These check in novels are everywhere. At least put some spin on it. What if relationship checkmarks / benchmarks = 1 check in? That would allow the author to focus more on story and can be a convient scapgoat when people ask why a certain thing happens. Or if you want to go really meta, have a reincarnation back in time, where they can only “sign in” when a plot point from their memories reoccurs, and it’s stronger the closer to their old memories that point is. The Protag has to balance using their powers while trying to mitigate the butterfly effect. I don’t know. Just looking for something new in the inevitable sign in genre that trial reads has become.