Part 128: The results of a D-mail are uncertain

(Of course, that's not the only world line we can reach.)



I start up the microwave. The electrical discharge phenomenon starts immediately.

I place my thumb

on the send button...



"Our memories with Suzu will all disappear, you know? Is that really okay?"

Mayuri appeals to me while in tears. In my mind, I recall many of my memories with Suzuha.









I'm erasing everything. I won't ask for forgiveness. This is, after all, for the sake of saving Mayuri.

But, I am taking over Suzuha's will. For the sake of the dream you entrusted me. Your wish to change the future. That's why I'm erasing our memories with you...



Video: D-mail sent









That sequence repeated over and over in a short span. I feel light condense between my eyes. Countless stars fall underneath my eyelids. Those stars eventually call color back to the monochrome world.

The severe vertigo passes in several seconds. Cold sweat oozes from my temples. While I hit both sides of my head with my fists, the air in my lungs squeezes out little by little.

The world line has changed, I guess. I heard to the lounge to check with the Divergence Meter.



Before the world line changed - just a few minutes ago - I had checked that Nixie tube meter, but now it's nowhere to be found. I soon understand what's going on.



So it's natural that the meter isn't here.

I feel a throbbing pain deep within my chest. Feelings of regret. I grind my teeth and fight that pain. If nobody else will remember, then I guess only I protect those memories. Our memories with Suzuha.

Inside the room are Mayuri, Kurisu, and Daru. Mayuri and Kurisu are getting along on the sofa, dozing off shoulder to shoulder. Daru doesn't look towards that spectacle of two innocent high school girls, but instead plays eroge on his PC.

I take a deep breath and turn on the TV. I tune to a new channel. The world line should've changed. I erased our memories of Suzuha. And because of that, Suzuha should have leapt to 1975 without losing her memories, bringing the IBN 5100 to the lab. We should use that to hack into SERN and completely erase all of the information they intercepted from us. If we do that, then Moeka's group won't attack, and Mayuri won't die.

That's how it should've happened.

That's how it has to be.

That's how I believed it would be, which is why I sacrificed Suzuha's memories.

The quickest way to confirm that change is to see whether or not there are delays at Akihabara Station.

"Daru, is the Yamate Line stopped?"



"Check online."

"Wait, I'm at a great part."

"Please."

Daru sighs as he looks at the top page of Taboo!.

"Mm, it doesn't look stopped after all."

"Thanks."



Then that retro PC - the IBN 5100 - should be in the development room. I go back to the development room and see if I can find anything...



What does this mean...?

I look at my watch. 7:43 PM. Moeka's group attacks... what time, again?

My heart throbs like a drum. Everything should've been solved. Moeka's group isn't going into action, as evidenced by the normal train schedule. I was convinced of that.

So why? It doesn't feel like anything's been solved.

The disappearance of the IBN 5100 really does put me at unease. I want to slowly think about where that retro PC could be, but I don't think I have that much free time. My feelings press me on. I'm cornered, and can't judge things properly.

Looking like an idiot, I check my watch again. 7:46 PM. The scene back then comes back to mind.

Mayuri, who died bleeding.
The smell of gunpowder from Moeka's gun.

I frantically shake those visions out of my head. I look at the lab entrance. The door hasn't been kicked open yet. I gulp, with feelings like prayer. I'm petrified.



I peek out of the window down the street. Nobody's there.

"Okarin, are you waiting for someone? You've been looking down there for a while."

Just like Daru said, I had probably peeked down 20 times in the past hour. Each of those 20 times, I didn't detect any suspicious figures.

...Moeka's group didn't appear. If my memories aren't mistaken, the attack was earlier than 8 PM. Just as I thought, the past changed, along with the world line. I should think that the event of the attack has also changed.

Suzuha's sacrifice was not in vain. Finally aware of that fact, I let out a deep breath. Now I notice that my hour of heightened tension caused my armpits to sweat.

"Mayuri, and Kurisu."



They're having a slightly late dinner. Mayuri has cup yakisoba. Kurisu has cup tonkotsu ramen. Kurisu's slurping the noodles with a fork.

"...? Eh, right now, did you just say my name normally?"

Kurisu lifts up her face, stunned. She seems really astonished.

"When you two are done eating, go home. It's already this late, so I'll send you off."

"Okeydokey, I'll do that!"

"It's not like I need Okabe to send me off or anything. I can go home alone."

"Just listen. Daru, you too."

"Huh? Me too?"





Neither Moeka, nor her fellow men, could be seen anywhere. Kurisu's taking the Sobu Line to the next station, Ochanomizu, while Daru's going the opposite way to Shin-Koiwa. Mayuri and I are taking the Yamate Line to Ikebukuro, so we part at the station's ticket gate. Now, the Yamate Line safely heads through the dark night to Ikebukuro.

There are surprisingly few passengers. I guess there aren't many homebound salarymen since they're off for Obon holiday.



I stand next to her, deep in emotion, gazing at the profile of my childhood friend.

Mayuri survived the night of the 13th.

Now that I think about it, just how many times have I tasted the despair of tonight? No matter what I did, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't save this optimistic childhood friend of mine. Right before my eyes, Mayuri died tragic deaths, over and over. But now, she's alive. This is a natural scene. This is why I sacrificed Suzuha's memories.

I'm sorry, Suzuha.
Thank you, Suzuha.
I give these two feelings to Suzuha, who no longer exists now in 2010.



Where in Akiba could the 54 year old Suzuha be? I'll try asking Tennouji tomorrow. Tennouji is most likely indebted to Suzuha in this world line, too. I wonder if Suzuha remembers me.

"...hey, hey, Okarin."

Suddenly, Mayuri lifts her head. A bewildered look floats in her expression. Her cheeks are slightly dyed pink.

"What?"



"Did it make you get a Game Over?"

"Yeah."

"Sorry about that."

I apologize, but keep looking at her. Without going back to play her game, Mayuri looks at me, concerned.

"Okarin, something feels different about you today, you know?"

"R-Really?"

"Yeah. What's wrong?"

Mayuri is unexpectedly sharp. I understood that when she found out that Suzuha's father was Daru. I don't want to worry her too much. I want Mayuri to smile optimistically like usual, without anything to worry about. It's already over.



"Really?" You're not overworking yourself?"

"For such an insane mad scientist as myself, there is no such thing as overwork! These gray brain cells of mine, having an IQ of 170, are always cranking out perfect calculations."

"I see! But you need to relax and take a break every now and then. Please don't forget, okay, Okarin?"

Having said that, Mayuri returns to her game. I feel cold glances pour on me from my surroundings, but I don't care at all. Mayuri is here with me. This is a normal scene.

I can finally return to normal things...