As the clock struck 8:00 PM, countless fans eagerly waiting in front of their phones and computers refreshed their screens without hesitation.
There it was—the long-awaited Episode 24. With a click of the mouse, they selected "Play."
As colors gradually emerged from the black-and-white opening sequence, a flurry of live comments floated across the screen:
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"First!!"
"Final episode! Celebrating with flowers!!"
"EL PSY KONGROO!!"
"Damn it! How did a six-month series end in just three months?! It's not enough!!"
"Well, even in anime form, sensei efficiency remains as terrifying as ever!"
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As the episode unfolded, the barrage of excited comments gradually faded. Clearly, the fans had been drawn into this final chapter.
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The Last Attempt
In Episode 23, after Suzuha's persuasion, Okabe found the courage to return to that fateful day to save Kurisu.
However, as expected, he failed.
With despair threatening to consume him, Okabe teetered on the edge of collapse.
Unlike before, there were no infinite do-overs, no more trial and error. He had only one last chance, one final fuel source to travel back in time.
Even worse, the unbearable truth loomed over him—he had killed Makise Kurisu with his own hands.
As his will crumbled, memories of his painful struggle to save Mayuri flooded his mind.
No matter what he did, no matter how many times he tried, the convergence of worldlines always led to the same outcome: Makise Kurisu's death.
But just as he was about to give up, Mayuri's slap snapped him back to reality.
At that moment, Suzuha revealed an email—one recorded 15 years in the future, left behind by Okabe himself.
The first failure had been anticipated.
To reach the Steins;Gate worldline and achieve the perfect ending, two crucial steps had to be taken:
Erase the time machine thesis that Dr. Nakabachi had taken to Russia.
Save Makise Kurisu.
The convergence of worldlines was real, but so was the possibility of salvation.
He couldn't change the past itself. He couldn't erase the moment he had witnessed.
So instead—he had to deceive.
Deceive the world.
And deceive even himself.
The key to reaching Steins;Gate lay in making his past self believe that Kurisu had died, without actually letting her die.
And so, the final operation—codenamed Schrödinger—began.
Not changing the past—only altering the outcome.
Deception.
Deceiving the entire world!
Okabe, a man who logically should not exist in that moment, would pull off the ultimate illusion, stealing Kurisu away from the clutches of death itself.
As time ticked away, the climax of the story unfolded.
Even though fans knew the ending would be a success, they still held their breath, captivated by the journey.
When Okabe's carefully laid-out plan encountered an unexpected flaw—the fake blood had congealed—the viewers collectively tensed up.
What now?! How would he handle this!?
But there was no time to think.
Kurisu had already met with her father.
That's when Okabe had an idea.
As he provoked Dr. Nakabachi with taunts, the audience watched in horror as the knife plunged into Okabe's stomach. Gasps filled the room.
And yet, a realization dawned—this was Okabe's plan all along.
With Nakabachi fleeing in fear, Kurisu grabbed her phone to call an ambulance. Okabe, seizing the moment, knocked her unconscious with a stun gun.
Yet—it wasn't enough.
The blood spilled was insufficient to recreate the scene he had once witnessed.
So, in a dramatic close-up, Okabe reached out his left hand—
—and plunged it into his own wound, widening it further.
Blood poured out.
The illusion was complete.
As the stunned audience processed what had just happened, a wave of raw emotion surged through them.
One after another, teary messages scrolled across the screen.
This protagonist, once ridiculed for his delusional ramblings, had now earned the unwavering admiration of all who watched.
With the mission complete, the story neared its final moments.
One by one, Okabe handed out badges symbolizing their lab membership.
As he walked through the city, he found himself wondering—what was Kurisu doing now? What was she thinking?
A special scene unfolded.
A fateful encounter.
The two passed each other on the street.
And then—Kurisu called out to him.
The future remained uncertain. But like this reunion, it was full of endless possibilities.
This was the choice of Steins;Gate.
As their gazes met, the story came to an end.
"EL PSY KONGROO!!"
Unified cheers flooded the screen, a mix of reluctance and heartfelt blessings from devoted fans.
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"It's over…?" Eriri's voice carried a trace of melancholy.
It wasn't just her. Anyone who had experienced a truly great story knew this feeling—this lingering emptiness when it all came to an end.
Emotionally, they wanted more. Rationally, they knew—it was truly over. No more new chapters. No more unseen adventures.
While the feeling would fade over time, the immediate impact was overwhelming.
Faced with Eriri's question, Akifumi didn't hesitate:
"Yes, it's over."
"There will be no sequel."
Although the original trajectory included Steins;Gate 0, Akifumi had no intention of creating it.
If fans wanted the full story, they would have to play the Steins;Gate visual novel.
The anime had skipped countless branching routes.
But Akifumi had no plans to develop a visual novel himself—it was too much work, with too little reward.
Just like CLANNAD that he plan to draw, but had no interest in adapting it into a game.
"Though… an OVA for Episode 25 is possible," he mused.
After all, it would only be about twenty minutes long, with a manageable script.
Hearing this, Eriri let out a disappointed sigh.
She murmured under her breath, "There's still so much more that could be explored…"
"What a shame."
Stories involving time travel always had room for expansion, just like Puella Magi Madoka Magica.
But ultimately, the decision rested with the creator. No one else had a say.
Pretending not to hear her sigh, Akifumi casually said, "It's late. I'll walk you home."
A faint blush spread across Eriri's cheeks as she avoided his gaze.
"Well… actually, before I left, I already told mom that I wouldn't be coming home tonight. We're having a training camp."
"Not going home?" Akifumi Mugiho blinked.
Then, a knowing smile spread across his face…