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Chapter 632 Zaboru Birthday
🕑 Added 2025-09-08 00:18:55 +0000 UTC15 December 1995 Tuesday Morning
Zaboru sat in his office, reflecting on the new directives he had issued just the day before after the talk with his father . Both ZAGE Japan branches—Osaka and Tokyo—had been given fresh development assignments. Despite their ongoing projects, ZAGE Tokyo was now tasked with developing two additional games for release in 1996: Final Fantasy IV, scheduled for February, and Soulcalibur Arcade, set to launch in March. Meanwhile, the Osaka branch would take on two new projects as well—Street Fighter II with a February release window, and Kirby’s Dream Land 2, a title aimed for launch on the ZEPS 2 console in January.
Zaboru felt confident—more than confident, in fact. He believed in his teams wholeheartedly. Their level of experience, skill, and dedication reassured him that such an aggressive development schedule was not only possible but would be executed with excellence. With their combined talent and his strategic leadership, he was sure they could rise to any challenge.
And right now, in a rare peaceful morning, Zaboru decided not to rush into work. Instead, he let himself reminisce—after all, today was his birthday. "Now I’m already 22 years old in this world. If I combine my past life’s age with this one, I’m technically a 77-year-old man now," he chuckled to himself. The thought felt surreal. It had already been nearly five years since he was reincarnated into this world, waking up in the body of his 17-year-old self. So much had happened since then, and he couldn’t be more grateful. He’d been given the chance to see his parents again, to live a new life, to pursue his passions—and perhaps most exciting of all, to introduce video games to this new world. Everything had gone better than he could have ever hoped for, and in that moment, Zaboru truly felt content.
Zaboru smiled and took a sip of his coffee. "If I were still alive in my old world, it would probably be around five years since I passed. I died at the end of 2024, so it must be 2029 or so by now," he murmured to himself, chuckling softly before letting out a wistful sigh. "I wonder what amazing games have come out since then. I can't lie—I miss gaming on a high-end modern PC. I wonder if Bloodborne 2 has been released or even Bloodborne PC . Has the PlayStation 6 finally come out? Or maybe the Nintendo Switch 2? What about One Piece—has it finally ended? And how’s Kiryu doing after Yakuza 8? Did the Elden Ring ever get a sequel? Or Did Inter Milan ever win the champions league again?"
His thoughts continued to spiral as a wave of nostalgia washed over him. There were so many titles, consoles, and franchises he longed to reconnect with. Zaboru truly missed the feeling of holding a sleek controller in his hands, hearing the hum of a gaming rig booting up, and diving into high tech fantastical digital worlds. The absence of those experiences left a lingering void—one that no amount of success in this world could quite fill.
Zaboru sighed and chuckled. "Well, it's up to me to make this world more fun than my previous life. Still, I guess I'm feeling a bit homesick, huh? I don't even know if time flows the same way here as it did back there."
Zaboru then walked to his window, gazing out at the peaceful scenery beyond. He thought to himself, "If only I could return to my old world, or perhaps gain a power that would allow me to briefly visit it again. There are so many things I still want to explore—like watching a lot of Western shows, diving deep into the lore of Warhammer, or playing countless Xbox games I never had the chance to experience. Now that I have the Deep Memory Dive ability, I can recall so many of those things clearly if I played them."
Zaboru chuckled quietly to himself. Maybe one day he would acquire another power that allowed him to revisit those experiences, even if just for a moment. But for now, it remained a distant wish. He especially missed the famed tabletop game Warhammer, which didn’t exist in this world. Despite his vivid memories of it, he lacked the full understanding to recreate it from scratch—and that frustrated him. Still, he held on to the hope that one day, somehow, he might bridge that gap.
“Still, if I had to choose, I'd still choose to live in this second-chance reality. I've had a great life here, and I can finally make my parents proud—especially by supporting them financially,” Zaboru said with a gentle chuckle. Then, with a content smile, he returned to his work.
Today is Zaboru's birthday, and his employees at the Tokyo office warmly congratulated him throughout the morning. Zaboru chuckled appreciatively at their kind words and, in celebration, treated the entire team to lunch. The gesture brought smiles to everyone's faces, lifting the atmosphere with joy and camaraderie. As the workday continued, Zaboru felt deeply grateful for his team’s support and dedication. Looking ahead, he felt a growing excitement for the evening, knowing he would return home to celebrate more intimately with his family and his beloved girlfriend.
Later that evening, in the backyard of the Renkonan household, a cozy and joyful birthday party was underway. The celebration was attended by the Renkonan family—Zanichi, Keiko, and Sanika—as well as Ayumi and her brother, Akechi Hamazou. Akechi’s subordinates had also been invited, since they were nearby, making the gathering even livelier. Keiko and Zanichi was busy cooking a variety of delicious new dishes, filling the air with savory aromas that added to the warm atmosphere of the evening.
Zaboru sat in one of the backyard chairs, his gaze distant as he seemed lost in thought. Ayumi noticed the contemplative look on his face and gently approached him to ask, "Zabo, is something bothering you?"
Zaboru was briefly startled, then smiled warmly. He decided not to overthink things and chose instead to focus on the moment. "Hahaha, no Ayumi, it’s fine," he said with a gentle chuckle, his eyes softening with appreciation.
The birthday party began, and Zanichi gave Zaboru a surprising piece of news: ZAGE had officially acquired Green Leaf for 10 million yen—as a birthday gift. Zaboru was stunned. “Wait, Dad… you didn’t do anything illegal, right?” he asked. Zanichi chuckled. “Don’t worry too much about it.”
Sanika then shyly handed Zaboru a neatly wrapped present. Inside was a new blue shirt that looked perfect for work.
“Nii-san! I bought this with my own money—my part-time job money! I hope you like it!” she said proudly.
Zaboru was genuinely taken aback. Sanika working part-time? That’s so unexpected. She’s never needed to—if she ever wanted anything, all she had to do was ask me. Yet, rather than questioning it aloud, he let the warmth of her gesture wash over him. He smiled, deeply touched by her thoughtfulness and effort. “Whoa! Sanika, I love it so much. Thank you—I’ll wear this all the time, especially to work!”
Sanika giggled happily.
Next, Keiko presented him with a new tie. “You should wear ties more often, son.”
Zaboru smiled and nodded. “Thank you so much, Mom.”
Then Ayumi stepped forward, her face a little red, holding out a handmade mug. It was slightly misshapen, but painted with the words ‘Love Zabo.’
“Well… I made this myself,” she admitted, blushing as she looked down. “But I’m still a beginner, so it’s not very well-shaped.”
Zaboru grinned and gently took the mug from her hands, admiring it like a priceless artifact. “Well then, say hello to my new favorite mug,” he said warmly. “I’ll definitely use this for my morning coffee—every day.”
Ayumi’s face turned even redder, but she smiled brightly, her eyes sparkling with happiness. “Really?” she asked softly.
“Really,” Zaboru nodded, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. "It's perfect because you made it."
Akechi came last, handing him a bag of premium coffee beans. “I wasn’t sure what to get you, but I know you like coffee, so… I hope you enjoy this.”
Zaboru smirked. “Heh, thanks, Akechi-san.”
The party continued with laughter and cheer, echoing through the cozy backyard as the evening deepened. As was tradition on his birthday, Zaboru prepared to sing—a moment everyone had grown to look forward to over the years. But this time, there was a twist. Zanichi grinned mischievously, already having set up a camera with professional care. Beside it stood a large microphone on a boom stand, making the setup look like a legitimate recording studio session rather than a casual family gathering. The atmosphere buzzed with playful anticipation as everyone turned toward Zaboru, curious and excited.
“Huh? Dad, what’s all this?” Zaboru asked, amused.
Keiko grinned back. “I asked him to record you, Zaboru! Hehehe. It would be such a waste if your performance wasn’t captured, right? Darling? Sani-chan? Ayumi?”
All of them nodded in agreement. While other audiences are excited too, why? Because Zaboru are really good at singing and he actually can be said to be a world wide level singer.
Zaboru chuckled and nodded. “Well, that’s fine. Anyway, here’s the song—it’s called One Day.”
It was an acoustic version of the One Piece opening song, one that suited him perfectly. He gently strummed the guitar strings, letting the chords echo with heartfelt emotion. As he began to sing, his voice carried a quiet power—an honest, resonant sound full of meaning. Every word he sang was heavy with the memories of a life once lived, a world left behind. Though he missed that world—the technology, the games, the familiar culture—he had long since come to accept that this new world was where he truly belonged now. And in this moment, through this song, he wished to bridge that gap between his past and present. He imagined his former self watching him, nodding in approval, perhaps even feeling inspired. Zaboru wanted to be stronger, not just for himself, but for everyone who had ever believed in him. With every note, he reaffirmed his commitment to growth, to resilience, and to always keep moving forward with courage in his heart.
Ameagari no sora wo aogu tabi
Nakimushi datta koro no boku wo omou…
Dareka no senaka wo
Gamushara ni oikaketa
"Tsuyoku naritai" tte
ima wa kaze ni kieta "Arigatou"
Boku wa tsuyoku nareteiru no kana?
Kotae wa mada dasou ni nai kara sa
Yappari mada
Aruiteiku yo
saa yukou
Tachidomaru koto naku
Nagareru toki ni makenai you ni
Nando mo tachimukai tsuzukeyou
Taisetsu na mono ushinai takunai kara
boku no naka ni nagareru koe wa
Zutto zutto boku wo sasaeteru
ITAZURA na ame ga jama suru kedo
Nigedasenai kara
Oh
saa yukou
Tachidomaru koto naku
Nagareru toki ni makenai you ni
Nando mo tachimukai tsuzukeyou
Taisetsu na mono ushinai takunai kara
Shinjita sono saki e to...
Everyone who heard the song was genuinely surprised—Zaboru sang with such raw emotion that no one could quite understand why it moved them so deeply. It felt as though every lyric carried a weight of personal meaning, as if the message of the song—to keep moving forward no matter what—was something Zaboru had truly lived. As the final note faded into the night, the backyard fell into a moment of awed silence before erupting into heartfelt applause. The applause was thunderous, not just out of appreciation for the music, but for the feeling it evoked in each listener. And with that moving performance complete, the birthday party continued in high spirits. Laughter and cheerful conversations filled the air, and everyone spent the rest of the night having a wonderful time.
To be continue
