Chapter 5: Tensional Drive
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
It's a cool evening as the sun is barely visible and the moon shines in the coming night sky. After a long story about Okabe and how the Future Gadget Laboratory progressed with the alliance of the Rounders, Okabe and Kurisu talk together about small random things, such as there new interests, there life experiences and more. Then, as time pass by, Maho enters through the roof top door to see how they were doing. They were sitting next to each other against the railing.
"Oh you guys are still up here. Sorry to interrupt."
"No no. It's ok Senpai. In fact I want to talk about something with you and Okabe." says Kurisu.
Maho sits next to Kurisu against the railing.
"Senpai. Why did you leave Viktor Chondria University and decide to work with Okabe at the Future Gadget Laboratory?"
Maho thinks for a moment as she looks up to the rising nigh sky. It was expected for her to ask, so she decides to explain everything without missing a detail. "Well, to explain this, I must tell you what happened in 2012."
"2012?" Kurisu wonders.
"In 2012, I went to visit the old lab to look for you because you were on vacation and thought you came to Akihabara but you weren't in the old lab. I had brought a testing AI program to test it myself when no one was looking around. However I one day accidentally didn't shut it off, and I believed Okabe was messing with it, because the AI was saying things about a delusional man when I returned."
Kurisu started to blush and a bit heated to hear Okabe messing with an AI that was classified research to only America. "Senpai? Which AI did you leave on accidentally?"
Maho was embarrassed to respond to the question, but Kurisu wasn't going to stop bothering her until she knew, so she had to tell. "Y-Your AI..."
Kurisu looked down and blushed but at the same time, she was furious. "W-Why didn't you ever tell me about this! The AI in the hands of Okabe, especially my AI, would be the end of the world!" Kurisu turns to look at Okabe. "Okabe?! What secrets did you learn about me?!"
Okabe became startled by her tone, but he decides to play along. "Hmm, curious are we assistant? Well let's just say I have found ways to reveal my assistant's sec-"
"He did nothing." says Maho as she knows Okabe is lying.
Okabe gets upset for Maho ruing his moment to tease Kurisu. "H-How dare you! I sure have found ways to discover her secrets!"
"You have found nothing! Besides, the AI wouldn't reveal secrets if the real person is the same way. So there is no way the virtual Kurisu would tell you about the real Kurisu's hidden secrets."
Okabe turns away as he can no longer tease.
"Now back to what I was saying. Although Okabe-san did say some unusual things to the AI, he also helped in many ways to advance to AI program to be more realizable, securable, and controllable. He also proposed a theory with it, to try ways to select certain memories to make security of the AI easier, but that is easier said than done. He has done countless tests and developed small adjustments over time with the AI that he is a valuable asset to the AI project. So I trusted him in a way with it and could rely on him if anything happened to it"
Kurisu is revealed that Okabe did not find out her secrets, and instead, he is part of the Ai research under Maho's supervision.
"Now, in the beginning of the New Year in 2019, when you were at another laboratory on the east coast of America, the AI was hacked by an unknown organization. The reason is unknown, but soon, the Professor at Viktor Chondria University lost all information to the AI and we were in deep trouble. I was scared of what this organization could do with the AI program that had me and Kurisu registered. So then, I called Hashida-san who was the only hacker I could rely on at the time, and with Okabe-san who already knows about the program very well."
Okabe decides to step in to share his experience with the situation. "We got a call from Hiyajo-Safina who was in a panic to get the AI program back and informed me and Daru on everything that happened. Unfortunately, this unknown organization managed to prevent all access to the AI program from the University, which possessed the biggest problem. If they could do that then what are our chances of succeeding."
Kurisu is shocked as she had never heard of this story before. "S-So, did you guys manage to get it back?!"
Okabe continues. "After a couple days of searching through many databases in multiple worldwide laboratories, Daru finally found the AI program, and initiated a complete delete of it from the database, but we made sure to save a copy of the data of the program for ourselves so no one else could have it. We also made sure the hacking could be traced in an open, deserted area in America so no would find us doing it here in Akihabara."
Kurisu is very impressed by Daru and Okabe actually helping out with Maho to secure the AI program. "You know, I wonder how you guys aren't working for professional science laboratories."
"Wh-what? We do work in a professional laboratory! It's called the Future Gadget Laboratory! Don't you dare put us in the low like that, Kurisutina!" says Okabe as he hates his lab being put like it as some roleplaying ideal.
"How many times do I have to tell you there is no tina?!" says Kurisu as she stands up.
Okabe also stands up. "Oh yes there is, Kurisutina!" he says as he calls her nickname in a lyrical tone.
Kurisu gets pretty angry for hearing that more than anything else and just looks away to not cause any more heat.
Maho laughs to see this scenario again. "It's been so long since I have seen this argument before. It brings back so many memories."
Okabe and Kurisu stop to realize for a second what they were doing, and turn away to hide their embarrassment as Maho is right.
Maho stands up to continue the story. "So, after Okabe and Daru acquired the AI program again, I went to Japan to get the data from them so that we don't have to share the information online, and it was so we could avoid being detected with it. However, Okabe-san didn't want to give it back."
Okabe steps in. "I didn't want them to take the AI back because if the program has already been hacked once at the University, it can happen again. Not only that…...um…..." Okabe didn't want to finish what he was saying because it was embarrassing to express it in front of Kurisu.
However, Maho decides to say it for him just by noticing his expression. "It's because of your memories that were a part of the program, Kurisu. For Okabe-san, it was like they were capturing you for real and he didn't like that at all."
Kurisu is surprised to hear that and blushes, but turns to Okabe to hear if it is true. "I-Is that true, Okabe?"
Okabe just turns away and blushes so he hopes to not say it at all.
Kurisu looks down, blushing as well to know that by looking at Okabe's behavior, it is true of what Maho said. She smiles. "Th-th-thank…..you for um..."
Okabe smiles in happiness to hear Kurisu thank him for thinking of her no matter what. Maho smiles to allow them to have a moment, before deciding to continue finishing her story. "When I was trying to persuade him to give me back the AI, he said he would never do so as long as your memory was with the AI Program, Kurisu. He never wanted your memory to be in the hands of others who can potentially use it for far worse things imaginable. I could tell that Okabe would never feel as at ease if I took it back to the University. Right, Okabe-san?"
Okabe blushes again. "O-O-Of course I wouldn't! The memories of my assistant can never be in the hands of some else other than me! They contained the knowledge of an experiment-loving girl that must be used only for the sake of the Future Gadget Laboratory!"
Maho laughs. "Yea, yea. Well, if Okabe didn't want to give it back, I wanted to know what he would do if he allowed at least me to work on it, because although the program initially started with Professor Leskinen, the AI program is mainly my own creation since I put in the most time into it. I always dreamed of working with it since I started my career as a scientist. So, Okabe told me to work as part of the Future Gadget Laboratory and he can allow me to work with the AI like I would in Viktor Chondria University." Maho sighs. "I wasn't going to accept at first because I thought he meant working at the lab in his home. That was until he told me about everything he could offer in the new lab. Not only that, he told me about the crazy theory of worldlines existing that diverge and allow an infinite amount of possible futures."
Kurisu questions. "And that's when you called me to talk about worldlines. I figured you probably spoke with Okabe about that."
"Well I'm still somewhat confused about worldlines being real, but after hearing your theory and combining it with his story on it, I can't say it's impossible either." There is a pause. "Even though I could have just reported him for stealing research that was highly classified in America, I decided to think about everything that Okabe-san said for a while, because I knew he just wanted to protect your AI in the end. Then, after several days of thinking it carefully, I accepted to work at the lab and live in Japan. From that day forward, I was appointed as a Supervisor of the Future Gadget Laboratory with Interns, who plan to have careers as part of the lab." Maho smiles. "To be honest, it's not bad at all."
Kurisu is shocked to think that Maho would accept that request to work here in Akihabara. "I'm surprised that you would accept to work at a place that hasn't had a lot of experience."
"Hey!" says Okabe as he is angry at Kurisu for making such a comment.
"Well I knew that the lab didn't have a lot of experience, but I thought it would be interesting to work in a lab that is just growing to be a true laboratory. I want to see it myself, to get the experience of a lifetime that barely rises for any scientist." says Maho with a pleasing tone.
Kurisu stood there just thinking about what Maho said. She knew Maho as an ambitious scientist who would mostly only work in a professional lab that has many professional scientists around the world, competing to create a theory of some sorts that could possibly make sense. But to think Maho would change all of that to work in the Future Gadget Laboratory, is just unexpected.
"Well Senpai. I won't say anymore. If you enjoy working there and are making a living out of it, then I have no right to get you out of it." says Kurisu.
Okabe smiles to see that they are still great friends after everything that has happened up till now. He then pulls out his phone from his pocket and realizes it is getting late. "We should head back now, it's getting very late."
Back in the old lab, the only people who still remain is Daru. Everyone else has left. The place is very clean, every furniture placed back in the location they were before being moved for the party. Daru is using the computer to type up some documents for the lab while waiting for Okabe.
"Oh?! You guys are finally back." says Daru.
"Yea." Okabe responds.
Daru finishes his documents and shutdown the computer to give Okabe the suspicious look. "So Okarin, what were you doing up on the roof with Makise-shi and Maho-tan? I thought it was just going to be you and her trying to get some action, but now that I know Maho-tan was with you guys-" There is a pause. "Oh?! You were trying to get a threesome eh?"
There is a suddenly moment of silence and Okabe, Kurisu, and Maho couldn't believe what Daru just said.
Okabe instantly reacted to Daru's comment very intensely with embarrassment. "H-H-H-HEY DARU, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?"
Kurisu also becomes very angry and with embarrassment. "HASHIDA, YOU PERVERT, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?"
"Huh? is that not what was happening up there?" Daru asks.
Maho doesn't react like Okabe and Kurisu, and instead she suddenly buts in front of them to stop yelling, walks up to Daru, and gives him a huge hard hitting slap in the face, making him scream at the top of his lungs with his known voice of pain.
After that moment, everyone calms down and takes a seat. However, Daru has a cherry red hand printed on his right cheek after Maho slapped him. Even after that, she still had something to say to Daru. "You really are still a pervert eh? Hashida-san? I should tell your wife about what you said!"
Daru becomes scared. "N-N-No please don't tell her that. It was only a joke about Okarin."
"I'm sure that is the case," says Maho sarcastically as she finally calms down. "Besides, there is no way me, Okabe-san, and Kurisu would do anything like that. We are not that type of people."
"I-I know." Daru decides he should head home and stands up to get ready to leave. Before he leaves, he had something to tell Okabe. "Well, I am going to head home now, but Okarin, I heard online that in around 3 months from now, there will be a science festival in Akihabara. I just wanted to tell you in case you were interested in attending as part of the Future Gadget Laboratory"
Okabe nods "Got it. I will think about it. Thanks for letting me know."
"Yea. Well, see you tomorrow." Daru leaves for the night.
There is a pause. "So Kurisu, what are you going to do now?" Maho asks.
"Well, I need to go check in the apartment that I normally stay in when in Japan. I came straight here without stopping by."
Okabe hears what Kurisu said, and feels a bit down. He wishes for Kurisu to stay longer, because he still had a gift to give her, but he only wanted to give it when they are alone, and he is embarrassed to say it.
"I understand," says Maho. "Well then, be safe and see you tomorrow."
Kurisu becomes curious about Maho saying that. "Umm, Senpai? I was hoping you could come over to my place for tonight, I mean you still live in the same building as me, right?"
Maho realized she never told Kurisu about her new home. "Unfortunately no. I live above the old lab now."
Kurisu is shocked. "W-W-W-What did you say?!"
"I live above the old lab." repeats Maho.
Kurisu is stunned by hearing Maho say that. "W-Why?!" says Kurisu. She is getting a bit jealous about hearing Maho living right above Okabe.
"Well, I keep making a mess in the other building where I stayed, and I knew at some point the owner of the place would want to kick me out for that. So then I asked Okabe-san to help me find a new place to stay, and he led me to talk to the Manager about renting a place that he owns. He said he would not care much as long as I payed the rent. I couldn't refuse cheaper rent and I could have more freedom to make the mess that I liked. Besides, there are days when I can just visit Okabe-san down here to talk about our research in the Future Gadget Laboratory. Makes work a lot easier like that."
After hearing Maho's response, Kurisu feels at ease that it's nothing bad, but she is still jealous of having her to be neighbors with Okabe. She just could not stop thinking of Okabe having a woman as a neighbor that was of course not her. For all she could know, Okabe could end up not loving her anymore and will run off with another woman.
Okabe looks at Kurisu to notice she looks a bit uneasy. "Kurisutina? What's wrong?"
Hearing Okabe asking her something startles Kurisu to respond back very loudly and accidentally. "None of your business!" However, this response is also caused by another unknown factor.
Maho and Okabe get startled by her sudden reaction and feel confused. Kurisu suddenly realizes how she responded and now feels terrible. "I-I'm sorry, for responding like that." says Kurisu in a slightly soft tone.
"No worries," says Maho.
Okabe thinks Kurisu is not at ease well for some reason and feels concerned for her. However, he then gives her a suggestion. "If you're not feeling well Kurisutina, you can ask Hiyajo-Safina to your place for a sleepover. That way, you can talk about your personal stuff you don't like to mention to others."
"I think that is a good idea!" says Maho. 'That way, we can talk about anything we want for the night."
Kurisu nods in agreement and smiles. "Sure."
"Well then, let me head to my place and gather some things to sleep at your place. I will be right back." Maho exits the door to head upstairs.
Kurisu and Okabe are left alone in the old lab. There is an awkward silence between them as they don't know what to say to each other. However Kurisu speaks up about her earlier burst. "I'm sorry Okabe. After working for over a few years without barely any breaks, my mental state is releasing its frustrations from work here in other ways." Kurisu sits on the couch and grabs the opa pillow on the side that is always there, and places her face on it.
Okabe didn't mind her outburst, because he knew it was kinda a part of her and how they act towards each other. But, he also felt sad she had a stressful time back in America, and that she gave an explanation for it that is not what he would normally expect from a girl that loves to research and experiment. He decides to pull out the bag of items he bought while walking around Akihabara today, and brings it while sitting next to Kurisu on the couch. Kurisu turns her head to Okabe and notices him pulling out some of her favorite pudding. "He-Here, I bought some of this for you, because you probably miss having this type of pudding after a long time."
Kurisu feels a gentle warmth inside her heart as she takes the pudding from Okabe and thanks him. "Th-thank you." She opens her suitcase to pull open her favorite spoon. She takes a slow bite to get the taste of the pudding she loves after years and already feels better. The bite flourishes her brain with memories of everything that happened with her times in Akihabara. "To be honest, eating pudding like this reminds me of all the good times I had in this place, in Akihabara. I feel stupid to not come back till now."
Okabe becomes curious "How so?"
"Well, I had good memories when I was a child and with my father. However as I grew up, I was getting into arguments with him more and we eventually stopped talking to each other. However, when I compare that to everything I have experience in Akihabara, I have never felt more alive than being in this place. Eating pudding, making friends with Mayuri and the others, and-" Kurisu giggles. " -working in a place you called a lab, when it was a childish lab."
Okabe gets a bit ticked off from her saying a childish lab and puts on his persona. "What are you talking about?! This place has been a real lab since it was founded by the great Mad Scientist, Hououin Kyouma! This lab has nothing but expanded to greatness thanks to me, and the people who I chose as lab members!"
"Back then I would argue against you for saying this is a proper lab, but now, your lab became reality." Kurisu pauses for a moment. "Speaking of the lab, can you take me to the lab while I am here? I would like to see how much of a lab it really is."
"Sure, you are my assistant after all, and you must get to know how the lab functions under the command of the insane mad scientist!"
"Stop calling me you assistant," says Kurisu as she is slightly annoyed.
Okabe smiles. "Well then Kurisutina."
"There is no tina either." Kurisu is still a bit annoyed by the nicknames, but she decides to no longer push him any further as she prefers to eat her pudding
Okabe then smiles at her because it is great to see Kurisu like her usual self again, reacting like how she would at times and especially seeing her back in Akihabara. This also makes him spout something that he didn't want to say. "It's great to see you again, Kurisu."
Kurisu blushes after hearing what Okabe said and quickly turns to confirm what he said. "W-What did you say, Okabe?"
Okabe realizes what he said and turns away. "N-Nothing!"
Kurisu turns away after hearing Okabe's comment. She knew what he said, it's just she wanted to hear him say it again, because she likes hearing him enjoying her presence which only makes her want to stay longer. Okabe then walks to the bags of items he bought and tries to pull out the gift that he has been waiting to give to Kurisu since this afternoon, However, he stops after hearing the door to the lab open, and who comes in is Maho with her big bag of supplies to sleepover at Kurisu's place.
"Kurisu, I'm ready," says Maho.
"Ok." says Kurisu. Then she turns to Okabe to bid him farewell. "Well then, I will see you tomorrow Okabe. Goodnight."
"Yea. Goodnight, Kurisu." says Okabe as he waves to Kurisu and hears the door closing.
Kurisu smiles because Okabe called her by her actual name, meaning he really meant to say goodnight that time.
At Kurisu apartment, it is nicely clean, and wide open. It hasn't changed a lot since she last visited so there is nothing new. In the bedroom, Kurisu and Maho have already showered and gotten into their pajamas. They are talking a lot about research and other discussions about science and personal life events.
After over an hour, Kurisu changes the subject. "Senpai, I wonder if the AI program is the reason you work at Okabe's lab."
"What do you mean?" Maho questions.
"I feel like there is something else that makes you work there. I mean, I have known you as someone for a long time who would work at a lab that is constantly busy, filled with scientists, and you were always on a schedule that you would work non-stop. But now that you live and work here, you seem to be more at ease and you look a lot less like a mess"
Maho laughs a bit to hear her comment. "Well, I do admit, when I worked at Viktor Chondria University, I was always working and arguing with other scientists and professors. Because of that, I looked like a complete mess half the time. However," There is a pause. "Compared to the lab in America, Okabe-san's lab feels refreshing."
Kurisu questions. "Refreshing?"
Maho explains. "In all our time in the lab back in America, it's always hostile. It's a place where everyone competes to become the person to discover something new or create something new, so many people there were always not friendly, as they were looking only to make a name for themselves, like how you and I did Kurisu." Maho stands up from the bed and walks to the window. "With Okabe-san's lab however, there are so far a lot less people around, but yet every scientist there is always working together. They encourage each other to discover something new and everyone having their backs. Okabe-san has taught everyone working there to never be hostile to each other. If everyone cooperated with each other, everyone will have a much easier time inventing something new, and achieve something greater than every other lab in the world."
Kurisu now is interested in what Okabe has been teaching in his lab. "Someone teaching everyone in the lab to cooperate? That sounds rather unusual to hear."
"That's what I thought too and believed it was pointless. But, as time went on when I worked there, the atmosphere was mostly at ease. No one was arguing with you in a way to put you down, no one was yelling at you for doing something better than them, and instead everyone is friendly yet ready to work like no tomorrow, and pushing each other to achieve something new every time. Even though there is of course arguing to make a better product, everyone takes it as advice rather than getting offended. Then, there is Okabe-san who also tells us to take a break if needed to rest our minds. Now, everything I just said could just be due to his delusion persona to teach that only the lab members are your allies, and the world is your enemy. However, a working atmosphere like his lab makes me feel glad to work there in all honesty. It makes you feel like you are once again, human."
Kurisu is amazed by Maho's response. She never expected Maho to enjoy a working environment like Okabe's lab has. Not only that, but her response of working together to overcome limits is something that sounded like from a fictional story. Kurisu then wonders what she feels of the lab now. "Then Senpai, what would you rate Okabe's lab on a scale of one to ten?"
Maho hesitates for a moment to ask, but then she responds. "Don't say this to Okabe-san, but to be honest, lets just say it's a rating beyond what you asked."
Kurisu sits there even more shocked. To think Maho would change this much to work from a very busy professional lab filled with intelligent scientists, to a lab just in the mists of growing. What intrigues her more, is Maho's mood and life are better than what she had years ago. She went from being a messy and unorganized person to now the opposite. Seeing her this way only makes Kurisu's curiosity grow to know how the Future Gadget Laboratory runs under Okabe. And maybe if Okabe is really a much different person than expected.
Maho then changes the subject to about Okabe and her specifically. "So Kurisu, aside from my story in the lab, tell me about how you've been feeling recently for Okabe-san."
Kurisu blushes. "W-W-W-hat do you mean?"
"I mean, how do you feel for Okabe-san after he didn't contact you in over a year? I would think he might have caused you pain about your relationship and such. As your mentor and friend, I want to know how you doing with him is what I'm trying to say."
Kurisu looks at the window to the night sky, filled with stars that remind her of how she felt in every moment that Okabe never messaged her. She didn't know what to say for a minute, as her feelings for him were all over the place. But, she wanted to get something out of her chest and talk to someone about it. "I felt lonely. I even felt like I wanted to end my relationship with him at one point, but I could never make that decision, because I love Okabe no matter where I am or wherever I go." Kurisu sheds a tear.
Maho feels bad for Kurisu after she sheds a bit of tears to express her true feelings for Okabe. She felt like she might have wanted to talk about it, but maybe she wanted to cry to let go of the emotions she has been feeling about Okabe for so long. Maho then tries to comfort her. "I'm sorry, Kurisu. I understand what you are feeling for Okabe-san, but since I never really experienced love before, I don't exactly as well. However, I believe Okabe-san feels the same way too."
Kurisu cleans her eyes with her shirt and looks at Maho.
"When he returned from his long journey, I mentioned something similar about you and him, and his expression showed he was very guilty. I can assure he feels the same way for you and for all throughout time. After all, you both are more alive when you're together. Just give him more time. He is learning and will show you how much he wants you."
Kurisu feels better and responds with a smile. "Thank you, Senpai."
"Also, since you're also here for 2 more days in Akihabara, try to get closer to him more. You guys should try to be together more so you can strengthen your relationship."
Kurisu responds while blushing. "I-I-I will try."
Back at the rooftop of the old lab, Okabe lies on the floor, looking up to the night sky filled with stars. He thinks about Kurisu and how much pain he may have caused her, only raising his guilt even more, while at the same time he holds in his right hand, a small black box with a little red bow and fiddles with it. "I'm sorry, Kurisu. I promise, while you are here in Akihabara, I will try to make it up to you." Okabe then remembers earlier that Kurisu wanted to visit the old lab tomorrow, so he pulls out his phone and calls Daru to notify all the scientists that work in the Future Gadget Laboratory about something.
A couple hours later, inside the Future Gadget Laboratory, it is dark and everything is turned off. Nothing out of ordinary. Inside Okabe's office, everything is also dark and barely seeable, except for an orange light on his desk. The device is revealed to be no other than the device known from the Alpha Wordline. The divergence meter. The numbers of the meter are shown to be 1.048596. As the scene zooms closer, and closer to the divergence meter, the number 4 on the meter suddenly begins to glitch and changes to 1 and back to 4 for a whole minute. Then, the number stops back at 4.