Chapter Fifteen: Just a Mess

…

John Kreese instructed his class wearing a sleeveless black GI.

His students were Miguel Diaz, Aisha Robinson, Mitch, Dieter, Edwin, and a number of other Cobra Kai karate students.

As he stalked the lines practicing strikes wearing karate gloves, he thought to himself, back to his first days as a karate teacher.

He would yell and make Bobby Brown, Johnny Lawrence, Dutch, and the others kiai and strike in lines, and remembered his first student after decades.

Fourteen year old Lucas Schwarber, skinnier and shorter than he was now, was in an abandoned supermarket loading dock with John Kreese in his memories.

"Pain, does not exist. Come on, strike!"

Lucas panted, barely able to keep his hands up, coated in sweat.

He weakly struck the pads Kreese held before he swept his leg with ease. Kreese watched as the boy hit the choppy concrete with a groan.

"What the-"

"Ais!"

Kreese kiai'd and held his fist an inch from Lucas' nose, gripping his shirt. "In a fight, no one gives you an inch."

"I thought we were training for a tournament." gasped Lucas, not flinching.

Kreese dragged Lucas up onto his feet. "Life strikes without warning, not just when a referee says you can fight."

"I already beat up all the bullies at my school."

"There are enemies everywhere, constantly, at all times." Kreese growled quietly. "Your enemies won't care if you're exhausted, they will beat you senseless if you give them that chance."

"I've been training for almost two hours now. How can I fight at my best? I can hardly stand up straight."

Kreese nodded quietly, shifting where he stood in the middle of the loading dock. "Your body is only a means to an end, it's your mind that's the true weapon. Visualize your victory, winning first place. Never accepting defeat, and you'll strike as if today is your last."

"But." Lucas rubbed the sweat off his chin. "Why would I ever want to fight that desperately?"

"There will come a time when you have nothing but karate. Where you've lost all friendships, trust from your family, all the fun and joy you have in doing things but train. And if you don't, you'll wish you will. When that happens, desperation will be your strength."

Kreese watched as Lucas raised his hands, took a deep breath, and then struck properly.

Kreese nodded deeply.

…

Lying on his bed, Lucas looked at his phone.

Everyone, from Eli, Sam, to Robby, hadn't been returning his text messages.

Olivia walked into his doorframe. "You alright?" she asked kindly.

Lucas shook his head, putting his phone aside and crossing his hands together on his chest. "Nope." he said glumly.

"What happened?"

"Everyone ghosted me. Apparently after the whole fiasco with Robby, people can think that Robby is some sort of problem child and I'm a lying backstabber who can't be trusted."

"Did you tell that girl Mackenzie about him or not?"

Lucas almost glared at her angrily for a moment. "How many times do I have to say it?" he said desperately. "It wasn't me."

"Well is there anyone who does want to talk to you?"

"Mr. LaRusso," he said with a sigh. "But it's not like it matters. Gramps doesn't want to talk to me anyway."

"Frank didn't approve of karate when your mother was involved with this nonsense back then either."

Lucas seemed to look aside in thought.

"What?" asked Olivia.

"Nothing Nana, I'm fine."

Olivia muttered. "Dinner will be ready soon."

Lucas waited for his grandmother to leave before standing up and walking to his most prized possession. The first place trophy for the 49th All Valley Karate tournament.

He seemed to remember John Kreese's words, repeating them to himself silently. "When that happens, desperation will be your strength."

…

"Combat. Ais!"

John Kreese let everyone spar in pairs, splitting the mat, made of black and red puzzle mats, into four equal quarters.

He silently watched and observed.

The only fighters with any notable skill in the dojo were Miguel and Aisha.

Mitch had heart, but lacked any meaningful technique of any kind, and possessed the physical endurance and strength needed to make up for it despite his size.

Meanwhile, Aisha's legs were her strongest asset. Her round kick alone was so powerful that several Cobra Kais thought twice before stepping into the ring with her.

Aisha relied mainly on the round kick to the midsection with her rear leg, which Kreese had learned counted as two points in competition, called wazari. While being quite strong, it wasn't like Aisha lacked skill during sparring.

A few Cobra Kais had a sharp jab, reverse punch, and round kick of their own, but her spacing, timing, and speed were strong enough that she would avoid pretty much all of them.

Miguel had all three of these assets in spades. He had heart, a strong desire to win in the ring to the point he almost exhausted himself with how many rounds he sparred. He had strength, he was building muscle, but had a naturally strong body for such a skinny frame. And he had skill above all.

Miguel's best techniques were his jab and the reverse punch. Both of which tended to land more than anything else he used.

With enough practice, he began to learn the front sweep.

"That's enough for today." Kreese said at the end of the tenth round of sparring.

Several Cobra Kais were strewn around the mat, sweating, still in their karategis wearing a mix of SMAI, Hayashi, and Tokaido karate gear.

"Class dismissed."

…

John Kreese silently smoked a cigar while watching a video of a karate competition on a Dell laptop he purchased recently on his desk.

He was watching a sparring match of a tournament hosted locally near Pasadena.

Donovan Voon, a Goju-Ryu karate black belt Kreese had seen at a seminar recently, was winning his match by a lot.

From what Kreese gathered, he wasn't bad at all, however not too skilled, but still got first place nonetheless. Regardless, Kreese knew that besides Miguel perhaps, based on sheer experience and the basic techniques Voon showed, he was already miles ahead of his entire class, and the rest of the competitive scene in southern Californian karate.

"Sensei?"

Kreese shut his laptop closed. "What can I do for you, Mr. Diaz?"

"I was wondering if you had any advice about how I fought today. Any tips?" Miguel walked into Kreese's dojo office.

Kreese shook his head slightly. "None at all." he pushed his laptop away. "I do think we need to get some better sparring partners for you though."

"Are we going to?"

"I don't know yet." sighed Kreese quietly. "Honestly, at this upcoming tournament, I won't put you all in the same division. Unlike the old All Valley, not everyone's in the same bracket."

Miguel listened silently.

"Everyone under the age of eighteen competes between the ages of twelve and thirteen, fourteen to fifteen, and sixteen to seventeen. Then it's by experience level, how many years you've been competing."

Kreese shrugged. "How old will you be by the time of the All Valley?"

"Sixteen."

"You'll be in the largest and most competitive division of the whole tournament," said Kreese quietly. "Of the whole Valley. Of the whole west coast according to what I've researched. Sixteen to seventeen year old boys, the Advanced division."

"So who's in this division exactly?"

"No one of note ironically," Kreese said. "I've only found one fighter that should give you any trouble at the All Valley, except for Keene and Schwarber of course."

Miguel looked aside.

"You made the right choice getting involved during that fight they had in the cafeteria."

Miguel looked back at Kreese. "How could I let Robby upstage me like that? I'm going to be the one to put Schwarber in his place, not him."

Kreese shook his head quietly. "No."

"No?"

Kreese stood up and circled his desk, putting a hand on Miguel's shoulder. "Stop worrying about them. And worry about you, if you clear your head, you'll win."

"Really?"

"I've seen it before," said Kreese. "Fighters with all the talent in the world, squander it. Lose, because they were simply too upset."

He glanced aside, remembering a young Johnny Lawrence actually shaking with rage in front of Daniel LaRusso at the All Valley Tournament.

Miguel nodded. "I got it."

"Then focus, and train, I'll take care of the rest."

"Yes Sensei."

Kreese watched Miguel smile slightly and then leave with his bag over his shoulder.

…

"Good, good, yeah, twist off your ankle into it."

Robby was practicing his round kick on a large pad Johnny was holding with very loud smacks.

"Again, left side."

Robby was equally good at kicking with his left leg, landing repeatedly on the pad when Johnny switched sides.

Robby stayed in his fighting stance and Johnny spoke. "Nice, take a break."

Johnny was wearing gym clothes as was Robby, except he was wearing red gloves and foot protectors. He sat down next to his father on a bench in the abandoned factory they trained together in as he sipped from a water bottle.

"Your roundhouse is still great." Johnny said. "All you gotta watch out for is not getting swept when you throw it."

"How often does that happen?" asked Robby.

"Pretty often."

"Do some people go for sweeps more than others?"

Johnny made a face.

"Sorry, I didn't-"

"It's fine. Just, you had to remind me."

Robby put his water bottle down. "What makes Cobra Kai so evil anyway? They helped me out right before winter break during my fight, until then I didn't know what to think of them."

"That's why they're wrong. They cause trouble where there isn't any. Kreese ruined senior year of highschool for me, ruined a whole lot of stuff." Johnny bounced a finger in the air a little. "He turns you into something you're not. Finds whatever weakness you might have, anything that makes you feel insecure, and exploits it."

Johnny squinted, then looked at his son. "Manipulates you into believing all sorts of stuff you shouldn't. And then convinces you the only way to avoid weakness is to kick anyone's ass if you feel like it."

"But, didn't Daniel LaRusso have it coming to him?"

Johnny chuckled. "Yeah, maybe a little."

He frowned then, shaking his head. "But we both went too far. And Kreese was to blame. Karate should be about having fun, learning how to fight, and making friends. Those were the only good parts of being Kreese's students to me. He was abusive, physically and mentally. And the worse part is."

Johnny froze for a moment. "He'd convince you it was your fault if you couldn't take it. That you were too weak to know what real karate was like. And it worked, for a few years anyway." Johnny shrugged. "I won the All Valley twice in a row, and it took me losing it to realize what a demented freak the guy was."

"So then, if Daniel LaRusso really isn't to blame. Why not make up with him and take down Kreese?" asked Robby.

"Because of his stupid ego." Johnny raised an eyebrow, nodding to his son. "Guy won't apologize for instigating the whole thing in the first place, he's barely changed since high school. Besides."

He stood off the bench, picking his kicking pad back up. "It's not like Kreese has enough time to come up with a plan to deal with that roundhouse of yours. Now come on, back to work."

Robby seemed to disagree with Johnny a little bit before fixing his footguard and then getting back on the mat with his father.

…

"There you go, nice and easy."

Daniel was teaching Lucas how to drive using one of the LaRusso Auto's Corollas in an empty parking lot. Lucas was simply learning how to accelerate, brake, and turn.

"Glad I got my permit last week," Lucas said. "The second I turned fifteen and a half, I was already working on it."

"Do you have a love for cars?" Daniel asked curiously.

"I have a love for getting out of the house. I can get to Miyagi-Do quicker."

"Sure you don't want to train at my home dojo?"

Lucas was quiet.

Daniel sighed. "It wouldn't hurt for you to reach out to Sam in person."

"Doesn't matter, she's right anyway. Besides what happened with Robby, another thing's been bugging me."

"What?"

"The fact that Cobra Kai's still open and running in that strip mall. I'm the only reason that guy came around in the first place."

Daniel looked at him. "I wouldn't go that far."

"I found out my grandfather was so desperate to send me back to Denver and get karate out of my life he bailed Kreese out of jail."

Daniel was confused. "But wouldn't that do the opposite?"

Lucas tutted. "I thought the same thing too. Except he threatened to send me back to Denver anyway when he realized I was getting into fights."

"Well, what happened exactly?"

"A few months ago, Kreese beat up Kyler, one of Sam's friends. His parents were going to press charges but Pops made both them, and the county wave it off. Their deal was that he'd leave town for good, but he never failed to realize that by locking Kreese in debt he'd have to work it off. By, of course running Cobra Kai."

Daniel chuckled. "It's not like he'd close down the dojo even if he wasn't in debt anymore."

"I don't know what kind of revenge he thinks he's going to get. No one he trains with threatens me at all, least of all Miguel."

"If Frank wants you away from karate so badly. Then, why hasn't he pulled the money out, and hung Kreese out to dry when Cobra Kai attacked you at the arcade?" asked Daniel.

"Because as I just found out, the county has closed the case entirely. Pops tried to talk to a judge about it, but he said there was nothing that could be done. Kreese was ruled to do community service, and that's that. All the money Kreese sends to my Pops is just recovering what he's basically already lost."

"Surprised he hasn't just stopped sending it."

Lucas chuckled. "As messed up as he is, apparently he has got some honor left."

"You do know he's harmful right? That he's still dangerous?" asked Daniel.

"Not nearly as much as Robby Keene."

"Look-"

Lucas braked, shaking his head as he stopped the car. "How is beating me up for something I didn't do, not dangerous? Robby was so mad at me, he couldn't realize that Cobra Kai was literally forcing me to fight him. And he did it anyway."

Lucas seemed deeply troubled for a moment.

"What's wrong?"

"It's just, so unlike him," said Lucas. "Robby isn't aggressive, or rude, or violent. And he just blatantly attacked me."

Daniel was pensive for a short moment. "Mr. Miyagi said that in their darkest moments, people become who they're not. Robby was embarrassed, in front of the entire school and he was powerless to do anything about it."

"But it wasn't my fault."

"But Luke, the worst thing for him was that you didn't take his side. You didn't clear his name, you didn't stand up for him, you did the opposite. You told him to stop calling out the girl who did that to him."

Lucas nodded sadly.

"For your best friend to do that to you, you must've seriously wronged him. Which is why I'm actually proud that you want to fight him so badly at the All Valley tournament."

"Really?"

"It shows how badly you want to mend your friendship." Daniel said. "It shows how badly you care."

Lucas smiled weakly.

"Now it's getting late, I want to see you drive home."

Lucas keyed the ignition and then put the car in drive. Daniel watched him safely cruise out of the parking lot and back into urban Encino.

…

Amanda was preparing dinner.

"Another late night with your favorite student?"

"No karate today." Daniel pecked Amanda on the cheek as he got himself a drink from his fridge. "Just teaching Luke how to drive."

"Not surprised Frank couldn't teach him."

"Don't even bring him up."

Amanda looked at Daniel. "Well, why not?"

He took a quick and deep breath. "Can you believe that he actually bailed Kreese out of jail to put him in debt. Forcing him to open up Cobra Kai again to begin with?"

"What?" Amanda watched as Daniel nodded and leaned on the nearby kitchen counter. "You mean Frank's the reason those psycho kids attacked Luke in that arcade?"

"Not entirely, but yes." Daniel affirmed quietly. "Ironic, I know."

"I think he might be the worst grandfather ever." Amanda said to herself in disbelief, shaking her head.

"He was bad to me. Not approving of me being from Reseda when I went out with Ali, but forcing Luke to drop karate after this next tournament. As if there wasn't already enough on the line."

"His friendship with Robby." Amanda put her hand on her hip. "I swear, all these boys could figure this all out with just one conversation."

"I've been there and um." Daniel shrugged. "Probably not. Anyway, his life's just a mess right now. And I'm glad I can be there for him."

"Me too."

…

Robby trained with his father almost daily for the proceeding two weeks. His winter break before his second semester of his sophomore year of high school came to a close rather quickly.

The day he returned to West Valley High School, he noticed something odd.

Nobody except for the teachers wanted to speak to either him or Lucas Schwarber at all.

Eli and Demetri feared being involved in the same silent treatment the entire school was giving him and Lucas, so they avoided Robby and Lucas at all costs.

Some would whisper about Robby and Lucas, see them enter the corridor, and then immediately stop talking.

Lucas eventually was eating alone at a table at end of the cafeteria, and Robby was alone in another one nearby.

"Look at that," Yasmine said quietly.

The cheerleaders watched this from afar.

"Just sad," Moon said. "I really hope I never get my best friend to turn on me like that."

Robby was eating his lunch with the most enraged look on his face, sending a death glare right at Lucas that he was giving in return.

Lucas largely felt bad over the whole situation, but he would not stand for the fact that Robby continued to hate him after what happened.

"You don't feel bad?" Sam turned to Mackenzie.

"Nope." she shrugged, sitting in the chair next to her.

"But you're the one who spread the rumors about Robby."

"And Yas spread hella shit about Aisha, what's your point?" asked Mackenzie.

"Nothing, I was just wondering if you felt bad or not."

Mackenzie looked to both Lucas and Robby. "I mean, yeah it is a bit sad but. I feel less bad when I realize what Luke was doing to my own friends."

"Like what?"

Moon and Yasmine began to take more interest in the conversation.

"Um, never mind," Mackenzie said.

"Mack," Yasmine said in a serious tone. "What're you talking about?"

Mackenzie gulped. "It's common knowledge that Luke likes to flirt a lot and make out. But um, he didn't just make out with a bunch of people."

Sam was silent, staring directly at her.

"He's done, stuff," Mackenzie said slowly. "Stuff to, most of the cheer team actually."

Sam raised an eyebrow, turning to Moon. "You mean, my own best friends?"

"It's not like you're dating him," said Yasmine.

"But you knew I liked him," Sam responded.

"You liked Miguel too, so." Moon shrugged.

Sam was blank for a moment. "I can't believe this."

Sam picked up her purse and left in a huff.

"You messed around with him too?" Yasmine said.

Moon shrugged. "I already thought you knew."

"Hell no I didn't know, that'd be so weird. I just thought you maybe joked around, flirted, and made out at most." Yasmine looked disgusted, shaking her head at Mackenzie too. "I'm so over this."

Both girls then left, and left Mackenzie sitting there alone.

The smirk on Aisha's face was filled with an amount of satisfaction she never thought she'd have.

A few people near the lunch table in the cafeteria heard what Mackenzie had said, and of Lucas, Moon, Sam, and Yasmine.

…

Robby saw Sam standing by herself on the steps leading out of West Valley High School and into the parking lot.

"Hey."

Sam turned. "Hey."

She smiled weakly.

"You're the first person today to not pretend I was invisible," said Robby. "I think someone actually started walking in the opposite direction when we were the only ones in the hallway."

"I um, totally get the feeling."

Robby was curious. "Do you? I always see you surrounded by your friends."

"Yeah well, I think cheer and I are going to take a little break for a while, and so are my friends and I."

"I totally get it, when your best bud turns out to be the exact kinda person who everyone says got the whole cheer team pregnant. You run out of friends fast."

Sam squinted at Robby slightly, crossing her arms. "Are, people actually saying that?"

"No, but you get my point."

Sam looked at Robby. "I think I do. I'm really sorry you two hate each other now."

"It might be for the best."

Lucas put his phone in his pocket as he began to walk down the stairs, seeing Robby and Sam talking.

"I think there might be some better friends on the horizon."

Lucas saw Sam light up with a smile. "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah, only if you do."

"I think I might. You wanna talk about our dad's weird obsession with karate?"

"Yes please, he just asked me to do it with him, told him no instantly."

"Lucky, I actually don't have a choice."

Seeing Sam and Robby laugh with each other, Lucas silently walked away.

…

Lucas began to walk to the bicycle lockups near the edge of the parking lot, seeing Eli and Demetri talking together.

He noticed that no one else was nearby and then ran up to them.

"I'm sorry if Robby and I made no one else want to talk to us. But can you tell me what the hell is going on?"

Eli, as always, was too shy to say anything.

Demetri shrugged, speaking sarcastically. "I could tell you, but don't you have another threeway to get to?"

"Threeway?" Lucas looked confused.

Demetri merely walked away, Eli following him quietly.

'Yasmine. Moon.'

It then hit Lucas that the rumors had spread throughout his entire highschool. A pair of students walked right past Lucas and then he realized how alone he really felt.

The only person who talked to him taught him karate, something the only family in the Valley didn't approve of. Other than his grandmother too, Lucas truly had no one left. Not even Kyler, Brucks, or their friends were congratulating Lucas at this point, they were ignoring him like everyone else.

…

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