Monday 7 Nov 1997 Japan.
As the discussion around Zaboru kept heating up in America since last Friday, he decided to return to Japan with his family instead. The attention overseas was getting too loud, and he preferred to handle matters that were more important to him at home. One of those priorities was tied directly to the Anime currently airing under one of ZAGE's subsidiaries, YaDo. The subscription numbers for YaDo's TV service had gone through the roof, and a huge reason for that was the lineup of outstanding shows. Most of them were top-tier Anime that aired weekly, drawing in fans from every corner of Japan. In addition to that, YaDo was also broadcasting content from other ZAGE branches like Nickelodeon and Tokusatsu programs from Rekka Studio. Right now, Rekka Studio's hit lineup included newest shows like Gosei Sentai Dairanger, Ultraman Dyna, and Kamen Rider Agito—shows that weren't just successful, they were dominating the market. Every week, merchandise was flying off the shelves, and reruns were getting high ratings.
Right now, Zaboru was deep in thought, reflecting on the current state of YaDo's programming. He reviewed the list of Anime series still airing on the network.
Yu-Yu Hakushou (Almost End)Death Note (Almost End)Neon Genesis Evangelion (Almost End)Shaman KingEyeshield 21Black Lagoon (Almost end)Digimon AdventureOne PieceNarutoBleachMobile Suit Gundam ZETAPokemon season 2(Almost End)BeybladeYu-Gi-Oh (Almost End)Rurouni Kenshin
Zaboru sighed. "Well, there are many Anime that are almost at the end of their run." He chuckled to himself, knowing he hadn't given YaDo any new assignments yet. Most of these Anime series would wrap up by next month, so it was about time to prepare something new for Yasu-san. Of course, Zaboru already had a solid plan forming in his mind. His next wave of Anime projects was set to air early next year, right after the current lineup concluded. Without wasting time, he picked up the phone and called Yasu Domachi, the CEO of YaDo.
ZAGE's influence in the Anime industry had grown into something bigger than even Zaboru expected. It had become a full-blown phenomenon. The variety of genres they offered played a huge part in that. Fans of action, sci-fi, fantasy, and slice of life were all tuning in to YaDo's programming. People genuinely loved watching the channel, and its reputation was soaring. However, Zaboru knew there was still a missing piece. Despite their success, they were lacking a consistent presence in the romantic comedy genre. The last notable series in that category—Trouble Chocolate—had ended a couple of months ago, leaving a noticeable gap in their lineup.
He leaned back in his chair, the wheels already turning. He wasn't just thinking about what would fill that void—he was planning how to raise the bar entirely but thats in future.
Not long after the call, Zaboru made his way to the YaDo headquarters. As he stepped into the building, Yasu Domachi was already waiting at the entrance, greeting him with a confident smile. Zaboru couldn't help but chuckle—it was clear how much YaDo had grown. From a modest division to an almost bankrupt animation company, it had now become arguably the most powerful and recognizable subsidiary within the entire ZAGE empire.
Inside the conference room, Yasu poured them both tea and sat across the table from Zaboru.
"So, what brings you here, Zaboru-san? Are we talking about a new Anime project?"
Zaboru grinned. "Exactly that."
Yasu's eyes lit up immediately. "Hehehe, I've been waiting for this, Zaboru-san! Every Anime you give us always turns into a massive hit. Our current lineup is performing incredibly well—no weak links at all!"
Zaboru placed a sleek black briefcase on the table, unlatched it, and revealed eight neatly organized folders.
"Here they are. These are the new Anime projects I want YaDo to handle."
Yasu blinked. "Eight? But only six of our current shows are ending soon. Are you planning to add more slots?"
Zaboru leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "Yes. The question is, can you handle the extra load?"
Yasu let out a long breath, half sigh and half laugh. "Well, we might be able to pull it off. We've been expanding rapidly, both in staff and production capability. It'll stretch us, but it's doable—depending on what kind of Anime you're asking for."
He reached for the folders, curiosity growing in his eyes as he began to read the titles one by one. The room grew quiet as the gravity of the new wave of productions started to sink in.
Dragon BallSaint SeiyaFist of NorthstarSlam DunkRanma ½Crayon Shin-ChanInitial DCowboy Beepop
Yasu looked at the folders, flipping them open one by one. "Huh? Five of these are from your Hakushensha Manga series?"
Hakushensha was one of ZAGE's core subsidiaries, responsible for publishing books, manga, magazines, and other print media. Over the years, it had cultivated a deep archive of iconic titles. Zaboru nodded with pride. "These manga—Dragon Ball, Saint Seiya, Fist of the North Star, Slam Dunk, and Ranma ½—are already proven hits. They're solid through and through. Each one has a strong following and deserves its own anime adaptation under our vision."
Yasu nodded but raised a brow. "Have the mangaka been informed about this?"
Zaboru chuckled and gave a reassuring nod. "Don't worry about that, Yasu-san. I've already spoken with all of them. They're fully onboard. In fact, most of them have been hoping to see their work animated. And besides, Saint Seiya and Fist of the North Star? Those are based on my own stories. The mangaka just did the illustrations and visual development. So, I've got full creative authority on those."
Yasu scanned the remaining folders, pausing when he reached Initial D and Cowboy Bebop. His eyes narrowed. "Why are these two marked in a different color?"
Zaboru leaned forward, his tone growing serious. "Because these two... I want to go all out. These aren't just typical projects. I don't care how long they take to produce. I want them flawless. They need to be the very best of what YaDo can deliver. That's your challenge, Yasu-san. Push the limits."
In his previous life, these two anime held a special place. Initial D was something Zaboru had already laid the groundwork for, having introduced its core racing concept through ZAGE's game Rad Racers during the ZEPS 1 era. Meanwhile, Cowboy Bebop was a masterpiece in its own right—an anime that had captured his imagination like few others. Zaboru still wanted to make it that way in this life, only better.
Yasu let out a theatrical sigh. "Fine, fine, Boss... you always give me the hard ones." But in truth, he couldn't hide the excitement bubbling under the surface. Just looking at the list of upcoming anime had his heart racing. The possibilities, the visuals, the stories—this next batch could define an entire era for YaDo.
"But Boss, there are a lot of action and fantasy titles in here. Is that really okay?" Yasu asked, flipping through the list again.
Zaboru chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "It's fine. Not everything here is just action. There's comedy, romance—even sports and racing. Initial D is all about racing, and Ranma ½ leans heavily into comedy with some romance in the mix. We've got variety, Yasu-san."
He tapped on the folder covers. "Besides, the current market still thrives on Shonen action. People crave it. That energy, those rivalries, the power-ups—fans eat it up. And let's be honest, Saint Seiya, Fist of the North Star, and Dragon Ball? These aren't just good. They are top tier and I bet they will be legendary. Unforgettable stuff. Any one of them could carry a season on their own."
Yasu gave a thoughtful nod, clearly convinced. "Yeah… yeah, you're right. There's something timeless about those series. Besides, I trust your vision, Zaboru."
He grinned. Ever since YaDo had started thriving, he was no longer the grumpy old man people used to know. He had become healthier, happier, and full of renewed energy. All of that change, all of that fire—it was thanks to Zaboru's vision.
After a while, Zaboru wrapped up the meeting and handed over the tasks to Yasu. With everything in motion at YaDo, he returned to ZAGE headquarters, his mind already shifting gears. There was something else he needed to focus on now—planning his next big move in the world of video games.
To be continue
AN : It's not that I forgot about Anime, it's just not the main focus itself as the main focus are just video games but I will mention it occasionally like this.
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