The news that Kai Hilton had returned spread like wildfire. Everyone was shocked when they found out that Kai was part of Silver's Cobra Kai - it was unlike him.

Sam hadn't had the chance to talk to him yet but even if she ran into him, she wouldn't know what to say. So for now, she concentrated on helping her dad run Miyagi-Do and prepare herself for the inevitable fight with Cobra Kai.

The Cobra Kai dojo buzzed with intensity as students drilled under the watchful eyes of their Senseis. The atmosphere was filled with tension, determination, and the unmistakable undercurrent of competition. Kai and Takeshi stood near the front, their calm, disciplined presence a stark contrast to the chaos of the other students scrambling to meet their Senseis' exacting standards.

Sensei Yazuko observed silently from the sidelines, his arms crossed as his sharp gaze dissected every movement. His presence was quiet as he watched his students, and only his students.

Silver clapped his hands, silencing the room. "Eyes up here," he said, his voice commanding the room, "Cobra Kai is about pushing beyond limits. Today, I want you to watch and learn from two individuals who embody what it means to be champions: Kai Hilton and Takeshi Yazuko."

The students exchanged glances as Silver gestured for Kai and Takeshi to demonstrate a sequence of advanced drills. The two moved in perfect synchronicity, each kick and punch executed with razor-sharp precision. The room was silent except for the sharp snap of their strikes and the whispers of awe.

"This," Silver declared, pointing at the pair, "is what happens when you commit to being the best. Watch. Learn. Aspire."

Kai looked at Takeshi at his side. "He loves us."

Takeshi shrugged. "There's something beneath all of this. We can't simply be here as role models."

Kai agreed. He was almost certain that there was an ulterior motive and Terry Silver wasn't simply here to boost their egos.

As the students were paired off for sparring, Kai noticed a dark figure in the back. Elijah St John, the impulsive and ruthless new recruit stood with no emotion on his face. Kai suspected he had fighting experience before, perhaps not karate but with his fighting experience and his constant aggression and true 'no mercy' mindset he suspected he was Terry's future prospect alongside Kenny Payne and Tory Nichols.

Kai noticed Elijah stare at him, with a look that was filled with nothing but aggression. He looked like he wanted to kill. It was a terrifying sight for Kai, why was someone his age looking like he could kill someone and enjoy it?

"If you have a problem with me," Kai spoke out loud, directed to the boy in the back corner, "I suggest you say it to me now."

Elijah said nothing but instead flipped Kai off.

Silver's voice cut through the tension. "Enough. Both of you - on the mat."

He was grinning when he said those words. He was excited to see what Elijah would bring.

The students formed a loose circle around the mat, their eyes glued to the two fighters. Elijah's posture was coiled and aggressive, his expression devoid of emotion. Kai, by contrast, was steady and focused, his breathing measured as he sized up his opponent.

"Begin!" Sensei Kim barked.

Elijah charged immediately, his movements fast and relentless. His strikes weren't just aimed to score points; they were meant to hurt. Kai's eyes narrowed as he blocked a savage kick aimed at his ribs, the sheer force of it making him step back.

Kai countered with a sharp combination - a low kick and a spinning backfist - but Elijah absorbed the blows, his expression unchanging. His counterattack was brutal, a flurry of punches and kicks that pushed Kai onto the defensive.

This wasn't sparring. This was a fight for dominance.

Kai adjusted, his experience and discipline taking over. He began to predict Elijah's movements, exploiting openings in his aggression. As Elijah lunged, Kai sidestepped and kick his stomach, sending him sprawling to the mat.

But Elijah wasn't done. He sprang up, eyes blazing, and rushed Kai again. This time, Kai met his charge head-on, grappling him and forcing him to the ground. He pinned Elijah with a knee and wrapped a hand around his throat - not enough to choke, but enough to send a clear message.

The dojo was silent except for Elijah's ragged breathing.

Kai leaned down, his voice low and quiet. "You've got talent, but you're on a dark path. That kind of rage will destroy you."

Elijah stared up at him, unflinching. His expression didn't change, but the intensity in his eyes was unsettling.

"Enough!" Sensei Kim ordered, her tone sharp. Kai released Elijah and stood, offering him a hand. Elijah ignored it, pushing himself up and stalking out of the circle without a word.

Silver clapped again, breaking the tension. "Excellent display, Kai. Everyone, take notes. That's how you dominate."

Kai turned at met the eye of his Sensei. Sensei Yazuko looked conflicted. This was not the environment he wanted his students to train in, these weren't the people he wanted Kai and Takeshi to surround themselves with.

Outside the dojo, Elijah's younger brother Milo waited, sitting cross-legged on the pavement. He spotted Devon Lee walking past, her usual confident stride catching his eye. She noticed him and veered in his direction, flashing a smile.

"Hey, Milo," she greeted casually, "your brother got into some deep shit in there today."

Milo's cheeks flushed. "Yeah, uh...he does that sometimes."

Devon laughed, a light, carefree sound. "You ever think about joining?"

Milo shifted uncomfortably. "I'm...not really into fighting."

Devon tilted her head, curious. "Why not? It's not all about violence. It's self-defence. Confidence. You could've avoided quite a bit."

Milo realised she was talking about his troubles at school. It was true Milo was a shy and passive boy and that left him vulnerable to bullies. Hearing Devon say it made him feel sad - especially since he valued what she thought of him. He had always admired her confidence, the way that she could command a room - especially in a debate - and part of him wished he was like her.

But he wasn't, he was the shy little brother of the psycho, emotionless older brother. Devon would never waste any time on someone like him.

Milo hesitated, his gaze dropping to the ground. "I just...don't think I could do it."

Devon softened, realising she'd struck a nerve. "Hey, sorry. That came out wrong." She paused, then added with a smile, "Tell you what. If you're ever curious, I'll teach you the basics. No pressure."

Milo's heart raced. Spending time with Devon was an opportunity he didn't want to miss. "Yeah, maybe."

Devon grinned. "Cool. See you around, Milo."

As she walked away, Milo stood frozen, replaying the conversation in his mind. The shy, wiry teenager perked up as Elijah emerged, his face dark and brooding.

"Hey Eli," Milo said tentatively, standing and falling in step beside his brother, "you okay?"

Elijah didn't respond immediately. His knuckles were white as he gripped the strap of his gym bag. Finally, he muttered, "Fine. Let's go."

Milo hesitated but didn't press further. It wasn't unusual for his brother to be withdrawn. He admired Elijah's toughness, even if it scared him sometimes. They only had each other, and Elijah's ferocity was what kept them safe.

The truth was, the St John brothers were parentless. Elijah had been forced to grow up fast, stepping into a role he wasn't ready for. His coldness was a shield, protecting himself and Milo from the world's harsh realities.

Over at Miyagi Do, Sam, Miguel, Robby, Hawk, and Demetri stood in a loose semicircle along with other students, listening intently as Chozen lead their training session.

"Protect the egg," Chozen said, holding up the small, fragile object, "it is simple in concept, but difficult in execution."

Sam exchanged a glance with Miguel, their competitive spark reigniting. Hawk smirked, already plotting a strategy, while Demetri groaned under his breath, muttering something about how he always ended up with the hard tasks.

Chozen placed the eggs in front for each to take. "Your opponents," he said with a rare grin, "are everywhere. They will try to take the egg. Be ready."

After training, the group decided to reward themselves with a trip to the mall. The atmosphere was lighter than usual, with the teens using the trip as an escape from everything karate related.

"Demetri," Hawk said, gesturing to a gaming store, "don't spend your life savings on another useless collectible."

"Excuse me," Demetri retorted, "but my collectibles are investments. They'll be worth millions someday."

Sam chuckled, walking slightly ahead with Miguel. They had remained friends after Sam said she needed time for herself and it was working so far. She had far too much on her plate at the moment, especially with Kai's well-timed reappearance.

As they rounded a corner, the mood shifted abruptly. Standing near the entrance of a high-end clothing store were Kai, Takeshi, and Tory. The Cobra Kai jackets they wore were unmistakable, their presence like a dark storm cloud rolling into an otherwise sunny day. It shocked Sam that Kai and Takeshi were wearing them, usually they would wear their Tiger Claw jackets.

Sam froze, her breath catching in her throat. Kai. The boy she had wronged, the boy she had loved. He was here, alive, and standing not ten feet away.

Kai was fidgeting in his jacket, he didn't want to wear it. But Silver insisted that him and Takeshi sport Cobra Kai gear. As he looked up his gaze swept over the group, his expression neutral but guarded. Beside him, Takeshi stood rigid, noticing Sam. Tory's lips curled into a smug smile, clearly enjoying the tension.

"Kai," Sam said, stepping forward, her voice trembling, "you're here."

Takeshi immediately moved in front of Kai, his eyes narrowing. "Stay back."

Kai, however, held up a hand, signalling Takeshi to stand down. "It's okay." he said, his voice quiet but firm. "Who are you?"

Sam couldn't hold back any longer. She closed the distance between them and wrapped her arms around him. The contact was brief, but it was enough. Kai stiffened, his body going rigid as a flood of memories washed over him - snapshots of moments with Sam, the All Valley, the accident, the betrayal.

He staggered back, shaking his head. Takeshi caught his arm, his eyes filled with concern. "Kai? What's wrong?"

"I..." Kai's voice faltered. He stared at Sam, his expression a mixture of confusion and hurt. "I remember..."

"Fuck..." Takeshi breathed, his eyes glaring at Sam.

Before he could finish, Hawk's voice cut through the moment like a blade. "Of course he remembers. Convenient timing, huh? How do we know this isn't some Cobra Kai mind game?"

Tory stepped forward, her fists clenched. "Say one more thing, and you'll find out just how 'convenient' we can be."

Miguel put a hand on Hawk's shoulder, trying to diffuse the situation. "Let's not do this here."

But the damage was done. Kai's memories of the All Valley resurfaced - his fight, his injury, the fallout. His hands balled into fists at his sides as conflicting emotions churned inside him.

Hawk sneered. "You're not fooling anyone, Kai. We saw what Cobra Kai did to you before. You think we're going to trust you now?"

Kai took a step forward, his voice cold. "You don't know anything about me."

"Oh, I know enough," Hawk shot back. "You're just another Cobra pawn, doing whatever Silver tells you."

Takeshi finally intervened, stepping between them. "That's enough." he said, his voice commanding. He turned to Kai. "We're leaving."

"But-" Kai started to protest, but Takeshi's firm grip on his shoulder silenced him.

"Sensei wouldn't want this." Takeshi said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Tory scoffed, but she followed Takeshi and Kai as they walked away. Sam watched them go, her heart aching. She had seen something in Kai's eyes - something real, something vulnerable - but now it was gone, replaced by the cold, distant mask he wore as a Cobra Kai student.

"What a dickhead." Hawk cursed.

Sam shook her head. "No...that's not him. I can see it. Something is up."

"Face it Sam," Hawk scoffed, "he's the enemy."

Outside the mall, Takeshi glanced at Kai at his side, "What happened back there?"

Kai didn't respond immediately, his mind racing. "I...I don't know," he admitted finally. "But seeing her...it brought something back."

"Be careful, Kai. The past is dangerous. Don't let it distract you from what's important."

Kai nodded, but his thoughts remained on Sam. The past wasn't just dangerous - it was haunting.

And now, it was impossible to ignore.