Andrea sat on the bench at the far end of Cobra Kai's dojo, her elbows resting on her knees, eyes locked on Miguel like a predator studying prey. He laughed softly with Hawk and Kenny, his smile quick, a little too forced, a little too bright.
She knew that look. She knew him. Miguel was hiding something.
Her nails dug into her palms. She wanted to drag it out of him, demand answers, but she held back. No weakness in front of Kreese.
"Pay attention," Kreese's voice cut through the room like a knife. He prowled along the mats, boots echoing. His cold gaze fell on Miguel. "Still smiling. Still soft. You know what happens to soft in the ring, don't you?"
Miguel swallowed, nodding.
"Show me."
He motioned Hawk forward. The two circled. Andrea didn't blink, eyes drilling into every movement Miguel made, as if waiting for the crack to show, the lie to unravel.
Kreese's smile was razor thin. Good. Doubt makes soldiers bleed. But loyalty—loyalty makes them kill.
Weeks bled by. Training hardened them, carving skin and soul into weapons.
Then, the tournament arrived.
The arena lights burned hot overhead. Crowds roared in waves. Dojos lined the mats, each banner unfurled: Miyagi-Do, Topanga Karate, smaller schools Andrea barely cared about.
And then—
Cobra Kai entered.
Every student moved in perfect sync, black gi crisp, faces hidden behind cold, steel-gray masks. The crowd hushed for a heartbeat, as if the temperature in the building dropped.
Andrea's pulse thudded with adrenaline. They weren't students anymore. They were something else.
Weapons.
Round One: Miyagi-Do vs. Topanga
Chozen barked commands from the sidelines while Daniel's hands wrung together nervously. Sam, still pale but burning with fire, fought through her pain. Chris held his ground against seasoned opponents. Kate dominated with sharp, ruthless strikes, a storm of aggression that even Chozen's stoicism couldn't hide his approval for.
Miyagi-Do advanced.
Cheers filled the air. Daniel's chest swelled with relief. But it was short-lived.
Because Cobra Kai was next.
Round Two: Cobra Kai vs. Miyagi-Do
The match-ups unfolded, one after another.
Kenny vs. Miyagi-Do Student: Kenny darted like a snake, speed his greatest weapon. He toyed with his opponent before sweeping him to the ground and knocking him out with a merciless strike to the temple. The crowd gasped; Kenny's smirk widened.
Mitch vs. Chris: Mitch slammed into Chris with brutal force. Chris fought back hard, but Mitch's raw power overwhelmed him. Each strike echoed, and when Chris collapsed, Mitch stomped down once more for good measure.
Bert vs. Nate: Bert, smaller but wild, clawed his way to victory. Nate struggled, his defense strong, but Bert's eyes were feral. He didn't just want to win — he wanted to hurt.
Miguel vs. Sam: The arena stilled. Daniel's heart leapt to his throat. Johnny's jaw clenched. Andrea leaned forward, pulse racing.
Sam fought like hell. Every strike was sharp, every block fueled by desperation. Miguel countered, his body remembering Johnny's lessons, not Kreese's. His movements were fluid, compassionate, like water.
But compassion had no place here.
Kreese's voice sliced the silence: "Finish her."
Miguel froze. His eyes flickered toward the crowd—toward Andrea. Her stare was ice. She knew.
Sam lunged, catching him off guard, landing a hit to his ribs. Miguel gritted his teeth, retaliated, and at the last second—pulled his punch.
The judges called it. Sam staggered away victorious, but her body screamed in pain.
Daniel exhaled in relief. Kreese's smirk curdled into fury. Andrea's stomach twisted. He's hiding. From me. From us.
Andrea vs. Kate: The fight everyone had been waiting for.
Andrea stepped onto the mat, mask glinting under the lights. Kate met her head-on, eyes blazing with defiance.
"You don't scare me," Kate spat.
Andrea tilted her head, voice cold. "You should."
Their clash was brutal. Kate's aggression met Andrea's sharpened cruelty. Every kick, every fist, every dodge was a war of wills. Kate landed blows that snapped Andrea's head back, but Andrea's strikes dug deeper, heavier, as if she was trying to break bone.
By the end, Andrea stood tall, Kate gasping on her knees, blood dripping from her lip.
Andrea didn't stop.
Her fist rose again—until the referee forced her back. The crowd screamed. Cobra Kai cheered. Miyagi-Do's fury boiled.
Andrea's chest heaved, but her eyes never left Kate's broken frame.
Robby vs. Sam: Sam barely stood, but insisted. Robby's eyes were cold, distant. Their fight was quieter but no less painful — strikes layered with betrayal. When Robby swept her leg and she hit the mat hard, his jaw clenched. He won, but his face was stone.
Tory vs. Kate (later round): Kate, still bruised from Andrea, dragged herself back into the fight. Tory smiled, circling her like a vulture.
"You look tired. Let me put you out."
Their fight was savage. Tory's kicks carved into Kate's weakened body. Kate fought like a wounded animal, but the end was inevitable. Tory dropped her with a spin-kick to the chest, Kate's body skidding across the mat.
And then — Hawk.
His fight began clean. His strikes precise, efficient. But something shifted. A crack in the mask, a flood of rage.
He pummeled his opponent again and again, fists raining like thunder. The boy stopped moving. Hawk didn't.
Blood sprayed the mat. The crowd screamed in horror. The judges tried to intervene. Hawk shoved them off, his fists unrelenting.
Johnny surged forward, shouting, "STOP!" But Kreese's arm blocked him.
"Let him finish," Kreese said, smiling wide.
Johnny froze, horror etched across his face. But deep in his chest, a flicker of pride burned. His student — his weapon.
When Hawk finally stopped, his opponent lay still. Lifeless.
Silence devoured the arena. Then, whispers. Gasps. News crews leaned in with cameras, eating the violence alive.
Cobra Kai stood taller. Miyagi-Do looked broken.
And Andrea?
She smiled.