While Zaboru was preparing to brainstorm ideas for July's upcoming game releases, a knock interrupted his thoughts.
"Come in," he called out.
The door opened, and his secretary, Yumi Ichijou, stepped in with a serious expression. "Boss, there's something you need to see."
She handed him that morning's newspaper. Zaboru hadn't had time to read it yet, but his eyes immediately caught a highlighted section tucked in one of the side columns.
"Are ZAGE Champions Being Downplayed?"
His brow furrowed. He sat up straighter and began to read.
The article was written by a passionate journalist who expressed his love for gaming and had spent time interviewing fans and players after the E-Sports event. The piece focused on a growing sentiment among some viewers who felt conflicted about Zaboru's victory over the tournament champion, Hayabusa (Endo).
"It felt strange," the article read. "Even though Zaboru is undeniably skilled, his post-tournament challenge undermined the entire point of the championship. People walked away wondering, 'If the owner can just beat the winner, was the tournament even that meaningful?' It wasn't cheating—but it didn't feel fair either. The finale became a one-man showcase, when it should have been the champion's moment to shine—not Zaboru's.""
Zaboru leaned back in his chair, absorbing every word. It stung, but it wasn't wrong.
He looked up. "Yumi-san, what do you think? Be honest with me."
Yumi hesitated, then gave a small nod. "Honestly, I agree with the article. You're amazing at games, boss, but challenging the champion on the spot kind of shifted the spotlight away from him. It might have been different if you lost because you weren't good at games—it could've even become a lighthearted moment. But the fact that you overwhelmed the champion so easily... it just didn't feel right. If you want to do something like that, I'd suggest a separate event, one specifically designed for people to try beating you. That would be a lot more exciting—and fair. Like the event "Can you face off against Zaboru? Are you ready to challenge the boss of ZAGE himself?' Something like that.
Zaboru closed his eyes for a moment, then nodded slowly. "I see... I didn't think of it that way."
In truth, he had only wanted to hype up the moment, to add an unforgettable twist to the event. But now, he saw how it might have sent the wrong message. "They were supposed to be celebrated, its the Champion moment" he thought. "Not overshadowed by myself."
He took a deep breath. "Yumi-san, please get in touch with Hayabusa or Endo. I want to apologize to him personally. Also, contact the other 32 E-Sport Street Fighter participants. We'll create a TV special. It'll be focused on their stories, their matches, their journey. Interviews, match recaps—make it all about them. I'll even talk about this article on air. People should know I made a mistake."
Yumi's eyes widened. "But boss, that might hurt your reputation..."
Zaboru smiled. "Maybe. But it's the truth. And I'd rather be remembered as someone who took responsibility than someone who clung to a moment that wasn't his." Zaboru sighed. "It should've been the champion's glory—the players' moment. And I took that away. Not once, but twice—first in the R.C. Pro-Am tournament, and now again in Street Fighter."
Yumi let out a soft sigh and nodded. "Alright. I'll get started. I think we still have contact info for everyone. But if we're going to shoot a TV program, we'll need to bring the participants to Tokyo. What about the travel expenses?"
Zaboru replied calmly, "I'll take care of the travel expenses. Just make sure everything is arranged smoothly."
Yumi nodded. "Sure, boss. I'll also contact TV Tokyo about this program—I'm confident they'll be on board."
"Perfect," Zaboru said. "Thank you, Yumi-san."
As she left the room, Zaboru sat quietly for a moment, then let out a weary sigh.
"I can't believe I did that... It really was their moment. I should've known better."
Zaboru couldn't help thinking about Endo—the champion whose spotlight he had unintentionally stolen. People should have remembered him as a brilliant player , great champion and a peerless gamer because he won two champions in a row. Instead, he was now seen as the champion who got beaten by Zaboru, the owner of ZAGE twice.
He took a slow sip of his coffee and smiled faintly. "At least I know now. I owe that reporter a thank-you... and I really should give Endo something special." Zaboru made a mental note to prepare a meaningful gift—one that truly honored Endo's skill and spirit as a two time ZAGE events Champions.
With that, he turned back to his notepad and resumed his original task: crafting something unforgettable for July's game release while also preparing a special gift for Endo.
To be continued
AN : it seems 16 bit era can't start at 450 lol , well just let see when it i. i'm really bad at planning chapters because when writing sometimes idea popup and i can't seems skips it lol
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