Part 65: A missing person reappears

I hurriedly prepare a memo pad and write down the address Faris recites.

"Oh, so you live in Akiba."

It'll be fast in that case. Judging by the address, it should be right in front of the station.

"I'll be waiting then nya♪"



I'm heading to Faris's house via Yanagibayashi Shrine.

"...So."

While walking, I murmur with an unpleasant thought.

"Why are you guys tagging along?"



By the way, Kurisu's watching over the lab.

"Come on, Mayushii's never gone over to Faris's house to play. I thought I'd like to visit once. Eheheh♪"

"I mean, Faris's private stuff... I can't help but be interested, durr."

Taking along this Faris Stalker might be bad, in various ways... Whatever. If Faris absolutely refuses, then we can just drive him away from her house. Nothing else matters if I can just get Faris to search for an IBN 5100. And then, all goes well and the IBN 5100 at Yanagibayashi Shrine becomes unnecessary.





I guess he was out when he answered the phone earlier. It's unavoidable, so I go to the humble shrine office to the side and press the intercom button. Ruka Papa comes out.

When I try asking him whether the IBN 5100 was dedicated to Yanagibayashi Shrine, he answers "it certainly was." But now that he looked for it, he said he couldn't find it anywhere. Ruka Papa tilted his head, wondering why it was gone.

I asked if he lent me the IBN 5100 before, but he lost the memory of that fact itself.

Just what's going on?



The IBN 5100 suddenly disappeared, even though it was in the lab just a few days ago. Also, the IBN 5100 disappeared from Yanagibayashi Shrine, as if god were playing a prank on me as I searched for it. It certainly seems like it's being influenced by the past changes via D-mail. I can only begin to imagine what influenced it and how. At any rate, it looks like we'll have to rely on Faris.

Since it's the weekend, the front of Akiba station looks crowded. Employees in maid and sailor uniform cosplay are diligently distributing fliers. I appreciate your efforts in this shitty heat.

"Mmm...?"

After walking while increasing my melanin pigmentation, I suddenly stop.

"What's wrong?"

I catch sight of a woman squatting on the side of the road, hugging her knees and clacking on her phone.





All memories of Moeka have vanished from Mayuri and Daru's brains. Does that mean they won't welcome her as a lab mem?

Well, whatever.

"What luck!"

I've got something to ask the masseuse! I rush up to her.

"Hey, masseuse!"



"Eye bee en... Eye bee en... Eye bee en... GoneGoneGone... why is it gone... why isn't it anywhere.. is it really in this town... don't tell me it's already...?"

"Are you listening? Shining finger!"

"...It should be... should be somewhere... has to... FB said so..."

No reaction.

"Kiryuu Moeka!"

Moeka stops muttering.



"...Okabe?"

"You. Did you take the IBN 5100 from the lab?"

Behind my back, Mayuri and Daru are tilting their heads in puzzlement, but I ignore them.

"I don't want to accuse you, since you're a comrade, but you did display an unhealthy attachment to that computer. So? Did you do it or not?"

"Did you find an IBN 5100...?"

"I found one, but it went missing."

"Missing...?"

"Don't worry. I won't report your actions to the police. As long as you return it, that is."

The ever-expressionless Moeka puts on a rare bewildered face.

"Do you... not know?"



Then she hangs her head and begins operating her phone at high speed.






She really doesn't know?

If it's an inside job, then I thought Moeka was suspicious, but... The IBN 5100 disappeared from Yanagibayashi Shrine, meaning that it's actually unnatural for Moeka to be the culprit. So it's an influence of D-mail after all...? Or perhaps, an organized action by SERN?

"I'm sorry, Masseuse."

I square in front of Moeka and bow my head.

"I suspected you, a lab mem and a comrade...! I'm the worst sort of man. I don't mind if you strike me. But I want you to know this one thing: Since The Organization has been hunting for my life, I've grown unable to trust anyone..."



"Once I suspect something, everything else looks suspicious... No matter how many comrades amass before me, I always feel alone... I'm ridiculous, aren't I?"






"Annnyway, Okarin, you just started drama on the streets of Akiba. Has the heat gotten to you?"

So Moeka doesn't know that I obtained an IBN 5100 either... And judging by her demeanor, she hasn't gotten one either. The whereabouts of the IBN 5100 are getting more and more confusing.

"I've been thinking... Moeka sure is pretty, isn't she? She's got an excellent style, and she's tall, too. If I got her to cosplay, she'd sure be attractive! Ehehe..."

"...Wh...at?"

I doubted my ears for a second. I approach Mayuri.

"Do you know about Moeka?"



"Why do you?!"

I grab her and shake her by the shoulders, swaying her head back and forth.

"Mmmaaaahhh? Oookaaarriinn, yyoouuu brrroouughht herrr, diiiddnnn't yyoouuu?"

"I did...? You, Daru? Do you remember that woman?"