Part 201: Hououin Kyouma opens Steins Gate

An empty, dreary rooftop. A little bit away, I can see the top of the station. This is the third time I've been here.

Just once more, I simulate in my head what I should do now. Though my time restriction is fairly strict, I have no choice but to do it. No, it's been decided I have to do it. That's what I tell myself.

After waiting for Suzuha to break the lock, I rush inside like last time.



Last time I went all the way down to the fourth floor, but this time I don't. I set my attention on the capsule toy area near the landing. There is the first thing I should do.



This is it. In this capsule toy machine, I managed to get the super rare Metal Upa.

Without hesitating, I insert the 100 yen coin I prepared beforehand, and forcefully turn the lever. A capsule falls out of the door. Right as I pick it up--

"Wah, it's RaiNet!"

I hide my face in surprise. Mayuri's voice is getting closer. Gah, she's already coming?

I hurriedly leave that place without making eye contact with Mayuri. Luckily, she was so entranced by the capsule toy machines that she didn't notice I was Okabe Rintarou.



Inside is the Metal Upa. The super rare, metallic Upa. I forcibly changed the sequence of prizes the capsule toy machine gave out, which means that what the first me gets is...

The answer is obvious. I turn my head back to confirm.



Kurisu is standing right behind me, just about to call out to me. She cowers in surprise when I suddenly turn around.

"H-Hey, weren't you just on the roofto--"

"I'm going to--"

"Eh?



Leave everything to me.

"What do you mean?"

I say no more, because if I tell her everything here, Kurisu will no longer have a reason to talk to the first me. On the other hand, I need to leave the truth of trying to tell her something. If I don't, then after this, Kurisu won't have a reason to take out the me who picks a fight with Doctor Nakabachi.

I tap Kurisu's shoulders, and once again run up the stairs.

"Ah, wait--"



When I look at the capsule toy machine again, instead of Mayuri, the first me is there, just now turning the lever.



"Is it rare?"

"It's not rare, but isn't it just so cute? Mayushii loves Upa."

I grin at my little secret. I changed the order after all. Meaning what Mayuri is signing now is just an Upa, not a Metal Upa. And that means--



The voice from the eighth floor mic announces the beginning of the presentation. The first me goes up to the eighth floor, but without moving from that spot, Mayuri takes out a pen and starts signing the Upa. Just as planned.

When Doctor Nakabachi emigrated to Russia on August 21st, he had the Metal Upa that Mayuri had signed. If we exchange that metal for plastic, then it should get affected by the fire accident on Nakabachi's plane. But the one question that reminds is how exactly Mayuri's Upa got into the hands of Doctor Nakabachi.

I keep watching Mayuri, who nods with satisfaction after she finishes her signature, and jogs after the first me. She puts Upa into her coat pocket... or at least tries, but it doesn't go in. It falls down and rolls away. Mayuri runs up the stairs without even noticing.

Upa falls all the way to the landing. Did Nakabachi pick that up? But Nakabachi is now upstairs in the middle of his lecture. He doesn't have an opportunity to pick it up.



I hurry up and hide myself on the other side of the seventh floor landing. I'm saved by the staircase's special shape. If it were shaped normally, I wouldn't have had an escape route.



I see... so Kurisu picked up the Upa from there.

The Butterfly Effect. This casual event has a huge effect on the Russian passenger plane fire three weeks from now, and then even causes World War III.

Kurisu picks up an Upa and worriedly looks around. Perhaps she's searching for the owner, but of course, Kurisu doesn't know who Mayuru is. At this point in time, those two aren't even acquaintances.

In the end, Kurisu puts Upa into the enevelope she's carrying, and goes up to the eighth floor. Confirming everything so far, I head towards the passage on the eighth floor.



I grip the Cyalume Saber and shake it silently, thus activating the red fluorescent paint inside. It will last about 10 minutes. It should get dim before Kurisu appears.

I can clearly see what it is I should do, but the timing will be severe. I wonder how well I can dodge the agitated Nakabachi. That should be the most difficult part.

If I mess up, then Kurisu will be killed.

"What are you so afraid of, Hououin Kyouma. Everything's obviously going as I expected."

I talk to myself as if giving instructions.

"Operation Skuld is flawless. After all, I spent fifteen years perfecting this plan. I believe in myself. I believe in Hououin Kyouma."

And I will definitely save Kurisu.



I hear the sparse sound of applause from the event hall, meaning I should be hearing footsteps soon...





Leaning against the wall, she checks the contents of the envelope and faintly smiles.

Now I understand why Kurisu is smiling. The Upa inside. She's probably smiling at how adorable it is. It really doesn't suit you, Kurisu.

I smile bitterly inside. My heart is calm, even though I've already reached this point. Nakabachi's appearance is my signal to start. When he takes out his knife, I'll throw out the Cyalume Saber. Then, I scare Nakabachi away and stun Kurisu. I can do both by brandishing the stun gun I prepared beforehand.

That is my plan.

The next set of footsteps resounds. Kurisu raises her head. I can't confirm it, but it's no doubt Nakabachi.



"..."

"Are you listening? Papa."

Every single word Kurisu mutters is the same.

"What's that?"

"Papa, I heard you were going to hold a time machine presentation, so I thought about it, too. About whether or not a time machine could be made."



Without a doubt, that's partly because of the complaint the first me raised during the presentation. It's just about time for Nakabachi to lose his temper.

Once again, I check the Cyalume Saber in my hand. The glow has already dimmed. If I remove the cap at the tip, the fake blood will flow--

"...?!"

I almost stop breathing unintentionally. I bring the Cyalume Saber to my eyes to check in detail.



Strange. This shouldn't be happening. I was certain it should keep fluid for at least 30 minutes after the light goes out. A dud? Defective?!

That reminds me, we haven't actually used the Cyalume Saber even once. The chemicals inside are single use, so it's a consumable item. Considering the lab's financial condition, we never used it, thinking it would be a waste.

It's such a disgrace to notice now, of all times! And I didn't even bring a spare. Guh. Not as planned. The simulated scene in my head crumbles.



I'm startled at Nakabachi's angry yell.

"Those incompetent colleagues of mine were just jealous of my superiority. They were disgusted of me and just gave up on me!"

"Please don't yell..."

Time won't stop for me. How do I recover from the situation now? It's impossible to leave this place. In just a short while, Nakabachi will attack his own daughter. If I come out after that, the result will just be the same as last time.

I'll end up killing Kurisu again. That must be avoided at all costs...!

But then, just what should I do?! Go back to the time machine and start again? No, that's no good. Suzuha already told me. There's not enough fuel to leap through time again. This is my last chance!



"Go back."

"Eh..."

"Just go back to America already. I don't want to see your face again."

"But--"

"What do you mean, you want to hear my opinion?! What do you mean, joint signatures?! That isn't what you think in the slightest, is it?!"



My heart keeps beating like it does after exercise, and my breathing gets rough. I cover my mouth with my hand to suppress the sound of my breathing.

"Are you pitying me?! Do you despise me?! Even though you're my daughter!"

"Wh-What are you talking about? Calm down--"

"I'm perfectly calm! Don't tell me what to do!"



The same words. The same development. Heading straight towards tragedy.

Time, please stop...

I beg, but quickly stop. Are you gonna rely on god, Hououin Kyouma?

But... Did you forget?

"I'll tell you why I called you here today. I triumphed! I was going to flaunt the greatness of my research! I was going to show you just how despairingly far apart we are!"



I will deceive the world.

"And yet, everything was in vain, because of that damned punk! I know you saw me and laughed at me! Just how far will you go to ridicule your own father?!"

"I didn't laugh at--"

"Do you want my opinion on this thesis? I'll tell you right now. I will publish this thesis with my name. That is all."

Forget about the cruel god, forget about the will of the world. I will save Kurisu myself. I won't let her get killed again. I won't kill Kurisu.

"...Papa, don't tell me... you're stealing it?"

"...What did you say?"

"You're stealing... my thesis? That was the last thing I thought you'd do--"





"Who do you think you're talking to?!"

It's finally started...!



Kurisu's groans of agony reach my ears.

There's still a way to prevent Kurisu's death. The puddle of blood I once saw spreading underneath Kurisu's collapsed face down body. There's still one more way to reproduce that besides using fake blood.

And that is... a bet, to use the world's convergence against itself.

I don't know the odds of winning this bet, and arriving at the unknown world line, the Steins Gate.



"Nobody in this world is superior to me! Understand?! It's a disgrace! There's no reason for a daughter to be superior to her father! So I stayed away from you! I couldn't stand the thought of you being my daughter! Because of you... because of you...!"

No...

Say no more.

I am a mad scientist surpassing god.

What I desire is chaos.

I don't need any predetermined future...!

"Stop!"



Nakabachi turns to my direction, stunned. Glimmering, bloodshot eyes.

"You're... the one from before...! Because of you... my presentation was a failure!"

Nakabachi's hand separates from Kurisu's neck.

"Guh, gah hoh gah hoh gah hoh..."

"How dare you show your face to me again...! You... all of you are just getting in my way...! You're in cahoots with Kurisu, aren't you?! That's it, that's it, isn't it?! I won't... let you brats... have your way...!"



A blade reflecting cold light. Seeing that, I laugh provocatively.

"Just try it."

"Youngster... what are you?!"

"My name is"



"What?"

"If you don't know, then memorize it. Ho-oh as in phoenix. In, the temple. Finally, the Kyou in atrocious becomes Ma in truth. Hououin Kyouma...! I am the one who desires chaos. The one who destroys the order in the world. And, finally, the one who will crush your ambition!"



"Run away..."

"I refuse!"

I turn to Nakabachi with both arms spread, not even looking at Kurisu.

"What's wrong, Doctor Nakabachi? Can't walk the walk? Not going to kill me? But then again, killing someone with such divine strength as mine is probably impossible for the likes of you, huh?! Fuuuuuhahahaha!"

"D-Don't you mess with me!"

Nakabachi goes into a frenzy. He points his blade and rushes forward.

"No... Papa, stop it!"

At this rate, the one who will get stabbed to death is me. Nakabachi's expression is no longer normal. He's fallen into insanity. He's being controlled by his warped heart. He can't be stopped.

In that case, that impulse... I'll take it.

"You can't kill me! Absolutely not!"

"Diee!"

The knife's sharp tip approaches before my eyes. Without removing my eyes from it--





"Gah... ha...!"

"Ha, haheehee, haheeheeheeheehee..."

An intense pain pierces my abdomen. I feel the hard, cold blade pierce my body.

I was stabbed...! I was stabbed... by that... knife...!

Pain runs through my entire body, like my guts were being stirred.

"Ah, gaah, aaahh!"



"Haah, haah, gaha..."

The taste of blood spreads through my mouth. I'm about to lose consciousness from all the pain. My body's hot like it's burning. My vision blurs.

I'm about to tumble down on the spot, but desperately endure.

"L-Look at you now... aheeheeheehee... that's what you get for ridiculing me... Hee...!"



"You've... done it now..."

I glare at him. I advance one more step, and start feeling the urge to vomit from the back of my throat.

"Gagh..."

Blood spews from my mouth, but I still don't let Nakabachi out of my sight.

"You've done it... You've really done it now...! I'll... kill you... geezer..."

"Heeee...!"

"You too, little girlie... I'll massacre everyone...!"

"Don't move!"



She clings to my body, supporting it.

"Lie down! I'll call an ambulance right now...!"

I just said 'massacre everyone', so why is this woman running towards me? She's good natured, even though she's a tsundere. Back when I was trying to save Mayuri, she was always the one who would support me.

"I'll... save you."

"Eh? What do--"

Kurisu's body convulses. Strength leaves the legs that had supported me. She collapses.



I apologize in my heart.

"I'll... torture your daughter as I please... after I kill you... Nakabachi... first... is you...! Heh, heh, heh, hahahhaa..."

"Hiiiii!"



He retreats back one step. Two steps.

"Hyeehhhhh!"



But he makes sure to pick up the envelope Kurisu dropped. The shrewd man.

"Haah... haah... haah..."

I try touching my stomach wound.

"Ugg..."

Just with that, pain penetrates my whole body, and I fall on my knees. My consciousness is flying away from the pain. The blood won't stop. It keeps dripping.

I kneel, and place both hands on the ground.

"Still not enough..."

I stick my own fingers into my wound, wet with blood. I take a small breath and just take the plunge. A terrible pain runs through it.

I can't bear it...



I scream. I'm seriously going to faint...!

But I still keep opening my wound.

"Gahch, haah, haah, gguh, kha..."

The ground is stained more and more red.





Suzuha rushes here.



"Idiot, of all things... to fail...!"

"Heh... hehe..."

"Uncle...?"

"What are you misunderstanding, Suzuha... Look at this floor... notice anything...?"

"Floor...?"



The thing I made there. It's...

"Ah...! A puddle of blood...!"

For the sake of deceiving the first me.

For the sake of deceiving the world.

The stage is set!

"But at this rate, you'll die, uncle...!"

"Heheh, there's no way I'm going to die... Who the hell do you think I am? I am the insane mad scientist, Hououin Kyouma, you know..."

"Uncle..."



I made a puddle of blood on the floor with my blood.

If the world converges, then it's already predetermined that I won't die.

The world desires not my death. My death is in 2025. That's fixed in this β World Line. That's my wager. I dared to provoke Nakabachi, and got stabbed on purpose. I didn't think it would hurt this much, though.

If we reach the Steins Gate... That's an unknown world line, with a completely undetermined future. Of course, that includes the part where I won't die. How ironic. Even though it means I could die, I want to reach that world line.

My lips silently warp into a smile, and I complete the finishing touches.

"Suzuha... get Kurisu's body..."

"Ah, okay...!"

Suzuha lifts up Kurisu's body, which had fainted after one blast from the stun gun. Then she lays her face down on top of my puddle of blood.



But she's definitely breathing.

I gently stroke her hair.

"Did it hurt...? I'm sorry. But I did it... to save you. Because... even though those three weeks... those days won't come back..."



Even if we reach the Steins Gate.

Even if Kurisu lives.

Even if I don't die.

We will probably never meet again.

Kurisu will go to a future where she doesn't become a lab mem.

A future where we don't make the Time Leap Machine together.

But, I'm still glad I was able to save her.



Please stay unconscious here for a while. If you don't, then we can't deceive the first me.

I motion for Suzuha to pick up the first knife, and I get up from blocking the wall.

"Mission complete... Let's head back now..."



"...Foolishness, how rude. Everything went just as planned... hehheh... heh..."

"Don't talk. We'll return right now. To August 21st. Try to bear the G force, okay? Ah, damn, we should at least do some first aid, but I didn't bring anything with me..."

Pressure almost crushing my body. My wound throbs. I'm about to groan, but I bite my lip and bear it.



The time machine seems to come alive. Suzuha wraps my wound with a towel.

"Hey, uncle. I'm sure that the Steins Gate waits on the other side. A world unknown to me, you, or anyone waits. You live, and Makise Kurisu lives, and Shiina Mayuri lives. I don't time travel to 2010. Though I don't know if World War III breaks out or not in this world line... Though I don't know if SERN's dystopia is constructed or not in this world line..."

Someone's warm hand holds mine. Tightly. Tightly.



I softly close my eyes. Breathing is painful. My pain slowly goes away.



"So, I'll thank you here."

The feeling of her grasping hand gradually fades.



"And, let's meet... seven years from now, okay?"







Video: The End