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THE GIRL PACED BACK AND FORTH in the quiet corner of the aquarium, her phone pressed to her ear as her voice cracked with frustration and exhaustion. The glass walls around her displayed tranquil marine life swimming in colorful harmony, a sharp contrast to the storm raging inside her.

"I just... I don't get it!" y/n's voice rose, and a nearby group glanced over before moving along, but she didn't care. "I mean, how am I supposed to trust anyone after all of this? No one told me anything! Not Tory, not Kreese, not Sensei Kim, no one! And now they're all acting like I should just 'get over it.'"

Aisha's voice was soft but firm on the other end. "y/n/n, I know it's hard. But--"

"No, you don't know! You didn't just find out your friends were hiding this massive secret about Miyagi-Do. Or- or catch the one person you thought you could count on making out with your fucking bully. He said he hated her, Aish! He said it!" Her voice cracked at the end, and she stopped pacing, resting her forehead against the cool glass. "And Miguel— I just... I don't even know how to feel about him anymore. He doesn't even look at me the same way. Not after what I did."

The other end of the line was silent for a beat. Then Aisha sighed. "You've got a lot going on, I get that. But you need to take a breath, y/n. This tournament isn't going to wait for you to sort through your feelings."

Y/n scoffed, turning away from the aquarium tank. "It's not just about the tournament. It's about everything. Kwon, Tory, Miyagi-Do, Miguel... God, Miguel. He was my best friend. I practically ruined his life, and no matter what I do, I can't undo that."

"You didn't ruin his life," Aisha interrupted, her voice taking on a comforting but no-nonsense tone. "He's walking again, isn't he? And from what I know, he's doing pretty damn well for himself."

"But it's my fault he got hurt in the first place!" The girl's voice cracked again, and tears welled up in her eyes. She rubbed them away angrily, frustrated at herself for still feeling this raw after all this time. "If only I'd been faster, if only I caught him on time--"

"Stop it, y/n," Aisha said firmly. "You're doing that thing again where you take all the blame for stuff that's not just on you. You weren't the only one in that fight, and Miguel doesn't blame you. I'm sure he doesn't."

Y/n sniffled, her voice quieter now. "He doesn't have to say it, Aisha. I can see it every time he looks at me. Like I'm this... this reminder of everything that went wrong."

"Maybe that's what you see," Aisha countered gently, "but that doesn't mean it's what he sees. Miguel's got a big heart, y/n/n. If he really hated you, you'd know."

The girl let out a shaky breath, her gaze drifting back to the tank where a school of vibrant fish darted in unison. "I just... I feel like I don't belong anywhere anymore. Not with Cobra Kai, not with— whatever this is now. And definitely not with Kwon."

"Speaking of Kwon..." Aisha's voice took on a teasing lilt. "You really caught him making out with Yoo-mi? Like are you sure it was you know, not some kind of an accident?"

Y/n groaned, pressing her palm to her forehead. "Don't remind me. I can't believe I ever thought he was different. He's just— ugh. And the worst part? I actually believed him when he said he hated her. What an idiot I am, huh?"

"You're not an idiot," Aisha said softly. "You're just hurt. And you have every right to be."

Y/n frowned again, massaging her temples. "Yeah, well, it doesn't make me feel any less stupid."

They lapsed into a brief silence, the sound of water bubbling in the tanks filling y/n's ears. Finally, Aisha broke it with a surprising revelation. "Anyway, enough about him. I actually have some good news."

Y/n raised a brow, leaning against the railing. "Good news? What kind of good news?"

Aisha hesitated, her tone turning almost shy. "I got accepted into the University of California."

"What?" Y/n's voice shot up in pitch, a mix of disbelief and excitement. "Aisha, that's amazing! Oh my god, why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"I was waiting for the right time," Aisha said with a laugh. "Plus, you've had a lot on your plate. I didn't want to add to it."

"Add to it? You're shitting me, right?" y/n grinned for the first time that night, her earlier frustration momentarily forgotten. "This is the best news I've heard in weeks! I'm so proud of you, bro."

"Thanks, y/n." Aisha's voice was warm. "It means a lot coming from you."

The girl's smile faltered slightly as she thought about her own plans—or lack thereof. "I wish I could say the same about myself. I was going to apply to colleges after the tournament, but now I'm not so sure if I made the right decision by skipping early applications."

"Why not?" Aisha asked. "The tournament could actually help you. If you win, it'll look great on your applications, early or late."

"Yeah, if I win." y/n's voice turned bitter again. "But let's be real, Aisha. With everything going on, my head's not in the game. And if I lose, then what? What am I even fighting for?"

"You're fighting for yourself, y/n," Aisha said firmly. "Not for Cobra Kai, not for Kwon, and definitely not for anyone else. Just you. Remember that."

Y/n nodded, even though Aisha couldn't see her. "Thanks... I needed to hear that."

"Anytime," Aisha said with a smile in her voice. "Now go kick some ass—and tell Korn to stop being an idiot while you're at it."

Y/n laughed softly, her mood lightening as she hung up the call. But before she could say goodbye, Aisha's voice interrupted.

"Hey, y/n?"

"Yeah?" She asked, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she waved at an octopus who stared at her, glued to the glass.

"I just wanted to remind you of something," Aisha said, her tone turning serious. "You've always been a fighter. Do you remember your first All Valley?"

Y/n let out a small groan, covering her face with her hand. "Oh God, please don't bring that up."

Aisha laughed. "Oh, I'm bringing it up. You were insane. You took out, what? Eight guys in a row before the semifinals? And they were all taller, stronger, and definitely more experienced than you. You were fearless."

"Until I wasn't," She mumbled, her voice tinged with regret.

"Stop that," Aisha said sharply. "We're not talking about what went wrong. We're talking about how you almost won that whole damn thing. Hell, if it weren't for that... uh, incident, you probably would've taken down Diaz too."

Y/n couldn't help the smile tugging at her lips despite herself. "Yeah, well, I think Miguel would beg to differ. He was pretty merciless back then."

"Maybe," Aisha admitted, "but so were you. Who else would have the guts to pull Robby Keene's ponytail in the middle of a match? And then—oh my God—the pants thing. I'm still convinced you did that on purpose."

Y/n's cheeks turned red, and she let out a nervous laugh. "I didn't! I swear it was an accident! I just... grabbed the wrong thing!"

"Sure, sure," Aisha teased. "Tell that to the judges who had to call the match because you were laughing so hard you couldn't breathe."

Y/n groaned again, but this time it was accompanied by a small chuckle. "Okay, fine, it was a little funny. But I still got disqualified."

"Yeah, maybe don't go around pulling people's pants this time," Aisha said with a laugh. "But seriously, you've always been a fighter. You just have to remember that. Those Sekky-Tekky bitches don't have shit on you."

Y/n leaned her head against the glass as she stared blankly into the octopus's soul, her heart swelling with gratitude. "Thanks, Aisha. I mean it. You're probably the only person who believes in me right now." Though her words were meants for the sea creature more than her friend. 

"That's because I know you," Aisha said warmly, oblivious to the presence of the therapy octopus y/n couldn't stop communicating with in the form of ridiculous facial expressions and weird sign languages she'd drafted on spot. "You've been through worse than this and still came out swinging. This tournament is just another fight. And you? You're built for it."

Y/n took a deep breath, Aisha's words settling over her like armor. "I'll try to remember that. No pants-pulling, though. Got it."

"Good," Aisha said with a grin in her voice. "Now go out there and show them what you're made of. And if Kwon gives you trouble, just remind him that you've taken down better guys than him before."

Y/n laughed, her spirits lifted, even if she knew Kwon was stronger than all of those guys combined. "Will do. Talk soon, Aish."

"Anytime," Aisha replied, and the call ended.

Y/n slipped her phone into her pocket, standing a little straighter as she turned to rejoin the others. Her smile faded, though, when a familiar laugh echoed through the aquarium.

Kwon's.

She spotted him leaning casually against a wall, arms crossed as he taunted another student about their poor kicking form. His smirk was maddeningly smug, and for a brief moment, y/n's resolve wavered.

"What kind of idiot kicks like that? I've seen baby worms with better skills."

But then Aisha's words replayed in her mind. You're built for this.

Her fists clenched at her sides as she watched Kwon, his taunting laugh grating against her nerves, though a smile tugged at her lips despite herself when she imagined a baby worm kicking.

But as her gaze shifted to the reflection in the glass—a version of herself that looked tired, battle-worn, but still standing—another thought crept in, sharper and more bitter.

Robert Swayze Keene.

Her chest tightened at the memory of him, of his innocent scowl, his holier-than-thou attitude, and the way everything fell apart after that fight. Sure, people blamed the chaos on Cobra Kai as a whole, but deep down, y/n knew it was Robby who had taken things too far, igniting the chain reaction that led to Miguel's paralysis and potential death, and destroyed her life in the process.

She hadn't wanted to fight that day. Not really. But when it all spiraled out of control, she'd been right in the thick of it—slamming heads, throwing punches, doing whatever it took to win, just like she'd been taught. And then it happened: Miguel, her best friend, crumpling to the ground like a broken doll. A doll she failed to catch.

Her fists tightened until her nails bit into her palms. She'd carried that moment with her every day since, the guilt of it weighing heavier than any opponent ever could. She'd left everything behind because of that fight—her school, her friends, her family.

And now Robby was here. At the Sekai Taikai. Competing alongside those she considered her friends, once upon a time. Acting like he belonged, like he hadn't wrecked everything she cared about.

He ruined my life, she thought, her pulse quickening, and I'm going to make him pay for it.

The thought wasn't just a spark—it was a roaring fire now, lighting her up from the inside. She didn't care what anyone said about forgiveness or moving on. Robby Keene didn't deserve to just walk away from the damage he'd done, and she wasn't going to let him. Not this time.

Y/n straightened her shoulders, her jaw set. She couldn't change the past, but she could damn well control what happened next. If fate wanted to throw Robby into her path again, then fine. She'd face him head-on, no distractions, no hesitation. She'd take them all down if she had do.

Let's see how you like it when the tables are turned, boys...

Just like that, as if the universe wanted to twist the knife a little deeper, y/n's eyes landed on the captain of Miyagi-do. He was standing near the tank of shimmering stingrays, talking to someone in hushed tones.

It was Tory.

The girl's breath hitched when she noticed him holding her hand. His thumb brushed over Tory's knuckles, and the sight made y/n's brows knit together in confusion. She clenched her fists again, her emotions ricocheting between betrayal and disbelief.

But she didn't question it. She couldn't afford to—not now. Whatever they were doing, whatever it meant, wasn't her business anymore.

Her jaw tightened as she turned on her heel, determined to leave before her anger spiraled any further.

As she stormed away, her shoulder collided hard with someone's chest—a tall figure that smelled faintly of cupcakes and faint cologne.

"Hey!" she snapped, her frustration boiling over.

The boy she'd bumped into took a step back, his hands raised instinctively, but the moment her gaze met his, her breath caught in her throat.

Miguel fucking Diaz...

His brown eyes widened slightly, his lips parting as if he were about to say something, but the words didn't come. The weight of everything unsaid between them hung heavy in the air, pressing down on her chest.

"You--" she started, her voice sharp, before cutting herself off.

Miguel blinked, then dropped his hands slowly. "I—sorry," he said, stepping aside. His tone was soft, careful, like he was testing the waters.

Y/n narrowed her eyes, unsure if she wanted to snap at him or run away. "Watch where you're going, Diaz." she muttered, crossing her arms defensively.

Miguel's brows furrowed, but he didn't take the bait. Instead, his gaze shifted past her, toward the massive tank glowing behind them. "You've always been quick to attack," he said lightly, the corner of his mouth twitching into something that almost resembled a smile.

"What's that supposed to mean?" y/n shot back, the sharpness in her voice betraying the vulnerability she tried to bury.

He glanced at her, the soft blue light from the tank reflecting in his eyes. "Nothing. Just that... you're still the same. Always ready to fight, even when you don't have to."

She bristled at his words. "Maybe I wouldn't have to fight if people didn't keep giving me reasons to."

Miguel's smile faded slightly, replaced by a flicker of regret. "I didn't mean it like that."

"Yeah, well, that's how it sounded," she muttered, turning her head toward the tank, where a school of shimmering fish darted around the coral.

For a moment, there was only silence between them, the soft hum of the water and the faint chatter of other visitors filling the space. Then, Miguel took a small step closer, his voice quieter now.

"Do you see those fish?" he asked, nodding toward the tank.

Y/n frowned, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. "What about them?"

"They're angelfish," he said. "Beautiful, right? They look delicate, like they couldn't handle anything... but they're actually pretty aggressive when they need to be. They protect their space, their family."

She raised an eyebrow, unsure where he was going with this. "So?"

"So," Miguel continued, "sometimes, even when they're just defending themselves, they push too hard and end up hurting things they don't mean to." He paused, his voice softer. "Even each other."

Y/n stiffened, her eyes narrowing. "If you're trying to make a point, just say it."

Miguel sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I'm not trying to fight with you, y/n/n. I just... I never thought I'd see you again. And now that I do, I miss how things used to be... Before everything got so--"

"Complicated?" she finished for him, her tone bitter.

"Yeah," he said, his voice almost a whisper.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. y/n stared at the angelfish, her chest tight as old memories surfaced—memories of Miguel, of everything they'd lost.

Miguel broke the silence again, his tone lighter this time. "Look at that one." He pointed to a bright yellow fish darting around the tank. "That's a cleaner wrasse. They spend their whole lives helping other fish stay healthy, picking parasites off them. It's kind of amazing, don't you think?"

She gave him a sideways glance. "You really know a lot about fish."

He shrugged, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I read a lot. It's a good distraction."

Y/n deadpanned, "A distraction from what?"

"From... everything," he admitted, his gaze meeting hers. "Sometimes it's nice to just... look at something simple. Something that doesn't ask anything from you."

She studied him for a moment, her defenses softening against her will. "Yeah," she said quietly. "I guess that makes sense."

Miguel smiled, a real one this time, and for the first time in what felt like forever, she didn't feel the urge to push him away. Instead, they walked together along the row of tanks, their conversation shifting to the different creatures they saw—sea turtles, stingrays, even a weird octopus that made y/n laugh softly as it followed the two of them.

By the time they reached the jellyfish exhibit, the tension between them had eased, replaced by something that felt almost... normal.

Miguel glanced at her as they stopped in front of the glowing tank. "You know," he said, "jellyfish have been around for millions of years. No brains, no hearts, but they survive. Kind of inspiring, right?"

Y/n tilted her head, a small smile playing on her lips. "Maybe. Or maybe they're just like half teams here."

He chuckled, and for a brief moment, it felt like they were the only two people in the world. Until it was shattered by a distant chanting, reminding them of the teams they had to get back to. Of the events that was in store for them... 

The morrow was going to change it all, and both of them had to be prepared.

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