Chapter 22 - 21: Earning One Million Yen
Chapter 21: Earning One Million Yen
Friday afternoon marked another step forward for Zaboru. After school, he and Ayumi Hamazou headed to his garage, where the final stages of crafting the five ZAS machines awaited them. Progress had been remarkable, with Ayumi's help making all the difference. Her eagerness to learn and Zaboru's growing mastery had turned what was once a daunting task into an efficient and enjoyable process.
All that remained were the final calibrations, and Zaboru estimated they'd be completed by Saturday afternoon. Once finished, his next move would be to approach Satonaka, the owner of Dream Catcher Arcade, to sell the machines. As he worked, Zaboru's expression was one of pure focus, a clear reflection of his passion for what he was doing.
Ayumi, standing close by, observed him intently. She told herself it was to learn, but her gaze often lingered on Zaboru's face longer than necessary. His dedication, the way he furrowed his brow in concentration, and the quiet determination in his movements left her slightly flustered. She felt her cheeks flush and quickly looked away, focusing back on the machines.
"What is happening to me? Why do I keep staring at him like this?" Ayumi thought, her heart racing. Yet, she couldn't deny she was impressed—not just with his skills, but with him as a person.
By evening, the machines were 90% complete. Zaboru stretched and turned to Ayumi with a grin. "Hey, Ayumi, will you be able to come by tomorrow? We can finish the machines and deliver them to Dream Catcher Arcade."
Ayumi smiled warmly. "Of course, Zaboru! I wouldn't miss it. I'm excited to see people playing on the machines we worked on."
"Great! See you tomorrow," Zaboru said as he waved her off. Ayumi left in her black car, driven by her ever-reliable chauffeur, Junjou.
With the day's work done, Zaboru hopped on his bicycle and made his way to Bakudan Arcade to finalize his deal with Toki.