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THE SOUND OF THE ZIPPER ECHOED IN THE QUIET ROOM as y/n l/n sealed the last of her bags. She let out a heavy sigh, leaning back against the edge of her bed. The room, once full of life, now felt barren, stripped of every personal touch. Her duffel bags sat by the door, stuffed and ready for the inevitable journey home.

She cast a glance around, her eyes lingering on the empty walls and shelves. It didn't feel real. Just days ago, this room had been alive with chatter, her teammates laughing, joking, and making plans for what they'd do after the tournament. Exploring Barcelona had been a popular choice—a city brimming with excitement and nightlife, the perfect place to celebrate their inevitable victory.

But now, those plans were as empty as the room.

The reality settled heavily on her chest, leaving her feeling hollow. The celebration never came. There was no wild partying, no victory tour. Instead, their reward was a hastily arranged flight back home, their dreams shattered in one swift blow.

Y/n rubbed her temples, trying to push away the spiraling thoughts. What had happened wasn't fair. She had spent the entire night trying to piece it together, watching shaky clips of the final match online after Sensei Kreese had finally brought her and Kwon back to the hotel.

Her stitches stung, a sharp reminder of her disqualification and how quickly things had unraveled. Kreese had been oddly quiet as he filled out the hospital documents that allowed her to leave. Sensei Kim, equally solemn, had signed off on everything without so much as a glance in anyone's direction.

The tension in the air had been suffocating.

Kwon had stayed with her the entire time, refusing to return to his room and face Do-jin and the others. They hadn't spoken since the fight. What was there to say?

That night, he had curled up beside her in the hotel bed. They didn't talk, just laid there in each other's embrace, the soft glow of the TV illuminating their tired faces. He had fallen asleep first, his steady breathing a small comfort against the storm raging in her mind.

But sleep didn't come for her. She had tossed and turned, her thoughts a chaotic mess. The clips she had watched kept replaying in her head, fueling her frustration and confusion.

What had happened after she was disqualified?

Why was everyone so defeated, so utterly broken?

And most importantly... how had Miyagi-do—Miyagi-do, the weakest team in the Sekai Taikai—managed to beat Cobra Kai?

The question gnawed at her, refusing to let go. Every answer felt just out of reach, hidden behind Kwon's silence. He had avoided her questions, brushing them off with vague murmurs and half-hearted reassurances.

But she could see the pain in his eyes. Something terrible had happened.

*FLASHBACK*

The soft glow of y/n's phone illuminated the dark room as she scrolled aimlessly through her feed. Despite her pounding headache and the dull throb of her stitches, she couldn't bring herself to sleep. Zara's downfall had taken over her notifications. The footage of the earlier argument, paired with the receipts Tory had so gleefully exposed during the fighter's live stream, had gone viral.

The comments were brutal—raw, unfiltered chaos that only the internet could conjure.

"Homewrecker alert 🚨 Lmao this is why the Iron Dragons are cooked."

"Girlypop couldn't keep her man OR her dignity. 4-4? 💀"

"The way she folded when Tory showed up tho- fake ass can't even fight."

"Zara who? All I see is Cobra Kai winning, even when they lose."

The controversy had taken a heavy toll on the Iron Dragons. 

Sponsors were fleeing left and right, severing ties as quickly as they'd been formed. Zara's reputation had crumbled, and the entire dojo seemed to be spiraling.

Y/n smirked faintly. Eliminated or not, watching Terry Silver's pet project suffer was a win for Cobra Kai.

But as her thumb hovered over another post, her smile faded. A new wave of comments caught her eye, and this time, they weren't about Zara.

"Tory's loyalty is in question after that stunt. Can't trust a snake in a snake pit."

"So... Tory just HELPED M*yagi-do win? Make it make sense."

"Talk about a snake in the grass 🙄"

"Why is she even a captain lol. She's good but Medusa is overall better. Weird, but cool."

"So... Cobra Kai's motto is 'No Mercy' unless it's Robbie? Got it."

Y/n's stomach churned as she read through the barrage of accusations. Confused and frustrated, she turned to glance at Kwon, who was snoring softly beside her. His arm was draped over her waist, his grip loose but secure.

He mumbled something incoherent in Korean, his brow furrowing as though locked in a dream. y/n stifled a laugh when she made out the words. "Kim Jong-un... give back... ice cream... Nukes? Fight me like a real man..."

She rolled her eyes, brushing a hand through his messy hair. "You're an idiot," she muttered affectionately, though her smile quickly faded as she looked back at her phone.

The comments had spiraled into a deeper rabbit hole, filled with theories and accusations. y/n's heart sank when she stumbled upon a series of video compilations titled:

"Miyagi-Don'ts Cheating: 2 Minutes Straight"

Her thumb hovered over the first clip before she reluctantly pressed play. The video was damning.

The first clip showed the brutal knee y/n had taken to her face, slowed down for emphasis with a vineboom for uh, comedic purposes... The angle made the impact look even worse than she remembered, and the caption screamed injustice.

"Refs just standing there while this happens???"

"Disqualify Miyagi-don't, this is disgusting 🤮"

"That's an illegal knee! If it were the other way round, that car salesman would have ensured CK got disqualified by bribing Gunther with a stupid BMW!"

"She looks really scared tho- maybe it really was an accident guys."

"Accident or not, that move should've cost them a point."

"Can we just take a moment to appreciate how happy Medusa looked after that aerial? Wishing her a speedy recovery💙!"

"Love from Indonesia <33"

"#JUSTICE4DIDDY"

The next segment highlighted Yoon's fight with Hawk, where the latter's strikes seemed to edge dangerously close to fouls. Another showed Kenny's relentless aggression against Demetri, pushing every boundary without consequence.

"What's with that hair..."

"Bro's pronouns are U/S/A 🦅"

"Took 'em 3 guys to do minimum damage... it's giving... loser."

"WHO IS LUIGI MANGO AND WHY IS MY GIRLFRIEND OBSESSED WITH HIM CHAT😭"

But what really made her pause was the final clip: Robby and Kwon's match. The compilation replayed the moment Robby had nearly stepped out of bounds, only to be stabilized by a Cobra Kai teammate—Tory Nichols.

Y/n's jaw tightened as she read the flood of comments beneath the video.

"Girl really handed them the win 🤦‍♀️"

"Cobra Kai sabotaging themselves now lmao."

"Nichols ruined it for Kwon. He had that point."

"If I were Kwon, I would NOT let that slide. Those fists are rated E for Everyone."

"The saddest thing about betrayal is that it never comes from your enemies... 😭💔"

"This is why their sensei broke her hand... (allegedly)"

Her hands trembled slightly as she put the phone down. The pieces of the puzzle clicked into place, and the weight of it all pressed down on her chest. She glanced back at Kwon, whose messy hair fell over his forehead. His lips twitched as he murmured something else in his sleep, oblivious to the storm raging in her mind.

She reached over and brushed her fingers against his nose, leaning down to press a soft kiss there. "You weren't the only one wronged yesterday," she whispered.

The memory of Yoon's unmatched stamina, Lee's relentless determination, and Park's resilience flashed through her mind. Each of them had fought their hearts out. And Kwon—he had come so close to securing their victory, only to be let down by forces beyond his control.

Her heart ached for him. For all of them.

But it wasn't just about the match anymore. It was about everything they'd endured—the betrayals, the bruises, the emotional toll. y/n lay back against the pillows, staring at the ceiling.

She tried scrolling again, hoping to distract herself, but the fans' voices were overwhelming. Amidst the negativity, there were glimmers of support:

"Y/n and Kwon carried Cobra Kai this season. Absolute legends 👏🔥"

"The chemistry between them though? 🥹 #teamynkwon"

"BRUH I JUST LOST $2 TO MY STUPID DAD WHO SUPPORTS MIYAGI-DO FOR REASONS UNKNOWN!!! FUCK EVERYONE. I HATE THIS DAY. SENDING CURSES TO GUNTHER!"

"Lee, Yoon, Park—they all deserved better refs. Cobra Kai forever 💪🐍"

"COBRA KAI NEVER DIES!"

Despite the praise, the bitterness lingered. With a sigh, she tossed her phone aside. Enough was enough for tonight.

Sleep didn't come easy, her mind replaying the events of the day over and over. By the time morning arrived, her decision was made. She packed her things slowly, each motion deliberate. It was time to leave, even if her heart wasn't entirely ready to let go.

*END OF FLASHBACK*

This wasn't how y/n had planned her Tuesday morning to go.

The room was quiet except for the occasional hum of traffic outside. She stood near the bed, holding Kwon's captain's headband in trembling hands. The soft fabric felt heavier than it should, as though it carried the weight of their collective defeat. Her chest tightened, and her breathing grew uneven.

Her team needed that win.

Cobra Kai deserved it more than anyone she knew. They had poured everything into this tournament—blood, sweat, and sleepless nights. And yet, here they were, disqualified right before the semi-finals, returning home with nothing.

Fourth place.

Even a third-place finish might have salvaged their chances, but no. The universe seemed determined to crush them completely.

Her thoughts lingered on Kwon, his face etched with exhaustion and frustration in her mind's eye. He kept telling her it was fine, that he'd manage, but she knew the truth. His deal with the sponsors had fallen apart after their loss, leaving him in debt. He had confided in her the night before, his voice steady but resigned, about using the college funds his late mother had left him.

But that money wasn't just for him—it was for his grandmother too. 

The bills that were supposed to be covered by the tournament winnings now loomed over their heads. His grandmother, alone and vulnerable, was now at the mercy of those expenses.

It was too messy.

Y/n squeezed her eyes shut, her heart aching as she imagined Kwon pretending everything was okay. He always did that—shouldering burdens he shouldn't have to bear.

Her hands trembled as she stared down at the headband. The guilt gnawed at her, sharp and unrelenting. She felt like she had failed him, failed the team.

"Morning..."

The voice startled her, and before she could react, she felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist. The damp warmth of his skin pressed against her back, and she froze for a moment before leaning into his embrace.

Kwon's arms tightened around her, and the tension in her shoulders melted away, replaced by a fragile sense of comfort.

"You're wet," she grumbled weakly, her voice muffled as she tried—and utterly failed—to sound annoyed.

Kwon's smirk turned into something devilish, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Not nearly as wet as I could get you," he shot back, his tone low and dripping with shameless amusement.

Her jaw dropped, her face instantly heating. "Kwon Jae-sung!" she gasped, swatting at his arm as her cheeks burned. "Do you ever stop being... this?"

His laugh was rich and unapologetic, his grin only widening. "Nope. Why would I, when it gets reactions like this?" He gestured playfully to her reddened face, his eyes twinkling with satisfaction.

"You're impossible," she huffed, crossing her arms over her chest, but the way her gaze darted away betrayed her embarrassment.

"And yet," he leaned in closer, his breath brushing her ear, "you secretly love it, don't you?"

Her face grew impossibly hotter, and she turned to glare at him, though her expression wavered. "You're insufferable. Honestly, how do you even say things like that?"

He shrugged, his smirk taking on a mischievous edge. "It's not that hard," he murmured, leaning closer, "especially after I may or may not have gone through your reading history."

Her head snapped up, her eyes wide with horror. "You what?" she sputtered, her face going crimson as she stared at him, equal parts mortified and furious.

He chuckled, utterly unbothered by her reaction. "Relax, princess. I didn't know you were into that kind of stuff." His grin widened, eyes sparkling with amusement. "But it does explain a lot."

"You're lying," she hissed, trying to fight the urge to crawl under a rock. "Tell me you're lying right now!"

"Am I?" he teased, his voice light and maddeningly smug. "Guess you'll just have to wonder, won't you?"

Her groan was half-frustration, half-defeat as she buried her face in her hands again. "I'm never letting you near my phone again."

"Probably a good call," he said, his laugh warm and unapologetic as he watched her with far too much amusement for her liking.

"You didn't even dry off properly," she muttered, trying to deflect. "You're going to get the sheets all damp."

He smirked, leaning closer. "Oh, don't worry about the sheets. I'll make it worth your while later."

Her face flushed, and she shoved his arms off her. "Kwon!" she exclaimed, glaring at him.

"What?" he said innocently, holding his hands up in mock surrender. "Just saying, a little dampness never hurt anyone."

"You're such a--"

"Charming, handsome, lovable guy?" he interjected, a sly grin on his face.

She groaned, shaking her head, but her lips betrayed her as they curved into a reluctant smile.

Kwon leaned in, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek. "There. All better now," he said softly.

The tenderness in his voice caught her off guard, and she blinked, momentarily at a loss for words.

He stepped back, running a hand through his damp hair. "Alright, let me get dressed before you start swooning over me," he joked, gesturing to the outfit he had laid out on the other bed.

She rolled her eyes. "I'm more likely to swoon from secondhand embarrassment," she shot back, crossing her arms.

He winked at her before grabbing his clothes and heading to the bathroom. "You love it."

As the bathroom door closed behind him, y/n sighed, the brief moment of levity giving way to the heavy reality of their situation. She sat down on the edge of the bed, clutching the headband in her hands once more.

The pain of their defeat still lingered, but in Kwon's embrace, she had found a small glimmer of solace.

They were leaving soon, and the road ahead seemed uncertain. But for now, in this quiet, fragile moment, she allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, they would find a way through it together.

They somehow always did...

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