Talk:Reading Steiner/@comment-27183706-20190611150327/@comment-5854191-20190614124725

In Episode 14, Suzuha says, “The alpha and beta worldlines have very different results—futures, in other words. It’s normally impossible to travel between them. Not even changing the past with D-mails and time leaps will get you there. But there are a number of points in time where major events occur; events with branching worldlines that lead to separate futures depending on what choices are made."

SERN’s detection of the first D-mail is a branching point. Yes, they only delete data, but this data tells SERN that time travel is possible. It’s the same reason why the destruction of Kurisu’s thesis helped to reach Steins;Gate, and why deleting the AMADEUS system in SG0 changes the worldline.

This might seem inconsistent, but, as explained by Suzuha, jumping from one attractor field to another is only possible at “a number of points in time.”

Regarding your last two paragraphs, I don’t believe any “double jumping” occurs. Again, the Okabe we follow is the first Okabe to reach Steins;Gate. His story is the most interesting and has the most satisfying ending.