The predawn air bit against Mari’s skin, each breath a sharp reminder that yesterday’s punishment still lingered in every muscle. Her body felt like lead, but her boots pounded against the dirt with relentless rhythm.
She was halfway across the rope bridge when her CO’s voice cut through the field like a blade.
“Pick it up, Sergeant. You’re moving like you’ve got all day.”
“Yes, sir!” she shouted back, forcing her aching legs to push harder, ignoring the way her arms screamed as she scaled the next wall.
The obstacle course was muscle memory — walls, nets, crawl trenches, timed sprints. She could run it blindfolded. But today, every step was heavier. Still, she didn’t slow. She knew better.
---
Back at the dorms, Bakugou was halfway to the bathroom when he noticed Mari’s bed was empty. Izuku saw it too. They exchanged a sharp look — they didn’t even have to speak.
Minutes later, the whole of Class 1-A was awake, confusion turning to anger.
The Ghost Girls were already watching from the field’s edge, silent but tense. They didn’t need to be told what was happening — they’d lived it before.
But when Class 1-A came barreling toward the field, the girls stiffened.
---
Mari spotted them the moment she reached the top of the rope climb.
No. Not now.
She dropped down and sprinted into the next set of hurdles, hoping they’d turn back.
“Mari!” Bakugou’s voice slammed across the open air. “What the hell is this?!”
“Get out of here!” she snapped, hitting the ground and diving into the crawl trench. “This is my responsibility!”
Izuku’s voice followed, sharp with frustration. “No, this is bullshit! You did this all day yesterday! Sun up to sundown! No breaks, no water! This isn’t training — it’s punishment!”
Bakugou’s voice roared right after. “She’s been through enough! What the fuck is wrong with you?!”
---
The CO turned his head toward them slowly. His smirk was gone. Inside, there was a flicker of disbelief — who does this kid think he is?
“Is that so?” his voice was calm, almost conversational, but the edge in it could cut steel. He stepped forward until he was towering over the two boys.
“You think you know what ‘enough’ looks like? You think you’ve seen what it means to earn respect in my world? You’ve seen nothing. You’ve done nothing. You don’t get to speak to me about enough.”
His gaze sharpened, pinning them in place. “That woman you’re defending? She wouldn’t last ten seconds where I’ve been if she didn’t have this discipline drilled into her. And neither would either of you.”
He let the silence sit heavy for a moment before adding, “You will stand down. Or I will make you.”
---
Mari froze mid-obstacle. She’d seen this look before — the cold, empty expression he wore only after battlefields soaked in loss. The last time she’d seen it, he’d buried friends and taken command without hesitation.
“Sergeant,” he called to her without looking away from the boys. “Change. Combat gear. No medals. No rank. You’ll join the class today.”
“Yes, sir,” she replied quietly.
“And Sergeant?”
She stopped just long enough to meet his eyes.
“Make no mistakes. You’ve already made one.”
Her stomach sank. She knew exactly what that meant. Today wouldn’t end until he said so.
YOU ARE READING
Ghost Shot: New Dawn
FanfictionGhost Shot: New Dawn The Ghost Squad's battle with All For One shook the world-and changed it forever. Now hailed as heroes, Mari, Raven, Serah, and Lila are given a rare gift: full hero licenses and their own class at U.A. High. With new responsibi...
