Part 83: Makise Kurisu's poorly-kept secret is revealed

"Hey! What's with that 'Ah, this is awful, yeah, yeah, rofl rofl' kind of laughter?!"

"Chill out, Cristina. I mean, @channeler Cris!"

"Don't call me that..."

"Hehehe, I've already noticed. Right, I noticed long ago, that you are a pure @channeler! I know even if you try to hide it. You reek of the intense scent of an @channeler!"

"How rude! Every day, I make sure to apply perfume so that my scent isn't strong!"

"Dumbass. That's not what I meant. What I'm talking about is on the soul level!"

"Soul... How’s that at all specific? Define it for me."

"What, you gonna use it as reference so you don't get found out next time?"

"Sh-Shut up... Just tell me already."

"Fuck the specifics. Every so often, you mutter @channel memes."



"That was an @channel meme too."

"Ugh..."

"You really are stained to the soul level. And since we have another lab member who uses @channelspeak in real life, he excited your soul."

"Oh yeah, it's Hashida's fault that I've been influenced."

"But it's so cute how you tried to hide it, @channeler Cris."

"DON'T CALL ME THAT."

She's really glaring at me. She's making me believe that looks could kill. Does this girl not have a sense of humor? I need to be careful next time.

"But I don't understand. You were raised in America, so how are you so familiar with @channel?"

"You can browse @chan even from America. Understand the rest?"

"So that's it, huh. In an English-only environment, you yearned for Japanese. But of all things, you chose @chan."

I mean, all of the pseudo-intellectuals appearing on the media seem to equate @channel to bathroom scribbles.

"It's a little awkward, but it was the place with the most Japanese atmosphere to it."



"A favor?"

Kurisu turns away and mumbles something, but her voice was too small, so I couldn't hear her well.

"Just clearly say what you want to say."

When I urge her, Kurisu's still sour face turns red.

"Don't tell anyone else about this."

"You're that desperate to leave them in the dark? Daru's in the same boat as you, and since Mayuri's also an otaku, she has a deep understanding of @channel. I visit it often, too. There's nothing to be embarrassed about! You should boldly write 'Browsing @channel' in the hobby field of your resume or profile!"

"Like I'd write that, idiot!"

"What?! So you mean you'd rather anchor on VIP?!"

"Gh, I hate myself for understanding those words...!"

"Well, whatever, I'll drop the topic so that you can concentrate on Time Leap Machine development. It's probably just a matter of time before the rest of the lab mems find the cat in the bag."

"...I don't need your concern. Everyone in university was older than me. I was the youngest in the laboratory, yet I was the one who wrote the thesis. I excel at worldly wisdom. Don't take me lightly."

"What is love?"

"Baby don't hurt me."



Kurisu's face gets redder and redder, and then she genuflects on the spot in defeat. orz

This girl's a pretty severe @channeler. Pure, too. At least, I don't think she excels at worldly wisdom.






"Haww..."

Mayuri yawns a little while making her costume with her sewing machine. After delivering her costume to the cosplayer, Fubuki, she came here in the evening and kept working ever since.

Now that I think about it, she usually goes back home at 7 or 8, but today, she's working hard.

"Mayuri, you need to go home soon or you'll be late. Your parents will worry."

"Mm, it's okay. Actually, Mayushii's staying here overnight."

"...Eh, really?"

She's never done that before.

"Yup. I already told my father and mother."

"You staying so you can work?"

"If I don't, I won't make it in time for ComiMa. Ehehe..."

"Your parents sure are lenient."

I've met Mayuri's parents many times. They're as optimistic as Mayuri. But still, I don't think they'd like their underage daughter to stay overnight in such a dirty lab.



"I see! Mayuri's parents are so afraid of me that they'd let me take their daughter hosta--"

"Reported."

Kurisu calls out from the development room. Looks like she was listening while tinkering with the Microwave Ophone (Temp).





"If you're going to betray me, then I'll summon fire from my right arm, Cristina."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever, pretentious hipster bullshit, whatever."

"Well, since I told them that Cris is with us, my father and mother said it's okay in that case!"

"So basically, you mean I'm going to stay, too?"

"Yupperdoodles♪ I mean, isn't it tough to work on the Microwave Ophone's improvements?"

"Well, yeah, but... It's depressing to stay in this lab overnight. Because of a certain somebody."

"Environment is a key factor, Cristina. Since this is a place of pure research, you can concentrate unexpectedly well here. Sauce is me, Hououin Kyouma.
Also, don't be surprised. This lab is equipped with brain function stimulation systems. Basically, my genius, my boldness, and my delicate conception of inventions were all brought into being by lodging here every night!"

"These brain functions stimulation systems of yours, what exactly do they emit?"

"Don't talk like such a factory environmentalist, The Zombie."

"Ah, Mayushii knows. It's probably gotta be that, right?"

Kurisu comes out of the development room to confirm what Mayuri's pointing at.








"He said it's a smartifying air freshener. Okarin said he bought it at Akibaoo'. When was that?"

"...About half a year ago. It was on sale at 500 yen."

"Okabe, the way you said it makes it seem you don't really believe in it, huh. Furthermore, the medicine inside is empty."

When I tried to buy the medicine replacement packs at Akibaoo, they stopped selling them.

"Well, whatever. I was planning to stay either way. I'll join you, Mayuri."

"Really? That's great!"



"Leave, you say? I basically live here! This lab was the promised land granted unto me by Steins;Gate's choice. It's the dwelling place of my soul!"

"Two girls are staying here overnight, so filthy boys need to show respect. Your house isn't even far from here, right?"

"Actually, Okarin lives near Mayushii, in Ikebukuro."

"Why, that's less than 30 minutes by train. Anyway, it's not worth it to get you to help overnight today, so just go home like a good boy, okay?"

"But I refuse."



"Shut up, you bitch with a birthmarked butt!"

"I don't have one! You know, you said that before, but just when did you check my butt?"

"I'm not so thoughtless that I'd leave two younger girls here all alone. Minors need guardians!"

"But Okarin's a minor too, ehehe..."

"I'll be an adult in less than one and a half years. That means that by Steins;Gate's choice, I am an adult."

"No, that means you're a minor."

"Cris, Cris, you know, Mayushii doesn't think that Okarin's the sort of bad guy who'd molest us. I mean, he's been with Mayushii for more than ten years, and he hasn't molested me once."

"But he took you 'hostage', didn't he?"

"Yup♪ Well, actually, I still am a hostage..."

"We should force him out of the room, right?"

"Hmm..."

I take a deep breath while placing my head on my brow and shaking my head lightly.

"Don't disappoint me so, Cristina."



When I strictly point this out, Kurisu seems convinced. She gives me an "Okay, okay" gesture, spreading both hands, and returns to the development room.

"I see. So Cristina really does have a birthmark on her bu--"

"Do not!"



In the end, I didn't see Daru all day today. Though, he did say he had a part time job. Whatever job he has is a mystery to me. Probably something utilizing his Supah Hakah skill. It's best if he's not on the wrong side of the law, though.

While taking my evening stroll, I skim @channel's occult board on my phone. Lately, Titor hasn't made an appearance. When was his last appearance again? It's almost been a week. I've kept my distance from him ever since he said "You might be the messiah" when he contacted me in his last personal mail. At the same time, Titor stopped posting.

Just about all of @chan's denizens are posting slander against Titor. The majority opinion is "he ran away". I wonder where Titor went. I tried mailing him at his supposed personal address, but he hasn't replied. Actually, I'm worried about this disappearance, since I think that Titor might be Suzuha's father. I want to contact him somehow.






The address is... one I've seen once before.