Chapter Ten: Cliquey

…

Johnny and Kreese were sharing a drink in the office of the Cobra Kai dojo.

"As of today. It's official. Cobra Kai is reinstated to return to All Valley competition."

Johnny snorted, sipping his beer. "Not like with Schwarber competing for us they'd keep us banned forever."

"Eh. The moment LaRusso tried anything odd we'd be there, to question it. Asking the obvious questions like how can LaRusso train that Diaz kid but still have a seat on the committee."

"What do you make of all this?" Johnny looked at the Coor's banquet he held in his hand before he looked at Kreese. "The tournament. Everything?"

"As soon as LaRusso was training a student. I'd say it was inevitable it'd come to something like this. He doesn't stand a chance though."

Johnny cleared his throat. "I'm no fan of his. But the last I remember, LaRusso made it all the way to the finals with what he knew."

Kreese laughed. "Miyagi." he scoffed. "I don't know what he taught LaRusso to make him get that far. But whatever it was, he's gone now. I don't think LaRusso will be able to bring the same gravitas as a teacher he once did."

"Are you actually complimenting Miyagi-Do?"

"Of course not. Just, pointing out the fact we're a step above where they are. I'm the source, the original teacher. And Miyagi was as well and he's not around anymore." Kreese sighed. "I wanted to thank you for that Johnny. Truly I do."

"For what?"

"For letting me be a Sensei here with you."

Johnny muttered. "You taught me basically everything I know. It was only right."

Kreese frowned. "I wish I could say I've come to terms with it."

"With…"

"With losing," said Kreese. "Losing in '84 to some random old handyman and his skinny as a stick Italian kid as a student. Which took down all of Cobra Kai. Even you somehow. I'd like to say I've forgiven myself for letting that happen. But the truth is, I never have."

"You don't blame me?"

"I can't." Kreese said. "There's no such thing as a bad student. Just a bad teacher. I gave you what you didn't need at the time. I tried to fill your head with rage, when you honestly needed to calm down and realize the advantage you had over LaRusso."

"Sweep the leg. Do you have a problem with that?"

"And then I blamed you for a loss I was responsible for."

Johnny struggled as Kreese choked him out in the parking lot.

"Come on! Who's the loser!?"

"All of that. My fault. And that was a true error of mine."

Johnny nodded quietly.

"We have a second shot you know. We won't be making the same mistakes twice." assured Kreese. "It's time to show the Valley. We're not afraid to show our strength."

"So. What do you mean by not be afraid to show our strength?"

Kreese shifted where he stood. He put his empty glass of whiskey down on a nearby desk drawer.

"We're training the original team back up again. Literally. We are." chuckled Kreese. "I'm sure you've noticed how much like each of the original Cobra Kai students our new class is. We have a chubby kid with the curly hair, Mitch. Like Don."

Johnny remembered the Cobra Kreese referred to very well with a nod.

"You have the jokester, Shawn Payne. He's like Tommy in a way. Rickenberger is similar to Jimmy, a bit different in skill level still. Your own son fights very similar to Bobby Brown. Hawk is so similar to Dutch sometimes I find it funny."

Kreese pointed slightly to Johnny. "Finally. We have our next generation's version of you. Schwarber."

"Lucas is nothing like me."

"Rides the same sort of dirtbikes around town. Has the same headband. Lives in the same sort of wealthy lifestyle you did. Wears the same red jacket you even gave to him."

Johnny looked up at Kreese. "No, I mean personality wise. Kid's way smarter than I ever was. A lot nicer too."

"You were plenty nice to his mother."

Johnny mumbled. "For a time."

"Do I detect a hint of regret?"

Johnny looked up towards Kreese from where he sat at his desk. "Let's just say No Mercy might've ended up costing me a potentially incredible relationship."

"Johnny. If she can't let go of something that happened over thirty years ago. Honest mistakes you might've made. That you made when you were seventeen. Is that her fault? Or yours?"

Johnny sighed, standing up out of his desk chair. "I don't know."

Johnny walked past Kreese without a word, and Kreese found himself looking at a picture of the original Cobra Kai class of 1984.

Kreese was leading strikes as Johnny, Bobby, Jimmy, Tommy, and Dutch stood in the front row and threw a reverse punch towards the air in front of them.

Kreese frowned and put the picture frame back on the desk.

…

I think West Valley High School had a pretty decent cafeteria.

I never tried the food it served, I always packed lunch from home so I didn't have to, but. It still was always pretty clean and I had the best table with the rest of the Cobras.

Hawk nudged me before devouring an orange.

He chuckled with his mouth closed as he was still eating and threw a nose towards a nearby table.

"What?" I asked.

Doug smiled as was Robby. "Nothing." Rickenberger said. "Just uh. Thought you should know the new head cheerleader might've been checking you out again."

I think Yasmine possibly giving me the stink eye from across the cafeteria from where she, a few other cheerleaders, and Moon and Sam sat didn't mean she liked me.

"I think she hates me. We uh. Compete for top grades in class."

"What a nerd dude." scoffed Hawk, even though prior to wearing a mohawk I knew he was easily the nerdiest person I knew. "I thought Demetri was top of everything anyway."

"He's in the top three with me and Yasmine in most of our classes. She likes bothering me about it. I bother her about it sometimes too in the ones I'm ahead of her in. Just surprised they make sophomores cheer captain."

Hawk sighed. "Look. Look around. Now."

I did so, peering around the cafeteria.

"Those are the jocks." Hawk nodded towards the football and basketball players who had their own tables by the leftmost wing of the cafeteria.

"The cheerleaders." Hawk looked over towards where Yasmine sat for a moment. "The nerds." Hawk looked towards Demetri's table with Miguel, Chris, and Nate. "And us. Right here."

"You're talking about how dumb cliques are?" I asked.

Hawk shook his head. "I'm saying we're the clique. We're the Cobra Kai dude. And everyone knows we are." he slapped my shoulder slightly. "We own. This school. Ever since you've got your cast off you need to flex your top spot as king of West Valley."

"How?"

Doug shrugged. "Wedgie a nerd. Make out with a cheerleader. And if a football player gives you any trouble over it. Beat the shit out of him."

I think I genuinely believed me having a stable girlfriend who I was loyal to was some sort of detriment or odd thing to have to Rickenberger and the other guys. I never expected any of my friends to say something this dumb, but that's why I liked hanging out with them.

Shawn, Doug, and Hawk all more or less nodded and muttered in agreement.

"Robby, are you hearing how ridiculous this sounds?"

Robby nodded slightly. "I'm not saying bullying some kids could help you regain your status. But for the past semester man. You've been basically out of it."

"Now hold on," Hawk said. "It's not bullying. We're lucky Luke even got his arm back the last day before finals anyway."

"Giving a kid a wedgie like it's some sort of eighties after school special is definitely bullying." Robby said and I nodded in agreement with him.

"So?" asked Hawk.

"So!?" Robby and I asked in unison.

Now Shawn chimed in. "It's a means to an end. We're running out of time. We're not going to get this kind of chance during finals next week. And then it's break."

"I'm not gonna flex my fucking clout like I'm some sort of asshole," I said.

"You need to be an asshole sometimes," said Hawk. "That's what Sensei said. You show your toughness to project strength."

"Both Sensei Lawrence and Sensei Kreese rarely agree so much like they do on that," Doug muttered.

On bullying though?

"I have to get to class," I said before leaving the table.

…

It felt nice to finally have my cast off. I had been working out my legs and even my left hand with a punching bag by throwing jabs more to improve.

I might've not been able to spar or practice strikes for about four months but I still felt as strong as before.

I walked to my locker with the guys. "I'm telling you. Nothing beats the jab punch. Easy score." I said.

Hawk nodded. "I know man. It's like all those tournament guys don't like scoring with punches to the face."

"Alright." I heard Char say. "Explain."

I closed my locker and my girlfriend was standing right there.

"Hey, Charlotte. Explain what?"

"Explain why your friends have been trying to turn you into a douchebag like they are. But haven't been mad at them for it."

I didn't like her tone but I guess she didn't understand.

"Look you know I have a problem with that."

"Then why haven't you said anything?" asked Charlotte. "That's not you."

"It is him." said Doug as Hawk zipped up his backpack and nodded. "It's Cobra Kai."

Char ignored him.

"Okay." I said. "I guess I could've been more vocal about it but-"

"So people casually saying you should be cheating on with me with Yas. That's fine?"

Now she was accusing me for no reason, I still stayed calm.

"No one said Yasmine. And no one said-"

Charlotte scoffed. "So any cheerleader's fine then? Doesn't have to be the captain? Any will do fine."

I gritted my teeth. "Please. Don't cut me off. You know I did nothing wrong."

"Then please don't act like as much as a jackass as your squad or whatever." Charlotte rolled her eyes.

I stared at her quietly. Was she really blaming me for not being loud enough in how much I disapproved of Hawk and all that? I literally almost kicked Hawk in the ass to get him to stop bullying Miguel in the library one time.

"I've never known you. To act this unreasonable! What is with you?"

"What's with you?"

"I don't know who you think I'm acting like. But you know what? Think whatever you want okay? Cause I've done nothing wrong until now since we started going out. Nothing."

"Great." Charlotte said quietly, muttering as she turned around. "We need to. Take a break or something I don't know."

"What!?" I asked rather loudly.

She walked off without saying a word. She could not be serious right now.

Robby frowned at me before I heard a familiar voice sneer. "Trouble in paradise?"

I think I heard Chris and Nate laugh.

I don't think I've ever ground my teeth in anger in my life before. Until right now.

I stared right at Demetri. He just had to be snotty and a smart mouth right now of all times.

Nate and Chris instinctually backed away the moment they saw me walking forward.

Demetri froze and I muttered. "Say that again."

"What?" asked Demetri in surprise. "Lucas I-"

Miguel spoke up. "Come on, he just-"

"Was I talking to you?" I asked.

"He wasn't." Doug almost bumped Miguel back slightly with his chest as Hawk stood next to him.

Hawk and Doug instantly stood between Miguel and where Demetri and I were standing. Shawn started to look like some sort of look out for maybe teachers or something.

I wasn't going to wedgie Demetri. But I was going to make it clear no one had the right to just rub in an argument I had with my girlfriend had gone poorly.

That made me pretty mad.

Demetri cleared his throat. "Well, see-"

"Well see what? What? Do you have a problem?"

Demetri shrugs. "I just think the Cobra Kai can be a little too aggressive sometimes. Now you see the consequences for that."

Charlotte walked. Possibly from our relationship. It still was not his place to point that out.

"Okay," I said. "So for that, you have to insult me?" I waved a hand around the entire hall of other West Valley students all watching quietly. "Embarrass me in front of everyone?"

Demetri stood there silently and admittedly a bit frightened as I glanced back at Robby.

For once he wasn't trying to play peacemaker in a manner similar to Bobby Brown I knew used to. He looked intrigued.

Demetri still looked blank and terrified. He shrunk up, backing up towards the locker behind him.

I then asked quietly and calmly. "What's the matter? You gotta problem with the way I speak?"

Demetri shook his head without a word.

I leaned forward and muttered quietly to him. "Do me a favor. Don't ever. Tarnish the name of Cobra Kai or John Kreese ever again. If you have a problem with Cobra Kai. Do it like he does." I nod towards Miguel. "Train in a style. And face us on the mat."

Demetri mutters. "Well. Physical confrontations aren't my thing."

"Well like always. Fridays are sparring days. Let me teach you something."

I slapped the binder Demetri was holding in his hands so hard a loud clap echoed across the entire hall when it struck the floor of the hallway.

"Pick it up," I said.

Demetri froze completely.

"Pick it up!" I said, louder.

Demetri slowly began to crouch to pick up his binder and I kicked it away so hard that it split apart and papers flew everywhere.

Demetri stood there with a look on his face very similar and almost exact to the one I knew Kyler had on his face when Hawk beat up Brucks right in front of him in the Cobra Kai dojo.

I stared at him and said calmly. "Now. You act like a smartmouth. To me. Or anyone in Cobra Kai again. And you and I will have a serious problem. Is that clear?"

Demetri muttered very quietly. "Yes."

"Louder!" I yelled.

"Yes!" he said, his voice almost echoing across the empty hallway of lockers.

I nodded. "Good."

I looked around the hallway. Everyone had gotten the message loud and clear, and I couldn't have delivered it at a better time than right now. The last Friday before finals next week.

All the Cobras in my group followed me as I began to walk away from the hallway.

I spotted the football jocks, even their captain whose name I never knew, in full uniform as they had a game tonight, it being Friday. These guys probably didn't know much about fighting but they were bigger than everyone in school.

They still had the same stunned and quiet look on their faces as if someone had decapitated a chicken right in front of them and they were unable to do anything.

I spotted Yasmine, Moon, and a cheerleader all chatting very quietly by Yasmine's locker.

Mostly to flex on the football captain and because she looked smoking hot in her West Valley High cheerleading outfit, I turned Yas around and proceeded to try to shove my tongue down her throat.

Surprisingly she didn't shove me away and actually seemed to enjoy it for a bit.

I walked away from kissing Yasmine still pretty angry. The only satisfying part of this was making out with a chick this hot even if it was just to prove a point.

I didn't say a word to anyone but myself as I left the hall with Robby, Doug, Shawn, and Hawk.

"Fucking cliques," I muttered under my breath wiping the bit of Yasmine's lipstick on the bottom of my mouth away with my thumb.

Walking away I realized I wasn't thinking and was very mad about the whole thing. And the only good thing to come of it was that Cobra Kai had been able to make it back to the top of the school in terms of clique status.

Miguel was in charge of the not exactly Miyagi-Dos and nerds of the school, Nate, Demetri, and Chris. And Yasmine led the cheer team and the rich, hot, sort of popular girls in a way like Sam and Moon. And I still didn't know the name of the lead jock of the school, the football captain who was friends with everyone on the basketball and football teams.

And as the leader of the leather jacket karate biker gang, the Cobras I did my job to flex as needed sometimes.

Sometimes I wondered if my life was really this dumb sometimes and especially strange.

Hawk muttered when we were well away from everyone at school and walking towards our bikes. "Do you think Charlotte really ended things with you?"

"Probably. I don't care."

That was a dead lie. And I drowned the thoughts of it out over the roar of my motorcycle and we all went towards Lankershim in North Hollywood for practice.

…

I was fixing my headband using one of the pictures of Master Kim Sun Yung by the dojo entrance as a mirror to make sure it looked proper before walking out onto the mat. It was technically part of my uniform as Sensei Johnny had given it to me.

"Hey."

I didn't even look at her. I already knew Tory approved and I didn't care.

"Yeah?" I asked.

Tory spoke lightly. "I heard what you did today. Good job, great job actually. Wasn't expecting that from you."

"I don't need your approval Nichols," I said honestly.

"Then take it or leave it. Whatever."

I saw Mia, Char, and Aisha all chatting on the mat as they stretched and warmed up.

Today was going to be an awkward class for sure.

"Fall in!" called out Sensei Kreese.

Tory and I bowed onto the mat and I knelt in my usual spot in the rightmost corner facing from the waiting area.

"Ait!"

All of us bowed our heads to the mat to Sensei Kreese, Sensei Johnny, and the dojo as a sign of respect.

After warm ups and me leading strikes for the first time in four months, we finally got into what I was waiting for.

"Combat!" called out Sensei Kreese. "Aits!"

Like always, there was only one person in the class near my skill level for sparring, even with me out of commission for months.

"Keene! Schwarber!" called out Sensei Johnny.

We both leaped up onto our shins from kneeling around the combat square and walked to our lines.

Sensei Kreese tied a red ribbon around my blue belt with two black tape lines on the fringes. I had earned third gup for my eighteenth month of Cobra Kai training with a test out of class with Sensei Kreese and Sensei Johnny for holding a plank position for many minutes on a recently broken arm which I passed.

"En garde! Aits!"

I struck first with a roundhouse to the body and Robby easily parried.

I moved back blocking the return roundhouse Robby sent with my front hand.

Then I leaped forward and after committing completely, Robby blocked my jab punch and landed a reverse punch directly on my chin as I began to throw a punch with my rear hand to his chest.

"Stop!"

I walked back to my line. I was just not as sharp as I was before.

"Point Keene. Ready!"

I bounced in my stance.

"Fight!"

We circled each other for a bit, and I tried striking first again but Robby again countered and scored. This time with a round kick to the chest.

"Stop! Back on your lines!" said Sensei Johnny.

"Two nothing, Keene. Ready! And fight!"

I was successful now in finally striking properly off the line. The moment combat resumed I scored an easy point with my rear hand to Robby's chest after making him raise his hands to block a round kick to the head and using the fall of my front foot back on the mat to close the distance.

"Stop stop stop!" Sensei Kreese repeated as we were now at close range and about to throw each other to the ground to score a point and continue fighting.

"Two one," said Sensei Johnny. "Ready! Ait!"

I was caught on the backfoot blocking a few front kicks and back fists from Robby near the edge of the combat square. Then I properly timed a counter when Robby started a blitz attack of multiple forward strikes.

He walked directly into a back kick to the chest so hard he flew over.

Just now, I realized something. My hand speed wasn't there anymore because my arm had been out of commission for so long. I could get it back, just not today.

It was my legs that were still reliable as ever. They were the ones I had been using with the runs and workouts since I broke a bone in my forearm.

"Fighting positions!" called out Johnny. "Two two, next point wins! Ready! Fight!"

For the first time ever I had to rely on my kicks, not my punches to set up scores and control the ring.

We bounced around the mat, I faked a jab punch and flicked out a roundhouse to the body.

Robby blocked and we traded some shots before he went for a classic drop kick as I went over the top to score a punch to the face and hit me in the chest with his foot.

I barely stumbled back a bit and realized Johnny's style had been passed on to his son. But Johnny was taking notes from Darryl Vidal's scores.

"Three two." Kreese and Johnny both raised a hand towards Robby and we bowed to each other. "Good fight gentlemen," said Johnny as Robby and I walked forward and shook hands.

…

During cool down and light cardio at the end of class led by Sensei Kreese, I, as I expected, was called in to speak to Sensei Johnny in his office.

I knocked on the open door in his office. "Sensei?"

"Sit." said Johnny.

I did so and he began to speak. "Do you know what this is about?"

"Losing my first match. Ever?"

Johnny chuckled. "Kid. It's impressive you scored any points on Robby at all after four months of you being unable to do anything more than jog and work out your legs. That's not what this is about."

"Then it's about Miyagi-Do."

"Yes."

"Sensei Miyagi-Do has just one student. We've already met him."

Johnny nodded. "Then his friend I guess."

"And Robby told you?"

Johnny nodded again. "That's not like you at all."

"Did I insult you Sensei?"

He frowned. "No."

"Did I go against any of your lessons Sensei?"

"No."

"Did I violate the creed of this dojo?"

Johnny shifted where he sat. "No."

"Then what have I done wrong?"

"You acted like an asshole. I know what it's like to get into a spat with your girlfriend. Trust me, I know what it's like."

Just like with how he talked to Miguel. He was wrong.

I sighed. "That's not what this is about."

"Then what happened?"

"I've been weak for four months. I broke my arm. I haven't sparred in a while. Sparring is my thing. The whole Valley knows it's my thing. Charlotte and Demetri might have had their reasons, but it felt like they insulted me in front of everyone in the hallway. The last thing I deserve after finally getting my cast off, is to be made to look weak."

Johnny looked at me. "Kid. I know what it's like. I promise you, I do. But you have to turn the other cheek sometimes."

I knew it was pointless to argue about this but I did it anyway. "What about No Mercy? What about showing strength?"

"There's a time for that. You slap a nerd's binder out of his hands and kick it away. Make out with some cheerleaders just to show you're tough. You're repeating the exact same mistakes I made when I went to your school. I gave you that headband, the same one your mom gave to me. So you could be better than me."

I realized one of those cheerleaders he was referring to was probably my own mother Ali Mills.

I nodded quietly. "Yeah. I got it Sensei. Is that everything?"

Johnny nodded back. "You're dismissed Schwarber. Go lead the last drills."

"Yes Sensei."

I nodded and bowed to him after I stood up out of the chair in front of his desk. I walked past Sensei Kreese who had likely heard the entire conversation from where he stood with classically crossed arms.

I bowed my head slightly towards him in respect when he walked past.

…

"I don't want to hear it."

Kreese sighed. "Johnny-"

"I said I don't want to hear it."

Kreese closed the door to the dojo office behind him as he began to pace in front of Johnny.

"What part of letting our students grow strong are you failing to understand?"

"The part that lets them turn into major assholes," said Johnny.

Kreese frowned. "So any random weakling can make our champion look weak. And he has to walk away?"

"He got into a fight with his girlfriend. Kids can and will do these things. But there's no need to let it turn the kid into a monster."

"This is the first sign of real aggression Schwarber's shown, almost since we've met him. How is that a bad thing? This is exactly what he needs." insisted Kreese. "He hasn't gone after anyone since he stopped that Park kid from bothering his friends."

"So we let him fly off the handle whenever. Let the consequences smash an innocent fifteen year old kid because we weren't smart enough to stop it. This dojo is a do over, not just a chance to beat LaRusso on the mat. Both parts of this, are crucial." Johnny said.

"Honestly Johnny. If we don't encourage every ounce of our student's aggression they will turn out far weaker than you ever did."

Johnny glared right at Kreese. "Maybe strength isn't everything. I don't see Schwarber or any of the others getting much stronger than they are right now."

"What are you talking about? They have miles and miles to improve."

"As people. As well as fighters," said Johnny. "We build character here."

"They already have plenty of character Johnny. When that kid." Kreese pointed behind him at the glass where the blinds covered the dojo training on the mat outside the office. "Reached out to both of us and gave us our calling back. He knew it was what both of us were meant to be."

"That doesn't make him a saint. Nor right about everything. He's still just fifteen."

Kreese threw his hands down for a moment. "He didn't do any kata today to warm up before class. Did you notice that? Every single day he's been here. Fifteen minutes before class starts he walks up to those mirrors and does his kata to warm up. Today he hit the bags. He hit the bags, Johnny, he doesn't do that."

Johnny sighed quietly. "I'm aware of that."

"That means we're reaching these kids!" said Kreese. "We're teaching them how to channel their aggression, everything inside them, into strength." Kreese raised a finger slightly. "How to turn them into warriors, into real fighters. This new side of Schwarber is what we've needed all along. In all of them."

"It's not," Johnny said lightly and quietly. "If we win that trophy against LaRusso it won't matter. Not if we haven't done any of this the right way."

"Do you remember what you were like Johnny?"

Johnny thought back quietly.

"Aiya!" Johnny threw a back fist to Daniel's nose so strongly he flew into the beach.

"Naw. You had to push it. Well now you're going to pay!" Johnny punched Daniel in the stomach as hard as he possibly could on Halloween, wearing a skeleton costume.

Johnny shoved Daniel against a hallway and spoke with a finger in his face. "Watch your mouth runt! Or I'm gonna forget my promise and rip your teeth out!"

He then walked away so angry he crescent kicked an open locker closed.

"You were strong. You were on top of the whole town. You were a champion. You were. You were you Johnny." said Kreese. "You were truly the person waiting to unlocked, let free."

Johnny nodded. "Look where that got me," he muttered.

"Exactly. It got you right here. Leading those kids out there to become champions. You have to acknowledge that our students need to follow our lead. Because you didn't turn out so bad after you went through all that." said Kreese. "That's all I have to say." Kreese said before he turned around and closed the door the dojo office behind him.

Johnny was left alone to his own thoughts ten minutes before class ended.

…

Miguel was practicing kata on the wooden platforms around Mr. Miyagi's backyard wearing his lotus headband.

He breathed in and out quietly, his hands spinning, throwing an elbow, turning, and praciting blocks and strikes against an invisible opponent.

Daniel walked towards Miguel. "Hey. Bobby couldn't make it. Said he had something to take care of with his church."

"No sweeping legs today huh?" Miguel smiled.

"That stuff's all bad for you anyways."

Miguel looked completely disappointed as Daniel waved a hand and dug his phone out of his pocket to check the time. "Looks like you're a bit early. Let's start with your basics. Paint the whole fence line again."

"Mr. LaRusso. I know I promised not to question you or Mr. Miyagi's karate. But I've gotten a whole lot better with my forms and my technique. Can't I move on to more advanced stuff?"

"You can. When you're ready."

"But I've been ready. I've been ready for months. Sensei Bobby thinks so. He even started practicing the kata you teach, the same way you're learning his karate."

Daniel nodded slightly. "In due time."

…

Miguel was painting the fence quietly when he heard a familiar voice.

"Can I join?"

"Sam!" Miguel was shocked. "U-Um. You?"

"I'm joining. Yeah."

Miguel laughed in surprise. "No way. I thought that. You know. You were completely done with karate."

Sam shrugged. "I heard what happened with Demetri in the hallway. If no one's going to put Cobra Kai in their place. So be it. I'll do it, even if it's just you and my dad."

"No no um. Sensei Bobby technically joined. He's awesome. Bald pastor, he's a Cobra Kai karate black belt. Ring a bell?"

Sam shook her head as Daniel approached.

"Happy to see you here at last. Are you finally. Coming back, to Miyagi-Do?" asked Daniel slowly.

His daughter nodded. "Think so."

"Great!" Daniel smiled. "You're in luck Miguel. We're moving onto something different."

Miguel had never been happier to put his paintbrush down for once.

Daniel picked up a wooden bo staff and drew a line in the gravel in front of Mr. Miyagi's front porch.

When he was finished, Daniel wiped off his hands and revealed a large circle he had drawn to both his students.

"This. Is the wheel technique. You have to replicate the third kata I know both of you already know, while moving in a circle, with your back to your partner."

Miguel scoffed. "I'm sorry. You mean, dance. Like in a circle?"

"It's not a dance. It's a special form adapted to combat. This is the cornerstone of Miyagi-Do. You always move in a circle, and it makes you much harder to hit in combat, and it makes you strike your opponents much easier. Since both of you are too young to have seen me compete and don't want to take my word for it."

Daniel sighed loudly.

"This year's champion, He Who Shall Not Be Named. Used this very same technique thoroughly to set up angles and score."

Miguel smiled and nodded. "Okay then. Let's get started."

"Good, stand on each end of the circle." Sam and Miguel did so. "Bow to each other. And bow to me. Get into ready stance."

Miguel and Sam did so.

"Okay. Now the first step."

Sam and Miguel turned to their left and threw a fist high behind them as if to block a punch from behind, and a low block to stop a kick in front of them.

"Then the second."

They continued and Daniel spoke. "Stop. You have to read your partner's movements. It's what makes this kata work. If you can read your partner's movements, you can read your opponents' better."

"But my back's to her," said Miguel. "How am I supposed to do that?"

"Use your awareness. Breathing, focus. That is Miyagi-Do. Listen, try to be aware of what your partner's doing."

"You mean I have to use the Force or something to know what Sam's doing?" asked Miguel without any sarcasm at all and instead pure surprise.

Sam snorted at this as Daniel frowned. "This is no different than any kata I've taught you. Try to listen. You all know how to breathe, how to stay balanced, and be aware. This is the next step, how to predict how your enemy moves."

Miguel tried to listen to the crunching of the gravel beneath Sam's shoe to predict when she was moving.

It was almost exactly like a dance. One person was leading, Miguel in most steps of the kata, and the other was following and had to react, being Sam.

For almost forty five minutes, Daniel made them repeat the kata moving around the circle. Then he made them do it blindfolded when facing each other. Miguel almost tripped and fell a few times by the time Bobby arrived.

Bobby smiled. "Hey. You must be Sam. Daniel's daughter."

Sam took off her blindfold and Daniel was surprised at how quickly she stuffed it into her pocket and stopped the lesson. "Yes. And you're Sensei Bobby, the Cobra Kai?"

"Er. Ex Cobra Kai," said Bobby. "I'm here to help make Miguel's training more holistic. Include more sparring and striking aspects, give him muscles where it counts. Your father and I have agreed to combine styles."

"For the time being," said Daniel sternly as Miguel look at him strangely.

"I think whatever you did to make Miguel stronger, it might've worked," Sam said openly in front of both her father and Miguel. "Anyway. I'm here to join too."

"Excellent."

Daniel got a text on his phone. "Your mom needs me at the dealership," he said to Sam. "I gotta go. Listen to Bobby."

Daniel took off in a hurry and Bobby turned towards Mr. Miyagi's back porch. "There's no real place to fight in this whole property. So we just go here."

…

"This is called sweeping the leg. First set, very standard stuff."

Sam was confused. "Wait. You mean, hitting someone hard. In the leg?"

"Well you're not sweeping floors here Ms. LaRusso," Bobby said kindly. "This is a technique designed to counter a forward strike or used to fight aggressively. Works like a charm in a tournament."

Sam looked a bit reproachful. "But isn't that. The opposite of Miyagi-Do?"

"That's the point of it." Miguel said with pride. "Trust me. I want to beat Cobra Kai more than anyone. Combining both styles, is the best way to do it."

Sam nodded slightly as Bobby demonstrated. "Okay. It's a little tricky but as long as you commit properly you can do it right. Against a hard surface like concrete, it's a little tough. But you're spinning with your leg. Like this."

Bobby quickly swept Miguel off his feet in one spin.

Miguel fell onto Mr. Miyagi's back porch with a quiet groan.

"Now it's your turn Ms. LaRusso." said Bobby. "Try to sweep me."

Sam looked very unsure of herself for fighting aggressively but then committed completely to it.

Sam swept Bobby completely. Even though he let her, Bobby was satisfied.

Sam spoke helping Bobby up. "Mr. Brown I-"

"It's Sensei Brown." Miguel corrected politely.

"Sensei Brown I didn't mean to-"

"That was the point. You bring out your need to strike. That's called the slide sweep, first set. Now. This. Is the front sweep, it's better if we do it out front near some grass so we don't fall as hard."

…

Bobby was teaching Sam and Miguel the Cobra Kai front sweep.

Miguel was successful in sweeping Sam as they had moved on to setting up the sweep with a jab or a kick first.

"Very good." Bobby nodded and said encouragingly as Miguel helped Sam up off the ground. "Ms. LaRusso. You try it next."

"Well. I had to see it with my own eyes to believe it."

Bobby Brown looked like he had seen a ghost as he watched someone he thought dead for years until recently stand at Miyagi's front entrance with a knock on the wooden fence door.

"Can I come in?" asked Kreese respectfully.

"Sure?" Miguel said awkwardly despite knowing who Kreese was.

John Kreese walked forward and stood in front of him wearing his old tan trench coat and jeans.

"So. This is what it's come to. Bobby Brown as a teacher at Miyagi-Do. Passing on my lessons to students who are rivals to my own."

Bobby was quiet.

"It's good to see you too Bob."

Bobby still couldn't say anything at all.

Kreese offered a hand to shake. "Come on. Let's be adults about this-"

"No." Bobby ignored Kreese's hand. "I don't think I can be civil with you. Not when you never were with me."

"Who is this guy?" asked Sam.

"This is John Kreese. Instructor at the Cobra Kai dojo," said Bobby. "He was my Sensei."

"Still am. Same way Johnny and I are teaching the way of the fist back on Lankershim like the old days."

Bobby shook his head. "Johnny was never a teacher. And he still isn't. He's your pawn."

Kreese walked forward a little, Bobby instinctually used his arms to push Miguel and Sam behind him.

"What did I ever do to deserve this Bobby?"

"Is that even a question?" asked Bobby. "You made me try to cripple Daniel."

"Out of commission." John Kreese ordered to Bobby in the All Valley Tournament of 1984.

"Told Johnny to fight dirty. And then tried to kill him for failing to use cheating to win."

Kreese sighed. "That was the man I was. Over thirty years ago. Time changes people, as I'm sure you'd agree. You're not sweeping legs anymore, well besides with teenage kids." Kreese glanced at Miguel. "You've got yourself a church now. I have my own wisdom to pass on."

"To compare the Cobra Kai dojo to a church. There is no greater sacrilege except for what you teach." Bobby snarled.

Kreese nodded. "I can see how you would want revenge on me for what I've done. But what I've taught has reached people. Ironically it reached me most of all. It's brought me back to life."

"Ridiculous."

"I was a walking shell for decades."

Kreese remembered walking like a zombie down a street, unshaved, ready to quit on being a Sensei, towards the Lankershim dojo in 1985.

"I was nothing. I felt like nothing. Then a boy, no older than you were when we met. Found me. Told me the world needed Cobra Kai. And I listened."

Kreese smiled. "This boy is better than you ever will be. I'm sure you've already heard of him. He's more loyal, more intelligent. A better fighter. And he did it all because he respected what Cobra Kai stood for. I hope you're proud of yourself. A fifteen year old kid having better ethics than a priest."

Bobby looked like if he heard any more of what Kreese was saying he would throw him out of the dojo with his bare hands. "What do you want?"

"I wanted you to know the doors to Cobra Kai are always open. It's not too late for you Bobby. Johnny and I will never forget the years of competing and training we've all had together. That is a part of me that never left anyone at Cobra Kai. And honestly, it's probably a part of you that never left you either."

Kreese smiled, looking around Mr. Miyagi's property. "If you truly want another shot at facing LaRusso or Johnny fairly. Don't train his students. Come back to where you belong. You're still a Cobra Kai Bobby, otherwise. Why are you sweeping legs. With kids?" Kreese laughed.

"Because I'm going to help them beat you. Tournament. Anywhere. That's the only way to stop you. Violence."

"I doubt it," Kreese said. "Let me tell you something about your Senseis."

Sam and Miguel listened quietly as Kreese looked at both of them on either side of Bobby. "They might have a few trophies under their belts. Years, decades even of karate experience. But they haven't been true champions in years."

Kreese went on. "I built the most well recognized and most skilled karate fighter of this decade. Trained him myself, every day. In a dirty supermarket loading dock for almost a year. Nothing that real. Nothing that provides that kind of victory."

Kreese glanced at Mr. Miyagi's property once more. "Nothing like that. Will ever exist in this kind of place. Nothing here builds that kind of karateka. Even second hand Cobra Kai." Kreese glanced up and down at Bobby. "Think on that."

Miguel stepped forward and spoke with a strong tinge of courage in his voice. "Is that why your best student practices Miyagi-Do?"

"I'm proud to say he's almost fully committed to the dojo now. Even with how he fights," said Kreese.

Kreese then smiled. "If this is truly what you want to do Bobby. I won't stop you. But I will say this. If either of your students." Kreese looked between Sam and Miguel. "Ever step onto the mat at the next All Valley to challenge Cobra Kai. There will be no mercy for them."

Bobby looked ready to punch Kreese but he raised his hands defensively. "We won't cheat. You have my word, as well as Johnny's. We won't, fight outside the rules. We won't fight dirty and so on. But I promise you, we will win. I've gotten old Bobby. And in a way, so have you. But that doesn't mean Cobra Kai has or ever will leave either of us."

Kreese bowed respectfully to Bobby and Bobby watched him step away.

Kreese raised a finger. "One more thing."

He turned around. "Lucas never once taught me or the class an ounce of Miyagi-Do karate. He's refused to share any technique at all of the kind taught here with us. Again. I hope you're happy Bobby. A teenage kid, is more moral than you."

Bobby, Miguel, and Sam all watched as Kreese surprisingly bowed in respect to Mr. Miyagi's home, as if to pay respect to him and then left.

"Promise me one thing," said Bobby. "Neither of you two will ever seek that man for anything."

"Yes Sensei." Miguel said quietly.

"Yes. Yes Sensei." said Sam, who looked startled over the whole conversation.

…

Bobby spoke, checking his phone. "Your dad will be here in about fifteen minutes before it gets any darker," he said. "I have to go home. You two will be fine right?"

Miguel and Sam nodded on the steps of Mr. Miyagi's house.

"Yeah." said Sam.

Bobby bowed. "Thank you both."

"Thank you Sensei." Both Sam and Miguel bowed back to Bobby.

After Bobby left, Miguel and Sam talked as they both drank from water bottles they had brought.

"It was a good bit of training. Dancing in a circle and learning how to sweep a leg."

Miguel chuckled. "Yeah it was."

"I never would've guessed my dad would've given you his headband," said Sam. "It means everything to him. Mr. Miyagi was like a father to him."

"I didn't mean to-"

"No no no." Sam said. "It's fine it's just. Wasn't expecting that. That's all."

Miguel muttered. "Do you think what Kreese said is true?"

"What exactly do you mean?" asked Sam.

"That Cobra Kai is so strong and good at fighting. They don't even need to combine styles to beat us at the tournament?"

Sam sighed. "The last two times my dad competed in the All Valley. Miyagi-Do beat Cobra Kai. Why would it be any different this time? Especially with Sensei Bobby helping."

"You're right. It's just the two styles are so different. I never would've imagined they'd fit well together."

"I think both my dad and Sensei Bobby are really good people. And Senseis," said Sam. "Sometimes. Making the right move is just. You know. Knowing what's best and committing to it."

"Yeah. Yeah." Miguel said nodding at what Sam said as he looked away from her.

"About Demetri today-"

"You couldn't have done anything. Because. No one's going to be able to stop them unless we win this tournament."

Miguel smiled. "Well the good news is. They do have a girl's division set up."

"Really?"

"Yeah, your dad told me about it during our fishing trip last week. There are eight girls competing now if you sign up. They just set it up like a quarter final round, and whoever wins gets a medal like a mini competition next to the actual tournament."

"It's not much." Sam scoffed. "But it's better than making us compete with the guys I guess. I'm just worried about what having to compete against Aisha will be like."

"You two will still be friends right?"

Sam sighed. "Despite knowing each other since like. Ever. With how crazy this karate rivalry stuff is getting. I don't know at this point."

"It is honestly getting a bit crazy. But there's some sanity still left there. Some sane stuff left to do."

"Like what?"

Miguel cleared his throat. "Like us. Maybe. If you wanted to I mean. Going out? As friends I mean, it can be like. Whatever."

"Smooth. Sort of. You stumbled a bit there at the end. But yeah sure."

Miguel hid his smile. "Awesome."

Daniel pulled into the parking lot of Mr. Miyagi's home next to his old cars with a sigh.

"Bobby left you two alone?" asked Daniel.

"Yeah. Why?" Sam asked as Miguel was confused too.

"Nothing um. How was class with him?"

"It was good," said Miguel. "John Kreese from Cobra Kai showed up. He-"

"What!?" Daniel asked in surprise. "What happened?"

"He just respectfully asked to talk to us. We let him. Him and Sensei Bobby argued for a bit. And then he left."

"So he didn't threaten you two?"

Miguel explained. "He said he wouldn't cheat. But there wouldn't be any mercy for us during the tournament."

Daniel sighed. "Threatening kids. Why am I not surprised?"

"Technically he was threatening Sensei Bobby but yeah," admitted Miguel. "He did sort of make it seem we were going to lose no matter what."

"Glad to hear you're both fine then. God if he had. Nevermind. I'll drive you home Miguel." said Daniel.

…

After a very long three days of finals, we were finally out for winter break.

I chatted with the guys about the plans we made together for winter break, and I leaned off my bike, walking toward a girl I hadn't been able to speak to since last Friday.

"Charlotte."

She stopped talking to Mia and Mitch. "Yeah?"

Mia and Mitch nodded to each other and walked off.

"I uh." I cleared my throat. "Wanted to apologize for last Friday."

"There's no need."

"Char. There is-"

"No I mean there's no need to bother at all. We're through. We're done Lucas."

I blinked. "Wait so. You really wanted to take a break from us?"

"Maybe. Then you made the decision for me when like. Five seconds later you bully Demetri and then make out with Yasmine for crying out loud, in front of everyone."

I knew that looked all bad. And that was a series of decisions based solely on anger. But still I honestly didn't want to end things so quickly on terms like this.

"I'm not going to lie. That got me really mad. But honestly, if you're interested in people like Yas. And want to let all this Cobra Kai stuff really go to your head. Fine by me. I don't care anymore."

"Charlotte please. Just listen. Please."

"Listen to what. That you had to really defend your position as king of West Valley. Like you're in a war right? A clique war." scoffed Charlotte. "Yeah. Real mature Luke."

"You know that's not me."

"Really. Because that's exactly what you did. Maybe it was impulsive of you. And it is honestly quite rare for you to act all angry. Making a whole scene out of what someone said. And not even waiting two minutes before declaring the break we were having had to be permanent. Fine. If there's one thing I know you for it's being decisive." Charlotte then spoke louder. "You decided."

She walked right past me.

I walked back towards the guys.

Robby spoke from atop his bike. "Nasty break up?"

"Yeah." I looked over at Hawk. "Hey man. I got some news for what we can do this break."

"For real?" asked Hawk. "What do you want to get up to?"

"Some real nasty shit. Let's go cause some trouble." I said putting my bike helmet on and letting its engine roar to life.

This was the last break I had before the spring semester, spring break, and then the tournament.

…