Chapter 7: Correlation Motivation
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
The lab is now closed for the rest of today. Everyone is back in the old lab, holding another party, with this time two differences. One is they will be holding a barbecue on the roof of the old lab, and the second is this time, Mr. Braun and his daughter Nae Tennouji are there.
The rooftop of the old lab is active with chatting and laughter. Everyone is enjoying a good time with all lab members being present. The girls and Luka cook up some steak and shrimp, with rice and some ramen on the side. Okabe enters through the roof door and greets everyone there. He then sees Nae Tennouji and speaks to her, but while also putting on his persona.
"Oh? It seems the final member of the Elite Four has arrived!"
"It's nice to see you too, Mr. Okarin." says Nae with a bit of sarcasm. Nae Tennouji, also given the spot as one of the Elite Four by Okabe. This is because although she it one of the best in fighting games, she is also part of the Future Gadget Laboratory. She is the fourth scientist aside from Maho, Daru, and Kurisu in that spot. She works for JAXA Space Center in Tanegashima to study technology and robotics that are utilized in space. Outside of research, she enjoys time with her father and friends of the Future Gadget Laboratory.
"How have your efforts been in the space Organization?"
"It has been going well. Just continuing our research to find ways to send humans to Mars and make it back safely."
Okabe is impressed. "Interesting. Well, aside from that, do you have any research you have to benefit the Future Gadget Laboratory?"
"Unfortunately for you, no information that will benefit your lab. Besides, you already know providing you classified information will get me in trouble."
"W-What?! Is that so? " Okabe pulls out his phone. "It's me! It seems the spy will not tell us about the organization's secrets. What?! This was already expected?! I got it. If that is the choice of Steins Gate, El Psy Kongroo."
"That same mad scientist act as usual. You never change, Mr. Okarin."
Okabe reminds Nae of his title. "That's Hououin Kyouma to you! As the man who put you as one of the Elite Four, you must remember my name!"
"I would only call you that if I worked for your lab, but I do not, and so you're just Mr. Okarin to me ever since I first met you."
Okabe gets ticked off about her stubbornness to not call him his mad scientist name. But then, Mayuri interrupts their conversation so both of them won't get heated up. "Now, now. You guys should calm down. No more trying to switch names and research stuff, ok?" Okabe and Nae calm down after their sort of elevated conversation. "This is a party! We should try to enjoy it while it lasts!"
Food is being eaten, everyone is continuing to chat and laugh, and drink. Everyone drinks beer with the exception of Suzuha, Yuki, and Luka. However only Okabe and Kurisu don't realize the beer they are drinking contains alcohol. Although Okabe doesn't drink much of it, his drunkenness elevates while he plays "Rai-Net Access Battlers" against Faris. Of course in this game and in every round he plays against Faris, he loses very hard. This always gets to Okabe who always gets cocky to thinking he is the greatest in this game. However he always blames the outcome, the choice of steins gate as he believes if he ever won, it would cause major chaos.
As time goes on, Mr. Braun and Moeka suffer the effects of alcohol and start dancing very randomly singing very unusually together. Daru now takes Okabe's place to face against Faris in "Rai-Net Access Battlers" and have a very intense match. Yuki and Suzuha cheer for him on the side while Luka, Mayuri, and Maho watch on the side. Okabe however begins to get a headache as the alcohol starts to wear off already. So he decides to leave and head back down to the old lab.
Okabe has trouble walking down the stairs as he is trying to stay focused. Suddenly he hears his name being called from behind him. He turns around to see who it was, and it is Kurisu Makise, but something was rather different.
"Okabe. Where are you going?" asks Kurisu with a slightly soft tone.
"O-oh, I was going to go rest. My head is not exactly feeling alright after the drink I had. I'll see you tomorrow if I pass out."
However, as Okabe turns around to try and continue down the stairs, Kurisu already is right behind him and grabs him by the left arm. This startled Okabe as it was rather sudden to feel grabbed. "Ku-Kurisu, what's wrong?"
"Why are you leaving? Do you not want to talk more with me?"
Okabe is surprised to hear her say that and he blushes while being confused on what to say. Then, he looks at her face, and notices she is rather drunk since she is not perfectly still and her expression is not exactly the way Kurisu normally would be.
"Kurisu, you have been drinking have you?"
Kurisu is rather confused. "Huh? What do you mean?"
Okabe decides to not go any further for she may not realize she is indeed drunk. "Never mind. You should head back soon to your apartment and get some rest. We can't understand each other well in our current state."
As Okabe tries to leave again, Kurisu tugs on his arm harder to not let him leave. Then, Kurisu speaks. "No. Don't leave. Please?"
"Wh-hat?" says Okabe as he is still wondering what Kurisu wants. Then, Kurisu responds. "Let me feel you."
"Huh?" Okabe is surprised to hear what Kurisu said as she just falls on Okabe to hold on to him tightly. Okabe doesn't know what to think of this situation and just stands there in shock at Kurisu's behavior. She begins rubbing her right cheek against Okabe's right cheek as she smiles happily to do this to him. Okabe continues to become very shocked by Kurisu's behavior and wants to make her stop before she realizes herself what she is doing to him and it turns ugly.
"He-hey! Stop it! We shouldn't be here doing this."
Kurisu stops to respond. "Why? Do you not like me anymore?"
Okabe notices she is responding with sadness. "Why do you not want to be around me? I thought you loved me."
Okabe turns to Kurisu and responds. "N-No, that is n-not why."
Kurisu doesn't exactly believe him. "I don't know. You always avoid me when we are alone, and you haven't talked to me in over a year before you called me almost a week ago." Kurisu begins to shed tears. "I really missed you Okabe. Please don't leave me ever again."
Okabe heart was in guilt after hearing Kurisu say that as she cried. He notices how much Kurisu wanted to talk to him after they haven't in over a year. Although he was mainly away which is why he never texted her, but also, he normally felt embarrassed to be around her. He felt nothing but guilt for what pain he caused her. So he responds to her in honest words. "I'm sorry, Kurisu. I do love you still as much as I always have."
After Kurisu hears Okabe's response, she eases her worries and feels happy again, while drunk. "I'm glad to hear you say that, Okabe. Please feel you more."
"Wa-wait! N-Not hear-" Okabe's words get cut off as he screams because Kurisu puts enough force to send him and her down the stairs and crash onto the floor.
After that incident, Kurisu lies on the couch in the old lab as she has a headache after the fall. Okabe hands her a wet cloth to put on her head. "Thank you," says Kurisu.
Okabe has a wet cloth as well and puts it on his forehead while lying down on the floor. There is silence for a minute. Okabe and Kurisu think about what just happened on the stairs while they were drunk, but they technically couldn't control themselves since they were drunk. Kurisu was even more embarrassed after having released her true feelings for the situation between her and Okabe after he didn't talk to her. However, Okabe wanted to know more about her pain. "Hey Kurisutina, after what just happened in the stairs, I want to know specifically how you felt about not hearing from me."
"Why?" Kurisu asks.
"That's because…" Okabe pauses before speaking. " I want to know from what I have done to cause you such pain. Please, just tell me everything."
Kurisu hesitates for a moment. She wondered if Okabe really wanted to know about her feelings for him about the situation he is talking about. She wasn't sure if it would hurt him either. However she decides in the end to answer everything he wanted to know.
"If you want to know for sure then I will hold nothing back." Kurisu sits up on the couch. " I felt love sick and my heart felt like it was getting hit very hard by a boulder. I haven't received a message for over a year from the guy who I call my boyfriend. The guy who really wanted me to be his girlfriend! And after everything you said to me before you asked me to be your girlfriend, I believed you were trying to have a real relationship with me! " Kurisu begins to shed tears. " After you never sent a message to me, I thought you wanted to break up with me because you didn't love me anymore. But-!"
As Kurisu was going to say her next sentence, Okabe gets up from the floor and walks over to sit next to Kurisu on the couch. He had his head down the whole time. Then, he hugs Kurisu tightly. Kurisu is surprised to see Okabe hugging her, but also shaking.
Okabe then speaks in a sad tone knowing how much pain Kurisu is in. "I'm very sorry, Kurisu. I never knew how much pain I have caused you by not sending you one text to see how you were doing or about anything. Your pain only further increases the hate I have for myself for making you this way. I never wanted to see you cry this way."
Okabe and Kurisu have a moment of silence as they hug each other tightly for a good minute. The pain they each have caused each other, and how their boyfriend and girlfriend relationship was a mess, came to both of their minds as they wished to have a good relationship like any other couple, but their correlation to be with each other was never in sync. After a moment of silence, Kurisu forgives Okabe for everything after hearing his words, and then decides to help settle both her and Okabe from the pain they are feeling for each other. She puts her hands on Okabe's cheeks, and she kisses him on the lips as she closes her eyes. Okabe became stunned to the core to see Kurisu making the move of kissing him on the lips. This was the sign for Okabe however, that Kurisu forgives him, and still loves him to this day. He goes along and closes his eyes to enjoy the moment of a kiss of forgiveness and love from the woman he has always loved.
Eventually, they stop kissing and look at each other when Kurisu then speaks. "I forgive you Okabe no matter what. I have always loved you and I always will. But also, I should also apologize for not messaging you too. This relationship was supposed to be an effort between both of us, but it wasn't. You can say I was equally at fault like you were."
Okabe smiles and places his right hand on Kurisu's right cheek. "I forgive you Kurisu no matter what. I have always loved you and I always will." Kurisu grabs Okabe's hand that is on her cheek and grips on it as she feels much better and enjoys the feeling of Okabe's hands on her face. Then Okabe decides to do something special for her. "K-Kurisu. Tomorrow, l-let's go on a date. Just the two of us."
Kurisu blushes. "W-why?"
"T-this is my way to st-start making up for all the pain I have caused you"
Kurisu feels radiantly happy on the inside but she blushes to hide her excitement of a date with Okabe and responds. "O-ok. Th-This is so sudden."
Okabe blushes. "I-It is, but, I-I want to make m-more memories with you."
Kurisu smiles. She is happy to hear Okabe say that as the day comes to an end.
July 18th, 2021
Another sunny day in Akihabara, and the streets are busy as usual. Most of the lab members are working today now that their days off are over. One thing no one knows is that Kurisu and Okabe are having a date together, but haven't told anyone about it, and they would rather try to keep it that way.
Maho was on the phone, talking with Kurisu about coming over to the lab again to work if she feels like it. "Hey Kurisu, would you come over to the lab today? I got some stuff I would like to show you."
Kurisu denies. "Sorry, Senpai. I got something to do today."
Maho becomes curious. "Can I ask what you're going to do today?"
Kurisu blushes and hesitates to respond about her date with Okabe. So she lies. "I-I want to take a long walk around Akihabara with Mayuri and get a tour of everything that is different."
"Oh, ok sure. I mean today is your last full day here. Well I will see you later." Maho and Kurisu both hang up the phone. Kurisu signs as she feels at ease to have tricked her, and walks out of her apartment. Maho walks out of her home and heads over to the Future Gadget Laboratory.
Soon, Maho arrives at the lab. She checks in and settles in her office preparing for another day of work. However as she is getting ready to walk out, Daru intrudes.
"Hey Maho-tan." says Daru.
"Hey, Hashida-san" says Maho.
"Ready for a tough day? Since Okarin will not be here to help."
Maho becomes curious. "Huh? What do you mean he will not be here?"
Daru is now curious that Maho didn't know. "Didn't Okabe tell you? He will not come to the lab because he needed to take care of something for Braun today."
To confirm what Daru is saying, both of them decide to head to Braun's office and ask him directly. "Manager?" asks Maho.
"Oh?! Hiyajo and Hashida. What brings you here today?"
Daru speaks. "Did you send Okarin to run an errand for you or something today?"
Mr. Braun is confused. "Huh? I never sent him anywhere today."
Maho is now more curious than ever. "Huh. That is strange. Okabe said he had to go somewhere, and lied, but also Kurisu…"
Maho realized what she said earlier and mentioned she was going to be with Mayuri. So she decides to call her if Kurisu is in fact going to be with her. After a few seconds of ringing, the call gets picked up. "Tuturu! This is Mayushii!"
"Hello, Mayuri" says Maho.
"Oh?! Maho-san! What's up?"
"I wanted to know Mayuri, is Kurisu going to be with you today?"
Mayuri denies. "No, she never told me about being with Mayushii."
Maho is now shocked and is starting to put the pieces of the puzzle together. "No way! Well ok. That's all I wanted to know. Thanks Mayuri!"
"Your welcome." Mayuri and Maho hang up the phone. Maho sighs as she understands the situation now and is rather amazed and begins laughing a little. "Who would have thought."
"What's up?" asks Daru.
"Okabe-san and Kurisu lied about going to do what they told us they were going to do today. So that means there is only one reason for this. They are planning to do something together and not want the lab members to find out!"
"Like a secret date?!" says Daru as he is also baffled.
"Exactly! Now that we believe we know what they are doing, we should try to secretly watch them how their date goes. Besides, I'm very curious myself."
Mr. Braun interrupts. "I hate to break it to you, but with Okabe gone right now, you guys are responsible for the supervision of the lab."
Daru and Maho stand in realization that what Mr. Braun said is true. They feel rather sad since they can't watch the date between Kurisu and Okabe. However, Mr. Braun suggests an idea. "Don't worry, for I have a different solution." He gets out his phone and types an email to a person. In less than 5 seconds, he gets a reply that they will do the watching for Maho and Daru. "I contacted SF to spy on Okabe and Kurisu and she agreed. She will send pictures of important things that happen to both of your phones."
Daru and Maho are happy. " Moeka-san? Alright! Now we can just wait to hear from her on how the date happens." says Maho. "Thanks Manager. See Yea." Daru and Maho exit the office. Mr. Braun quickly reflects what Okabe is doing and thinks to himself. "So, Okabe decided to listen to my advice, huh."
At the front entrance to the apartment complex where Kurisu stays, is Okabe waiting for her to come outside. He texts Mayuri about something before putting his phone away. As he does so, Kurisu walks out of the apartment complex to head over to the old lab, However she is startled to hear Okabe behind her.
Okabe puts on his mad scientist persona. "There you are, Kurisutina."
"O-Okabe? What are you doing here? I thought we were going to meet at the old lab first."
"The great Hououin Kyouma knows the basics of being a gentleman and waiting for the girl he cares for in front of her home."
"Do you expect me to believe that." says Kurisu as she raises an eyebrow.
"O-Of course! You know me more than anyone when it comes to charming women."
Kurisu teases. "Yea, yea. Otherwise I would think you were already feeling lonely after last night."
Okabe blushes. "Wh-What?! A mad scientist can always handle being alone!"
"Sure." There is a pause. "W-Well Okabe, let's go, enjoy our date." Kurisu blushes as she just turns and begins walking away.
"Ye-Yea." says Okabe as he also blushes and starts to walk.
For a short time, Okabe and Kurisu walk together as they have yet to decide what to do on their date. They also don't exactly know what they like to do so that made things more complicated. However, Okabe notices a game center and thinks this could be a start.
Okabe pokes at Kurisu's shoulder and points to her the game center they should go in first. "Kurisutina, look."
"Oh? Let's go there." says Kurisu. They both walk in and start playing many games and 2 player games that make Okabe end up losing most of the time. Kurisu's gaming intelligence shines as she crushes Okabe in most of what they play. Okabe gets frustrated as he keeps losing, but this makes Kurisu laugh for seeing him this way. They also end up teasing each other when they complain about winning and losing. Watching from a far distance is Kiryu Moeka, taking pictures of everything they do.
Kurisu also plays the claw machines to try and get a stuffed toy that looks like a brown bear with a heart on it, but she ends up failing it and being frustrated. "Whoever manages this game is really trying to scam every person!"
Okabe looks at Kurisu and notices she is frustrated by how much she is losing to a claw machine. She must have wanted the toy in it. With that, it motivates Okabe to take a shot of the game. "Here, let me try." Okabe places some money in and begins to slowly aim the claw the same place Kurisu has been trying, and when he feels it is just right, he pushes the button to descend the claw. The claw manages to grab the bear by the head and lifts up. The claw moves slowly to the place to drop the prizes and releases the bear.
Okabe has won the bear and Kurisu is shocked. "Wow you can actually win at something."
Okabe gets ticked off. "H-Hey! I am not terrible at every game! Don't put me so low!" Okabe calms himself. "A-Anyway, here you go. This is for you."
Okabe hands over Kurisu the teddy bear she wanted and feels very shy. "W-Why? You earned it yourself."
Okabe is shy to respond, but he does so anyway to show her how much he cared. "Y-You were getting frustrated when trying to win the bear. S-So I decided to try to win it for you so you can feel better."
Kurisu didn't know what to say. She felt very happy and warm to hear Okabe trying to help her is what makes her feel better already. She is shy to respond but wants to thank him. "T-Thank you."
Okabe turns around to hide himself from his shy fullness and switches the topic to think of something else. "I-It's almost 2 pm. Would you like to go eat somewhere?"
"S-Sure." says Kurisu as she is shy but also trying to enjoy her time with him. They walk out of the game center to their next destination. Meanwhile, Moeka is still spying them from a distance, taking more pictures of their date.
After about 10 minutes of walking, Okabe and Kurisu arrive at a big cafe that is not so fancy, but technically is. As much as Okabe wanted to take Kurisu to an expensive restaurant, they weren't dressed fancy like a couple. Okabe and Kurisu sit down and order the meals that got their interest. After almost 15 minutes, the food comes in, and they eat and enjoy what they ordered. As they ate, Okabe asked Kurisu a question that he wanted Kurisu's opinion on. "Hey, Kurisutina. What do you think about coming to live here in Akihabara."
"Why ask that?" Kurisu asks.
Okabe blushes and becomes shy. "We-Well, I think by living in Akihabara, w-we could enjoy more time like this together. That way, we can continue to build our bond as boyfriend and girlfriend. You can work at the lab I manage, and you can enjoy working along Hiyajo-san and Daru. It would be the perfect ideal dream team."
"Okabe." Kurisu is stunned to hear Okabe say such things about wanting her to stay and work in the lab. This only allows her to finally say something she never did long ago. "The truth is, I have thought about living here many times while I was in America. Now that you have a proper lab I can work in and make a living, it wouldn't be bad at all. However, all of my research I have done over the years is in America. I have done countless thinking and experimenting at Viktor Chondria University, and that place is essentially my life's work. It would be terrible to leave it all behind."
Okabe is confused. Although he does understand what she means by her life's work being at Viktor Chondria University, he doesn't believe that is exactly the answer. He wonders if Kurisu even thought about their relationship at all when it comes to the topic. However he doesn't want to ruin their date and just lets it go. "I understand, Kurisutina. Then I will say no more."
Kurisu is now curious as to why Okabe would ask that question as he also shows a slightly disappointed face after hearing her response, but continues to finish eating anyway. Moeka is still observing Okabe and Kurisu date from a distance, continuing to take pictures.
After lunch, Okabe and Kurisu walk out to continue their date. Kurisu became interested in certain electronic shops and was very curious about certain gadgets. She looks through parts and selects certain ones to buy. She also notices certain gadgets that had the FG markings on it, suggesting they were created by Okabe's lab.
They continue along where Okabe and Kurisu arrive at a clothing store, and make each other try certain clothes. Each clothing they try would either make them laugh, or embarrass them in a good way, because they look sexy in it. Next, they find a photo booth and take two pictures only, but one is shy of being next to each other, and the other is where they commit to smile at the camera. They are slowly adapting to being with each other. Lastly they are at an indoor location where there are wishing trees. Okabe and Kurisu decide to together write a wish on a piece of paper, and hang it up on the trees. After that, they leave, while still not noticing that the entire time, Moeka was still spying on them, taking final pictures.
The sunsets but also the sky becomes quite cloudy, meaning a possible chance to rain. However Kurisu and Okabe don't realize that as they arrive back at the old lab. When they enter, they greet all the lab members who were chatting and having a good time.
"Hello, we're back." says Kurisu.
"Kurisu-chan and Okarin! Tutturu!" says Mayuri.
"How has everyone's day been?" Okabe asks.
Daru responds. "Pretty busy since you never came to the lab Okarin."
Okabe apologies. "I'm sorry, I-I had errands to run today for Mr. Braun."
Daru nods. "Mhm, I'm sure you did."
The old lab door opens and enters Moeka.
"Oh Shining Finger." says Okabe.
Maho stands up and walks to Moeka. "Now that she is here, we can finally hear from Moeka-san what truly happened with Okabe-san and Kurisu today."
Okabe and Kurisu stand still in shock for a minute and comment on the same thing. "Huh?"
Daru speaks. "What? Did you really think we would believe you Okarin? You had errands to run for Mr. Braun?"
Maho steps in. "Not only that, but Kurisu also had something to do today with Mayuri-san, but then I was told Kurisu was not meeting with her. So me and Hashida-san put the puzzle together and realized you two were doing something behind our backs." Maho laughs. "Who would have thought it was a date."
Kurisu and Okabe become very embarrassed.
"Moeka went undercover for us to see how your date went and took pictures for us to see for ourselves."
Kurisu raises her tone to Moeka. "K-K-Kiryu, did you really spy on us?!"
Moeka nods. "Yea."
Daru laughs. "Now, Moeka-tan. Show us everything you witnessed about the date between Okarin and Kurisu!" says Daru.
Kurisu and Okabe shout in embarrassment and say the same thing. "Do not show anything!"
While Moeka shares pictures, over back in the indoor area with that wishing trees where Okabe and Kurisu were at earlier, there were two notes next to each other which belonged to both of them. What was written on the little note cards you may wonder? One said, "I wish to be with Kurisu forever." The other one said. "I want to be with Okabe forever."