==STORY==
A storm was approaching Inkopolis Square as the day was ending. Many of the Inklings and Octolings decided to return to their homes early before the rain came. One individual, however, felt that he wasn't finished his training for the day and decided to stay out longer. That individual was the nameless Octoboy who had...sort of befriended Team Splashdown Zeo after the final defeat of Tartar.

The Octoboy trains vigorously in the training area behind Ammo Knights, unaware of the incoming storm getting closer to the square. But just as he was about to put his Octoshot Replica away, a familiar face calls out to him holding a big umbrella in her hands. It was the team leader of Splashdown Zeo; Rose!

"What are you doing here, hot shot?" she asks him. "Didn't you see the storm coming in? Sheldon's just about to close up the shop!"

The Octoboy puts his weapon away and responds, "I am aware of the storm. I can just hide in the bridge in the Reef until it passes."

"No can do," she replies. "The tower's already closed and locked up. No one can go to the battle arenas now." She pauses as they stare at each other. "Look," she continues, "I know that you're Mr. Tough Guy and all, but not even you can withstand the rain for long. That's why..."

She hesitates to finish her sentence as her hands start trembling. At that moment, thunder quietly rumbles in the sky. Rose knew then that there was no more time to waste.

"Come on!" she exclaims as she grabs the Octoboy's hand and pulls him with her.

"Where are we going?!" he asked, flustered and surprised by her sudden actions.

She answered, "We're heading for our apartment. That's the best place for you with the storm coming in."

The duo exit Ammo Knights and make a break for the apartment complex not too far away from the square. Octoboy holds on to Rose's hand tightly as he tries to keep his pace with her's. The sky darkens as the storm gets closer and closer.

Octoboy broke the silence and asked her, "What about your friends? Wouldn't the apartment be the crowded if all of us were there?"

"Not to worry," she answered with a smile. "We'll only have Icarus and Julie with us tonight. Gene and Octina went back to the Metro with Pearl, Marina, and the old man to look for any more survivors of Tartar's actions. They'll probably be staying there for a day or two."

As the rain was slowly starting to fall, the two teens make it to the apartment. Inside, Icarus and Julie were enjoying a big pizza. Rose happily joined in on the feast, but the Octoboy just leaned against the wall uninterested in joining in the festivities. After all, he was technically brought there against his will.

Later that night as the storm roared through the night skies, Julie and Icarus had gone off to bed, full from the delicious pizza they had devoured. Rose and the Octoboy, however, decided to stay up some more and just hang out together. Rose had already changed to her long tee and Octoboy was given a set of pajamas from Icarus to borrow. She turned on her PlaySquid2 and started playing Metal Ink Solid 2, while he grabbed a bowl of squid chips and a can of soda, unable to ignore his growing hunger.

As the night went on, Octoboy was transfixed on the game as Rose kept playing. Eventually, his curiosity got the better of him as he finally broke the silence.

"This person that you are playing as," he said, "what was his name again?"

"His name is Raiden," she answered as she tries to beat a tough boss in her game. "He wasn't welcomed all that well in this game's community, but I don't mind him. ...Funnily enough, he has a girlfriend acting as his support named Rose. Isn't that a funny coincidence, hot shot?"

"...Raiden?" he asked, dropping a chip he had in his hand. His eyes were wide open after hearing that name.

"Yeah, Raiden," she replied. "I think it's a pretty neat name. What do you think?"

"...I will be accepting it," he said.

Rose paused her game and looked at him, puzzled by his reaction. "...A-accepting it?" she asked him.

"Yes," he said. "I do not remember my origin name, so I will be the Raiden as well."

Rose just stared at him, blown back by this sudden revelation. But that feeling of surprise turned to feeling happy for him finally getting a name.

"...It suits you, hot shot," she responds. "I love it." She blushes a little as she resumes playing her game.

This stormy night would be a night Rose would never forget. The end of the nameless Octoboy and the beginning of Raiden.

==AUTHOR'S NOTE==
It was a treat working on this piece during CCmoonstar23's Twitch stream last night. And I'm honestly glad with how it turned out. Had a few challenges since I had voluntarily updated Paint.NET prior and had to adapt to some of the new tweaks added, but I'm still glad I could still do it the way I was familiar with.

The idea of the Octoboy's name becoming Raiden came to me from watching an 8-hour long playthrough of Metal Gear Solid 4, honestly. Not much else to say to that. I didn't even notice the connection that both girls were named Rose until later after the fact. XD

Splatoon, Inkling, & Octoling (C) Nintendo
Rose & Nameless Octoboy (now Raiden) (C) me