The all-powerful middle schooler

"No, Sawamura-san... Don't let my appearance fool you, I'm a woman with the 'soul of a doujinshi artist'! Fantasies should be unrestrained! Only then can I spread the wings of imagination and step into the abyss of manga artistry!"

She got excited immediately.

Eriri, who was once Eri Kashiwagi, almost blurted out her agreement.

Thankfully, I managed to hold back.

Otherwise, she would be the one being threatened.

"Fine! Draw whatever you want."

Eriri's mood swings lasted for a few seconds before she gave up on the idea, flicked her twin tails, and left the scene.

"call……"

Ji Kalian breathed a sigh of relief, looked around to make sure no one else was there, and carefully hid the notebook in her school uniform before returning to the news department.

A farce that could have escalated was thus silently extinguished.

"Lord Sage?"

Sanae Dekomori brought some famous Fukuoka strawberries to offer today, but found Hasegawa in a daze.

"Could it be that it sensed some bad omen, Death?"

"No, I was just spacing out... Thank you, Sanae, you're so kind."

Hasegawa Izumi snapped out of her daze and, while picking a strawberry from the plate, praised it.

"No, it's nothing. After all, the Sage took such good care of me..."

Sanae Tokomori's voice softened and grew softer with embarrassment.

Natsukawa Masaki and Nibutani Morika gave each other a look of disdain.

While eating strawberries, Izumi Hasegawa was still thinking about what had just happened.

Actually, he was the first person to find the notebook.

Because I felt a connection to it, I looked through its contents.

I never expected anyone to be so bold...

She's almost as good as Eriri!

Unfortunately, the content wasn't exciting enough, and it was far inferior to Eri Kashiwagi's.

What's interesting is what happened next; the two people's reactions were quite a show.

Eriri is so cute.

……

The moonlight, like water, spilled into the quiet night.

The streetlights on the street corner suddenly started flickering incessantly, as if something had malfunctioned.

"It's like something out of a horror movie."

A girl with an ordinary demeanor and a bob haircut suddenly appeared at the intersection, looked up, and made a comment in a flat, monotone voice.

"Crack..."

Suddenly, the streetlight shattered as if struck by a heavy blow.

"Nani?"

She tilted her head and stared for a while, but nothing happened.

Then, the girl crossed the sidewalk and headed home.

"Speaking of which, how many times has this happened already?"

she muttered.

Unbeknownst to the girl, in a nearby detached house on the second floor, lights were on, and the outline of a figure could be vaguely seen from the outside. Suddenly, without warning, the figure reached out with its right hand, grabbed its own neck, and lifted itself up in a manner defying the laws of physics…

"Today we have a news report about a suicide that occurred near Omokage Bridge in Toshima Ward, Tokyo. According to our investigation, the deceased had a long history of alcoholism and had recently fallen seriously ill... We hope everyone can maintain a positive attitude and take good care of their health. We should have confidence in the future."

Early in the morning, the sound of news broadcasts came from the television.

"What kind of talk is this? Suicide is suicide, how does it relate to anything else! This is so unprofessional!"

"Sigh, compared to this, the prices of many vegetables have recently risen to the point where we can't afford them anymore..."

Listening to her parents' complaints, the girl silently pulled out a chair, intending to sit down and eat, but was surprised to find that no bowl or chopsticks had been prepared for her.

She didn't make a sound, and silently took out the bowls and chopsticks from the kitchen herself.

After all, the girl had long been used to being ignored, but recently it had become a bit more serious.

"Speaking of which, I think I passed by that place last night..."

The girl frowned slightly, almost imperceptibly.

"It shouldn't be possible."

She shook her head.

It's all because my classmates have been talking about supernatural and ghostly topics lately, and they've infected me with it.

With that thought in mind, the girl finished her meal and hurriedly rushed off to school.

It was just another ordinary day.

Just as she was about to go home after school, her female classmate, who was usually most interested in the occult, suddenly approached her.

"Kato-kun, is that right? I... I'd like to ask you for a favor..."

"You must be Sakurai-kun? What can I do for you?"

Kato Megumi was somewhat surprised, because it had been a long time since anyone could still call her by her name.

"help me."

Sakurai reached out and grabbed her shoulders tightly, pleading in his eyes.

"I don't understand... what you mean."

"Among all the people I know, you are the only one who is different... because only mystery can fight mystery, so it can only be you."

"..."

Even Kato Megumi, who had been expressionless, couldn't help but reveal a hint of helplessness.

As an ordinary girl who is so unremarkable that she has no presence, it's natural to feel distressed if someone suddenly says something like that to you.

"I see... Kato, you still don't understand."

Sakurai seemed to understand something from her expression, his eyes widening in realization.

"Let me tell you, you are actually a superhuman!"

"Wow, I'm a superpowered person!"

Kato Megumi read the sentence in a flat, emotionless tone, as if to appease her.

"So, what abilities do I have?"

54

Chapter 54 Come forth, my mysterious power...!

"Kato-kun, haven't you noticed? To everyone else, you're practically invisible. No normal person would do that. This is clearly your superpower! It's just that the activation of the power isn't very obvious, so you haven't realized it at all, Kato-kun."

"Isn't that because I have a low profile?"

"How could that be! Take a closer look and you'll see. Kato, you have regular features, are of average height, and have smooth skin. You're the kind of girl who's cute, just like a female lead in a TV drama. You should be loved by everyone! This situation is proof of that."

"Eh, I'm a little happy that Sakurai-san is praising me like that... But, since I can 'invisible,' why doesn't it work on you?"

"If it were me in the past, I would have subconsciously ignored your existence, but ever since I encountered something related to mystery and accidentally acquired some mysterious qualities, it seems that I have opened my 'yin-yang eyes' and can see some mysterious phenomena that ordinary people cannot see... In addition, since you and I are often in the same classroom, it is because of this that I have been able to 'observe' your existence."

Sakurai, unwilling to let go of the only lifeline he could grasp, kept pestering Kato Megumi, trying to persuade her.

Kato Megumi truly felt this enthusiasm and trust.

but.

"It sounds like there might be some truth to it, but I'm really powerless. It's impossible for me to save you."

Her tone was very calm; she was simply stating an objective fact.

"No, Kato-kun, you just haven't realized your own power. I've seen anonymous posts online that say awakened people possess a mysterious power. As long as you can control this mysterious power, even an ordinary person can unleash terrifying destructive power, and it can also be effective against evil spirits that are immune to physical attacks."

Sakurai shook his head, clenched his fists, and stared intently at her.

This serious demeanor made Kato Megumi pinch her brow, and finally sighed, "Alright, Sakurai-san, I'll prove it then. I don't possess that kind of power at all."

She stretched out her right hand, revealing her slender fingers, and thought for a moment, as if she had thought of something.

"Come forth, my 'mysterious power'!"

As a result, nothing happened.

"..."

Sakurai looked blank and remained silent.

"Kato-kun, please stop teasing me, okay? I really came here for help."

"But……"

"There are no 'buts'. Since Kato-kun doesn't want to help me, then I'll just have to fend for myself!"

She abandoned herself in despair, uttered those words, and fled the scene.

As Kato Megumi watched the other person's departing figure, the light in her eyes dimmed slightly. She looked down at her palms, a question arising in her mind.

Do I really possess power?

Let's put that problem aside for now, but the predicament the other party might be facing seems real.

Perhaps there really are such incredible things in this world.

The girl suddenly clenched her fist, as if she had made up her mind.

……

These past few days, the Far East Magic Club has been bustling with activity again due to the influx of new students.

Because of the sensation Hasegawa caused at Shuchiin High School, which was legendary even among the junior high students, many people came to "pay their respects" after hearing Hasegawa's name, and some even wanted to join the club.

"Please leave. We have no plans to add any more candidates at the moment."

Nishimura politely declined.

The boys and girls all looked disappointed as they watched Sanae Dekomori slowly close the door.

"Only by meeting certain conditions can we achieve our requirements; ordinary people cannot achieve Death."

In addition, some freshmen who had received help before or whom they knew also came to visit.

For example, Yu Ishigami is now quite sunny and energetic, a transformation from his previous self.

Then there's Natsukawa Masuzu's younger sister, Natsukawa Mana, who comes over almost every day and has also expressed her desire to join the club.

However, each time he was ruthlessly rejected.

Goodbye, big brother~

After another tearful outburst, Mana Natsukawa waved goodbye to everyone.

"Please stop bothering us!"

"I can't believe it," said Natsukawa Masaki, sounding very impatient.

"Someone really does have a sharp tongue but a soft heart."

On the other side, came the sound of Dansheng Valley clicking its tongue.

"What are you misunderstanding? I'm not a sister-complex like the department head... I just think her involvement is too superfluous."

Natsukawa Masaki frowned and said seriously.

To keep up with them, she would have to become an Awakened One, but she didn't have the ability to do that herself. As for asking the minister for favors for such a thing, that would be too boundless.