June 9
The final episode of the 'Steins;Gate' side story, 'Load Region of Déjà Vu', aired successfully.
Although it was technically a side story, it was far more than just a bonus episode.
In the main series, there's a brief line mentioning that Okabe Rintarō's first kiss was taken by someone who no longer exists.
This plot point was finally resolved in the side story: the one who stole it was none other than Makise Kurisu, who had traveled back in time using the time machine and met Okabe during his childhood!
Makise's first kiss, on the other hand, was taken by the adult Okabe. But Okabe's own first kiss, as a child, was taken by the time-traveling Makise.
Everything… once again formed a perfect closed loop.
With this, the two-week side story came to an end, and fans of 'Steins;Gate' were left both satisfied and heartbroken.
Last week's episode mixed emotional pain with a touch of warmth. This week's episode, though? Pure fan service.
Final rating: 6.67%.
This time, it's truly the end.
Even the bonus episodes are over.
That same night, the official website of Yunteng TV was flooded with messages of celebration from die-hard fans of 'Steins;Gate':
"A perfect ending!"
"Okabe Rintarō and Makise Kurisu, may you be happy together forever!"
"Xia Yining, who plays Shiina Mayuri, once again ends up as the losing heroine!"
"Please give us a second season of 'Steins;Gate'! "
Those kinds of posts completely dominated the front page of Yunteng TV's official site.
The very next day, multiple major entertainment outlets across Great Zhou reported on the conclusion of 'Steins;Gate'.
[A Masterpiece is Born: Breaking Down the Many Hidden Clues in 'Steins;Gate' Episode 1]
[Will 'Steins;Gate' Get a Second Season? Yunteng TV's execs remain vague. But do we really need one? The first season was already perfect—what more could a second season even add?]
[The Rise of Genius Screenwriter Jing Yu: A Look at His Six Dramas Since Debut]
[Six Titles, Six Hits: Among Them, 'Hikaru no Go' and 'Steins;Gate' Were Already Called Masterpieces Before Their Finales. Could This Season's Silver Dragon Awards Be the First to Go to a Non-Big Six Network Drama?]
[Renowned screenwriter Yu Yin praises 'Hikaru no Go' and 'Steins;Gate', saying: "If Yunteng TV had a stronger base audience, the ratings of these two shows could easily be 1.5 points higher."]
While 'Hikaru no Go' still has a few episodes left to air, the full conclusion of 'Steins;Gate' has thrown the entire Great Zhou TV drama industry into a frenzy — everyone is talking about what comes next for the two breakout hits of the summer season.
The Silver Dragon Awards
Jing Yu sat up slightly straighter and looked at Cheng Lie.
"That's right. We've already received the official invitation from the Silver Dragon Awards committee. Both 'Hikaru no Go' and 'Steins;Gate' have been nominated."
Jing Yu thought back to what he knew about the Silver Dragon Awards.
In Great Zhou's TV drama industry, there are about six or seven major award shows — like the Flying Star Awards, the White Orchid Awards, etc.
But none have as much prestige and public attention as the Silver Dragon Awards.
Held every quarter, the awards include categories like Best Drama, Best Director, Best Producer, Most Popular Actor, Most Popular Actress, Best Music, Best Screenwriter, and more.
There's also the Golden Dragon Awards, hosted by the same organization, but that one only happens once a year.
In contrast, the Silver Dragon Awards gather a panel of judges who evaluate all shows aired across networks that quarter. Nominations are then announced, and the final award ceremony is broadcast live during prime time on one of the top three national TV stations.
Fans are also allowed to participate in voting, adding a public voice to the decision-making.
Because of that, the final night of each quarter sees incredibly high ratings as fans of all dramas and stars flood the web with votes and heated debates. Even casual viewers treat the event like a drama showcase — after all, any show that wins big but they haven't seen? They go buy the DVDs and binge on them later.
"Feels like a hassle," Jing Yu muttered after a moment of thought.
Cheng Lie raised a brow. "Hassle? Jing Yu-sensei, don't tell me you've become such a recluse that you'd rather stay home playing games even when we're being nominated for major awards?"
"Sure, awards might not directly impact revenue, but they massively boost our show's reputation."
"Plenty of great dramas with strong viewership and solid reviews got snubbed at awards shows. And now? Their place in industry history remains... awkward."
Jing Yu fell silent.
He understood. It was like back in his past life — The Shawshank Redemption vs. Forrest Gump. Many felt Shawshank was superior, but after losing at the Oscars, it never truly escaped its underdog status.
Awards serve as a form of validation. A fan saying their favorite show is a masterpiece is always biased.
But when an official industry jury names a show Best Drama? That carries weight.
Even if people don't agree, there's nothing they can do about it — unless they themselves become industry legends and sit on that very jury someday.
"So? How about we head to the Capital at the end of June?" Cheng Lie asked with a smile.
This season's awards will be broadcast live by Imperial Capital TV.
"Alright, let's do it," Jing Yu finally said.
Though it sounded like a hassle at first, after thinking it through, he realized just how important the event really was.
Winning awards would greatly help both 'Steins;Gate' and 'Hikaru no Go' in post-broadcast promotion and influence.
From licensing profits to fanbase expansion, it was all upside.
"Then it's settled!" Cheng Lie said cheerfully.
"Jing Yu-sensei, you should start preparing. You're the hottest name in TV right now — not just among fans, but within the entire Great Zhou industry. Everyone's got their eyes on you, this so-called genius screenwriter."
Sunday
Episode 11 of 'Hikaru no Go' Season 2 aired.
After an entire week of frustration over Fujiwara no Sai's sudden disappearance, the fanbase was more active than ever.
Viewers had been eagerly waiting in front of their TVs early — because Jing Yu himself had promised: Sai would return. Sai and Hikaru would meet again.