Part 29: An unexpected rivalry develops at the Braun Tube Workshop

"Hmm... gah, it's heavy!"

It'll take everything I've got to carry this weight all the way. I put it down for now. Now I know why Ruka's dad face was bright red when he carried this thing.

"Is it that heavy...?"

"How weak. Even though it's only as big as a CRT monitor."

"Then why don't you try carrying it? You'll understand that I wasn't wrong."

Kurisu sighs, holds both ends of the cardboard box, and puts in all her strength--



After giving it her all without lifting it a centimeter, Kurisu gives up.

"...I-It's really heavy."

With a sour look on her face, she blushes slightly in embarrassment. Assistant seems to have a strong competitive spirit.

"This thing's gotta weigh like 30 kilos, right? Maybe we should've borrowed a push cart. Urushibara, is there one in the shrine?"

"Umm, there is one, but actually... its broken... I'm sorry."

"I see. Is there some other place we could borrow--"

"No, we don't need a push cart."

"Then how are you going to bring it back? It takes about 10 minutes to walk back to your run-down lab from here."

"It may be too heavy for one person, but it’s a different story for two. You and I just need to carry it together. That's the reason you're my assistant, right?"

"Is that the reason... Well, if both of us carry it, we might be able to manage--"



"...Eh?"

"I-I said no!"

"Didn't you say nope.avi?"

"Sh-Shut up. Yes. I said no."

...Could she possibly be an @channer?

"From the start, you made me a lab mem to borrow my knowledge'. So, I'll guide you to the next answer in this case: 'I won't do physical labor'."

"I see. Then there's no helping it. For now, I'll do my best to carry it, but..."

I glimpse at Rukako. He twitches as he notices my glance, timidly raising his hands with a tearful face.

"Um, th-then, I will..."

"Eh? You will? Are you okay?"

"Yes, I-I'll do my best."

"No, Rukako. I shouldn’t make you help me. I can manage by myself."

"No... No way. Please don't hold back. I want to be helpful for Okabe."

"No, I'll do it by myself."

"I-I'll help you."



"Please, by all means."

"Eh? Wha?!"

"Fuhahaha! Didn't you know, Cristina? That was what you call a Japanese Gag! Rukako, thanks for the backup! With that said, Assistant and I will carry this computer, so you don't have to help. Thanks for the concern."

"Ah, okay... If that's how it is, then..."

"No, Assistant! Since you volunteered yourself, I won't let you refuse. Hold it. Hold it now!"

"...Okay, okay."



Two people collaborating considerably reduces the weight.

"Why do we have to be face to face?"

Were positioned so that we're looking at each other, but there's no other way to hold it, so there's no helping it.

"Let's just go."

I start to walk out of the shrine at once.

"Hey, wait, wait! Wait!"

"You're a noisy one."

"Don't walk forwards. That means I have to walk backwards, right? Move sideways."

"Just move quickly, Assistant."

"Hey, listen, please, just listen! Walking backwards is just too much!"

"If you're an assistant, you should be able to do it."

"Thanks for the esteem, but it’s too much! I'm asking you to go sideways! No, I'm telling you to go sideways! Sideways! I'm gonna fall!"





Normally it takes less than 15 minutes, but since Kurisu kept complaining to take breaks, it ended up taking more than twice that time.

"Haah, we finally made it... I'm tired..."

"If you didn't complain so much about everything, we would've gotten here sooner."

"Right back at you. You said 'let's take a break' five times along the way."

"That's because I wasn't feeling well..."

"Is something wrong?"

"Yeah... occasionally my right arm aches... And when it does, dark destructive impulses overcome my heart--"

"Shut up or I'll extract your right arm's peripheral nerves by the roots."

What a bizarre train of thought! Extracting peripheral nerves would be like last year's New Gene Incidents, wouldn't it?! With that said, I shut up.



We have to ascend this rickety building's narrow staircase.

"Shouldn't you call people to help?"

"Th-That's true..."

Looking up from outside, the lab's lights are turned on.

"Huh?"



"If it isn't Okabe Rintarou. What are you carrying?"

"Hmph, you want to know? Then I'll tell you!"

"Wait, if you're going to stand and talk, shouldn't we put the box down first?"

"Ah, no, we don't really need to stand and talk."

"So, what is that?"

"If I said it was the IBN 5100... what would you do?"

"No way?! Amazing! So you got one! Way to go, Okabe Rintarou!"

I wish she'd stop calling me by my full name. If you're going to do that, then at least use Hououin Kyouma.

"Where? Where was it?"

"Ugh, it's heavy..."

Kurisu starts giving in. Well, I'm about at my limit, too.

"Let's put it down for now!"

Kurisu and I place it on the ground gently, so as not to damage the contents.



"So, where was it?"

"Yanagibayashi Shrine."

"Yanbayashishrine? By shrine, you mean like a Shinto god's shrine?"

"Yeah."

"Why was it over there..."

Then, suddenly, Suzuha looks towards Kurisu.





She gasps, then approaches close enough to Kurisu she could feel her breath.

"W-What is it?"

"Makise Kurisu?"

"Yes, but..."

For some reason, she stares at Kurisu with a frightful force. Kurisu squints as if to oppose it.

W-What's with this tension... I really can't force myself into this.

"What is it? Did I do something to you?"

"...Hmph."