The system shop didn't have many items for sale. But the few it had were extremely practical. Enhancement, teleportation talismans, ultra-large teleportation talismans, injury healing, and lottery draws. Though there weren't many items, each one was of high quality. Everyone, including Takumi, was quite satisfied.
The only feature requiring caution was the Enhancement function. It's best to become stronger before trying it.
Bronya: [@Takumi, how do we improve our superpowers?]
As Takumi marveled at the items, Bronya suddenly asked this question in the group chat. Following her message, the other superpower users chimed in as well.
Chika Fujiwara: [Same question!]
Sagiri: [Same question!]
These three had all used the superpower awakening potion, but didn't know how to enhance their abilities. Their newly awakened powers were still weak. Sometimes overusing them left them exhausted. Their mental strength couldn't keep up.
Takumi: [Just keep using and developing them. Your mental strength will gradually increase.] [That's how people in this world improve their superpowers.] [In your case, maybe try finding ways to strengthen your mind.]
Takumi didn't keep the information to himself. He explained what he knew. In this world, superpowers were developed in a straightforward, even brutal way: Repeated use and training.
With proficiency, the power naturally grew. The daily grind enhanced mental resilience, and over time, users became stronger.
After reading this, everyone fell silent.
Bronya: [(???)] [Alright then!]
So it really was that simple and crude? Well, she could practice controlling machines after work every day. That should do it. After all, her power was mechanical control. Driving vehicles every day was a form of training.
Sagiri: [Is that so?] [Then I'll use my powers for drawing every day.]
Got it! From now on, she wouldn't draw on the computer anymore. She would use her superpower to draw on paper instead. She hadn't really used the ability since obtaining it.
Chika Fujiwara, however, was a bit frustrated. Her power was water manipulation. Was she supposed to train only during bath time?
After a brief explanation from Takumi, they all had a general understanding of how to train their superpowers.
Megumi Kato: [I'm so jealous of people with superpowers.]
At that moment, an unexpected person suddenly spoke up. Takumi was shocked when he saw the message.
Takumi: [Whoa!!] [I almost forgot about you.] [Is your presence concealment that ridiculous?] [You were so low-key that even the whole group subconsciously ignored you.]
Only then did Takumi realize. It had been days already. He had completely forgotten Megumi Kato was even in the group.
If she hadn't spoken up today, he might have never remembered her. The others were equally surprised. There was someone else in the group? But soon, everyone remembered: She had joined at the same time as Maishi.
Back then, everyone had been distracted by the world of the gloomy loli, so they had ignored her.
In recent days, Megumi had been quietly lurking. Since joining, she hadn't said much at all. Several chapters had gone by before she spoke up.
Megumi Kato: [...] [That's a bit hurtful, you know.]
Sitting in class, Megumi Kato looked slightly speechless. She'd been lurking for days. She just couldn't find a chance to jump into their conversations. So she stayed quiet.
Takumi: [No, you're not even upset. You probably don't have a single expression on your face right now!]
Others might not know, but Takumi certainly did. Megumi Kato's heart was calm as still water. She rarely showed much emotion. Maybe only when she first joined and learned about other worlds did she display any vivid expression.
Megumi Kato: [How do you know that?]
She was speechless. Why did it feel like he knew everything?
Takumi: [Well, there's always some info about other worlds.] [You're actually quite famous in our world.] [You're known as Saint Megumi.]
The moment he said that, everyone became interested.
Chika Fujiwara: [Details?]
Sagiri: [Please upload the anime!]
Everyone was now excited. They wanted to know more. Quick, upload the anime already. To be honest, they had all forgotten about Megumi too. If she hadn't spoken up, no one would have noticed there was still a newcomer in the group.
Now that she had surfaced, naturally they were curious.
Without further hesitation, Takumi uploaded the anime Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend.
The group members all began watching.
Megumi Kato raised an eyebrow. So her world really was included. She had to watch it now. She was curious about how her story would unfold.
Time to binge.
The group went quiet for a while. Takumi also rewatched it. A refreshing revisit.
Only after everyone had finished watching did they start chatting again.
Chika Fujiwara: [I'm so confused!] [Is the male protagonist seriously just manipulating all of you?] [He can't even do anything but still wants to make a game?] [You've got a best-selling author, a diplomat's daughter, and a doujinshi artist all pulled in to make a game?!] [What did you even gain from it?]
Chika Fujiwara couldn't understand. Was it worth putting so much effort into something that offered no real benefit?
Sagiri, on the other hand, was more interested in the doujinshi drawn by Eriri.
Others finished watching too, though they had no strong opinions.
Megumi Kato: [Emm...] [I see.] [Well, something like that might not happen anymore.] [That Aki Tomoya guy got into an accident yesterday from riding his bicycle too fast.] [He got hit by a dump truck and died!]
Megumi's expression was subtly complex.
Everyone at school was talking about it. Yesterday, that otaku Aki Tomoya pulled an all-nighter gaming, then rushed off to work.
He ended up speeding on his bike and got hit by a dump truck. Now rumors were flying about him being isekai'd.
Ah... So what Takumi uploaded might never happen now.
Takumi: [?] [Whoa!!] [He got hit?!] [Don't tell me some god chose him and sent him to another world?!]
Takumi was stunned. Was this real?
Aki Tomoya... gone?
Megumi Kato: [Yes.] [Right in front of me.] [I saw it with my own eyes.]
As she said that, her heart didn't waver at all. She had been startled at first, and quickly left the scene.
But now that she had finished watching the anime, she felt nothing.
The whole group fell silent. No one knew what to say.
Chika Fujiwara: [Should we say congratulations?]
Takumi: [Emm...]
Yeah, congrats?
Takumi quietly gave Chika a thumbs-up.
Honestly, he didn't like Aki Tomoya either. Too self-important.
It might be better this way.
Perhaps it was all the work of the gate of fate.