HAYDEN COULDN'T FOCUS ON ANYTHING AFTER THAT.

She paced back and forth, anxiously chewing on her nails and constantly looking into the locker room which led to Miguel in one of the rooms getting checked out by a medic.

She didn't pay attention to the semifinals match between Robby and Demetri, plus the fact that she couldn't look at Robby the same anymore.

She couldn't take it anymore. She walked into the locker room, but she didn't get very far.

Hayden wasn't looking for her. She wasn't trying to start anything, wasn't trying to reopen wounds that were still too fresh to touch. But as soon as she turned the corner, she nearly collided with her anyway.

Tory.

For a second, neither of them moved.

The hallway was quiet, just the distant echoes of the tournament carrying from the gym. The tension between them was thick, heavy, pressing against Hayden's ribs like a weight she didn't ask to carry.

Tory took a slow step back, adjusting the strap of her gi. Her eyes flickered over Hayden, assessing, but she didn't say anything right away.

Hayden exhaled through her nose. "Tory."

Tory's lips twitched—not quite a smirk, not quite a frown. "Sanders."

It was strange, hearing her last name come from someone who used to call her Hayden. Back when they were on the same side. Back when they used to spar until their knuckles bruised, then laugh about it afterward.

Back when things were simple.

But nothing was simple now.

Now, they stood on opposite sides of a war neither of them asked for.

And they both knew it.

"You've been doing well today," Tory said after a beat, voice even. "I almost didn't recognize you without the cheap shots."

Hayden's jaw tightened. "I don't need cheap shots to win."

Tory tilted her head, unimpressed. "No, I guess not." She let out a short, humorless breath. "Miyagi-Do's been good for you, huh?"

There was something in her voice—something bitter, something hurt. "I guess you were going to check on your little accomplice?"

"That's not funny."

Tory's lips twitched—not a smile, not a frown, just something sharp and unreadable. "Yeah, real funny. Watching you play Miyagi-Do must be the joke of the year.

Hayden crossed her arms, shifting her weight to one foot. "I did what I had to do."

Tory let out a slow breath through her nose, shaking her head again. "You really think this is better?" She gestured toward her. "Bowing, meditating, all that peace and balance crap?"

Hayden crossed her arms. "It's better than whatever Cobra Kai's turning you into."

Tory's eyes darkened. "What it's turning me into?" She took a step forward. "You mean someone who doesn't lose?"

Hayden held her ground. "No, I mean someone who doesn't know when to stop."

That landed. Just for a second. But then Tory scoffed again, rolling her shoulders back like she was shaking off whatever Hayden had just hit.

"You can pretend you're better than this all you want," she muttered. "But I know you, Hayden. You were one of us. You loved it."

Hayden felt something in her stomach twist. Because a part of her knew—Tory wasn't wrong.

She had loved it. The fire, the adrenaline, the raw power of it all.

But it had cost her too much.

And it was still costing Tory.

"Well, I was wrong. Cobra Kai is wrong. It's not too late to—"

Tory scoffed. "Right. That's what everyone says when they switch sides."

That struck a nerve.

Hayden held her gaze, tension simmering just beneath the surface. "I didn't switch sides, Tory. I woke up."

Tory's expression darkened. "You sure about that?"

Hayden didn't answer.

Because she wasn't sure of anything anymore.

They stood there for a moment, staring each other down, neither of them looking away.

But Hayden wasn't done.

Not yet.

"You were training with Silver," she said, her voice sharp, controlled. "Secretly."

Tory's expression didn't change. Not at first.

"So what?"

Hayden narrowed her eyes. "So you knew. You knew he was feeding me bullshit. That he was making me kill myself in training, making me think I was the one."

Tory exhaled, shaking her head. "You were never gonna be his champion, Hayden."

Hayden's stomach burned. "And you just let me believe it?"

Tory's jaw clenched, but she didn't look away.

"You let me be the idiot who bought into it," Hayden continued, voice colder now. "You stood by and watched him use me up, push me past my limits—while you were getting his real training."

Tory's fingers twitched at her sides. "I did what I had to do."

Hayden let out a short, humorless laugh. "Right. Because that's what Cobra Kai does, right? Step on anyone in the way? Even the people who were supposed to have your back?"

Tory's eyes flickered, like something inside her cracked just a little.

Tory adjusted her gi again, her movements slow, deliberate. "It didn't have to be like this, you know."

Hayden exhaled sharply. "Except it did."

Tory nodded once, as if she had been expecting that answer.

They stood there for a moment, staring each other down, neither of them looking away.

Then Tory straightened, adjusting the belt of her gi. "If we end up on that mat together, I'm not holding back."

Hayden nodded, mirroring her stance. "I wouldn't expect you to. I'm not either."

Tory gave her one last look—something sharp, something almost regretful—before turning and walking away.

And Hayden stood there, watching her go, fists clenching at her sides.

Because no matter how much she wanted to change things...

Some things were already too far gone.

—

Hayden didn't realize her match was soon so and upcoming.

She didn't realize Sam had lost in the quarterfinals, leaving her and Eli as the last hopes for Miyagi Do.

She stared at her opponent, analyzing before the match, which was any second now.

"You good?" Eli asked her, flickering his gaze between her and her opponent, who was stretching and popping her neck.

"Who would've thought? Hayden and Eli, former Cobra Kai's, the last remaining hopes for Miyagi Do." She snorted at the irony, glancing at Eli.

He laughed, nodding. "It took a while, but we found our way to the same team again." He looked at her opponent.

Daya Krupa from Topanga Karate fought like a powerhouse—strong, technical, but a little too rigid. If Hayden could keep her moving, force her to adapt mid-fight, she could break her rhythm.

"You ready?" he asked.

She inhaled lightly. "Yeah, I think."

Eli gave her a look. "You better be. You're all we've got left."

"We," she corrected, raising a brow. "You're still in this too, Moskowitz."

He smirked, nudging her arm. "Yeah, but I'm supposed to be the underdog. You? You're supposed to win."

Hayden let out a short breath, shaking her head. "No pressure or anything."

Eli's smirk softened just a little. "I'm serious. You deserve this."

Her chest tightened at the sincerity in his voice.

"You and me," he continued, glancing at the mat. "Miyagi-Do could have two champions by the end of the day." He met her eyes again. "We could have two champions."

Hayden swallowed.

She wasn't used to this. Support. Belief without conditions.

Cobra Kai had never been about teamwork, not really. It was about the strongest, about the one who climbed the highest, who stood alone at the top.

But Eli wasn't saying that.

He wasn't saying only one of us makes it.

He was saying both of us can.

She hesitated, then smirked slightly. "I guess that means I can't screw this up."

Eli chuckled. "Nope. Not unless you want me rubbing it in your face forever."

She rolled her eyes, but there was warmth in her chest.

Then—

"Our next semifinal match is Hayden Sanders of Miyagi Do versus Daya Krupa of Topanga Karate. Fighters, to the mat!"

Hayden straightened, her expression shifting back into something unreadable.

Eli clapped her on the shoulder. "I'll be watching. Kick ass, Sanders."

She nodded and stepped onto the mat, rolling her shoulders, forcing herself to focus.

One more fight before the finals. That's all she needed to think about. That's all that mattered.

But her eyes flickered toward the locker rooms where she knew Miguel was.

She imagined him hunched over in pain, Johnny and the medics hovering over him. She imagined the pained expression he wore as the medics checked his reflexes and soothed him through the pain.

Her stomach clenched.

She had to shake it off.

She turned back to face her opponent. Daya Krupa from Topanga Karate stood tall, poised, her stance disciplined. Hayden had seen her fight before—fast, aggressive, but with just enough hesitation that it left her open.

Losing isn't an option.

She just had to get out of her own head first.

"Face me, bow."

She bowed stiffly.

"Face each other, bow."

She and Daya locked eyes, both nodding.

"Ready?"

Hayden exhaled slowly.

"Fight!"

Daya wasted no time, lunging forward with a fast jab. Hayden deflected it easily, stepping to the side. She recognized the style instantly—structured, predictable. It was traditional martial arts, executed with precision, but missing fluidity.

Hayden countered with a quick inside block, throwing a sharp kick to Daya's ribs. Point.

But she barely heard the referee call it.

Because when she stepped back, she felt eyes on her.

Robby.

He was watching.

His expression unreadable, but she knew him. She knew every microexpression, every slight shift in his posture. And right now, he was angry.

Still.

Like every time she fought, he was there, watching. But this wasn't the way he used to watch her. Back at Cobra Kai, it was pride, admiration, even a little bit of amusement when she got too cocky.

But now?

Now, it was cold.

Detached.

Like he was waiting for her to fail.

"Fight!"

Hayden blinked, barely dodging a roundhouse kick from Daya.

Get it together.

She spun, sweeping Daya's leg out from under her. Another point.

"Two-zero!"

One more. Just one more.

She took a step back, shaking her hands out, resetting her stance.

And then her eyes drifted—again.

This time, toward Cobra Kai.

Tory stood at the edge of the mat, arms crossed, staring right at her.

And just behind her, Silver and Kreese loomed, both men watching like they were assessing, analyzing, waiting.

She'd be facing Tory next.

She knew it.

Tory knew it.

The second she won this match, it would be them in the finals.

And Cobra Kai expected Tory to win.

"Fight!"

Daya lunged again, but Hayden was ready.

She ducked under the strike, spinning on her heel, pivoting her body—

And then she drove her elbow into Daya's sternum.

The hit sent Daya stumbling back, arms flailing as she tried to catch herself, but it was too late. She lost her balance and hit the mat hard.

Silence.

Then—

"Point! Winner—Hayden Sanders!"

The referee grabbed her wrist, lifting her arm in the air.

Hayden barely reacted.

Her breathing was steady, controlled, her mind already somewhere else.

She turned her head, eyes locking onto Tory once again.

Tory's expression didn't change.

No smirk. No glare.

Just a look that said everything.

It's you and me now.

Hayden clenched her jaw.

She finally looked at Silver. At Kreese.

At the two men who once told her she would be their champion. Who made her believe that, if she fought hard enough, if she wanted it enough, she could be unstoppable.

She could see the way Silver studied her, calculating, amused.

Like he was waiting for her to prove she could still be their champion.

Like he didn't think she could do it.

Hayden exhaled, turning back toward her team.

She had won.

She had made it to the finals.

Now, she just had to finish this.

Tory Nichols.

It all came down to this.

—

Hayden should've been ecstatic.

A weight should have lifted off her shoulders the moment she won her semifinal match.

This was what she had worked herself to death for. This was it.

But as she stood off to the side, catching her breath, the excitement, the triumph—it all dulled in the back of her mind.

Because she wasn't focused on herself. She was focused on the mat. On the empty space where Miguel should have been.

Daryl's voice boomed across the speakers, sending a ripple of anticipation through the crowd.

"Cobra Kai and Miyagi-Do are neck and neck on the leaderboard. But there's a dark horse... or should I say, a dark bird, that still has a chance. Will Eagle Fang Karate stay alive in our dojo race?"

Hayden clenched her fists.

"We're about to find out... Miguel Diaz has one minute to return to the mat!"

The crowd erupted in a mix of cheers and murmurs, everyone shifting in their seats, waiting, watching.

Hayden's stomach twisted.

Where was he?

She knew his back was bad. She knew he should've never attempted that kick. But Miguel was the kind of fighter who didn't back down.

He had one minute.

Sixty seconds to show up.

The countdown began.

60 seconds.

The crowd started murmuring louder. Johnny Lawrence was pacing by the edge of the mat, hands on his hips, looking toward the tunnel like he could will Miguel to appear.

50 seconds.

Hayden exhaled sharply, shifting on her feet.

This felt wrong.

It didn't matter what team Miguel was on—she didn't want to see this.

She didn't want to see him go out like this.

40 seconds.

She caught movement near the tunnel. Johnny saw it too, straightening instantly, his eyes filled with desperate hope.

But it wasn't Miguel.

Just a staff member adjusting something on the sidelines.

Johnny cursed under his breath.

30 seconds.

The murmurs turned to whispers, then small pockets of booing in the stands.

Hayden felt her chest tighten.

She hated this.

The waiting, the anticipation, the damn clock ticking down while the entire arena waited to see if Miguel was even physically capable of stepping onto that mat.

She turned her head, searching the crowd, searching for something—anything—

And then she saw Carmen Diaz.

Miguel's mother.

She was gripping her own hands tightly, her face twisted in concern, watching the tunnel like she already knew what was coming.

Like she already knew her son wasn't coming back.

Hayden swallowed hard.

10 seconds.

The buzzer started beeping, the final moments ticking down.

She looked at the tunnel one last time, willing him to come running out at the last second.

5 seconds.

Come on, Miguel.

3... 2... 1...

The buzzer rang.

"Well, it's looks like Miguel Diaz is not going to fight! Which means, that the winner by default is Eli Moskowitz, who advances to the finals where he will face Robby Keene. The finals are up next!"

The referee stepped forward, lifting his hand toward Hawk, officially declaring him the winner.

The gym filled with a mix of cheers, applause, and boos.

Miguel Diaz, the reigning champion, had forfeited.

Hayden felt a pit in her stomach as Johnny's shoulders sagged, his hands running down his face.

But even if she wanted to, she didn't have time to dwell on it before the boy's fight was announced.

"Ladies and gentleman! The wait is finally over! It's finals time! Since Cobra Kai scored the most points," that killed Hayden, "they only need to win one match to be crowned Grand Champion." and that put her six feet under.

"But if Miyagi Do wins both matches, the title is theirs! High drama! Up first, the boys' fight! Good luck to all of our fighters! Let's go!"

Hayden's heart was pounding.

She wasn't even in the match, but it felt like she was.

Standing on the sidelines, watching as Robby and Eli took their places on the mat, she felt her chest tighten.

She didn't know who to root for.

She wanted Eli to win, for Miyagi-Do, for all of them. But she also knew what this meant to Robby—how much he had put into this, how much he had sacrificed.

It was impossible to choose.

The referee signaled for them to begin.

"Fight!"

Robby exploded forward first, fast and aggressive.

Eli was quick, blocking the first punch, dodging the second. But Robby's movements were relentless, fluid, cutting through the air like a blade.

Then— a strike to the chest.

"Point, one-zero, Keene!"

Robby clapped his hands together, jumping on the balls of his feet, hype thrumming through his veins. "Let's go, baby!" he shouted, hyping himself up, feeding off the energy of the crowd.

Eli exhaled sharply, holding up a hand. "Timeout."

Robby rolled his eyes, stepping back. "Seriously?"

Eli turned toward Daniel, frustration simmering beneath his calm facade. "He knows all my moves! Robby trained at Miyagi-Do way longer than me."

Daniel flickered his eyes to Hayden.

She knew what he was thinking.

She subtly gestured toward Cobra Kai's side of the mat.

Daniel's lips pressed into a thin line before turning back to Eli. "And you were in Cobra Kai longer than him. You each know each others karate better than anyone."

Eli blinked, then his eyes widened as he realized what Daniel was saying.

"Put him on defense."

A smirk tugged at Eli's lips. "Got it."

He turned back to the mat, exhaling as he adjusted his stance.

Robby watched him, a flicker of amusement in his expression.

The ref signaled for them to resume.

"Fight!"

This time, it was Eli who took control. He moved fast, calculated, testing Robby's reactions. They exchanged a flurry of strikes, each countering the other in perfect synchronicity.

Then—both leapt into the air at the same time, legs snapping forward—

Eli's kick landed first.

"Point, Eli Moskowitz!"

The crowd roared as the scoreboard evened.

Hayden felt herself exhale.

One to one.

She flexed her fingers, keeping herself steady.

The ref called for the final round of the match.

"Fight!"

Eli didn't waste a second. He launched into a flying tornado kick, twisting midair.

Robby blocked it at the last second, pivoting to counter. They clashed in a brutal exchange—fast, relentless, a storm of strikes, dodges, and counters.

Eli went for a punch.

Blocked.

Robby kicked.

Blocked.

"No point!" the ref called.

They kept going.

Every move was matched, every strike met with equal force. At one point, they both went down, limbs tangled, rolling before scrambling to their feet in unison.

The tension was suffocating.

Hayden's pulse hammered. She didn't even realize she was holding her breath.

Then—

Eli got under Robby's guard, sweeping low, taking him down hard.

The buzzer rang.

Everyone froze.

Then—

"Unbelievable!" Daryl's voice boomed. "These two amazing competitors have reached their time limit in a one-one tie!"

The entire gym went wild.

"This means their championship match will be decided, for the first time since 1985, by sudden death overtime!"

Hayden barely processed the noise.

Her eyes were locked on Robby.

She could see the frustration on his face, his shoulders rising and falling as he took a deep breath.

Then—

Robby exhaled sharply and ripped off his top gi, tossing it to the floor.

Hayden furrowed her brows.

Eli looked at the ref, gesturing at Robby like, is this allowed?

The ref just shrugged.

Eli rolled his eyes, grinned, then did the same—tossing his top gi—except he didn't drop it.

He tossed it to Hayden.

Her hands instinctively caught it, her brows raising in surprise.

She didn't miss the way Robby's face twisted.

She could see the anger in his eyes, the way his jaw tensed as he rolled his shoulders back, taking a step toward the mat again.

This was getting personal.

The ref raised his hand. "Begin!"

They exploded into action.

No more hesitation. No more testing. This was it.

They came at each other hard, using everything in their arsenal. The crowd was on fire, chanting, screaming, the energy in the room unreal.

Eli charged, wrapping his legs around Robby's torso, trying to take him down.

Robby slammed him to the mat, nearly getting a strike in before Eli scrambled away.

Then—

Just as Robby went in for the final winning point—

His eyes flickered up. For just a second.

Hayden.

She wasn't cheering. She wasn't smiling.

She was just watching, concern flickering across her face.

And then—

Her voice in his head.

"Cobra Kai changes you."

"Look at yourself."

It was a second. A fraction of hesitation.

But it was enough.

Eli kicked him away.

The fight reset.

They circled each other, their movements slightly slower, exhaustion setting in—but neither backing down.

Every time one went for a strike, the other countered.

Eli managed to land an elbow to Robby's hip.

No point.

Robby came back with a fast high kick.

Blocked.

They were out of breath. Out of everything.

But neither stopped.

Then—

The final moment.

Eli trapped Robby's leg between his own, dragging them both to the ground.

And then—

Eli's foot came down—right to Robby's stomach.

Point.

The crowd erupted.

"Your boys' champion! Eli Moskowitz! And with that, Miyagi Do vaults into the overall lead. It all comes down to the girls' fight coming up next!"

The arena shook with the force of the cheers.

Hayden let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding.

Before she could process, the entire Miyagi-Do team rushed the mat, celebrating around Eli.

She went with them, clapping, smiling, congratulating—

Then—

She looked down.

Robby was still on the mat.

His fists clenched at his sides, his jaw tight.

And then—he looked up.

Right at her.

And she knew.

She could see the pain in his eyes, the anger, the way it hurt him to see her celebrating with Eli, with them.

Before she could say anything, before she could move—

Robby slammed his fist against the mat and stormed off.

Hayden's stomach twisted.

She didn't hesitate.

She followed him.

Hayden barely caught up with him before he reached the locker rooms.

"Robby."

He kept walking.

"Robby."

He stopped.

Not because he wanted to—she could tell by the way his fists curled, his shoulders squared like he was ready to throw another punch. But he turned, slowly, his jaw tight, his eyes sharp and unforgiving.

There was a time when that look wasn't meant for her.

Now, it was all she got.

"You gonna congratulate me?" he asked, voice low and bitter. "Tell me I put up a good fight?"

Hayden exhaled, pressing her lips together. "I didn't come here to gloat."

His laugh was short, humorless. "Could've fooled me."

She clenched her fists, irritation flaring in her chest. "You think I wanted this?"

"You chose this."

His words landed hard.

She sucked in a slow breath, steadying herself. "I chose to get out."

Robby shook his head. "No, you chose them."

"They're not the bad guys, Robby."

His nostrils flared as he scoffed. "You really believe that? After everything? After the way they treated you?"

Hayden looked away for half a second, a flicker of something unreadable passing over her face.

Because she did believe it.

Not all of them—not Sam, not immediately. But Miguel had fought for her. Daniel had given her a chance.

And maybe that's what made Robby so angry.

She had left him behind.

Robby let out a breath, shaking his head. "You said we were in this together."

She swallowed. "We were."

His eyes locked onto hers, something dark and raw bleeding into his expression. "Then why'd you leave me?"

The words hit like a gut punch.

Hayden forced herself to hold his gaze, but the way his voice cracked just slightly at the end—like for all his anger, he was still hurt—made her chest tighten.

She had spent weeks preparing herself for this. For him to yell, for him to be furious at her. She expected it.

What she hadn't expected was this.

The hurt. The betrayal.

"I didn't leave you," she said finally, voice quieter now, but firm.

Robby scoffed again, stepping back like the words physically repelled him. "Right. So what do you call running to them behind my back?"

"I had to."

"No, you didn't." He pointed at her, jaw clenched. "You could've told me. You could've talked to me. Instead, you just—" He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "You lied to me."

Hayden's throat felt tight.

It wasn't a lie.

Not really.

She just didn't tell him.

But standing here now, watching the way he looked at her like she was a stranger—

Maybe that was just as bad.

"I wanted you to come with me," she admitted.

Robby's eyes flashed.

"But I knew you wouldn't."

A tense silence settled between them, thick and suffocating.

Hayden took a step closer, voice steady. "You think Cobra Kai's on your side, but they're not. They never were. They will use you, Robby. Just like they used me."

His fists curled. "I know exactly what I'm doing."

She narrowed her eyes. "Do you?"

A muscle ticked in his jaw.

She let out a slow exhale, glancing away for a second before looking back at him. "I watched your fight with Kenny."

His expression didn't change, but something behind his eyes did.

"I've never seen you fight like that before," she said carefully.

He didn't respond.

Didn't move.

"You were angry," she continued, "but it wasn't just anger. It was something else."

Robby clenched his jaw, looking away now.

Like he didn't want to hear it.

Like he knew she was right.

Hayden inhaled sharply, taking a chance. "When does it stop, Robby? When do you stop fighting everything? Everyone? When do you stop hurting people who don't deserve it?"

His head snapped back to her, eyes dark, sharp. "You don't get to lecture me."

"I'm not lecturing you." She shook her head, stepping forward. "I'm asking you."

Robby didn't respond.

Didn't move, didn't breathe.

Just stood there.

She could see it—the way something flickered across his expression, the way his fingers twitched like he wanted to believe her, like some small part of him knew she was right—

But then he clenched his jaw.

And just like that—

The wall went back up.

Robby exhaled sharply, stepping back.

"I'm done with this conversation," he muttered.

Hayden swallowed hard, watching as he turned away, his movements stiff and angry and wounded.

It hurt that he wasn't going to bother and stay to watch her fight. But she didn't expect it after everything.

She didn't try to stop him.

Because, for the first time...

She wasn't sure she could even if she wanted to.

—

This is it. This is the moment Hayden worked for every damn day.

The weight lifting, the sparring, the running, the dietary restrictions, getting kicked around the mat for nothing, constantly being told she wasn't good enough.

It fueled her, the anger flooding back into her body. Except, it was being redirected from Sam and the LaRusso's to Silver and Tory. Especially with the way they were smirking at her from across the mat.

She was going to humiliate them.

She clenched her fists.

"What better way to cap off this exciting exhibition of karate than with a final match for the ages? Representing Cobra Kai, the Queen Cobra herself, Tory Nichols! Coached by her senseis John Kreese and Terry Silver."

Hayden rolled her neck around, shaking her arms to get loose.

"And representing Miyagi-Do Karate, a fan favorite, the dark horse of this tournament, fighting her way through the bracket—Hayden Sanders!"

A roar erupted from the Miyagi-Do section, Daniel and Johnny standing side by side, both nodding at her in encouragement. Hayden spotted Sam clapping beside them, along with Eli and Demetri.

And Robby—

He wasn't with Cobra Kai.

He lingered near the back of the crowd, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. But his eyes—his eyes were locked on her, watching her every move. Even if she hadn't seen him.

"Coached by her sensei, two-time All Valley champion, Daniel LaRusso, who I've just been informed, will be joined by Sensei Johnny Lawrence."

Hayden snapped around, brows shooting up at Daniel, who sent her a confirming nod. He quickly stepped up to the mat, whispering something in Daryl's ear.

"Oh, I stand corrected! Fellow two time All Valley champion, Johnny Lawrence!" Just then, Johnny walked through the sea of fighters, stepping up next to Daniel and looking at Hayden who stood in front of them.

She smiled at the two. "Really? You guys are both gonna coach me?" She asked in disbelief, she knew they couldn't get along even if they were paid.

"Hell yeah, we are. Ready to kick some ass?" Johnny clapped, looking down at her.

"Yes, sensei." She nodded, looking between the two.

"Go kick some Cobra Kai ass." Daniel encouraged and that was more than enough of a push for Hayden to walk to the center of the mat.

It came down to this.

She locked eyes with Tory, and she knew they were both thinking the same thing.

I'm not holding back.

"Alright, ladies," the referee said, his voice firm. "Face me, bow."

Both girls complied, though Hayden kept her eyes on Tory the entire time.

"Face each other, bow."

Tory dipped her head just slightly, but the fire in her eyes didn't waver. Hayden did the same.

"Fight!"

Tory wasted no time, coming in hard and fast with a flurry of punches. Hayden blocked the first two, stepping back, absorbing the impact, using Miyagi-Do's defense to conserve energy. She was patient, waiting for an opening.

Then— she found it.

She ducked under Tory's right hook, spun, and leapt into the air, her foot colliding with Tory's jaw. The impact sent Tory stumbling back.

The crowd erupted.

"Point, Sanders!" The ref raised his hand toward Hayden's side.

Tory's head snapped back up, her jaw tightening. Hayden could see the way her nostrils flared, the way her fingers curled into fists. She was getting frustrated.

That was good.

That was exactly what Hayden needed.

Tory rolled her shoulders back, shaking out her limbs as she walked back to her side of the mat. But Hayden could see it—the stiffness, the tension.

She was getting into her head.

"Fight!"

This time, Tory didn't hesitate.

She came in harder. Stronger. Her punches were wild, fueled by anger, but that didn't mean they weren't dangerous. Hayden dodged, blocked, stayed light on her feet.

But then—

A sharp kick to her stomach.

Hayden gasped, stumbling back as the wind was knocked from her lungs. She barely caught herself before falling, instinctively clutching her abdomen.

"Point, Nichols!"

Hayden exhaled through her nose, trying to push past the pain.

It was just a hit. Just another point.

She straightened, rolling her shoulders, eyes narrowing on Tory. Across the mat, Tory was bouncing on the balls of her feet, shaking her arms out, hyping herself up. She was grinning now, confident.

Hayden shook it off. She needed to refocus.

It was all tied up.

She was so close. So close to proving herself.

The crowd was deafening, their cheers blending into a blur of noise. She stood in front of Tory, her former teammate, her former friend, but now they were just opponents—bitter, determined opponents.

Hayden adjusted her stance, eyes locked on Tory's every movement. She could feel the weight of the final decision bearing down on her. She couldn't afford to mess this up. Not now. Not when she had come so far.

"Ready?" the ref called out.

"Fight!"

Tory lunged forward immediately, throwing a flurry of punches and kicks. Hayden parried and blocked, each strike feeling like a bullet to her body. They were both fast, both strong, both willing to do whatever it took to win. But as she stood there, fighting against Tory, Hayden's mind flashed back to everything that led her here. The hours of training. The sacrifices. The things she'd given up.

She couldn't lose. Not after everything.

Tory's fist came at her, but Hayden sidestepped and landed a punch to her opponent's ribs. Another point.

"Point, Sanders! Score, two-one!" the ref called.

The crowd roared in approval, but Hayden didn't let herself smile. She couldn't. Not yet. She kept her focus, kept her energy in check. One point was nothing. It was nothing until she reached three.

Tory's eyes flickered with something sharp—something dangerous. She wasn't going to let this slide.

And it all came down to this.

"Fight!"

Tory was aggressive, but Hayden was controlled. She dodged, blocked, parried. Every move had a counter, every strike was met with precision.

She saw her opening—

A clean hit to Tory's ribs.

She landed it. A solid strike. She knew she had.

But—

"No point! Out of bounds!" the ref called, pointing at Tory's feet that were, in fact, out of bounds.

Hayden's head snapped up, her eyes wide. "What?"

The crowd murmured in confusion.

Johnny and Daniel were on their feet. "Bad call, ref!" Johnny shouted, his voice carrying over the noise.

"Come on, she stepped out after!" Eli called out in frustration, the Miyagi Do's rooting for the girl.

Hayden clenched her jaw, forcing herself to breathe. It was happening again.

They reset up, this time Hayden was the one bouncing on the balls of her feet, inhaling in and out rapidly.

"Focus, Hayden! You're alright, come on!" Daniel yelled at her, but it sounded drowned out in Hayden's ears. She was focused, eyes flickering down to Tory's feet.

The next round, Tory came at her harder. She was relentless, vicious. The kicks were faster, the punches sharper. But Hayden had studied her. She knew her moves. Knew her weaknesses. And even though her body was giving up on her, her focus didn't waver.

Tory swung a high kick. Hayden ducked and spun, grabbing her leg and sweeping it out from under her. Tory fell, but quickly sprang to her feet. The crowd cheered louder, but this time, Hayden didn't acknowledge it. She couldn't afford to.

They squared off again, both catching their breath, circling each other.

The air between them crackled with tension, but Hayden knew she had to push past it. She couldn't let Tory get under her skin. She couldn't let her past with Cobra Kai take over.

Tory lunged again, aiming another series of punches. This time, she landed a hit to Hayden's stomach, sending her stumbling back. The pain was sharp, but Hayden gritted her teeth and didn't flinch.

The ref raised his hand. "Point, Nichols! Score, two-two!"

Hayden wiped her mouth, tasting blood, but she didn't care. She took a deep breath, shaking off the blow, and stood tall again.

She wasn't done.

Tory telegraphed her kicks.

That's the only reason Hayden saw the right swing coming, grabbing ahold of her knee and twisting it to force the direction of Tory's push, shoving her forward by her leg.

She didn't let up from there, following after her and lifting her foot up to kick her back for the third and final point. But Tory saw it coming, turning just in time to wrap an arm around her neck and legs wrapped around her torso, throwing them both to the ground.

Hayden rolled out of her grip, getting to her knees and bringing her arm up to bring down a punch to her side but Tory retaliated by bringing her elbow up.

It was the only thing she could think to do, bring her elbow up and hope to land a point. And she landed it—

Right into Hayden's eye.

Pain exploded across her face. She staggered back, a sharp gasp leaving her lips as her hand instinctively flew to the injury.

The ref blew the whistle. "Warning! Elbow to the face! Go to your senseis!"

"Warning? That should be a point deduction!" She heard Johnny's voice.

But the damage was done.

Hayden's vision blurred, her head spinning. She could feel the bruise forming already, could taste blood in her mouth.

Tory, to her credit, looked momentarily stunned, getting to her feet quickly and feeling the guilt rise in her stomach as she stared down at Hayden. "I didn't mean to. No, it was an accident!" She insisted.

But Hayden didn't care.

She wasn't done yet.

She wasn't losing because of some rigged calls.

She turned on her heel and stalked back to her where Daniel and Johnny stood.

Daniel was immediately at her side. "Hayden, are you okay?"

"She got me good but I can still fight," she said quickly, her voice sharp.

Johnny nodded approvingly. "Damn right, you can."

Daniel hesitated. "Hayden, are you sure?"

Hayden shot him a look. "I didn't come all this way for nothing. I wanna finish this."

He exhaled. "Alright."

She turned back to the mat, her fists curling at her sides.

One point.

One point, and she would win.

She just had to be faster.

The ref raised his hand. "Fight!"

The energy was different now.

Tory was more reckless, but Hayden was laser-focused. Every move was calculated, every step perfectly placed.

They went back and forth—punches, blocks, kicks, counterattacks. Neither willing to give in. Neither willing to fall.

The entire arena was on their feet.

Hayden caught sight of Robby in the crowd. He wasn't standing with Cobra Kai. He was watching her, his face unreadable.

But he was watching.

And for some reason—

That mattered.

She used everything she had left. Every last ounce of training, of endurance, of will.

And then—

One mistake.

One tiny misstep.

And Tory capitalized on it.

Hayden barely had time to register the movement before Tory's leg slammed into her side.

The breath left her lungs.

The whistle blew.

"Point! Winner—Tory Nichols!"

The crowd exploded.

Hayden sucked in a sharp breath, her hands on her knees as she tried to process what just happened.

She lost.

After everything.

She pressed her lips together, blinking quickly.

Tory turned to her, extending a hand. "You fought good," she muttered.

Hayden stared at it for a long moment.

Then, slowly, she took it.

The second their hands met, the crowd roared louder.

But Hayden barely heard them.

Because all she could think about—

Was how everything she worked for was gone.

Devastation.

The world around Hayden felt like it was closing in on her, her chest tightening with every breath. The deafening roar of the crowd, the flashing lights, the constant hum of the arena—it all blurred together. It felt like her mind was spinning, trying to grasp the fact that it was over.

I lost.

She shook her head, as though doing so could shake the disbelief from her system. All of it—every early morning training session, every hour spent perfecting her moves, every painful bruise, every tear shed in frustration—it was all supposed to lead to this moment. The culmination of all her sacrifices. The All Valley Championship. It was supposed to be hers.

She had worked for this. She had earned this.

And yet, here she was—on the losing side.

How did this happen?

She couldn't make sense of it. Her body was shaking, the adrenaline from the fight still coursing through her veins, but it felt like everything had come to a screeching halt. Her vision blurred as she turned her back on Tory, pushing past her hand to leave the mat.

It was all for nothing.

The thoughts repeated in her head like a broken record. Her body felt heavy, like she was wading through water with every step. It was all for nothing. The hours of grueling training. The pain. The doubts. The relentless pursuit of victory.

I did everything right. How did it slip through my fingers?

She could feel the sting in her throat as the tears threatened to spill. But no, she wouldn't cry here. Not now. Not in front of them. Not in front of everyone who had watched her rise just to watch her fall.

Was it worth it? Was it worth everything?

Hayden wanted to scream, to lash out, to break everything around her. But there was nothing to destroy. Nothing to fix what she had just lost. All she could hear was the pounding in her chest, the adrenaline still pulsing through her veins, reminding her that this wasn't the victory she had worked for. It was a failure. And the weight of it was suffocating.

As she moved away from the mat, she could see the others. The way the crowd still cheered for Tory, the way the Cobra Kai section was erupting with pride. She could feel the gnawing emptiness in her chest, that deep, hollow feeling of knowing that, no matter what, it wasn't enough.

Her gaze flickered to the Miyagi-Do section. She saw Daniel's face, his expression a mix of pride and concern. Sam, standing there, her arms crossed. Johnny beside Daniel, his face unreadable. And then—there was Robby.

He stood by the back, his expression tight, almost angry, but there was something in his eyes. Something that made her heart twist. She couldn't read him. Not like this.

All. All of this. For nothing.

All of this for nothing at all.

She had wanted this for herself. Wanted to prove that she could be the one. That she could rise above Cobra Kai and show the world what she was made of. But now? Now, she wasn't sure what was left.

She wanted to prove that she was good enough. That Silver was wrong about her. She wasn't weak, she wasn't a traitor.

Her mind was spinning, trying to piece together how it all went wrong. One mistake—that's what they kept telling her. One mistake, and she lost it all.

A mistake she'd never made in her entire life. From sparring to lessons, it was a small mistake. And it was the entire reason she lost.

She gritted her teeth, forcing herself to keep walking, to keep putting one foot in front of the other. But each step felt like an eternity. She was supposed to be the one standing on the top. She was supposed to be the one holding the trophy, the one being celebrated. Not this. Not failure.

Her body still buzzed with the fight, with the energy that had carried her to this point. But now it felt hollow, like it was empty. She didn't know who to be anymore. She didn't know who she was if she wasn't fighting, if she wasn't winning.

And then it hit her. She fought for something bigger than herself, and it was all for nothing.

The anger burned deep inside of her, the kind of anger that could destroy someone. But as it burned, it turned into something darker—self-loathing. A bitter taste in her mouth. She hadn't won. She hadn't done enough.

She wasn't enough.

She reached the edge of the mat, hands shaking as she tried to steady herself. The world felt like it was closing in, the disappointment so thick that it was suffocating.

Her eyes went to Robby again, but this time, she didn't see pride. She saw frustration. She saw concern. And that hurt more than the loss itself.

It was one mistake. Just one. And that mistake had cost her everything. The victory, the validation, the recognition. It had all slipped away in an instant, and now, all that was left was emptiness.

Was it worth it?

Her eyes blurred again, but she wouldn't cry. Not here. Not now. Not in front of them. She would walk away, but the weight of everything she had lost would stay with her for much longer.

She didn't stop and talk to anyone. Didn't congratulate Tory when she probably should've. She walked forward, the tears in her eyes brimming and threatening to flow. But she refused to let them.

She didn't know who it was wrapping their arms around her at first, until the smell of Logan's perfume filled her nostrils.

"I'm so sorry, Hay. You fought so well. I'm so proud of you." She whispered in her ears as she held her tightly. "It's okay to cry."

She shook her head, she didn't wanna cry in front of everyone. Hayden's chest tightened as Logan's words washed over her. She wanted to respond, to tell her how badly she had wanted to win, how every fiber of her being had pushed her to the brink and beyond. How much she'd sacrificed to get here. But she couldn't. She couldn't speak. The words stuck in her throat, threatening to spill into tears.

Eventually, when Hayden felt steady enough to stand on her own, she pulled back from the embrace, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand. Logan smiled gently, but there was no judgment in her eyes, only a quiet understanding.

"Come on, let's get you out of here," Logan said, taking Hayden's hand and leading her away from the noise of the gymnasium.

Hayden let her guide her. She didn't know where they were going, but she didn't care. She was grateful for the peace Logan offered her. Grateful for the comfort she didn't realize she needed until this very moment.

As they walked out of the gym, Hayden glanced over her shoulder one last time, her gaze meeting Robby's for the briefest of seconds. He looked conflicted, angry, maybe even hurt. But that was something for later.

Right now, she had to focus on herself. On what came next.

—

The house felt quieter than it had all day. Hayden had never been the type to crave peace and quiet, but now, in this moment, it was exactly what she needed. The weight of the tournament and the loss still hung heavy on her shoulders, but being here with Logan, surrounded by snacks and old movies, made it feel a little easier to breathe.

Logan had put together a spread on the couch—chips, candy, pizza, anything she could get her hands on to distract her. They sat cross-legged on the floor, each with a bowl of snacks, flipping through movie options but not really paying attention to the screen. The comfort of simply being together in silence was all Hayden really wanted.

"How's your stomach?" Logan asked, looking at her with that concern in her eyes, making sure she was okay, really okay.

"I'm fine," Hayden replied, though she knew Logan could see right through the lie. "Just tired. Tired of fighting."

Logan sighed, leaning back against the couch and setting her bowl of chips aside. "I know you are. You've been giving everything you've got for months now. It's okay to take a step back and breathe. You're allowed to be hurt."

Hayden rubbed her eyes, feeling the exhaustion hit her all at once. "I guess I just thought... I thought it would all be worth it, you know? I worked so damn hard for this, and then..."

"You didn't lose, you know," Logan said gently. "You were amazing. And the fact that you're here right now shows that you're strong."

Hayden didn't answer. She just nodded, because she knew she didn't believe the words at all.

They were silent again, just sitting in the warmth of each other's company, the comfort of their familiarity a balm on the sting Hayden hadn't quite let herself feel yet.

But just as she was starting to let go of the weight of everything, there was a loud knock at the door. She looked up, startled, and Logan raised an eyebrow, her gaze flicking toward the door.

"Who the hell is that at this hour?" Logan muttered, more to herself than anyone.

Before Hayden could say anything, the door swung open, and Johnny Lawrence, looking disheveled and frantic, stood in the doorway. His eyes scanned the room quickly, landing on Hayden as if searching for something.

"Is Miguel here?" Johnny's voice was sharp with worry, but there was an edge of frustration beneath it, like he hadn't expected this to be the outcome of the day.

Hayden stood up slowly, instinctively backing away, her chest tight. "No. I haven't seen him."

Johnny's face tightened. He stepped into the living room without invitation, looking past her toward Logan, but his eyes kept darting back to Hayden. "Damn it," he muttered under his breath, rubbing his forehead.

Hayden raised an eyebrow, giving Johnny a measured glance. "What's going on? What happened?"

Before Johnny could answer, his phone rang. He grabbed it quickly, eyes narrowing as he answered the call. Hayden couldn't make out the voice on the other end, but she saw Johnny's face shift. The color drained from his expression, and he was frozen for a second, his eyes locking with Hayden's.

His voice was low, but Hayden could hear the words clearly enough. "Carmen, wait—what? What do you mean he went to Mexico? Alone?" Johnny's voice was tinged with disbelief. "Where exactly is he going?"

Hayden's heart skipped a beat. Mexico. Miguel had gone to Mexico... alone?

As the conversation continued, Hayden's eyes widened with growing concern. Her hands instinctively balled into fists, her stomach twisting with fear. Johnny finished the call, lowering his phone, his face pale and frustrated.

"He went to find his dad," Johnny muttered, shaking his head. "He left on his own."

Hayden's breath caught in her throat. Without thinking, she blurted, "I'm going with you."

Johnny looked up, startled. "No, Hayden," he said firmly, shaking his head. "I'm not getting you in trouble with your parents. It's too risky."

But Hayden's worry was a fire that wouldn't be extinguished. She couldn't stand the thought of Miguel being alone, chasing a ghost of a father who may not even want to be found.

"I don't care," she said, voice trembling with determination. "I'm not sitting here while he's in danger. I can't just—" She stopped, inhaling sharply. "I can't."

Johnny was shaking his head, visibly conflicted. "Look, I get it, but you're not just some runaway kid anymore. I can't just let you go, not with your mom—"

"I'm going." She said in all finality.

Johnny hesitated, clearly not liking the idea of putting her in harm's way. "You're gonna have to lie to your parents, Hayden. It's dangerous."

Hayden nodded, resolute. "I'll say I'm at Logan's. Just for a day, okay? I won't stay long. I just need to be there for him. Cover for me?" She turned to Logan, the desperation glinting in her eyes.

Logan watched the exchange, her arms folded, considering the situation. She knew how important this was to Hayden. After a moment, she gave a small, reluctant nod.

"I've got you covered," Logan said quietly, her voice steady. "I'll tell mom you're with me. But you need to be careful."

Hayden gave her a grateful smile. "Thank you," she said, the weight of gratitude settling on her shoulders.

Johnny glanced at Logan, still looking torn, but then he nodded slowly. "Alright, kid. Let's go."

Hayden's heart surged. She felt a rush of determination, adrenaline coursing through her as she grabbed her jacket and headed out the door, leaving everything behind—her doubts, her fears, the aftermath of the tournament.

She was going to find Miguel, no matter what.

He stopped midway, glancing back at Hayden hesitantly. "What're you doing? Move it, old man." She ushered him.

"We have to get one more person."

Hayden raised a brow.

"Don't hate me."

authors note.
Sorry guys Hayden did not win but we saw this coming tbhhhh (at least i did) anyways i'm starting to wonder if i can finish these two seasons in thirteen days I CANTTTTT