Chapter 1: First meeting
Chapter Text
Ikebukuro, 25 minutes outside of the main hub of Tokyo and an even shorter distance from Akihabara, distance didn't matter as the trains ran every 20 minutes or so to meet the demands of those working or heading to the otaku paradise. The wrath of the summer heat was already affecting many travelers or people who had to walk outside, but the heat wasn't stopping a young boy from wearing a gray-ish hoodie outside.
Okabe was waiting by a nearby park for Mayuri, she was busy during the day with her family and the little time she had to herself was spent with Okabe even if all they did was talk about random topics or watch a few episodes of whatever popular dramas were airing. Sometimes they would watch anime but Okabe was never that big of a fan, and if it turned in to a show Mayuri liked he would end up being the test subject for all sorts of outfits as she learned to sew more advanced cosplay under the guidance of her grandmother. He didn't care for it but he always put on a smile and helped her out in anyway that he could, it was one of the few things he could do for her.
At this point Okabe was lost in his thoughts, the bench he was sitting on in the shade so the heat wasn't unbearable but it was still enough to make him want to run inside and stay there until summer was long over. He didn't want to go home; it wasn't that he didn't enjoy staying at his house he just preferred being outside away from his parents before they asked him about school or anything else related to important real world things. His grades were average nothing to write home about, but having a talk about it would just make him feel worse and in the end result in his parents wanting to send him to a cram school in order to improve a meaningless mark that would only show how well he could memorize things from a book. He was far better suited to just being himself even if that was slightly out there for a normal boy of his age.
Another child around the same age was walking near the same park; her hair was short and red-ish. She was wearing an outfit that suited a doll more than a person, but the knee length red skirt and red bow on a white dress shirt fit her perfectly. Her name was Kurisu, she had decided to run off while her father was busy talking to a few people in Ikebukuro about a research project he wanted to do, though he lacked the funds needed to make it happen. As long as she showed up to the train station before her father returned in a few hours it wasn't a big deal; since she hadn't been to Ikebukuro that much it was sort of an adventure for her. Even if the heat was bad she could just visit a nearby store for a little while and buy a drink in order to cool off. Her parents trusted her from an early age so having money on her was nothing new, she knew that it was to be used to buy things just in case she needed them and not just to be spent recklessly on useless things. Going in to a store to get something cold was out of the question right now, it was still early in the day and it would only get hotter in a few hours. The shade would have to do, and the only place with a decent amount of shade was the bench in the park nearby.
Okabe hadn't even noticed that another person was now walking towards him, it was only when someone called out to him that he snapped out of it and faced where the voice was coming from.
"Is anyone else sitting here? I was looking for a place in the shade to sit for awhile and this was the only place nearby that I could find."
Kurisu just smiled as she kindly asked Okabe about the bench being taken. She wanted to make sure she was polite or else it would give off a bad impression.
Okabe was slightly dumbfounded for a moment before he tried to reply. It was the first time someone had really bugged him while he was out and he had been out of it for a bit trying to think about a few things.
"No one else is sitting here, but I'm waiting for a friend. When she gets here I'll need the spot back."
"When is your friend coming if you don't mind me asking?" Kurisu said still putting on a polite front while talking to him.
"Telling you would mean certain death for me, if they found out it would be trouble for everyone."
Within a few seconds Kurisu had dropped her polite act and started to freak out over someone her own age saying such silly things. It was completely out there and weird even if normal kids did act like that from time to time if they watched too much t.v.
"You can cut the daydreams out, no one's really going to go after you in the middle of the day just because you told somewhere about when your friend would get here.
"It's not a day dream it's real" Okabe was getting worked up over a random girl making fun of him, even if it wasn't really making fun of him but more of pointing out the truth behind his words.
"If you want to sit go right ahead just don't ask about when my friend will be here, odds are you'll be gone before then. I'll talk about anything else besides them. "
He was making a big deal over nothing, but he wanted to make sure some random stranger didn't know about Mayuri in case something did happen. Making sure she would stay safe was something Okabe couldn't just ignore.
Kurisu sighed and quickly sat down on the bench. The bench was big enough so them sitting close wasn't going to happen unless one of them chose to do so. Even though they were sitting a normal distance away from each other her face had a slight tint of red on it. It was really the first time she had asked a boy if she could sit nearby even if that wasn't the main reason she wanted the seat.
"Makise… Makise Kurisu" Her face was turning an even brighter tint of red.
"That's my name, now that I'd told you mine tell me yours"
It was only right of her to introduce herself, even if Okabe was being rude about everything. She needed to calm down and go back to being a polite.
"Rintarō Okabe, and telling your name to a stranger will only lead to trouble. Let that be a reminder for you!"
Even though the end statement was pointless since Okabe ended up doing what he said not to do. Okabe was still lightly fired up over all of this; it wasn't good if he kept this up since he didn't want to scare the girl off.
"Never mind the last part" He quickly took it back and tried not to look at Kurisu directly since it would be awkward.
"I wasn't going to bring that up"
At this point Kurisu was taking whatever Okabe said with a grain of salt, sure he was around her age but it didn't mean she had to take everything at face value seeing as he was out there. She needed to switch the subject before it got awkward and the only thing that came to mind was the fact he was wearing a hoodie when it was hot outside. No normal person would do that unless they had a wish involving heat stroke.
"Aren't you warm in that?"
Okabe shrugged before replying, the heat wasn't fazing him that much right now since it was still early, but by the time Mayuri came to meet him he'd be in a pool of his own sweet for sure.
"Not right now, the heat is nothing for me. I can handle days like this without any problems"
That was an outright lie, the heat had the same effects on him as anyone else and it would show when he spent most of the day outside. He didn't have the money to sit inside someplace all day if it was hot out, and he didn't want to ask his parents for any extra cash since they would wonder what he needed it for.
"Such proud words for someone who is already sweeting" Kurisu pointed to his forehead before giving off a small smirk.
Okabe hadn't even noticed that his forehead was now starting to be covered in sweet, it was due to a mix of the heat and being worked up beforehand causing it.
"This won't do me in"
He was starting to get annoyed at this girl and they hadn't even spent more than ten or so minutes talking. He really wanted to know how anyone could put up with her.
Kurisu started to laugh a little at his reply. Sure he was getting annoying but he was acting like a little kid that refused to go anywhere.
"I have an idea, how about you hear me out?"
Of course her idea was simple; if he was warm then they just needed to get something cold to drink. She had passed a vending machine before entering the park and it was a quick trip down the street; it would surely have something cold to drink.
"You have five seconds"
Okabe was kidding but he came off as extremely serious about it instead.
"The vending machine over there would help with the heat"
She pointed down the street where the vending machine was after she had said that. Her reply was short and to the point, even though she thought he could be kidding about the time limit she didn't want to be yelled at if he wasn't joking.
"Oh, and if we go would you be paying for it? You can't expect a random stranger like me to have money on them"
Again he was trying to joke even if it came out as defensive. He did have enough money to buy a can of juice so it wasn't a big deal to him at all. On the other hand he didn't have enough to buy for two people.
"Fine… just follow"
Kurisu slowly got up from her spot on the bench and motioned for Okabe to get up as well. She didn't want to grab his hand and lead him on; it would be weird to just hold hands with someone she just met randomly so just using body language would have to do. He slowly followed and got up from the bench, it would just be easier if only one of them went but saying no and just waiting would be a death flag for him.
The two walked next to each other as they went down the sidewalk, though Kurisu looked down at her feet for the most part. She was slightly embarrassed about walking with a boy she just met even if it was just to grab something to drink from a vending machine. After a few minutes of silence the two reached the machine and started to look at what drinks were available.
"What do you want to drink?" Kurisu asked taking out a small coin purse from her pocket.
"Dk. Pepper, it's the perfect drink when it's hot out"
Okabe was giving off a big smirk as he said that, even laughing a little at the end.
"I've never had it, soda is terrible for you. The amount of sugar and chemicals is what is leading to an increased rate of health problems in our age group."
It was true; it's why her family never really had any of that stuff in the house. The few times she did drink soda happened to be when she was at a family gathering or party. Letting out a small sigh she put in enough money for two drinks and starting to move to the button for Dk. Pepper and the drink she wanted.
"You can't say that without even trying it, once you do you'll take it all back!"
Okabe quickly moved his hand and hit the button for Dk. Pepper twice before Kurisu could even react in time. Sure he was going to get a mouthful from her but insulting a great drink such as Dk. Pepper was a crime within itself.
"Why did you do that? Idiot… I even paid for your drink at least let me get something I want!"
At this point Kurisu completely dropped trying to act polite, she was angry at him for doing that, even if it was just some change and a drink. It was still a waste of money and she didn't want to buy things she didn't need. Okabe shrugged off Kurisu's insult and picked up the two bottles from the drop box and handed her one of them.
"If you don't like it, I'll buy you the drink you rather have"
"Why didn't you just buy your own drink if you had the money?" Kurisu took the bottle from him and just looked at it before planning her next move.
"You didn't say you wouldn't buy it for me"
Okabe opened the bottle and took a sip of it before putting the cap back on. At least 1/3rd of the bottle was now gone after that.
"Just try it before you complain, didn't your mom tell you that you have no right to complain before giving things a shot?"
"Don't bring my mother in to this; I'm sure she's doing a far better job than yours anyway." Kurisu just sighed and slowly opened the bottle of soda.
She just had to try it in order to get Okabe to back off, it wouldn't kill her to have a sip even if knowing what sort of chemicals went in to it make her slightly sick. Putting the bottle to her lips she took a small sip if you could even call it that.
"Told you it was good" Okabe just smiled a little at her reaction, even if it was a mix of someone who looked dumbfounded and sort of happy at the same time.
"You were right, I will give you that." Kurisu took another sip of the soda after saying that and just gave an expression of defeat.
"You can keep your comments; I'm always right when it comes to these matters so it's a waste of energy to say otherwise."
Okabe started to turn around and slowly walk back, he figured that Kurisu would catch on and follow.
"W-wait up" She quickly put the cap back on the bottle of soda and caught up to him.
The two walked back slowly, taking a few sips here and there from their drinks before making it back to the bench that were at beforehand. It was starting to get hotter out even in the shade they were sitting under.
"Don't you have anything else to do?"
Okabe was starting wonder what she was doing out here anyway, someone like her couldn't have just been outside enjoying the weather.
"Not telling, I just need to be back at the station in a little bit"
"You don't live around here do you, are you meeting up with someone later?" Okabe asked before taking another sip out of his drink. "Or are you going to meet with a spy and tell them all of my information, if that's the case I'll have to kill you."
"Shut up, I'm not talking to any spies or people like that, why would I even know people like that?" Kurisu pouted a little bit before taking a sip of her soda. She didn't want to get in to why she was even out here in the first place; it would end up being a long story somehow.
"I live a few stations away, Papa is meeting with people here today and I didn't want to interrupt them."
"That's reasonable I guess, but you could have just stayed home instead though"
Even if Okabe didn't like staying at home all the time it was different if it was a girl by herself outside during the day with no adults around.
"I didn't want to; humans tend to learn things better if they do things first hand. Going someplace I normally don't fall in to that category, even if it's just for a few hours."
She also just wanted to hang around her father for the day even if it turned out like this. She would still get to talk to him later when she went to the station so it was still worth it in her mind.
"What time do you have to be at the station.. if it's before my friend gets here I'll walk you there"
He didn't want to just leave her by herself since the station would be crowded by the afternoon. It was more of a he didn't want to see something bad happen to a girl he just met because he just sat back.
"I have to be at the station in an hour or so. " Even if she could stay out a little later she wanted to be early and get there before her father did.
"I'll take you there then" Okabe wasn't going to take no for an answer at this point and his face showed how serious he was being about it.
"You really don't have to, I can get there by myself, and it'd be bad if Papa saw me with a boy anyway."
Kurisu didn't even want to think about how her father would react if a boy was walking around with her. She always pictured it to be terrible for the other party.
"I'm still going to take you to the station"
After Okabe said that Kurisu's cheeks went red, it was really embarrassing for her. To have someone ignore whatever would happen and just make sure you were ok, it was a lot to take in from somewhere she just met.
"Please don't blame me if anything happens to you then" Kurisu gave him a small smile after saying that. She really didn't want anything to happen to him if they ended up getting there at the same time as her father.
The two spent the next hour talking about random topics, it was mostly t.v shows or other types of things they were interested in. Even though Okabe was dumbfounded at all the science terms Kurisu used he still paid attention and tried to comment on things without looking stupid. He wanted to try and understand her a little bit even if it was confusing for him and hard to wrap his head over complex things.
Noticing the time Okabe got up from the bench and held out his hand for Kurisu, he knew the area like the back of his hand and the short cut to the station was hard to navigate if you didn't know what you were doing. Kurisu started blushing again and got up without taking his hand, they barely knew each other even if they had just talked for over an hour. It was still too soon for her to even think about holding his hand.
"Stay close to me and we'll be at the station in a few minutes"
Okabe started walking at a decent pace, he didn't want Kurisu to fall behind him and get lost. The short cut involved two back alleyways and a dash across a bridge that was filled with people riding bikes most of the time. They managed to get through everything without any problems and made it to the station in no time at all.
"Have a safe trip home Christina" Okabe thought giving her a nickname before she left would make him stand out in her memory at the very least.
"There's no –tina at the end of my name!" Kurisu blushed again and raised her voice a little. It was such an embarrassing nickname to be given. "Maybe if you can remember my name instead of a nickname we'll meet again soon."
"I think I'd enjoy that, if you're ever in the area again just go to the park and I'll be there" Okabe let out a smile even though he knew the chances of them meeting again were slim to none.
It was just a chance meeting, and even if they could meet again he didn't know what station to even go to or even where to look after that. At the very least he was able to help her out a little but even if it was just walking her to the station. He'd at least know he did something right today even if at first he didn't want to do anything.
"Goodbye Kurisu, I'll see you again some day"