Part 72: Amane Suzuha talks about her past

(Moving on.)





"Haah, haah, so why do I have to sit behind you and pedal...?"

"Aristotle said this long ago: 'Time is the fate of motion'. So put those pedals in motion."

I don't get what she means. I'm completely exhausted. I didn't expect to get exhausted coming to the station. I'm not used to this...

I get off the bicycle and lean my back against the wall. Suzuha leans the bike and crouches next to me. Sitting on the ground is dirty, so I don't really want to do it... but I'll do it until I can catch my breath.

Several people walk in front of Daibiru, most of them men.







When Akiba town changed, so did the people who visited it. This atmosphere... something about it feels retro. I've only seen it in photos and stuff. Akiba at the end of the 20th century. Its pure "Electric Town" form. It revived right before my eyes, and the only one in this whole town who noticed that change is me.

"You know, the first time I came to Tokyo was 10 days ago."

Hmm. I've never heard that before.

"Summer sightseeing... that's not it, huh."

"I'm 'sleuthing' for my father."

Sleuthing... searching?

"Did he run away?"



"We haven't met in years, but I know he's in this town."

"Is that so... but then why are you working part time?"

Suzuha works part time at the Braun Tube Workshop nearly every day, coming in at 11 and working until 7.

(What part of that is part time?)

I don't think that leaves much time for her search.

"Honestly, I don't have a clue where to begin."

"Have you requested a police search?"

"...No."

"Then shouldn't you? If you have the money, you can hire a private investigator or something."

"I don't have that sort of budget. And besides, there are various circumstances. I just have one chance."



"I know that tomorrow, he might appear at a certain place."

A certain place? That's a strange circumstance. Something doesn't feel right. Maybe he didn't run away, but committed a crime and is now running from the police? Unable to find an answer, I stay silent.

"If I miss that chance, then I need to leave this town."

"Be 'leave', you mean go back home?"

"There's somewhere I have to go. I'm assidious."

Assidious... assidious... does that mean busy?

"I've already decided to give up if I don't meet him tomorrow."

"You're anxious, aren't you? I understand that feeling. You're in an unknown town, looking for your father alone. It surely is disheartening, isn't it? You wanted to consult someone to distract yourself from your anxiety, didn't you? And you decided to rely on the most reliable person around you: Me, Hououin Kyouma.
But what a pity. Relying on an insane mad scientist such as myself was the end of your rope, Working Warrior...!"

"Haah..."

"Heheheh, you want me to use you as a test subject, don't you...!"

"A... test subject?"



I've already explained D-mail to Suzuha before.

"I'll have you become a test subject for that. Heheheheh."

"Wh-What are you gonna do?"

She takes a step back to gain distance from me.

"What? Simple... What I want now is experimental data on D-mail, no matter how much or how little. I want you to change the past, too. But then again, the only one who will recognize that 'changed past' is me... If you think it's cruel, then do as you please. But you're already a lamb infected with my poison. You can't run away...
I know, I thought of something good. What you should write in your past-changing mail. Heheheh, listen well! You're going to send this to your father before he disappeared: 'Don't abandon your daughter'! Fuhahahahaha!"



"Wh...at...?"

"You might've taken a load off my back."

"You trying to insult me? I'm not a good guy. I am a mad scientist who thinks of nothing but experiments! If you understand, then tell me your father's phone mail address. If you don't, then I'll spout fire from my right arm... By the way, once unsealed, I can't control my right arm. I can't guarantee your life... You've been warned!"

"Sorry. That's impossible."

"Are you going to stay against me--"



"...Ah, I see."

That's a letdown.

"Well, that's why I'm betting everything on tomorrow. Thanks for caring♪"

"I don't care. I'm just disappointed I couldn't make you a test subject."

"But sending mail into the past, that's amazing. That's history's first time machine."

"Hmph, of course it's amazing. For I am Hououin Kyouma."

"Any plans to upgrade?"

"Upgrade?"

"Upgrade that time machine. Like sending humans themselves or something."

"Under consideration."

We don't have any good ideas at the present, though.

"Then one word of advice before you make it."



"Now that you mention it, you really do hate her, don't you?"

"Well then. Better get back to the workshop. I only got a 30 minute break. He'll get mad if I don't get back soon."

I detain Suzuha as she gets on the bike.

"...Tomorrow, come to the lab whether or not you meet your father."

"Why?"

"So we can use your grief and send a D-mail. Hehehe..."

"Ahaha, that's a mad scientist for you. Atrocious♪ If I meet my father, I'll come. Then we can all do a gun salute."

She laughs happily. Suzuha starts pedaling.



"Hey, wait! Let me ride! Hey!"

Suzuha doesn't wait, leaving me with no choice but to run back to the lab...