Part 92: Future Gadget Laboratory is suddenly betrayed

"Anyway, all those lines lead to Akihabara Station. Mayushii, you can't go home, can you?"

"That's right! I need to call home..."

Terrorist bomb... I don't know why, but I've got a bad feeling about this. There's the fact that only the lines passing through Akihabara are suspended, as if that were the target.

Wait, maybe that's actually a hint. As to the location of the terrorist bomb threat. Akihabara? It feels like that.

"Okabe Rintarou, let me ask you something."



"Huh? Yeah..."

"I see. I remember I've got something to do, so I'm going out a bit."

Suzuha bluntly says so and quickly leaves the lab.

"What's with her..."

Suzuha's suspicious actions. Are they related to the terrorist bomb threat? Why did she just ask if the Time Leap Machine is complete? Something crosses my mind...



"You're being watched."
"You know too much."

Who sent those? Not just that. Almost like a flashback. Several things that I had turned a blind eye to now cause anxiety to run through my head.























By themselves, I could overlook each of these things by telling myself "It'll probably be okay." But now that I reconsider them all as points on one line, all I can think is that we've stepped on an outrageous landmine.

Anxiety won't leave my mind. As if a cold hand had its grip around my heart. Choking. Even though it should be humid, my body shivers from the cold.

Shouldn't we run away? But we can't use the train. What about the subway? Or a bus, or taxi?

Nobody's saying anything. Nobody's doing anything. What should we do?

A soft feeling on my fingers.



It's okay. I'm thinking too much. It's just a coincidence. Let's relinquish the Time Leap Machine tomorrow. We can forget about everything. I didn't see anything. We're not seeing anything. I don't need money, as long as I can forget about today and welcome tomorrow.

It's okay, right?

Anxiety doesn't disappear. I look over Mayuri's head to the lab's entrance - to the door's lock. The lock's open. Anyone could come in if they wanted.

I hear a fire engine's siren from outside the window. Akiba is visibly in an uproar. And yet... it's so silent. Inside the lab and outside the lab, it's so silent. I firmly grip back Mayuri's warm, slender fingers--





Afterwards, I see several black shadows break into the lab, with movements all too quick. With sharpness all too trained. And with pointed guns.

Nobody in the lab, including me, had time to so much as scream. About five men have broken in. I don't recognize a single one of them. They're dressed in showy shirts and shorts, polo shorts and jeans. A casual appearance, but the arms sticking out of the short sleeves are awfully thick. Furthermore, their sharp glares are enough to make you shiver.

The men are holding guns, and not just handguns. Several of them have automatic rifles.



What kind of joke is this... The only thing certain is that these guys aren't your average shoppers or tourists.

"Don't move. Everyone, hands in the air."

Among the sudden intruders, a dark-skinned crew-cut man lets out a crushing voice. Like a dream. Or a movie scene?

This is the first time so many people have gathered in this room since I started renting it. It feels awfully narrow. I think that out of place thought.



Then Kurisu. Then me. Mayuri. Silence. Standstill. The intruders say no more. The men hold their guns at ready. Their muzzles pointed towards us with our hands up. A comic's laughing voice flows from the TV.

What is this? Are we on candid camera? I think that optimistic thought.



Beyond the door kicked open.

This is the sound of heels.

A woman is coming up the stairs.

Are the intruders waiting for that woman?

Is she the commander of these strong men?

The attack force, and their female commander. It's almost like a manga.

Reality fades.

Eventually, the heel woman appears.