Monday, September 15, 1992
Despite the whirlwind surrounding the upcoming ZGB release, Zaboru was as productive as ever. With September's ZEPS game line-up in its final polishing stages and the October release schedule already looming, most would've crumbled under the workload. But not Zaboru. His mind was as sharp as ever, compartmentalizing each task with the precision of a master strategist.
But today wasn't about consoles or handhelds. Today was about something deeply personal. Music.
For months, Zaboru had been collaborating with the indie rock band Zankoku. What started as casual jam sessions during his rare downtime turned into something far more substantial. Zaboru didn't just play with them—he wrote most of the songs, led the creative direction, and handled the recording logistics. Now, it was time to bring their music to the world.
The band gathered in a cozy rented studio space in Shibuya, the air electric with anticipation. Zaboru adjusted the strap of his guitar and looked at his bandmates.
The lineup was tight and talented. Zaboru took lead vocals and lead guitar. Jun Hasegawa held down the bass lines with smooth finesse. The powerhouse drummer Kingo Hashi brought thunder to every track. Masashi Nishikiyama managed both the keyboard , adding texture and harmony. And finally, the charismatic Miki Tachibana delivered haunting backup vocals and rhythm guitar while becoming lead vocals on songs that require a female voice.
Zaboru took a deep breath and addressed the group. "Alright, guys. I know you originally helped out for a small fee, but I want you to know how much I appreciate your work. You believed in my songs when no one else even knew they existed. So now, I want us to release this album officially. Of course, royalties will be split fairly. You each get your share. No debates."
The room erupted with cheers.
"Ren-san, thank you so much," Jun said with genuine gratitude. "You wrote all the songs, and yet you still treat us like full partners."
Kingo nodded, slapping the table. "Man, these tracks are insane. You turned us from nobodies into something real."
Masashi chuckled. "It's wild to think we might actually hear our music on the radio."
Miki, who had been silent for most of the meeting, finally spoke. Her voice was soft but clear. "Ren-san... could we maybe make this band official? Like, permanently? I know Zankoku you started to hire us as a project, but since you joined, everything changed. For the better. You gave us direction. Purpose."
Zaboru looked at her, sensing the emotion behind her words. He offered a modest smile. "Of course Zankoku is already my official band, don`t worry about it."
Everyone agreed. Miki blushed slightly but then she sighs and inhales her breath, the familiar pang of her unspoken feelings for Zaboru flashing across her face. She had tried in the past left hints, lingered after practice, even advanced to Zaboru openly!. But Zaboru had always been respectful yet clear. He was committed to Ayumi. No exceptions. No drama.
Now, Miki had moved on, or at least tried to. She remained professional, burying her crush beneath layers of melodies and harmonies only admiring Zaboru because how good he is at making song and music from bottom of her heart, She knew she had no chance at all.
The business side of things came next. For the record label, Zaboru had approached PolyGram. In his previous life, this label would eventually evolve into Universal Music Japan. Right now, PolyGram and Sonaya are the top two music distributors in the country.
Naturally, Zaboru chose PolyGram—anything but Sonaya.
He pitched them the finished album, now finalized and ready for its upcoming release: "Zaboru and Zankoku Band: Ultimate Mixtape." The collection was a rich blend of rock, synth-pop, J-pop, and grunge-infused hooks, each track reflecting a unique layer of Zaboru's ever-evolving persona. The tracklist included twelve songs carefully curated and composed over the past year, each one tested in live jam sessions and now fully recorded:
Choujin Sentai Z-Man Opening
Kansha
Kamen Rider Black Opening
GO!
Winning Run!
GAS GASA
Whole New World
Machine Gun Kiss
Zankoku na Tenshi no Thesis (Female Vocalist)
Moonlight Densetsu (Female Vocalist)
Pokemon Getto Da ZE
The standout, without question, was "GAS GAS" — the same electrifying song featured in the American ZEPS commercial. Despite its lack of formal distribution, it had already built an underground cult following across forums and early fan pages abroad. With the album's release, listeners would finally discover the origins of this runaway anthem.
Zaboru wasn't chasing sales figures or chart rankings. He didn't care if it sold a hundred copies or a hundred thousand. What mattered was preserving a piece of his artistic soul—a musical fingerprint. This wasn't just a side project. It was passion documented in melodies and riffs. It was catharsis.
PolyGram approved the album without hesitation. Their A&R manager had been impressed by both the music and Zaboru's growing influence in multiple industries. With his reputation already cemented in gaming, the transition to music felt like a natural evolution. A launch date was set: October 5th. Promotional posters were already in production, with ads planned to air on late-night music shows and gaming variety programs.
Jun, Kingo, Masashi, and Miki were ecstatic. The dream of releasing an official record—something tangible, something real—was coming true.
Jun leaned back in his chair, grinning. "So, boss, should we expect a world tour next?"
Zaboru chuckled, tuning his guitar casually. "Let's focus on moving a hundred copies first. Then we'll talk about world domination."
But behind the modest laugh, he could feel the certainty. This album would leave a mark. Maybe not just in Japan, maybe not just in gaming circles, but in the hearts of those who understood that sometimes, the best levels are the ones you play with a soundtrack in your soul.
And the world would soon hear what passion sounded like when set to music.
To be continued.
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