Toki Bakurou sighed quietly in his small office tucked behind the rows of game machines at Bakudan Arcade. The arcade itself was still buzzing—kids, teenagers, and even some adults still lined up to play the classics, the fighters, the rhythm games—but something weighed heavily on his mind. The heart of the arcade, the part that truly kept the business running profitably, wasn't the retro charm or the arcade cabinets anymore. It was the ZEPS 3 Rental Section he had this last year. With around 15 sleek machines loaded with the newest games from ZAGE, the rental section was constantly packed, drawing in younger crowds who were more interested in console gaming than traditional arcade fare.

Despite the popularity, this shift worried him. The rental section was now bringing in more revenue than the arcade machines themselves. While the profit margin wasn't astronomical, the difference was enough to make Toki pause. If this trend continued, would arcades like his still have a place in the next decade? Would his beloved Bakudan Arcade slowly morph into a glorified console lounge?

He rubbed his temples, reflecting on his personal life. His son had just recently graduated from university—not with honors or ambition, but with just enough effort to get by. And then there was his ex-wife. She had long since moved on, now living with some new guy who, as far as Toki cared, didn't matter at all. Toki had no love left for her, but he did care deeply for his son, Toji.

Toji, though, was a bit of a puzzle. Towering at nearly 196 cm and built like a professional wrestler, Toji was more interested in lifting weights and building his body than setting long-term goals. He wasn't exactly book-smart and often came off as simple, but he had a good heart. Despite his carefree attitude, he still respected his father and listened—well, most of the time. And somehow, he managed to scrape through university, even if it was barely. That alone was a small miracle.

Then suddenly the door creaked open, and there stood his son—Toji. Towering at about 196 cm tall and weighing around 100 kg, Toji's presence immediately filled the room. His heavily built, muscular frame made him look more like a pro wrestler than a recent university graduate. With his tank-top clinging to his broad chest and his arms like tree trunks, he looked intimidating to most, even a little frightening to those who didn't know him.

Toki glanced up from his seat and snorted. "Brat, what do you want now?"

Toji rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, a goofy grin spreading across his face. "Um, Dad… I was wondering if I could get some allowance? You see, I stopped working at the part-time job near campus, so I'm kinda broke now. Oh! And maybe I could do some part-time work here at the arcade too? Hehehe."

Despite his intimidating appearance, Toji had a surprisingly soft and gentle heart. He was always willing to help people and carried no trace of arrogance about his size. But because of his enormous frame, many local businesses were hesitant to hire him. Store managers often assumed he'd scare customers away or couldn't fit in tight workspaces. It frustrated him, even though he never let it show.

Toki sighed, rubbing his forehead. It wasn't the first time they'd had this conversation. Still, he appreciated that his son came to him directly rather than trying to hide his situation. And at the very least, Toji always tried to contribute, even if society didn't always make room for someone like him.

"Fine, you can work here for now—but clean everything carefully! One wrong move from you and we might lose half the machines!" Toki grumbled, though there was a glimmer of affection in his voice. He pulled a crumpled 1,000 yen note from his wallet and handed it over. "Here, this should cover your lunch."

Toji beamed with gratitude. "Thanks, Dad!" he said cheerfully, before quickly heading out to the nearby supermarket to grab a high protein meal that he will cook himself.

Once the door closed behind him, Toki exhaled heavily and leaned back in his chair. "That kid… big as a mountain, but still clueless when it comes to life." He gazed out toward the buzzing arcade floor. The future of this business was uncertain, and so was his son's path. He could see that Toji was trying, and that counted for something. But time was ticking. If things didn't change soon, both his arcade and his son might be left behind.

He rubbed his chin, then muttered to himself, "Maybe I should talk to Zaboru. He's got the connections, the vision. If anyone can help, it's him." Toki really hoped Zaboru could find a place for Toji at ZAGE. Maybe not in a high-level position, but something that gave him a shot. Toji might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, and his obsession with bodybuilding left little room for anything else, but he was a good kid. Respectful, loyal, honest—things that mattered more than grades or smarts sometimes.

With a quiet grunt of resolve, Toki picked up the phone and dialed a familiar number. It was time to ask for help—from someone who owed him a favor or two.

"Hello, Toki-san. What's going on?" Zaboru said as he picked up the phone, his tone light and curious.

Toki's voice came through with his usual gruffness, laced with something a little more serious. "Brat, can we meet at Bakudan Arcade? It's been too long since you came by, and there are a few things I'd like to talk to you about face to face. Besides, I think you need to see the place again—it might stir up some old memories."

Zaboru chuckled warmly, the corners of his mouth curling into a nostalgic grin. "Hahaha, sure thing, Toki-san. It's not far from ZAGE Tower anyway. I'll head over right now. You're right—it has been a while since I last visited Bakudan Arcade. I'm actually looking forward to it."

Toki smiled quietly on the other end. "Good. I even prepared some food for you—your favorite, homemade gyoza. Don't keep me waiting, brat."

With a soft laugh, Zaboru ended the call and grabbed his coat. Meanwhile, Toki glanced at the clock, then looked around the arcade, a rare warmth in his expression as he began setting the table in his small office, anticipating his guest's arrival.

Meanwhile, Zaboru left his office at ZAGE Tower and stepped into the cool night air. The clock on the dashboard of his car read 9:00 PM sharp. He drove through the slowly emptying city streets, neon signs casting flickering colors across his windshield as his car made its way toward Bakudan Arcade—a place that held more memories than most buildings in Tokyo. The drive took him about twenty minutes, a mix of city traffic and his own meandering pace. He wasn't in a rush. There was something comforting about visiting Bakudan again.

When he finally arrived, the glow of the arcade sign made him smile faintly. It was the first place he sold his first arcade to make his company ZAGE back in 1991. As he parked and approached the entrance, he saw Toki standing near the doorway, arms crossed, waiting with a smirk on his face.

"Toki-san, good evening," Zaboru greeted with a warm smile.

Toki grinned and gave him a wave. "Brat, come on in. Got something special for you tonight."

He led Zaboru through the maze of flashing machines and noisy buttons to the back of the arcade, into his small office where a humble dining table was set. The aroma of fresh, sizzling gyoza filled the room.

"I hope you're hungry," Toki said with a chuckle.

Zaboru's eyes lit up. "You made these yourself?"

"Of course," Toki nodded proudly.

Zaboru didn't waste any time. He sat down and dug in with gusto, savoring each bite as if it were a delicacy from a five-star restaurant. He and Toki talked casually at first, laughter slipping between mouthfuls of food, the bond between old friends reaffirmed by tradition and shared history.

Then Toki asked Zaboru, "Say, brat—will arcades become obsolete? I mean, ever since ZEPS 3 launched, ZAGE hasn't released a single new arcade game in months. Is that what the future holds for us? Should I just convert Bakudan entirely into a ZEPS rental space?"

Zaboru leaned back, folding his arms thoughtfully before replying. "Arcades, sure, they're on the decline—but obsolete? Dead? Far from it, Toki-san. Don't worry too much. ZAGE will definitely keep releasing arcade titles in the future. But for now, at least this year, we're putting most of our focus on ZEPS 3. It's still fresh, and we're short on manpower to handle both console and arcade development simultaneously. So while there's a pause, it's not a full stop. We'll come back to arcades once we're in a better rhythm."

Toki smiled and gave a firm nod. "Then I'll keep my business running as it is," he said, though his voice held a touch of fatigue. After a short pause, he let out a deeper sigh, one that had clearly been building for a while. "But there's one more thing I wanted to talk to you about, Zaboru. It's about my son."

Zaboru leaned forward, sensing the change in tone. "Your son?"

"Yeah," Toki said, rubbing the back of his neck. "His name's Toji. He's… well, he's huge. A real musclehead. Built like a wall. He just graduated from an economics university, but barely—his grades were the bare minimum to pass. He's not dumb, just not built for studying. His passion's in the gym, not books. And because of how he looks, finding work's been a nightmare. People are intimidated by him. Most employers just take one look and decide he's trouble, or that he won't fit in."

Zaboru raised an eyebrow with genuine curiosity. "That so? Where is this son of yours now?"

Toki didn't answer with words. Instead, he cupped his hands and bellowed, "Toji! Get over here!"

A moment later, Toji stepped into the room, still drying his hands on a towel after cleaning the restroom. The moment his eyes landed on Zaboru, his entire expression shifted. He blinked, stunned, and took a half-step back like he was seeing a celebrity in the flesh.

"Uh… what's wrong, Dad?" he asked, his voice cracking slightly. Then his eyes widened even more as recognition struck. "Wait… you're… Zaboru Renkonan?!"

Zaboru chuckled and stood up, looking the young man over with amusement. 'What a big guy for a Japanese dude… and his name's Toji, too,' he thought amused by certain Muscle head sorcerer from anime in his previous life.

"Are you Toji?" he asked, extending a firm hand.

Toji, still in disbelief, nodded. "Y-yes, Zaboru Renkonan. I'm a huge fan!…"

Zaboru grinned, then shook his hand. Toji's eyes widened even more when he felt the older man's grip—solid, grounded, commanding. It wasn't crushing, but it radiated presence. Toji had never felt anything like it.

Then, with a gleam in his eye, Zaboru said, "So, Toji—do you love the gym?"

Toji's face lit up. He flexed both arms instinctively. "Yes! It's the one place I feel alive, like I belong."

Zaboru laughed heartily. "I figured. Let me ask you something—how would you feel about becoming a gym instructor?"

Toji blinked, confused. "Huh?"

Zaboru continued, "We've got a private gym at ZAGE Japan for our employees. Right now, we've been hiring freelance instructors, but I've been thinking—it'd be better to have someone permanent. Someone strong, friendly, and dependable. What do you say, Toji? Want to work at ZAGE as our official gym instructor? Full salary. Full benefits. You'd be part of the team."

Toji's jaw dropped.

Before he could respond, Toki slammed a hand on the table. "Yes! He'll take it! No question!"

Toji stared at his father, stunned, then turned to Zaboru, grinning wide. "Yes! Zaboru-san—I'd love to! Thank you so much!"

Zaboru let out another booming laugh. "Perfect! Come by tomorrow to tour the gym, and if you like it, we'll get you started on Monday. Your job will be simple—help ZAGE employees with their fitness routines, keep the place tidy, and keep spirits high. Sounds good?"

Toji gave a sharp, eager nod. "Yes, sir! That sounds like a dream job!"

Toki leaned back in his chair, his eyes misty with quiet pride. For the first time in a while, he felt real hope for his son's future. Toji had a chance—his own path, in a place where his strengths would be seen as an asset, not a liability.

And maybe, just maybe, Bakudan Arcade wasn't the only thing with life left in it.

To be continue

AN :Toji lol.