New Boy | Miguel Diaz

Cobra Kai Never Dies

I walk into the library, spotting Demetri, Eli, and Miguel at a table. I rush over throwing my bag on the floor.

"He's closing it."

"Who's closing what?" They all ask.

"Sensei. The dojo. This morning when I left your place, Miguel, I ran into him and he told me it's over. He's closing Cobra Kai."

"So that's it? No more karate?" Demetri asks.

"I guess so." I mumble.

"It's probably for the best. It was starting to boost both of your guys' confidence."

"Isn't that a good thing?" Miguel questions.

"No. What has confidence ever gotten anybody except for a black eye and their backpack thrown in the trash."

"Well, I thought it was kind of cool how you stood up to Kyler." Eli says.

"Are you insane? Let me ask you. What is the best superpower anyone could have?"

"Super strength." Both Miguel and I say.

"Wrong. Invisibility. A distant second would be super speed to run away fast."

"Run away from who?" A voice comes up behind Eli and I.

"Whom. It's the object of a preposition. Remember English class?" Brucks corrects.

"Jesus Christ." I say.

"We were just leaving." All four of us grab our books and bags when Eli was pulled back by Kyler.

"Hey, where you going? Oh, look at this freak."

"Oh shit." Brucks laughs.

"What kind of girl would ever kiss this shit?"

"Leave him alone Kyler." I shove him off Eli.

"Oh yeah? And what are you gonna do about it?" He smirks.

"You really want me to remind you what happened at the mini-mart?"

His smirks drops as he comes closer "You and your friends are a bunch of freaks."

I was about to say something when Miguel pulled me behind "Let's go, Ava." I frustratedly sigh and pull Eli's sleeve walking out the library. Sam was hiding behind a shelf and walked up to her.

"Some boyfriend you have, LaRusso." She looks down looking disappointed. I scoff and walk out.

-

School was finally over and since no dojo today, I walked home. When I walked in, I saw my dad on the couch.

"Where. Have. You. Been?"

"I should be asking you that. I thought you left town."

"Well, I'm here now."

"Sadly."

"Where were you?" He asks once again.

"School."

"What about last night? I came back and you weren't here. Don't tell me you were at that stupid karate place."

"I wasn't. Now that you're here, care to explain about those things. Something you mentioned almost two weeks ago."

"I decided you're not ready."

"Not ready? Why not?"

"This is something that will change your life forever." He gets up and walks over to me. "You. Are. Not. Ready." He opens the door and glances at me for a second and leaves.

"Always leaving." I say.

Another knock comes from my door. I open it and see Sensei Lawrence.

"I'm not closing the dojo. Come back tomorrow if you're still up for it." He walks away when I respond with "Um okay!"

-

I wake up to a loud banging at my front door.

"Seriously, who is it now!" I yell, bursting the door open.

"Woah, someone slept on the wrong side of the bed."

Miguel.

"My mom says I can train again. You in?"

"Uh sure." I hesitantly say.

"Good. Go get ready. Meet me out here in 10."

I slam the door, groaning. I quickly get ready and walk out. We run to the dojo, and I see Sensei's car out. Miguel opens the door but no one is there. That is, until Sensei walks out of his office.

"My mom says I can train again and Ava agreed to stay in the dojo. Well, if we still have the dojo." Miguel says and I can sense a bit of hope in the last sentence.

"We do for now. But I need to know, are you both ready to take things to the next level?"

"Yes, Sensei." We say in unison.

"You got your ass kicked because you didn't have any defense Diaz. So I'm gonna teach you both, the best defense that you can know. And the best defense...is more offense.

"Shall we start?"