Chapter 12: Event Horizon: Ceremony Part 2
Note: I don't not own Steins;Gate. Only this fanfiction story.
This story follows the events that happened after the following Steins;Gate titles. Steins;Gate, Steins;Gate OVA, and Steins;Gate 0. Also, there are situations from other Steins;Gate titles that inspired multiple events in this story.
Check out my profile for upcoming dates for new chapters on Steins Gate: Epsilon. Also, check out my forums for more information towards this story and others future stories I will write in relations to the timeline of Steins Gate: Epsilon.
Night falls in Akihabara. The city is barely busy, and not much noise is coming from anywhere other than a few cars and people. Faris and most of the female lab members plus one guy are having a sleepover at her place.
However, the person who decided to skip the sleepover is Kurisu. She instead decides to take Okabe back to her place and take care of him because of his current condition.
Soon enough both of them have reached back to the apartment, and yet Okabe is still confused by Kurisu's decision. "K-Kuristina, are you sure about this?"
Kurisu becomes shy. "Y-Yea. I made that decision and it's final. I'm not changing it."
Okabe is more shocked than ever. He never would have thought Kurisu would actually skip on spending time with Maho and the others to instead take care of him. He wanted to thank her for caring for him, but he decides to hide it with his persona. "It's me! The agent is trying to attempt another assassination on me! Huh?! Continue the mission anyways! I can't do-"
Suddenly he feels his phone being snatched from his hand, and quickly turns in shock to see Kurisu taking it. "Yea. Don't worry, I will handle the rest. Yea, this is the choice of Steins Gate. El Psy Kongroo."
Okabe is shocked with what he just witnessed. He even questions if he is in reality. Kurisu hands Okabe his phone after finishing her sentence, and walks to the kitchen with a very shy face. "A-Assistant…...? Are you….. doing alright?" Okabe asks.
"Y-Yea." she responds.
Okabe says nothing and just goes along with it. "O-Ok….." He decides to move himself to get his change of clothes for the night and heads into the shower. Kurisu decides to heat up some food as she still continues to have a shy face.
He thinks about Kurisu's behavior throughout the time in the shower. He is also able to put a bit of pressure on his leg as it is beginning to get better. However, he is more focused on Kurisu. He questions what she is trying to do. Why is she trying to spend more time with him? However, he quickly realizes she may be trying to get used to his presence, and proving that she indeed wants him closer to her. However, he doesn't think much as it can just be he is getting way too hopeful.
Okabe eventually finishes in the shower and leaves the bathroom to put away his clothes. Kurisu puts some dinner she prepared on the table. He heads to the table and thanks for the food and eats with her. There is an awkward silence for both of them however, since they have not talked to each other after the mad scientist act.
A couple of hours pass before it is time for bed. Although Okabe is just emailing someone, Kurisu just heads straight for bed and doesn't say anything. There is still silence for some time even after that, as she sleeps for an hour.
While Kurisu sleeps, she dreams. She is inside a place in the middle of no where but with light. In front of her is Okabe, who is staring at her for a moment, as he says some words that she can't understand at all. However, behind Okabe, it begins to get pitch black, as if the light was being consumed by the darkness ahead. Then, Okabe begins to turn around and walks away down to the pitch black of the unknown. Kurisu begins to cry a bit as she sees Okabe leaving her. She runs a fast as she could, but for some reason, her distance between him grows more than she can run
As the dream comes to an end, she begins to yell one name. "Okabe?!" She says as she wakes up startled from the dream. She also notices Okabe not in bed.
"Kurisu, what's wrong?" he says. Kurisu turns to his voice, where he is still in his wheelchair. He was looking out at the big windows in the apartment.
"N-Nothing. Nothing..." She says with relief as she sees him still in her apartment and falls back in bed.
Okabe then moves the wheelchair next to Kurisu as he is concerned for her, while having his right fist clenched. "Kurisu. Tell me, you have been very silent these last few hours. What's bothering you?"
Kurisu sits up from her bed and looks down. Although she is concerned for the dream, Okabe was asking about her being silent before she went to bed. She hesitates to respond at first, but she wants to know his honest opinion. So she then asks. "O-Okabe, tell me. D-Do you feel strange in any way b-being around me?"
He begins to blush but responds. "S-Strange being around you? W-Why would you think of that?"
"B-Because you try to avoid me usually. Or when we are alone, you normally don't talk to me a lot and go to your mad scientist person as a way to escape from your true feelings. Because of that, I can't understand what you really feel. It….It hurts me to not know."
There is a pause, before Okabe asks another question. "Do you really want to know?"
Kurisu looks up to him and nods in a yes response.
Okabe then reveals from his clenched fist, which was the locket necklace that Kurisu gave to him as a couple's gift. Kurisu becomes shocked to see he finally saw her gift she secretly put in his bag. Then, Okabe reveals the Kurisu plushie he also had wrapped in his coat to try and hide it at first. Kurisu eyes widen even more, before he speaks with complete honesty. "I love you. I have always loved you, and I will continue to always no matter where I am, no matter what I do, I will always love you." He gives a quick laugh before continuing his response. "You shocked me today when you decided to take care of me more than being with the lab members. I am happy you did. You also surprisingly for the first time followed along and finished my lines as a mad scientist which deep down made me feel like you were committing, and I am very happy you are. However, this type of thing can get awkward between the two of us very easily, and I feel it would be better if I wasn't around you so you can feel much at ease. That way, I'm not a burden and you don't have to be distracted from your life" He then puts down the locket on her desk next to the bed.
Kurisu sits in silence for a moment. She blushes and puts her head down as she thinks about what Okabe said, which is the answer she always wanted to hear from him. But the part about being a burden was something she never thought Okabe would say. He must have been wanting the same thing as her, but like what Yuki said before, they both have trouble relating their feelings for each other.
This response from Okabe however naturally strengthens Kurisu to become bold. "Then, let me tell you how I feel about your response." She sits next to Okabe, pulls him out of the wheelchair without the intention of hurting him, and makes him lie on the bed next to her.
Okabe becomes very nervous about what Kurisu is doing. Then, she grabs her Okabe plushie and hugs it with one arm just like what he is doing with his Kurisu plushie. She then speaks. "You will never be a burden to me. I told you before, I loved you too, and I will always love you, wherever I am, and no matter what I do. I know this kind of stuff can get awkward between us, but I also don't want it to at the same time. I wish for us to be more confident of each other and be a real couple."
Okabe smiles. "I remember you mentioning you wanted to do something like that before you went back to America for a short time."
"Yea, I did. So, Rintaro Okabe. Don't think of you being a burden to me. I will always enjoy your company. Even if your mad scientist persona can get annoying."
Okabe laughs softly. "My mad scientist is not annoying. It's glorious. But, aside from that, I will also enjoy your company, Kurisu Makise." Kurisu and Okabe kiss each other in the lips for the moment they are having. As their day comes to an end, the scene zooms to both of them, kissing on the lips, while holding a plushie of each other.
One is noted after all today. They will still have trouble expressing what they feel for each other, but now that they have connected together much more than ever, it will get better as they commit, knowing what they truly feel for each other.
September 27th, 2021
Another day comes forth in Akihabara. The city is busy and tense like almost any other day. Today is also Suzuha's birthday, the day of her birthday party, and for the day of the special cake that was made based on her interests.
Before the party however, the Future Gadget Laboratory is busy to get started on the selection of Future Gadgets that are required to make, and show in the upcoming World Science Festival. The groups are working together to each create a future gadget based on what they all agreed to select.
Group 1 which is Maho's group, have decided to build a brand new gadget from scratch, which is Future Gadget Number 131. Group 2, which is Kurisu's group, have decided to continue their work on a new version of "Future Gadget Number 3: Could This Be Ora Ora?" Group 3 which is Daru's group, have also decided to work on a new version of "Future Gadget Number 38: Shocking Sound!"
Okabe begins going through each group to hear their plans of their selected gadget. He starts with Group 1, which is managed by Maho. "So, my allies, tell me about your selected Future Gadget."
One intern responds. "Right! So, we are deciding to create a brand new Future Gadget. "Future Gadget Number 131: Superior Prosthetic Arm."
Maho nods sideways as she thinks the name is offly weird. Okabe however admires it. "Hmm? Very pleasing! It really already sounds astounding! Tell me more."
The interns nod. They prepare a quick slideshow of the prosthetic arm. "This new gadget will have calibration and sync to just like a real human arm. That way, it's user will never feel like they are missing an arm. Not only that, but the arm has a transformation capability depending on what additional parts can be compatible with, For example, it can become a shield to help block attacks if it is ever necessary for defensive purposes. It can also use recreational parts for things such as allowing the arm to be a wallet, or a phone holder, or many other things that can be modified later on."
"Amazing! As expected of my allies of the Future Gadget Laboratory! Continue on with your research!"
"Yes!" says the entire group as they get back to their research.
Okabe arrives in the room where Group 2 is managed by Kurisu. "Tell me, my fellow allies, of your selected future gadget."
"Yes!" says one Intern. "We are planning to create a version 2 of "Future Gadget Number 3: Could This Be Ora Ora?" The Interns prepare a quick slideshow. "This new version now has a sensor equipped to it that is very similar to a standard lie detector. With this on the sweat detector, it can now read your vitals with your finger depending on how you place your thumb on it, and can detect the odor, and the type of sweating depending on how your body released it, allowing a more accurate lie detection with any question asked."
Okabe is amazed. "Oh? Now this is some very thought out work. As expected of all of you under our supervision of my glorious assistant! Continue your research."
"Yes!" says all the Interns as they get right back to work. As Okabe leaves, he quickly turns to say something to Kurisu. "Assistant, well done." Okabe heads out of the room in his wheelchair and Kurisu smiles as she gets right back to work with her group.
Okabe arrives in the room where Group 3 is managed by Daru. "So, tell me about your Future Gadget, my fellow allies!"
"Yes." says one Intern. "This version 3 of "Future Gadget Number 38: Shocking Sound!" It utilizes most components from version 2. However, now it has potential to release a stronger sound and stronger shockwave, with it all fortunately being unable to cause any harm as long as you use it with protection."
"Very interesting. Can it be tested?" Okabe asks.
Another Intern responds. "Yes. It can go through a test run right now if you want to see it."
"Then, let's witness the sheer power of this new version!"
Okabe and Daru's group head to a testing room that is wide open for gadgets that need testing with big areas. Okabe, Daru, and his group all stand behind a sturdy see through wall to protect themselves from the blast, and along with having on goggles and headsets that eliminate most sounds.
One Intern has the remote of the gadget and begins the countdown. "10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0!" Once it hits zero, he presses the button to activate the gadget and make it explode. However, the gadget doesn't in the end explode. Instead, nothing happens. The Intern presses the button again, and nothing. The Intern tries another time, and still nothing. Everyone is now wondering what went wrong. The group heads up to the gadget and begins fiddling with it. "Hmm, weird. Everything seems to be fine." says one Intern.
"Maybe there is something wrong with the signal between the remote and the gadget." says another Intern.
Okabe heads over in his wheelchair and decides to take a chance to see what's wrong. He begins to look through for any little detail that may be the cause. Bolts, the wiring, and small components that trigger the device. Then, he notices that a light is blinking with a wire that is not properly connected.
"This may be the problem." Okabe tightens the cord to have it properly fit. As soon as it's fixed. The device light trigger fully lights up. Right after that, the device instantly triggers its effects, causing a massive explosion of sound waves, while playing a short intro of the song "Hacking to the Gate," a song used in one of Okabe's music collections. This shockwave of sound pushes every as far back to nearly the sides of the room. Some Interns get caught in random junk, and others land on the hard floor. Daru lands on the side of a machine, and so does Okabe. However, Okabe is more worrisome since he was in a wheelchair, and the sound wave knocked him the farthest away.
Moments later, both Maho and Kurisu's group heard the huge blast and crashing noises. They came over quickly to see what happened, and they saw everyone on the floor, with a huge mess in the room. Everyone questions if they are alright which so far, everyone is. Then, Kurisu notices that a wheelchair is knocked over such a far distance and quickly looks around. She soon manages to quickly find Okabe who was struggling a bit to get up.
Kurisu runs over to Okabe to help him. "Are you alright, Okabe?!"
"Y-Yea…... That blast from the gadget was so strong…... T-That made my landing hurt."
Kurisu begins to get upset as she sees her boyfriend in this state right now. She then angry speaks to the Interns responsible for this. "Are you guys Stupid?! Why did you let the gadget go off without being safe behind the wall?!"
Suddenly, Okabe pulls Kurisu by the arm to make her stop yelling. "Kurisu! It's ok. It was a malfunction that just had to activate when we all went to see what happened to the gadget. That's all."
After hearing Okabe's response, Kurisu calms down and apologies. "Sorry, I didn't know what happened. Just acted out of worry."
As the day in the Future Gadget Laboratory comes to an end, Okabe and his supervisors are in a conference room. They had a chat about what happened with Group 3's future gadget. "So, the wire was improperly connected, and upon fixing it, it triggered the gadget instantly." says Maho.
Okabe confirms her response. "Yea. Unfortunately all of the people in there at that time were affected by the sound wave."
Daru then apologies. "Sorry Okarin. I should have carefully looked to make sure everything was fine. It was my job as supervisor to make sure nothing bad happened."
"It's ok Daru. We all can miss something important. It's a part of how we are as scientists. We experiment with being ready for whatever outcome may occur."
"But Okabe, are you sure you're alright?" Kurisu asks.
"Yea, don't worry."
Maho smiles and laughs for Kurisu. "I'm surprised by Kurisu though. I didn't expect you to act in anger after seeing Okabe on the floor. You must really care for what happens to him."
Kurisu responds in a very shy tone. "O-Of course I would! A-After all, um…..w-we are in a r-relationship."
Daru is now surprised about her response. "That's weird. Normally you would respond with something to counter that. But now you actually just acknowledged in front us your relationship with Okarin!"
Kurisu and Okabe blush from embarrassment. But then, Okabe speaks to hide his feelings a bit with his persona. "O-Of course she would! After all, she is my personal assistant to the insane mad scientist!"
Daru and Maho just sit still as they just couldn't believe both Okabe and Kurisu have actually agreed on their relationship for once. They now want to ask what is happening to them, but then, Daru's phone rings. He answers the phone, and it's a call from his daughter Suzuha. "Hey papa? Will you be home soon?"
Daru smiles. "Yea. Daddy will be home soon." Soon, the call ends and Daru believes everyone should now head back. "Well everyone. Soon the birthday party will start. We should head back. I'm not missing it for the world."
The sun barely begins to set over Akihabara. And every lab member is present, ready for the party that is taking place at Faris's apartment. There are decorations everywhere, lots of food, and birthday presents. In the middle of the table, is a huge box. This is the cake that everyone has been hiding since yesterday.
"Alright everyone! Shall we sing Happy Birthday to the birthday girl?" says Mayuri. Everyone joins together to sing happy birthday to Suzuha. This moment is very special to her, because it is the first time all the lab members are present.
After the lab member finishes singing. Mayuri opens the box of the cake they have been wanting to show. The box comes apart, and everyone's eyes widen to see what the cake result is. The cake looks pretty simple yet stylish with vanilla and chocolate frosting. However, the most important thing about it, is what is in the middle of it. In the middle, it is the special logo used through the existence of the Future Gadget Laboratory.
Okabe is in shock to see how they made such a cake and made the logo just like the real thing. "You guys, this is…." Okabe wonders.
"Yes. This is the cake Suzuha wanted for her birthday this year." says Yuki with a kind smile.
"I love this lab! So I wanted cake with the lab logo!" says Suzuha with excitement.
Okabe doesn't know what to say. Although a bit random, at the same time, memories of the Suzuha from the Alpha and Beta Worldlines rush through. He remembers the Suzuha who helped him reach the Steins Gate worldline. He believes Suzuha would never give up, because she has always cared for the existence of the Future Gadget Laboratory. This was her family, even though not related by blood. After the rush of memories. Okabe speaks to her. "Thank you Suzuha. You have impressed your Mad Scientist Uncle."
"Yep!" Suzuha responds.
"Thank you lab members. You have made such an amazing cake, even though it's not my birthday and not about me, I will cherish your creation of it since it contains the love for the Future Gadget Laboratory."
Everyone smiles for Okabe as he cherishes their creation they all pitched in to make. Then, Okabe puts on his persona. "Well then lab members. This party must be the choice of Steins Gate! Let's celebrate!"
Everyone agrees on the same thing. "Yea!"
Time goes on. Everyone is enjoying their time chatting, and playing "Rai-Net Access Battlers." Okabe and Daru team up to try and beat Yuki and Kurisu in the game. However, they of course still lose pretty badly, but they lasted longer than they would of years ago. Nae is also there celebrating and playing with Suzuha along with Luka and Moeka. The rest of the lab members watch the "Rai-Net Access Battlers" game. Everyone enjoys the food, the cake, and the drinks they had prepared, and managed to finish it all.
After a couple of hours, it was time for Suzuha to open the presents from the lab members. One by one, she opens each present, which tend to be toys for her age, but she is happy about them overall. Now from her parents, she gets a special present which are tickets to an amusement park.
Lastly, it was Okabe's turn to give his present. He takes it out from his lab coat pocket which is a small box, and hands it to Suzuha. She opens the small box, and inside, it has the same pin badge every other lab member possesses. "This may not be the best present, but I, the insane mad scientist, Hououin Kyouma, would like to officially welcome you, Suzuha Amane, as Lab Member Number 008. Although you have always been, it is about time I give you your own personal pin badge."
Suzuuha gets really excited. "Thank you! Uncle Okarin!" Suzuha runs to Okabe and hugs him. Okabe then puts on his persona and grabs a drink. "Lab Members! I, Hououin Kyouma, would like to make a toast, to officially welcome Suzuha Amane, as Lab Member Number 008!
Everyone grabs their drinks. "Welcome, Suzuha Amane!"
Simultaneously, everyone drinks their beverage. However, as Okabe begins drinking his beverage. His mind begins to go crazy, glitchy and hazy. He is suddenly seeing the same dream once again, with the intense foggy area, where the girl from his dreams is on her knees, crying. Okabe is so confused as to what is happening. Why has this been occurring more than ever this year.
While this happens, over at the rooftop of the Radio Building, a huge light pillar strikes for a minute, before fading away into nothing.
As the light fades around the area, Okabe loses consciousness, and blacks out.
Inside Okabe's mind, he begins to wake up in the place of where he would see the little girl. He is gradually gaining focus after his mind experienced some sort of hazy glitch that made him wake up in this place. However, something is completely different. This time as he looks around, he notices multiple objects that are the same. He doesn't know what they are, or what they are supposed to do, but they display images.
Then, Okabe goes close to one of these objects to take a quick look, and notices something familiar. The object that looks like a portal was displaying images that Okabe knows for being in the Alpha Worldline. His eyes widened in shock to see them again, but at the same time, with fear. Then he quickly turns to the so-called portal next to it, and just like the first, the object displays images of what he has seen, but this time, it was from the Beta Worldline. Okabe begins to freak out as to what all this is. Why are the 2 objects displaying images of the Alpha and Beta Worldlines?
Then, he turns around to hear a noise from another direction, and sees the little girl he knows in his dreams, passed out on the floor. Okabe quickly runs to her to try and wake her up. Unfortunately, as he gets so close, the girl fades away. Soon, Okabe begins to lose consciousness of this place and passes out. Just before this place fades, next to the 2 so-called portals Okabe viewed, another one that is very similar can be seen. The strangest thing however, is that it is so far apart from the rest, and lighting up.
After a couple hours of lying on the guest bed, Okabe begins to gain consciousness, and back to reality. He regains focus around his area, and notices he is in a room that only has one light source. Then as he tries to get up, he feels his hand being touched by someone. He turns to see, and it's Kurisu, already asleep next to the bed.
Then Okabe notices Mayuri who was next to Kurisu. "Mayuri?"
Mayuri gets startled by Okabe suddenly waking up, but she begins to feel relief. "Okarin!"
"What happened to me?" Okabe asks.
"You were drinking a beverage, and then you just suddenly collapsed in your wheelchair. When the lab members tried to help you, you were already unconscious. So we just took you to a bedroom Faris had available and hoped you would eventually wake up."
"I see." Okabe then grabs his head as a sudden shock of pain rushed through his entire brain, making him groan in some pain.
As Mayuri stands up to go to him, Okabe's movement causes Kurisu to be woken up. She quickly notices Okabe awake and begins to question. "Okabe?! Are you alright?!"
"Y-Yea, I'm ok."
Mayuri smiles to see both of them together. "Well. I will step out now that you are awake. See ya." Mayuri winks at both Kurisu and Okabe as she leaves the room and closes the door.
"This sucks." says Okabe to start a conversation.
"Did this happen because of your PTSD?" Kurisu asks.
"Most likely. Ever since time traveling, I felt like part of my humanity was taken from me. Then with combining my Reading Steiner into the problem, I can never forget whatever I witnessed in other worldlines. This is the punishment from trying to mess with time for my personal goals. Now I will forever suffer through a mental condition that will distract me from reality."
There is a moment of silence, before Kurisu wants to know something. "Do you ever regret messing with time?"
Another moment of silence, as Okabe gathers his thoughts and says his answer. "I regret discovering ways to mess with time. Because of that, I have to deal with the lifelong consequences of a mental condition that will always haunt me. However, I do not regret it as well. Messing with time allowed me to realize it is possible to achieve what you want as long as you have means to continue doing so."
"And what kept you going to travel through time?"
Okabe already knew the response to that instantly and smiled. "Mayuri, and you, Kurisu."
Kurisu becomes surprised to hear Okabe's response. "I could never accept a life without having witnessed your deaths. Something made me feel like a world without having you or Mayuri in it was a worldline I was not meant to be in. Then, all the lab members put in their own efforts to help fix everything one by one too. Because of that, I was not letting everything they sacrificed all go for nothing. Then, you also gave me the push I needed every time to keep moving forward, and Mayuri slapped some sense into me to finish what I started. Thanks to every lab member's efforts, I have managed to find the one worldline where you are sitting right next to me now, and Mayuri is hanging out with the other lab members currently. No one will die, and everything will be just fine."
Kurisu smiles and is happy to see Okabe never regretting anything he did. Kurisu then gives Okabe a quick kiss in the mouth. "I-If you are happy with everything in the end, then I will support your decision. Now, get some rest. Your brain needs to relax after what happened."
Okabe smiles. "Alright, Assistant." He lies in bed as another day of the lab members come to and end
The scene briefly changes back to the Radio Building where the big light pillar appeared. Nothing seems ordinary at first as nothing is there, nor anything damaged. However, as the place zooms in closer, only a quick second reveals what is possibly there, which appears to be a machine, with invisibility.