Saturday 11 July 2000.
Zaboru was now back from China. In just the first two weeks, Team MYTH had already shown strong progress, integrating smoothly and adapting faster than expected. Even so, Zaboru made it clear that he didn't want them working on weekends. For him, building a sustainable team mattered more than short-term results. That was why he returned home—to take a break himself and spend time with his family, something he quietly missed during his stay in Beijing.
Now, he was in the living room, playing gently with his daughter while keeping an eye on his son. Zenshin was once again focused on drawing, completely absorbed in his own world. His small hands moved steadily, and the result was far beyond what anyone would expect from a child his age. Zaboru didn't interrupt him, letting him do whatever he wanted. Meanwhile,after playing, his daughter was sleeping peacefully in his arms, adding to the calm atmosphere of the room.
Zenshin was, without a doubt, a genius—a frightening one. He was not even three years old yet, but his drawing skills were already comparable to teenagers. More than that, he could read and write properly, and he recognized a large number of Kanji just by glancing at them. It was abnormal by any standard, something that would make anyone pause if they saw it closely. And yet, despite all of that, he was still just a child—happy, curious, and full of simple joy, unaware of how different he truly was.
Zaboru watched him quietly and smiled. To him, it didn't really matter how extraordinary Zenshin was. Genius or not, he was still his son. That alone mattered more than anything else. He didn't want Zenshin to feel pressure, to be treated differently, or to grow up carrying expectations that would take away that simple happiness.
If one day Zenshin struggled to make friends, then Zaboru would simply become one himself. He would sit with him, play with him, and make sure he was never alone. But at the same time, Zaboru believed that wouldn't be necessary. Zenshin would find his own people—maybe not many, but the kind who truly stayed, the kind who understood him without needing explanations. And that, in Zaboru's eyes, was more than enough.
Meanwhile, his sister Arumi was quite smart too, though she was very different from Zenshin. She didn't show much interest in drawing or music—instead, she loved watching things. Cartoons, anime, anything colorful and lively easily captured her attention. Even so, she was still a fast learner, just not at the same extreme level as her brother. One thing she clearly inherited from Zaboru, however, was her appetite. It was surprisingly big for her age, and it matched her energy perfectly. She was always running around, full of life, to the point where even Ayumi sometimes felt exhausted trying to keep up with her.
She often played with Ayumi's rabbit, chasing it around the house in what looked like a game only the two of them understood. Strangely enough, the rabbit seemed to respond to her almost as if it could understand her intentions, sometimes even following her "commands" in its own way. It was a little unusual, but not something that raised concern.
There was even one moment that Zaboru clearly remembered. He saw Arumi in the backyard, standing in front of the rabbits with a serious expression, as if she was giving them instructions. Then, without hesitation, she told them to dance—and somehow, they actually did. The rabbits began moving in small, awkward motions, almost like they were trying to follow her words. It was strange, almost surreal, yet at the same time oddly amusing.
Arumi herself didn't seem surprised at all. To her, it was just normal. She had even given the rabbits names—Ujin and Unin. These were the two rabbits she had taken care of since they were born, and in her eyes, they weren't just pets, but her closest companions. She talked to them, played with them, and treated them like friends rather than animals.
Watching that scene, Zaboru couldn't help but pause for a moment. It wasn't something he could easily explain, but he also didn't feel the need to question it too deeply. To him, it was simply another part of Arumi being… Arumi.
Zaboru didn't think too much about it. Even if his daughter had some kind of unique ability, it wasn't necessarily a bad thing. What mattered more to him was simple—she was happy, full of energy, and surrounded by people who loved her. And for Zaboru, that was more than enough.
Zaboru already knew that this world was not as simple as it seemed. He was certain his father possessed some kind of ability, and his brother-in-law Akechi clearly had one as well. With examples that close to him, it didn't feel rare anymore—just hidden. People in this world could have strange abilities, and most of them probably lived quietly without ever revealing them.
Even Zaboru himself wasn't normal. He had plenty of "cheat-like" abilities, but those came from his reincarnation—something he never took for granted. It gave him an edge, but it also reminded him that this world followed rules he didn't fully understand yet.
And then there was the strangest part of all—his "ghost friend." Right now, that presence was casually watching One Piece while eating ramen inside his Emulator Mind, as if it were the most normal thing in the world. Sometimes, Zaboru would pause and think about how absurd that sounded, but at this point, he had already accepted it.
If anything, it only reinforced one thought in his mind: this world was far more complex than it looked on the surface—and he had only seen a small part of it so far.
Then Zanichi came into the living room where Zaboru was and spoke in a casual but slightly amused tone. "Son, did you see the news?"
Zaboru looked up, a bit confused, shifting his attention away from his children. "Hmm? What news?"
Zanichi let out a small chuckle, shaking his head lightly. "That's exactly why you shouldn't focus only on your own world. You need to keep up with what's happening outside too." His tone wasn't scolding, more like a reminder from someone experienced.
Without waiting for a reply, Zanichi walked toward the TV and turned it on. The screen lit up, quickly switching to a news channel. "It's everywhere right now," he added, gesturing toward the display.
Zaboru leaned back slightly, curiosity replacing his earlier confusion as his eyes moved toward the screen, ready to see what could have caught his father's attention so suddenly.
Zaboru's eyes widened as the news played on their large CRT television. The broadcast was covering a "new type" of TV called "LCD." The reporter explained, "Samsung and LG, major electronics companies from Korea, are launching their new television products known as 'LCD,' or Liquid Crystal Display. These TVs feature slim bodies and a more elegant design. Not only that, they support 'HD TV,' allowing viewers to watch DVDs in high-definition format, resulting in much sharper and more impressive visuals."
The report continued with pricing details. For smaller models, around 20 to 32 inches, prices ranged between 60,000 and 80,000 yen. Larger models were priced between 100,000 and 200,000 yen, while premium versions could reach up to 300,000 yen. While still expensive compared to traditional CRT televisions, the report emphasized that for such advanced technology—especially with HD capabilities—these prices were considered surprisingly affordable.
Zaboru kept staring at the screen, clearly processing the information. The difference wasn't just in design, but in experience.
Zaboru's eyes widened. 'What? The prices are already this normal? So Samsung and LG achieved an early breakthrough?' he thought, his mind quickly analyzing the situation. In this world, even though it was only the year 2000, some technologies seemed to be three to five years ahead of what he remembered. And it looked like the television industry was one of the clearest examples of that shift.
If this were truly the 2000 he knew before, LCD TVs at this level would easily cost at least double the current price, making them luxury items for most households. But here, not only were the prices lower, the overall consumer spending power also seemed slightly stronger compared to his previous life. That combination made these TVs feel far more accessible than they should have been.
Zaboru narrowed his eyes slightly, thinking deeper. Higher-quality displays would push demand for better content, which in turn would accelerate development in games, movies, and digital media. The impact wouldn't stay in one industry—it would ripple across everything.
"…Interesting," he murmured quietly to himself.
Zaboru let out a low whistle. "Whoa… this TV is seriously cool. And it's actually affordable too." He leaned slightly closer to the screen, clearly impressed not just by the design, but by what it represented.
Zanichi grinned and nodded. "Yeah. Which means your plan for ZEPS 4 is basically solved now, isn't it?" he said, crossing his arms casually. "With production costs like this, LCD TVs will replace CRT sooner than people expect. And by 2003, when ZEPS 4 is supposed to be released, the price will probably drop even more—maybe to the point where it becomes standard in most households."
Zaboru didn't answer immediately. Instead, he kept looking at the screen, his mind already connecting the dots. Lower hardware cost, wider adoption, better display quality… everything was aligning faster than he originally predicted.
"Hehehe really unexpected good one at that," he muttered under his breath, a small grin forming on his face.
Zaboru grinned and nodded. "Yeah, Dad… this is awesome, hahaha. But still, Samsung and LG are really impressive, huh? When it comes to TVs, I guess Sonaya can't really compare to them." He scratched his cheek slightly, clearly acknowledging the gap without sounding bothered by it.
Zanichi nodded in agreement. "That's true. In some aspects, Samsung and LG are ahead of Sonaya—especially Samsung. Their display technology is on another level right now." He paused briefly before continuing, his tone more balanced. "But Sonaya has always been strongest in audio. They're still the number one choice when it comes to sound technology. Their speakers, headphones, and audio systems are unmatched."
He added with a small smile, "It's not like their other technology is bad—it's just that their audio division sets the bar too high, so everything else feels less impressive in comparison and in fact in each other divisions there are other giants aside of them too just like ZAGE for game division and Samsung in screen division."
Zaboru nodded, then asked thoughtfully, "Dad… should I ask AKAI to start manufacturing LCD TVs too? For the long term?" His tone wasn't rushed—it was calculated, already thinking a few steps ahead as he considered expansion possibilities.
Zanichi let out a small sigh, shaking his head. "No need, son. AKAI already has too much on its plate." He crossed his arms slightly, thinking it through. "As far as I know, you've already given them plenty of work—your next phone project, right? And then there's the new version of the Z-POD, not to mention that new disk storage technology you're developing."
He looked at Zaboru more seriously for a moment. "Piling on something as large as TV manufacturing right now wouldn't be wise. It's not just about capability—it's about timing, focus, and not stretching your resources too thin."
Zaboru stayed silent for a second, processing the advice, then slowly nodded again. He understood exactly what his father meant.
Zaboru smiled and nodded, then grinned. "I see your point, Dad. But still… if these TVs are already out in stores, shouldn't we just go buy one?" There was a clear excitement in his tone, like a kid who had just discovered a new toy.
Zanichi chuckled, shaking his head. "Don't worry. I already bought one, and it's on the way here. I have connections, you know?" he said casually. "Besides, if you go to an electronics store right now, it's probably already sold out. These things are in high demand."
He added with a bit of pride, "And of course, I bought the biggest one."
Zaboru blinked for a second, then let out a laugh. "Seriously? That fast? …Awesome!"
He leaned back, clearly satisfied, his mind already imagining how the new display would look once it arrived. It wasn't just about watching TV—it was about experiencing something that he really missed from his previous life.
With that, Zaboru simply waited for the delivery, feeling a quiet anticipation build up. At the same time, his plans for ZEPS 4 felt even closer to becoming reality, as if everything was slowly aligning in his favor.
To be continue
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