Part 73: A rendezvous meets with unexpected failure

Before me are Lab Mems Mayurir, Kurisu, and Rukako. Faris and Moeka seem busy, so I didn't contact them. Daru mailed me some bullshit like "I've got things to do today, so I'll pass".

I was prepared for Rukako to refuse my invitation, but I guess her coming here means she's forgiven me for that sexual harassment for the time being.

"I want you guys to go shopping for the party."








"What are you doing?"

"Me? I'm going to pursue that Working Warrior, and report on the situation in detail--"

"Stop that, it's in bad taste. Just let her be alone with her father."

"Heheheh, don't lash out at every little thing, Cristina. You don't understand the thing we call human mentality. People make rejections like that because they want to guide their will for themselves at all costs!"

"You're too self-righteous."

"In the first place, Cristina, you and Working Warrior are fighting. For you to be so considerate of her despite that fact makes you a hypocrite!"

"Your actions are too inhuman."

"That's right! I don't think it's good to intrude."



Rukako hasn't decided to come yet, but she's zealous nonetheless.

"More importantly, no matter what the outcome is, we need to go waaarmly welcome her! If that's the reason, then Mayushii will happily go shopping."

"But, um, actually, I haven't met this Suzuha person..."

Suzu's a really good person, Ruka will get along with her too!"

"A good person, huh..."

"Anyway, I'm going to pursue her now--"

"Like I said, you can't do that!"

"Tch, know your place as an assistant and stop ordering me around...!"





"It's because I wouldn't agree if you escaped."

In order to get Kurisu to join the party, I ended up helping with the shopping. I can't escape, either.



Damn Kurisu, lately it feels like she's becoming more and more of a class chairman. At this rate, she might commandeer the lab.

I'm shocked. Could this be what Suzuha was warning me about?

...Yeah, right. Now, let's think of something else. Let's think about today's 'Last Supper', Operation Eldrhimnir. The 'Last Supper' refers to our party for Suzuha. In the case she reunites with her father, we'll just celebrate normally. In other words, her Last Supper in Tokyo.

But...





To gather D-mail experimental data, we have to make some sacrifices. Since we'd change the past somehow with a D-mail, it would become the Last Supper before the change. The lab budget - mostly my pocket money - is tight, but it's okay to party every once in a while. I'm not hoping for any convenient low-risk, high-return thing. High-risk, high-return. That is my pride as a mad scientist.

Heheheh, I can already picture Suzuha's crying face as she falls into despair!

"Huh? Over there, isn't that..."





"Found you, Daru!"

"Eh? Ah--"

I stop him from running away by grasping the nape of his neck.

"Why didn't you respond to my summons?"

"Like I said, I've got something to do..."

"Which is?"

"Offline meet..."

"Inexcusable."

"Wait, just listen a sec--"

"Offline meet, or an all-you-can-eat lab mem girls' home cooking party. Which do you choose?"

"Home... cooking...? O-One question. Is Faris there?"

Before Kurisu can answer that, I whisper to Daru.



"Dammit! Why must you give me a time conflict! At least hold it off until tomorrow..."

"What'll it be? Time to decide. It's your choice."

"I want to eat Faris's home cooking..."

"If you give up the offline meet, then that settles it."

"I give it up. I give up the offline meeeet!"

Daru surrenders all too quickly.





"Huhuh, Daru's here too?"

"What about Faris? Where is she?"

"Hashida. You've been tricked."

"Faris said she couldn't come."



"I'll tell you at the next possible opportunity."

"You're fucking kidding me. It was a long-awaited time machine offline meet..."

"A time machine offline meet? The hell's that?"

"There's a sci-fi BBS I frequent. An offline meet for that. They even planned to have pro author visits. I won't forgive you, Okarin. Ever."

"Gh, why didn't you just say that first? I would've gone to an offline meet like that too...!"

Then I suddenly sense a strange smell.

"...Does anyone else smell that?"

"Smell?"

"Did someone overload an outlet and short something?"





Rukako's apologizing for something.

"I think that's probably the smell of what Mayuri... cooked..."

What did... she say...? This is the smell of cooking?

I'll help, too."

"Okay, then warm these eggs..."

"Can I use the Microwave Ophone?"



"We took the door off, so there shouldn't be a problem, right?"

"Chop, chop, ch-ch-chop, chop, chop, chop, chop...."

"M-Mayuri, it's dangerous to hold it like that...!"

Seems kind of freeform. Daru and I exchange glances.

"Maybe we should help, too. Or actually, maybe we should get those girls out of the kitchen?"

"Isn't it the same both ways?"

"I'm getting vertigo. I want this reality to change."

"This. Okarin, I'll never forget this grudge for all eternity..."

"Honestly, I'm sorry, seriously... But Daru. Please die by my side..."

"I'll order pizza as a backup."

Not good... not good at all. The ashen air in my chest doubles, triples, quadruples.



I take out my phone and put it to my ear.

"...It's me. It seems like the evil god's seal has been released. If I don't respond in an hour, tell my parents... I love them."

"Okarin, that's a death flag..."

"Is this Steins;Gate's choice...?
El Psy Congroo."












"Hwahhhh..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"...Late."

The sun has already set.



I open my phone to check the current time. Time is time. The high school girl trio needs to head back soon.

Was Suzuha able to meet her father? Parents and children reunited after a long time might have a lot to talk about.