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THE LOBBY BUZZED WITH TENSION AS COMPETITORS, senseis, and onlookers alike gathered under the grand chandelier's glow. Cobra Kai stood tightly huddled in one corner, their group a wall of black outfits as if dressed for their own funeral... Sensei Kim stood between y/n l/n and Tory Nichols, her presence alone enough to deter any brewing arguments. Kwon shifted uncomfortably beside the y/h/c-haired girl, stealing glances at Kreese, who had just arrived with an air of mystery about him.

"Where were you?" Kwon whispered, his brows furrowed.

Kreese gave him a sidelong glance but said nothing, his expression unreadable. "Had to take care of something," was all he muttered.

Before anyone could pry further, the chancellor's voice cut through the murmur of the room.

"My apologies for summoning you all like this," he began, his stern tone commanding immediate silence. The crowd's restless energy turned into laser-focused glares, a mixture of curiosity and irritation flashing in the eyes of both the victorious and eliminated dojos. "But under the circumstances, it was necessary."

Gunther's polished demeanor was as sharp as the suit he wore. He paced deliberately, his presence filling the room.

"The Sekai Taikai has a long and honorable tradition," he continued, his voice resonant. "We fight hard, but we fight fair."

Yoon let out a loud, derisive scoff, earning several chuckles from the nearby groups. y/n smirked, but her amusement was short-lived as Da-eun snapped at the boy, her tone harsh and biting. He quickly straightened, muttering an apology under his breath.

Gunther's expression darkened, his words cutting through the uneasy laughter. "That's why I'm saddened to announce that one of the dojos here has tarnished that tradition... by cheating!"

Gasps rippled through the crowd, and all eyes instantly darted to Miyagi-do.

Sam bristled under the accusing stares, her cheeks flushing red. Daniel stepped forward slightly, his protective instincts kicking in, while Chozen folded his arms, his jaw clenched.

From the Cobra Kai corner, y/n scoffed loudly, her glare fixed on the female captain. "The fuck is she looking at?" she muttered, crossing her arms.

Sam's eyes locked with the girl's for a fleeting moment before darting away. y/n smirked coldly, hoping for the disqualification she believed was well deserved.

But then, Gunther's next words took everyone by surprise.

"It is neither Cobra Kai nor Miyagi-do at fault," he said, his voice slicing through the tension like a blade. y/n's smirk faltered, replaced with confusion. Around her, the Cobra Kai team exchanged puzzled glances, their suspicions momentarily defused.

Gunther turned sharply, his gaze zeroing in on the far side of the room where the Udar Tigra team stood. The Russians, clad in sleek tiger-striped uniforms, stiffened under his scrutiny.

"Sensei Ivanov," the man said, his tone icy. "Four of your students have tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs."

A collective gasp erupted. The room froze for a beat before exploding into hushed murmurs and shocked whispers.

"See?" Lee hissed to Park, his voice just loud enough for the members of his team to hear. "I told you they weren't that strong!"

Park's wide eyes stayed glued to the Russian team, his jaw hanging open in disbelief. Even Kwon raised an eyebrow, his usual smirk creeping back. "Guess all those strong kicks weren't as legit as they looked," he murmured, earning a quiet snicker from Yoon who had first-hand experienced the pain.

Across the room, the Russian competitors looked shell-shocked. Two of the accused students turned visibly pale, while the others shifted uncomfortably under the weight of dozens of glaring eyes. Their sensei, Ivanov, stepped forward, his face a mask of cold fury.

Gunther's voice echoed through the hushed lobby. "You are hereby eliminated," he declared, his tone resolute.

Ivanov's face turned crimson, his fists clenched at his sides. "What the hell are you talking about, Braun?!" he barked, stepping forward aggressively.

Gunther didn't flinch. "You are hereby removed from our finalists," he replied.

"BULLSHIT!" Ivanov said calmly, the veins in his neck bulging. 

He shoved his way into the chancellor's personal space, his voice lowering to a threatening growl. "Why don't you come over here and remove me yourself?"

The room collectively gasped, whispers spreading like wildfire.

Gunther's expression hardened, his voice cutting through the rising tension like a blade. "Sensei Ivanov!" he bellowed, his authority undeniable. "Consider yourself fortunate your dojo wasn't banned forever. Continue this behavior, and that can be arranged... EASILY!"

For a beat, the room was utterly silent. Then, from the Cobra Kai corner, a snicker broke the tension. Sensei Kim, unable to suppress her amusement, allowed herself a small smirk. She turned to the female sensei from Urda Tigra, her tone light but sharp as a blade. "You should remind your team to read the rules next time. Oh, wait..."

The Russian sensei's glare could have melted steel, but Kim's smirk only deepened.

Without another word, the Urda Tigra team stormed away, their departure punctuated by heavy footsteps and muttered curses in Russian.

Gunther straightened his tie, his composure never faltering as he addressed the room again. "Replacing Urda Tigra," he said, his voice rising above the lingering murmurs, "will be the dojo with the next highest point total."

The air in the room became electric, everyone glancing around in tense anticipation.

Gunther paused, clearly enjoying the moment. "Cobra Kai."

For a split second, the announcement hung in the air, almost unbelievable. Then, the Cobra Kai group erupted into cheers, their disbelief melting into an overwhelming wave of joy and relief.

Lee was the first to shout, throwing his fists in the air. "YEAH, BABY! WE'RE BACK!" he yelled, his voice booming. He spun around to grab Park, shaking him by the shoulders.

Park laughed, his usual stoic demeanor breaking into a wide grin. "I told you we weren't done!"

Yoon pumped his fist and let out a loud whoop. "Let's go, Cobra Kai!" He turned to Kwon, slapping him on the back so hard that Kwon stumbled forward a step.

Kwon, still processing, blinked a few times before his signature smirk spread across his face. "I mean... of course. Did you really think we wouldn't make it?" he said, his tone dripping with mock arrogance.

"You were sweating, man," Lee teased, throwing an arm around Kwon's shoulders.

"Nature's glow," Kwon shot back, his grin only widening.

Amid the celebration, y/n stood frozen, her arms crossed as she stared blankly at the staff. The weight she'd been carrying all this while—the guilt, the shame, the crushing disappointment—seemed to lift all at once. But instead of cheering, she was stuck in a daze, her mind struggling to catch up with the reality unfolding around her.

Before she could even think, the boys were on her. Lee and Yoon grabbed her by the arms, yanking her into the middle of the group. "We did it, y/n/n! We're still in this!"

"Yeah, noona!" Park added, his rare excitement lighting up his face. "We're back in the fight!"

Kwon stepped forward, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her into a side hug. "See? Told you there's nothing to worry about..."

Y/n blinked, finally breaking into a small, disbelieving smile. "We're... still in?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Still in?" Yoon repeated incredulously. "We're the comeback kings, Medusa!"

"Queens, too," Lee corrected, grinning as he gestured to y/n.

The girl couldn't hold back a laugh, the tension in her chest melting away as the team continued their exuberant celebration. 

From the sidelines, Sensei Kreese watched his team with a rare hint of approval in his gaze. "Compose yourselves," he called out, his voice cutting through the laughter. "This is not the time to lose focus."

"Yes, sensei," the group chimed, though their excitement was far from contained.

As the energy settled slightly, y/n turned to Kwon, her grin turning into a playful smirk. "You're not as bad at this as I thought,"

Kwon laughed, shaking his head. "Don't get used to me being right."

"Trust me, I won't," y/n shot back, earning a soft pinch to her cheek.

"Heyy!" As she smacked his hand away, the announcement still echoed in her mind, but for the first time in what felt like forever, the y/h/c-haired girl felt hope—and a spark of determination.

Gunther's voice rose above the chatter, reclaiming the room's attention. "And on a more positive note..." he began, glancing around as the tension in the lobby thickened. 

Miyagi-do's fighters glared daggers at Cobra Kai, while Cobra Kai, fresh off their unexpected second chance, stood united, their confidence restored.

"We'll now announce the draws for our semi-finals," Gunther continued, gesturing to his assistant, who approached with a bowl of slips. A murmur of anticipation rippled through the room as names were exchanged.

"In our girls' bracket, the first semifinal will be... Maria Alvarez versus Zara Malik."

Y/n broke into a grin, pumping her fist in the air. "Woo—go Maria!" she cheered loudly, her enthusiasm infectious. Several others joined in, chanting Maria's name. Across the room, Zara stood stoic, supported only by her own teammates, who clapped half-heartedly.

The entire lobby, save for a small corner, erupted with cheers for the Spanish captain who smiled genuinely at y/n for her supportive gesture.

Gunther waited for the noise to settle before continuing. "And in the second match, that will pit Tory Nichols against Samantha Larusso."

The excitement in the room dimmed noticeably. No one from Cobra Kai cheered or clapped. In fact, a few exchanged pointed looks.

Miguel squeezed Sam's hand supportively, offering her a small smile. But back in the Korean dojang's corner, the silence spoke volumes. Kwon and Park barely suppressed their eye rolls, their disdain palpable.

"At least you're still in the fight," Lee said casually to Kwon, deflecting the awkwardness with a light jab. His tone wasn't loud, but it carried a clear undercurrent of shade aimed at Tory.

Y/n shifted uncomfortably, glancing briefly at Tory before looking away. She remained quiet, her usual smile nowhere in sight.

Gunther continued, unfazed by the tension. "In our boys' bracket, the first semifinal will be..." He paused for dramatic effect. "Diego Aguilar versus Korn-KWON... Jay-Zoong!"

The reaction was immediate. Cobra Kai burst into laughter and cheers, their energy rebounding to full force. Lee clapped Kwon on the back, nearly knocking him forward, while Park let out a celebratory whoop.

"Kwon, you got this in the bag!" Yoon exclaimed, grinning ear to ear.

"Hell yeah, let's go, Jay-zoong!" Y/n teased, her smile returning as she squeezed the boy's hand in support.

Kwon turned to her with a confident grin and squeezed her hand back. "Easiest match of my life," he said with a cocky smirk, his tone playful but brimming with confidence.

Kreese nodded approvingly, his arms crossed. "We expect nothing less, Kwon."

Sensei Kim, standing nearby with her usual composed demeanor, glanced at him sharply. "Do not let this get to your head," she warned, her voice strict but steady. "Overconfidence is a liability. I still expect you at training today—" Her gaze flicked briefly to y/n, her lips twitching into the faintest smirk. "—instead of hiding in your girlfriend's room all night."

A collective oooooh echoed from the team, as the two teenagers froze, their faces burning crimson.

"What?!" Kwon blurted out, his voice an octave higher than usual.

"I—what is she even--" y/n stammered, looking mortified.

Lee doubled over laughing, clutching his sides. "Yo, she called you out, bro!"

"Caught in 4K," Yoon added, howling with laughter.

"I-I don't even—she's making things up!" Kwon insisted, his face now redder than y/n's.

"Sure, sure," Park teased, raising his hands innocently. "We totally believe you."

Kim's lips twitched again, but she maintained her composure. "Training. Today. No excuses."

"Yes, sensei," Kwon muttered, his embarrassment palpable as the rest of the team struggled to contain their laughter.

Gunther cleared his throat, bringing the room back to order. "Our second semifinal match will pit Axel Kovačević against... Robby Keene."

Kwon scoffed loudly, folding his arms across his chest. "Great. Two people I can't stand."

"Right?" y/n muttered, crossing her arms as well. "I don't mind Axel, but Robby? Ugh. I hope Axel rips off that ridiculous man-bun of his."

Lee snorted, covering his mouth. "Man-bun? You mean the source of all his power?"

"That thing deserves its own elimination," y/n quipped, rolling her eyes. "Every time he moves, I just want to walk up behind him with scissors."

"Careful," Yoon warned, smirking. "You might give Keene a complex."

"Good," y/n shot back. "Maybe he'll finally stop flipping it like it's in a shampoo commercial."

The group erupted into laughter again, and even Park cracked a rare grin.

Gunther allowed the laughter to settle before delivering the final piece of news. "Due to these recent developments, all teams will be given a bonus week to train. Semi-finals will begin on Monday. Use this time wisely."

He surveyed the room one last time. "Good luck to all our semi-finalists."

As the announcement concluded, the tension in the room began to dissipate. The teams slowly started to disperse, buzzing with anticipation for the matches ahead. Cobra Kai, however, lingered a little longer, their renewed confidence and camaraderie stronger than ever.

Kwon turned to y/n, smirking. "So, what's your plan for this bonus week?"

"Making sure you don't get too cocky," y/n deadpanned, her eyes glinting with mischief.

"Too late," Lee interjected, earning a chorus of laughter from the group as they headed back to their quarters, ready to tackle whatever came next.

Cobra Kai was still in the fight, and this time, they were going to give it everything they got.

2.2k words

A/N:

🎉✨ happy new year, my amazing readers! ✨🎉

wow, where do i even begin? 

first off, HAPPY NEW YEAR! i hope your 2025 is off to an incredible start, filled with joy, laughter, and maybe a little bit of the drama that makes life interesting—but hopefully less chaotic than the twists I keep throwing at you in this story :p

speaking of twists, can we just take a moment to celebrate HALF A MILLION READERS? 

in just 7 weeks!!!

i can't even put into words how much this means to me. to every single one of you who's clicked, read, commented, and cheered on my characters (or yelled at me for cliffhangers and talking about knives too much...), thank you from the bottom of my heart. you've made this journey so much more special than i ever imagined, and i'm genuinely in awe of your love and support.

i know i haven't been as active on the message board as some of you would like... truthfully, the notifications get buried under the avalanche of comments (yes, i see you, my serial commenters 👀), and between updating chapters and reading all your thoughts, it's hard to keep up. 

but please know that i do see your messages, your theories, your emotional outbursts—and they make my day every single time <33

this new year, my advice to you is simple: take care of yourselves as always, embrace the little moments, and don't let anyone or anything hold you back from your pursuit of happiness.

whether you're starting something new, facing a challenge, or just trying to survive mondays, you've got this. i believe in you ^^

now, a little teaser to spice things up: let's just say a HUGE plot twist is coming that's going to leave you questioning everything. buckle up—it's about to get intense... 

here's to an incredible 2025, filled with love, light, and all the fictional drama we can handle. thank you for being the best readers a writer could ever dream of. you make this crazy adventure so worth it. 

i love you all more than words can express! 💕