"How would I know?" Hashida Itaru said, "But there's a strange database on the server here."
Hashida Itaru typed on the keyboard, and soon, a new screen popped up.
"What is this?"
An arrangement of numbers and letters appeared on the screen; not to mention Okabe Rintaro, even Hashida Itaru couldn't decipher what it meant for a while.
"It's probably the code for some program," Hashida Itaru said, reaching for a book on the shelf.
His right leg trembled violently, and the pages of the book fluttered in his hands. Suddenly, his movements stopped, and like Okabe Rintaro, he started to laugh.
"Heh heh, heh heh heh, heh heh heh heh—"
"I don't understand!" He slammed the book down, "There's no way I can figure this out! Go to hell! I'm angry!"
Hashida Itaru slammed his hands on the table, and still not satisfied, he swept aside the books next to him, letting them scatter on the floor.
Mayuri jumped, stopped reading, hugged the book to her chest, and advised, "Maybe we should just give up."
Hashida Itaru sighed deeply, holding his forehead:
"So, I also get the illusion of 'we've won now that we're here.'"
"You've worked hard, go and rest," Okabe Rintaro said, putting his hands into his white coat.
"I'm already done for, even if you don't tell me to."
With that, Hashida Itaru shakily stood up.
"Ah, Tonzuko-kun, there's oden in a can," Mayuri, at his side, offered comfort.
Eating a can of hot oden after working so hard should be a good reward... for the poor Laboratory.
"Thank you, I'll eat."
Although he told Hashida Itaru to rest, Okabe Rintaro fell into thought.
"Program code..."
His gaze focused on the professional books piled in front of him, and then Suzuha's voice echoed in his ears.
"Since the IBN5100 was built before the BASIC language appeared, it can interpret the IBN's unique programming language..."
Then, John Titor's words also floated in his mind.
"To overturn SERN's ambitions, the IBN5100's functions are essential."
"I'd like to talk to you properly. This is my text message address. If you contact me, I will reply."
So, Okabe Rintaro opened his phone.
He was silent, not saying a word, as he typed text into the text message address John Titor had provided.
'I have some things I'd like to ask about'
With a click, the message was sent.
Immediately after, the anime's opening theme arrived as scheduled.
[Unbearable, I knew it was a feint]
[Uncle Big Nose was right, the person died, but the area behind will be explored later]
[Don't worry, there's definitely a twist at the end of this episode]
[The twist is here: twist a is there definitely end the of episode this, worry don't]
[You call that a twist?]
[You tell me if it's a twist or not]
[Why are people praising Uncle Big Nose? Shouldn't it be Cowboy Hao who was right? He's the one who said they'd look for the IBN next, right?]
[That's how Uncle Big Nose's fans are]
[That's why I said not to praise one at the expense of another]
[Tonz is getting anxious]
[Just asking, why does a super hacker need to look through basic books like 'Practical SSH and Code Technology Introduction'? Although I don't really understand professional issues, he's already hacked into SERN, so why would he still need to look through books like that?]
[Is there a possibility that even the most formidable hacker might not have a solid foundation?]
[--I told you it's 'hacker,' not 'hecker'!]
The bullet screen discussion was fleeting, the opening theme was nearing its end, and then, the title of the fourth episode appeared.
[Confluence of Wandering Theories]
"So much."
Standing in front of the Laboratory, Mayuri, with a bag full of clothes on her back, exclaimed.
"Tonz and I have been pulling all-nighters, we haven't been home," Okabe Rintaro, at her side, lamented, then complained, "And Tonz's clothes, from his T-shirts to his underwear, are all extra extra large."
Hearing what he said, Mayuri reached into the bag and pulled out a black T-shirt.
Perhaps because of the beret she was wearing, when she unfolded the T-shirt, the perfectly cast shadow made her expression look like one of 'utter disgust.'
Although she actually had no feelings of aversion, she was simply expressing her surprise.
"Ah, it's Felis-chan."
On the unfolded black T-shirt, a smiling pink-haired maid was printed.
"—Okabe Rintaro!"
Okabe's gaze hadn't shifted yet, and his retort hadn't left his lips, when suddenly, an incredibly cheerful figure called out to him from a distance.
Healthy long legs pressed to the ground, the bicycle's change of direction abruptly slowed its speed, a little dust kicked up, and then Amane Suzuha stopped in front of the two.
Leaping off her bicycle, she raised her hand, "Morning!"
However, despite the energetic part-time girl greeting him so warmly, Okabe Rintaro showed no change in his expression.
He frowned and said, "A word of advice."
"First, my name is Hououin Kyouma."
"Second, that way of greeting is very dangerous..."
His advice wasn't finished when Mayuri, beside him, casually responded to Miss Suzuha's greeting in the same manner:
"Morning, Miss Suzuha."
Okabe Rintaro's expression changed instantly; he looked at his childhood friend with great displeasure, "You too?"
[Extra extra large]
[The melancholy of a fat person]
[Woohoo, I'm good, Mayuri is looking at my panties with a look of utter disgust]
[It's not panties!]
[So why do you guys throw them to Mayuri to wash?]
[Oh my god, Okabe Rintaro is too mean]
[Tonz is really completely infatuated with bad women, it's all the fault of 3D women!]
[Okabe, who just tried to act serious, was immediately exposed by his childhood friend, hehe]
"By the way, when did you two...?"
Although Okabe Rintaro didn't finish his sentence, the meaning was clear: he was asking when the two of them met.
However, the answer to such a question was obvious.
"We're in the same building, after all. We see each other all the time," Suzuha replied casually.
"Miss Suzuha gave me a Rai-Net card!" As if remembering something, Mayuri rummaged through her bag and then displayed a shimmering gold card: "Golden Legend!"
Okabe Rintaro casually took the card and examined it, while the two girls naturally began to chat.
"Where are you going?"
"To do laundry, because Okabe and Tonzuko-kun have been pulling all-nighters."
They hadn't chatted for long when Brown, outside the frame, called out again after a long time:
"Part-timer, if you don't do your job well, you'll be fired!"