Part 45: A tiny mistake thwarts the perfect plan

As if my feet are off the ground. My vision blurs as if I had been thrown into the ocean. Everything in sight turned monochrome.

Did the ground shake? Physiological feelings of fear. Instinctive feelings of fear.

"Okarin? What's wrong?"

Mayuri's calling voice snaps me to my senses. I notice that color has returned to the world.

What was that just now?



Mayuri waves her hand in front of my face. After blinking several times, I notice I'm standing stock still while gripping my phone.

My phone should be displaying "Mail Sent" - or so I thought, but it isn't. It's showing the normal standby display. Something feels wrong here. Something is strange. But what is it?

I look about my surroundings - inside the lab. The Microwave Ophone (Temp) isn't operating. When I sent the mail, the timer displayed 115. In other words, it should've still been operating for about two more minutes. Yet now, the Microwave Ophone (Temp) is silent.

Other things feel wrong.



Until just a few seconds ago, Daru should've been sitting in front of the X68000 attached to the Microwave Ophone (Temp)... but now he's sitting in front of the lounge computer. Did he teleport? At least, I don't remember seeing Daru get up and move to the lounge.

Kurisu's sitting cross-legged on the sofa, reading a massive technical book, even though she should've been in the development room, too.

Moeka's standing still at the edge of the development room. Nothing particularly different about her.

Mayuri's next to me, looking at me with her head tilted in wonder.

Something is wrong.

"Mayuri, how long have I been standing here?"

"Eh? What do you mean?"

"Doesn't matter. Just tell me."



"30 minutes...? Really?"

"Yup. You suddenly ran over to the Microwave Ophone. You took out your phone and started going haaah haaah."

"Mayushii, say those words again."

Daru calls out from the lounge.

"Eh? You started going haaah haaah?"

"Repeat the haah haah part!"

"Haah haah."

"More sexy this time!"

"Stop it, pervert."

Rebuked by Kurisu, Daru pouts. How can these guys talk so normally at a time like this? Well, normally for them, anyway. Just now, I sent a mail that may have changed the past, you know. Are you not interested in the result?






"The mail arrived a week ago."

"Eh? What's this about?"

"The money? Did I win the LOTO SIX...?"

I try searching my memories, but I can't remember. I have no memories of buying a ticket. No memories of winning 3rd place. Nothing.

"Celeb sev over there, did I win 3rd place?"

"Don't call me celeb sev! Anyway, 3rd place of what?"

"...what?"

Something's wrong again. I draw closer to Kurisu, lounging on the sofa.

"What did you say just now?!"

"Huh, wh-what..."

"What the hell did you say just now?!"

When I raise my voice, Kurisu glares back at me.

"Something wrong? I asked what, and then you just--"

"Not that! You said '3rd place of what', right?! 3rd place of LOTO SIX."



Kurisu shows a puzzled look. It doesn't look like she's feigning ignorance or ridiculing me either.

"Daru, just now, I sent winning LOTO SIX numbers with the Microwave Ophone (Temp), right?"

"Ohhh?! I never thought of that! Could we change the past with D-mails to make us billionaires? I could buy all the computer parts I want, and go to MayQueen for all five meals of the day! I AM SO PUMPED UP!"

Something's wrong.

"Mayuri, you'd be happy to have a truckload of bananas, right?"

"A truckload? Who'd fill it up?"

Something's wrong. I look at Moeka. She's looking down, but she definitely looks confused.

"Wait, wait! Weren't we just about to bring Operation Urd to the second stage?!"

"The second stage... you mean an experiment to see if the past can be changed, right?"

"R-Right! That's it!"

"Yeah, that's why we're all thinking."

"What...?"

"About what to send, so we can tell if the past changed..."

"But Okarin, I must say, good job for your LOTO SIX idea."

"But Mayushii thinks we shouldn't be so greedy for dough. Ah, but when I say dough, I don't mean like for baking--"

"I think we all understand what you mean."

"Really? That's great. So instead of being greedy, we should do something that would bring peace to the world. Like, if we gave everybody in the whole wide world an Upa cushion, I think everyone would be happy♪"

"The only ones who'd be happy would be little kids and Mayushii, durr."

What? What are these guys saying? It's almost like the chain of events leading to me sending the winning LOTO SIX numbers to myself became undone--





Slowly opening the entrance door, peeking his head inside, is Rukako.

"Ah, its Ruka. Welcome♪"

"Excuse me. Pardon the sudden intrusion."

Ruka apologetically bows his head. Mayuri, Kurisu and Daru go into welcome mode. Moeka stares at her phone indifferently.

But I'm not in any condition to greet Rukako. I can't stop sweating, and it's not because of the heat. I just don't know what's going on anymore. Doubts keep spinning around my head.



"Ah, no, that's not it..."

Rukako looks at me apologetically, as if he wants to say something.

"...What is it?"

I try listening mechanically, with my head still blank.

"Actually, Okabe... I mean, Kyouma, there's something I need to apologize for..."

Apologize? About what?

Timidly, Rukako holds out--

"Ah...!"



And the numbers are the same as the ones in my D-mail...!

I reflexively grab Rukako by his slender wrist.

"Rukako, where did you get this...?!"

"Ah, ugh, i-it hurts..."

"Okarin, you can't pick on Ruka!"

Mayuri gets between us. I reluctantly let go.

"Okabe, what's wrong with you? You've been weird for a while now."

"Did the heat get to him?"

"Rukako, I'm sorry. But please, tell me. Where did you get that LOTO SIX ticket?"



"Told you...? I did?"

Rukako nods with teary eyes.

"You said 'you might win, so try buying these numbers'..."

"R-Really? When was that?!"

"A week ago..."



What kind of punchline is this?!

But the past certainly did change... did it change? It seems like it changed, and at the same time, the present seems to have changed too...

"Eh, so then, did Ruka win the LOTO SIX?"

"Okarin's an esper!"

"...Okabe, don't tell me... you sent the winning numbers with the Microwave Ophone?"

"Why do you ask? You should've seen it too."

"Seen it? Seen what?"

The conversation's not connecting.

"...I sent. The 3rd place winning numbers. Just now. You were there. After much deliberation, we decided to do it that way. Then the past changed... it changed."

I cast a glance at the Microwave Ophone (Temp). Proof. That completely unstylish, grotesque appliance, consisting of just a microwave oven hooked up to a cellphone, undeniably changed the past. We possess a power rivaling god...!

Though, I don't know why everyone else completely forgot.

"W-Woah, more importantly, Ruka, how much did you win?!"

"...700,000, right? 3rd place."

I answer with conviction.

But...

"No, umm..."

Rukako begins fidgeting. Something's strange about his behavior.

"I'm really sorry, Kyouma... Even though you told me something so amazing... I..."