A roar of Kiais echoed throughout the Cobra Kai dojo. Terry Silver strode through the training floor with his usual air of authority, his silver ponytail gleaming under the overhead lights. Every move he made seemed deliberate, calculated, as if the dojo was his stage and the students his cast.

"Kai, Takeshi, Kenny, Elijah, Tory," Silver called, "you five are the foundation of this dojo. Champions in the making."

The chosen students stood apart from the others, stepping forward closer to Silver. Kai and Takeshi exchanged a glance, wary of what was going on. Kenny stood tall, pride in his young eyes, while Elijah smirked, his cocky demeanor never far behind. Tory crossed her arms, scepticism evident, but she listened closely.

Silver's favouritism was no secret, and it fuelled tension among the other students. Whispers and sidelong glances filled the air as the rest of the dojo wondered what made those five so special. But Silver's charm was impossible to resist, and the promise of glory at his hands kept everyone in line.

Later that day, Silver summoned his star pupils - Kai, Takeshi, Kenny, and Elijah - into a private training room. The walls were lined with mirrors, the space cold and clinical, designed for focus and precision.

"I'm going to teach you something very few ever learn," Silver said, his tone dropping into something conspiratorial, "a technique that, when executed correctly, guarantees victory. The Silver Bullet."

The students exchanged glances, intrigued.

Silver moved to a dummy and demonstrated the technique: a sharp, targeted blow to the chest, designed to knock the wind out of an opponent and render them defenceless.

"Remember," Silver said, turning back to them, "if they can't see, they can't fight. If they can't breathe, they can't fight."

He walked among them, guiding their movements as they practiced. Elijah took to the technique with unsettling ease, his strikes aggressive and efficient. Kenny, though initially hesitant, found a rhythm, his determination driving him forward.

"That's good." Kenny breathed as he did it.

Silver let out a menacing chuckle. "You like it huh?"

Kai and Takeshi refused to practice, this was not what they were taught. This wasn't the karate they had grown up around. Their Sensei wouldn't approve.

"Pussies." Elijah muttered, seeing the two not take part.

Kai glared at Elijah but said nothing. The two did not get on at all. Kai disliked Elijah at a person and was worried the teenager was heading down a dark path. A dark path caused by family trauma.

After this, Kai and Takeshi immediately told Sensei Yazuko what had happened and when he heard his expression was unreadable. He had spent his life instilling discipline and respect into his students, and what he saw in Cobra Kai grated against his values. The flashy moves, the emphasis on domination, the manipulation - it was a far cry from the principles he had built his dojo on.

Later, in Silver's office, Yazuko confronted him. "This is not karate." he said, his voice calm but firm. "This is violence disguised as discipline."

Silver, ever the smooth operator, smiled. "Sensei Yazuko, I assure you, I'm preparing your students for greatness. We're not just training for local tournaments anymore."

"What do you mean?"

"Cobra Kai has its sights set on the world stage. The Sekai Taikai, the pinnacle of karate competition. And with the talent we have here, there's no doubt we'll dominate."

There was no response from Sensei Yazuko who despite his emotionless and stoic face, he had a whirlwind of thoughts inside him.

Silver continued. "With Kai we have the strength, the discipline, and the instinct needed to lead this team. Takeshi's skill and technique are unmatched. We would be unstoppable. No one could beat us. We would make Cobra Kai known all over the world. The Sekai Taikai is the highest honor in karate, and I want them to shine on that stage."

"But at what cost?" Yazuko countered. "My students are not tools for your ambition."

Silver's smile didn't falter. "They're more than tools - they're the future of karate. And I'm giving them the platform they deserve. Don't you want the world to see the strength of the Tiger Claw legacy?"

Yazuko's jaw tightened. "Then I will enter my own dojo."

"But with the resources and funding that I have here with Cobra Kai, this is how you will succeed internationally."

Yazuko said no more and left the room, finding Sensei Kim.  "I will not entrust my students to this path."

Kim's voice was sharp. "You owe my family a debt, Sensei Yazuko. My father gave his life for you. All I ask is that you honour that sacrifice by staying and helping us leave his legacy. His father, my grandfather, was Silver and Kreese's Sensei. "

"Silver wants to use my students as his pawns."

"He is giving you a chance to leave your legacy."

Yazuko was tired of hearing all the talk of a legacy. He did not believe that the legacy he would leave if he stuck with Cobra Kai would be the legacy he wanted to leave. Nevertheless, he was a man of honour. As long as Kim thought he needed to be here to repay his debt he would be there. Bound by the shackles of honour and respect.

Silver's plans were clear: he wanted to mould Kai, Takeshi, and the others into champions at any cost. But Yazuko had his own vision, one rooted in the principles of honour, balance, and respect. He would not let Silver destroy the integrity of his students - or the art of karate itself.

Milo St John stood awkwardly outside the Cobra Kai dojo, his hands stuffed deep into his hoodie pockets. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, glancing up every so often to scan the parking lot. It was his usual spot to wait, tucked just out of the way of the bustling crowd of Cobra Kai students leaving for the day. But this time, he wasn't waiting for Elijah.

He spotted Devon striding out of the dojo, her ponytail bouncing as she waved goodbye to a group of students. Her confidence radiated, making her impossible to miss. As she passed, Milo hesitated, then finally mustered up the courage to step forward.

"Devon." he called softly, his voice barely audible over the sound of passing cars.

She turned, smiling. "Hey, Milo! What's up?"

Milo fidgeted, looking down at his sneakers. "Uh...about what you said the other day...about teaching me karate." He glanced up, his cheeks tinged with pink. "Do you think we could...maybe do that today?"

Devon's eyes lit up with excitement. "Are you kidding? Of course! Let's hit the park; it's perfect for practice."

She was already walking in the direction as Milo followed a few steps behind, his nervousness battling with a small sense of pride for having asked.

Before they could leave, a familiar voice cut through the air. "Milo."

Elijah appeared, his tall frame imposing as he approached them. His piercing eyes flicked between his younger brother and Devon, his expression unreadable. "What's going on?"

"I, uh...I'm going to hang out with Devon," Milo said, his voice trembling slightly. "She's...going to teach me some karate."

Elijah's jaw tightened, his gaze shifting to Devon. She crossed her arms, meeting his stare without flinching. For a moment, the tension was palpable, the air thick with unspoken words.

Elijah finally broke the silence. "Be back by dinner." he said flatly.

Devon let out a small laugh, trying to lighten the mood. "Well, that wasn't awkward at all."

Milo didn't respond, watching his brother disappear down the street. Devon placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Come on, let's go."

The park was quiet as Devon led Milo to an open space near a cluster of trees, dropping her bag on the ground.

"All right," she said, clapping her hands together, "let's start with the basics."

Milo looked around nervously, feeling exposed in the open space. "What if someone sees?"

Devon laughed. "What if they do? It's just practice. Relax, Milo. Nobody's judging you." She gave him a playful nudge. "Now, stance first. Show me how you'd stand if someone was coming at you."

Milo attempted a stance, his feet awkwardly placed and his arms stiff. Devon stifled a giggle. "Okay, not bad for a first try, but let's loosen you up a bit."

She moved around him, gently adjusting his posture. "Feet shoulder-width apart. Bend your knees a little - there, that's better. And your hands should be up, but not like a robot."

Milo followed her instructions, his movements jerky but improving. Devon stepped back to appraise him, nodding in approval. "See? Not so bad. Now, let's try a basic punch."

For the next hour, Devon guided Milo through simple techniques, her instructions patient and encouraging. Milo slowly began to relax, his shy personality giving way to focus and determination. Devon's energy was infectious, and her constant stream of chatter kept him at ease.

"You're doing great," she said after a particularly well-executed punch, "I knew you had it in you."

Milo's lips twitched into a small smile, the compliment warming him. "Thanks. You're a good teacher."

Devon beamed. "And you're a good student. This is fun, huh?"

He nodded, feeling a rare sense of confidence. "Yeah, it is."

As the session wound down, Devon flopped onto the grass, patting the spot next to her. Milo hesitated, then sat down, keeping a careful distance.

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the golden light of the setting sun casting a warm glow over the park. Devon suddenly reached into her bag, pulling out her phone. "Here," she said, handing it to him, "put your number in. That way, if you ever want to practice again - or just hang out - you can let me know."

Milo hesitated, then took the phone, carefully typing in his number. He handed it back to her, his heart racing. "Thanks," he said softly. It was rare someone asked for his number.

Devon grinned. "No problem. And hey, next time, I'll teach you how to kick. You'll be a pro in no time."

Milo smiled, the rare expression lighting up his face.

As the two made their way back they ran into Kai and Takeshi who had stopped for a break in their run.

"You two ok?" Kai asked them both.

Devon nodded but Milo refused to meet his gaze. This was the infamous Kai Hilton his brother despised.

Kai found it odd the younger boy refused to look at him but that was when he clocked it was Elijah's younger brother he figured the older St John had said a few words. They quickly left the younger pair but ran into yet another familiar figure at the park.

Samantha LaRusso.

She was wandering the park after yet another session with Chozen, who had been pushing them all harder than ever. No matter how much she tried to focus, her mind always circled back to Kai. Seeing him at the mall had dredged up a storm of emotions she hadn't dealt with yet.

And then she saw him again.

"What do you want?" Takeshi asked, as Sam approached.

Sam hesitated, her heart pounding. "I... I just wanted to talk to Kai."

"Sam." Kai said plainly.

Takeshi crossed his arms, his stance firm. "Kai has nothing to say to you. You've caused enough trouble."

Sam's eyes darted between the two, her gaze pleading. "Please. I just need a minute. Kai, please."

Kai studied her, his brows furrowing. He glanced at Takeshi, then back at Sam. After a long pause, he nodded. "It's okay."

Reluctantly, Takeshi stepped aside, though he didn't go far.

Sam and Kai stood in awkward silence for a moment. She couldn't help but notice how much he'd changed - the maturity in his posture, the sharpness in his gaze. The accident had changed him. He seemed...more determined.

"I...I didn't know you were back," she said finally.

Kai shrugged. "I've been back for a little while. Cobra Kai brought us here."

The mention of Cobra Kai sent a shiver down Sam's spine. "Kai, you don't belong with them. They're not who you are."

His expression hardened. "You don't know who I am anymore, Sam."

"I do," she insisted, stepping closer. "I remember everything about you. I remember the All Valley, I remember..." Her voice faltered. "I remember what happened."

Kai's eyes darkened, his fists clenching at his sides. "You mean the accident? The thing that changed my life forever? I thought I couldn't do karate anymore!"

Sam's chest tightened. "It wasn't your fault."

"No," Kai said, his voice cold, "it was yours."

The words hit like a physical blow. Sam's shoulders sagged, guilt washing over her. "I know," she whispered, "I've carried that guilt every day since. I never meant for any of this to happen."

Kai's face softened, just for a moment. But then he shook his head. "You think apologising changes anything? My life is different now. I don't need your pity."

"It's not pity!" she exclaimed. "Kai, I-"

A sudden, overwhelming wave of memories crashed over Kai. Sam's voice echoed in his mind, fragments of the past rushing forward - laughter, sparring sessions, whispered words under the stars. The pain of betrayal.

"Kai?" Sam reached out, alarmed.

Kai snapped back into reality, his breathing ragged. "I don't...I don't need this," he muttered, shaking his head as if to clear it.

Takeshi was there in an instant, his hand on Kai's shoulder. "We're leaving," he said firmly, glaring at Sam.

Kai nodded, his gaze distant. "Yeah. Let's go."

As they turned to leave, Sam's voice broke through. "Kai, wait! Please don't shut me out. I'm sorry for everything. Just...please don't hate me."

Kai paused, his back to her. For a moment, it seemed like he might say something, but then he walked away, Takeshi by his side.

Leaving Sam standing alone in the park, tears streaming down her face.