Part 53: The past changes in a dramatic and unexpected way

Since she's not sitting on the bench, I guess there really is a jinx that crouching while holding your knees is the best position for a woman. She's staring at her phone like usual.

Once she notices me approaching, she slowly stands up, but she doesn't turn her glance this way.



"For what?"





"I don't really think you're selfish. Rather, I'm the one who should be thankful for your request."

"..."





"I think it's good♪ Moeka is a lab mem after all, right♪"

Daru and Kurisu don't object, either.

"So, what sorta mail does Kiryuu plan to send?"

"My request is that its contents be simple, easy to understand, and that we can confirm whether or not the past changes."






No, more importantly...

"A secret? What do you mean?"

"What? What happened?"





"No, there's no such problem."

Kurisu peeks at my phone from beside me.

"Hmmm, I see. I don't understand how you feel, but since this is strictly an experiment, data collection should take priority."

"Hoohhh... We agree for once, Assistant."



"But but, you know, girls have tons of secrets. It's the same as when you keep unspeakable secrets to yourself and say gehehe, you know?"

"Kwahh?! Don't tell me this is turning into sexual harassment?!"

"Calm down, Daru!"

I turn to Mayuri and Moeka, founders of the mainstream girl alliance.

"I don't remember forcing you to write deeply private matters in the mail."

Kurisu nods deeply to my words. Looks like she doesn't intend to join the mainstream girl alliance.





"...Private content is no good?"

"At least nothing you want to keep undisclosed. Even if you mean well, the mail's contents might have a serious effect on the time axis. You should show your mail to a third party and have them check if the contents are problematic or not."

"Mmhmm, Assistant said everything I wanted to say. And with that said, we have no intention of halting the experiment!"

"It's not like I spoke for you. Don't misunderstand."

She sure is cheeky to be emphasizing every single point.

"In the first place, experiments prioritize data over privacy. If you're going to be a test subject, you need to be prepared for that."

Don't tell me she doesn't want to send a D-mail because she's not prepared for that.

"Ehh? Really? Mayushii just sent a mail without being prepared for that! I'm sorry, Cris..."

"You don't have to apologize... I'm not criticizing you. That's just the general rule."

I don't think I’ve heard of that general rule, but it looks like she'll snap at me if I say anything, so I'll stop for now.



Same as always. I don't know what she's thinking.

"You're already a lab mem. You must have confidence in us. Save private information for another day. If you say you can't, then... I'll be forced to show you. That which lies dormant in me, Hououin Kyouma: The power of ominous insanity...!"

Moeka's so concentrated on typing a mail, it doesn't seem like she heard my threat.





"Hmm, it'll be in the arrival history."

"...And the send history?"

"Nothing... wait, that's not quite it. It'll disappear from the send history."

I confirmed that after I sent that D-mail yesterday. Moeka should've been there, though.






I show the mail to Kurisu, too.

"Moeka, don't overdo it, okay?"

Consolation? Encouragement? I don't know her intention, but Mayuri worriedly calls out to Moeka.

"So then, whattaya sending? It's a pretty high hurdle to meet Okarin's request of changing the past in a simple to understand way."

"What are you saying? Isn't it just that all of your levels are too low?"

"...I have an idea."

"Hohh? Just as expected. Please, give us the details."

Then, Moeka invokes her special ability again. High-speed dexterity. The manifestation of Shining Finger.





"Shining Finger sure is skilled, huh! A true model lab mem!"

With this idea, it should be simple enough to tell whether the past changed or not. Looks like these useless three have no objections to the superior masseuse's idea.

We look at Moeka's phone.



There's no strap, and it's not a deco phone popular among mainstream girls lately.

"Oh, that's the GG01 that just came out last month."

"Gee Gee Zero One?"

"The latest model. I'm pretty sure the LCD is detachable, so you can choose various attachments for it. Right now, it's in short supply, so you'd be put on a waiting list wherever you go. You really did well to get one."

If she's really that uninterested in the latest popular model, then that means 24-hour phone users are picky about even popular models.

"So, Masseuse."

"Hey, why do you call Moeka 'misuse'?"



Moeka expressionlessly shakes her head.

"What...? You don't like it? I named your special ability, so what are you displeased with...!"

"It's cause Moeka is Moeka! And she's not a masseuse, she works at an editorial company..."

"Mayushi, it's uncool to seriously reply to trolls."

"I'm not trolling, just naming her ability."

"Cut the chatter and start preparations."

Gh, dammit. You're just an assistant, don't boss us around...



"Fuhahaha! Don't be afraid of Mister Braun! If he storms in yelling, I'll kick him to the curb!"

"Seriously? Okarin, you're so cool! That's why I admire you."

"He's just talk, isn't he?"

I dare not object.

Moeka's already finished writing her 36-byte mail. When I check Moeka's expression to see if her preparations are OK, she faintly nods.

We set the timer to 100 seconds. With this, we should be able to send it to Moeka's phone just about four days back - to July 31st.

"Microwave Ophone (Temp), activate!"



I signal to Moeka with my eyes. Unlike usual, Moeka tightens her expression, and presses the send button on her grasped phone--



Video: D-mail Sent





I feel the scenery warp. The floor is shaking. No, is the ground shaking? Am I shaking? The images in my line of vision double and triple as they disperse... they lose their color again...

I'm hit by an unseen impact, and I stagger. I stand still, preparing for another impact as I try to recall this sensation. I've felt this sensation before. Tremors as if the world itself is shaking, more intense than when we sent the D-mails yesterday.

That's it, this sensation... is the same as the mass disappearance phenomenon.

The impact stops. I loosen the tension in my body and observe my surroundings. Did the past change?

No need to ask. I'm sure of it. The past changed. That bizarre sensation is proof of it. I look around the room.



Daru's here. Mayuri's here. Kurisu's here.

...Where's Moeka?

"Where's the masseuse? Where'd she go?"

When I ask, Daru and Kurisu, who were discussing something in front of the X68000, look at me dubiously.

Again. This uncomfortable atmosphere. Same as yesterday.