—Z's POV
"I'm sure they're coming."
Then—
WHOOSH.
The air changed. A familiar orange glow appeared in the middle of my apartment. My brain immediately stopped working. Because standing inside that portal…
"Sorry, we're a little late." Her voice sounded the same as X's, which was well obvious but it still felt weird.
"Oh???" X said one of her hands near her face trying to hide her gaping mouth
"She was to engrossed in work again. I had to pull her out of that overworking nature of hers." She said once more this time with a big smile. She looked rather… Cool? a pair of dark navy pants that fit her surprisingly well. Her light blue blouse was tucked neatly into them
A dark navy tie hung from beneath her collar, while a thin belt wrapped around her waist. Hmmmm… She looked liked she was about to attend business meeting or beat the shit out of someone. On the other hand…
"I was not. ᗜ‸ᗜ" Isn't that the legendary pouting face…? On the other hand Bronya was dressed in that CEO outfit of hers—a sharp black jacket over a crisp white shirt and dark tie, paired with a short black skirt and dark stockings.
"Oh Really now? I had to drag you out of your Office, you workaholic, doing a 996 willingly is just—Sighhh—Forget it, anyways what's up~?" She said as she waved her hand
Wait… Bronya was working before coming here?
Shudder
Not something I'd ever do willingly.
"Ohh, and you two must be X and Y respectively? It's nice to meet youuuu" Kiana spoke as she extended her hand to both of them one by one, which they both gracefully accepted, but then… She stood there in place…
…
"Kiana." Bronya suddenly spoke, her voice now sounded extremely serious
"What?"
"Don't."
"I haven't it done anything~"
"I know that look in your face." Kiana's smile widened.
"Oh, come onnn. It's nothing bad."
"Whenever you say that, something happens."
"That's not true."
"It is."Kiana's eyes suddenly shifted toward the empty space beside her.
"Actually…"
Snap
WHOOSH!
The air beside her warped, and the next second a flash of violet appeared
SHING!!!!!!!!
Before I could even understand what was happening, a figure had already drawn her blade, the scabbard swinging toward Kiana with enough force to make the air tremble.
CLANG!
Kiana caught it with one hand, then—Silence
My eyes remained focused on that figure, a figure I'd recognize
Stareeee
"Hi~ Hi~" Kiana said, smiling as she waved her other hand
"…Kiana?"
Wearing a black crop top beneath an unbuttoned white jacket, its long sleeve decorated with purple oni and flame patterns. paired with high-waisted black shorts and mismatched thigh-high and knee-high boots.
Her long dark-purple hair reached her thighs, with a fringe covering her left eye and two white streaks running through it, a figure famous both in Star Rail, and real life.
"Acheron" Y was the one who actually spoke this time
"Hm?—How do you have the same voice as me?"
—A few minutes later…
"Ah—I see." Acheron spoke once more
"Anyways, you're not busy right~?"
"No, I'll join, it sounds fun anyways" She spoke
"Well should we get you changed?" Kiana asked, to which Acheron seemed to ponder for a moment before saying.
"Sure"
"Then—X, Y would you do the honor?"
"Us?"
"Well there's no way Z'd want to do it so what'd you say? up for the fun?"
X and Y exchanged a glance.
Then—
"Sure."
And just like that, Acheron was dragged away by the two of them.
…
Leaving only me and Bronya together
Stareee
Stareee
"Was she, always like this?" I asked
"ᗜ‸ᗜ Yes."
A few minutes later…
Click.
The door opened, and from it a wild Acheron stepped out.
Step Step
Oh.
She was wearing a simple dark-purple blouse tucked neatly into a long black skirt, with a light cardigan draped over her shoulders. A thin belt rested around her waist, completing the outfit without making it look too formal.
Compared to her usual outfit… She looked completely different. Not intimidating. Not like someone who'd cut even Concepts apart. At this moment she just looked…
Elegant.
"Muehehehe…" Kiana on the other hand looked way too proud of herself.
"Amazing work you guys!" She said as she gave both X and Y a thumbs up to which, they both replied
"Don't mention it, hehe it was quite fun!"
"I should be the one saying thank you Kiana, it was a fun experience."
"I will say, it has been a while since I was 'dolled' like this" Acheron said with a small smile,, then out of no where X started to speak.
"Holy shit…"
"What?" Kiana was the one who replied almost instantaneously
"You're actually here in the flesh! Kiana Kaslana! I voiced you for yearssss"
"And now you get to talk to me without a microphone!"
"That's so weird!"
"Isn't it awesome?"
"It is"
Bla Bla bla bla Bla Bla
My mind hand decided to filter out whatever thing they were talking about, it was bound to be chaotic either way… On the other hand Y and Acheron were having a different conversation
"So…" Acheron looked toward Y.
"You really are the one who gave me my voice?"
"I suppose so." Y smiled.
"It's strange."
"You think so too?"
Acheron nodded.
"I've heard my own voice countless times. But hearing it come from someone else…"
She paused.
"…It's interesting."
Y chuckled softly.
"I was thinking the same thing."
…
And then there was me. I slowly looked toward Bronya as she slowly looked toward me.
…
Stareeee
…
Stareeee
"…"
"…"
Yep.
I have a feeling we were thinking of the same thing.
ᗜ‸ᗜ
ᗜ‸ᗜ
…
This was bound to be an—Interesting day.
—
"So, where are we going first?" X asked.
"The arcade, obviously," Kiana replied.
"Obviously."
"But we have some time."
"We do?" Bronya said as she glanced at her.
"Yep!"
Kiana turned toward us with a grin.
"We're in Shanghai. We should actually do something before going there!"
"…Like what?" I asked.
"Food!"
—A few minutes later
Step Step Step
The six of us were walking through the streets of Shanghai. It was… weird. Not because Shanghai was unusual. I've been here plenty of times. For work, hanging out with friends and more. It was because of who I was walking with.
Kiana was casually walking beside X. Bronya was walking beside me. And Acheron was walking with Y. And nobody around us seemed to think this was particularly strange. Well— Some people stared. Obviously.
But after The Change, seeing Remnants in public wasn't exactly unusual anymore.
"Try this!" X suddenly appeared in front of Kiana, holding out a small food skewer.
Blink
"What is it?"
"Stinky Tofu!"
…
"Uhhh—"
"C'mon give it a tryyyy~" X said, as she tried to force Kiana to eat it, well it didn't take long for her to succumb to X's demands…
"Itadakimasu…"
Crunch
Chew Chew Chew
Gulp
…
"So?" X said as she leaned forward to which Kiana only stared at the skewer.
"It's unique…"
"I knew you'd like it!" X raised both hands.
"I didn't say I liked it that much."
"You ate the whole thing."
"…I was hungry."
On the other hand Y was quietly laughed beside Acheron.
"She's quite energetic."
Nod
"I noticed." Acheron spoke, for some reason the difference of their interactions was—Really noticeable…
"Here." Y said as she gave Bronya a XiaoLongBao
"Careful not it's quite hot."
"Alright."
Munch
Then—
Hissss
Her eyes widened ever so slightly.
"—Hot."
I immediately covered my mouth.
"Pfft—"
"Z."
"I didn't laugh."
"You were about to."
"I was not."
"Your shoulders moved."
"They did not."
…
Okay maybe they did, thankfully I was saved by Y as she handed Bronya a napkin,
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." Bronya calmly wiped the corner of her mouth, her expression returning to its usual composed state. Then X suddenly pointed at the Xiaolongbao.
"Wait! You haven't told her what's inside!"
Bronya paused.
"…What's inside?"
"It's actually a special Russia–China collaboration." Y said with a smile.
"Russia–China?"
"Mhm. The filling is based on borscht."
…
Bronya stared at the Xiaolongbao, then at Y then back at the Xiaolongbao.
"Borscht?"
"Borscht."
"Inside a Xiaolongbao?"
"Exactly."
She was observing the XiaoLongBao with a rather… unique expression I could practically see the gears turning in her head.
"That's actually…"
Her eyes seemed to brighten.
"…interesting."
X immediately gasped.
"She likes it!"
"I said it's interesting."
"You like it."
"I did not say that."
"You're eating another one."
Bronya looked down.
…
She was, in fact, already eating another one.
Munch.
I couldn't hold it anymore.
PFFFT—
"Z."
"Sorry."
"You're laughing."
"A little."
…
Her cheeks puffed up.
"ᗜ‸ᗜ"
Oh.
There it was again. The legendary Bronya pout. I turned away before I actually started laughing in the smallest voice I could ever manage
"Don't laugh."
"I'm not!"
"You are."
"I swear I'm not!"
"Your shoulders are moving again."
…
Damn it, such is the life of an introvert who can't control her body's expression that well I thought to my self as the others continued sampling the food, I stood there for a moment, watching them. X was already explaining what everything was.
Kiana was trying basically anything she could get her hands on. Y was calmly making sure nobody burned themselves. Bronya had somehow acquired another Xiaolongbao.
And Acheron…
Acheron was simply standing there. Quietly eating. She looked perfectly content.
…
Wait.
I suddenly realized something.
I hadn't actually gotten any of them anything.
Oh.
I felt a little guilty. Everyone else had been introducing something. X had given Kiana stinky tofu. Y had given Bronya Xiaolongbao. Kiana had brought everyone here. And I had…
Nothing.
Stareeee
I looked around. Maybe I could buy something quickly—
"Here."
Hm? As I looked behind Acheron was standing beside me. She was holding out something small and round.
"…A peach?"
"Yes."
I stared at it. Then at her.
"Where did you even get that?" Acheron tilted her head slightly.
"I have a stash."
…
"You have a stash?"
"Yes."
"Of peaches?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"…I like peaches." She thought about it for a moment.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome."
…
I looked at the peach in my hand.
Then back at Acheron. For someone who had apparently appeared out of nowhere with a sword less than an hour ago, she was surprisingly considerate.
"Wait."
I narrowed my eyes.
"How big is this stash?"
"…Large enough." Acheron paused for a moment before answering
"That isn't an answer."
"It is the answer."
"That's suspicious."
Acheron simply took another bite of her own peach.
Crunch.
…
Yeah.
Definitely suspicious.
"Hey!" Kiana suddenly called from ahead.
"We're going to be late!"
"For what?" X asked.
"The arcade!"
"Oh!" X immediately turned around and spoke
"Guys! Arcade!"
"Exactly!"Kiana gave her a thumbs-up. Bronya finished the last bite of her Xiaolongbao and quietly wiped her hands.
"I believe we've had enough food."
"Agreed," Y said.
Acheron nodded while I looked down at the peach still in my hand.
…
Well.
At least I got something.
"Alright."
I caught up with them.
"Let's go."
—
Step Step Step Step
"So," X said, walking beside Kiana, "what's it like being famous?"
Kiana blinked.
"Me?"
"Yes, you."
Shouldn't I be asking that on you? But ehhh…" She put a finger against her chin before speaking "I guess it's normal?"
"Normal?"
"Mhm. I've been famous for a really long time. Not exactly a good reputation though"
"That somehow makes it worse."
"How?"
"You're talking about being famous like you're talking about the weather!"
Kiana laughed.
"Maybe because I don't really think about it."
Bronya glanced over.
"That is because Kiana has never been particularly good at thinking about things before doing them."
"Hey!"
"It's true."
"It is not!"
"It is."
"Bronya!"
I couldn't help but smile. Maybe this really wasn't going to be as awkward as I thought, I thought to myself as we continued walking, and eventually—A familiar sign appeared ahead.
ARCADE.
X's eyes immediately lit up.
"Oh."
Kiana noticed.
"Oh?"
X slowly pointed toward it.
"Kiana."
"Yes?"
"Run."
"YES."
WHOOSH.
"HEY—WAIT!"
The two of them immediately took off.
"Those two…"
Y laughed softly. Acheron watched them disappear into the entrance.
"They are energetic."
"You have no idea," Y replied.
Sighh
"Predictable."
I looked at her.
"You sound like you've dealt with this before."
"ᗜ‸ᗜ"
…
"Well then."
I gestured towards the arcade.
"Ready?"
Bronya looked toward the entrance. Then—A small smile appeared.
"Yes."
"走吧 (Let's go)"