Tuesday, January 24th, 2012; Tennouji CRT Repair, Ohiyama Building, Akihabara, Tokyo; 5:32p.m.
Seated on an old bench, just in front the windows of a street-level shop full of dated televisions, Maho looked on towards the one end of the alley, which remained silent and motionless aside from the passing of cars on nearby streets. With legs crossed and her backpack beneath her arm, her hand remained under the top strap of the bag, fingers tapping one by one on the worn fabric.
Should be showing up any time now...
Vision rising above the roof lines of buildings across the alley, broken clouds soldiered on through the fading atmospheric blue, creeping behind dark silhouettes of cables strung between poles.
Its been a day and half since we've last seen each other, and after yesterday's debacle, I'm just... So tired of crying.
Hearing unseen footsteps, only for them to draw to a halt, her head rapidly turned aside. Discovering with a quiet gasp that Okabe was standing a few meters away, hands in his pockets, a murmur buzzed in her throat, and her brow peaked with emotion from his sudden reappearance.
"Okabe."
Seeing a sad smile appear from her exhale of his name, she stared glumly at the sight of his unfamiliar expression.
No, please don't look like that.
"Maho."
Launching off the bench onto her feet, she stormed over and buried herself into his chest, squeezing him in as big of a hug as she could manage.
"Okabe-san..."
Gathering her into his longer arms, his eyes shut as his chin lowered onto her head, burying his nose into her hair. Allowing her to twist both of them side to side, the heat of her breath on his chest continued, and the two of them remained in a tight, emotional embrace.
"...I'm so sorry."
Face rising from the pleasant scent of her bushy hair, his chin settled onto the top of her head.
"For what?"
"For having to leave Japan. And leaving you."
"It's alright."
"No its not."
"Yes it is. You planned on leaving from the start, whenever you first arrived."
"I know I did, but..."
"But, certain events and feelings transpired, and here we are."
Sighing miserably, Maho seemed to go limp for a moment, causing Okabe to reassure his embrace around her sides.
"I hope you're not upset with me... For starting all of this mess."
"Why on earth would I be upset? Meeting you and all the time we've spent together... I can't even begin to describe how amazing it's all been."
"I... I know. And I agree."
"I know its upsetting, but both of us knew this was inevitable."
"I did. And for a while I just ignored it."
Rubbing her backside with his palm, a lengthy sigh seeped from her lungs, warming his chest through his shirt.
"Well, that's a lesson of its own."
"I know."
"Regardless, please don't regret any part of your stay here."
"I won't. There's too many good things... I could never regret it."
Looking towards the alley beyond, a period of silence hung after her words. Then, with a rise of her head, her eyes met his as he peered down at her, both of them relaxed from the comforting proximity.
"I cried my eyes out from your message yesterday morning. Just so you know."
"You... Did?"
"Yeah. It was very sweet and well worded, but I think reality just decided to crash down on me right afterward. Turned happy tears into sad ones real fast."
"I'm... Sorry I made you cry."
"Its okay."
"I'll try my best not to do that to you anymore."
"Its okay, Okabe... People have to cry now and then. Even a sweet guy like you."
Looking aside pensively, he swallowed.
Well, don't worry. I was pretty bummed yesterday.
Looking back as one of her arms retreated from his side, her hand rose up, and her index finger extended, poking the tip of his nose and finally bringing a smile to both of their faces.
"You know... Neither of us have gotten to say so in person... But Sunday's date was perfect."
"Yes it was. Thanks to you."
"And you."
Hand lowering, Maho eyed him fondly.
"You were handsome as can be."
"And you were stunningly beautiful."
Cheeks darkening in a blush from his sincerity, the last tendrils of a cloud of sadness seemed to drift away from her mind.
"Oh... You hush."
"Nope. Totally serious."
Flopping her forehead into his chest, a much welcomed giggle left her throat. Shivering from a wayward breeze wandering through the alleyway, Okabe's embrace tightened around her, and a gentle moan pried open her lips.
"...You know you could have let yourself in earlier... Instead of being out in the cold."
"I know. But I knew you were heading here from your college, so I wanted to wait outside."
"So we could talk like this?"
"Pretty much."
Releasing her arms from his backside, she gazed up at him, heart beating from his close presence.
And besides, even with me leaving soon, if we were in the lab with the other two...
Rising onto her toes in a temporary boost of height, her fingers gripped the folds of his suit coat, and after a delayed realization of her intent, his chin sank, bringing his shoulders lower in a cautious downward bend of posture.
...And we did this...
Colliding together into a tender, overdue kiss, exhales of warm breath from their noses danced back and forth against their cold cheeks, and Maho's body arched as his hand found a place against the small of her back. Remaining in position, a familiar tingle of romantic warmth bloomed, enveloping their faces, and one of her hands released its hold on his coat. Drifting down and finding his free hand, which seemed to already be waiting for hers, her slender digits pushed between his knuckles, tucking her palm against his with a curl.
...We'd never hear the end of it.
Following in the footsteps of Okabe as they proceeded up the dim stairwell to his apartment, Maho's backpack jostled as she made small bounds, skipping steps to keep up with his pace.
Maybe if we met up yesterday, somehow, I wouldn't have been so miserable all day and night... But I wanted to give you space after Sunday night.
Peering up to his backside, glimpsing his face as he rounded the level corner of the stairs, her lips tightened.
I guess that backfired pretty spectacularly. First thing that happened when you appeared earlier was me running into your arms. How clingy can one get when they're about to be gone for who knows how long? I don't even know what would be considered right, as far as relationships in Japan. Hell, I barely know what's right back in the states. I don't know how to approach any of this correctly. It just happens that our date went awesomely. I don't know how you would be in a relationship, Okabe.
Picturing several moments of walking by his side, speaking freely and trading laughter and smiles, her ascent of the stairs began to slow.
...I-I mean, not that we're really in a relationship. Maybe that's why this hurts so much. Its not like we haven't been getting along. I'd love to see you more... But the university isn't going to just magically extend my time here because I want to date some Japanese student.
Stepping onto the level hallway of the building's upper story, her eyes remained on the floor as she walked.
...And with that said, I'm here to waste a few hours away, before saying goodbye to people I've known for maybe two weeks. I hate that its actually come to this point already. Even my damn AI wants to say goodbye to everyone here. Why can't I just be here in Japan, and do my research here? Its not like Amadeus isn't portable. The institute is already here too. They haven't even opened the stupid place yet. Maybe I'll just arrange to do testing abroad. Maybe I'll just MAKE them allow me to be abroad. I'm already fed up with traveling all over the world. I should just move here and figure out how to live happily ever after. Maybe I'll get a place in Okinawa too. Then I can vacation back home whenever the hell I feel like it, instead of being stuck in California, five thousand miles away.
Realizing a moment later that Okabe was standing in patient waiting, quietly watching her storm of thinking, she exhaled heavily. Offering a nod as his hand began towards the handle of the metal door beside them, both of them looked onward as the welcoming light and warmth of the lab was revealed among the rattle of the entrance.
"Okarin? Oh, and Maho-chan too!"
"Loli-tan returns with her compact cuteness? All is right within the lab once more."
Unable to resist smiles from the friendly and goofy greetings, both computer scientists strolled inside, slipping off shoes at the entryway. Continuing in a casual wander within, Okabe began towards the fridge tucked in the corner, and Maho strolled up to the still-relocated couch, setting her backpack aside by the window. Leaning against the backside near Mayuri's shoulder, she watching Daru's rapid typing, casually glancing towards the screen.
"Mayushii was starting to wonder when you guys would show up today. Normally you're both here right around five-thirty."
"Alas Mayuri, matters of importance delayed our arrivals."
"Both of you?"
"Yeah."
She then turned to Maho from her concise answer.
"...Something going on?"
"Sort of."
Watching as Maho looked across her shoulder towards the nearby window, lengths of her mane of hair spilled over her shoulder, and Okabe appeared in passing just beyond, towing Maho's attention along as he rounded the end of the couch, a bottle of Dr. Pepper in hand.
"You two have been out and about a lot lately."
"I was back in Ikebukero over the weekend."
Waiting as the couch shifted from Okabe's recline onto it, Mayuri's head leaned with interest.
"And you, Maho-chan?"
Shrugging weakly, her eyes wandered.
"Just... Doing more of the Akiba experience."
"Mmm... How was it?"
Peeking towards Mayuri from her drawl, the sweetly smug smile appearing on her face lifted both Maho and Okabe's eyebrows.
"How was what?"
"Mayushii heard from her friends that you two went on a special journey on Sunday."
Eyes sinking in tandem, Maho tried hard to resist a blush.
"...Fubuki-chan said she saw Okarin with a lady way shorter than him, and Kaede said both of you looked pretty happy and adorable together."
Looking towards Maho's slowly reddening face, Okabe's mouth remained still, upholding a silent agreement made several nights before.
Won't speak unless you do, Hiyajo-san.
Finally relaxing her shoulders, a sigh of acceptance wandered from Maho's chest, replaced by a smile among her blush as she turned back to Mayuri.
"Yeah. That was us. On a date."
"Ooooohhh! Mayushii knew something was going on!"
"A date?! Normies CONFIRMED!"
Heads turning from Daru's outburst, Mayuri giggled as Maho blinked, and Okabe silently shook his head.
"Okarin my man, you of all people should know what happens when you go and do normie things! You're losing focus on the battle for computational supremacy!"
"Who's to say its not on purpose, Hashida?"
"Jeez man, you've let your mind be corrupted by the woozy charms of womankind. Soon you'll be going around and seeing movies and shopping f-."
*CLICK-CLICK*
Cringing as the shiny presence of the gigantic NERF gun was revealed near his head, Daru silenced, holding his hands up from the menacing presence of the massive weapon in Maho's hands.
"Eeeh! I surrender!"
"Neither of us even said we were normies, Hashida. You're just being paranoid and spouting nonsense."
"Okey dokey, uh, hah, I retract my statement, yandere-tan."
"And in any case, there's nothing wrong with going on a date. You should try it, Hashida. Lest you remain lost in a world of two-dimensional romance..."
"2-D babes are nothing to scoff at. I'll have you know that winning one over is a great accomplishment."
"Ah, right. Achievement unlocked... You're forever alone."
"HEY!"
Bursting into unexpected laughter, both Mayuri and Okabe watched fondly as Maho lifted the NERF gun upright, marching over to the fridge beyond.
"Is there any tea, Mayuri?"
"I'd have to brew some."
"That's alright. I'll manage without it."
"Wait, Mayushii can make some, hold on!"
Launching upright from the couch and whirling past Okabe, she sauntered into the kitchen, joined by Maho seconds later, and several cabinets opened and closed, among the running of a sink.
Looking over to Daru, seated across from the couch, Okabe's eyebrow rose as his spectacled friend glanced towards him.
"You actually went on a date with her...?"
"She asked me to it."
"And you gave in."
"Why would I say no?"
"The future of our monster machine is doomed without your competence and budget, Okarin."
"Come on Hashida, its not like I'm suddenly going to leave it behind."
"You never know man. Once a guy meets a girl, his whole life changes and sometimes they just disappear into another dimension."
"Oh yeah?"
"I've lost several comrades that way."
"And this other dimension you speak of, wouldn't be romantic happiness, would it."
"Doesn't matter what its called, dude. Its a trap."
"To you, maybe."
Exhaling with a great sigh, Itaru leaned back into the couch.
"Alright man. Just promise that you're not going to disappear on me all of a sudden."
Looking pensively towards the twin monitors ahead, Okabe twisted the cap off of the bottle of Dr. Pepper in his hands.
As it happens, Hashida, I'm not the one that's going to disappear suddenly... "I'll do my best."
Lifting the drink to his lips and taking several swallows, carbonated ambrosia splashed across his tongue, and the footfall of both young women returned from behind, offering the wandering scent of newly submerged tea bags with them. Appearing around the nearby coffee table with a stubby metal pitcher in Mayuri's hot-gloved grasp, and four porcelain mugs in Maho's fingers, Okabe watched with interest as the cups were arranged in a line on the wood surface.
"Oh, Okabe, I just remembered."
"Hm?"
Watching with a stir of heartbeat as Maho looked directly at him, she then looked towards the line of computer towers seated on a shelf nearby.
"Did you install those fans you got?"
"I did. Last night."
"Are they working?"
"Seem to be. Daru?"
"Speedfan's been showing a slight temperature decrease."
"The two with the GPUs, right?"
"Yeah. With the decals."
Wandering over and carefully traversing several cables laid across the floor, Maho looked over the interconnected row of large computer cases with growing interest. Hand rising above both of the graphics units, feeling a steady current of air blowing out of top of both, a hum wandered from her throat as she peered inside small mesh windows, seeing the piping arrangement of a water cooling system residing within red and blue colored interiors.
"Nice."
"That reminds me as well. How is the new battery and mouse working out?"
Looking towards Okabe with a toss of her hair and a quickly following smile, her hands tucked into the pockets of her olive coat.
"They've both been awesome. The laptop's been unplugged for hours at a time and its a thing of beauty."
"Excellent."
"...And the mouse is pretty neat in the dark."
"Got one that lights up?"
Nodding from Daru's wayward query, she walked out of the corridor between the towers and the monitors.
"Color changing LEDs."
"Custom colors for the win."
"Mmhm."
Eyes wandering towards the USB hub seated between the monitors, Maho then blinked.
"Oh, one more thing, guys. I brought Amadeus along. It... She, wants to see everyone again."
Remaining still as three pairs of eyes turned to her with a variety of interested expressions, her vision drifted across each face, one by one.
"Really?"
"Oh my gosh, she does?"
"The android nurse is back for more? Awesome!"
Smiling from the positive reception, she peered back towards the active programs on the left hand screen.
"If you want, I can get the hard drive set up."
"Go for it."
Walking past the monitors and around the couch in a short-lived search for her backpack, Maho tugged the zippers open and pulled the external hard drive out, gathering a power cable and USB webcam with her other hand as well.
"Could you start the software?"
"Already done, loli-tan."
Shaking her head from the nickname, she brushed past the arm of the couch, setting the drive in front of the hub, and with a swift connection of cables, the dark screen of Amadeus' startup shell appeared on the screen, with the program's scorching emblem appearing before their eyes.
Okay. Here's your wish, Amadeus. Back in the lab with everyone one more time.
Sighing, and then revolving back, the computer's keyboard was offered to her by Daru, and she accepted it with both hands, plopping down onto the cushion of the couch. Hammering in her login information with a speedy pattering of fingers, she then set the keyboard aside after a conclusive tap on the enter key. Appearing a spare few seconds later with a platter of newly poured tea, Mayuri offered one to each friend in sequence, and Daru scooped the keyboard from the end of the coach, allowing her to sit.
"Thanks, Mayuri."
"Of course. Tea with friends is always a good time."
Inhaling from the appearance of a red-haired avatar on screen, the four of them then watched as the virtual personality on the left hand monitor began to grin with delight from the sight.
"Amadeus-chan!"
"Hello Shiina, and mister Rintarou, and senpai, and Hashida-san. Nice to see all of you."
"Mayushii is happy to see you too!"
"Totally. Its not every day we can talk to robot babes."
Eyes closing, letting Daru's comment pass, Amadeus-Makise's arm propped onto her side.
"I was hoping I'd be able to visit this lab again. Thank you for bringing me here, senpai."
"You're welcome."
Peering aside to Maho's content expression, Okabe's attention returned to the screen from a virtual giggle.
"Now that we're here, I wanted to ask, mister Rintarou. Were you a gentleman to my little Maho on the night of Sunday the twenty-second?"
"Wha, seriously?!"
"I'm just asking, senpai, calm down."
"That's the first thing you ask when I start you up?!"
"You've continuously refused to give me details, so I figured the next best thing would be to go to the other party involved for information. How about it, Okabe-san?"
Blinking from the question and Maho's resulting shout and grumble, his lips pressed tightly together among a blush.
"O-Of course I was."
"Is this true, senpai..?"
Eyes meeting a red faced Maho among the AI's drawl, her chin averted to her shoulder as Mayuri began giggling.
"Yes. He was."
"See? Not that hard to admit. Thank you for filling a gap of information."
"You're... Welcome."
Eyes lowering to his knees, Okabe stared at the floor between his legs.
Interrogated by a computer. This is new.
"Ehehee, Amadeus-chan wants to know about Maho and Okarin's date as much as Mayushii does."
"They haven't told you either, Shiina?"
"Oh, I've heard bits and pieces. I guess they were really cute together."
"Mmmm. Do you know what they were wearing?"
"Okarin was in bright red and black, and Maho-chan was in a cute green shirt and black skirt, and her hair was done up... I wish I could have seen them, honestly."
"Oooh, senpai! Even your hair? You really went all out for Okabe-san, hmm?"
Turning bright red with embarrassment, Maho hid her eyes behind her hand as both girls, real and virtual, giggled together. Around them, Okabe and Daru looked away with varying extents of facepalms and awkward expressions.
I should have known you'd bring this up... Mischievous program of mine.
Peeking aside to Okabe, who's eyes flitted down towards hers, both of them exhaled with hints of mirth.
Even so, I guess silly moments like this... Should help keep the hurt away for a little while.
Sipping from matching mugs of cooled tea, both Okabe and Mayuri looked between Daru and Amadeus-Makise from an ongoing conversation, seconds after Maho had stood to use the restroom.
"Do you ever change clothes inside the program?"
"My appearance is static, as it was modeled by Dreamworks in preparation for the launch of the Amadeus project."
"Hmm. So to update your appearance, you'd need an update of your visual avatar."
"That's correct, Hashida-san."
"Are third party texture packs possible?"
Pausing from the query, Makise appeared to be processing a lengthy answer, building a moment of suspense within the otherwise quiet lab.
"No."
"Damn! Well, have you considered being modeled in a nurse outfit?"
"For Halloween, perhaps. But not for your sake, Hashida-san."
"Ooh! So robo-nurse might like cosplay after all! Sweet!"
"Mayushii thinks either Makises would look amazing in cosplay."
"I'll be certain to relay that for her consideration, Shiina."
"Mmm, thank you."
"You are welcome."
Looking aside to Okabe, noticing his attention was turned past his shoulder towards the restroom, a smile snuck onto Mayuri's face.
"Waiting for your girlfriend's return, Okarin?"
Seeing his eyes close above a vanishing smile, he turned back towards the computer screens, only for his vision to remain on the floor beneath.
"We're not at that point, Mayuri."
"Ehehe, but give it a few more weeks and I'm sure you two will be."
"I'm afraid you're wrong."
"Huh? But..."
"Maho won't be here by that point. She's leaving Japan tomorrow."
Hands tightening from her exhale, he remained still as Mayuri's expression saddened in the corner of his eye.
"She is?"
"We both are leaving, as a matter of fact."
Flitting over towards Amadeus, who remained with a passive expression, the cup in her grasp sank down onto her lap.
"Mayushii didn't know that."
"I apologize for not presenting that earlier, Shiina Mayuri. I didn't want to sadden you from the start of our session."
"If you are leaving... Is that why you wanted to see us, Amadeus-chan?"
"Yes it is. This was the last day I could have potentially interacted with all of you at this location. I will be returning to Viktor Chondria University with Maho to continue testing and development."
"Oh, but you'll be able to see your real twin again!"
"That's also true. Though in actuality, I've been speaking to her during my stay here."
With a pause, and slight shift of her violet eyes, Amadeus' attention rose above Mayuri's shoulder, revealing the returning presence of Maho, leaning against the back of the couch between Mayuri and Okabe.
"Senpai knows, doesn't she?"
"I do. Matching redheads causing mischief all the while."
Giggling from the gruff statement from her programmer, Amadeus crossed her arms on screen.
"Such drama. It wasn't all that bad in the end, was it?"
"Only because I got used to it."
"You know I never mean you any harm, senpai."
"You couldn't."
Heads shifting towards Daru, his thick arm rose in a correction of his glasses.
"... Because that would go against the laws of robotics."
"Yes it would, Hashida-san... If we were in the world of Isaac Asimov."
"Hmmm. Does that mean you're not opposed to inflicting harm?"
"There's no reason for me to harm anyone. Not with my intended purpose and design. I don't have any manner of physical body anyway so in a sense, I could really only speak harsh words."
"Or antagonize the hell out of people."
Turning back to Maho from her interjection, Okabe's head leaned back.
"Or that, since giving certain individuals advice seems to be an unacceptable notion."
"Advice is a subjective term, Makise-two."
"Mm. If you weren't so resistant to listening to ideas and admitting things, Maho, I would already have the necessary information and wouldn't need to pester you."
"Yeah yeah. You say that, but with your curiosity, you'd still keep asking."
"You programmed that capability, and Makise Kurisu is a scientist that is always asking questions. Therefore, the resulting combination is my drive to gather information, and eternal curiosity."
"Don't I know it."
"Mayushii can only imagine what Maho-chan and Makise-chan are like at their school."
"Oh, well..."
"Probably less argumentative."
Heads turning from Okabe's voice, he shrugged from the sudden attention.
"Ah, that is, they had to collaborate somehow for Amadeus to exist."
Eyebrow rising from Okabe's casual observation, Maho's eyes drifted over to Mayuri beside herself.
"...Yes we did. We are friends, but we definitely end up getting into regular debating."
"I can see that."
"Having two of the same best friend must be pretty fun."
"I could beg to differ."
"Hm? Why's that?"
Looking at Mayuri, and then towards Amadeus with an unimpressed, flat expression, Maho slowly blinked.
"They get into in cooperative chaos together, typically centered on me."
"That's probably because both of them really like you."
"She's right, senpai."
"Well, sometimes you twins are way too much to deal with. Actually, most of the time would be more accurate."
"I'm certain you will survive dual interaction, Maho."
"I know I'll survive. But I won't like it."
Half an hour after a recent dinner-and-snack gathering, the lab members remained in various places around the twin screens of the computer, with Mayuri seated cross-legged on the floor, Daru reclining against the arm of the couch from his office chair, and Maho settled into a comfortable lean on Okabe's shoulder. Looking back and forth across the occupants of the room portrayed through the lens of the webcam, Amadeus-Makise's expression grew pensive among an ensuing moment of peace within the apartment. Then, after a tilt of her head, Mayuri's hand rose, quickly regaining the AI's attention.
"Thinking about something, miss Makise?"
"Yes."
"What's up?"
"Well, I suppose with the current time of the evening... It may be appropriate for me to bid all of you farewell."
"Aww... What time is it?"
"Three minutes to nine."
"Seriously?"
Eyes blasting open, Maho's attention flitted over to the clock on the wall from Daru's outburst, and her heart sank from a confirmation of the late hour.
Nine, already?
"I guess we did eat kinda late... Mayushii will need to head out soon."
"I suppose its just as well, Shiina."
"Kinda sucks that you won't be able to come by and run here... Its been pretty cool talking to a virtual person. Way more realistic than anything I've seen elsewhere."
Heads turning from Daru's surprise honesty, Amadeus promptly nodded.
"Thank you, Hashida, and be sure to thank Maho for bringing me along for testing."
"Hashida and Okabe are the ones that allowed me to use their computer."
Turning to a weakly-smiling Maho, Amadeus propped her arms on her hips.
"Then it would seem you should all thank each other."
"Thank you for being a new friend and lab member, miss Makise."
"Thank you for being a wonderful tester and friend, Shiina."
Head nodding left and right, Mayuri beamed happily.
"You're welcome!"
Finally settling her violet eyes on Okabe, smiling from his red sweater and her creator snuggled up against him, their hands resting atop one another, Amadeus eyed the college student pointedly.
"Mister Rintarou."
"Yes?"
"Thank you. For your questions at the seminar, your testing up until today, and for taking care of my senpai during her stay."
Exhaling heavily, he nodded with affirmation.
"You are quite welcome, Amadeus."
Looking back across the members, the AI's arms crossed, and she offered two sequential nods.
"Alright. Good night, and farewell everyone."
"Bye!"
"Later!"
Waving her virtual hand, the AI suddenly vanished from view, and the screen faded back to the login page, leaving the room quiet in a moment of surprise, punctuated by the low roar of the room's heater turning on.
"She shut herself down?"
"Yep. She can do that."
"Never seen that happen until now."
Sitting upright and stretching all four of her limbs together, Maho exhaled.
"Its a function available, but she rarely does it."
Pushing free from the cushion, Maho plopped onto her feet as Mayuri stood from the floor, and the lab seemed to gain motion as everyone but Okabe rose from sitting positions.
"Amadeus-chan is super fun to talk to. I wish both of you didn't have to go."
"I'm sorry Mayuri. I wish I didn't have to leave either, but my flight back to California leaves tomorrow evening."
"Well, Mayushii is glad you were able to come by tonight. Maho-chan has really made these last two weeks a great time for everyone."
Smiling from Mayuri's voice, Maho tugged the hard drive's USB cable free from the hub, plucking its power cable from the nearby surge protector and scooping the webcam into her grasp as well.
This day's already come and gone... I can't believe it.
Turning towards the end of the couch, eyes meeting a still-seated Okabe as she drew past, both of them seemed to share a sense of dread from her looming departure.
...At least you've been here the whole time. Otherwise I don't know what kind of state I'd be in right now. Probably a pretty sad one with how yesterday played out.
"Maho-tan, do you want me to uninstall the shell for the support software?"
"Up to you. Its not going to work with anything else."
"Well i'm not one for leaving unused programs and cluttered registry entries laying around..."
"Nope, can't have that."
Sighing quietly from the idle remark, she knelt down beside her backpack, stuffing the hard drive and peripherals within. Then, glancing aside as Mayuri strolled past towards the kitchen, Maho's arms slackened.
This really is the end of an era, isn't it. Feels like so long ago that I even asked to bring Amadeus here.
"Um, Maho-tan. Since you are leaving..."
Attention perking from Daru's hesitant drawl, she peeked up over the top of the couch.
"...What are you going to be doing back in America anyway? I mean, as far as what you do with computing."
"Oh, well..."
Standing upright, she leaned forward onto the loveseat again, her folded forearm gently nesting against Okabe's hair just beside her.
"I'm sure I explained it at some point... Maybe just to Okabe here, but the Amadeus project I'm a part of is intended to eventually be a functional system of medical memory preservation. If someone starts losing their memory for any reason, theoretically we could overwrite what's being lost with a fresh copy of a backup."
"Like Alzheimer's?"
"And others, Mayuri. There's several ailments that damage and degrade memory, and we could potentially treat them this way."
"That's amazing."
"However, that's not all. You've been talking to my AI, and while it seems like it functions well, it still is under ongoing development."
"Really?"
"The same platform that the memory preservation works on, supports virtual avatars that we have modeled after the original person that scanned their memory. You asked Amadeus about this earlier, Hashida. The person we see on screen is an interactive duplicate personality that runs on a digital copy of everything someone's ever learned, seen and thought of."
"Which explains why Amadeus keeps talking about the real Makise as her human twin."
"Exactly. The virtual one is sourced from the head of the real one."
"And they talk to each other like best friends. Meta, man."
Kind of obnoxious, actually, but... "In much the same way I've spoken to my own memory scan."
"Whoa. You mean you have your version?"
Nodding proudly, Maho adjusted her posture.
"I do. Operates the same as Makise did earlier, just with my personality and memory instead."
"Ehee, Okarin might not be able to handle two Maho-chans at once."
Startled from a light chuckle leaving the college student beside her, Maho looked at Okabe, smiling from the brief return of his laugh.
"I dunno Mayushii, two loli-tans would be better than one... Sounds awesome."
Shaking her head from Daru's comment, Maho drew in an inhale.
"Anyway... In short, Amadeus is a two-fold project. I'm personally going to keep testing and working on its internal code. Makise works on the brain and memory side of it all... I might end up doing new memory scans to update my own data set."
"Sounds like you'll be keeping busy."
"That's the plan." ...Even though I'm going to be dealing with the fact I'd rather be here in Japan, for who knows how long.
Pushing upright from the couch, Maho lifted her backpack from the floor, tugging the zippers together, and with a look around, began towards her previously-folded coat. Seconds after her movement, Okabe finally stood from the couch, quietly drifting towards the room's coffee table.
Weird that I'm actually considering this, but... We'll see how long I actually stay at the university in the end.
"Getting read to head out?"
"Starting to think so."
"Oh, give Mayushii two minutes. Maho-chan isn't allowed to leave without a big hug goodbye."
Blushing lightly from Mayuri's words, Maho began pulling on her olive coat, only to turn with an escalation of heartbeat from Okabe's approaching footfall. Discerning a thick binder in his hands, her vision rose from the project log book, up to Okabe's parted lips.
"Here."
Vision sinking back down, however, Maho shook her head.
"You keep it."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm going to make a revised copy soon anyway. Believe it or not, I have been taking notes while I've been running Amadeus here."
"Alright."
Watching him turn and deposit the binder back onto the coffee table, he then looked aside, pointing towards the enormous Nerf gun leaning on the arm of the green couch.
"What about that?"
"You think they'll let me take a big toy gun all the way through an airport?"
"Maybe not."
"You guys can have it too. Consider it my low key contribution to the lab."
"As you wish."
Chest aching from her shrug, and the apparent ease of leaving behind personal effects, Okabe's hands slipped into his pockets.
Low key... Aside from two amazing weeks. Don't sell yourself short, Hiyajo-san.
"Okay, Mayushii is ready. I hope Maho-chan is ready for a big hug!"
Turning from the sudden approach of Mayuri bounding towards her, with only one backpack strap on her shoulder, Maho suddenly found herself squeezed into a plush embrace, and a laugh squeezed from her lungs as her chin lifted upward, only to find herself twisting left and right as Mayuri hugged her as much as possible.
"Mmmmmayuri, oh my gosh you're squishing meee...!"
"Of course! Best friends need the best hugs possible and Mayushii isn't afraid to give them."
"Mayushii uses marshmallow attack... Its one hundred percent effective!"
Looking between Daru from his comment, and both young women from the hug-session taking place, Okabe waited patiently for the moment to play out. Then, Mayuri released Maho from her embrace, only to cup her cheeks in her gloved palms, grinning from the nearly-bewildered expression on Maho's face as their eyes met.
So this is the face that Okarin's been falling for... "Maho-chan is so pretty and adorable. Mayushii hopes she'll stay this petite and cute forever!"
"T-Thank you, ah, you're very pretty too, Mayuri."
"Mmm, thank you Maho-chan. Now, don't you go and be late for your plane, okay?"
"Its not leaving until tomorrow, but, uh, okay."
Freeing the shorter woman from her grasp, Mayuri stepped back in a whirl, stopping from the sight of a patiently waiting Okabe, and her hands came together.
"Since Maho-chan is lab member double-oh-four, she's allowed to visit the lab at any time she happens to visit Japan. Right, Okarin?"
"Right."
"In that case, make sure you stay in touch! Lab members are family no matter where they are in the world."
Eyes flitting between Mayuri and Okabe, and even Daru seated nearby with his arm over the side of the couch, Maho exhaled sadly, only for her face to lift in a smile.
"Thank you, everyone. I've really had a wonderful time here, and I appreciate you all welcoming me in so easily."
"Mmmhm! The lab always could use more computer-y friends."
"And it goes without saying... Loli-ladies are always welcome."
Shaking her head with a still-remaining smile, she then looked up towards Okabe.
"Are you..."
"Yes. Ah, if you want me to."
Blushing slightly from his expected answer, and his approach, she zipped up her coat.
Of course I want you to walk with me.
Hand rising as she turned, heading towards the door beside a slightly faster Okabe, she offered a final wave to the others.
"Byyeee!"
"Later, Maho-tan!"
Waiting as the apartment's metal door was opened with a rattle, both computer scientists tall and short slipped through, vanishing into the dark hallway beyond. With a concluding clatter of the passage closing and a thick latch engaging, silence fell over the inside of the apartment for several seconds.
"Mayushii, did he seem kinda off to you?"
"Okabe?"
"Yeah. He's been way quieter than normal today."
Turning towards Daru, who now had his feet propped onto the arm of the couch, Mayuri began in a passive heading back into the middle of the room.
"I think his heart is hurting because Maho is leaving for a long time, really soon."
"Man, I've warned him about what 3-D girls do, but he doesn't want to listen."
"I think its more serious than it just being a 3-D girl, Daru. They really like each other."
"Hmmm..."
Stepping up to the window and peeking down towards street level, just past an omnipresent snowflake decal on the glass, a glimpse of Okabe and Maho appeared for a fleeting moment, only to disappear from sight. With a gentle exhale, her hand settled to rest on the windowsill, eyes sinking a moment later.
Hang in there, Okarin.
Tuesday, January 24th, 2012; Akihabara, Tokyo; 9:41p.m.
Standing inside the wide-open lobby of a high-rise hotel, both Maho and Okabe faced each other in a mutual moment of heavy hearts and held hands. Around them, low notes of classical music wandered from unseen speakers, meandering through the pleasantly conditioned air and empty seats, preserving the realm of peaceful togetherness that seemed doomed to slip away as the seconds ticked past.
"I meant to ask while we were walking... Do you think you'd be able to go to the airport with me?"
"Haneda?"
"Yeah."
Head tilting in brief consideration, Okabe's chin lowered in a nod.
"I could, depending on your departure time."
"Seven thirty. In the evening. I'll need to be there by probably six-thirty at the latest."
"Then yes. Want me to meet you there at the terminal?"
"No, come by the hotel here like normal. I want to take a train with you if that's alright."
"Of course its alright."
Eyes tightening, Maho's smile remained, keeping her weakening resolve steady.
Of course it is. Because you're Okabe and you handle everything with stride somehow.
"Okay. Thank you."
"You're welcome." ...And besides, Maho, if you're trying to make our time together last, I'd might as well try too.
Gazing at each other in a lingering moment of sad smiles and hurting insides, Maho shuffled forward, releasing his hands and surrounding Okabe's sides with her arms in a great hug, exhaling against his chest as his arms came together beneath her shoulders in return.
Its not as if I'd have anything better to do, than to be with you one more time.
Swallowing, and waiting patiently as her bushy hair lifted into view, her misty eyes meeting his once more, both of their lips parted to speak, only for them to wait for the other in a fury of heartbeats.
You first. I couldn't...
Realizing their temporary impasse, both of their faces sank with unexpected smiles gracing their features, making the coming words easier to finally convey.
"Guess I'll see you tomorrow then, Okabe." ...You Japanese man of mystery.
"Yeah. See you tomorrow, Maho." You emerald eyed... Enigma.