Hawk went through the mechanics of changing back into his normal clothes after practice finished. The other guys were annoying him, blabbing on and on about their plans for when school let out for the holidays soon. As if they had completely forgotten Sensei's lesson that day, his warning that the most important battle in their war against Miyagi-Do was on the horizon and they needed to be ready.

Hawk hadn't forgotten, however. It was the day he'd been preparing for, the day he'd been wishing would come along for months. Everything so far had been leading up to this. He could sense it. Soon it would be all over. This would be the deciding moment. They would finally crush their enemies and put an end to Miyagi-Do Karate in the Valley for good. Cobra Kai would be on top forevermore. Then everyone would respect Sensei Kreese.

All he had to do was have faith that Sensei Kreese would lead them to victory and everything he'd endured would have been worth it.

"Hey, man, you coming over tonight?" asked Mitch, pulling Hawk from his thoughts as he passed by him, slinging his backpack over his shoulder.

Hawk glanced at him once, then rolled his eyes. "Go away," he mumbled, zipping up his jacket.

He heard Mitch sigh irately. "Whatever you say," replied the other boy, turning around to leave.

Something painful tugged at Hawk's insides, and it surprised him to discover there was a part of him that did want to go to Mitch's little get-together with the other guys at his house that night.

There were so few soldiers left in Cobra Kai now. So many traitors had turned chickenshit and deserted, running back to Sensei Lawrence when the training had gotten too hard for them to handle. A bunch of pussies, all of them. Quitters. They couldn't take a little tough love. No, they were soft. They deserved to belong to a half-baked Cobra Kai that didn't even have a dojo to its name, with an alcoholic loser for a Sensei.

Even Miguel….

Well, he and Miguel were past the point of talking. Hawk didn't even know how to talk to him anymore. They couldn't have a normal conversation even if they wanted to. Miguel refused to listen to anything he said. All he did now was criticize him: his choice to leave Sensei Lawrence, to commit himself to taking down Miyagi-Do, to listen to Sensei Kreese, Miguel was trying to make him feel guilty for every decision he made lately.

The lines had been drawn and they'd both picked their sides.

So why should Hawk feel guilty for anything?

But Mitch, of all people, had remained. Even Mitch was made of more Cobra Kai material than the others. Who would've thought?

"Hey, Mitch…." Hawk opened his mouth to say something more, but then his eyes went past Mitch to the open door behind him, where he saw Sensei Kreese passing by. It stayed whatever words were going to come out of him next because when Sensei Kreese walked into his office, Hawk remembered what he'd once told him. He set the example. If he slacked off, the other guys would, too.

And they'd come too far for him to screw things up now by getting lazy and complacent.

Mitch was still standing there, hands wrapped around his shoulder straps, waiting expectantly. "Yeah?"

Stuffing his gi into his bag, Hawk looked down. "Nothing. Catch you tomorrow." From his peripheral vision, he saw Mitch linger at the door for a moment, like he was going to say something, too. But then Mitch finally left, and soon after so did the last couple of stragglers.

Throwing his backpack over his slim shoulders, Hawk himself trudged out shortly thereafter, wondering what he should do that night if not head over to Mitch's. He didn't want to go home so early and deal with his nagging parents. There was the mall, but it didn't sound fun, not without someone else to hang out with. Neither did the movies. And it was too cold for the beach, not that that was enticing, either.

Hawk sighed, rubbing the soreness from the muscles in the back of his neck. It felt like he'd been on autopilot lately. Nothing appealed to him anymore. Nothing except the promise of the end of this war.

Maybe he should go to Mitch's place. Sure, Mitch was no Miguel, but he'd stuck around, hadn't he? And Mitch's parents probably had some alcohol they could swipe, so even if the guy spent the whole night trying to get all of them into professional wrestling again, maybe they could still have a fun time….

"Hawk."

He stopped and turned around at the sound of his name. Sensei Kreese leaned against the doorframe outside of his office, arms crossed. "Yes, Sensei?"

"Get changed back into your gi," the King Cobra instructed, gesturing with his head back to the changing room. "You're staying today for extra practice."

A small part of Hawk wanted to complain, although he certainly knew better than to do that. Why couldn't Sensei Kreese have said something about this after class ended before he switched into his regular clothes? But then again, what else was he going to do today? And was he seriously going to complain about an extra lesson when Sensei Kreese offered it? How ungrateful could he possibly be?

So Hawk bowed. "Yes, Sensei."

He changed clothes posthaste so he could meet Sensei Kreese on the mats for his one-on-one session. And once the sparring started, Hawk forgot about Mitch and his invitation. Spending time with Sensei Kreese was always what he needed to feel better and be more sure of himself anyways.

Because even when he wasn't getting everything right, it helped him focus on things that were actually important. Things made more sense. Sensei Kreese had chosen him because he was the only one in the group who'd shown time and time again the determination to keep going, no matter what. If anyone was going to win this war for Sensei, it was going to be him.

Sensei Kreese countered his oncoming attack, and Hawk grunted when the old man's knuckles slammed into his jaw, sending him stumbling backward. "How many times do I have to tell you?" demanded Sensei Kreese, grabbing his arm. "Keep your elbow up!" He jerked the elbow in question higher.

Hawk gritted his teeth but nodded. "Sorry, Sensei."

Squeezing his elbow tighter, Sensei Kreese's tone had a chilly timbre to it as he told him, "I don't want your apologies, I want to see proof that you understand. If you made this mistake in battle, your enemy would've knocked your brains in." His other hand whipped around to smack Hawk on the side of his head. "However little those might be. You're not stupid, are you?"

"No, Sensei," responded Hawk, trying his hardest not to wince from the hit he'd received; he was doing a poor job at it.

"Then stop acting like it," stated Sensei Kreese, releasing his grip. The sheer disappointment was plain to see across his features, in the severe glare he leveled at him now. "If this is above your capabilities, perhaps someone else in class can do it better."

Rubbing the side of his head where he'd been struck, Hawk felt his face burn at that suggestion. He thought about Sensei Kreese offering these extra lessons to one of the other guys, somebody like Mitch instead, and that embarrassed him all the more.

Sensei Kreese gave him another hard look, staring at him stonily before gesturing him to take his place. "Now, do it again."

Hawk resumed his regular position on the mats. He reminded himself that Sensei was saying these things out of tough love. Of course his Sensei was getting tired of his mistakes. It would make anyone cross. And it made sense that his temper had been getting worse over the past few weeks. Sensei Kreese had so much pressure on him from all sides, fighting both Sensei Lawrence and Mr. LaRusso.

Meanwhile, Hawk couldn't even keep his elbow up.

But he didn't want the old man to give up on him. He wanted to prove to him that he got this, that his efforts had never been in vain. Because Sensei Kreese had put Cobra Kai back on top, and nothing their enemies did was going to drag them down again. Not if Hawk had anything to say about it.

At his Sensei's signal, Hawk relaunched his attack. Sensei Kreese deflected his punch and Hawk did the same to his counter. This was how it had been with them for months. Sensei Kreese training him, pinpointing his weaknesses and purging them from him, helping him shed his loser skin until he was everything a Cobra should be.

Months of highs and lows. Of Sensei Kreese making it clear he was the only adult who understood how he was feeling. Of Hawk running to him when it felt like the whole world had turned against him. Of Sensei Kreese pushing him to his limits, of tearing him down so he could build him back up again, stronger than ever. Of Hawk doing anything in his power to meet his expectations.

A fit of white-hot anger swelled in Hawk's chest, igniting him with a fury that propelled him to raise his elbow up to block Sensei Kreese's hit before launching a punch forward, smashing his fist straight into the old man's face without restraint. He felt a satisfying crack where knuckles struck cartilage and pushed himself fully into the hit, like he was trying to punch through his enemy entirely, this time sending his instructor stumbling back on his feet.

When Sensei Kreese lifted his head, the sight of blood pouring out of his nose quashed that rage inside Hawk. He stared down at his right hand and his eyes focused on the redness smeared there. Not the first time he'd seen that color on his knuckles, but it had never come from this source. A mixture of guilt and fear gripped Hawk as he realized he'd just hurt his Sensei. "Oh shit!" he exclaimed, looking up. "Sensei, I'm—"

A low, deep chuckle cut him off as a harsh grin lit up Sensei Kreese's face, even as the blood continued to flow down his chin. "Good work," he praised, reaching out to pat Hawk's shoulders with his rough hands while he gained his bearings. "That's my boy. I knew you had it in you."

Those heavy hands squeezed his shoulders for a long moment; it almost felt like it could have been a hug, or close enough to one. Not that Hawk was schmaltzy enough to think that was the case, because that would've been soft, and he wasn't soft. He was a soldier. But he still beamed, ear-to-ear, his previous misgivings melting away. He couldn't remember the last time his Sensei expressed his approval like that, and he was starved to receive it.

"You've earned a ten-minute break," said Sensei Kreese, releasing his grip again. "Go get some water. We'll resume again shortly."

"Yes, Sensei." Hawk did as he was told, fetching his water bottle from his backpack, still feeling lighter than air at his Sensei's praise. He must've been grinning like an idiot, but he couldn't help himself. His smile didn't even falter when he grabbed his towel and wiped away the blood from his knuckles.

It renewed him with confidence again. Confidence that there was no one more badass than he was in all the Valley. He was going to win the war against Miyagi-Do and bring absolute victory to Cobra Kai.

A small voice in the back of his mind asked him what the point of victory would be if he lost everything that had ever meant something to him in order to obtain it. Moon was long gone. Demetri was more of his enemy than ever. His parents barely recognized him anymore. Even Miguel kept his distance.

Hawk beat that voice down. Not now, of all times. It would be worth it, in the end, he reminded himself over and over. It would all be worth it once they won. And in the meantime, he still had Cobra Kai. He still had Sensei Kreese.

His eyes swept over to the King Cobra, who'd grabbed a towel of his own to wipe his face and stop the bleeding coming from his nose. He didn't look phased at all by the injury. He'd been through much worse, undoubtedly. During the war. In all of his time as Sensei. That was strength. True badassery. It reminded Hawk he was learning from the very best.

If only the others could have seen that. If only Miguel could have seen in Sensei Kreese what Hawk did, then he would have made the right decision.

That voice again. This time telling him that maybe it still wasn't too late to save Miguel, and the others, too. Maybe he was just grasping at straws, maybe he was being weak, but if Cobra Kai did win then everyone would have to admit Sensei Kreese's style was the right one. They'd have to finally show him some respect. If they won, maybe everyone would come back….

Sticking his water bottle back in his bag, Hawk walked up to his Sensei. "Um, Sensei? Can I ask about something?"

"What is it?" Sensei Kreese asked, tossing his bloody towel aside.

"Sensei, after our fight with Miyagi-Do, if we win—"

"'If'?"

The way Sensei Kreese repeated that one word made the lingering smile vanish from Hawk's face in a split second, and his stomach dropped so fast he thought he might throw up again. "When we win," he hastily corrected, mentally kicking himself. What the fuck had he been thinking with that slip of the tongue?

He paused for a moment, feeling almost dizzy, voice catching in the back of his throat like barbed wire, worried Sensei Kreese was going to give him a full reprimand for his mistake; it had been a bad one.

Yet all the old man did was nod. "Go on," Sensei Kreese instructed, crossing his arms imposingly. But his face showed interest, and Hawk had to remind himself again that this was Sensei Kreese he was speaking to, not Sensei Lawrence. He could ask him anything.

At his sides, Hawk clenched his hands into fists, willing them to stop shaking. "Sensei, when we win, when everyone sees that you were right, what's gonna happen to the guys who quit Cobra Kai? I mean, the ones who went back to Sensei Lawrence?"

Sensei Kreese lifted his eyebrow, and the hard corners of his mouth curled slightly. "What do you think should happen?"

Hawk knew anyone who turned against the dojo and fought against them were the enemy, but this wasn't the same as it was with the Miyagi-Nerds. Miguel, he was Cobra Kai. Him, Tory, all the ones who'd left were supposed to be Cobra Kai till they died. Sensei Lawrence was the one who'd led them off the right path, the one who refused to get back in line. Should they all be punished just because he was a shitty Sensei?

"Miguel and the others, they're not Miyagi-Do, they're Cobra Kai," he tried explaining. "Or, well, they used to be, but maybe—"

Sensei Kreese cut him off. "Sometimes soldiers go awol, especially when they lack discipline or the will to win. But no matter where, if a man confronts you, he is the enemy." It was the response Hawk expected to hear. And deep down, he knew his Sensei was right.

We were enemies for a day, but Cobra Kai for life.

Hawk's eyes fell to his feet. "Yes, Sensei," he muttered.

Uncrossing his arms, Sensei Kreese wrapped his fingers around the lapels of his black gi instead, tilting his head the slightest to glare down at Hawk. "I understand you might still feel…conflicted about fighting your friends. But remember, by retreating and aiding the enemy, they have betrayed you and everything Cobra Kai stands for."

The truth of that stung, making Hawk's brows knit together and his mouth twist. "Yes, Sensei," he repeated.

"I also understand you know how close we are to finishing this war," Sensei Kreese continued. "Soon we will strike harder than ever before, and it will bring an end to Miyagi-Do once and for all. And then Cobra Kai, the real Cobra Kai, will lead the way to an era of true karate. An era where students learn about strength above all else, to fight for life, not for points. But for this to succeed, I need you."

Hawk's eyes lit up as he lifted his head. Sensei Kreese needed him?

"You've proven yourself man enough to handle everything that's been thrown at you so far," explained the King Cobra. "And perhaps Sensei Lawrence will finally fall in line once we eradicate the corrupting influence of weakness from the Valley. Then Diaz, the others, you can help them get back on the right path. The only way for that to happen, though, is for you to be prepared to fight them now. You have to be prepared to win, no matter the cost. It might hurt in the short term, but they will thank you for it later."

So there was still hope. Sensei Kreese understood what he'd been asking for. Of course. He had always understood him. That realization brought a smile back to Hawk's face. Their guaranteed victory needn't be so hollow, after all.

"You have what it takes to win, don't you?" asked Sensei Kreese, narrowing his eyes and locking his gaze on him. "Are you a winner?"

Hawk nodded emphatically. "Yes, Sensei."

"Then say it."

So Hawk did. Standing up straight, he declared, "I'm a winner."

Sensei Kreese's harsh grin returned to the corners of his mouth. "I can't hear you."

"I'm a winner, Sensei!"