"Speaking of which, let's open a window, it's so hot."
Saying that, Hashida Itaru simply pulled open the window.
Okabe Rintaro's expression changed drastically: "What are you doing, Tonz?!"
"What if the Organization finds out our secret?"
"Delusion, good work." Saying that, Hashida Itaru sat cross-legged on the floor.
"Beep beep—" His phone received another text message.
'Should we have a round table conference?'
As expected, it was still from Kiryu Moeka.
"Mhm." Looking back at Moeka, Okabe Rintaro nodded slightly, took a step forward, and said in a deep voice: "Now entering phase two of the 'Operation Goddess of the Past'.
"To make D-mail more practical."
As he spoke, the phone tightly clutched in his hand kept vibrating with a 'beep beep beep', and the more it vibrated, the uglier his expression became.
"What exactly do we need to do for practicality?" Fortunately, before his patience reached its limit, Hashida Itaru spoke up first and asked.
"..." Okabe Rintaro turned his head and said softly:
"Change the past."
"..."
During the brief silence, only Okabe Rintaro's phone received another text message.
"Wait." Makise Kurisu spoke: "This is too dangerous. What if a Time Paradox occurs?"
"Assistant." Okabe Rintaro interrupted: "As a Scientist, don't you want to see if D-mail can actually change the past?"
Makise Kurisu wavered: "Th-this…"
"But what should we change?" Mayuri tilted her head.
"Good question!" Okabe Rintaro smiled: "What I want to verify through this operation is…"
He closed his eyes, drawing out the suspense for quite a while.
After everyone's gaze was focused on him, he suddenly opened his eyes and stated his plan.
"Whether the lottery will win."
"..."
"..."
"..."
I feel the air has solidified.
This is too utilitarian lol.
But I'd probably think the same (cough).
It's because Mr. Hououin has no money.
However, the lottery has an absolute anti-rebirth mechanism. You can't verify anything with this, right?
Actually, there's still a chance to win, as long as you don't aim for the biggest prize and have a little bit of luck.
Compared to this, I think I might have misunderstood Brooch a bit. It seems the real culprit who kept the window open was Tonz.
It was also Tonz who casually mentioned the Time Machine in front of Moeka first.
His guard is too low.
"Okabe." Mayuri sighed and squatted down: "Mayushii is very sad."
"I agree." Hashida Itaru said: "With money, I can buy new computer parts and play freely at May Queen."
He had long been tired of being broke, and in this regard, he shared the same thoughts as Okabe Rintaro.
"I think we should think about how to make the world more peaceful, right?" Mayuri mumbled: "Like everyone in the world having an upa pillow…"
Makise Kurisu, sitting on the sofa, also sighed: "Okabe, you have no ambition."
Okabe Rintaro took a deep breath, stomped his foot hard, and clenched his fists:
"This is an experiment to confirm whether the past will change! It's very obvious, isn't it?!"
"But the goal is for money, right?" Makise Kurisu extended her index finger.
"Shut up, Rich Kid 17!" Okabe Rintaro didn't want to hear her rebuttal anymore.
After all, how could someone who could study abroad in America at her age empathize with a poor person like him?
"Ri-rich kid? Huh?" Makise Kurisu completely didn't understand what ridiculous nickname he had given her this time.
"Rich Kid 17!" Okabe Rintaro winked, shook his raised index finger, and then pointed it back at Makise Kurisu:
"Someone who spends her parents' money to stay in a hotel has no right to lecture me like this."
"I'm already 18." Makise Kurisu corrected him.
While Okabe Rintaro and Makise Kurisu were arguing incessantly, Hashida Itaru suddenly said:
"I say, there are many kinds of lotteries, right? Which one should we choose?"
"Hmm, choose…" Halfway through his thought, Okabe Rintaro suddenly remembered something:
"Where did Moeka go?"
He glanced at the spot where Kiryu Moeka had been standing; it was already empty.
They had been arguing for a long time, but Moeka had remained silent throughout.
Okabe Rintaro had intended to check his phone messages, as the constant 'beep beep beep' since earlier clearly indicated they were her text messages.
But as he turned his head, he suddenly saw Kiryu Moeka attempting to pick up his IBN5100.
"—Stop!" he shouted.
If you think about it, Assistant really is rich, right? You can't study abroad without some money.
Actually, if she can publish papers in Science, even if she has no money, people will actively give her money.
Didn't Assistant say she was underage before?
Before was before, now is now.
Isn't it normal for things like age to change dynamically?
Cold knowledge: In the original character design drafts from the beginning of the show, Assistant's birthday was July 25th.
In the anime, today is August 3rd.
Although I remember Assistant said she was underage even after her birthday, but, a woman's age is like this, it only changes dynamically in advantageous situations.
Today's 'only you are not qualified to say that' was originally for Assistant.
Don't steal the anime character's Make complaints lol.
Hashida Itaru gently placed the IBN5100 back into the cardboard box, then steadily closed the box.
Okabe Rintaro, standing with his hands in his pockets, clicked his tongue:
"Honestly, I can't relax for a second."
"Because you didn't reply to me." Moeka said softly, holding up her phone.
Okabe Rintaro pulled out his phone and opened the text message Moeka had sent.
'I still want to borrow the IBN5100~ Is that okay?'
"Is this the legendary sweets bracket laugh?" Hashida Itaru quipped.
So, under Okabe Rintaro's grim expression, three people squeezed onto the narrow sofa in the Laboratory.
Mayuri was on the left, Makise Kurisu on the right, and Kiryu Moeka was sandwiched between the two of them.
"Christina! Watch her! Don't let her move around!" Okabe Rintaro said through gritted teeth.
"Eh, eh…" Makise Kurisu looked troubled: "Even if you tell me to watch her…"
"..."
Kiryu Moeka, sandwiched between the two of them, lowered her head without a word.
Her hands rested on her lap, and on top of those hands, another small hand was placed.
It was Mayuri's.
"Moeka-san wants to tour the Laboratory?" she asked.