𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓. 𝖦𝖫𝖮𝖱𝖸 𝖮𝖥 𝖫𝖮𝖵𝖤

The air in the mall was buzzing with energy, the bright lights reflecting off glossy storefront windows as crowds milled about. It was supposed to be a relaxing outing—a chance for Miguel, Samantha, Lilu, Tory, Robby, and Liam to unwind. But, as always, when their lives collided, complications were inevitable.

Miguel walked alongside Tory, his hand lightly brushing hers. Despite the lingering tension between them, there was a certain comfort in her presence. On the other side of the group, Samantha trailed next to Lilu, her arms crossed as she occasionally exchanged wary glances with Tory. Lilu, sensing the undercurrent of unease, tried to lighten the mood by talking to Liam, who had been unusually quiet.

“You’ve barely said anything since we got here,” Lilu teased, nudging him gently with her elbow. “Not a fan of overpriced pretzels?”

Liam gave her a faint smile but didn’t reply. He had too much on his mind—thoughts about his own struggles, feelings he was still coming to terms with, and the group dynamics that seemed to shift with every passing second.

Meanwhile, Robby, who had been walking a few steps behind, caught up to Samantha. “Hey, you okay?” he asked, his voice low enough that only she could hear.

Samantha shrugged, not wanting to admit how uncomfortable she felt with Tory in such close proximity. “I’m fine. Just… a lot of history here, you know?”

Robby nodded, understanding the weight of her words. He glanced at Tory and Miguel, who seemed to be in their own world, and then at Lilu, who was trying her best to keep things light.

The group made their way toward the food court, the tension between Samantha and Tory becoming harder to ignore. It didn’t take long for it to boil over.

“So, Samantha,” Tory said, her voice cutting through the noise. “How’s life in your perfect little bubble?”

Miguel winced, sensing the hostility, and tried to intervene. “Tory, maybe—”

“No, it’s fine,” Samantha interrupted, her tone sharp. She turned to Tory, her expression defiant. “Life’s great, thanks for asking. How’s yours? Still blaming everyone else for your problems?”

Lilu immediately stepped between them, her hands raised. “Hey, hey! Can we not do this right now?” she said, looking at both of them. “We came here to chill, not to start World War III.”

Tory scoffed, crossing her arms. “Yeah, tell that to Princess LaRusso over here.”

“Enough!” Miguel said, his voice firm. He looked at Samantha and Tory in turn. “Can we just have one day without all the drama?”

Before anyone could respond, Liam spoke up, his voice quieter but laced with frustration. “Why are you all like this? Every time we’re together, it’s like walking on a minefield. Maybe if you stopped pointing fingers for five seconds, we wouldn’t be here.”

The group fell silent, surprised by Liam’s outburst. Even Lilu looked at him with wide eyes.

“Liam’s right,” Robby finally said, breaking the silence. “This isn’t helping anyone. Maybe we should all just… take a breather.”

The tension eased slightly, and the group found a table in the food court. Conversation was minimal, and the atmosphere remained strained, but at least the arguing had stopped.

Later, as the group began to split up, Lilu pulled Liam aside. “Hey,” she said gently, “you okay? That was… intense.”

Liam hesitated, glancing at the others before meeting her eyes. “I just can’t stand it sometimes. All the fighting, the grudges… it’s exhausting.”

Lilu placed a hand on his arm. “You’re not wrong. But we’re all just trying to figure things out in our own messed-up ways. You included.”

He gave her a small smile, appreciating her words. “Thanks, Zhen.”

Meanwhile, Miguel and Tory had wandered off to a quieter part of the mall. Miguel hesitated before speaking. “Tory, I know you and Samantha don’t get along, but—”

“She doesn’t like me,” Tory interrupted, her tone defensive. “And I don’t like her. End of story.”

Miguel sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I just want us all to get along, you know? For once.”

Tory softened slightly, reaching for his hand. “I’ll try… for you. But don’t expect miracles.”

Back near the entrance, Samantha and Robby stood together, watching the others disperse.

“This is exhausting,” Samantha admitted, leaning against the wall.

“Yeah,” Robby agreed. “But at least you’ve got someone like Lilu trying to keep the peace. She’s… something else.”

Samantha raised an eyebrow, noticing the faint admiration in his tone. “You like her, don’t you?”

Robby chuckled, shaking his head. “It’s not like that. She’s just… easy to talk to.”

As the group reconvened to leave the mall, the tension hadn’t completely disappeared, but there was a sense of understanding—however fragile—that maybe they could get through it together.

---

As the group gathered near the exit of the mall, the atmosphere remained subdued. Liam lagged slightly behind, his thoughts swirling like a storm. He hadn’t meant to overhear Samantha and Robby’s conversation, but their words echoed in his mind like a bad song on repeat.

"She’s just… easy to talk to."

Robby’s voice replayed in his head, and Liam felt his chest tighten. It wasn’t fair—not to him, not to Lilu. He clenched his fists, struggling to maintain a calm exterior.

“Hey, you okay?” Lilu asked, falling back to walk beside him. She was the picture of concern, her dark eyes studying him intently.

Liam forced a small smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just… tired, I guess.”

Lilu didn’t buy it, but she didn’t press. “Well, at least it didn’t end in a full-on brawl this time,” she joked, trying to lighten the mood.

He nodded absentmindedly, his gaze darting to Robby, who was walking ahead with Samantha. The sight made his stomach churn.

When they stepped outside, the cool evening air greeted them. Tory, who had been leaning against the wall waiting for Lilu, waved them over.

“There you are,” Tory said with a grin, pulling Lilu into a quick hug. The gesture was casual, but it was enough to remind Liam of the reality he was trying to ignore: Lilu and Tory were together.

Liam stuffed his hands into his pockets, feeling a pang of guilt for his frustration. It wasn’t fair to Lilu, and it wasn’t fair to Tory either. But the emotions refused to stay buried.

As they walked to the parking lot, Lilu and Tory chatted quietly, their laughter occasionally breaking the silence. Liam stayed a few steps behind, watching Robby out of the corner of his eye.

When they reached the cars, Samantha and Miguel climbed into one, while Tory offered Lilu a ride home on her bike.

“I’ll catch up later,” Liam said abruptly, waving them off before anyone could ask questions.

Lilu hesitated, glancing back at him. “You sure?”

“Yeah,” Liam said, forcing another smile. “I just need some air.”

As the group dispersed, Liam found himself alone in the parking lot, the distant hum of traffic filling the silence. He leaned against a lamppost, his head tilted back as he stared at the sky.

“Why do I even bother?” he muttered to himself.

“Talking to yourself now?”

Liam jumped slightly at the voice, turning to see Robby walking toward him.

“Forgot my phone in the car,” Robby explained, holding it up. He paused, studying Liam’s expression. “You okay?”

Liam’s heart raced, his emotions bubbling dangerously close to the surface. “Yeah, I’m fine,” he said, his tone sharper than intended.

Robby raised an eyebrow. “You don’t sound fine.”

Liam let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “What do you care, anyway?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Robby asked, crossing his arms.

Liam hesitated, the words on the tip of his tongue. He wanted to scream, to tell Robby everything he was feeling—the frustration, the jealousy, the heartbreak. But instead, he shoved his hands deeper into his pockets and looked away.

“Nothing,” Liam muttered. “Forget it.”

Robby frowned, stepping closer. “Liam, if something’s wrong, just say it. You don’t have to shut everyone out.”

Liam’s jaw tightened, and before he could stop himself, he blurted, “You don’t get it, do you? You act like you care, but you don’t see what’s right in front of you.”

Robby blinked, taken aback. “What are you talking about?”

“Forget it,” Liam said again, his voice breaking. He turned on his heel and walked away, leaving Robby standing there, confused and concerned.

As Liam disappeared into the night, he felt the weight of his secret pressing heavier than ever. It wasn’t just about Robby—it was about himself, about the fear of being vulnerable, of being seen for who he really was.

But one thing was clear: he couldn’t keep running forever.

---

The dojo was unusually quiet that morning. Daniel sat at the kitchen table with Amanda, his hands fidgeting nervously as she sipped her coffee.

“You don’t have to keep looking at me like that,” Amanda said, a small smile tugging at her lips.

Daniel blinked. “Like what?”

“Like you’re a puppy who just chewed up my favorite shoes,” she replied, setting the mug down.

Daniel sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I just... I feel like I’ve been so caught up in everything with the dojo that I’ve been neglecting us. Neglecting you.”

Amanda softened at his words. “Daniel, I get it. Miyagi-Do means a lot to you, and I respect that. But maybe find a little balance? You’re a karate sensei, but you’re also my husband.”

He nodded earnestly. “You’re right. I’ll do better. I promise.”

As Amanda leaned in to kiss his cheek, their moment was interrupted by a knock on the door.

“It’s probably one of the kids,” Daniel said, rising to answer it.

When he opened the door, he was greeted by Robby, looking slightly out of breath.

“Sorry to drop by unannounced,” Robby said, stepping inside. “I just wanted to check in... and maybe borrow the punching bag?”

Daniel chuckled. “Punching bag’s all yours. Let me guess, something’s eating at you?”

Robby hesitated but nodded. “Yeah, you could say that.”

---

Meanwhile, at Cobra Kai, Johnny stared at his phone, his brow furrowed in concentration. Hawk leaned over his shoulder, trying not to laugh.

“Sensei, you’re swiping left on everyone. You’ll never get a match like that,” Hawk teased.

Johnny grumbled, swiping again. “These apps are stupid. What happened to meeting people at a bar?”

“It’s the 21st century, Sensei. Adapt or die,” Hawk said dramatically, earning a glare from Johnny.

Aisha walked in just in time to catch the exchange. “What’s going on?”

“Sensei’s trying online dating,” Hawk said, grinning.

Aisha raised an eyebrow. “Really? Let me see.”

Johnny reluctantly handed over the phone. “Fine, but don’t do anything stupid.”

Aisha started scrolling, her expression thoughtful. “Okay, first of all, this profile picture has to go. You look like you’re about to punch the camera.”

“That’s the point!” Johnny exclaimed.

“No,” Aisha said firmly. “The point is to not scare people away. Here, let me take a better one.”

---

At school, tensions were running high. Lilu walked down the hallway with Liam and Tory, her arm linked with Tory’s as they chatted.

“You’re coming over later, right?” Tory asked.

“Of course,” Lilu replied, smiling.

As they turned the corner, they almost bumped into Samantha and Miguel, who were deep in conversation. The group froze, the air instantly heavy with unspoken tension.

“Hey,” Miguel said awkwardly, his eyes darting to Tory.

“Hi,” Tory replied coldly, her grip on Lilu tightening.

“Uh, we should get to class,” Samantha said, tugging Miguel’s arm.

“Yeah, good idea,” Lilu muttered, steering Tory and Liam in the opposite direction.

But as they walked away, Liam’s gaze lingered on Robby, who was standing by his locker, unaware of the storm brewing in Liam’s chest.

---

Later that afternoon, Miguel and Robby crossed paths in the school courtyard.

“Hey, Robby,” Miguel called out, his tone cautious.

Robby turned, his expression unreadable. “What do you want?”

“Look, I know things are... weird between us. But maybe we can figure out a way to not make it worse?” Miguel offered.

Robby shrugged. “Not really my call, is it? You’re the one who’s always around Sam.”

Miguel frowned. “And you’re not?”

Before the conversation could escalate, Lilu and Liam appeared, their presence instantly diffusing the tension.

“Everything okay here?” Lilu asked, her gaze shifting between the two boys.

“Yeah,” Miguel said quickly. “Just talking.”

Robby gave a noncommittal grunt, shoving his hands into his pockets.

As the group dispersed, Liam pulled Lilu aside. “You sure you’re okay hanging around them? Miguel’s fine, but Robby…”

Lilu raised an eyebrow. “What about Robby?”

“Nothing,” Liam muttered, looking away.

But the truth was written all over his face, and Lilu wasn’t about to let it go unnoticed.