Tourney of Victory
Hawk: 09
Hawk walked into a somewhat restored Miyagi-Do only to find Daniel sitting there alone. Putting his backpack down, Hawk spoke. "Where is everyone?"
"It's just you and me for today." Daniel said holding chopsticks. "Sit down."
"What're you doing?" Hawk saw the fly zipping around Daniel's face. "Are you actually trying to catch that?"
"It's today's lesson." Daniel said. Hawk sat down next to Daniel as he explained. "I heard what happened at Golf 'N Stuff. You and Mitch along with everyone else there have already been given punishments."
Hawk raised an eyebrow. "And this is my punishment? Catching a fly with some sticks? Shouldn't I do knuckle pushups or something?"
"You're going to train a bit more with me for the next few classes. At least until I can teach you to control that temper of yours."
Hawk snapped. "What temper? I don't have a temper."
Daniel just looked at him.
"Right." Hawk swallowed. "So how do I do this?"
"It didn't take me that much time. But it takes patience."
Picking up a pair of chopsticks, Hawk tried catching the fly.
"See?" Daniel said.
Hawk got frustrated easily. "Hitting a punching bag is so much easier. And that actually makes you hit harder."
"It may. In a way." Daniel said. "But without focus and concentration, you could hit like a truck and still miss."
Hawk sighed. "Yeah? I almost beat Robby at the tournament, you saw me last year."
"I did." Daniel chuckled a little seeing Hawk continue to fail at catching the fly. "And you were sloppy. And predictable. And angry."
"Do you have to critique every single little thing I do? At least I'm not as wimpy as Demitri, or as fat as Chris." Hawk sighed, missing the fly. "God! Come on!"
Daniel shook his head slowly. "If you keep thinking every part of Karate is physical you're never going to learn properly. Even Johnny practices your reflexes from time to time. That pitching machine might not have been good for much, but it did train Miguel's flinch response."
"Miguel told you about that?"
"Yeah. Told me how Johnny taught him to use his legs. He's quite the fighter."
Hawk missed the fly again. "So you're fine with him dating your daughter now?"
"Miguel and Sam are trying to patch things up after what happened at the party. Yes, I heard about that too."
"Does everyone have snitch to you about everything?" Hawk tutted.
Daniel looked at him. "Hey. This isn't Cobra Kai anymore. You already made that choice."
"Yeah I did." Hawk gripped his chopsticks. "And I didn't do it for you. Or Sam, or even Miguel. I did it for-"
"Demitri?" Daniel asked. "Yeah I heard about that as well. It took a lot of humility to admit you messed up. But to truly redeem yourself, you have to let go of Cobra Kai entirely."
Hawk stopped trying to catch the fly for a second. "And how do I do that?"
"Hawk look at how long it took them to replace you. Robby joined the same night you left. You have to remember that these guys, even Tory, they're not your friends. And they never were. They won't stop until Kreese owns Karate in the entire valley. He was using you, and he won't stop using you."
Hawk picked up his chopsticks again. "Sensei Johnny's Cobra Kai. It's why he's so badass."
"He's proud that you made the right choice. Tell me, why'd you attack Robby last night? Why're you still so angry?"
Hawk considered this for a second. "I feel like I failed Demitri. And Miguel. My only friends. They were all I really had before Cobra Kai. And it feels like I left them behind."
"For what exactly?"
"For Hawk." he admitted. "I used to just be Eli." Hawk shook his head. "I was tired of getting pushed around. And after Cobra Kai started winning again, burning this place down and beating me up. It felt like I wasn't Hawk anymore."
Seeing the look on his face, Daniel rubbed his shoulder. "Robby won't change that for you. Beating Robby, in the street, in a tournament. That won't change that for you either. Johnny can teach you a lot of things, but he won't be able to truly let you embrace Karate. Hell, even I can't do it."
"So what am I supposed to do?"
"This path is yours Eli." Daniel smiled at him. "You have the capacity to learn and grow. To do good things, to become the person you were always meant to be. And a mohawk won't give you that. Even Karate won't do that. Only doing what you think is best will let you grow."
Hawk looked back at him. "I. I still don't get it."
"It's like a sapling right." Daniel held invisible sod in his hand. "Right now you're still a bonsai tree about to grow. It takes nurturing, it takes time. Patience is the key to victory. In all things."
Hawk nodded a bit.
Despite being a very wealthy car dealership owner, Hawk knew Daniel had a family of his own. He had an honorable tradition of winning at the All Valley Tournament. He had a moral code of ethics that went beyond just hand wavy Karate.
"Thanks." Hawk nodded.
When he picked up his chopsticks again he felt every chance he got felt clearer. With his head sharper, Hawk saw the movements of the fly to be less erratic and more understandable.
...
Johnny walked along the line of students wearing his black headband and red Cobra Kai jacket. "You all have been acting like idiots. Which is why Hawk's here for double classes."
He glared at Miguel. "You've had your heads filled with trophies. And girls. And rivalries. Well guess what? All that bullshit got you all get your asses kicked worse than ever before. Mr. Diaz here learned that the hard way. And he almost paid for it with his life."
"But you told me to show-"
"Quiet!" the class almost jumped at Johnny's words. "I know what I said. So listen to me now. Kreese is out there readying his students for war. I know, because the months before a tournament he'd kick our asses like we were in the army. Nonstop training turned into night classes and extra cardio. Not to mention strike conditioning, reflex training, and above all, sparring."
Johnny shook his head disappointingly at Hawk. "You all have gotten your asses kicked way too many times in just one month. And you got so mad over that you went out and thought hitting them back would win. But you know better. Don't you?"
"Yes Sensei." Hawk said.
"Yeah. But you're all gettin' it wrong." Johnny stopped shaking his head. "The lack of balls and preparation for a fight ends today. You all losing ends today. I remember a few of the same faces I see today winning at the All Valley last year. That's not going to change because of a dojo name is it?"
"No Sensei." the class muttered.
"What was that?" Johnny raised his hand.
"No Sensei!"
"I still can't hear you!"
"No Sensei!"
Johnny crossed his arms. "Great. Now knuckle pushups."
Demitri protested. "How many?"
"Until you vomit."
Seeing the look on everyone's faces Johnny chuckled. "Nah just kidding. Until I say so! Aiheet!" he yelled.
Chris grunted on the ground. "We're doing this on pavement."
"Yeah that's the way it should be." Johnny saw the Eagle Do continue to do pushups. "Just be lucky you all aren't training how we used to back in the day."
Breezing through the knuckle pushups, Hawk wondered. "And how's that?"
"Oh you all don't know? Just wait a minute, I'll show you." Johnny laughed.
The class got really tired, Johnny pushing them just a bit further until they were properly exhausted before explaining. "All right. This is top tier Cobra Kai black belt training for tournaments. It works out almost every muscle, if you do it wrong, you'll pull out all the muscles in your back. Do it right." He looked out over his panting and very sweaty class. "And you'll find yourself strong as an ox."
"What." Miguel panted. "What do we do?"
"You're gonna carry each other. From one end of the dojo to the other." Johnny said.
"Kreese really made you do that?" Demitri asked.
Johnny snapped. "Quiet!" he still explained. "No. But we carried weights instead."
Demitri groaned on the ground as Mitch made him collapse onto the ground. "Use your legs guys! Lift with your legs!"
Hawk laughed as he leaped onto Bert. "Giddy up!" the smaller boy fell onto the ground as Johnny shook his head as everyone failed.
...
The class was even more tired and they were barely halfway through Johnny's class. He looked at Sam and Demitri specifically. "Now say what you will about Robby, but he knew how to take a punch. Kid's been through more fights than probably you guys combined. Which is why sparring will be a bit different. It ain't over, till someone's on the ground. No points or any of that nonsense."
He barked at everyone equally loudly. "None of that Tai Chi bullshit or hand waving nonsense. This isn't Lady LaRusso's class! Pick your hands up, and strike!"
Hawk demolished Demitri, sweeping him onto his back in about three seconds.
Holding his fist in front of his face, Hawk sighed picking his friend up. "Don't flinch dude."
"But you were gonna hit me!" whined Demitri.
He pushed Demitri a bit. "Come on."
Demitri moved in to strike but Hawk ignored his attack completely, kicking him back quickly. Demitri quickly was hit onto the ground again.
Johnny sighed as he moved over. "Glad to see you haven't changed. Hawk ain't gonna hurt you. He might hit hard, but he's focused in a fight because he isn't as scared as you are." Johnny spoke to Demitri quietly enough to get him to listen attentively. "Kreese might hate fear, but he does it for a reason. He wants to stop you from hesitating."
Demitri understood, looking back at Hawk.
When they began sparring again, Demitri found that if he wasn't as scared when striking or blocking he fought more efficiently. He stopped hesitating, he stopped waiting for the right moment. He was just there.
Hawk missed his backfist as Demitri appeared behind him, kicking him back a bit being enough to make Hawk stumble forward.
Hawk turned around smiling as he spoke. "That's what I'm talking about!" when they gripped hands Hawk headbutted Demitri onto the ground smiling.
"Don't let your guard down in a fight. Ever." Johnny said. "Nice work Hawk."
Demitri was doted over by Yasmine as Hawk watched Sam and Miguel spar.
"What is this namby pamby bullshit?" Hawk scoffed. "He's the All Valley champ. He's not in a wheelchair anymore."
Sam pushed away Miguel's fist. "He's still recovering."
"Sorry, hate to keep reminding you of this but. Miguel's El Serpiente. Which means he can bite."
Sam squinted at Hawk. "El Serpiente?"
"Watch I'll show you." Hawk said, tired of everyone coddling Miguel for just recovering from a coma.
Hawk barely missed his punch, shoving Miguel back. "Hey man what the hell?" Miguel asked in surprise.
Hawk went ballistic, surprising everyone by how hard he started trying to hit Miguel. Not one to be put on defense, Johnny watched with pride as Hawk and Miguel sparred. Miguel stopped a series of punches before switching angles, kicking Hawk square in the chest with a solid back kick.
Stumbling back, Hawk dodged a follow up reverse punch to the face before engaging Miguel at short range. The two almost grappled but Hawk slithered away in time, going for his signature Hawk strike or superman punch. Being quite telegraphed, Miguel didn't hesitate, knocking him out of the air.
Landing on the ground, Hawk including everyone felt surprised at the result.
"You okay man?" Miguel offered a hand up for him.
Nodding, Hawk smiled and stood up.
The two went rounds with each other, showing everyone the proper way to spar. They never jabbed or feinted, diving and dodging, striking fully committed at every turn. If they weren't striking they were moving around each other, trying to stay light on their feet always looking for the next attack to land.
Now it was Miguel's turn to be kicked down, caught during a strike to be swept and struck cleanly. Not wasting time, Hawk punched Miguel's stomach to complete the technique.
"We're tied up, come on." Hawk said as they continued sparring.
...
Hawk watched Yasmine dab some ointment on Demitri's nose with cotton on her break in the diner. "You got bruised there Big D. Here you go."
"Big D?" Hawk scoffed swiping Yasmine's hand down. "Call him that when he actually learns how to fight."
Demitri smiled at her. "He's just jealous since he doesn't have a girlfriend anymore."
"I get girls."
Miguel laughed. "Oh yeah? Like who?"
"Like uh. Anise, third period."
"Think she just wanted to know what answer you got on last weeks test," Miguel said.
Hawk pointed. "What about? Or, wait."
The table laughed collectively as Hawk sighed. "Who cares? There are more important things than girls."
"Like Karate?" Demitri asked.
"Yeah. Like Karate. I went five rounds with Miguel, you're a creampuff man!" Hawk said.
Miguel spoke up. "Thought you moved on from being. You know, a bully."
"Yeah that doesn't mean I can just let Demitri train like this. It's embarrassing. Makes Eagle Do look bad."
Demitri raised a finger. "Embarrassing? As embarrassing as it was when I found a certain x5ElixFan logging on to his old WOW account last night?"
Miguel nearly died. "Oh shit you play World of Warcraft?"
Hawk shook his head. "No. Discord doesn't even work half the time anyway. Demitri's lying about that nerd shit." Hawk waved a hand.
"Seems to work fine for me," Miguel said.
"Me too." Demitri said.
Hawk sighed. "Doug and I used to play Overwatch together all the time too. Don't tell me that or COD's nerdy too."
"I don't know man. WOW seems pretty nerdy to me." Demitri said. "Not to mention you still carry that D&D character sheet around."
"No I don't." Hawk said.
Demitri looked to Miguel. "Miguel. If you would please restrain Eli while I do the honors?"
Miguel held Hawk back as Demitri pulled a notebook from Hawk's backpack. "Ah let's see here." Demitri flipped a page over as Yasmine and Miguel could barely contain their laughter. "Ooh Jimara the Orc. That's a classic. Or Ninbarn the Mage, I thought we banned that character. And last but not least." he raised a very sexual drawing of an Elf character. "Yin the battle Elf. Aptly nicknamed, the D cup Goddess of Combat."
Yasmine chuckled. "I didn't know you could draw Hawk."
Hawk swiped his notebook back. "That was back when you and Kyler used to kick us around. Or well, when you still hung around Kyler."
"Hey you were friends with Kyler too." Yasmine said as she stood up and brushed off her uniform. "Well I'm off on my break." she leaned over to peck Demitri on the cheek.
Hawk watched her walk off. "Dude how'd you land a girl that hot?"
"Ask Miguel. He ended up with Sam. And then you got Moon for a time too." Demitri said. "The heart wants what it wants."
Hawk leaned back in his chair. "I've been off my game guys."
"Yeah no kidding. You've been in the worst dry spell ever since Moon left you." Miguel agreed.
"No guys. Forget about girls!" Hawk waved a hand. "I'm talking about Sensei Dan."
"What about him?" Miguel asked.
Hawk shook his head. "He taught me this move. Felt like I used it all wrong."
"What move?" asked Demitri.
"The drum block."
Demitri's eyes widened. "The drum block?" he sipped his drink through a straw. "He taught you the drum block and not me?"
"Sam taught me it too." Miguel said. "What do you mean?"
"I did it right but. I was beating up Robby. I think I feel a bit odd about that." Hawk admitted.
Demitri raised an eyebrow. "Thought you loved beating people up."
"Normally I do but." Hawk shook his head. "I can't help but feel. I don't know. He was there with Tory and-"
"Tory?" Miguel asked.
Hawk nodded. "Like I felt. Not jealous um. God, tip of my tongue."
"Guilty?" Demitri said.
Hawk shrugged. "I think."
Miguel looked off to the side in thought as Demitri spoke. "Took you long enough to realize beating up people was bad."
Hawk sighed. "This tournament's got my head all twisted up."
"You did fine in class today," Demitri said.
Hawk picked up his backpack as he left. "I. I gotta go."
Demitri looked at Miguel. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing I just." Miguel sighed. "Just Tory and Robby. Figures."
"Hey. Anyone who follows Kreese is a robot. Just look at Hawk before his eleventh-hour redemption."
Miguel smiled. "You seem happy he's back. Why do you call him Eli?"
Demitri took a second to respond. "Well I thought with the gang all back together. You and I learning Karate under Mr. LaRusso and Hawk along too now, that it'd be just like old times."
Miguel shook his head. "Kreese changed everything. Nothing will ever be the same again now."
Demitri tutted. "Even if we manage to beat them. What'll change? The whole world will go along perfectly? Even without Kyler, life wasn't all sunshine and roses."
"It'd suck worse if we lose." Miguel said. "I think Hawk doesn't want me saying this but. I'm glad. I couldn't be any happier that he's back."
"He's never gonna be Eli again." Demitri sighed. "Even if he was, like you said, Kreese changed him."
"So you're happy he's back too?"
"A bit." Demitri said. "I'm curious though. What will happen if we lose?"
"We won't." Miguel said instantly.
Demitri raised his hand slightly as he stood up straighter in the booth. "Let's be at least semi-realistic for a second and say that the tournament is at least even. Robby almost beat both of you guys and that was after Hawk nailed him in the shoulder. What will we do then? He's been to Juvie and now he trains under Kreese. That'd be a solid year of him doing nothing but training and fighting."
"You're overthinking it." Miguel held his forehead.
"Am I?" Demitri said. "These guys will slaughter us if we lose. Everyone basically is in agreement dude. It's you, Sam, and Hawk. No one else stands a chance against those guys."
Miguel leaned back in the booth. "Nah dude. We got this."
"Ask yourself this. Why is it that only you and Hawk are the only ones that can fight. Had he not intervened we would've gotten the shit kicked out of us during Christmas. You just barely managed to beat Kyler and you had just come out of a wheelchair."
"Do you ever stop whining?"
"I'm a realist. They have our school's best athletes. Not to mention anyone around LA who's tough enough to spend their weekends bullying everyone around and getting away with it."
Miguel shook his head again. "Strength isn't everything."
"Then how come only you and Hawk made it to the semis last year? Aisha's gone. Bert and Nate are barely thirteen. Chris and Mitch are overweight, and I'm skinny as a shrimp! We have no one."
Miguel sighed. "We can't get bullied for all of Senior year man."
"Why not? Cobra Kai's done a pretty good job of that these past few weeks and that's under this truce."
Miguel had to admit, despite all his whining, Demitri rarely made illogical arguments.
"Look a year ago I got bullied every single day." Miguel said. "Then in a few months I turned it all around with Sensei Johnny. I won at the All Valley."
"You cheated. So did Hawk."
Miguel stood up out of the booth. "Okay," he said picking up his backpack and skateboard. "I see how it is."
"You can silence me but you can't silence the truth!" Demitri said.
...
Daniel watched as Hawk stood alone in the dojo. All of the glass and debris had been cleared. Hating himself for it, Hawk began to practice the motions an online video taught him.
Breathing in quietly, Hawk lifted his hands in a circular motion. It was really relaxing to practice kata. "Heian Shodan!" Hawk roared getting into his stance.
Each movement was precise, snappy, and complete. Hawk was fighting an invisible opponent, blocking his kicks, stopping his punches. He transitioned into other katas as he went, kiyaying to highlight at the end of each series of strikes.
Daniel leaned on the doorway to Miyagi-Do, remembering Miyagi's words echoing with him perfectly as they were demonstrated by Hawk of all people.
'Karate for self-defense only.'
Hawk finished his last kata loudly.
"Impressive. Don't remember teaching you some of those." Daniel said.
Hawk looked down in shame instantly. "You saw nothing."
"I really didn't. That was beautiful stuff. You've been practicing?"
"Youtube. After what you told me yesterday, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I don't have to be a pussy. But that doesn't mean I have to treat anyone like trash."
Daniel nodded. "Allow me to speak honestly for a moment."
"Don't you always?"
Smiling, he chuckled a bit. "Yes, but now especially," Daniel explained. "Robby was the perfect student. He complained sure, but he was patient. He was agile. But above all, he listened when he wanted to. I thought he was the embodiment of Miyagi-Do in the next generation."
Daniel held his eyes. "And then the fight at the school happened. And Miyagi-Do and then the dealership fell down all around me." he sighed a little. "Kid I was sure Kreese had won. That everyone thought Cobra Kai was in the right. And then." he pointed to the ground a little. "You showed up. And I was sure I had made the right choice asking for Johnny's help."
"So wait, you're glad I joined?"
"Hawk. Everyone's glad." Daniel said. "The only person who didn't seem proud of your decision was you."
"I left a lot behind."
Daniel explained. "I know your teenage years can be..." he walked closer to Hawk. "But don't be ashamed of who you are now. Who you were in the past, who you saw yourself as? These aren't bad things. We can only learn through failure."
"Mr. Miyagi say that?"
"I did." Daniel got into his stance alongside Hawk. "Now watch."
Hawk nodded, trying to mirror him. "You gotta breath. This is called Teisho. First kata for beginners."
Hawk watched as Daniel circled his hands about him, trying to mimic every movement. He found it hard to keep up from how fast the middle part got, but then it slowed down at the end.
The two practiced kata for a long time, and soon Hawk found it to be a great way to focus.
At the end, Hawk learned the proper way to block strikes, practicing with Daniel. His strikes weren't just obstacles for his own attacks to Hawk, now they seemed like motions, movements that he himself needed to address in time patiently.
At the end, Hawk stopped a series of punches with ease, not missing a block. At the end, Hawk was at a safe distance away from taking any further attacks.
"Excellent," Daniel said bowing his head.
Hawk bowed back, the two then sitting down to attempt to catch the fly again.
"Is this the same fly from earlier?" Hawk asked trying to snap his chopsticks over it.
"They started hanging around here more often since Cobra Kai burnt it down."
Hawk scoffed. "Cobra Kai. If you can even call them that."
"Oh they're Cobra Kai all right. Psychotic bullies who call themselves students of 'True Karate'."
"After today." Hawk just barely missed the fly. "I really feel like we stand a chance."
Daniel nodded. "Glad to hear it."
Hawk gasped in surprise, looking at his chopsticks in shock. "I caught it!"
"Well there you go kid." Daniel said standing up. "Ready to practice that kata again?"
"But I actually got it!" Hawk said smiling.
"I know. But you still have a lot to learn before you can really pay off that lesson."
Hawk was curious, putting down the fly. "What is it?"
"Catching fists and then going for a takedown. Took me a long time to even start to learn that one."
Outside, Johnny watched as Hawk and Daniel began practicing Kata together. "What's going on here?" he asked.
"Oh. Hey Johnny. We were just-"
"Uh uh. We'll talk later." Johnny ignored Daniel, approaching Hawk.
Hawk gulped. "Uh, hey Sensei. Been meaning to talk to you."
"Yeah I'll bet." Johnny said as Daniel left patiently.
"Guess I'll be going then." Daniel saw himself out of his own dojo.
Hawk looked at his Sensei. "What's wrong?"
"What's wrong? What's wrong? Miguel told me what happened at the dinner. You're guilty over beating up Robby? What else have you been guilty about?"
"I went to talk to Mr. LaRusso about it."
"And why not me?"
Hawk shrugged. "You're not my dad Sensei."
"And well neither is he." Johnny said almost raising his voice.
Hawk looked away for a second before back at him. "What is this really about."
"What we started. It doesn't end at the tournament. It's gonna follow you for your whole life." Johnny said. "So don't go off thinking LaRusso has all the answers."
"What and you do? I thought we were supposed to-"
"Quiet!" Johnny barked. "This is about you and me kid. Not LaRusso. When you step on that mat, it's supposed to be the end of me and LaRusso."
Hawk was surprised by this. "Wait this thing was temporary. So you're just gonna go back with Kreese after we win?"
"No!"
"So this about you taking over Cobra Kai again?"
"What? No."
"Then what is this really about?"
Johnny looked off after Daniel in the direction he left. "I don't know."
"What are you so disappointed in me about? What did I do that's so wrong? What's so wrong with Mr. LaRusso? If so. Why are we even doing this? Is it about you and Kreese? You and Robby? You and Cobra Kai? Is it about-"
Johnny yelled. "It's about you!"
Hawk frowned looking down as Johnny sighed. "It's about you. And Miguel. And everyone else. Cobra Kai meant the world to me, as I'm sure it did to you. But Karate? This... dojo war? It's all a crock o' shit. It's about keeping you guys safe. From Kreese. From people like him. If you don't trust me, then it doesn't matter if we win or not."
"But I do trust you. I never stopped."
"Then how come since you got back you've only reached out to LaRusso for help?" asked Johnny. "How come after this, gigantic change you had dropping Kreese all of a sudden you come running right to him."
"Because of what happened with Miguel!" Hawk said. "You let Robby almost kill him. And for what? Now Robby's shown his true colors. I almost lost my best friend. My true only friend I had at Cobra Kai."
Johnny looked down. "What happened at the school was a mistake. You were there. You know it wasn't Miguel's fault. Kreese is still in your head, he's-"
"I didn't stay in Cobra Kai because I liked Kreese! I never did!" Hawk said. "It was about never letting what happened to Miguel happen to anyone. Ever."
"So that's why you and your friends beat the shit out of him," Johnny said. "You really had your head straight there."
Hawk tutted. "That was Kyler. Not me."
"If you really care about Miguel, why didn't you come talk to me about this? I was the one with you guys from day one. I helped pull him out of that wheelchair. And no, I didn't do it because I need to win back Cobra Kai. This isn't about Kreese! I'm not Kreese!"
"Then why won't you tell me what your plan is?" Hawk said. "Why isn't it clear how this is all gonna end? What happens if we win. Do you take over Cobra Kai? Do Kyler and all of them leave? Are you just gonna shut down Cobra Kai forever? Was this all for nothing?"
"You seriously think things are gonna go right back to the way things were? After what happened to Miguel? After what happened to you?"
"I thought we were trying to keep Cobra Kai alive. Or at least train properly with you after this was all over. What are we gonna just train in a park forever? Or with Mr. LaRusso?"
"So you do trust me all of a sudden."
Hawk rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I need to know that there's a plan after all this. And these last few months it really didn't seem like you had one."
Johnny nodded slowly. "I can see why you might think that. But trust me. Hawk. I promise you. We are gonna win this one way or another."
"How?" Hawk asked. "I learned all this kata stuff but, what if it's not enough?"
"Then we'll find a way. I know we will." Johnny said.
Hawk nodded back. "Okay. From now on, I'll come to you first."
"There." Johnny said. "Was that so hard?"
"No. But what're you doing driving out here so late?"
"The night's still young. Kreese probably still trains everyone in night classes for the tournament. Think we should too." Johnny said.
Hawk smiled. "Sounds like a plan. Let's go."
...
...
...
A/N: There might be few of you but I'm glad for every single one of you. It is a bit disappointing to see that I dive in as hard as I could to nail the characters as best as I can and try to keep them in canon and in character as hard as I could and only earn a few subs overall and just a review every chapter. But y'know, it is what it is and I will definitely still finish this.
On that note, this story is going to be relatively short. Only about 80,000 words or so. This is because it would be about 300 minutes or so to read/watch, or a solid season of Cobra Kai 10 thirty-minute episodes. My objective here is to write what Season 4 would be in my eyes. A 5 hour character study built on real drama and stakes. A direct continuation of the actual show.
I want to make this clear guys, the only OC I am using is technically canon by the show and what Ali said in Episode 9. And yet I still want to finish this despite the tiny response. At least here on fanfic, AO3 has been fine no complaints there.
So yeah. Woohoo, I'm still pushing on. I don't want to call my story underrated but I'm really trying here knowing how active the community is here. Just frustrating is all. Still see you next time.