Part 197: Makise Kurisu meets somebody important to her

The silver lights gradually change color. Violet. Blue. Green. Yellow. Orange. Red. Back to silver. Violet. Blue... Is this a rainbow?

I feel pressure throughout my whole body, similar to the sensation of going up in an elevator. It's like the feeling of the elevator pulling you downwards, but the time machine pulls horizontally at my back instead.

The feeling of pressure gradually strengthens. I've never experienced this sense of falling sideways before. It's so uncomfortable, I want to cry out.

The time machine doesn't shake. It's startlingly peaceful. Enough that I begin to question whether it's really moving at all. It's eerie.

The pulling sensation grows even stronger. The feeling of pressure crushing my body starts to seem like an illusion. My own body, my own bones, start to creak.

"Guh... uh...!"

This isn't on the same level as an elevator at all...! This is almost like when astronauts blast off into space in a space shuttle, isn't it...?!

When I look at Suzuha, she has her eyes shut tight, bearing the pain. Her back is pressed to the cylinder's outer wall, not letting go. My vision distorts. Within my distorting vision, the powder of light is still revolving colors, like a rainbow. Wondrous and divine.

I'm still falling... Horizontally? Into a space-time tunnel? Anyway, I'm falling... My body doesn't seem to work.



I shout. My voice also falls behind my back, not even reaching my own ears.

Gravity. There's an intense gravitational distortion behind my back. I keep falling towards it...





My vision returns. Suzuha takes a deep breath and unfastens her seatbelt.

"We're here."

I try to catch my breath in gulps. Did I really time travel just now?

July 28th. The day Kurisu and I first met. The day I first sent a D-mail. I've returned... to that fateful day...!

Suzuha takes out a digital watch. Its design is extremely old.

"I bought it in 1975, but it's only been used for three years."



After spinning the dial to set it to the correct time, she hands it to me. The watch indicates 11:51. Nakabachi's presentation starts at 12.

"We're going, okay? Uncle Okarin, mark out Makise Kurisu, and obstruct whatever it is that kills her."

"What about you?"

"I'll support you. This is related to why I took away your phone, but the uncle Okarin of July 28th is also here, meaning there exist two Okabe Rintarous in this world. Okay? You must absolutely avoid contacting yourself. You can't do that. You'll create a time paradox."

"But that's not what Titor said--"

"That was just fake information."

Now that she mentions it, α World Line Suzuha said the stuff about the many worlds interpretation was also fake.

"...Understood."

"Then let's begin. When it's over, meet me at the time machine!"

Suzuha gives a hurried explanation, urging me to get out first. I open the hatch and reach outside.





Suzuha crawls out after me and closes the hatch.

"Hide, uncle! I'll distract them."

Suzuha immediately runs to the fire door, and surprisingly takes out her gun, firing at the doorknob. With the lock destroyed, the door easily opens.

Very soon, several people should be coming to the rooftop to detain me. I need to hide myself before that...!



I nearly bumped into myself at the 8th floor landing. Running down the stairs to the 7th floor, I heard footsteps running behind me the other way. Those were no doubt mine. It was a near miss. Very carefully, I descend to the 4th floor, and catch my breath. I take a look around, but there's nobody I need to be wary of.

I wonder how things went with Suzuha. I'm worried, but for now I need to focus on myself, and on what I must do. That is, the prevention of Kurisu's death. In about 30 minutes, Kurisu was killed, right after Nakabachi's presentation ended. I know the scene of the murder - the passage on the 8th floor. Deeper than the event assembly hall, where barely anybody would go.

I don't know who Kurisu's murderer is. So, rather than make awkward conspicuous movements, I should just wait at the scene. I'll cool off for about five minutes and then head over there.



About what time was that?

At any rate, if I just stay here, I'll bump into myself. It's tough thinking about how to act so that my old self doesn't notice...

When I trust Suzuha's watch into my pocket to put up with my depression--



"?!"

Someone suddenly calls out to me. And that someone is...





"...do I know you?"

"No..."

"You just came down here from the rooftop, didn't you?"

A look of challenge in her face. An intellectual aura emanating from her every pore.

I never thought I'd see her face again.

I never thought I'd hear her voice again.

But now, the one more important to me than anyone else is right before my eyes.



I want to embrace her right now, but I swallow down my overflowing feelings. This Kurisu still doesn't know me. Don't forget, this is our first meeting.

"I heard a strange sound from the rooftop, and it felt like the whole building shook. Do you think there's a connection? Just what happened? Did Doctor Nakabachi prepare... no, he didn't say anything, did he?"

Gah. Of all things, to be spotted by Kurisu...!

I can't think of how to answer her. More importantly, if I exchange words with her, I won't be able to hold back my overflowing feelings.

When we cracked SERN, Kurisu returned to the lab and showed me her last fleeting smile. That smile floats through my mind.

"Are you listening? You're sweating really bad, you know."

Kurisu cross-examines me with suspicious eyes.



Would the Divergence change without Kurisu getting killed?

I recall all the times that Mayuri died and I kept time leaping to save her. Each of those times ended in vain. I was unable to save Mayuri even once. No matter what I did, the world would kill Mayuri. Wouldn't it be the same with Kurisu? Should I even try it?

I timidly reach out to Kurisu--



Kurisu takes a step away from me in surprise. She stiffens her body, while embracing an A4 envelope before her chest.

My first encounter with Kurisu. Even though I know that, I still can't shake the feeling we're old friends.

Now that I think about it, taking her away from here would be difficult. It's unthinkable that Kurisu would just tag along with someone as suspicious as me, who just ran down from the off-limits rooftop. It would be impossible to take her away. I really should just wait at the scene of the murder.

I grind my teeth and try to leave here, ignoring Kurisu.



She pursues me. Why is she this desperate to ascertain my identity? Well, I certainly am suspicious. Is she just curious? She even called out to me without bringing anyone else.

I reluctantly halt, and look Kurisu straight in the eye.

"...Answer me."

"I'm trying..."



I start speaking, but can't get the words out. Can I even save her? I'm not confident. I'm powerless against the merciless world's convergence.

"You're trying to what?"

"..."

I shake my head and run away, taking Kurisu by surprise.

"Ah, wait! Hold it right there!"





I peek into the assembly hall to check things out without going inside.



Someone in the audience is complaining to Doctor Nakabachi in a large voice. That someone is me.

Which reminds me, I had complained that Doctor Nakabachi's speech was ripped off of Titor's time machine. I never knew I looked like such a dumbass.

"S-Someone, get rid of that man."

Nakabachi replies with the mic. Staff members start gathering around my chair. Seeing this unfold from the outside makes me feel embarrassed for myself.

Before Kurisu gets back, I leave the assembly hall, and head deep into the dim passage.



In about 20 minutes, the same thing is going to happen here. I need to do something to prevent that. I need to. I must.

IN the middle of the passage is some junk, some toolboxes, and some cardboard boxes, perfect for hiding. I slide into that covering. Now all I have to do is wait here until Kurisu comes.

I quickly regret not carrying anything to protect myself. I just wasn't thinking enough, coming here empty-handed. Kurisu collapsed in a puddle of blood. In other words, the murderer's lethal weapon is something that causes bleeding, and since I didn't hear a gunshot, I can probably narrow things down to something with a blade. In that case, being empty-handed is not very promising.

Should I look for something that could be used as a weapon now? I still have about 20 minutes, but it would be bad if I made unwise actions, and got caught by someone. I might just be too cautious, but this is my only chance to prevent Kurisu's death. I don't want to take any unnecessary actions until that moment.

My heart started pounding back there when Kurisu just talked to me. It went way too well, but it was a miracle.

"...haah..."



Furthermore, not a single person passes through this passage. I can faintly here Nakabachi's voice through the mic far away, but that's it.

This stillness increases my tension. Moreover, it's hot, perhaps because the air conditioning isn't functioning. It hasn't even been a minute since I hid myself, but my entire body is already drenched in sweat. The sweat dripping off my brow falls down with a plop, staining the floor. I step on that stain and erase it with my shoe.

Anyway, let's wait. All I can do is wait...



From far away, I can hear the sporadic sound of applause. I look at the watch and it's 12:26. Is the presentation over?

Right as I peek my head out of the covering, the sound of one person's footsteps approaches. I promptly draw my head back in. My heart beats fast. Someone came. Someone's walking through this passage. Who? Kurisu's murderer? I clench my teeth, trying to drive away my tension. I pray I won't be found.

And finally, the footsteps pass right by where I'm hidden. Moving only my eyes, I peek at who this person could be.





Nobody else is here. I didn't expect Kurisu to appear. What is Kurisu's purpose in this Employees Only passage?

If I think calmly, something feels out of place. Why was Kurisu killed in a passage that most people wouldn't approach?

Subduing my breath, I try to figure out Kurisu's circumstances. About five meters away, Kurisu stops at the middle of the passage and leans on a wall.



Why's she smiling now? It's unusual for Kurisu to smile like that. After all, it's her style to glare at other people with a sour look. Envelope... Just what is in that envelope...?

That reminds me, when Kurisu talked to me during Nakabachi's presentation, I'm pretty sure she was holding that envelope. Was that thing there when I discovered her murdered body? I don't remember seeing it...

Kurisu peeked into the envelope, but I can't see what's inside since she hasn't taken it out. What's inside? What would make Kurisu smile... I can't think of anything.

Kurisu's been standing stock still for a while. She's hanging her head, and her long hair hides her face, so I can't tell what her expression is. Is she waiting for someone? Who? Who could she be waiting for in a place like this where nobody goes?



I can't tell what sort of person it is from where I'm hiding, but I'm confident. Considering the timing, this newcomer must be the one who killed Kurisu...!

And to prove it, Kurisu raises her head, and upon recognizing that person, lifts her back off the wall and faintly loosens her expression. The footsteps come even closer.

Who is it?

Who could it be?

"...I have something to talk about?"

Kurisu gently starts talking. Footsteps pass right beside me. I'm so tense I can't move a muscle.

A silhouette finally appears in my field of vision.

It's...



What?

Doctor Nakabachi?

Kurisu and Doctor Nakabachi know each other? They're acquaintances?



...now that you mention it, I never thought about it, but isn't it weird that Kurisu would go to Doctor Nakabachi’s time machine announcement in the first place? Why would a genius girl who even got published in a scientific journal in America come all the way to Japan to attend some suspicious self-proclaimed inventor's presentation? Only about 15 people came out of curiosity or to ridicule. Not one member of the press came. Moreover, Kurisu was so negative about time machines. It was obvious from her lecture at ATF. There's no way Kurisu came for Nakabachi's announcement itself.

Then, the reason she's here is obvious. She didn't come to see the presentation. Her goal was something else.

But just what is the connection? I can't think of any tangents...

...No way.