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THE LOCKER ROOM BUZZED WITH A TENSE ENERGY that seemed to seep into every corner. Each dojo had been assigned its own space—partitioned into separate changing areas for boys and girls, with a shared common area in between. The air was thick with anticipation, not for the fights, which wouldn't start until tomorrow, but for the inevitability of what today represented: introductions, instructions, and the first face-off with their competition.

In the girls' section, y/n sat on a bench in the far corner, wrestling with her belt. "My belt isn't belting the way other belts belt!" she grumbled, her frustration mounting with every failed attempt to tie it properly. Her voice was loud enough to draw a few glances, but no one dared laugh. Everyone was too caught up in their own nerves.

Tory, standing by the lockers, had been silent for most of the morning. She tightened her own belt with precision, the fabric snapping against her waist as she pulled it taut. But her hands lingered there, her knuckles whitening as guilt gnawed at her insides. She had been dreading this moment for weeks—the moment y/n l/n would come face-to-face with the people from her past.

She glanced over at the y/h/c-haired girl, who was still muttering under her breath, oblivious to the storm brewing in the blonde's chest. Tory's own nerves weren't just for herself, though those were bad enough. She would have to face all the friends she had betrayed when she rejoined Cobra Kai. But y/n..? 

Y/n would be facing ghosts. Her best friends. Her enemies. People who she ran away from without any notice... people whose memories she fought so hard to bury all these years.

Tory had known this for a month, since she made her decision to quit. Kreese and Kim had made it clear—y/n doesn't need to find out about Miyagi-Do, not until she's in the ring. We can't afford losing our best fighter. It was a cruel tactic, but it was effective. They wanted her focused, not emotional. And the blonde girl had obeyed, keeping the secret even as it weighed her down. She didn't expect her friend to understand. How could she?

But now, seeing the girl innocently struggling with something as trivial as her belt, blissfully unaware of what awaited her on the other side of that locker room, the weight became unbearable.

Without a word, Tory crossed the room. Before y/n could react, she pulled her into a tight hug, her arms locking around her like she might shatter if she let go.

"Whoa—what the—Tory, I can't breathe!" y/n's muffled voice came from somewhere against Tory's shoulder as she hugged her back, chuckling. "Seriously, what's with the death grip?"

The blonde held on for a moment longer, her chest tightening. This wasn't something she could fix. Not this time. She could only hope y/n's strength—her stubborn, unyielding resilience—would be enough.

When she finally let go, the girl looked at her, bewildered. "What was that for?"

Tory hesitated, her throat dry. The truth burned on the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed it back. "You'll see," she said, her voice quiet but steady.

Y/n frowned, clearly weirded out by the cryptic response. "Uh, okay? That was sufficiently creepy."

Before she could press further, the sound of Kim's voice cut through the air, sharp and commanding. "Everyone, gather in the common area. Now."

In the space, the boys were already waiting. Kwon leaned casually against a wall, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable. Yoon stood beside him, clipboard in hand, his eyes scanning the rules and match details one last time. Lee was bouncing on his toes, his excitement barely contained, while Park paced nervously, muttering reassurances to himself.

As the girls filed into the common area, the tension in the room spiked. Kwon glanced at y/n, who was still adjusting her belt with an annoyed expression. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth, but it vanished just as quickly.

Kim stood tall in the center of the locker room's common area, her piercing gaze sweeping over the team. The room was dead silent, the weight of her presence palpable. Kreese stood at her side, his arms crossed, his expression as hard as stone. There was no trace of warmth in either of them—only focus, only determination.

The woman's voice, sharp and commanding, cut through the silence like a blade. "Tomorrow, you enter that arena as warriors. Not children, not students, but warriors. And warriors know only one truth—victory. Anything less is unacceptable."

Her words echoed off the tiled walls, and the team stood frozen, absorbing the gravity of her tone. "Cobra Kai is not just a dojo. It is a legacy—my grandfather's legacy... Everything we've done, everything we've fought for, comes down to this moment. You do not fight for yourself. You fight for this team. You fight for honor."

Kreese stepped forward, his voice gruff and filled with raw intensity. "Strike first. Strike hard. Show no mercy. That's what separates us from them. While they hesitate, we act. While they deliberate, we dominate. That is why we are Cobra Kai."

Kim nodded, her expression cold and calculating. "This tournament is not just a competition. It is war. You'll face opponents who will try to outsmart you, outmaneuver you, outlast you. But they will fail, because you are prepared. You are stronger. You are better."

She took a step forward, her voice lowering but somehow growing even more intense. "Remember this—on that mat, there is no room for weakness. No room for fear. Whatever distractions, whatever doubts you have—leave them here. The mat is where you prove yourself. The mat is where you win."

Kreese picked up where she left off, his tone dripping with disdain. "And don't forget who you're up against..." His lips curled in a sneer as he glanced at Kwon, who just responded with a sharp nod. "They'll come at you with their nonsense—honor, balance, mercy. They'll try to make you think they're better than you. Don't fall for it. It's a game. A tactic. They'll use kindness to disarm you, smiles to distract you. But at their core, they're weak. Pathetic. And when we're done with them, they'll know exactly what it means to stand against Cobra Kai."

The tension in the room thickened, the words igniting a fire in the hearts of the team. y/m felt the intensity wash over her, even as a strange unease settled in her stomach. She didn't understand why those words seemed to carry so much weight, why Kreese's disdain felt personal, almost familiar...

Kim's voice softened, though her tone lost none of its edge. "The stakes couldn't be higher. Victory in this tournament means everything. For us as a team. For you as individuals." She looked pointedly at the captains, Kwon and Tory, her gaze lingering for a moment before moving on. "Educational opportunities, scholarships, and resources that could change your lives. But more than that, it is a chance to show the world who we are. What Cobra Kai is. We do not falter. We do not lose. We dominate. We destroy."

Kreese stepped forward again, his eyes scanning each of them. "No distractions. No weakness. No second guessing... You go in there tomorrow and show them why we are what they can only dream of becoming."

"YES SENSEI!" 

The team nodded in unison, the fire in their eyes unmistakable. The words struck deep, fueling a sense of purpose and unity. Even y/n, despite the flicker of doubt in the back of her mind, couldn't deny the adrenaline surging through her veins.

"Dismissed," Kim said sharply. "Get to the assembly area. Keep your heads high."

The team began to shuffle out, the room buzzing with energy and determination. As the others moved toward the exit, Kwon lingered behind, his gaze fixed on the y/h/c-haired girl.

She was still fussing with her belt, whining under her breath about how it "just wasn't cooperating."

Without a word, Kwon stepped closer, his movements purposeful. He reached for her belt, and she froze, glancing up at him in confusion.

"What are you doing?" she asked, her tone guarded.

"Fixing it," he muttered, his voice low but steady. His hands worked quickly, pulling the fabric taut and tying it with precision. "You know I can't stand loose belts."

Y/n didn't move, her body stiff as he worked. She watched him out of the corner of her eye, her emotions a swirling mix of annoyance, curiosity, and something she couldn't quite name.

When he finished, he stepped back, his gaze meeting hers. For a moment, there was silence, the air between them charged. Then he spoke, his voice quieter now, almost hesitant.

"I know you're upset," he said, his words deliberate. "And I think I know why. I don't have excuses, and I'm not going to ask you to forgive me. But..." He paused, his jaw tightening. "If you give me one more chance—just one—to explain or to make things right, I promise you won't regret it."

His words hung in the air, filled with a vulnerability he rarely showed. He searched her eyes, hoping for a glimmer of understanding, of acceptance.

Y/n tilted her head, her expression unreadable. For a moment, it seemed like she might say something meaningful. But then, a sweet, taunting smile spread across her lips.

"Hmmm... no thanks," she said lightly, her tone laced with mock politeness.

Before he could respond, she reached down and deliberately loosened her belt again, undoing his careful work. With a casual shrug, she turned and walked toward the exit, leaving him standing there, stunned.

Kwon clenched his fists at his sides, his jaw tightening as he watched her go. A mix of frustration and amusement flickered in his eyes. She was impossible. Bratty. Infuriating. But damn, was she adorable.

The girl didn't look back as she joined the others, her steps confident, her heart pounding. Whatever this tournament had in store, she would face it head-on...

no matter what or who it was.

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