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Chapter 576 Tamagotchi Ads
🕑 Added 2025-08-13 02:12:08 +0000 UTCWednesday 1 April 1995
Raku Okoshu, an avid ZAGE fan still in high school, sat slouched at his desk, utterly bored as the lesson dragged on. His thoughts kept drifting away from the classroom and straight toward video games. He did have his trusty ZGB handheld with him, but pulling it out here would be a terrible idea—one quick glance from the teacher and he’d be caught. Besides, sneaking in a game under the desk wasn’t even that enjoyable; the constant fear of getting noticed ruined all the fun.
Raku sighed and thought, ‘Damn, if only there were smaller devices for games—something even tinier than the ZGB handheld… hmm, that’s probably impossible, right?’ He exhaled again, slumping deeper into his seat as he fought off the creeping pull of drowsiness in the dull, droning classroom. Just as his eyelids began to lower, a sudden thwack!—a piece of chalk bounced off his forehead, jolting him upright. "Okoshu-kun! You’d better pay attention, or your grades might drop again!" the teacher grumbled sharply. Raku groaned in frustration, rubbing his forehead, while a few of his friends snickered from across the room. "Aw, damn!" he muttered under his breath, embarrassed and annoyed all at once.
After enduring what felt like an endless, painfully boring class, Raku finally got the sweet relief of heading home. "Finally! I’m free from that boring stuff—and now, it’s time for the good stuff!" he exclaimed with a grin. Wasting no time, he hopped on his bike and pedaled quickly toward his house, his mind racing with excitement. Why the rush? Because a brand-new ZAGE commercial was scheduled to air, and Raku could barely contain his anticipation. And yes, he had gotten a new bike from his parents after selling his previous one to buy ZAGE games. Although they had sternly reprimanded him for that impulsive decision, they couldn’t stand the thought of their son walking such a long distance to school every day, especially since it was quite far from home. In the end, they bought him another bike—but this time, his parents made it absolutely clear: he was not allowed to sell it under any circumstances.
“Hehehe! I wonder what games ZAGE has released now!?” Raku exclaimed, his voice bubbling with excitement. Without wasting a second, he plopped down in front of the television, switched to TV Tokyo, and set his ZGB on his lap, absentmindedly tapping at its buttons while waiting. The faint hum of the TV filled the room, his eyes glued to the screen as anticipation built. Then, just as his heart started to race, the ads began to roll.
Zaboru, as always, appears on the screen without wearing any mask. In the video, he is shown with his Golden Retriever, laughing and playing around the house, their cheerful energy filling the scene. Suddenly, the setting shifts to Zaboru sitting alone in an office, the atmosphere now quiet and somber. He lets out a weary sigh, his eyes lingering on a framed photo of his beloved dog. With a wistful tone, he murmurs, “If only I had a pet I could bring anywhere.” Just then, in a burst of shimmering light, two swirling portals suddenly appear before him.
From the shimmering portals, two small, lively creatures emerged, their tiny faces beaming with joy as they hopped toward Zaboru in greeting, their movements full of playful energy. They chirped in unison, almost as if to say hello, before beginning to glow softly. Moments later, each creature shifted and transformed before his eyes into a compact device. One took the shape of an egg, complete with a small screen and three neatly placed buttons, while the other morphed into something like the face of a watch without its straps, its digital display flickering to life. Zaboru’s eyes lit up like a child on his birthday, and he broke into a wide, delighted grin. “Whoa! A digital pet!? Yeah!” he exclaimed, his voice brimming with genuine excitement, unable to hide the wonder at the tiny marvels now in his hands.
The screen then shifted to a bright, upbeat scene as a cheerful announcer’s voice rang out: “Bring your pet anywhere with the game of Digital Pet—Tamagotchi: Digimon! Whether you crave the adorable charm of Tamagotchi or the thrilling, action-packed Digimon, there’s something for everyone! Tamagotchi gives you a sweet, lovable little monster to care for every day, while Digimon delivers fierce, powerful creatures that are always ready for an epic showdown. Feed them, play with them, train them to be strong and healthy, and then prove your skills by challenging your friends to exciting battles!” As the lively narration played, the footage cut between close-ups of the devices in players’ hands and two friends laughing and shouting with excitement as their digital pets clashed on-screen, each determined to win.
The announcer’s tone softened into a warm, reassuring rhythm: “Take care of your pets—how you raise them will decide how they grow, how they behave, and how strong they become!” The words seemed to linger, almost like friendly advice from someone who genuinely cared. Then, with a burst of excitement, the voice picked up again: “Get yours! Tamagotchi: Digimon! Available at your nearest store on Saturday, April 4, 1995! Don’t miss it!” As the line rang out, the ad closed with the bright, familiar ZAGE logo filling the screen in a radiant flash, accompanied by a short, triumphant jingle that stuck in your head long after the commercial ended.
Raku Okoshu’s jaw dropped. “Th… this can’t be real!” he stammered, eyes wide. A gaming device smaller than a Game Boy? He’d always thought such a thing was impossible. Yet here was ZAGE, once again shattering every expectation he had by unveiling the Tamagotchi: Digimon—a device so compact you could play it with one hand. His grin spread slowly, excitement bubbling in his chest. “I’ve gotta get this,” he thought. Pets had always been his soft spot, but battles—oh, battles—were his true passion. And what could be better than battles with pets? It was like the thrill of Pokémon, yet Tamagotchi and Digimon seemed different—more focused, more unique, tied to one special game.
“Oh no…” Raku suddenly realized he didn’t have enough money to buy a Tamagotchi. The thought of selling his bicycle again flashed through his mind, but he quickly sighed and muttered, “My mom will kill me if I do that…” He paused for a moment, weighing his options, before straightening up with renewed determination. “Well… I just need to work hard!” he declared. Without wasting another second, Raku dashed out of his room, determined to scrape together the money by taking on as many part-time jobs as he could, all with one goal in mind: getting his hands on the Tamagotchi: Digimon device.
Many viewers of the ad were immediately intrigued by ZAGE’s latest, wonderfully absurd idea: a game device even smaller than the ZGB. Rather than presenting it as another game console, ZAGE cleverly marketed it as a “Digital Pet.” This unusual approach piqued the curiosity of countless fans, sparking both surprise and excitement. The concept struck a chord—something playful, portable, and personal—and it left many people eagerly counting down the days until they could get their hands on the Tamagotchi: Digimon, the newest and most anticipated creation from ZAGE.
To be continue
