Part 102: Okabe Rintarou struggles with traffic

I don't remember how I got back to the lab. Moeka's group should've come here long ago, but the Time Leap Machine is still here. Well, I'd be in trouble if they took it.



Now, take me away...







Titor said something like a 10 year jump takes an hour. A 10 year jump... Right now, I have no use for that.

Furthermore, Kurisu said that time leaping that long an interval could cause mental disorders due to the gap in personality and memory.





Mayuri's singing her own song, not eating Juicy Karaage Number One, but some "Karaage-kun" she bought at the convenience store. She can't warm it up in the microwave, which is now a dedicated part of the Time Leap Machine.

...I was right to come back five hours. Mayuri's still in the lab, but just what exactly was that earlier?

I bite my lip at the bitter thoughts.



At Shin-Ochanomizu Station, a place completely unrelated to the lab or to the explosion. Tennouji Nae pushed her. She was run over by the train and torn to shreds.



No, those were the actions of a normal little girl. Nae has a habit of happily jumping to Mayuri whenever she sees her.

But just what was with that timing? I don't know... I sensed malice. Whose malice?

If I have to say... then maybe it's a prank of fate. But still, I've returned again, so I need to start acting immediately. I'll definitely save Mayuri. I can time leap, so I can and must save her.





This isn't the time to be thrifty. Mayuri doesn't complain this time, either.

I considered going back to her family in Ikebukuro, but Moeka's group might be lukring around their house. What are they doing now? I don't have a grasp on that pattern, so I decided to go to Shinagawa.

But...



The driver said it's never been this crowded before. I thought that the road might even be closed. We escaped from Akiba, but we can't reach Shinagawa.

I think of getting off halfway and taking a train, but I decide not to once I remember what happened at Shin-Ochanomizu Station. Nothing but bad feelings about this.

Thinking that this congestion could've been caused by Moeka's group, I keep looking around the car. So much that Mayuri warns me that my "eyes look scary".



The cars still don't move. According to the conversation between our driver and another driver I heard, it seems like there's a large scale inspection ahead. Furthermore, it doesn't seem like it's led by police, and some fights are going on, and such. Even more unluckily, this road has already been closed off, and all remaining cars are being detoured. Incidentally, including our taxi, there's only 100 cars, but the inspection has been at a standstill for three hours...

Stuff like that. I don't think its a coincidence. Once again, I feel the malice of a prank of fate. Can I not save Mayuri this time, either? At this rate, we should've gotten off the taxi instead of waiting for it to move.

No, it's still not too late. I should pay the driver and get off at once...





Even though it's congested and the taxi is stopped in the middle of the road.

No, he's not just banging it, he opens the door and barges into the back seat with Mayuri and me.

"Eh..."

In the man's hand, a blade. He's an assassin!

"Run, Mayuri--"

Before I can finish, the man gags Mayuri's mouth with his large hand. Trying to escape somehow, I try opening the door.





Mayuri opens her eyes wide. Her body twitches.

"What--"

In the narrow car, an unthinkable scene. I hurriedly avert my gaze. The man's knife pierced deep into Mayuri's chest. A red spot stains her clothes.





"Don't speak, Okabe Rintarou."

Another man gets into the passenger seat. He points a gun at the driver and says something in a small voice.

Strength drains from Mayuri's body. Her eyes slowly close. Lines of tears stream from the corners of her eyes. All of that, before my eyes. At a distance where I can feel her last breath.

She was killed again...
Why.
Why?!
Why can't I save her?!
Why won't you let me save her?!
Who's the one who wants to kill Mayuri?
Moeka? SERN?
Or...



I won't accept that...!

I clench my teeth hard. I headbutt the man who stabbed her to death in the nose.

"Open the door!"

I shout to the driver.



After running back to the lab for several hours, luckily the Time Leap Machine is still there.

I'll leap through time again...





(Anime episode 13 clear.)