HAYDEN DROWNED EVERYTHING GUNTHER WAS SAYING OUT.

Her eyes stayed locked on Tory, but Tory had already forced her gaze away from her, looking anywhere but her.

Tory had fought her way out of Cobra Kai once. Had stood beside them, rebuilt herself, changed. And yet—here she was. Back in black.

Hayden inhaled sharply, rolling her shoulders back. She couldn't afford to be distracted. Tory's betrayal hurt, but she had once been in her position too.

When Silver had knocked her down over and over again. When he stripped her down to nothing—belittled her, berated her, broke her.

When she had felt like she had no other option but to leave.

She imagined it was something of the same for Tory.

But it didn't make it any easier to swallow.

"The Sekai Taikai boasts a rich and proud history. And if you are here, it is because you embody all that the Sekai Taikai stands for."

Gunther's voice pulled Hayden back to the present.

"Leadership, respect, sportsmanship. Captains, step forward and tie on your headbands."

Hayden took a measured step forward, fingers tightening around the fabric of the captain's headband in her hands.

She exhaled slowly, trying, but failing, to push down everything weighing on her.

Her sister.
Her father.
Tory.

Everything.

She tied the headband around her head, pulling the knot tighter than necessary.

She needed to focus. To let go of the noise.

But from the corner of her eye, she could feel Robby watching her.

Closely.

He saw the tension in her jaw, the way her forehead remained creased, the paleness in her face.

He knew.

He knew Tory's betrayal had hit her hard, but there was something else. Something that had been eating at her long before this moment.

He had seen it yesterday in the way she fought.

Aggressively. Recklessly.

Like this was her only outlet out.

Like she had been trying to kill something inside of herself.

Robby's stomach twisted at the thought.

She fought like she was back in Cobra Kai.

And that thought made his chest tighten.

But he wasn't the only one who had noticed.

Behind them in line with the others, Miguel stood with his arms crossed, eyes dark as they flicked between Hayden and Robby.

It should be him.

He should be the one standing next to Hayden. He should be the one leading Miyagi-Do beside her.

But instead, he had to watch as she and Robby stood side by side—partners.

Miguel exhaled through his nose, forcing himself to look away before his irritation got the best of him.

He had lost to Robby fair and square.

But that didn't mean he had to be happy about it.

"Captains, you will have the honor and privilege to compete in our televised tournament of champions."

Gunther continued, oblivious to the silent war brewing beneath the surface.

"But that is only if your dojo does well enough in our team competitions to make it to the final four."

Hayden barely listened, her mind still fractured into a thousand different pieces.

She felt someone's eyes on her again.

Not Robby. Not Miguel.

She turned her head slightly—locking eyes with one of the new Cobra Kai fighters.

A smirk was etched across his face, smug and taunting, like he wanted to get under her skin. Hayden narrowed her eyes in return before rolling them and looking away.

She wasn't going to let them get to her.

Not Kreese.
Not Kim.
Not their new little army.

"You okay?"

Robby's voice was low, meant only for her ears.

She didn't look at him, staring at Gunther despite not listening to a word that came out of his mouth.

"You look pale."

Hayden's jaw clenched slightly. "I'm good," she lied, keeping her voice calm. "Just need to focus."

Robby didn't buy it. But he didn't push. Not yet anyway.

"We have a field trip arranged for our competitors."

Gunther's voice cut through the room again.

"And for our senseis, a cocktail mixer with our distinguished sponsors, some of the world's finest martial arts brands."

He smiled. "It's a beautiful day to make a first impression. And I suggest you enjoy it, because tomorrow, your lives change forever."

The crowd erupted into applause.

Hayden didn't clap.

She simply stood there, fists still clenched, jaw still tight.

Because she knew one thing for certain.

Tomorrow, she was going to fight like hell.

—

Hayden stared down at the necklace in her fingers, the small silver "L" charm catching the light like it was taunting her. A cruel little reminder. A piece of something that should've been whole, now reduced to just this—a necklace, a name, a ghost of someone who wasn't gone but still felt lost.

Her grip tightened around it.

"What's the L stand for?" Miguel's voice cut through the fog of her thoughts, startling her slightly.

She hesitated, staring at the pendant for a moment longer before re-clasping it around her neck, letting it fall next to the "H" she always wore. The weight of both pressed against her collarbone.

"Logan." Her voice was quieter than she intended.

Miguel tilted his head, watching her carefully. "Did something happen—"

But before he could finish, the sound of approaching footsteps made them both turn.

A group of Cobra Kai fighters strode toward them with practiced arrogance, their smirks sharp enough to cut. The leader—tall, broad-shouldered, with a thick accent—looked them up and down, unimpressed.

"Whoa. So you're the famous Miyagi-Do. We have heard about you... but I do not know why. You do not look like much."

Hayden barely processed the words.

Her mind was elsewhere—back in that hospital room, back in that dim, sterile lighting, back to Logan's too-pale face and the beeping machines that had barely kept her tethered to this world.

She felt Miguel stiffen beside her. Eli stepped forward, already bristling. "Yeah? You'll see better when you step on the mat tomorrow."

Robby immediately placed a hand on Eli's shoulder, pulling him back slightly, his voice calm but firm. "Come on, guys. It's not worth it."

Miguel nodded, shooting Hayden a quick glance—like he was checking to see if she was still there. Still paying attention. "Robby's right. Forget about them, okay? They're just any other dojo here." He took Hayden's hand, leading her away from Cobra Kai.

But she couldn't help but stare at the logo on their bags, Kreese's words replaying in her head: You were a champion with me. A fighter. The best I ever trained.

She hated herself for letting her mind wander. Wondering if it was truly the Cobra Kai influence that made her the fighter she was. Or was it the anger she was fueling off of. A combination of both?

And could she get away with that in a room full of the best of the best worldwide?

Hayden barely registered Miguel's words. She let him pull her along, moving on autopilot. She felt like a passenger in her own body, like everything was happening around her but not to her.

And then—

Tory walked past them.

No acknowledgment. No glance. Not even the smallest flicker of recognition.

Hayden locked her gaze on her, something sharp twisting in her stomach. For a second, she thought she saw herself in Tory. That same hollow, faraway look. That same weight pressing down on her shoulders. That same exhaustion that no amount of rest could fix.

But Tory didn't stop. Didn't even slow down.

Hayden exhaled slowly, her fingers ghosting over the necklace.

She wasn't sure what hurt more—everything happening back at home plus Tory's betrayal or the fact that she didn't even have the energy to care anymore.

Miguel glanced at Hayden again, his brows knitting together. She was off. More than usual.

She hadn't even reacted to the Cobra Kai guys, hadn't thrown a sharp remark or even so much as rolled her eyes. And the way she'd looked at Tory—there was something unreadable there. Something distant.

He hesitated for a second before trying again. "So... Logan. Is she okay?"

Hayden barely let a beat pass. "So, I heard about the Stanford thing."

Miguel blinked, caught off guard by how smoothly—how quickly—she pivoted the conversation. She was shutting him out. He knew it. But she was also looking at him now, like she was daring him to push further.

He exhaled, deciding to let it go. For now.

"Yeah." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Deferred."

Hayden tilted her head. "Deferred doesn't mean rejected."

Miguel scoffed. "Yeah, but it doesn't mean accepted either."

Hayden shot him a look. "Miguel, come on. If anyone deserves to get in, it's you. You'll get in. You're, like, stupidly smart."

Miguel huffed out a quiet laugh. "Stupidly smart, huh?"

She mustered up her best smirk and hoped Miguel didn't see through it. "Yeah. Annoyingly, actually. Makes the rest of us look bad."

Miguel shook his head, watching her carefully. This was his Hayden—casual, confident, reassuring. But he wasn't stupid. He saw what she was doing.

He knew it was fake. That her smirk was a facade.

Still, he let himself play along. Because, for a second, it almost felt normal.

"Well, if I don't get in, I'll blame you."

Hayden quirked a brow. "Me?"

"Yeah. You distracted me all year. How am I supposed to focus on applications when your around?"

"My mere existence distracts you?" Hayden arched a brow.

Miguel's smirk turned into something softer. "More than you know."

Hayden rolled her eyes, but she let herself laugh. "Yeah, yeah, blame me all you want, Diaz. Just remember me when you're walking through those Stanford halls, okay?"

Miguel's lips parted slightly, the weight of her words settling between them. She said it like it was a sure thing. Like she never even doubted him.

And damn, if that didn't make his chest feel warm.

He nudged her side lightly. "Yeah?"

Hayden smirked, nudging him back. "Yeah."

And for a moment, just a moment, Miguel forgot about the tournament, about the Cobra Kai drama, about everything else.

Because Hayden was here. And she believed in him.

—

An all-expenses-paid trip to the aquarium was the last thing Hayden wanted.

If it were up to her, she'd be exploring the streets of Barcelona, maybe finding a quiet spot on the beach where she could just sit and breathe. Let the sun warm her skin, let herself feel something other than exhaustion.

She hadn't truly relaxed in so long.

And yet, here she was—stiffly standing next to Robby while a photographer took what felt like an endless stream of pictures. Her arms were crossed, her lips pressed into a line, and she knew the fake smile she was forcing didn't even come close to reaching her eyes.

"I can tell when you're faking it," Robby muttered, his voice low enough that only she could hear.

Hayden shot him a look, brow raised. "Excuse me?"

Robby smirked. "Get your mind out of the gutter, Sanders."

Hayden rolled her eyes but couldn't help the faint tug at the corner of her lips.

"How many more pictures do you think he's gonna take?" she sighed.

Robby glanced at the photographer, then back at her, completely deadpan. "I don't know, but if we stand here any longer, I think he might pull out a sketchbook and start sketching us instead."

Hayden huffed out a short laugh, shaking her head. "You're an idiot."

"Maybe," he said with a smirk, "but at least I'm an idiot who's making you smile."

That pulled a small, breathy chuckle from Hayden, and just like that, the photographer pounced.

"There! Good, hold that!" He snapped another set, and Robby smirked knowingly to himself.

Hayden turned her head slightly, the faintest feeling of being watched creeping up her spine.

And she was right.

Off to the side, a group of girls stood in a small cluster, whispering amongst themselves, but one in particular caught Hayden's attention. A tiny brunette, clearly eyeing Robby like he was something to sink her teeth into.

Hayden tried to ignore it, tried to keep her expression unreadable, but the girl wasn't subtle.

"Some of these boys are cute, huh?" the brunette murmured to Tory, who happened to be standing next to her (though it was clear she wasn't paying any attention to her), her gaze lingering on Robby, practically devouring him with her eyes.

Hayden inhaled sharply through her nose, forcing herself to face forward. She rolled her eyes, her tongue pressing against her cheek.

Just then, Robby shifted closer, and his fingers brushed lightly against her wrist. It was barely a touch, but Hayden felt it like a spark. She turned to him, catching that small smile he did—the one most people missed, but she never did.

Her chest tightened, something unspoken passing between them.

"Maybe someone's already got dibs," the brunette muttered under her breath, but Hayden caught it.

She didn't turn around this time, didn't give the girl the satisfaction of a reaction.

Instead, she just straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin, suddenly itching to get out of there.

"Okay, let's get one more—" The photographer barely finished his sentence before Tory turned on her heel and walked off.

"Okay, never mind. We're done," he sighed.

Hayden watched Tory's retreating form, her body tense.

Then, without another word, she followed.

The blue light from the aquarium cast a cold glow over them, making the whole world feel muted, distant. The water reflected against the glass, casting rippling patterns across Tory's face, making her look softer than she should, given the circumstances.

But Hayden knew better.

Tory hadn't looked at her once, even though she knew she was there. Even though she must've heard her footsteps, must've felt her presence standing beside her.

She just kept staring straight ahead, watching the fish glide through the water like they didn't have a care in the world.

Hayden exhaled quietly, watching them too. It was easier than looking at Tory. Easier than trying to find the words. She wished she could slip into that world, even just for a second.

Tory didn't move. She just stood there, arms crossed, gaze locked ahead, like if she stared hard enough, she could disappear into the glass.

Hayden swallowed, staring too.

"I'm sorry about your mom."

Tory didn't react at first. Didn't acknowledge it. Didn't breathe. But Hayden caught the way her arms tightened slightly around herself, like she was holding something in, like if she let go for even a second, she'd shatter.

Hayden nodded to herself, like she expected the silence.  "I wish I could've met her."

That made Tory glance at her, just for a moment. A flicker of something crossing her face before she looked away again.

"I wanted you to," Tory murmured.

Hayden turned to her at that, but Tory kept her eyes forward, watching the fish swim like they had all the time in the world.

Something about it made Hayden's chest ache.

"My sister—" She paused, realizing Tory knew who her sister was, "Logan relapsed," she admitted, the words barely above a whisper.

Tory's head snapped toward her, eyes widening. "What?"

Hayden nodded, her fingers tightening into fists at her sides. "I found her two days before the fight. She was barely even alive."

The memory flashed through her mind like a cruel movie reel—the way Logan looked so small, so pale, so still. The way her hands had been ice-cold when Hayden grabbed them, the way she screamed, begged, pleaded for her to wake up. The way she shook her so hard that she swore she felt something crack inside her own chest.

"I thought she was dead," Hayden admitted, voice hollow. "I really thought—"

She cut herself off, forcing a swallow past the lump in her throat. She couldn't go there.

Tory didn't say anything. She just stared, eyes dark and unreadable.

"I know what it's like," Hayden said instead, voice softer now. "To lose someone before you actually lose them. To watch them disappear right in front of you and not be able to do a damn thing about it."

Tory inhaled sharply, her nails digging into her arms.

"She was all I had," Tory muttered, barely audible.

Hayden nodded, because she knew.

And maybe that's why she followed her here. Maybe that's why, despite everything, despite the betrayal, despite the fight they both knew was coming, Hayden couldn't bring herself to hate her.

Because they were both drowning.

And maybe it was selfish, but it felt easier to drown together.

"You don't have to do this," Hayden finally said, looking at Tory now. "You don't have to stay with them."

Tory scoffed, shaking her head. "And what, you did? When you left Cobra Kai and ran back to Miyagi-Do?"

Hayden exhaled through her nose, jaw tight. "That was different."

Tory shot her a look. "Was it?"

Hayden clenched her fists. "Tory, come on—"

"You could come with me," Tory said, and it wasn't a question, wasn't a demand.

It was something else.

A lifeline.

Hayden hesitated, just for a moment.

She could see it now—the two of them standing side by side, fighting together instead of against each other, tearing through the competition, proving they belonged.

It would be so easy.

But it wouldn't be right.

Hayden exhaled, shaking her head. "No."

Tory's face didn't change. If she was disappointed, if she was hurt, she didn't show it.

She just nodded once, looking back at the aquarium.

Hayden sighed, rubbing her fingers over her knuckles. "Kreese got to you, didn't he?"

Tory's jaw tensed.

"Told you that you'd always be second to Sam."

Tory let out a breathy, bitter laugh. "Third place, actually. Said I'd never get the chance to be captain, even if I got through one of you."

Hayden's stomach turned.

That was his strategy. His playbook. He got into your head, made you doubt yourself, made you doubt the people around you. He manipulates people.

And he was damn good at it.

"It doesn't have to be like this," Hayden murmured.

Tory finally looked at her, something sharp flickering in her gaze. Then, with a bitter edge, she threw Hayden's own words from the All Valley right back at her. "Except it did."

Hayden held her gaze, neither of them backing down.

She didn't have an answer. And maybe that was the worst part.

Because they both knew.

Sooner or later, they'd be standing across from each other on the mat.

And neither of them would be holding back.

Tory let out a slow exhale, rubbing a hand down her face. For a moment, the weight of everything—their fight, their grief, their inevitable clash—lingered heavy in the air. But then, Hayden tilted her head toward the end of the hall, where a few of Tory's new teammates were making a scene.

"Your teammates are assholes," Hayden said, deadpan.

Tory blinked, caught off guard, before she let out a sharp laugh. "No shit."

Hayden smirked. "Seriously. That one guy? The one with the stupid haircut? I saw him flexing at his own reflection for, like, five minutes. He was staring at me like he wanted to eat me."

Tory snorted. "That's Kwon. He thinks he's God's gift to karate."

"He's a dick."

"Yeah, no argument there."

Hayden shook her head, crossing her arms. "And what's up with the tall one? The one who looks like there's a stick up his ass."

Tory rolled her eyes. "That's Yook. He's a dumbass. You should've seen him at breakfast. He was talking about protein powder like it was his firstborn child."

Hayden made a face. "Jesus."

"Yeah. Welcome to my personal hell." Tory sighed, looking back at her team, who were now loudly arguing over whether a shark could beat a bear in a fight.

"Yeah," she muttered, as if seeing that confirmed it. "They're idiots."

Hayden smirked. "Told you."

And for a moment, it was almost like before. Before everything went to shit, before they found themselves on opposite sides of another karate war, before they both lost people who were supposed to be there forever.

For a moment, it felt easy.

Like they weren't about to tear each other apart.

Like they were still just two girls who understood each other better than anyone else ever could.

But then Demetri's tore through the moment, his panicked voice cutting through the air so loud, Hayden swore he scared some of the fishes away.

"So, um, hate to interrupt whatever this is, but Robby's gambling our room away!"

Hayden exhaled sharply through her nose, pressing her fingers to her temples before looking up. You've got to be kidding me.

"What?" She blinked, already moving.

"He took the bait! He's gambling our room away, and you, as our captain, need to go down there and do something!"

She shot a quick glance at Tory, whose expression was unreadable as she stared at the deep blue of the water.

"I'll see you around," Tory murmured without looking at her.

Hayden hesitated for just a second before nodding, then turned and followed Demetri down the winding hall.

The crowd had gathered tight, voices buzzing with anticipation. Hayden didn't need to push through to see what was happening—she already knew. She could hear it. Robby's name, the low hum of a challenge, the quiet confidence of someone who was sure they'd already won.

When she finally broke through to the front, she saw him. Robby, drawing chalk on the side of his shoe, his jaw tight, his stance locked. Hayden's stomach twisted.
"Robby, what the hell are you doing?" She whisper yelled.

"I'm getting us an extra room." Robby barely glanced at her, looking at the mark he had to kick above to beat.

"That's gambling. He's gambling our rooms away." Demetri stated in disbelief.

Hayden narrowed her eyes. "You don't even know how good he is, Robby. He could be conning you—"

Finally, Robby turned his head, tilting it slightly as he eyed her. "What? You think he's better than me?" His voice was calm, but there was an edge beneath it. "You don't think I can win?"

Hayden inhaled sharply, exhaling slowly through her nose. This is not the argument she wanted to have right now.

"That's not what I'm saying." Her voice was measured, controlled. "I'm saying pull your head out of your ass and walk away."

For a second, just a second, she thought he might listen. His posture shifted, like he was reconsidering—until Kwon spoke up from behind him.

"What? Afraid you're gonna lose in front of girlfriend?" His voice was smooth, mocking.

And just like that, Robby continued to coat the side of his shoe with chalk powder.

"Okay, just— just give it a good running start." Demetri began to help strategize, realizing there was no getting through to him.

"And that Russian guy that went before you? He jumped way too early. The physics behind it—" Eli began but was cut off by a glaring Demetri.

"Hey, hey, I'm telling him. I know the physics. I'm going to a school world-renowned for it. Maybe you've heard of it."

"My God," Eli sighed in frustration, "Oh, sure. 'I'm going to MIT.'" He began to mock, "I get it."

"Guys, please. Will you quit it?" Miguel cut in between at the same time Hayden placed a hand on both their shoulders and squeezed—firmly. They went silent. She turned back to Robby.

"Don't do something stupid," she said, voice lower now.

He looked at her once more before turning. "I got this."

Hayden clenched her jaw, watching as he exhaled, measured his stance, then sprinted forward. In one smooth motion, he leapt, twisted, and sent his foot soaring through the air.

His mark landed above the previous ones. The crowd gasped. Murmurs rippled around them.

For a split second, Hayden let herself relax.

Then Kwon moved.

Casually. No rush, no stress. He shoved his jacket to one of his teammates, rolled his shoulders, and walked straight up to the board.

No running start. No theatrics.

He just jumped.

And landed above Robby's mark.

The crowd erupted. Miguel exhaled sharply beside her. Hayden didn't move, didn't react—just stared at the board, at the mark that now sat over Robby's.

The smirk on Kwon's face widened. He stepped up to Robby, holding out his hand.

Kwon strolled up to Robby with an easygoing stride, holding his hand out for Robby to fulfill his end of the deal.

Demetri aggressively took the hotel room keycard out of his pocket, giving to Robby and Robby forcefully passed it off to Kwon.

He smirked down at the keycard, waving it in his face as if to taunt him. "Don't worry. I leave your bags in the hall."

Hayden said nothing. Just stared. Cold. Expressionless.

Laughter bursted out from all around them, Hayden clenching her jaw.

"Cobra Kai! Cobra Kai! Cobra Kai! Cobra Kai!" They began chanting, everyone joining along.

"You got this, you said?" She arched a brow at Robby, who had been hanging his head slightly in disappointment. She turned to the rest of the group, motioning her head over to the exit. "Let's go, guys."

They had all listened to her, following her to the exit.

—

The boys would rather be anywhere but here right now.

The hotel room door slammed behind them with a force that rattled the walls.

Hayden didn't say anything at first—just stood there, her arms crossed, her jaw tight, pacing like a caged animal. The silence was suffocating. Miguel sat the edge of one of the beds, arms crossed, watching her carefully. Eli had been slumped at the head of the bed. Demetri had taken the safer route, standing near the wall, dropping his bag on the middle of the floor with a grumble.

And Robby was sitting on the bed, hands clasped between his knees, shoulders tense. Avoiding her gaze.

She let the silence drag for a moment longer, just to let them stew in it, before finally exhaling sharply.

"What. The. Hell. Was. That?"

"Not a very smart gamble, boys." Sam chastised from atop the table, her arms crossed with a look of disappointment.

"Seriously?" Her voice was eerily calm, the kind that came right before an explosion. She turned to Robby first, pinning him with a glare. "You gambled a damn room away, Robby. Like—what even possessed you to—"

"He got in my head." His voice was clipped, defensive. "I let him get in my head."

"No shit you let him get in your head," she snapped, running a hand down her face. "But guess what? That's the whole point! That's what guys like him do! They bait you, they push your buttons, and they watch you self-destruct so they don't even have to do anything."

She gestured toward the door. "And now, thanks to that brilliant display of self-control, Cobra Kai is literally laughing at us."

Robby clenched his jaw, but he didn't argue.

She shook her head, pacing again. "And instead of showing them that we're locked in, that we're focused, that we're better than them—" she cut her eyes at the group, "—we just handed them the biggest ego boost of their lives. For free."

Demetri cleared his throat awkwardly. "In our defense, we weren't the ones who—"

Hayden shot him a look. "You, shut up."

Demetri nodded quickly. "Shutting up."

Robby shook his head. "I didn't even wanna get involved, remember? I told them to stay away from Cobra Kai. It's so simple."

Eli shifted on the bed, throwing Robby a glance before speaking. "Well, if it's so simple, why don't you follow your own advice?"

"Hey," She cut in, because even though she was pissed with Robby, he was still her co-captain.

Robby turned sharply toward him, but before he could fire back, Hayden's voice cut through the tension like a blade. "Enough."

Her gaze flicked between both of them, sharp and unwavering. "This isn't all on him," she told Eli, her voice level but firm. "I heard you guys egging him on. Acting like some hard-asses out there."

Eli opened his mouth, but the look on Hayden's face made him think twice.

Hayden took a breath, steadying herself. "I don't care whose fault it was. It happened. And now, we've got an even bigger target on our backs. So here's what's gonna happen." She let her eyes sweep across all of them. "No more screw-ups. No more distractions. No more stupid mistakes. We need to be smarter. We don't fight for ego. We don't fight for pride. We don't let distractions mess with our heads. And we sure as hell don't jump down each others throats like idiots."

A heavy silence settled over the room.

"Well, what about you?" Sam's voice came back harder, her eyes narrowing as she tilted her head at Hayden. "We all saw you talking to Tory."

Hayden barely blinked, her expression unreadable. "Yeah, so?" she huffed through her nose.

"So?" Sam let out a sharp laugh. "She betrayed us. She's Cobra Kai now."

Hayden's jaw tightened, her fists clenching at her sides. "Don't." Her voice was low, dangerous, and the weight of it was enough to silence everyone.

No one dared to step in.

"You guys don't know what it's like," she continued, her voice flaring with something raw, something close to fury. "To be pushed so far you think that's your only choice."

Because it was true. None of them knew what it was like to feel like the whole world was against you. To feel like you had no way out.

Sometimes, leaving felt like the only option.

"She's dealing with her decision," Miguel cut in, his voice steady, siding with Hayden without hesitation. "Same as the rest of us."

Sam scoffed, her brows raising in disbelief. "I wouldn't say that exactly."

Then, she met Hayden's eyes, sharp and unrelenting.

"You knew Kreese came to Tory," she accused. "Because he came to you too."

The air shifted.

All eyes flew to Hayden. The weight of the stares pressed down on her, heavy, suffocating.

"What?" Miguel's voice was quiet, hurt laced into every syllable. "You did?" He paused. "Wait, he came to you?"

Hayden pinched the bridge of her nose, exhaling sharply. "No. I didn't know he saw her. She didn't tell me. And when Kreese came to me, I told him to fuck off. I didn't even give him the time of day." Her voice was tight, edged with frustration. "I didn't know Tory would switch sides."

"Really?" Sam shook her head, disbelief flashing in her eyes. "This is what Kreese does. He played her. And he played you. And you lied to us about it."

Hayden's eyes darkened. "Trust me, I know what Kreese does. I lived through it. But that doesn't change the fact that Tory is her own person, and she makes her own decisions."

Sam wasn't letting up. "You should've told us. Hayden, it's Kreese. You knew he'd try to pull something like this."

Hayden's jaw clenched. "And what would I have done? What?" She shook her head, frustration bubbling to the surface. "Dragged Tory here? Forced her to stay? Because that always works, right?"

Sam's mouth opened like she was about to fire back, but she was cut off.

"Come on, guys, that's not fair," Robby interjected, his voice measured. "Tory was gonna switch even if she had told us—"

But Sam was already turning on him.

"Why aren't you more mad? She lied. Kreese came to her and she didn't tell anyone—" she demanded, her eyes narrowing. Then, something seemed to click in her mind.

She stiffened.

"You knew, didn't you?"

Robby looked down.

Hayden could see the hesitation in his posture, the way his fingers curled slightly into his palms.

"Yeah," he admitted quietly. "She told me."

Miguel's expression hardened, his gaze snapping between them.

And suddenly, Hayden wasn't sure what he was more upset about—the fact that she had told Robby and not him, or the fact that she hadn't told him at all.

Despite that, he shook his head, standing up. "Tory made her decision. Hayden doesn't control what she does. Drop it, guys."

His tone was final, cutting through the tension like a blade. But it didn't settle anything.

Hayden took a slow breath, then squared her shoulders. Enough of this.

"Look," she said, voice steady but sharp enough to cut through the tension, "I'm sorry, okay? I should've told you guys about Kreese. Now, we can stand around pointing fingers, or we can focus on the actual problem."

The room fell quiet, all eyes on her.

"We're here to win the Sekai Taikai," she continued, crossing her arms. "Not to fight each other, not to go in circles about who should've told who what. Tory made her choice, Kreese tried his usual bullshit, and none of that changes what we came here to do."

She met every pair of eyes in the room—Robby's, Miguel's, Sam's, Eli's, Demetri's. "They have one up on us. That means we step up, or we get left behind. So if anyone has anything else they need to get off their chest, get it out now. Otherwise, we move the fuck on."

No one spoke. Not even Robby and Miguel, who glanced briefly at each other before shaking their heads no.

Hayden raised an eyebrow. "Great. Then let's focus."

Robby let out a breath, shaking his head but looking at her with something close to admiration. Miguel, however, just stared, a complicated look on his face—like he wasn't sure whether to be impressed or frustrated that she had shut it down so easily.

Sam pursed her lips, but she didn't argue.

"Get some rest. Cause tomorrow? We fight. Like hell."

—

The knock was soft at first. Barely there. If Hayden hadn't already been lying awake, staring at the ceiling, she probably wouldn't have heard it.

She glanced at Sam, who was still sound asleep, before quietly getting out of bed. The floor was cool beneath her feet as she padded toward the door, unlocking it carefully.

Robby stood there, hands in the pockets of his hoodie, his expression softer than usual. He looked at her like he was trying to read something in her face, but she didn't give him much to work with.

"You should be asleep," she murmured.

"So should you," he countered.

She sighed, leaning against the doorframe. "What's up?"

He hesitated, like he wasn't sure how to say what he wanted to say. "I just... I wanted to check on you."

Hayden gave a small, tired scoff. "I'm fine."

"You say that a lot."

"Because it's true."

Robby didn't look convinced. "You've been off, Hayden. Since we got here. Actually, since before we got here."

She shrugged, glancing down at the floor. "I'm just focused."

He tilted his head slightly. "Focused?"

"Yeah. The first challenge's tomorrow. We need to lock in."

Robby watched her for a long moment, like he was weighing his next words carefully. Then, his eyes flickered to the necklace resting against her collarbone—the L charm she hadn't taken off since Logan—since everything.

"That new?" he asked.

Hayden's fingers instinctively brushed over it, her body going rigid.

"Hayden," he said, quieter now. "What's going on?"

She exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "Nothing. It's—nothing."

Robby huffed, his frustration starting to seep through. "Bullshit. You've barely said a word since we got here, you've been on autopilot all week, and now you're standing here acting like everything is fine when it's clearly not."

"I told you—"

"Yeah, yeah, I know. You're focused." He scoffed, running a hand through his hair. "You always do this. You shut people out, you pretend you don't feel anything, like if you don't talk about it, it doesn't exist."

Her jaw clenched. "I don't—"

"You do." His voice was sharper now, more desperate. "You don't let anyone in, Hayden. Not really. You just carry everything like it's your job, like you have to. Someone can help if you let them." His fingers twitched at his sides, like he wanted to reach for her but decided against it.

She didn't respond.

Because she knew he was right.

Robby let out a breath, shaking his head. "But— but you don't trust Sam. You don't trust Miguel. You don't trust me. You—" He took a breath, looking her in the eye. "You don't trust anyone but yourself."

The words hit something deep inside her, something she didn't want to touch. So she did what she always did. She locked it down.

She straightened her shoulders, fixing him with a steady gaze. "We should be resting for the tournament."

Robby searched her face for something, anything, but whatever he was looking for—she didn't give it to him.

Finally, he let out a humorless chuckle, stepping back. "Of course. The tournament."

He shook his head, turning toward the hallway, running his hands through his hair in frustration as he walked away.

And then he was gone.

Hayden watched him go, her grip tightening around the necklace.

She swallowed hard, her throat tight, before whispering into the empty space—

"See you on the mat tomorrow."

—

Hayden hadn't slept.

Not really.

She used to lose sleep because of Silver. The image of herself breaking that stone played on a loop in her mind, waking her up in the middle of the night, her fingers clawing at her chest just to remind herself she could still breathe.

Sometimes it would be the way he kicked her around, told her she wasn't good enough over and over and over again. Until she had finally believed it, and lost herself completely.

Now it was Logan.

Still. Lifeless. Cold.

She saw the color drained from her lips, her body limp in Hayden's arms as she screamed for help, as she held her sister and begged for a different ending. She saw herself gripping her tighter, willing her to wake up, but nothing ever changed.

And that was the last thing Hayden saw before she shot upright in bed, chest rising and falling like she had just sprinted a marathon.

But she didn't let herself feel it. She shoved it all down, just like she always did, because distractions meant being unfocused. And being unfocused meant losing.

"The time has come. Welcome to our first event."

Hayden stood at the front of the line with Robby. He hadn't said a word to her all morning, and she hadn't tried to say anything to him either.

She could feel the weight of their conversation from last night lingering between them. The way he saw right through her. The way he tried, one last time, to get her to open up.

But she didn't.

So now, there was only silence.

Not that it mattered. Hayden had no room for anything else in her mind. The moment she stepped onto the mats, the moment Gunther began speaking, she locked in.

Nothing else existed.

"I hope you're all well rested and ready for a new and unique competition. We call it the Captain's War."

Hayden inhaled deeply, her chin tilting up just slightly. Her entire body went rigid, her fingers curling into fists at her sides.

If this challenge was directed at the captains, then that meant one thing:

She had to be untouchable.

"We told you how important our captains will be. So let's see how well you protect them. Four dojos will take the mat. Only one will be left standing. If you hit the mat, you're out. If one of your captains hits the mat, your entire team is out for this round. Check the boards to see your group, decided by random draw. Group A, you're up."

She could feel Robby's posture shift beside her. She could sense Miguel's stare burning into her from the side.

Gunther gestured to the board behind him, glancing back at it.

Hayden followed his gaze, her body going rigid at the pairing.

Cobra Kai.

Of course.

She heard Mr. LaRusso scoff under his breath. Hayden let out a slow exhale through her nose. She didn't react, didn't blink, didn't even turn her head when she felt Miguel's gaze shift to her.

She just clenched her fists tighter.

They took their position on the mat, each team retreating to their corners to strategize.

As they huddled in, she could feel the weight of her entire team's eyes on her. She was one of the captains. A target.

Her heartbeat drummed in her ears, but when she spoke, her voice was steady. Firm.

"I'm not touching the mat," she said simply, eyes sweeping over the group. "Neither is Robby. We fight smart. We fight together. We protect the egg."

Nods went around.

Miguel added, "And let them come to us. We make sure Hayden and Robby are covered at all times."

"I can be on the front line," Robby said, already stepping forward.

Miguel scoffed. "No, no, no. You stay back and stay focused."

Robby's brows furrowed at the pointed tone. "Why wouldn't I be focused?"

Miguel shook his head, eyes narrowing at him. "Well, you did leave the hotel room last night."

Miguel had a pretty good idea of where he ended up, too, looking at Hayden for a beat too long.

The words hung heavy in the air.

All eyes flickered to Robby. Then to Hayden. She clenched her jaw, shutting it down before anyone else could add fuel to the fire. "Focus. Stick to the plan and we can't lose. I got you guys as much as you got me, okay?"

The tension didn't fully fade, but the team nodded.

Mr. LaRusso stepped in. "I know it hasn't always been pretty lately, but no one could ever count us out. You hear me?" He began, looking at the teens. "Do it for each other."

Johnny grinned, eyes locked on Cobra Kai. "And wipe those smirks off their ugly faces."

"Ready? Begin!" Gunther had barely gotten the word out before Tory was launching herself at them, the rest of Cobra Kai having no choice but to follow suit.

Demetri hit the floor almost instantly. Hayden bit back a curse. She barely had time to react before Miguel was yanking her behind him, fighting off Kwon with sharp, controlled movements. But it wasn't long before another Cobra Kai stepped in, so now Miguel was protecting Hayden from two guys at the same time as she swiftly tried to maneuver around the fight.

"Robby, stay back!" Miguel shouted.

But Robby was already moving, breaking formation.

"Guys! Protect Hayden!" Mr. LaRusso's voice cut through the chaos. "We can't have her go down!"

"Sensei, I got my hands full!" Eli yelled out, locked in a heated battle with a Cobra Kai fighter, each strike met with equal force.

Hayden, meanwhile, squared off with a Cobra Kai fighter. He moved first—predictable. A high roundhouse aimed at her head. She ducked. A leaping kick to her ribs—she sidestepped, sharp and fast, her breath controlled.

She didn't hesitate. She spun into him, driving her fist into his stomach before sweeping his legs out from under him.

One down.

"Good, Hayden!" She heard Mr. LaRusso exclaim.

"Hawk! Protect the captains!" She heard Johnny's voice rippled through the crowd and he glanced over, seeing Hayden already squaring off with another fighter.

Without warning, he lunged, his foot swinging toward Hayden's head. But Hayden anticipated the strike, ducking just in time, her body moving fluid and quick. She countered with a swift jab to his midsection, sending the Cobra Kai member stumbling backward.

He recovered quickly, eyes flaring with rage. He swung again, this time a roundhouse kick aimed at Hayden's ribs. Hayden spun to the side, narrowly dodging it.

In an instant, the Cobra Kai member surged forward, throwing a series of punches. Left, right, left—each strike came at a blistering pace. But Hayden was keeping up with no struggle. She blocked, dodged, and parried with precision, each move flowing into the next. She feinted low, and when his guard dropped, Hayden brought her elbow up to his shoulder blade sharply.

He staggered back, dazed but not yet out. The Cobra Kai student let out a loud yell, charging again. But this time, Hayden was ready.

She sidestepped, grabbing his wrist mid-swing, and twisting it behind his back, using his own momentum to throw him to the ground with a sickening thud.

Another one down.

But as Hayden stood over him, the sound of footsteps caught his attention. Yoon sprinted toward her from behind her, a cruel grin on his face.

Hayden had seen it coming. She ducked and that's when she heard it—the sound of Eli's voice.

"Hayden, move!" Eli shouted from the distance. He was already charging toward the two, his own face a mask of determination.

Yoon wasn't expecting the intervention. He didn't see Eli coming. As he turned to face look over his shoulder, Eli launched himself into the air, coming to bring his fist down to his chest, but Yoon was fast.

He didn't let the unexpected attack take him down, roundhousing his leg around and knocking Eli straight to the ground.

Hayden didn't have time to dwell on that, though, because Yoon turned to her in a matter of seconds. Hayden took notice that there were only four Cobra Kai fighters left and four Miyagi Do members.

She held her fists up, ready to take whatever Yoon threw at her but Miguel had come out of nowhere, crouching down to sweep Yoon's legs out from under him but he had twisted back, lunging forward at Miguel and forgetting all about Hayden.

She looked over and saw Sam struggling against her Cobra Kai member, but before she could try and help her, he'd taken her down to the mat, making it four Cobra Kai members to three Miyagi Do.

She smoothed her hands over the top of her head when the Cobra Kai member launched himself at her without a pause.

She avoided it, crouching down to sweep his legs out but he managed to step out of the way in time, pivoting on one leg to twist and kick at Hayden's shoulder.

She stumbled back but caught herself on one hand so she didn't completely hit the floor, hoisting herself up with a grant. With a textbook-perfect flying kick, she leaped into the air and slammed her foot into his side. He was sent crashing to the mat, the wind knocked from his lungs.

Three to three now.

Tory, Kwon, and Yoon.

Hayden, Robby, and Miguel.

"Robby, you good?" She heard Miguel ask, but her eyes locked onto Tory, whose fists were already up.

"You got it, Hayden!" She heard Eli cheer for her at the side, clapping his hands for her.

"Come on, Sanders! All you!" Johnny added.

One look at each other and they knew: They weren't going to hold back.

The moment their eyes locked, it was decided. There would be no mercy.

Hayden and Tory struck at the same time, kicks colliding midair with a sharp crack. The force sent them both skidding back a step, but neither lost their footing. Neither hesitated.

Tory lunged first, throwing a quick, vicious jab aimed at Hayden's ribs. Hayden deflected it effortlessly, twisting her arm to trap Tory's wrist before Tory yanked free, immediately countering with a spinning back kick.

Hayden ducked just in time, the kick slicing through the air above her head. She spun low, sweeping for Tory's legs, but Tory leapt over it, her body arching before she landed and shot forward again.

A storm of fists and kicks followed, their movements a blur, each strike blocked, every counter met with another. Hayden felt the heat of the fight, the raw energy of it, the way they were pushing each other to the absolute limit.

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Miguel battling it out with Yoon, who was pressing him back with sharp, aggressive strikes.

But then, in one precise movement, Miguel twisted, using his momentum to send a brutal side kick—not at his own opponent, but at Tory.

She barely had time to react. The kick slammed into her side, forcing her back a step, giving Hayden the perfect opening.

Their eyes met—Hayden and Miguel's—just for a second. A brief flicker of understanding. Of silent appreciation.

And Robby saw it. Saw the way Miguel looked at her, the way her eyes glinted back at him.

His fists clenched. The jealousy began to brew in the pit of his stomach.

And then—

His fists clenched as he fought off Kwon, but for that fraction of a second, his focus faltered. And suddenly, Kwon had him in an airtight headlock.

Hayden didn't see it happen.

She was already moving, twisting into a powerful kick that sent Tory stumbling dangerously close to the mat. One more strike and she had her—

She'd win this round. And just as she brought her leg up for the final kick—

Thud.

The sound of someone hitting the mat hard.

And it wasn't Tory.

A loud horn echoed throughout the arena.

Hayden snapped her head around, her stomach plummeting at the sight of Robby—flat on his back, Kwon standing over him with a smug grin.

The realization hit like a punch to the gut.

Their captain had just lost.

"Miyagi Do captain down. Miyagi Do is out!" A voice announced.

Hayden ran a hand over her face, frustration boiling just beneath the surface. "Damn it!" She exhaled sharply, her jaw clenched so tightly it ached. She ignored the way Tory's eyes stayed on her, full of something unreadable, as she stepped off the mat.

"Too easy, man. Come on," Kwon taunted, his smug grin stretching wide as he watched them retreat.

Hayden rolled her eyes, muttering, "Asshole," under her breath. But the sting of the loss settled deep, gnawing at her pride.

Robby could see it, the tension in her shoulders, the way her fingers twitched like she wanted to hit something, anything. He felt the guilt twist in his gut.

"I'm sorry—"

"What happened out there?" Her voice was low, tight. She didn't look at him.

He opened his mouth to answer, but then he realized that there wasn't an answer he could come up with that would be excusable to Hayden. So he didn't say anything at all.

The sound of the horn aired out again. "Falchi Della Notte captain down. They are out. Only Cobra Kai and the Iron Dragons remain alive."

Hayden's frustration faded for a moment as she focused on the mat. Hayden furrowed her brows at the sight before her. All six Iron Dragon members remained standing, the two captains in the back and the other four in front.

They stood perfectly still. Like trained soldiers molded into perfection. Not an ounce of tension in their bodies, not a single bead of sweat. Their hands rested lightly on their belts, their expressions calm. Composed. Like they already knew the outcome.

She watched Kwon, Tory, and Yoon strategize for a moment before they began to charge forward, being stopped in their tracks when, without a word—four of them dropped to a knee, deliberately tapping out.

Hayden's eyes narrowed in curiosity, "what the hell," she murmured out.

The two captains for the Iron Dragons were perfectly calm. Their faces devoid of any emotion, looking completely untouched.

The female captain, Hayden recognized. The girl who'd been staring at Robby like he were a piece of candy. Her curiosity suddenly peaked, wanting to analyze the competition that she knew she'd soon be facing.

And then, Tory, Kwon, and Yoon charged forward.

The Iron Dragons fought gracefully if that were even possible. Every strike was blocked, every counter seamlessly redirected. Their footwork was surgical, precise—more than just practiced, it was ingrained.

Hayden studied them with sharp eyes, looking for cracks, weaknesses—something.

She found none.

Then, in a flash, it was over.

It didn't take long before the male captain took both Kwon and Yoon down at the same time the female captain had flipping Tory to her back.

The buzzer blared out. "Both Cobra Kai captains go down. The Iron Dragons win."

Hayden's eyes widened in disbelief as she watched the female captain blow a kiss up to the stands full of sponsors and scouts.

The silver dragon insignia on her gi gleamed under the bright lights as she and her co-captain walked off the mat without so much as a glance back.

Hayden exhaled, jaw tight.

She wasn't sure if it was irritation or something else curling in her gut, but she knew one—

That girl was going to be a problem.

authors note.
guys do u guys picture hayden as my faceclaim or do u picture someone else? i'm genuinely curious cuz when i write i fully picture jessie murph (the fc who is a great singer btw) but im just wondering if u guys have someone else in mind?
anyways i hate valentines did u guys do anything?