Part 151: Okabe Rintarou makes a strategic withdrawal

No, for now, I should focus on Rukako.

"So, what should I do about Rukako?"



"...Seriously?"

"If there's nobody you like, then there's really no reason to hold back, right? You can do that and unravel her heart. Then you can comfortably tell her, right?"

"Mayuri dies in two days. I don't have time to unravel shit."





"...I want you to think of this as a last resort, but..."



"..."

"In any case, after the world line changes, she should forget. If you think about it that way, it's valid as a last resort, but only when compared to Mayuri's death."
"...I just said something terrible."

"No. I need to plan ahead for any necessary measures, but I don't want to do that if I can help it."

This isn't simple. If you look solely through my subjectivity, when the world line changes, everything until that point might be undone. But what will happen through Rukako's subjectivity? Even if I change the world line and go there, what if this world line continues, left behind? The Rukako of this world line will have taken my abuse, and have to live with a wounded mind and body.

That possibility exists. According to Suzuha, that's not the case, but it's not like that's absolutely true. Since I can't confirm or deny that possibility, I don't want to use Kurisu's last resort. Besides, I have the Time Leap Machine. As long as I have it, I can repeat the last few days before Mayuri's death for all eternity. There's still the danger of a time leap failure, though....

In any case, to solve the problem with Rukako, I should have an honest talk with the girl in question.










It's nice that it's cool early in the morning, even though it's the middle of summer. The crickets are already chirping. The sunlight isn't too strong yet.

Since I kept thinking about Rukako, I couldn't get a wink of sleep.





Mayuri enters the room with a sour look on her face. She didn't say her "tutturu!" catchphrase today. She looks unusually pouty.

"You're early. It's still 8. Something going on today?"

"I came to scold you, Okarin!"

She says so, but there's no strength in it. She's been bad at getting angry since the old days.

"You know, Mayushii's disappointed in you, Okarin."

Mayuri points at me with puffed cheeks.

"Why?"



"H-How did you..."

"Ruka consulted me. She said you said she was a guy."

"Mmm..."

I see. Ruka and Mayuri are good friends. If Rukako cries, then there's nowhere she can go except to Mayuri. I should've thought about that...!

"Okarin, why did you say such a mean thing?"

"M-Mayuri, it doesn't involve you. It's a serious, confidential matter involving The Organization--"

"It does so involve me. Ruka is Mayushii's friend, you know."



This is the first time Mayuri's been so angry. To be honest, I'm bewildered.

"Hey, hey, why did you say such a mean thing?"

It was necessary to save you...

I don't say it. I don't want Mayuri to know my motives. I don't want to give this optimistic girl the verdict 'You will die in a few days.' So, did I fail yesterday when I told Rukako that Mayuri would get killed...?

I'm temporarily at a loss for words.

"...You're worried about something, aren't you?"

Even though she doesn't seem to be thinking anything, she's still sharp...

"I can tell! I mean, Mayushii sees Okarin every day, after all... and yesterday, you were talking with Cris for a long time, weren't you?"

"..."

"If you're worried about something, you can ask Mayushii too, okay?"

"..."

"I want you to talk to Mayushii too... okay? So, will you go apologize to Ruka? Will you go and make up? Mayushii will come too, if you want."



"O-Okarin?"

"Come now, Mayuri. Me, worry? Go away and boil your head. I am the insane mad scientist, Hououin Kyouma, I'll have you know. I have nothing to worry about! All I do have... is the craving, the ambition for chaos! Fuhahahaha!"

"Okarin..."

It's not something Mayuri should know, by any means. Even if she hates me for it--









I told her everything yesterday. Including Mayuri's death.

Maybe she calmly thought about it all night, and decided to believe in what I had to say.

"Alright..."

I get up from the sofa.

"Where are you going? Mayushii's not done talking..."

"I'm going to Rukako's place now."

"Really? You're going to apologize? Then let Mayushii--"

"No, you'll cause all sorts of problems if you come."

I put my hand on Mayuri's shoulder, warning her.

"So please, watch over the lab."

Mayuri looks somehow lonely as she drops her shoulders.



She still hasn't noticed me. Rukako stand still, in the still shrine grounds, the only movement being the silhouettes of the trees swaying in the summer sun. A scene straight from a fairy tale. I stop and watch in fascination.

And then, Rukako turns around. Our eyes meet.

"...Mmhmm."



Rukako bows her head.

"So you came... Thank you."

We look at each other in the still grounds. Ah, crap. It got awkward somehow.

I can't stand this silence, so I start up the conversation.





"So-Sorry. I couldn't talk about this to anyone but Mayuri."

"I mean, how much did you tell her?"

"I kept... most of it a secret. Including the stuff about Mayuri's death..."

Hearing that's a relief.

"Do you still think I'm joking?"

Rukako shakes her head side to side. Meaning... she believes me?



I tried to use a gentle tone of voice, but ended up talking like Faris instead. I really can't deal with Rukako now that she's a girl.

"...Um..."

Rukako takes a deep breath, as if to prepare herself. Her face is randomly turning red. She opens her mouth to speak, but stops. Over and over again. Rukako's abnormally tense. That tension infects me, and my heart starts pounding like an alarm bell.

"I, I..."

"Y-Yes?"

"...want to ask..."

"Mmm..."

"...Okabe... what you said yesterday..."

"Yeah."



"I, I see!"

So basically, that means she'll go back to being a guy, even though I hurt her feelings. For her to believe me in spite of that makes me honestly happy.

But something's strange about Rukako. Her tension shows no sign of loosening. Rather, it's leveled up to a half-crying state.

"...So, well... In exchange... for becoming a guy again..."

Exchange? She wants something in return? I never expected Rukako to make such a proposal.

"Today... and tomorrow... It's okay... if it's only for before Mayuri gets in danger, so..."

What? What's she talking about?

My throat goes dry. I'm so tense and I don't understand why.

"...So... Please me by..."

"...Hm? I couldn't quite hear you. One more time, please."

Rukao's voice is more delicate than ever. So much that I couldn't hear it from here.

"...Please be my l...er..."

No good, I still can't hear.

"Please say it clearly, 'cause I'll do anything I can."

"Lo...er..."

"What?"



...

...

...

What was that?

L o v e r.

The word takes severe detours through my brain. It doesn't register immediately.

Or rather, my brain isn't working. Rukako melted it completely.

She's fidgeting, hanging her head, as if she couldn't lift it. Waves form in my heart. The ripples won't settle easily.

Just now - what did Rukako say? What did she say to me?

L o v e r.

Lover.

Lover.

Lovers, for just today and tomorrow?

Wha-wha-wha-wha-what?!





Without thinking, I asked the worst question possible. Rukako shrinks more and more--

"cause... Because... I love you."

...Those words were as small as the buzzing of a mosquito, but had all the courage she could muster. Unconsciously, my chest feels like it tightened.

Silence.

More silence.

W-wait just a second. If you say this so suddenly...

No, it wasn't sudden. At the very least, I noticed Rukako's feelings when Kurisu told me about that flag. Even so, I didn't think it would come to this...

My mind goes blank. I can't think straight. Rukako hangs her head, waiting for my answer.

Seeing her brave, innocent figure, I feel Rukako's loveliness...

Nonono! Bad! This is bad! Feeling her loveliness is NO GOOD!



I turn around as I scream that and break off at full speed. I'm so ashamed, I can't look back.





"Ah, Okarin. How'd it go? Did you make sure to apologize to Ruka?"

"Uh, yeah. So put the Juicy Karaage Number One in the microwave and nuke it so that the D-mail's basically ABC and..."

"Huwha?"

"That is, the microwave oven uses the same principle as the knights who inherited the ideals of the Rosicrucian Order: By producing alchemy. Meaning that the sound of the chime is the brainwashing device, while the chime itself actually doesn't have any meaning at all..."

"Waaah, Okarin's broken!"

While muttering incoherently, I set up the Time Leap Machine.

"What are you doing?"

"J-Just a temporary strategic withdrawal."

"Strategic...?"

When do I jump to? Just as far as I can. Yeah, that's it. Yeah, far. I jump to the time leap limit of August 11th.