"Let's get straight to the conclusion," Uncle Big Nose said.
"This scene is a dream, and not some other messy stuff."
"Earlier, Teacher Tang Sanshui also said that besides a magnificent setting and a stable plot, a work still needs to maintain its overall tone so it doesn't waver." He turned to glance at Tang Sanshui, then withdrew his gaze, and continued: "It's quite clear that, judging by steins;gate's performance so far, I still don't think Contestant Hua Jian would make the mistake of suddenly inserting such a strange and disjointed plot."
"So, combining this with the later scene of Okabe Rintaro sleeping alone in the Laboratory, this is a dream."
"This point was actually hinted at earlier." Saying this, Uncle Big Nose casually swiped open the screen in front of him.
A real-time recording, unique to the judge's panel, which allowed them to rewind the progress bar at any time, opened a separate window in front of the audience.
This was the first time he had used such a function.
"Like here." He paused on the scene in front of the convenience store: "Okabe Rintaro looks at the green jelly, and a memory is triggered, making him think of the reports of people turned into jelly-men by human experimentation, and he begins to doubt whether involving Mayuri was the right choice."
"It's precisely because of this thought that he couldn't help but have such a dream."
"And the reason why the voice in the dream wasn't Mayuri's but Makise Kurisu's is also very simple." Uncle Big Nose spread his hands: "Because Assistant happened to be bickering with him frequently during this period, plus perhaps he was still dwelling on how Assistant had attacked him during the lecture, leaving him speechless and unable to refute a single word."
"Therefore, the voice would be Makise Kurisu."
"Of course, another reason is that he felt there was no need to choose another voice to make people guess, so he simply used Assistant's voice." Uncle Big Nose smiled:
"Actually, I think it would have been good if it had been John Titor's voice instead."
At this point, Uncle Big Nose seemed to have finished speaking and looked towards Cowboy Hao.
Cowboy Hao shrugged and raised the microphone.
"Mm-hmm, I have the same idea, but let me add just a little bit more," he said. "Uncle Big Nose said a lot, but there's one thing he hasn't said, which I'm sure he left for me to say."
"That is the 'content'."
"Makise Kurisu's repeated emphasis on 'don't look back'."
"The concept of time, the concept of eternity, the concept of infinity, the idea that there will always be an end, and 'don't look back'."
"I think this is a hint for the subsequent storyline." He gestured with his hands: "SERN has already invaded, the Time Machine is in use, so, Okabe Rintaro, you can't look back anymore; the plot will soar from here."
"Well, that's my hope."
"To be honest, this episode really gives me a bad feeling. It's only now, in the sixth episode, that Moeka's main storyline seems to be starting, and the large number of characters introduced earlier seem to have only served as a bridge, whether it's Felis or Rukako, they both feel superficial, without further in-depth development."
"I feel this is a bit incongruous."
"But…"
Tang Sanshui took over his words.
"If we continue to develop them, then SERN's conspiracy and the main storyline related to the Time Machine might lack room for description," he said.
"Besides, up until now, we probably still haven't understood what the title 'steins;gate' means, have we?"
"That's right." Host Fang Yuan nodded.
Seeing that the judges had all given their answers to this question, he again raised the microphone.
"Well then, I see time is running out. Next, is the final question."
"—'Who is FB'?"
"…"
The judges all seemed to show slightly troubled expressions.
Unlike their thoughtful demeanor when analyzing the dream, no one, including Uncle Big Nose, had a particularly good reaction.
Cowboy Hao shrugged and was the first to raise the microphone.
"We are actually very curious about such a question, but honestly, there's no need to start trying to analyze such a question this early."
"After all, the information was given too early. I feel that any random analysis is bound to backfire."
"Although I know many people enjoy seeing me get proven wrong, this is a show, after all, and to maintain the dignity of a mentor, there's no need to make meaningless guesses." He shrugged.
"The later plot will definitely elaborate on this point. After all, the close-up shots of the story have already appeared; it's unlikely that the person won't show up in the end."
[Good heavens, so frank?]
[You're not Cowboy Hao! Take off the mask!]
[Cowboy Hao went to great lengths to say a lot of words just to say fewer words]
[Is he scared?]
[Isn't what he said correct? I don't understand why this question was chosen. FB has only appeared twice, in Moeka's phone and in her mouth. Who knows what it is?]
[You think they don't know, but they actually ask on purpose, to make the mentors rack their brains and come up with an answer to use for comparison with their expressions when it doesn't match the result]
[The production team, with malicious intent]
"What Teacher Cowboy Hao said… is not without reason." Host Fang Yuan didn't insist further.
It wasn't because the production team didn't want to; in fact, the director's voice in his earpiece was very loud.
But, time was indeed running out.
The ending theme was about to conclude, and the next episode of steins;gate was about to begin airing.
He quickly raised the microphone and thanked them: "Then, many thanks to our mentors for answering everyone's questions. Now, let's return our focus to the story and watch the next episode of the anime to verify whether the mentors' various ideas are correct or not!"
The abruptly ending theme song, as expected, transitioned into the next episode.
2010.08.03 13:24:59
"Tremble, my right arm." Okabe Rintaro, with sweat on his forehead and a stern expression, suddenly swung out his right hand with a magnetic voice:
"Obey the contract, heed the command."
Saying this, he swallowed.
The camera turned to the Phone Microwave in front of him.
"Enveloped in shadow flames, fulfill my long-cherished wish!"
Okabe Rintaro suddenly opened his eyes, then reached out and grabbed the microwave door handle, pulling it open with a snap.
The sound of breaking and the microwave door, held high in his hand, occurred together.
Then, Mayuri rushed out.
"Ah, now I can't heat up the fried chicken."