Steins;Gate is a popular anime that has become a hot topic! It's a full-fledged science fiction work with a story reminiscent of foreign films, with time travel as one of its themes. Fans of foreign films and those interested in time travel and science fiction will enjoy this work! Spoiler alert: the main character, Okabe Rintaro, travels back in time multiple times, sometimes even entering other dimensions. Unlike the other characters, Okabe Rintaro is able to travel through time while retaining his memories thanks to an ability called Reading Steiner. Here, we'd like to briefly explain what Reading Steiner is!
What is Okabe Rintaro's ability, Reading Steiner?
In "Steins;Gate" (hereafter "S;G"), the story features countless time-travel experiences in the second half of the series. However, the protagonist, Okabe Rintaro, possesses the ability known as Reading Steiner, allowing him to bring his memories from past time travels into a new timeline.
However, Okabe Rintaro is the only one who retains his memories in this new timeline. In this new world, his stories don't make sense to those around him, and he becomes (mentally) isolated. This is what it means to be a Reading Steiner, and it's why Okabe Rintaro must walk such a difficult and arduous path as a solitary observer.
【SPOILER】What will he do with the Reading Steiner?
This is a spoiler, but what Okabe Rintaro will do with the Reading Steiner is to change the fate of one of the heroines, Shiina Mayuri, who is certain to die. Mayuri is destined to die in a certain dimension (Steins;Gate calls them worldlines, not dimensions), so Rintaro repeatedly tries to resist this fate with Reading Steiner.
However, no matter how many times he resists fate, Rintaro is unable to save Mayuri. This is a magnificent story, with Mayuri dying in many unjust ways. The events that unfold from the middle of the story onwards, where Mayuri dies so easily, deeply hurt Rintaro, and his lonely battle continues.
Misfortune caused by Reading Steiner!
While Reading Steiner's abilities are essential to saving Mayuri, Reading Steiner alone cannot save her, as she is destined to die. Not only that, even after time traveling to a new timeline, Rintaro is the only one who has retained his memories, so in his loneliness he gradually becomes terrified as the day approaches when Mayuri will be killed.
Mayuri is killed so easily and easily every time that Rintaro would be happier if he hadn't inherited his memories at all. As he travels through time, witnessing Mayuri's death over and over again, he gradually becomes mentally ill. This is the greatest misfortune that Reading Steiner has caused Rintaro.
Reading Steiner may manifest in characters other than Rintaro!
In the movie, Makise Kurisu, the main heroine of the TV anime, takes on the role of protagonist and awakens to Reading Steiner. Chris now uses her Reading Steiner to help Rintaro, who saved her.
Although a surprising character, Faris also manifests Reading Steiner in the main story. One of the interesting aspects of this work is that Faris, rather than one of the more main characters, awakens Reading Steiner.
Reading Steiner for a Happy Future!
For those of you reading this, how would you feel if your childhood friend was killed unjustly over and over again, and each time you were sent back in time again and again? I'm sure it would be excruciatingly painful. Reading Steiner is the greatest ability for achieving a happy world, but at the same time, it is a double-edged sword that makes those with the ability unhappy.
