We start off back in the lab after the end of last chapter, checking the phone we have about 6 (trillion) messages from Moeka. Additionally, Kurisu has dipped out of the lab following the experiment. We also learn that they did further testing following the electrical discharge during the experiment, with none producing results similar to what happened to the Karage (Refreezing) or the Bananas (Gelification)
Okabe thankfully gives us a rundown on some big issues regarding the PhoneWave, most I already know the answer to due to the anime but I like getting more detail on how it connects to those answers. Mass increase is the most interesting, as its something that entirely slipped my mind when I watched the anime, but it makes sense given what's actually going on with the PhoneWave.
After a swig of Doctor Pepper, Okabe checks in on Daru. This is where we get introduced to (S)ERN, and a major asset to the PhoneWave's function later on, the LHC. Also I get a mail from Mayuri, poor girl's reserves are nearing the redline thanks to Okabe's flagrant disregard of the sanctity of food with his haphazard use of it as test subject for his experiments (Like, c'mon man!? Using an entire bunch of Bananas in one test is just inefficient!)
Anywho, I reply with assurance that Okabe will be treating her to any meal she'd like. As one should especially with one of the best to ever do it (Mayuri).
Additionally we get a bit more insight into the mechanics of Kyouma's antics. What with Okabe letting us know what he wants to verbally aura farm with Daru with a "I already know the job, all I need is payment" sort of dialogue. Which I really like, helps add further context to Okabe and how he thinks as Kyouma, sadly for him though the only two people who can get on his wavelength is inexperienced with the LARP (Ruka) and far beyond his level (Faris).
On a small tangent after the first episode of S;G 0, I was given a vision of a beautiful pairing (Ruka x Faris) and I am a bit sad that no one has picked up on the idea— anyways.
Okabe then proposes what will quickly become one of his greatest regrets, Hacking (into) (the) (S)ERN. Which Daru reluctantly takes on, which moves us to the next day with Daru working non-stop to breach into SERN. We then get a message from Faris, nothing much here just more back and forth between her and Kyouma, which is always fun to see.
Now then, we get a look at what Titor's up to on @channel, aside from the expected and usual doubt and antics, we see Okabe and one KuriGohan and Kamehameha questioning Titor, both on what they tell of the future and the mechanics of their supposed time machine. Here we get Titor's explanation critical explanation on Worldlines and the like. Then Amane Suzuha comes in letting Okabe know that the TV is all good, ignoring the TV still being there in the BG art but I wouldn't worry about that personally.
Comedic Nitpick aside, we get more of Suzuha as Okabe picks up his TV from the store, we also get hints as to Suzuha's true nature... though, to be honest, she doesn't seem to be hiding it well. But she has always been more of a frontliner than a scout or spy, so I'll let her off the hook for now. Inside the store though is an interesting bit of conversation regarding Espers, not only with Suzuha once again accidentally showing her cards too much with talk of combat practicality, but also in what she says about SERN being the reason there aren't any more.
Which makes me wonder...
Did Suzuha have to fight a Gigalomaniac? Or an Artificial Gigalomaniac? Hell, did SERN manage to get a hold of a Gigalomaniac? What even happened to the Gigalomaniacs in the SERN Dystopia or WW3 Attractor Fields? That'd be an awesome premise for a piece of C;HN or C;C side material.
That aside, Okabe asks Suzuha about the IBN 5100, while she doesn't know what it is, she does let Okabe in on one of its special functions, which he recalls as something Titor mentioned in his 2001 appearance...
As much as I harp on it though I do still find the hints to the links between Suzuha and Titor that they've laid out to be really cool, in general the use of Titor in the story is one of my favorite aspects of S;G. Idk if I said this before but S;G got me to actually look into the original IRC Chat Titor had with the TTI. In general Sci;ADV's use of real life conspiracies, scientific concepts, and internet legends and culture contribute so much to its mystique and allure.
Back on @channel, we get more Titor-talk, with them directly mentioning the Committee of 300. Nothing much to note on this other than the fact that I'm starting to think the Committee doesn't really care about being found out, which is to be expected given their power and influence, but its still funny to me nonetheless.
We also get another moment that the anime diverged from, with Okabe's trade with Mayuri being what Okabe's Sleight of Hand with Mayuri's beef was based on in the Anime, another thing I'd like to note so far is the very poignant lack of scenes on roof of the apartment.
By now, Daru, with 2 all-nighters under his belt (poor bastard) finally finishes off the hacking, getting them into the email of an Accelerator Division Chief, which is a pretty good catch for a first time breach imo.
Anyway, here is where we get the initial hint of SERN's true, malignant nature.
Error. Human is dead, mismatch. For details, consult Jellyman's Report No 14
I wanna say this is was a cool moment when it first came up, the payoff this has later as well was a standout moment in the anime, and that stays true here.
What heightens this more is if you manage to connect the dots on this and the Gelnanas earlier, in general what I really like just about SciADV and really good mystery stories (though, I will admit, I have barely red any books so I can't speak much on this) is how you can get really ahead of the characters when it comes to the mysteries, like during my Silent Sky readthrough I managed to nail down a lot of mysteries but even then I still got blindsided by characters like Suwa and Hazuki. It's really fun, anyways.
With Daru being roadblocked by mysterious code, Okabe puts two and two together and begins the hunt for the IBN 5100. Oh, and a bit after this Faris gives me the Necklace of Vajrayana ringtone, fully completing my Phantasm themed phone for Okabe. God bless you, Faris.
As well Suzuha does more blatant signaling of her true identity (for the love of God girl learn a thing or two from Bond! You're practically glowing at this point!) Another thing I wanna add is how ironic it becomes that Suzuha is working for Yuugo given the core of what we learn about both later on. To be honest, it kind of reminds me of that one image about Vienna you know?
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After this we get what might honestly be one of my favorite moments thus far, Okabe taking Mayuri to Sanbo. specifically, the introduction of Mayuri's Stardust Handshake. What she says here resonates with me a lot
Did you know? Even during the day, the stars are still up here.
Given I live in a moderately sized city with a shit ton of lights in a part of the country with a lot of Starlink, I rarely got to see a lot of Stars, aside from a few magical moments, like aboard ships crossing the waters in the dead of night, where all I could do aside from look at my phone was go out onto the deck or an area with an open view to the sea and sky outside, and just... look up, to see over a hundred twinkling lights, sure I might not be sure if each light is a star or a satellite but, seeing the up there always put my mind at ease, gave me the boost I needed in rough moments.
As well, I sometimes like to just reach into the sky or reach out to block out specific light sources so I could see something better, mainly because I think it looks and feels cool and I get inspired but, yeah. I don't know, the Stardust Handshake has just become something pretty special to me.
With that out of the way, the Hunt for the IBN 5100 has begun. Okabe asks Moeka to give him a call but she's more comfy over email so she continues just blasting him with the stuff, much to his detriment as he runs into Kurisu again, here is where another major divergence appears as this conversation with Makise is turned into the one at the dry cleaner in the Anime. I don't have much to note on this convo as a whole though.
Other than a little moment when Okabe talks about the made up backstory, the quick back and forth they have about which state would be more fitting for tranquil scenery was a fun moment that I thought was cute.
We then cut to a small tech market where Okabe gets a call from Mayuri regarding a lead on the 5100 at MayQueen, which Okabe pursues, much to his luck so far.
Also one thing I wanna mention here is that Mayuri's distressed face always looks really fucking funny to me, she just looks so shocked or distraught in it.
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Additionally, not a fan of the wig she uses as Mayushii NyanNyan, my not-so-professional but sister-approved fashion opinion is that it just does not fit her, the blonde fits her eyes sure but the actual structure? The bangs blend too much into her features and makes her head look too round, almost like a lightbulb, which the ponytail doesn't really do much to alleviate, in fact it only makes it stand out more. I think if the bangs were made a bit longer and the bob was puffed out a bit, it'd fit much better with Mayuri and help make the whole outfit come together more.
Also Okabe steals two of her fried chickens which should get him an instant death sentence, as its not only heinous theft, but it makes Mayuri cry. Curse you Hououin Kyouma.
Inside MayQueen itself, I don't have much to note on the initial parts other than the fact that Faris is fighting 10 people at a time (fighting 28 people total) in RaiNet AccessBattlers, coupled with the fact that she's had a flawless record of 400-0 (before going into official tournaments) might make her the fucking Magnus Carlsen of RaiNet, like Jesus fucking Christ. If she went into official tournaments she would be put on the same level as Lebron.
That aside, Okabe gets his lead on the 5100, with it being donated to a shrine, after a some process-of-elimination, he makes his way to Yanabayashi, on the way he gets a call for Kurisu, who is waiting at the shrine. Not many changes from the Anime but its weird that we don't get the name of Rukas dad here... though the bit about Kurisu having an interest in Rukas dad was funny.
Back near the lab, not much to note other than Suzuha giving Kurisu the stank-eye, and Okabe calling Daru and Mayuri over to help them lift the IBN 5100 in, which was a nice detail.
After a few experiments and speculation on reproducing the Gelification and Refreezing, Daru manages to get into a Server Admin's account early the following day. Leading us into the revelation of the Z Program, Jellyman's Report, and the confirmation of the connection between SERN and the Committee of 300, alongside the final dot that connects Gelification to Time Travel. Closing off the Chapter.
No major notes on this Chapter, keeps the momentum Chapter 1 had going, aside from seeing where the Anime diverged from the VN a bit more, I have nothing else to add to the report. I'll try to get through as much of Chapter 3 as I can before we move, until then.
