Monday, January 23rd, 2012; Akihabara, Tokyo; 10:21a.m.
Snuggled in a mangled heap of sheets and blankets, Maho's eyes remained on the glass pane of a nearby window, with a light blue sky teased beyond the wall of her room. Shrouded by the mass of freed locks weaving around her cheeks and neck, her body remained in a comfortable balance of temperature, warm within the cocoon, and her arms and face exposed to the cool air of the hotel's interior. Lazily blinking, interrupting an otherwise passive stare into the distance, a variety of memories of the prior evening played in a slideshow of internal imagery, and her heart stirred among several pangs from several quite special moments.
First date for both of us... And yet it went perfectly. As perfect as it could be interpreted, maybe. I think we did fine for being two quirky nerds. That boy is more romantic that appearances suggest... But that probably goes the same for me too.
Turning her head slightly, blowing a tuft of hair from her vision with a quick puff of breath, her eyes discerned the distinctly green blouse resting on the back of the desk chair.
Truth is stranger than fiction, after all. Maybe we broke conventional universe logic for an evening. Rewrote the code and made it work our way. I like the sound of this. Now to alter other things to my lik-
Train of thought pausing as her pillow vibrated, she lay still, recognizing the pattern of vibration, and then shoved her arm beneath the squishy headrest, fumbling for the smartphone beneath.
I'll be there around lunchtime, professor. Calm down.
Tugging the device out, however, an alert appeared revealing a text from Okabe, and a breath parted her lips as she tapped on the screen twice, only to discover a paragraph of text beneath her thumb.
Oh, what's all this?
Moving her finger aside, her eyes began along the first row of words, only to roll over in a twist with sudden attention.
'Good morning Miss Hiyajo, I hope you are well. I realize it is a short while after the fact, but I wanted to convey my feelings while everything is still fresh in my mind right now... I truly had a fantastic time with you yesterday. Enjoyed every part of our date adventure from beginning to end. Wouldn't change a single detail or moment, and I'm fairly certain you agree. Also, I want you to know that you are an absolutely beautiful individual. Many times I felt like I couldn't believe what I was seeing, and as it turns out, the lovely woman beside me the whole time was very real, and certainly commanded my attention and admiration. You're an inspiration, a crackup, and a total doll. Truly a magnificent person that I feel fortunate to have met. With all that said, I wish you a wonderful rest of your day, Maho.'
Phone flopping down, chest aching with a strong surge of emotion, her free hand tucked up over her mouth.
Wha... Where did this come from?
Lifting the device back into view and lowering her digits to her chin, she reread the message several times. Lips pressing together with a quiver, the phone dropped flat onto the mattress once more, and her fingers covered her eyes, vainly attempting to stave off rapidly approaching tears.
Oh my god you sweetheart, you... All honest and just... Saying wonderful things like this. You probably sat down and proofread that over and over, and...
Eyelids remaining tightly closed as her fingers retreated from her face, three separate trails forced free from beneath her eyelids, wandering together below her nose and gathering in the crevice between her cheek and the pillow, rapidly dampening both.
...And, of course this stuff has to happen, right before I leave. How I wish you could just come with, or I could just stay here, and... I don't know. I'm just trying to pretend there's some way around something I didn't expect to be an obstacle, and... Oh, what's the use. Fighting the inevitable over silly last minute feelings.
Brow furrowing, a cascade of fresh tears followed the established trails on her face.
No. Not silly, or last minute. I knew this was going to happen going into it, and yet I continued... Something in this head of mine decided it would be worth it, no matter how temporary my stay here was, and this is what I get.
Hand reaching up and pushing between the damp pillow and her cheek, she lifted her face onto the newly offered palm.
My stubborn head, and my stupid damn heart. Both of them decided to get invested in you. And why not, right? Life is short, and people like you aren't common. Definitely not common, duh. Why else would this happen? I took a chance and enjoyed it while it lasted. Is lasting. Something. Dammit.
Wiping her cheek with her knuckles, and then rubbing them on a different spot of the pillow, a hurting sigh pulled from her lungs.
Okabe... Where have you been in my life before now? Why did it take me so long to feel like this? Why...
Turning her head, shifting the direction of the mournful streams, she twisted the phone into view, unlocking the screen, and re-reading the well-intended message.
...Why do I have to feel so sad, after such an amazing date? Its not like its your fault. You're just being the nice guy you are, and I'm... I'm going to drown in these tears if I don't say something back.
Thumb settling above a virtual keyboard appearing with a single tap, she took in a preperative breath.
'Dearest mister Rintarou, I can't get over how kind your words and heart are. I'm not sure how you managed to be so lucky, blessed with a heart of gold and a gentle smile that I'll always admire. Having your hand in mine, and seeing your eyes meet mine made my heart race so many times, you don't even know. ^_^ Kissing you was best of all though. You're one handsome Japanese student. *^_^* Nerdy and handsome and amazing. When I first came here to Tokyo, I almost never strayed from my hotel. But now that your hand has guided me through these streets, I've come to like this pocket of the city. I'll be sure to visit again sometime soon, promise.'
Reviewing the reply, a choked laugh worked free of her clamped lips from the last line.
Yep. Don't mind me. My words are happy, but my heart is very sad, and I've woken up into an emotional disaster because you're so nice, and you're apparently my weakness.
Sending the message, her hand dropped the phone and wiped her eyes with several swipes.
There. Making me cry without even knowing it... Your turn to get emotional. Okabe.
Monday, January 23rd, 2012; Tokyo Denki University, Adachi, Tokyo; 10:26a.m.
Seated on the fabric of a cheap office chair, among several in the university's computer lab, a whir of dusty case fans and pattering of keyboard keys filled Okabe's ears. Instead of typing, however, the college student sat still, his head seated on an open palm just above the surface of the table. Completely distracted from the program instances and rows of text on the glare of the monitor, his eyes sat on a cluster of cables sprouting from a surge protector, but his mind wandered in another realm, far away in an ongoing daydream.
To think... I actually pulled that whole evening off with resounding success. Didn't matter how cold it got or how quiet we were at times. Hell, some of those moments of silence were incredible, seeing the ways she looked at me... What a secretly magnificent woman. Hides herself from the world until someone catches her attention, and then curls up like a purring kitten. Kissing and hugging, and laughing melodiously.
Eyelids lowering, a smile discreetly lifted his cheek.
She is quite like a cat, isn't she. Feisty and independent, and then warms up and nuzzles you when you garner her affection. Not to mention her voluminous amount of hair... Which was already soft as can be, only to be revealed that it can be elegantly fashioned as well...
Vision drifting aside, with the outline of his nose remaining in his vision, his eye then closed entirely.
God. What else... I've long-since been enchanted by those eyes of hers. Maybe those cute ears and nose. Slender arms and shoulders... Pretty slender body as a whole. Had a cute butt in that skirt though...
Exhaling with slight embarrassment, his eyes flitted open, squinting from the bright display of the monitor.
Makes one wonder what she was thinking about me. Come to think of it... I don't think she's responded to m-
Startled as his pants pocket vibrated, a shiver of temperature change ran along his back.
Never mind. I bet that's her.
Glancing aside, he sneakily withdrew his phone, confirming the surprising length of a response to his earlier message, and his heart began beating with uncertainty.
Okay. I'm out of here. Gotta read this.
Pocketing the phone and standing up from his chair, he swiftly walked past the seat as it drifted to a halt. Trading a nod with professor Izaki seated nearby, Okabe departed the room with silent haste, faking a heading for a restroom. Continuing down the hall, and turning a corner, devoid of classroom doors nearby, he leaned back against the wall with a thump of his shoulders, withdrawing his smartphone.
Alright, miss Hiyajo, what's your...
Brow peaking from the flow of sincerity, a hint of her voice began to echo the same words on the screen, and he thoroughly reread the message, quietly chuckling from the text faces nestled among her words, only to draw to a silent halt on a heart emoticon sitting on the end of the last cryptic sentence.
Well... Now I know a little bit of what she was thinking about.
Hand sinking, arm coming to rest against the wall behind, the phone's screen slowly darkened and shut off on its own. Heart beating, his lips parted, only to settle shut as he looked aside towards the end of the hallway.
Her feelings are obvious, considering how often she's managed to kiss me, and yet...
'I'll be sure to visit again sometime soon, promise.'
Grimacing from the obvious, unspoken message in her words, his free hand balled up, drooping down beside his waist.
...You're still leaving in two day's time.
Standing outside in the weak January sun, wasting away lunch period on one of the university's allotments of of dry grass, Okabe silently admired an image of a quite-attractive Hiyajo Maho on his phone, taken the night before in the lobby of her hotel.
Twenty three years old, maybe five feet tall... And certainly looks good in a dress. Or a shirt and skirt... Whatever she's wearing.
Admiring the teasingly mischievous smile on her lips, with sparkling eyes peeking out beneath untamed lashes and compact little eyebrows, a sigh fought its way out of his insides.
Regardless of outfit, that face is irreplaceable, and irresistible... And the thought of only seeing only a photograph of it, is starting to eat away at this heart of mine.
Shutting off the screen, he stuffed the device into his pocket, and with a slow rise of his chin, gazed sadly into the sky.
What a feeling... Hurting like this, for the simple reason that she's about to be out of reach, across the ocean. I suppose we'll make the best of tomorrow however we can, but...
Swallowing from the tightening of his throat, his thumbs rested on the edge of his belt. With a brief wander above the horizon, his eyes found the distant progression of an airliner cruising across the open winter sky, only to be obscured by a wandering cloud formation a short time later.
Its only a matter of time, now.
Brain Science Institute, Wako City, Saitama, Japan; 12:51p.m.
Sitting among bare tables in a recently-emptied room in the institute, Maho sorted through several folders on her laptop, the screen split between a list of documents and an instance of Amadeus running on the screen. Swallowing from a persistent ache in her throat and chest, feigning a lack of sadness, her face remained pensive as she worked, preserving the periods of silence in the room.
Still at three-quarters of a full charge, and its been unplugged since this morning. You're a miracle worker, Okabe-san... If only you could figure out how to stop my heart from breaking, as easily as you found a replacement laptop battery...
Studying the slowly strobing colors of the mouse beneath Maho's small hand, Amadeus-Makise looked towards Professor Leskinen silhouetted against the windows beyond, gathering numerous items together and staging them around a large briefcase.
"Is he packing up for something?"
Blinking in a realization of her statement, Maho eyed the webcam.
"Oh, we're actually getting ready to leave Japan soon."
"I was not aware of this."
"Sorry. We'll be returning to the United States and Viktor Chondria on Wednesday night."
"Hmmm... That reminds me, actually. Have you seen Okabe Rintarou over the weekend, Maho?"
Stirring from the spoken name, only for her expression to tighten, she silently nodded in answer, spreading a smile across the AI's face.
"Just confirming. My twin already made mention of a special evening you were to be part of."
Cringing from the chuckle of the professor in the background, Maho's brow flattened.
Of course she did.
"Your errands, hm? You could have just told me you were seeing your boyfriend, Hiyajo."
Exhaling with a fluster, Maho's lips tightened, pretending to ignore his comment, only to realize Amadeus-Makise's hands had clasped together in surprise.
"Ohh Maho, why didn't you tell me earlier that it was official? That's exciting!"
"Its not. How could it be when I'm leaving?" Ugh, I hate that I just said that.
"Mmm, but love will always find a way, senpai."
Grimacing as the professor's chuckling continued from behind, Maho stared at the grinning avatar on screen, valiantly hiding the knot of pain within her chest.
"Anyway... You redheads sure communicate with remarkable speed."
"My human counterpart is the one that contacts me with frequency."
"Ah, so the true culprit is revealed, nice... And of course you're never hesitant to respond."
"She's always been courteous enough to say goodbye before shutting me down. Why wouldn't I respond?"
"That again, huh?"
"I have no qualms with speaking to her. Honestly the information exchanging is quite fun."
"You two are maintaining gossip between each other."
"Communication is how one stays up to date with the happenings of the outside world. How else am I to operate?"
Looking away with a turn of her chair, a heavy breath of impatience left Maho's nose.
"...In any case, senpai, will I be able to see the lab members once more before our departure? I'd greatly enjoy one more session with them."
Looking back at the monitor, and then the webcam, her furrowed expression relaxed.
Well, I guess there's no harm or anything to hide by this point.
"You probably could. I was already planning to go there tomorrow, so I could potentially bring you along."
"Ooh I hope you can! Your tester friends are all fun and fascinating to talk to. Plus I'd be sad if I couldn't say goodbye to them."
You would be sad, huh?
Looking over her shoulder towards the professor as he stacked several stapled reams of paper, his head lowered with a nod of approval, and Maho grunted as she turned to the monitor once more.
"Guess that's a yes."
"Yay! Thank you, mister Alexis."
"You're welcome, Makise-two."
Swallowing from the thought of an upcoming visit to the Future Data Lab, likely for the last time, Maho's eyes lowered to the folds of her lab coat resting on her lap.
Didn't think I'd bring Amadeus along one more time, but I guess it is almost a person after all. An AI making friends with actual people... And ushering me towards one guy in particular. Maybe she'll quit being upset with me once I let her opinion matter... Considering her big mouth is what makes me shut her down without warning.
Mandarake Complex, Akihabara, Tokyo; 5:54p.m.
Heart beating with determination, shuffling past several occupants on the ground floor of an eight story building, Okabe hiked up the beginnings of a spiral stairwell with fervor.
Should I find that submarine model she spoke of? No, I don't know if that could be considered meaningful, especially if I ended up getting the wrong one somehow... Where else did she go in here while I left her on her own?
Nearly passing the entrance to the second floor, his shoes skidded to a halt, and he leaned back towards the open doorway, eyebrows rising from the sight of shelves laden with many hundreds of plushies and dolls.
That's right, she was in here, in this aisle... Grinning with such adoration in her eyes. Hmm...
Glancing back towards the stairwell in both directions, he then continued into the second floor. Avoiding eye contact with other occupants, he hastened his pace into the aisle in question, sheepishly looking in all directions at his new, unfamiliar surroundings.
...Right. I wish I happened to see what she was looking at in particular while she was here... Would greatly assist this search.
Scrutinizing rows of fictional characters and stuffed creatures of varying colors, sizes and shapes, his hand rose to his chin, squinting in several directions at the multitude of large eyes staring at him as he slowly walked.
Maybe I should find one that's... Wait, no, what if it turns out she does like weird looking ones? She likes me and I'm not exactly normal looking...
Continuing further, encountering a selection of plushies styled after real life pets, his footfall slowed with interest.
Actually...
Hand lowering from his chin, and carefully reaching out to one stuffed animal in particular, he lifted it from its place among the others. Revealed to be a fuzzy black cat, with white paws and markings on its face and tail, a pair of large, speckled green eyes happily looked up at him, and a smile grew across Okabe's lips for the first time in several hours.
Aren't you a delightful one.
Tucking the cat beneath his arm, ensuring its head was in front of his shoulder, he turned back towards the distant stairwell, marching forth with renewed resolve.
You're coming with me, my friend... A great big adventure with a little lady awaits you.
Walking among a crowd of early-evening travelers and tourists, a large plastic bag hung from Okabe's shoulder, moving back and forth in a slow sway from his movements. After a glance towards several cars waiting at a crosswalk beside himself, his eyes returned forward as he stepped onto the opposite sidewalk, only to blink from the sudden appearance of Mayuri in passing.
"Oh, Okarin! There you are."
"Mayuri. Hey."
Turning back and halting before each other, she adjusted the colorful hand-sown scarf around her neck.
"You weren't in the lab when I arrived. Didn't you get my text earlier?"
"I'm sure I did, but my phone's still on vibrate. Might not have noticed it, sorry."
"That's alright. Out and about?"
"Sort of."
Eyes lowering towards the bag beside his knee, Mayuri's face illuminated with curiosity.
"Whatcha got there?"
"An object of crucial secrecy."
"From Mandarake?"
"Y-Yes."
"Is it something for Maho...?"
Eyes meeting once more, her pointed expression obliterated his straight face.
"Perhaps." Blasted bag blew my cover already.
"Ooh, is it something cute?"
Chin lifting with increasing embarrassment, he looked away.
"Classified information."
"Ehehee, you're so easy to read, Okarin. I hope she likes whatever it is!"
"That's my hope as well."
"Well, I guess I'll let you be on your way then. Ladies don't like to be kept waiting."
Laughing from the grimace that appeared on his face, Mayuri turned back to her original heading, only to notice that Okabe's mouth was opening to speak.
"Hey, uh, are you going shopping?"
"I was thinking about getting a hot dinner to go. Would you like something?"
"Oh. Yes, actually, hold on."
Reaching into his pocket and retrieving his wallet, he swiftly handed a Yen note to her, and her smile bloomed as she accepted his financial offering.
"Aww, thanks, Okarin."
Tucking his wallet away again, he nodded.
"You're always getting us food with your own money, so its the least I could do."
"I'll make sure to get you something yummy, okay?"
"That would be wonderful, thank you."
"I'll be back in a half hour."
"See you then."
Waiting as his childhood friend offered a wave and slowly disappeared into the crowds of pedestrians beyond, Okabe remained still as people filtered past him in several directions.
Thank you, Mayuri. A hot meal on this cold evening should drive away my earlier sorrows... For a little while.