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Chapter 573: Resting With Ayumi
🕑 Added 2025-08-11 01:56:13 +0000 UTCSaturday, 7 March 1995.
Zaboru is now in his office at ZAGE USA, the faint hum of the building’s air conditioning mixing with the distant sound of typewriters and phones in the background. After closing the high-profile deal with Red Falcon, he has shifted his attention back to his March project: putting the final touches on the much-anticipated Civilization game. Stacks of design notes and code printouts clutter his desk, evidence of the countless late nights spent fine-tuning gameplay mechanics and balancing scenarios. Even as he immerses himself in this work, his mind wanders toward the horizon—considering which ambitious ideas to greenlight next and how best to rally the ZAGE USA team for upcoming challenges, ensuring their momentum carries well into the rest of the year.
Then, without much warning, his girlfriend Ayumi Hamazou appeared at his office door, her presence lighting up the room. This time she had travelled with him from Japan and was staying at their shared home in the USA, making the trip feel less like work and more like an adventure together. Before leaving, Zaboru had mentioned he would have business in Korea and China, and Ayumi, unwilling to be left behind, had insisted on coming along. He had simply shrugged, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips, and agreed. Now, seeing her bubbling with excitement and curiosity about the days ahead, he couldn’t help but feel her energy rubbing off on him.
“Zabo! I’ve bought you some food!!” Ayumi announced brightly as she set down an impressive spread of burgers, golden French fries, and chilled drinks. The rich, savory smell filled the room, making Zaboru’s eyes light up with childlike joy. He leaned forward, practically glowing. “It can’t be more perfect, Ayumi! I love you so much!” Without hesitation, he wrapped her in a warm hug and kissed her cheek before taking a huge bite of the burger, savoring it with an audible hum of satisfaction.
Ayumi giggled at his enthusiasm, the corners of her lips curling upward as she reached into her bag and pulled out a glossy fashion magazine—something Zaboru didn’t often see her reading. He tilted his head in mild surprise. “Fashion magazines, huh? Planning to be a model?” His eyes twinkled with playful mischief. “Well, you certainly have the figure for it… but I’m warning you, I think I’d get jealous if you actually became one.” He chuckled softly, leaning toward her while idly picking at the fries, stealing one for himself between sentences.
Ayumi chuckled softly and said, “Well, no… I actually want to create a character, but somehow I’m really struggling to imagine their fashion style. I’ve been flipping through these pages hoping for inspiration, but so far it’s really not helping. Sigh…” Her voice carried equal parts determination and mild frustration.
Zaboru’s curiosity was instantly piqued, and he leaned forward slightly. “Is this for your next game? Does it have a bunny again?” he asked with a playful glint in his eyes. Ayumi smiled and shook her head. “Nope. This time there won’t be bunny characters—at least not directly—but I’m still hitting a wall…”
“Well, you can always ask for my help. Maybe I can throw in some ideas?” Zaboru offered, his tone casual yet warm. Ayumi sighed, the corners of her mouth curving up despite herself. “Yeah, I know, Zaboru. That’s exactly why I’ve been holding back. You’d solve it in a heartbeat, and I want to work through it on my own. I want to get better at this, Zabo.”
He chuckled softly and nodded. “Sure thing, Ayumi. But if you decide you want help, just ask, okay?” Ayumi laughed again, her eyes shining. She relished the challenge of thinking and struggling on her own, because solving a problem herself brought her the deepest satisfaction. That was why she preferred to wrestle with any game-related ideas alone, even if it meant the process took longer.
Zaboru then started to pester Ayumi with a string of playful hugs, occasionally slipping a fry between her lips before she could protest. Ayumi rolled her eyes, a faint crease on her brow betraying mild annoyance, yet the warmth in her chuckle gave her away. Soon she was nudging him back, swiping a fry from his hand in mock revenge. Their teasing lingered for a few moments, the comfortable kind of silliness that only came with familiarity, before Ayumi finally leaned closer, her tone shifting as she decided to speak to him.
“Zabo… you will ask me on a date when we go to Korea and China, right?” Ayumi’s voice was half playful, half hopeful, her eyes searching his face for an answer. Zaboru let out a low chuckle and nodded warmly. “Of course, Ayumi, I will,” he replied without hesitation. His words carried a reassuring weight, and as he smiled at her, she felt her own grin widen until it seemed to light up her whole face. The thought of sharing those moments with him overseas made her heart race, and in that instant she looked genuinely, blissfully happy.
Ayumi sighed softly and said to Zaboru, “You’re very famous now, you know that, Zabo?” He offered her a modest smile, tilting his head as if the thought had never occurred to him. “Really?” She let out another sigh, her tone balanced between playful teasing and an undercurrent of genuine seriousness. “Why can’t you just be happy about it? You’re young, handsome, a billionaire, and brilliant. Of course plenty of women would want your attention. You could be like a Hollywood actor or a rock star, you know?”
Zaboru only grinned, pulling her into a warm, steady embrace. “Hehehe… Jealous? Don’t worry—none of that matters. I have you, the most beautiful girl in my world. And i never want to be famous in first place.” His voice was light yet sincere, and the words made her cheeks warm. She lowered her gaze slightly, a shy smile tugging at her lips as she muttered, “Hmpp… really? Hehehe.”
Moments like this reminded her exactly why she loved him: no matter how much his fame and fortune grew, he remained the same down‑to‑earth man who found pure joy in creating and playing video games, never losing that spark that had first drawn her to him. She had quite literally fallen for him so deeply that she knew she might never be able to move on if they were ever separated. She glanced at Zaboru, her heart swelling, and her lips curled into a tender smile. But soon, a mischievous glint danced in her eyes, betraying the playful thoughts swirling in her mind.
Ayumi bit her lower lip, her expression unmistakably, almost daringly, excited. Zaboru felt his throat tighten the moment he caught the shift in her gaze. “Ayumi… it’s still morning,” he said, his voice a careful blend of caution and anticipation. She giggled softly, letting her fingers trail in slow, playful circles across his chest, tracing idle patterns as though daring him to object. “And…?” she teased, her tone lilting and almost singsong. His sigh was a mix of resignation and amusement, the kind only she could coax from him. In moments like these, she had an effortless way of melting away his composure, unraveling the serious man into someone warmer, softer, and more vulnerable. Their playful banter lingered like a shared secret, laughter slowly giving way to quiet, unhurried breaths, until it deepened into something far more intimate—an unspoken surrender to the closeness and comfort they found in each other’s presence.
To be continued
