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THE TREK UP MOUNT CHIRI-SAN HAD BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF GRUELING, and as the group reached the summit at last—just as the clock hit 3 PM—their exhaustion was palpable. The peak was marked by the iconic monolith, standing tall and weathered against the backdrop of endless rolling mountains and clouds that stretched into eternity. A few feet below, a flat clearing invited campers to rest, a haven for the weary.

The moment y/n l/n reached the flat ground, she let out an exaggerated groan and dropped her baggage with a theatrical thud. Then, with all the dramatic flair of a slain villain, she flopped onto her back, her arms sprawled out like she'd been struck down. "This is it," she declared, gasping for effect. "I'm done. Just leave me here. Tell my parents I loved them... sometimes."

Her antics earned a round of laughter from most of the group. Park crouched beside her, punching her shoulder softly with a playful smirk. "And here I thought you were tougher than this. What happened to the "girlboss" who was yapping about her endurance all week long?"

"She died somewhere on the east trail," y/n retorted, peeking up at him through one eye. "Go pay your respects at the tree you thought I was stripping at earlier."

Lee plopped down nearby, shaking his head as he stretched his legs. "Honestly, I thought Park would be the first to give up. Didn't expect you to collapse first."

"Excuse me," Park shot back indignantly, jabbing a finger in his direction. "I'm fine. My legs might be jelly, but I'm still standing."

"Barely," Yoon teased, earning a shove from Park.

Meanwhile, Kwon had set his sacks down with far less theatrics and immediately headed toward the monolith alongside Sensei Kim. Unlike the others, they seemed unaffected by the grueling climb, moving with the ease of people who'd done this countless times. Kwon paused at the edge, his sharp gaze scanning the breathtaking view below.

From her spot on the ground, y/n watched them with an incredulous look. "Do they have batteries for legs or something? How are they not even sweating?"

"Because they're machines," Lee said solemnly, earning a snicker from Park.

"Machines don't enjoy the view," Yoon pointed out, gesturing toward Kwon, who stood with his arms crossed, his head tilted slightly as if lost in thought. "First time I'm seeing him so serene..."

"Bet he's calculating my demise," y/n muttered.

"Or still apologizing to that tree from earlier," Lee added cheerfully, making them all laugh.

At the monolith, Kwon finally spoke, his voice carrying just loud enough for the others to hear. "You'd think the hardest climb would make this less worth it, but..." He trailed off, letting the awe in his expression finish his sentence.

Kim nodded, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon. "It's humbling, isn't it? Makes all the effort worthwhile."

"Effort," y/n scoffed under her breath. "More like torture."

Yoon chuckled, reaching out a hand to help her up. "Come on, drama queen. Let's go set up the tents before Kim assigns us more 'effort.'"

With a groan, she accepted his hand, dusting off her pants as she stood. "Fine, but if I die halfway through, I'm haunting all of you."

"Noted," Park said, tossing her bag toward her feet with a grin.

"Oh, and your girlfriend too, Lee."

"Hey-" The boy protested, unamused. "You leave my Mimi darling out of it!"

Kwon stood at the edge of the peak, the monolith casting a long shadow over the clearing. The crisp mountain air cooled his skin, but it did little to ease the storm of thoughts swirling in his mind. His jaw clenched as his eyes drifted toward y/n again. She was surrounded by the others, sprawled on the ground and laughing at something Yoon said. The warmth of their camaraderie grated on his nerves in a way he couldn't quite name—or refused to admit.

"Your head's been out of it lately."

Kim's voice broke through his thoughts, cold and precise as always. She appeared beside him, arms crossed, her sharp gaze cutting straight to the point.

The raven-haired boy stiffened but didn't look at her. "I'm fine."

Kim wasn't convinced. "You're never 'fine,' Jae-sung. What's going on at home?" Her words were firm, but there was an edge of something softer, buried deep beneath her usual strict tone as her eyes landed on the newer bruise near his jaw.

He sighed, shifting his weight. "It's... manageable," he said carefully, his voice low. "Halmoni's stubborn, but she's hanging in there. At least I don't have to ask appa for the medical funds anymore, not with the tournament nearing."

Kim tilted her head, her expression unreadable. "Stubbornness runs in the family, it seems."

A faint, wry smile ghosted across Kwon's lips. "Guess it does."

For a moment, silence settled between them, broken only by the distant sound of laughter from the group below. Kim's gaze followed his, landing on y/n, who was now sitting cross-legged, gesturing animatedly as the others listened. Kim's sharp eyes narrowed slightly.

"She's a distraction," She said bluntly.

Kwon's shoulders tensed, but he kept his face neutral. "She's part of the team."

"She's your weakness," Da-eun countered. "You've been going easy on her, and I don't need to tell you what that means. Mercy has no place in my grandfather's dojang. If you keep pulling your punches, you're not just hurting her chances; you're jeopardizing the team's."

Kwon's jaw tightened, his gaze hardening. "I'm not going easy on her."

Kim raised a brow, her skepticism palpable. "No? Then why do you hold back every time she steps into the ring with you? Why do you catch her everytime she falls, rather than letting her learn the same way everyone else did... through their mistakes? Why do you watch her like that?"

He snapped his head toward her, caught off guard. "I don't--"

"Yes, you do," Kim interrupted, her tone cutting. "You look at her like she's something precious. But this isn't the place for that, Kwon. You know that better than anyone."

Her words hit a nerve, and for a moment, he had no response. His thoughts drifted to his grandmother's voice, kind and loving, echoing a completely contrasting sentiment. "A heart as tough as yours isn't softened easily—trust whatever's done it."

Kim studied him, her expression softening just slightly. "You can't protect her from what's coming. If she's going to make it to the Sekai Taikai, she needs to toughen up. And that means you need to stop holding her hand."

Kwon's gaze flicked back to the girl. Her slander rang out, carefree and unguarded as she blackmailed to contact Lee's girlfriend again, and something in his chest twisted. He hated how easy it was for her to get under his skin, how her presence pulled at parts of him he thought he'd buried long ago.

"She's tougher than you think," he said finally, his voice quieter.

"Tough doesn't mean ready. In the Sekai Taikai, her opponents will not be restricted to age or gender. And neither will the enemies she will make in real life." Her lips pursed. "The dojo is no place for chivalry."

Kim's mouth twitched into a faint smirk. "Make her ready, Kwon. Or step aside and let Do-jin do it. At least he obeys instructions..."

Her words lingered as she turned and walked back toward the group, leaving him alone with his thoughts. He clenched his fists, his mind a whirlwind of jealousy, frustration, and something dangerously close to longing.

He glanced back at the y/n one more time, her smile lighting up the clearing, and exhaled sharply. Focus... This isn't the time. But as much as he tried, the storm within him refused to settle.

As he made his way back toward the clearing, Kwon's boots crunched against the gravel. The chitter and chatter grew louder with each step. His mind remained a battlefield of conflicting emotions, but he forced himself to push them aside. Sensei Kim's words lingered in his ears like a cold echo, a constant reminder of what was expected of him.

"Rest time is over!" Da-eun's sharp voice sliced through the mountain air, silencing the group instantly.

Y/n groaned, still sprawled on the ground, her arms draped over her face dramatically. "Already? I was just starting to enjoy breathing again."

"Then you'll love what's next," Kim said with a smirk that promised nothing good. "I know you're all tired, thirsty, and hungry. But out here, comfort isn't given—it's earned. So, if you want those luxuries, prove yourselves worthy."

The group exchanged wary glances. "And how exactly do we do that?" Lee asked cautiously.

Kim's rolled her eyes. "By fighting for it obviously. Pair up. Now."

Groans erupted as everyone scrambled to their feet. y/n shot Kwon a look of disbelief. "Seriously? We just climbed a whole mountain, and now we're fighting?"

"That's Cobra Kai for you," he said, his tone laced with a mocking edge. His gaze flicked to her sweat-soaked face, and the faintest hint of a smirk tugged at his lips. "You should sit this one out. Don't want you crying when you lose again."

Her eyes narrowed. "Oh, I'll do more than make you carry double sacks this time."

"Big talk for someone who can barely stand," he taunted, stepping closer until their faces were inches apart. The challenge in his eyes was unmistakable.

"Alright, that's enough from the two of you," Kim interjected coldly, her gaze bouncing between them. "If you're going to bicker like children, you can settle it in the ring. l/n, you're with Kwon."

Y/n blinked, her confidence faltering for a split second. "Wait, what? again?"

Kwon's smirk faltered for the briefest moment, though he quickly masked it with his usual cocky demeanor. "Try not to disappoint me, princess," he taunted, his voice steady, but the words felt hollow even to him.

Inside, his mind churned. Sensei Kim was right. He couldn't go soft—not here, not now. But... His gaze drifted to y/n, her cheek still marked by the faint bruise from yesterday's training. His stomach twisted. Could he do that to her? He wondered if he truly could go further if it came to that.

The answer unnerved him. The idea of hurting her—even in the name of competition—was a weight he hadn't expected to carry. His fingers twitched as if they already bore the guilt of a blow not yet struck. He swallowed hard, tension winding tighter in his chest.

"This isn't about you," Kim's voice echoed in his mind. "It's about her. You're not helping her by holding back."

But the pressure mounted. His grandmother's frail face flickered in his thoughts, her voice urging him to succeed as if this was the tournament, and the y/h/c-haired girl his foe. And then there was Kim—her relentless expectations. He couldn't fail her.

Yet, as his gaze landed on y/n again, standing with her usual defiance despite her exhaustion, his resolve wavered. The conflict inside him burned, an impossible choice between loyalty to his training and something far more personal. Something he wasn't ready to name.

Kwon clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as he forced the thoughts away. No mercy, he reminded himself, the mantra like a lifeline. 

But the truth was, he wasn't sure he believed it anymore...

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