buffer[j] = tmp;
  }

  /*
   * While the current implementation returns `this`, that's not something we mean to guarantee.
   * Anyway, the purpose of this method is to implement a BinaryOperator combiner for a Collector,
   * so its return value will get used naturally.
   */
  @SuppressWarnings("CanIgnoreReturnValueSuggester")
  TopKSelector<T> combine(TopKSelector<T> other) {