In the back of the Cobra Kai dojo, the sound of fists hitting pads echoed through the dimly lit room. Hannah wiped the sweat from her brow and focused, trying to match Kreese's unwavering intensity. Kreese circled her, calling out corrections in a gravelly voice as she threw a punch, then a kick.

"Again, harder this time," Kreese commanded.

Hannah, feeling the pressure, put all her strength into the next strike, her knuckles reddening as they connected with the pad.

"Good," Kreese said, his tone approving. "But remember, it's not just about power. You have to learn to hit where it hurts. That's how you take control."

Hannah gave a quick nod, her mind racing. She wasn't sure if she was doing the right thing, but the part of her that wanted revenge—the part of her tired of being pushed around—was louder than her doubts. Kreese had a way of feeding into that anger, making it feel like strength.

Just as they were about to continue, the dojo door creaked open. Both of them turned toward the entrance. Standing awkwardly in the doorway was Demetri, looking around the room as if he had just walked into the wrong place.

"Hannah! Hey," Demetri greeted with an uneasy smile.

Hannah straightened up, her expression softening at the sight of him. "Hey, Demetri."

Kreese stepped out from behind her, his eyes narrowing at the interruption. "Is this your friend?" His voice carried a slight edge.

Hannah hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. "Kind of? I've only talked to him a couple of times."

Demetri, sensing the tension, turned to Kreese with a small wave. "Thank God. I was a little afraid you'd be the other guy. He's a little unhinged."

Kreese's gaze sharpened, but he said nothing, waiting for Demetri to explain why he was there.

"I, uh, saw your little demonstration at Valley Fest," Demetri continued, looking at Kreese's stern face before nervously glancing at Hannah. "Couple of the guys have been suggesting I come join the club. So, uh, I feel like it's time to give it another go."

Kreese folded his arms across his chest, remaining stone-faced, but the flicker of interest in his eyes betrayed his curiosity.

Demetri swallowed hard and cleared his throat. "But I've got some ground rules," he added quickly. "I prefer to take a flag football approach to my karate training. Ideally, learning to hit and kick without actually being hit or kicked."

Kreese's brow furrowed, a look of mild irritation crossing his face. Demetri, completely missing the cue, pressed on.

"And, uh, part and parcel with that, I have a bit of a thing about personal space," Demetri said, gesturing vaguely around himself. "The other Cobras are just gonna have to accept that."

As he finished talking, Demetri's eyes landed on Kreese's arm, specifically his tattoo. "Wow! That is quite the tattoo," he commented, leaning slightly closer, squinting as if examining it.

Kreese's expression hardened as Demetri kept talking, oblivious to the growing impatience in the older man's posture.

"Ooh... Ah... Not to nitpick here," Demetri said, his voice slightly high-pitched with nervousness, "but I'm not sure it's anatomically correct. You see, the hood of the Indo-Chinese spitting cobra is much smaller, and their pupils are actually round, not the vertical type your artist opted for. So, uh, you know, probably an easy enough fix to correct the... pupils."

Kreese's jaw clenched, the annoyance in his eyes unmistakable now. He turned to Hannah, his voice low but commanding. "Hit him."

Hannah blinked, caught off guard. "What?" she asked, unsure if she'd heard him right.

"You heard me. Hit him," Kreese repeated, his voice calm but firm. He looked her straight in the eyes, his tone turning almost instructional, as if teaching her a lesson. "When someone talks too much, wastes your time, or undermines your authority, you don't let them keep going. You shut them down. People only understand strength, Hannah. You want to stop being the one who gets hurt? You make sure you're the one who does the hurting."

Hannah swallowed hard, her hands trembling slightly as she glanced at Demetri, who had been watching the whole exchange with a confused, slightly nervous smile.

"Hannah?" Demetri asked, his voice wavering. "What's going on?"

Hannah hesitated. She didn't want to hurt Demetri. He was harmless, and this was all just awkward and weird. But Kreese's words echoed in her mind. *People only understand strength.* She'd been bullied, pushed around, and hurt for too long. Maybe this was what she needed to do. Maybe this was how she could stop feeling weak.

With a deep breath, Hannah steeled herself, her fist tightening. She took a step forward and swung, her fist connecting with Demetri's face—not as hard as she could, but enough to knock the wind out of him.

"Shit, shit, shit!" Demetri yelped, doubling over, clutching his face as he stumbled back, his face a mix of shock and betrayal. "What the hell, Hannah?"

Without waiting for an answer, Demetri turned and bolted out of the dojo, muttering curses under his breath as he glanced back, clearly hurt—both physically and emotionally.

Hannah stood frozen, staring at the door as it swung shut behind him. Her stomach twisted with guilt, and she could still feel the impact of her punch radiating through her knuckles.

Kreese stepped closer, his voice low and calm. "Don't feel bad. You did what had to be done."

Hannah clenched her jaw, unsure of how to feel. She didn't like how it felt, hurting Demetri like that. But there was a strange sense of power in the way Kreese had spoken to her, in the way he justified it.

"Now," Kreese said, stepping back. "Let's get back to training. There's more to learn."

Hannah gave one last glance at the door, the conflicted emotions still swirling in her chest, before turning back to face Kreese.

🥋

Robby was throwing sharp punches into the training dummy, his knuckles grazing the surface as the sound of his strikes echoed through Mr. Miyagi's backyard. He paused between punches, looking frustrated.

"Maybe we should take a video of us sparring and post it on Instagram," Robby suggested, wiping the sweat from his brow.

Sam leaned back against the porch, arms crossed. "Everybody already saw us at Valley Fest, and no one cared," she said, clearly disheartened by the lack of attention Miyagi-Do had received after the event.

Lukas, who had been practicing kicks near the garden, chimed in, "Defense wins championships. Just look at the Seahawks."

Robby shook his head, unconvinced. "Yeah, but people show up for the offense. That's why Cobra Kai is more popular. They don't just sit back; they go on the attack. We need to show people we can fight, too."

Sam and Lukas exchanged glances, unsure of how to respond.

"So, what exactly are we supposed to do?" Sam asked.

Lukas scratched his head, a half-smile forming on his face as he replied, "Go to the mall and pick a fight? Record us defending ourselves?"

Robby's face lit up, considering the idea. "It's not the worst idea," he said.

Lukas raised an eyebrow, shooting him a sideways look. "It's also not the best idea."

Before they could discuss it further, Sam noticed her dad working on one of the cars in the driveway. "Hey, Dad!" she called out, walking over to him. "Getting the banana boat up and running?"

Daniel looked up from the hood, grease smudged on his hands. "I'm trying," he replied, giving the old car an affectionate pat.

Sam stepped closer, trying to steer the conversation back to karate. "Do you maybe wanna come around back? You could teach us some karate. We could use a little inspiration."

Daniel smiled at his daughter's persistence but decided to share a story instead. "You know, I ever tell you about my first job selling cars? It was at this used car lot in Tarzana. The owner there, he thought he was God's gift to sales. But the truth is, customers could smell his BS a mile away."

Robby and Lukas wandered over, now listening in as Daniel continued.

"My first month there? I outsold him," Daniel said, leaning back as he reminisced.

"How'd you do that?" Sam asked, genuinely curious.

"I did what Mr. Miyagi taught me to do," Daniel said with a knowing smile. "I treated people honestly. Looked them in the eye, asked for their trust, and I earned it. All the fanfare, all the gimmicks... that stuff, it gets people in the door, but it doesn't sell cars. It's the same thing with karate."

He glanced over at his students, seeing their frustration.

"We gotta use a more personal touch. We gotta look people in the eye and connect with them. That's the only way we're gonna be successful," Daniel said, tapping the side of the car as he finished. "All right. You ready?"

Sam grinned, now feeling a renewed sense of determination. "Oh, yeah," she said eagerly.

"Go get the boys, we're gonna take a drive," Daniel instructed.

Sam ran back to where Robby and Lukas were sparring lightly. "Come on, Dad's taking us out," she announced.

Lukas looked up, slightly caught off guard. "You think I could drive us there?" he asked with a grin, tossing a hopeful look toward Daniel.

Daniel gave him a quick, amused look. "Yeah, right. You might not crash into a tree if we're lucky," he quipped, roasting Lukas effortlessly.

Lukas chuckled, shaking his head. "You're funny," he said, though there was a flicker of distraction in his eyes as he glanced down at his phone. No new messages. He sighed quietly to himself. Hannah still hadn't spoken to him in days, and it gnawed at him. He didn't understand why she was being distant, and it left a heavy feeling in his chest.

"Come on, let's go," Robby said, clapping him on the back, snapping him out of his thoughts.

Lukas pocketed his phone, forcing a smile, though the unanswered texts from Hannah weighed on his mind as they all piled into the car for the ride.

🥋

In the Cobra Kai dojo, the students were engaged in their stretching routine, with Kreese holding court at the front of the room. His voice was a gravelly rumble as he recounted tales of his past.

"You gotta understand that Mogadishu in the '90s was a hellhole," Kreese said, his tone laced with the gravitas of someone who had seen much.

Hawk, stretching his legs, looked up with a mix of awe and curiosity. "How many warlords did you kill?"

Kreese's gaze remained steady, a hint of a smirk curling his lips. "You keep track of every ant you stomp out?" he replied dismissively.

Aisha, sitting cross-legged, widened her eyes in surprise. "Whoa."

Hawk nodded, clearly impressed. "Badass."

Kreese continued, "They were outgunned, we were outmanned. I tell you, Rwanda was no joke."

Miguel, who was nearby, raised an eyebrow. "Don't you mean Somalia? Mogadishu is in Somalia; Rwanda's a whole different country."

Kreese glanced at Miguel, seemingly unfazed. "Of course, Somalia. I've spent so much time in the sandbox, it all kind of bleeds together, you know?"

Hannah and Miguel exchanged a skeptical glance. The story seemed to stretch the boundaries of believability, but neither commented further.

The dojo's atmosphere shifted abruptly as Johnny stormed into the room, his presence commanding immediate attention. "Listen up!" he barked. "I see we've got some new recruits. Everybody, fall in. In neat rows and lines."

The students quickly organized themselves into rows, with Hannah, Aisha, Miguel, and Hawk taking their places at the front. Johnny surveyed the lineup with a critical eye. His gaze landed on a figure standing among the students—a man who looked decidedly out of place in the midst of teenagers.

Johnny's brow furrowed as he approached the man. "Sorry, parents can't stay for class. It's an insurance thing."

The man, looking slightly awkward but determined, stepped forward. "I'm not a dad. I'm here to kick some ass, sir!"

Johnny eyed him with suspicion. "Do I know you from somewhere?"

The man nodded, a hint of recognition in his eyes. "Oh, yeah, they, uh... I sold you the mirror. We kind of bonded, talked about rock bands."

Johnny's eyes narrowed. "Look, you're a little old. This is a class for teenagers."

"I can take 'em," the man insisted, a fierce glint in his eye. "I'm not afraid of kids, sir. And my mom, she doesn't charge me rent, so I got a lot of cash to burn."

Johnny raised an eyebrow but ultimately decided to give the man a chance. "Yeah. We'll consider this a trial run. I thought my last group of recruits was pathetic. But if you do what I tell you to do, you'll at least have a chance of becoming a fighter. But to do that, you gotta fight."

Johnny's gaze shifted to the group of students. "All right, who's up for a challenge?"

Kreese's voice cut through the room with a steely edge. "I'll pick someone for you."

Kreese's eyes fell on Hannah, who was nervously fidgeting at the edge of the group. He motioned for her to step forward.

Hannah hesitated for a moment before stepping onto the mat. Miguel, seeing her uncertainty, gave her a supportive nod. "You've got this," he encouraged.

The sparring match between Hannah and Aisha began, and the intensity was palpable. Aisha, with her considerable physical strength, quickly dominated the early exchanges. Hannah, though agile, struggled to keep up and appeared visibly nervous.

During a brief break, Kreese called Hannah over. "Listen, you need to target Ms. Robinson's weakness," he instructed. "She might have physical strength, but you can run circles around her. Use your speed to your advantage."

Hannah nodded, her expression shifting from apprehensive to determined. She returned to the mat, the fire of resolve lighting her eyes.

Aisha, clearly confident in her superior strength, couldn't resist taunting Hannah. "You're just a joke," she sneered. "Think you can actually take me down?"

Hannah took a deep breath, focusing on Kreese's advice. As Aisha lunged forward with a powerful strike, Hannah deftly sidestepped and landed a quick punch to Aisha's gut, sending her sprawling to the floor.

The crowd of students watched in rapt attention as Hannah used her speed and agility to her advantage. Aisha, now visibly frustrated, tried to regain control, but Hannah's swift movements kept her off balance. Hannah swept Aisha's leg with a practiced maneuver and, with a decisive punch to the stomach, won the match.

Aisha lay on the mat, winded and defeated, as Hannah stood over her triumphantly. "Looks like you underestimated me," Hannah said with a smirk before returning to her place in line.

Johnny, watching from the sidelines, was impressed but maintained a guarded expression. "Good job," he said, though his eyes shifted to Kreese with a trace of suspicion. How could Hannah be so proficient after only a few weeks?

Johnny's attention turned back to the room as the students resumed their positions. "So, which one of you has the balls to take on Miguel?" he called out.

A voice piped up from the crowd, and everyone turned to see a confident girl with blondish brunette hair stepping forward.

"I'll take him on," she said with a defiant tone.

Johnny's eyes sparkled with interest. "Oh, you will, huh?"

The girl nodded, her gaze steady. "I saw your little demo at Valley Fest. You guys can put on a show, but can you actually fight?"

Johnny grinned, sensing an opportunity. "That sounds like a challenge."

The girl's confidence was evident. "I like a challenge."

Johnny turned to Miguel. "Mr. Diaz, show little Miss Hotshot here what Cobra Kai is all about."

The students formed a circle around them, eager to see the confrontation.

Miguel approached the girl, a look of determination in his eyes. "Look, are you sure that you want to—"

Before Miguel could finish, the girl delivered a sharp kick to his chest, sending him backward. Miguel stumbled but quickly regained his footing. "All right. Game on," he said, now fully engaged.

The fight began in earnest. Miguel and the girl exchanged blows with impressive speed. "Close the gap!" Miguel shouted, trying to outmaneuver her. He managed to send her to the floor briefly, but she was relentless.

The girl's aggression was palpable, and Miguel had to fight hard to keep up. "You're telegraphing," he called out as he swept her to the ground again. "Don't let me see it coming."

The girl, however, proved to be tenacious. She tackled Miguel to the ground, pinning him. "Did you see that coming?" she taunted.

Miguel, struggling, wrapped his legs around hers and managed to reverse the position, bringing her back to the floor. "Maybe," he said with a grin. "My names Miguel."

The girl looked down at him and extended her hand. "Tory."

Miguel shook her hand but quickly found himself pinned again. Tory had a firm grip and held his arm in place. "With a 'Y,'" she said triumphantly.

Hannah watched from the sidelines, her eyes wide with intrigue. "Damn," she muttered, impressed by Tory's skill.

🥋

The car cruised along the scenic coastal highway, the windows down to let in the crisp ocean breeze. Daniel was at the wheel, with Robby in the front seat, while Sam and Lukas sat in the back, taking in the view as the coastline stretched out before them.

Lukas leaned forward, his voice skeptical. "I still don't understand how going to the beach is gonna help us get students."

Daniel smiled, his gaze fixed on the road ahead. "It's not the students that I'm after, it's the parents."

Sam, always curious, shot her dad a questioning look. "So, you're counting on kids listening to their parents?"

Daniel chuckled. "No, I'm counting on parents doing whatever it takes to protect their kids. Look, I've tried everything else to promote Miyagi-Do. If this doesn't work, nothing will."

Lukas raised an eyebrow, still unsure of the plan, but Sam seemed intrigued. The car turned off the highway, gliding toward the beach club parking lot. The place was packed, as Daniel had predicted, with cars filling the lot and people mingling outside, enjoying the sunshine and cool breeze.

As they pulled up to the entrance, Amanda was already out front, waving them down with a warm smile. Daniel parked the car and stepped out, greeting her with a light kiss.

"Cool wheels, daddy-o," Amanda teased, eyeing Daniel's vintage car. "Maybe you can give me a ride sometime?"

Daniel grinned, playing along with her retro act. "You know it, doll. We could cruise on down to the passion pit."

Lukas groaned from the backseat. "Okay, we get it. Stop flirting."

Sam rolled her eyes dramatically. "Yeah, ew. We're right here."

Daniel laughed and glanced around, his eyes landing on a man at the far end of the beach club. "Hey, isn't that Jack Durocher? He's got a kid at West Valley, doesn't he?"

Amanda nodded. "Yeah, a son, I think."

Daniel tapped his chin, deep in thought, already planning how to approach potential students' parents at the club.

Meanwhile, Sam noticed Robby's silence. His eyes were wandering, not focused on the crowd or their mission. She touched his arm lightly. "You all right?"

Robby blinked, as if coming out of a daydream. "Yeah. Yeah, I just... I kind of used to work here."

Sam raised her brows in surprise. "Really? When?"

"A couple of days last summer," Robby replied, his voice a bit distant. "It wasn't a great fit."

Lukas, leaning back in his seat, stretched his arms over his head. "Well, I could use a tan," he quipped, trying to lighten the mood.

🥋

Aisha stood in front of the refrigerated section of the mini-mart, her phone in hand as she stared at a text message from her mom. It was about going to the beach club—again. She sighed deeply, scrolling through the details, clearly uninterested in the idea of spending her Saturday there.

Before she could put her phone away, she felt a nudge. She looked up to see a girl standing next to her, holding a bottle of water with a casual, but sharp, air about her. Aisha recognized her immediately—it was the girl from Cobra Kai, Tory.

Tory gave her a half-smirk. "Let me guess, d*ck pic?"

Aisha raised her eyebrows, momentarily taken aback before shaking her head with a smile. "No, my mom wants me to go to the beach club with her."

Tory scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Oh my God, that sounds so miserable."

Aisha shrugged, leaning against the shelf. "It's not that bad. It's just... this girl Sam's probably gonna be there, and she and I are not on good terms."

"Who cares? Screw her," Tory said dismissively, then added, "I'm Tory, by the way."

Aisha nodded. "Aisha. Hey, that's a cool bracelet. Spikes and everything."

Tory glanced down at her wrist, her smirk returning. "Oh, this? It's not just for show. Some creepy guy at the mall tried to grab me once. I blocked him and gave him a little gift he won't ever forget."

Aisha's eyes widened. "Damn. You sound like you already know how to kick ass. What do you need Cobra Kai for?"

Tory shrugged. "I've had a couple kickboxing lessons, but I've always wanted to smash boards blindfolded."

Aisha grinned knowingly. "Oh, you saw that."

"Mmm-hmm," Tory nodded.

"The secret is poking little holes in the blindfolds," Aisha said with a playful wink.

Tory chuckled. "Good to know."

Aisha paused for a moment, considering something. "Hey, you wouldn't wanna go to the beach with me, would you? It'd be nice to have some backup."

Tory raised an eyebrow but smirked. "I guess I could suffer through a day at the beach."

🥋

Johnny stood by the door to his office and called out, "Blakely, come see me for a minute."

Hannah looked up from where she was stretching after training, a bit surprised, and jogged over to Johnny's office. She could feel his eyes on her as she approached.

"You doing all right?" Johnny asked, his tone casual but with a hint of something else. He leaned against his desk, arms crossed.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Hannah replied, though she felt like this conversation wasn't just about her well-being.

Johnny glanced out toward the dojo where Kreese was instructing students. "You've been picking up moves pretty quick for someone who just joined. Even stuff Diaz didn't get to for months."

Hannah shifted on her feet. "Mr. Kreese has been doing some individual training with me. He's, uh... really taken time to help me improve."

Johnny's eyes narrowed slightly. He wasn't dumb. He knew Kreese, and something about this didn't sit right with him. "Has he now?"

Hannah, sensing his skepticism, hesitated. "Yeah, he can be a bit of a hard ass... maybe a little aggressive, but he's been really helpful."

Johnny didn't say anything for a moment, just watching her closely. Finally, he nodded. "All right. Just... keep your eyes open, okay? And by the way, you did good out there against Ms. Robinson."

"Thanks, Sensei," Hannah replied with a small smile before turning to leave.

Johnny's gaze followed her out the door, and then flicked to Kreese, who was sparring with a training dummy. Something wasn't sitting right, but he'd figure it out in time.

🥋

As Hannah walked out of the dojo, she decided to swing by the mini-mart to pick up a few things for her parents. She was browsing the aisles when she heard a familiar voice.

"Hannah!" Aisha called out, walking toward her with another girl in tow—Tory. "We were just talking about you."

Hannah smiled weakly, still feeling a little awkward after their sparring match earlier. "Hey, Aisha. Uh... how's it going?"

Aisha waved it off. "No hard feelings about earlier, right? You were just doing what Kreese told you."

Hannah nodded, still feeling a bit guilty but relieved Aisha wasn't holding a grudge. "Yeah, no hard feelings."

"We were gonna head to the beach," Aisha said, glancing at Tory. "You should come with us."

Hannah froze. "The beach?"

Aisha sighed. "Yeah... Sam's probably gonna be there. Which is why I might need some backup."

Tory smirked, leaning against the shelf. "What's the deal? Lukas an ex or something?"

Aisha rolled her eyes. "No, Lukas is the guy who beat Miguel in the tournament. And he's Hannah's best friend, apparently."

Tory turned to Hannah with raised eyebrows. "Oh, so what's the problem?"

Hannah shifted uncomfortably. "Lukas is my friend, yeah. But... I haven't exactly told him that I joined Cobra Kai yet."

Aisha gave her a look. "You haven't told him? Seriously?"

Hannah shook her head. "I just... I don't want him to find out. Not yet."

Tory smirked knowingly, folding her arms. "Look, if he's really your friend, why should it matter? You're making your own choices now."

After a few moments of thought, Hannah sighed, her resolve weakening. "Fine. I'll go."

Tory grinned, and Aisha clapped her on the shoulder. "Great! It's gonna be fun."

🥋

The sun was high, casting a golden glow over the manicured grounds of the exclusive beach club. Tory, Aisha, and Hannah stepped out of the parking lot, taking in the sight of white umbrellas, lounge chairs, and sparkling blue water. It wasn't the kind of beach Tory was expecting.

Tory's eyes narrowed as she scanned the scene. "Okay. This is not the beach," she said, crossing her arms. "Where are the homeless dudes on Rollerblades and the guys shoving crappy hip-hop demos in your face?"

Aisha smirked and nudged her. "Don't worry, they'll come after they pass out the hors d'oeuvres."

Hannah laughed at the joke, feeling the tension ease for a moment. But as her eyes scanned the crowd, her smile quickly faded. She froze, her gaze locking onto the snack bar, where Lukas stood, casually leaning against the counter. He was laughing, clearly relaxed, his sun-kissed hair tousled, and his muscular arms showing from beneath a fitted tank top.

Aisha noticed her sudden change in demeanor and raised an eyebrow. "What's up?"

Hannah swallowed hard, still staring at Lukas. "Lukas... what's he doing here?"

Aisha rolled her eyes. "Ugh, can you stop this already? He's not your dad, you know."

Hannah looked away from Lukas and glared at Aisha, her face flushed with embarrassment. "He's my best friend. We've known each other since middle school."

Before Aisha could reply, Tory chimed in, smirking as she glanced toward Lukas. "Well, he's got great abs. Can't blame you for being distracted."

Hannah shot Tory a glare, her cheeks reddening. "Stop. I don't wanna picture that."

Despite her words, the uneasy feeling in her stomach wouldn't go away. She wasn't ready to face Lukas, not after everything that had happened. He didn't know about her joining Cobra Kai, and she wasn't sure how he'd react. She didn't want to lose him, but she was also afraid that he wouldn't understand.

Across the beach, near the snack bar, Sam spotted Aisha and Tory, both of them standing with Hannah. Her eyes widened in confusion. Hannah, of all people, was with Aisha and a girl Sam had never seen before. It didn't make sense.

Robby, standing beside her, noticed her stiffening. "What's going on?"

Sam shook her head, still staring at the trio. "It's Aisha. We haven't spoken since everything went down at Valley Fest. I feel like I should clear the air, but..." She sighed. "At the same time, I'm still pissed at them for ruining our performance."

Robby followed her gaze, watching the girls for a moment. "You think talking to her will help?"

Before Sam could respond, Lukas came back from the snack bar, holding two bottles of water. He handed one to Sam and raised an eyebrow. "You're still talking about Aisha?"

Sam shrugged, taking the water. "I just don't get why she's so mad."

Lukas glanced toward the girls again and smirked. "I say go talk to her. Worst case, if a fight breaks out, we could record it."

Sam rolled her eyes, nudging him playfully. "Oh, sure, that's just what we need—another brawl on video."

Lukas grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Hey, I'm just saying. But who knows, maybe you'll come back with a new Miyagi-Do student."

Sam laughed, but her cheeks warmed at the way Lukas was looking at her. His teasing was light, but there was something in the way he smiled, something that made her feel fluttery inside. For a brief moment, their eyes met, and Sam felt her heart skip.

Lukas shifted, his tone turning softer. "You'll do fine. Just talk to her."

She smiled. "Thanks, Lukas." And before she could overthink it, she set off toward Aisha, leaving Lukas and Robby behind.

Robby watched her go, then turned to Lukas with a knowing grin. "You two are cute."

Lukas immediately turned red, his expression flustered. "Dude, shut up," he muttered, though the blush in his cheeks gave him away.

Robby chuckled, shaking his head. "Whatever you say, man."

🥋

Sam approached Aisha slowly, the sound of the waves and chatter around them fading into the background. Aisha didn't look particularly happy to see her, her arms crossed and her posture stiff. Tory stood by Aisha's side, her eyes narrowed as she glanced between Sam and Aisha. Hannah, meanwhile, stayed back a bit, unsure of what to do with herself.

Sam cleared her throat. "Hey. So... how's it going?"

Aisha raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "You realize we're not okay, right?"

Sam sighed, already feeling the tension rise. "What are you mad about? You guys are the ones who stomped all over our Valley Fest demo."

Aisha's eyes flashed. "Only after your father attacked our dojo. What were we supposed to do?"

Sam frowned, defensive. "He didn't attack you guys. He just—"

"Snake in the grass?" Aisha interrupted, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Real subtle."

Sam took a breath, trying to stay calm. "He's just trying to do the right thing."

Aisha gave her a pointed look. "What, so Cobra Kai is wrong?"

Sam hesitated. "It's not wrong, it's just..." She trailed off, realizing how pointless this argument was. She sighed, her shoulders dropping. "What are we doing? It's our summer vacation, we're at the beach, and we're fighting about karate? When we should be fighting about boys."

Aisha blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift. She glanced at the snack bar. "Or who's gonna get the last piece of pretzel bread."

Sam laughed. "Oh, no. That's mine."

The tension eased a bit, and Sam glanced over at Robby and Lukas, who were chatting by the water. She grinned. "So, it's just you and abs all summer, training?"

Aisha raised an eyebrow, smirking. "God, that must be hard."

Sam's eyes widened, her face heating up. "Robby and I are just friends. Nothing more."

Aisha gave her a knowing look. "What about Lukas?"

Sam bit her lip, hesitating. "Well..."

Aisha's eyes widened, and a grin spread across her face. "Oh my God, you like him."

Sam's face turned bright red. "Shut up!" She laughed, covering her face. "But... yeah. I think I do."

Aisha chuckled, shaking her head. "Finally. Took you long enough."

Sam smiled, her heart racing a little as she glanced back at Lukas.

🥋

Everything seemed peaceful until an employee, a middle-aged man with a stern expression, approached them with a purposeful stride. His eyes locked onto Robby immediately.

"I knew it was you," the employee said sharply, pointing at Robby as if he had just caught a criminal in the act. "What did I say would happen if you ever stepped foot in here again? I'm calling the cops."

Robby blinked, sitting up straighter in his lounge chair, caught off guard by the sudden accusation. "Whoa, what?"

Amanda furrowed her brow, confused by the sudden hostility. "Uh, what's going on here?"

The employee, clearly agitated, ignored Amanda's question and stayed focused on Robby. "Nothing to worry about, Mrs. LaRusso. Just removing this delinquent from the property."

Amanda's confusion quickly shifted into a more assertive stance as she stood up, placing herself between Robby and the employee. "Excuse me? This delinquent happens to be our guest."

The employee looked taken aback for a moment, clearly not expecting resistance from someone like Amanda. He shook his head, as though Amanda didn't understand the seriousness of the situation. "Ma'am, I don't think you understand who you're dealing with—"

"No, I don't think you understand," Amanda interrupted, her voice firm. "Robby is our guest. Period. Whatever happened before doesn't matter now."

The employee's confidence wavered, and he quickly realized he had no grounds to argue with the LaRussos. His posture shifted, and his tone softened. "My mistake," he muttered before walking away, throwing one last uncertain glance at Robby before retreating.

As soon as the employee was out of earshot, Lukas turned toward Robby, his eyebrows raised in curiosity. "What was that about?"

Robby sighed, his shoulders slumping a little as he leaned back into his chair. He had known this might happen. He ran a hand through his hair, thinking about how much had changed in just a few months. "Before I met you guys, I was a different person," he admitted quietly, avoiding eye contact. "Me and my friends did some stuff here that I regret."

Amanda, still standing protectively near him, softened her expression. "Did you hurt anybody?" she asked, her voice gentle but concerned.

Robby shook his head quickly. "No. No, no, no. Nothing like that. It was stupid stuff, you know? We caused some trouble, got into places we weren't supposed to be. That guy's right, though. Maybe I should go."

He made a move as if to get up, but Amanda placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him. "What? No. Robby, listen to me." She crouched down so she was eye level with him, speaking softly but firmly. "We all make mistakes. It's what we do next that counts, right?"

Robby looked at her for a moment, her words sinking in. He hadn't been expecting this level of understanding, and it was hard to shake off the guilt he still felt over his past actions.

Lukas, who had been quietly listening, smiled and nodded in agreement with Amanda's words. "She's right, man. You're not that guy anymore. You're a different person now than you were back then, and that dude can't judge you for who you were months ago."

🥋

As the soft sounds of the beach buzzed around them, Sam and Aisha sat under the umbrella of the beach club, the tension still lingering from their earlier conversation. The moment was lighter now, but Aisha wasn't quite done teasing Sam, especially about Lukas. She smirked, leaning forward slightly as if she was about to spill a juicy secret.

"So," Aisha began with a mischievous glint in her eye. "You and Lukas, huh? When are you finally going to admit it?"

Sam sighed, rolling her eyes, though a slight blush crept up her cheeks. "Admit what?"

Aisha leaned back with a knowing grin. "Oh, you know exactly what. You like him."

Sam shifted awkwardly, picking at her nails. "It's not like that."

"Oh, really?" Aisha raised her eyebrows skeptically. "Come on, Sam. You've been flirting with him nonstop. And don't even act like you weren't jealous when I brought up his abs earlier."

Sam stammered for a second before shaking her head. "I wasn't jealous. It's just... weird to think about him that way, okay? We've been friends for so long, and now—"

"Now, you like him," Aisha finished for her, her voice teasing. "I mean, I'm not going to tell Miguel or anything, but come on, it's kind of obvious."

Sam crossed her arms, feeling the warmth rise in her cheeks again. "Why would Miguel care? We broke up. I can be with whoever I want."

Aisha shrugged. "I didn't say anything about Miguel, but it's not like the three of you aren't in some weird love triangle."

Sam shot her a look but didn't deny it. The truth was, she had been thinking about Lukas more and more lately, and it was confusing. They had always been friends, but recently things felt... different. Aisha noticed the way Sam was lost in her thoughts and grinned wider. "I'm just saying, it's kind of cute. But don't worry, I won't tell him. Your secret's safe with me."

Before Sam could respond, Tory came striding up, a devilish grin on her face as she held a bottle of liquor in her hand. Hannah followed behind her, looking a bit uneasy but still tagging along.

"Hey," Tory said, holding up the bottle triumphantly. "Look what I got!"

Hannah stood beside Tory, glancing nervously at Sam. It was clear she wasn't entirely on board with Tory's plan but hadn't spoken up yet.

Sam furrowed her brows as she took in the situation. "Hannah? What's going on?"

"Uh... hey, Sam," Hannah stammered, avoiding her friend's eyes. "Just, you know, hanging out."

Aisha glanced at the bottle in Tory's hand. "Where did you get that?"

"I swiped it from the bar," Tory said nonchalantly, like it was no big deal. She waved her hand dismissively. "Relax. All the adults are getting wasted. No one's gonna notice if we have a little fun."

Sam's frown deepened. "You should put that back. You could get into big trouble."

Tory looked at Sam with a smirk, sizing her up. "And you are?"

Hannah quickly interjected, trying to smooth over the tension. "Uh, Tory, this is Sam. Sam, Tory."

Tory's eyes narrowed, and her lips curled in a judgmental sneer. "Oh. The *Sam*," she said, emphasizing her name with disdain. She gave an exaggerated eye-roll. "Like anyone's gonna miss one bottle of vodka. I could swipe half the silverware in this place before anyone noticed."

Sam crossed her arms, her disapproval evident. "You shouldn't steal anything."

Tory's smirk widened. "What are you, a nun?" She held up the bottle, waving it in front of them. "Come on, are we gonna drink or not?"

Aisha looked between the two girls and then at the bottle. "Okay, one drink," she said hesitantly.

"That's my girl," Tory said with a grin, opening the bottle. She turned to Hannah. "You in?"

Hannah hesitated, glancing back at Sam. "Maybe later."

"Better hurry up," Tory replied, already pouring herself a drink.

As Tory and Aisha got caught up in the liquor, Sam and Hannah were left standing awkwardly to the side. Sam looked at her friend, concern written all over her face.

"So... how are things?" Hannah asked, trying to sound casual, though her voice wavered slightly.

"You tell me," Sam responded, raising an eyebrow. "Seems like a lot's been going on."

"Oh, you know, just the usual," Hannah said, looking away. "Going to the pool, hanging out, having fun."

Sam folded her arms, her eyes narrowing. "Is that why you've been ghosting Lukas?"

Hannah flinched at the question, her guilt evident. "Oh. You know about that?"

"Of course, I know," Sam said, her voice sharpening with frustration. "You know he's really worried about you, right? You're his best friend, and now you're avoiding him. What's going on?"

Hannah sighed, clearly uncomfortable. "Why do you care so much? You're not my mom, and Lukas isn't my dad. I have a life outside of you guys, you know."

Sam frowned, her concern deepening. "And since when does that life include stealing liquor?"

"You don't know anything about me, Sam," Hannah snapped, her temper flaring. "So just leave me alone, okay?"

With that, Hannah stormed off, heading back toward Aisha and Tory, who were already pouring another round of drinks. Sam watched her go, feeling a knot of worry form in her stomach.

🥋

Robby and Sam stood by the beach club's entrance, the sound of waves crashing in the distance blending with the lively chatter of the crowd. Sam was still fuming from the interaction she had just witnessed with Aisha and Tory, though she tried to mask her frustration. Robby, picking up on her mood, glanced at her sympathetically.

"I'm sorry about Aisha," Robby said softly. "I know it's tough seeing your friend change like that."

Sam let out a sigh, folding her arms across her chest. "She can be friends with whoever she wants."

Before Robby could reply, Lukas chimed in with his usual optimism. "It's her loss, Sam. You're a much better friend than that other girl. She'll realize it eventually."

Sam gave Lukas a weak smile, appreciating his attempt to cheer her up. "Thanks, Luke," she said, her voice soft but genuine. For a moment, she considered telling him about Hannah—about why his best friend had been avoiding him—but before she could muster up the courage, Amanda approached them, looking worried.

"Hey," Amanda said, her brow furrowed in concern. "Have either of you seen my wallet?"

Sam's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, you're missing your wallet?"

Amanda nodded, clearly flustered. "Yeah. It was in my bag, but now it's gone. I don't know if I misplaced it or if someone took it."

Lukas stood up, already ready to help. "It's gotta be around here somewhere."

Amanda sighed. "Can you just spread out and look around? I'm sure it'll turn up."

"Let's check the beach," Lukas suggested to Robby. "Maybe someone turned it in to the lifeguard."

The boys split off, heading toward the beach in search of Amanda's wallet. Sam, however, remained where she was. A knot of suspicion tightened in her chest. She had an idea of who might have taken it, and she wasn't about to let this slide.

🥋

On the other side of the beach, Tory, Aisha, and Hannah were lounging in the shade, their laughter bubbling up as they shared stories. Tory was in the middle of recounting a particularly bold moment when Aisha had gotten revenge on one of their old classmates.

"Wait," Tory interrupted, her eyes gleaming. "I'm sorry, you gave her a front wedgie?"

Aisha snickered, clearly proud of herself. "I split that b*tch in two."

Hannah laughed, shaking her head in disbelief. "I wish I would have been there to see that."

Their laughter was cut short when Sam approached, her expression stern and focused. "Hey," Sam called out, her eyes landing on Tory. "My mom's missing her wallet."

Tory's face remained blank as she shrugged. "Sucks for her."

Sam's eyes narrowed. "You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?"

Hannah stiffened, her smile faltering. "Wait. Wait, what are you saying?"

"Just give me the wallet," Sam pressed, her tone sharp. "And I won't tell security."

Tory's eyes flickered with anger, and she stepped forward, her voice cold. "Are you freaking kidding me?"

Aisha, sensing the rising tension, jumped in defensively. "Sam, she didn't steal your mom's wallet."

Sam shot Aisha a look, frustration boiling over. "Right. And she didn't steal a bottle of vodka either, huh? And I suppose she wouldn't steal half the silverware from this place, either."

Hannah stood up quickly, her posture defensive. "Sam, leave her alone!"

But Sam wasn't about to back down. Her gaze remained locked on Tory, and before she could say anything else, Tory shoved her back—hard. Sam stumbled, crashing into a nearby cart filled with desserts, sending plates clattering to the ground.

"Get off me!" Tory snapped, her voice edged with fury.

Aisha rushed over, helping Sam back to her feet. "Are you okay?"

Sam shook off Aisha's hand, glaring at Tory. "Real nice friend you've made."

Hannah's expression was hard now, her jaw clenched. "You shouldn't have accused her of something like that, Sam."

Without another word, Hannah turned to follow Tory and Aisha as they began to walk away. Sam, still rattled from the push, glanced down—and that's when she saw it.

Hannah's towel.

Cobra Kai.

The logo stitched into the fabric was unmistakable, and Sam felt a surge of anger and disappointment rise in her chest.

"You joined Cobra Kai?" Sam's voice was laced with disbelief and hurt.

Hannah paused, turning around to face Sam. "Yeah. So what?"

Sam's anger flared. "You know what they did to Lukas. Is that why you haven't talked to him? Because you know he wouldn't understand?"

Hannah's face hardened, her eyes flashing with frustration. "Sam, you wouldn't understand."

Sam took a step closer, her voice low and filled with urgency. "You can't keep him in the dark like this, Hannah. If you don't tell him—"

"Or what?" Hannah cut her off, her voice rising, a hint of aggression creeping into her tone. "You're going to tell him? Let me tell you something." She stepped forward, her voice dropping to a threatening whisper. "You're not going to tell Lukas anything. This isn't his business, and it sure as hell isn't yours. So drop it."

For a moment, they stood there, the tension thick in the air. Hannah's eyes were cold, but there was a flicker of uncertainty behind them. She wasn't used to confronting anyone like this, especially so aggressively.

Hannah turned on her heel, her final words cutting through the air like a blade. "And you might want to clean yourself off."

With that, Hannah followed Aisha and Tory out of the beach club, leaving Sam standing there, covered in cake and desserts, her fists clenched. She felt a wave of guilt wash over her—not for herself, but for Lukas. Now it all made sense. That's why Hannah had been ghosting him.

What would that mean for Lukas?

🥋

Under the dock, the light was dim, and the wooden beams cast long shadows over the piles of wallets scattered across the sand. Lukas crouched down, picking one up and flipping it open. His eyes widened.

"These could belong to the others at the pool," he said, glancing at Robby, who was already piecing things together.

Robby's expression hardened. "I knew it."

Before they could gather up more wallets, they heard voices approaching, familiar ones that made both of them freeze.

Trey and Cruz.

Lukas instantly remembered the scuffle at the dealership with these two. His muscles tensed instinctively, as the voices grew louder.

Trey's voice was as smug as ever. "No, but did you see shorty in the green thong?"

Cruz, sounding more concerned, responded, "Man, I ain't thinking about that right now."

"All right, look, let's get the stuff, then we gonna bolt," Trey said, obviously focused on their haul.

"Just like that," Cruz muttered, sounding exasperated.

Robby clenched his fists, murmuring under his breath, "Same shit, different summer."

Suddenly, Trey spotted them. His cocky smirk widened as his eyes landed on Robby. "Hey, what are you doing here, Robby? Is that you, karate boy?" He turned to Lukas with an almost predatory grin.

Lukas stood tall, his expression calm but ready. "We found your stash," he said, holding up one of the wallets. "You're gonna give it all back."

Cruz chuckled, but there was no humor in his eyes. "The hell we are."

Trey shrugged nonchalantly. "You didn't learn your lesson last time? That's cool. We can give you a refresher course."

Robby cracked his knuckles and stepped forward. "Bring it."

Suddenly, before Robby could react, a larger guy stepped out from the shadows behind him, wielding an oar. With a heavy swing, he struck Robby in the back of the head, sending him stumbling to the sand. The crack of the blow echoed under the dock, and Lukas winced, his hands curling into fists.

"Damn!" Cruz exclaimed, looking genuinely surprised by the brutal hit.

Trey, still relaxed, stepped closer, his smirk growing. "What, you forgot this was a three-man job?"

Lukas shot a glance at Robby, who was struggling to stay conscious, then back at Trey and his gang. Trey's eyes flicked over Lukas, sizing him up with a sinister grin. "Three on one, karate boy. No idea how much I've wanted this."

Lukas rolled his shoulders back, stepping forward defiantly. "What, you need a posse to help you? Typical."

Trey's eyes darkened. "You know, for a smart kid, you sure do learn slow."

Cruz reached into his pocket and pulled out a knife, the blade gleaming in the faint light. His gaze shifted from Lukas to Robby, who was still dazed, now being held in a chokehold by the bigger guy. "Maybe we need to leave him with something to remember us by." He gestured toward Robby with the knife. "Him first."

Lukas' breath caught in his throat, adrenaline pumping through his veins. Before he could act, a shadow loomed over the dock.

Suddenly, Daniel LaRusso jumped down from the ledge, delivering a swift kick that sent Cruz crashing to the ground. The knife flew from his hand as he hit the sand hard, groaning in pain. Everyone froze in shock, including Trey.

Lukas smirked. "You guys are in for it now."

Daniel straightened, his eyes burning with determination as he faced Trey and the larger guy still holding Robby. "Let him go," Daniel ordered, his voice firm.

Trey's bravado faltered for just a second, but he quickly regained his cocky demeanor. "Don't listen to him. All right, Grandpa, let's do it."

With no hesitation, Lukas and Daniel sprang into action, teaming up seamlessly. Lukas faced Cruz again, who was back on his feet, still shaking from the fall. Cruz threw wild punches, but Lukas blocked them with ease, stepping to the side and delivering a swift kick to Cruz's face. Cruz fell back, clutching his nose, blood dripping between his fingers.

Meanwhile, Daniel engaged Trey and the bigger guy, effortlessly dodging their clumsy attacks. Lukas joined in, moving swiftly to help Daniel take down the larger attacker. Lukas landed a kick to the big guy's chest, while Daniel swept his leg, sending him crashing to the ground.

The fight was over as quickly as it had started.

Daniel dusted off his hands, turning to Lukas with a slight grin. "Your grandpa know how to move like that, huh?"

Lukas laughed breathlessly, nodding as he helped Robby to his feet. "Come on, let's go."

Lukas quickly grabbed Amanda's wallet from the stash of stolen goods before they made their way back toward the beach club.

They returned to the pool area, where Amanda and Sam were waiting anxiously. Lukas approached Amanda and handed her the wallet.

"Found this under the dock," Lukas said, giving her a reassuring smile.

Amanda looked at him gratefully. "Thank you, Lukas." She shot Robby a concerned glance. "Are you okay?"

Robby nodded, rubbing the back of his head where he'd been hit. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Sam, still processing everything that had happened, looked between Lukas and her mother. "We should go," she said quietly.

Amanda agreed, and they all decided it was best to leave before things escalated any further.

🥋

The next day, Robby arrived at the Miyagi-Do dojo, wincing slightly as he walked in. Lukas was in the middle of sparring with the dummy, delivering precise kicks and punches. He looked up as Robby entered.

"You okay, man?" Lukas asked, his concern evident.

"Yeah, thanks. Head's still sore," Robby replied, rubbing the back of his head where the oar had struck him.

"Well, it was a big oar he hit you with," Lukas said with a wry smile.

Robby laughed dryly, acknowledging the comment. He then went inside the dojo, leaving Lukas and Sam alone. Sam watched Lukas with a mixture of relief and gratitude.

"Thanks for helping out yesterday," Sam said, breaking the silence. "And for giving my mom her wallet back."

"Anytime," Lukas replied, a grin spreading across his face. "Sorry about Aisha, though."

Sam shrugged, her frustration evident. "Whatever. She won't text me back. I shouldn't have accused anyone."

Lukas nodded sympathetically. "I mean, your mom's wallet was stolen. It's natural to be concerned."

Sam looked at Lukas appreciatively. "Yeah, thanks, Luke. You're the best."

Lukas chuckled. "Well, I like to think so."

They shared a moment of laughter before Lukas went back to sparring. Sam watched him, occasionally catching his eye as he moved.

Meanwhile, Daniel and Robby were outside, discussing the previous day's events.

"How's your head?" Daniel asked, his tone genuinely concerned.

"Still a little sore," Robby admitted. "It was really stupid of me to put myself in that situation."

Daniel shook his head. "You were doing what you thought was right."

Robby pulled out his phone, showing Daniel a video that played back their encounter with Trey, Cruz, and the larger guy. "Something good did come out of it, though. Former All-Valley champ and current All-Valley champ take out three criminals using Miyagi-Do Karate. Feels like it could go viral. Bet we'd have a packed dojo by noon."

Daniel looked at the video, then shook his head. "No. Miyagi-Do is about defending yourself and protecting others. Not seeking credit. Mr. Miyagi didn't recruit me; he took me in because I needed him. Just like Lukas. I came to him, not the other way around. It's time we be patient. Let those who need us find us."

As they moved outside, they found Sam and Lukas engaged in conversation when a voice interrupted them.

"Excuse me."

It was Demetri, looking somewhat unsure as he approached.

"Lukas?" he asked, glancing around. "Uh, it was unclear if the gate was the front or if I was supposed to ring the doorbell. Is that a koi pond? How much does it cost to maintain that?"

Daniel stepped forward with a welcoming smile. "May I help you?"

Demetri took a deep breath, his nervousness palpable. "Uh, yeah. I wanna learn karate."

Daniel's smile widened. "You have come to the right place."

Demetri's face lit up with a hopeful smile, and Lukas patted his back, clearly pleased. Sam stayed silent, but her mind was occupied with her recent conversation with Hannah.

She remembered Hannah's harsh words: "It's none of his business and it sure as hell isn't yours, so drop it." Despite Hannah's insistence, Sam knew Lukas deserved to know the truth. He was supposed to be her best friend.

"Hey, can I talk to you? Just for a second?" Sam asked Lukas, her voice steady but serious.

Lukas looked at her with curiosity. "What's up?"

Sam led Lukas to the driveway, away from the others. "It's about Hannah."

Lukas's interest piqued. "Really? What about her?"

Sam took a deep breath. "Well, I saw her yesterday."

Lukas frowned. "And she didn't say hi? How is she?"

Sam shook her head, her expression troubled. "She was with Aisha and that Tory girl."

Lukas's confusion grew. "What? Why would she—"

"Luke, I think she's in Cobra Kai," Sam interrupted, her voice serious.