Steins;gate: Inevitability of the Mandela Effect

Chapter 3 - Temporary Reality

1

"I hereby commence Operation Fimbulwinter!" Announced Okarin, both of his hands on the table and looking around at his lab members. "Oooh, is that what we're calling the installation of the new air conditioner?" Feyris asked, with a tinge of enthusiasm in her voice. "That's not what it's called! I told you it is future gadget twel- no eleven uh... Thirt... Daru?" Asked Okarin, turning towards Daru. "Fifteen" he replied, standing on the sofa, struggling to install the air conditioner. "That's right fifteen! I was just testing you and you passed, good job" said Okarin, giving both a smile and a thumbs up. "Whatever" Daru mumbled, still focused on the air conditioner. When they arrived at the lab, they found the rest of the lab members waiting for their arrival. "It's a waste to miss Makise-san's first day back, we need to celebrate!" Explained Feyris while clinging onto Makise arm. To commemorate Makise's return, Okarin decided it's time to try out the new air conditioner they got. After getting it 2 months back, Okarin and Daru made many excuses to Mayuri as to why it hasn't been installed yet. From a cramped hand to a broken one. Since Daru was standing on the sofa, the lab members had to sit in a rectangle (circle) around the rectangle table (circle). "It isn't a future gadget if you didn't make it yourself, you know?" Said Makise, fanning herself with her hand. "There are unofficial lab members scattered around the world for your information." Okarin explained, standing up. "We got this one from a reliable member a few blocks back." "What he really said, Chris-chan, is that we got it from Mr.Braun for cleaning his store." Mayuri explained to Makise. Makise looked at Okarin and ever so softly let out a "hmmmmmm." "Guh... Mayuri! What did I say about giving out classified information to people?" Scolded Okarin with a flustered face. "Huh? But Chris-chan is a lab member, Okarin." Replied Mayuri, looking at Makise, as if to reinforce the point that she's in the lab because she's a lab member. "Yeah but..... Look the organization could have indoctrinated her during her absence, we can't take the risk." Said Okabe, folding his arms, clearly satisfied with his made up answer. "Is that so, well care to test me?" Asked Makise, standing up too. "Well.. I, um... Fine." Concede Okarin, deciding that this would be a good chance to get some answers out of her. "Well then, first question! Why did Makise Kurisu, my useless lab assistant left without a word?" He asked, staring at her, his face giving off a challenging look. "First off, I'm not useless, if anything you're the useless one, I don't see any improvements within the lab during my absence. Secondly, I left because I needed to take care of things back home." Clarified Makise. "But that doesn't really answer the question, Makise-san." Ruka pointed out, finally saying a word in this conversation. "Yeah." Agreed Feyris. Meanwhile, Moeka continues to be a bystander in this conversation. "You heard them..... Christina." Said Okarin, hoping to annoy her enough to spill the beans. "Well that's-" began Makise "Guys!" Interrupted Daru. "Just to let you know, I'm trying to install something and having you two shout behind my back doesn't really help me in any way. I don't even know why I'm doing this, it's like..." While Daru continued his little rant, Makise sat back down, relief plainly visible on her face. Okarin deciding that it's for the best, didn't press on.

A little while after that conversation, Mayuri and Feyris announced that they were going to get some stuff to celebrate Makise's return and after saying goodbye, left. "Umm, what do we do now?" Asked Ruka. "Beats me, I'm still installing this damn thing." Said Daru, his lack of progress clearly making him irritable. Okarin suddenly heard his phone buzz, he took it out and saw a text from Moeka, he opens it and the text reads:
"Why not talk about our other versions that you've come across???? .-."
Okarin turns his head towards Moeka, sitting at the right end of the table. "You sure you want to know that?" Asked Okarin, surprised by her suggestion. Moeka lift her head up from her phone and looked up at Okarin and nodded her head. "What? What did she say?" Inquired Makise. "She wants to know about our other selves." Answered Okarin, putting his phone back in his pocket. "Our other selves..." Muttered Makise, intrigued by the suggestion. "Why not? Seems like the perfect way to pass the time while I do all the hard work." Remarked Daru, finally getting some progress with the installation. Okarin took a deep breath "Is this okay?" He asked to confirm. All of them excluding Daru gave a nod. "Well, I guess this is a perfect time to tell you than any...."