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THE DAY OF THE SEKAI TAIKAI HAD FINALLY ARRIVED, and the air buzzed with anticipation. y/n l/n had woken up earlier than usual, the dim light of dawn creeping through her hotel window. There was no time for hesitation, no room for nerves; today was about preparation.

Pulling on her training gear, she had joined her teammates and senseis at the gym for an early morning session. The atmosphere was electric, everyone sharper and more focused than usual. Each strike, block, and kick seemed to carry the weight of the day ahead. Even Sensei Kim, who was usually icy and stern, seemed a touch less severe, her corrections more about refinement than outright criticism.

By the time breakfast rolled around, y/n was already feeling the ache in her muscles, a good kind of ache that reminded her she was ready. She had sat down with her phone, scrolling through messages of encouragement from her family and friends in Korea. The warm words brought a brief smile to her face, grounding her in the knowledge that people were rooting for her from across the globe.

The highlight of her morning, though, was a call with Aisha. y/n had been thrilled to hear her best friend's voice, but something felt... off. Aisha was being unusually nosy, steering the conversation toward topics y/n always spoke about, but hadn't expected her friend to initiate.

"So, how's it going with Kwon?" Aisha had asked, her voice casual but with a hint of something else—something almost calculated.

Y/n frowned, tilting her head in confusion. "With Kwon? What do you mean?"

"You know, just... in general. You two have been spending a lot of time together, right? Training, competing, arguing..." Aisha had trailed off, as if waiting for a reaction.

Y/n shrugged. "I guess? I mean, yeah, we've been around each other a lot, but that's just how it is. Why are you asking?"

Aisha hesitated, an uncharacteristic pause that didn't go unnoticed. "No reason," she said quickly, though the tone of disappointment in her voice was hard to miss.

Y/n narrowed her eyes at the screen. "You're being weird."

"Me? Weird? Never," Aisha replied, her grin forced before quickly changing the subject.

The exchange lingered in y/n's mind as she got ready for the day. She didn't have the time or energy to dwell on it, though. There was too much at stake.

Now, standing tall in the venue for the world's greatest karate tournament, the students awed at the massive arena, its design modern yet steeped in tradition, with banners of the competing dojos lining the walls alongside the flags of the nations they represented. Sixteen teams from all over the world had gathered, each fighter looking as sharp and ready as the y/h/c-haired girl felt. The energy in the air was contagious, a mix of excitement and tension that settled over the crowd.

The teams stood in neat rows, facing the raised stage where the Sekai Taikai officials stood. In the center was the chancellor, an imposing figure whose voice boomed over the arena speakers as he addressed the fighters.

"The time has come," he announced, his words carrying an air of gravitas. "Welcome to the Sekai Taikai. Today, we begin with a new and unique competition—a test of strength, skill, and leadership. We call it The Captain's War."

A ripple of curiosity passed through the crowd, fighters exchanging glances as they processed the announcement. y/n's focus, however, was elsewhere. Her eyes scanned the other teams, sizing up her competition with careful scrutiny.

Her gaze lingered on Miyagi-Do longer than she expected. Despite herself, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of irritation as she stared at Samantha Larusso and Robby Keene standing at the front of their team.

Sam. y/n hadn't thought about her much over the years, but seeing her now brought back memories of their last fight. It had been a decisive victory for y/n, and while she didn't think Sam was a weak fighter, she still found it hard to shake the image of that moment. The thought made her underestimate Sam, even if she knew better than to let that affect her strategy.

What puzzled her more was Robby.

Why is he the captain?

Her gaze darted to Miguel Diaz, standing quietly a few steps behind Robby. Miguel—who had survived the impossible, who had literally conquered paralysis and fought his way back stronger than ever. To y/n, he seemed like the obvious choice for Miyagi-do's captain.

What's so special about Robby?

Y/n's jaw tightened, her mind racing with questions she didn't have answers to. She'd underestimated opponents before, and she wasn't about to let it happen again—not here, not today. No matter how weak her, or any of her teammates, especially her senseis considered them to be, they clearly were a lot better than she'd anticipated if they managed to land a spot at the tournament. 

The chancellor continued his speech, laying out the rules and expectations for the Captain's War, but the girl's focus remained split, her thoughts flickering between strategy and the unshakable feeling that today would be more challenging than she had anticipated.

Kwon just smirked at the sight before him, arms crossed, his sharp eyes scanning the arena. His gaze briefly landed on Tory Nichols, standing confidently at the front of their group. Despite her stoic demeanor and undeniable skill, Kwon couldn't suppress the flicker of disdain he felt every time he looked at her.

Tory had clawed her way into the captain's position, but Kwon neither trusted nor respected her. In his mind, y/n deserved that spot far more than Tory ever could as far as skill was concerned. She was the fighter who had earned it through grit and determination, the one who had always been the heart of their team. But now? Now, the person representing them was someone the raven-haired boy viewed with suspicion.

Her boyfriend fights for Miyagi-Do, he thought bitterly, shooting a quick side-eye at the blonde. How do we know she's not a snake?

Kim didn't like Tory. Park didn't like her. Kwon certainly wasn't a fan either. Do-Jin's opinions were as neutral as ever, and Lee? Well, Lee loved and respected everyone, too trusting for his own good. Kreese, however, was a different story entirely. He admired Tory, praised her resilience and her "no mercy" attitude at every opportunity. That alone was reason enough for Kwon to keep his biting remarks to himself—John Kreese's opinion carried weight, whether the boy liked it or not.

But the real reason he didn't push Tory's buttons as much as he wanted to was y/n.

Despite their ups and downs, it was clear as day that Tory cared about her. She looked out for her in ways few people ever had, fiercely protective of her well-being. That mattered. Even if it didn't work in his favor. y/n needed genuine people in her corner, and if Tory Nichols was one of them, Kwon could bite his tongue. He could play a little... less rude, even if it left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Kwon's sharp gaze drifted away from Tory, settling on y/n instead. And just like that, his chest tightened. The image of Robby Keene leaving her room the night before flashed through his mind, vivid and haunting.

The way y/n had stood in the doorway, arms crossed, her expression unreadable. The way he had turned casually, his face annoyingly at ease as though nothing was amiss.

What the actual fucking hell had he been doing there?

Kwon's fists clenched involuntarily at the memory, his nails digging into his palms. His jaw tightened, and he found himself glaring at Robby, who stood with Miyagi-do's team, completely unaware of the silent storm brewing just a few feet away.

Stupid. American. Bastard.

Kwon couldn't shake the sting of betrayal gnawing at him. It wasn't just anger—it was confusion, frustration, and a deep, aching hurt he didn't even want to acknowledge.

As he stood there, muscles taut and his expression darkening by the second, one thing was certain: whatever happened in The Captain's War, Kwon had found a personal target. And he wasn't planning to hold back...

Yoon stood still, his gaze distant as his mind pieced together the tangled web of history between y/n, Tory, and Miyagi-Do—a narrative whispered in confidence by Sensei Kreese during the early hours of training. Most of it had already been apparent to him, simply by observing their interactions. Tory's quiet awkwardness with y/n. Robby's uneasy glances towards Tory, and y/n's veiled animosity toward the boy who now stood across the arena, leading Miyagi-do. And then there was the way her y/e/c eyes had darkened, lingering on the latino, a tension that felt both unresolved and heavy, yet strangely warm.

Yoon wasn't shocked; he was intrigued.

Was this a reunion forged by fate or a tsunami of tears that would drown them all?

The Chancellor's voice echoed through the arena, snapping Yoon out of his thoughts.

"We told you how important your captains will be. So let's see how well you protect them," he announced, his voice cutting through the low murmurs of the gathered fighters.

Yoon's brow furrowed.

"Four dojos will take the mat; only one will be left standing. If you hit the mat, you're out. If your captain hits the mat, your entire team is out for this round."

A ripple of unease passed through the crowd as fighters exchanged glances.

Y/n's mind raced, but it wasn't the rules that consumed her thoughts—it was the events of the previous night.

The memory of Robby standing at her door felt like a thorn lodged in her chest. He'd shown up, clearly startled to see her instead of whoever he'd been expecting—probably Kwon.

He said he'd left something behind, though she hadn't cared at first. The argument at the door had been tense, with y/n's arms crossed and her eyes cold, her voice sharp as she told him to leave. The last shred of her composure had been spent keeping herself from attacking him right then and there.

But when he'd practically begged, his voice low and almost desperate, she'd relented—barely. The passing hotel staff had been a sharp reminder of the eyes always watching, and she couldn't risk a scene.

Still hostile, she'd opened the door just enough for him to step inside.

Robby's presence had felt suffocating in her room. He'd tried to make small talk as he searched for whatever he'd supposedly lost, but the girl had shut it down, her voice bitter and biting.

"Everyone else might've forgotten what you did at West Valley," she hissed, her arms crossed tightly across her chest. "But I haven't. I won't. I don't forgive, and I don't forget, Robby. You better watch your back."

Her words had sent a visible chill through him. He hadn't replied, instead finding the object of his search: a photo of him and Tory at Golf N' Stuff. Something he both cherished and treasured.

It had fallen out of his wallet earlier in the day, he concluded. His face was solemn, almost regretful, as he spoke about the picture.

"I get why she switched sides," Robby admitted. "I didn't at first, but I do now. Miyagi-do failed her in ways I didn't see back then. She didn't feel safe. Not like she did with... Cobra Kai." He paused, hesitating before meeting Y/N's eyes. "But on the mat, none of that matters. No one's going to hold back. I just..." His voice faltered, then steadied. "I need you to look after her. Please." 

"Tory's been through a lot, y/n. More than she lets on. And if anyone can help her, it's you." The girl hadn't replied. Her throat had tightened at the sincerity in his voice, but her resolve remained unshaken.

He had left without another word.

Now, standing in the arena, y/n's eyes flicked toward Tory, who stared blankly at Robby on the other side. Her heart ached for her friend, but doubts lingered. Could Tory truly be trusted...?

Despite her misgivings, y/n had given Robby her word. She would look after Tory—whether they were speaking or not. Their friendship ran deeper than words, deeper than grudges. They didn't need conversations to communicate; they were sisters in ways that transcended explanation. And if Tory had chosen someone like Robby Keene after everything that happened, then y/n was going to respect that, albeit begrudgingly. Besides, he really did seem to care about her from what she'd seen. That's all that really mattered...

Unbeknownst to her, Tory had broken up with Robby mere hours ago. It was a decision made in the name of focus, to eliminate distractions and channel her energy into the competition. Yet as she stood there now, her resolve wavered. 

Had she made the right choice?

"Check the boards to see your group, decided by random draw," the Chancellor continued, his voice slicing through the tension.

Y/n's head snapped toward the display, her heart sinking the moment the results appeared.

"Group A, you're up!"

As if the universe itself reveled in cruel irony, Cobra Kai was paired with Miyagi-do, two more dojos in the list.

Y/n's stomach twisted. On one side, Tory stood stoic and unreadable. On the other, Robby's calm arrogance felt like a personal affront.

Beside her, Kwon smirked, his fists clenched tight as he made a silent vow to himself.

He was going to give them hell...

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