Part 88: The Time Leap Machine is finally completed

What happened to seduction? I mean, at this rate, you're going to suffocate him...

I stare dumbfounded at Suzuha's absurd actions, unable to move from that spot.

"Hurry!"

Manager waves around both his arms, trying to escape Suzuha's restraint. Though it is a surprise attack, there's a huge difference in strength between the two of them. It's just a matter of time before he shakes Suzuha off.

"W-Well done, Warrior! Many thanks for your heroic deeds!"



I grab the 42" Braun tube TV's remote and press the red button. After about two seconds of lag, the gigantic screen displays an image. The usual guy in shades appears at the same time the ceiling starts shaking. Kurisu activated the Microwave Ophone (Temp) with perfect timing.



"It's shaking again. Okabe Rintarou, what is this...?"

Did she really carry out that shameless strategy without knowing my objective?

"You're a lifesaver, Working Warrior! If you can, please restrain him for 10 more seconds!"

During that time, I escape from the store.



I ignore that and look up to the second floor. Kurisu looks out the window with the same timing.



But right after that, she twitches awkwardly, turning away with her normal sour look. What the hell's with that attitude? I even risked my life with the decisive invasion of the Braun Tube Workshop.

Well, whatever, in any case, the experiment was a success. The 42" Braun tube TV was the final key after all.

...Now, how do I explain this to Manager? The way things are right now, he might expel us from the building. It might have been a mistake to leave things to Suzuha without considering the consequences.

When I timidly peek into the store...





I see Suzuha, timid in her tank top. Manager's opposite her, in pompous arrogance.

"Shaddup, I'm confiscating this."

"You pervert!"

"Aren't you the pervert? Just when I thought you suddenly stripped, you forced your clothes onto my face... that was pretty kinky. I gotta thank Okabe."

"P-Please don't say things like kinky... that's gross..."

"Anyway, for the rest of the day, work like that. If you want, you can go out front and attract customers."

"I'll tell Nae on you, okay?!

"Haha, that kid'll believe me over you, right? She's my daughter, after all."

"Dammit..."



Anyway, Mister Braun. I've misjudged you...





The teams from Kumamoto and Aichi are playing a heroic high-hitting game. Then, the sewing machine sounds reverberating in the lounge suddenly stop.

"Okarin, Okarin, come here a bit!"

She holds the costume and tells me so. Not understanding what’s up, I stop supporting Kurisu and walk up to Mayuri when...

"Can you hold this for me? Spread it out like, fwapp!"

"Mayushii, say that 'fwapp' again."

Daru overhead from his computer.

"Fwapp!"



"Stop it already, pervert."

Following Mayuri's directions, I spread the costume out by the sleeves.

"Mm...

She inspects it from a distance. Mayuri unexpectedly has the temperament of an artist. That's why cosplayers value Mayuri's costumes so highly. But the costume I'm holding now is custom-made for Rukako. I thought Rukako was against it, but I guess Mayuri finished her persuasion.

"Yup, thanks!"

Her face looks a little tired, perhaps since she stayed up all night, but Mayuri's face is all smiles.

"Finished! ♪"

"It's complete?"

"Yup. I finished before Cris. It was a competition!"

"You win, Mayuri. Well done."

Damn Assistant. She's like an entirely different person with me. What's with that look of an elder sister upon her younger sister?

"But I'm finished here, too."



"Complete!"

The instant Kurisu says that, we all...



"It's a tie, huh."

"Ah, I'm tired... I want Faris to heal me..."

We're not pumped at all. I don't feel joyous, either.

It's not because we're tired. A time machine. Though it only sends consciousness, it is a device that can transcend space-time... We've fervently worked these past few days just to complete it, but once we actually completed it, that heat rapidly froze.

I never thought we'd actually complete it. Such thoughts cross my mind: What are we doing? What are we doing with this?

Finally, I peep at Kurisu and Daru's expressions. Kurisu's also making an awkward face.



I look at the improved Microwave Ophone (Temp) again.



It looks like some B-grade cyberpunk gimmick. The pin jacks at the nape of the neck are unnecessary. The tip burying itself into the skull is unnecessary. It's actually a simple device where you just need to put on the headgear. It looks cheap, but I can turn a blind eye to that much.

"For now, shouldn't we decide on a formal name? Heavenly Express."

"Microwave Ophone 3rd Edition ver.1.00."

"Silly Hat Microwave Ophone-chan."

Mmgh, split in opinions.

"You guys really are thoughtless, huh.

"Cristina, not going to vote?"



"That's terrible."

"Wh-What's your problem? Simple is best, right? I mean, Okabe's been calling it that for the past two days."

"Seems Assistant has zero naming sense."

"I don't want to hear that pretentious hipster bullshit from you."

"Ohhh...? No way, Makise knows what pretentious hipster bullshit is... Well played."

"...Th-That was an accident. Don't get me wrong, okay?"

A barefaced lie.



Kurisu greets my grin with a glacial glare.

"Mayuri. As the final tiebreaker, please choose one of them."

Mayuri holds the right to decide the final name. That’s the lab's silent agreement.

"Hmmm..."



"Silly Hat Microwave Ophone-chan's a super close second, though."

"That's because you thought of it, Mayushii..."

"Like I said. Simple is best. Mayuri gets it."

"Ehehe."

I was about to object, but it's an unwritten law not to complain once Mayuri's made a decision.