Chapter 3: The Mad Scientist's Lab
The streets of Akihabara were just as Roy had imagined them: bustling, colorful, and chaotic. Neon lights blinked from every corner, storefronts boasted the latest tech, and crowds of people moved quickly, each one wrapped up in their own world. Yet, beneath the modern sheen, Roy knew there was something much deeper happening here—something that the average person couldn't see.
Time was malleable in this universe, and the cracks in reality were just beginning to show.
Roy walked with purpose, keeping his eyes peeled for any sign of the Future Gadget Laboratory. The events of Steins;Gate played out in his head like a memory. He knew the timeline, knew the key players, but this world was real now, and things might not play out exactly as he remembered.
Eventually, after navigating a few tight alleyways, he found the building he was looking for: a run-down, nondescript building housing Okabe Rintarou's so-called "lab." Roy hesitated for a moment before pushing the door open and stepping inside.
The inside of the Future Gadget Laboratory was exactly what Roy had expected: cluttered with electronics, half-built machines, and random experiments strewn about with no apparent rhyme or reason. It smelled faintly of old wiring and dust, a fitting atmosphere for a place where the boundaries of science were constantly being tested.
And there, in the middle of it all, stood Okabe Rintarou, the self-proclaimed mad scientist. He wore a lab coat draped loosely over his shoulders and a confident smirk as he muttered something incomprehensible into his phone, likely part of his usual monologue as "Hououin Kyouma."
"…the Organization won't stop me! Their plans will crumble before the might of Hououin Kyouma!" Okabe declared loudly, oblivious to Roy's entrance.
Roy watched for a moment, suppressing a smile. Okabe was exactly as he remembered—larger than life, eccentric, and yet strangely brilliant. But behind the theatrics, Roy knew that Okabe's life was about to spiral out of control, and soon, he'd be thrust into a race against time itself.
Before Roy could decide how to approach, a familiar voice interrupted.
"Okabe, stop yelling. You'll scare the neighbors."
Roy turned to see a young woman standing at the door to the kitchen, her red hair tied back in a loose ponytail. It was Kurisu Makise, the genius neuroscientist who would soon play a pivotal role in the events to come.
Okabe ignored her, continuing his tirade, while Kurisu sighed in exasperation. She turned toward Roy, her eyes narrowing slightly as she noticed the unfamiliar face.
"You're not with the lab," she said, more as a statement than a question.
Roy cleared his throat, trying to seem as non-threatening as possible. "No, I'm not. But I've heard a lot about this place. Thought I'd drop by, see what all the fuss was about."
Kurisu crossed her arms, clearly skeptical, but before she could respond, Okabe snapped out of his dramatic monologue and zeroed in on Roy.
"Ah! A new recruit!" Okabe announced, his eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. "I see you've come to join the ranks of the Future Gadget Laboratory! Excellent! We're always looking for bright minds to fight against the Organization!"
Roy raised an eyebrow. "The Organization, huh? Sounds serious."
Okabe's expression grew even more intense. "Oh, it is. They lurk in the shadows, plotting the downfall of free scientific thought. But fear not, for Hououin Kyouma stands against them! Together, we will defy their nefarious plans!"
Kurisu rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of amusement on her face. "Don't listen to him. He's harmless… mostly."
Roy chuckled. "Good to know. I'm Roy, by the way."
Kurisu seemed to relax slightly at his casual demeanor. "Makise Kurisu," she replied, though Roy already knew her name well. "I don't suppose you have a background in physics or neuroscience?"
"Not exactly," Roy admitted. "But I'm a quick learner."
Okabe clapped Roy on the back, startling him. "That's the spirit! Welcome to the lab, Roy. You can be our newest lab member, number… uh, five! Yes, Lab Member 005!"
Before Roy could respond, another voice cut in from the kitchen. "Okarin, did you say we have a new lab member?"
Roy turned to see a girl with short, wavy hair and a cheerful smile, carrying a tray of snacks. It was Mayuri Shiina, Okabe's childhood friend and the heart of the group.
"Yup, Mayushii! This is Roy," Okabe said proudly. "He's here to help us take on the Organization!"
Mayuri's eyes lit up. "Yay! More people means more fun. Nice to meet you, Roy!"
Roy smiled warmly at her. "Nice to meet you too, Mayuri."
The conversation moved quickly after that, with Okabe giving Roy a grand tour of the cluttered lab, proudly showing off their "inventions," most of which were little more than glorified toys. But Roy's mind was elsewhere. He was observing, listening, trying to figure out exactly when in the timeline he had landed.
He glanced over at the microwave in the corner of the lab—the same microwave that would soon become the key to time travel in this world. They hadn't discovered its true potential yet, which meant he had time to figure out his role here before the chaos began.
Later that evening, after most of the group had left, Roy found himself alone in the lab with Okabe. The mad scientist was tinkering with some wires, muttering to himself about world domination.
Roy took a deep breath, deciding to take a risk. "Okabe, have you ever thought about time travel?"
Okabe paused, his fingers freezing in place. He glanced up at Roy, his usual flamboyance momentarily replaced by genuine curiosity.
"Time travel?" Okabe echoed, his voice quieter than usual. "It's the stuff of science fiction. But… there are theories. Dangerous theories."
Roy nodded slowly. "And what if I told you that time isn't as fixed as we think it is?"
Okabe stood up, his eyes narrowing as he studied Roy. "You seem to know more than you're letting on, Roy."
Roy met his gaze. "Let's just say I've seen what happens when people mess with time. It's not something to take lightly."
Okabe's expression grew serious. "Are you saying that time travel is possible?"
Roy didn't answer directly. "I'm saying that it's possible to change things—big things—but it comes at a cost. And once you start, there's no going back."
The weight of Roy's words hung in the air, and for the first time, Okabe looked uncertain.
"I'll keep that in mind," Okabe said quietly, his usual bravado absent. "Thanks for the warning."
Roy nodded, knowing that this was just the beginning. The wheels of fate were already turning, and soon, the experiments with time would begin in earnest. But now, with Roy in the mix, the future might not unfold exactly as it had before.
As he left the lab that night, the cool air of Akihabara washing over him, Roy felt the familiar weight of the Dimensional Key in his pocket. The rules of this world were different—more grounded in science than magic—but he had a feeling the key would still have a part to play.
For now, though, he would bide his time, watching, learning, and waiting for the right moment to act.