❝ quiver. ❞

━━━━━━━☆

   COURTESY TO REINA'S video of Miguel fighting going viral, Cobra Kai has blown up. "I don't understand why I'm wearing a gi too if I'm just being Sensei's assistant," Reina complained to Aisha, her hands raised in front of her as Miguel practiced his punches, lightly tapping her palm. With her braided hair pulled back in a ponytail, she shifted from foot to foot, trying to keep her frustration in check while still supporting her friend.

   "Maybe it's a fashion statement?" Aisha teased, grinning as she watched Miguel's focused movements. "You know, looking the part and all that."

   Reina rolled her eyes but couldn't help but smile. "Yeah, right. If I'm going to be stuck in this gi, I might as well be doing something cooler."

   "But I thought you didn't wanna do karate," Miguel chimed in, a smug grin on his face as he landed another light punch against her palm.

   Reina shot him a tight-lipped smile, feeling a mix of annoyance and amusement. "I don't, but that doesn't mean I can't help you look good doing it," she shot back, her tone playful yet pointed. Aisha laughed, sensing the friendly banter between them. "Well, at least you're getting a front-row seat to all the action. Just think of yourself as a cheerleader... in a gi." Aisha suggests.

   "Great, now I'm a cheerleader too," Reina said, shaking her head but chuckling. As Miguel continued his drills, she found herself getting drawn into the rhythm of the dojo, the energy buzzing around them. Maybe being part of Cobra Kai wasn't so bad after all.

   "Quiet!" Johnny yelled, his voice cutting through the chatter like a knife. "Face front." The students snapped to attention, their eyes wide as he began to walk among them, assessing his potential recruits with a critical gaze. Demetri happened to be the first one to catch his eye.

   "Nice shirt," Johnny remarked, a sly smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.

   Demetri crookedly smiled, a hint of pride on his face. "Thanks."

   "I'm joking. It sucks." Johnny shot back, his tone dripping with disdain as he scanned the room, practically wrinkling his nose in disgust. His gaze landed on a grinning kid with braces, who was clearly oblivious to the tension. "Word of advice: If you got shit for teeth, don't smile."

   Reina leaned toward Aisha, her expression a mix of disbelief and amusement. "Jesus, he's an asshole."

   Aisha nodded, her voice low and serious. "I think that already been established."

   "My God, makes me feel like a virgin just looking at you," Johnny murmured, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he cast a dismissive look over the sea of students gathered in the dojo. His eyes moved from face to face, landing on a particularly young kid, whose wide-eyed expression reflected confusion rather than indignation. Johnny continued his barrage of insults, his tone shifting from mocking to mildly reflective. "When I look around this dojo, I don't see Cobra Kai material. I see a bunch of losers. I see nerds. I see a fat kid in a funny hat with his tits popping out. But in my short time as a sensei, I've also seen some miracles."

   A faint smile flickered across the faces of Aisha and Miguel, although Reina, caught in the crossfire of compliments and insults, wasn't quite sure if she would take it as one if she were them. Johnny paused dramatically, then added, "So maybe there's some hope for you yet. But first, I need to see where you're at. So everybody, fall in!"

   Silence reigned as nobody moved a muscle.

   "That means line up," he clarified, gesturing impatiently. They all instinctively shuffled behind Aisha, Reina, and Miguel, unsure of Johnny's next move. "No, not... not line up in a line. I mean lines. Lines! Get in lines!"

   Demetri's voice piped up hesitantly, "You mean, like, rows?"

   Johnny's face fell into his hands. "Ugh."

   After a moment, his command finally sank in, and they repositioned themselves into uneven rows, each student slightly unsure of what was coming next.

   "Fighting positions!" Johnny barked, and stances were hastily taken with fists raised high, except for Reina, who stood at the front next to Johnny, observing the chaos unfold. "Jab punch!" he instructed, but then quickly corrected himself, shaking his head in annoyance. "Nope, wait until I say go. Hiyah!" The students lunged forward in unison. "Hiyah! Hiyah!" He watched them closely, searching for faults. And there were many.

   "Come on. Stand straight!" He sauntered over to a shorter student, leaning in close. "Plant your feet in there. Hiyah!" He grimaced as he inspected the form. "Are you sure you're right-handed?" As he paced around the room, disappointment grew in his expression. When he reached another kid, he let out a low groan. "Come on, tits, you can do better than that! You've got weight; use it. Ready?"

   Standing front and center, Johnny cast an unimpressed glance back toward the rows of students. "Hey, Lip. Yeah, you," he called out, targeting Eli with that infamous sneer. "The one with the freaky lip. Who do you think I'm talking to?"

   Demetri jumped in to defend, "Excuse me, uh, Mr. Lawrence."

   "Sensei Lawrence," Aisha corrected without missing a beat, annoyance creeping into her tone.

   Demetri let out a condescending chuckle. "Okay. But you really shouldn't make fun of someone's physical appearance."

   "Oh, is that so? So I'm not supposed to mention his lip at all?" Johnny's voice dripped with mock incredulity.

   Reina glanced over to Eli, who was now frantically looking around as if wishing to disappear altogether.

   "Well, yeah." Demetri replied.

   "Maybe that's what they teach you in school, but in the real world, you can't expect people to act the way they're supposed to. Right?" Johnny challenged the assembled class. "You hear that, Lip? If you can't handle someone making fun of you, how are you gonna handle an elbow to the teeth?"

   "By calling the police?" Demetri replied with exaggerated sarcasm, as if it were the most logical solution.

   Miguel shot a pleading look at Demetri. "Dude. Knock it off."

   "What? He does realize the Nazis lost the war, right? Why should I be scared of him? Because he's got a snake on his wall?" Demetri gestured toward the cobra emblem glaring down on them. "It's not like he's a teacher who can give us bad grades. We're paying him. He works for us. It's not like he can actually hurt us."

   "Oh, shit," Miguel whispered under his breath, shutting his eyes momentarily as the other students instinctively cleared a path for Johnny to stalk right up to Demetri.

   "You done?" Johnny asked, his voice low and intimidating, standing right in front of him.

   Demetri feigned ignorance. "What?"

   "Hit me. Go ahead, hit me," Johnny taunted, gesturing to his own face, challenging Demetri like a matador provoking a bull. "Strike me right here." Demetri hesitated, his fist trembling as he tried to summon the courage, but when he finally made a weak attempt, it was utterly lackluster.

   "Harder," Johnny demanded. Demetri tried again, but it still fell short.

   "Is that all you got, princess?" Johnny scoffed. As Demetri made yet another feeble attempt, Johnny swiftly maneuvered, swinging his arm forward with force that sent Demetri tumbling to the floor. Demetri hit the mat and kneeled there, wide-eyed and flinching, as Johnny continued to tower over him. "Hiyah!" Johnny rose, thrusting a finger around the room, making a point that echoed in the silent air. "Let that be a lesson to all of you!"

   Reina felt a wave of sympathy wash over her for Demetri and Eli, who were clearly on the receiving end of their sensei's harshness.

   The class didn't last too much longer after that.

   Sitting on the stone wall outside, Reina anxiously thumbed through her phone, unable to shake the feeling of uncertainty about continuing as Johnny's assistant. Today had been far more brutal than she had anticipated. Johnny Lawrence was proving to be arguably worse than the bullies many of them faced in their everyday lives.

   Miguel joined her, noticing the worried expression etched on her face. "Hey," he said softly, trying to draw her out of her thoughts, "You okay?"

   Reina looked up, meeting his gaze. "Yeah, just... processing." She put away her phone and sighed. "Again your sensei's quite intense."

   Miguel chuckled, sitting down beside her. "That's one way to put it. He's intense, alright. But again, he's not all about the tough love, you know?"

   Reina raised an eyebrow. "You sure about that?"

   "Well, sure. In his own weird way, Johnny really does want to help us. He's just... abrasive."

   Reina leaned back against the wall, her eyebrows furrowed slightly. "Abrasive is an understatement. Did you see how he treated Eli and Demetri?" Her voice was tinged with a mix of disbelief and concern.

   Miguel nodded, his expression more serious now. "Yeah, I did. Trust me, I don't like it either when he gets in their faces like that. But you have to understand, he's trying to toughen us up, to make us push past our limits."

   Reina crossed her arms, her skepticism evident. "Yeah, by shaming them and picking on their insecurities? That's not toughening someone up. That's just being cruel."

   Miguel sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Look, I'm not saying I agree with everything he does or says. Some of his methods are... questionable. But trust me when I tell you that Sensei has his reasons. He's trying to prepare us for what's to come. Cobra Kai doesn't just teach karate. It's about building mental resilience, too."

   Reina stood up from where she sat, dusting herself off. "Just don't let all of this turn you into something you're not, Miggy." She said, patting his back. She then pointed to the white SUV pulling up to the mini mart. "That's my dad. I'll text you later, Miguel."

   Miguel watched as Reina headed toward her mother's vehicle, her words lingering in the air. "Don't let all of this turn you into something you're not." He knew she had a point, but he also believed in the potential Cobra Kai held for him and the others. As he watched her drive away, a mix of determination and self-reflection filled his thoughts. He knew he had to stay true to himself, even as he was molding into a stronger person through Cobra Kai. "See you later, Reina."

    As Reina slid into the passenger seat of the SUV, she felt a weight lift from her shoulders. The familiar scent of her dad's cologne mixed with the faint staleness of fast food lingered in the air. Charlie glanced over, a warm expression lighting up his face.

    "Hey, babygirl! How was karate?" he asked, starting the engine.

    "Uh, it was... interesting," she replied cautiously, still processing the day's events.

    "Interesting, huh?" Charlie raised an eyebrow, clearly curious. "Is that the Miguel you were talking about?"

    Reina nodded, a small smile creeping onto her face despite her earlier reservations. "Yeah, that's him."

    Charlie's eyes sparkled with a mix of curiosity and protectiveness. "I wanna meet him. I like to know who my girls are hanging out with, especially if he's a boy."

    Reina felt her cheeks heat up at the last comment. "It's not like that, dad. He's just a friend."

    "Yeah, yeah," Charlie chuckled, clearly unconvinced by her reassurances. He unbuckled his seatbelt, his intentions clearer than ever. "Come on, introduce me to him."

    "What, like now?" Reina exclaimed, the surprise evident in her voice. The suddenness of the request caught her off guard, and she instinctively tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt as she imagined the impending awkwardness.

    "Yes, now," Charlie reiterated with a determined nod, stepping out of the parked car with a decisive flourish. The door creaked open, and he turned back to her, a mix of enthusiasm and fatherly protectiveness radiating from him. "Let's not waste any time, kiddo!"

    Reina's heart raced, swirling with a tumult of anxiety and the thrill of the unexpected. What would Miguel think? Would he be okay with meeting her dad on the spot, or would this seem weird? She stole a quick glance at the front door of Cobra Kai, where Miguel had been standing, glancing at his phone while waiting for his mom. "Dad, seriously-is this even necessary?" she protested, swallowing the embarrassing flush rising to her cheeks.

    "Yes! I just want to put a face to the name," Charlie insisted, waving her concerns aside as he confidently strode toward the sidewalk, his gait exuding the carefree spirit she admired, even in her current flustered state.

    "Okay, okay! Just wait a second," Reina called after him, scrambling to follow, her heart pounding in anticipation and embarrassment. Each step felt heavier as she considered the awkwardness that lay ahead, wondering how this unpredictable encounter would unfold.

    "Hey! Miguel!" Charlie shouted, waving his arms to grab his attention.

    Reina stood frozen for a moment, a mix of embarrassment and amusement flooding her senses all at once. "Dad, wait!" she yelled after him, but it was too late. Charlie was already bridging the distance to Miguel, who stopped in his tracks, his expression morphing into one of surprise at the sudden attention.

    "Miguel, right?" Charlie said, extending his hand with a broad, friendly smile that seemed to fill the air with warmth. Miguel's face flashed with confusion, but he took the handshake, slightly bewildered by the exuberance radiating from Reina's dad.

    "Uh, yeah... and you're Reina's dad?" Miguel responded, still processing the sudden encounter.

    "That's me," Charlie replied, his voice cautious. "I just wanted to introduce myself. I've heard a lot about you from Reina."

    Miguel glanced back toward Reina, who stood behind her father, half-expecting to sink into the ground in humiliation. She stifled a laugh, pressed her palm to her forehead in exaggerated disbelief, but couldn't help the smile that crept onto her face at the sight of them together.

    "What have you heard sir?" Miguel asked cautiously, curiosity mingling with caution in his tone.

    "Oh, just that you're the new kid at school and that you're into karate!" Charlie replied, his voice booming with enthusiasm. "Reina told me you're pretty good, too. I'd love to hear how you got into it."

    "Uh, thanks," Miguel said, visibly relaxing as he took in Charlie's genuine interest. "I've been doing it for a couple months now, just trying to get better."

    "That's good. But let me get to the point-do you have any bad intentions with my daughter, now do you?" Charlie's voice turned serious, the protective father instincts on full display.

    "Dad!" Reina yelled, mortified. "Chill! We're just friends!" She felt her cheeks flaming, caught between laughter and disbelief at her father's abruptness.

    Miguel's eyes widened in surprise, but he captured the moment's humor with a soft laugh. "I promise, Mr. Parker, I have no bad intentions. I just want to be a good friend to Reina."

    Charlie crossed his arms, his eyebrows slightly raised, and his stern expression gradually melted into one of amusement. "Alright then, just checking," he replied, his tone softening. "Glad to meet you, Miguel. Treat my girl well, alright?"

    Reina watched the interaction unfold, her feelings a swirl of embarrassment, pride, and appreciation. She felt thankful that despite her dad's protective instincts, he really did seem to recognize Miguel's good nature. Once Reina and her father were back inside the car, the familiar hum of the engine combined with the warmth of their conversation created a comfortable atmosphere. As they pulled away from the curb, Charlie broke the silence with a playful glint in his eye. 

    "But still, I think it'd be cool to see him in action. I could even give him some tips, you know, from one martial arts enthusiast to another." he suggested, his enthusiasm palpable.

    Reina rolled her eyes, a teasing smile now on her lips. "You mean 'from a dad who thinks he's an expert' to a kid who's, like, just starting out?"

    "Hey, now!" Charlie feigns injury, "Well, maybe," he laughed. "Besides, I have a bit of experience sitting ringside and watching it unfold."

    "Right, you mean watching Dre," she shot back, her lips pulling into a smirk. "Besides, I'm not even sure Miguel would be into that kinda thing. He's, like, super chill."

    "Chill is good," Charlie said, nodding thoughtfully as they drove through the streets of Reseda. "But you know, sometimes it takes a little push to get the best out of someone."

    Reina turned her head towards the window, watching the trees blur by. The weight of the conversation hung in the air-a mix of her father's protective instincts and her own complicated feelings about karate, which suddenly felt so closely tied to her relationship with Miguel. "Dad, I don't want to get into that whole karate thing," she said quietly after a moment, her tone serious. "You know how I feel about it."

    Charlie's expression softened, understanding her hesitation. "I get it, Reina. But I just want you to be safe. And if Miguel is into karate, that might mean he has a different perspective on self-defense. It might help you feel a little more secure."

    Reina sighed, knowing he meant well but still feeling conflicted. "Is that what you think I need? To know how to fight?"

    "No," he replied gently. "It's about knowing you can stand up for yourself if you ever need to. Every kid should feel empowered."

    "Yeah, but I don't want it to come at the cost of...other stuff," Reina said, choosing her words carefully. "I don't want to feel pressured. I just want to enjoy hanging out with my friends."

    Charlie nodded again, turning the SUV into the driveway. "Fair enough. Just remember, you can talk to me about anything. I want the best for you, always."

    "Thanks, Dad," she said, feeling a sense of gratitude for his support, even if she still felt some apprehension about everything karate-related. As they parked and stepped out of the car, Reina noticed a flutter of butterflies in her stomach. Miguel was becoming more of a presence in her life, and while she was still wary of the world of karate, she couldn't deny the excitement that came with being around him.

    "Hey, be careful out there," Terry warned as they walked toward the house, a protective tone lacing his words. "And don't hesitate to reach out if you ever want to talk about Miguel or...anything."

    Reina smiled, feeling grateful for his care. "I know. I will." 

   _______________

   LAUGHTER spread throughout the biology lab like wildfire the next day as Samantha LaRusso strolled in, a piece of candy artfully perched on her shoulder. With a practiced nonchalance, she settled into her seat, the candy removing itself gracefully with a flick of her wrist. "Thanks for the Blow Pop, guys. Really never gets old," she drawled sarcastically, placing the candy on her desk and rolling her eyes at the teasing.

   Reina leaned closer to Miguel, lowering her voice as she whispered, "Jesus this is brutal. Why would she do it with Kyler out of all people anyway, everyone knows he has a blabber mouth." Miguel frowned, his brows knitting together in concern. "It just a rumor," he replied, trying to downplay the situation.

   "Rumor or not. Look at how Aisha was treated, and Sam's friends were the ones spreading the lies. So it serves her right." Reina's voice was laced with indignation as she remembered the hurtful jokes and whispers that had surrounded Aisha.

   "Exactly Sam's friends. Not Sam," Miguel's instinct to defend Sam piqued, earning her a quizzical look from Reina.

   "Hey, everybody! Who let the pigs out?" Mr. Palmer exclaimed exuberantly, breaking the tension as silence filled the room. When no one responded, he continued with a grin, "I did because I ordered the fetal pigs. But seriously, get in your groups."

   Reina cast her gaze down at the worksheets before her, the words swirling as anxiety bubbled beneath the surface. Sam stood up, glancing around the room before seeking Mr. Palmer's attention. "Mr. Palmer, my partner's absent," she called out, her voice direct.

   Mr. Palmer peered around the room, exclaiming, "Oh, who wants to take Samantha in? This little piggy needs a group." An awkward silence fell, punctuated by the sound of shuffling feet as students avoided eye contact. "Don't all volunteer at once," Mr. Palmer quipped, his tone a mixture of sarcasm and hope as he surveyed his students.

   It was Miguel who finally raised his hand, breaking the tension. "We'll take her," he said, surprising both Reina and himself.

   "Miguel why would you volunteer?" Reina quietly questioned him, confusion flashing in her eyes.

   "Why not?" he shrugged, a charming smile creeping onto his face as Sam gathered her things and approached their table. As she made her way over, Sam accidentally brushed against Reina's shoulder while trying to place her bag on Miguel's left side. "Thank you!" she said, flashing a warm smile. "I'm gonna go grab a chair."

   "Yeah. No problem," Miguel replied, yet Reina felt an unpleasant twist in her gut.

   "Are you okay?" he asked, concern now etched across his features as he noticed her unease.

   "Great," she responded with a forced smile, the fake cheeriness not quite reaching her eyes. Sam returned a moment later, settling into the chair she'd fetched with a satisfied grin. Reina couldn't help but feel a rising tide of resentment, remembering how Sam had abandoned Aisha during her time of need and hadn't lifted a finger to help when the meme about Aisha circulated everywhere.

   "Hey, Reina!" Sam waved, her enthusiasm shining through.

   Reina merely offered a curt nod in response, her lips pressed into a thin line. "Samantha."

   They began to put on gloves and aprons while grabbing their scalpels. Reina took the lead, confident in her abilities to navigate the dissection without needing any hand-holding-a welcome change from her usual woes in other classes. "What were you thinking for sex?" Sam ventured, her tone casual, causing Miguel to go bright red and flustered.

   "Uh, I mean..." Miguel stammered, clearly caught off-guard.

    Reina couldn't help but snort at his embarrassment as Sam continued, "Because in the male, this tract opens up near the umbilical cord. So I think ours is female."

   Miguel, still recovering from the awkwardness, stiffly nodded in agreement. "Yeah. Um... Yeah, I concur."

   "Thanks for, um, helping me out, by the way," Sam added, her tone genuine. "Oh, yeah! I mean, I'm sure you... you would've found another group," Miguel offered, trying to sound casual, though his gaze betrayed a hint of infatuation.

   Reina listened distantly as the two of them chatted about a recent fight, amazed at how much Sam seemed to know about karate-the moves, the techniques, the stances. It was disarming, and as Reina focused intently on the dissection, a smirk crept onto her face; her suspicions about Sam and Miguel's crush on each other.

   "Do you guys want a banana?" Samantha asked, rummaging through her bag, pulling out a few bright yellow fruits with a bemused expression. "People keep sneaking them into my bag. It's because of that stupid rumor that I'm sure you guys have heard about me."

   "Oh, no. Yeah, you shouldn't worry about it," Miguel said quickly. "Those guys are assholes to us too. I mean, they call me 'Rhea,' so..." Miguel trailed off, hoping to share a moment of solidarity.

   Samantha shook her head, dismissing Miguel's claim. "Not anymore."

   "Yeah, I guess you're right. Not anymore," Miguel responded, a smile surfacing on his lips as it mirrored Sam's own.

    When Sam excused herself to use the bathroom, Reina seized the opportunity. Tapping Miguel's arm with a mischievous smirk, she leaned in and whispered playfully in Spanish, "Tu enamoramiento por ella es tan obvio."

   "Lo sé, lo sé," Miguel responded, an amused smirk dancing across his lips. "Es inevitable. Pero no digas nada, ¿vale? Todavía estoy en el proceso de aceptar la obviedad."

   Reina mimed zipping her mouth shut and playfully tossed an imaginary key.

   _______________

   "OKAY, everybody fall in." Johnny stepped into the dojo, puzzled by the lesser amount of students in the room than last time. "Where's everyone? Crater face? Nose ring? Slingshot?"

   "They quit, Sensei," Miguel replied.

   "You serious? I mean, good. That was a test." Johnny moved through the space, trying to shake off his irritation. "I wanted to see who the quitters are. Not you guys. You're in it to win it. Right? You could be at home, playing your IComputers, playing your video games, eating candy. Instead, you're here, doing pushups, learning how to fight." He pointed at Eli, "Lip. Look. Even Lip's tougher than those guys. He's no quitter."

  Eli, fed up with the nickname, quietly asked, "Could you please not call me that?"

"Excuse me, what?" Johnny raised his voice, disbelief etched on his face.

"I said, could you please not call me that," Eli repeated, his tone firmer now.

Sensing the rising tension, Miguel stepped in, hands raised in a placating gesture. "Um, I'll warm 'em up, Sensei."

Johnny waved him off dismissively. "No, no, no. Lip has something he wants to say. Sorry, speak up, Lip. Or is your tongue messed up too? Are you one of those challenged kids?" He smirked, the jab clearly meant to provoke.

"Um, the doctor said I could be on the spectrum," Eli replied, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I don't know what that is, but get off it pronto. All right? If you don't want me to call you Lip, then don't have a weird lip. Can't you get surgery for that?" Johnny shrugged, as if it were the simplest solution in the world.

"I was born with a cleft lip. This is the scar from the surgery," Eli said, anger seeping into his voice.

"You mean it was worse before that? Or did the doctor just screw up? Because if this is the after photo, that sucks, man. You should sue," Johnny retorted, crossing his arms defiantly.

Reina groaned into her hands, feeling both frustrated and exhausted by the situation. "Can we just please change the topic?" Eli implored, casting a pleading glance at Johnny.

"You don't think I want to?" Johnny shot back, his irritation bubbling over. "It's tough when it's right in front of me. If you want to be something other than a nerd with a scar on his lip, then you gotta flip the script. Okay? Get a face tattoo. Or gauge your eye out. We'll call you Patch, all right? No, don't do that one. You'll still look like a freak."

Eli couldn't take it anymore. Gathering his shoes, he stood to leave, his frustration palpable. "Oh, great, really? Another quitter?" Johnny called after him, his voice dripping with mockery.

   Miguel let out a heavy sigh as the last students filed out of the dojo, their laughter echoing in the empty space. Once the lesson was over, he and Reina exchanged a glance, knowing they needed to talk to Johnny about his harsh approach. They made their way to his office, the atmosphere thick with unspoken tension.

   "Go away. No more lessons today." Johnny waved his hand dismissively, not bothering to look up as he uncapped his beer bottle, the sound echoing in the quiet room.

   "Do you have to be so hard on them?" Miguel asked, stepping into the office with a furrowed brow. "Oh, come on, Diaz. They're a bunch of losers," Johnny replied, leaning back in his chair, his disdain evident. "Yeah, well, some of those losers are our friends," Miguel shot back, crossing his arms defiantly.

   "Yeah, that tracks," Johnny shrugged, taking a long swig from the bottle. "And they're your students. You wanted a full dojo; you got one," Reina chimed in, her hands on her hips as she faced Johnny, her frustration palpable.

   "Not full like that," Johnny said, rolling his eyes. "Sure, they have their quirks, but they're trying," Reina insisted. "They need your support, not your insults."

   "Exactly! And I get it. All right, they're losers. Maybe I'm a loser too," Miguel admitted, his voice softer, tinged with vulnerability. "Are you kidding me? Are you gonna cry now too?" Johnny scoffed, repulsed. "No, it-nevermind. It's just that you don't know what it's like to be us," Miguel said, frustration seeping into his voice. "I'll see you tomorrow."

   Little did they know, that's exactly the reason Johnny was being so hard on them was because he did know what it was like.

   _______________

   REINA SETTLED comfortably on the couch, her little sister Estrella perched on a pillow in front of her. The living room was softly lit, and the familiar theme song of Law and Order played in the background. Reina had grabbed a few colorful beads and hair products, ready to create a fun cornrow style for Estrella. As the opening theme of Law and Order filled the room, Reina chuckled at how invested Estrella was in the show. "You know, you're way too young to be so into this stuff, right?"

   Estrella shrugged. "I like the suspense! Plus, Olivia Benson is badass."

   "Yeah, Olivia is badass." Reina agreed. She smiled fondly, her younger sister's enthusiasm infectious. "Well, I promise if you finish your homework, we can have a Law and Order marathon sometime."

   Estrella's eyes lit up. "Really? That would be awesome! I'm going to be a detective one day!"

   "You'll make a great detective, Chiquita." She leans down and dramatically kisses Estrella's forehead, to which Estrella dramatically wipes off. "Eww, don't get your slob all over me," Estrella says, earning a hush from Raina.

   Reina gathers Estrella's hair in her fingers. "You're going to look so cute with these beads!" Reina started braiding Estrella's hair, meticulously sectioning it so that the final look would be neat and stylish. Just as Reina was getting into a groove, her phone buzzed loudly on the coffee table, startling both of them. It was Raegan calling.

   "Hey, Rae!" Reina answered, focusing on her work as she continued to braid. "REINA! O-M-G! Have you seen how Eli looks? He did a total 180!" Raegan gushed, her voice practically vibrating through the phone. "Uh, no! I just saw him yesterday at the dojo, which he quit by the way. Not that I blame him for doing so," Reina said, brushing Estrella's hair back.

   "I know, right? But seriously, he cut his hair and started working out! I was just at that new Boba shop, and he looks amazing!" Raegan exclaimed, her excitement contagious. "I even sneaked a picture of him. Hold on, I'll send it to you!"

   Reina chuckled while continuing to weave in beads, careful not to catch Estrella's hair. "You really are obsessed! But I'm curious now."

   "Here it is!" Raegan declared. Reina heard the familiar sound of a picture being sent through. She glanced quickly at her phone while keeping one eye on her work. When the picture loaded, Reina couldn't help but gasp. "Wow, he really does look different!" She raised her eyebrows, amazed at Eli's blue Mohawk. "Who knew he had that kind of potential?"

"I did actually," Raegan joked.

   Meanwhile, Estrella was squirming a bit in anticipation. "Reina, can you hurry? Are we almost done?" She complained. "Almost, almost. Just give me a second!" Reina said, trying to keep her focus on both her sister and Raegan. "But seriously, I can't believe Eli changed so much."

   "Right? He's totally unrecognizable! I mean, I knew he had it in him!" Raegan replied energetically. "Wait until you see what else I found out. I swear he's been hitting the gym!"

   "Listen," Reina said, trying to multitask. "Can you tell me later? I'm in the middle of styling Estrella's hair." She pulled another braid tight, adding a splash of color with a bead.

   "Okay, I'll send you the rest of the tea later. But you've got to promise to send me a pic of Estrella's new hair when you're done!" Raegan insisted. Reina smiled at Estrella, who was fidgeting with excitement. "You will definitely get a picture! I've got her looking fly!" With that, Raegan hung up. As Reina turned to continue with the hairstyle, she noticed Estrella giving her a pleading look. "Are we really almost done?" she asked.

   "Oh yeah!" Reina said, trying to reassure her. "Just a few more braids left!" Reina said as she finished another section and added a bead, admiring her work. Reina set her phone aside to focus on the last few braids. "I'll make you an ice cream sundae if you stop complaining and stop all that moving."

   "I want it with extra sprinkles," Estrella replied, her previous impatience forgotten as she enjoyed the process. "Just a couple more beads, and we'll call it a wrap," Reina encouraged, diligently adding the finishing touches.

   _______________

   MIGUEL TRUDGED to the front of the dojo, where his Sensei stood beside Reina, who was positioned at the front as the assistant, ready to support the class. He hesitated for a moment before addressing him. "Three more absences, Sensei."

   Aisha remarked from her spot, "Bunch of pussies."

   Johnny nodded, acknowledging her comment. "No, it's my fault," he admitted, glancing at Reina as her eyes widened in surprise that he was taking responsibility. Turning to face the class, he continued, "Since you joined Cobra Kai, I have been hard on you. I've called you names. I've humiliated you. Some of you I've hit. And for that, I don't apologize. Cobra Kai is about strength. If you're not strong on the inside, you can't be strong on the outside."

He paced back and forth, his gaze sweeping through the students. "And right now you're all weak. And I know that because I was you. I used to have no friends. I used to be the weird kid. Not that weird." He made direct eye contact with Bert, "I still hooked up with babes and all, but... the point is, I wasn't always the badass Sensei I am today. Just like a cobra, I had to shed my loser skin to find my true power. And you guys will too."

   Just then, the bell chimed as someone with a blue mohawk walked in. "Welcome to Cobra Kai," Johnny greeted, not recognizing Eli.

   Everyone turned to him, their friends in shock at Eli's newfound confidence.

   Holy shit. He really did a 180.

   Miguel, stunned, asked, "Eli, what happened?"

   "I'm flipping the script," Eli replied, his voice deeper and harsher than before.

   Johnny stepped closer to Eli. "Wait, are you the kid with the lip? Nice cut, bro." He nodded in approval. "You see that?" he pointed at him. "Doesn't matter if you're a loser or a nerd or a freak. All that matters is that you become badass." He thought for a moment and decided on a new name for him, "Hawk. Fall in."

   Eli took off his shoes and stood beside Aisha.

   "Fear does not exist in this dojo, does it?" Johnny asked, walking past Raina as he addressed Eli.

   "No, Sensei!" Eli responded confidently.

   "Pain does not exist in this dojo, does it?" Sensei asked Aisha.

   "No, Sensei!" she answered.

   "Defeat does not exist in this dojo, does it?" Sensei asked Miguel.

   "No, Sensei!" he replied.

   Satisfied with their answers, Johnny turned to face the class. "Class, are you ready to learn the way of the fist?"

   They all yelled in unison, "Yes, Sensei!"