Another world Game Developers in Japan`s 1991-Chapter 400 - 356: ZAGE’s First Ever Event - Part 5

The ZAGE Event Building was alive with energy. Fans roamed excitedly between snack booths, merchandise tables, and massive screens replaying highlights from the earlier races. But amidst the cheer and celebration, someone moved quietly through the crowd, unnoticed by most.

It was Hikaru Kurata—the sharp-eyed CEO of Sonaya and one of ZAGE's biggest rivals in the console wars. Despite being Zaboru's professional rival, Hikaru wasn't here to cause trouble. Dressed in casual clothes and wearing a baseball cap low over his eyes, he blended into the crowd easily. Beside him was his trusted game development lead, Junpei Hoshida, both men observing the event from a distance.

"So, Junpei," Hikaru said, sipping a small orange juice, "do you think we could pull off something like this?"

Junpei scratched his chin thoughtfully, watching the crowd cheer over a replay of the ZABO RC aerial maneuver. "Not yet, boss. We don't have the fanbase or a figure as iconic as Zaboru. Maybe in the future—once we carve out our own identity. Then, yeah, we could try."

Hikaru nodded with a faint smile. "Agreed. Let them enjoy their moment. We'll make our move when it's time."

Junpei grinned. "In the meantime, I'm getting some of that melon bread. Be right back."

Elsewhere, the Bakudan Boys were causing a ruckus, as usual. Rikki was mid-outburst.

"AAAGH! Why didn't I sign up for the ZAGE Quiz?!"

Sawada burst out laughing. "Maybe because of your dirty Mugen Canon tactics? Pretty sure they disqualified you to protect the other contestants!"

Rikki faked offense. "That was strategy, not dirty play!"

Sakaki then said, "Strategy, my foot! You backstabbed me, you punk!"

Rikki just laughed. "Like I said, I'll treat you later. Don't be mad, bro—I just really wanted to mess with your Sakaki Revolver!"

Kumogi, ever the chill one, sipped his apple juice with a sigh. "Honestly, the quiz test was pretty tough. Super weird questions. But I guess that's how they filter out the real fans."

"Yeah, you're right," Sawada agreed.

"But I am a real fan!" Rikki cried out dramatically.

Sakaki rolled his eyes. "Rikki, the only thing you remember are ZAGE's female characters. You're hopeless."

"Tactical retreat," Rikki muttered into his soda.

The group burst into even louder laughter, their camaraderie echoing through the event hall as the final round drew near

Across the room stood Yoko—or as many in the arcades and her gaming friends knew her, Yoko the Gamer Girl. A sixth-grader with a fierce passion for games, she was one of the youngest contestants to make it through the quiz qualifiers.

Yoko clenched her fists in determination. "I'm gonna win this thing! Just because I'm young and a girl doesn't mean I can't be the best. I will show everyone how good I am at games!"

Despite her impressive gaming skills and deep knowledge of ZAGE titles, Yoko is often underestimated by others simply because she's both young and a girl. Yet time and again, she proves she can hold her own against older and more experienced players.

Her eyes gleamed with confidence as she stood proudly among the older competitors. Her loyal butler watched attentively from a distance, maintaining a respectful yet vigilant presence to ensure her safety without intruding on her independence.

meanwhile In a quieter corner, the Hamazou siblings, Akechi and Ayumi, spoke in hushed tones.

"Nii-sama," Ayumi said softly, adjusting the ribbon in her hair. "I passed the quiz preliminaries! Will you join too?"

Akechi, still in disguise with a face mask and sunglasses, shook his head gently. "I can't, Ayumi. I can't risk exposing my identity. If the media finds out who I really am, it'll be a scandal—for me and for ZAGE."

Ayumi pouted but nodded with understanding. "Alright... but I'm gonna win! And Zaboru promised he'd give Akaishidan something special if I do!"

Akechi chuckled, his voice low. "I'll leave it to you, then. Make our studio proud. I know you can do it."

The remaining quiz contestants gathered near the stage. There were twenty of them in total, carefully selected through a series of challenging tests and trivia rounds held earlier in the day. Each one had proven their knowledge of ZAGE's games, characters, history, and even obscure developer references.

The crowd, now filling the seats again after the short break, murmured with excitement.

"I wonder what the grand prize is..."

"It's gotta be something big. Maybe exclusive merchandise? Or a new game reveal?"

The prize remained a mystery, fueling speculation and excitement.

Sakaki, Kumogi, Endo, Wataru, Yoko, and Takayuki stood ready, some nervously fidgeting, others focused and calm. All were determined to give it their best.

On stage, the lights dimmed again. Yumi returned, this time with a small headset mic and a sparkling clipboard.

"Welcome back, everyone!" she announced. "Now it's time for the final event of the day: the ZAGE Quiz Challenge! We've selected the top 20 fans from our earlier rounds, and they're about to go head-to-head in a battle of knowledge, memory, and ZAGE passion!"

Applause erupted.

"The rules are simple," Yumi continued. "Each round, we will ask increasingly difficult questions about ZAGE games, characters, and lore. If you answer incorrectly, you're out. The last person standing wins the mystery grand prize!"

Some in the audience looked around, puzzled. "Where's Zaboru? Why is his assistant the one leading this part?" whispers spread. It was unusual for him to step away from the spotlight, leaving many wondering if he was preparing something even bigger behind the scenes.

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The stage lights flared as a digital quiz board appeared behind her.

"Contestants, are you ready?!"

The 20 participants raised their hands or shouted a confident "Yes!"

Yumi smiled. "Alright then. Let the ZAGE Quiz Challenge... BEGIN!"

To be continued...

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