​

Obsession

The day in the lab was passing as usual.

The sound of the fan, unable to withstand the summer heat, mixed with Mayuri's humming as she sat on the sofa.

— "So why do bananas turn into jelly?" — Daru asked in surprise, leaning over the Phone Microwave.

— "Hmm, if something changes at the quantum level…"

— "We've already been over this, Okabe, it doesn't work that way." — Kurisu interrupted me.

— "Then what could it be, Assistant?"

— "I'm not your Assistant, and stop calling me that!"

Her indignation was typical for us.

I walked over to the refrigerator. My hand reached for a can. Cold. As always.

— "Nothing refreshes on a summer day like Dr. Pepper."

— "Okarin, you always praise it so much, it's like an advertisement."

— "You'll never understand the truth, Daru. Of course, because it's a drink for true intellectuals."

— "Mayushii thinks Okarin just likes sweets."

— "Sweets help you think better. But even that won't help Okabe." — Christina said mockingly.

— "What, are you all ganging up on the leader? Well, now I'll show you!"

The can hissed. One gulp.

— "Strange. What an… odd taste. Guys, do you know…"

I looked at them, but they weren't paying attention. I spoke. Again and again.

— "Can you hear me?"

Their mouths opened. There was no sound.

Suddenly, I smelled something. Dry wormwood.

I looked at the window. Withered flowers were dropping their petals, emitting an unpleasant odor. And beside them, turned toward me, stood a girl in a green cardigan, with copper-chestnut hair.

I didn't know her name, but it escaped my throat on its own:

— "Rio…"

— "…You lied…"

She turned to me. Her amber eyes no longer held their former softness. Incomprehensible emptiness and absolute zero. Her skin was pale.

— "Rio, what happened…"

— "…You forgot…"

She slowly walked toward me. The sounds of her footsteps echoed in my ears with a maddening hum. I slowly stepped back.

Suddenly, catching something with my foot, I fell.

I looked at my leg. A huge number of wires had wrapped around it.

— "You really didn't understand…"

Her face was above mine. A maddened gaze was fixed on my eyes. She slowly leaned down to my ear.

— "…NaN…"

— "What? What are you saying?"

— "…NaN…"

I opened my eyes. A train car.

My heart was pounding.

The Freon smell of the air conditioner. Darkness outside the window. I didn't know where the dream ended and reality began.

I looked at the phone's clock.

20.07.2012. 21:30

— "So it was a dream…"

Something stirred on my shoulder. I averted my gaze.

Chestnut hair… the scent of orange and grapefruit… warm breath…

Kurisu was lying on my shoulder, counting dreams. She always counts.

The anxiety from the dream began to fade. Her presence brought me back to normal.

— "Okabe…" — she murmured, opening her eyes slightly. — "What's wrong?"

— "Nothing, Christina… sleep… we still have a long way to go…"

Showing me her purple eyes, she closed them again and sank deeper into my shoulder.

I rested my head on her hair. Idyll.

The train seemed like a backdrop for our sleep. Or maybe it too was a dream? Maybe I was still asleep?

But at least… this is a good dream.

20.07.2012. 23:21

«Next stop — Akihabara Station. Please don't forget your belongings.»

Again that voice. Kurisu was already awake, and we were ready.

— "You didn't forget anything, did you?"

— "I barely had anything with me."

— "Then let's go."

— "Walk you to the hotel?"

— "Only to the door."

— "I'll take it off its hinges."

She snorted. But took my hand.

We stepped out onto the platform.

20.07.2012. 23:36

We were already at the door of her room. 69.

The key turned in the lock, and Kurisu opened the door.

Everything was like last time. Soft lighting, the bathroom door, leading into the large room with the bed and belongings.

Suddenly Kurisu turned around. Something flickered in her eyes. But it wasn't anxiety. Anticipation.

— "Okabe, could you get something from the safe?"

— "Something?"

— "Yes, my tickets are there. I want to check the dates. I'll wash up in the meantime."

She walked toward the bathroom.

— "Wait, what's the password?"

— "My birthday, of course."

She disappeared behind the closing door.

Her birthday. Such a good date.

July 25th. I repeated it aloud like a mantra, walking toward the safe.

— "25.07.1992…"

Green light. The metal door opened.

Inside there were many papers. And on a large stack, apparently consisting of her articles, sat a white box wrapped in a red, almost glossy ribbon.

With a smile on my face, I reached for it with tired fingers. But then, the tip of my pinky brushed against one of the papers. They fell right onto the box.

— "Ah, damn."

I started rearranging them. Suddenly, I touched one wide folder.

And then… a strange feeling struck my body. Anxiety mixed with curiosity. But these are her works. I have no right to touch them. Although…

— "She showed my project to her university… nothing bad will happen, right?"

The sound of water was still in my ears.

I slowly lifted the folder. It was heavy. Not by weight.

A blue cover. Many sheets inside.

I opened the first blue layer. On the white field, a title stood out.

"Time Machine Study of Creation"

A lump lodged in my throat. A ringing sounded in my ears.

My mind decomposes.

№10 Without №9?

[20.07.2012. 10:10]

— "I declare the 267th meeting of the Future Gadget Lab's Round Table officially open!"

— "The number gets dumber every time, Okarin."

The hot Akihabara morning greeted our lab as usual. But today it was playing unusually strong. Of course, because…

— "On this day, I am proud to announce that we have a new Lab Member!"

— "A new Lab Member? Wow, how cool!" — Mayuri exclaimed cheerfully.

— "Let me guess, Okarin. Another girl?"

— "Not 'another'. Girls are a rarity in our team." — I replied pompously.

— "So rare that out of seven lab members, only you and I are guys." — Daru grumbled gloomily.

— "First of all, you idiot forgot to count Lukako" — I said, pointing at the guy who looked very much like a girl.

— "Damn, sorry about that, Urushibara."

— "It's fine, Hashida-kun, nothing to worry about…" — he answered embarrassedly.

— "And secondly, gender doesn't matter in our brotherhood."

— "For you, idiot, nothing matters at all."

— "Quiet, Christina! Weren't you supposed to be at your seminar?"

— "It doesn't start until 11, ten minutes with you won't change much."

Standing by the wall, her chestnut hair loose, Kurisu held a cup of coffee and waited. Did she really want to see the lab's reaction to Rio that much?

— "Nya, Kyoma, will this new girl want to nya-work at my café? All my nya-employees are busy preparing for nya-exams." — Rumihou purred.

— "She already has a job. And you won't drag her into your maid networks."

— "So sad, nya."

— "Anyway, she should be here any minute now, and…"

A message arrived on my phone. Rio?

I picked it up and looked at the screen. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Kurisu's disapproving look.

Ah. Right. I'm still using the flip phone. I keep the other one in my lab coat.

But the notification was glowing on the smartphone screen. I read the sender.

— "Moeka, just speak normally. Why do you always have to send texts?"

— "Read it…" — the bespectacled girl said in a quiet voice.

I opened the message.

«Can she work part-time at Mr. Braun's? I really don't have time. Please, I beg you, very very»

— "Why are you asking me? Ask her when she arrives."

How different her messages are from her real-life behavior. Like two different people.

There was a knock at the door. Three light knocks. Clear. But not loud. Just like yesterday.

— "And here she is. Everyone stay in your places."

I approached the door. The chain was off. A little more.

Huh? Why do I want to open it so badly? That's not like me at all.

Nevertheless, I opened it.

A white shirt, a beige cardigan, sporty shoulders, and amber-colored eyes. That was the first thing that caught my attention.

She was holding several pots with flowers in her hands, and being shorter than me, she could look into my eyes without raising her head.

— "Good morning, Okabe-san! I'm here." — she answered cheerfully.

— "Yes, come in, Rio. Aren't they heavy to carry?"

— "It's fine, they're light."

I walked ahead of her into the main room for the announcement.

— "Meet the lab staff! A new participant in our joint struggle for world domination! Lab Member №010, Rio Mirai!"

She appeared and greeted them.

— "Wow, she's so beautiful!" — Mayuri jumped up childishly.

— "Nya, she's too tall to be a maid, nya." — Faris pretended to be sad.

— "Okabe, you're even asking about heavy things. Didn't expect that from you." — Kurisu noted.

— "Because she's new, that's how it should be."

— "When I first joined, you made me carry boxes." — Daru grumbled.

— "Oh, be quiet. Anyway, this is Rio. She's our new lab member."

— "Can I ask something?" — Urushibara said uncertainly.

— "Yes, what is it, sword keeper?"

— "Why 010? Isn't 009 still empty?"

— "Nya, that's strange too." — Faris agreed.

— "Agh, it's obvious. Because the number 9 isn't cool, and 10 is cool."

— "You're assigning numbers based on coolness? And yes, I wanted to ask yesterday too, but didn't. So why is 009 empty?"

— "Because…"

I thought about it. But instead of thoughts, there was fog. As if that number belonged to someone. But who?

Indeed. Why? Why did I give Rio number 010 yesterday? Maybe I really didn't like 009? Or maybe…

— "You're all so close-knit." — Rio interrupted us with a smile.

— "Rio, what beautiful flowers! Did you grow them yourself?" — Mayuri, like a whirlwind, was next to Mirai, examining the plants she had brought.

— "Yeah. She works at a flower shop, after all."

— "Why are you answering for her?" — Kurisu raised an eyebrow.

— "Okarin, I think 3 is too many."

— "Daru, what are you talking about, three what?"

— "Mayushii, colleague Makise, and now colleague Rio. You're not an Arab to have so many wives."

— "What do Arabs have to do with anything, Hacker Hack? And I only have one, and everyone knows who it is."

— "And who is it?" — Daru asked with a grin. Kurisu blushed.

— "Everyone knows her. I won't point, but it's Christina."

— "No one has ever humiliated me like this…" — Kurisu exhaled.

I looked at Rio. She kept a smile on her face, but her eyes were… somehow sad.

— "What's wrong, Rio? Did you not like something?"

— "No, no, what are you saying, Okabe-san," — she started waving her hands. — "It's just that you already have such a well-formed group… I'm just afraid of being superfluous."

She started twirling her hair around her finger.

— "Don't worry, you'll fit in quickly. You just need to learn the 7 rules of a lab member."

— "You just made those up." — Kurisu and Daru said in unison.

— "Rule number 1. Hououin Kyouma is always right. Rule number 2. If Hououin Kyouma is wrong, read rule number 1."

[20.07.2012. 10:23]

Amidst the teasing and jokes of the lab members, I went through the 6 main rules. Rules behind which I hid the emptiness. Did I believe in any of this brand? Of course not. But the last one…

— "Come on, Okabe. Say the last one, introduce Rio to all the lab members. And I'll go." — Christina's voice came.

I looked at her. Her mouth was closed. It wasn't her.

— "Again." — I bit my lip. Painful. Without looking away from Rio.

— "Okabe-san? Are you feeling unwell?" — she asked worriedly.

— "And finally. Rule 7," — I ignored her. — "In any unclear situation, in any trouble or problem. Always stand by the lab member. Even if their opponent is the whole damn world."

Everyone looked at me in surprise. And Rio smiled.

— "Reassuring."

— "Huh?"

— "Oh, nothing, just thinking out loud."

I was a little surprised, but now I needed to move on to discussion. After all, Kurisu really did need to get to her seminar. I couldn't keep her.

I shifted my gaze to her.

— "What are you staring at?"

Her lips were moving. Everything's fine. She said that.

[20.07.2012. 10:27]

Kurisu, pursing her lips in displeasure, picked up her bag. Her heels clicked loudly on the floor as she headed for the exit, throwing me one last look that seemed to want to burn a hole in my head.

— "Well, good luck with your new Assistant, Okabe-san." — She threw out Rio's address dejectedly. — "I hope by the time I get back, you won't have driven her to a nervous breakdown."

— "That's her way of saying she's really glad to have you, Rio." — I whispered in her ear.

— "Ah, hahaha, I understand." — Rio said, without a hint of alarm. It seemed she really believed it.

The door closed with character. The air in the lab no longer seemed tense, but now it felt somewhat empty. Fortunately, now all eyes were on Mirai.

She stood by the window, looking with interest at the old computers in the corner of the room. With the same interest as Mayuri had for costumes.

— "So, Rio-chan!" — Mayuri was the first to break the silence, flying up with a wide smile. — "You like gadgets, right? Okarin talks about some kind of world domination, but really, we're just very good friends. You'll be our friend too, right?"

Rio turned around. Something strange flickered in her amber eyes. An irresistible longing and seemingly childish joy. And on her face, the same gentle smile.

— "Of course, Mayuri-san. I'd be very happy to be useful." — she bowed, and Mayuri just tilted her head in surprise.

— "Don't mind her, Mayuri. Flower shop etiquette, all that stuff." — I said, patting Rio on the shoulder.

— "That's just too much, Okarin!" — Daru said, adjusting his glasses. — "How can you so freely touch the women around you?"

— "She's our new employee, so of course I have full authority over her and her body."

The lab members looked at me. Rio just smiled, but her eyes clearly said "You miscalculated."

Only then did I realize what I had said.

— "Nya, Kyoma is a pervert too."

— "I'm not a pervert, I'm a Mad Scientist, Hououin Kyouma!"

Suddenly a soft chuckle was heard. It was Rio, innocently covering her mouth with her hand. I looked at her wrist. Strange marks adorned them around the circumference. Bruised and pressed.

— "Sorry, you're all just so funny. In my surroundings, almost everyone was always gray and gloomy."

— "Well, you can throw those gray days out of your head," — I said, adjusting my lab coat. — "Now you're part of the lab, and every day of yours will be filled with madness and fun."

[20.07.2012. 12:03]

When Mayuri started enthusiastically rummaging through a box of fittings, choosing parts for a new costume, Rio was next to her faster than I could blink.

— "This is for a cyborg-maid look, Rio-chan!" — Mayuri beamed, holding gears to her cheek. — "Do you think satin ribbons would look okay here?"

Rio carefully examined the parts. There was no condescension in her eyes — only genuine, almost professional interest.

— "Ribbons will add softness," — she calmly replied, running her nimble fingers over the wire. — "But if you want to emphasize the 'cyber' component, Mayuri-san, try threading a copper wire through the seam. It'll create a conductivity effect. Like this."

She made one stitch — quick, confident, like a surgeon's. Mayuri froze, her eyes wide with delight.

— "Wow! Did you study this somewhere? That's so... professional!"

Rio smiled almost imperceptibly, and for a second her face became completely expressionless, like a doll's.

— "I've been to many places, Mayuri-san. Anywhere where something needed fixing."

She shot a glance at me. It felt like… expectation?

But apparently realizing I hadn't understood what she wanted, she just smiled softly and continued tending to the flowers by the window.

— "Hey, Rio, you're pretty creative, right?" — Ruka asked, sitting on the sofa.

— "Well, I'm not sure…"

— "Much more creative than Okarin. Looking at all this, tell me, why does that idiot lack common sense?" — Daru said jokingly.

I was about to explode in my usual manner, but Rio, closing her eyes, gave a timid laugh.

— "Okabe-san has his own unique style. And in my opinion, there's something beautiful about it," — She shifted her gaze to me. Something in my chest skipped a beat. — "After all, this place seems so alive."

— "Nya, alive? You mean these wires, nya, computers, and little parts?" — Faris purred.

— "I don't know how to explain it… this place seems like the perfect refuge for absolutely anyone. And it really is. You all do completely different things, but you enjoy being friends and spending time here."

We exchanged glances. The words of an outside observer even made us a little embarrassed.

But in my chest, another feeling had been growing for a long time. She's definitely… hiding something. Or plotting something?

Did I let someone into my circle who will lead me to the edge again?

Alright. Don't think. It's Rio. Right?

This subreddit is made for a fanfic written by u/Napoleonikus.

This fanfic is set after two years of the events of Steins;Gate (anime and VN). This fanfic has no official connection with the original series or any SciADV fiction.

This fanfic is set in Steins;Gate worldline

The two years gap is after the Episode 25 OVA Egoistic Poriomania of Steins;Gate anime. The events of the movie: Load Region of Deja Vu did not happen in this universe.

Before reading this fanfic, make sure you have at least watched the original Steins;Gate anime or have read Visual Novel (VN).

Here are the links for every single chapter that has been posted. This post will be updated every time a new chapter is posted.

Arc 1: Degression Arc

1. Chapter 1
2. Chapter 2
3. Chapter 3
4. Chapter 4
5. Chapter 5
6. Chapter 6
7. Chapter 7
8. Chapter 8
9. Chapter 9
10. Chapter 10
11. Chapter 11
12. Chapter 12
13. Chapter 13
14. Chapter 14
15. Chapter 15
16. Chapter 16
17. Chapter 17
18. Chapter 18
19. Chapter 19
20. Chapter 20
21. Chapter 21
22. Chapter 22
23. Chapter 23
24. Chapter 24
25. Chapter 25
26. Chapter 26 (Final of Arc 1)

Tea for the Lab

[20.07.2012. 13:04]

The melting asphalt outside made it abundantly clear that the heat outdoors was unbearable. What could be said when the lab itself was suffocating from the stuffiness.

The air conditioner, installed a year ago, was running at full power, but its efforts were nothing compared to the sun over Tokyo.

Daru sat near the air conditioner, wiping sweat from his forehead with a small towel. Moeka had already left by then, while Faris sat on her phone, taking pictures.

Mayuri was sprawled out on the sofa like a starfish, having taken off her sun hat, while Ruka fanned her with a fan.

And Rio, standing by the window next to the flowers, seemed not to notice the heat at all. Despite being dressed in a thick cardigan over a long white shirt.

— "Maybe I should brew some tea?" — she broke the hot silence, speaking in a fairly confident and insistent, yet soft voice.

Daru was the first to perk up.

— "Tea? Colleague Rio, don't you know that the only drinks in this lab are Dr. Pepper and occasionally Coffee?"

— "Cool down, Daru," — I said, sitting on a chair next to the sofa. — "I've had her tea, it's not bad."

Everyone in the lab looked at me. Did I say something wrong?

— "Okarin, you drank something other than Pepper?" — Mayuri asked in surprise.

— "Yes, Okabe-san said it was very tasty." — Rio said warmly.

Everyone looked at me again.

— "Well yes, I can drink something other than Dr. Pepper, what's so strange about that?"

— "Nothing, Okarin, we're all just really glad you're not only drinking that sweet soda anymore." — Mayuri said joyfully.

— "Yeah, nya, I thought you should get checked for nya diabetes." — Faris purred.

— "Oh, come on. Dr. Pepper is still tastier." — I said proudly, crossing my arms over my chest.

I looked at Rio. A barely noticeable… sadness flickered across her face?

— "Sorry, Rio, I didn't mean to offend you…" — I sighed.

She blinked, as if she hadn't expected that. And then she smiled — softer than usual.

— "Okarin apologizing for his words? Colleague Rio, how did you manage to charm him?"

— "Shut your mouth, you half-baked Hacker!"

[20.07.2012. 13:25]

20 minutes later, 5 mugs of hot drink stood on the table.

The amber color of the liquid, bathing in the sun's rays outside the window, attracted the eye.

— "Wow, it smells very… exquisite." — Mayuri said soothingly, inhaling the scent of the herbal tea.

— "I've never seen anything like it… Father never brewed this at the temple." — Urushibara noted.

Daru said nothing. He brought the mug to his lips, sweat streaming from him like a river.

A gulp. Loud.

— "This is… Awesome." — he said in surprise.

Rio, standing by the window, watched with a strained smile.

— "Haaah, you liked it… I'm so glad…"

— "Rio, this is amazing!" — Daru repeated.

Rio looked at him… with a smile, but not the same one she gave me. There was a sense of pretense in that smile.

I decided to test it. Bringing the mug to my lips, I tried the hot drink.

Again, that taste. Amazing, with a hint of sourness but sweet and soothing.

— "How do you like it, Okabe-san?" — she asked impatiently. The lab members also watched for my reaction.

— "As always, Rio. Excellent."

Her eyes lit up with joy. Sincere, childishly sweet. I was right. She only had that reaction for…

— "It's so tasty, Rio!" — Mayuri interrupted my thoughts.

Rio looked at her with the same joy.

— "Ah… then it's simpler…"

— "Okabe-san?"

Rio simply finds Daru unpleasant. That's perfectly adequate.

The others tried it one by one.

— "Nya, it's like a Chinese restaurant. Rio nya, where did you learn this?" — Faris asked in surprise.

— "There's no credit to me… it's hereditary…"

She pressed her hands to her chest. Apparently, she was remembering her mother.

— "Indeed. I've never tasted tea like this." — Urushibara added.

Rio, standing by the window, was very pleased with our assessments. But that was the thing. She was standing by the window.

— "Hey, Rio. Why aren't you sitting with us? There's a free chair."

She looked at me. Uncertainly, folding her hands in a lock.

— "I… I'm used to standing. This way I can see everyone."

— "I think you'd better sit next to us. We are, after all… a family now."

She reacted to my words. Her eyes sparkled, as if that phrase was the highest joy for her.

— "Well, since you insist… I'll sit down."

Walking over to the table, she sat down beside me.

For a second, a strange feeling appeared in my head. As if the empty space in the lab, which I had never noticed, was now filled, and the puzzle was finally complete.

As if. Rio was destined to sit at this table.

Destined…

— "Fate, huh…" — I quietly said to myself.

— "Okarin?"

— "Yes. Now, for sure. Rio, this place was chosen for you by the Steins Gate!"

I said this, pointing at the copper-haired girl.

— "There he goes again with some Steiner…" — Daru grumbled.

— "Oh, just be quiet for once. Rio, you…"

I looked at her. Her gaze was directed somewhere down. Not at an object, but as if into the very essence.

— "Thank you… to this Steins Gate." — turning to me, she said this.

Something in my chest skipped a beat. And the back of my head felt some kind of heat.

Mayuri smiled. Daru adjusted his glasses with a smile. Faris meowed. Ruka folded his hands on his knees.

Kurisu clicked her tongue with a smile.

Huh? What the?

I stopped my gaze where Kurisu always was. But there was nothing there anymore. What did I see?

I looked at Rio. She was looking at the same spot as me.

A headache washed over me.

— "Okarin?" — Mayuri asked, watching as I instinctively massaged the spot Kurisu had relaxed.

— "Nothing, Mayuri. Probably because I haven't eaten. By the way, maybe we should go to the store?"

— "Actually, yes. I wouldn't mind some canned soup right now." — said Daru.

— "Then I'll go. Who's with me?"

Rio and Mayuri raised their hands at the same time. They looked at each other.

— "Well, then Mayuri-san will go…"

— "No, Rio, let's all three go! It'll be fun!" — said Mayuri.

Rio shot me an uncertain glance, apparently wanting me to give permission.

— "Of course we'll go, Rio."

Her gaze went through 3 stages. Uncertainty turned into surprise, surprise turned into joy.

— "Alright, let's go. I hope you have money, because I'm broke."

— "Of course we do, Mayushii just got paid."

— "Yes, nya. With a bonus." — Faris noted.

— "Then let's get up. Mission: Supply Run begins!"

— "You're just going to buy food, not escape from a shelter during an explosion." — Daru said roughly.

Nevertheless, the three of us went. 001, 002, and 010.

Again glancing at the spot where the non-existent Kurisu had been, I looked at Rio. She seemed to feel that pain too.

What exactly is this? And why do Rio and I see it?

— "Goddamn nonsense…"

— "Okarin?"

— "Huh? Nothing, Mayuri."

Out loud again. Enough.

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