"Chris-chan is coming tomorrow, right Okarin?", Mayuri asked with a glow in her eyes. "Yes indeed", said Okarin starting to strike a pose, "The assistant will return", he yelled. "Will you come and pick her up with Mayushii?", Mayuri asked looking at Okarin still in his pose. "Well... I got stuff to do...", he started trailing off while blushing and then suddenly grabbed his phone starting to talk into it, "What?! The Organization is planning an overthrow on the lab tomorrow?". Okarin paused. "That is unacceptable! If it is the choice of Steins;Gate", he yelled. Now he said with a whisper, "El. Psy. Congroo". "Okay, Mayushii will pick her up herself", Mayuri said a bit sad. "No!", Okarin suddenly blurted out, "No lab member, even the assistant, shall not be welcomed by the other lab members. We're all going tomorrow". Daru turned around and stared at Okarin. "Okay", was all he said and that a bit underwhelmed. Then turned back to his computer and picked up his can of coffee. "Why don't you ask Yuki-chan to come along?", asked Mayuri innocently, causing Daru to spit out his coffee onto his keyboard and computer screen. "Nooooo!", he yelled follow by a sigh, "No... Not my computer... ". Mayuri just laughed a bit nervously and then smiled. "Aren't you excited to see Chris-chan again, Okarin? You look troubled", asked Mayuri standing up and walking over to Okarin who had his back arched and was grabbing his forehead. "Why shouldn't I?!", he yelled finding his composure again, "My dear assistant will return. She can get my Dr. Pepper everyday. She can...". Suddenly Okarin was cut of by a weird feeling spreading throughout his body. "Okarin!", Mayuri yelled as he fell to his side and his vision faded. "Okarin!".
"W-what... Happened?", Okarin asked weakly, trying to open his eyes. "You lost consciousness. Does anything hurt? Okarin hit his head quiet hard on the floor". He just smiled. "No, I'm fine. Nothing Hououin Kyoma can't handle!", he yelled trying to sit up, but then yelping in pain lying back down again. "Don't move so much. Mayushii is worried that you'll hurt yourself even more". Okarin nodded and while looking around noticed that there was nobody sitting at the computer. "Where is Daru?", he asked. "He went out to see Yuki-chan. They have a meeting today. Mayushii told him to go, even though he felt bad leaving you all by yourself", explained Mayuri while sitting on the floor next to where Okarin was lying. "Mayushii has to go to the maid Cafe now. I'm sorry", Mayuri apologized. "No need. No need. I'll manage myself", Okarin explained and smiled. "Okay, get well Okarin", Mayuri said while smiling, got up and then left the lab.
"I guess I have to get something for that useless assistant of mine", Okarin sighed and slowly attempted to get up. After a painful minute he stood on his 2 feet hanging on the wall for balance. "Today is going to be a very long day...", Okarin groaned while walking toward the exit of the lab still grabbing the wall.
"K-kyoma?!", yelled Ferris staring at the exhausted Okarin who was sitting on the top of stairs to the lab, "What are you doing here, nya?". He looked up bathed in sweat and smiled. "I'm just a bit... I'm not feeling very well", he explained while Ferris sat next to him. "And why are you here?", she asked not very satisfied with Okarin's answer. "Ha, well I intended to go buy... Uh...", he stuttered while starting to blush, "Kurisu is coming tomorrow, so I wanted to get her... Something". "Aw, nya. Want me to get something?", Ferris smiled at Okarin. "You mustn't do that. I'll get it myself. After all I am Hououin Kyoma!", he yelled, regretting that he tried to stand up and groaned in pain. "Okay, nya. I'll get something for Kurisu", Ferris laughed as she walked down the stairs. "Wait, Ferris. You-", Okarin started followed by a smile from Ferris. "It's fine, Kyoma. You go rest, nya", she explained and then turned around the corner. Okarin sighed again. "Why is this happening again?", he talked to himself, "I don't think I'm sick, unless I have some kind of rare disease". After that he tried to stand up again and slowly walked, or rather stepped, down the stairs. Once he finally managed to reach the ground, he suddenly saw Mayuri walk around the corner. "Okarin?!", she said while dropping her purse. "H-hey Mayuri", said Okarin smiling nervously and rubbing the back of his neck. "You should've stayed upstairs", Mayuri said, worry spread across her face. "Yeah, I'm sorry", Okarin sighed, "But I couldn't just stay upstairs and lie down". Okarin abruptly changed the subject to a less awkward subject, "Aren't you back a bit early, by the way?". "Mayushii was very worried about you, so she asked, if she could skip work today". Okarin formed an 'o' with his mouth and nodded understandably. "Why don't we go up again", Mayuri offered, "Mayushii will help you, so that it's easier". Okarin nodded and put his arm on Mayuri's shoulder. Then she started pulling Okarin up the stairs. But suddenly Okarin felt a cold shiver run down his spine and his vision blurred. 'Reading Steiner? But that's impossible', Okarin thought to himself as a wave of nausea overcame. "Hey, Okarin. Are you alright?", Okarin faintly heard Daru say, as he regained his vision and the buzzing stopped. He was standing in the lab. Unsure Okarin tried to step forward, scared that he will collapse. Without a problem Okarin stepped forward and murmured, "What the hell just happened...". "What do you mean? I swear to god, Okarin. With everyday you scare me more and more", Daru stated while facing the computer. "Wait. What time is it, Daru?", Okarin asked confused. "Why? It's 3 pm", he answered still focused on his game. Then it struck Okarin. "W-where is Mayuri?", he stuttered hoping that Daru wouldn't give the answer he was expecting. "You've got to be kidding me. You're seriously messed up man", Daru sighed and facepalmed. "W-why?", asked Okarin very nervous and scared. "Dude. She... died 1 and a half years ago. How could you forget, seriously?". "No!", Okarin yelled grabbing his head, "It can't be. I was just with her!". "You should really visit a psychologist, Okarin. I thought you got better, but it doesn't seem so", Daru stated turning to Okarin with a face spread with worry. "N-not this a-again...", Okarin mumbled and then walked over to the exit of the lab. "Wait, Okarin! Where are you-?!", Daru yelled, but stopped when he noticed the blank expression on Okarin's face, as he left the lab.