Yesterday...

...after I'd come back from Mr. Braun's house.

Nothing... not so much as a car backfiring.

Upto that point... the 13th had always been D-Day.

I think telling myself not to follow Suzuha got us close enough to the 1%.

Maybe... hopefully...

Just please... please let this be the one where...

Oh, no...

I just wound you a while ago. Don't tell me you're broken.

So not fair. I've taken extra special care of you and everything.

Okay, you've got my attention.

Why are you brooding?

Help me.

She's going to die in 2 hours.

Wait... hold on a second.

You've been time-leaping like a mad man trying to stop it. Haven't you?

It must've been horrible.

Alright, help me think. What've we got?

We know that Suzuha feels we can spare Mayuri by shifting the Alpha Attractor Field we're currently in to a Beta world-line.

'Course to do that, we'd need to hack into SERN's database and delete every shred of intel they have on the laboratory.

Which means we'd need the IBN.

That's the thing. It'd been in storage at the Yanabayashi Shrine before Moeka's D-Mail.

Now, though... needle in a haystack.

Just bare with me for a sec... a whopping total of 5 D-Mails started all of this.

The lottery one... Kiryū's... Ruka's... Faris'... and the one about Suzuha.

Apparently, undoing the last one gave you a little wiggle-room. It postponed the lab raid by 20 hours... pretty significant... yeah?

I mean it's enough to have me wonder whether or not undoing all the texts in reverse order might pop us back into a world-line where the IBN is accounted for.

I'm just shooting in the dark.

But hey, for a working hypothesis, we could do a lot worse.

Episode 17 - Made in Complex [Title Page]

If there's even a ghost of a chance.

I feel like, I shouldn't let you do this.

You're a gauge twitch from meltdown, as it is.

I've no illusions about the risk to my mental health.

But I have to do what I have to do.

Just be careful.

Don't read into that. Your brain simply represents a specimen totally invaluable to our...

...to mankinds understanding of time-travels neurolog...

Thank you... Kurisu.

You just called me by my name... that's certainly a first. So...

Your suddenly nice when I'm about to forget everything.

What?

Nothing.

Back to front... what's the next one that needs to be undone?

The one we allowed Faris to send.

Wasabi...

Look, don't freak out. I need to know where you think Faris would be right now.

I know where she is right now.

Yeah... go on then.

Well the last match of the Rai-Net ABGC just wrapped so smart money says she's at the UPX building.

ABGC...

Ahh... you're killin' me old man... stands for Access Battlers Grand Championship.

Collective Rai-Netter throw down for every qualifier in the country.

Which our lady of the immaculate cady has just won... I should add.

Just focus on the task at hand... and remember...

You don't know what her text said.

Only that it transformed Akihabara from a Moé-Cultural Mecca to... well to this.

Kyouma!

Ha, hey... what in the hell... Faris!

Afraid she's latched on to some douche-bag in a lab coat.

Cats out of the bag, huh?

Oh well, bitch can run but she can't hide.

Nobody...NOBODY!... [???]

Who are these chods? [chod = A Hindi/Urdu/Bengali slang word for fuck.]

They call themselves Viral-Attackers.

Ah...okay then.

Look, the least you need to know is that they're a gang of hardcore Rai-Netters who'd sooner drown a puppy than lose a tournament to me.

They've been waiting in ambush since they got booted-out of the championship.

Surely they can be reasoned with...

Over here!

Where the hell'd they go?

They're not ninjas... they're here somewhere.

Gotcha.

Come on.

Oh, yeah... since we're here... what you call me for earlier.

Oh, yes... I need to know what your D-Mail said.

My what?

The text we let you send back in time.

Aww, baby-doll... did you fall on your head?

Wait, of course... the Faris of this world-line hasn't the first clue what D-Mail is.

Uh... I... that is to say...

Got'em!

Okay, speaking hypothetically... if I told you we'd invented a time machine would you believe me?

Da! You know your word is law with me. [Da = Yes, of course]

Really!?

I just put the finishing touches on a kickass inter-dimensional transporter myself.

Right, starting over.

Imagine Akihabara as a Moé hotspot.

Huh!?

Let's just suppose you used a time-machine to create the silicon-gulch it's become.

How would you have accomplished that?

Is this like Prisoner's Base or something.

Don't over-think it, just tell me!

Umm... I have no idea what I could've done.

If this town was brimming with Moé, I probably wouldn't have changed it.

You'll laugh... but back in the day I wanted to open a Maid Café.

I begged daddy till I was blue in the face... even told him I'd finance it.

Ah, but you know the drill... no little girl of his, right?

Yes... Queen Mays.

How'd you know what I wanted to call it... I never even told dad.

Because it really existed, right here in downtown! This city used to be the Canterbury for Otakus, it had all that stuff!

It what!?

Believe me when I say... no one loved this place more than you.

But every corner of it changed the moment we let you send that text into the past.

What on Earth did it say!?

Awgh!

Please! It's a matter of life...

Guys! This way!

What are you looking at?

Ahehh!

Take it in... Queen Mays was located on this very spot. This is where your dream became a reality.

What!?

You didn't just run the place... you lived it... BREATHED IT!

Mayuri too!

Wild horses couldn't keep Daru away!

Matter of fact... this is where we first met.

Welcome home Meow-ster!

Iced Coffee, please.

Coming up in two shakes...

Welcome Meow-sters! The competition for the Faris Cup is about to begin, so I hope you brought your game face.

Oh, Man! Bitchin'! Be Prepared to be impressed!

I'm about to do some damage!

K-B-O-O-M. Otherwise known as KABOOM!

Faris!

I'm okay.

Tell me what's at stake if you can't undo the text.

Someone's life.

Mayuri's...

*gasp*

You're kidding me!?

You're just making all this up.

Mayushi couldn't be killed over some stupid random text.

Damn it! What was in the message you sent!? I have to know.

If I don't undo it... she's DEAD!

I can't tell you!

What the hell do you mean!?

Faris... Please!

She's your friend. Don't you care if she dies!?

Of course, I care!

It's just...

It's just... what!?

I don't want to lose my daddy, again.

He died 10 years ago. The message you let me send saved his life.

um... hmm...

Kyouma!

Oh, God... Noo!!

Not the badass you thought you were... huh, dude?

Sorry, princess... this jackass can't help you.

Ayah!... Let go of me!... Kyouma! Aah! Ayah!

Bats in the cradle... boss.

Back to life! ...tingling on my present victory!

Hear that!? He's excited!

What'd you say... we celebrate?

Stop this!

We'll soon be eating Purée Humble Pie through a straw!

Look-y here...

Kyouma!

Oh, I see... we're still on, huh?

Well I'm game if you are?

Noo! Stop it, Please!

STTOOOPPP!!

Oh, Shit! Abort Abort!

Daddy!

Prepare yourselves... Troglodyte!

Hold it punks... what're you up to here!?

Wait... where'd you guys go!? What the hell!?

Shit... that the cops!? ...ah, well. Son of a bitch!

Thank, heavens!

Seems, I made it just in time.

Daddy...

Thank You...

I rushed to the center when I heard you'd won the tournament, but you'd already taken off.

...and then you weren't answering your phone.

Next time, young lady, I expect you to be a little easier for me to get a hold of.

And you, son... while frankly, I'm having trouble finding the words to thank you.

Please sir, I was less than useless.

You're too modest Okabe, but I'm afraid the fact is, my not being there put both of you in harms way.

Oh, Stop! Don't talk like that, you had work, you couldn't have...

It's okay... Rumiho.

An old 5100, you say?

Yes... I heard you gave one away some time ago.

Any idea where it is... I mean... could you, by chance, get it back.

Hmph... life had other ideas... I never meant to break my promise to Hashida.

Hashida... but, surely you don't mean Suzuha?

You knew her!? I came by the 5100, to begin with, because of that woman.

That IBN 5100 is as good as mine, you'll see... I'll make sure it gets to you guys in one piece.

How about that?

She did it... she really came through.

It's okay... you can tell him the whole story.

You sure, sweetheart?

Daddy, he totally put his life on the line for me.

Rumiho... was kidnapped when she was a girl.

My little empire wasn't the behemoth it is now, you see... The ransom demanded, far exceeded my means.

Then out of the blue... someone offered to take the IBN off my hands at an exorbitant sum and I wasn't about to 'look a gift-horse in the mouth'. [Look a gift-horse in the mouth = to criticize or refuse to take something that has been offered to you]

Understandable... so, of course, you sold it.

You bet I did... the money gave me back my daughter.

Since then, I've made it a personal rule, never to renege on a promise I've made to my little girl.

Not for all the tea in China! ...Never-ever!

Oh, daddy.

I don't want to lose my daddy, again.

He died 10 years ago.

The message you let me send, saved his life.

How can I ask her to do such a thing. It's just inhuman.

Please don't send another one, Okarin.

If you press that button... it's like, none of this was ever real.

And if... if I don't, then... Mayuri will...

May I come in?

Yeah, sure.

Faris... I...

Hey... thanks for sticking up for me.

Those people were terrifying.

I'm not sure what they would've done if you hadn't been there... but, I'm sure it would've been unpleasant.

You're a hero!

Oh, come now... I'm sure their bark was worse than their bite.

Don't blow me off. I'm trying to be serious for a minute, here.

Sorry.

Listen, Faris... what I said...

I think it'd be better if you call me Rumiho.

Kyouma, or... maybe I should call you Okabe, now. You probably saved my life, out there.

Don't get all real on me... call me what you always do.

Look... whatever, okay? Thank you for what you did.

You're my... knight in shining armor.

Uhh... no pressure.

Trust me, I'm no knight... lunatic perhaps, but knight... I think not.

Level with me.

Does Mayushi's life really hang in the balance?

Yeah.

When I was 8, I wanted to celebrate my birthday.

I made daddy promise to drop everything, and come home to join the party.

But... he ended up canceling for a business trip.

It wasn't his fault... but, I was so upset.

I thought he loved his job more than me, you know. I was so mad, I told him I wished he was dead.

And... when he heard how upset I was... he caught an early flight, back.

And I never saw him again.

Your D-Mail kept him from getting on that plane?

And the city transformed, because he lived to shoot down your Maid Café idea.

You sacrificed it all just to have your dad see you grow up.

It was pretty nice, you know... while it lasted.

Faris... Rumiho...

I wanna do it, okay?

Dad died 10 years ago in a plane crash. That's the reality.

Every father-daughter moment we've shared since, has been on borrowed time.

Not that I wouldn't move Heaven and Earth to keep the lie going.

But there's always a price for this kind of thing... and I can't let Mayuri pay it.

Are you... are you sure?

*Sniffing*

No, I'm not sure. How could I be!?

I feel like I'm going to be sick. It's like two worlds are all tangled up in my head.

It's crazy!

I can remember all these details from both sides of the change.

They all feel so real, and so unreal, at the same time.

How do I do this? How do I do this!?

*sobbing*

Damn it, look! I can't let you go through with this, okay. I'll talk to Kurisu, she's bound to know an alternative.

No! No one's jumping through anymore stupid hoops because of me! It's not fair to any of us!

It's time.

I have to accept life as it is... I owe it to myself, right?

Just give me a minute to be weak though, okay?

Of course.

So, did she?

Yes... she was very brave.

Are we set?

Meow! Meow!

Oh my, somebody's mister sad face right now. What's wrong with you?

So... ahh... when we jump back to the prior world-line, am I gonna lose my memories of this one?

*sigh* ...I don't know.

You said earlier, you had memories of things from both sides of the change, right? So, you'll probably keep them.

That's a relief.

Don't take this weird, but this whole thing between us... I wanna keep hold of it.

And I'm sure, you will.

We're fired up. Go for it.

Good Bye... Daddy.

Kyouma!

*gasping*

Please tell me you've seen my cellphone lying around.

Faris!

Mayushi has no idea, so by process of elimination, I figure, you have to know where it is, right?

Aha!... You rascal. You've been pouring over my private texts. Have you no decency.

Does the Faris sexist privacy, account for so little to a man?

Come on, Kyouma! Don't just stand there and take it... fire back. Ask a me what a lady might have to hide.

Oh, Faris.

Meow.

Hey, hey! Hands of the girl, Casanova. You don't get to manhandle every female who wonders into your lab.

It's just camaraderie.

Hmph... In another life we battle darkness, most sinister, to arise arm-in-arm from the ashes of a peril beyond mortal reckoning.

Ugh...

You must be some warrior.

Oh, Faris honey, you're as loony as he is... wow!

I'm sorry.

Faris' ordeal was pointless. The IBN is still missing.

She stored it at the shrine 10 years ago, as before.

And up until a year back, it was still there, but... now...

...now there's no telling where it is.

[END]