We are all 'Raiden'
—Acheron's POV
TSKK." A loud Tsk sound could be heard throughout the entire arcade
"Oh damn, Bronya and Z are taking it seriously huh?" Kiana spoke to X, her tone a mix of playfulness along with 'fun'
"Haha, let them have their fun" Y said as she placed one of her hands near her mouth, for some reason she seemed to exude a mature and elegant mother like aura, Acheron on the other hand only gave a small smirk
"So? What should we do?" Y asked
"Me and Kiana'll go find a fun game for us too—Wait. Kiana look" X continued
"Hm~? Oh—Damn." Kiana spoke, a glance and one could tell she herself was hooked,
"Let's go?" X asked to which Kiana only replied, "You don't need to tell me twice"
WHOOSH
"And they're gone…"
"Let them be,"
—Acheron
…
I was now alone with Y, as we both merely strolled in the arcade, wondering what sort of games to play, and in a way… It was a rather—Unique experience
[So she's the one that 'voiced' us before we came here huh?] Raiden Ei spoke in a tone mix with curiosity yet also confusion.
[To be able to bring us to 'life' she must be quite the dedicated actor.] Raiden Bosenmori Mei spoke her tone as usual, solemn
[Still, the fact that she, a single person can portray as three perhaps more is really amazing.] Raiden Mei spoke in such a way that it was obvious she was praising her
Yeah she really is
Step Step Step
"So, any ideas what games you'd like to play?" Y asked
…
[…]
"I'm not really a gamer…"
[Same.] All 3 Raiden's spoke at the same time
"Oh? Well we could just play a story game if you'd like"
[Hmmmm…]
"Well, no need to force yourself we could just go and take a stroll." Y continued
What you guys think?
[I agree]
[So do I]
[Let's do as she says]
"Alright."
—
Step Step Step
We were walking through snack stall, one could see countless people, each selling their own specialties.
"Buy some Authentic Japanese Takoyaki!" Said an Old looking Japanese man, wearing a grey kimono
"Get some tasty Authentic Filipino Isaw!" Said a middle aged looking filipino woman wearing a White T shirt and shorts
"Indonesian Lamb Sate!!!" Spoke another "Fresh Bai Sach Chrouk! said another" "Fish and Chips!!" "Xiao Long Bao!!!" "Samsa!!!!" And many more, it was a mix of chaos and Order. Somehow with all these sellers, yet it strangely didn't feel—
"Here"
Rustle
"Hm?" Y's voice snapped me out of whatever train of thoughts I had, is that a dango? I thought to myself.
[Acheron.] Raiden Ei suddenly spoke, It was obvious what she wanted,
"Thank you." Raiden Ei spoke as she devoured the Dango without any mercy, which didn't exactly take that long. "Delicious—I do wish I could taste some Dango Milk"
"Haha, maybe we can find a vendor selling one?" Y said with a small chuckle, as "I" only nodded before switching back as we walked once more, this time me leading the way
Step Step Step
"…"
"What is it Y?"
"I could've swore we only walked a few steps, how did we went to a fruit stall?" Y said in a confused tone before soon regaining her composure as we walked once more
Step Step Step
A Glance and this one wasn't as crowded as the food stall, mostly with elderly people haggling prices on fruits, some familiar, like apples, watermelons, grapes and many more, some looked strangely alien.
[That one looks like one of those 'Devil Fruits'] Raiden Mei spoke
Well there's no way it's a real devil fruit though.
Step Step Step
"Uhm Acheron…"
"Yeah?"
"How about I lead the way?"
"Why?"
[…] Raiden Bosenmori Mei was strangely silent…
[Why don't you just let head the way?] Raiden Mei spoke
[I agree with Mei.] Raiden Ei continued
"Alright?"
Grab
"Let's go then shall we~?" She said as she held my hand before I was guided by her and before long…
"A Peach Stall."
"Here" Y said as she handed me a peach, as it laid in my hand.
Let's swap Mei, I said in my mind
[… Alright.] Spoke Raiden Bosenmori Mei who sounded strangely soft at that moment, and of course…
Crunch
"Sweet." She muttered
"To sweet?" Y asked
"I forgot my sense of taste is no longer as dull" Raiden Bosenmori Mei spoke as she continued enjoying the peach and of course it didn't take long for it to be finished
"Was it tasty?" Y asked as she gave a smile
"Yes. Would you like one to?" Spoke Raiden Bosenmori Mei, and before Y could answer…
Rustle
"Here"
"…"
"How did you pull 2 peaches out of thin air?" She asked,
"I just can."
…
"Is that so… Then I'll have one thank you.." She said as she grabbed one of the peaches as the both of them continued eating in peace, it didn't take long for the entire thing to be finished as Y soon stood up
"Let's go eat somewhere?" She spoke, as "I" nodded
"Let's go"
—
In the end the restaurant we went on was one where cook the meals yourself, I had no clue what the place was but since Y invited me in I thought it would be rude to decline
Step Step Step
"Here is your room Madams, if you need help you can call us with the button" Said one of the receptionist before she left us to our own agenda.
Glance
"Woah…" One glance and the entire place was filled. There were fresh greens, a lot of raw meat placed in a fancy looking freezer, along with it a rice cooker, which when opened showed what looked like a premium kind of rice.
"Grab what you want, it's my treat" Y spoke in a tone that somehow felt respectful but also filled with… love?
[Acheron—Let me] Raiden Mei suddenly spoke in a resolute tone, without hesitation I let her control 'us'
—Y's POV
It was a weird experience, when Z suddenly went like that, and all of a sudden… Well.. here we are. The world had 'changed' by a lot, but that wasn't the main point.
Swish Swish
"What are you… doing?"
"I'm cooking a stew and preparing for some other things" Acheron spoke her hand still moving in a speed I couldn't see but… I wasn't focus on that, this time her tone soft and felt rather 'motherly'. I couldn't exactly tell why I felt this way but…
Several times from before… Her tone had changed, when we she ate that Dango… When she ate those Peaches, and now… While she's cooking…
Bubble Bubble
"It should be done soon" She said with a maternal looking smile…
I had voiced many characters… but—She was perhaps the most special of them all. I've voiced her from Gun Girl Z being the first instance and the most recognizable perhaps being the Raiden Shogun from Genshin and Acheron from Star Rail…
Tap Tap Tap Tap
She was currently cutting what seems to be onions along with some scallops, her movement precise and accurate, which was unlike the Acheron I knew wasn't exactly a great cook but—She was cooking like an expert.
"What is it?" She asked as she looked at me with a rather worried expression
"Nothing" She felt much more like Raiden Mei from Honkai Impact 3rd right now… That was what Y was currently thinking, as she continued to contemplate.
She could tell there were at least 3 different 'versions' of Acheron, but—For now It was time to enjoy a meal
Clink
"The foods ready" Spoke 'Acheron'? with a smile
—Acheron's POV
[That was really satisfyinggg] Raiden Mei spoke as I could see her clamping her fist out of satisfaction
"Was the food to your liking?" I asked Y as we walked out of the restaurant.
Step Step Step
"It was really great—and the way you cooked it was also amazing!" She said once more as we continued walking
"Let me lead the way " I spoke as I grabbed her hands—and soon enough..
PSHHHHHHHHHH
…
"So…" Y wanted to speak up but hesitated for a second before… "How are we at Antartica-?" She asked with a wry smile.
[…] All 3 Raiden's were silent, but I didn't even realize as honestly… I too was confused.
"I don't know."
"Well, at least we found this facility, if not I'd be frozen to death" Y said in a tone that felt like a mix of sarcasm and trying to make a joke
"…"
"Well since we're already here, let's just take a look of this place shall we?" She continued perhaps sensing the rather 'akward' situation we had gotten ourselves into.
Step Step Step
The facility itself was surprisingly large.
From the outside, it looked almost like a collection of connected metal buildings, surrounded by snow and ice, with several large pipes running between them. Once inside, however—
"Woah…" Y spoke
The temperature immediately became much warmer. White walls. Bright lights. Glass windows. And beyond them—
BLOOOOOOP.
A massive aquarium filled with seawater. Something small and translucent swam past the glass before disappearing into the darkness.
"Is that a fish?" I asked.
"I think so."
We continued walking. There were laboratories everywhere. Some had people sitting behind computers, others were filled with strange machines I couldn't recognize. Apparently this place also acted as a tourist attraction…
Step Step
We continued further inside. There were maps of the Southern Ocean on the walls, charts displaying temperature changes, photographs of sea creatures, and several screens showing data from beneath the ice.
It was strangely peaceful for somewhere in the middle of Antarctica. Y seemed fascinated by everything, occasionally stopping to look through the glass.
"There's so much research being done here…"
"Indeed."
Step Step Step
Eventually, we reached a larger room. A massive window stretched across one side of it. Beyond the glass was nothing but water.
Dark blue water.
And beneath it, the ice stretched endlessly into the distance.
"...Beautiful." Y's voice was quieter than before.
[Indeed it is.] Raiden Bosenmori Mei spoke as the other 2 Raiden only nodded in approval as looked at the view. It really was. For a moment, neither of us said anything. Then—
"Hey, Acheron."
"Hm?"
Y looked strangely unsure different from her usual demeanor, her hands were also fiddling, then—
"Which Raiden are you?"
…
…
…
Silence
[Hoh?] Raiden Bosenmori Mei spoke once more, her voice curious, meanwhile both Raiden Ei and Mei were completely silent, perhaps also wondering.
"How'd you reach that conclusion?"
…
"Well—Sigh"
?
[?]
[?]
[?]
"I've voiced many characters you know? But 'Raiden' was special, and I can confidently say.. You aren't the 'Acheron' I know."
"Continue."
"The 'Acheron' I know couldn't taste anything but peach and spicy food,"
[True] Spoke Raiden Bosenmori Mei
"The 'Acheron' I know didn't enjoy sweets, that belongs to Raiden Ei"
[…] Raiden Ei went silent
"The 'Acheron' I know isn't a great cook, yet you cooked like Raiden Mei"
[…] It was Raiden Mei's turn to be silent as her mouth was left gaped.
"I thought you were just 'Acheron' but at the very least, there's 3 of you in there."
[Acheron—Swap with me right now] Raiden Mei sudden spoke, and as soon as we did.
"You just swapped, I think this one's Raiden Mei no? Your demeanor's softe, your face gentler."
[Let me try.]
"Now you're Raiden Shogun or Ei I suppose? You look far more rigid and cold."
[…]
"Now you're Acheron, the way your expression screams of melancholy tells me a lot."
…
I—
"So, I'm just curious I guess, which one are you? the fourth? you don't seem like Dr. Mei or Mei from Gun girl Z…" Y spoke again, mouth slightly opened out of curiosity,
I didn't know what to tell her.
I didn't even know how to explain myself.
But Y simply smiled.
"Well…"
She placed a hand against her chin.
"It doesn't really matter, does it?"
"...What?"
"In the end, you're still 'Raiden', no?"
"Ah."
Something inside me felt strangely warm.
"Oh dear, don't actually—"
Sighhh
Press
"Ah—?"
Y had suddenly pressed herself against me in a hug.
"Well then, why don't you tell me more about yourself?" That smile—It was one I'd remember until my eventual end
"Well then—"
After a while
"Oh it's getting late now huh" Y said once more
"We should head back, the others might worry"
"You sure you're not gonna somehow bring me somewhere completely random and impossible?"
Gripppp
"Even if that happens, I'll keep you safe."
"Alright."
Step Step Step
…
I didn't mind where the road would take us