Shaka couldn't recall all the details of Steins;Gate, but he remembered the core plot: protagonist Rintaro Okabe traveled through timelines to find a world where his assistant Kurisu and friend Mayuri could both survive.
Before the story began, Makise Kurisu had yet to build a time machine her ideas existed only in academic papers. Tragically, her father would steal the work, and during an argument, stab her to death. The paper's leak would eventually trigger a world war. But the real catalyst was a fluke invention: a phone microwave created by someone with severe chuunibyou.
Who'd have thought a delusional "mad scientist" would accidentally build a time machine prototype?
To prevent catastrophe, Shaka knew he had to cut the problem off at its roots first, the phone microwave; second, protecting Kurisu herself.
"You may not believe me," Shaka said solemnly, "but please listen, even if you treat it as a story."
Kurisu shook her bubbly cola, took a small sip, then stuck out her tongue. Carbonated drinks with cake are terrible...
Shaka straightened up and spoke clearly: "After logging out, you'll be able to sense time anomalies and the mysteries hidden beneath ordinary life. You know better than anyone what uncontrollable chaos a time manipulating tool could bring."
"Those with power will stop at nothing to possess it," he continued. "They might think: even if we start a nuclear war and destroy the world, a time machine can fix everything."
Kurisu remained calm: "That doesn't convince me to stop research. Artificial fluclights could be used to build a true second world humanity might shed physical forms and evolve into immortal information life forms."
I talk about nuclear war, she talks about mechanical ascension...
Shaka sighed: "Your ideas are bold."
Seeing his flustered expression, Kurisu smiled: "Fine, as a researcher, I understand science's costs. What exactly do you want me to do? Destroy my paper?"
Shaka calmed down: "Only one request don't attend your father's time machine launch event."
"That's it?" Kurisu was bewildered.
He couldn't very well tell her her father would steal her work and kill her, or suggest she eliminate him. His only goal was to keep this genius alive with her intellect, problems could be solved eventually. If she wanted to research time travel, better to do it in the DanMachi world, where gods could provide protection and the lower realm held endless mysteries.
Without the phone microwave, a proper time machine would take at least thirty years to develop. By then, the daily life world would have transformed everything beyond recognition maybe even Doraemon and Nobita would exist for real.
After long consideration, Kurisu gave up overthinking: "As payment for experiencing Artificial fluclights, I'll agree. Now... can I go try your 'game'?"
"Anytime, but Christina you'll need to come with me to get the goddess's blessing first."
"Don't call me that! And why are you looking so smug?"
Shaka had planned this all along: draw Kurisu in with the game's appeal, then have her receive Astraea's blessing. Even if she didn't believe his warnings, she'd be safe from her father's attack. Disillusioned with her father, she'd naturally choose her own path.
"Intercept Okabe and limit his contact with Kurisu then the timeline stays stable. It's unfair to him, but it's for humanity's sake! He should stay with Mayuri, cool."
Shaka pulled out his phone and messaged his secretary: "Give them extra compensation I'm not short on money."
Akihabara
Once an electronics district turned otaku mecca, then a gathering place for those seeking divine aid, Akihabara remained the heart of ACG culture, filled with cosplayers and anime merchandise.
Sayu Ogiwara walked the streets with mixed feelings she'd once come here at dusk, desperate for help. Now, she was blessed by the gods.
Rejecting a maid café flyer, she wove through crowds to the second floor of an appliance repair shop: the "Future Electronics Research Institute."
She wiped sweat from her brow and muttered: "Just like a light novel setting who opens a research institute in Akihabara? Idiot."
Before she could knock, the door swung open:
"Dudu lu~ A guest?"
A short-haired girl in a white cap greeted her with a lazy yet cheerful tone it was Mayuri Shiina.
"Hello this is the Future Electronics Research Institute?"
"Yep! Are you here to see Okabe?"
Footsteps and crashing sounds came from inside, followed by a bearded young man in a lab coat scratching his head: Rintaro Okabe.
Sayu handed over her business card: "I'm from Mythology Technology Sayu Ogiwara. This is a shell company Shaka registered for the game."
"Mayuri is Mayuri!" She tucked the card away.
At the company name, Okabe's eyes twitched. He pulled out his phone and spoke to thin air: "Bad news! The organization's agents have found us! What do we do...?"
Sayu stepped back nervously. Mayuri apologized: "Sorry Okabe's always like this. Come in and sit down."
"No! We can't let organization spies into the base!"
The two went inside playfully. Sayu was used to Okabe's chuunibyou; once seated, she stated her purpose:
"Our boss wants to invite you to join our company."
"Me? The organization wants me?" Okabe laughed loudly. "Impressed by my genius, are you? Useless! I am Hououin Kyouma the mad scientist! I'll never join your ranks!"
Sayu's smile froze. Mayuri tugged his sleeve.
A chubby guy at the computer turned around, pushing up his glasses: Itaru Hashida (Daru).
"Your company's that stealth game studio, right? Why pick this useless Okabe...?"
Sayu was prepared: "Our boss values Dr. Hououin's futuristic ideas perfect for games. We also want to recruit senior techs like you, Daru-san. We're offering to sponsor the entire institute."
Daru thought it over:"I see..."
"Are you betraying me to the organization?!" Okabe looked devastated.
"But Okabe we're out of funding. Official sponsorship would let us research our 'useless things' for years."
Okabe hesitated,tinkering with gadgets and renting space cost money, and he had no real income.
Sayu offered her terms: "We'll provide 100,000 yen monthly in research funding. It won't stop as long as you keep developing new projects."
"100,000 yen?!" Okabe's eyes widened, calculating how many experiments he could run. Daru seemed unimpressed for a tech geek, it wasn't much.
Soon after, Okabe feigned modesty: "You can't join us but if your 'organization' sends spies to our institute, we'll share our work."
Mayuri translated: "Oka says yes!"
"No this is my principle! I'll never join the organization! But spies are different."
Sayu pointed to herself: "What if I join?"
"Saya-chan! You'll be our second female member!" Mayuri hugged her excitedly.
"Wait there are conditions. I need to take a sample back as part of the deal, and we'll pay for it."
Daru waved a hand: "Help yourself this place is full of junk. Take whatever you want as a gift."
"Those are my research findings!" Okabe protested.
After looking around for an hour, Sayu chose the Phone microwave.
"This one..." Okabe touched his chin thoughtfully.
"Is there a problem?" Sayu asked nervously.
"Just hot fried chicken will be less convenient now."
At this point, no one knew the device's true potential it wasn't leaking electricity yet, just a regular microwave.
"To show our sincerity, we'll pay an extra 100,000 yen as R&D funding. Dr. Okabe can build a new one, and we'll buy any future inventions at high prices."
"Deal."
Okabe acted calm, but his mind raced. Sayu left with the device soon after.
Once she was gone, Daru stared at the bank balance on Okabe's phone: "Why go to such lengths for that old thing? Is it a relic from the Seven Gods era?"
Mayuri timidly reminded him: "There were no microwaves back then..."
"Why indeed?" Daru frowned, uneasy.
Okabe laughed loudly, hands on hips: "They must have sensed the power of my Phone Microwave (Phonewave)! Trying to steal my work! How foolish with this funding, I'll build countless versions (No. 10086)!"
"Do you even believe that?" Daru sighed.
Mayuri was more optimistic: "At least the money and new member are real. We can buy fresh fried chicken tonight!"
Twenty Days Later
Sayu split her time between infiltrating Teitan High School monitoring characters from Detective Conan and keeping watch on the Future Electronics Institute. Shaka had also acquired Kurisu's papers on microwave technology and time machines.
Guided by academic collaboration, Shaka and Kurisu began researching time travel in the DanMachi world.
In the everyday world, children finally faced the end of their long holiday and the start of school. Shaka had fully recovered from his injuries, and through Pinoch' senses, he'd found a Wind Fairy and invited it to stay in the back mountain of Astraea Familia. Having kept his promise to the goddess, he focused on his work.
"Is this done?"
The two red-haired researchers huddled excitedly before an intricate magic circle. A furnace-like metal piece spun rapidly above it, roaring with power. Around the circle lay magic stones collected from the school district's monster siege.
Inspired by Fairy Ruins construction principles, the circle could gather magical power continuously, then convert it into Shaka's unique magic patterns.
In short:
"I can use this to create genuine copies of anything."
Not only that
"Preparation complete." Kurisu operated a strange machine beside him.
Mysterious light shimmered around Shaka: "What happens when we summon monsters with time-altered power? I can't wait to find out."