got the d(mail)

"Achoo--"

There was normally one holiday he didn't think much of. A certain day when lover's were so immersed in one another that they chose to spend money on expensive flowers and gifts that would be forgotten in a month's time. Even Mayuri had reasons to get excited about it, even if that meant bringing chocolate to the Lab. Daru too. He'd buy himself a new dating game. Get new waifus for the occasion...

But Okabe never put much thought into such occasions. That much should have been obvious due to the fact that he barely had any idea what to do on a normal date. So even now, when that special day was just around the corner? The self proclaimed mad scientist didn't even realize. To begin with he had only been keeping track of how many days he'd been in Benu while gathering this and that to keep himself busy.

Today had been the first time in awhile he'd actually gone out. And it was today he noticed that there were bugs flying about. At first, he didn't think much of it... It was only when one landed on his exposed cheek and--

"... Nn--"

It bit him?

Swatting it off carelessly, he continued on once more. No sooner than he started walking did he already start to realize weird.. Changes. But honestly, he'd been through a change already. He'd lost his first kiss around that time.. Most likely. And that culprit was a certain assistant of his, wasn't it? Ah, yes.

How criminal.

And yet, she had the ability to light up his world like nobody else. It was the story of his life, and she completed it. Yes. She had that one thing. So then...

They should live while they're young.

"Christin-- No. Kurisu."

At some point, he noticed he'd been following her... Was she always there? Had that been why he was thinking about her to this extent? Nevertheless, he caught up to her and there was an attempt to be a dashing prince as he'd taken her arm to pull her back against him and into his arms.. Only to lose his grip last second and have her miss him completely. The snow below them had some ice so it was a bit slippery which only made things a bit worse-- So he ended up dropping her. Whether she'd grabbed him or if he'd just slipped right after, he'd fallen right after her.

Being careful, he'd managed to catch himself before he'd fallen onto her.. Thankfully. And looking down at her like this, Okabe sighed.

"Kurisu. I've tried playing it cool. But looking at you like this..."

What more was there to say? He couldn't find the courage to say anything more. That was surprising. There were times you couldn't stop him from saying something stupid. But, to his own surprise, his heart was racing.

"So.. Here I am again."

Seated far too close to a the television set provided for them, Okabe stared at nothing more than static. Static he could have a pleasant conversation with, anyway. Out of all the obvious places the scientists of Hive City, this was his chosen point to speak to his captors. 

"It's understandable, you know.. The reasons you've brought me here again. A mad scientist such as myself could be a valuable contribution to your goal... Whatever that may be."

Soft laughter emitted from his crouched form. Laughter that came to a sudden halt as the young man reached to grasp the sides of the television set.

"What I don't understand is why..."

Taking a breath, he bumped his head against the screen. Choked laughter this time as he slowly slumped against the small tv set, closing his eyes.. "Why..." His eyes shot open again and he backed up away from the general contact he kept with the electronic. A beautiful moment ruined but.. 

"Why is it you brought back someone like her...--"

Staring back into static, Okabe continued to speak despite hearing footsteps. "Someone so perverse. That 2channer. What do you gain from pulling a girl from her memes?" He had this person's best interest in mind though. Can't you tell?

"Hahah.." 

Wait for it. 

"So why..? Why could you ever bring her here again..

The Zombie.."

As these words passed his lips, the door opened from behind him. Ah, yes. A smirk formed and he stood abruptly, ending this romance between him and the television set. It could have been a beautiful thing too.. Nevertheless, he whirled around to face the intruder, a finger pointed in their direction. 

"Christinaaaaaaaaaaaa!"

First, some scientists with strange intentions bringing people from their own world to this place.. To a certain shadow whispering in his ear and reminding him just how weak he'd been. How he thought of his own childhood friend's life as something expendable.. And how he'd made the choice to have the person he cared for the most die in place of this childhood friend of his. 

There had even been a point where the shadow had almost convinced him that... Simply allowing the two of them to perish might have been easier for him. If he'd just accepted that in the beginning... Then maybe he wouldn't have turned out to be such a mess near the end.

"No."

Because then the future...

"Dammit.."

Days had passed since the disappearance of the antibodies and yet he hadn't been able to relax since then. Okabe had been restless.. Unable to sleep at times and when he did sleep he didn't sleep well... Ah. Fresh air. That's all he needed, wasn't it? To forget the events that had taken place.. No. Accept them..? Deny them...

His mind was a mess. 

So fresh air it was... Fresh city air to help clear a mad scientist's head. That and a carbonated beverage! With this in mind, Okabe found himself in the Shopping District. Sector 5, wasn't it? Something like that.. Anyway, he'd purchased said beverage and had simply been putting off his return to his own sector... Partially because of the train ride back and partially because of the walking it would take to get to the station. 

"Ah.."

That's when he happened to spot her. At first he thought he was seeing things... Hallucinating. Heat stroke? It wasn't that hot.. But he was so sure it was her...! Coming in his direction... Slower than she had been moments before. Probably because he'd stopped moving and left this encounter in her hands now. 

The man was almost in a state of shock. It was as though he hadn't been expecting to see her.. Well, he really hadn't been. He'd hoped that she was somewhere safe. America. Not here... He didn't want to admit that he had wished to see her or anyone else important to him here, right? It was dangerous, right? 

"Kurisu..."

It slipped out. She probably wouldn't remember him calling her that before.. She probably didn't remember a lot of things.

But he didn't catch himself. 

Okabe also didn't catch himself actually reaching out and giving her cheek a pinch, soon enough raising his other hand to successfully assault both cheeks.

"Are you real?"

Who knew what else these scientists were capable of, after all.