❝ what do you say? can we be friends? ❞

―

ACHARA KNOCKED ON DECHA'S DOOR.

When she heard his voice tell her to come in, she turned the knob and pushed the door open. He sat at his desk in front of his computer. The music from Dungeon Lord played in the background as the game lit up the screen. He paused the game and spun around in his chair to look at Achara, who had claimed a seat on his bed.

"You know, playing with one arm is a lot harder than I thought it would be," Decha told her, looking down at his sling before looking at Achara. "What's up?"

Achara crossed her arms. "I think the others at Cobra Kai are planning on doing something. They want to get revenge for what happened on the baseball diamond, but Silver says that we can't fight until the tournament."

"Do you know what they're planning?" Decha asked.

Achara shook her head. "I have no idea. But whatever it is, Robby and Tory can't risk violating their probation, so they won't risk doing anything too crazy."

Decha nodded. "Thanks for giving me the heads up."

"No problem," Achara responded with a smile. "That's what I promised to do, isn't it?"

Decha grabbed this phone off his desk and looked at the time. "I've got to get going soon. Sensei Lawrence and Mr. LaRusso are going to fight. I don't want to miss it."

Achara raised an eyebrow. "Why are they fighting? Is everything okay?"

Decha shrugged. "It's just how they are. Just when it seems like they're getting along, something happens that threatens to ruin that. Right now, it just so happens to be a certain silver haired man."

Achara stood up. "Well, I won't keep you any longer."

She started to walk out of the room, but the sound of Decha's voice calling out her name stopped her.

"Do you want to come?" Decha asked. "I can send a text to Demetri real quick asking if it's okay with everyone."

Achara thought for a moment. She liked to think that she was in Eagle Fang and Miyagi-Do's good graces, but the thought that she wasn't still lingered in her mind. Not to mention, it would be pretty entertaining to watch Johnny and Daniel fight.

Achara nodded her head. "Sure."

She figured there was no harm in trying. If they didn't want her there, then that was fine. Achara was
willing to accept if they were still apprehensive to have her around. She couldn't say she would blame them.

Decha with his left hand, having to hold it close to his chest as he typed with his right hand. Achara sat back down on his bed, watching him as he struggled to type.

"Is me struggling funny to you?" Decha asked when he heard her laugh.

Achara nodded. "Always."

Decha stuck his tongue out at her before looking down at his phone to press send. Now, all they had to do was wait. Even though he knew his phone would buzz when Demetri responded, Decha kept tapping his screen to see if he had a new message.

Decha looked up at Achara. "Hey, could I ask you for some advice?"

"Sure, what about?" Achara asked him.

Decha moved the chair from side to side. "Well, it's actually about Demetri and our relationship. This is the longest relationship I've ever been in, and I even told him that I love him."

Achara's jaw dropped. "Are you joking with me right now?" Decha shook his head, causing Achara's eyes to go wide. "Oh my god! Decha, that's huge! Did he say it back?"

Decha shook his head. "He said he wasn't ready and I completely respect that. But that's not the problem."

"Then what is?" Achara asked.

Decha sighed. "Well, the longer we date, the more I'm starting to realize that I actually have no idea how to be in an actual relationship that's healthy and stable. I'm just afraid that eventually he's going to realize that I'm not someone he wants to be with and that he'll leave me..."

Achara shook her head. "Don't think like that. Demetri cares about you. Everyone can see that. He's not just going to let you go because you don't know how to be in a relationship. If anything, I think that makes dating you all the more special. He might not be your first when it comes to certain things, but that doesn't matter. He's your first real relationship and that in itself is what makes your relationship special and meaningful."

Decha nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, you're right. I just don't know how to act in public. I mean, how much PDA is too much? Is it normal to hold hands all the time when we walk down the hallway? Is that something that people who are dating do? Because we do that a lot and I—"

Achara couldn't help but laugh. "Yes, Decha. That's something that couples do. And when it comes to PDA, it's personal preference. Some people show a lot of affection in public, but some people don't."

"Okay," Decha nodded his head. "And what about prom?"

"What about prom?" Achara asked.

"Well, I mean, do I slow dance with him?" Decha asked. "What's the correct hand placement? How do I even slow dance?"

"Okay, first of all, I never thought that you'd be going to prom," Achara teased him. "Second of all, have you ever heard of Google?"

Decha rolled his eyes. "Ha, ha," he fake laughed. "You're so hilarious."

Achara smiled. "I know."

Decha's phone buzzed on his desk. He turned around in the chair and tapped his phone screen. A smile formed on his face when he read the message from Demetri. He spun around in the chair so that he was looking at Achara, but he said nothing.

"Well?" Achara asked.

"They're cool with it," Decha told her. "He said he asked everyone, and they said you're welcome to come. Even Sam."

"Well, what are we doing sitting around? Let's go," Achara said as she stood up. "Get in the car."

Decha stood up and saluted her. "Aye, aye, captain!"

────────────

Achara was nervous as she walked into the backyard of Miyagi-Do. She kept her hands at her sides, her fingers clenching tightly to the hem of her shorts. She looked around, amazed at how beautiful everything was. It was hard to believe that this was a dojo.

Achara followed Decha further into the dojo. Achara had to keep reminding herself to breathe. She stood in the middle of the dojo, looking down at the koi pond.

"Is that a koi pond?" Achara asked unable to believe it. "Who just has a koi pond in the middle of their dojo?"

Decha chuckled. "Daniel LaRusso apparently. He made us catch a fish with our bare hands as part of a lesson."

Achara raised an eyebrow. "Seriously? How'd you do that?"

"We struggled a lot at first, but it was actually thanks to Miguel that we were finally able to catch one," Decha responded. "He came up with the idea to get into the pond and walk around in circles, making the fish swim under the board."

"Achara," Sam's voice called out. "We're so happy that you're here. What do you think of Miyagi-Do?"

Achara looked around, trying her hardest to avoid making eye contact. "It's absolutely beautiful. You really practice out here?"

Sam nodded. "We sure do."

"Chara!" Miguel's voice called out as he started walking up to her.

"I'm gonna go find Demetri," Decha patted Achara on the back. "Will you be okay?"

Achara nodded. "I'll be fine. Go find your boyfriend."

Miguel approached them as Decha was leaving. He looked back and forth between Achara and Sam, a wary look on his face as if he were expecting them to start wailing on each other at any moment.

"Don't worry," Sam told him. "We're being civil. Aren't we, Achara?"

Achara nodded. "Yup."

A smile grew on Miguel's face. "Good. Good, that's great." He turned to Achara, his smile growing even bigger. "I'm so glad you're here. We all are."

"Y-you were?" Achara asked in disbelief. "Everyone?"

Miguel nodded his head. "Yeah. You're helping us out and we're thankful for that. You're welcome here."

Achara smiled. "Uh, thanks. I didn't think everyone would just forgive me so easily..."

"It's not your fault," Sam responded. "You were just influenced by the wrong people. You made some mistakes. We all have. It'd be wrong of us to hold that against you when you're willing to help us out."

"Why are you being so nice to me?" Achara asked her. "I've been nothing but mean to you. I pushed you into a dessert table. I shoved you at the roller rink. I helped Tory gang up on you at school. I broke into your house with Cobra Kai and tried to fight you with a bo staff. Why don't you hate me?"

"Not very many people would put themselves in the position that you have," Sam told her. "You're risking everything and we're grateful for it."

Achara couldn't help but smile at the last part. "Uh, thanks, I guess. I also wanted to say I'm sorry for everything that I did."

"Don't worry about it," Sam replied. "It's water under the bridge." Sam looked down at the ground. "I'm sorry too. For what I did at Moon's party. You had every right to want to beat the crap out of me."

Achara sighed. "Actually, I didn't want to. Miguel and I worked things out before school started. Tory was the one who..."

Sam nodded. "Yeah, I know."

"She just did it to protect me," Achara tried to explain. "She hated seeing me so hurt the night of the party that she wasn't thinking and well, you know the rest."

Sam shrugged. "Looks like it all comes back to Tory, huh?"

Achara sighed slowly. "Yeah, it does."

She hated that Sam was right. As much as Achara wanted to continue to see the best in Tory and believe that she was only looking out for her, there were so many things that Achara had a feeling wouldn't have happened if it hadn't of been for Tory's actions.

She still would have hated Sam for continuing to be persistent when it came to Miguel and for kissing him at the party. She still would have hated her for playing a part—even if it was a minor one—in causing a rift between her and Robby. Though, that was mostly due to the fact that she joined Cobra Kai and because of what happened at the Canyon party.

But if it hadn't been for Tory, Achara didn't think the situation would have escalated as quickly or gotten as bad as it did.

"We should probably get over there," Sam pointed to the sparring deck. "The fight's gonna start soon."

Sam gave Achara one last smile before she turned around, walking towards the deck.

"Hey, Sam?" Achara said, causing Sam to turn around. "Can I ask you one last thing?"

Sam nodded her head. "Sure. Anything."

"Why'd you do it?" Achara asked. "Why'd you kiss Miguel?"

"When I saw him come outside, I started to wonder whether or not I actually liked him or if I just thought I did because he stood up for me against Kyler," Sam admitted.

Achara crossed her arms, listening to Sam talk.

"I was drunk, and I wasn't thinking straight. I know that's not an excuse, but it certainly didn't help," Sam told her. "After I kissed him, and he pushed me away I knew that I didn't like him. Not the way I thought I did."

Achara gave her a confused look. "So, you never actually liked him?"

Sam shook her head. "No. I only thought I did."

Miguel cleared his throat. Achara and Sam both turned their heads to look at him. Achara had completely forgotten that he was still standing there and judging from the look on Sam's face, she did too.

"So, are you guys friends now?" Miguel asked. "Or are you frenemies? I'm kind of confused."

Sam turned to Achara and held out her hand. "What do you say? Can we be friends? I'm still willing to start over if you are."

Achara stared down at her hand. She inhaled a deep breath and held it in for a few seconds before exhaling. She slowly raised her hand and placed it in Sam's as she nodded. She really hoped she didn't end up regretting it.

Miguel nodded his head as he smiled. "Now that that's settled, let's go."

Achara trailed behind them as she followed them to the sparring deck. She was greeted with several smiles and a few uncertain glances, but they didn't seem to be looks of hatred as she expected. She still couldn't believe that they didn't completely despise her.

"He's here! He's here!" Chris' voice called out, causing everyone to turn their heads as Johnny walked through the backyard. His phone was attached to a camera stick to capture the fight. "Anything you want to say to the camera Sensei Lawrence?"

Johnny continued to walk past them, stepping onto the sparring deck. Daniel was kneeled on the deck, waiting for him with a displeased look on his face over the fact that he had made such a spectacle about the fight that had caused the crowd of students.

"So, how are we going to know who wins?"

Miguel turned to Achara and shrugged. "I guess we could have someone from Eagle Fang and someone from Miyagi-Do be referees."

"I nominate Miguel and Sam," Bert suggested.

A chorus of agreements overlapped around them. Miguel and Sam turned to each other and shrugged their shoulders.

Johnny stepped off the deck to change into his gi. Achara stood next to Miguel, Decha, and Demetri as they waited for the fight to begin. Sam had gone to grab flags for her and Miguel to use during the fight.

"Hey, where's Hawk?" Decha asked Demetri.

He shrugged in response. "He texted me a few hours ago that he was going to the tattoo shop and then he'd be on his way. I haven't heard anything since then."

Achara gulped. An uneasy feeling appeared in her stomach. She knew the other Cobras were planning something and she had a bad feeling about Hawk's absence, but she didn't want to cause any cause for alarm or concern if it was something as simple as Hawk running late.

Johnny returned to the deck and stood in front of Daniel. They stared at each other for a few seconds before they turned their heads face Miguel and Sam, nodding at their respective students. Sam handed Miguel a flag as the two of them stepped onto the deck, claiming a corner on opposite sides before walking to the center of the deck.

"Face us," Miguel spoke. "Bow."

The two senseis turned to face their students and bowed. Miguel and Sam bowed with them.

"Face each other," Sam instructed them. "Bow."

Johnny and Daniel turned to each other and leaned forward, bowing. They didn't hesitate to get into fighting position.

"Ready!" Miguel said as he and Sam held their flags between their senseis.

"Fight!"

Miguel and Sam quickly moved out of the way, returning to their corners as the fight commenced.

Johnny didn't hesitate before the started kicking in Daniel's direction. Daniel blocked every kick and punch that he sent his way. Daniel tried to score a point, extending his fist forward towards Johnny. He ducked at the last moment, crouching down, and blocking the hit with his arm as he punched him in the side.

"Point, Lawrence."

"Sensei Lawrence strikes first!" Chris narrated to the camera.

"True to the motto painted on his former dojo wall, and carved into his very being," Mitch added.

Decha and Achara both turned their heads at the same time, their eyebrows furrowed at him.

"What? I'm trying to capture the spirit of th-the thing," Mitch told them. "No need for the creepy twin synchronization."

The twins glanced at each other, a look of 'Are you thinking what I'm thinking?' on their faces. They nodded their heads at one another before turning back to Mitch, in perfect sync. They continued to stare at him until Mitch's gave them a terrified look, walking around Chris to stand on the other side of him.

Demetri shook his head, chuckling. Decha and Achara laughed as they gave each other a high-five before turning back to the fight.

"Score, 1-0. Lawrence," Miguel announced. "Ready!"

The two men nodded as Sam glanced back and forth at them. "Fight!"

Daniel was the one to make the first move this time, stepping closer and closer to Johnny who took a step back every time Daniel inched towards him. Johnny was quick to block Daniel's punches. Before Johnny had the chance to strike, Daniel lifted his leg and landed a kick to Johnny's stomach.

Miguel raised his flag. "Point, LaRusso!"

Miguel and Sam stepped in front of them, holding their flags out. "Score is 1-1. Ready!"

"Fight!" Sam shouted as she and Miguel lowered their flags.

Miguel and Sam barely had enough time to move out of the way before Johnny kicked towards Daniel who quickly turned away, avoiding it. Johnny didn't waste another second as he swung his leg in the air. Daniel dodged it, stepping back and barely having enough time to even breathe as Johnny swung another kick over his head. Daniel blocked every hit that Johnny tried to send
his way.

Johnny's leg rose in the air as he sent a kick in Daniel's direction. Daniel was quick to grab Johnny's leg, causing a moment of distraction and giving himself the opportunity to punch Johnny in the stomach.

"Hell yeah!" Chris exclaimed as the crowd cheered. "Two-to-one. LaRusso takes the lead."

"All he has to do is score one more point and LaRusso is the winner," Mitch nodded along.

"What are you? Sports announcers?" Decha asked the two boys. "How about we leave the announcing to Daryl?"

Chris and Mitch gave him a confused look.

"Who the hell is Daryl?" Mitch asked.

"The announcer at the All Valley?" Decha told them as if it were obvious.

Chris and Mitch glanced at each other. Decha rolled his eyes at them before turning back to the fight as Johnny lurched his fist towards Daniel who grabbed him by the wrist. Daniel hit him in the fold of his elbow, causing Johnny to groan in pain before he proceeded to punch him in the shoulder.

For a moment, Johnny looked shocked Daniel came towards him again. Johnny was able to nudge him back before wrapping his legs around Daniel's waist, pulling him to the ground. Johnny kicked him in the stomach, scoring a point. As the crowd cheered, Decha glanced at Demetri.

"This is staring to get..."

"Out of hand?" Demetri finished his sentence.

Decha nodded. "Yeah."

He turned to his other side, seeing Achara nervously chewing on her fingernails.

"Score is 2-2," Miguel said, glancing back and forth.

Sam stood next to him, holding out her flag. "Next point wins."

"Ready," Miguel said as Johnny and Daniel got into their fighting positions.

"Fight!"

As Miguel and Sam lowered their flags and stepped out of the way, they had to shuffle back quickly in order to avoid being caught in the middle. The crowd jumped and cheered with anticipation as Johnny ran towards Daniel, who managed to swiftly move out of the way, and dodge Johnny's punches.

Daniel grabbed Johnny by the arm and flung him to the floor of the sparring deck. Still on his knees, Johnny tried to sweep Daniel's leg, but he lifted his leg before contact could be made. Johnny stood back on his feet as he continued to block Daniel's hits. Johnny grabbed Daniel by the arm and pushed him forward causing him to collide one of the wooden poles.

Johnny swung his leg towards Daniel's head, but he ducked in just enough time so that Johnny's leg went right over his head. Daniel stood on his feet, getting into a fighting position as he circled around Johnny. They continued go block each other's punches and kicks.

The two senseis raised their legs at the exact same time. Their legs swung through the air towards each other's faces. They both fell to the deck with a thud.

"Point, Lawrence!" Miguel raised his flag in the air at the exact same time as Sam as he shouted, "Point, LaRusso!"

Johnny and Daniel both groaned in pain as they stood up.

"Wait, so who won?" Achara asked.

"Check the replay!" Demetri said.

They all gathered around Chris' phone as fast forwarded through the video. The moment that Daniel and Johnny kicked each other played on the screen.

Johnny stood behind him, watching over his shoulder. "Go to other angle."

"There is no other angle," Chris responded.

"Don't you guys have another phone?" Johnny asked.

"Why would we have anoth—Hawk?" Decha said as he noticed Hawk entering Miyagi-Do.

"Shit, Eli," Demetri said as he walked closer to him. "What happened?"

Hawk lowered his hood. Decha's breath hitched as he saw his hair and the look on his face. The mohawk was gone, only two tufts of purple on either side of his head remained. His eyes were bloodshot and damp as if he had been crying.

"Who did this?" Johnny asked as he pushed his way through the crowd and stood in front of Hawk.

"Cobra Kai," Hawk's shaky voice spoke.

All eyes turned to Achara. She glanced around, shaking her head. "I—I didn't know. I didn't have anything to do with this. I knew they were planning something, but I had no idea what it was. I wasn't there when it happened. I was at therapy and then I came here. You have to believe me. I didn't know..."

"Don't worry, Achara," Daniel reassured her, placing his hand on her shoulder. "No one's blaming you."

"Kreese and Silver did this," Johnny said as Hawk pulled his hood back over his head. "They need to pay."

"Jesus, Johnny. Please," Daniel protested as Johnny turned around to face him. "Kreese tried to kill you last time. What do you wanna fight them both?"

"Damn right I do. Look what they did," Johnny replied, gesturing to Hawk.

"Dousing the fire with gasoline, that's your answer?" Daniel asked. "Why am I not surprised?"

"Sensei, stop," Miguel pleaded.

Johnny ignored him, responding to Daniel. "You still think your way is the only way. You were so proud when they pulled their little sprinkler prank the other day. But if they stood their ground and kicked some ass, like I taught them, this never would've happened."

"And if they fight every time they're provoked, where does that lead?" Daniel questioned. "Back to the hospital? Or to jail? Come on, just 'cause you spent time in both—"

"Enough, dad!" Sam shouted at the same time as Decha yelled, "Yut!"

Johnny shook his head. "I don't know what that means, Boyband."

"It means stop," Demetri translated for him, causing several heads with confused looks to turn his way. "What...?"

Decha turned to Daniel. "Cobra Kai will never stop. Don't you get that? Standing here arguing like a bunch of children will get us nowhere! We can't sit back and wait for them to strike. They're never going to leave us alone. What do you want us to do? Sit back and paint fences while they carry out another assault?"

Daniel shook his head. "That's not what I'm saying at all. Look—"

"They're right," Sam said, causing Daniel to turn and look at her. "It doesn't matter how much we stand up to Cobra Kai, if we don't strike back, they're gonna keep coming at us."

"And you were worried about my influence on your kids?" Daniel asked Johnny. "Is this what you want, Johnny? To have my daughter and the rest of my students acting like you?"

"Yeah, well, you don't have to worry about it anymore. 'Cause we're done," Johnny replied.

Daniel shrugged. "Works for me."

Decha walked over to Hawk, placing his hand on his back. Hawk gave him a soft smile before he stared down at the grass.

"Eagle Fangs, let's go."

Johnny began to walk away before he turned around to make sure that his students were following. Decha sighed as he made eye contact with Demetri. He shook his head at Decha with a pleading look in his eyes. Decha held his breath as he looked back and forth between his sensei and Demetri. He shrugged his shoulders at Demetri.

Achara stood next to Miguel, unsure of what she was supposed to do. Eagle Fang and Miyagi-Do splitting up threw a wrench into the entire plan.

When the Eagle Fangs began to walk out of Miyagi-Do, Achara followed after them. She didn't know what else to do.

— EMILIA'S NOTES

this was very stressful to write. i over analyzed the whole fight to the point of literally getting up close to my screen to see better.

achara and sam friendship (kind of?). those who follow my tiktok and saw my edits know what's *potentially* in store... i'm still kinda undecided.

decha and demetri going to prom and him asking achara for advice. decha and demetri have my entire heart. like take it, it's yours <3

alternative chapter title: daniel and johnny being children once again.