Another world Game Developers in Japan`s 1991

After spending weeks buried in work, Zaboru finally decided to take a break. He stepped out of his office, stretching his arms as he breathed in the fresh, crisp air of the city. It had been far too long since he had taken a proper walk outside. As he strolled through the neighborhood, he found himself craving something delicious—something different from the frozen meals from his mom he had been reheating at office, although his mom cook are tasty but when you always it eat from frozen to heat up its kind of let down

That was when he spotted it. A small, dimly lit ramen shop tucked away in a back alley. The wooden sign above the entrance read "Chogai Ramen." Zaboru's lips curled into a grin.

'A hidden gem, huh?' he thought.

In Japan, everyone knew that these hole-in-the-wall ramen shops often held the best-kept culinary secrets. His stomach growled in anticipation as he stepped inside.

The shop was compact but cozy, the air thick with the savory aroma of simmering broth and freshly cooked noodles. Behind the counter, an old man stood alongside a younger assistant, both working in sync to serve their hungry customers. The place was bustling, with most of the seats already taken, but Zaboru managed to find a spot at the counter.

"Welcome, young man!" the owner greeted him warmly.

Zaboru nodded and took his seat. "Oji-san, what's the best ramen you have?"

The owner grinned, puffing his chest proudly. "That would be our Chogai Special!"

Zaboru chuckled. "Alright then, I'll take one of those. Oh, and a cold tea too, if you have it."

"Coming right up!" The old man nodded before turning to prepare the order.

As he waited, Zaboru observed the other patrons. Some were chatting happily with friends, while others, like him, were simply enjoying their meal in peaceful solitude. It was a nostalgic sight. 'Maybe eating outside by myself once in a while isn't so bad,' he mused.

In just five minutes, his order was ready. The steaming bowl of ramen was placed in front of him, and his eyes widened at the sight. The golden-yellow chicken broth shimmered with oil, rich and inviting. Nestled within the broth were slices of tender beef, a halved soft-boiled egg, fresh green onions, a piece of nori, and even a single, delicately fried prawn.

'Beef and prawn in ramen? That's new,' he thought, intrigued.

Taking his chopsticks, he picked up a portion of the noodles and slurped them up. The flavors exploded in his mouth—savory, slightly sweet, and deeply comforting. He quickly devoured the rest, savoring every bite, until the bowl was empty.

Satisfied, he placed the money—700 yen—on the counter and stood up. "That was amazing, Oji-san. I'll definitely be coming back."

The owner nodded with a proud smile. "Thanks for your patronage, young man!"

Leaving the shop, Zaboru took a deep breath, enjoying the fresh afternoon air. The streets were calmer than usual—it was Sunday, after all. Families strolled together, children laughed, and the lack of heavy traffic made the city feel almost peaceful.

He sat down on a nearby bench, stretching his legs as he gazed at the sky.

'Man, 1991 sure is nice. No smartphones, no constant distractions, just good food and fresh air… and definitely no woke nonsense.' He chuckled to himself, shaking his head.

His mind wandered to his past life. Before he died in 2024, he had been immersed in some of the greatest video games of his time. Astro Bot, Black Myth: Wukong, Metaphor: ReFantazio—he had played all the Game of the Year contenders. And then there was Balatro, an indie darling that took the gaming world by storm.

'Should I introduce Balatro to this world?' he pondered. 'Nah, it's too early. Maybe later.'

His thoughts then drifted to one of gaming's greatest mysteries. 'Even after almost nine years, still no Bloodborne sequel or PC port… Should I change that? Or should I let this world suffer the same way mine did?'

A mischievous grin spread across his face at the thought.

But all jokes aside, he couldn't deny how grateful he felt. Getting a second chance at life, reuniting with his parents, being young again, and chasing his dreams—it was like a wish come true.

'I hope this isn't just a dream.'

With a deep sigh, he stood up, dusting himself off. "Alright, time to head back and call Ayumi."

Back at his office, Zaboru picked up the phone and dialed Ayumi's number.

After a few rings, her familiar voice answered, "Hello? Who's this?"

"Hey, Ayumi, it's me, Zaboru."

She chuckled. "Oh, hey, Zaboru! How are you? Still working non-stop?"

"Not today. I decided to take a little break. That's actually why I called—I wanted to check out your progress. Mind if I come over and supervise my disciple's work?" He teased.

Ayumi laughed. "Your disciple, huh? I guess that's fair—I've learned a lot from you. And sure, you can come over. My dad and grandpa aren't around, just my mom. I'll send Junjou to pick you up."

Zaboru paused. "Wait… so that means we'll be alone in your room?"

Ayumi chuckled again. "Relax, Zaboru. I have my own game development room now, just like how you used to work in your garage for ZAS."

Letting out a relieved sigh, he smiled. "Sheesh… alright, I'll wait for Junjou then."

After hanging up, he leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms.

'Looks like I'll finally get to see how much Ayumi has improved. This should be interesting.'

And with that, he waited for Junjou, Ayumi's trusted driver, to arrive.

To be continued...