Chapter 3: The Goddess Joins the Outcasts

"Alright, this is amazing!"

Principal Hiroshi Watanabe jumped to his feet, laughing with excitement.

"Two Double S-Ranks in one year! That's double the bonus for us! Hahaha!"

"As expected of Yuna Hoshizaki, she didn't disappoint," the other teachers said, faces glowing with pride.

Although Renji Takahashi's awakening earlier was an embarrassment, Yuna's appearance as a true Double S awakened—especially with the Holy attribute—overshadowed him completely.

They could now announce to the outside world that Azure Dragon Academy had two Double S-level students. As long as they focused their promotion on Yuna, no one would even ask about Renji.

Perfect.

"See that? Now that's what a true Double S awakening looks like."

"She's not only beautiful but also crazy powerful. Think I've got a shot at being her boyfriend?"

"Yeah, sure—keep dreaming, loser."

"Hey, a guy can dream."

After her awakening, Yuna didn't show much excitement. She just smiled faintly as the examiner congratulated her.

"Congratulations, Yuna."

"Thank you," she replied softly, returning to her seat with quiet grace.

The ceremony continued, but no one else awakened anything higher than B-rank.

Maybe it was because Yuna's powers shone so brightly, but every awakening afterward felt dull by comparison.

Eventually, all the students finished awakening their powers.

Now came the class assignments.

Awakening powers was only the beginning. Students would now be sorted into different classes based on their abilities—Combat, Support, Control, and others.

Education here was all about refining what suited you best.

"C-rank Water—Combat Class or Support Class. Which do you want?"

"Combat Class, obviously. Who wants to be stuck in Support?"

"Alright, Combat Class 1. Next."

"E-rank Wind Element."

"Elemental Class 6. Next."

"B-rank Puppet."

"Special Class 1. Next."

Your ability and rank determined which class you got into.

High rank and useful powers? Top-tier combat teams.

Low rank or less useful powers? You guessed it—dumped into the weaker classes.

Finally, it was Renji's turn.

Before he could say a word, the class advisor called out without hesitation:

"Double S Wood and Spirit Eye, Support Class 1."

"Thank you, Teacher." Renji gave a polite nod.

He expected to be put in Support. After all, Wood and Spirit Eye were pretty much textbook support abilities.

But when he reached the Support Class section... his hopes sank.

Turns out, there was only one Support Class.

And it was basically the school's dump class.

Including Renji, there were a grand total of eight people in Support Class 1.

Most of them had been forced in there.

Like a D-rank Water user—technically capable of combat, but too weak to qualify for the Combat Class.

A few others had minor Special-Type abilities like Illusion or Object Control, barely scraping by.

And one poor soul—a C-rank Wood user—looked just as miserable as the rest.

Everyone in the Support Class wore the same defeated expression.

Being here basically meant your future was already decided—and it wasn't bright.

As the students were sorted into their classes, more names were called out. A few more "hopeless" cases trickled into Support Class.

Everyone dragged their feet as they walked over to sit with Renji, their faces full of gloom.

Then, only one student remained unassigned:

Yuna Hoshizaki.

The entire plaza held its breath.

Which class would she choose?

If she joined their class, they'd all lose their minds.

A tall woman in black-rimmed glasses stepped forward.

This was Shiori Kanzaki, the strict Dean of Students, a fourth-stage psychic herself with Double B-rank Wind and Water abilities.

"Yuna Hoshizaki, your powers are the highest we've seen at Azure Dragon Academy. You may choose any class you wish."

She paused, adjusting her glasses.

"Alternatively, you may study directly under the principal. He would personally mentor you."

Watanabe, standing off to the side, suddenly perked up. A mischievous grin crossed his face.

"Wait... was that part of the plan? Why don't I remember agreeing to that?" Watanabe muttered.

"It's in the Academy regulations," Shiori shot back with a sigh.

"Oh... right, right. Must've slipped my mind," Watanabe chuckled, clearly not paying attention.

Everyone watched Yuna, their hearts pounding.

She scanned the crowd of classes in front of her.

And then... her gaze fell on the corner of the plaza—on the lonely group labeled Support Class 1.

She pointed.

"I'll join the Support Class," she said softly.

Silence.

The whole plaza froze.

Had they heard wrong?

Yuna Hoshizaki, the goddess of the academy, the top Double S awakener, was choosing the Support Class?

Even Dean Kanzaki was taken aback.

"Are you certain, Yuna?" she asked again.

"I'm sure."

Yuna's voice was calm but clear.

"I know many people look down on the Support Class because their powers aren't flashy like the Combat classes. But I believe no power is truly useless. Every ability has its purpose."

She smiled gently.

"I want to help change how people see the Support Class. I want to prove that we can be just as strong."

Her words weren't fiery or dramatic.

But they carried a quiet strength that touched everyone listening.

"As expected of the academy goddess... she's on a whole different level from us."

"She's so kind... I'm gonna cry... I want to marry her..."

"Her light shines on us all..."

For a moment, the crowd was moved by her sincerity.

The Support Class students—who had been drowning in misery—suddenly found themselves overjoyed.

If they were with Yuna, maybe being in Support Class wouldn't be so bad after all.

Renji watched it all unfold, feeling a little bitter.

When he joined the Support Class, they called him a worthless loser.

When Yuna joined, they called her a saint.

Yeah... people really were built different.