❝ counterbalance. ❞

━━━━━━━☆

    REINA WAS folding a pile of laundry in her small, sunlit bedroom, the rhythmic sound of her father and younger sister's weekend chatter drifting in from the kitchen. She was just about to toss a bright red t-shirt into the drawer when her phone buzzed on the bed, lighting up with an incoming call. "Aisha?" she said, surprised to see her friend's name on the screen.

   "Hey, Reina! It's me," Aisha's voice crackled through the line, slightly hesitant but tinged with excitement. "I hope I'm not bothering you."

    "Not at all! I was just doing laundry. What's up?" Reina set the shirt aside, intrigued.

    "So, um, remember that karate class you mentioned at the Halloween dance?" Aisha asked, her tone shifting from uncertain to enthusiastic. "I'm actually thinking about signing up. Would you, like, come with me today? I already signed up for a session today."

    Since a few days ago the karate classes were back on, and Miguel's mother had finally allowed him to train again. He had been texting her non-stop about it when he first heard the news, his excitement palpable in every message. Raina's heart warmed at the request. "Of course! I'd love to. It'll be fun. Plus, I've been wanting to talk to you."

    "Really? You would?" Aisha sounded relieved. "I just... I want someone I know there. After everything that happened online this week, I could really use a friend."

    Raina's stomach tightened. "You mean with the whole 'Cheeto Pig' thing? That's ridiculous. Those people don't know you at all." She paused, picking up a bright pink sock. "It's not fair you're going through this. I'm here for you."

    "Thanks, Raina," Aisha replied, her voice softening. "It's just been rough, and I thought karate could help me build some confidence."

    Once the call ended, Raina folded the last of her laundry with newfound efficiency. After tidying up, she headed down the hall to let her dad know about her plans with Aisha. As she and Aisha entered the dojo, Johnny glanced up. "What the hell? No yoga till 5:00," he quipped, with the black pads in his hands. "No matter how bad you need it."

    Reina rolled her eyes, but she noticed Aisha looking a bit nervous. "I-I'm actually here for karate," Aisha stammered, glancing at Johnny. "I saw your website. It said there was a session today."

    "I appreciate you coming in, but there are no girls in Cobra Kai," Johnny replied matter-of-factly.

    "Wow," Raina muttered, her gaze narrowing as she caught sight of Miguel. He looked startled to see her, his expression shifting to a sheepish smile, embarrassed by how his Sensei was behaving. He gave her a small wave, which she returned with a polite smile.

    "Why not?" Aisha pressed.

    "Same reason there aren't women in the Army. Doesn't make sense," Johnny replied, as if stating a fact.

    But there are women in the army...

    Sighing, Miguel stepped in. "Uh, Sensei, I need to show you something in the office." He gestured for Johnny to follow him, leaving the girls to discuss their situation. Once they were out of earshot, Reina turned to Aisha. "Don't let him get to you. That's just outdated thinking."

    In the office, Johnny leaned against the desk, arms crossed. "Don't give me this 'sexist' bullshit. Women just aren't meant to fight. They have tiny, hollow bones."

    "Aren't you desperate for new students?" Miguel pressed, his agitation evident. He didn't want to look foolish for hyping up the experience.

    "Yes," Johnny admitted, "but this isn't knitting class. This is a dojo."

    "Look, kids at school call Aisha names and make fun of her," Miguel argued.

    "That's what happens when you eat an entire box of Twinkies every day," Johnny deadpanned.

    "Aisha's dad is Isaiah Robinson," Miguel revealed, earning a blank look from Johnny. "Hall of Fame lineman for the Chargers."

    Johnny blinked slowly. "Yeah, so you're saying it's genetic? Her love for Twinkies comes from her dad?"

    "No, I'm saying her family's loaded! She's a paying customer. But you don't need the money, right?"

    Johnny sighed, running a hand through his hair. "And the other girl? She was there when you got beaten up by those jerks and she's the one who made the Cobra Kai website. You two are like besties or something."

    Miguel shrugged, suddenly feeling vulnerable. "She's just my friend, man. But Aisha needs our help. If she wants to learn karate, I think we should at least give her the chance."

    Johnny scrutinized him, the corners of his mouth twitching. "You're way too nice for your own good, kid."

    Raina exchanged a look with Aisha when Miguel and Johnny walked back into the dojo. "Okay, take off your shoes. Hop on the mat," Johnny said, and Aisha did so, standing in front of her. "Okay, after further review, I've decided to allow female students. But if you wanna be in Cobra Kai, you can't act like a girl."

    "What do you mean? How do girls act?" Aisha echoed Reina's thoughts.

    Johnny scoffed, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "Oh, don't give me that... You know, all emotional, loud, complain-y, never letting you finish a sentence." His expression twisted into a dismissive grin, as though all her feelings were merely trivial annoyances.

    Aisha raised an eyebrow, refusing to let his mockery get to her, "Well, I know a few guys who act just-"

    "Quiet!" Johnny bellowed, cutting her off so abruptly that it echoed off the walls of the dimly lit room, silencing the space around them. Reina couldn't help but wonder if Johnny was unwittingly describing his own tendencies with that last remark. The thought lingered in her mind, but she pushed it aside, attempting to focus on the matter at hand.

    Johnny stepped closer, narrowing his eyes as if trying to penetrate her resolve. "My student tells me you've been harassed at school." His voice shifted, a sudden seriousness taking over, replacing the earlier bravado.

    Aisha struggled to maintain her composure, determined not to show how deflated she felt. "Yeah. Mostly online. I get mean texts and emails sent to me. Makes me not want to go." She let out a breath, her words tinged with weariness.

    "And who sends you these messages?" Johnny probed, his tone firm, demanding an answer.

    She sighed, the weight of her situation almost too much to carry. "Well, they're mostly anonymous. These kids create fake accounts, and they tell me things like I'm ugly and that I should kill myself." Each word felt like a small wound, revealing the hurt that lingered beneath the surface.

    Reina, standing nearby, felt a spark of anger flare within her. Aisha was the sweetest girl she knew-how could anyone be so cruel?

    "Oh, my God." Johnny looked genuinely disgusted, his expression hardening into one of contempt. "What a bunch of pussies. Back in my day, if you wanted to tease someone, you did it to their face." The girls exchanged a puzzled glance, both unsure how to respond to his archaic reasoning, but Miguel's eyes glinted with a mix of admiration and inspiration.

    "There was honor, respect. These geeks hiding behind their computers-what a bunch of spineless losers. You're not afraid of these losers, are you?" he demanded, his posture radiating a fierce protectiveness.

    "No," Aisha replied, her voice steady and unwavering.

    Johnny's gaze bore into her, challenging her. "Are you gonna take shit from these losers?"

    "No," Aisha answered, her tone now more resolute, a fierce defiance rising in her chest.

    "Good," Johnny said, nodding slowly as a slow grin spread across his face. "Because when I'm done with you, you're gonna be sending a message back, only it's not gonna be with your keyboard. It's gonna be with your fists."

    Aisha couldn't help but smile at his unexpected encouragement, a flicker of confidence igniting within her. Perhaps, just maybe, she could fight back in her own way.

    "You!" Johnny shouted, jabbing a finger at Reina. "Are you trying to join Cobra Kai too?"

    She quickly glanced over at Miguel, whose knowing expression said it all. "No," she replied flatly, her tone leaving no room for misunderstanding.

    "Great! Then you'll be my assistant," Johnny declared, a wide grin spreading across his face. Reina blinked in surprise, her mind racing. "You're a resourceful person," he continued, his voice gaining enthusiasm. "We need someone like you on the team to help with planning and strategy."

    Reina's eyes widened as she processed his words. Was he serious? She had never considered herself a leader, much less an assistant to someone like Johnny Lawrence. But the glimmer of excitement in his eyes suggested he truly believed in her potential. "Wait, you want me to help you?" she asked, still trying to wrap her head around the sudden turn of events.

    "Absolutely! With your skills, we can take Cobra Kai to the next level," Johnny replied, confidence radiating from him.

    "I'm going to have to decline that offer," Reina replied firmly, her voice steady. When she said she wanted zero involvement in martial arts, she meant it completely-no classes, no training, not even a casual glance at a dojo.

    "Look, Aisha," she continued, turning to her friend with a reassuring smile. "You enjoy your training session. I'll be outside waiting for you when you're done, okay?" She gave Aisha a supportive nod, trying to mask her own apprehension.

    "What the hell man! I gave her a good position at this dojo." Johnny scoffed.

    "I-I'll talk to her, Sensei." Miguel said before following after Reina.

    Miguel found Reina sitting on the front steps of the dojo. She was looking down at her phone, her expression unreadable. "Hey," Miguel began, his steps approaching quietly, not wanting to disturb her. Reina looked up as he sat down beside her, still appearing a bit dazed. "Hey," she replied, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. An awkward silence hung between them for a moment.

    Miguel shifted uncomfortably, feeling the need to explain himself. "Look, I'm sorry about Sensei."

    Reina shrugged, her gaze returning to her phone. "It's not your fault. That guy seems intense."

    Miguel chuckled softly, "That's an understatement. But he's a good teacher, you know."

    She hummed in response, scrolling through her notifications. He studied her for a moment, observing the way her finger swiped across the screen. She always seemed so focused, so collected.

    "Look, I know you said you don't ever wanna do martial arts because of what happened to your cousin." Miguel began. "And how his opponent played dirty against him and watching at age eight, his knee almost got broken... really scarred you about martial arts."

    "But?" Reina says, knowing there's always a but.

    "But," he continued, choosing his words carefully, "Sensei Lawrence is different. Yes, he's intense, but he knows what he's doing. He could really help you gain a little bit of confidence."

    Reina rolled her eyes, a mix of annoyance and disbelief in her expression. "Confidence? I have plenty of that, thank you very much."

    Miguel raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Is that why you avoid karate events like the plague?"

    Her eyes darkened briefly, defensiveness seeping into her demeanor. "That's different," she muttered, returning her attention to her phone.

    Miguel tried a different approach. "Come on, just give it a shot. One class, that's all I'm asking. What do you have to lose?"

    "Besides my dignity?" She responded sarcastically.

    He feigned a gasp, pretending to be wounded by her words. "Ouch. You wound me. Your dignity is safe with me, I promise. I won't let anything happen to it."

    She couldn't help but chuckle slightly at his attempt to lighten the mood.

    "You're not even actually fighting. I guess you'll just be helping him out with marketing and promoting this place." Miguel explained, "And if it gets too much for you, you can always back out."

    Reina leaned back against the steps, mulling over his words. She'd be lying if she said Miguel wasn't a bit persuasive. Her mind flashed back to Aisha's excitement about joining karate, how she looked like she'd found a new path. "Helping out... and marketing, huh?" She mused, a hint of curiosity in her tone. "That doesn't sound too bad, I guess."

    Miguel brightened at her response. "See? It's not all karate katas and kicks. You might actually enjoy it."

    Reina chuckled again, finding herself more amused than annoyed by his persistence. "Alright, alright. I'll think about it. But no promises."

    Miguel smiled, feeling like he had finally broken through her tough exterior, even if it was just a little bit.

    _______________

    "OKAY, LET'S see what you've got, Ms. Robinson. Face me." Miguel and Aisha turned to face Johnny, their expressions a mix of determination and nervousness. "Bow." They complied, both aware that they were stepping into unfamiliar territory. "Now, face each other. Bow. Mr. Diaz, show her everything you've learned."

    Miguel hesitated, reeling back slightly. "Uh, wait, wait. I don't think this is right, Sensei."

    Johnny raised an eyebrow, his expression challenging. "You don't think what's right?"

    Miguel shifted uncomfortably, glancing between Aisha and Johnny. "She's a girl. I'm not gonna-" He trailed off, his discomfort palpable.

    "And?" Johnny pressed. "I thought you said women were equal to men."

    "I hope you said that Miguel." Reina spoke up from where she sat on the edge of the mat.

    "I did say that," Miguel replied, a slight edge of annoyance creeping into his voice. "But I didn't mean it like that. I meant that she-"

    "Alright, show her that women are equal. Give her everything you've got," Johnny instructed, his tone leaving no room for argument.

    Aisha raised her hand, looking wary. "Wait. I just want to remind everyone this is my first day."

    "Your enemies don't care what day it is," Johnny challenged, his eyes narrowing. "They prey on weakness. If you want to beat them, you've got to conquer your fears and jump face-first into the fire. Now, are you ready, Ms. Robinson?"

    Aisha took a deep breath. "I guess."

    "Come on, Aisha!" Reina cheered from the sidelines, only to receive a scolding look from Miguel. "Sorry," she muttered, realizing she might be overstepping.

    "Mr. Diaz. Fight!" Johnny barked, but neither of them moved. "Don't just stand there. Fight!" Miguel sighed, finally getting into a fighting stance.

    "I'm sorry," he said as he launched a kick toward Aisha's chest, knocking her down hard.

    "Aisha!" Reina gasped, her heart racing as she watched Aisha look up in pain, clearly stunned by the hit.

    "Oh my God, Aisha, are you okay? I'm so sorry." Miguel regretted the moment immediately, reaching out a hand. "Come on, let me help you up." But something shifted in Aisha's mind, igniting a fire within her. "Ugh!" she exclaimed, rushing forward and body-slamming Miguel to the ground, catching Reina off guard as she shuffled back in shock.

    Aisha wasn't finished. With a swift motion, she kneed him in the chest, adding to the surprise of everyone watching. "Yeah girl," Reina cheered, her eyes wide as they darted to Aisha, who was standing her ground confidently.

    "Girl's a natural Cobra," Johnny remarked, a grin breaking through his stern demeanor.

    "Yeah she is!" Reina shot back, exhilaration evident in her voice.

    Johnny stifled a smile, even as he turned his attention to Miguel, who was groaning on the ground. Just then, he snapped his head toward the sound of muffled yelling coming from next door. "Students, wait here. Diaz, you're in charge," Johnny commanded as he strode out, leaving Raina to rush over to Miguel's side.

    "Are you alright?" she asked, concern etched on her face as she knelt beside him, ready to help.

    Miguel winced, rubbing his chest where Aisha had landed a powerful knee. "Ouch... yeah, I think I'm fine. Just a little winded."

    Reina helped him sit up, her hand instinctively going to his shoulder as if to steady him further. "You sure? She really got you good there."

    "Yeah, she did," Miguel admitted, more impressed than annoyed. "I didn't expect that. She's tougher than she looks."

    Reina chuckled, her gaze shifting to where Aisha was still standing tall. "Looks can definitely be deceiving. Who knew the sweet, soft-spoken Aisha could hold her own like that?"

    _______________

   REINA HAD invited Aisha to join her and her friends at lunch the next day at school. With four of them already at the table, they opted to sit away from the boys this time, creating a cozy space just for the girls. The atmosphere was friendly, especially since Caridad and Raegan secretly shared a passion for most of their subjects, which helped them bond with Aisha.

   Just then, Sam approached their lunch table, her tray in hand. After a chaotic movie night with Kyler that hadn't gone as expected, rumors had started swirling, and tension filled the air. Aisha rolled her eyes and took a sip of her drink. "Oh, don't even think about it," she said, sensing Sam's intentions.

    "Come on, I need a place to sit," Sam pressed, desperation in her voice.

    Caridad, without glancing up from her phone, shot back, "I heard hell is nice this time of year." She knew all too well that Sam's group had been making memes about Aisha and had little regard for her.

   Aisha chimed in, her tone dripping with sarcasm, "Or... you could go sit with Kyler. I hear he doesn't mind that you suck." The table erupted in laughter, with Raegan and Caridad cackling, while Reina grimaced, caught between amusement and discomfort at the escalating tension. Sam, visibly flustered, reluctantly picked up her tray and walked away, the laughter still echoing in her ears.

    "Okay, back to business," Reina said, shifting the conversation. "Raegan, spill the tea! What's going on between you and Eli?"

    Raegan's cheeks flushed slightly, and she hesitated, clearly caught off guard. "Seriously! I didn't even know you were into him until he started hanging out with us," Caridad added, her curiosity piqued. The girls leaned in, eager for the inside scoop, the earlier drama fading as excitement filled the air.

    Raegan fidgeted, a shy smile creeping onto her face. "Well, I mean... he's sweet, and he makes me laugh," she admitted, glancing down at her lunch tray as if it held the answers.

    Reina raised an eyebrow, encouraging her. "Sweet? You've been holding out on us! What's he doing that's so charming?"

    Caridad leaned closer, intrigued. "Yeah, spill! We want the details-did he ask you out or something?"

    Raegan laughed nervously. "Not exactly. We've just been hanging out more, studying together. He even helped me with math last week."

    "Ooh, math tutoring! That's classic!" Aisha teased, nudging her playfully. "So, is there a spark?"

    "I don't know! Maybe?" Raegan shrugged, looking both excited and uncertain.

    "Hey, guys!" Kyler's voice echoed sharply through the bustling cafeteria, instantly snapping heads in his direction. A playful smirk spread across his face as he continued, "You all see that billboard with a big ass dick on it? Guess Sam really takes after her dad!"

    His comment hung in the air, a mix of laughter and snickers erupting from various corners of the room, but it was Miguel's reaction that really turned heads. Annoyed at Kyler's incessant teasing, Miguel put his tray on the table, his patience worn thin. "Hey, Kyler!" he yelled, striding purposefully toward him, determination fueling his every step. "Why don't you shut the hell up and stop being such an asshole?"

    The cafeteria buzzed with intrigue, eyes darting between the two boys, anticipating a clash. "Wanna another beatdown, 'Rhea?" Kyler taunted, pushing against Miguel's shoulder casually, like a cat swatting at a mouse. But Aisha, sharp-eyed and ready for action, stood up from her seat, fists clenched at her sides. "I'm ready for your lame-ass karate this time!" Kyler shot back defiantly.

    "It's not lame-ass karate!" Miguel snapped, his expression a mix of frustration and focus. He blocked a lazy punch from Kyler, twisting his opponent's wrist with practiced ease as he clarified fiercely, "It's Cobra Kai!" In a fluid motion, Miguel retaliated, throwing a punch that slammed into Kyler's face. The air in the cafeteria thickened with tension as Reina quickly pointed her phone in their direction, her eyes wide with excitement.

    Gasps and murmurs rippled through the room as students leaned closer, eager to witness the spectacle unfold. They started to shift, some pulling out their phones to record the fight as it quickly escalated.

    Kyler, trying to assert his dominance, picked Miguel up and, with a burst of effort, slammed him onto one of the tables, causing lunch trays to clatter and food to fly. But Miguel, quick to react, elbowed him hard in the stomach, twisting Kyler's arm behind him before sending him sprawling toward another table with a swift kick.

    "Whoo! No mercy!" Aisha shouted, her voice slicing through the chaos, as more of Kyler's friends rushed in with the intention of overwhelming Miguel. Undeterred, Miguel pivoted, ducking low and sweeping his leg in a brilliant move that brought them crashing down to the ground in a domino effect.

    "Holy shit," Caridad remarked, her eyes wide with disbelief. Reina switched her phone to horizontally, her fingers tapping furiously to capture every moment. Miguel, fluid and composed under pressure, expertly wielded lunch trays and chairs as makeshift shields against the flurry of attacks.

    With one last forward charge, Kyler lunged at him, but Miguel, seizing the moment, swung a red lunch tray with precision, sending Kyler tumbling backward into his friends like a bowling ball crashing into pins. Cheers erupted like fireworks, students clapping and whistling in delight as the cafeteria became an arena.

    Stunned but fueled by the adrenaline of victory, Miguel stood among the chaos, his heart racing as he took in the swirling sea of excited faces, phones aloft to document his triumph. His eyes fell on Sam, who looked at him with an appreciative smile, her face lit up with excitement.

    Reina's laughter rang out as she adjusted her grip on her phone, determined to capture every detail of the showdown, especially the electrifying glimmer in Sam's eyes-a mix of surprise and admiration.

    But the moment snapped when Counselor Blatt stormed into the fray, her voice laced with authority. "Hey! Hey!" she scolded, her expression fierce as she pointed an accusatory finger at the group. "Get down from there right now!"

    Before Miguel could fully process what was happening, he was yanked off the table, the cheers of his peers resonating in his ears like a victory anthem.

    Yet, in the midst of the frenetic energy, Reina's suspicions lingered.