While ZAGE, HanDai, and Nanco were celebrating the meteoric success of the UFO Catcher arcade machine, the mood at Sonaya was far more reserved. Hikaru Kurata, Sonaya's CEO, had acquired one of the machines and installed it inside Sonaya's headquarters. Now, alongside his head of game development and a developer team, he stood silently observing the machine at work.
Kurata folded his arms, eyes narrowed at the device. "Junpei, is this even considered a video game?" he asked. "There's no screen. It feels more like a glorified amusement park gimmick than an actual game."
Junpei Hoshida, head of Sonaya's gaming division, responded calmly. "Technically, no—it doesn't meet the traditional definition. But it still counts as an arcade machine, albeit a new kind. The genius of the UFO Catcher isn't in digital gameplay but in its prize structure. It's packed with ZAGE's IP—plush toys, dolls, action figures, even rare collectibles. That's what's pulling people in. Without ZAGE's branding and fanbase, this wouldn't be nearly as effective." Junpei examined the UFO Catcher. "The way they've designed it so that every arcade has a unique prize lineup—and the fact that arcades receive randomized rare rewards—is a brilliant approach to make this more engaging" Junpei praised the UFO Catcher business flow.
Kurata clicked his tongue and muttered, "Of course. Zaboru again. Only he could come up with something so absurd—and actually make it a hit."
Junpei gave a small nod. "While it's true that HanDai and Nanco are credited as collaborators, I think it's clear they're riding Zaboru's momentum. He's probably the one who conceptualized the whole thing. And I wouldn't be surprised if he's splitting profits equally with them instead of maximizing margins."
Aoyama, Sonaya's CTO, interjected. "From what I've heard, Nanco's Nando Michio and HanDai's Mido Mitoma both have immense respect for Zaboru. They treat him less like a partner and more like a visionary. From my contacts, I've heard that both of them are seeking a long-term partnership with ZAGE—and frankly, that could spell trouble for us."
Kurata's eyes darkened. "Why does everyone admire him so much?"
Junpei didn't hesitate. "Because he's not just a businessman—he's a creator. People don't see him as a corporate executive; they see him as an artist. He's innovative, sharp, and surprisingly humble. He commands respect without being overbearing. That's the difference, Boss. Your leadership is strong, but Zaboru's leadership inspires."
Hikaru Kurata frowned. "Junpei, you've been rather blunt with me lately."
Junpei merely shrugged. "I'm not trying to insult you, Boss. Your leadership is excellent—but in the gaming industry, a leadership style like Zaboru's resonates more with both developers and players."
Kurata sighed, knowing deep down that Junpei was simply stating the truth.
Kurata exhaled deeply and rubbed his temple. "Our Kagutsuchi project isn't set to launch until late 1993. So, what's our move? Should we try to match this UFO Catcher with a rival arcade machine? How do we respond?"
Aoyama bristled slightly. Despite being the CTO, he was once again sidelined as Kurata directed his question to Junpei.
Junpei answered with calm authority. "We don't. Not now. Our MGB console's December release is the priority. We can't afford to divide our attention or waste resources chasing a trend. Let's strengthen our foundation and focus on refining what we already have. Haste and recklessness often wear the same face. Let ZAGE ride this wave we'll bide our time." Junpei paused and glanced down at the Kagutsuchi project details. "If we split our focus now, the development of our 16-bit Kagutsuchi console will suffer delays. Boss, we need to be patient and stay the course."
Kurata stared at him for a moment before nodding. "Fine. Have it your way."
With that, he exited the room and made his way to his car, the weight of strategy and rivalry heavy on his shoulders. As he settled into the driver's seat, he closed his eyes and whispered to himself, "Zaboru... why do you always find new ways to infuriate me?"
He sighed and reclined, reflecting on his career. He had seen setbacks before. Sonaya had faltered, restructured, and ultimately surged ahead many times under his leadership. But this was different. In gaming, ZAGE wasn't just competing—it was redefining the space. And Kurata knew it.
It's like going to war against ZAGE—just when you're preparing your troops to conquer the land, you realize ZAGE's people are already there, exploring, adapting, and integrating the terrain with their superior tools.
Still, he held onto one thought: Junpei is right. We stay the course. Let ZAGE lead for now. We'll build Kagutsuchi into something that changes the conversation. And no matter how dominant ZAGE becomes in games, Sonaya is still larger in general, still trusted, still powerful.
He nodded to himself, eyes still closed. Patience. That's what I need.
And with that, he rested.
To be continued
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