Sanika and Hidetaka continued to date, and today they went together to a nearby arcade—none other than the famous Dream Catcher Arcade, a hotspot filled with flashing lights, gaming machines, and energetic teens. The place was packed with the sounds of arcade cabinets, and the air smelled faintly of popcorn and cotton candy.
Among the buzz of players and background music, the two found a Street Fighter II machine. They challenged each other excitedly, inserting coins and jumping into battle. Hidetaka, who usually kept a cool, quiet demeanor, was quickly taken aback by how skilled Sanika was. She moved her character with incredible speed and precision, launching combos he hadn't expected at all and she using Chun-Li.
Hidetaka furrowed his brow, getting serious. He wasn't about to lose that easily. He adjusted his stance, focused harder, and fought back with equal skill he using Ken. The match became intense. Round after round, the two traded wins and losses, constantly adapting to each other's tactics. It was neck and neck, each bout ending in near-ties or dramatic comebacks.
By the end of the session, they had played over a dozen matches. Their scores were almost even, neither one dominating for long. They couldn't stop laughing between rounds, teasing and mocking each other with playful jabs. It was competitive, yes—but also incredibly fun. A perfect blend of rivalry and chemistry that left both of them grinning.
Even though there was no clear winner, that only made things more exciting. As they stepped away from the machine, both of them high-fived and laughed, already planning what game to battle in next.
Sanika grinned, her eyes gleaming with challenge. "You're strong, Hide-chan! But I won't lose that easily!"
Hidetaka nodded, his lips forming a small grin. "I will not lose either!"
With renewed energy, both of them dove back into their match, fingers flying over the controls with determination. Their competitive spirits flared up as they threw out combos and counter-moves, drawing a small crowd of curious onlookers impressed by the heated duel. After several intense rounds, their final match ended in a dramatic tie, both characters going down at the same time. The crowd gave a small cheer, and both Sanika and Hidetaka burst into laughter, the tension melting into shared joy.
After cooling down, they moved on to explore the rest of the arcade. They tried out various ZAGE-exclusive machines, cheering each other on and sharing snacks between games. One of the highlights was the UFO Catcher. Hidetaka focused intently, carefully positioning the claw. After three failed attempts, he finally managed to snag a Charmander plushie. He pulled it out of the machine with a victorious grin and handed it to Sanika.
She chuckled, genuinely touched. "Aww, Charmander's my favorite! Thanks, Hide-chan."
Next, they tried the Dance Dance Revolution machine. Sanika was quick on her feet, moving with rhythm and precision, clearly a pro. Hidetaka, on the other hand, was clumsy and stiff, missing more than half the steps. Still, he gave it his all, laughing at himself and determined not to quit.
Sanika burst into laughter, holding her stomach as he stumbled through the final song. "You look like you're summoning a storm with those moves!" she teased.
Blushing but smiling, Hidetaka stepped off the pad. "At least I didn't fall over," he said proudly.
Their playful energy filled the arcade as the two continued their date, soaking in every moment like a perfect memory in the making.
Then, not long after their arcade adventure, the two walked hand in hand to a nearby park, where the air was calm and the late afternoon sun filtered through the trees. Sanika grinned playfully, giving his hand a little squeeze. "You shy, Hide-chan~? I'm your girlfriend, you know?" she teased with a giggle, clearly enjoying how flustered he looked.
Hidetaka blushed, his ears turning red as he looked away. "Well… I'm just not used to it," he admitted softly, his voice almost a whisper.
They found a bench tucked under a large sakura tree and sat down together. The park was peaceful, with only a few people strolling or relaxing nearby. Hidetaka glanced up at the canopy of leaves above them before turning to her. "Sanika-chan, I can't go out like this every day. I still have to work and study if I want to make my dream a reality."
Sanika nodded without hesitation. She knew he was right, and more importantly, she admired that about him. Even though she came from wealth, he never once hinted at taking advantage of that. He never asked her for money or favors. Instead, he carried his own weight, working jobs and managing school like someone with a clear purpose.
"Do you need help, Hide-chan?" she asked gently, offering without pressuring.
Hidetaka gave her a small, genuine smile. "Thanks for the offer. For now, I think I can manage on my own. But… if things ever get really bad, and I have no other choice… would you be willing to help me then?"
Sanika smiled back, her heart warm. She could feel his sincerity, and more than that, she could hear his thoughts clearly: 'If the worst happens… I might have to put aside my pride and ask her. But only then.'
She admired that level of pride and independence, even if it worried her a little. "Sure thing, Hide-chan. I'll be here if you need me."
Little did Sanika know that her ability to sense people's feelings and hear their inner voices wasn't just intuition. It was a latent power—an inheritance she didn't yet understand. Her father could speak to machines, and her brother Zaboru held multiple powers granted by his reincarnation. Sanika's empathic gift was just as real… but unlike them, she had yet to discover the true extent of it.
Sanika then leaned closer and rested her head gently on Hidetaka's shoulder, clearly comfortable in his presence. The soft breeze brushed her hair across his arm, but he didn't mind. In fact, he relaxed a little more.
"Say, Hide-chan," she said with a warm smile, her voice soft and curious, "in the future, do you want to create video games?"
Hidetaka nodded slowly. "I want to," he said, looking up at the sky, "but if life says otherwise, I might have to sacrifice that dream for a while and look for other opportunities. I just hope I'll find my way back to it eventually."
Sanika turned her head slightly to watch his expression. "Heh, what kinda game do you want to make?" she asked.
Hidetaka's eyes lit up a little as he thought about it. "Well… fantasy, definitely. But with horror elements, because I really love that eerie, unsettling atmosphere. I'm a big fan of Devilman, and recently I've been hooked on a manga from Hakushensa's Monthly Seinen Shock—Berserk. It's brutal, dark, but full of emotion. Stuff like that really inspires me. But as for the exact kind of game? I'm not sure yet. I haven't found the full shape of it in my mind. All I know is… I want it to have meaning. And if I can, I want it to be something close to the greatness of ZAGE's games."
He grinned a little after saying it, maybe feeling awkward about comparing his dream to such a legendary standard.
Sanika nodded with pride. "Hehehe, then would you want to develop a game together with me? In the future?" Her voice was casual, but there was a hopeful sparkle in her eyes.
Hidetaka shrugged, but not dismissively. "If the opportunity presents itself," he said with a small smile, "then why not? I'd like that."
They sat in silence for a few seconds after that, both quietly imagining a shared future filled with creativity, challenge, and pixels—and neither of them knew just how close that dream might come to becoming real.
Suddenly, the sound of someone coughing broke the peaceful air. Sanika turned sharply toward the noise, her eyes widening the moment she recognized the two figures standing a few meters away. Her expression quickly shifted from shock to exasperation. "Nii-san, Father—what are you doing here?" she snapped, more annoyed than surprised.
Zanichi awkwardly cleared his throat, trying to act casual. "Well… me and Zaboru were just, uh, looking for some good food around the area. Right, Son?"
Zaboru gave a sheepish nod. "Yeah, we just happened to bump into you two… and your… boyfriend."
Zaboru's eyes settled on young Hidetaka Miyazaki, and a strange wave of emotion hit him. There he was—Hidetaka Miyazaki, the legendary game developer Zaboru had admired his entire past life. Only now, he wasn't the towering industry icon Zaboru remembered. He was just a high schooler, quiet and awkward, still years away from achieving anything. And even more shocking—he was dating Zaboru's sister.
Zaboru's thoughts swirled. It was surreal. In his previous life, Sanika had eventually married someone else entirely. Miyazaki had been a distant, untouchable inspiration—never a part of his personal story. And now, this is happening. His idol, sitting beside his sister, not as a legend but as a teenage boy.
His feelings were mixed—part admiration, part disbelief, and part protective concern. Nothing about this situation felt normal. And yet, it was happening right in front of him.
"Heh, I heard your conversation so you want to be a game developer?" Zaboru said, raising an eyebrow as he looked Hidetaka up and down with a half-serious, half-amused grin. Hidetaka was still completely starstruck—his heart pounding, his thoughts racing. 'Zaboru Renkonan… in person! Right in front of me!' he thought, stunned.
"Y-Yes, sir! I really do!" Hidetaka stammered, bowing slightly out of instinct. His voice was nervous but full of conviction.
Zaboru chuckled and stepped closer, placing a firm, encouraging hand on Hidetaka's shoulder. "Then try hard, Hide-chan. Don't just dream it—build it. No one else will do it for you." Zaboru then grinned give him thumbs up and said "You are very cool"
That moment landed like a lightning strike in Hidetaka's memory. His idol—not just Zaboru the brother, but Zaboru the living legend—had just given him advice and support and with his iconic catchphrase too just for him!. It was surreal.
Zaboru grinned, gave a short wave, and turned to leave with his father. Hidetaka just stood there in awe, barely able to process what had just happened.
Sanika watched his reaction and couldn't help but grin. "My bro might be famous, but he's still the same old dork. He never changes, you know," she said, chuckling. "Anyway, Hide, let's call it a day. Thanks for the date—it was really fun. See you tomorrow, okay?"
Hidetaka, still caught between shock and happiness, nodded silently with a soft smile. He turned and walked home slowly, his mind replaying the entire day like a perfect looped cutscene—one he'd never want to forget.
Meanwhile, on the side road, Zanichi let out a long, frustrated sigh. "Why didn't you reprimand him!? He's dating your sister!" he asked sharply, glancing at Zaboru with visible confusion and concern.
Zaboru shrugged, a calm expression on his face as he leaned against a nearby lamppost. "Because he seems like a genuinely good guy. Did you actually watch them? Not once did he try to take advantage of Sanika. He kept a respectful distance the whole time. He's working hard, not mooching off her, and he's got goals of his own. That's rare."
Zanichi narrowed his eyes, still skeptical. "But he's just a kid. You're basing all that off one afternoon?"
Zaboru nodded. "Yeah, but sometimes that's all you need to tell if someone's decent. I've seen enough people fake it, and he's not faking anything. He's nervous, humble, and actually wants to make something of himself. That's more than I can say for half the adults I know. Honestly, Dad—I approve of him. For now, at least."
Zanichi's eyes widened in surprise at Zaboru's serious tone. He opened his mouth to object again, but then paused, taking a breath. "Sigh… fine, but just know I'm keeping an eye on him. One wrong move and—"
But before Zanichi could finish his dramatic speech, a sharp female voice cut through the moment. "and what, Dad?"
Zanichi nearly jumped. "Umm… Sani-chan."
Sanika crossed her arms and sighed, tapping her foot. "Seriously, you two need to chill. Either go home or get back to work. And don't worry—I know how to choose the right guy, okay?" She gave them both a knowing look that made them flinch slightly.
Zaboru rubbed the back of his neck, exchanging an awkward glance with his father. "Well… since we're already here," he said, trying to lighten the mood, "how about we grab something to eat? Nearby restaurant. My treat. Think of it as an apology for, you know, spying on you."
Sanika's annoyance instantly melted into excitement. Her eyes lit up like a kid being promised cake. "Let's go!" she beamed.
The three of them headed off to a nearby diner known for its good food and vibe and signature curry rice. The conversation over the meal was warm and occasionally teasing. Sanika told stories about Hidetaka's awkward Dance Dance moves, and Zaboru gave half-hearted advice about dating from the perspective of an older brother-slash-reincarnated-warrior. Even Zanichi, who had been tense minutes earlier, eventually cracked a few rare smiles.
By the time the sun began to dip beneath the skyline, casting golden light over the streets, the trio strolled back to ZAGE Tower together—full, a little closer, and a lot less tense than before.
To be continue
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