up.
That’s why when I see a good game from one of ZAGE’s rivals, I don’t ignore it. I praise it. I talk about it. I even recommend it to our players, because in the end, good games should be played. That’s what being a real gamer is about—not brand loyalty, not tribalism—just a love for great experiences.”
Jay Leno nodded. "I see, so that’s the case. Is there anything you’re genuinely concerned about—something you think could hurt the video game industry in the future?"
Zaboru smiled and leaned forward slightly. "Well, there’s plenty. First of all, the kind of cash-grab, low-effort games that led to the downfall of Atari—those are always a threat. Back then, anyone could put out a half-baked game and sell it, and it destroyed consumer trust. We’re seeing hints of that again, and that’s one of the major reasons why ZAGE is extremely strict when it comes to quality control. We won’t allow rushed or careless games on our platform. If we did, it would betray the trust of gamers who believe in our brand.
But I also want to be clear—there’s a difference between a 'bad' game and a 'trash' game. A bad game might be the result of a new team trying something ambitious and not quite landing it. That’s still valid. There’s potential in failure. But a trash game? That’s just laziness—zero effort, no vision, made only for a quick buck. That’s what we need to filter out.
For now, protecting the integrity of our platform and respecting the intelligence of our players is our top priority at ZAGE. If we lose that, we lose everything."
Jay Leno grinned and nodded. "I see! That’s a good answer, honestly. Now, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask about your band, Z&Z—Zaboru and Zankoku. When can fans expect another metal album, like the one you released for 'Guitar Hero'? And is it true that you actually wrote all those songs specifically for the Guitar Hero game, just to give it that authentic touch?"
Zaboru chuckled and nodded. "Yeah, I made all those songs specifically for my Guitar Hero game. I wanted the music to feel real, like it was meant for the game—not just licensed tracks thrown in. And as for a new metal album? Well, you’ll probably have to wait until ZAGE Guitar Hero 2 drops. If that happens, then yeah, I might put together another album in that style. It was a blast writing and recording those tracks, so I wouldn't mind doing it again."
Jay Leno sighed. "Damn, I’m a huge fan of those rock and metal tracks! Anyway, moving on to the next question—nice suit, by the way. Which brand is it?"
Zaboru chuckled. "Oh, this? It’s not branded. I had it custom-made by my local suit maker back in Japan. Honestly, they did a great job. I'm really satisfied with how it turned out."
Jay Leno then said, "So it's true that you don’t wear expensive suits like Armani or Brioni, even though you’re a billionaire?"
Zaboru chuckled. "Billionaire or not, I don’t think I need to wear expensive stuff just because I have money, right? If I like something, sure, I might buy it. But just wearing something for the price tag? That’s not my style. For now, I’m happy with what I wear, so it is what it is."
He laughed again, more casually this time, and continued. "I actually have a personal motto: the goal of getting rich is to look like you're not rich. I want to feel comfortable and be myself, not pretend to be something else. That said, I do care about how I look. I love style. So instead of going for designer brands, I work with a local suit maker back in Japan. I give him the design, he brings it to life. Fully custom, fitted to me, and way more meaningful than slapping a logo on my chest."
Zaboru adjusted his cuff with a smile. "At the end of the day, a suit should reflect the person, not just their bank account."
Jay sighed. "Well, with that face and that build, just about any suit is going to look good on you."
Zaboru laughed. "Hahaha, yeah! I guess that helps a bit, huh?"
Jay Leno then said, “There’s a rumor going around that you’re very athletic and surprisingly good at sports, Zaboru. Is that actually true?”
Zaboru chuckled and leaned back slightly in his chair. “Well, I do work out occasionally. I like staying in shape—it helps clear my mind, and it keeps me grounded. And yeah, I think I can play pretty decently. I’ve dabbled in basketball, football or soccer here, even a bit of tennis now and then. I can hold my own, you know?”
He paused, grinning. “But let’s not kid ourselves—if we’re talking about professional athletes, I wouldn’t last a second. Those guys are built different. I’d get crushed out there, hahaha. I’m more of a weekend warrior than a full-time competitor.”
Zaboru was actually lying. If he used the full extent of his 'Enlightenment' body’s abilities, he could easily outperform any professional athlete. Speed, strength, reflexes—he could dominate them all without breaking a sweat. But he knew that wouldn’t be fair. That kind of power didn’t come from years of training or dedication; it came from something unnatural, something granted. It didn’t feel earned. That’s why he chose not to flaunt it. He respected athletes too much—their effort, discipline, and talent were real. His was a cheat, and he knew it..
Jay Leno laughed as well, then reached under his desk and pulled out a guitar. “Zaboru, you love playing guitar, right? Well, here’s an acoustic guitar for you. Any chance you could give us a taste of your best acoustic performance?”
Zaboru chuckled, taking the guitar and giving the strings a quick strum. “Oh, absolutely. I’ve always loved playing guitar—and other instruments too. But sure, this one’s a favorite of mine. Let’s say this is the showboat of my acoustic skills,” he said with a grin as he adjusted the tuning pegs with practiced ease.
Zaboru then began to play the guitar, his fingers gliding effortlessly across the fretboard as he performed the solo from Polyphia’s "Playing God"—a complex, genre-bending piece from his previous life. Though the song didn’t even exist in this world, it poured out of him with such fluency and confidence that it felt like second nature. Each note rang clear and sharp, blending technical mastery with emotional expression.
The room fell into a stunned silence. The audience was completely mesmerized. Even Jay Leno and the Tonight Show band sat frozen, mouths agape, eyes locked on Zaboru’s hands. He wasn’t just playing the guitar—he was commanding it. Every slide, tap, and harmonic was executed with precise timing and absolute flair, as if he were channeling something divine.
After nearly three minutes of breathtaking solo work, Zaboru hit the final chord and let it ring out, smiling wide. “That’s it. Hahaha,” he said casually, like he hadn’t just blown the roof off the studio.
Jay Leno burst into applause, standing halfway out of his chair. “Honestly, that was insane! Zaboru, you’re seriously skillful with it—like, what can’t you do?”
The audience erupted, clapping and cheering louder than they had all night. Even the house band looked over, nodding in impressed disbelief. At that moment, Zaboru wasn’t just a guest—he was the show.
Zaboru continued the interview for a little while longer, answering a few more lighthearted questions and sharing a laugh or two with Jay and the audience. Eventually, the show wrapped up, and he thanked everyone behind the scenes before quietly slipping out the studio doors. The moment the bright lights faded and the applause became a memory, he was back to business.
He returned to his office at ZAGE USA, unaware that the acoustic piece he had played—originally just a spur-of-the-moment performance—would soon explode in popularity.
But Zaboru’s mind was elsewhere. His thoughts were already drifting across the Pacific. There was something more important waiting for him back home. It was time. He had made up his mind: he would return to Japan to propose to his girlfriend, Ayumi.
To be continue
