Part 60: Hashia Itaru is easily seduced

I soon stop standing straight and place my hand on the table to support myself. After staying still for a while, the vertigo slowly fades. As if on cue, color gradually restores to the monochrome world.

"Nn..."

Again. The demon eye, Reading Steiner activated. Did the world change?

I look around the room.



Rukako bashfully blushes once he notices my gaze.

"Um, Okabe, could you... please not look at me so much...?"

I fold my arms and tilt my head. Rukako's appearance didn't change a bit.



Since he's originally a guy, it's natural that his chest is free of bulges. But, if he turned into a girl, then that's a different story. That washboard isn’t tiny breast level. It's anti-breast level.

"Was it... a failure...?"

So the "Eat lots of vegetables to give birth to a girl" thing Kurisu talked about was nothing but fringe science. It was a mistake to believe in such a theory as a researcher, Assistant.

"Was what a failure?"



"What, you say? Is every last one of you growing senile? Just now, we used the Microwave Ophone (Temp) to--"

I grip my mouth as soon as I start talking. They completely forgot what we did. Hasn't that been proven by all the previous experiments? Reading Steiner's activation means the world has changed. The only one whose memories continue before and after the change is me. Therefore, nobody here recognizes what we did just now except for me.

"Sorry. No, it's nothing."



"Cristina. I want to ask you something... Rukako is..."

"What pervert act are you thinking about this time? I can't be too careful around your pervert duo."

"We're not a pervert duo. Were a pervert gentleman duo!"

"Whatever. Seriously, whatever."

"Mmm..."

N-Now I can't ask her. It's really annoying how they don't remember. Just what sort of misunderstandings would asking 'Did Rukako turn into a woman?' bring? It's scary just imagining it. I should wait until I can meet with Rukako alone, and check then, but considering how his appearance didn't change at all, it's very likely that the sex change failed. In that case, just what did Rukako's D-mail just change?

Same thing with Moeka. The result was different from expected. This problem might be out of my control...



Daru sits in front of me, impatiently waiting for Faris to bring us our order.

"Daru. What do you think about D-mail?"

"Cool, and somehow uncool."

"What's uncool about it?"

"It couldn't change the result of my RaiNet match with Faris."

What a selfish reason...








"It's defective as a device due to the involved element of luck. Unless we can somehow give the sender more control, it's going to end up as junk unfit for practical use."

In the first place, there's the problem with how only I can recognize the results of the changes. When I think about how I couldn't have confirmed the experimental results without my special ability, it makes me keenly aware of how user-unfriendly it is.

"It's certainly not getting results, huh. What about the LOTO SIX case?"

"Pending."

The fact that we missed due to Rukako's blunder does interest me, but what interests me more is why I would give the numbers to Rukako after getting the D-mail. It's as if Steins;Gate's choice guided money away from my grasp.

Mm, no good, you're thinking negatively.



"I don't understand what you're saying, but you sure seem confident about it."

"That Microwave Ophone (Temp) will someday be improved so that humans may use it to send things not only into the past, but also towards the future. I'll improve it. No, I must improve it! For that it Steins;Gate's choice! Fuhahahahaha!"

"A time machine?!"





"Tch, damn you Faris, eavesdropping is cowardly...!"

"What're you saying nya? Kyouma's voice is so loud, it echoed through the shop nya."

What... did you say...?

Once again, I leaked classified information concerning the future of all mankind!

"Here's your iced coffee, iced tea and 'cat food'. Thanks for waiting nyan♪"

Daru's order of "cat food" is a standard menu item for this maid cafe. It's not miso over rice, but stylish risotto. It's one of Daru's favorites. It's actually pretty tasty.

The iced coffee is placed in front of me.

"Do you want milk and syrup in it nyan?"

"I refuse."



Despite my refusal, Faris pours all of the milk and syrup into my glass,

"Nyan nyan, nyan nyan♪"

all the while murmuring that nonsense and mixing my iced coffee with a straw before my eyes.

"There it is! This is Faris's secret technique, Mixing Before Eyes!"

Daru starts explaining in excitement.

"Normally, it's hard to do it without spilling the drink, yet Faris can calmly pull it off. That's what I love about her!! It's through this secret technique that Faris reigns supreme as MayQueen's number one popular maid, exclamation mark!"

The iced coffee in the glass changes color from black to brown. Carried away by Faris's pace again, I gnash my teeth. Faris shows Daru the same secret technique.

"Faris, thank you! I shall be sure to savor it!"

He bows deeply. Such a cordial man.



When I look to the side, suddenly I see Faris standing with her silver tray in front of her waist.

"Do you need something?"

"I wanna hear the rest nya♪ Kyouma and Daru-nyan were talking about something interesting nya? Something about a time machine. Faris really wants to hear nyaaan."

She gives a babyish look with upturned eyes, but I firmly repulse her.

"It's top secret. Not to be shown to outsiders!"

"Just who exactly was the one who talked so loud it echoed through the whole store nya?"

"..."



Looks like she's targeting Daru now.

Don't take him lightly, Faris NyanNyan. Daru is my most trustworthy right hand man, the wizard-class supah hakah. He won't be tricked into divulging classified information to outsiders!



(Episdoe eight cleared.)