Zero ~Zero~ The Official Novel Translation Chapter 1-4

First, I open the page which explains about the characters. My gaze instantly is locked on to the main character of the game.

A seventeen years old girl, on her name field is written ‘Hinasaki Miku’. There isn’t a mistake. Above the kanji characters, the furigana spells out the same thing.

My younger sister’s name!

The shock doesn’t stop there. There, it’s written that Miku has an older brother, named ‘Hinasaki Mafuyu’.

My own name.

“Is this for real?” Mr. Ioka asks.

“Please look at the next page. There are pictures of the characters there,” Tsukihara-san says. We flip to the next page, just like she suggested.

“Polygon, eh… What the…?! The face of the main character’s older brother looks exactly like Hinasaki-san?!” Mr. Ioka instantly compares the picture with my face.

Because it’s a polygonic picture, it looks a little weird. But the face in the picture does look like me. As if I were the 3D model for it. But the more surprising thing is the face of the main character girl whose name is Hinasaki Miku.

She looks exactly like Miku, my younger sister.

“Now you understand, right, why we’re all very surprised?” Tsukihara-san says.

“Oh, I got it! All of you have planned this, right?” Mr. Ioka laughs out loud, looking at me and the other three people in turns.

“How could we do that? Wasn’t it you who suggested Hinasaki-san as the novelist?” Tsukihara-san replies.

“That’s true… Then, you have heard and looked at Hinasaki-san before, and made him the model of this game character?”

“No. If that’s the case, we’d have asked for permission before. Right, Mr. Kitaike?” Mr. Shibaguchi jumps in. Mr. Kitaike nods firmly.

“Of course!” he says.

“Eh? Then? … Er…,” Mr. Ioka scratches his head. He looks like a person faced with a fox’s trick. While he’s looking at the stack of documents in front of him in confusion, I start to read the character profiles.

Hinasaki Miku
17 years old.
Has strong spiritual power, which is hereditary in the Hinasaki family, and it makes her able to see things which are not supposed to be seen. She lives like an ordinary teenaged girl, but deep down in her heart, she’s very frightened and never opens her heart completely, except towards her older brother.

Hinasaki Mafuyu
21 years old, Journalist.
Miku’s biological older brother. The only person who’s aware of Miku’s power. The only family for Miku whose parents have died.

I shiver.

This is the true condition of us both.

But, there’s something strange.

We’ve never told anyone about our power, not even once. And, yes, of course we’ve hidden the fact that the Hinasaki family is a family with a strong spiritual power.

“A very extraordinary coincidence,” Mr. Ioka comments. Mr. Shibaguchi nods and continues,

“It is strange. I’m the story writer, but I can guarantee that all the characters here are purely my imagination. And I’ve never met Hinasaki-san before, so forgive me, but I’ve only heard his name now.”

He doesn’t sound like a lying person.

I myself think that, if it’s only my face, it’s possible that he’s seen me or my picture before, and then made me a model. But what about Miku?

Or maybe they also saw her before, or someone looking like her, and then she’s made as a model?

The more important thing is, how can our secret, the spiritual power, be discovered too?
Is it just another coincidence?

As if mocking me, I suddenly see another shocking thing on the NPC (Non Playable Characters) character data, under the main characters profiles.

Takamine Junsei
42 years old, a mystery novelist.
A famous author with best-selling works. Beside mystery, he also writes non-fiction. He met Mafuyu when he was looking for materials for his novel writing, and since then, often helps Mafuyu to get jobs.

Hirasaka Tomoe
28 years old. Takamine’s assistant.
Chose to be Takamine’s assistant, and learns how to write novel under his guidance.

Takamine-sensei is a famous figure who often appears on TV or other media. It quite makes sense if he becomes a model for this game character. Hirasaka-san too, she has to appear on magazines.

But, if he’s made as a model, then why is our relationship described as detailed as that?

Suddenly I begin to get a big picture of what is happening.

“This is an idea from Takamine-sensei, isn’t it?”

“Eh? What do you mean…?” Mr. Shibaguchi asks in confusion.

“The idea for this game’s story. The main idea was from Takamine-sensei, right? I got this job because of his recommendation too, didn’t I?” I ask to Mr. Ioka.

It’s the only reasonable explanation.

Because I once mentioned to Takamine-sensei that my sister has a strong spiritual power.

No… no doubt about it.

He’s the only outsider who knows this detailed about me and my sister.

But, if that’s the case, I have to protest vehemently about one thing.

I’ve said, and even begged, to him to keep it as a secret. Especially about Miku, whose power far surpasses mine.

And now, the story is turned into an idea for a game…

I feel a bit angry.

Even though he’s very kind to me and often helps me to get jobs, this is a violation of privacy.
At least, keep our names and daily condition a secret.

Or… is that why Sensei asked Mr. Ioka to offer this job to me? Because he feels guilty about using our names and conditions? So, our meeting on the train wasn’t a coincidence?

He knew the time and place of my appointment, and then he waited to meet me?

“No matter how you look at it, this is a violation of privacy,” I say, trying to control my anger.

“Please wait!! We don’t know anything. This is a coincidence!” Mr. Shibaguchi replies quickly. He looks at Mr. Kitaike for support.

“Of course it is,” Mr. Kitaike answers calmly.

For me, his calm attitude only fuels my anger, “You planned this with Takamine-sensei, didn’t you? I met him on train before this.”

“Pardon me, but who is this Takamine-sensei you mentioned?” Mr. Kitaike asks to me seriously.

“Eh? Who…,” I don’t continue my words.

Even though this person is involved in the gaming world, how can he not know Takamine-sensei? To think that they use him and Hirasaka-san on this game. Their polygonic faces also resemble the real ones very much.

I look at Mr. Ioka in deep confusion. But instead of support, he asks me,

“This Takamine Junsei character… there’s a real model?”

“Mr. Ioka?!”
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Zero ~Zero~ The Official Novel Translation Chapter 1-3

Mr. Ioka is waiting for me under the JR Ichigaya line map. He’s about 10 years older than me, but his style is still like the younger generation. Even his hair is tinted brown.

I approach him immediately and after several moments of polite talk, we start to walk.

While walking, I look desperately for something to talk about. Well, if it’s not for him, I wouldn’t get this job, right? Polite talk is important here. But I suck at it, never succeed in polite talk, so our conversation is as dry as the falling leaves.

I’m always like this when I meet anyone who’s not close to me. Because of this attitude, I was even fired from my part-time job, on only my third day of work, back in college.

“They said it’s horror,” Mr. Ioka says while walking.

“Eh?” I’ve lost the track of our conversation.

“The theme of the video game you’re going to novelize. Its title is ‘Zero’. They said it’s pretty scary.”

“Have you played it?”

“No. I’m planning to borrow the beta version.”

“Beta… version…?”

“The prototype. A product that’s nearly perfect and finished, it’s usually called beta version. Do you own a PlayStation 2?”

“Yes. Well, it actually belongs to my younger sister.”

“Oh? You have a younger sister?”

“Haven’t I told you about this before? I only live with my younger sister.”

“Hee… Strange… If I’m not mistaken, you said that you live alone…”

I can only smile slightly at that.

Strange.

Before, I have told Mr. Ioka that I live together with my younger sister. I can remember clearly that he even replied, “Oh, please introduce her to me sometime then.”

This person is a bit weird and irresponsible. I once lent a video recording of a TV show that he also liked. But after a while, he didn’t return it to me so I lost my patience. When I asked him about it, he answered.

“Oh my, I’m sorry! My daughter used that tape when she wanted to record her favorite anime.”

He said it without any remorse at all. I don’t know if I should call it senile or irresponsible…

Maybe he did forget that I told him about me living with my sister.

The Game Maker’s office that we’re going to is about five minutes walk from the train station.

The building is like a mansion, but it’s more luxurious and has more or less 10 stories. It even has a receptionist.

While Mr. Ioka tells who we are and what our purpose is, I can only stand nervously, as if I’m in a wrong place.

The nervousness of meeting new people does come again, but what makes me uneasy the most is about this novelization. Are they really going to leave it to me?

I absolutely don’t have any sample of my work that’s worthy to be showed to them. Articles or its kind are easy. I only have to copy them. But novel?

I thought to bring the novel that I wrote during school. But when I read it again, it’s really obvious that it’s written by an amateur. If I brought it, they would think that I lack the competence.

A few minutes after, a young woman comes downstairs to meet us. Mr. Ioka, who’s met her before, introduced us.

Her name is Tsukihara. She looks very beautiful in her business suit. From her, I can smell perfume that I can’t recognize. She smiles kindly when Mr. Ioka introduces me.

I still look at her blankly for a few moments, then I hurriedly take my name card out of my pocket and give it to Tsukihara-san.

We exchange name cards. When she reads my name card, Tsukihara-san looks surprised. She looks at me closely.

“What’s the matter? Or is he Tsukihara-san’s favorite type?” Mr. Ioka says with his usual joking style.

Tsukihara-san seems surprised.

“Eh? Oh, pardon me…,” Tsukihara-san smiles again, “Please, follow me,” she says then.

When I’m in the elevator, I think about Tsukihara-san’s strange behavior in front of me just now.

Have I given her a bad impression even in the beginning of our meeting? Nooo, I’m such an idiot when I’m nervous!

Tsukihara-san takes us to an empty meeting room. Mr. Ioka and I sit side by side. Not long after, two other men enter the room.

It seems that Mr. Ioka haven’t met them before either. We get off our chairs and give our name cards.

They are Mr. Kitaike, the Game Producer, and Mr. Shibaguchi, who’s in charge of the scenario. They’re in their thirties.

Mr. Kitaike is slim and looks really calm and collected. It fits with a stereotype of a young businessman. Maybe it’s because of the suit and tie he wears too.

While Mr. Shibaguchi is the complete opposite. He’s short, fat and dresses very casually. His eyes glance at us over and over again through the thick glasses that he wears.

When they look at my name card, they both are shocked. Mr. Shibaguchi stares at me as if he can’t believe what he sees. But Mr. Kitaike isn’t so. He looks at the disbelief expression on Mr. Shibaguchi’s face, and somehow, I feel like I see him smiling.

“Isn’t it a surprise?” Tsukihara-san says.

“Er… I’m sorry, but is this your real name? Or just a pen name?” the chief scenario writer asks me.

“It’s my real name…”

“How do you read it?”

“Hinasaki Mafuyu,” I pronounce my full name. It’s a common question for me. What can I say. My name is a bit strange and difficult to read correctly without the help of the furigana.

“This… what the…,” Mr. Shibaguchi looks at Mr. Kitaike questioningly.

“Well, coincidences do happen,” Mr. Kitaike answers calmly.

“Coincidence… how can…,” Mr Shibaguchi stares at my name card again in confusion.

“What’s the matter? Is something strange about Hinasaki-san’s face?” Mr. Ioka, who starts to realize that something is wrong, asks.

“Excuse us… but this thing…,” Mr. Shibaguchi still looks stunned. Tsukihara-san then asks to Mr. Ioka.

“You haven’t got any materials related this video game at all, have you?”

“No. I was just told that it’s a horror video game with cult atmosphere, titled ‘Zero’…”

“Then, please read this. You will understand why we’re very shocked,” Tsukihara-san hands over a stack of documents.

Mr. Ioka and I sit down again and start to read.

It’s the whole concept of the video game ‘Zero’.
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Zero ~Zero~ The Official Novel Translation Chapter 1-2

To reach Ichigaya, I have to use the subway, which line I rarely use.

When I descend the steps of the station, a strange feeling appears in my heart. It’s like something is trying to hold me back.

It’s all right. Everything is fine.

Out of nowhere, a voice spoke. It was not a human’s voice.

I feel more uncomfortable. I glance around me, and suddenly, a white figure appears in front of me. I realize it immediately.

The voice I heard, and also the white shadow, are not things that ordinary humans can hear or see.

When the thought crosses my mind, the uncomfortable feeling grows more. I start to have trouble breathing because of it. After I buy the ticket, I rest on the nearest bench on the platform.

My heart is beating loudly. I feel that the platform around me starts to change into a pre-historic cave. Maybe it’s because I rarely come to this station or something, I feel like I’m stuck in this place. Or to be exact, this place is trying to lock me up.

My feelings grow more and more uncomfortable.

I feel like I’m being pulled into a bottomless darkness underground by an unseen evil force.

I can’t stay here…

I stand up and start to run away when the train I wanted to board onto comes with a whirring sound.

The train coming calms me a bit. I get on, and when I’m trying to control my breath and wiping the sweat flooding my face, someone calls my name.

I turn around, and immediately see Takamine-sensei, a famous novelist with his assistant, Hirasaka Tomoe-san, sitting on a nearby seats. In an instant, I bow my head deeply.

Takamine-sensei, or Takamine Junsei, as his full name says, is a famous mystery novelist. His works are always on the best-selling list.

I first met him about a year ago. He taught in the journalism school where I studied. Even before it, I’d admired his works so much so that I took the course he taught very seriously, and by the end of the school year, I was on the first place.

He complimented me, and even offered me a job to help him after it. Takamine-sensei doesn’t only write mystery, but non-fiction as well. He was going to collect data outside Japan, and he needed an assistant.

Being asked for help by someone that I really admire, of course I was very happy. But I was also worried. Wouldn’t this inexperienced 20 years old brat just be another obstacle for him? I confessed it to Takamine-sensei. And then he said.

“Come with me. There’s not going to be a second chance, and if you don’t get it, it’ll never come again. You have the talent, that’s why I asked you.”

I was really touched by the words, so I accepted the offer and helped him collecting data outside the country. The data then became a best-selling novel titled ‘Benmei no Kaku’.

After that, Takamine-sensei often gave me jobs through his connections, and I’ve been regarded as his protege in the world of novel writing. Thanks to that also that I can succeed as a journalist, albeit a freelancer one.

By the way, Mr. Ioka, who will be doing business with me now, was also introduced by Sensei.

“Don’t gawk like an idiot there. Sit here. Well, it’s not really mine…,” Takamine-sensei pats the seat next to him with a laugh. I smile and do what he says.

“How are you?” Hirasaka-san asks from Sensei’s other side.

Hirasaka Tomoe is Takamine-sensei’s assistant and full-time secretary. She’s in her twenties, and quite beautiful. She really admires Takamine-sensei, maybe even more than me. Once she graduated from university, she came to Sensei and half-insisted to be Sensei’s assistant. Or at least that’s what she told me…

While according to Takamine-sensei, “I insisted that she became my assistant, because her grades were really excellent. She’d been offered great positions everywhere.”

I don’t know which story is real, but I’m sure that each version has some truth in it.

Hirasaka-san, of course, also writes novels. Her name is quite famous as the new talented author who’s won awards a couple of times. I read her works, and I have to admit that, as a woman, she’s really amazing.

“You have a job, don’t you?” Takamine-sensei’s question brings me back to reality. I answer him quickly and explain why I was at the train station.

“Great! It will be your debut, right?” Hirasaka-san compliments me. Quite loudly, because the other passengers, although the train isn’t crowded, turn to us immediately.

I look down at my shoes and scratch my head sheepishly.

“Well… even if that’s the way to look at it, the story concept has been provided. Maybe that’s why they asked me to write it…,” I said humbly.

“If you think like that, forever you won’t be improving! To create something from an original work sometimes is much more difficult than creating something completely new, did you know that?” Takamine-sensei cuts in sharply.

I feel like I’ve been hit by ice water.

“I’m sorry…,” I can only bow my head. I’m very ashamed, didn’t believe in myself, that Sensei had to scold me.

Takamine-sensei claps me on my shoulder and says kindly, “I understand your feeling. You’re nervous, right? Nervous people often say things without thinking like you just did.”

I feel like crying.

But I also feel happier and more spirited, because I’m supported by someone as great as him.

Not long after, the train stops at Ichigaya Station. I get off there and say my good-byes to Takamine-sensei and Hirasaka-san, after promising to contact them again.
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Zero ~Zero~ The Official Novel Translation Chapter 1-1

“Do you want to novelize a video game?”

That was the phone call that I accepted from Mr. Ioka that day, on spring in the year 2002. He’s a magazine editor that I met when I was collecting data for my previous job.

It’s common that a famous video game being novelized to attract the non-gamers. Even I, who’s not a gamer, know that. But I think, the people who have the right to write a novel like that are just the script writers, or the people who are actually involved in the making of the game.

When I asked about it to Mr. Ioka, he answers.

“Not really. Actually, this kind of novels mostly use outside writers, so it’ll have a different atmosphere than the game. Right now, our company is looking for a new writer.”

“But, is it okay if I write it?”

“Of course. I remember that you once told me you’d written a novel when you were in school. That’s why I call you.”

I’m a Freelancer Journalist. But, in university, I did study how to write a novel, and I was involved in doujinshi-making. And when I try to remember, I did tell Mr. Ioka about it. But… it was just on amateur level. Not that I don’t want to be professional, but…

A few moments of silence, and then Mr. Ioka’s voice speaks again from the other line.

“Actually, I feel a bit uncomfortable about asking you very suddenly like this. I mean, you are a journalist. Is it… you don’t want to…?

“No, it really is fine! It’s my pleasure!” I answer hurriedly.

“I’m glad. Then, do you have free time tomorrow to meet the other staffs?”

“Yes.”

“Then, at 2 p.m. tomorrow, we’re going to give the Game-Makers a visit. Let’s meet at 1.50 p.m. at Ichigaya Station. What do you say?”

I agree with it, then after I say my good-bye, I hang up.

Once I put the phone down, I shiver.

I have done… accepted something that’s beyond my capability, that’s why. No… more than it… are they really going to let me do the novelization? Me, who’s just a Freelancer Journalist, and a small one at that?

But, it’s a big opportunity for me. All this time, I have dreamt to see my name on a tankoubon, and not just mere initials on the end of an article. My dream to publish a book is not going to be just a dream.

But…

The next morning, when I’m about to leave to Ichigaya, my younger sister, who lives with me, stops me.

“Don’t go there,” she says without any preamble.

I don’t have parents anymore, and the only person I can call my family is just my younger sister. She thinks of me more than a brother, but a parent as well. It makes sense, actually.

Although it’s like that, it’s hard to say it, but I always keep my distance from her. Why I do it, I myself don’t know.

I don’t respond. Even though there’s nothing wrong with answering a bit gently to her…

Everytime she faces me, she’s always very silent. It’s not her fault… because everytime I feel she wants to talk… I never pay any attention… I never talk about my jobs to her as well. Of course, this time is not an exception.

But why did she say that suddenly…?

“What makes you said that?” I ask her finally.

“I don’t know… but…,” my sister seems like she wants to say something, but decides not to. She just looks at me deeply, and then she says in a small voice.

“Please… don’t go…”

She’s frightened. I can see it clearly.

But I don’t know what she’s frightened of.

I feel a bit worried.

There must be something… or something is about to happen, that’s why she’s scared like this…

But I immediately throw that feeling away from my head.

“I have to go. It’s a great chance. It’ll be a shame to miss it, and that means I fail as a pro,” I reply.

I said those words more to myself. Once again, I keep my distance from my sister… Don’t want to touch whatever it is that she knows, or worries about…

And, ignoring my sister’s concerns, I leave home.
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