"It's fine, cuteness is justice."
Seeing this, Hashida Itaru's glasses glinted, and he narrowed his eyes, exclaiming,
"This really makes one want to shoot from a low angle."
Hashida Itaru's expression at that moment was as if he was trying to suppress an urge, and sweat beaded on Okabe Rintaro's face.
"Okabe, what do you think?" Mayuri turned her head and asked.
"Hmm… yes…" Okabe Rintaro murmured, his eyes widening as he scanned Rukako's shy figure from top to bottom.
Then, his pupils suddenly contracted, and he quickly averted his gaze, putting his phone to his ear.
"It's me, I'm under a strong mental attack right now!" He said, breathing heavily and with immense gravity, then suddenly clutched his head: "No! My mind, my mind is being eroded…"
"What's wrong, Kyouma-shifu?" Rukako still clutched the hem of her clothes with one hand, not letting that absolute territory disappear, while extending the other, trying to check on Okabe Rintaro's condition.
Suddenly, a sigh was heard.
"What are you all up to again…" It was Makise Kurisu, sighing.
"Miss Kurisu, tuturu~" Mayuri greeted her.
And so, Makise Kurisu couldn't help but turn her gaze, and there she saw Urushibara Ruka.
Just like all of Okabe Rintaro's reactions moments ago, her gaze first swept over Rukako's entire body, then her pupils suddenly contracted, as if she had seen something incredible.
"Perverted Assistant, don't stare without blinking as if you want to lick her entire body." Okabe Rintaro's mocking words came, which made her sober up slightly.
A blush spread across her pretty face, and she retorted,
"I didn't!"
"…" Hashida Itaru's eyes glowed again: "Here we go again, a lewd plot…"
"But! He's a guy!"
"I'm starting to understand the value of Brooch's previous statement."
"Wuwuwu, Rukako…"
"Is this a cosplay outfit? Huh? tuturu, I'm asking you, did you say this is a cosplay outfit?"
"So, is there anything underneath?"
"Looking at how hard Rukako is pulling, not daring to let go, I think there isn't."
"Mental Attack!"
"Assistant, you're no good, you're shaken by just this much?"
"Assistant and Brooch's reactions are too synchronized, these two are childhood friends, right?"
"Are you questioning my tuturu's status as a childhood friend?"
"How about this cosplay outfit, does it suit Ruka-kun?" Mayuri asked, as if showing off.
"Eh, mm." Makise Kurisu nodded repeatedly: "Very cute."
"Cute or something… how could I be…" Rukako couldn't help but lower his head.
But before he could feel inferior, Mayuri suddenly moved closer and grabbed him again:
"Let's try other clothes!"
"Ah, ah, wait, wait." Seeing that if he didn't refuse now, he would be dragged away, Urushibara Ruka quickly raised his hand and said: "I came here today."
"I have something to ask of you, Kyouma-shifu."
"Aren't you here to try on cosplay outfits?" Mayuri tilted her head.
"I, I already said I wasn't…" Urushibara Ruka sighed: "You're not listening to me…"
He didn't even have a chance to speak.
Mayuri apologized frankly: "Ah, I'm sorry, I was too happy and accidentally…"
"Then." Okabe Rintaro stepped forward: "What do you have to ask?"
"Well, actually…" Rukako lowered his head, hesitated for a while, took a deep breath, and gathered his courage to look up and shout:
"I want to ask you to let me send a text message to the past too!"
Okabe Rintaro: "?!"
Makise Kurisu: "??"
Hashida Itaru: "!?"
As soon as the words came out, all three of their expressions changed.
"Lab (x) Super Invincible Broadcast Station (√)"
"Anyone can overhear them researching the Time Machine, it's hilarious."
"Even with the windows closed, it's a super loud voice that will still expose them."
"So, who else doesn't know Brooch is researching the Time Machine? Felis? Or Braun? Even the small animals seem to know."
"I feel like if nothing unexpected happens, Felis should also know very soon."
"Yesterday…" Urushibara Ruka said softly,
"To make up for my mistake of getting the lotto 6 numbers Kyouma-shifu asked me to buy wrong, I…"
A flashback image flashed.
Rukako, holding watermelons in both hands, stood at the door, hesitating whether to knock, when Makise Kurisu's voice came from inside.
"Could it be, you sent another D-mail?"
"The past has been changed…" Okabe Rintaro's murmuring voice clearly reached Rukako's ears.
And so, he didn't knock on the door.
The watermelon also didn't appear on the table.
"I'm sorry!" Rukako, after explaining, bowed deeply and apologized: "I didn't mean to eavesdrop…"
His words were full of apology.
"Ruka-kun, what kind of text message do you want to send to the past?" Mayuri asked softly.
"Actually, I…" Urushibara Ruka bit his lip, opened his eyes, and replied with great determination:
"—I want to become a girl!"
"Huh?"
"Uh?"
"Ah…"
Sounds of surprise rang out one after another, and Rukako continued to explain: "I, I don't really like my appearance…"
"I've thought before that if I could become a girl, maybe I would be more confident…"
He gently clenched his small fists.
"Wait, wait a minute…" Makise Kurisu started to get a headache: "She, what exactly is she saying?"
"Heh heh." Okabe Rintaro chuckled: "Assistant, it seems you've made a decisive mistake."
Makise Kurisu: "?"
Okabe Rintaro narrowed his eyes and stated very calmly:
"Rukako is not a girl, he is a boy."
"What are you talking about, you idiot." Makise Kurisu didn't believe it at all.
"How shallow you are. Since you are a scientist, go and prove it with your own eyes." Okabe Rintaro, with victory in his grasp, was not in a hurry at all, only speaking with immense calmness.
"…" Makise Kurisu turned her head and walked towards Rukako with a serious expression. She stood in front of Urushibara Ruka and looked carefully for a while:
"How could such a cute girl be a boy…"
"Excuse me, let me…" Saying this, she raised her hand and pressed it against Rukako's chest.
The clear sensation, which couldn't be changed even through the cosplay outfit Mayuri put on him, was transmitted.
Flat~
Bone~
None~
Waves~
At that instant, Makise Kurisu suddenly came to a conclusion in her heart that she herself could find no way to refute.
'♦'
"…" She was speechless.