Monday 15 May 1997 Japan
Zaboru had just returned to Japan yesterday after an intense business tour across Korea, China, and the USA. Now, refreshed from the journey and full of new ideas, he was ready to dive back into work with a clear mission in mind. His first priority was to visit one of his earlier business partners — Miyagi Batteries, the company founded and currently led by his longtime friend from High School, Ryo Miyagi.
Zaboru had always maintained a close partnership with Miyagi Batteries, not just as a collaborator but also as a shareholder. Over the years, their joint ventures had yielded solid innovations and profitable result one of them are Z-Batteries for ZGB. But now, Zaboru wanted to take their collaboration even further. He had a new concept to propose, one that he believed could revolutionize the portable electronics market. With Ryo's engineering team and Zaboru's product vision, he was confident they could make it a reality.
This time, it wasn't just about incremental improvement — it was about changing the way people viewed and used batteries altogether.
Zaboru was riding in his car, gazing out the window as his thoughts wandered. "Let's hope Miyagi can build what I envisioned, even if it's about five years ahead of its time," he mused. Since the beginning of the year, Zaboru had been in close contact with Miyagi Batteries, regularly sending them ideas and proposals. His friend Ryo Miyagi — now a confident and capable CEO — had responded with enthusiasm, fully embracing the challenge Zaboru presented.
But Zaboru hadn't just pitched vague ideas. He provided detailed blueprints and a clear concept that made this particular innovation truly special — the introduction of a rechargeable battery. It was more than a feature; it was a vision for the future of portable electronics, and Zaboru believed that now was the perfect time to begin building it, even if the market wasn't quite ready yet.
Zaboru was planning for the next ZAGE handheld to feature dual battery options: a built-in rechargeable battery and a slot for standard AA batteries. He believed this would be a smart and flexible design choice. After all, there were still many users who preferred the convenience of AA batteries, especially in regions where charging options might be limited. At the same time, the inclusion of a rechargeable option aligned with his forward-thinking approach. Not only would this cater to a wider range of users, but it would also benefit Miyagi Batteries by boosting demand for both rechargeable units and high-quality AA batteries.
Not long after, Zaboru arrived at Miyagi Batteries, where Ryo was already waiting for him at the entrance.
"Zaboru, my man!" Ryo called out with a big grin, extending his hand.
Zaboru returned the smile and shook it firmly. "Yo, Ryo! Long time no see."
Still smiling, Ryo gestured for him to follow. "Come on, let's head to my office. We've got a lot to catch up on."
The two friends walked inside, ready to dive into business — and a bit of nostalgia.
"So how's the progress on the projects I asked about earlier this year?" Zaboru asked as he leaned forward with interest.
Ryo sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Honestly, we're confident. The fundamentals are solid, and the team has been pushing hard. But we still need more time. If everything goes well, we should be able to create a working prototype for the rechargeable battery by early next year."
Zaboru nodded thoughtfully, satisfied with the timeline. Ryo grinned and added with a hint of admiration, "This idea of yours — it's going to change how people see batteries. You're really ahead of your time, man."
Zaboru gave a humble shrug and chuckled. "We'll see. Timing is everything."
The two shared a moment of camaraderie before wrapping up the technical discussions. After the formal meeting, they took the opportunity to catch up properly. It had been a while since they'd sat down like this — just two old friends talking over a meal. They found a quiet restaurant nearby, ordered their favorites, and reminisced about their school days, There was laughter, reflection, and a deep appreciation for how far they'd come.
Later in the afternoon, Zaboru excused himself and made his way to AKAI HQ. As a major shareholder with a 40% stake in the company, Zaboru was not just an investor — he was a creative force behind many of their products. AKAI was currently producing the Akai Z-1, a successful mobile phone model, and now the team was deep into development on a groundbreaking new device: a full-color phone. It was an ambitious leap in mobile technology, one that could redefine user expectations.
Zaboru soon arrived at the AKAI headquarters, where Hyoga Akai personally greeted him at the entrance with a warm, enthusiastic smile. "Zaboru-san! The phone design you gave us after the launch of the AKAI-Z1 — it's almost finished! We estimate it will be ready for release by the end of this year!" Hyoga said with pride.
Zaboru grinned, clearly pleased. "Heh, good job, Hyoga-san. You're pushing things forward faster than I expected."
The design Zaboru had submitted was no ordinary concept. It was a flip phone — sleek, compact, and stylish — a form factor that was exploding in popularity across Japan in his previous life. But this wasn't just another flip phone. This model was set to feature a full-color display, a built-in calendar, email functionality, and even multimedia support — things that were still futuristic to the average consumer this world.
The development process had been long and challenging, stretching over two and a half years, approaching three. Countless revisions, tests, and hardware configurations had been tackled and refined..
But Zaboru wasn't done. As the meeting continued, he unveiled his next vision — a new product he believed AKAI could bring to life. This time, it was something akin to the iPod from his previous life : a compact, portable digital music player that could hold hundreds of songs, feature playlist organization, and even allow song sharing via data cable or infrared.
Zaboru laid out rough sketches, and a development roadmap. He didn't expect AKAI to jump in immediately — this product, he said, could wait until after the new phone launched. But the spark was there. Hyoga's eyes lit up at the possibilities.
"If we can pull this off, Zaboru-san," Hyoga said, "we might not just lead in phones — we could own the portable media space too."
Zaboru smiled, leaning back in his chair. "Exactly. Let's aim higher — and sooner than anyone expects."
After leaving AKAI, Zaboru returned to his office in Tokyo with a satisfied grin on his face. He leaned back in his chair, loosened his tie, and chuckled to himself. "I'm sorry, Steve Jobs, but I'm going to copy a lot of your work," he said, amused by the irony of it all.
Recently, news had spread that Apple was acquiring NeXT, and Steve Jobs was officially making his return to the company he had once been forced to leave. In the world Zaboru remembered, that moment would mark the beginning of Apple's renaissance — the dawn of the iMac, iPod, and eventually the iPhone. Jobs would go on to reshape the tech industry.
But maybe not in this world.
Here, things were different. Zaboru was already planting the seeds for a new digital age, and with AKAI on his side, he had the tools, the talent, and the timing to move faster than Apple ever could. The team at AKAI, led by Hyoga, was sharp, ambitious, and resourceful. They were catching up to, and in some ways even outpacing, the innovation curve.
Zaboru wasn't just copying ideas — he was translating the future into something real, tailored for a different timeline. He planned to be right there, guiding the way, helping AKAI push boundaries in mobile tech, entertainment, and digital ecosystems. There was still a long road ahead, but Zaboru felt ready for it.
He looked out his office window at the Tokyo skyline and smiled. The tech world was shifting, and this time, he was at the center of it.
In the future, if Zaboru ever found himself tempted to follow the same path Apple took in his previous life, he would firmly resist. He was committed to continued innovation and delivering true value to users — not cutting corners or locking features behind artificial limitations. Unlike the Apple of his old world, which gradually stopped including basic accessories and inflated prices beyond reason, Zaboru intended to avoid such practices entirely. His vision was clear: quality, fairness, and a user-first philosophy that never compromised.
To be continue
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