Chapter 8: Team Up
Season 4
"Ready?"
"Let's begin!"
We stand in awkward silence after that, not knowing what to do. Demetri raises his hand.
"Uh, begin what exactly?" Demetri asks.
"Begin a new era. Many of us used to be enemies. But rivalries don't need to last forever. The All Valley Tournament is just a few months away, and this year, the stakes are higher than they've ever been. We know that Cobra Kai is gonna use every dirty trick in the book. There's only one way we're gonna be able to beat them-" Daniel says before he is cut off.
"By kicking their asses so hard they shit themselves. We gotta take things to the next level. Gonna teach you an aggression stronger than anything Cobra Kai can throw at us. They strike first? We'll pre-strike!" Eagle fang's sensei shouts. Geez, he's way different than Mr. LaRusso.
"Okay, we're getting ahead of ourselves. We are going to respond to what they do." Mr. LaRusso says, trying to calm the situation.
"Eagles do not respond. They swoop down and take whatever they want. That's what we're gonna do. Take back the Valley." Eagle fang's sensei shouts.
Take it back in a measured and organized approach." Mr. LaRusso shouts.
"We bite first!" Eagle fang's sensei shouts. Why do I get the sense that this is gonna be difficult?
"Okay, let's just warm up with some simple exercises." Mr. LaRusso says.
"All right, line up!" Eagle Fang's sensei says.
"And just breathe and follow me." Mr. LaRusso says. I start the exercise as do my fellow Miyagi-Do's. That's when the Eagle Fang sensei begins shouting again.
"Fighting positions! Right leg back. Front kick ready." He shouts.
"Hi-yah!" The Eagle Fang students shout as they kick. Mitch accidentally kicks Nate in the back, making him fall over.
"Shit dude. I'm sorry." Mitch says. Nate just groans in response. Oh boy, this is gonna be a long day.
Later…
Training is finally over, and it was worse than I thought. Mr. LaRusso and sensei Lawrance can't seem to get along for more than five seconds. As I'm leaving the dojo, Demetri runs up to me.
"Hey! Mind if I walk with you?" Demetri asks.
"Not at all." I say while smiling. We begin walking back to my house.
"So…how do you feel?" Demetri asks.
"What do you mean?" I ask.
"About the house fight and today's training." Demetri says.
"I still can't get over the fact that I was able to beat Steve." I say while smiling.
"Ha, but you still have a long way to go." Demetri says while patting my back.
"Training felt like a mess." I say honestly. Demetri nods in agreement.
"Yeah, It's definitely going to be weird having sensei Lawrance around all the time." Demetri says. Eventually, we make it to my house.
"Hey, you wanna come in?" I ask.
"Uh, sure!" Demetri says. We enter the house and I immediately see both my parents waiting for me angrily.
"Care to explain where you've been going for these past few weeks?" My mom says angrily. I never told them I joined a karate dojo.
"What are you talking about? We were training today." Demetri says.
"Demetri!" I shout.
"Excuse me? Training? What is going on?" My dad asks.
"I'll, uh, wait outside." Demetri says before running out the front door. My parents are now waiting for my response.
"I…uh…joined a karate dojo." I say. My parents go wide eyed.
"James! Have you not seen the news? Karate is dangerous here. The whole fight at the school happened because of karate!" My mom shouts.
"But this is different! I'm learning karate the right way!" I say.
"I don't want to hear it. From now on, we forbid you from stepping foot near a dojo." My dad shouts. My jaw drops.
"But…all my friends are there. I can't just stop!" I explain.
"Your friends?! You're associated with karate thugs now? I've heard enough. I forbid you from ever talking to those people again. My heart sinks.
"I…they're all I have!" I say.
"Well, you better find some new friends. Tell that kid outside that he should go home." My dad says before walking away.
"Mom, please!" I plead. She just shakes her head and walks away. I stare at the ground. I better break the news to Demetri. I open the door and see him.
"So…what happened?" Demetri asks.
"I'm not allowed to return to Miyagi-Do." I say sadly. Demetri's eyes widen.
"What?!" Demetri shouts.
"That's not all. I'm not allowed to be around you guys." I say sadly. Demetri looks destroyed.
"But…there has to be a way!" Demetri pleads.
"I'm sorry. Tell Sam, Miguel, Chris, Nate, and Bert that I can't hang out with them anymore. Also, tell Mr. LaRusso that it was fun while it lasted." I say while turning around.
"James! Wait!" Demetri shouts. I don't look back. I open my front door and shut it behind me.