Lukas couldn't shake the feeling of being under scrutiny. He could practically feel the weight of everyone's stares as they searched for an empty spot to sit.

Across the room, he spotted Kyler and his cronies causing a ruckus by the vending machines. Lukas rolled his eyes at their antics, silently deeming them as nothing more than immature troublemakers.

Unfortunately, every table seemed to be occupied except for one, where two boys sat alone, looking like outcasts in their own right.

Miguel spoke up, gesturing towards the empty seats. "Can we sit here?"

One of the boys, with black hair and a sarcastic tone, responded, "Sorry, tables are really blowing up right now. I can put you both on the waitlist, but it's probably next semester at the earliest."

Lukas couldn't help but chuckle at the boy's remark. "There's nobody but you two at the table."

The boy introduced himself as Demetri, and his quieter companion as Eli, who simply nodded in acknowledgment.

Miguel introduced himself, and Lukas followed suit. "I'm Lukas."

Demetri's response was laced with sarcasm. "I know who you are, karate boy. We all saw the video. We're not used to being friends with someone with this much attention."

Lukas shifted uncomfortably in his seat, not quite sure how to respond. "I don't know if I like it," he admitted honestly.

Just then, Sam and her friends walk by, a small smile tugged at his lips, his heart fluttering at the sight of her. Miguel seemed to be similarly captivated by her presence.

Demetri's voice broke through Lukas's reverie. "Don't torture yourself, those are the rich girls."

Lukas nodded absentmindedly. "I know. That's Sam LaRusso," he admitted, his gaze following her as she settled at a table with her friends.

Miguel's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You know her?"

Lukas hesitated, unsure of how to explain their connection. "Uh, yeah. We're friends... I think?"

Demetri raised an eyebrow skeptically. "You think?"

Lukas sighed, feeling the weight of the complicated situation. "It's a funky situation," he admitted.

Miguel leaned in, intrigued. "You ever talk to them?"

Demetri chimed in with mock confidence. "Oh yeah, all the time. We meet up after school. Make out."

Lukas's attention was divided between their conversation and Sam's laughter echoing across the cafeteria. "Yeah, must be nice," he muttered distractedly.

Miguel frowned, noticing Lukas's distant demeanor. "What's up, man? You okay?"

Lukas quickly snapped out of his reverie, plastering on a fake smile. "Yeah, just not used to all this attention," he replied, hoping they would buy his excuse.

Demetri, ever the jokester, saw an opportunity. "This could work though. I know someone who could defend me when I need it. Almost like the Kingsguard."

Lukas's interest was piqued. "You watch Game of Thrones?"

Before Demetri could reply, Eli, who had been quiet up until now, spoke up. "Shit, Yasmine's looking at my face. Probably making fun of me."

Miguel offered reassurance. "I bet she's not making fun of you. Just because they're not mean doesn't mean they're mean."

Lukas nodded in agreement. "Sam's nice."

Demetri's skepticism persisted. "Again, how do you know her?"

Lukas shrugged, trying to keep things vague. "I talk to her."

Demetri wasn't convinced. "Doubt it."

Lukas shook his head adamantly. "Nope."

Demetri grinned mischievously. "Prove it right now. Go talk to her."

However, Kyler confidently settled down next to Sam, Lukas felt a surge of jealousy coursing through him. His hands clenched into fists under the table, but he forced himself to stay seated, knowing that getting involved would only make things worse.

Demetri couldn't help but prod. "Why not? You're scared of Kyler?"

Eli chimed in, his voice soft but carrying an edge of agreement. "Why not? I would be."

Demetri scoffed at the notion. "You beat the shit out of kids that are two inches taller than him. What's the issue?"

Lukas sighed, feeling a weight settle in his chest. "That's her boyfriend. He doesn't like me very much. I'm not getting in the middle of that."

Demetri shrugged, conceding the point. "Whatever you say, I guess. I don't care if Yasmine is the meanest girl in school, I'd kill all of you just to get her to spit in my face."

Miguel's words cut through the tension. "If you don't make a move, you're never gonna have a shot with her."

Demetri nodded in agreement, but his tone was tinged with resignation. "True, but I'll also never suffer a humiliating rejection. I'm at peace with my depression. Last thing I need is to be suicidal."

ust as the boys debated their next move, Miguel stood up from the table with determination in his eyes.

"What are you doing?" Demetri asked, curiosity evident in his tone.

Miguel's response was simple yet determined. "Striking first."

Lukas watched with a sinking feeling as Miguel approached Sam's table, the tension in the cafeteria palpable.

Demetri leaned in, his voice low. "Hope he doesn't get a shrapnel."

But before Miguel could reach the table, Kyler intercepted him, hurling insults and humiliation his way. Lukas's heart sank as he watched his friend falter under Kyler's cruel words.

With a heavy sigh, Lukas stood up and approached Kyler, hoping to defuse the situation before it escalated further. "We don't want trouble, man. Come on, Miguel."

Kyler sneered at Lukas, his voice dripping with disdain. "Yeah, that's right, new kid. Stay in your lane, or you'll end up just like your friend."

"Dude, come on." Lukas said, trying to be the mediator.

To Lukas's surprise, Sam stood up and intervened, telling Kyler to stop. Reluctantly, Kyler relented and sat back down.

"Sorry, Luke," Sam said, her voice soft with sincerity.

Lukas felt his cheeks flush as he struggled to form a coherent response. "It's-f-fine, Sam. I'll make sure to watch my friend."

Sam giggled at his stutter, her laughter like music to his ears. "I'll see you in biology."

As Sam returned to her table, Lukas couldn't help but feel a surge of warmth in his chest. She always had that way of getting to him. Ever since he met her in the dojo in the summer.

Lukas and Miguel made their way back to their table, Demetri had an annoyed look on his face as Lukas proved him wrong.

"Told ya," Lukas said to Demetri, a smirk playing on his lips.

Miguel, his eyes lingering on Sam, couldn't help but smile. He was starting to catch feelings too.

——————————

As Lukas returned home from his first day at West Valley High School, he was met with Jenna's playful prodding about his day.

"So, how was your first day, kiddo? Seen any cute girls?" Jenna teased, a mischievous glint in her eye.

Lukas couldn't help but smile at his aunt's attempt at humor. "Well, there is one," he admitted, his thoughts drifting to Sam.

Jenna chuckled as she busied herself in the kitchen, preparing dinner. It wasn't the most gourmet meal, but Lukas appreciated her efforts. He knew she was still adjusting to taking care of a teenager, having never been married or had children herself.

As Lukas helped set the table, Jenna glanced over at him. "No karate today?"

Lukas shook his head, a hint of jealousy creeping into his voice. "Mr. LaRusso has a dinner with his daughter's boyfriend."

Jenna nodded in understanding. "Okay. Well, we'll make sure you get your homework done. I'll be downstairs watching Grey's if you want to join."

"Sure, I'll get bio done and call Hannah, and then I'll be down," Lukas replied.

————————

Lukas observed Daniel's distracted demeanor with concern, noticing that something seemed to be weighing heavily on his mind.

"You okay, Mr. LaRusso?" Lukas asked, his voice laced with genuine concern.

Daniel shook himself out of his reverie, realizing he had forgotten about their training session.

"Oh, shit, I forgot about training! Sorry, Lukas, I got distracted," Daniel apologized, feeling guilty for letting his thoughts consume him.

Lukas shrugged, trying to be understanding. "It's fine. Anything I can help with?"

Daniel hesitated, his mind still preoccupied with the events of the previous night. "No, definitely not," he replied, his thoughts drifting back to his encounter with Johnny Lawrence and the memories it had dredged up.

"I hope not at least," Daniel added quietly, his voice tinged with worry.

Despite his attempts to push the unsettling thoughts aside, Daniel couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered within him. The memories of his own past experiences with Cobra Kai and the haunting specter of Johnny and John Kreese loomed large in his mind.

He knew he couldn't allow history to repeat itself, not with any more kids in the valley, and certainly not with his own children, or with Lukas, who had already faced his fair share of struggles.

He couldn't have that.

Not again.

However, there was no time to think about it right now. As Daniel got ready for training. However, his protege seemed to have a lot on his mind.

Despite the swirling thoughts in his mind, Lukas pushed them aside as he focused on the training session with Daniel. With each movement, he found a sense of clarity and purpose, allowing himself to be fully present in the moment.

As the training session came to an end, Lukas felt a sense of accomplishment wash over him. Despite the distractions and worries, he had managed to stay focused and give his all to the training.

Amanda's teasing voice broke through his thoughts, bringing a smile to his face. "Looks like you two had a productive session," she remarked with a playful grin.

Lukas nodded, feeling grateful for the support and encouragement from both Daniel and Amanda. "Thanks, Mrs. LaRusso. See you later," he said, waving goodbye as he made his way out of the backyard.

————————

As the lunchroom buzzed with chatter, Counselor Blatt's voice cut through the noise as she began her lecture on cyberbullying.

"Sending a cruel message to someone online can be just as hurtful as saying it to their face," Blatt admonished the students, her gaze sweeping across the room. "I'm not gonna name names but the other day, a mother called me up because her son was crying after some kids online made fun of his facial deformity."

Eli's face flushed with embarrassment as everyone's eyes turned to him, knowing it was his mother who had called the counselor. Laughter erupted in the lunchroom, and Lukas couldn't help but feel a surge of anger at the lack of empathy.

"You would think a school professional would keep those matters confidential, but no," Lukas muttered sarcastically, attempting to comfort his friend amidst the ridicule.

Miguel, ever the peacemaker, chimed in, offering a solution. "You know, if you're sick of being bullied, my karate dojo is looking for new recruits."

Demetri scoffed at the idea, but Miguel persisted, insisting that martial arts training could empower them to defend themselves.

Lukas, drawing from his own experience, chimed in, "Why not? I've been doing karate, and you guys saw my video? It could help you stick up for yourself, it sure helped me."

Demetri countered with skepticism, arguing that guys like him and Eli couldn't learn martial arts because of their geeky reputation.

Rolling his eyes at Demetri's defeatist attitude, Lukas remained firm in his belief. But when Miguel asked about where he learned karate, Lukas hesitated, not wanting to disclose his training with Daniel.

"Just a friend of mine, nothing serious. What about you?" Lukas deflected the question, subtly avoiding mentioning Daniel.

He already has too many obligations and things going on, he knew Daniel didn't need any more students.

Miguel eagerly shared, "It's Cobra Kai, it's in this strip mall near Reseda. Maybe you could consider joining, my Sensei is really cool and I'm learning a lot."

Lukas politely declined, not wanting to betray his loyalty to Daniel. "I appreciate it, but I'm good where I am."

—————————-

As Halloween approached, Lukas continued his training at Miyagi-Do, honing his skills and finding solace in the discipline of martial arts. The dojo provided a sanctuary from the complexities of high school life, offering a sense of balance that Lukas cherished.

Meanwhile, the buzz around the upcoming Halloween dance at West Valley High grew, and Lukas found himself caught in the crossfire of Miguel, Demetri, and Eli's attempts to convince him to attend.

One day, Lukas received a text from Demetri:

Demetri: Sure you don't wanna come? We're gonna have a contest to see who can talk to the most girls.

Lukas: Yeah, actually. Hannah and I are doing our traditional trick or treating. But you guys have fun with that.

Eli: Cool.

Demetri: Is there some secret girlfriend you haven't told us about? You'd be the first one of us to have a girlfriend.

Lukas: She's not like that.

Despite Demetri's attempts at prying, Lukas kept the details of his plans under wraps, knowing that the tradition he shared with Hannah was something special. As Halloween neared, Miguel, Demetri, and Eli grew more insistent about attending the dance.

Later, after Lukas and Miguel playfully shadow boxed in the hallway, Miguel tried one last time:

"You sure you don't want to come? Sensei even gave me an extra costume if you change your mind."

Playfully shadow boxing with Miguel, Lukas grinned. "Thanks, but I've got plans with Hannah. It's our own Halloween tradition."

Miguel laughed, acknowledging the strength of traditions. "Alright, man. Maybe next time. Have fun with the salt and pepper routine."

———————

Later that night, Lukas and Hannah eagerly prepared for a night of trick-or-treating. Dressed in their homemade salt and pepper costumes, they couldn't help but chuckle at their own silliness.

Jenna couldn't resist poking fun at their costumes one last time before they set out. "You two look absolutely ridiculous," she chuckled, snapping a quick picture on her phone.

Lukas and Hannah exchanged amused glances before shrugging it off, knowing Jenna's teasing was all in good fun. With that, they bid Jenna farewell and embarked on their trick-or-treating excursion.

As they made their way from house to house, collecting candy and sharing laughs, Lukas couldn't shake the feeling of contentment that washed over him. Despite everything that had changed recently, his friendship with Hannah remained steadfast and true.

Some homeowners chuckled at the sight of two teenagers still indulging in the tradition of trick-or-treating, while others gave them bemused looks, wondering why they weren't at a party or hanging out with friends their own age. But Lukas and Hannah paid no mind to the judgmental stares, too caught up in the joy of the moment.

As they walked from house to house, their bags growing heavier with candy, Hannah finally broke the playful facade and turned to Lukas with a genuine smile.

"Honestly, Lukas, I'm glad you didn't forget about me when you moved schools," she said, her voice tinged with sincerity. "I was worried you'd get caught up with your new friends and leave me behind."

Lukas shook his head, a warm smile spreading across his face. "No way, Hannah. You're my best friend, and that's never gonna change. Besides, I want you to meet my new friends. They're pretty cool."

Hannah's eyes lit up at the invitation, her worries fading away. "Really? That sounds awesome! I'd love to hang out with you guys."

As they continued their trek through the neighborhood, the topic turned to Tyler and the infamous fight at East Valley. Hannah couldn't help but chuckle as she recounted the rumors swirling around school.

"You know Tyler," she said, rolling her eyes. "He's been going around, trying to downplay the whole thing and make himself out to be the victim. But everyone knows the truth. You kicked the shit out of him, Lukas. And honestly, it's kind of hilarious how he's trying to save face."

Once she disappeared into her house, Lukas settled back into his car and pulled out his phone, idly scrolling through his Instagram feed.

But his relaxed demeanor quickly turned sour as he stumbled upon a video on someone's Instagram story. It was Aisha Robinson at the Halloween dance, innocently enjoying a bag of Cheetos. However, the caption was filled with derogatory remarks and little pig emojis, mocking her as she ate.

Lukas felt a surge of anger rise within him. Who were these people to mock someone like that? He may not know Aisha very well, but she seemed like a nice person, and she certainly didn't deserve to be treated this way.

"Seriously? What's wrong with people?" Lukas muttered to himself, shaking his head in disbelief.

His attention shifted when his phone buzzed with an incoming call from Eli. Lukas answered, his voice tense with concern.

"Hey, Eli. How was the dance?" he asked, trying to maintain a calm demeanor despite the knot of worry forming in his stomach.

But his attempt at casual conversation quickly fell away as Eli's voice crackled through the line, his words filled with urgency and distress.

"What the fuck happened!?" Lukas exclaimed, his heart pounding in his chest as he listened to Eli recount the chaos that had unfolded at the Halloween dance.

Kyler had cornered them in the bathroom, and Miguel had been beaten up. Anger surged through Lukas, his fists clenched in fury as he listened to what his friends had endured.

Kyler was just like Tyler, a violent bully who had regard for anyone but himself.

Why the hell was Sam with someone like that? Does she even know who she's dating?