Friday 8 October 1995

Zaboru is currently at the ZAGE offices in Tokyo, Japan, and today marks his last day there before heading to the United States. Tomorrow, he will travel to oversee the progress of two major Halloween projects: Clock Tower and House of the Dead. Although John Carmack recently called to report that both projects are progressing well, Zaboru feels it's essential to personally supervise their development.

This time, Ayumi won't be accompanying him because she's busy working on her own games at Akaishidan Studio. Although she feels sad about Zaboru leaving, she understands. For now, Ayumi and Zaboru are spending time together in his workshop at the ZAGE Tokyo offices, relaxing and enjoying each other's company.

Ayumi said to Zaboru, "Hey Zabo, what are your plans for Halloween anyway? Will ZAGE create something really scary?"

Zaboru chuckled and nodded. "Yeah, well, I already plan to create a horror game."

Ayumi's eyes widened. "H… Horror game? Is it scary…?" Ayumi was scared of ghosts!

Zaboru grinned and looked at her. "Very…"

Ayumi immediately stepped forward and playfully smacked his shoulder. "You meanie!"

Zaboru burst out laughing.

"Hahaha! Don't worry about it too much, Ayumi. If you don't like horror, it doesn't matter," Zaboru said reassuringly. In truth, he wasn't exactly a fan of horror himself—at least not the cheap kind filled with loud jumpscares. He actually hated them. For Zaboru, jumpscare-based horror wasn't genuinely frightening; it just startled people. That kind of scare felt hollow to him.

What he truly appreciated in horror was the deep, unsettling atmosphere that the kind of horror he loved built tension slowly and immersed the player in eerie, mysterious environments. Games like Little Nightmares, for example—even though they featured occasional jumpscares—used atmosphere brilliantly to instill fear. The visual design, ambient sounds, and pacing made it genuinely creepy.

Another favorite of his was Bloodborne, which combined gothic horror with an overwhelming sense of dread and madness. The design, tone, and worldbuilding had a horror presence that lingered long after the screen went dark. He also loved the early Resident Evil titles. The slow, shambling zombies, the limited ammunition, and the anxiety of not knowing what was around the next corner—that was the kind of horror that left an impression. And then there was Silent Hill, with its thick fog, distorted environments, and cryptic storylines. It wasn't just scary—it was psychologically disturbing. To Zaboru, that was what true horror was all about.

Ayumi suddenly asked, "But horror games, huh? What kind of gameplay are you cooking up this time, Zabo? I can't really imagine how horror games are supposed to work... Maybe something similar to the ZAGE title you created, Maniac Mansion?"

Zaboru nodded. "Maniac Mansion definitely had some horror elements, but this new game will take it to another level. You'll just have to wait until it's released, okay?"

Ayumi pouted. "You're so stingy with spoilers, Zabo!"

Ayumi then asked Zaboru, "Will there be any new ads for Halloween?"

Zaboru chuckled and nodded. "Obviously, Ayumi—but don't worry, they're only running in the US, hehe."

Halloween isn't very popular in Japan these days; not everyone celebrates it. In contrast, in the US, it's practically a national tradition.

Zaboru then spends time with Ayumi before he leaves for the USA tomorrow.

Sunday 10 October 1995 ZAGE offices USA.

Zaboru had just arrived from Japan the night before, and despite it being the weekend, he was already back to work at the ZAGE offices in the United States. The office was relatively quiet since most employees were off for the weekend—but today, a special visitor had arrived: none other than Walt Disney himself.

Walt Disney chuckled as he took a sip of the Japanese green tea—a thoughtful gift from Zaboru. "Zaboy, you really know how to treat an old man, hahaha! I never knew Japanese green tea was this good!"

Zaboru let out a small sigh. "Zaboy"—that was Walt's personal nickname for him. It sounded ridiculous, but there was warmth in it. Walt had been treating him like a grandson ever since the merger, and to be honest, Zaboru didn't mind one bit. It was strange at first, but over time, he found Walt's affection endearing.

"I'm glad you like it, Mr. Disney. So, how's the progress on the Little Mermaid movie?"

Walt's eyes lit up as he leaned forward with excitement. "Everything's going smooth, Zaboy! Hahaha! It's turning out to be a fantastic story. I absolutely love the characters, and if everything stays on track, I think Disney can release it by June next year!"

Zaboru smiled and nodded in approval. Walt wasn't done yet, though. He continued with enthusiasm, "And you know what made this all possible? We skipped the whole initial story planning phase! Why? Because you already handed us the complete draft back in February—right after you took majority ownership of Disney, Zaboy. That draft gave our animation team a huge boost. It set the direction early and elevated everything we've done since. I'm honestly thrilled about it. I can't wait to watch the final product on the big screen! HAHAHA!"

Walt raised his teacup in a cheerful toast, clearly proud of the progress. Zaboru nodded again, feeling a quiet sense of pride at how far the project had come and the inspiration he'd ignited inside Disney's creative team.

Zaboru smiled. "Well, let's hope it turns out great, Mr. Disney. By the way, have you thought about expanding the animation teams? It might be a good time to start planning more movies beyond just this one."

Walt Disney raised a brow with curiosity. "Hhmm? It's possible, but are you really confident in all these stories? Don't tell me—you've already written them!?"

Zaboru chuckled and gave a sly grin.

Walt burst out laughing. "HAHAHA! Classic Zaboy! Alright then, I'll call management and have them form a couple of new animation teams. We'll make sure they're ready to bring those stories to life. And of course, all of it should start right after The Little Mermaid wraps. Don't worry—we'll be ready."

Zaboru nodded in agreement, a quiet confidence in his eyes.

Walt Disney let out a deep sigh. "Lately, Zaboy, I've had this strange feeling..."

Zaboru raised an eyebrow with concern. "What is it, Mr. Disney?"

Walt gave a faint, melancholic smile. "For the first time in decades, I'm not just afraid of dying—I'm frustrated by it."

Zaboru remained silent, choosing to listen closely as Walt spoke from the heart.

"I'm already in my 80s. How much longer can I live—maybe 10 or 15 years at best? I could die next year for all I know!" Walt said, exasperated. "What I regret the most is that I might not get to see Disney rise again... to watch those amazing animated movies that you, with your brilliant damn mind, are about to create, Zaboy. And you? You're still so damn young—you probably have another 60 or 70 years ahead of you. It honestly pisses me off!"

Walt continued, his voice low but earnest. "I used to not be afraid of dying—or maybe I just didn't care. But now? Now I want to live. I want to stay alive long enough to see those damn movies. Isn't that ironic?" He gave a short, almost embarrassed laugh. "Hahaha... It's funny, isn't it? The older I get, the more I want to hold on—not to life in general, but to the chance of seeing it all come together."

Zaboru smiled calmly. "Mr. Disney, no one really knows how long they've got. Just do your best. If you get 10 or 15 more years, that's already something, right? That's enough time to see a few of the movies come to life—and who knows, maybe even some surprises. And besides, who said I'll last another 60 or 70 years? I could die tomorrow too, you know. Nobody knows."

He leaned back slightly in his chair, his tone still lighthearted but thoughtful. "Life isn't always as long as people think. Some burn out early, others last longer than anyone expects. That's just how it is."

For Zaboru, this wasn't just a comforting platitude—it was reality. He had already faced death once before. After all, he was someone who had been reincarnated into this world. The idea of dying wasn't foreign to him. In a strange way, he felt like he had been given bonus time—a second run at life, with all the insight and perspective his previous one never allowed. That made him appreciate every moment more than most, and he had no illusions about permanence.

So, when he reassured Walt Disney, it came from experience. He wasn't trying to be optimistic—he was being honest.

Zaboru grinned, and Walt burst out laughing. "Hahaha, you're right! What good is it being all gloomy? But I'm warning you—make sure you create a bunch of amazing movies while I'm still alive... or I swear I'll come back to haunt you after I'm gone!"

Zaboru chuckled. "Well, I'll try my best. Hahaha."

They both laughed and continued chatting casually until Walt Disney eventually stood up and politely excused himself.

To be continue

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