Starting with episode six, nearly every fan could feel the full power of 'Steins;Gate' — the buzz in the fan communities had shifted almost entirely to plot discussions.
This episode was a turning point:
With the introduction of a method to break free from worldline convergence, the previously oppressive story finally lifted into something warmer — almost lighthearted.
The plot is now centered around:
Okabe and Makise's emotional progression.
Suzuha's final attempt to locate her father before departing.
And her joint efforts with Itaru to repair the time machine.
Then, just as Suzuha was about to make an irreversible time leap…
Mayuri — through a trail of subtle clues — finally uncovered the identity of Suzuha's father:
Hashida Itaru.
Okabe's chubby, hacker best friend.
Su Li's eyes widened.
Itaru… and Suzuha? They're… father and daughter?
What the hell?
The fan chat group exploded:
"Wasn't she supposed to be Makise and Okabe's daughter?"
"I thought it was Okabe and Doodooroo(Mayuri)'s!"
"No, no, I swore it was Okabe and Faris!"
"I was convinced it was Ruka and Makise's daughter."
"Damn, I guessed wrong too — I thought it was Ruka and Okabe's kid!"
"Bro, seriously? Ruka is male. How the hell would he and Okabe have a daughter?"
"But didn't he turn into a woman after using the phone microwave?"
"Wrong again! Before that transformation, he was still a man — and during that timeline, Suzuha was a real, living person. Your theory is terrifying!"
Suddenly, the tone of 'Steins;Gate' became unexpectedly cheerful.
A nineteen-year-old Itaru reunited with his eighteen-year-old daughter Suzuha.
It was hilarious and strangely touching.
"I'll definitely get the vintage computer. And I promise to give it to you.
So please… change the future!"
Suzuha smiled — radiant and hopeful.
"Then, everyone…
I'll see you again in 35 years.
Though for you, it'll feel like just a few hours."
That simple, gentle line suddenly yanked Su Li and countless meme-happy fans back to the harsh reality of the show's world.
A person from the future, traveling back in time just to meet her father for two minutes…
Only to then head off alone, 35 years into the past, to find and protect the vintage computer.
From that point forward, she had to completely avoid contact with any of the protagonists — otherwise, any interaction could cause timeline anomalies.
She'd live 35 years in solitude,
just to ensure the world shifted to the beta worldline.
Their next meeting?
A 53-year-old daughter, Suzuha,
and her 19-year-old father, Itaru.
"This… kinda hurts."
"Suddenly not funny anymore."
"I don't know why, but this hit me right in the heart."
"I'm crying. I thought this episode would stay lighthearted. Teacher Jing Yu, you're truly heartless. Why throw that line in at the end?!"
[See you then!]
— the last email Suzuha sends to Okabe before entering the time machine.
The four of them watched, eyes brimming with tears, as her time machine turned into a streak of light — and vanished into nothingness.
008 Research Lab member.
The working warrior — Suzuha.
She no longer existed in this world.
Su Li's eyes turned red.
Even the background music was unfairly emotional.
And just when she thought the heartbreak was over — it wasn't.
A few hours later, the landlord downstairs — Mr. Braun — arrived with a letter.
The time was the same moment Suzuha had said she would "return" from 35 years ago.
The contents of the letter?
[I failed. I failed. I failed. I failed. I failed. I failed. I failed.]
[I only remembered who I was about a year ago.
For 24 years in this timeline, I had amnesia.
The time machine wasn't fully repaired.
It wasn't my father's fault — it was mine.
If only I had jumped directly to this time period instead of going to see him…
I shouldn't have tried to meet my father.
I'm sorry.
Why… did I even come here in the first place?
I forgot everything.
I lived idly, happily…
Okabe, if only you hadn't convinced me to stay during that offline meetup.
Then the time machine wouldn't have gotten wet.
If I could go back…
Don't stop me.
Don't make me stay.
This life…
is meaningless.]
Suzuha, due to a malfunction in the time machine, had returned to the past —
but with amnesia.
She forgot her mission.
She never found the vintage computer.
And by the time her memories returned, 24 years had passed.
One year later, she took her own life.
Leaving behind only that letter — to be delivered to Okabe.
Su Li was stunned.
Is this… for real, Jing Yu?
As the ending theme began to play…
The Steins;Gate audience that week received a devastating emotional blow.
"I take it back. I never should've said this episode felt light. Teacher Jing Yu is a monster. Who even thinks of a plot like this?!"
"Sending a warrior back in time, letting her live 24 years in amnesia, then killing her off after she remembers… That's genius-level cruelty. I can't breathe. My chest feels so tight."
"And that's where the episode ends.
This week, Teacher Jing Yu is both a cliffhanger devil and a soulless crocodile."
"I'm donating my 18-year collection of emotional knives to Yunteng TV."
"Please… just tell me. Is there any chance we'll get a double episode this week?!"
"Back when they aired two episodes together, no one cared.
Now it's once a week, and we're begging."
"I'm not sleeping tonight. This plot just wrecked me."
"See you all next week.
Hopefully, we get a miracle.
That Mayuri is saved,
That Okabe finds a way to shift the worldline to a happy ending…"
"Yeah… me too.
I feel awful.
And the worst part?
This is a god-tier cliffhanger.
Teacher Jing Yu, are you some kind of twisted sadist?!
Why do you always come up with this stuff?!"
'Steins;Gate', Episode 6 — average rating: 4.22%.
Just like last week, the show's rising reputation brought in a wave of new viewers.
The rate of growth was not slowing down.
Which was great news for 'Steins; Gate'.
But for 'You, Under the Cliff', it was a nightmare.
Screenwriter Lin Bin sat in Huanshi TV's office with a dark, grim expression.
'You, Under the Cliff', Episode 4 — average rating: 6.80%.
A drop of 0.19% from the previous week.
Another week of declining ratings.
They hadn't managed to win back 'Steins;Gate's viewers — in fact, they were losing more of their own audience to it.
"You've gotta be kidding me.
You've got to be kidding me…"
Lin Bin stood, looking like he wanted to flip the table — but restrained himself.
That would've been too pathetic — the classic rage of the powerless.
Next week… It's fine.
We're still at the top this week, 6.8%.
Still number one.
But the phrase "next week" sent a chill down Lin Bin's spine.
What if…
Next week, 'Steins;Gate' climbs again?
And 'You, Under the Cliff' continues to drop?
Would they be stuck in a downward spiral, forever dragged down by this damn show?
Lin Bin remembered how, early on, he had actually felt lucky that 'Another' was the one sniping 'Manual', while 'You, Under the Cliff' was only up against 'Steins;Gate', this "trash show."
Now?
He realized how foolish that thought had been.
'Another' would end in two weeks.
But 'Steins;Gate'?
A full-season drama.
It would be competing with 'You, Under the Cliff' for six more weeks.
If he could, he'd switch with 'Manual' in a heartbeat.
And now… another bitterness was rising in Lin Bin's chest.
"Why didn't you go after 'Black Cat', huh?
Just because Xingtong TV and Yunteng TV are both headquartered in Modo City?
So you just conveniently decided not to target Xingtong TV?"
What a joke.
Did people forget?
Xingtong TV also attacked 'Hikaru no Go' Season 1 last season!
Now you're telling me there's some kind of regional truce in the TV industry?
Just because you're "Modo City colleagues," Xingtong TV gets a pass?
But we, Huanshi TV and Imperial Capital TV — from other regions — have to take the hit?
That's not fair!
The more Lin Bin thought about it, the more furious he became.
Jing Yu's face popped into his mind.
Where the hell did this freak even come from…?!