Part 191: Okabe and Kurisu exchange a large number of emails
Back to regular advancement of the timeline again. Let's pick up the pace.
Daru finds out that Suzuha is his daughter.
Suzuha jumps to the year 1975.
However, the damaged time machine causes her to suffer from amnesia, and fail in her mission. She commits suicide 25 years later.
In order to prevent the damage to the time machine, Okabe uses a D-mail to alter the past, causing Suzuha to leave several days earlier. The memories of their time together are sacrificed for the sake of saving Mayuri.
End of chapter 6.
Assistant posted:
Subject: The key（ノД`）
Wah, nobody's in the lab. I don't have a key, so I can't get inside. When are you coming over today? You were always here, so I assumed it was normal. Now that I think about it, it almost feels like I've been visiting your house, Okabe. Er, no, it's not like I want to visit your house or anything!
Rintarou posted:
Subject: Re: The key（ノД`）
Use the one hidden in the switchboard next to the door.
Okabe visits the house where Suzuha lived in the past. He finds the Divergence Meter again. Distance to goal: 0.5950569%.
Assistant posted:
Subject: （ ﾟ Дﾟ ）
I found the key just fine, but aren't you a little lax on security? It's absurd to even think about picking a fight with SERN with something as lame as this lol. Also, what's this frog that's been left with the key? Someone's bad taste? Only a maniac would put something that gross there.
...Actually, it scared the crap outta me, but keep that a secret, lol okay?
Rintarou posted:
Subject: Re: （ ﾟ Дﾟ ）
It's just like you said. I was careless. I was too lax.
While the deadline was pushed back 24 hours, the Rounders do still arrive, and Mayuri is killed for the seventh time.
The next step is to undo Faris's D-mail.
Following her ignoble defeat at the hands of the Viral Attackers, Faris ropes Okabe into using his time machine to help her win before she'll remember what her D-mail was about.
She's lying, obviously.
Assistant posted:
Subject: I get it, it's a delusion
You seriously considering electric locks or card keys? Just who has that sort of money prepared? That's nothing more than a dream or a delusion. You gotta face reality and seriously fight.
Rintarou posted:
Subject: Re: I get it, it's a delusion
"Reality," huh... Let me tell you the truth, but keep it a secret. SERN is targeting us. Thats the truth. I need your help.
Assistant posted:
Subject: Reality
I can't tell if this is true or just more of your usual BS.... Okabe, this is a serious situation. You're turning into the boy who cried wolf. So only tell me the truth from now on. Please.
Thanks to Okabe's intervention, Faris is able to defeat the sinister Viral Attackers in a children's board game.
While attempting to hide from the Viral Attackers' thugs, Okabe gets an unfortunately-timed phone call from Kurisu.
I ignored it last time, but why not hear what she has to say?
"Okabe! Can you hear me?! We called a taxi, but it'll take some time to get there."Kurisu, huh...
"You exposed us to the pursuers... They're right in front of us...!"
"I see. Then I'll give you an escape method lecture. You haven't left the place you were before, right?"The men are approaching our hiding spot. But because the room is dark, it seems they can't tell where we are. I listen carefully to Kurisu's voice.
"Scatter the wheat flour that's in the room and escape. OK?"Scatter...?
"Then switch on the light."Now I get it. I see, so that's it, huh?
"Roger. Over."
And then I see a white flash. The pursuer takes out a butterfly knife with his right hand, opening up the blade with some fancy finger flipping.
The scattered white powder shines in the sunlight through the window.
"Gwah, the hell's this?!"
"I can't see... Gawch gawch!
Slipping beside the flustered men, I carry Faris towards the exit. Right next to the exit, I see the light switch. I push Faris out first and flip the switch right before shutting the door.
Dust explosion. A chemical phenomenon used by guys like MacDyver or Master Cheaton. Now those guys will be preoccupied for a bit, unable to chase us!
Faris coughs with wheat flour covering her clothes and hair, but we don't have time to spare. The taxi still isn't here, but it's not like we can wait for it. We need to leave here quickly...!
But...
And then things continue as they did before.
Okabe is rescued by Faris's father.
Okabe sacrifices Faris's father to save Mayuri.
End of chapter 7.
Assistant posted:
Subject: Explain yourself!
H-Hey, you! What the hell was that just now?! That was some loving hug! I'm seriously jealous... Ah, no, not about getting hugged by you, but about having someone of the opposite se to lovingly hug! Don't misunderstand me! Anyway, what was that about?
Rintarou posted:
Subject: Re: Explain yourself!
I don't have any hidden intention. Don't ask anything more. This is my way of showing integrity.
Assistant posted:
Subject: Like there's such a thing
Dammit, even though all you do to me is sexual harassment! ヽ（`д´）ﾉ
Ruka agrees to have her D-mail reversed in exchange for being Okabe's lover for the next few days.
Assistant posted:
Subject: Unpopular girl
I don't really care if you get a lover and get all cheerful, but also carefully consider what you're going to do with the Time Leap Machine. We may have created something outrageous. We can't just leave alone. We should discuss this matter with all the lab mems. I understand this is all for Mayuri's sake. I understand, but I still need to say this: Don't get preoccupied with just Urushibara.
To be honest, I'm still afraid of this monster I created, and can't seem to calm down... Talking to you about this and that made me more relieved.
Okabe sacrifices Ruka's happiness to save Mayuri.
End of chapter 8.
Okabe takes Moeka's phone by force. This does not resolve her D-mail, though, as it was sent to FB, not to herself.
Assistant posted:
Subject: Contact me, idiot!
How'd it go with that Kiryuu lady? At least let me know if you're still alive! Don't say anything stupid like you died or anything, okay? Please, just respond. Even a mail will do. Because if you don't, I'll be too anxious to even eat.
Rintarou posted:
Subject: Re: Contact me, idiot!
Don't worry. Thanks for sending me emails like this. I won't die. Not until I've fulfilled my promise to go to Aomori with you. So don't fret.
Assistant posted:
Subject: Re: Re: Contact me, idiot!
Sorry for the late reply, but I want you to listen. Aomori doesn't matter to me. I just want you to be safe, Okabe. Being ignored like yesterday hurt me, like my heart was gouged out. So hurry back home...
Tennouji is outed as FB, and takes his own life shortly afterwards.
Nae, having Time Leapt thousands of times to come back to this day, kills Moeka and swears that she will kill Okabe as well.
Last time, I postponed the cancellation D-mail in order to investigate Nae. This time, I will heed Kurisu's advice and not pursue that plot thread.
When the distortion corrects itself, Kurisu and Moeka's bodies disappear. What I'm gripping is my own phone; FB's phone disappeared. So did Moeka's blood from my hand. So did the bloody knife tossed from the entranceway. Everything was undone.
...Why am I in this room, then?
I think that question. There are two bottles of Dr Pepper on the coffee table. Both are open. One of them's mostly empty, but the other one's the opposite, with only about 10% gone.
I'm taken aback. I hear the sound of flushing.
"...You're alive."
Moeka sits down on the tatami mat, not questioning why I'm here. She takes out the usual purple phone and begins a mail. It feels like forever since I've seen her masseuse-speed typing.
Once again, advancing as usual.
Okabe finally acquires the IBN 5100.
Okabe realizes the final price that must be paid to save Mayuri.