Chapter 53: Taking Responsibility

Third Person POV:

"So, what are you gonna do now that class is over?" Chase asks.

"Um, I think I'm just gonna go to the park. Things are pretty intense with Violet right now so I'd rather not go home." Brian says.

"Oh…the park." Chase says.

"I know Cobra Kai ambushed you and Emma there yesterday, so you don't have to come." Brian says.

"No, I'll go with you. Both Emma and James are 'busy' so I'd have no one else to hang out with. Plus, I'd love any excuse to avoid my dad." Chase says. Brian smiles.

"Okay, but it might be pretty boring." Brian says.

James's POV:

I arrive home and see both my parents waiting for me. They immediately start talking.

"James, we understand how you're feeling about the move but we still think this is necessary." My mom says.

"I…I just can't abandon everyone. I need to be here when Cobra Kai is finally brought down. Also, I don't think I can handle another move. Leaving all my friends behind in Nevada was hard enough. I don't want to go through all that again." I say.

"James, don't you want to escape from Cobra Kai?" My dad asks.

"Escape? No! I'm done trying to avoid them. I'm gonna stay and protect people from being bullied by them. After everything they've done to me…I want to see them crumble. When they stripped me at the mall, it felt like they stripped a part of me as well, my self confidence. And when they forced dog shit into my mouth-" I say before I cut myself off.

"They did what?!" My mom asks in shock. I just stand there, not knowing what to say.

"You didn't need to know that." I say before leaving the house.

Third Person POV:

"I told you this would be boring." Brian says. The two were sitting on a park bench watching the lake. Occasionally, a duck would float by, spicing things up a bit.

"Nah, I like relaxing here. I love coming here with Emma." Chase says.

"How is she by the way? It must be weird for her to train with me after everything my sister has tried to do to her." Brain says.

"It's fine. I don't think she has a problem with you." Chase says. He then stands up. "I'll be back in a bit. I'm so excited, absolutely ecstatic, to use a porta potty." Chase says sarcastically as he begins walking away. From a distance, a few Cobras were watching the two.

"Look at this. Two traitors hanging out together." Kyler says.

"We're not just gonna let them have a good time, right?" Aaron asks.

"Definitely not." Kenny says while smiling.

Later…

Emma couldn't believe she was doing this. She lied to her boyfriend so he wouldn't try to stop her. Emma approches the Alfonso house and knocks on the front door, hoping that a specific person would answer. Luckily, this person did.

"Emma?! Why the hell are you here?!" Violet shouts.

"Listen, I know you hate me, but just hear me out. You need to quit Cobra Kai and join Miyagi-Fang." Emma says.

"Why would I do that?" Violet asks.

"Because you would be with your family. He may not say it, but I can tell that Brian isn't doing so well constantly fighting with you." Emma says. Emma notices the small amount of guilt that shows up on Violet's face for a split second.

"How the hell would you know what my brother is thinking?" Violet asks.

"Violet, listen-" Emma begins to say.

"I'm not gonna be on the same side as the guy who bullied my brother. I don't even know why I'm talking to you after you betrayed Cobra Kai. If you don't leave right now, I won't hesitate to kick your ass again, bitch." Violet says before shutting the door on Emma's face. Emma sighs and reluctantly walks away. Violet watches Emma leave through the peephole and then walks over to the couch and sits down. She covers her face with her hands. She didn't want to admit it, but it was taking a mental toll on her not being on the same side as her brother. However, she was loyal to Cobra Kai and her hatred for James and Emma prevented her from quitting. She didn't want to admit it, but the reveal of Emma being a spy still hurt. There's no way she could still care for Violet after everything. Violet spent the next few minutes trying to justify her treatment of Emma.

Later…

Brian was sitting on the bench alone until Kenny and the three basketball teammates approach him. Brian quickly gets up.

"What? Gonna run away traitor?" Kenny asks mockingly.

"Don't come any closer." Brian says.

"Did you just hear this guy?" One of the teammates asks before laughing.

"Did you forget what we did to you yesterday?" Another teammate asks.

"You guys are nothing but a bunch of bullies!" Brian shouts.

"What the hell did you just call us?" Kenny says before approaching Brian. Kenny grabs Brian's shoulders and knees him in the chest. Brian collapses to his knees. "Come on pussy, get up!" Kenny shouts. Brian gets to his feet and tries to punch Kenny in the face. Kenny steps to the side, grabs Brian's arm and elbows him in the face. Kenny then knees Brian's arm and then sweeps his legs. The basketball teammates were all laughing.

"Get up!" One of the basketball teammates says before pulling Brian to his feet. Brian is able to block both of Kenny's front kicks but fails to block his right hook. Kenny then punches him in the chest and then hits Brian in the chest with a spinning back kick. Brian stumbles back and falls into the lake. The basketball teammates continue to laugh at him.

"Think about this the next time you try to mouth off Cobra Kai." Kenny says as Brian emerges from the water. The four cobras then walk away.

Later…

Terry Silver and Kim Da-Eun were in Terry's office at the flagship dojo. Suddenly, a man barges into the office.

"There you are you son of a bitch." Detecive Alfonso says.

"To whom do I owe the pleasure?" Terry asks.

"You can call me Detective Alfonso. I'm here because one of your students brutally assaulted my son before breaking his finger." Detective Alfonso says.

"What are you talking about?" Terry asks.

"Don't play dumb. Who did it? Who attacked my son?" Detecive Alfonso demands.

"I don't think your supervisors would appreciate you talking to me in such a manner." Terry says.

"I'm off duty, so I'm not treating you with respect. I'm done playing games. I'm not letting you have a hold on any of my kids anymore." Detective Alfonso says.

"I don't know about that. Violet seems pretty happy here." Terry says. Detecive Alfonso clenches his fists.

"This isn't over. I don't care how long it takes, I'm going to take you down." Detective Alfonso says before walking out.

"Now you got the law to deal with. What are you going to do about that man?" Kim asks.

"Don't worry. I already have an idea." Terry says.

Later…

Chase was finishing up in the porta potty. What he didn't know was that two Cobras were sneaking up to it.

"Let's do it together." Aaron says.

"This is gonna be so good." Klyer says.

"Now!" Aaron shouts. Both Aaron and Kyler front kick the side of the porta potty at the same time, causing it to tip over. The porta potty falls to its side, knocking Chase over. He escapes the porta potty covered in shit. Aaron and Kyler laugh.

"Oh my god, look at him!" Kyler shouts.

"That describes you perfectly! A piece of shit!" Aaron shouts.

"Good one!" Kyler shouts before laughing even harder. Chase runs up to Aaron and attempts to punch him. However, Aaron steps to the side and trips Chase. He falls and hits his face on a rock that was on the ground.

"Oops." Aaron says mockingly. Blood begins to pour out of Chase's nose.

"Why can't you just leave me alone?!" Chase shouts.

"Maybe you shouldn't have snitched on me to the cops." Aaron says coldly.

"I didn't snitch on you!" Chase shouts. Aaron responds by kicking Chase in the face.

"Bye bitch!" Kyler says before pushing Chase to the ground when he tries to stand up.

Later…

"I don't know what to do. They all hate me and I don't think I can ever change that." Steve says.

"But do you hate them?" Matthew asks.

"No…I don't." Steve says.

"See? You're making progress. It might not be a lot, but it's a start." Matthew says. There's a moment of silence before Steve decides to speak again.

"I…I think I know why they can't forgive me." Steve says.

"What? Because what you did to James was too much?" Matthew asks.

"No, it's because my apology means nothing to them. They don't know me, so my words are meaningless to them. They've only known me as a bully." Steve says.

"Well, it's really hard to change people's minds." Matthew says.

"I haven't truly taken responsibility for my actions. And I think there's only one way to do that." Steve says. He hesitates before speaking again. "I'm gonna turn myself in." He says. Matthew's eyes widen in shock.

"No, you don't have to do that." Matthew says.

"It's the only way to show them that I'm taking responsibility for my actions." Steve says.

"But…but you'll be thrown in juvie again!" Matthew shouts.

"Unlike you, I'm not gonna hide from responsibility!" Steve shouts back in anger. The room goes silent. "I'm sorry." Steve says.

"Don't be. At least you're not a coward like me." Matthew responds.

"Please consider turning yourself in as well." Steve pleads.

"I…I…I can't. I'm sorry." Matthew says.

"It's okay. I just hope that one day, you'll see the mistake you're making." Steve says before walking away.

"Steve, wait!" Matthew shouts. Steve turns back. "I love you, man." Matthew says before hugging his brother.

"I love you too." Steve says.

Later…

Steve was walking down the sidewalk on his way to the police station. He was going to confess to stripping James naked and forcing dog shit in his mouth. As he was walking, he started to feel sick. The thought of spending more time in juvie made him physically ill. Steve had to step off the sidewalk and go behind a building to vomit. He was terrified, but he had to do it.

"Hey!" A voice shouts. Steve turns around and a boy punches him in the face. The guy then picks Steve up and puts a knife to his throat. "Remember me, asshole?" The guy says. It was the leader of the gang that Steve beat up in juvie.

"What do you want?" Steve asks.

"I want you to suffer. You humiliated me!" The former inmate says.

James's POV:

I was walking down the sidewalk when I hear what apears to be a struggle coming from behind a building. Curiosity gets the better of me and I go to investigate it. I then see what's happening. A guy holding my rival at knifepoint.

Author's Note: Things are starting to come together. Events that happened in previous chapters, that may have seemed minor at first, will finally start to come together as we begin to reach the end of season 5. How will Steve and James deal with this situation? Will Violet finally see the light? Will Aaron ever stop bullying Chase? What is Terry's plan to deal with Detective Alfonso? Will Matthew ever turn himself in?