"Mayuri, this is no longer a Phone Microwave, but a Time Machine."
While Okabe Rintaro was explaining to Mayuri, Makise Kurisu sighed and spread her hands towards Kiryu Moeka:
"Is it okay? To become a Labmem, you have to deal with people like him."
"He's too barbaric!" Mayuri turned her head away, clearly displeased. "Then Okabe, you go buy a new microwave."
"Hmph hmph." Okabe Rintaro ran a hand through his hair:
"I don't have that much money."
"Click—" The sound of a camera shutter came, and Okabe Rintaro's face immediately turned grim. He raised his hand to block the camera's direction, reminding her:
"I should have said no photos of my face!"
"...Souvenir." Kiryu Moeka didn't put down her phone, but said softly.
"No photos, period!"
With subtle, comedic background music playing, Hashida Itaru suddenly said, "Alright, the program's done."
"Phone Microwave Second Generation Version 1.03 complete!"
"Now we can send D-mails to any phone number using the Phone Microwave." As he spoke, he gave a thumbs up.
"Nice work, Tonz." Okabe Rintaro returned the thumbs up.
Makise Kurisu suggested, "Then, shall we restart the experiment?"
"...Is it really a Time Machine?" Moeka was still holding up her phone.
"You absolutely must not let word get out," Okabe Rintaro warned.
At this moment, Mayuri, who was mourning in front of the microwave, suddenly poked out her cute little head.
"But won't the shop owner scold us again?" she asked.
"Gulp…" Cold sweat appeared on Okabe Rintaro's face.
And so.
"—Part-time Warrior!" Okabe Rintaro shouted loudly as he suddenly rushed out from upstairs.
In front of the Braun Tube Workshop downstairs, Amane Suzuha was wiping her bicycle, while a young girl in a pinafore dress with a small bag stood behind her, watching her slack off.
"Hey, tuturu—" Mayuri poked her head out the window and greeted her with a smile.
"tuturu~" The young girl responded.
"Mayuri, quiet—" Okabe Rintaro stopped halfway through his scolding, noticing his volume. He suddenly covered his mouth, then squatted down beside Suzuha and asked in a low voice:
"Where's Mr. Braun?"
"Who?" Suzuha didn't understand.
However, the young girl nearby understood.
"Daddy isn't Mr. Braun," she retorted.
"Oh, if you mean the shop owner, he went out for errands," Suzuha said, turning to glance at the young girl before looking back. "He probably won't be back for a while."
"Really?!" Okabe Rintaro turned around with a look of pleasant surprise, jogging back to the Laboratory, completely ignoring Suzuha's subsequent words.
"Otherwise, I'd be slacking off here…"
[Brooch's description was indeed accurate, she really does look like a small animal]
[Braun: Don't treat other people's daughters like small animals!]
[Honestly, it's true, directly dismantling it is too much, even if it's a Time Machine, it can still be used to heat things normally]
[Brooch's assertion of having no money is too self-righteous, isn't it?]
[You should call him Mr. Hououin]
[How long will this Hououin meme last?]
[No choice, he brought it upon himself]
[Moeka became a Labmem too easily, is it really just about bringing everyone who knows into the Laboratory to prevent exposure?]
With its door wide open, the microwave displayed a countdown, and everyone in the Laboratory gathered around this 'Time Machine,' waiting.
Buzzing and crackling sounds intermingled, and soon, intense electrical flashes erupted.
"Mayuri," Okabe Rintaro called softly.
"Mm." Mayuri nodded and pressed the send button.
Soon, the message was sent.
"Beep beep beep beep beep beep—" And so, Okabe Rintaro's phone popped up with a new message notification.
A smile spread across his face.
This time, his phone was not hanging next to the microwave.
'2010 / 07 / 29'
'tuturu'
'Mayushii'
"Oh oh—" Seeing this, everyone smiled.
"This is…" Only Moeka mumbled to herself.
Downstairs, Amane Suzuha was still tinkering with her bicycle, but the small animal looked up and exclaimed from the window:
"Ah, it's glowing."
The camera slowly zoomed in on Suzuha's expressionless face.
The next moment, the scene transitioned to the opening credits.
[Version Update Announcement: Second Generation Version 1.03 removes the restriction that Okabe Rintaro's phone must be placed on the microwave to send D-mails, and adds a phone for message relay to enable sending D-mails at any time]
[Thanks, I understand]
[So where did this phone come from? Does Brooch have the money to buy another phone?]
[Probably squeezed out of Mayuri's wallet again]
[So they still don't understand good habits like closing windows when doing experiments]
[Honestly, the camera keeps jumping to Moeka, I always have a bad feeling]
[So what was the Part-time Warrior thinking with that last expression?]
As the bullet comments slowly drifted by, the opening theme gradually ended.
The title of episode seven slowly floated up.
[Diverging worldline Fluctuation Rate]
The summer cicada's chirps vanished in an instant, and accompanied by the rustling of plastic bags, Mayuri's voice came from off-camera.
"Juicy Fried Chicken No.1 is still better," Mayuri said, as Makise Kurisu pulled out various snacks and drinks from the bag.
In the Laboratory, Okabe Rintaro, Mayuri, and Makise Kurisu sat around a table, Hashida Itaru was at the computer, and Kiryu Moeka, not holding her phone, simply watched them.
However, after glancing at the drinks spread on the table, Okabe Rintaro noticed something was amiss.
"Hey! Why isn't there any dr. pepper?"
"It sold out," Makise Kurisu replied unceremoniously, propping her head with one hand.
"If it sold out, go find another store!" Okabe Rintaro said angrily. "That's what a true dr. pepper fan should do!"
"Ugh, if there isn't any, there isn't any, it can't be helped." Makise Kurisu stood up, displeased, and casually handed him a bottle of mixed vegetable and fruit juice: "Do you want it?"
"…" Okabe Rintaro stared at the drink, then reluctantly snatched it. "Seriously, how can there be a mad scientist in the world who worries about insufficient vegetable intake?"
Twisting open the cap, he gulped it down vigorously, then slammed the half-empty mixed vegetable and fruit juice onto the table.
Then, he straightened up and declared loudly:
"Then, the Round Table Conference begins!"