Zaboru was still reading reviews on his PC inside his house while occasionally checking new forum discussions about Xbox and the recent console war chaos. Even after more than forty hours of nonstop gaming, his mind still remained strangely active because of his Enlightenment Body. Still, even he knew he needed proper rest eventually.
Before going to sleep, however, he planned to do a short night workout first. No matter how busy or exhausted he became, exercising before resting had already become part of his routine.
Zaboru slowly stretched his shoulders and prepared to stand up from the chair.
But just as he was about to leave his desk...
Ding dong.
Someone rang the doorbell.
Zaboru blinked once.
His house in the United States was not some giant mansion because he personally disliked living in overly grand places. Compared to the absurd wealth he possessed, the house actually looked relatively normal from the outside, though it was still spacious, modern, and extremely comfortable.
At this hour, however?
Very few people would visit him unexpectedly.
"Hm... who could it be at this hour?" Zaboru muttered quietly before walking toward the door.
Then he looked through the door spy and immediately noticed it was Walt Disney.
Zaboru instantly smiled before opening the door.
"Ah, Mr. Disney? Why come at night?"
Walt Disney grinned casually. "Heh, Zaboy, you gonna let me in or what?"
Zaboru chuckled. Of course he would let Walt in. At this point, Walt already felt more like a grandfather to him than simply a business partner.
"Of course, of course, Mr. Disney. Sorry, hehehe."
Walt waved his hand dismissively before casually walking inside like he already knew the house by heart.
Which honestly?
He basically did.
Walt had visited often enough that he no longer acted like a guest anymore. He immediately took off his coat, placed it on the nearby chair without asking, and slowly walked toward the living room while looking around casually.
"Hah... same house as usual," Walt muttered. "Still too clean. You really need to make this place look more lived in, boy."
Zaboru laughed softly while closing the door. "Says the man who keeps throwing popcorn around every time he visits."
"That's called adding personality."
"Pretty sure that's called making a mess."
Walt only grinned shamelessly before sitting down comfortably on the living room sofa like it belonged to him.
Then he glanced toward the nearby shelves.
"Oh, you finally moved that ugly lamp."
Zaboru looked offended immediately. "That lamp was expensive."
"Still ugly."
Zaboru could only laugh helplessly.
The atmosphere between them already felt natural and familiar, almost like family members casually visiting each other late at night.
Then Zaboru asked, "What do you want to drink, Mr. Disney? Coffee perhaps?"
Walt groaned dramatically. "Nah, boy. Just water is fine. If I drink coffee at this hour, my old bones are gonna start fighting demons until morning."
Zaboru smiled and nodded before preparing some water. A few moments later, he returned and placed the glass in front of Walt Disney.
Zaboru sat across from Disney, studying the old man's face more carefully now. Walt still carried that same sharp, mischievous energy as usual, but there was something slightly different tonight. His movements were slower, his breathing was heavier, and even though he tried to act casual, Zaboru could tell this visit was not completely random.
"So... Mr. Disney," Zaboru asked gently, "why did you suddenly come here tonight? Usually, when you want to visit me, you call first."
Walt Disney chuckled as if Zaboru had asked something amusing. He picked up the glass of water, took a small sip, then leaned back against the sofa with a relaxed grin.
"Heh, nothing serious, boy," Walt said casually. "But do you know I almost died last week?"
Zaboru's smile immediately froze.
Walt continued like he was talking about bad weather. "Well, I got a mini heart attack."
Zaboru's eyes widened instantly. "What!? Why did nobody tell me this?" His voice rose before he could control it, and he leaned forward with clear worry on his face. "Are you okay now, Mr. Disney?"
Walt Disney chuckled and waved his hand like Zaboru was overreacting. "Relax, boy. I'm almost ninety, for damn sake. At my age, getting a heart attack or two is just the body sending a complaint letter."
Zaboru stared at him in disbelief. "That is not something you should say so casually."
"Heh, maybe not, but I'm still sitting here, aren't I?" Walt replied with that same stubborn grin. "And it was my order not to notify you. You were busy, and I didn't want everyone making a huge fuss over an old man's chest acting dramatic."
Zaboru's expression tightened. He respected Walt too much to scold him harshly, but the worry in his eyes did not disappear at all. To him, Walt was not only the legendary creator behind Disney. He was someone who had stood beside ZAGE for years, someone who had supported him, teased him, protected him, and treated him like family.
Walt noticed that look and softened slightly. "Don't look at me like that, Zaboy. I'm old, not dead." Then he took another sip of water before continuing more calmly. "Besides, I've already started preparing things properly. I gave most of the overall Disney operation to my great grand nephew, Walter Disney. He's my brother's grandson, almost in his forties now. You probably know him."
Zaboru immediately thought of the man who often followed Walt around during meetings. Walter was always quiet at first, but he asked sharp questions, listened carefully, and seemed genuinely interested in both animation and business. He did not have Walt's wild charisma yet, but he had patience, discipline, and a surprisingly good eye for creative projects.
Zaboru smiled faintly. "Walter? Yeah, I know him. He always asks questions like he's collecting secret boss strategies."
Walt laughed. "That sounds like him."
"He'll do just fine," Zaboru said with confidence. "He's still growing, but he's talented. More importantly, he actually cares about Disney, not just the money behind it."
Walt Disney grinned softly. "Well, Walter only inherited my rights, which currently own fifty percent of Disney. The other fifty percent belongs to ZAGE... to you."
He leaned back slightly while smiling.
"And you know what, Zaboy? Ever since these recent years, when our films started exploding worldwide... our company value really skyrocketed."
There was genuine pride in Walt's voice.
Not the pride of a businessman looking at money.
But the pride of a creator watching his dream survive far beyond what he once believed possible.
Walt looked around the living room quietly for a moment before laughing softly.
"And honestly?" he said. "I love it for that."
Zaboru nodded slowly, but this time he noticed something subtle hidden beneath Walt's smile.
Sadness.
Not fear.
Not regret.
Just... sadness.
The kind of sadness older people carried when they realized time was moving faster than they wanted.
"So... Mr. Disney..." Zaboru spoke more quietly now. "What do you actually want to talk about tonight?"
Walt Disney stayed silent for several seconds.
Then he smiled faintly.
"Zaboy... do you know that feeling when people somehow realize their time is running out?"
Zaboru's chest tightened slightly.
Walt looked down at the glass of water in his hand.
"Yeah... I don't think I have that much time left anymore," he admitted calmly. "If we're being realistic? Maybe two or three years at most."
Then Walt laughed lightly.
"But hey... maybe these old bones can still survive for five years if I'm stubborn enough."
The old man tried to joke.
But this time the joke felt painful.
"The point is..." Walt continued more softly, "I probably can't accompany you for very long anymore."
The room suddenly felt quieter.
Even the usual warmth between them became heavier.
Walt slowly smiled again, though this time the smile looked more tired than before.
"Funny, isn't it?" Walt murmured softly. "Disney is finally rising again because of you."
His tired eyes slowly wandered toward the nearby shelves, toward the old movie posters and animation sketches decorating parts of the room.
"Before meeting you..." Walt continued quietly, "I honestly wouldn't even mind dying anymore."
Zaboru's expression stiffened slightly.
"Back then, I already accepted it," Walt admitted with a faint smile. "I thought maybe my story was simply finished. Disney was surviving, sure... but surviving and truly living are different things, Zaboy."
The old man let out a weak chuckle.
"For years, I kept wondering whether people would slowly forget the magic we created. Whether one day Disney would just become another old company people respected out of nostalgia."
His voice was calm.
But somehow that calmness hurt more.
"But now..." Walt looked down at the water in his hands. "Now it suddenly feels hard."
The room became quiet again.
Not awkward quiet.
Heavy quiet.
The kind of silence shared between two people who both understood something painful without needing to explain it.
Zaboru stayed completely silent.
Because he understood exactly what Walt meant.
When people finally found hope again...
When dreams started moving again...
When life became exciting once more...
That was when death became frightening.
Walt slowly leaned back while staring at the ceiling.
"You know what the worst part is?" he asked with a small laugh. "Now I actually want more time."
That sentence hit harder than anything else.
Because it sounded so honest.
"So many things are finally happening again," Walt continued softly. "Disney films are reaching people all over the world. Animation is evolving again. Our stories are alive again. Even the future itself suddenly feels exciting because of meeting you"
Then Walt looked back toward Zaboru.
And this time, the old man's smile carried both pride and sadness together.
"Because I might not be here anymore when you fully transform Disney and ZAGE in the future."
Zaboru clenched his teeth slightly, unable to immediately find the right words. For someone who could usually talk his way through business wars, industry chaos, and absurd meetings, this kind of conversation was different. There was no strategy to use here. No clever answer. No future knowledge that could make the pain disappear.
"I..." Zaboru began, but his voice stopped halfway.
Walt looked at him for a moment before suddenly laughing softly. "Hey, don't look so sad, brat."
Zaboru looked up at him.
Walt waved his hand with that usual stubborn attitude of his, though his smile was gentler than before. "Everyone dies eventually. That's just how life works. And honestly? I had a fulfilling life. My family is doing well. Disney, my legacy, is in safe hands now. I got to see my dream rise again when I thought its best days had already passed."
His voice became quieter, but it did not break.
"So don't sit there looking like I already died in front of you."
Zaboru exhaled slowly, but the heaviness in his chest did not disappear.
Walt then leaned forward slightly and grinned. "Anyway, brat, I actually have one wish."
Zaboru immediately straightened a little. "One wish?"
Walt nodded seriously.
For a brief second, Zaboru thought Walt was about to ask something heavy. Maybe something about Disney's future. Maybe something about protecting Walter. Maybe something about finishing a certain film or preserving the original spirit of animation.
But then Walt said it.
"You see... my granddaughter, Luciana Disney, just gave birth to a daughter. She is so cute, Zaboy. Really cute. Like dangerously cute her name is Selena."
Zaboru blinked.
Walt's grin widened.
"So in the future, I want your son to marry my great-granddaughter Selena. Then we can become real family."
Zaboru's eyes widened instantly.
For a moment, the emotional atmosphere cracked so violently that Zaboru did not know whether to laugh, cry, or scold the old man.
"Mr. Disney..." Zaboru said slowly, "you were talking about death just a moment ago, and now you're arranging marriage alliances like an ancient noble family."
Walt laughed loudly. "Exactly! If I'm going to die eventually, I might as well leave behind a good plot twist."
Zaboru finally smiled, though his eyes were still faintly emotional. "I don't control my children's fate, Mr. Disney. If Zenshin grows up and loves someone, that will be his choice."
"I know, I know," Walt said, waving his hand. "That's exactly why I asked you. If you immediately agreed, I would have smacked your head with this glass."
Zaboru almost laughed.
Walt pointed at him with a grin. "But at least recommend my great-granddaughter in the future, okay? Just a small recommendation. A grandfather's humble marketing campaign."
Zaboru shook his head helplessly before smiling. "Fine. I can recommend your family properly in the future. But after that, it's up to them."
Walt Disney laughed loudly. "Hahaha! I knew you'd say that, which is exactly why I like you, brat."
Then his smile softened slightly.
"Still... Zaboy... meeting you is one of the miracles in my life."
For a moment, Zaboru could not say anything.
Because Walt sounded completely sincere.
Not dramatic.
Not exaggerated.
Just honest.
Walt then suddenly slapped his own knees and grinned again like he wanted to destroy the emotional atmosphere before it became too depressing.
"But hey, I still have a couple of years remaining!" Walt declared proudly. "So let's rock, okay? I'll keep working these dying bones until they completely betray me."
Zaboru still looked worried. "But Mr. Disney—"
"Shut up, Zaboy."
Walt immediately pointed at him.
"I will not tolerate you underestimating this old man's power."
Then Walt laughed again, and honestly, seeing the old man still joking like this made Zaboru feel both relieved and even sadder at the same time. Walt's humor had always been sharp, stubborn, and strangely comforting, but tonight every joke sounded like someone trying to keep the darkness away for just a little longer.
After the laughter slowly faded, Walt's expression became serious once more. "Like I said before, Zaboy..." he spoke quietly. "When I die, the protection I give to ZAGE will disappear too."
Zaboru's expression slowly hardened because he understood exactly what Walt meant. Walt Disney was not just a legendary creator or the face of a beloved entertainment empire. In the United States, he was also one of the biggest shields protecting ZAGE politically and culturally. His name alone carried absurd influence, especially among older politicians, media companies, investors, and entertainment executives who had grown up respecting him.
As long as Walt openly stood beside ZAGE, many people hesitated to attack too aggressively. They could hate Zaboru's rise, fear ZAGE's influence, or envy how quickly the company swallowed industries, but attacking ZAGE also meant risking conflict with Disney's legacy and the old man still guarding it. That invisible protection had helped ZAGE more times than most people would ever know.
But once Walt disappeared, that shield would disappear with him.
"And hopefully," Walt continued calmly, "by that time, you and ZAGE can already fully take care of yourselves. You're strong, Zaboy, but strength attracts enemies too. The bigger ZAGE becomes, the more people will smile in front of you while sharpening knives behind your back."
Zaboru stayed silent, but his eyes became colder. He already knew that. He had seen enough of the entertainment world, business world, and political world to understand how quickly admiration could turn into fear.
Then Walt looked directly into Zaboru's eyes. "So after I'm gone..." he said softly, "you protect Disney for me, okay? Not just the company. Protect the heart of it. Protect the people who still believe stories can make children laugh, families gather, and adults remember that they were once dreamers too."
Zaboru did not answer immediately. The request was simple, but the weight behind it was enormous. Disney was not just a business asset under ZAGE. To Walt, it was his life, his dream, and the proof that imagination could survive even after its creator was gone.
Instead of speaking carelessly, Zaboru slowly nodded. That single nod already carried enough meaning.
Walt smiled after seeing it. It was a real smile, soft and tired, but finally relieved. The kind of smile someone made after placing something precious into trustworthy hands.
After that, the atmosphere gradually became lighter again. The two of them started talking normally, joking about movies, games, animation trends, ridiculous business meetings, and old stories from years ago. At some point Walt even started complaining about how modern snacks tasted "too healthy" compared to older food.
Eventually, however, Walt Disney glanced toward the clock and let out a small sigh.
"Well... looks like my driver is already waiting outside," he muttered.
Zaboru quietly escorted him toward the door.
Before leaving, Walt suddenly stopped and looked back one more time.
"Hey, Zaboy."
"Hm?"
"Don't overwork yourself too much either."
Zaboru smiled faintly. "You're really saying that after admitting you want to work your old bones to death?"
Walt grinned shamelessly. "Exactly. Old people are allowed to be hypocrites."
Zaboru finally laughed properly.
Then Walt slowly left the house.
Zaboru stood near the doorway for a while, quietly watching the car disappear into the night.
And somehow...
The house suddenly felt much quieter than before.
Meanwhile, after returning inside, Zaboru realized he no longer wanted to sleep.
Instead...
He suddenly wanted to do something related to Walt Disney.
To be continue
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