Wednesday 8 December 1996 Tokyo Japan.
It's now morning. Zaboru, Zanichi, and Shinsuke are on their way to ZAGE Tower. The tower's construction is complete, but equipment is still being installed before employees can begin working there. Zaboru plans for the staff to relocate from their current ZAGE offices to the new tower in the middle of Tokyo this December.
Zaboru smiled in the back seat of the car, watching the city blur past the window as the excitement bubbled inside him. Shinsuke Yamaguchi, the head of ZAGE's marketing division, was driving, while beside him sat Zanichi Renkonan, ZAGE's Chief Technology Officer for Japan. It wasn't just any morning drive—it was the first time they would all see the fully constructed ZAGE Tower in person.
"I still can't believe it," Zaboru said, shaking his head with a grin. "The ZAGE Tower is finally done. I can't wait to step inside."
Shinsuke glanced at him through the rearview mirror and chuckled. "Well, just so you know, Boss, the design turned out exactly how you envisioned it. Everything you gave me, every note, every sketch—it's all in there. The structure and layout of the offices are finished. The only thing left is installing the hardware—PCs, workstations, and the rest of the tools our teams will need."
Zaboru leaned forward slightly, eyes lit with curiosity. "You think it's really going to impress?"
Shinsuke grinned. "It'll blow your mind. Trust me. Even the contractors were impressed. You'll see."
Construction of the ZAGE Tower began in mid-1992, and now, as 1996 comes to a close, it is finally complete. After years of planning, setbacks, and progress, the dream Zaboru envisioned has come to life at last.
Zaboru nodded. "Thank you so much, Shinsuke-san."
Shinsuke grinned. "No need to thank me, Boss—you paid me well for this. Ahahah!"
Zanichi smiled, then turned to Zaboru. "What about the offices in Silicon Valley? When will the U.S. branch move?"
Zaboru paused for a moment. "They'll move next year as well—probably after the Japan branch completes its migration."
Zanichi nodded. "I can help with that."
Zaboru smiled and gave a small nod. "Appreciate it, Dad."
Not long after, they arrived at ZAGE Tower. Just outside the main entrance stood a large, clean sign that proudly read "ZAGE TOWER." Zaboru grinned as he stepped out of the car, soaking in the surroundings. What lay before him wasn't just a single skyscraper—it was an entire complex. ZAGE had gone beyond building a corporate headquarters; they had constructed a vibrant, multi-facility campus that felt more like a city block than an office.
Surrounding the ZAGE Tower were four key buildings, each playing its own role in the ecosystem: the Gym, the Arcade Center, the ZAGE Store, and the ZAGE Tavern. These four buildings flanked the tower like guardians, creating a unique and lively environment that reflected Zaboru's ambitious vision.
To the left of the tower were the Gym and the Arcade Center. The Gym itself was massive, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities. Inside, employees would find a full lifting area with modern equipment, a sparkling swimming pool, a basketball court, and even table tennis stations—all topped off with a luxurious sauna. The entire Gym was exclusive to ZAGE employees, offering them full access at no charge for as long as they worked at the company.
Zaboru admired how the complex was designed not only for productivity but for wellness and lifestyle. It wasn't just a workplace. It was a place built to inspire creativity, reward effort, and make every employee feel like they belonged to something larger.
Next to the gym is the ZAGE Arcade, a lively entertainment center packed with arcade machines featuring ZAGE's own titles and characters. The entire space is decorated with bright colors and life-sized artwork of iconic ZAGE characters, making it feel like stepping into a vibrant game world. This section is open to the public, since arcades are always more exciting and enjoyable when they're buzzing with people. The more players, the more energy—and that's exactly the experience Zaboru wanted to create.
In front of the Gym and Arcade, and to the right side of the complex, stands the ZAGE Store. This building is set to become the main hub for all ZAGE merchandise—it's the official, flagship store dedicated entirely to everything ZAGE. Inside, shelves will be filled with products ranging from collectible figurines, clothing, posters, soundtracks, game cartridges, consoles and limited edition memorabilia, all centered around the company's most iconic games and characters. The interior is designed to be sleek and immersive, with themed sections based on each game universe ZAGE has developed. Special launch events and seasonal promotions will be hosted here, adding to its draw as a fan destination. This store will be open to the public, welcoming not just fans but also curious visitors who want to take home a piece of the ZAGE experience.
Next to the store is the ZAGE Tavern, a large, vibrant, ZAGE-themed restaurant designed to immerse guests in the worlds of their favorite characters. The Tavern itself is big enough to host dozens of tables and features a wide selection of playful, branded menu items like "Kirby Bread," "Super Mario Ramen," "Pikachu Splash," and many others, each dish inspired by beloved figures from ZAGE's games. The walls are decorated with colorful murals, life-sized character cutouts, and even animated displays that bring scenes from the games to life. Screens across the restaurant showcase gameplay clips, making the space feel like a celebration of everything the company stands for. It's not just a restaurant—it's an experience, carefully designed to blend food, fandom, and fun. Like the arcade and store, the ZAGE Tavern is open to the public, making it a perfect destination for fans, families, and curious newcomers alike.
Zaboru's eyes lit up. "WOW!" he exclaimed, grinning. "This is insane!"
The place was massive. Zaboru, Zanichi, and Shinsuke stood in the middle of the street in front of ZAGE Tower, taking it all in.
Shinsuke grinned and said, "Well, the nearby buildings are almost ready—especially the gym. You can already use it. The others, not yet—most of the equipment and merchandise still haven't arrived."
Zaboru nodded, clearly impressed.
Zanichi looked around, impressed by the size and atmosphere of the place. "This is quite a nice environment—not just for office work, but for living too," he muttered. "But man... this must be expensive as hell."
Shinsuke laughed and nudged him. "Yeah, but our boss is generous. Way too generous sometimes, hehehe."
Zaboru chuckled from behind them. "Well, most of our revenue ends up here—or in Silicon Valley. But honestly, more here. The Silicon Valley office is strictly about work. Here, it's about life and culture too."
Zanichi shook his head with a grin. "I can already imagine Sayuri getting stress headaches every time you send another upgrade request."
Shinsuke, who was Sayuri's husband—and knew better than anyone how she handled ZAGE's finances—smiled knowingly. "At first, yeah. She was pulling her hair out. But now? She's gotten used to it. She knows exactly what kind of person our boss is."
Zaboru sighed playfully. "You know I'm still right here, don't you?"
They all burst out laughing.
The three of them continued walking toward the front of the ZAGE Tower, still basking in the energy of the moment. It wasn't just the building that amazed them—it was the vision turned reality. Every step brought them closer to the entrance, where the legacy of ZAGE was about to begin a bold new chapter.
In front of the entrance, bold letters spelled out: "Welcome to ZAGE TOWER!" As they stepped inside, Zaboru stood in awe. The interior was painted with a sleek, elegant finish, but what truly caught his attention were the massive illustrations that filled the space with energy and nostalgia.
A huge mural of Z-Man, striking a dramatic Super Sentai pose, covered one of the biggest walls. Overhead, Ryu Hayabusa was illustrated mid-leap across the ceiling, looking fierce and unstoppable. On one side, SpongeBob squared off against Mario in a playful boxing match, while Sonic lounged nearby with a relaxed expression, seemingly enjoying the chaos. Across another wall, Snake and RoboCop stared each other down, locked in an intense standoff.
It was more than just art—it was a celebration of ZAGE culture, gaming history, and the spirit of ZAGE. Every corner teased a story, and Zaboru couldn't help but smile at the boldness of it all.
Zaboru grinned. "They're all perfect!"
He also noticed that many walls still had open sections—empty spots clearly reserved for future characters to be added as the company grew. It made the space feel alive, like a living tribute to what ZAGE had achieved and what it still aimed to become.
The three of them began touring each floor. Every level of the tower had its own identity, but all were tied together by a sense of creativity and detail. Each workspace floor was filled with bold artwork, unique decorations, and open layouts that encouraged collaboration. There were multiple server rooms integrated into the infrastructure to support ZAGE's vast tech needs, and each floor came equipped with several meeting rooms and cafeterias to serve employees throughout the day.
Between floors 30 and 34, the tower housed ZAGE's studio division. These specialized floors were built for recording music, capturing motion for games, and producing voice work. The rooms were soundproofed, professionally equipped, and tailored for both internal projects and external collaborations.
The remaining office floors were designated for various departments and executives. On the 45th floor was a massive open-space gathering hub, functioning like a town hall where company-wide meetings and events could be held.
Finally, floors 50 through 52 were reserved exclusively for Zaboru. Now, they had just arrived at the 50th floor—his private executive space.
Shinsuke smiled and said, "Here it is—your own personal space, Boss."
Zaboru smiled as he stepped into the 50th floor, which served as his main executive office. The room was spacious and modern, filled with high-end monitors, a sleek desk, and a plush sofa area for meetings. The design balanced comfort and professionalism, with an open layout that reflected Zaboru's personality.
There was also a dedicated enclosed workspace off to the side, designed specifically for his secretary, Yumi Ichijou. The area was large enough to function as her satellite office should she choose to work on this floor, complete with everything she would need to manage executive operations efficiently.
The 51st floor served as Zaboru's personal creative workspace—a floor entirely dedicated to his hands-on projects and brainstorming. The walls and ceiling were fully soundproofed, making it the perfect environment for deep focus and uninterrupted creation.
The space was divided into sections, each tailored for a different aspect of Zaboru's work. It started with three high-end PCs, each rigged for a unique purpose. Near the workstations, shelves were lined with musical instruments, synthesizers, audio mixers, and headphones—tools Zaboru frequently used when scoring original soundtracks.
In another corner, a full art station was set up, complete with pencils, ink, brushes, markers, and digital tablets. Sketchbooks and concept boards lined the walls, ready to catch sparks of inspiration whenever they struck. Adjacent to that was a tech lab outfitted with electronic components and prototyping tools where Zaboru could experiment with hardware development, whether for controllers, consoles, or something entirely new.
Zaboru looked around in awe. "Whoa… this is really great."
He smiled, clearly touched. Shinsuke stepped up beside him and said, "I made sure the construction team gave extra care to this space. And believe it or not, they loved working on it. Turns out the boss of the construction company has family in Kobe. They were safe during the earthquake thanks to ZAGE's help. He said this was his way of paying it forward."
Zaboru nodded quietly. "I'm glad." He chuckled, heart full, and the group made their way to the final floor—Zaboru's private residence, designed for both him and his family. It included four bedrooms and one large gaming room built for relaxation, huge bathroom , entertainment, and a bit of play after long days of work.
Zaboru grinned. "This is perfect—really."
Zanichi nodded in agreement. "Clearly good."
Shinsuke simply smiled, soaking in the moment with the others. They stood in quiet satisfaction for a few minutes, enjoying the view, the air, and the feeling of everything finally falling into place. The tower was more than steel and glass—it was the future they had built together.
After a short pause, Zaboru turned to the others. "Next, we need to tell the employees when the migration will happen—and explain how ZAGE will operate going forward."
Zanichi smiled and nodded again. "I can't wait for it. It's going to be big."
Zaboru looked thoughtful. "It's all happening tomorrow at ZEB. We'll make the official announcement there—with the Osaka employees too. They need to be ready to migrate to Tokyo. It's going to be a major shift."
Shinsuke raised an eyebrow. "You think they'll be on board with it?"
Zaboru looked at both of them with confidence. "If they see what we've built here—what we're building together—they'll understand. It's not just relocation. It's evolution."
To be continue
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