Friday 1 October 1996 - Japan night "Thank you for your purchase," Takayuki said with a tired, empty smile to his customer. He worked as a clerk at a supermarket in Tokyo, and the exhaustion was written all over his face. Still, a faint smile lingered—because he knew his shift would soon be over, and when he got home, he could finally do what he loved most: play video games. Video games had always been one of the few things Takayuki truly loved in his life. Without them, he might not have made it this far. Gaming wasn't just a hobby—it was a lifeline. Because he played so often and with such passion, he became quite skilled. While he never managed to win a ZAGE tournament outright, he consistently reached the semi-finals, which was no small feat. But when it truly mattered—when the stakes were high—Takayuki's mentality would crumble. Self-doubt clouded his focus. He'd convince himself he couldn't beat his opponent, and that doubt made him play far below his actual ability. Even though he was good, his mindset held him back from being his best when it counted most. Takayuki's life wasn't always . Now 28 years old, his daily routine is a dull loop—wake up, get ready for work, clock in at the supermarket, come back home, play video games, then sleep. Repeat. But it wasn't always this way. Ten years ago, Takayuki was full of life. He had two loving parents and came from a wealthy family. Everything seemed perfect—until tragedy struck. His parents died suddenly in a plane crash, leaving Takayuki completely alone. The shock devastated him, and from that moment on, the way he viewed the world changed. In the five years that followed, distant relatives he'd never met before began reaching out to him—the supposed "long-lost" family. But Takayuki ignored them. He didn't care. He clung to the only thing that remained: his parents' savings. Though he never spent a yen of it, not once. It didn't matter to him anymore. During those years, Takayuki became a hollow shell of who he once was. Numb and directionless, he eventually chose to work as a supermarket clerk—not because it was his dream, but because it was simple, and it kept him going just enough to survive. Then in 1991, ZAGE arrived. The first time Takayuki saw the flyer, he felt a strange spark—something told him this would be special. He bought the console, and for the first time in a long while, he found joy again. It was a turning point. That year, he made a quiet vow to himself: he wouldn't live in sorrow anymore. Life even seemed to brighten further when he met someone and started dating. For almost a year, things felt normal—hopeful. But the illusion shattered when Takayuki discovered the truth: the woman he had fallen in love with was actually part of his so-called "long-lost family"—one of those distant relatives who had come crawling out of nowhere after his parents' death. She had only been interested in his inheritance. The worst part? Takayuki had genuinely loved her. After that, Takayuki closed himself off from the world and focused entirely on gaming. He was a naturally smart guy, and his dedication made him exceptionally skilled at video games. As ZAGE expanded beyond games into anime—and most recently, even release Disney on a ZAGE version of The Little Mermaid—Takayuki found himself feeling more and more uplifted. Even though a sense of gloom still lingered inside him, something about seeing the world he loved grow in new directions made him just a little happier each day. Not long after, Takayuki returned home and sighed. He turned on his YaDo subscription TV while eating his dinner. The screen was showing last week's episode of Trouble Chocolate—an anime he had already seen. He stared at it with empty eyes, lost in thought. "If I had tried harder last year... could I have become the champion?" he wondered. Takayuki let out another sigh. Deep down, he knew he needed to change. But for now, he just wasn't ready. Takayuki slurped his ramen and glanced down at his belly. Years of poor nutrition had ruined his body—even though, back in his teenage years, he had been one of the best basketball players in town. "What's the point of changing," he muttered with a soft chuckle, "if I can be happy ?" He smiled faintly and took another bite. Just then, Trouble Chocolate reached its ending, transitioning into a block of commercials. Suddenly, the sharp sound of guitar shredding burst from the TV speakers. Takayuki looked up, intrigued. Thɪs chapter is updated by 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝⚫𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖⚫𝕟𝕖𝕥 "Oh, a new Z&Z song," he said, a small smile forming on his lips. "Let's hear it." Suddenly, a high-energy clip began playing on screen—Zaboru and the Zankoku band were shown rocking out, each member fully immersed in their instruments. As the camera panned in, Zaboru stepped up to the mic, and the music swelled. Then, with powerful emotion in his voice, he began to sing. "Nigetari akirameru koto wa daremo Isshun areba dekiru kara arukitsuzukeyou Kimi ni shika dekinai koto ga aru aoi hoshi ni Hikari ga nakusenu you ni" (If given a second, anyone can run and give up So just keep on walking There's something only you can do So that this blue planet doesn't lose it's light) The video clip showed a boy in his high school uniform, enjoying happy moments with his family—laughter, smiles, warmth. But then, the scene shifted. That same boy now stood silently before his parents' gravestone, eyes filled with grief. The image changed again—he was now an adult, working a monotonous job, his face blank and lifeless. Takayuki's eyes widened. The progression felt all too familiar. And then, the song continued. Tsukame! Egaita yume wo Mamore! Daiji na tomo wo Takumashii jibun ni nareru sa Shiranai pawaa ga yadoru haato ni hi ga tsuitara Donna negai mo uso ja nai Show me your brave heart (Seize the dreams you had! Protect your beloved friends! You can become stronger Unknown power dwells in your heart, when its fire is lit Will surely be granted...show me your brave heart) Then suddenly, the man on screen appeared depressed—head down, shoulders slumped, surrounded by shadows. The weight of his sadness seemed unbearable. But then, ghostly silhouettes of his parents appeared behind him, gentle and glowing. One reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder. The man slowly lifted his head, his eyes widening as he turned to see them smiling warmly at him. Tears streamed down his face. He dropped to his knees, overwhelmed by emotion. Then, something inside him snapped into place—like a long-lost fire being rekindled. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists with determination. He stood up slowly, the shadows around him beginning to fade. With resolve burning in his eyes, he took a step forward—as if declaring, "I won't stay broken. I will change my fate." The scene shifted. That same man, now with clearer eyes and lighter steps, started engaging with others, smiling more, laughing again. He was no longer haunted by the past. The world around him brightened, and he looked truly alive. The song surged on, echoing his transformation. Hare no hi bakari janai kara tama ni Tsumetai ame mo furu keredo kasa hirogeyou Ikikata ni chizu nanka nai kedo dakara jiyuu Doko e datte yukeru, kimi mo (Not every day is sunny, so sometimes Even though a cold rain is falling, just open your umbrella There's no map of how to live, that's why we're free The video clip showed a boy and a girl who had been close since childhood, sharing memories, laughter, and dreams. They played together, studied together, and as they grew up, their bond seemed unbreakable. But as time passed, life took a cruel turn. The girl, now older, walked away with another man, leaving the boy behind. He stood in silence, heartbroken, watching as the person he cherished drifted out of his life. His expression was filled with sorrow, his eyes hollow. The scene faded out, and the video continued to the next story. Hashire! Kaze yori hayaku Mezase! Sora yori tooku Atarashii jibun ni aeru sa Shiranai yuuki ga nemuru haato ni ki ga tsuitara Mune no naka no doshaburi mo Show me your brave heart (Run faster than the wind! Aim farther than the skies! You can meet a new you Unknown courage sleeps in your heart, and when you realize The downpour in your heart Will surely stop...show me your brave heart) Then the video showed the boy sitting alone, depressed and withdrawn. His world seemed grey and motionless—until he discovered a ZAGE console. As he started playing, his eyes lit up with a spark of joy. The colors returned to his world, and laughter slowly replaced the silence. For the first time in a long while, he felt like himself again. As he immersed himself in games, the boy began to think—maybe there was more to life than chasing after one person who didn't stay. Maybe he could find happiness on his own terms. With a grin slowly forming on his face, he made a decision: he would change. He began working out, taking better care of himself, and opening up to others. The screen showed him reconnecting with old friends, trying new things, and growing more confident with every step. The montage ended with a warm scene—he stood at an altar, hand in hand with a kind, loving woman who genuinely cared for him. She wasn't from his past—she was part of the new life he chose to build. The video faded out, leaving behind a message of healing, hope, and the courage to move forward. Then a soaring guitar solo filled the room, raw and emotional. Takayuki didn't even notice at first—but his eyes had welled up with tears. By the time he became aware, they were already streaming down his cheeks. He quickly wiped them away, overwhelmed. As the solo reached its peak, the screen cut to a powerful shot of Zaboru and the Zankoku band, fully immersed in their performance. Their energy was electric, their presence commanding. Then, the music transitioned seamlessly, and the next emotional clip began playing alongside the continuing song. Tsukame! Mabushii asu wo Mamore! Ai suru hito wo Takumashii jibun ni nareru sa Kowase! Yowaki na kimi wo Kuzuse! Butsukaru kabe wo Atsui kodou buki ni naru kara Believe in your heart! Seize the bright tomorrow! Protect the ones you love! You can become stronger Break that weak self! Destroy the walls blocking you! The warm beat of your heart will be your weapon Believe in your heart) The clip showed a man surrounded by darkness, weighed down by a heavy, gloomy aura—his heart clouded by despair. But then, one by one, iconic characters from the ZAGE universe began to appear: Mario, SpongeBob, Sonic, Ryu Hayabusa, Chun-Li, Samus Aran, and many more. They gently placed their hands on his shoulders and back, forming a circle of support around him. A faint smile tugged at the corners of the man's lips. The world around him, once gray and lifeless, began to fill with light and color. Slowly, he looked up—and there, in the distance, stood a version of himself. Happier. Stronger. Smiling with radiant confidence. Moved by the sight, the man took a deep breath. With tears glistening in his eyes and a wide smile spreading across his face, he broke into a run—charging forward toward that brighter version of himself. As he reached out, the screen faded to black, marking the end of the video. Takayuki's eyes widened, brimming with tears. The lyrics, the visuals—everything about the clip was beautiful. It wasn't just a song; it was a message, a wake-up call echoing directly into his soul. It said he couldn't give up. That he had to stop running. That he had to change. "Break that weak self… I can become stronger?" he whispered, his voice barely audible as the words repeated in his mind like an incantation. His eyes were still red and swollen, but at that moment, something shifted. He realized how unfair he had been to himself all these years. Deep down, he knew he deserved better—he always had. He just didn't care before. He had let the darkness inside convince him he was meant to stay broken. "I was the one holding myself back," he thought. "Not the world. Not fate. Me." He clenched his teeth. His hands curled into fists on instinct. That line—"Break that weak self"—wasn't just about becoming stronger physically. It was about refusing to stay small. It was about choosing to believe, even when the world gave you every reason not to. His chest rose with a heavy breath. His heartbeat felt louder now, stronger. For the first time in what felt like forever, Takayuki didn't feel numb. He felt alive. "Believe in my heart," Takayuki whispered, closing his eyes. In that quiet moment, he felt something surreal—four warm, gentle hands resting on the back of his soul. His breath caught. They weren't just a feeling—they were his parents. Though long gone, their presence surrounded him, smiling with pride and love as they gave him a soft but firm push forward. A brilliant light broke through the shadows in his mind, illuminating everything he had buried beneath years of sorrow and self-doubt. His chest felt lighter. His thoughts became clearer. He opened his eyes and smiled—not just a twitch of the lips, but a real, heartfelt smile. "I will change... I can change. I can become stronger!" he shouted with conviction. "Believe in my heart! Watch me, Dad! Mom! I'm going to become someone you'd be proud of!" That night marked a turning point. Takayuki—the gloomy gamer who once lived in the shadows—took the first step toward becoming a stronger, brighter version of himself. It wasn't just about games anymore. It was about life. About courage. About choosing to grow, even when it hurts. And in that moment, his evolution had already begun. Please give me your power stone and if you want to support me and get minimum 11 advance chapter and additional 1 chapter a week for 3 bucks considering subscribe to my /Zaborn_1997