chapter thirty-eight:
❛ bad egg ❜

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!!!! COMMENT AND VOTE PLEASE

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Clementine was bursting with excitement as she shook Alison's shoulders, her enthusiasm bubbling over. "Clem, please stop. My head hurts," Alison pleaded, her voice tired. Clementine stopped immediately and chuckled, realizing she might have been a bit too enthusiastic. "Sorry, Ali. I'm just really happy that you're finally doing karate!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement.

Alison gave her a pointed look. "Miyagi-Do Karate. I will not be doing Eagle Fang Karate. I'm only learning karate because I'm worried that the Cobra Kai jerks are gonna hurt me. It was pretty heated at the waterpark," Alison explained, her voice calm but firm.

Clementine nodded, understanding her friend's concerns, when suddenly she felt someone's hand covering her eyes. "Guess who," Robby's familiar voice filled the air, and Clementine's face lit up. She turned around as he removed his hands, and without hesitation, she leaned in and kissed him.

"I'm so happy you're not in Cobra Kai anymore," Clementine stated, relief clear in her voice. Alison hummed in agreement. "And you guys don't have to sneak around anymore," she added, raising her eyebrows playfully.

Robby smiled, a weight seemingly lifted off his shoulders. "Yeah, it's nice to be back here," he breathed out, his voice full of contentment. Just then, Sensei Toguchi blew his whistle, catching everyone's attention. Robby took Clementine's hand, and the couple walked up to the deck together.

Alison spotted Hawk and made her way over to him. He wrapped his arm around her as Sensei Toguchi called out, "Line up!" The students quickly formed a line, standing at attention.

"So, where's my dad and Johnny?" Sam asked, looking around for their usual instructors.

"They're not here. Today, you train with me," Sensei Toguchi responded, his tone leaving no room for argument. He then said something in Japanese, but when he was met with confused looks, he sighed in frustration. "Attention," he repeated in English, making sure everyone understood.

The students stood up straight with their hands by their sides. Sensei Toguchi repeated his instruction in Japanese once more, and again, the confused looks persisted. With a deep sigh, he simply said, "Bow," and everyone followed his lead, bowing respectfully.

"Cobra Kai gaining ground. We must prepare. Come," he instructed, leading them to a table filled with various karate weapons, including bo staffs and throwing knives.

Everyone moved forward slightly to get a closer look, and Clementine's eyes lit up when she spotted the throwing knife. She nudged Robby with a grin. "I want that throwing knife. My dad taught me how to use it," she whispered excitedly, and Robby chuckled in response.

"Now, we learn about Yanbaru Kuina," Sensei Toguchi announced, his voice commanding attention.

"What is that? Like, some top secret karate move? Like a throat rip?" Hawk asked, imitating a choking gesture with his hands. Clementine and Alison exchanged a look before bursting into laughter.

"No. It is bird. In English, called Okinawa rail. Endangered. Cannot fly," Sensei Toguchi clarified firmly.

"Hence, endangered," Demetri commented with a shrug, earning a few chuckles from the group.

Sensei Toguchi carefully placed a bag onto the table and uncovered it, revealing a collection of eggs. "So these are the real eggs?" Miguel asked, his curiosity piqued.

"No. Trader Joe's. $3.29," Sensei replied in disbelief, causing Miguel, Hawk, and Demetri to exchange amused glances.

"Just take egg," Sensei waved them off, and everyone stepped forward to grab an egg. Clementine cradled both her and Robby's eggs carefully in her arms. "This is our babies. Mine is a girl, and her name is Isabella, and yours is a boy and named Joel," Clementine told Robby with a grin, clearly enjoying herself. Robby laughed, his cheeks turning slightly pink.

"Don't get any ideas, Robby. No baby in her oven for at least five to ten more years. If sooner, I will kill you, and I will be the father," Alison said with a pointed look, her tone half-joking, half-serious, before turning away to join Hawk.

"She can be dark," Robby remarked, still smiling as Clementine handed his egg back to him.

"That's my twisted sister after all," Clementine said with a shrug, her tone affectionate.

"So what do we do with them?" Sam asked, holding her egg cautiously.

"Yanbaru Kuina must protect egg. From Kume Shima habu. Poison snake. You must do same," Sensei Toguchi explained before picking up an hourglass and turning it over. "Begin your preparation," he stated loudly.

"What are we protecting them from?" Robby asked, a hint of concern in his voice.

"From me," Sensei Toguchi declared, grabbing mini-swords off the table. He began shouting and waving them in the air, speaking something in Japanese that none of the students understood.

"Oh my God! Robby, we can't let Joel and Isabella die!" Clementine exclaimed, her eyes wide with panic. Alison sighed deeply, already feeling the exhaustion creeping in.

"This is going to be a long day," Alison muttered to herself, already dreading what was to come.

Everyone else seemed frozen in place, unsure of what to do next. Sensei Toguchi started yelling at them to go, and Clementine was the first to dart off with her egg, determination etched on her face.

As the hourglass continued to drain, Alison remained crouched in the garden, clutching her egg like it was the most precious thing in the world. She had tucked it carefully behind a large potted plant, hoping that Sensei Toguchi wouldn't find it. The air was tense, and Alison's heart raced as she tried to recall the few karate lessons she had managed to absorb. Her mind was a jumble of thoughts, but one thing stood out: the wax on, wax off technique that Daniel LaRusso had drilled into them.

When Sensei Toguchi finally entered the garden, Alison's breath hitched. She knew her hiding spot wasn't ideal, but she was determined to protect her egg. As he approached, his eyes narrowed, clearly assessing her. "You're gonna have to get through me to hurt my egg," Alison declared, her voice filled with both determination and anxiety.

Sensei Toguchi didn't hesitate. He moved swiftly, launching a series of punches at Alison, each one aimed to test her reflexes and resolve. Alison, though nervous, managed to remember the motions. Her hands moved instinctively in the circular patterns she had practiced: right hand moving in a clockwise motion to block, left hand moving counterclockwise to deflect. The wax on, wax off technique was simple in theory but required precise timing and focus.

Alison's first block was solid—she swept her right hand across just in time to deflect Sensei Toguchi's punch. The impact sent a slight shock through her arm, but she held her ground. He followed up with another punch, and again, she managed to block it, this time with her left hand, pushing his fist away with a small, circular motion. Her confidence grew slightly with each successful block, the rhythm of the technique taking over.

However, Sensei Toguchi was relentless. His movements were faster than anything she had faced before. He switched angles, testing her from the left, then the right, with varying speeds and intensities. Alison kept up for a while, her arms moving almost automatically in the wax on, wax off pattern, but each successful block only seemed to embolden Sensei Toguchi. He intensified his attacks, increasing both speed and power.

Alison's breath quickened as she tried to keep up. Her arms began to tire, her focus wavered for just a moment—long enough for Sensei Toguchi to slip a punch through her defenses. The strike was swift and unexpected, aimed low, catching her off guard. She reacted a split second too late, her block faltering as his fist made contact with her side. The force of the blow wasn't brutal, but it was enough to throw her off balance.

She stumbled backward, her foot catching on the edge of the potted plant she had been using as cover. Her body twisted as she tried to regain her footing, but in her panic, she lost control. Alison fell, her arms flailing as she crashed into the plant. The pot tipped over, and she landed hard on her side—directly on top of her hidden egg.

There was a sickening crack, and Alison's eyes widened in horror. She could feel the sticky warmth of the yolk seeping through her clothes, confirming what she already knew. "Shit!" she cursed, scrambling to her feet, the remains of the egg smeared across her backside.

Sensei Toguchi stepped back, his expression neutral, though there was a hint of a smirk at the corner of his lips. Alison stood there, egg yolk dripping from her pants, feeling a mix of frustration and embarrassment. Despite her best efforts, her egg hadn't survived.

As she walked out of the garden, she caught sight of Sensei Toguchi heading toward the pond where Clementine was hidden. She watched helplessly as he waded into the water, her own failure fresh in her mind. When he emerged with Clementine's egg and crushed it in his fist, Alison couldn't help but feel a strange sense of camaraderie with her friend. They had both done their best, but Sensei Toguchi had been too skilled.

Alison made her way over to Clementine, who was now drenched and mourning the loss of her egg, and offered a supportive hand. They joined the others on the sparring deck, their eggs broken, but their spirits not entirely defeated. This had been a lesson in more than just karate—it was about perseverance, and they were determined to keep pushing forward.

As more time passed, Robby joined the rest of the group on the sparring deck, his egg a casualty of Sensei Toguchi's relentless pursuit. Clementine, noticing the egg yolk staining Alison's pants, tried to help her friend clean up, but the stubborn stain wouldn't budge. Alison stood there, looking down at the mess with a deeply embarrassed expression. "I should've never joined. I wouldn't have egg yolk on my ass," Alison whined, her voice filled with regret.

Clementine, always quick to support her friend, gave her a sympathetic look before pointing toward Hawk, who had just stepped onto the deck. "Babe! Please give me your jacket! I have egg on my butt!" Alison exclaimed, running over to Hawk. He chuckled at her predicament but didn't hesitate to take off his jacket. Alison quickly wrapped it around her waist, sighing with relief as the embarrassing stain was now hidden from view.

Meanwhile, Robby was curious about how Hawk had been taken out of the game. "How'd he take you out?" Robby asked, but the question was met with a sharp glare from Hawk.

"Shut up. Don't talk to me," Hawk retorted, the tension between them immediately palpable. Clementine understood the animosity—Robby had been the one to shave off Hawk's mohawk, a deeply personal attack in the Cobra Kai war.

Robby, sensing the unresolved anger, tried to apologize. "Dude, if this is about the mohawk, I'm sorry. But if anybody knows how Cobra Kai can turn you into an asshole, it's you," he shot back, trying to bridge the gap but only fanning the flames.

Alison leaned closer to Clementine, whispering, "Our boyfriends are fighting." Clementine smirked, watching the exchange with a mix of concern and amusement.

Hawk's eyes narrowed, his pride wounded by Robby's words. "So I'm an asshole?" he countered, his voice laced with disbelief and anger.

"Yeah, well, let's see," Robby began, his voice rising as he ticked off the offenses on his fingers. "Uh, you attacked me and Sam at the mall. You broke Demetri's arm. You trashed this entire dojo. You gave your own girlfriend a heart attack—"

Before Robby could finish, Demetri stepped in, raising his hands in a desperate attempt to diffuse the escalating argument. "Guys! Enough! Enough! All right? You're both ex-assholes now. Great. Can we focus on the issue at hand? There is a madman out there using weapons on us," Demetri rambled, gesturing wildly as he referred to Sensei Toguchi's weapon-wielding antics that had smashed so many of their eggs.

The tension began to ease slightly as Robby and Hawk took in Demetri's words, both realizing that their personal grudge wasn't helping their current situation. Clementine, ever practical, asked, "Who's even left?" Her voice broke the silence, reminding everyone that the exercise was still ongoing.

Alison's eyes widened as she connected the dots. "Holy shit. Miguel and Sam are left," she breathed out, the realization dawning on her that two of the strongest fighters in their group were still in the game, facing off against the relentless Sensei Toguchi.

As Miguel and Sam's eggs met the same fate as the others, everyone gathered around to watch Sensei Toguchi fry them on a portable pan. Clementine frowned, her eyes fixed on the sizzling eggs. "I miss Isabella," she sighed, referring to her lost egg with a hint of dramatic sadness. Robby, standing beside her, gave her shoulder a reassuring pat. "One day, one day," he comforted her, though the faint smile on his lips hinted at the absurdity of the situation.

Alison, overhearing the exchange, chimed in, "Five to ten years!" she exclaimed with mock seriousness.

Sensei Toguchi, catching the comment, looked at Alison in disbelief. "You are not good at Yanbaru Kuina," he remarked bluntly, shaking his head. He stood up, his expression stern as he addressed the group. "Snakes will take you down one by one. I have tried to tell you what you must do. But you do not listen. You must learn to adapt. Or soon, you will be extinct. Take new eggs. Try again."

Sam walked forward, grabbing the container holding fresh eggs and distributing them among the group. Each person took one, bracing themselves for the next round. Demetri, ever the observant one, commented, "Sensei Toguchi's real cryptic, like Mr. LaRusso, but aggressive like Sensei Lawrence."

"It's like the hardest part of both styles," Alison agreed, nodding thoughtfully.

Clementine, ever the sarcastic one, rolled her eyes. "Can't wait to get our asses kicked again," she said, her voice dripping with irony. The group started to turn and walk away, resigned to their fate, but Anthony suddenly stopped them.

"Uh, no. No, um... G— Guys, uh, wait," he stammered, his voice filled with a mixture of excitement and uncertainty. Everyone paused, turning back to him with curious expressions.

"He said that the snakes will take us down one by one. Right? Just like he took us down one by one, but... But what if we weren't a bunch of ones? Like, what if we were..." Anthony trailed off, struggling to find the right words.

Clementine's eyebrows shot upwards as the realization hit her. "Together," she finished for him, her voice clear and confident.

Anthony nodded, his excitement growing. "Yeah, exactly. Like, um, a raiding party in Dungeon Lords," he continued, his voice gaining momentum.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah! Even if you're a level 85, you can't mount an attack on the grand realm alone," Demetri added, catching onto Anthony's train of thought.

"Exactly! You need a team. And everybody has a special role," Hawk exclaimed, the idea resonating with him.

"The only way we win is if we work together. As one," Anthony said proudly, his face lighting up with determination.

Clementine and Alison shared a smirk, exchanging a look that said they were ready for whatever challenge was coming next. This time, they had a plan, and they weren't going down without a fight.

As everyone stood on the sparring deck, they were gathered around a hat containing their eggs, ready to defend it with everything they had. Each person was in a fighting stance, their eyes darting around, scanning the area for any sign of Sensei Toguchi. "So we're sure we want to put all our eggs in one basket? You're specifically not supposed to do that," Demetri asked, clearly wary of their strategy.

"This is gonna work," Anthony replied with a determined look. His confidence was infectious, even if the plan seemed risky.

Sensei Toguchi's sharp whistle cut through the air, making everyone tense up. "Oh no, oh no. Oh God," Mitch muttered, his anxiety evident.

Clementine shot him a glare. "Get it together, Penis Breath!" she snapped, trying to keep everyone focused.

"Has anyone seen him yet?" Sam questioned, her eyes scanning the surroundings.

"No idea," Alison replied, shaking her head. "But I hope my basic karate skills pay off because I don't really know how to fight yet," she added, her tone a mix of hope and nervousness.

The group fell silent, their senses heightened as they looked around for any sign of Sensei Toguchi. Then, they spotted him, sneaking up on them with surprising speed. "Oh shit," Miguel cursed under his breath.

Sensei Toguchi charged forward, letting out a fierce battle cry as he brandished his bō staff. "Ready!" Miguel yelled, and the group sprang into action.

Clementine was the first to react, lunging forward to grab the bō staff. Robby quickly followed, kicking the staff to try to disarm Sensei Toguchi. But Sensei was quick, spinning around and sweeping the staff in a wide arc, forcing everyone to back away or dodge. Robby went in for a punch, but Sensei blocked it with the staff and then swiftly knocked him to the ground.

Hawk was next, grabbing the bō staff and trying to wrestle it from Sensei's grip. But Sensei was too strong, spinning Hawk around and making him lose his hold. Demetri attempted a kick, but the bō staff blocked his path. Sensei then kicked Hawk, causing him to stumble back, but Alison was there to catch him.

"Grab the bō!" Hawk yelled. Clementine and Alison lunged for it, and soon everyone was helping them, their combined strength almost overpowering Sensei. But just when they thought they had the upper hand, Sensei Toguchi let go of the staff and ducked under it, causing the group to stumble forward.

Anthony, who had been watching closely, kneeled down, positioning himself protectively over the eggs. As Sensei Toguchi reached for them, Anthony grabbed the hat just in time. Clementine tried to spin around with a kick, but Sensei blocked it, countering with his own attack. Alison stepped in, delivering a kick to Sensei's side, but he blocked it with ease. Miguel and Sam both attempted kicks, but Sensei deflected them all, his movements smooth and precise.

Finally, Sam managed to grab Sensei's wrist, giving Miguel an opening to kick him in the stomach. But even then, Sensei backed away, pushing Sam off him before she could pin him down. Robby and Hawk exchanged a look, then attacked simultaneously, their kicks hitting Sensei at the same time and forcing him to stumble back.

Clementine, not missing a beat, dropped to the ground and tried to sweep Sensei off his feet, but he quickly moved his foot out of the way. Sensei then dodged another kick from Hawk, only to grab Alison by the waist and throw her to the ground as she lunged at him.

Despite their best efforts, Sensei Toguchi remained a formidable opponent. But as he stood in the center of the deck, surrounded by the group in their fighting stances, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. They had fought together, adapting and working as a team, and it had paid off.

Sensei Toguchi stepped forward, testing them one last time. The group moved in unison, ready to defend the eggs, their determination evident. Seeing this, Sensei Toguchi sighed, realizing they had finally learned the lesson he was trying to teach.

"Snake concede," he said, bowing to them in respect. Clementine smiled, and everyone turned to Anthony, celebrating him with daps and hugs for his brilliant idea.

"This is what we have that Cobra Kai does not. Their movement is a mile wide, but only an inch deep. But our movement is an inch wide, but a mile deep. Now that you have learned to work together, I will teach you how to master your defense," Sensei Toguchi stated proudly. He then spoke something in Japanese, and everyone stood up straight, their hands at their sides, before bowing in unison, ready to continue their training with a newfound sense of unity.

ASH SPEAKS!

getting closer to the end of s5!!

i start school tomorrow and im not happy about this :( i'm gonna be a junior. so weird how i started on this app when i was in 7th grade

my pookies are inde navarrette and skyler gisondo!! they're my favorite underrated actors