Friday, 2 May 1994
While Sonaya is having a rough time, Zaboru is extremely busy—this time reviewing non–video game sectors of ZAGE, including comics, manga, and anime.
In the U.S., SpongeBob SquarePants—airing on Nickelodeon, which ZAGE partially owns—is doing exceptionally well. Viewers love the yellow sponge, and at this point, SpongeBob might even be more popular than Mario in certain states, largely due to the massive success of the cartoon.
In Japan, YaDo Studio, an animation company owned by ZAGE, is currently producing two ongoing anime series: Gundam and Pokémon for TV Tokyo. Both shows are receiving widespread praise and have become top-tier weekend TV staples among boys across the country.
On the comics side, Marvel is steadily publishing the MRU (Marvel Re-Universe) series, rebooted under Zaboru's guidance after acquiring the company. New releases include Spider-Man, Hulk, Ghost Rider, and Blade. Zaboru regularly recommends which series Marvel artists should focus on, and he occasionally suggests plot directions. Comic sales are holding strong—comic books are on the rise again—and even DC Comics is now copying Marvel's reboot model, leading to a competitive boost across the board. This makes Zaboru happy, and he hopes to keep the momentum going.
Meanwhile, for the Marvel Animation series, Zaboru has already approached Nickelodeon with a proposal, and they are now actively developing the project.
On the manga side, Hakushensha, a publishing company owned by ZAGE, is seeing excellent sales with both Weekly Shonen Shock and Monthly Shonen Shock. The magazines have a solid fanbase, with top favorites being Hokuto no Ken and Dragon Ball. Fans keep coming back for more.
That afternoon, Tomizawa—the CEO of Hakushensha—contacted Zaboru with an unusual request to visit the company, and Zaboru agreed. As his car made its way through Tokyo, Zaboru wondered, I wonder what news Tomi-san has for me this time...
When Zaboru arrived at Hakushensha, he was quickly escorted to the meeting room. There, Tomizawa greeted him with a smile.
"Oh, Zaboru. Welcome. Let me introduce you—this is Masami Kurumada."
Zaboru was shocked internally. Masami Kurumada? The creator of Saint Seiya?!
He shook the man's hand immediately. "Zaboru Renkonan."
Masami nodded politely. "Masami Kurumada. Nice to meet you, Renkonan-san."
Zaboru smiled. "Just call me Zaboru. Weren't you the author of Ring ni Kakero for Shonen Jump?" Since Saint Seiya didn't yet exist in this world, Zaboru referenced the only known work.
Masami's eyes lit up. "Yes! That's right, Zaboru-san. I… Anyway, I'm here hoping to get a job at Hakushensha…"
Zaboru's eyes widened. "Why? Don't you have a contract with Shonen Jump?"
Masami scratched his head. "Well… my contract was terminated. My latest manga, Otoko Zaka, didn't perform well, and Shonen Jump is under pressure because of competition with Hakushensha. They didn't want an underperforming series in their magazine..." Masami sigh.
Zaboru nodded. "I see. So… do you already have something new you're working on that can be published here?". It seems Shonen Jump has become both more ambitious and harsher, likely in response to the growing competition from Hakushensha.
Tomizawa grinned. "That's the thing—he doesn't. He wants us to hire him first, then he'll come up with something!"
Masami blushed. "I… I'm still looking for inspiration. But I can't survive without income..."
Zaboru nodded, understanding deeply. Becoming a mangaka is incredibly difficult—you're constantly chasing deadlines, working long hours, and sacrificing your personal life, all while being drastically underpaid. There's barely enough time to rest, let alone enjoy the fruits of your labor. "I understand your situation, Masami-san. Honestly, I've always admired your artwork—it has a unique charm. So how about I propose a deal?"
Masami blinked. "A deal?"
"You don't have a new idea yet, right?"
Masami nodded. "Yeah. My mind hasn't been at ease lately."
Zaboru chuckled. "Then I'll give you a fully written draft. You just draw it. Don't worry—my drafts are like novels. They come with rough artwork, detailed descriptions, everything. All you need to do is adapt it. Your salary will be the same as any regular mangaka. And just to get you started, I'll personally give you an investment of 100,000 yen—out of my own pocket, not Hakushensha's. You can repay it later in installments from your manga's revenue."
Masami's eyes lit up. "Really?! Then I accept!"
Tomizawa sighed. "You're that desperate, aren't you?"
Masami nodded. "I… I haven't eaten properly. I'm completely out of money…"
Zaboru chuckled and smiled. "It's fine, Tomi-san. Go ahead and prepare a contract. I approve of it. I'll deliver the script ASAP and Kurumada-san, you'll need to accompany me to ZAGE HQ later to receive the script after you've signed the contract "
Masami and Tomizawa nodded in agreement. Tomizawa quickly went to work, drafting a standard mangaka contract while Zaboru waited patiently. Masami carefully read through every clause, nodding slowly as he took it all in. After ensuring he understood the terms, he signed the contract with a firm stroke of the pen.
Zaboru, true to his word, pulled out a bundle of cash—100,000 yen—and handed it to Masami with a smile. The struggling artist's eyes sparkled as he took the money, his face lighting up with genuine joy and relief.
Without wasting time, Zaboru brought Masami along with him to ZAGE Tokyo Headquarters. They entered a sleek, modern meeting room on the top floor. Zaboru reached into his leather briefcase and pulled out a thick stack of paper—the draft script for Saint Seiya. With an air of ceremony, he placed it on the table in front of Masami..
Masami flipped through the pages slowly, his eyes scanning each panel with increasing interest. "Interesting… Cloths, Saints, Cosmo… This is truly exciting. The way you've structured the mythology, the battles—it's got an epic quality. And these characters… They're bold, expressive. You can really imitate my art style, Zaboru-san. It's uncanny. You're… impressive. Honestly, it feels like I'm looking at my own work, but somehow sharper."
Zaboru chuckled. "Yeah, I'm that good. So, how's the script?"
Masami nodded eagerly. "It's great! I'm excited to draw it. I'll start immediately!"
Zaboru smiled and handed him another 5,000 yen for transportation costs. "For the train ride," he said.
Masami took it with both hands and bowed slightly. "Thank you so much, Zaboru-san. This means everything to me."
Zaboru nodded. "Now go—get to work."
Masami turned and rushed out of the building, his heart pounding with excitement. As he boarded the train home, he clutched the draft script like a treasure. He couldn't believe it—he had a job again. And not just any job: the chance to bring to life a brilliant new manga that already felt destined for greatness.
He looked out the window, smiling to himself. I'm going to give this everything I've got. Zaboru believed in me when no one else did. And Hakushensha… they pay way better than Shueisha ever did.
Now alone, Zaboru leaned back in his chair.
"Well, I'll be damned. The creator of Saint Seiya is flat broke—and Shueisha actually showed him the door. Unbelievable. I suppose that gives me a golden opportunity, doesn't it? Hehehe."
Zaboru grinned to himself. He couldn't wait for Saint Seiya. This time, it would be his version—enhanced, reimagined, and more refined, not just for fans, but for himself as well.
Back in his previous life, Saint Seiya was a classic, sure—but it often fell into a predictable rhythm: Seiya and his friends would encounter formidable enemies, suffer brutal defeats, and then experience a surge of Cosmo that led to last-minute victories. It worked, yes, but it didn't always surprise. The true power of the series had always been in its characters—their motivations, their struggles, their bonds. That was the part most worth expanding. Zaboru knew the mythology deserved more depth, the battles more nuance, and the stakes more psychological weight.
Now, he had the perfect canvas and the perfect artist. He wouldn't just retell Saint Seiya. He would elevate it.. A deeper world. Characters who evolved not just in strength but in spirit. This was going to be great .
"Hehehe… I'm sorry, Masami Kurumada. But in this world, Saint Seiya will be different—and even better."
With that, Zaboru stood up, smiling with satisfaction. He decided it was time to head out and enjoy a good meal.
To be continued
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