His words were like a deep-sea bomb dropped into the group.
After a brief silence, the chat instantly became more lively than ever.
Miko Yotsuya: Are you serious? You have a power like that?
Kirino Kosaka: I mean, I'm just a regular person, but that kind of ability is terrifying!
Erina Nakiri: I have to question this. Are you joking again?
Robin: I don't believe it either.
Shinobu Kocho: Did Shirai-san just make that up because he didn't want to tell us the truth?
Shinobu Kocho: You could've just said you didn't want to share. We wouldn't have pushed.
Kirino Kosaka: Right. If you don't want to tell us, what can we even do?
Erina Nakiri: Honestly, I think he's probably just an ordinary person like us.
Shirai Takeru: Alright, what would it take to convince you?
Kirino Kosaka: Ooh! I know this one!
She quickly responded: "Show us! Like Robin—she can make her arms and legs appear anywhere. And Shinobu posted a video—her swordplay had special effects. They didn't show their faces, but it was still cool."
"So now it's your turn. Show us your time travel ability."
Miko Yotsuya: Aww, I'm just a normal person. I'm so jealous of everyone.
Erina Nakiri: What do you mean 'everyone'? It's just the two of them.
Miko Yotsuya: Your tongue isn't normal either! You can cook, you're a rich girl... I'm crying!
Miko Yotsuya: Kirino, we're the only two in here sticking together.
Kirino Kosaka: Yeah, we're doomed! Oh, right—Shirai, let me explain what Erina's tongue is about.
Shirai Takeru: No need!
He cut in: "The God Tongue, right? Perfect taste and memory recall. I've heard of it—she's famous!"
Hahaha.
Famous, huh?
At first, Erina Nakiri felt pleased reading that.
Then suddenly her expression changed.
Wasn't this group made up of people from different worlds?
How did he know about the God Tongue?
Kirino Kosaka: Wait, how do you know that?
Robin: Now that's interesting.
Shinobu Kocho: Could it be that Shirai-san and Erina are from the same world? They seem to know each other.
Kirino Kosaka: That explains why he only apologized to her.
Miko Yotsuya: Isn't it just because she was the only one who posted a selfie?
Kirino Kosaka: Why don't you post a selfie too and see if he apologizes to you?
Miko Yotsuya: No way!
Erina Nakiri: Let the grown-ups talk. You two kids stay out of it.
Erina Nakiri: Shirai, are you seriously from my world? How do you know about me?
Now she was panicking. Tonight had been one shock after another. Her hands and feet felt weak.
Sure, the system said everyone came from different worlds, but who could guarantee that?
After all, the group was supposed to be for girls only. Yet somehow a guy got in.
Shirai Takeru: I'm not from the same world as any of you.
Shirai Takeru: But since I can travel through time and space, it makes sense I'd know more than most, doesn't it?
Erina Nakiri: That still doesn't sit right.
Erina Nakiri: Can your time travel let you move between different worlds?
Shirai Takeru: Who knows?
Erina fell silent.
That vague, noncommittal answer gave her zero peace of mind.
Robin: So besides Erina, do you also know about the rest of us?
Shirai Takeru: Kind of. Robin, have you joined the Straw Hats yet?
---
Robin's heart skipped a beat. Her face froze in shock. Even her usual carefree pirate crewmates noticed something was off.
Not even during Enies Lobby had they seen this expression on her face.
Nami: What's wrong?
Robin: Nothing... it's that time of the month. I'll go change clothes.
She quickly hid her shock and returned to her calm exterior, then made an excuse and walked back to her room.
But her mind was in turmoil.
She had never once revealed anything about that in the chat group.
Even the videos she posted were heavily edited—no face, and just showing an extra hand sprouting.
If not for the fact that the chat interface directly showed her name, she wouldn't have revealed even that.
But now, someone had pinpointed her identity perfectly.
After a long pause, she finally messaged:
Robin: What else do you know?