"NO."

"No?"

Thalia blinked. "No. Tory and I are in a really good spot. If I go back to Eagle Fang-"

"Miyagi-Do." Miguel corrected.

"Whatever." Thalia scoffed, playing with the strings on her hoodie. "I'm not ready to do karate right now. Not to mention that video of Tory kicking my ass is all over the internet."

Miguel sighed. Again, they were at the park, sitting at a picnic table. He'd come to her about joining Miyagi-Do after Sensei Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso decided to, once again, work together to take down Cobra Kai.

"Thalia, you're good." Miguel said. "One of the best that I know. I wouldn't ask you to do this if I didn't think you could." He sighed, licking his lips. "And I'm sorry I wasn't there to support you at the tournament."

Thalia sighed. "I get it. You had your own thing going on. I don't blame you. How are you doing?"

Miguel hesitated, his gaze dropping to the wooden table for a moment before meeting her eyes again. "I'm... okay, I guess. Still figuring things out," he admitted. "Mexico didn't exactly go the way I thought it would."

Thalia nodded, leaning back slightly. "Yeah, finding out your dad isn't who you hoped he'd be... that's heavy."

Miguel's brows furrowed, surprised by how easily she cut through to the truth. "Yeah, it was," he said quietly. "I thought I'd feel something—closure, or maybe just... clarity. But it's complicated."

Thalia offered a small, understanding smile. "I'm sorry, Miguel. I get it. I mean, I don't really know my dad either. It's always been my mom, Tory, and Brandon. Then my mom got sick and Tory stepped up. I think that's why it's sucks that I like karate. To do it against her after everything she's done for me..."

Miguel nodded, his hands resting on his legs. "She's know that you're your own person. Besides, you showed who you are during the tournament. It was a close fight. It could've been anyone. It could've been you, Thalia. Tory knows you're good and she knows your heart better than anyone."

Thalia softly smiled, as she glanced down at her hands. "Thanks Miguel. I don't think she's the only that does."

Miguel blinked, her words catching him off guard. A subtle heat crept up his neck, but he quickly composed himself, offering her a small smile in return.

"So," Thalia sighed. "how are you and Sam?"

Miguel sighed, tucking his bottom lip. "We... We broke up."

Thalia raised her brows. "Oh... Oh my God. I'm so sorry. I didn't know."

Miguel shook his head, waving her off with a faint smile. "It's okay. It was bound to happen sooner or later. We just... weren't on the same page anymore." He glanced down at his hands, his fingers fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. "It's weird, though. I thought it would hurt more."

Thalia tilted her head slightly, studying him. "Weird how?"

Miguel hesitated, his gaze meeting hers for a brief moment before he looked away. "I guess I thought we'd be forever, you know? High school sweethearts, all that cliché stuff. But somewhere along the way, it just... stopped feeling right. Like we were forcing something that wasn't there anymore."

Thalia's expression softened, and she reached out to place a gentle hand on his arm. "That doesn't mean it didn't matter, Miguel. Sometimes people grow apart. It's not anyone's fault—it's just life."

Her touch sent a warmth through him, and Miguel glanced up at her, his chest tightening. "Thanks, Thalia." He said quietly.

Thalia smiled, her hand lingering for a moment before she pulled it back. "That's what friends are for, right?"

Friends. The word hung in the air, heavier than Miguel expected. He nodded, forcing a smile, but deep down, he couldn't ignore the growing feelings he had for her. Feelings that had been quietly stirring ever since Mexico, and maybe even before that.

"Yeah," he said, his voice softer now. "Friends."

Thalia didn't seem to notice the shift in his tone. She leaned back, crossing her arms as she gave him a curious look.

"So... what now? Are you just going to focus on karate again?"

Miguel chuckled lightly, scratching the back of his neck. "Something like that. But I think I'm trying to figure out who I am, you know? Outside of all of this—karate, tournaments, relationships. It's been... a lot."

Thalia nodded in understanding. "It's a good idea. Sometimes you need to take a step back to figure out what you really want."

Miguel smiled again, this time more genuine. "What about you? What's next for Thalia Nichols?"

Thalia shrugged, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I don't know yet. But whatever it is, it won't involve getting kicked in the face again anytime soon."

Miguel laughed, the sound warm and genuine, and for a moment, the heaviness between them eased. But as they sat there, a comfortable silence settling in, Miguel couldn't help but steal another glance at her.

Maybe now wasn't the right time to say it, but deep down, he knew his feelings for Thalia were anything but fleeting.

THALIA SAT in the car outside of the jail where John Kreese currently resided.

Thalia couldn't blame Tory for wanting to seem him. He'd done a lot for them... for her. She wouldn't yell, scream, or fight her sister because of him. Not for what he'd done for them.

But she was growing bored. Her head rested against the driver's seat as she continued waiting for Tory to come out.

The minutes stretched on, each one heavier than the last. Thalia leaned back against the driver's seat, her gaze wandering up to the gray clouds shifting above. She sighed, reaching over to grab her phone, scrolling aimlessly through the same notifications she'd already checked twice.

Kreese. The name itself made her chest tighten. She didn't hate him—not completely. After all, Kreese had been there for Tory when no one else was, and that counted for something. But his influence? That was another story. Tory might not admit it, but Kreese's voice still echoed in her choices, in the way she carried herself, always ready to fight the world.

Thalia's eyes drifted to the rearview mirror, catching her own reflection. Maybe we're not so different, she thought bitterly. She'd spent so much of her life fighting too—fighting for herself, for her family, for any sense of stability. And now, here she was, waiting outside a jail for her sister to come back from God-knows-what kind of conversation with a man who thrived on chaos.

The passenger door suddenly opened, and Tory slid inside, her movements stiff and deliberate. She shut the door without a word, her eyes focused straight ahead.

Thalia glanced at her, waiting for some kind of explanation, but Tory didn't speak.

Tory exhaled deeply, leaning her head back against the seat. "It went," she muttered. She didn't elaborate, her gaze fixed out the window.

Thalia hesitated for a moment, unsure if she should press. "You okay?"

Tory turned her head slightly, her lips curving into a faint smile. "Yeah. Just... a lot to think about."

Thalia nodded, starting the car. "Alright. You want to talk about it?"

Tory shook her head. "Not now. Maybe later."

The engine hummed as Thalia backed out of the parking spot, the two sisters settling into a quiet understanding. The tension in the air wasn't heavy—it was familiar. A kind of unspoken bond that needed no words, only time.

As they pulled away from the jail, Thalia glanced at Tory out of the corner of her eye. She didn't say it, but she could see the weight Tory carried. And for now, that was enough.

— lucy has something to say !!

i actually have nothing to say... because this chapter is a FILLER

bye :))))