THE WORLD HAD TO BE PLAYING A CRUEL JOKE ON HER.

Not only was it bad enough that, not even a few hours ago, Hayden had caught Robby coming out of Zara's room—something that burned her chest with more pain than she cared to admit—but now, when Daniel called them all into the boys' room to break the news about Terry Silver's return, it felt like the universe was coming for her, one punch at a time.

She could feel the tension in the air as soon as the words left Daniel's mouth, like the entire world had just sucked out all the air from her lungs. Terry Silver. The man who had put her through hell. Who she thought had been rotting away in some far-off prison, was now not only free but was the second sensei to the Iron Dragons—one of the most dangerous, cold-hearted dojos she'd seen in a long time.

The room was silent for a moment, but Hayden's heart raced, her body freezing as her thoughts spiraled. The walls of the room seemed to shrink, suffocating her in a bubble of anxiety and dread. The familiar coldness in her chest, the sense of unease she'd learned to live with, surged back. It had been months since she last saw Silver, since she last felt the sting of his cruelty.

But knowing he was back? That was something she couldn't outrun.

Hayden squeezed her fists, nails biting into her palms as her thoughts took her back to the All Valley, to the time he made her break stone with her raw fists—no gloves, no help—until her hands bled and bruised. His voice echoed in her ears: "You'll never be good enough."

He wasn't just her sensei. He was the monster who had disguised training as punishment, using her trust to break her. The hours of physical abuse, the beatings, the kicks, the punches. It wasn't training, it was torture.

The memory of his cruel words as he paid off the refs to ensure she lost in the All Valley burned into her mind like fire, each moment of humiliation, each defeat, and each twisted lesson etched into her soul.

You're weak. You'll never be good enough. You'll never beat me. You'll never beat anyone.

His voice rang in her head louder than ever. That day, when she watched him walk away after having her lose, still echoing in her mind. She remembered the way her heart shattered as she stood there, fists raw and spirit broken, knowing she wasn't just beaten physically but mentally. She was broken by the man who was supposed to guide her.

She could still feel the sting of his hands—the cruel way he shoved her past her limit until she collapsed in pain, telling her to get up, telling her it wasn't enough, even when her body was on the edge of breaking.

That feeling—of being reduced to nothing, of being utterly worthless in his eyes—was something she couldn't forget, even now.

"Hayden?"

Daniel's voice broke through the fog in her mind, but she couldn't tear herself away from the thoughts that swirled like poison in her head. The moment felt surreal. It wasn't real. He couldn't be back.

But he was.

The familiar clench in her stomach tightened with every passing second. She could feel the walls closing in on her, her vision narrowing to the thought of Silver. He'd broken her. He'd made her doubt everything she was. Every time she thought she was improving, he was there to remind her she would always be beneath him, always weak, always inferior.

Now he was back, and Hayden couldn't escape the gut-wrenching, all-consuming fear that it would all happen again.

"You okay?"

She hadn't realized she was completely silent until Sam's voice broke through her spiral. She looked up at her, her concerned eyes watching her closely. She didn't answer her immediately. How could she? How could she explain what she felt? The part of her that had tried to lock away the memories of Silver's abuse was now wide open, and it felt like a trap closing around her.

This isn't the same. He's not your sensei anymore. You're not that girl anymore.

But those words couldn't quiet the storm inside her. The anger, the fear, the pain. All of it was flooding back in waves, pushing her to the edge of breaking. She knew she couldn't let it break her again. Not here, not now. Not with the Sekai Taikai still ahead.

But the truth was, part of her had already shattered years ago, and hearing Silver's name again? It felt like that last piece of her humanity was about to break apart.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, pushing the hurt down where it belonged—deep inside, where it couldn't destroy her now.

"I'm fine," she lied, forcing herself to sit tall, the weight of everything threatening to crush her.

But even as she said the words, she knew the truth. She wasn't fine. And Terry Silver's return was only the beginning of the war that was about to rip her apart once more.

"We're back, bitches! And eager to kick ass! Who's ready to win this thing?"

Johnny burst through the door, Miguel and Kenny flanking him like a victory parade. The energy he brought into the room was suffocating, too loud, too unaware.

No one responded.

Hayden stared straight ahead at the wall, jaw tight, her fingers curled into fists against her knees. Sam's arms were crossed, Eli was bouncing his leg anxiously, and Robby was pointedly looking anywhere but at her.

The silence must've spoken volumes.

Johnny's enthusiasm faltered. "What crawled up everyone's butts?" He blinked, glancing around the room.

Daniel let out an audible sigh before motioning for him to step outside. "Come on. We need to talk."

Johnny frowned, looking between them. "Okay..." He exchanged a look with Miguel and Kenny before stepping out into the hall, Chozen following to keep things contained.

Which left Miguel and Kenny standing there, looking at everyone like they'd just walked into a funeral.

"What's, uh... what's up, guys?" Miguel finally broke the silence, his tone light, unsure.

Sam was the one to answer. "Silver's back." She flicked her eyes toward Hayden, wordlessly telling him everything he needed to know. "He's one of the senseis for Iron Dragons."

Miguel's entire expression shifted. His posture stiffened. Kenny's head snapped toward Hayden too, his lips parting slightly in disbelief.

The weight of the words sat heavy in the air.

Then, suddenly, Eli stood abruptly, clapping Hayden on the back, making her blink as she was yanked out of her trance. "Hey, don't stress it. They're calling you The Reaper. The— The Silent Assassin." He grinned, nudging her shoulder. "You know how badass that sounds? Silver will think twice before ever trying you again."

Hayden inhaled deeply, nodding. It did help. A little. Because Eli wasn't wrong. She wasn't the same girl who had trained under Silver, who had been beaten down, manipulated, told she wasn't good enough. She had changed. She had fought her way to where she was now.

She wasn't weak.

She wasn't scared.

And if Silver thought he could get in her head again, he was about to be severely disappointed.

She straightened up slightly, but the tension in her shoulders didn't disappear, not even when she felt the cushion beside her sink.

"You okay?"

Miguel.

She glanced over at him. His dark eyes searched her face, his usual warmth now laced with concern.

"How are you handling all of this?"

Hayden scoffed, rolling her shoulders. "It's a fucking sucky-ass situation," she paused, blinking a few times. "But I can handle it." Her voice was steady, her expression unreadable, but there was something hollow behind her eyes.

I can handle it. It had been a sentence she'd been saying way too many times all her life.

Miguel studied her for a second before nodding. He didn't push.

"Your mom—she's okay?" she asked, changing the subject.

The corner of his lips tugged up into a soft smile, one full of relief. "Yeah. She is. She wanted me to come back and fight. She told me to tell you you've been kicking ass."

That—that—made Hayden exhale a quiet laugh. "Yeah, well... I'm trying."

Miguel held her gaze a little longer, something unreadable in his expression. Then, ever so slightly, he bumped his knee against hers.

Hayden didn't move away.

The room was still tense, still weighed down by what they had just learned. But for a brief second, just between them, it didn't feel quite as heavy.

And then the moment passed.

Hayden glanced over at Kenny, who stood stiffly near his bag, looking like he wanted to shrink into the floor. He barely met anyone's eyes, shoulders tense, clearly feeling out of place.

She exhaled softly, standing up and stretching before walking over to him. "Welcome to Barcelona, kid," she said, flashing him a small, teasing smile.

Kenny let out a polite chuckle, but it didn't reach his eyes. He nudged his bag with the toe of his shoe. "Thanks. It's kinda pointless now that Diaz is back, though." His voice was quieter now, like saying it out loud made it sting more. "I think I'm gonna get on the next flight home."

Hayden frowned, tilting her head. "What? No. Stay. You're already here. You can be like our support system or something."

Kenny blinked. "You want me to be your guys' cheerleader?"

"Yeah." Hayden shrugged, stepping closer before grabbing him in a loose headlock. "You can support me."

Kenny yelped in surprise, flailing slightly before he started laughing, shoving at her arm. "Okay, okay! Damn, let me breathe!" He finally managed to squirm out of her grip, rolling his eyes but grinning despite himself.

"You needed that," she smirked, nudging his shoulder. "Stop sulking. You're still part of the team."

Kenny shook his head, looking down. "Doesn't feel like it. Being here just feels like a reminder that I wasn't good enough to make the final six. Makes me think that I shouldn't be here."

"Then you're thinking too much," she pointed out. "You fought your ass off to get here. That doesn't just disappear because Miguel's back. You still belong, Kenny."

He looked up at her then, really looked at her, and for the first time since he arrived, the tension in his shoulders seemed to loosen a little.

Just then, Demetri stood slowly, adjusting his shirt as he eyed the two. "I... I can back down. He can take my spot."

Hayden arched a brow, crossing her arms. "Really?"

Demetri shrugged. "I— I haven't exactly been pulling my weight here. And, honestly? I'm more than happy to be on the sidelines cheerleading instead of getting my face almost smashed in."

Kenny's eyes widened. "Wait, what? No, I wasn't asking you to—"

"You didn't have to," Demetri waved him off. "Trust me, I am more than okay with this."

Hayden studied him for a second before shaking her head with a smirk. "You just wanna keep your pretty face intact, huh?"

"Uh, yes?!" Demetri scoffed, deadpan. "I like my bones unbroken, thank you very much."

Kenny let out a real laugh this time, and Hayden grinned, draping an arm around his shoulders. "See? You got a spot here, kid."

And even though Kenny didn't say it out loud, the way his lips twitched up and his shoulders settled told her he believed her—just a little.

—

Hayden had plenty of reasons to be unfocused.

Logan's relapse still haunted her, flashing behind her eyes at the worst times. Especially at night, when she relentlessly tossed and turned until she eventually gave up on the idea of sleep.

Julian, who she was refusing to call dad, had shattered everything she thought she knew about herself, and she wasn't sure she'd ever be able to piece it back together. She hated that he'd decide to pick the absolute worst moment possible to show up. After all these years.

Robby was pissed at her, and she didn't even know why. It should be the other way around. Just when she thought they'd come to an understanding to focus and win this entire thing, she caught him stumbling out of Zara's room, kissing her.

And then there was Axel, who had pretended like he didn't see her when she smiled at him in the lobby this morning. The guilt she felt for potentially and unintentionally leading him on was eating at her, but she wasn't trying to send mixed signals. She replayed their interactions continuously, trying to pick up any signs she might've accidentally left without even realizing it.

She just figured he'd need a friend. She definitely did after she survived Silver.

Then there was Zara, who had the audacity to blow a kiss at her from across the room, as if she hadn't already pushed every single one of Hayden's buttons. She felt the anger in her throat rise and her fists clench at her sides at the mere thought of what she saw this morning.

And now Silver—fucking Silver—was back, the man who had beaten her under the disguise of training, who had pushed her past her limits until she shattered. Until she broke. She hadn't caught sight of him, not yet. But she knew it was inevitable if he were wandering around. It was only a matter of time when.

She had every reason to be distracted.

But she wasn't going to be.

Not when they were so close.

Miguel was back. Kenny was a solid fighter, an added reinforcement so she wouldn't have to carry the team alone. They had everything they needed to win—she just had to focus and do what she came here to do.

Hayden exhaled sharply, adjusting the captain's headband tied tight around her skull like it might hold everything else in place. She rolled out her shoulders, squared her stance, and when Gunther's voice rang out, she forced every other thought down and locked in.

"Top eight dojos, welcome to our final group event," Gunther's voice rang through the arena, microphone in hand. "Over the course of the tournament, you have each proven yourselves worthy of your place atop the leaderboard. And after today, only the best of the best will gain entry into our tournament of champions."

Hayden inhaled slowly, grounding herself. This was why she was here. To fight. To win. Nothing else mattered.

As the crowd stirred around them, she felt the faintest brush of fingers against hers. She glanced to the side, finding Miguel standing just a step closer than before.

"We got this," he murmured, low enough for only her to hear.

She exhaled through her nose, a small smirk tugging at her lips as she nodded. "Yeah. We do."

What she didn't notice was Axel, a few feet away, watching the quiet exchange with a clenched jaw. His eyes flicked between them, his mind already jumping to conclusions. Her boyfriend. It made sense. The way Miguel hovered, how naturally she leaned toward him. Of course she had someone back home.

Miguel, however, did notice Axel's stare. His brows furrowed as he caught the tension in the Iron Dragons captain's gaze. He didn't know what Axel's problem was, but he knew that look. The kind that came from a guy who really didn't like him.

Miguel arched a brow, almost like he was silently asking what the hell are you looking at? But before anything could come of it, Gunther continued.

"Now, here are the rules for this round," he announced, and the arena quieted in anticipation. "Each team will face three opponents, determined by random draw, in an all-dojo tag team competition!"

Applause erupted from the stands.

"Two fighters in the ring. One from each dojo at a time. The other ten fighters remain outside, waiting to be tagged in by their teammate. Fighting will be continuous. No stoppages. No timeouts. So use your teammates wisely."

Hayden rolled out her shoulders, her jaw tightening. Her focus honed in on the mat, blocking out everything else. The crowd. The murmurs. The weight of everything pressing on her.

"The first dojo to score three points wins the match. By the end of today, your captains will either be fighting in the tournament of champions or be eliminated, watching from the sidelines."

Hayden sucked in a slow breath. This is it.

This was what everything had led to. Every brutal training session, every fight, every moment she had clawed her way back up from the ground. She had to make it. Losing wasn't an option.

Her fingers curled into fists, her nails pressing into her palms as she glanced around at her team. She needed all of them locked in. No distractions, no hesitation. They had to be at their best today.

Because this wasn't just about her.

This was for Logan. For the promise she made, the one she had to keep.

Hayden could still hear her voice in her head, clear as day. Go kick ass, kid. Win that trophy.

She was going to do exactly that.

Axel, however, barely heard the rules. His attention stayed on Miguel.

A new rivalry had just begun. And Hayden had no idea.

"May the best dojos win." Gunther's voice cut through the tension in the air obliviously.

Hayden didn't want to watch the Iron Dragons' match. Didn't want to see Zara's smug face, didn't want to look at Axel, and more than anything, she didn't want to catch even a glimpse of Silver.

But avoiding them was proving to be impossible.

Because the Iron Dragons weren't just winning—they were dominating.

Zara and Axel moved like a single unit, an unbreakable force. Their teammates stood completely still outside the ring, hands on their belts, unfazed. Because they knew they wouldn't be needed. Zara and Axel weren't tagging anyone in. They didn't have to.

Hayden watched as Zara slipped under a high kick and countered with a ruthless spinning heel kick to the ribs. The impact sent her opponent crashing into the mat with a thud that echoed through the arena. Point.

Axel was even worse. He was efficient. Calculated. He didn't waste a single movement, every strike landing exactly where it needed to, like he had memorized his opponent's weaknesses before even stepping onto the mat. Hayden had never seen anyone fight like him. Not even Robby. Not even Miguel.

Another Iron Dragons victory. Effortless. Brutal.

The crowd loved it. The murmurs started up again, eating everything Zara fed them up.

But then, as the match ended and the Iron Dragons bowed, Hayden's stomach twisted.

Because her eyes finally landed on him.

Silver.

He was watching her. Not the match. Her.

And he was smirking.

It was like she was sixteen all over again, trapped in that dojo with him. His voice crawled into her skull, a sinister whisper that wrapped around her like chains.

"You think you're strong? You're nothing. You'll never be good enough."

"Again."

The phantom pain of breaking stone with her bare fists throbbed through her hands. Her ribs ached like he had just kicked her again, like she was still lying on the mat gasping for breath while he loomed over her, disappointed.

"Pathetic."

Hayden blinked hard, trying to shake the images out of her head, but the weight of his stare crushed her lungs, made her heart hammer against her ribs like it was trying to escape.

And Axel noticed.

She didn't realize he had turned toward her, his sharp eyes catching the way her face had lost all its color, how her fists trembled at her sides.

Then he followed her gaze.

Right to Silver.

And just like that, Axel's entire expression shifted. His normally unreadable face hardened, his jaw setting as he turned back to Hayden.

Something wasn't right.

"Because someone should have stepped in for me... and no one did."

Her words echoed in his brain, and he wondered if the two and two he put together was accurate or not.

But before he could say anything, Silver clapped a hand on Zara's shoulder, whispering something in her ear. And Zara, as if sensing the weight of the moment, turned to Hayden and smirked.

Hayden forced herself to look away. Forced herself to swallow down the bile rising in her throat.

She couldn't let them get in her head.

Not when she was this close.

They were up soon, and she needed her undivided attention to go to getting through this last group event and making it to the finals.

Hayden stood by the water station, filling her bottle as the cool liquid rushed inside, her mind still stuck in the match she'd just watched. She barely registered the footsteps approaching until a familiar voice broke through her thoughts.

"You holding up okay?"

She turned her head slightly to see Johnny standing beside her, hands in his pockets, his usual cocky smirk replaced by something more serious.

Hayden exhaled through her nose, giving a small shrug. "Yeah. I'm good."

Johnny raised a brow. "Yeah?"

She sighed. "No."

He nodded, like he expected that answer. "Silver's a real piece of shit. I should've knocked him out when I had the chance."

That almost made her laugh. Almost.

"You ready to fight?" he asked, looking at her with a rare kind of sincerity.

She gripped her water bottle a little tighter. "Yeah. I have to be."

Johnny studied her for a moment before nodding in approval. "You know," he said, voice softer than usual, "you remind me a little of me when I was your age."

Hayden scoffed lightly, shaking her head. "Oh, great."

"I'm being serious," he said, leaning against the table beside her. "You got that fire. That edge. But Silver — he knew how to twist that shit. Turn it against you." His gaze hardened, like just saying Silver's name made his blood boil.

Hayden stared at the ground, tracing her finger along the condensation on her water bottle. "Yeah," she muttered. "He did."

For a moment, neither of them said anything. Just the distant hum of conversation from the other room filled the silence. Then Johnny spoke again, quieter this time.

"I wish I could've done more back then. For all of you," he said. "But... especially for you."

That made her look up, brows furrowed in surprise. "Why?"

Johnny let out a breath, rubbing a hand over his face. "Because I get it," he said simply. "I know what that feels like — having someone like Kreese or Silver get inside your head. Make you think that rage is your strength, when really it's just a leash they're yanking every time you step out of line."

Hayden's face twitched — like she wanted to push back, deny it — but she didn't. Because he was right.

"Kreese did the same thing to me," Johnny went on, voice lower now. "Made me think that the reason I was winning was because I was pissed off all the time. That the anger was what kept me sharp. But really... it just kept me controlled. He'd push me until I snapped, and by the time I realized I wasn't fighting for myself anymore — that I was fighting for him — I'd already burned half my life down."

Hayden shifted uncomfortably, because the words felt too close to home.

"You know," Johnny added after a pause, "the stuff Silver did to you — the way he twisted everything, beat you down, made you think you weren't good enough unless you killed yourself proving otherwise? That's what Kreese did to me. The same mind games. The same bullshit."

Hayden blinked, eyes sharp with something bitter. "He paid the refs to make sure I didn't win." Her voice was quiet, but heavy with anger. "He made me break stone with my bare hands until they bled, and told me if I didn't, I wasn't good enough to represent Cobra Kai. He'd push me and push me, and when I finally had nothing left, he'd make me feel like that was my fault, too." She swallowed hard, forcing her voice to stay even. "He made me think I deserved it."

Johnny's jaw clenched. "Yeah," he said quietly. "That's what they do. They take your best parts — your drive, your fire — and they turn it into something they can control. Make you think you need them to win."

Hayden exhaled sharply through her nose. "Yeah, well... not this time."

Johnny gave a crooked smile. "Damn right."

They stood quietly for a moment before Johnny shifted. "For what it's worth," he said, "you've already beat him. The second you walked away from Cobra Kai and didn't let all that rage consume you — that's when you won."

Hayden scoffed, but there was no fight in it. "Doesn't feel like it sometimes."

Johnny shrugged. "It doesn't right away. But you'll see." He paused, then added with a wry smile, "You're better than me, you know."

Hayden huffed out a laugh. "Yeah, no pressure."

Johnny chuckled with her, then his gaze flicked toward Miguel across the room, laughing with Sam and Eli.

"You two good now?" she asked carefully.

Johnny nodded. "Yeah. We're good."

"Good." She hesitated, then added, "I'm glad you didn't give up on him."

"Yeah, well... I could never," Johnny said. "He's my family." His eyes softened. "And you... you're part of that too."

Hayden swallowed hard at that, not quite knowing how to respond.

"I was wrong for pushing you to choose," Johnny added after a pause. "I get now why you didn't."

"Yeah," Hayden muttered. "But... you're right. I will have to eventually."

Johnny shifted his stance, crossing his arms. "When you do, no matter who it ends up being... you know where you belong."

Hayden glanced up at him, unsure if he meant Miyagi Do or something else entirely.

"For what it's worth," Johnny said, his voice lowering, "I think you're finally fighting for you now. And that's what's gonna make the difference."

She nodded slightly, not quite trusting her voice to speak.

"You know," she finally said after a moment, "it kinda sucks I never got to be coached by you at Cobra Kai."

Johnny raised a brow, surprised.

"My anger... it was always a weapon to Kreese and Silver," she explained. "But I feel like... maybe you could've taught me how to control it. Find that balance."

Johnny smiled at that — not his usual smug grin, but something softer. Warmer. "Yeah," he said. "I think I could've."

"Too bad you sucked as a sensei back then," she added dryly.

Johnny barked a laugh. "Yeah, yeah. Don't push it, kid."

Hayden snorted, opening her mouth to respond — but the booming voice over the speakers cut her off.

"Coming up: Miyagi-Do versus Furia de Pantera!"

Johnny's gaze flicked to the mats, then back to her. He held out his hand, his grin sharp and confident. "Ready to kick ass?"

Hayden stared at his hand for a second, then let out a breathless chuckle before slapping her palm against his. "Yeah," she said. "Let's go."

But despite the words leaving her mouth, she wasn't sure she believed them.

The truth was, she wasn't sure if she'd ever be ready to step back on that mat. Not with everything swirling inside her — Logan, her dad, Robby, Axel, Silver... It felt like the world had been hitting her from every direction, and she never knew where the next blow was coming from.

And no matter how hard she tried to push it down — to bottle it all up and bury it deep — it was starting to feel like only a matter of time before it all came spilling out.

There was only so much Hayden could take before she snapped.

And she knew — deep down — she was already dangerously close to her breaking point.

—

The match started just as Hayden expected — Furia de Pantera came out cocky, too busy showing off to realize how predictable they were. She had all the faith in Eli to take advantage of that.

But that confidence shattered when Eli got overwhelmed. The male captain — sharp, fast, and ruthless — unleashed a relentless flurry of kicks and punches that kept Eli stumbling. A kick to the face finally sent him sprawling across the mat.

Coughing, Eli crawled to the edge and slapped Sam's hand.

Sam stepped in smoothly, her movements calculated and precise. She dipped low, twisting her body and swinging her leg in a high roundhouse kick. The male captain barely dodged it, leaning back just in time.

From there, it was an intense exchange — rapid punches, fast footwork, Sam keeping pace with the captain's strikes. Each dodge and counter kept the crowd on edge.

Then the captain tagged in a female fighter — tall, lean, and way too confident.

Sam turned, scanning her teammates before locking eyes with Hayden.

"You good?" Sam asked, breathless.

She knew was the question really meant. If she were focused. If she could fight with knowing Silver was in the same room, somewhere lurking around.

Hayden locked eyes with her, giving a truthful nod.

"Yeah." Hayden held out her hand, and Sam slapped it without hesitation.

The moment Hayden stepped in, she knew exactly what kind of fighter she was up against.

The smug smile. The casual stance. The way her eyes flicked toward her own corner like she already had this fight in the bag.

The cocky fighter struck first, fast but sloppy.

Hayden read her like an open book — sidestepping easily and catching her with a sharp jab to the ribs. The girl staggered, her smile faltering.

From that point on, Hayden controlled the fight.

Every time the fighter tried to retreat, Hayden cut her off. Twice she reached to tag out, and twice Hayden knocked her back into the center of the mat with a swift strike — a ruthless game of cat and mouse.

When the fighter's frustration peaked and she lashed out too aggressively, Hayden seized the moment — slipping past her guard and landing a brutal spinning back kick square in her chest. The impact knocked her to the mat, securing the point.

Hayden was done from there, glancing at her crawl back on the floor before walking backwards, slapping Eli's hand back in.

He stepped in confidently, facing down a new opponent. His strikes were fast and aggressive, forcing his opponent back step by step.

They matched each other beat for beat, and eventually, Eli got his opponent to the ground, merely needing to tag someone else in to finish the job.

"Tag Kenny in!"

"Tag in Kenny, what're you doing?"

But Hawk ignored them. He didn't tag Kenny — instead, he turned and tagged in Robby, catching him completely off guard.

It was downhill from there.

Robby barely had time to register it before he was confusedly stepped onto the mat, still adjusting his stance when his opponent lunged forward. Robby dodged the first strike but got caught by a sweep, hitting the ground hard.

"Point!" The ref called.

Robby scrambled back up, tension clear in his face. His opponent tagged in a female fighter — fast and aggressive. Robby wasn't moving like himself — sluggish, distracted.

Hayden held her hand out as much as she could, knowing she was the closest to Robby and could already spot flaws in the girl's fighting skills.

Robby hesitated, glancing her way. His jaw clenched, and instead of reaching for her, he turned — ignoring her outstretched hand.

Hayden's stomach twisted. What the hell is his problem?

From the other side, Miguel stepped forward, holding his hand out.

Robby started to reach for him — but before their hands could meet, a newly tagged in opponent shot in with a lightning-fast kick, slamming Robby's arm away.

Robby stumbled back, and before he could recover, the fighter followed up with a sharp punch to the chest — the final, brutal point.

The ref's voice pierced the air. "Point! Winner!"

"Team Pantera with an impressive victory. Miyagi Do's loss puts them on the verge of elimination after their first match." The clean and smooth voice announced.

The other team roared in celebration, and Hayden felt her heart sink. She locked eyes with Robby for a brief second, but he didn't hold her gaze. His jaw was tight, his shoulders squared, and then — he just turned and walked away.

The group huddled in, Miguel breaking the tense silence. "Eli! Why didn't you tag in Kenny when you had the chance?"

Eli scoffed. "He just got here. You expect us to trust him already?"

"Trust me to what?" Kenny shot back, eyes narrowing. "Not get my ass kicked like you?"

"Oh, like you'd do any better against Spanish Hawk," Demetri cut in, crossing his arms. "You completely disappeared after the Shittening, and then you magically show up the same time as Silver? Come on — you really think we're supposed to trust you?"

"You've gotta be kidding me," Kenny blinked in disbelief, stepping closer to Demetri. "I flew here to help us win, and you won't even give me a chance? Everybody laughed at me in the woods, but somehow I'm the bad guy?"

"Yeah, see?" Eli chimed in, nodding toward Demetri. "He's still pissed. Makes sense why he'd want revenge."

"This is so stupid." Hayden huffed, running a hand down her face in frustration.

"Say something else," Kenny warned, stepping forward, his fists curling at his sides.

"Whoa, hey!" Robby shoved between the two, his voice cutting through the noise like a blade. "This isn't about Kenny!" He jabbed a finger at his own chest. "I'm the one who lost the match! Me!"

No one had a chance to respond — Robby pushed at their chests and stormed off before anyone could stop him.

Hayden's eyes stayed locked on his retreating figure, her breath tight in her chest. She was already moving to follow when a hand caught her wrist.

"Just... let me talk to him," Miguel insisted, stepping in front of her. His voice was calm but firm. "I've been doubting his captaincy all tournament. He needs to know I got his back as captain and he deserves his title."

Hayden clenched her jaw. Every instinct told her to push past him, but something in Miguel's face — the frustration, the weight on his shoulders — stopped her.

"Fine," she muttered.

He turned to go after Robby — but barely made it two steps before Axel shoved past him, shoulder-checking him hard enough to send him stumbling.

Miguel turned to go after Robby — barely making it two steps before Axel shoved past him, shoulder-checking him hard enough to throw him off balance.

Miguel blinked, steadying himself before turning to watch Axel's retreating figure. "What the hell was that?"

Hayden's gaze followed Axel, her expression hardening. "I don't know," she muttered, eyes still fixed on his back.

She lingered a moment longer, watching Axel disappear around the corner before turning her attention back to Robby — his shoulders tense as he stormed off.

"Better get moving," she said flatly. "He's not gonna make it easy for you."

Miguel let out a dry breath, shaking his head before heading after Robby.

Left alone, Hayden stood in place, arms crossed tightly over her chest.

The sharp ring of her phone made Hayden's head spin. Because, lately, every time it rang, her day seemed to unravel just a little more.

She hesitated before answering, frowning at the unknown number. "Hello?"

"Hayden."

Her breath hitched at the sound of his voice. Her father's voice. She almost hung up right there.

"How the hell did you get my number?" Her tone was cold, sharp — but she couldn't hide the crack beneath it.

"I just... I needed to talk to you," he said, his voice softer than she remembered. "I know I've made mistakes. I know I haven't—"

"You don't get to do this." Her grip tightened on the phone. "You don't get to show up when I've grown up and pretend you care now."

"I do care," he insisted. "I always have. I just... I didn't know how to—"

"You didn't know how?" She let out a bitter laugh. "I was a kid. I was a kid and taking care of Logan. And you were nowhere." Her voice shook, but she didn't stop. "I needed you then. Not now."

"I'm trying," he said, almost desperate now. "I told my wife about you. About Logan. Everything."

"And?"

"And... she left me," he admitted quietly.

For a second, Hayden almost felt something — guilt, pity — but it disappeared the moment she heard it:

A small, muffled voice in the background. A little girl's voice.

"Dad? Who's that?"

Hayden's heart stopped. It didn't take much to piece it together — the voice, the timing, the framed photo he'd shown her before.

"You have a kid," she said quietly.

"She's your sister," he said carefully, like that would soften the blow.

Hayden swallowed hard, bile rising in her throat. It felt shitty, even for a split second, to ask herself if she even was her sister. She never knew she existed, and now that her dad was back, she was supposed to accept this little girl she's never met with open arms?

"Her name's Jade," he added.

Her heart dropped like a stone.

Her middle name.

"I can't do this," she muttered, shaking her head. "I don't need any distractions right now."

"Hayden, please—"

But she hung up before he could finish, her chest tightening as she gripped her phone like it might shatter in her hand.

Hayden turned and leaned against the railing behind her, her phone still clenched in her hand. Her mind was racing, but her body felt frozen.

Jade.

Her middle name. The one her mom always used when she was in trouble, or when she was tucking her into bed after Logan had already fallen asleep on her shoulder. A name that felt personal — hers, and hers alone.

And now it belonged to someone else.

A little girl. A little girl who probably didn't know her father used to drink himself to sleep while his oldest daughter tried to keep her sister fed. A little girl who would never have to drag her sister off the couch after a relapse or make excuses for why she wasn't at school again. A little girl who would never have to teach herself how to fight because no one was coming to save her.

And yet, some part of Hayden couldn't shake the thought that maybe that was why he'd named her Jade — like he was trying to rewrite history. Like by giving that name to someone new, he could somehow fix all the ways he'd failed her.

It made her sick.

Hayden let out a shaky breath, running her hand down her face. She was angry — furious, even — but there was something else, too. Something that burned low in her stomach and twisted her chest tight.

Jealousy.

Because Jade was going to get the dad Hayden never had. The dad she'd spent years waiting for. And now that she didn't need him anymore — now that she'd grown up, figured things out for herself — now he wanted to try.

But it was too late.

She shoved her phone into her waistband like it burned her and held her head in her hands, staring down at the floor below. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she clenched her fists against her face.

It's too late, she reminded herself again. Too late.

Her heart was racing, and her mind was spinning.

Hayden hadn't even noticed Zara at first — not until the sound of her voice, sugary sweet and dripping with self-importance, rang out from a few feet away.

"...It's all about hard work," Zara said into her phone, smiling wide for her live audience. "People don't see the grind, the sacrifices. They just see the wins and think it's easy. But trust me, not everyone can handle this." She flicked her hair over her shoulder, her gaze sliding in Hayden's direction.

Hayden froze.

"Some people just... break under the pressure," Zara added, her smile sharpening. "Or they get lazy. They don't wanna put in the work, so they make excuses when they start losing. They blame other people — like it's not their fault they couldn't cut it."

Hayden's fingers curled into fists at her sides.

She remembered everything. Every smug remark, every dirty look, the endless mind games. And worst of all — Robby. Stumbling out of Zara's room like he barely remembered where he was. Like she was the one he'd been with the night before.

The memory hit Hayden like a punch to the gut, and before she could stop herself, she was already moving.

Hayden reached out, plucking the phone from Zara's hand before she could react. She turned it toward herself, eyes hard on the screen.

"You guys wanna know how 'dedicated' Zara really is?" she said. "How hard she really works?" She let out a sharp breath, barely holding herself together. "She's a snake. Talks a big game about loyalty and respect, but she'll stab you in the back the second she gets the chance. And if she can't beat you in a fair fight, she'll find another way to screw you over."

"Give me my phone back." Zara's voice was low and furious, but Hayden didn't even look at her.

"She'll cheat, lie — hell, she'll sleep with whoever she can to get to the top. Yeah, real good role model." Hayden's voice broke slightly on the last word, and her fingers flexed around the phone.

"You're insane," Zara hissed. "Give it back."

But Hayden wasn't finished. "And for the record?" She met the camera's gaze dead-on. "She's not as good as she thinks she is."

She shoved the phone back at Zara, who barely caught it, her face burning with rage.

"You're gonna regret that," Zara seethed.

Hayden took a step closer, her eyes narrowing. "No, I really won't."

Then she turned and walked away, her heart still racing, her breath shaky. She barely knew if she felt better or worse. Hayden had been holding it together — or at least trying to — up until that point.

Her dad's call had been gnawing at her mind. The sound of that little girl's voice still rang in her head, sharp and jarring. Now suddenly he wanted to reach out? Suddenly he cared? After everything?

She'd shoved those thoughts down, told herself to focus — to keep her head in the game. But then Zara had to run her mouth.

Hearing her smug little voice dripping with fake humility, pretending like she was better than everyone else — like Hayden was the one who couldn't keep up — it was too much.

It wasn't just Zara. It was everything. Her dad. Robby. Logan. Silver. Her entire life felt like it was unraveling one thread at a time, and Zara had just pulled the last one.

Hayden knew she should've let it go. Stayed calm. Stayed focused. Been the bigger person. But instead, she'd snapped.

And honestly? She didn't regret it.

Zara deserved to be checked. She deserved to be humiliated in front of all her little fans. But now that the adrenaline was wearing off, Hayden felt the weight of everything creeping back in — pressing heavy on her chest. She knew blowing up like that wasn't smart. She needed her head clear if she was going to face Silver's team.

Hayden had kept walking up until she joined the crowd in observing the next fight. She lingered in the back, because she knew if she got caught even glancing at Cobra Kai's match, people would question her.

She hadn't taken the time to observe Tiger Strike mainly because their teams hadn't crossed paths at all in this tournament.

Hayden lingered at the back of the crowd, arms crossed tightly over her chest. She kept her head low, hoping to avoid any suspicious glances. If anyone caught her watching Cobra Kai's match, they'd have questions — ones she wasn't in the mood to answer.

But curiosity got the best of her. Against her better judgment, she let her gaze drift to the mat.

Cobra Kai versus Tiger Strike.

She hadn't seen much of Tiger Strike yet — their teams hadn't crossed paths so far — but she could already size them up. Aggressive. Ruthless. The kind of fighters who didn't just aim to win — they aimed to hurt.

Yoon was in the circle now, his stance sharp and confident. But his opponent was fast — too fast for him. Yoon weaved through his attacks like he was walking through smoke, but eventually, the male fighter for Tiger Strike struck, earning himself a point.

It was then that both fighters went to tag in an alternative member. Hayden's eyes flicked to Tory as she stepped in.

Tory squared her shoulders, her sharp gaze locked on her new opponent. She didn't flinch, didn't hesitate — she just moved, quick and aggressive. Tory's strikes were calculated, powerful, but her opponent was just as vicious. The two exchanged blows in a rapid back-and-forth until the Tiger Strike girl caught her off guard — a sharp kick to the side that stole a point.

Hayden saw Tory curse under her breath, shaking it off and resetting her stance. She knew Tory — knew how her anger worked. It sharpened her. Made her better.

And sure enough, Tory found her rhythm again. Her movements got tighter, her strikes more precise. The fight turned brutal, both fighters refusing to give an inch.

But then Tory's eyes flicked up.

Right at her.

Hayden froze, and so did Tory — just for a second. But that second was all it took.

The Tiger Strike fighter struck fast, landing a hard kick to Tory's ribs. The whistle blew — match over.

Hayden exhaled sharply, watching Tory's face twist with frustration. For a moment, their eyes locked again and Hayden couldn't exactly place why there was a flash of anger burning in her eyes, intimidating Hayden for the slightest second.

She turned away before she had to see the rest, walking backwards to the hallway away from the arena.

And as much as she wanted to ask Tory if everything was okay, if anything was bothering her to make her lose focus so quickly, she didn't.

She had a fight to win.

"So," Daniel's voice began, determined and sharp, "we need to win this one to stay in the tournament. We know it's hard with Silver here, but we are not fighting his team right now."

Hayden ignored the looks sent her way at the mention of Silver's name, straightening up a bit.

"And we've heard all this garbage going around about loyalty." Johnny added, "But almost all of us have trained somewhere else at some point. What matters is where our asses are now. We're Miyagi Do. Got it?"

That might've been the first time Johnny has openly admitted to being apart of Miyagi Do without his voice dripping with sarcasm or disdain.

"Come on, y'all. Let's go!" Miguel clapped his hands in order to hype up his team, placing an encouraging hand on Hayden's shoulder and shaking a bit, earning himself an appreciative smile from the girl.

Eventually, the team slowly dispersed as they were about to fight.

Kenny's shoulders slumped slightly as he walked beside Hayden, hands shoved deep into his pockets.

She glanced at him before nudging his arm. "What's up with you?"

He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "I came all the way to Barcelona to help us win, and they won't even give me a chance."

Hayden hummed, taking a second before responding. "They'll come around."

Kenny scoffed. "Yeah? When? After the whole tournament's over?"

She stopped walking, forcing him to turn and face her. "Look, you've been gone. And people hold grudges, even when they shouldn't." She tilted her head slightly. "But that doesn't mean you stop proving them wrong."

Kenny frowned, clearly still frustrated, but he was listening.

"They don't trust you?" she continued. "Fine. Make it impossible for them not to. And when they finally get their heads out of their asses, make sure they remember why they should've trusted you in the first place. You'll get your chance, kid."

He held her gaze for a second before nodding, just barely, and she reached out, giving the back of his head a light shove. "Now stop sulking. You're making us look like pussies."

Kenny rolled his eyes but smirked anyway, jogging a few steps ahead. "Yeah, yeah."

Hayden shook her head, following after him.

The Redentores team was proving harder to read than Hayden expected. They had a perfect balance of aggression and sharp defense, countering almost everything thrown at them.

It was a no-brainer to have Miguel start. He could hold his own long enough for the rest of them to get a feel for their opponents' style.

Miguel bounced on his feet, testing the waters with a high kick. His opponent, clad in royal blue, blocked it with ease.

Right away, it was clear—the guy was advanced. Every strike Miguel threw was met with a sharp counter. But Miguel held his ground, blocking each attack just as effortlessly.

Then his opponent turned up the intensity, launching into a cartwheeling kick. Miguel dropped to one knee to block, seizing the opportunity to grab the back of his gi and drive a knee toward his ribs—but the guy twisted at the last second, narrowly blocking it.

A quick pivot, and his opponent was behind him, aiming for an opening. Miguel was faster. He maneuvered out of the way, both of them striking at the same time. Their kicks collided mid-air, forcing them to stumble back.

Miguel exhaled sharply, eyes flicking toward Robby. "It's time," he said breathlessly, reaching out to tag him in.

Robby hesitated for half a second—uncertainty flickering in his eyes.

Miguel caught it, gripping his wrist firmly before stepping back. "You got this."

Robby sucked in a sharp breath, rolling his shoulders back before settling into his stance. His fists clenched, eyes locked on his opponent. Then, with a quick pivot, he spun into a high kick.

His opponent sidestepped, narrowly dodging it, but Robby was already moving—throwing another kick that was swiftly blocked. The Redentores fighter countered with a strike aimed at Robby's cheek, but he ducked under it, quick on his feet.

The moment he straightened, he drove his foot forward, catching his opponent off guard and knocking him clean off his feet.

"Point!" the referee called.

A cheer erupted from the team.

The Redentores fighter wasted no time tagging in a new teammate. The second he stepped into the ring, he was a blur—launching into a series of rapid, spinning kicks, barely giving Robby a second to react.

Robby lifted his leg for a counter, but the fighter surprised him, slipping low and sliding across the mat to block it before springing back up, eyes locked in.

Robby barely had time to think. His opponent was ruthless, launching a flurry of punches and kicks that left him mostly on the defensive, his arms aching with every blocked strike.

He dodged a punch by the skin of his teeth, leaning back just in time before crouching low to sweep his opponent's legs out from under him. But the fighter was too fast—he flipped backward, landing effortlessly on his feet like he saw it coming a mile away.

"Robby, tag me!" Kenny's voice rang out, hand outstretched.

"No! Over here! Tag me, tag me!" Eli yelled from the other side.

Miguel pointed sharply toward Kenny. "Tag Kenny!"

"Do not tag Kenny! Do not tag him!" Demetri countered.

Robby's eyes darted between them, the pressure closing in. He could feel the clock ticking in his mind, knew he had to make a choice before his opponent caught him slipping. But the chaos around him, the conflicting voices, only made it harder to think.

Then, his gaze landed on Hayden.

She wasn't shouting. Wasn't moving. Just standing there, calm and steady, her eyes locked on his.

And then—just the slightest tilt of her head, almost imperceptible, toward Kenny.

They might not have been on the in's right now, but he knew one thing.

She knew. She always knew. And he trusted that.

His, once, look of pressure dissolved, morphing into one of finality as he faced his opponent, who was charging at him in full speed.

He deflected the fast punch thrown at him, ducking underneath the second one he saw coming and ran forward.

Without another second of hesitation, he slapped Kenny's hand.

The second their hands connected, Kenny vaulted into the ring, eyes blazing with determination.

Robby stepped back, his breath heavy, but his focus lingered on Hayden. She hadn't looked away. Hadn't even moved.

A silent conversation. A knowing.

And then she turned her attention back to the fight, as if nothing had happened.

Kenny's energy was electric the second his foot hit the mat. His opponent barely had time to settle into his stance before Kenny was already on the move, feinting to the left, then right, his steps light and unpredictable.

He was making his opponent second-guess, keeping him unsure of when the real attack would come.

Then— "Ais!" Kenny shouted, surging forward.

His opponent braced, ready to block, but it was a fake-out. Kenny dropped at the last second, sliding under the incoming strike and twisting up into a sharp kick to the ribs.

"Point! Miyagi Do, two!"

Miyagi-Do erupted in cheers, Robby pumping his fist in the air. "Yes!"

Kenny didn't let up. The moment his opponent reset, he was already shifting again, light on his feet, calculating. His opponent lunged, throwing a spinning kick, but Kenny read it perfectly. He ducked low, pivoted on his back foot, and countered with a high roundhouse straight to the chest.

The impact sent his opponent stumbling back, his foot barely skimming the edge of the mat.

"Another point! Miyagi Do wins!"

The ref's voice rang through the arena, and the Miyagi-Do side exploded in celebration.

Kenny stood tall, chest rising and falling with exhilaration. He turned toward his team, searching for the reaction he wanted most.

Hayden met his gaze, arms crossed, but there was the ghost of a smirk at the corner of her lips. A silent told you so.

Kenny grinned wide, nodding back.

"Bet you guys feel real stupid right now, huh?" Hayden smirked as she cut between Eli and Demetri, her tone dripping with satisfaction.

Eli huffed, crossing his arms. "Okay, yeah, maybe we should've tagged him in earlier."

"Maybe?" Hayden shot him a look before shaking his head with a grin.

The team had already flooded the mat, surrounding Kenny in celebration. Miguel and Robby hoisted him onto their shoulders, the same way Eli had lifted Hayden on the platform earlier. Kenny beamed, throwing his fists in the air as the crowd roared around them.

Sam nudged Hayden's shoulder, laughing as she clapped along. "I don't think I've ever seen Kenny smile that wide."

Hayden's smile lingered as she watched Kenny scanning the crowd—until his expression shifted into something more smug. She followed his gaze and nearly snorted when she realized exactly who he was looking at.

Silver.

Kenny held up his hands and, without hesitation, rolled up a slow, deliberate middle finger.

Hayden had to bite her tongue to keep from laughing at the absolute disbelief on Silver's face. It was almost too satisfying.

When Miguel and Robby finally set Kenny back down, Hayden was on him in an instant, wrapping him in a bone-crushing hug.

"See?" she murmured against his shoulder. "Told you you'd get your chance."

Kenny grinned against her shoulder, his voice full of something that sounded an awful lot like gratitude.

"Yeah. You did."

Their team celebration felt short lived when the announcer's voice cut through the air.

"After the break, our final round. First match, Miyagi Do versus Cobra Kai."

The words seemed to hang in the air, heavy and unshakable.

The cheers died down. Smiles faded.

Hayden felt the shift immediately—the way the excitement drained from their team like someone had flipped a switch. She glanced around, catching the tension in Miguel's shoulders, the way Sam's jaw tightened, the flicker of something unreadable in Robby's eyes.

No one said a word.

They didn't have to.

They had to win. Or they were done.

authors note.
IM SORRY FOR FALLING OFF THE FACE OF THE ESRTH PLS DONT KILL ME
this is 9k words and the episode wasn't even done yet but I WAS and i knew if i didn't get it published any time soon it wouldn't get published at all
anyways i'll start writing the next one don't yell at me. you also may or may not find out who endgame is 😏if im feeling nice