Steins;gate: Inevitability of the Mandela Effect

Chapter 2 - False Premonitions

1

"Okarin, are you okay?" Asked Mayuri, sitting beside Okarin at the entrance of the police station. It took less than 10 minutes for the news to get out that a young, promising scientist has committed suicide in front of a live audience. The news reporters appeared no less than 5 minutes attempting to get an interview with anyone that was at the scene of the event. A few reporters had attempted to get some answers out of Okarin as to what had happened but to no avail. After walking out of the conference room, Okarin left the building in a daze, ignoring both Daru and Mayuri's concern over him. As he stood outside the building, trying to figure what is happening, a police officer noticing his bloodstained clothes, brought him over to the police station to get a report out of him. But when they got nothing out of him and getting a brief summary from Mayuri, they let him go. "I texted Feyris-chan and the others" said Daru walking towards Okarin from the counter and holding his phone. "Feyris said she can come pick us up from here, we'll meet the others in the lab." Okarin said nothing but slightly nodded his head. "Hey, Daru," Okarin began, turning his grim face towards Daru. "How many lab members do we have?" Daru closed his eyes, thinking for a moment "Mmmm, if I'm not mistaken, eight including the one that you said that has yet to arrive." Okarin took a deep breath and turn towards Mayuri. "Mayuri, who is lab member 004?" Mayuri tilted her head, clearly confused with the question "Lab member 004? Mayushii doesn't know who's lab member 004." Okarin turned his head towards Daru again.

"You never told us who's lab member 004, you said that spot is reserved for someone special. Someone that we might see again." Daru continued, looking strangely at him. Okarin stood up from his chair and scanned his surroundings. The police station contained barely any people, most of the officers left to check the scene. Other than the three of them, there were a few others who were either there to make a report or to bail someone out. "I need to be alone for a bit, I'm going out for a walk and get some fresh air" murmured Okarin, walking towards the exit. "Okay, don't take too long, I'll text you once Feyris-chan arrives." Said Daru, taking Okarin's seat. Mayuri stared at Okarin's figure until it was no longer in sight, she then gave a big sigh "Mayushii's worried about Okarin. Is Okarin going to be alright?" She asked. Daru paused for a bit before giving his answer "Okarin is Okarin, I'm sure he'll be okay, after all, he still has the lab to worry about." Assured Daru, giving a smile. "But you know, it was a big shock for Mayushii too. Mayushii has never seen someone die in front of her before." Said Mayuri, recalling the gruesome scene she had witnessed. "It's going to be fine, Mayuri" said Daru as he raises his hand and clasp Mayuri's shoulder. "Just be thankful it's not someone you know."

The outside was still hot and sunny, the type of weather that brings out the worst in people. Walking along the sidewalk, ignoring the people staring at his bloodied lab coat, Okarin looks around at the people going about their daily lives, oblivious to the fact that there are multiple worlds, millions of them, living at the same time. He continued walking, his feet taking him wherever the sidewalk led to. He didn't care if he gets lost. He's already lost to begin with, 10 months of a normal life, only to be thrown back into disarray. 10 months of waiting for Makise, only to see her die in front of his eyes. He thought he was used to it, seeing people die in front of him, knowing that there was nothing he could do about it. But that was a different story, this time, there really is nothing he can do. He swore to never use the phone microwave (name subject to change) again. Sending d-mails back in time will only bring him to another world line. Messing up the divergence meter was too big of a risk, he's already in the beta attractor field as far as he was concern, going back to the alpha or any other unknown attractor field because of some text isn't something he would like to try. Leaping back in time isn't an option, this world line, if it still is the steins;gate world line, doesn't have a time leap machine. Feeling sorry for himself, Okarin stopped walking and noticing a bench under a tree, sat down. "Why? Why is this happening? I haven't even done anything." Thinking this, Okarin puts his hands in his pockets and felt something, he takes it out and holds it in his hand. "Metal?" He said to himself in disbelief. As he stares at the metal upa, he hears a nearby Jumbotron giving a report about the incident. He puts the upa back in his pocket and heads towards it.