THE KNOCK ON THE DOOR HAD INTERRUPTED HAYDEN BEFORE SHE COULD SAY ANYTHING.

And she was grateful for it.

Because it was one of those rare moments where Hayden was completely speechless.

Tory's gaze lingered on her, searching—like she was hoping for something. Anything.

But when Hayden said nothing, when the silence stretched too long, something in Tory's expression shifted.

Acceptance.

Like she had expected this.

With a small, almost imperceptible nod, Tory turned and opened the door.

Sam had made it a long story short type of situation. She was surprised to see Hayden there, but it saved her an extra trip.

She had got Stingray to indirectly confess to what Silver did to him, and now all they needed was proof.

And Tory knew how to get it.

As they made their way to Miguel's apartment, Hayden glanced down at her hand, carefully wrapping it as gently—but as thoroughly—as possible.

She knew Robby and Miguel would see it eventually.

But right now, she just wanted to mask it.

Even if only for a little while.

The walk to Miguel's apartment was quiet.

Too quiet.

Hayden kept her eyes forward, jaw tight, her freshly wrapped hand tucked against her stomach. Every step sent a dull throb through her knuckles, but it wasn't the pain keeping her on edge.

It was her.

Tory walked beside her, close enough that their arms almost brushed but never quite did. She hadn't said a word since they left the apartment. Not since she'd thrown that confession out there.

Hayden had barely processed it before Sam cleared her throat.

She couldn't stop thinking about it.

Tory liked her.

And Hayden never knew.

Beside her, Sam walked a little ahead, her arms crossed, gaze flickering between them every so often.

She could sense it.

The tension.

The heavy, suffocating tension between Hayden and Tory that neither of them were acknowledging.

But they didn't have the time to discuss it. Not when they could see the boys in the distance.

Hayden rolled her shoulders as she walked beside Tory and Sam, her freshly wrapped hand tucked tightly against her chest. The pain was still there, pulsing beneath the bandages, but she did her best to ignore it.

She wasn't in the mood for questions.

Which meant she wasn't looking forward to this next part.

"Has anyone heard from—"

Eli saw her before Robby could finish his sentence. "Hayden?"

The second Miguel's eyes landed on her, his expression shifted.

First, surprise.

Then—concern.

Robby noticed it a second later, his brows furrowing as he took a step toward her. "What the hell happened to your hand?"

Hayden cursed inwardly. Didn't even last five seconds.

"It's nothing," she muttered, pulling her arm closer to her body.

Miguel wasn't buying it. His gaze dropped to her knuckles, wrapped but still visibly swollen. "That doesn't look like nothing." His voice was softer now. "Hayden—"

"It's fine," she muttered, tucking her fist a little behind her side.

The room fell quiet.

Robby's jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Fine? Your hand looks like it got shattered."

Eli let out a low whistle. "Damn, Sanders. Did you punch a wall or something?"

Hayden didn't answer.

Because in a way, that was exactly what she had done.

Demetri nudged Eli, whispering, "This is why we don't do dumb things for karate."

Eli rolled his eyes.

"We think we have a way to prove that Silver assaulted Stingray."

Sam's voice cut through the tension in the room, shifting the focus instantly. Hayden knew it was a deliberate move—Sam was giving her an out. But it didn't matter. The looks in Robby and Miguel's eyes told her one thing for certain.

They weren't dropping the conversation about her hand.

Not for long.

"If the attack happened at the old dojo, then it would've been after Silver installed the new security system," Tory said, arms crossed, her voice sharp and focused.

"So maybe it's all caught on tape," Miguel added, a flicker of hope in his tone.

Robby frowned, shaking his head. "No, but that place was cleaned out. There's no way he left anything behind."

"That might not matter," Demetri said, adjusting his glasses. "The systems we sell at TechTown all save footage to a central server. When Silver moved out, he probably took the whole system with him."

"I think he did." Tory nodded. "There's a server in his office at the flagship dojo."

Eli's eyes lit up. "If we can get access to it, we can definitely find that footage." He smirked. "We could even post the Stingray clip straight to their YouTube channel."

Hayden let out a sharp laugh, shaking her head. "I knew your nerdiness would be useful someday, Moskowitz."

Eli groaned. "Why do you say it like that?"

"Like what?"

"Like it physically pains you to give me credit."

Hayden grinned. "Because it does."

Before he could respond, Sam straightened. "Alright. We need a plan."

Miguel nodded. "Let's get everyone together."

As the conversation turned to logistics, Hayden flexed her fingers slightly, feeling the dull throb still pulsing through her knuckles.

She should be thinking about the plan. About how they were going to take Silver down.

But all she could think about—

Was that this was only the beginning.

And they were running out of time.

—

Hayden's stomach twisted as they neared the familiar entrance of the new Cobra Kai dojo.

The sharp scent of the mats, the distant echo of kiais from past training sessions—every step closer made her pulse hammer harder against her ribs. She bit the inside of her cheek, forcing herself to breathe evenly.

It was like her fists knew she was near danger.

The pain in her knuckles, dull and throbbing a few minutes ago, sharpened the second they reached the door.

She curled her fingers instinctively. The bandages around them felt too tight.

Her mind flickered back to that slab of stone. The way her skin split, the way the blood pooled in her palm, dripping onto the mat. The way Silver smiled as she crumpled to the floor.

A cold shiver ran down her spine, but she shook it off. Focus.

"If it's the same alarm system that he installed at the last place, I should be able to bypass it," Robby said, turning to the rest of the group.

"Spoken like a man who's done this before," Demetri chuckled.

"Yeah, well, karate wasn't my first hobby. I fractured a law or two before we met." Robby shrugged.

"Nuh-uh." Hayden cut in, shaking her head, the weight in her chest easing slightly. "You're on probation. You're not violating it." She shot him a pointed look.

Robby tilted his head. "How else are we gonna get inside?"

Hayden exhaled, then looked at Tory—who, to her credit, seemed genuinely surprised to be acknowledged at all. "Don't you have a key card?"

Tory blinked, like she hadn't expected Hayden to suggest that. But after a beat, she nodded curtly and pulled it from her pocket.

Robby shot Hayden a look, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. There it was. That rare moment when Hayden let herself care out loud. She was subtle about it—stern, practical—but she cared.

And Robby saw right through it.

Soon, the rest of Miyagi-Do arrived in a group.

"Sorry we're late. Someone took forever to get ready," Chris huffed, shooting a glare at Mitch.

Mitch just shrugged. "It's the middle of night."

The moment his eyes landed on Tory, though, his expression shifted. His posture tensed, and his voice dropped bitter and cold.

"What is she doing here?"

Before Tory could snap back, Hayden cut in without hesitation. "She's with us." Her voice left no room for argument.

Mitch scoffed, looking at Sam for backup.

"For what we're about to do, at least," Sam muttered.

Mitch didn't seem thrilled, but he didn't argue. "So... what exactly are we doing?"

"We're gonna show Cobra Kai who their sensei really is," Hayden said, rolling up her sleeves.

Miguel stepped in, voice steady. "We think we have proof that Silver's a criminal."

"We're going upstairs to Silver's office," Sam added. "We need you guys downstairs as lookouts."

From there, they moved fast.

Eli and Demetri worked on the security system while Hayden stood nearby, watching, arms crossed. Every now and then, she'd nudge Eli and mutter, "Dumb it down, Moskowitz."

Eli sighed dramatically before explaining in terms she'd actually understand. "Okay, so, pulling the Stingray clip off the server? First-day-of-computer-camp level stuff."

Hayden smirked. "Uh-huh."

Eli continued, fingers flying over the keyboard. "Then, we upload the clip to their YouTube channel, and boom. Cobra Kai's done."

Satisfied, Hayden patted his back and turned toward the office door, eyeing the security camera above it.

"Any idea how to disconnect one of these, lawbreaker?" she muttered to Robby, who had just made his way over.

But instead of looking at the camera—

Robby was staring at her hand.

Hayden's stomach twisted.

His expression softened, brows furrowing slightly, and she knew what was coming next.

Are you okay? What happened?

She swallowed hard and tucked her hand out of his sight, giving a small shake of her head.

Not now.

A silent understanding passed between them.

Robby hesitated for a moment longer, his lips pressing into a thin line—but he nodded, dropping it.

Instead, he glanced up at the camera, then—without warning—jumped, grabbed it, and ripped it straight off the wall.

The plastic casing cracked against the floor.

Hayden blinked, glancing from the shattered remains to Robby, lips twitching in amusement.

"Well," she muttered, "that works."

Robby grinned. "Told you I was useful."

Miguel snorted from a few feet away, glancing over. "You could have just unplugged it, y'know."

Robby shot him a smirk. "Where's the fun in that?"

Hayden rolled her eyes, but before she could fire back, Miguel's attention shifted—to her hand.

She saw it happen in real-time. The way his gaze flickered from her fingers to her bandaged knuckles. The way his jaw tensed.

He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "What happened?"

Hayden clenched her jaw. "Not the time, Diaz."

Miguel didn't back off, his concern unwavering. "Hayden—"

"I'm fine."

Miguel's eyes darkened slightly. "You always say that."

Something in her chest tightened.

She inhaled slowly, forcing herself to keep her voice even. "Later,"

Miguel exhaled through his nose, clearly biting back a retort. But instead of arguing, he just shook his head, muttering, "You're impossible."

Hayden smirked slightly. "Yeah. And yet, here we are."

Miguel sighed but let it go. For now.

Tory, who had been watching from the side, glanced between them, expression unreadable.

Soon, they all huddled around Eli who was aggressively typing away at the computer.

A realization so heavy it made her breath catch in her throat.

I can't believe it.

"We're actually gonna take Silver down," she murmured, barely hearing her own voice.

Robby, standing beside her, glanced down, his fingers brushing lightly over her knuckles. The contact was brief—gentle, grounding—but it sent warmth through her chest nonetheless.

"Yeah," he said softly. "It's finally happening. Let's just hope it doesn't backfire."

Demetri took over soon, typing away vigorously. "Okay," He muttered, typing a bit more before a video of Stingray and Silver appeared on the screen. "I got it!"

They pressed play on the video.

"You wanna be Cobra Kai?" Silver slurred out, "Oh, so you wanna be Cobra Kai, huh?" He repeated, it was clear he was inebriated.

He took a step forward, looking like he were ready to strike but the video started glitching, cutting out.

"Sh-Shit." Demetri muttered out, typing more.

Error: File Deleted

Hayden's jaw clenched. "Silver covered his tracks. He erased the rest of it." She spoke before anyone could ask anything. "Damn it." She huffed out.

"Of course he did." Sam shook her head.

"Okay, so— so what now?" Miguel spoke, but Eli had already been looking for other footage.

Then he stopped.

His face shifted, his brows knitting together. "Wait."

The date in the corner of the footage was a few days before prom.

Hayden's breath hitched.

The training session.

Before she switched to Miyagi-Do. Before the All Valley. Before everything.

And then—

Silver appeared on the screen.

The dojo was empty in the footage. The dim overhead lights cast long, stretching shadows across the mats, making Silver seem even larger, more ominous.

The room fell silent.

The footage played, and everyone was watching.

Hayden barely remembered taking a breath as she stood frozen, her body locking up.

On the screen, she watched herself.

They watched as Hayden stood in the center of the mat, alone, sweat dripping from her chin, her arms, her back—soaked into the fabric of her gi. Her body looked exhausted, but she wasn't stopping.

And across from her, Terry Silver circled like a predator.

Then, he struck her.

A sharp kick to the ribs sent her staggering, barely keeping herself upright.

Silver didn't let up. He kept going. A roundhouse kick that made her head snap to the side. A sweep to the legs that slammed her onto the mat.

She scrambled to get up, her body visibly trembling, but Silver barely gave her a second before he kicked her back down again.

Miguel flinched.

Tory's jaw clenched.

Sam covered her mouth, eyes widening.

Robby's fists curled into tight, shaking balls at his sides.

Eli and Demetri looked sick.

No one spoke.

No one breathed.

They all knew Silver was brutal. They all knew he was manipulative, dangerous.

But watching it—seeing it happen—

It was something else entirely.

The footage played on—Hayden trying to defend, trying to fight back, but it was never a fight.

It was punishment.

Every time she got up, he knocked her back down. Every time she tried to throw a punch, he dodged effortlessly and retaliated with something crueler.

The camera caught her face—dazed, exhausted, but determined.

And then—

"You're slowing down," Silver's voice cut through the quiet, smooth but edged with something sharp. Disappointment. "I thought you said you'd do whatever it takes."

Hayden didn't respond. Didn't even flinch. She just reset her stance—

And charged.

Miguel inhaled sharply as Silver dodged effortlessly, sidestepping her roundhouse and countering immediately.

A palm strike to her shoulder sent her stumbling back.

But she caught herself. Adjusted. Came in again.

She threw a sharp right hook, aiming for his jaw—but he was already moving.

Sam sucked in a breath as they watched Silver grab her wrist, twist—hard— and slam her onto the mat.

The impact rattled her ribs.

Robby flinched.

Hayden barely had time to suck in a breath before Silver was hauling her back up, gripping her gi like she weighed nothing.

"Get up."

Tory's fingers dug into her arms, her nails pressing into her skin.

They watched as Hayden shoved Silver off and staggered back, fists curling at her sides.

She was so damn stubborn.

Every part of her body was screaming to stop, but she didn't stop.

Silver smirked. "Again."

And she attacked.

Harder. More aggressive. More desperate.

She faked a high kick, then drove her elbow toward his ribs—but he caught her wrist and swept her legs out from under her.

She hit the mat.

Again. And again. And again.

And worst of all—

She remembered how she still wanted to win.

The version of her on the screen was still fighting for his approval. Still pushing through. Still desperate to be enough.

She could hear it.

His voice.

"Again."

"Pathetic."

"Get up."

On the screen, she had collapsed.

She didn't move.

She couldn't.

Silver stood over her, saying something else—something she remembered.

She knew exactly what it was.

"Weak."

Miguel's stomach churned. His hands shook.

Eli and Demetri weren't breathing.

Robby's nails dug into his arms.

Hayden kept getting up.

Every single time, she got up.

And every single time—Silver knocked her right back down.

A brutal roundhouse to her ribs sent her crashing again. A sweep to her ankle took her balance. Every movement was designed to punish her.

He wasn't training her.

He was breaking her.

They all felt sick.

"You're insane, you know that?" Silver's voice was eerily calm, even as Hayden stood there, shaking, breathing raggedly, her knuckles bleeding, her ribs already bruising beneath her gi.

On the screen, Hayden rolled her shoulders—weak, exhausted, but defiant.

"Whatever it takes, right?"

Silver chuckled darkly. "That's what I like to hear."

And then—

He lunged.

The footage cut out.

The room was dead silent.

She could feel all of it happening again.

The kicks, the bruises, the way the mat felt under her back, the way her ribs ached so badly she thought something had cracked—

The way she had let him do it to her.

Because she had still wanted to be his perfect fighter.

Hayden staggered back from the desk, her breath coming faster now. The walls felt like they were closing in, the screen was too bright, the air was too thick—

Someone said her name.

She barely heard it.

Then—hands.

Gentle. On her shoulders. Steadying her.

Her wide eyes flickered up—

Robby.

His expression was soft but pained. His grip firm but careful, like he was afraid she might shatter if he held on too tightly.

"Hey," he said quietly, voice pulling her back. "You're okay."

She wasn't.

But the way he was looking at her—like she was real, like she wasn't just the broken girl on the screen—kept her from spiraling completely.

She forced a shaky breath in, slowly nodding.

Then—another presence.

Miguel.

He had stepped beside Robby, his brows furrowed, eyes dark with something unreadable. Concern, guilt, something else.

Slowly, gently, he reached for her hand. Not the broken one—he knew better than that.

Just her other hand.

A touch. A reassurance.

And suddenly, she realized—

They had all seen it.

All of them.

The people she had spent so much time hiding from, keeping secrets from, pretending she was okay around.

They had watched it. They knew now.

Hayden's throat tightened.

Eli finally spoke, her voice quieter than usual. "Is that why you came back? Why you left?"

Hayden couldn't answer.

Because she didn't know if she had left—or if she had simply run away.

The footage was still playing behind them, but she refused to look at it again.

Miguel's hand squeezed hers lightly.

Robby's thumbs brushed against her shoulders, his grip still steady.

They weren't saying anything. They were just there.

And somehow, that was worse. Because she wasn't used to being seen and having people care this much.

Her breath shuddered, her vision still blurred, her heart still hammering in her chest.

But she stayed still.

Because she felt like she was drowning.

The weight of the footage, the suffocating silence in the room—it was too much.

She barely heard anything around her, the voices of her friends a distant blur. The walls felt too tight, the air too thick—

Then, softly, Tory's voice cut through it all.

"We don't have to use that footage."

Hayden's gaze snapped to her.

Tory wasn't looking at her, but her voice was certain.

She understood.

She knew what it was like to have your worst moments displayed for everyone to see. The way it made you feel small, like it undid everything you had ever fought to be.

Tory knew—because she wouldn't have wanted it done to her either.

Instead, she turned back to the screen, fists clenched. "I know something else we can use."

Eli, who had still been watching Hayden—watching her zone out, lost in something none of them could reach—finally tore his gaze away, swallowing. "You wouldn't happen to know the date, would you?"

Tory thought for a moment before leaning over, fingers moving across the keyboard. She hesitated briefly, glancing over at Hayden—just once—before hitting enter.

Eli leaned in. "Okay... I think I got it." He scanned the screen before glancing at Tory. "Is this the clip?"

Tory took a look, nodding. "Yeah. That's the one."

Before they could react—

"Guys!"

A voice shouted from downstairs, followed by the unmistakable sound of unfamiliar voices.

Miguel's eyes widened. "What was that?"

Sam's expression hardened. "We'll go check it out. You guys stay here. We need that footage."

She motioned for the others to follow.

Hayden swallowed, her mind still sluggish, her chest still tight. But she forced herself to move, to follow the group down the stairs.

The moment they stepped into the main floor of the dojo, Hayden saw it.

"Ais!"

Kenny's kick connected sharply with Anthony's ribs, sending him crashing to the floor.

Sam rushed forward, immediately dropping to her knees to help him up.

Hayden's heart slammed against her ribs, her adrenaline spiking. She took a step forward, instinct kicking in—

Then, Cobra Kai noticed Tory.

All of their eyes snapped to her in shock.

The betrayal in their stares was palpable.

Devon's voice rang out first. "So you're with them now?"

Tory's expression stayed unreadable, but Hayden could see her fists tightening.

Kenny scoffed, his glare flickering straight to Hayden.

"You knew what would happen if she or any of her friends ever stepped into this dojo again." His voice was sharp, venomous.

Hayden held his stare, unmoving.

No fear. No hesitation.

Just cold, steady resolve.

Sam turned slightly, lowering her voice. "How'd they even know we were here?"

Miguel shook his head. "I don't know."

Scene: The Betrayal & The Fight

Hayden's eyes flickered to Kyler, her stomach twisting at the way he smirked—like he knew something they didn't.

"Mitch, come on, get your ass over here where you belong."

The room stilled.

Everyone snapped their attention to Mitch, who stood stiffly for a moment before his expression shifted—his smirk growing beneath his poker face.

Then, without hesitation, he walked over to Cobra Kai.

The tension spiked as he unzipped his sweater, revealing the Cobra Kai shirt underneath.

A slow, sickening realization settled over the group.

"Penis Breath, how could you?" Bert blurted, his voice filled with genuine disbelief.

Mitch sighed, his voice flat. "Gee, I don't know. Maybe 'cause they don't call me Penis Breath."

He gestured to the dojo, his tone laced with mockery. "I mean, look around. They got snacks, swag, smoothies. Our dojo doesn't even have a roof. Or, like, any chicks. No offense, Sam and Hayden."

Hayden rolled her eyes, disgust flickering across her face.

"Alright, Penis Breath, shut up," Kyler snorted, shoving a hand in his face.

Mitch glared at him, but didn't say anything.

Kyler turned back to the group, smirking. "We got a traitor, y'all got a traitor, so that cancels out. So we gonna throw down or what?"

His voice was mocking, dripping with arrogance.

Hayden's jaw tensed.

Tory shook her head, stepping forward. "I'm not a traitor. I'm just not buying what Silver is selling. And neither should any of you."

Her voice was strong, unwavering.

"Silver lied," Robby added, his tone even but firm. "To all of us."

Kenny stepped forward.

The moment he moved, the air in the room shifted.

The cold, quiet anger in his eyes was all for Robby.

"Us?" Kenny repeated, his voice sharp, cutting through the tension like a blade.

He took another step closer, standing directly in front of Robby now.

"What 'us'?" Kenny's expression twisted into something furious, betrayed. "The only person who lied to me is you."

Miguel stepped forward, placing himself between them.

His voice was low, careful, almost pleading.

"Hey," Miguel said, shaking his head slightly, calm but firm. "Robby's right. You don't wanna do this."

Kenny's gaze flickered behind him, to Cobra Kai—his so-called team.

Then, slowly, he turned back to Miguel.

And Hayden saw it.

That flicker of resolve in his eyes. His choice.

"Yeah, I do."

He swung.

Miguel dodged in time, the fight exploding instantly.

The dojo erupted into chaos.

Cobra Kai and Miyagi-Do collided, bodies moving in a whirlwind of attacks, the tension finally snapping into an all-out brawl.

Hayden barely had time to react before someone lunged at her.

A tall, broad Cobra Kai fighter came charging, his stance aggressive, his eyes locked onto her.

She waited.

At the last second, she sidestepped, grabbed his wrist, and twisted—hard. His own momentum ripped him off balance, and before he could recover, she drove her knee into his stomach with brutal precision.

He choked, his body folding inward as he stumbled back.

One down.

She barely had time to register it before she turned and saw Miguel fighting off another Cobra Kai student a few feet away.

Hayden moved on instinct, stepping in as Miguel blocked a kick but didn't see the second fighter moving in from behind him.

She grabbed the guy's arm before he could swing, yanking him back and landing a sharp elbow to his ribs.

Miguel looked up, his breath coming fast, and their eyes met.

A beat passed between them.

Miguel's lips curled into a small, breathless smile. "Thanks for the save,"

Hayden smirked back, "Someone has to,"

She spun, blocking another incoming strike, grabbing the fighter by his collar and tossing him to the ground.

Miguel was right there beside her, moving effortlessly, making sure no one got too close. Their movements were in sync, a silent rhythm between them as they fought side by side, covering for each other.

Then she saw it.

Robby.

Hayden's heart lurched as she saw Kenny and two Cobra Kai fighters ganging up on him.

Her breath caught when Kenny's stance shifted—too precise, too calculated.

Her stomach twisted.

Quick Silver.

Before she could react, Kenny struck first—a brutal shot to Robby's ribs.

Robby stumbled, but Kenny wasn't done.

A kick to the chest. A sharp blow to the shoulder.

Then the final hit—a devastating strike to the stomach, knocking the air from his lungs.

Robby collapsed.

Hayden's blood ran cold.

It wasn't like breaking the dread she felt when breaking stone. This was worse.

This was Robby, and she didn't think—she just moved.

She rushed toward him, panic surging in her chest.

But before she could reach him—

A foot slammed into her ribs.

Pain exploded through her side, knocking her back.

Three Cobra Kai fighters surrounded her.

One kicked her leg out from under her, sending her crashing down beside Robby.

Another stomped down toward her, but she rolled away just in time, scrambling to her feet, chest heaving.

Before she could strike—

Miguel was there.

He tackled one of them off her, sending them both rolling across the mat. He landed a brutal punch to the guy's face, knocking him out cold.

Then he was back on his feet, grabbing Hayden's arm, pulling her upright.

"You okay?" His voice was rough, urgent.

Hayden swallowed, still catching her breath, her ribs screaming in pain.

"I'm fine," she muttered.

Miguel didn't believe her for a second.

His gaze flickered down to her ribs, his brows furrowing. "Hayden—"

"I'm fine," she repeated, a little stronger this time.

Miguel clenched his jaw, looking like he wanted to argue, but instead, he just nodded.

A sharp groan from beside them.

Hayden's head snapped toward Robby.

She dropped to her knees beside him, her hands hovering over his chest. "Robby—"

His face twisted in pain, his breathing shallow.

Hayden's stomach clenched. "Can you move?"

Robby blinked up at her, and despite everything, despite the pain—

He still smirked, soft and teasing.

"You worried about me, Sanders?"

Hayden glared, but it was weak. "Shut up."

Robby exhaled sharply, trying to sit up, wincing.

Hayden instinctively reached out, steadying him, her fingers brushing against his chest.

Robby blinked at her, his expression softening.

"Thanks," he murmured.

Her throat tightened, but before she could respond—

They weren't alone anymore.

The three Cobra Kais were back on her, yanking her away from Robby, dragging her down.

She barely got her arms up before kicks slammed into her ribs, her back, her arms.

But there was that one kick. The one that landed on her injured hand, stomping on it that made Hayden cry out in pain, squeezing her eyes shut.

Her body curled inward, instinctively trying to protect itself.

A blur of movement and Miguel was there again.

He tore one of them off her, shoving him to the ground. He barely had time to react before another Cobra Kai swung at him, but Hayden was already moving, grabbing the attacker's collar and pulling him back, throwing him off balance.

They stood back to back, breathing hard.

Miguel glanced at her, his eyes scanning her quickly, checking for injuries. "You good?"

Hayden exhaled sharply. "Been better."

Miguel smirked slightly. "Still keeping up?"

Hayden rolled her eyes. "Don't I always?"

Hayden turned just in time to see Anthony clutching the iPad, the only proof they had left.

Cobra Kai saw it, too.

"Get him!" Kenny shouted.

Half of them rushed toward him.

"Protect the egg!" Miguel yelled.

Hayden didn't hesitate.

She shoved her way through the fight, taking down anyone who got too close.

One guy grabbed Anthony—Hayden spun and delivered a sharp kick to his ribs, sending him tumbling away.

Another came at her from behind—she ducked, grabbed his arm, and threw him over her shoulder.

But there were too many of them.

She turned in time to see Tory struggling against Sensei Kim.

Kim was ruthless, striking fast, her attacks precise.

Hayden saw it—the moment Tory faltered, the way her legs shook.

Kim's foot swung toward her ribs, ready to knock her out.

Hayden moved.

She blocked the kick just in time, stepping between them.

Kim's sharp eyes snapped to her.

Tory stared, breathing hard.

Hayden extended a hand. Tory hesitated but not for long, taking her hand firmly.

Hayden pulled her up, steadying her.

Before they could speak—

Devon jumped in, taking Hayden's place beside Tory.

"I've got her," Devon said firmly. "Go."

Hayden didn't argue.

She turned back, rushing toward Anthony again.

But Cobra Kai was relentless.

They swarmed, grabbing at each other, at Anthony, trying to rip the iPad away.

It was a mess of bodies, fists, and shouts—nothing but a tangled mass of teens fighting for control.

A sharp voice cut through the noise.

"Alright, alright. Knock it off! Knock it off!"

The sound of a door slamming open echoed through the dojo.

Hayden turned, breathing hard, just in time to see Mr. LaRusso and Amanda storming in along with Carmen, Stingray and... her mom?

Hayden furrowed her brows, taking in her dress and heels, wearing makeup for the first time in a really long time.

She was about to say something until—

A chime sound filled the room.

Everyone turned—just in time to see the footage playing on the TV screen.

Hayden's chest tightened.

"I need to talk to you."

Silver turned to face Tory, smiling, casual—like he wasn't hiding a damn thing.

"Nichols. What's on your mind? Excited to take things to the next level?"

Hayden's fists curled at her sides.

That smile. That tone.

Like he wasn't about to ruin everything.

Tory's voice was flat, cutting.

"What's the point? You'll just pay to make me champion again."

A beat of silence.

Every eye in the dojo was locked on the screen.

Hayden felt it in her bones—that moment of suffocating stillness, waiting for the final confirmation.

She didn't know if hearing Silver admit it would be relieving or devastating.

But she knew she needed to hear it.

She needed to know that, even if she never got the trophy, never got the praise or validation—

She had won.

On-screen, Silver exhaled, his tone smooth, calculated.

"So you know about the ref." A pause. Then, in that same measured calmness—"Have you told anyone else?"

Hayden's stomach twisted.

She wasn't there, but she knew what that question really meant.

Have you told Hayden?

"Not yet." Tory's voice was bitter.

Silver leaned forward slightly, his smirk never wavering.

"So you don't deny it?"

Tory's jaw tightened.

Hayden could see it—the way she was hoping Silver would lie.

Because if he lied, it wouldn't be real.

But he didn't.

He didn't even hesitate.

"Not at all." Silver's voice was calm, almost amused. "I paid him off to make sure Cobra Kai won. It was an insurance policy."

Hayden's breath hitched.

Then—

Silver sighed.

"It was never going to be Sanders."

Hayden's heart stopped.

On-screen, Tory froze. "What?"

Silver leaned back again, relaxed. Too relaxed.

"Come on, Nichols. You had the skill, but more importantly? You had the loyalty. Hayden?" He let out a soft chuckle. "She's always had one foot out the door. Having conversations with Diaz outside the dojo, too caught up with him. I wasn't going to risk making her our champion if she couldn't be trusted to stay."

The words hit Hayden like a strike to the ribs. She looked over, but Miguel had already been staring at her.

The room blurred.

Her breathing was shallow, her knuckles aching.

He never believed in her. He never trusted her to win.

All that training. All that pain. All those nights in the dojo, covered in bruises, pushing herself past exhaustion.

And Silver had never intended for her to stand at the top.

"You still won the fight," Silver continued smoothly.

Tory's voice came out sharp, raw.

"Did I?"

Hayden's lungs burned, like she'd forgotten how to breathe.

Because there it was.

The truth.

The words still echoed in Hayden's head.

It was never going to be Sanders.

It felt like the ground had been ripped out from under her.

She had given him everything—her time, her trust, her blood, sweat, and pain. She had sacrificed herself for his approval.

And he had never intended to let her win.

A voice cut through the silence, sharp and cold.

"That's it?"

Hayden knew that voice.

Because it always gave her goosebumps.

Made her stomach twist.

Made her muscles tense so much it hurt.

Terry Silver stepped into the dojo, disheveled, his smirk oozing arrogance. It looked like he had just come from a fight.

"That was your big plan, LaRusso?" His voice dripped with amusement, like the footage meant nothing to him. "Breaking into my dojo to steal some footage that changes nothing?"

He took a few slow steps forward, and everyone stepped back.

Except her.

Hayden's chest rose and fell too quickly, her heartbeat thundering in her ears.

Then—

A hand slipped into hers.

Her breath caught.

She looked down—then up—meeting Robby's steady gaze.

He gave her a small, reassuring nod.

You're okay.

She hadn't even realized how shaken she was until his warmth steadied her. Until his grip reminded her that she wasn't alone this time.

She swallowed hard and exhaled, forcing her breathing to slow.

Silver's eyes scanned the room, lingering on Daniel.

Then—

Tory stepped forward. Brave. Unwavering.

"It wasn't his plan," she said firmly. "It was ours."

Hayden squared her shoulders, stepping up beside her.

"And it changes everything." Her voice was even—barely.

Silver's eyes darkened.

And then he was moving toward them.

His steps slow, calculated.

Hayden's entire body screamed to step back—but she didn't.

She refused to flinch.

He had already taken so much from her, stripped her down to nothing.

She would not let him take her strength too.

Silver's eyes flickered down to her bandaged hand—his smirk widened.

Her stomach twisted.

Then, without a word, he turned on his heel, facing his Cobra Kai students.

He raised his arms.

"Our enemies... think they can keep attacking us with no repercussions." His voice was commanding, demanding obedience. "And what does the enemy deserve?"

Silence.

Not a single Cobra Kai student answered.

Hayden's lips curled into a smirk.

They were hesitating.

Silver was losing them.

She watched as they shifted uncomfortably, their gazes darting away, avoiding his eyes.

Silver's nostrils flared.

He had felt the shift too.

"You think I'm the only one willing to go to these lengths?" His voice turned sharper, laced with frustration.

He turned his focus on Daniel, eyes gleaming with something dangerous.

"Their senseis broke into my home tonight. My home!" His voice rose, echoing through the dojo.

No one spoke.

"Attacked me, unprovoked!" His smirk returned, twisted with arrogance. "But here I am—the only one left standing."

Hayden clenched her fists.

"They think they're entitled to victory." Silver gestured toward Daniel. "Because their way is 'right' and our way is 'wrong.' But that's not how it works. There are no morals to the story, no happy endings!"

His voice dripped with disdain.

"Life isn't a fairytale. It's a competitive sport!"

He took a slow step forward.

"Right and wrong? There's no such thing. There are only winners and losers."

He turned back to his students.

"And Cobra Kai builds winners. Because we're willing to do whatever it takes to come out on top."

Hayden's jaw tightened.

She had bought into his lies before.

But now? Now she saw him for what he was.

A man who would sacrifice anyone to win.

A man who never saw her as worthy in the first place.

She should have seen it sooner.

She should have known.

Silver let out a low, cruel chuckle, his gaze flickering back to Daniel.

"Everything you did to try and stop me amounted to nothing but pain."

Then—he smirked.

"You got your ass kicked, Danny-boy." His voice was almost mocking. "Now, you can either accept that... or I can kick it again. Right now."

The room went still.

Every eye turned to Daniel.

Amanda's voice came softly.

"We're all with you, Daniel. Do what you have to do."

Daniel's jaw was tight, his fists clenching at his sides.

There was a moment—a beat—where he seemed to be fighting something internally.

And then, finally—

He stepped onto the mat.

Murmurs rippled through the dojo as everyone took multiple steps back, their eyes locked on the two senseis circling each other on the mat.

Hayden's breath was shallow, her heartbeat pounding in her ears.

Silver's lips curled into a twisted smirk, his eyes burning with cold calculation as he stared Daniel down.

"First, I took care of Chozen." His voice was low, taunting. "Now, you. This is where Miyagi-Do ends."

Daniel's expression didn't waver.

"Miyagi-Do existed before any of us." He lifted his hands, ready. "It'll be around long after we're gone. The roots are strong, so the tree will survive."

Silver's masochistic grin widened.

Then, he moved.

A sharp one-two punch, followed by a kick, fast and precise—but Daniel was faster.

He blocked the strikes effortlessly, reading Silver's movements like he had been waiting for this moment his whole life. Then—a counterattack.

Daniel's roundhouse kick struck cleanly, slamming into Silver's ribs and sending him crashing to the mat.

The room gasped.

Hayden's fists tightened.

But Silver was relentless.

He scrambled to his feet, his eyes flashing with fury, resetting immediately as he and Daniel circled each other again, both anticipating the next strike.

Silver lunged—right hook, left hook—but Daniel was keeping up, dodging just in time, catching Silver's arm and twist it over his shoulder.

Silver's knees hit the mat, but Daniel wasn't done.

He drove a sharp strike into Silver's ribs, forcing him to his knees, locking his arm in place.

Exactly how Silver had held Hayden's arm, forcing her in place.

Hayden swallowed hard, her body tensing involuntarily.

Silver's fist curled into a ball, his pointer knuckle rising slightly.

Hayden's breath caught.

He was going for the Quick Silver.

Daniel saw it too.

As Silver shot up, aiming for Daniel's chest, Daniel moved fluidly—trapping Silver's fist between his arm and leg in an instant.

Then, a devastating punch to the jaw.

Silver stumbled, crashing to the floor.

A sharp exhale left Hayden's lips.

Daniel was putting him through hell.

And Hayden was eternally grateful for it.

But Silver wasn't done yet.

Gritting his teeth, he forced himself back up, resetting.

A kick—blocked.
A punch—dodged.

Silver was getting predictable. Sloppy.

Daniel pushed Silver's next kick away effortlessly, twisting his body and driving a punch straight into his chest.

The force knocked the air out of him, sending Silver stumbling back into the wall.

A harsh cough escaped him, his chest heaving, fingers twitching as he steadied himself.

Then—

His eyes flickered to the trophies on the wall.

The All Valley trophy.

Hayden's blood ran cold as she watched Silver grab it, his grip tight, his body coiling like a snake preparing to strike.

Daniel saw it.

And he knew exactly what to do.

He lifted one leg, his arms coming up as he balanced himself perfectly.

The Crane Kick.

The entire room seemed to hold its breath.

Silver's rage boiled over as he lunged, swinging the trophy down toward Daniel's head.

But before the strike could land—

Daniel transferred his weight—stepping to his other foot, then snapping his leg forward with perfect precision.

His foot connected sharply with Silver's chest.

The impact sent Silver flying back—straight into the glass wall of the trophy case.

The shattering sound echoed through the dojo as he crashed through it, his body landing in a heap on the floor, sprawled out, unmoving.

The entire dojo fell silent.

Hayden's heart was racing, her breath shaky.

Silver was done.

And this time, he wasn't getting back up.

The dojo was silent, the LaRusso family surrounding and hugging Daniel while everyone else remained still in their place.

But everyone else remained still.

Hayden stood unmoving, her heart still hammering in her chest.

Then, slowly, her eyes drifted across the room.

And landed on Kenny.

His face was pale, his teary gaze locked onto Silver's unmoving body, his fists clenched at his sides.

Hayden recognized that look.

She knew exactly what he was feeling.

Because she had felt it too.

That moment of realization—that the person you trusted, the person you built your strength around, the man you were willing to fight for—was nothing more than a liar.

And now Kenny was back at square one.

Just like she had been.

He took a shaky step forward, his hands gripping the hem of his Cobra Kai shirt. Then, with a sudden, fierce tug, he ripped it over his head and threw it at Silver's crumpled form.

He didn't say a word.

He just walked away.

One by one, the rest of the Cobra Kai students followed suit.

Hayden shouldn't have smirked as big as she had.

But she did.

It felt good.

She took a slow step forward, her shoes clicking against the mat, inching closer and closer—until she was standing over him.

Terry Silver.

The man who had tried to break her.

The man who had called her weak, told her she'd never be strong enough, who had taken every ounce of trust she had left and turned it into a weapon against her.

Kicked her to the ground again and again, smiling down at her evilly as she groaned in pain.

Now, he was at her feet.

Lying sprawled on the floor, his chest rising and falling shakily, his eyes barely open.

For the first time—he was small.

For the first time—he was powerless.

And she was the one standing over him.

A twisted sense of satisfaction burned through her veins.

She crouched slightly, tilting her head, her voice dropping into something cold, sharp, dangerous.

"I told you the truth would come out."

Her voice was low, almost taunting, but there was something sharp-edged beneath it—something that made a chill run down his spine.

Silver's fingers twitched, his chest heaving with ragged breaths, but he didn't respond.

He couldn't.

Hayden's smirk widened slightly.

She lifted her foot—

And shoved his shoulder with the heel of her sneaker, making his body jerk slightly on the floor.

Not hard enough to hurt—just enough to remind him where he was.

To remind him who had won.

Then, without another word, she turned on her heel and walked away, her heart light for the first time in a long, long time.

The sound of police sirens grew louder, flashing red and blue lights flooding through the dojo windows, getting closer and closer—

Until they were right outside.

Silver was done.

Finally.

And Hayden had never felt better.

—

Hayden sat at the back of the ambulance, a thick blanket draped over her shoulders, though it did little to chase away the cold settling in her bones.

Her hand throbbed as the paramedic carefully wrapped fresh gauze around her knuckles, the antiseptic stinging, but she barely reacted.

She had already been through worse.

The sirens had died down, but the flashing red and blue lights still illuminated the street, flickering against the shattered windows of the dojo.

The fight was over.

Silver was gone.

And yet, Hayden still felt like she was waiting for something.

"You should've told me."

The voice was soft, but filled with guilt.

Hayden looked up—her mom.

Esme stood at the edge of the ambulance, arms wrapped tightly around herself, her expression torn between relief and heartbreak.

"I had no idea what you were going through," Esme whispered, taking a hesitant step forward. "Not really."

Hayden exhaled slowly, glancing down at her freshly bandaged hand.

Neither of them spoke for a moment.

Then—

"I didn't want you to know." Hayden's voice was quiet, her fingers curling slightly around the edge of the blanket. "I didn't want anyone to know."

Esme's lips pressed together. "Why?"

Hayden swallowed.

Because admitting it—saying it out loud—meant acknowledging just how much Silver had taken from her.

How much she had let him.

Her mom must've seen the flicker of emotion on her face, because she let out a slow breath, stepping closer.

"I would've listened," she said gently. "Even if you didn't think I would. I know we don't always... talk, but Hayden, I—" She hesitated, then shook her head. "I should've seen it. I should've known something was wrong."

Hayden glanced up at her, the blanket feeling too heavy on her shoulders now.

"Would you have stopped me?" she asked.

Esme's expression wavered.

For a moment, she looked like she was going to say yes.

Then—

"I would've tried."

Honest.

Hayden let out a breathy chuckle, but there was no humor in it. "At least you're not lying to me."

Esme sighed, rubbing her hands over her arms. "I just..." She shook her head. "I hate that I didn't realize what you were going through. That you felt like you had to go through it alone."

Hayden glanced around—at the police officers still questioning the Cobra Kai students, at Daniel talking to Amanda and Chozen, at Tory standing with Devon, her arms crossed but her face uncharacteristically soft.

Then—

Her gaze flickered to the side.

To Miguel and Robby.

They stood a few feet away, talking quietly.

Miguel was gesturing animatedly, probably making some kind of argument, and Robby just shook his head with a small smirk, clearly disagreeing.

It was... normal.

Like the fight hadn't just happened. Like they weren't bruised and exhausted and standing outside of a dojo that looked like a war zone.

Like, after everything, they had still found a way to be okay.

Hayden felt something tug in her chest.

Like she was seeing something she wasn't sure she had the right to want.

Something steady.

Something safe.

Her mom must've noticed, because her voice softened.

"They care about you," she murmured.

Hayden didn't respond.

Because she didn't need to.

Because she knew.

Esme reached out hesitantly, her fingers brushing against the edge of the blanket like she wanted to pull Hayden into a hug but didn't know if she should.

Hayden hesitated—just for a second—before leaning slightly into the touch.

Esme's shoulders relaxed, and she squeezed Hayden's arm gently.

"I'm so proud of you," she whispered.

Hayden swallowed past the lump in her throat.

Because, this was the first time hearing those words come out of her mother's mouth.

She leaned her head against her mom's shoulder, blinking away the tears welling up in her eyes.

Robby and Miguel stood a few feet away from the ambulance, watching from afar.

Hayden sat on the edge of the vehicle, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders, her mom beside her, talking softly.

The paramedic had just finished bandaging her battered knuckles, and even from where they stood, Miguel could tell she was trying to downplay the pain.

She always did that.

Robby sighed beside him, shoving his hands into his pockets. "She's always gotta act like she's fine."

Miguel nodded. "Yeah." His lips quirked slightly. "It's annoying."

Robby chuckled, but there was no humor in it. "Yeah."

They stood in silence for a moment, both of them just watching her.

Miguel let out a breath. "She looks different."

Robby glanced at him. "How?"

Miguel's brows furrowed slightly, like he was trying to find the words. "Lighter."

Robby nodded slowly. "Yeah. She does."

They both knew why.

Because Silver was gone.

Because the weight she had been carrying for so long had finally been lifted.

And yet—

Miguel still saw the hesitation in her shoulders, the way she still held herself like she was ready to fight.

It wasn't just Silver.

It was her.

She had spent so much time surviving that she didn't know how to do anything else.

Robby exhaled, his voice quieter this time. "She deserves to be happy."

Miguel looked at him.

Something unspoken hung between them.

Something they both knew was inevitable.

One of them would get to be the person who made her happy.

And one of them wouldn't.

Miguel clenched his jaw. "Yeah."

They both knew it was going to be one of them.

And that meant that one of them was going to be heartbroken.

Miguel swallowed. "I just want her to choose what's best for her."

Robby gave a small, almost sorrowful smile. "Yeah. Even if it's not me."

Miguel's chest tightened.

That was the thing, wasn't it?

They both wanted to be that person for her.

They both wanted her.

And it wasn't just wanting anymore.

It was love.

Miguel had known it for a while, but saying it out loud? That was different.

And Robby—Robby had just realized it now.

He loved her.

And so did Miguel.

They both stood there, their gazes locked on her, admiring her from afar.

"She's incredible," Miguel murmured.

Robby smirked slightly. "Yeah. She is."

A heavy understanding passed between them.

This wasn't about winning.

It wasn't about who was better for her.

It was about Hayden.

And whoever she chose—they'd respect it.

Even if it broke them.

Because that's what love was.

authors note.
i didn't sleep all night so i could finish this, then i used whatever free time i had between getting ready and cooking for the super bowl, since we're have people over, to write. but it's hereee yayyy
im so proud of myself i got getting a majority of the show done before the final episodes like even if i don't finish all of season six, i at least will have started it so
yay me:)