The microwave oven hummed, its turntable rotating counter-clockwise, and soon, with a clear 'ding,' the set heating time came to an end.
Opening the microwave, what greeted him was a gooey, green banana.
"It's still the same as before, neither hot nor cold," Hashida Itaru sighed.
"Mayushii's Juicy Fried Chicken No. 1 is like this too..."
"In any case, something related to steins;gate must have happened!"
Mayuri's words were cut short by Okabe Rintaro, who interrupted her with a rapid pace.
"Are you at it again?"
The camera zoomed in for a close-up on the green, gelatinous banana, which was dripping.
"Tonz, do you want to try this banana..." Before Okabe Rintaro could finish his suggestion, Hashida Itaru refused without hesitation:
"No."
"Then this honor shall be bestowed upon Mayuri!"
After being mercilessly rejected by Hashida Itaru, Okabe Rintaro smoothly turned his attention to Mayuri.
"Hmm, how should I put it, the gel banana feels sticky and soft."
"And it has no taste," Mayuri said.
"...You've eaten it already?" Okabe Rintaro was very surprised.
"Mayushii," suddenly, Hashida Itaru called Mayuri's name: "Can you say that again?"
"'Your banana is soft.'"
Mayuri, completely unaware, began to say: "Okay, your banana is soft..."
"Don't let her say it, you pervert!" Okabe Rintaro abruptly cut her off.
"How should I put it, it feels like my expectations were dashed."
"I thought something amazing would happen, but it really is just a gel banana?"
"After being rejected by Tonz, he immediately wanted Mayuri to test the poison. It's confirmed again, Okabe is scum, the scum of scums!"
"I'll place a Mr. Braun here."
"Speaking of which, Mayuri actually tasted it... This gel-banana doesn't look appetizing at all."
"'Your banana is soft.'"
"Cough, that's not good, Tonz, although I also want to hear it, it's really not good."
"Mayuri is truly innocent."
The story continued.
Faint radio broadcasts echoed through the tall buildings, helicopters circled overhead, and the high-hanging sun cast a dazzling light in the sky.
"Ah, ah, I'm melting," Hashida Itaru wiped the sweat from his forehead under the sun.
Okabe Rintaro said with a hint of helplessness:
"It's been less than ten minutes since we left the Laboratory."
"In summer, walking to Felis-tan's place is my limit," Hashida Itaru said, walking weakly under the sun, "It would be great if they held it at May Queen Nyan Nyan."
"How could a university lecture be held in a maid cafe?" Okabe Rintaro was already a bit too tired to retort.
"Ah, if it weren't for not having enough credits, I would definitely take a leave of absence," Hashida Itaru said.
"Not having enough credits and being forced to attend lectures is too real."
"Summer is the enemy of the Fat Man."
"This sunlight will melt me."
"Tonz: One day, I will become a professor who holds lectures in a maid cafe!"
...The screen behind Okabe Rintaro still broadcasted news about the satellite crash.
"Yo, it's so cool!" Escaping the sunlight into the building, by the elevator, feeling the building's air conditioning dispel the heat, Hashida Itaru couldn't help but say comfortably, "Ah, I'm alive again."
"...A satellite fell," leaning against the wall, Okabe Rintaro was still thinking about that news.
"Are you still talking about this?"
"Tonz, don't you want to go see the Radio Kaikan Building?"
"We wouldn't be able to see anything anyway because of the crowd, right?" Hashida Itaru said, and with a 'ding,' the elevator arrived:
"Anyway, I can watch snake's livestream on @channel."
"Oh, temporarily suspended operations?" Hashida Itaru said, looking at his phone as he entered the elevator: "Another festival?"
The elevator doors closed, slowly ascending.
But Okabe Rintaro suddenly realized something and muttered to himself: "That's right, at that time..."
"Give me your phone," he straightforwardly demanded the phone from Hashida Itaru.
"Why?"
"Never mind—" Without answering the question, he directly reached out and snatched the phone from Hashida Itaru's hand.
"Don't violate personal privacy! Absolutely not!" Hashida Itaru protested vehemently to him.
But Okabe Rintaro completely ignored his protest, his fingertips pressing the keys repeatedly, while also saying with a very serious attitude:
"I sent you a text, didn't I!"
"Huh?"
"The message about Makise Kurisu being stabbed," Okabe Rintaro's tone was grave.
Only then did Hashida Itaru realize that he didn't seem to be joking.
Lowering his fist, he thought back and recalled: "Oh, the one you sent last week?"
"?!" Okabe Rintaro's expression was one of astonishment: "Last week?!"
"And it was sent in three parts, it was really annoying!" Although Okabe Rintaro's state seemed off, Hashida Itaru didn't think much of it, seizing the opportunity to snatch his phone back, and said with great dissatisfaction.
Quickly flipping through his message list, Hashida Itaru straightforwardly showed the message he found to Okabe Rintaro.
"Received date July 23rd, 12:56 PM..." Okabe Rintaro read the time on the screen word by word.
'Makise Kurisu'
'Was stabbed by someone'
'It seems'
"Last week..." Okabe Rintaro pulled out his own phone: "Sent records..."
"Nothing..."
There was no record of it on his phone.
"What's today's date?" he asked subconsciously.
"Hmm? The 28th."
Okabe Rintaro's eyes twitched, and his lips parted and closed involuntarily.
"What's wrong?"
"The text message was sent to the past..." he said.
"Huh?"
Melodious background music echoed, and Okabe Rintaro trembled.
The elevator reached its destination, and light streamed in from outside.
Then, Okabe Rintaro looked up and saw... Makise Kurisu leaning against a pillar.
She, in a pool of blood, and she, safe and sound before him, flashed back and forth in his mind.
And so, the ending credits began to play.
"Huh?"
"Huh??"
"Huh???"
"Holy moly, what a super development!"
"This music is giving me goosebumps!"
"Who taught you to start the first episode with such intensity?"
"I knew she wasn't dead!!!"
"The genius black-stockinged girl! Resurrected in glory!"
"Quick, quick, I want to watch the next episode, hurry up and upload it! Onegai!"
"Do you want me to kneel and beg you? Or do you want me to whip you? Why no update? Why no update? Why no update?"
"Alright, come! Open the cage! Release the mentor—"