╔. ■ .═════════════════════════════════════╗

╚═════════════════════════════════════. ■ .╝

THE LOCKER ROOM WAS STEEPED IN A SUFFOCATING SILENCE... The sting of their first elimination-round defeat hung in the air, heavy and raw. No words of comfort, no rallying speeches—just the sound of shallow breaths and the occasional scuffle of restless feet on the tile floor.

Miyagi-do versus Cobra Kai.

The final match of the day. It wasn't just another competition; it was the moment that would decide the fate of both teams. A victory meant progression to the semi-finals on Wednesday and, potentially, the finals on Friday. A loss, however, meant packing their bags and heading home tonight. There was no middle ground.

For better or worse, today was the last time they'd be fighting together as a team. The thought was bittersweet, even for those who might never admit it.

The rivalry between Miyagi-do and Cobra Kai wasn't new. It spanned decades, a grudge match that transcended generations. Both teams had won one event and lost one. Now, it all came down to this—a do-or-die faceoff to settle the score.

History favored Cobra Kai. They had bested Miyagi-do countless times, even in this very tournament. But something was different this time. The addition of the dojo's newest member—a mystery to everyone—had shifted the balance. No one knew his name or where he had come from, but he was powerful, almost frighteningly so. Today, he had carried the team like a one-man army, changing the dynamics entirely.

Despite the looming shadow of Terry Silver's resurgence and the chaos he had brought, Cobra Kai had one small mercy: they weren't facing his team this time. Small comfort, perhaps, but one they clung to.

Now, the question hung over them like a storm cloud: would their strength, skill, and relentless drive be enough to overcome this unknown variable? Or would this be the end of their journey?

The tension was palpable, a storm of unspoken emotions swirling among them. Every member of the team felt it, but none more than Kwon.

He sat hunched on the bench, elbows on his knees, fists clenched tight enough to turn his knuckles white. His jaw was locked, a silent testament to the storm inside him. The weight of his promise felt like a chain around his neck, dragging him deeper into a sea of desperation. He had made a deal with the sponsors, a deal he couldn't afford to break. 

Victory wasn't just a matter of pride or team loyalty—it was survival.

His situation was dire, and this tournament was supposed to be a lifeline. A win meant financial support, a chance to breathe. A loss meant more than disappointment; it meant failure—not just in the eyes of his teammates or his sensei, but in his own eyes... and of course those of people he was fighting for. The pressure was crushing. 

It wasn't just the game at stake—it was his integrity, his future, his very identity as the unshakable warrior everyone expected him to be.

And y/n felt it all...

Her heart ached as she glanced at Kwon, her guilt gnawing at her like a relentless tide. She had been the one to stand by his side, encouraging him to take the risk, assuring him that they could pull it off. She had believed in him, in their team, in the dream that this tournament could change their lives. 

But now, watching the weight of it all on his shoulders, she wondered if she had pushed him too far.

She had her own burdens—her college applications loomed like a shadow over her future, a reminder of how desperately she needed to prove herself. And yet, even those paled in comparison to the stakes here. 

She thought of Tory's situation, the weight of responsibility the blonde bore for her family, and her own fractured past. For all of them, Cobra Kai wasn't just a team; it was their chance at redemption, at opportunity, at something more than the chaos life had handed them. They needed this win. They couldn't afford to fail.

And then there was Tory...

She sat in the corner, her back against the cold metal lockers, her eyes fixed on a spot on the floor that no one else could see. Her mind churned with a storm of emotions, sharp and raw and unrelenting.

Her relationship with Robby had been the only real thing in her life, the one anchor in a sea of turbulence. She had fought for him, broken her own bones for him—literally and figuratively. He had been her light in the darkness, the one person who had seen her as more than the troublemaker, the fighter, the girl with nothing to lose.

And yet, he had been the first to move on. 

The betrayal cut deep, a wound that refused to heal. She had given him everything—her loyalty, her love, her vulnerability—and in return, he had tossed it aside as if it meant nothing. She felt humiliated, discarded, like she had been naive to ever believe in something as fragile as love.

But beneath the anger and heartbreak was a deeper pain, a quiet grief for the girl she had allowed herself to be with him. The girl who had dared to hope, to trust, to believe in the possibility of a better future. That girl was gone now, and in her place was a fighter, hardened and unyielding, determined to never make the same mistake again.

Yet even as she steeled herself, a small part of her ached to let go of the anger, to mourn what she had lost instead of clinging to the shards of her pride. But in this locker room, in this moment, there was no room for grief or reflection. Only the fight ahead.

The team sat in their silent storm, each lost in their own battle. The air was thick with unspoken fears and burdens too heavy to share. And yet, beneath it all, there was a flicker of resolve. They needed this win—not just for themselves, but for each other.

Because if they couldn't find strength in the fight, they could at least find it in their shared struggle.

No matter what happened next, this would be the last time they fought together as a team. Win or lose, the journey was over. Back at home, their paths would diverge. Lee and Park would step into grade 12, their final year of high school, while the rest would scatter—some to colleges in Korea, others abroad, and some not at all... 

The thought of it felt like a heavy weight pressing down on their chests, robbing the moment of air, of hope.

Y/n sat on the bench, looking around at her team. Her heart ached seeing them like this—faces drawn, eyes downcast, shoulders slumped in resignation. This wasn't the Cobra Kai she knew. This wasn't her team. And she couldn't let it end like this.

She stood up, drawing in a deep breath, her voice cutting through the silence like a spark in the dark.

"Eyes up, everyone."

Heads turned, some reluctantly, others with a flicker of curiosity. She held their gaze, her own eyes blazing with determination.

"I know what you're all thinking. I feel it too. This... this sucks. We lost. It's a hard pill to swallow, and yeah, it hurts. But you know what? It's not over. Not yet."

Her voice grew stronger, more confident, as she began pacing in front of them.

"We made mistakes in that match. I won't sugarcoat it. We weren't perfect. But here's the thing—no team is. We're human. We fall. We stumble. But you know what makes us different?" She stopped and turned to face them, her voice rising. "We get back up. We learn. We fight harder."

Lee lifted his head slightly, his lips pressing into a thin line. Park glanced at him, the faintest glimmer of hope flickering in his expression.

Y/n pressed on, her voice steady and passionate. "We've beaten Miyagi-dorks before, haven't we? And I don't care if they've got a new fighter or how strong he is. We've done it once, and we can do it again. We've got one more shot. One more chance to prove to everyone who we are."

Lee stood, his hand finding Park's shoulder. "She's right. We've done it before. We can do it again." He looked around the room, his gaze settling on each of them. "Let's lead our friends to the finals."

"One shot," Yoon echoed from his spot near the lockers, his voice quiet but firm. He stood as well, crossing his arms. "That's all we've got. So let's take it. Let's prove to everyone—and to ourselves—that we're not done. Not yet."

Kwon was silent for a moment, his jaw working as he processed their words. Finally, he nodded somberly, his voice low but resolute. "One last time."

Park, still seated, leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "It's the last time we get to fight together as a team, win or lose," he mumbled, his voice carrying a weight of bittersweet acceptance. Then he stood, his eyes shining with determination. "So let's make the most of it. Let's show them what we've got!"

Y/n felt her chest swell with pride as she saw the fire reignite in their eyes. "That's what I'm talking about!" she exclaimed, a small smile tugging at her lips. "We've got nothing to lose and everything to fight for. This is our moment. Let's make it count."

Yoon raised his fist, his voice cutting through the room with a sharp, commanding tone. "One more time!"

The team echoed the sentiment, their voices blending into a unified roar that shook the walls of the locker room.

"One more time!"

For the first time all day, there was no silence, no hesitation. There was only the sound of a team finding its strength, its purpose. Together, they would face whatever came next—not just as individuals, but as Cobra Kai.

And for one last time, they would fight like their lives depended on it.

Kwon stood at the center of the locker room, his hands balled into fists, his shoulders squared. His intensity was undeniable, his eyes blazing as he looked at his team. For a moment, he said nothing, letting the silence drive home the importance of what he was about to say. Then, in a voice full of quiet command, he began.

"We start strong," he said, his gaze sweeping over his teammates. "I go in first. Score as much as I can—doesn't matter who it is, doesn't matter how good they think they are."

There was a pause, his words sinking in.

"When I've cleared the way, I'll tag y/n in to finish the job," he continued, his tone sharp and precise. "She's fast, she's focused, and she's got the endurance to take them out while they're still trying to figure out what hit them. We finish strong. We make an example of them."

Y/n blinked, caught off guard by the confidence he was placing in her. "Uh, no pressure or anything," she muttered, though a small, determined smile tugged at her lips.

"If their defense gets too tough to crack," Yoon chimed in, crossing his arms, "you call me in. I'll break it. I'll tear through them like paper. No hesitation."

Park raised an eyebrow, grinning. "Tear through them like paper? That's a bold promise, Yoonie-pooh. Let's hope you're as scary as you sound."

Yoon scoffed, rolling his shoulders. "You'll see. When I'm in there, there won't be anything left of them to defend. That's what Cobra Kai is all about—destroying our enemies, leaving no doubt about who's in charge."

Lee clapped his hands, grinning broadly. "Damn right! Let's show them what Cobra Kai is really all about. This isn't just a fight. This is our fight."

The team's energy was shifting, the tension replaced by a simmering fire.

"Exactly," y/n said, stepping forward. "We're not just here to win. We're here to dominate. Let's give them something to remember. Let's make them regret ever stepping into the arena with us."

A cheer went up, a mix of shouts and laughter, and for the first time all day, the mood felt lighter, the team united in their determination.

"Alright, alright, before we all get too serious..." Park said, suddenly pulling out his phone. "Lee, you know what time it is?"

Lee grinned mischievously. "Oh, I know."

He hit play on his phone, and the unmistakable sound of a snakey, flute-like melody filled the locker room. The two of them began swaying their bodies dramatically, arms waving in the air as if they were hypnotic serpents.

"What the—?" Yoon asked, staring at them. "What are you doing?"

"It's snakey-hissy-dancy dance!" Lee declared, his movements becoming even more ridiculous.

"Snakey hissy... what?" y/n repeated, laughing despite herself.

"Yes!" Park said, his voice mock-serious. "This is Cobra Kai. We're snakes. Embrace it!"

They slithered closer to Kwon, who stared at them with a mix of confusion and exasperation. "What are you doing?" he demanded, though a reluctant grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"C'mon, captain!" Lee urged. "Join the snake pit!"

"I'm not doing that," Kwon said flatly, but the faint twitch of his lips betrayed his amusement.

"Oh, you're doing it," Park declared with a devilish grin, grabbing his arm and dragging him into the center of the circle.

One by one, the rest of the team followed suit, their laughter bouncing off the walls as they moved in sync, shoulders rolling and arms mimicking serpentine motions.

"Hit the Kwon! Hit the Kwon! Hit the Kwon!" they chanted in unison, their rhythm growing louder and more enthusiastic with every beat.

Y/n stood on the sidelines, arms crossed, her expression torn between disbelief and amusement.

"Come on, Medusa!" one of them called out, beckoning her to join.

She rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress the grin tugging at her lips. With a dramatic sigh, she threw her hands up in mock surrender and stepped into the circle.

"Fine, but only because I love you guys," she said, joining the ridiculous display as the chant grew louder, the room alive with laughter and camaraderie.

"Wait, wait," Tory said, pulling out her phone. "This needs to go on record. The world deserves to see this madness."

"You better not post that anywhere!" Yoon protested as Tory moved around them, recording every second with a grin.

"Oh, don't worry," Tory said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "This is purely for... posterity."

The laughter and music reached a peak, everyone losing themselves in the moment—until the door suddenly slammed open.

Kim Da-eun and Kreese strode in, their faces like thunderclouds.

"What," Kim said, her voice icy and dripping with disdain, "is going on here?"

The team froze. The music was cut off with an awkward click, and everyone quickly scrambled to look busy, standing in stiff, awkward poses. Tory fumbled with her phone, shoving it into her locker.

"Do-jin," Kim said sharply, her eyes narrowing as she singled him out. "If you spent half as much time practicing as you do playing the fool, maybe I wouldn't have to babysit you through every match."

Yoon opened his mouth to respond but wisely shut it again under Kim's glare.

Kreese surveyed the room with an expression of utter disappointment. "You call yourselves Cobra Kai?" he growled. "This is pathetic..."

"Now, get out of my sight and act like warriors," Kim snapped.

"Yesss, sssensssei..." 

"OUT!"

2.5k words