Angelita ran through the quiet streets, her feet barely touching the ground. Her face was lit with pure, unfiltered joy, a smile stretched wide across her face — not one of politeness, but one born from something sacred. She was laughing, giggling like a child who had finally caught a star.
She was no longer what she had once believed herself to be.
No longer trash.
No longer "nothing."
No longer non-awakening .
She had awakening. She had changed. She had been chosen. And that meant something.
Nearly half an hour passed before she reached the small, humble home she shared with her mother. Its cracked walls and flickering porch light looked just as she remembered, but tonight, everything felt different — as though reality had softened just enough to let hope pass through.
She slowed her pace and stopped just in front of the door, placing a hand on her chest. Her heart pounded with excitement.
With a goofy smile and exaggeratedly puffed cheeks, she whispered to herself,
"Mom would be proud of this."
She giggled again, drawing in a deep breath, then pushed the door open gently.
Inside, her mother, Mina, sat alone at the small, worn kitchen table, a dim light casting soft shadows across her face. Worry painted every inch of her expression — her hands were clasped, her brows furrowed, and her foot tapped nervously against the floor.
Angelita's smile faded just a little.
"Oh no… why does Mom look like that?" she wondered, biting her lip.
She stepped forward and let her foot land a little harder than usual on the wooden floor. The soft thud echoed in the room. Mina's head snapped toward the sound.
The moment their eyes met, everything paused. Then, like a dam breaking, Mina shot up from her chair and rushed to her daughter.
"My little Angelita—! Are you okay!?" she cried, wrapping her arms tightly around Angelita.
Angelita let out a soft wheeze, her eyes bulging cartoonishly from the pressure. "M-Mom… I… can't breathe…" she choked, flailing slightly with a comical expression.
Realizing how hard she was squeezing, Mina quickly pulled back and cupped Angelita's face between her trembling hands. "Where were you!? It's two in the morning! Do you have any idea how worried I was?"
"Eh…?" Angelita blinked.
Two in the morning?
She hadn't even noticed.
"Oh! Uh… I was with my friends!" she blurted, smiling sheepishly, fingers tapping together like a nervous child trying to sound convincing. "Yeah, I-I was hanging out with friends! Totally normal teenage stuff!"
Mina narrowed her eyes suspiciously, her gaze sharp and silent.
Angelita's smile stiffened. A bead of sweat formed on her temple. Those eyes… she's onto me…
But then, Mina's face softened. A rare, gentle smile appeared.
"…That's it, huh?" she said softly. "You were with friends?"
Angelita nodded rapidly, still nervous.
"Well then… I'm glad," Mina said, tears forming in her eyes. "I'm proud of you. So proud, my daughter."
Those words.
They fell on Angelita's ears like a sacred hymn. "I'm proud of you."
Her heart jumped — not out of fear, but from something warm, something she hadn't felt in a long time. She didn't speak, not right away. Instead, she simply smiled… a real, genuine smile that reached into her soul.
"…Thank you, Mom."
Mina wiped her eyes and stepped back toward the hallway. "Alright, I'm going to bed. Now that I know you're safe, I can finally sleep. Good night, sweetie."
Angelita watched as her mother disappeared into her room and gently closed the door.
"…Good night, Mom," she whispered.
She stood there for a moment longer, her smile unwavering.
Angelita glanced at the door to her mother's room, ensuring it was completely shut. Only when she was certain did she let out a deep, weary sigh. The house was silent again. She slowly walked over to the modest kitchen and pulled out a wooden chair, sitting down in front of the small table.
She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table and placing her chin on her hands, lost in thought.
"How is it already 2 AM…?" she murmured, confused. "That doesn't make any sense…"
She began retracing her steps mentally, her expression growing more puzzled by the second.
"First, I went to see Rena, Lina, and Shizuku… and then they started bullying me again—like always. That took… what, an hour? Then I left, and I remember—yes—that's when I met the Creator. But from that point until now... how could three more hours have passed?" Her brow furrowed, frustration rising.
Suddenly, a voice echoed inside her mind.
— Answer —
When Rena, Lina, and Shizuku bullied you, the ordeal lasted until around 11 PM. Shortly after you ran away, you were hit by the truck and remained unconscious on the ground for approximately three hours.
Angelita blinked in surprise.
"…Oh, so that's what happened—" she began, but then her face froze mid-sentence. Her eyes widened until they turned cartoonishly white, and she sprang up from the chair, tumbling backward with a loud thud. Flailing around the kitchen in sheer panic, she waved her arms dramatically.
"WHO ARE YOU?! WHO ARE YOU?! WHO ARE YOU?!" she screamed, her voice jumping an octave with each repetition, as she ran in circles in a very animated, exaggerated fashion.
— Answer —
Yes, Angelita-sama. I am 'The System', granted to you upon your awakening by the Creator.
Angelita immediately collapsed to the floor, still gasping for breath as her chest rose and fell rapidly in exaggerated motion. Her expression was both terrified and bewildered.
"A-A… Ability…?" she stammered.
— Answer —
Yes.
"W-What can you do…?" she asked cautiously, her voice trembling a little.
— Answer —
I can analyze, evaluate, and provide continuous improvement to your body and mind.
"S-So… you're like… a computer inside my head?" Angelita asked, slowly raising her body from the floor and brushing herself off.
— Correct, Angelita-sama.
She sat back down, this time calmer but still a little dazed. A new thought crossed her mind.
"C-Can I… Can I join the academy now?" she asked hesitantly.
— Answer —
There is a 95% chance of acceptance, Angelita-sama.
Her face lit up instantly. "Okay… finally." A soft smile curved her lips, relief washing over her like warm sunlight.
She leaned forward with a spark of curiosity in her eyes.
"I have another question."
— I am listening, Angelita-sama. —
"I noticed something odd… I have a skill called 'Regeneration'. Why is it listed as a skill and not an ability?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.
— Answer —
Skills and abilities are classified differently within the System. Skills are divided into three tiers:
— Tier I: Offensive Skills.
— Tier II: Defensive Skills.
— Tier III: Physical Skills.
Regeneration belongs to the third tier because its function is primarily physical in nature—supporting and restoring your body's condition.
Angelita nodded slowly, absorbing every word with growing fascination.
— As for abilities, they are categorized into two levels:
— Standard Abilities.
— Absolute Abilities.
Standard abilities often grant one or two functions. Absolute abilities, however, are extremely rare and powerful—each capable of holding up to five sub-abilities within them.
Angelita's mouth fell open slightly, her eyes sparkling like a child seeing fireworks for the first time. She imagined glowing skill trees and intricate webs of power forming in her mind.
"Amazing…" she whispered. "I didn't know that something like this was even possible… The structure, the system—it's so well organized…"
She smiled brightly. "Thank you for explaining this to me."
— It is my pleasure, Angelita-sama. I exist to serve and support your growth. —
Angelita placed a hand over her heart, still smiling. For the first time in what felt like forever, she felt something she hadn't known in years—hope.
"Thank you... for awakening me, my Creator..." Angelita whispered softly, her voice filled with reverence. Then she paused, a blush blooming across her cheeks like a rose under morning sunlight. She lowered her gaze shyly, then wrapped her arms around herself, as if embracing a warmth that had settled inside her chest.
"I mean... Donovan-sama..." she corrected herself in a hushed, trembling tone, her heart fluttering.
With a deep breath and flushed face, Angelita stepped out of the kitchen, her steps light and thoughtful. She returned to her bedroom, quietly closing the door behind her. She let herself fall gently onto the bed, her head sinking into the pillow. As she gazed up at the ceiling in silence, a hint of anxiety crept back into her thoughts.
"I can't tell Mom… she'd never believe me. Or worse... she'd think I've gone completely insane," she muttered, her voice half-serious, half-joking. Her eyes widened dramatically and her hands waved in exaggerated panic, mocking her own anxiety in a comical display.
After a few more minutes of rolling side to side, she closed her eyes and let the quiet lull her into sleep.
Time passed swiftly, as if the night had been condensed into a single blink. The soft golden light of morning filled the room. It was now 8 AM.
Angelita stirred beneath her blanket, her hair a tousled mess draping over her pillow. She yawned, her body stretching like a cat just waking from a long nap. As she stretched, her back arched slightly, and the loose shirt she wore tugged against her figure—highlighting her maturing body, particularly the fullness of her chest. She blinked slowly, still drowsy.
"Hmm... what time is it now?" she mumbled, her voice hoarse with sleep.
She hadn't set an alarm—again—so she dragged herself out of bed and sluggishly shuffled toward the door, her limbs still half-asleep.
Just as she turned the handle, her mother's voice echoed from the kitchen.
"Angelita! Breakfast is ready!" Mina called cheerfully.
"I'm coming, Mom..." Angelita replied, yawning again, her tone lazy but affectionate.
She made her way into the kitchen and sat at the table, where the scent of warm toast, eggs, and miso soup greeted her like an old friend. Her mother had always been an early riser, and her food always carried the comfort of home.
As Angelita began eating, she spoke between bites, "Hey Mom… how's work at the food truck going?"
There was a slight pause before Mina answered, "Well, it's… uh… good. Yeah, good," she said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
Angelita glanced at her, tilting her head slightly. Her gaze softened, and she smiled as if to say It's okay if you don't want to talk about it.
"If you say so," Angelita said, her voice gentle.
Mina, touched by her daughter's sensitivity, leaned forward and cupped Angelita's cheeks in her hands. "Oh, how adorable you are when you smile… my precious girl."
She began playfully pulling at her cheeks.
"Mom! Stooop!" Angelita protested, her face squishing as her eyes rolled back in mock agony. "I'm sixteen now, you know!"
"You'll always be my baby girl, no matter how old you are," Mina said sweetly.
Angelita pouted, then chuckled and resumed eating. "By the way, what time is it now?"
Her mother glanced at the wall clock. "It's 9 AM, dear."
Angelita froze mid-bite. Her eyes went wide and her jaw slackened—then, in pure comedic exaggeration, the piece of toast she was chewing slipped dramatically out of her mouth.
"9 AM!? Why didn't I wake up earlier!?" she shrieked.
She leapt to her feet and bolted toward her room, slipping slightly as she turned the corner. In a flash, she was pulling on her school uniform, hopping on one leg while trying to put on her shoes at the same time.
"I'm sorry, Mom! I have to go—I'll be back later!" she yelled as she sprinted out the door.
Mina poked her head out of the kitchen, watching her daughter dash down the street like a whirlwind of energy.
She smiled fondly, whispering to herself, "Oh my… she's full of life today."
The streets were alive with the golden glow of the early morning sun, but Angelita had no time to admire it. Her breath came in sharp bursts, her shoes slapping the pavement rhythmically as she sprinted toward the academy. Sweat clung to her forehead, and the wind tugged at her hair. Her lungs burned, but she didn't slow down. Not today.
It had been thirty minutes of continuous running before she finally arrived, panting, at the academy's towering gates.
She stood there for a moment, her eyes locked on the massive emblem engraved on the wrought-iron arch — a symbol that once rejected her. The memory of her last visit struck her like cold water: standing in front of these gates, turned away, dismissed as 'unawakened'... worthless. But things had changed. Hadn't they?
With a nervous breath, she whispered in her mind:
"Hey, system… show me my stats."
A calm, synthetic voice responded immediately:
– Answer –
Yes, Angelita-sama.
A glowing blue digital panel materialized in front of her eyes, floating weightlessly. Streams of soft light danced across its surface as her current statistics unfolded before her.
– Statistics Unlocked
–Name: Angelita Albert
Age: 16
Skills: 4
Abilities: 4 + Merged
Intelligence: 120
Angelita scanned the numbers, eyes narrowing at the "120" listed under intelligence. She tilted her head slightly, then muttered:
"Wait… if my IQ is above average, why wasn't I accepted before?"
The system answered without delay:
– Answer –
Yes, Angelita-sama.
Although your intelligence exceeded the average threshold, the academy's evaluation process prioritizes awakened abilities above all else. Without strengths — combat or supportive — even brilliance is deemed insignificant.
Angelita let out a dry, understanding chuckle."So that's why… makes sense, I guess."
But then, a shadow of doubt passed over her eyes. Her voice grew quieter, almost anxious.
"Still… it took humanity three whole centuries to reach the point where 99% of the population is awakened. What if someone finds out that… I didn't awaken naturally?"
The panel flickered slightly as the system responded once more:
– Answer –Yes, Angelita-sama.The possibility is extremely low. The one who awakened you is the Creator — a being entirely unknown to this world. The Evaluation system cannot comprehend nor trace such an origin. If any attempt is made to identify the source of your awakening, the evaluation mechanism will be forcefully overwritten and deleted.
Her breath caught — then released slowly.
"Okay... that's reassuring. I'll try to relax, then."
She rolled her eyes with exaggerated drama and let her shoulders fall, releasing the tension.
"Honestly," she said, her voice lightening into a joking tone, "the scariest thing right now isn't any of that — it's the examiner himself."
A single bead of sweat slid down the side of her face as she imagined the stern, merciless examiners she might face. Tall, sharp-eyed, probably with a sense of humor forged from steel — the kind who'd glare into your soul and find it lacking.
She straightened her posture and took a long breath, brushing a few stray hairs behind her ear. There was no going back. The gates ahead weren't just metal and stone. They were a barrier between the past she'd been denied and the future she was ready to claim.
With one final breath, Angelita stepped through the academy gates. The campus stood eerily silent—empty, almost abandoned. No excited voices, no footsteps echoing through the hallways. Everyone else had already passed, had already been accepted. All that remained was her.
This was it.
Either she would be accepted… or she wouldn't.
After walking through the grand, quiet corridors, Angelita finally reached a large wooden door—the examiner's office. Her heart pounded in her chest like a warning drum. Would she succeed this time? Or would she be cast aside again?
She clenched her fists, swallowed her fear, and opened the door.
To her surprise, the intimidating man from before was gone. Instead, a woman sat confidently at the large desk. She had short golden hair and sharp green eyes. Her red blazer hugged her figure, complemented by a dark skirt and black thigh-high stockings. She sat with one leg crossed over the other, her posture relaxed yet commanding.
Angelita hesitated, then spoke.
"Excuse me... are you the examiner?" she asked cautiously.
The woman looked up from her papers and gave her a small smile.
"Yes, dear. That's me. How can I help you?"
Angelita tilted her head. "What happened to the... um... scary man from the first day?"
The woman's expression shifted slightly—calmer now, yet firm.
"He was reported for inappropriate behavior toward female applicants. Action was taken."
Angelita silently sighed in relief."Thank you,"she whispered in her mind.
The woman leaned forward, placing her elbows on the desk. "So, what brings you here, little one? Are you here to apply?"
"Yes, miss," Angelita replied with quiet determination.
"Excellent. Wait right here—I'll retrieve the artifact."
The examiner rose and walked to a large, ornate cabinet behind her desk, unlocking it with a metallic click. Angelita watched as she began sifting through various sealed containers.
"Now that I've awakened... people don't look at me the same way anymore,"Angelita thought."Their eyes don't carry disgust. It's... comforting."
The examiner returned holding a smooth, glass-like orb, and placed it gently on the desk.
"Alright, dear. Just place your hand on the artifact. Let's see what your evaluation says."
Angelita hesitated. Her heart raced. She remembered the last time she did this. The fear, the shame, the crushing disappointment.
But this time, she had nothing to lose.
She took a deep breath and pressed her hand against the orb.
The artifact responded instantly. A swirl of radiant colors pulsed through it—far more vivid and diverse than before. It sparkled and shifted like a living aurora, casting reflections across the polished desk and walls.
After ten long seconds, the light faded.
A soft chime echoed, and text appeared behind the examiner on the glowing wall screen:
– Evaluation Completed –Name: Angelita AlbertAge: 16Skills: 4Abilities: 4 + MergedIntelligence: 120
The examiner's smile widened.
Angelita's eyes filled with tears—this time not of fear or sadness, but of joy. She looked up at the examiner, barely able to speak.
"The first day of classes begins next Monday," the examiner said, standing. "Welcome to Academy WB."
Angelita blinked. Her breath hitched.
"D-Does this mean...?"
The examiner nodded. "Yes. You've been accepted."
A tear slid down Angelita's cheek. Then another. She couldn't hold them back anymore.
"Thank you... thank you so much..."
The woman placed a hand on Angelita's shoulder. "No problem, dear."
Still wiping her tears, Angelita wondered aloud, "What does 'WB' stand for...?"
Before the examiner could respond, the system's voice echoed gently in her mind:
– Answer –Yes, Angelita-sama.WB Academy stands for 'Academy Without Borders.'
"Oh... I see,"she thought, her heart warming.
Without delay, Angelita filled out the final paperwork and stepped outside.
"I've finally been accepted," she said to herself, her voice light, almost playful.
But just as she turned the corner, she bumped into someone.
"Ah—!"
She stumbled slightly, but the man she'd collided with quickly reached out and helped her back to her feet.
"Sorry, girl," he said, offering a brief smile before continuing on his way.
Angelita stood frozen for a moment, watching him go. She looked around—people weren't avoiding her anymore. No sneers, no hateful stares. They weren't treating her like filth.
"So this is how I'm treated now... because I awakened."
"And those who don't awaken... are cast aside like I once was. Outcasts. Trash. That's what I was called... But now even strangers help me."
"This world is unfair."
With that heavy thought in her chest, Angelita began walking home.
It took her 30 minutes on foot, but eventually, she reached her modest little house, nestled between cracked stone walls and a wooden fence. Her heart beat faster—not from fear this time, but from anticipation.
She knocked on the door softly—once, twice.
Her mother, Mina, opened it with a warm smile. "Oh, Angelita! How did it go?"
Angelita's voice trembled. "Mom…"
"Yes, my dear?" Mina asked, her eyes curious.
"I-I'm a-a-accepted, Mom… I've been accepted into the academy!"
Mina stood stunned for a second, then her eyes went wide. "Eh?!"
"You really got in?!"
Angelita nodded with glowing pride.
Mina squealed with joy and threw her arms around her daughter.
"This is my daughter!" she said proudly, pulling her inside. "Come in, come in—I'll make your favorite soup!"
"Yay!" Angelita said with a giggle, hugging her mother tightly.
That night, Angelita sat on her small bed, sipping soup with a smile on her face. For the first time in what felt like years, she had truly tasted happiness.
The world was still cruel. Unfair. Harsh.
But tonight... tonight, she had won something.
Later, she rested her head on the pillow, staring out the small, open window above her bed. The moonlight painted her face in silver as she whispered softly:
"Thank you… Donovan-sama."
And with a peaceful smile, Angelita finally closed her eyes and drifted into sleep.