The piercing sound of the alarm cut through the stillness of the dorm room, jolting me awake.

I fumbled for the clock, eyes bleary from the few hours of sleep I managed to catch.

The academy operated on its own rigid schedule, and I’d quickly learned that sleep was a luxury.

5:30 AM.

Time to move.

I pushed the stiff bedsheets away and sat up, rubbing my temples.

The room was still cloaked in shadows, the faintest light of dawn filtering through the window.

Outside, I could hear the sounds of the other recruits stirring, the same tired grumbles and groans echoing down the hall.

We were all in the same boat—exhausted, sore, and fighting the urge to crawl back into bed. But there was no room for that kind of weakness here.

Today was another day of training, and the academy wasn’t going to wait for anyone.

I threw on my academy-issued gear—a plain gray T-shirt and black sweatpants—and laced up my shoes, the movements becoming almost mechanical at this point.

It had only been a week, but the routine was already ingrained in me.

The dorms emptied quickly as we made our way to the training field.

The cold morning air hit my skin the moment I stepped outside, sharp and bracing.

It was always colder at this time of day, the crisp November wind biting through the thin fabric of my shirt.

But after the first day, I stopped minding.

The training grounds stretched out before us, vast and imposing, a maze of obstacles, open fields, and tracks designed to break us down and build us back up.

The early morning mist clung to the grass, making everything look a little more otherworldly.

As we gathered, the officer in charge of training marched across the grounds with the kind of stern authority that made even the most confident recruit straighten their posture.

Officer Katayama was tall, broad-shouldered, and built like he could take on a whole squad by himself if he had to.

His close-cropped hair and sharp eyes gave him the look of someone who’d seen it all and had little patience for nonsense.

“Alright, recruits! Line up!”

His voice boomed across the field, cutting through the chatter.

We scrambled to form neat lines, standing at attention.

Officer Katayama’s reputation preceded him.

Word around the academy was that he was a no-nonsense kind of guy—tough, relentless, but fair.

He didn’t tolerate laziness or excuses, and more than a few recruits had already found themselves on his bad side for failing to keep up with his standards.

“You’ve survived a week, but don’t think for a second that means anything”

Katayama barked, pacing in front of us with his hands clasped behind his back.

“This is where the real work begins. Today, we’re pushing your limits even further. I want to see who has the guts to go beyond what they think they’re capable of.”

He stopped, his gaze sweeping over the line of recruits, lingering on a few for a second longer before moving on.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

His eyes finally landed on me, and I felt a knot tighten in my stomach.

But he didn’t stop.

Instead, he gave a curt nod, like he’d decided something about me in that brief moment.

“We start with the run”

He continued, his voice steady and commanding.

“Six kilometers, around the perimeter. Move out!”

The groans were almost inaudible, but we all felt it—the dread that came with knowing that we’d be spending the next half-hour pushing our legs to their limits.

But there was no time to dwell on it.

We took off in a sprint, our feet pounding against the gravel path that snaked around the academy grounds.

Beside me, one of the recruits I’d gotten to know over the past few days kept pace.

Ishikawa Asahi, or Ishii as we’d started calling him, was a tall guy with shaggy black hair and a lanky build that made him look like he’d struggle with the physical stuff.

But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

The guy was fast, much faster than anyone expected.

“You think Katayama ever runs these with us for fun?”

Ishii panted beside me, a grin creeping onto his face even as he huffed for breath.

I shot him a sidelong glance, smirking despite the burn in my legs.

“Maybe when we’re not looking. Probably laps us twice.”

Ishii laughed, shaking his head.

“Man, I wouldn’t be surprised. He looks like the type who enjoys watching us suffer.”

“Definitely”

I agreed, pushing myself to keep pace with him.

We were halfway through the run when another recruit, Matsuoka Haruto, fell into step on my other side.

He was shorter than most, but what he lacked in height, he made up for in sheer grit.

Matsuoka didn’t talk much, but he had this quiet determination about his that I respected.

Every drill, every exercise, he threw herself into it without hesitation, and more often than not, he was right at the front of the pack, keeping up with the best of us.

“Katayama’s gonna have us doing this until we drop”

Matsuoka muttered, his breath coming in sharp bursts.

“Wouldn’t be the first time”

I replied, keeping my eyes ahead.

Matsuoka shot me a sideways glance.

“You’re keeping up alright. Thought you’d be slower, considering…”

He trailed off, but I knew what he meant.

Even after my training I was still overweight.

Considering how I was a few months ago this is a miracle.

But i understand what they see.

After all they don't know anything about my past and from their perspective i'm only a chubby guy with an unreachable dream.

I didn’t respond, just kept running, pushing through the discomfort.

The rest of the run was a blur of heavy breathing, aching muscles, and the constant thud of feet hitting the gravel.

By the time we finished, sweat was pouring down my face, my shirt sticking to my back.

We lined up again, gasping for breath as Officer Katayama walked past, his expression unreadable.

“Not bad, recruits”

He said, his voice quieter now, but still carrying the same authority.

“But we’re just getting started. Grab your gear and head to the obstacle course. You’ve got five minutes.”

We scattered, grabbing our training vests and helmets, readying ourselves for the next round.

The obstacle course was a grueling series of walls, ropes, and narrow tunnels designed to test both strength and endurance.

It was the kind of course that left you bruised and breathless by the end of it.

As we lined up at the start, Ishii leaned over, nudging me with his elbow.

“You ready for this?”

I smirked, adjusting my helmet.

“Born ready.”

I wasn't ready at all.

My shoulders hurt a lot and the equipment didn’t make me feel better.

Officer Katayama stood at the side, clipboard in hand, watching us with the same steely gaze he always had.

“This isn’t just about physical strength”

He reminded us.

“It’s about thinking under pressure. Moving fast, but staying sharp. You screw up in the field, it’s not just you who suffers. Keep that in mind.”

With a sharp whistle, he signaled for us to begin.

I launched myself forward, sprinting toward the first wall.

My hands grabbed onto the edge, pulling myself up and over with a grunt of effort.

Behind me, I could hear Ishii and Matsuoka, both keeping pace as we navigated the course.

The next obstacle was a series of ropes suspended above a pit of muddy water.

I grabbed onto the rope, swinging across with a burst of energy, landing on the other side just as Ishii did the same.

“Piece of cake”

Ishii muttered, though I could see the strain on his face.

“Don’t jinx it”

I warned, barely catching my breath before we tackled the next challenge—crawling through a narrow tunnel lined with thick gravel.

The sharp rocks scraped against my elbows and knees as I pulled myself forward, but I pushed through, my mind focused on one thing: getting to the end.

By the time we finished, my body felt like it had been through a meat grinder.

Every muscle ached, every joint felt like it was on fire.

But as we stood there, panting and exhausted, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of accomplishment.

Katayama watched us for a moment, then gave a short nod of approval.

“Good work today. You’re improving. But don’t get comfortable. Tomorrow’s going to be even tougher.”

He didn’t linger, just turned and walked off, leaving us to catch our breath.

As I wiped the sweat from my brow, Ishii clapped me on the shoulder.

“Not bad for a guy who thought about quitting after day one, huh?”

I chuckled, shaking my head.

“Guess I’m tougher than I thought.”

Matsuoka smirked, crossing his arms.

“You better be. We’re just getting started.”

As the sun climbed higher in the sky, casting long shadows across the training grounds, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of determination.

We walked towards the dorm as my breathing slows again.

And with every step I took, with every obstacle I overcame, I knew I was getting closer to my goal.