Convergence

Akihabara, a city of neon signs and infinite possibilities, hummed with the restless energy of otaku and tourists alike. Somewhere in the back alleys of this electric wonderland, the Future Gadget Lab sat atop a cramped building, an unassuming epicenter of world-altering science. Inside, Christina Makise Kurisu pushed up her glasses, poring over a chalkboard filled with equations as the scent of cheap convenience store coffee lingered in the air.

"It doesn’t add up," Kurisu muttered, tapping a marker against her chin. "The divergence number remains unchanged, even though our recent D-Mail experiment should have altered reality."

"Mayushii thinks we should take a break!" The ever-cheerful Mayuri Shiina clapped her hands together, her wide blue eyes shimmering with kindness. "Besides, we have visitors."

The soft click of heels announced their arrival. Two girls, one carrying herself with an air of sharp elegance, the other with a quieter, composed demeanor. The former’s deep purple eyes scanned the room like a hunter sizing up prey.

"So, you’re the so-called mad scientists meddling with time?" Senjougahara Hitagi said, her tone flat yet teasing. "How interesting."

Kurisu frowned. "And you are…?"

"Senjougahara Hitagi. And this is Hanekawa Tsubasa." The latter, a girl with glasses and an aura of measured intelligence, nodded politely.

Hanekawa adjusted her spectacles. "We were led here by an anomaly. Something has disrupted the very fabric of our world. It appears to be linked to your experiments."

Okabe Rintarou—Hououin Kyouma, self-proclaimed insane mad scientist—burst into laughter. "Hah! So even beings from another reality recognize my genius! El Psy Kongroo!"

"I will staple your mouth shut if you don’t take this seriously," Hitagi said with a deceptive sweetness. Okabe immediately quieted down.

Kurisu’s curiosity was piqued. "What exactly happened in your world?"

Hanekawa hesitated. "I believe… we were erased. Not in a traditional sense, but there is a disconnect. We woke up in this reality, and all traces of our own have faded. There is no Araragi, no aberrations, no past to return to."

A silence settled over the room, tense and uncertain.

Kurisu exhaled. "Then we need to understand the nature of this disruption. If it’s tied to our time travel research, it means we’ve reached beyond the expected parameters. We might have fused timelines."

Hitagi’s lips curled into a smirk. "And how do you intend to fix it, Christina?"

Kurisu bristled. "Don’t call me that."

Mayuri, oblivious to the tension, beamed. "I think it’s exciting! New friends, new mysteries! Mayushii believes we’ll find the answer together."

Hanekawa met Mayuri’s gaze and found herself smiling softly. "I hope you’re right."