Mitsu smiled, his expression turning slightly more serious as he shifted the tone of the interview. "Well, the next question is a bit different," he said carefully. "I'm going to bring up something unpleasant. During the interview with Larry, involving you and Lewis, Lewis made a racist remark toward you. However, you handled it very smoothly at the time. How did you really take that situation?"
Zaboru smiled calmly, showing no trace of irritation as he answered. "Honestly, I think he was just making a mistake," he said. "And yeah, I really hate racism. I hate it the most." He paused briefly, choosing his words with care. "I'm fine with jokes—even jokes that touch on race—if everyone understands it's just humor. But blaming or looking down on someone simply because of their race? That's where I draw the line. That kind of thinking is just wrong."
He continued, his tone remaining casual but firm, never rising but never weakening either. "That's also why I handled it calmly. To me, it wasn't something important enough to get angry over," he explained. "Anger just gives those words more power than they deserve."
He tilted his head slightly, almost amused by the memory. "He said I was Chinese, right?" Zaboru chuckled softly. "That's not even an insult—it's just not true. I live as Japanese. This is my home, my culture, my life." He shrugged lightly. "And even if I were born Chinese, I honestly wouldn't mind at all. Why should I? There's nothing wrong with that."
Zaboru's gaze remained steady as he finished his thought. "People are people. Nationality doesn't define someone's worth, their creativity, or their humanity. The moment you understand that, comments like that stop mattering completely."
Kiara's eyes lit up instantly, her voice filled with awe. "Whoa, that's so cool!" she exclaimed. "Ever since that scene, there have been so many rumors saying you would make a great governor—or even Prime Minister of Japan someday, Zaboru-san! Is that something that could ever happen?"
Zaboru answered almost immediately, shaking his head with a light laugh. "Nope. No chance," he said plainly. "When would I even have time to play games if I became something that important?" He smiled wryly before adding, "Besides, I'm a bad businessman, remember?"
The room chuckled at that familiar self-deprecation. Zaboru's nickname, "Bad Businessman," was well known in the industry—not because he was actually incompetent, but because he had a habit of openly praising ZAGE's rivals whenever their games were genuinely good. To him, honesty mattered more than corporate pride, even if it made him look terrible on paper. That mindset alone made it clear he was never suited for politics in the first place.
Then Mitsu grinned mischievously and leaned a little closer to the microphone. "So, playing games is way more important to you than becoming a politician, Zaboru-san?" he teased, clearly enjoying the moment.
Zaboru smiled without hesitation, answering immediately as if the question didn't even require thought. "Obviously," he said with a small laugh. "It's not even a question. Honestly, gaming is my greatest hobby." He shrugged casually. "It's how I relax, how I think, and how I enjoyed myself. If I stopped loving games, I wouldn't be myself anymore."
Everyone laughed, the tension easing for a moment, before Nigo smoothly picked up the conversation again. "Alright, then let's move on to the next topic," he said with a grin. "This one is about Hitman. By the way, that game is insanely amazing—honestly, it might be one of my favorite games of all time. It's just so revolutionary." He paused briefly, then his tone shifted to something more serious. "But because of that, I've also heard it's getting hit by another wave of criticism. Is that true?"
He leaned forward slightly, continuing before Zaboru could answer. "I've heard this time it's even worse than GTA, huh? Some media outlets are saying that Hitman teaches children how to plan real killings." Nigo shook his head lightly. "How do you take that kind of criticism, Zaboru-san?"
It was unmistakable—the familiar pattern had returned. Once again, the U.S. media had turned their focus toward ZAGE, attacking the company in the wake of Hitman's release, framing the game as a dangerous influence rather than a work of fiction.
Zaboru let out a slow sigh before answering, his expression calm but clearly tired of the repeated argument. "It's really the same thing I said back when GTA was being attacked," he began. "It's foolish. They always look at games from the worst possible perspective." He shook his head slightly. "If they actually played the game themselves—even just for a few hours—they'd immediately understand what I'm talking about."
He leaned forward a little as he continued. "Hitman is a game about Agent 47—a super hitman, a professionally engineered human weapon. And what does he do? He kills his targets. That's it. That's the premise. It's fictional, exaggerated, and clearly designed as a game experience." Zaboru raised an eyebrow. "There's no realistic way a normal person could replicate that in real life."
He paused, then added with a dry chuckle, "I mean, do they seriously think there are people out there who play Hitman and go, 'Damn, Agent 47 is so cool, I want to kill someone and make it look like an accident'?" He shrugged. "Sure, there might be people who think something stupid like that for a moment. But will they actually do it? One hundred percent no its just intrusive thoughts."
Zaboru's voice remained steady as he finished his point. "Because this is the real world. It's not a scripted game. Actions have consequences. Games don't erase that understanding." He then took a sip of water, giving himself a brief pause before continuing with the interview.
"I really hate it when people blame video games for everything," Zaboru said, his voice calm but firm. "When something goes wrong, games are always the easiest target, even when they're clearly not the root of the problem in the first place." He shook his head slightly. "Society has deeper issues than entertainment, and pretending otherwise doesn't solve anything. That's why you should know this—I will never stop making games just because of controversy. Fear has never been a good reason to stop creating."
Mitsu grinned in response, clearly impressed by the conviction behind those words. "As expected of Zaboru-san," he said approvingly, nodding as if that answer perfectly captured the man he had come to know.
Then Nigo asked again, his tone noticeably more careful than before. "I've heard that the ZAGE Foundation is already ongoing… may I ask what made you create the ZAGE Foundation, Zaboru-san?"
Zaboru fell silent for a moment. The room grew heavy, almost uncomfortably quiet. Everyone present understood the weight behind the question. The ZAGE Foundation was not a publicity project—it was a joint effort between ZAGE and the government, created specifically to support cancer patients across Japan.
After a brief pause, Zaboru finally spoke, his voice lower than before. "Well… let's just say I met a tough little guy in the U.S. I'm sure most of you already know his name—Aldrich Kirk." He exhaled slowly. "He was fighting cancer. But even then, he still wanted to play my games."
Zaboru's hands tightened slightly on the table as he continued. "He asked me something I'll never forget. He asked, 'Will there be games in the afterlife too? Will ZAGE keep making games even after I die?'" Zaboru let out a quiet, strained chuckle. "That question… honestly, it broke my heart."
His gaze lowered, and for a brief moment, the confident public figure disappeared, replaced by a man weighed down by a very human sense of helplessness. "I kept thinking—how can someone so small, so innocent, be forced to suffer through something like cancer?" he said quietly. "It's unfair. Completely unfair." He shook his head slowly, as if trying to push away the memory, but it clearly lingered. "No child should have to think about pain, fear, or death at that age."
He took a slow breath before continuing. "And that's when it hit me. I realized I could do something. I had money. I had an influence. I had a voice people would listen to." His hands tightened slightly as the weight of that responsibility settled in. "So instead of just feeling angry or sad, instead of doing nothing, I decided to act."
"That's why I created the ZAGE Foundation," Zaboru said firmly, his voice regaining strength. "So I could help more people—not just one child, but as many as possible. Not just today, but for years to come. And if it takes a lot of money to make that happen, then that money is nothing compared to the lives it can save." He paused again, his tone softening. "Right now, Aldrich is still being treated in a hospital in Japan. I truly hope he gets better… and that one day, he'll be completely cured."
Mitsu's expression turned serious as he nodded deeply. "Such amazing work, Zaboru-san," he said sincerely. "I really hope this will help make cancer easier to cure in the future."
Zaboru nodded once in response, his voice quiet but resolute. "I hope so."
Then Nigo nodded slowly before speaking again, his tone lighter but filled with curiosity. "We all hope that cancer will one day be gone from this world," he said sincerely. "But alright, let's shift back to game topics for a moment." He smiled slightly. "I've heard rumors that ZEPS 4 is already in development. Of course, I won't ask when it will be released, and I won't ask about specific games either." He leaned forward just a bit. "What I want to ask is this—what should players expect from ZEPS 4? Just a little spoiler, if possible."
Zaboru let out a soft sigh and then chuckled, shaking his head as if genuinely amused by how the conversation kept drifting toward dangerous territory. "Man, somehow this show really keeps asking for a lot of spoilers, huh?" he said with a grin, glancing briefly at the cameras. The room erupted in laughter once again, the tension dissolving almost instantly as even the staff behind the scenes relaxed a little.
"But fine," Zaboru continued, lifting both hands slightly in mock surrender. "If it's just that much… okay. ZEPS 4, huh?" He leaned back in his chair, eyes half-lidded as if carefully measuring how much he could say without crossing any lines.
He paused deliberately, letting the silence stretch just long enough for anticipation to build. Then he smiled wider, a confident spark lighting his expression. "All I can say is—expect everything." His grin turned openly playful. "Because every real expectation people have for it…" he tapped the table lightly for emphasis, "…we fully intend to shatter it. And then exceed it. Hahaha."
All three interviewers' eyes lit up at once, almost in sync. The mood in the room shifted immediately, excitement replacing restraint. Kiara leaned forward, barely able to stay in her seat, her voice trembling with enthusiasm. "S–So ZEPS 4 will be that amazing, Zaboru-san!?" she asked, eyes shining.
Zaboru simply shrugged, his posture relaxed and his confidence effortless. "Obviously," he replied, as if stating the most natural fact in the world.
He said it so naturally that it sounded like a fact rather than a boast. Zaboru knew exactly what ZEPS 4 represented. It would be the equivalent of a PS3 and Wii–era leap in this world—a generational shift that would redefine what players believed a home console could do. When it finally released, it would blow minds across the industry. For now, however, the release date remained TBA, leaving the audience buzzing with anticipation.
Then Kiara suddenly raised her hand again, clearly unable to hold herself back anymore. "S–So then, Zaboru-san! I want to ask a personal question!" she said, her voice a little too loud with excitement. "Is it true that you already have a child!?"
Zaboru smiled gently and nodded without hesitation. "Yes," he replied calmly. "I'm a dad now. I have a son and a daughter at home." His expression softened noticeably when he spoke about them. "They're my precious treasures. But I won't give the public their names, you know. I want them to grow up humbly, without fame hanging over their heads, and become great people in their own way."
Mitsu and Nigo exchanged glances before grinning and nodding in clear understanding. Both of them respected that answer deeply. Kiara, however, froze on the spot. Her expression turned stiff, almost comically blank. "Eh… so you already have children… cool," she said weakly, though it was painfully obvious she was feeling a sting of jealousy.
Mitsu immediately burst out laughing. "What's wrong, Kiara-chan!? Disappointed!?" he teased mercilessly.
Nigo joined in with a chuckle. "I think you just broke her heart, Zaboru-san."
Kiara panicked, waving her hands frantically. "E–Eh!? No way! That's not it!" she protested. "I–I'm just surprised, that's all! And I hope Zaboru-san's children grow up healthy!"
Zaboru simply smiled warmly at her reaction and nodded once, choosing not to say anything further.
Meanwhile, back at the Renkonan house, Ayumi clicked her tongue softly as she watched the interview on television. "Vixen… touch even one finger of my man, and I'll show you hell," she muttered under her breath, though there was more amusement than real anger in her tone.
Zenshin was sitting beside her on the couch, his legs dangling as he stared at the screen with sparkling eyes. "Mama! Papa is so cool!" he exclaimed excitedly, clearly proud.
Ayumi couldn't help but chuckle. She reached over and gently caressed her son's head, her expression softening instantly. Nearby, Arumi slept peacefully in her crib, completely unaware of the chaos her father was causing on national television. Ayumi glanced at her sleeping daughter for a moment before turning her attention back to the screen.
Deep down, Ayumi knew Zaboru would never cheat. The thought barely even registered as a real concern. If there were a woman in this world capable of making him cheat, that woman would have to be absurdly incredible—or perhaps using some kind of black magic. Zaboru, after all, spent most of his time thinking about video games. Concepts, mechanics, systems, stories—his mind was always occupied elsewhere.
She still remembered their early days, before they were even dating. Ayumi had dropped hint after hint, some subtle, some painfully obvious, yet Zaboru barely reacted at all. He simply didn't notice—or didn't prioritize romance or even don't care—until Ayumi herself finally took the initiative and proposed to him directly.
That was exactly why she loved him so much. His loyalty wasn't something he forced or promised; it was simply who he was. Because of that, Ayumi felt completely at ease whenever he traveled overseas or went anywhere alone. No matter where he went, no matter how many eyes were drawn to him, Zaboru was always hers—and she knew it without a single doubt.
Then the interview continued for quite a while, and it became clear that the audience across Japan was thoroughly entertained. Viewers found themselves drawn in not because of shocking revelations or aggressive debates, but because Zaboru was simply an easygoing, genuine person. He didn't put on a mask, didn't hide behind corporate language, and didn't dodge questions with empty answers. What people saw on screen felt real—and that authenticity resonated strongly.
Many viewers commented on how refreshing it was to see someone of his status speak so naturally, laughing, teasing, and answering honestly without arrogance. And of course, a large portion of the female audience couldn't help but be captivated as well. On screen, Zaboru looked especially handsome—relaxed posture, confident smile, and calm eyes that made him appear both approachable and reliable. He wasn't trying to charm anyone, yet that made his presence even more magnetic.
By the time the interview drew toward its end, it was obvious that Zaboru's popularity had risen even further. Longtime fans felt reassured, new viewers became interested, and public perception of him shifted upward by a significant margin. The interview didn't just entertain—it strengthened Zaboru's image as both a creator and a person, elevating his fanbase more than any marketing campaign ever could.
To be continue
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