White

by Shimmy748

There are two journeys in life ones you expect and the ones unexpected and as Okabe was finding out sometimes the most memorable journeys are you ones least expected, especially if his assistant was along for the ride. *This is a continuation of my one-shot Overseas, so if you haven't checked it out well I would advise to at least skim over it, but it isn't necessary.

4. Chapter 4

Welcome back and I hope you all are safe out there! I know it was a long time since my last update especially considering last time, the time between updates was about two weeks, but I'm back now after two months and a half! Well I ain't got nothing else to say so without further ado, enjoy!

Sorry for this quick update but after reading some reviews I noticed a lot of you mentioning my predicament during mid to late August and I just wanna say there was a typo. I meant NOT neccesarily serious or life altering, I fixed it now because I didn't notice I forgot the NOT until right now. I am terribly sorry and embarrassed for that slip up, so if you get a notification regarding another update know I had to fix that because I don't wanna give the wrong impression about the situation I was in when there are people going through or went through worse situations. I am sorry for that and I apologize profusely for that. Now back to your regularly schedule program.

Disclaimer: I don't one Steins;gate or it's characters this is purely for fun

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December 22, 2012, 10:41:27 AM EST

In front of the mirror there wasn't anything else Makise could do except stare awkwardly at it, grabbing and pinching the seams of a dress her mother had insisted she try on. And speaking of her mother she was currently picking and pulling at certain spots of the dress straightening the little folds it had acquired while she put it on. Kurisu felt it was a useless endeavor seeing the dress was black and thus harder to see wrinkles or fold lines and two it was a very form fitting dress. It smoothly wrapped around her body starting a tad below her knees until it reached the collar which rested loosely around the midway point of her neck while the sleeves seemed tattooed onto her arms.

If she was being perfectly honest she liked how the dress looked on her, but if you were going solely by the expression on her face you wouldn't have guessed it.

"I told you I am not going to the banquet mom." Kurisu by this point had lost count of how many times she uttered those exact same words to her mother today. It felt like this Christmas shopping was more for them than their extended family. It wasn't like Kurisu disliked shopping for herself, but she wasn't as keen on it as some other people were, like her mother. At times when she would shop with her mother it felt she purchased things for the sake of it, often times her mother bought clothes or shoes or whatever without ever using them before giving them away only to buy more clothes that she would never wear.

Kurisu found it odd, but she digressed, it was her mother and she could do whatever she wanted, that is until she dragged Kurisu into it.

"You and I both know if you don't go half of the awards they're going to bring are going to stay there and besides what about Maho? You know she won't have anyone to talk to if you don't go."

Why did she have to go there?

"She can talk to Leskinen or Reyes and if I tell her what happened she'd probably won't go anyways." Kurisu quickly stated hoping to make her mom see reason, but, like Kurisu, once her mind was set on something she wasn't gonna budge.

"I know I know, but there's nothing to be embarrassed about." Her mom nonchalantly said before quickly adding. "I know it's embarrassing to introduce your friends to your boy-"

"I am not going and if I were I definitely wouldn't take Okabe!" Kurisu exclaimed to her mom a little to loudly catching the attention of a few other women who turned to look at the mother and daughter pair. Quickly glancing at their annoyed looks Kurisu huffed before returning her gaze back at the mirror and her mom.

Currently they were in the women's dressing room, which was more like a glorified hallway than an actual room, infront of one of the three large mirrors that were evenly spaced between the numerous changing stalls. There wasn't much space for loud disagreements or discussion, but nevertheless Kurisu still found herself brashly voicing her displeasure much to the other shoppers annoyance. Of course when it was just the two of them they spoke their native tongue which she was sure none of the other women understood, but what they most definitely understood was her volume. She didn't mean to be such an annoying distraction, but she couldn't help it with her mom constantly making and suggesting ridiculous claims like Okabe was her boyfriend or she was embarrassed to introduce him to her friends! Ha that... well both statements were kinda true. Really the only person Kurisu could truthfully call a friend here was Maho who she doubted would appreciate Okabe's eccentrics.

She barely put up with Leskinen and that was mainly due to a combination of having immense respect for him as a scientist and because he could literally fire her at a moments notice. She would confine in Kurisu whenever she got a chance that she disliked Leskinen's laidback and eccentric nature, citing it immature and a distraction in the workplace that would one day lead to an accident. Speaking of that, there were times when Leskinen would pull juvenile pranks with the worst offense being the time he put firecrackers in a metal trashcan and lit them during a quiet and boring presentation. The old men there nearly had heart attacks and she was sure if one did Leskinen most likely wouldn't be her boss today.

But back to her point. Maho wouldn't put up with Okabe's antics and most likely question Kurisu's sanity for being with a guy like him, hell sometimes she questioned her own sanity when Okabe would do his thing, case in point this morning with the professor. It would be a nightmare if they ever crossed paths, but she at least knew her mentor was aware of Okabe. She was front and center during that freak show in the break room and afterwards had questioned her about the mysterious man on the other end of the phone. Kurisu told her he was just a friend, but Maho didn't buy it for one second and thus since that day, Okabe Kyouma, as Maho referred to him, was her boyfriend.

"Why not? Lesknien sure seemed to like him and I'm pretty sure Maho would like to meet her underlings boyfriend."

"He is not my boyfriend!"

But whether he was Okabe Rintaro, Hououin Kyouma or Okabe Kyouma he was not her boyfriend!

It was annoying everyone and their mother assumed Okabe was her boyfriend!

He wasn't... well he wasn't... exactly. Kurisu in her twenty years of life was the first to admit Okabe was the first guy... she ever consider... what he was to her. He wasn't her boyfriend, but he was more than a friend, much more actually. She wasn't going to say something stupid like he was her soulmate cause that notion just wasn't possible, but she wasn't gonna say Okabe didn't mean anything to her. It was hard to formulate in words and harder to admit under normal circumstances, but she cared deeply for Okabe. He was everything she didn't know she had been looking for in a partner, someone who made her laugh, someone who was smart (though that was debatable), someone who was selfless and someone who wasn't afraid to be himself. All her life she... wanted to be someone to somebody... the perfect daughter to someone, the perfect student to somebody, the perfect scientist to everyone and it wasn't like she didn't want to strive to be all those things it's just... she never tried to be just Makise Kurisu.

Someone who can talk to another person without involving work or numbers, someone who didn't try to impress a father who hated her or someone who didn't need to have her worth measured by her intelligence.

But try as she might it she never could. All her life that's what she did and all those traits of trying to be the perfect scientist or the perfect student were apart of her, she doubted she would ever change. That's why she was originally drawn to Okabe.

Okabe wasn't a perfect person and he was the first to admit it.

Okabe Rintaro was an awkward, slightly annoying, dweeb who hid behind the larger than life Hououin Kyouma. Hououin Kyouma wasn't who Okabe Rintaro was, the mad scientist was just protection, a security blanket if you will, that he could fall back on so he wouldn't have to show his more timid and shy side. Or at least that's how Kurisu understood it. Hououin Kyouma to Okabe was what big words and sarcasm were to her. In that aspect she wasn't too different than Okabe Rintaro, the only difference being she was grounded in reality while Okabe used a zany alter ego.

But while his willingness to be himself was what drew her in what kept her was how caring of a person Okabe was.

Believe it or not Hououin Kyouma was the prime example of that. Okabe had told her the origin of that story and while she sort of tweaked in her time travels, Okabe used it to comfort a grieving Mayuri. It isn't easy making yourself out to be a weird idiot, but Okabe did just for the sake of his friend, so she could be happy, so she could smile, so she could live again, and that's what made her fall in love with him. Okabe was a good person, a caring person willing to put others happiness above his own, and she was here because he risked it all for her sake. Not because she was the perfect daughter, not because she was the perfect student, not because she was the perfect scientist, but because she was Makise Kurisu. The person he loved. And... he was here because she wished to be with him, to live in a world with him.

Because she loved Okabe Rintaro.

But... why was it so hard to admit it?

"Sure sure, then why are you trying on that dress if you don't wanna go?"

"What?!" Kurisu exclaimed turning a shade of pink. "You made me try this on! You wouldn't leave me alone until I did!"

"Because I knew you wanted to try it on." Ms. M huffed out crossing her arms. "You kept eyeing it while we were shopping."

"I-I was not!" Kurisu stammered loudly as finally the other women besides them in the dressing room had enough of their loud back and forth and picked up their things before making their way to the exit all while giving them a not too friendly look.

Bitches Kurisu mused to herself as they finally left the mother and daughter pair the sole occupants in the dressing room.

"If you say so." Her mom simply said as if she didn't notice what had just happened. "But I don't understand why you made that idiot go away, it's not like you're trying on a wedding dress-"

"W-who said anything about a wedding!" Kurisu eecked out flushing deep red making her mom roll her eyes.

"It's just an expression... that I really, really hope stays an expression. Regardless I was gonna say you can't have him dressed like an idiot when you go to the banquet so why not buy him a shirt or tell him to buy one while he's waiting for you?"

"Really mom?" Kurisu prompted staring directly at her mom as she crossed her arms. "First off we're not going to the banquet and you know as well as I do he'll probably get lost looking for a shirt if I told him to do so. And lastly I really don't want him asking for my advice when he inevitably can't choose what shirt to buy."

"I don't see the problem with that. Most men have terrible fashion sense, he's a prime example, and if he's with you, you can get him clothes you think he looks best on. Think of it like shopping for a baby."

"What are you even saying!" Kurisu knew exactly what her mom was saying. In fact she did it a year ago after all that stuff with the R-worldline, except Okabe wasn't with her when she bought him that suit and Daru that bear costume.

"I'm just saying if you're with him you can influence him to buy clothes you think he looks good in." Yeah right Okabe out of a lab coat that would be the day she couldn't pic-... yeah she could picture him in other clothes... very vividly she might add... because she still had those pictures-"I bet he'd look good in a blazer."

"Argah-I'm changing!" Kurisu exclaimed quickly as suddenly her mom hit the nail directly on the head as the images of Okabe in other attire infiltrated her brain and began making her... uncomfortable. So quickly and hiding her flush she marched back into the dressing stall and slammed the door.

But as she began trying to steady her breath and quill her inappropriate thoughts a soft knock came on the door, "Kurisu... you looked... very beautiful in that dress. That idiot of yours is a lucky guy."

Rolling her eyes with a smile Kurisu softly replied after a deep breath, "Aye mom, you just had to add the second part."

"It's true-"

"A Harold Myers your wife is waiting for you in customer services. A Harold Myers your wife is waiting for you in customer services."

"Isn't that the neighbor's husband?" Ms. M quickly added after the announcement which Kurisu paused thinking it over before replying.

"Yeah, I think so." As the words left her mouth she chuckled a bit before jokingly adding. "I'm pretty sure Okabe and Leskinen woke them up this morning with all their shouting."

"I doubt it, old people tend to wake up pretty early. And if anything I would be surprised if they heard anything... get it? Because their old?"

"I got it and it wasn't funny." Kurisu flatly stated finally freed from the dress as she began pulling up her tights followed by her shorts.

"I'm just trying to lighten the mood, but since we're on the topic what is with Leskinen and your boyfriend? Is that like an inside joke or something?" Kurisu's mom questioned just as Kurisu was about to put on her first boot before promptly dropping it upon hearing the question.

"I-Don't ask... I don't know and if I did, I wouldn't know where to begin." She plainly stated picking up her boot while her mom actually laughed, albeit a small laugh.

"Ironic, believe it or not I said the same thing to my mother when she met your father. Dr. Nakabachi what a stupid name she said. So like poetry I will go full circle, Hououin Kyouma what a stupid name." Ms. M giggled out a little too proud of herself as Kurisu rolled her eyes finishing putting on both her boots and styling them to her liking.

"Are you enjoying yourself? Because I feel like you're making fun of me." Kurisu deadpanned as she stood up from the tiny bench in the changing stall and began buttoning her shirt.

"Actually yes I am enjoying myself." Ms. M shot off with a smirk before saying. "You know I was thinking, I called him an idiot but after seeing how you treat him I'm actually beginning to think he might be... you know a little slow."

"Talkative aren't we!" Kurisu exclaimed as she opened the stall door a little too forceful. "I thought you were all doom and gloom this morning."

Shrugging innocently Kurisu's mom simply uttered, "I won't deny that. But I realized something truly magnificent is about to happen. You could say I'm waiting for the fireworks."

"I don't even wanna know what that means." Kurisu quickly scoffed back while she placed the dress she had just tried on in the basket along with a few other items as the pair began making their way out of the changing area. All while Ms. M couldn't help but bear a wicked smirk following her daughter's lead out the changing room. Ms. M couldn't say for sure what was gonna happen, but when she began talking about Okabe she realized something was gonna happen. Something either really stupid or really funny, probably both and as they finally left the changing room her suspicions were proven true. As soon as they were outside the changing room Kurisu suddenly stopped and immediately whipped her head from one side to the other before dropping her basket and face palming. "Okabe!? W-where... eh-er, argh! I can't believe that idiot! Okabe!"

This should be entertaining.

While Kurisu was seemingly having a panic attack Ms. M chortled a little too proudly before mockingly saying, "Weren't you the one who told him not to stick around? He must have thought you meant he could wander the store."

"Argh! I- he should've known what I meant! I told him don't come near here, not go get yourself lost!" Kurisu angrily cried out as she rubbed her face in anguish. "I'm going to turn his hippocampus into pudding when I see him!"

Without warning Kurisu bristly began her march in the direction of customer services with a look between sheer annoyance and actual concern while her mom followed closely behind giggling at her daughters antics. Her daughter was about to do something extremely foolish and as a mother she felt she needed to prevent that. Of course, with that being said Kurisu should have also told her own mother about her boyfriend or boy toy or whatever he was, so just like Kurisu Ms. M was also going to remain quiet and enjoy the show.

Without fail they found themselves quickly approaching customer services and within a few seconds cutting through the long line of people there. After a few groans and complains Kurisu finally made her way to the customer service desk, almost shoving aside a lady who barely finished talking with the employee behind the desk, where said employee stationed there seemed less than pleased. But before anybody could ask what had just happened Kurisu quickly let them know what was the emergency.

"I need you to tell an idiot to get his ass here ASAP!" Kurisu exclaimed in English to an unamused employee who stared at the redhead with a face that read she rather be anywhere else but here.

"Ma'am if you wanna put a complain go see the manager or security we-"

"No I need him here right now!"

Sighing with as much emotion as a door knob the lady flatly said, "Ok ma'am so this person is lost?"

"Yes! Now are you gonna-"

"Well I need the name first and I need your relation to the person."

"What?" Kurisu prompted.

"The person's name and your relation to that person. It's store policy ma'am."

'F-fine fine!" Kurisu exclaimed in defeat before hurriedly saying. "It's Okabe Rintaro."

"And your relation?"

"W-we're not in a relationship!" Kurisu proclaimed rather childishly before immediately face palming at her stupid reaction. "I-is that important?"

"It's store policy ma'am." The lady once again sighed out as if it hurt her to be alive before adding. "It usually helps to distinguish the person if they have the same name."

With an eye twitching Kurisu hurriedly said, "You think anyone else is gonna have that name!"

Looking like she had lost the will to live for the tenth time today the employee with as much enthusiasm as a dead sloth reached over to the phone next her and picked it up. "What was his name again?"

"Okabe Rintaro."

"Ok." The lady replied, her tone a mixture of boredom and more boredom, before with her other hand pressed a button on the keypad and said, "A Okabe Rintaro please report to customer services. A Okabe Rintaro please report to customer services."

While Kurisu was relieved that the employee did as she asked she quickly realized that Okabe probably didn't understand what she was saying. "Uh excuse me, can you repeat that but in Japanese?"

"No." The lady deadpanned looking like she rather jump off a building than be here right now.

"He doesn't understand English too well a-an-"

"Ma'am if you speak Japanese be my guest." The employee flatly uttered as she held out the phone to Kurisu who paused for a bit before snatching it from the employee's hand.

"Okabe! You idiot I told you-" Just as Kurisu was about to let Okabe have it her voiced boomed throughout the store even scaring her a little as she heard the venom coursing through every syllable. Recoiling back a bit after hearing herself Kurisu immediately began feeling self conscious as quickly she stopped herself mid sentence and took a deep breath before readjusting herself to softly and more gently say, "-Okabe. Please go to the customer service desk. It's the one with a big red sign on it and long lines. If you're next to the desk with a blue sign then you are on the opposite side of the store Ok. Just walk at the direction that desk is facing and you should eventually get here. And if you're next to the desk with a yellow sign than that's-"

Just as she was about to begin very detailed instructions covering every possible place he could have wondered off to in the store, suddenly standing dumbly on the edge of the line was Okabe himself who stared at her with an uneasy smile. Immediately pausing, Kurisu stared at Okabe with a blank expression before reactively she smiled her own little smile back at him which quickly vanished and was replaced with a tight frown as she hastily made her way to him, dropping the phone in the process.

Of course she was relieved Okabe wasn't lost but that didn't mean she wasn't gonna give him a piece of her mind!

"Why didn't you stay where I asked you to!" She exclaimed viciously with her hands on her hips glaring at him as she was now standing arms length away from him.

"I-I thought you wanted me to go!" Okabe defensively fired back which caused Kurisu to cross her arms defiantly and close her eyes angrily before opening them to proclaim.

"And get lost! You've never been here! What if something happened to you! You don't know English that well and how would we know if you weren't lost or-"

"You could have just called me." Kurisu quickly stopped mid sentence as she froze with embarrassment hearing those words. Why didn't she just call him! With this sudden realization a deep flush assaulted her face as she began stuttering trying to come up with a valid reason as to why she made a fool of herself by making such a scene right now.

"I-I why didn't you call me!" Yeah that was the best she could do and her lack of confidence uttering such a horrible defense showed it. But instead of making fun of her or boasting something ridiculous Okabe simply chuckled before he surprising patted her head. It caught her off-guard as she couldn't find words to say and opted to look the other way with a pout while her face felt like it literally caught on fire.

"My assistant's concern for me is most pleasing, even if said concern is unwarranted, seeing I am the great Mad scientist Hououin Kyouma! But... it is much... appreciated. " Okabe didn't know why he patted her head, maybe it was because she seemed so cute worrying about him or maybe it was the fact she was trying to hide that concern when she realized she acted too rashly, but regardless he was grateful he did as when he began his head pat Kurisu quietly looked the other way embarrassed making Okabe actually laugh. Not a grandiose or annoying laugh but a genuine laugh that resonated deep within his chest. But his wholesome laugh was soon overshadowed by a collective.

"Awwww."

Turning both their heads to see where the sound came from they were met with the reality the sound emanated from the large crowd that was gathered waiting in the customer service line where several recording devices peeked out of the sea of people. Immediately they looked at each where both flushed even deeper and turned the other way hiding their faces from their on lookers who released another collective.

"Awwww."

But just as they stood there frozen with embarrassment suddenly Ms. M made an appearance holding several bags as she grabbed both Okabe and Kurisu and escorted them out the door laughing, "That is what I meant by fireworks Kurisu. Hahaha!"

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Chapter 4: The banquet

December 23, 2012, 4:55:44 PM EST

The shirt was black and even after a few years it was still a perfect fit, though the same couldn't be said about his pants. Width wise they fitted perfectly, however length was another issue. They felt a bit too short feeling like if he sat down the ends of his pants would ride above his ankles, but it was a gripe he doubted anyone but him would notice. As for the rest of his ensemble he wore a simple super dark green dressy sweater over his shirt and a black blazer over said sweater. They didn't fit as perfect as his shirt, but they sufficed giving a more formal appearance to the rather comfortable ensemble. Well comfortable wasn't the word exactly, he rather have worn his khakis and a T-shirt with his lab coat, but he digressed this ensemble was tolerable especially since he didn't have to wear a tie.

But in all honesty that was the least of his worries.

It was already sunset and for the past ten minutes Okabe had done nothing but fiddle with his clothes and hair infront of the mirror that was in the guest room. His nerves were beyond frayed and his breathing could only be described as deep trying to calm and steady his anxiousness.

Today was the day of unknowns and new horizons. Today his mettle as a mad scientist was going to be tested!

Today!...

...who was he kidding today was the banquet.

As underwhelming as it sounded it was sure to be a very memorable experience. Of course with that being said just because something was memorable didn't mean it would be pleasant.

Okabe was the first to admit had he more time to mentally prepare for the banquet his anxiety wouldn't have been as bad. He had assumed Kurisu wasn't going under any circumstances, something she made abundantly clear yesterday, but this morning she unexpectedly changed her mind. It caught him by surprise, but it was understandable. Once they finished shopping the other day they had spent the rest of the day in her house which led to several very uncomfortable and painful moments between the trio. It didn't take a genius to figure out that experience changed Kurisu's opinion on the matter. She realized while having to prod Okabe around her colleagues was pretty bad, it couldn't have been worse than spending all day and night with her mom. It was a sentiment Okabe shared as even thinking of spending another full day with Kurisu's mom honestly made consider renting a motel room or something.

And while the banquet was only a few hours at least those hours didn't have to be spent in uncomfortable silence or awkward conversations. Granted Okabe wasn't going to say he wanted to go to said banquet to begin with. First off while he enjoyed the company of his friends and their friends he wasn't the biggest fan of large group gatherings especially when those gathering were with total strangers and secondly the thought of being surrounded by people who not only were probably smarter than him most likely spoke nothing but English wasn't too appealing.

In his extended stay in America with non of his friends, besides Kurisu, he was hit with the reality having to deal with native English speakers was harder than he anticipated. He thought his English skills could hold up in a country where mainly everyone spoke the language, but how he was wrong. They spoke fluidly and quickly, confusing Okabe who at best could only pick up key words and some expressions, which were far and in between. And to add insult to injury instead of understanding he obviously was a foreigner and didn't know the language most of the few people he spoke with in this country gave him dirty looks and seemingly took offense at him not knowing their language. Granted he might have been exaggerating a bit, but his point still stood that most seemingly weren't too please with his broken English. Now imagine having college professors or researchers and not just any college professors or researchers, but some of the smartest in the world trying to communicate with him. If Kurisu was right and their egos were as large as their brains they probably exclusively spoke using the biggest words in the English dictionary on a regular basis.

If that was the case it was no doubt gonna be horrible. Then with the added bonus of professor Leskinen being there he was sure something strange, crazy or wild was going to happen and Okabe most definitely wasn't looking forward to that.

But even with all that said he was gonna press on simply for the fact she wanted this. Whether she had decided ultimately to stay or to go he would have been fully behind her decision. Obviously she chose to go and he was going to embrace her decision even if he was less than gung ho about it. But regardless whatever he felt was a moot point. Basically since Kurisu's mom came, there really wasn't too much to look forward to, so whether they were in a banquet or in her house he was in some shape or form going to be uncomfortable. Even with that being said what he especially was not looking forward to was the fact Kurisu, immediately after she made her decision, earnestly begged Okabe to try and not do his mad scientist thing, even going as far as to make him pinkie promise he wouldn't. Basically she was stripping him of the only thing he could find solace in during these troubling times.

Ok he was being dramatic, but it was gonna be hard, really hard but he was gonna try. Hououin Kyouma was many things and one of those things was whenever he felt uncomfortable he could always fall back on it to bail him out, but with that not an option going to what undoubtedly was going to an uncomfortable situation, things were looking not to bright.

Of course there was one brightside to all this. He could finally see his assistant in something other than her usual getup!

Her sweaty stockings would finally be shed! Her starch white shirts and penchant for brown jackets that hung below her shoulders would be exchanged for a simple black dress! Her feet would finally know something other than untied boots and her hair would finally be styled! Christina would finally resemble a woman and not some perverted experimenting girl!

But in all seriousness Okabe knew no matter what she decided to wear she was going to look beautiful. Even more beautiful than she usually did.

So with that being said it led to the only reasonable thing Okabe could do with that thought in his mind. Standing still in front of the mirror he awkwardly put his hands in his pocket before sheepishly smiling to himself. Quietly he confined to himself how much a change of wardrobe could make. Just like the night before he departed to New York when his mom took him this exact ensemble of clothes Okabe found himself looking not at a boy playing pretend, but a young man with his life ahead of him. His hair was organized and his face seemed more mature while his shoulders seemed broader while his lanky body was accentuated with his black blazer and black slacks making him look taller than he really was. But those were undeniable facts, what really plagued Okabe's mind was one question.

Did he... look good?

Okabe wasn't exactly too sure about that. Even though any self respecting mad scientist would never admit it, time to time he did think about those things. It wasn't like there was a line of people eagerly waiting to tell him how handsome he looked. He was a guy after all and for most guys unless you were a borderline super model it was hard to gauge how handsome you were. For most girls complimenting each other wasn't as foreign of a concept as it was to most guys. For most dudes they just weren't going to compliment each other no matter what. It's not like Daru was going to see he bought a new lab coat and say,

"Hey Okarin that lab coat makes you look cute."

It was just weird and he sure as hell wasn't going to tell Daru anything close to that. But with that being said most guys were quick to call each other ugly, playfully or not and Okabe wasn't the exception. Him and Daru would go back and forth with one another calling each other ugly or making a remark about their appearance constantly. It wasn't strange and for the most part their teasing was inconsequential. However on the flip side nothing could compare to the gratification of a girl calling you handsome and there was nothing that could compare to the utter emasculation of a girl calling you ugly.

For Okabe he's been on the receiving end of both outcomes. There was a reason he claimed a mad scientist wasn't interested in sex and that was for the simple fact most of his life girls were never interested in him. When he was younger he would try to get with his crushes where they quickly shot him down, with a variety of reasons. Some, but not all, gave the simple reason because he was ugly. Of course that was when he barely began puberty, in his teens and having learned his lesson he didn't even bother trying to get with anyone and until he met Kurisu, he figured the only girl willing to put up with him was Mayuri.

And that led to the other end of the spectrum.

Ironically during his late teens he met and made more friends who were female than male, who also weren't afraid to call him handsome. But considering they were his friends he took their compliments with a grain of salt. After all most girls weren't as adverse to complimenting their friends as guys were. Though out of all his friends the girl responsible for most of those compliments was Mayuri. Ever since he could remember she had called him handsome, cute or some variation of the two. And her compliments weren't reserved when it was only the two of them, it didn't matter whether it was in front of their parents, in front of classmates, strangers, her co-workers, friends, lab members, if she thought he looked handsome or cute at that particular moment she was going to tell him, which led to a particularly funny moment with Kurius.

He could still remember the scene clearly. It was when Kurisu was given the task of making both him and Daru, avant-garde after Mr. Braun's daughter accused them of being nasty. Since this was Christina they were dealing with she expectedly only accomplished half of her mission and luckily for Okabe it was his half who she completed. Kurisu got him a nice looking suit with a tie while she gave Daru a bear costume, which he still had and wore time to time because surprisingly Yuki seemed to be in to it which... raised several questions he didn't want answered. Anyways after donning his lab coat on top of his suit he strutted to Mr. Braun's shop where he mockingly asked both him and his daughter if this attire was sufficient. Of course Mr. Braun took offense to it accusing him of making fun of his daughter and promptly kicked him out of the shop leading to Okabe bumping into Mayuri just as she was about to go upstairs to the lab.

Once they saw each other she stared at him with a weird expression while her mouth gaped opened trying to say something that wouldn't leave her mouth. It was brief but the moment seemingly lasted forever before she suddenly smiled ear to ear exclaiming excitedly.

"Wow Okarin you look really good! Like a true gentleman Mad scientist!"

It only stroked his ego as Okabe fed off of her words before he began proudly spouting his usual Hououin Kyouma banter whilst posing ridiculously infront of Mr. Braun's shop. He was having fun doing it, Mayuri was enjoying watching him and overall it was just a fun moment... unless you were Mr. Braun. During the middle of his banter with Mayuri, Mr. Braun quickly appeared scolding Okabe, threatening him if he didn't stop with his crap he was gonna double the rent. Wasting no time after that Mayuri and him both made their way to the lab, where she constantly stole glances at him and as they finally reached the lab she wasted no time to burst through the door and exclaimed to Daru (who was still in his bear suit) and Kurisu who barely began eating one of her puddings-

"Tutturu, introducing the suave mad scientist Okarin! Doesn't he look handsome!"

Daru rolled his eyes and Kurisu reactively squeezed her pudding before choking on it where she unceremoniously swallowed it in a coughing fit.

"W-what are you saying Mayuri!"

Of course since what Mayuri said praised Okabe, Kurisu had to counter it.

"Okarin looks handsome in his new suit!"

What followed was the usual back and forth between the mad scientist and his assistant. Essentially it boiled down to how at least one lab member wasn't afraid to admit the truth, while others (Christina) denied or couldn't handle the truth. It was the playful banter Okabe and Kurisu often reveled in, but it was cut short as Faris walked in. Without missing a beat Faris hurriedly made her way to Okabe just as he was arguing with Kurisu and turned him around so she could examine him. Grabbing her chin as if deep in thought Faris circled around Okabe without saying a single world before dramatically she placed the back of her hand on her forehead and with the other placed it above her heart and cried out.

"~Nyan! Kyouma a girl could only take so much, ~nyan! If you were to work as a butler, especially dressed like that, I'm sure more girls would actually go to my maid cafe, ~nyan!"

"Huhhhh! You're right Faris!"

Mayuri immediately added as she stood next to Faris almost jumping up and down while Faris just nodded proudly at her assessment.

"Aye, will you two stop it? You're only inflating his already big head."

Kurisu had said, which wasn't unexpected, but before Okabe could retort her claim a soft and borderline whisper caught both of their attention.

"Oka-Kyouma?"

Standing at the door Ruka held his left hand near his mouth almost as if shielding it from the fact he couldn't close it. Turning around Okabe met the gaze of Ruka and the two quickly made eye contact. Almost instantly Ruka's face exploded into a deep shade of crimson as he shyly looked away with a gasp at the sudden eye contact while his left hand went from trying to shield his mouth to his entire face. At the sight Okabe felt heat rush up to his face while he gaped at the... reaction of his fellow lab member... who... was a guy and didn't make Okabe feel weird or anything! Of course not!

He was a guy!

He was guy...

Anyways! While Ruka couldn't contain himself, Moeka had somehow slipped her way into the lab wearing the green apron of the CRTV shop and simply snapped a picture of him before presumably going back to work.

It was an enjoyable and fun moment as soon after everything settled down the rest of the day went how it usually did when they were all in the lab. They joked around and he did his mad scientist thing as usual, but what made that day so different was they all had complimented him one way or another except for the person he wanted to hear it from most of all. She didn't say anything out of what she usually said and refuted everything they said.

It was... disheartening to say the least.

Sure Okabe knew Kurisu had a hard time expressing herself, but if she couldn't even give him a compliment while everyone else did how was he suppose to take that? It wasn't like she had to go out of her way to do so all she had to do was agree with at least one of them.

But that was only half of the problem. The bigger question was why did it bother him so much now? When it happened over a year ago he didn't even bat an eye at her zealous position of refusing to say anything nice about him, but recalling the memory that's all he could think of.

Who was he fooling? He knew exactly why it bothered him and why he was so reluctant to admit it because on one hand he would have liked to be told nice things like that, yet he wasn't one to say those type of things, especially if they were about her.

And there was a simple answer for that.

It was embarrassing. As simple and underwhelming as it sounded that's what it boiled down to. He never had a girlfriend or whatever Kurisu was to him so he felt... out of place telling her things like that. Like she was going to... see him differently if he told her what he wanted to tell her or thought of.

And the worst part? He couldn't shred the disappointment in knowing Kurisu wouldn't do so either despite his own shortcomings on the matter. It was selfish and it was childish, but deep down he wanted her to say all those nice things to him, he wanted her to push the envelope, he wanted her to make a move yet even with his lack of experience with relationships he knew he was asking too much and giving too little.

Was he making a big deal about such insignificant things, like complimenting each other?

Perhaps. Small things like that weren't as important as actually being there for her and he knew when the chips were down they could at least admit their affection for one another, but sometimes he wanted those sweet nothings. He wanted to feel the warmth of her hand as they strolled through the street or just sat on the couch. He wanted to tell her the things he felt about her that should be blatantly obvious. It's just... he never had anybody to tell those things to before.

And that's what it boiled down to.

Okabe had became what he always was.

He wasn't a time traveling hero. He wasn't going to deceive time or space. He wasn't going to save anyone or become the leader of some resistance group.

Now Okabe was just Okabe.

He was just some awkward college student with a group of weirdos for friends and a girlfriend out of his league. There was nothing amazing about him anymore, which was ironic considering this is what he strived for, this is why they went through hell for.

For this world.

Yet this... irrational fear or embarrassment admitting him and Kurisu were dating wasn't anything new.

Kurisu, while not his girlfriend in the traditional sense, was something more than a friend there was no two ways about it. Their bond ran more deeply than friends did. They kissed which something most friends didn't do. They ate together in quasi dates. They literally couldn't live in a world without one another, but there was something missing... something he couldn't explain, but it was something that made him hesitant to refer to each other as a couple. For starters they couldn't talk to each other beyond that of what friends usually talked about, they shyed away from acknowledging their relationship and they just couldn't admit those flaws. Everything he hoped that they could become he bottled it up, everything that went beyond idle talk he bottled it up, everything that might hint about their affection for one another he bottled it up. Okabe wanted to believe they didn't need to tell each other the little things because they were beyond that, that their relationship was different than anybody's else's because of their experiences but in reality it was just a symptom.

It was a symptom that their relationship in the year they had been apart physically was stagnated. It was an awful truth Okabe wasn't willing to admit earlier, but right now alone musing over such an insignificant thing he could admit to himself nothing had changed between them. Over the phone and far away from one another they had been more open to one another, even if ever so slightly, but once they could hold each other instead of embracing one another they quickly hid behind their walls.

And the worst part?

He wanted her to tell him whether he looked nice or not.

To see if she was attracted to him.

Because somewhere in his mind maybe what she told her mom was the truth.

Perhaps that's why when he recounted the story of Mayuri and the suit his mind was fixated on that certain aspect. Maybe that's why he was so concerned about their inability to compliment each other.

Because maybe she never complimented him because she thought he was a scrawny pervert.

Maybe she never talked about taking their relationship further because the thought of having sex with him was repulsive.

Perhaps it explained why she was seemingly so embarrassed to be seen with him.

But even then he couldn't help but chuckle.

Who was he fooling? That wasn't the worst part.

For all his musings he knew she wasn't going to say anything nice about his appearance tonight because no matter how breathtaking she would look the only words escaping his mouth would be, Christina.

Because he would be too embarrassed to say anything else.

But that wasn't the worst part either.

"Christina." As Okabe quietly worded his favorite nickname for his assistant he gave himself one last bitter smile at the mirror and headed out the room turning off the lights and closing the door.

Perhaps their relationship was stagnated now, but who knows what can happen in the future.

Maybe by next week or even as early as tomorrow they would finally get over the hump in the their relationship.

Of course Okabe had been saying that for the past year, but now wasn't the time to dwell on that. Right now he had a banquet to attend with her.

All that stuff could wait for another time.

And that was the worst part.

Sometimes a simple problem with the simplest of solutions are the hardest to solve because maybe deep down we don't actually want to solve them. Maybe we become attached to our simple problems and fixing them is too much of a risk.

Perhaps for such simple problems there's always tomorrow to fix them so we should focus on the bigger problems today.

But the thing is we never truly reach tomorrow because tomorrow eventually becomes today.

December 23, 2012 5:03:33 PM EST

"Argh! What's taking him so long!" Kurisu huffed out with her arms crossed as she paced back and forth in the living room as her mom sat comfortably on the couch watching her anxious daughter.

"Perhaps he's having trouble putting on his shirt. I wouldn't be surprised if he's having trouble buttoning his shirt on his own." Ms. M quipped making Kurisu huff again.

"He's not that stupid!" Kurisu exclaimed as her mom shrugged nonchalantly.

"I don't know about that, he strikes me as the kind of person who doesn't know whether the zipper goes in front or in the back. Either way it's still early why don't-"

Just as her mom began talking the sound of Okabe's door closing caught both of their attention as Kurisu without thinking immediately went to the stairs ready to berate Okabe for taking way too long.

"What took you-..." Kurisu rarely if ever was at a lost for words especially if it concerned Okabe, but as her eyes connected with his... He was half way down the stairs and immediately both just couldn't help but stare at one another. Kurisu was... her mind went extinct as a flush found itself dashing across her face.

Okabe looked... different. While she could admit Okabe was handsome (of course only in private) even with his disheveled look, she never really saw him outside of that. There was that one time she bought him a suit, but... she had spent the previous night preparing physically and mentally for that event, but right now... she was blindsided.

She felt... she didn't know how to explain it... she felt... weird.

A few seconds into their staring contest Kurisu didn't realize she held her breath until suddenly she huffed out a long puff of air as before she knew it she had trouble maintaining a steady flow of oxygen while she couldn't help but... gawk.

Yes she was gawking at Okabe.

This Okabe... there was no way to describe it.

An Okabe who turned her on.

"Ahah-eh I'm going to the bathroom!" Kurisu proclaimed hurriedly as she hid her crimson face and nearly ran to the bathroom at the end of the hallway as Okabe could only stare dumbly at her. Silently Okabe mused to himself that thank god she went to the bathroom he didn't know how much longer he could stare at his assistant looking like that!

There were a few times he had seen Kurisu outside of her usual outfit and while he will admit she naturally looked beautiful (something he'd only admit in private) nothing could prepare him for how stunning she looked in that black dress and her hair loosely woven in a large messy bun... there was no other way to describe it.

Kurisu had turned him on almost instantly.

"C'mon."

"What?" Okabe instinctively asked blushing as he turned quickly to the source of that voice and there standing at the archway in the front room shaking her head in disgust was Kurisu's mom.

"Both of you. You're good looking, but not that good looking." Ms. M couldn't believe it. It was beyond belief that Kurisu could actually get that worked up by simply looking at her quasi-boyfriend or boy-toy, it was ridiculous! Hell even he had a stupid blush staring at her daughter, though she couldn't blame him Kurisu was leaps and bounds better looking than he was, which for reasons she couldn't explain didn't infuriate her.

Rather it annoyed her that her daughter and her boyfriend were looking at each other like they were in some romantic comedy!

---

December 23, 2012, 5:53:22 PM EST

"Ticket. Thank you. Ticket. Thank you."

"Remember. Don't. Say. Anything." Okabe didn't know why she had to keep reminding him every chance she got. On the ride to the banquet, Kurisu had drilled it into Okabe's mind he was not to speak to anyone that wasn't named, Makise Kurisu, Alexis Leskinen or Judy Reyes. And in the unfortunate case someone other than them does in fact talk to him Okabe was conditioned to say Only friends regardless of what of they said.

Okabe had assumed she was just being paranoid, but when they arrived the place was much busier than he had expected in fact a little line had formed just outside the door where they were currently waiting. According to Kurisu practically everyone involved in the neurology department was going to attend the banquet. Students, professors, staff members, whole research teams and even the dean of the school was in attendance and she made it clear many of them knew who she was and usually talked to her during these events. Which didn't make Okabe nervous or anything.

It mortified him.

There was so many important people-

"Ticket, hey Kurisu." Suddenly bringing Okabe back to reality he found himself and Kurisu mere inches away from the door and the ticket lady. "Who's your friend here?"

Her voice was joyous and her smile was radiating with youthful energy as she slowly turned her attention from Kurisu to Okabe where she gave a friendly welcoming smile. She was an older lady, about middle aged and while there were hints of aging her demeanor made the lines of her face a little bit softer making Okabe feel a little at ease. Of course for Kurisu it appeared to have the exact opposite effect on her as she stiffened up a bit trying to find the answer to the ticket lady's question.

"H-uh-he's a... friend from Japan." Kurisu quickly stated before she lightly elbowed Okabe in the side giving him all the info he needed.

"Oh, uhh... ye'uh on'ry f'liends." Okabe rashly said giving a timid and unconvincing smile to the ticket lady who shook her head at the pair.

"Kurisu has anyone told you you're a bad liar?" The ticket lady said with a teasing smile while Kurisu blushed furiously before she hurriedly gave her ticket to the ticket lady bristly walking pass her and into the banquet hall.

"C'mon Okabe." She threw over her shoulder without missing a step.

Looking at Kurisu's back Okabe turned his attention back to the ticket lady where she gave a knowing smile while he simply handed his ticket to her before following after Kurisu into the banquet.

Inside the hall painted a totally different picture than he expected. The outside was cold and grey, but inside the hall was lively with a vibrant blue. Atmospheric lights hung near the corners of the ceiling giving off a blue tint to the painted white walls while offsetting them were ordinarily dim lights that hung low from the ceiling providing enough light to make everything just visible. As for what was inside, the middle of the hall slightly dug into the ground which was covered with nothing but tables adorned in white coverings and organe napkins laying lazily on top of them. The tables were round and arranged uniformly except for the edges of the hall where large rectangular tables stood all housing countless treats and juices. While towards the backend of the hall was a small elevated stage where several tables housed dozens and dozens of awards ranging in sizes from modest to enormous.

While observing the place Okabe also took careful notice of how packed the place was. Most if not all the tables were already filled with numerous people, no doubt important people who most likely knew Kurisu, and with each table seating ten people comfortably-

"Hey." Of course to interrupt him again was Kurisu who was deftly scouting out the place with an eagles eye whilst Okabe slunk in back of her following her lead. "That table looks smaller if-"

"Makise." Suddenly Kurisu froze as her eyes went wide with horror upon hearing her name. Okabe raised an eyebrow in confusion before he slowly turned his head to find the source of this mysterious voice.

But to his disappointment he was met with the unsatisfying conclusion that no one was behind them. Sighing Okabe glanced back at Kurisu who remained frozen with a slight blush on her face. Getting even more curious Okabe fully turned around again to see who had called Kurisu and why it would have that effect on her.

It must have-

"Who are you?" Suddenly the voice appeared again but much closer and louder and obviously referring to him. Now brimming with curiosity Okabe quickly turned his head side to side desperately trying to see who was calling-"I'm right here!"

The voice yelled again as Okabe hastily followed the sound and promptly looked down. There standing surprisingly only a few away from them was a little girl no older than twelve with long messy hair that nearly touched the floor with vibrant green eyes.

"Uhhh...hi." Okabe uneasily said as he gave a soft smile to the girl, but just as the words left Okabe's mouth Kurisu finally came to her senses and turned around, her face contorted with obvious discomfort.

"Are you going deaf Kurisu? I was calling your name this entire time?" The child haughtily said crossing her arms at Kurisu who remained frozen at the child's presence. "What's with that stupid face?"

Okabe taken back by this child's rudeness frowned before stepping in to try and quill this situation, "Hey are you lost little girl?"

"Little girl?" The child questioned curiously before fully taking in his question where she fumed, "I'm not a kid!"

"All kids say that." Okabe dismissively retorted back making the child fume even more. "Where are your parents?"

"I'm not a kid!" The child nearly screamed as her face turned red with anger while Kurisu suddenly grabbed Okabe's arm as she tried saying something to him but nothing escaped her lips.

Ignoring Kurisu Okabe mused to himself that kids could be such pains in the ass, especially bratty ones like this. Without much though Okabe began looking around for any adults who might look like they lost their kid (which he wouldn't blame them if they didn't want her back), before Kurisu with a strong tug finally tipped Okabe over the edge.

"What!? Is she Professor Leskinen's kid or something?" Okabe fired back to Kurisu whose eyes somehow widened more in shock as she physically recoiled at his assertion while the little girl in question actually gaped at his words.

"Okabe!" Kurisu finally managed to exclaim as her face lit up beet red as she turned her attention the little girl, "I'm so sorry, sem-"

"Are you an idiot!" The little girl proclaimed angrily at Okabe ignoring Kurisu completely.

"W-what!?" Okabe cried out confused and offended, who did this spoiled brat think she was! "You better watch your mouth because once I find your parents I'm-"

"Okabe shut up! This is Maho Hijayo, my mentor!"

That caught Okabe off-guard as he did a double take at the bratty child and exclaimed, "You're mentor's a child?"

"I'm an adult, idiot!" The little girl named Maho yelled as she procured her ID and tried slamming it to Okabe's face... of course she only reached up to his chest but it was worth the effort.

Picking up the ID Okabe cautiously read it's contents before exclaiming, "Nineteen-eighty nine?!"

"At least you understand numbers!" Maho exclaimed rudely as she snatched her ID back from a speechless Okabe. This... child was older than both him and Kurisu, not by much but... America was weird.

"Sempai!" Kurisu cried out as she bowed hurriedly to Maho. "Please! Please I am terribly sorry! Okabe doesn't-"

"Okabe?" Maho quickly said raising an eyebrow before saying hurriedly. "Okabe Kyouma!? This is your boyfriend!?"

"No! No! You have it all mixed up!" Kurisu cried out as she shot straight up turning into strutting mess. "H-he's just a friend!"

Upon hearing those words Okabe quickly uttered, "Only friends!"

"Kurisu." Maho suddenly said as she crossed her arms while a vein nearly burst from her head before taking a deep breath to say. "You don't have to apologize. It was a misunderstanding."

"Er-huh?"

That even caught Maho by surprise. Her underling was many things, talented smart, mature, but she was young and at times she acted her age. Hell even below her age at times. So to Maho once she realized Kurisu was indeed with her boyfriend she quickly deduced this is the explanation for her odd behavior. And yes it was stupid, but what else could she do? Berate her and further complicate things? Tell her that her boyfriend was a complete idiot? Well maybe she should actually introduce herself to him first before proclaiming he was a complete idiot, afterall this wasn't the first and most certainly wasn't going to be last time someone confused her for a child.

"Greetings, I'm Maho Hijayo." Maho said as she stuck out a hand to Okabe who looked at it suspiciously.

"Uhhh, Okabe Rintaro." Okabe softly said taking her hand and shaking it. Hey perhaps this Okabe wasn't a complete idiot and they just got off on the wrong- "Sorry about calling you a child... uhhh it must suck at amusement rides."

And there it went.

"Okabe!" Kurisu exclaimed as she looked at Okabe whose easy smile had morphed to unfiltered confusion. Why was everyone scrutinizing him! Ok maybe he shouldn't have said that last part, but he was trying to break the ice!

"No, no it's fine. We shouldn't discriminate against people who have a smaller hippocampus than a squirrel." Maho scoffed with a frown. She expected many things out of Kurisu, many good things to be exact but one of them wasn't getting a boyfriend based purely on looks. While it was only their first encounter Okabe gave off the vibe he was an idiot, very tactless and above all a moron.

"What?" Okabe instinctively shot back offended at this child- he meant woman's comment. He barely met her and she was acting like this? "Is that how you greet people you don't know?"

"No. Just idiots." Maho uttered smugly making Okabe frown even deeper but before he could retort Kurisu took a step between them placing a hand on Okabe's chest as if to hold him in place.

"Okabe please. She's a little rough around the edges, but she's actually pretty nice." Kurisu simply said as Okabe turned his vision over back to Maho who was crossed arm and smirking mockingly at Okabe. "But you really should apologize."

"What?" Okabe once again questioned, she couldn't be serious, if anyone should apologize it should be the little woman! "She should-"

"Okabe!" Kurisu hurriedly cut him off as she glared at him making it clear if he didn't apologize, tonight was only going to get longer and in a bad way.

Shaking his head in disbelief Okabe turned his attention back to her mentor, Maho Hijayo and simply said, "I'm sorry."

"Apology not accepted."

"You little-"

"However with that being said, I will let your blatant rudeness slide this once because you are with Kurisu." She sure had some nerve calling Okabe rude she- "Kurisu may I speak to you?"

"Umm yes what-"

"Alone." Maho clarified while she shot daggers at Okabe.

"O-ok." Kurisu sheepishly replied as she gave a pitiful look to Okabe as Maho began walking away from them, but just as Kurisu was about to follow Maho, she addressed Okabe with. "Don't move from there."

"But-"

"I'll be right back." Kurisu quickly said as she hurriedly followed her mentor who was now just scowling at him before the two got lost in the sea of people.

This was-

"Ahh Lintalo!" Why was everyone interrupting him mid thought! "What's up boy!"

Just as Okabe turned around he was immediately smothered in the embrace of the one and only Alexis Leskinen who out of nowhere had appeared a little too quickly for it to be a coincidence.

"Where is Makise?"

---

One minute later

"I have one question and one question only." Under some alcove off to the side of the hall, Maho seemed less than pleased about the current developments with her underling, specifically her boyfriend. "What do you see in a guy like him?"

"I-I don't know what you mean." Kurisu said to an unamused Maho who just glared at her.

"Do you think I'm stupid?"

"No! Why would-"

"Then answer my question." Maho sternly stated as her eyes bored holes into Kurisu who bit her lip before looking the other way.

"I-I..." There were many things Kurisu could say. One she could simply say the truth about her and Okabe or at least just for Maho's sake just say he was her boyfriend, even though he wasn't. Secondly she could just deny it and keep denying it until Maho gave up in frustration, but Maho could be as stubborn as a rock when she wanted to so she doubted she would relent until she heard a pleasing answer. Right now Kurisu was caught between a rock and a hard place, either option wasn't too appealing, but she had to settle for one. "It's just..."

Just as Kurisu began she timidly looked down while with her right arm grabbed her other elbow as if shielding herself from an unimpressed Maho and quietly uttered, "It's... embarrassing."

Maho Hijayo was many things, no nonsense, smart, brazen, but she certainly wasn't tender as she crossed her arms and rolled her eyes in disgust. "What are you like a twelve year old girl?"

"No-"

"Then why are you embarrassed?" Maho sharply question catching Kurisu off-guard.

"I-"

"TREMBLE BENEATH MY FEET HOUOUIN KYOUMA! YOUR GALLERY OF TRICKS AND DECEPTIONS WON'T SAVE YOU THIS TIME!"

"Is that Professor Leskinen?" Maho uttered as she perked an eyebrow pass Kurisu.

Wasting no time Kurisu whipped her head around to the direction she heard the commotion coming from and to her horror a large group of people began forming around the spot she had told Okabe to wait for her. It wouldn't be a stretch to say Kurisu turned pale at the sight as with a groan and unintelligible words directed at Maho she hurriedly began making her way to the center of the gathering leaving Maho behind who watched with a mixture of confusion and disbelief before she quietly followed after Kurisu.

"OHO! SILENT ARE WE! WHETHER YOU SCREAM OR NOT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE TO ME! HOWEVER I WOULD PREFER A PROPER BATTLE!"

Okabe could feel the heat of embarrassment rise to his face as he stood uneasily infront of Professor Leskinen and the ever growing crowd of onlookers with his hands in his pocket fighting the urge to fight fire with fire. It was as soon as Kurisu left did Leskinen come out of nowhere with his surreal enthusiasm and began pestering Okabe. At first it was with simple questions like where was Kurisu or how were they doing before quickly devolving into... well this. Okabe tried stopping him, but Leskinen was persistent as he continued pressing, trying to entice Okabe to give in and join him in this battle of alter egos. It was real, real tempting, as Okabe came awfully close to cracking under the dozens of eyes looking directly at the two, but he made a promise to Kurisu that under no circumstances would Hououin Kyouma make an appearance tonight and it wasn't just any promise, but a pinkie promise!

...

Yes it was stupid, but Okabe wasn't one to break promises easily.

He was going to endure this utter embarrassing situation for as long as it lasted for her sake! But once again just because it was for her didn't make fighting the urge any easier. Okabe could feel sweat bead around his brow while his fingers twitched in anticipation waiting for his brain to give the go ahead to unleash The Mad Scientist Hououin Kyouma onto his new arch-nemesis The Evil Doctor Charon!

But he couldn't.

So Okabe was left with the childish tactic of having to look away, like a child confronted with a lie, because seeing the undoubtedly bizarre and stupid poses Leskinen was making would no doubt cause him to falter.

"I AM WAITING FOR YOUR ANSWER HOUOUIN KYOUMA! DO NOT LEAVE ME HANGING! ENGAGE WITH ME LIKE A TRUE MAD SCIENTIST! HAHAHAHAHAH!"

This... this was hard...

Every fiber and bone in Okabe's body protested against his lack of action causing his anxiety to skyrocket to levels of absurdity. Ironically to quill his protesting body he found solace in the thing causing most of his anxiety, the crowd forming around them. Glasses or no glasses, ties or no ties and a variety of other trival matters found within the crowd was what kept Okabe from giving in to Professor Leskinen's gambit.

"HOUOUIN KYOUMA DO NOT DISRESPECT ME WITH SILENCE! SPEAAAAAAAAKKK!"

Now... it was...

"DOC-" The words almost escaped his mouth as he quickly shut himself up looking down in shame while Leskinen began laughing mockingly at him.

"IS THAT FEAR I SMELL HOUOUIN KYOUMA! AFRAID OF MY AWESOME POWER AND BRAVADO THAT YOU COWER AT THE THOUGHT OF BATTLING ME!"

Okabe's eyes remained fixated on the floor as the urge and desire to fight back increased dramatically with every passing second he didn't act. It was getting unbearable.

The onlookers, the sinking feeling in his gut, the professor's resolve, everything was too much! He had to do something he felt like he was going to burst with everything that was going on! In a last ditch effort Okabe quickly shifted his attention back to the crowd trying to find something to distract him and prolong Hououin Kyouma's outing.

It was almost an useless endeavor before he found the perfect distraction.

There standing among the crowd was his distraction with a face that could only be described as pure shock and awe. It was almost a comical look really, her mouth was nearly touching the floor while her eyes were pleading to pop out of their sockets, but still even with that ridiculous look Okabe found them reassuring. A small smile worked it's way onto Okabe's mouth as he fully turned his attention to Kurisu before timidly raising his pinky just enough so she could see it.

She didn't seem to notice or if she did her reaction was minimal, either way Okabe figured it was a pointless gesture as most likely she was going to berate him as soon as she got the chance regardless. But right now that didn't matter, Leskinen spouting nonsense didn't matter, the crowd looking at them didn't matter, in this moment all that matter was the pride Okabe felt in upholding his promise this far. He clung to that accomplishment as his confidence came back with a resounding victory.

And in this moment Okabe knew exactly what to do.

Turning to face Leskinen for the first time a wicked smirk smugly bounced off Okabe's face as his eyes gleamed with devious intent at the professor where he simply but confidently stated, "Who are you?"

Okabe's actions suckered punched Leskinen in the face as Okabe smugly looked at the professor's confused face trying to process what just happened.

"Wha'- Linatlo- REAL... WHAT IS THIS YOU SPEAK OF!" Leskinen fired off as he tried gaining control of a situation he knew he was quickly losing.

"What?" Okabe mockingly said as he turned to the crowd seemingly looking for answers as he pointed at Leskinen before addressing them in English with. "Who th's guy? I'z he d'lunk?"

"Y-you can't do this!" Leskinen cried out as the heat of crowd finally began getting to him. While Leskinen was perfectly fine with making an ass of himself the fact Okabe wasn't going along with his gambit was unbearable as the crowd's eyes went from being divided between the two of them to solely on him. This wasn't suppose to happen! This wasn't what he had planned! "HOUOUIN KYOUMA-"

"Sor'y I am Okabe Rintaro." Okabe quickly stated in English stopping Leskinen in his tracks whose face was nothing short of shocked. For Okabe he couldn't hide the shine in his eyes as he readied the kill shot onto his newest arch-nemesis. "P'rease 'eave me a'rone."

And with that Okabe triumphantly turned around and began his victory march to his assistant leaving an utterly defeated and humiliated Leskinen in the center of the crowd. With a speechless Leskinen to his back Okabe finally released a wicked and triumphant smile to his assistant, who was still as stiff as a board, as he had finally claimed his first victory over his newest arch-nemesis Dr. Charon!

You see Okabe realized there was more to a mad scientist than bombastic remarks and declarations of victory. While he promised Kurisu, Hououin Kyouma wouldn't make an appearance tonight didn't mean he couldn't be present. That final exchange with the professor wasn't Okabe Rintaro, rather it was Hououin Kyouma in disguise as Okabe Rintaro. A true mad scientist adapted to his surroundings and Hououin Kyouma was no exception. He had perfectly counted Leskinen's bombastic approach with a more subdued and calculated approach using the more reserved and quiet nature of the banquet to his advantage.

If Hououin Kyouma had fought back with his usual vigor two things could have happened, the most likely of the two was they both get kicked out which he was sure Kurisu wouldn't have appreciated and the second possibility was Leskinen could play it off as a staged event for entertainment leading to an endless night of back of forth and taking precious time he could be spending with Kurisu. Instead fighting Dr. Charon with the approach he used lead to two possibilities all in Hououin Kyouma's favor. One Leskinen tries to save face and doesn't try it for the rest of the night or two if he does he'll probably get kicked out. It was a win-win and Okabe knew this, but what was even more satisfying was knowing Leskinen knew this.

The Mad Scientist Hououin Kyouma had thoroughly and soundly defeated The Evil Doctor Charon.

"Wha'- Lintalo- W-wHAT'S THIS! Y-YOUR ASSISTANT HAS COME TO- hey- ouch let-" Just as Okabe reached Kurisu, bristly walking through the crowd and grabbing Leskinen by the ear was non other than Judy Reyes who carried the professor away from the crowd who applauded, but also let out a collective groan, for her actions before slowly dispersing returning to their seats.

Sighing a sigh of relief Okabe slowly casted his gaze to Kurisu where he gave her a small but easy smile before slyly saying, "Hey."

Once the words and really the whole scene processed in Kurisu's mind she shook her head before turning her gaze to Okabe and returned his smile with one of her own.

"You attract the weirdest people, you know that." Kurisu teased out as Okabe's small smile turned to a stupid grin.

"Well you're my assistant so..." Okabe threw out as Kurisu playfully rolled her eyes before her small smile blossomed into a wide grin.

"Don't lump me in with you freaks." Kurisu cheekily said as the pair continued to smile at one another. It was strange in a moment where she should have been embarrassed beyond belief Kurisu actually felt... at ease.

For the first time since they reunited at the airport it was if they were the only two people in existence. The fear she usually had of being seen by other people or the embarrassment of showing affection to one another vanished and all that was left was this... sensation. This sensation that felt... refreshing.

And it was as she looked into his eyes did she realize why she felt like this.

Okabe was many things, loud, annoying, a total dork, but at this moment one trait of his came to mind, he was good at keeping his promises, especially pinky promises.

She didn't know why, but against all her rationale such a simple request that he followed through left such a profound... sensation in her. One that left her with the inability to latch her eyes away from his. A sensation that made her take a step closer to him.

"Kurisu, Err what are you doing?" Okabe worded uneasily as she inched closer and closer to him as the pair continued gazing into one another. Maybe it was the lights, maybe it was relief but whatever it was for Okabe he couldn't explain why as she inched closer and closer to him his hands had found their way onto her arms as he had held her in place inches away from his face. Nor could he explain why he couldn't tear his eyes away from her as before he knew it she slowly closed her eyes while for reasons he couldn't explain he began to close his before leaning down-

"Please don't kiss infront of me." Of course it might have felt like they were the only two people in the hall in this moment, but in reality dozens upon dozens of people who knew Kurisu were sprawling around them most seemingly indifferent to their actions. But one standing only a few feet away from them was not.

"Sempai!" Kurisu eecked out jumping out of Okabe's soft embrace to face Maho, while Okabe shyly looked away his face burning red.

"If you two are done let us find a table." Maho disgustingly said as she walked passed both Okabe and Kurisu who watched the woman in shock.

"H-hold on, us?" Okabe reactively asked.

"Yes us." Maho replied as she stopped walking and turned around to smirk at him. "This is a banquet, not a date. So whatever perverted fantasy you had thinking of Makise keep it to yourself."

"W-what? You can't be saying things like that!" Okabe exclaimed as Maho shrugged and simply walked away. Okabe continued to glare at her, but just as he was about to turn to Kurisu to tell her how much of a pain this little woman was she passed by him sheepishly following after her.

"Okabe." Kurisu had called out to him looking anywhere but his face while the faintest hint of her earlier blush was still relevant as she motioned with her hand to follow them.

Shaking his head Okabe was not gonna dignify this! He was going to tell Kurisu he refuses to sit or spend any time-

---

five minutes later

"So tell me how did you two meet."

The next thing Okabe knew he was sitting on a table and spending time with Maho Hijayo and Kurisu. Surprisingly Okabe's initial assessment of Maho was misplaced...

She was much worse.

She carried an air of superiority over Okabe that he did not appreciate. Everytime she looked at him she sneered, almost as if she was looking at ants below her, which were probably the only thing shorter than her, and everytime she talked to him it was if she was referring to a child. It pissed him off, but the feeling, for better or worse, felt nostalgic. It was within those five minutes listening to this woman did Okabe realize she was Kurisu's mentor in more ways than one. It was no wonder why Kurisu was the way she was, not only was her mom a bad influence on her but her mentor too!

"We-" Both Okabe and Kurisu said at the sametime as they quickly stopped to look at each other before simultaneously saying to each other. "No you go. Uh no go ahead."

"Are you two really that hopeless?"

"What's that suppose to mean!" Once again both Okabe and Kurisu shouted to Maho at the sametime before both facepalmed simultaneously.

"I feel like I walked into one of those poorly written romance novels." Maho remarked as she crossed her arms before adding with a smirk. "Though I have to admit, it's cute seeing my underling acting like a lovestruck girl."

"Lovestruck!" Kurisu proclaimed as she buried her hands in her face. "Why are you doing this to me?"

"Aye don't be so embarrassed." Maho said as she turned her attention to Okabe. "So I guess I will directly address you one at a time, what made my underling lower her standards enough for you?"

Okabe's mouth gaped opened at the question but it quickly retracted as he was getting use to her tactless nature. Without much thought Okabe quickly retorted what came to his mind, "You don't have many friends do you?"

"What?!" Maho exclaimed at his surprising remark. "What does this have to do with anything!"

The satisfaction Okabe got from knocking that smug smirk off her face was immeasurable, feeling emboldened Okabe followed it up with, "Nothing. Though I'm surprise a woman like you, especially with your charming personality, isn't being accompanied by a dashing man."

"If you think that's going to upset me you're a buffoon." Maho smugly said as she crossed her arms before turning her attention to Kurisu. "Makise, now I really want to know why you're with a guy like him?"

"Sempai please." Kurisu quietly said as she earnestly looked at Maho. "Okabe's right this is why you don't have a boyfriend."

"What?!" Maho exclaimed as she was once again suckered punched and from the unlikeliest of sources.

"I don't mean any disrespect but if you treat everyone you meet like how you're treating Okabe, you're going to scare away everyone." Kurisu said as Maho was at a lost for words, she wasn't expecting this especially from Kurisu!

"Not you too! Kurisu this guy is giving you bad ideas!" Maho cried out but before she could follow it up another voice beat her to the punch.

"On the contrary!" And of course suddenly appearing out of nowhere was Professor Leskinen and Judy Reyes who strutted their way to the table. The trio seated around the table turned around with varying degrees of horror.

For Maho and Kurisu it was more annoyance than anything else, but for Okabe it was something more... well childish. And that is to say he literally thought, "How many times am I gonna have to teach this old man he can't beat The Mad Scientist Hououin Kyouma!'

"I thought Reyes kicked you out?" Without missing a beat Maho deadpanned as both Leskinen and Judy took a seat.

"Ahh no, she just had some important things she needed to tell me." Leskinen answered rather playfully making his handler shake her head.

"I go to the bathroom and as soon as I let him out of my sights he goes and makes a fool out of himself." Ms. Reyes chuckled before turning her attention to Kurisu. "You of all people should know what I'm talking about."

"Wha-"

"Ah, so Maho I see you have already met Okabe Lintalo."

But before Kurisu could ask Ms. Reyes to clarify her earlier statement Leskinen began speaking.

"Unfortunately." Maho flatly stated making Okabe frown deeper at her snide remark.

"Haha, by unfortunately you mean because he's already taken right?" Leskinen jokingly asked as Maho turned a deep red.

"What!"

"Hahaha nothing, it's just Kurisu here is one lucky girl to have a guy like Lintalo. Wouldn't you agree Makise?"

"Shoot me please." Kurisu pleaded as she hid her face from the rest of the table making Leskinen bellow loudly.

"See that Lintalo that means they like you!"

"Sir... are you ok?" Okabe earnestly asked as the thought crossed his mind this guy actually might not be all there and his newest arch-nemesis might have been dropped more than a few times as baby. Which if it was the case didn't make Okabe feel any better about his victories over him.

"Never better!" Leskinen exclaimed as he undid a one of the orange napkins seated on the table and pulled out a fork using it to point at Okabe. "The brisket here is top notch, Lintalo, once you have some I'm sure you will beg to come here every year!"

"Er! I don't think so!" Kurisu proclaimed upon hearing those words.

"Why not? I'm having more fun right now than all of the year combined!" Leskinen exclaimed smiling ear to ear.

"Yeah just you." Kurisu fired back as Leskinen jokingly put his hand over his chest before smirking and saying.

"Are you sure if I remember correctly you and Lintalo are staying in the same house so..."

"Don't say stuff like that!" Kurisu hurriedly exclaimed nearly jumping out of her seat. What was Leskinen trying to-

"He's staying in your house?" Maho suddenly asked as Kurisu quickly turned her attention to Maho.

"No- I meant yes, but we're not doing anything!" Kurisu proclaimed as Okabe nodded along but it only served to emboldened Leskinen.

"Of course! What am I saying, Kurisu was just introducing Lintalo to her mother! Right Makise." Leskinen added as Maho widened her eyes in disbelief.

"Don't- why are you telling them this!" Kurisu yelled to Leskinen who shrugged nonchalantly as he mockingly turned his gaze to Okabe who was just as shocked as Kurisu.

"You took him to meet your mother?" Maho disbelievingly said but before Kurisu could reply Okabe jumped in.

"No, no she didn't!" He tried clarifying before adding. "She unexpectedly walked in on us-"

"Okabe!" Kurisu hurriedly shut him up before he could reveal anything else, but unfortunately for Kurisu and Okabe the damage was already done.

"You're mother walked in on you guys?" Maho said with a tone that reeked with disgust as she couldn't get the disgusting picture of Kurisu and her idiot boyfriend-

"No- well yes, but-"

"Ahh, I remember when my mom walked in on me having sex." Leskinen dreamily said as he looked up recalling the memory before chuckling. "Quite the embarrassment."

"You have the wrong idea!" Okabe quickly said hoping to end this awkward situation before adding without much thought. "We weren't expecting her so-"

"Of course not, that's how most people get caught." Maho deadpanned. While humans were naturally curious hearing all this information about Kurisu's personal life wasn't exactly pleasing. Since that day in the breakroom she wondered what type of relationship Kurisu had with Okabe and right now she had... an answer she wished she could rescind.

"Let me explain it ok!" Kurisu exclaimed while glaring at Okabe making it clear he lost his explaining privileges for the rest of the night before taking a deep breath to steady herself. "We were in my house platonically enjoying a relaxing movie by ourselves when my mom came over as she usually does for the holidays. Nothing happened we were just watching a movie... platonically."

The table of five grew quiet as Kurisu finally sighed a sigh of relief feeling the misunderstanding had been cleared up, then of course he had to open his mouth.

"Was it a nasty movie?"

"Professor Leskinen." Ms. Reyes quickly shut him up as she slapped his arm sending the message loud and clear. "Sorry about that Kurisu."

"At this point I was kinda expecting it." Kurisu admitted with a small chuckle.

"So if you don't mind me asking when did you two meet?" Ms. Reyes asked with a smile as Kurisu reeled from the question.

"Why is everyone asking about that!" Kurisu proclaimed in annoyance.

"Because it's something out of the ordinary." Ms. Reyes stated before explaining. "I've known you since you were sixteen Kurisu and in all that time I've never seen you with a boyfriend. I find it intriguing as I'm pretty everyone here does."

"What are you saying? That everyone is looking at us?" Okabe quickly jumped in making Ms. Reyes chuckle.

"I would say more like looking at you."

"Me?" Okabe uneasily questioned as both him and Kurisu quickly glanced at each other. "Why would they look at me?"

"Simple, Kurisu over here is the pride and joy of this school, she's practically a celebrity in the world of science and academics. You no doubt seen her on sciencey right?" Ms. Reyes explained as Okabe quickly glanced over to Kurisu again then back to Reyes where she continued with. "Basically you're the mystery guy in Kurisu's life that no one till now has seen or even knew existed. That is sure to raise some eyebrows, not only in this school, but in the world of academics."

"You have to be kidding me." Okabe flatly said. While Okabe knew Kurisu was known among many academics he doubted her being seen with him would stir up such a commotion. Or at least he hoped that was the case.

"I'm not." Ms. Reyes said with a smile before saying. "Humans are naturally curious creatures enamored by the most trivial of things, wouldn't you agree Mr. Okabe?"

"But... why?" Okabe instinctively asked hoping to get a more satisfying answer from Ms. Reyes.

"I just explained it..." Ms. Reyes let out shaking her head in a bit of confusion before saying, "Anyways I would really love to hear the story of how you two met."

"I second that!" And suddenly speaking once again was professor Leskinen.

"It's not that spectacular." Kurisu quickly dismissed before adding. "And besides it's not like we're dating or anything."

"Yeah we're only friends." Okabe slowly stated as his mind and thoughts finally shifted back to reality and away from Reyes' earlier comments.

Smilingly ear to ear Leskinen excitedly asked, "Is that what the young people call it nowadays?"

"We're not dating!" Kurisu exasperated clearly frustrated and two seconds away from literally punching Leskinen in the face.

"You know you keep saying that it's getting annoying." Instead Maho rudely responded putting any thoughts of punching Leskinen in the face to rest. Turing to face her mentor Kurisu was about to refute Maho before she suddenly continued adding. "You sound like a little girl when you say that. It's almost as if you're embarrassed and I don't know why, it's not like he's ugly or anything."

"What!" Kurisu and Okabe both exclaimed at Maho's backhanded compliment.

"Ahh, so Ms. Hijayo thinks Lintalo is handsome?" Leskinen playfully teased before anyone could even react as Maho blushed crimson at the accusation, realizing the implications of what she had just said.

"I didn't say that! I just said he wasn't ugly!" Maho shouted back to the professor who laughed at her reaction. "Argh! Will you stop that!"

"Wow Lintalo, not even ten minutes and you have another girl under your thumb." Leskinen managed to joke between chuckles before bursting into an uncontrollable fit of laughter.

Grabbing his face upon hearing the professor's words Okabe shook his head before reactively muttering to himself the first thing that came to his mind, "You sound like my father."

"What's this?" Leskinen upon hearing Okabe's mutter immediately stopped laughing and quickly turned his attention to a now shocked Okabe who realized Leskinen had heard him. "So this a common occurrence for you?"

"Wha'- wa-"

"It's not." Without missing a beat Kurisu quickly jumped in glaring at Leskinen before adding with an icy tone that didn't go unnoticed by everyone seated at the table. "I'm pretty sure Okabe said that because of his lab."

The table had turned silent as Kurisu continued her unrelenting glare at Leskinen who was actually taken back by her statement, though not for any reasons Kurisu would have liked.

"His lab?" Leskinen, Reyes, and Maho proclaimed simultaneously while Okabe and Kurisu quickly flushed red realizing she let slip a very embarrassing fact neither wanted to explain.

"F-forget-"

"You have your own lab!" Leskinen exploded with child like gleam as he actually jumped out of his seat unable to contain his excitement.

"Well... yeah, it's-"

"More like a club!" Kurisu quickly butted in figuring it would be less embarrassing simply calling it what it was then trying to explain some of the more weird and wacky things that went on in there. That and the fact she rather be caught dead than letting her coworkers know she's part of some chunnibyou's make believe laboratory.

"Christina-"

"A club!" Leskinen exclaimed beaming as he nearly ran over to Okabe's side before Ms. Reyes pulled him back down to his chair. But Okabe didn't care about that right now, right now Kurisu crossed a line never meant to be crossed! His lab was really a lab not a club! They invented stuff and did experiments so calling it a club was a slap to the future gadget laboratory and every single members face! She was- "Can I join!"

"No!" Okabe reactively exclaimed upon hearing Leskinen's question (which interrupted his thoughts about how he was gonna disciple his assistant) as the thought of having this, grade A weirdo who was at least twice their age in his lab was already giving him nightmares.

"But Lintalo-"

"So this lab of yours I take it, has a lot of girls in it?" Maho suddenly said shocking everyone seated at the table as everyone froze and just stared at her, yes even Leskinen. "What?"

"I will tell you what." Leskinen seriously said before he suddenly shot straight up from his seat again and pointed a finger at Maho exclaiming loudly, "I think someone wants to join Lintalo's lab!"

"W-what I was just making a logical conclusion based off of what Kurisu said! Why would I want to join his stupid lab!" Maho with a face mimicking a tomato defended herself making Leskinen laugh even harder but before he could continue Ms. Reyes once again pulled him down back to his seat before turning her attention to Okabe.

"So Okabe, tell me is Kurisu part of your lab?"

Taken by surprise Okabe quickly turned to Kurisu who was already staring at him wide eyed unsure of what to say. Turning away and meeting Ms. Reye's gaze Okabe slowly worded, "Well... Christina- I meant, Kurisu... yeah, she is."

"Okabe." Kurisu quickly whispered embarrassed shielding her face trying to hide the blush that assaulted her.

"Ah I forgot you're the Mad Scientist right?" Ms. Reyes said with an easy smile before adding. "I remember you. You're the one who called Kurisu a few months back right? The one Professor Leskinen made an ass of himself with?"

"I...uhh yeah."

"So Okabe, if you're the mad scientist what is our school's pride and joy in your lab?" Ms. Reyes earnestly asked with a bit of a teasing edge.

"Well..." Okabe began slowly casting his gaze to Kurisu who was still looking away and shielding her face with her hands as a small smile crept up to his face. "She's the most important part of my lab. She's my assistant."

"Okabe!" Kurisu cried out in a whimper as she fully buried her face in her arms on the table embarrassed beyond the point of no return.

"That's a cute way of-"

"Here's your meals." Just as Ms. Reyes was going to continue the conversation suddenly appearing before them was an attendant with a large cart carrying numerous plates unloading them and placing them on the table.

Though once he left Ms. Reyes never did finish her sentence as Maho silently gazed upon her still embarrassed underling.

Kurisu was many things and while Maho could admit Kurisu was better than her at almost every facet of life this highlighted a fact Maho was well aware of.

Kurisu in many ways was still a girl.

---

One hour later

"So then I said, 'I thought the little blue pill was a flavor enhancer how was I suppose to know slipping it in your coffee would do that!' hahahahah!" To say things had gone differently than what Okabe had expected would be an understatement. Instead of counting the seconds for this banquet to end Okabe had learned a lot about the one and only Alexis Leskinen and that was to say he learned Leskinen was a boy trapped in a man's body. Some of the things Leskinen did, talked about, or was planning to do were just... well borderline insane. This man acted like he was in a frat party twenty-four seven doing absurd antics and pranks for kicks and giggles, with one of those antics being the story he just finished explaining. Okabe didn't even know where to begin with that story, but bottomline was he slipped some Viagra to a fellow colleague's coffee just before he was to give a presentation to renowned scientists from across the world leading to a... well very uncomfortable presentation that almost ruined the victim's reputation.

And before that, there was the one where Leskinen almost lost his job after putting firecrackers in a metal trashcan and lighting them during a presentation given by a man who was seventy two years old nearly causing the man to have a heart attack.

It was absurd what Leskinen did! Or in other words Okabe was insanely jealous of this man!

He was living the dream any kid would want to live, a high paying job, a hot... whatever Ms. Reyes was to him, and the cherry on top the ability to still act like a kid and get away with it. That surely was the life to be living. To do and act like you wanted without the fear of consequences was the epitome of a childhood dream for virtually anyone. Sure Leskinen had his detractors like Maho and to an extent Kurisu, but hell according to Leskinen they were all friends in some shape or form. While calling them friends might have been a stretch they at least tolerated him enough to be eating with him while maintaining decent conversations that never seemed to veer into being forced or disingenuous.

Though take that with a grain of salt, Leskinen, like Okabe's mom, could talk for days and any topic was fair game.

As it was most of their conversations were just Leskinen recounting various pranks he had pulled on various people around the school, but the man could talk about anything, movies, animes, weird trivia, the traditions of being a shaman girl, hell he even gave pointers to Okabe about lab coats and where to find some! Leskinen was the definition of an enigma, an hour ago Okabe had assumed Leskinen would have made this entire thing miserable or awkward, but now Okabe was tittering on giving Leskinen credit for making this event somewhat enjoyable.

He gave Okabe a break from the constant headache Kurisu's mom brought in the two days and a half that she was with them and it also let his mind rest letting him think about nothing, something he severely needed since he found out about this trip, and just enjoy the present.

Oh and there was the brisket. Leskinen wasn't lying it was the best damn brisket he had ever had!

But back to his original point, Leskinen was... living a dream. And maybe Okabe was being a little disingenuous with his earlier comments about it being everyone's dream, but for sure Leskinen was living his dream.

That dream being no matter how much time would pass, he would always be the Mad Scientist. It was just a fact of life that with time came change and what better of an example than himself. Two years ago the thought he would go to another country simply to be with a girl was unimaginable, hell even being with a girl romantically for the matter seemed impossible, now those alien concepts seemed natural. Time was already changing him whether he liked it or not or more appropriately the people he met during that time was changing him.

When he was younger, Okabe had always heard from adults when you meet that special someone you change to please to them, to make them happy, but as a child he hated the notion. Those ideas seemed foreign and stupid, why would he change simply to please someone, but before he knew it that is what he found himself doing. With the realization the feeling wasn't bitter or met with resentment, in fact you could say he derived pleasure from it. Yes in a way you could say, like many things about childhood, what he despised then he was actively enjoying now. A testament to how change is both frightening and exhilarating, shifting and changing at the moment. It was like moving out of your parents house for the very first time, one day you might be excited beyond belief only for the next day to feel incredibly lonely, but wasn't that just part of growing up? Accepting and embracing the unknowns? Acknowledging what seems to last forever now will one day become distant memories?

But as Leskinen showed, did it always have to be the case?

Everyone that Okabe saw around Leskinen found him annoying, yet they respected him, they listened to him and they put up with him. Okabe previously believed that wasn't possible, how could such an immature and eccentric person garner so much respect or even make it as far in life as Leskinen did acting and doing the things he did? It was like... a peek into a future he could only dream about, a future he had long since shelved in favor of a grounded and mundane existence. And maybe Leskinen was an outlier and a future like that was impossible for Okabe or maybe there was more to it, perhaps Leskinen was like him and figured out how to live the life he wanted, either way Okabe didn't have the answer at the moment, all he knew was maybe growing up wasn't as uniformed as he thought...

Or there was always the possibility Leskinen was certifiably insane and people just put up with him because he might blow up something if they didn't.

...

Yeah... in that moment Okabe decided to heed his own advice and not think of anything after the latest thought about Leskinen...

"Hello everyone and welcome to our annual celebration of tomorrow's future scientist and leaders." Suddenly breaking through the chatter and garnering everyone's attention was the voice of a woman, whose appearance didn't match the perky and youthful voice she spoke with, standing on the elevated stage at the back of the hall. "But before we get to what all of you have been waiting for all, we at the Neuroscience school at Viktor Chondria University want to give a special shout out and thank you to our caterers today over at Chase the Taste for providing us with the food and beverages today, you guys knocked it out of the ballpark today, especially with the brisket! Now let's give them a round of applause!"

As the woman on stage led the charge of applauds Okabe leaned into Kurisu, who was clapping her hands, and whispered, "Who is she?"

Surprisingly instead of answering with a rude remark or eye roll she leaned over (still clapping) and whispered, "She's the coordinator for our department. She is the one who sets up all these kind of events."

Perking an eyebrow Okabe whispered back, "I thought that was Leskinen?"

"Did someone say my name?" Without missing a beat and nearly leaning across the table to join their whispering chat was the person in question as both Kurisu and Okabe turned to glare at him immediately ending their conversation and focusing their attention back to the woman.

"Now I wanna give a few words before we start handing out our first set of awards. I am amazed and proud to have the honor to work with and witness all the talent and accomplishments I see here year in and year out, you are some of the smartest people in the world and it is you, the students and the staff, that make this campus what it is. From your breakthroughs in artificial intelligence with the Amadeus initiative, which we will be showcasing in this year's Superbowl, led by Dr. Alexis Leskinen and Dr. Maho Hijayo, to your groundbreaking research on cognitive disorders and their affect on people with diseases such as alzheimers and bipolar. You are the reason I come to work with a smile on my face wondering about the extraordinary accomplishments I will see today from all of you and I will be the first to admit in the twenty years I've worked here, there has never been a boring day. So please give a round of a applause to yourselves, you all deserve it."

With those words the building erupted into loud, but not rambunctious, applauds, as Okabe awkwardly swiveld his head looking at everyone applauding. It didn't take long as his gaze eventually landed on his assistant who surprisingly was staring at him curiously before she quickly looked the other way being caught. Perking an eyebrow Okabe internally guffaw at her actions before deciding to follow everyone's lead and applaud, but just as he commenced his clapping everyone else had just finished, leaving Okabe the sole clapper in the building for a few seconds before a few other people hesitantly joined him leading to another round of confused and hesitant applauds from everyone.

Of course without missing a beat Kurisu, while hiding her face with a shade of scarlet, quickly grabbed his left arm and pulled it down, clearly embarrassed by his unintentional instigation of a second wave of applauds. But she wasn't the only one seated with him who took note of his fumble as Ms. Reyes and Leskinen chuckled in response while Maho rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"Haha! Thank you for your enthusiasm! Now let's get down to business. This year we will be starting off with the best research paper submitted by a group led by students this fall. As you know at the beginning of the semester every student pursuing a Doctorate in this field must be assigned to a group of five and submit a research paper at the end of the year detailing a topic related to our field of study. All of you who participated gave wonderful and detailed papers, making this selection process even harder, but we did have a unanimous winner." The woman on the stage began as without missing a beat she turned around and to Okabe's surprise there standing not even three feet away was another woman handing her an envelope which she swiftly opened and read. "For their research on how certain micro-organisms and bacterias alter and affect the brain through various stages of life, and even getting their paper published on the science magazine, Sciency it is my honor to present the award for best research paper led by students to, Kurisu Makise, Stacy Metz, Ted Williams, Jorge Fernandez and Fred Thompson may you please come up here and receive your awards."

Okabe may not have understood English that well, but he understood her name regardless of language. While everyone began applauding Okabe shifted his attention to the person next to him as he opened his mouth to congratulate her but just as he began Kurisu quickly turned to him her face still flushed and burning.

"Don't. Say. Anything." She sternly ordered making Okabe shut his mouth before he even began, but it wasn't lost on him that clearly she was flustered at the announcement. Quickly she stood up and awkwardly began making her way to the stage where Okabe quietly watched her.

And not even two seconds in a familiar voice interrupted him.

"Ahh, isn't that sweet." Leskinen suddenly said turning around to face Okabe. "She's all embarrassed because you're here."

"Please don't start." But before Okabe could even react to his comment Maho rudely jumped in shutting Leskinen up who chuckled quietly before shifting his attention to the award stage where now every member of Kurisu's group stood each with an award in their hands.

Okabe quickly took note of the awards and while they weren't the biggest that were on stage they were still an impressive size and from a distance looked quality made. But just as he sized up the awards the lady on stage made her way back to the mic saying, "Now I wanna give this opportunity for our award winners to say a few words, so Ms. Makise, you were appointed leader of this group so the stage is all yours."

Even far away Okabe could see the slight hesitation and surprise that plastered Kurisu's face as the lady spoke those words. Makise shaking her head and saying some inaudible words clearly did not want to say a few words, but her complains fell on deaf ears as the lady on stage seemed to smile even broader and from Okabe's perspective persisted even harder. After a small back and forth, Kurisu shook her hand and with the apparent encouragement from her group members awkwardly made her way to the mic where she was met with a round of applauds

Looking noticeably more uncomfortable Kurisu began timidly with, "Um, thank you all." And as Okabe noticed, as she stopped to gather her thoughts her hands wrapped around the award tighter turning her knuckles white before meekly continuing with. "I-I uh, I think I speak for everyone here that we are truly grateful for the recognition and award- I worked really hard on this paper and found out some interesting things... I- meant we!- We... sorry- about that, I meant we, the team, together, so... um-... we... some... interesting stuff... that... we... uh, found interesting... so the paper has all that incase you wanna see it... or not... if you don't so...thank you for the award we worked really hard, so um, thank you. Goodbye."

With that Kurisu, burning red, nodded all but indicating she was finished as the lady on stage who had handed the award swooped in and tried to salvage a nuclear explosion of awkwardness that was Kurisu's little speech, by leading another round of applauds taking the mic from Kurisu. Walking back to her group Kurisu couldn't help but just look at the floor as she could feel the heat of shame and embarrassment rise to her face as she took her place alongside her colleagues while the lady on stage gave them some congratulating words before dismissing them.

This. Was. Ridiculous.

Out of all the times to have a mental gaffe why now? Never before had she ever messed up this badly. She's given dozens of seminars and speeches and never once has she ever fallen flat on her face like right now. It was beyond horrible! Sure for most people a moment like this would have ruined anyone's evening, but for Kurisu it wasn't a stretch to say it was worse for her than if it happened to anyone else! You see Kurisu wasn't exactly the most... liked, you could say, among her peers. She was afterall the girl who landed on Sciency at seventeen and was on the fast track to get her Doctorate by the time most people were barely getting their associate's, so it wasn't a stretch to say how she flubbed her words wasn't exactly well received. Out of everything she could say she had to accidentally say I oppose to we, undoubtedly giving her critics even more fuel to gossip about.

Without a doubt if her detractors wanted to portray her as a self absorbed snob what better way than for her to accidentally insinuate she was the sole reason they won this award?

That was just ways things were, with recognition came jealousy and Kurisu knew this all too well, all her life she was exposed to the harsh reality nobody wants to admit about being gifted. She was well aware many people resented her for the simple fact she was smarter than them and she was also well aware more people than she would like to think shared those same sentiments.

Since she could remember it had always been like that, all her life she had been the adult's darling prodigy while at the sametime among her classmates she had always been a stuck up teacher's pet. You would think with age those childish sentiments would naturally vanish, but in reality they seemed to only get more childish. Even now among the professor's and older lab partners she was revered as a genius, but among fellow students and coworkers around her age she was despised and perceived as a snob. Granted for Kurisu while it did bother her... a lot... it wasn't gonna stop her being who she was. She was a genius, a scientist, a prodigy, a few nasty words here and there wasn't going to stop her being who she was and what made her happy. And besides at least some people actually liked her.

Though even with all that said it still didn't explain why her mind was shot and her words were shaky at best, she wasn't one to shy away from public speaking so why was she having so much trouble right now? But before she could dwell more on the matter she found herself walking down the steps of the stage among her peers, each smiling ear to ear and pleased with their awards. While Kurisu had a tight frown and her eyes glued to the floor, that is until one of her group members broke that trend.

"Hey you're sitting with Professor Leskinen right?" Jorge Fernandez, the short and defacto number two of their group, directed at her catching Kurisu offguard as she abruptly looked up to face the four other members all staring back at her waiting for a response.

This was odd.

"Y-yeah why?" Kurisu curiously questioned as Jorge immediately answered her.

"He told me he wanted to talk to us."

"What?" Kurisu promptly stated before suddenly Stacy Metz, the blonde and only other female in their group, decided to jump in the conversation.

"Yeah he told me the same thing too. He said he had some big news in stored for us." Stacy said staggering Kurisu into oblivion while her mind tried wrapping itself around of what was happening, but before she could even begin to another member of her group spoke up.

"Same here, plus I've been meaning to settle a debate with Fred over here, that requires Dr. Leskinen's expertise." That was Ted Williams, the patsey, scrawny geek, who spoke while simultaneously trying to shove the clearly too large award in his pants pocket.

"Gosh, Ted! I told you not to bring that up here!" And rounding up the group of five was Fred Thompson, the portly and pimple ridden member of their group, who exasperated his gripe with his fellow group member by rolling his eyes before adding rudely, "And stop trying to put that in your pants you weirdo."

"I just want to see if it fits Fred! What if I fall? How am I gonna break my fall if both hands are busy holding this award? I need both hands to make a secure and safe landing! Or what if someone or some people attack this place and we need to make a quick getaway or I need to a fight them-"

"Stop embarrassing yourself!" Fred quickly exclaimed cutting Ted off but before either could begin a back and forth Jorge put a quick end to it by simply continuing where his conversation with Kurisu left off.

"Any how, you wouldn't mind if we go with you to see Professor Leskinen would you, Kurisu?"

With her mind still trying to process what was just happening a slightly confused Kurisu slowly nodded her head unsure of what to make of the whole situation.

"Well if he said he needed to talk to all of us... then..." It was in that moment the color from Kurisu's face immediately paled before being replaced with a reddish haze of pure anger as she finally connected the dots on why Professor Leskinen would remotely want to talk these people and more specifically at their table!... that son of a bitch. "No!"

"No?" Stacy quickly replied shocked by Kurisu's sudden change in demeanor.

"No! You can't come!" Kurisu hurriedly proclaimed shocking her colleagues even more.

"But you just said-"

"Forget what I said! Trust me it will be more beneficial if you don't-"

"Ahh Makise there you are!" And of course not even being able to finish her sentence his voice was right in back of her where she could feel his shit eating grin radiating from the back of her head. "Lintalo was getting worried!"

This man really, really needed to be punched in the face and if it wasn't for Jorge beginning to talk to him she was sure she would have done just that.

"Professor Leskinen, what is it you needed to talk to us about?" Jorge had simply asked as Kurisu turned around to face Leskinen who somehow promptly smiled wider before saying.

"Ahh yes, let's discuss this over at my table after all the next few awards are gonna be in a few mintues so we have plenty of time to discuss what needs to be discussed."

"You can't-"

"Great!" Ted exclaimed excitedly cutting off Kurisu as he strolled up next to Leskinen. "Sir, I have some questions that only you can answer!"

"I can't believe you are gonna bring that up here Ted!" Fred quickly said as he walked up to Leskinen and between Kurisu.

"Ahh, whatever question it is I'm sure it can wait for when we get to my table there is someone I want all of you to meet!" Leskinen excitedly answered as that grabbed everyone's attention while Kurisu reeled back flabbergasted.

He couldn't be serious could he!?

"There is no one to meet!" Kurisu hurriedly proclaimed glaring at Leskinen while her odd behavior only served to ratchet up her colleagues curiosity.

"You're acting weird Kurisu." Stacy calmly stated to which Kurisu reacted with what could only be described as the opposite of calm.

"I'm not!"

"She's just nervous." Leskinen quipped making Kurisu growl in frustration.

"I'm not nervous!"

"I don't know about that, you're sweating." Stacy quipped as Kurisu self consciously wiped at her brow to find the unpleasant surprise it was basically soaking wet.

This couldn't be real!

"I-it's hot in here!" Kurisu unconvincingly explained making both Stacy and Leskinen chuckle.

"Let's not waste any more time. Let's go." Leskinen simply said as he began his walk towards their table.

This was really happening... wasn't it?

Kurisu frozen with shock could only watch as Leskinen began leading a group of her colleagues to their table where... this... this was quickly turning into a nightmare... and the only way it could get worse was if that idiot Okabe started acting like an idiot. So just like a nightmare compelled by forces out of her control Kurisu begrudgingly followed after them dreading every step she took.

After what felt like an eternity, but in reality was at best a few seconds, they were finally a few feet away from the table where Ms. Reyes promptly smiled then waved at them. Her heartbeat skyrocketed, as her hands became slick with sweat and her throat tightened with every lump she swallowed as her world of school and work were gonna collide with her personal life in the worse way possible. She didn't even want to picture what Leskinen had planned for this or if he even had a plan and was just shooting an arrow in the air seeing where it landed hoping-

"Hey where's Lintalo?" Suddenly Leskinen asked ripping Kurisu out of her thoughts as her gaze promptly snapped to Okabe's, now, empty seat.

Thank G-

Wait? Where was that idiot!

Great, now Okabe was somewhere in this hall probably making a fool of himself! Was he trying to give her a heart attack or something!

"Oh he went to the bathroom." Ms. Reyes answered as Leskinen groaned in disappointment while Kurisu was torn between being relieved Okabe wasn't here to worrying that Okabe wasn't here.

Right now being Kurisu was not a pleasant thing to put it mildly.

"Did he barely go?" Leskinen asked almost as if it hurt while everyone awkwardly stood behind him waiting and wondering what the hell was going on.

"No, he left when you left and yes I know what you are gonna ask next, no I don't know what he went to do." Ms. Reyes said as Leskinen let out another groan.

"You didn't ask!?" Leskinen cried out as Reyes shook her head making Leskinen slump his head in defeat. "Fine, hey you guys here have a seat, except that one over there."

Leskinen flatly ordered as the group of five promptly did.

"Uh, h-hi Ms. Hijayo." Through the shuffle of chairs and feet, was the shy voice of Jorge who stood timidly by the seat to the side of the person in question who didn't even register his presence. "Umm, c-can I sit here?"

Without even turning to look at the boy Maho, who was instead studying a nervous Kurisu, threw over her shoulder, "It's Dr. Hijayo."

"Oh, uh sorry Ms- I meant Dr. Hijayo. May I- can I please sit here?"

"Do what you want." Maho plainly said as she couldn't pry her eyes away from Kurisu even if she tried. The girl was borderline frantic, her eyes twitching back and forth while her forehead had a small gleam to it with sweat, all but indicating to Maho she no doubt was looking for Okabe.

What a-

"Oh uh, thank you." And interrupting her thoughts was that awkward kid who clumsily pulled out the chair next to Maho accidentally hitting one of her chair's legs' before immediately apologizing only to hurriedly take a seat on his chair... without pushing it closer to the table. With Jorge's front chair legs next to the back of Maho's chair legs he stayed there for a few dreadful seconds before awkwardly scooting his chair to it's proper place with all the squeaking possible.

Luckily for him Maho could care less and on the other side of the table was a more interesting sight, which was a nervous wreck called Kurisu. She couldn't help but nervously keep on the lookout for Okabe and whenever he might appear, prompting an almost wild look to her that didn't go unnoticed by everyone there. Usually with such attention Kurisu would have tried her best to dispel it, but right now her mind was solely focused on what to do once Okabe would inevitably appear. There were many scenarios she drew up in her head and many plans she came up with, like go and look for Okabe to let him know of the trap Leskinen had placed for them or go to the bathroom for the rest of the banquet so at least she didn't have to be present when Okabe inevitably met them. Then there was always just punching Leskinen in the face-

"Kurisu? Are you alright?" Snapping Kurisu out of her thoughts she turned her attention back to the table and to the person sitting next to her.

"Um yeah why?" She clumsily said which didn't instill any confidence in the girl who asked.

"Weeellll..." Stacy drew out as a mischievous glint twinkled on her eyes, "...you look like you're waiting for someone."

"What! O-of course not!" Kurisu exclaimed as the smirk on Stacy's face widened.

"You totally are!" Stacy beamed before hurriedly adding, "Is he cute!?"

"He's not!- I meant-"

"So it's a guy!" Stacy nearly screamed as Kurisu's face boiled with embarrassment.

"I-I no! I'm just... why is that important?!"

"I've never seen you like this Kurisu!" Stacy exclaimed as Kurisu dug her hands into her face. "Your so calm and cool, it's like I'm seeing a totally new side to you!"

"I'm acting like I always act!" Kurisu defended fiercely which only caused Stacy to laugh. "It's not funny!"

"I'm sorry, but you should see your face!" Stacy proclaimed as she busted into an uncontrollable obnoxious laugh while everyone seated around the table only stared grossly entertained at what was unfolding. Of course out of the nine people currently seated on the table only one was far from amused and that was Maho Hijayo.

She just stared at her underling shaking her head at how utterly ridiculous Kurisu looked right now. It was almost as if she was actively trying to make a fool out of herself and right now Maho didn't know if it was because this was how Kurisu always was or if her boyfriend was polluting her friend's mind with his idiocracy. Either way it didn't sit well with Maho. Perhaps because Maho and Kurisu were separated only by a few years she had always perceived their relationship more akin to siblings than mentor and mentee. Kurisu was a prodigy a once in a lifetime talent, a title Maho once thought she possessed. Maho had always been a fast learner and had always been smarter than those around her, her position at such a young age was testament to that, but then she met Kurisu and realized what a true prodigy was. The girl was literally everything she was, but better. She was a quicker learner, she was smarter and she was more ambitious.

When Makise came to this university that is what stuck out the most to her, Kurisu's ambition. Kurisu wanted to be the best, but she wanted to be much more than that, she wanted even her worst enemy to acknowledge she was the best and for Kurisu's part she was able to do just that. When Maho was touted as a young prodigy, she felt the sky was the limit, with Kurisu however the sky was only a stepping stone to what her true goal was, in fact it wouldn't be stretch to say Kurisu didn't have a goal. She was just aimlessly ascending higher and higher until eventually she couldn't ascend any higher. You could tell by how she talked, how she moved and how her eyes, usually soft and welcoming, became rigid and determined when she focused her mind to a theory or problem. It amazed Maho, but at the sametime it frustrated her. Theories and formulas that took weeks to months for her to fully comprehend, Kurisu could grasp it and run with it within days.

But her smarts were not the only thing Maho envied about Kurisu, there was also her personality. Kurisu was approachable and likeable, Maho was... well she wasn't that. Her temper was as short as she was and Maho was well aware of the fact. Most of her brash and abrasive attitude stemmed from her height and everything it included, the constant stares, the finger pointing, the name calling when she was younger and worse of all was confusing her for a child.

While each bothered her that last one stung the worse and when she met Kurisu it only infuriated her more.

Kurisu was younger than her and while she might have been smarter, a faster learner and more likeable, she in many ways was the child. Maho had always acted older than she really was and whether that was because she was constantly being confused for a child or because her formative years were spent with older people, Maho was undoubtedly matured beyond her years. Kurisu on the other hand was not. She wasn't saying Kurisu acted like a kid, but there were certain things Kurisu handled that didn't correlate with her intelligence. It became apparent the more Maho came to know the girl, with the first time Maho questioning her maturity being when she caught Kurisu browsing channel.

It wasn't so much the fact Kurisu was browsing it but rather Kurisu denied it and kept denying it until she just couldn't anymore. You see Maho had learned early in her life, for a lot of younger people they have this image of what the ideal adult should be. How they present themselves, how they support themselves, but the most egregious one of all was the notion an adult could only like certain things. Whether that meant adults shouldn't watch cartoons or like sugar, the notion with maturity and age came disassociating from certain interest was absurd, if anything it was the opposite. Hobbies, interest and generally anything that gives someone pleasure shouldn't be met with shame of any kind. Sure it was easier said than done, but for the most part someone knowing you still eat ring pops or like bathing with rubber ducky's wasn't going to change how they perceive you, unless they were assholes, but assholes are assholes for reasons. If anything the biggest problems are the problems made up in the person's head who's hiding their interest out of shame or embarrassment and to Maho that was the definition of being childish.

There is nothing wrong with liking things that give you pleasure and while yes there are some things that should be kept private, things like browsing channel weren't one of those things and neither should denying your feelings for another human being.

That is what infuriated Maho the most about Kurisu. Kurisu obviously liked Okabe and Okabe liked Kurisu, but from the time she spent with them they acted like they were ashamed of the fact. Which was infuriating!

'We're not dating, we're only friends' the only people they were fooling were themselves and with relationships that is the most dangerous thing a couple could do. It didn't matter what Maho thought, or what stupid prank Leskinen did all that mattered was what Kurisu and Okabe thought about themselves and as the old saying goes, say it enough times and you start believing it. Now Maho didn't know how they were behind closed doors... (and she had to bleach her brain now), but she doubted they didn't act too differently they how they acted now.

Maybe Kurisu was smarter than her, a quicker learner than her and more likeable than her, but Maho was still her mentor and while for most of their time together it seemed the other way around it was still her duty to help her underling as best as she could.

"So is he tall? Is he handsome! Please tell me I need to know!" Stacy exclaimed as for the pass two minutes she was busy pestering Kurisu.

"I told you there is no one-"

"Ahh, Lintalo! Good of you to join us!" Of course, just like poetry he was right there while standing next to him was Professor Leskinen with a hand drape over Okabe's shoulder. "Everyone this is Lintalo Okabe, he is my guest if honor tonight and really the whole's school."

Everyone blankly stared at the duo as the table grew quiet at Okabe's arrival.

"So is this who you wanted us to meet?" Jorge was the first to speak as he took in Okabe like many of his colleagues did.

"Yes." Leskinen excitedly answered as he just stared at the table that fell into another bout of silence for a few awkward seconds.

"Umm, is he like a scientist or something?" Fred question breaking the silence as Leskinen's smile widened.

"You can say that!" He laughed loudly giving Okabe a hard pat in the back that nearly knocked him over.

"Oh I get it. So this has to do with our research paper?" Jorge smiled at his guess to which Leskinen shook his head.

"No no, it has nothing to do with that." Leskinen admitted which drew confusion over everyone's face expect Kurisu and Stacy, who was biting her lip in excitement staring at a nervous Kurisu. But for Okabe he just awkwardly stood next to Leskinen with a timid smile plastered on his face not exactly sure what was going on as everything that was happening was in English before Leskinen suddenly leaned into his ear and whispered in Japanese. "Two can play your game Hououin Kyouma "

"What?" Okabe gasped which was quickly met with a soft chuckle.

"Dr. Charon always has an ace in the hole." Leskinen once again whispered sinisterly before shifting his attention back to the table to joyously proclaim in English. "I just wanted to introduce you guys to my new favorite person in the whole world that I'm pretty sure most of you will be seeing a lot more of in the future."

"Uhhh, alright?" Jorge asked before adding. "I'm sorry, but who exactly is this guy?"

"Not just any guy, this is Kurisu's boyfriend!" Leskinen exclaimed excitedly as everyone gasped at the sudden revelation, except Stacy who nearly squealed in excitement, Maho who rolled her eyes and Reyes who shook her head in amusement, before the table fell into a deafening silence for a few long seconds before breaking it was Ted.

"You have a boyfriend!" He cried out pointing at an incredulous Kurisu which was followed up by Fred.

"It's not like you had a chance!" He spat out crossing his arms while Stacy slung her arm around a shell shocked Kurisu.

"W-what did you say?" Okabe asked Leskinen his tone draped in angst and fear as the table full of strangers erupted into a million words he couldn't understand, but he understood they were directed at him.

"I told them you were Kurisu's boyfriend." Leskinen smugly answered back as Okabe's mouth literally gaped opened at the revelation.

"Wh-why we're just friends!" Okabe cried out before Leskinen wrapped his arm around Okabe to quiet him with a shhh.

"Do you feel this feeling of dread and embarrassment?" Leskinen whispered sinisterly to Okabe. "This is how I felt when you didn't engage with him earlier. What you thought you had pulled a fast one over Dr. Charon? Think I would be easily defeated? Well Hououin Kyouma you were dead wrong, no one can outsmart The Evil Doctor Charon, not even a Mad Scientist."

"You're crazy!" Okabe loudly whispered back.

"No this is payback so as of now we are even." Leskinen replied evenly while he chuckled softly before letting go of Okabe as he took a step to his seat next to Judy Reyes, who rolled her eyes at the professor's theatrics. "But in the future Lintalo if I was you I would think long and hard of what battles you wanna fight with me."

With those words Leskinen sat down on his chair smiling smugly and proudly as Okabe couldn't help but just stare at him. There was plenty of time to dwell on the fact his earlier victory had been in vain as ultimately it was Leskinen who won this battle as Okabe's moment of brilliance was for not. But while Okabe was shocked, angry and embarrassed he had to admit Professor Leskinen was truly the Evil Doctor Charon. Though with that being said the reason currently Okabe was inhabiting a nightmare he was gonna have to navigate through. Turning to finally look at Kurisu after Leskinen revealed what he had just done Okabe was treated to the sight of an embarrassed Kurisu pleading in English to the people around her that there wasn't anything going on between him and her.

Or at least he was sure she was as almost every other sentence that left her mouth was, only friends.

Slowly Okabe took a step forward as he swallowed a lump in his throat as he passed Leskinen, who was watching him like a vulture, and made his way to his seat.

There were many things going through his mind, too many to narrow even half of them down but as he reached for his chair to sit on he wouldn't need to think about any of them for long as suddenly Maho's voice cut through all the noise around them.

"Kurisu can I speak to you?" Just like earlier Maho suddenly spoke up asking to speak to Kurisu again and just as kurisu looked at her she once again added, "Alone."

It caught Okabe off-guard as he turned to Kurisu who kept her eyes focused on Maho never even entertaining the thought of looking at him before she bristly stood up and followed her mentor away from the table. As Okabe watched them get lost in the sea of people again he slowly sat down with a feeling that could only be described as disappointing. It was hard to pinpoint exactly why, but perhaps he had wished she had stayed here and help deflect the situation Leskinen had put them in.

---

"Kurisu-"

"What!" She angrily spat out to Maho who stood unamused and crossed arm infront of her.

"Don't be mad at me." Maho sternly stated.

"I know what you're going to say and I will tell you I don't care!" Kurisu shouted in a huff, her anger oozing with everything symbol. "I can't believe he would do this especially right now! What the hell is Leskinen's problem! He should-"

"You know Kurisu it's your fault." Maho calmly stated which served to only anger Kurisu more.

"My fault! For what! It's all that assholes fault! I didn't want Okabe to come for this reason but what was I suppose to do tell him not to come! That asshole tricked Okabe to come, bought his plane ticket and what was I suppose to do!? Leave him alone in my house the entire time he was here like if he was some animal! It's not my fault! So if you have something to say then say it! I'm not in the mood for this!"

"I do have something to say." Maho replied evenly and calmly almost as if she didn't hear the venom coursing through Kurisu.

"What!"

"Kurisu, why are you embarrassed?" Maho simply asked catching Kurisu off-guard as her intensity died down a bit before her mind registered the question.

"Don't give that bull! You-"

"No Kurisu I am asking why are you embarrassed of Okabe?" Maho questioned cutting off Kurisu who upon hearing the question immediately stopped and only stared at Maho.

"What the hell does that have to do with this!" Kurisu retorted fiercely as Maho remained calm at her underlings antics.

"I think it has everything to do with it." Maho explained smoothly as Kurisu only gritted her teeth.

"What would you know, huh! You-"

"If he's a friend why are you so embarrassed to be seen with him?" Maho simply questioned.

"I- have you seen him! He's an idiot!"

"If he's that much of an idiot then don't be his friend." Maho plainly said.

"What are you saying? I can't just stop being his friend!"

"Yes you can. Tell him to get lost. Tell him you think he's an idiot and you don't want to hang around him anymore. You can always say those things if you don't want to be his friend anymore, it's as simple as it gets Kurisu." Maho calmly explained which did little to calm Kurisu.

"I just called him an idiot it's not like I said I didn't want to be his friend!" Kurisu firedback as Maho stared unfazed by her under ling's anger.

"Then be his friend." Maho simply stated adding. "But let me say this, I've never seen you be so reluctant to be around with me or be embarrassed when other people you know me meet me and I assume I am your friend, so what makes him different if he's just a friend?"

Kurisu could only stare at Maho in frustration as they were back to square one again. Furious Kurisu spat out, "Don't try to make stuff up! Okabe is a friend and nothing-"

"Kurisu, please stop saying that because I know that is not true."

"What do you know!"

"Kurisu let me ask you something. Do you like it when Okabe acts like your acting right now around people? Do you like when he's the one insisting you two are nothing, but friends?"

"W-what are you saying I don't care because we are only friends!" Kurisu stammered loudly unconvincingly as the Maho's question began seeping into her thoughts as her mind reached for an answer she always knew, but didn't want to admit.

"Kurisu has anyone told you, you are a bad liar." Maho deadpanned as she undid her cross arms before adding softly. "I understand that sometimes the hardest things to grasp in life are the things that no one explains to us because everyone thinks their so simple. We overthink them, we're afraid of them or simply don't understand them because everyone thinks there so blatantly obvious and this even applies to you too, the smartest person I know."

Kurisu just stared at Maho as she uttered words she never thought she would hear from her mentor. Words that... stopped her boiling mind for a second as she could stare at Maho... waiting.

"I've known you a long time Kurisu and I've seen you do things beyond amazing, never shying away from a challenge, every obstacle you face you overcame and you know why? Because you wanted to be the best, you wanted to prove you belonged here and maybe prove something to someone." With that Kurisu couldn't help it as she had to tear her gaze away from Maho as memories of her father played in her mind. "But most importantly Kurisu you did all that because it made you happy. I was in awe seeing how confident you were explaining concepts to scientist many years your senior like they were the student, I saw you prove time and time that you were smarter than anyone here, even when you just a sixteen year old girl. You weren't afraid then so why are you afraid now?"

"I- I'm... it's just... this is different." Kurisu softly worded her anger long since gone as Maho's words drummed softly in her mind. What... was she afraid of?

"It's not. You love science and being a scientist because that's what makes you happy and people telling you were too young, too full of yourself, too selfish, or too stuck up never stopped you from doing the thing that makes you happy. And there is nothing wrong with that Kurisu, in fact you could say I'm little jealous of that fact about you. But why do you think that mindset begins and ends with being a scientist?" Maho easily explained as for the first time all night a genuine smile finally appeared on her face looking at Kurisu as Maho softly asked. "So tell me Kurisu, what do you see in a guy like Okabe."

"It's just..."

"If two people are eating together and one is paying for the food than by definition YOU ARE TAKING ME OUT TO EAT Christina!"

"...I..."

"And you are my dear genius assistant."

"...he..."

"I...I want to be there. With you."

What was she afraid? She was a scientist, a woman of intelligence and smarts, she was a person who wasn't afraid of anything...

And most importantly...

She was the Assistant to the Mad Scientist Hououin Kyouma.

No.

She was the person Okabe Rintaro loved and he was the person she loved.

Somehow her eyes had gotten glassy as she listened to her mentor, but whether because she was happy she realized something new or sad because of what she realized she couldn't help but give a small smile to Maho.

"I... I... kinda like him."

"Is that it?"

"Yeah." Kurisu said as she wiped away at her glassy eyes before a childish smile found itself on her face. "That's all you need to know."

Smiling a full smile at her underling Maho dismissed Kurisu's words with a playful wave. "It's a start. C'mon let's go before Leskinen does something stupid."

There were many things to be embarrassed about and being with the person she loved wasn't one of them. She knew it wasn't going to be easy by any stretch of the imagination. She knew there was still going to be plenty of times she still referred to Okabe as only a friend and there was still gonna be plenty of times where she could never tell him everything she wanted to tell him.

But even with all those facts it wasn't going to stop her from trying to change that. And as their table came to view and the sight of Okabe shaking his head talking to everyone at the table she couldn't help but smile.

He was an idiot, but he was her idiot.

While she might not be able to tell everyone what she felt about Okabe or even Okabe himself... she could at least tell Maho she liked him.

And that was a start.

A/N

Man this was a long one, sitting at about 24k, but I'm glad with how it came out especially considering all the setbacks I had writing this chapter. I'm not gonna lie, some stuff happened in my personal life mid to late August that while NOT necessarily serious or life altering gave me some stress and on top of the world's current problems it just... led to a case of major writers block. But don't worry I'm back on the saddle again and excited to continue writing! So incase if you were wondering why I was taking so long to update that's why, it had nothing to do with the actual story, in fact around mid August I was 3/4 done with this chapter when all that stuff happened.

Also you might have seen I've began another story in a different fandom so let me get this out of the way if you haven't seen it. After this update I'm going to write 2 chapters for my other story then write 1 chapter for this story. You see my other story is a parody and thus doesn't require that much effort or thought so while 2 chapter sounds like a lot it really isn't. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to write anything for the next chapter of this story during that time, just the other story is going to take priority for the next two updates I do while this one takes a backseat and vice versa when I finish those two updates. And incase your wondering what it is, it's an Evangelion parody and just for the record if any if you go and check it out you will be shocked in how vastly different it is from this story. Trust me on that.

Now for the real A/N, I really enjoyed this ending, my original plan was to have like one or two more scenes after it, but when I wrote this I quickly realized I wasn't gonna be able to write a more impactful scene afterwards in this chapter. It was just, for me personally, very touching. We all need that one person who will listen to us and help us see things more clearly and I think I was able to show that between Kurisu and Maho, but that is for you to decide. Originally I also wanted to show a lot more Kurisu and Okabe fluff since there was very little in the last chapter, but alas while there is more this chapter it isn't nearly as much as I had envisioned when I planned this chapter. Oh and I wanna share that last month was the biggest for me in terms of activity for my stories and profile. Last month there was, about 1,400 views and about 1,160 visitors for all my stories combined, with a big chunk of those numbers coming from my Evangelion Parody, I honestly don't think they are big numbers, especially compared to more popular stories on bigger fandoms, but hey for me they are huge numbers for a single month! And another interesting tidbit about that Overseas, my one-shot that serves as a kind of prequel to this story had over 200 visitors, which was probably close or more than the number when it was first made and surprisingly a large number of those views and visitors were from the UK, which was surprising because the majority of views and visitors usually come from the United States in all my stories.

I also want to talk briefly about the word count, two separate reviewers mentioned the same thing so I'm pretty sure there are more people probably thinking the same thing regarding it. In the earlier chapters especially the last one when I was talking about wanting to be between 10k-12k words a chapter that is a personal goal of mine because I feel it is much easier to edit and revise that way. It doesn't mean I'm going to condense or rush a chapter to meet those goals. If what I envision for a chapter takes up 20k words then so be it, and if a chapter I envision takes up only 5k words so be it, I'm not going to set word count limits or time limits because from my experiences it will suck the joy of writing. So I hoped I cleared that up bit if confusion.

Finally I wanna thank all of you for taking your time to read this, follow, favorite, review I know I always say it but it does mean a lot. I am grateful for the support and I am grateful I'm able to create a story that you all enjoy, hopefully you enjoyed this chapter and hopefully I'll see you in the next chapter. Remember stay safe and take care, adios .