"What do you mean? The great Hououin Kyoma doesn't have to-". "And that's exactly what I mean. You acting and trying to get Mayuri out of her depression with the 'Hououin Kyoma' persona is one thing, but don't lie to yourself!", Okarin started yelling, but got cut off by Kurisu. Okarin sighed and looked up to the night sky. The rain had cleared and the strong winds brought the clouds far away. "I really can never have peace with you around, seriously", he stated and looked at Kurisu again. "Okabe, I care about you.", she spoke, a shadow darkening her face as a small cloud covered the moon. Suddenly the atmosphere around the two tensed up. "I know you don't want to worry anyone, but I'm not the only one not buying your act", Kurisu added now looking Okarin in the eye. "You gave it away, when you left the lab meeting, something so important to you that you would even skip lectures to attend one. But after you were suddenly fine. Everyone cares about you, and you enduring this is remarkable, but you don't have to do it alone. You can ask me for help. Please, don't kill yourself suppressing your feelings, Okabe".
There was a moment of silence
"Hahahaha haha", Okarin started laughing. "O-okabe?", Kurisu asked stepping away from the slowly calming down Okarin. "You're always the same, doesn't matter what world line. You always worry about me and try to talk to me in private trying to help me. Thank you, Kurisu", Okarin said and genuinely smiled. "I'm just returning the favor. You did the same thing for me, didn't you", Kurisu said and turned away from Okarin staring at the shining lights that illuminate the city of Akihabara.
"May I ask you a question?", Kurisu asked. "Theoretically you just asked me a question, but go on", Okarin stated and stared at Kurisu's red long hair. "Why do you call me 'Christina'?", she asked still not turning to Okarin. "It's not important", Okarin nervously laughed and rubbed the back of his neck. "No really. The second time we met, you already called me 'Christina'. Why?", Kurisu asked. "Do you really want to know?", Okarin answered with another question. "Yes, please...", Kurisu responded. "I-I was too embarrassed to say your name. So I made one up to make it less awkward", Okarin answered. "Really?", Kurisu turned around with smile and laughed, "That's why you've been teasing me. That's a really stupid reason". Okarin sighed as he turned around. "But it's kind of cute...", Kurisu mumbled quietly. Quite enough that Okarin had to ask, "What did you say?", while turning his head back to Kurisu. "N-never mind", Kurisu stated while blushing, "It's nothing important".
"Guys, the time leaping machine is ready", Daru said while walking onto the roof. "We were just finished", Okarin stated and started to walk towards Daru. Kurisu followed. "So I'm going to leap to before we had the conversation at you hotel and then bring up something dominant from the other world line", Okarin asked slightly turning his head to Kurisu who was walking down the stairs behind him. "Yes", Kurisu said. "Do you know the approximate time of when you came to my room?", she asked and then yawned. "I wanted to be there at around 10, so 9.30 should be fine", Okarin answered noticing that Kurisu was tired. "If you want you can already go to sleep", he stated now entering the lab and holding the door open for Kurisu. "It's fine. You're anyway traveling back in a little", Kurisu responded while closing the door behind her. "I suppose that's true", Okarin sighed obviously not excited to travel back in time and stood there staring a little unsure at the microwave oven. Then Kurisu came toward Okarin, stood next to him and looked him in the eye. "Don't mess this up", was all she said, as she grabbed the headphones and gave them to Okarin. "And if you do, ask for help", Kurisu added smiling while Okarin nodded and put the headphones on. "Ready when you're ready", Okarin stated and took a deep breath. "Here we go", Kurisu said as she set the microwave to 13 minutes while Daru waited for the signal.
"3"
"2"
"1"
Then suddenly lightning bolts formed in the microwave and around Okarin as he felt like getting teared apart. The floor started shaking and everything was starting to fade into darkness, when Okarin lost any sort of orientation and the feeling of time.
Suddenly Okarin was standing in front of the hotel Kurisu was staying at. "That was more painful than I remembered it. At least I haven't switched yet", Okarin murmured to himself grabbing his head in the process as he walked into the hotel. The entrance hall was huge filled with little tables and chairs, plants and one counter, behind which the receptionist stood. "Uh, excuse me. I would like to know the room number from Cris- uhm, Makise Kurisu", Okarin asked after he walked over to the receptionist and was greeted by her. "Miss Makise is in room 506. What is your name?", the woman asked while giving Okarin a soft smile. "W-why do you need it?", he answered caught of guard by the question. "We need to note every guest down in the guest list", she simply answered and smiled again. "O-okay. My name is Okabe Rintaro". "Thank you for your visit", she said after noting his name on the piece of paper. "Y-yes", Okarin stuttered and walked over to the elevator, thinking about what he had said to Kurisu. 'I can't mess this up', he told himself as he pressed the button with a big 5 on it.
After exiting the elevator and looking at the number plates hanging on every door, Okarin noticed Kurisu's room and decided to knock. 'Just act as you normally would act, Rintaro', he told himself before Kurisu opened the door, the only thing covering her a white towel. "Well, Christina. Somebody certainly is a late sleeper", Okarin then commented with a mocking smile on his face.
