Saturday 6 November 1996
ZEB (ZAGE Event Building), Japan — As usual during ZAGE events, the ZEB opened its doors well before the main festivities, which were scheduled to start at 11:00 AM. But even though it was only 7:00 AM, the venue was already buzzing with activity. Crowds had gathered early, all eager for one thing: exclusive ZAGE merchandise!
The Bakudan Boys—Sakaki, Kumogi, Rikki, and Sawada—were on their way to ZEB, filled with excitement and ready to explore everything the event had to offer. The morning air was cool, and the city had barely stirred to life, but the energy among the group was already high.
Rikki let out a loud yawn. "Damn, you guys really had to drag me out this early? I'm still half asleep!"
Sawada shot him a look and shook his head. "You're seriously lazy. It's already 7 AM. How are you still this groggy?"
Sakaki chuckled and nodded along, but Kumogi was clearly irritated. "It's because you two work at freaking ZAGE! You get to leave work on time. We didn't get home until 10 PM last night. 10 PM!"
Rikki gave Kumogi a wide grin and nudged him with an elbow. "Tell 'em, Kumogi!"
The group erupted into a round of playful teasing and back-and-forth banter. Despite their complaints, it was clear they were all having fun. These moments, half-awake and full of jokes, had become a tradition—something they looked forward to at every big ZAGE event.
As they turned the corner and approached the massive ZAGE Event Building, the scale of the day hit them. Even from a distance, they could see crowds gathering, vendors setting up, and cosplayers already posing for photos.
"There it is," Sakaki said with a grin. "ZEB. Let's see what kind of chaos we can find."
The others laughed and followed behind. Their ZAGE adventure had officially begun.
Rikki grinned. "Heh! ZEB during events never gets old. And even at 7 AM, the merch booth's already open! As expected of ZAGE!"
Sawada and Sakaki both grinned with mock pride. "Well, thank you," Sakaki said, giving a dramatic bow.
Kumogi rolled his eyes. "It's not a compliment for you, dumbass."
Everyone burst out laughing at the jab. Their energy was light, full of inside jokes and shared history. With that, the Bakudan Boys dove into the merchandise area, ready to see what rare finds and surprises were waiting for them.
Kumogi's eyes widened, sparkling with excitement. "Look! A big Kirby plushie!" he exclaimed, practically vibrating with joy. "I need that."
Rikki sighed and shook his head. "Kumogi, you're a big guy. Why do you love Kirby so much?"
Kumogi scowled, crossing his arms. "Shut up, pervert."
The group burst into laughter at the quick comeback. Without hesitation, Kumogi marched over and purchased the oversized Kirby plushie for just 1,000 yen—a steal, in his opinion. He cradled it proudly, like a badge of victory, while the others continued to tease him playfully.
Then Rikki's eyes widened as he spotted a display filled with action figures of various Dead or Alive characters—all of which immediately caught his attention. "Heheheh, I need this!" he muttered with a greedy grin.
Sakaki stepped up next, casually picking out three figures: Mai Shiranui, Nyotengu, and Helena Douglas. The price for all three came out to around 2,800 yen. Holding the boxed figures proudly in his arms, he smirked. "Hehehe, look at my new wives!"
Kumogi and Sawada both let out exasperated sighs while rolling their eyes at the comment. Still, the group moved along, wandering deeper into the merchandise area, chatting with vendors and exploring more booths. The ZEB building had rapidly filled with even more visitors, much to their surprise. The energy was rising, and the excitement was clearly contagious.
"Whoa, there are so many cosplayers here," Sawada said, wide-eyed.
And he wasn't wrong. The ZEB was now packed with people in costume—some detailed and impressive, some simple and homemade, and a few so absurd they made everyone laugh. The whole building buzzed with color, creativity, and energy. It had become something of an unwritten rule: if there was a ZEB event, there had to be cosplay. The variety added a vibrant layer to the atmosphere, turning the venue into more than just an event—it felt like a celebration of fandom itself.
The Bakudan Boys continued exploring the merchandise booths when Rikki suddenly stopped in his tracks, eyes fixed on a shelf. There, among other collectibles, was yet another RoboCop action figure.
He smiled and shook his head. "That RoboCop always shows up as an action figure but never in a new video game. When is ZAGE going to release another RoboCop game? Sigh..."
In this world, RoboCop had originally been created as a ZAGE video game character back in the ZEPS 1 era. Despite its early success and a strong fanbase, the franchise hadn't received a proper new title in years.
Kumogi nodded beside him. "Yeah, I've already got a bunch of RoboCop figures. What I really want is a brand-new game. That'd be awesome."
By now, all of the Bakudan Boys had their hands full with merchandise. Kumogi led the haul with his oversized Kirby plushie tucked under one arm. In addition, he had picked up a Gun-Nac keychain, a detailed Gunpla model of the MS-09 DOM, and a striking Bumblebee action figure. His expression was equal parts pride and satisfaction, like a collector crossing rare items off his wishlist.
As for Sawada, he had picked up a colorful assortment of favorites. He bought a Sonic plushie, a Charizard action figure, a Donkey Kong figure, and a two-pack featuring Mario and Yoshi. His collection leaned toward classic, beloved charactersand instantly recognizable. With a satisfied smile, he admired his finds, clearly proud of the lineup he'd built.
Sakaki went all out with his haul. He grabbed several RoboCop action figures, a set of Ryu Hayabusa figures, a detailed Diablo collectible, and a cheeky Gex plushie. Not stopping there, he added a Blastoise action figure, a sleek Samus Aran model, and a beautifully crafted Going Merry ship from the One Piece anime. His collection also included a handful of Hot Wheels and a bunch of smaller trinkets. As usual, his spending spree insanely , earning him a few side-eyes and laughs from the rest of the group.
As for Rikki, he went all in on collecting figures of his favorite female characters. He picked up Nyotengu, Mai Shiranui, and Helena Douglas from Dead or Alive, followed by a Nina Williams figure from Tekken, an I-No figure from Guilty Gear, and Ivy from Soulcalibur. He also couldn't resist grabbing a MARIN dress-up doll in a bikini, and a xexy Chun-Li figure to round out his collection altough he had plenty of chun-li figures it never enough. His taste was consistent—and very.. pervert
The Bakudan Boys regrouped, their arms full of merch, and Kumogi let out a long sigh. "Sakaki, you spent way too much again. And Rikki—you really just bought sexy girl figures, huh?"
Rikki grinned shamelessly. "Obviously! They're all my favorite characters. And now, my new wives!"
Sakaki laughed, shrugging. "What can I say? I couldn't help myself. I needed them!"
Kumogi rolled his eyes, but couldn't hide the smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. Despite all the teasing, it was clear everyone was having a great time.
Suddenly, the announcer's voice echoed through the venue. It was none other than Zaboru's secretary Yumi Ichijou dressed head to toe in a cheerful Princess Daisy costume.
"Hello everyone! The event is about to begin, so get ready!" she called out with enthusiasm.
The Bakudan Boys exchanged grins, the energy kicking up another notch. Without missing a beat, they made their way toward the main event booth, anticipation building with every step.
To be continue
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