—Z's POV
"This is a pretty famous arcade, eh?" Kiana said in a curious tone.
I looked up at the building.
"Yeah. Pretty famous."
Calling it an arcade was honestly underselling it.
The building was massive.
Several floors tall, with enormous digital screens covering its exterior. Advertisements for games flashed across them one after another, a couple of names that looked familiar
DOOM
PAC-MAN.
DONKEY KONG.
STREET FIGHTER.
TEKKEN 7.
RESIDENT EVIL.
And dozens of others. Some were games that had existed for decades before the Change. Others were much newer. Some had even originated from fictional worlds that, before 2030, had never been anything more than games, stories, or characters on a screen.
Now?
They were part of history.
"This place really has everything," Kiana continued
"Apparently." I glanced toward the entrance. "They've got games from practically every era."
Kiana tilted her head.
"people actually come here to play all of these? I thought they'd be more focus with their devices"
"Of course."
"Even the really old ones?"
"Especially the really old ones."
"Hmmmm, that so~ But there's no one inside right now?"
"Oh we rented the entire place for a day~" Y said as if it was normal,
"Oh~? So thoughtful" Kiana replied with a big smile, then X suddenly grabbed her shoulder and spoke. "Kiana."
"Hm?"
"Look."
She pointed. Kiana followed her finger. A massive advertisement for TEKKEN 7 was playing across one of the screens. At the same time Kiana's eyes lit up.
"Oho~" She said with a grin, as I took one glance at X, and she too was grinning ear to ear, and the next second—
WHOOSH!
"Uh-?" I barely had time to react before they disappeared into the crowd.
Sighhhhhh
"They really are energetic." Y said with a sigh, but my attention was focused on Bronya. She was staring at the entrance. Then at me. Then back at the entrance, then she spoke
"Shall we?" she asked.
"Yeah." I said with a small smile
As we walked inside.
—
The moment the doors opened, the noise hit me.
BEEP CLACK WHOOSH KRRRSH
Music and sound effects, voices, buttons, joysticks—It was overwhelming. But in a good way. The place itself was divided into different sections. On one end, Classic arcade cabinets stood together in one area
Some of them looked old enough to look almost ancient compared to the newer machines. a Couple titles looked familiar in my eyes
Pac-Man.
Donkey Kong.
Galaga.
Space Invaders.
Another section was purely for the fighting games
Street Fighter.
Tekken.
The King of Fighters.
Mortal Kombat.
And even newer games built around characters and worlds that had once only existed in fiction. Further ahead there was the rhythm section, Racing games, Co-op shooters, Horror games. There was even a massive section dedicated to VR.
I spotted a Resident Evil machine in one of the corners, along with what seemed like a Miku-focused rhythm game. Had to double check my eyes just in case I was dreaming—I was not.
They really weren't joking about having everything.
"Which one should we play?" I asked.
Bronya looked around. For a moment, she seemed genuinely uncertain. Then her eyes stopped on one particular machine.
"…That one."
I followed her gaze—It was a modern cooperative game. Two players. One screen. The kind where both players actually had to work together rather than simply competing. Those games that tests your trust on your friend.
Hm…
I thought she'd pick a FPS or a Fighting game, the Bronya I remember was competitive after all…
"Sure." I said with a smile as we inserted the credits needed.
BEEP!
The screen lit up.
PLAYER ONE
PLAYER TWO
"Ready?" I asked only for Bronya to reply with a nod
3…
2…
1…
START!
The first few minutes went surprisingly well. The game itself was simple enough. We had to move through a series of rooms, activate switches, avoid traps, and occasionally defeat enemies. Nothing too difficult.
At least, that's what I thought.
"Left."
"Huh?"
"Left!"
I moved just in time.
WHOOSH!
A giant blade swung across the corridor where my character had been standing.
"Holy—"
"It's alright, keep moving."
I nodded and continued forward. Eventually We made our way through the corridor, with Bronya occasionally pointing out traps before I could even notice them.
"Stop."
I immediately stopped.
"What?"
"Pressure plate."
I on the screen carefully, and sure enough, there was a small plate underneath my character's feet.
"…How did you even notice that?"
"Pattern recognition." She said nonchalantly
"Right…" I said as we carefully moved around it. The game continued like that for a while Whenever I missed something, Bronya would point it out. Honestly I was scared I would drag her down but surprisingly—
It was quite fun
"Switch on the left."
"I see it."
"I'll take the right."
"Got it."
CLICK!
Both switches activated at almost the exact same time, as a door opened ahead of us.
"Nice."
Bronya gave a small nod.
"Good teamwork."
I smiled.
"Yeah."
We continued.
WHOOSH!
BANG!
CLANG!
BEEP!
The further we went, the harder the game became. More traps. More enemies. More complicated puzzles. But we adapted. At some point, I stopped thinking about what Bronya was going to do and simply started trusting her.
If she moved left, I went right.
If she stopped, I stopped.
If she ran—I ran.
And after a while, we reached the final room.
"…That's it?"
Bronya nodded.
"Probably."
The two of us moved toward the objective, and it didn't take long for…
MISSION COMPLETE!
The screen flashed brightly.
"That was enjoyable."
"Yeah. It was."
I looked toward the next row of machines.
"So, what now?"
Bronya looked around. Her eyes briefly moved toward a fighting game. Then a racing game. Then a shooter, she paused.
"…Perhaps something more difficult."
I raised an eyebrow.
"More difficult?"
"Yes."
"You weren't satisfied?"
"I was"
…
"It is human nature to be greedy no?"
"Fair Enough" I said with a smile
I looked around for a moment before my eyes landed on a rather old-looking machine.
…
Wait.
Step Step Step
"Is that…"
The screen displayed a familiar title.
DOOM
Not a remake. Not some modern adaptation. The original.
DOOM — 1993
I stared at it for a moment.
"They actually have this?"
Bronya tilted her head.
"You know it?"
"Of course I know it."
I couldn't help but grin. It was one of those games that had practically become a piece of gaming history, and apparently, the arcade had preserved it exactly as it was. Bronya looked at the screen.
"It looks… old."
"That's because it is."
"People actually played this?"
"Millions of people did." She stared at the screen for another few seconds.
"…Interesting."
I inserted the credits.
"There's multiplayer too."
Bronya nodded.
"Then let's try it." I said aas I inserted some credits
BEEP!
The machine came to life.
For something that was supposedly running a game from 1993, the cabinet itself was surprisingly modern. The old-fashioned exterior was clearly kept for the aesthetic, but the screen was crisp, the controls were responsive.
And apparently the machines were connected through the arcade's internal network, according to Bronya at least… Even the original game had been adapted for proper local multiplayer. Two players. One screen.
Same old game. Just… better hardware?
"Alright." I said as I took my controller. "You ready?"
Bronya nodded.
"Ready."
The screen changed.
PLAYER ONE
PLAYER TWO
3…
2…
1…
START!
—
"...So, what are we supposed to—"
BANG!
Bronya's character suddenly exploded, and with it so did mine, guess our healths are connected huh? I thought to myself, meanwhile the screen was showing some words.
PRESS ANY BUTTON TO RESTART
...
"...What?"
I couldn't help it.
"PFFFFT—"
Bronya slowly turned toward me.
"Why did I die?"
"I—"
Tap
She definitely pressed another button as the game began again. This time, Bronya moved carefully. Too carefully.
"There's something over there."
"Where?"
"That."
I squinted.
"That's a wall."
"...Oh."
We moved forward.
BANG! BANG!
"Enemy!"
"I see it!"
Bronya fired, yet nothing happened.
"Why isn't it dying?!"
"Because you're shooting the wall!"
"..."
She immediately turned.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The enemy finally fell.
DEAD
Bronya paused.
"...Understood."
I bit my lip.
"You're having fun, aren't you?"
"No."
"Really?"
She immediately moved forward instead of answering, yet it didn't take long for—
BANG!
"AH—!"
Her character died again. I burst out laughing.
""ᗜ‸ᗜ"
"Okay, okay! I'm sorry!"
Bronya's expression had changed, not angry, not upset, Instead she looked—Determined.
"Again."
I blinked.
"Again?"
"Yes."
"But you just—"
"I know."
She inserted another credit.
BEEP!
"Again."
"Alright." I said with a smile
—
The third attempt went considerably better. Then the fourth. Then the fifth. The first few minutes had been a disaster, mostly because neither of us could properly distinguish half the enemies from the scenery. But Bronya adapted quickly.
Too quickly.
"Behind you."
"I know."
"There's another one!"
"I see it."
BANG! BANG!
DEAD.
I stared at her.
"...You're getting good at this."
"Pattern recognition."
"Of course, but it's really interesting to see the enemies without a fix pattern…" She said as we continued playing. At some point, I realized, Why did I think this was gonna be akward again? We were just playing.
And honestly?
It was fun.
"Left!"
"Your left or mine?!"
"Your other left!"
"That's not how left works!"
BANG!
"TSK." Bronya suddenly raised her voice
I froze.
...
She froze too asw e looked at each other.
Then—
"Pfft—"
I started laughing. Bronya's cheeks puffed slightly.
"Do not laugh."
"You're the one who shouted!"
"You shouted first."
—
I no longer counted how many attempts it had been, Bronya would carry the parts she alreacy recognize then died when she met a new enemy that she'd never seen before and as always..
"BEHIND YOU!"
"I KNOW!"
"THERE'S THREE!"
"I CAN SEE THEM!"
"THEN SHOOT!"
"I'M TRYING!"
BANG! BANG! BANG!
SILENCE.
And at some point…
LEVEL COMPLETE.
...
"...We won."
Bronya nodded.
"We did."
I smiled.
"That was just the first level"
…
…
Silence
As we only stared at each other, then—
"Again?"
"Again."
This continued for quite a while actually
"Again."
—
Again.
—
"Wait, there's a shotgun here?"
—
Again.
—
"Z, move."
"I'm moving!"
BANG!
"...You walked directly into it."
"I was distracted!"
—
Again.
—
"How many levels are there?"
Bronya looked at the screen.
"I don't know."
...
"Let's find out."
—Several Hours Later…
BEEP.
BANG!
CLACK!
SILENCE.
As the final enemy fell, the two of us stared at the screen.
LEVEL COMPLETE.
...
"We did it."
Bronya nodded.
"We did.".
"...That was fun." I said with a smile.
"Yes."
"So, what's next?"
Bronya didn't answer. Instead, she looked toward the entrance. I followed her gaze.
...
It was dark outside. Very dark.
Blink Blink
"...Wait."
Bronya looked at the clock on the wall.
9:30 PM.
...
...
"...What?"
I looked back at the screen.
Then at the clock.
Then back at Bronya.
"We've been here that long?"
"Apparently."
"But it was still afternoon when we started."
"Yes."
"..."
"..."
"Huh"
…
…
For a while we only stared at each other, then…
"Oh?" Acheron's voice was the first thing we heard
"Finally done with the game?" Y continued as she gave a rather warm smile, I couldn't help but feel embarrassed…
"Yes." Bronya was the one who answered, still with a stoic face—Well until…
"Didn't know you'd play until you forget time eh Bronya~?" Kiana decided it was a good idea to tease her
"I did not." Bronya said trying to defend herself
"Well the time says other wise though~" X replied with a rather huge smirk on her face
…
…
Defeated…
I could my ears turning red, I felt so ashame of myself.
I wish I could disappear for a moment. I wish I could disappear for a moment. I wish I could disappear for a moment. I wish I could—
GROWLLLLL
…
Silence
Everyone stared at me after that.
…
I WANT TO DISAPPEAR FOR A MOMENT
"Well, if you're hungry, I know a good place for us to eat?" THANK YOU BRONYA
"Sure" Y and Acheron said simultaneously, at the same time Kiana and X somehow managed to say the exact same thing, in the exact same tone.
"Ohh~? Bronya's got a place in mind?? Let's goooo" They both said in unison, to which Bronya only nodded, then her eyes glowed blue ******
WHOOSH
As what looked like a teleporter appeared in front of our eyes.
"Let's go~"