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DEVOURING THEIR WELL-DESERVED DINNER, Cobra Kai sat at the long table in the noisy restaurant, bowls and plates of steaming food spread out in front of them. The energy at the table was electric—victory within their grasp, spirits high, and all eyes on Kwon, the star of the evening.

"Jae-sung, eat up," Yoon said, sliding a plate of grilled chicken toward him. "You need protein, man. Big match coming up."

Kwon, leaning back lazily in his chair, groaned. "I've eaten enough. Stop hovering."

"That's enough?" Park piped up, incredulous. "You had, like, one steak and half a potato."

"That's more than enough," the boy grumbled, stabbing a piece of lettuce with his chopsticks just to look busy.

Kim Da-eun's sharp eyes narrowed, and the table collectively went silent. She reached over with her chopsticks, snagged a slice of meat from her plate, and plopped it onto Kwon's. "Eat," she ordered, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Kwon stared at the piece of meat like it had insulted his ancestors. "It's too bland," he muttered under his breath.

Kim's expression hardened, and the entire table braced for impact. "Kwon Jae-sung," she started, her voice dropping into the "danger zone" tone. "Food is fuel. Do you think warriors of the past whined about bland food? No. They ate what they had because they understood its purpose. And you—" she pointed her chopsticks at him like a weapon, "—need to understand that if you want to win, you eat."

Kwon opened his mouth to argue but closed it when Kim's glare intensified.

The woman sighed dramatically, adding, "I have zero interest in food. If it were feasible, my diet would consist entirely of flavorless beige smoothies containing all the nutrients required by the human animal."

Y/n, halfway through her dessert, burst into laughter, nearly choking on her spoon. "Beige smoothies?" she echoed, grinning. "Sensei, are you a fighter or a robot?"

Kim arched a brow. "A focused fighter, which is what you all should be."

"You're focused, all right," Lee quipped, earning a slap on the back of the head from Park. "Ow!"

"I'm just saying," Lee continued, rubbing the spot, "it makes sense now why she's always in such a good mood—she doesn't eat anything fun."

"Fun doesn't win championships," Kim snapped.

"Neither does starvation," Park muttered under his breath, prompting a snicker from y/n.

"I'm not starving," Kwon interjected, glaring at everyone. "I just don't need to eat like a cow before every match."

"Oh, really?" Yoon teased. "You're acting like you've never been fed before, and suddenly, you're too good for food?"

"Leave me alone," Kwon grumbled, slouching further in his chair.

Y/n smirked, sliding a piece of her cupcake into Kwon's plate. "Here. A little sugar rush might fix your bad attitude."

Kwon looked at the offering suspiciously. "You never share your food... what is in that exactly?"

"Just eat it, Jay-Zoong," she said, rolling her eyes. "You're worse than a toddler."

Kwon reluctantly popped the dessert into his mouth, his expression softening for a brief moment before he covered it up. "It's... safe to eat, I suppose."

"It's safe to eat," y/n mimicked, laughing. "Just say thank you, Kwon."

"I'd rather consume flavorless beige smoothies," he shot back, but his lips twitched upward in the faintest smile.

Kim, unimpressed, gestured at the untouched meat on his plate. "Finish that too. Now."

"Fine," Kwon groaned, stabbing at the food with exaggerated effort. "But I'm not happy about it."

"You don't have to be happy," Kim replied coolly. "You just have to be strong."

The table broke into laughter again, everyone taking turns teasing Kwon, who alternated between scowling and smirking. Even Kim, though maintaining her usual strict demeanor, seemed content as she watched the team bond over the playful banter.

As the meal wound down, Yoon clapped Kwon on the back. "There you go. All fueled up and ready to kick some ass."

"Or complain about smoothies," Park added, earning another round of chuckles.

Kwon rolled his eyes but couldn't fight the grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. The team's teasing felt more like camaraderie than mockery, and even he had to admit—it wasn't the worst dinner he'd had.

The lively atmosphere at the table dimmed slightly when Kreese's sharp gaze fell on Tory. She sat at the edge of the group, her fork listlessly pushing broccoli around her plate. No one paid her much mind—y/n was laughing at something Kwon said, Lee and Park were singing Sigma Boy as Yoon was... mewing, and even Kim seemed more engaged with the team's strategy than her.

The old man, however, wasn't one to let things slide. "Nichols," he said, his gravelly voice cutting through the noise like a knife. The chatter quieted as everyone turned to look. "Eat up. And pay attention. You think team discussions are optional?"

Tory barely glanced at him, her voice soft but laced with bitterness. "What's the point? They've already decided I'm not part of the team." Her words hung heavy in the air, the subtle accusation making Yoon glance at his phone guiltily and Lee avert his eyes. Park and Kwon however didn't show any remorse and went on with their chatter, whilst y/n didn't even notice as she was too busy strategizing with Da-eun.

Kreese didn't react immediately. Instead, he folded his arms and studied her with a quiet intensity. Finally, he nodded. "I can't say I blame them."

Tory's eyes shot up, surprise flickering across her face.

"But," Kreese continued, his tone deliberate, "second chances are hard to come by. And I'll be damned if we can't make the most of it this time."

He leaned in slightly, his voice lowering but gaining weight. "Nichols, this is war. And in war, you destroy your enemy... or your enemy destroys you. There's no middle ground."

Tory's hands clenched into fists. "I told you," she snapped, her voice cracking slightly. "They're not my enemies. They're my friends."

"Friends?" Kreese echoed with a dry laugh, shaking his head. "Friends won't make you the champion." His eyes locked onto hers, cold and unyielding. "They'll let you down. Betray you."

Tory flinched but didn't look away.

"And they certainly won't help you out on that mat," he continued, his voice growing sharper. "Every one of us is alone in this world, Nichols. You know that better than most. But if you go out there thinking Samantha LaRusso is your friend..." He leaned in, his voice now barely above a whisper. "...then you can kiss your victory—and your future—goodbye. Do you understand me?"

Tory's jaw tightened, her voice low but defiant. "Yes, Sensei."

Kreese's eyes narrowed. "I can't hear you."

"Yes, Sensei!" she barked, louder this time, the stress in her voice unmistakable.

The table remained silent for a beat before Kreese straightened and nodded, satisfied. The tension hung thick in the air, and while no one said anything, the unspoken message was clear: this wasn't just about planning. It was about domination—on and off the mat.

Y/n shifted uncomfortably, glancing at Tory out of the corner of her eye. 

For a moment, she thought she caught a flicker of something in the blonde's expression—anger, hurt, determination, maybe all three. But it was gone just as quickly, replaced by the same hardened mask Tory always wore.

The rest of the team slowly resumed their conversations, but the mood had shifted. As y/n looked back at her plate, she couldn't shake the feeling that this war Kreese talked about wasn't just against their opponents...

It was against themselves, too.

1.2k words

A/N:

hii ^^

first of all, please don't hurt me...

i swear i didn't mean to disappear on you like that. life just kind of happened—2025 started strong for about two days before school swept me off my feet again. between deadlines, family, and friends, things got pretty hectic, especially with college right around the corner. but i'm back now, and i feel fresh, motivated, and so ready to dive back into this story with you all.

when i logged in and saw all your messages, i was overwhelmed in the best way and would like to respond to everything here collectively... 

it's hard to put into words how much it means to know that so many of you care, not just about Fists of Fire but about me. your concern and kindness warmed my heart—and i am very grateful for that <33

that said, i want to clear something up: i don't live in L.A. (for those of you who thought i did).

but i do have some idea regarding how devastating the fires have been for so many people, and i want to take a moment to acknowledge the pain and loss that so many are enduring. to anyone reading this who's directly affected or knows someone who is: i'm praying for you, for your loved ones, for your homes, pets, and the environment. 

i can't even find the right words, or know if there are any right words, but i hope you know you're not alone. your resilience is inspiring, and i'm sending all my love and support your way.

to everyone else, if you're in or near the affected areas, please take care of yourselves and follow safety guidelines. and even if you're far away, let's continue to keep the victims in our thoughts, our hearts, and do whatever we can to help, whether it's donating, spreading awareness, or just being kind to each other in these tough times.

now, back to the fic... 

i know i left things on a cliffhanger (what can I say? you guys are so adorable to mess with :p), but i'm prepared to pick up where we left off. 

i really appreciate your patience, your support, and for sticking with me. you're the absolute best, and i love you all so much!

stay safe, take care, and let's make 2025 a year filled with stories, growth, and lots of love. 💕