Episode 04: Interpreter Rendezvous

Episode 04 空理彷徨のランデヴー Interpreter Rendezvous

Released on: April 26, 2010

"Rendezvous of Abstract Fluctuation" (空理彷徨のランデヴー, Kūri Hōkō no Randevū) is the fourth episode of the anime adaptation of the visual novel Steins;Gate.

Synopsis
'''Human is dead. Mismatch.'''

Itaru breaks the alarming news to Rintarou, who realizes that someone has been killed by an experiment by SERN. Upon further investigation by Itaru, he comes up with nothing, and decides to call it quits after along and tiring day hacking through SERN's security systems. As Itaru digs in to a can of oden, Rintarou's mind recalls information he acquired from Suzuha about the IBN 5100 and John Titor's last message.

Rintarou decides to contact John Titor.

Later that day, Mayuri accompanies Rintarou to the laundry. It turns out that Rintarou and Itaru's clothes have been accumulating and Itaru's size makes the laundry load heavier. Soon, Suzuha arrives and greets the two before having to march into her workplace to start her part-time duty. Rintarou goes to tease Mr. Tennouji like always and starts a short conversation — or, argument.

After that, he sees Mayuri reaching out her hands into the sun... a habit Rintarou has learned to call "Stardust Shake Hand". He has known Mayuri to have this habit even when she was small, and up to now.

Meanwhile, Kurisu Makise still has her thoughts wrapped around the events that revolved around the microwave that Rintarou regarded as a time machine. Skeptic about Itaru's message traveling back in time, she tries to explain what happened using what she knows. She comes up with electromagnetic wave disruption as an explanation and accepts it as the only way to explain what has happened... although the gel banana part is still a mystery to her. Then, she suddenly realizes that she needs to go to the laundry as well.

On the laundry shop, Mayuri and Rintarou wait patiently as the latter's and Itaru's clothes undergo a spin cycle. At this time, Rintarou receives messages from Shining Finger and an unexpected response from John Titor himself.

Rintarou rushes back to Itaru's place to tell the news to Itaru, but it seems that neither Itaru — who is sleeping soundly despite Rintarou's rants — nor Mayuri — who has to go to work (and does not understand what is going on) — are able to join him to look for the IBN 5100.

As Rintarou replies to yet another of Shining Finger's messages, he unexpectedly sees Kurisu. Although Kurisu wants to walk away from him, Rintarou manages to take her elsewhere. Rintarou requests Kurisu to stop sulking and join his research team once again, but Kurisu gives no response; instead, she even blames herself for giving in to her curiosity.

After enduring a short "skit" by Rintarou about the Organization, Rintarou reminds himself of his destination: the laundry shop. Kurisu is doubtful about following Rintarou, but decides to go anyway.

When they arrive, Kurisu feels somewhat relieved, since she does not prefer to use the cleaners in the hotel where she stays in. Soon, Rintarou suddenly opens the topic about the microwave oven-turned time machine, and this causes Kurisu to be defensive about her opinion about the experiment.

In the end, Kurisu blurts out in a burst of emotion that she does not want to do the same mistake as her father.

Rintarou is shocked by the revelation, and decides to reconsider requesting Kurisu to return to the Future Gadget Lab before leaving. However, Kurisu sets things straight by saying that she is the one who should be leaving.

(part two to be continued)

Characters

 * Rintarō Okabe
 * Itaru Hashida
 * Mayuri Shiina
 * Suzuha Amane
 * Mr. Tennouji
 * Kurisu Makise

Unanswered Questions

 * What does Suzuha mean when she tells Rintarou and Mr. Tennouji that she is a soldier?
 * What is the connection between Kurisu's father and time machines?

Quotes

 * "Daru is like the universe — constantly expanding." — Rintarō Okabe
 * "Theories are nothing more than words. Accept what you've seen." — Rintarō Okabe