New Boy | Miguel Diaz

New dojo

Dad's opening up a new dojo and it's Miguel's first day back to school, so we were told to gather some students who would want to be a part of the dojo.

"El Serpiente." Hawk and I walked over to Miguel.

"What's up?" They did a handshake and I hugged Miguel right after.

"Welcome back, man."

"Feels good to be back."

"Did they give you bionic legs or some shit like that?" Hawk asked after examining Miguel's legs.

"No, same old boring human legs."

"Oh, yeah? Can you throw down? Gotta defend that title. Gotta get through me first. Dude, Cobra Kai is crushing it right now."

"Uh, I've actually been meaning to talk to you about that. But, I'll talk to you about it at lunch."

"Alright, sure."

Miguel and I walked through the halls, people welcoming back Miguel. We saw Demetri over at his locker, but had a cast on his arm?

"Hey, the comeback kid! Welcome back. I hope to make a similar triumphant return to the land of the mobile appendage masses."

"Demetri, what happened to your arm?" I worriedly asked.

"Proximal radius fracture."

"It smells." Yasmine came up.

"I put a lemon rind down there to mitigate that. The invitation for you to sign it still stands." Demetri handed Yasmine a sharpie, but she passed it back.

"Hard pass. At least, when you used to be a thorn in my tits, you were getting me an A in science. Now you can't even do that because you're defective." She walked away making me scoff.

"So, uh, how'd you break your arm?"

"We've all got a lot to catch up on." He sighed.

-

"Hey, guys." Hawk got up from the lunch table, walking towards us.

"We heard what happened with Demetri."

"How could you do that?"

"You both should be thanking me. Sam and the rest of Miyagi-Do wanted revenge because of what happened to you. They started it. We finished it."

"That's not what Sensei taught us."

"He's not my sensei anymore."

"After everything Sensei Lawrence did for you, you betray him?"

"He betrayed us."

"Hawk, this isn't you talking. It's Kreese, he's got in your head. You can change that if you leave Cobra Kai and join Sensei Lawrence's new dojo. If you come, others will follow. Okay, we can show everyone we're not a bunch of bullies. It could be like before."

"He has a new dojo?"

"Hey, guys. Check this guy out. Standing around with a dick on his hand." Kyler announced in the cafeteria, holding up Demetri's cast, making everyone laugh.

"So, these are your friends now?" I scoff and walk away.

After some classes, I met with Miguel at his locker. I looked around while he searched for his books, and spotted my dad.

"Dad? How did you get through security?"

"I went to school here. Think I don't know all the secret ways in and out? Hey, got some good news. Found us a pretty sweet spot for our new dojo."

"Yeah?" Miguel's eyes lit up.

"How's the recruiting coming?" Miguel shook his head and started walking away. "That bad?"

"It's just everything's changed, Sensei. Cobra Kai, they... they all drank the Kool-Aid."

"Kool-aid?"

"What's wrong with Kool-aid?"

"It's just... Sensei Kreese is turning them into an army of assholes. There's no convincing them to leave."

"Wait here." Dad walked passed us, heading over to Hawk and some of his friends.

"Okay, listen up! I screwed up. And I'm sorry. I made it about me. And that's not what a sensei does. I took the easy way out. I gave up. What happened here at this school... it rocked me to my core. I couldn't look myself in the eye, let alone face all of you."

"I guess it makes it easier to tell yourself that. But the truth is, you bailed on us long before that fight happened. You got soft. And we paid the price."

"Now, you listen up. When you came into my dojo, you were softer than a baby's ass. I made you what you are, not Kreese. He doesn't give a shit about you. About any of you! So if you wanna keep whining about the past like a bunch of pussies, fine. We can play that game.

"Wanna stick with Kreese? Go ahead. Don't say I didn't warn you when your life ends up in the shitter. Or you could sack up and join my dojo. Havenhurst and Magnolia, tomorrow at 4:00. If you wanna save yourselves, train the right way... you better be there."

He walked off before yelling, "And don't be late!" He then knocked someone's books out of their hands. "Sorry, kid. Old habit."

I looked around the group, and I swear I saw a glimpse of Hawk smile. He'll come around, eventually.

-

"This is day one. We've been here before. But things are different now. They tried to tear us down. It didn't work. They said we needed a roof and four walls. Screw that! This park... will be our new dojo. Cause you don't need a dojo to be a dojo. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Sensei!"

"I started Cobra Kai with two nerds." He pointed at Miguel and I. "This is a step up. And if we're gonna be taken seriously, we need a name that commands respect. A name that elicits power and dominance. Cobras are strong. They may be the king of the jungle, but the world's more than just a jungle. And there's only one animal... that can kill a snake."

"A mongoose?" I silently chuckle at Bert's answer.

"A real animal, Bert." Dad walked over to the box on the grass, grabbing a red t-shirt, "Welcome... to Eagle Fang Karate."

"Uh, eagles don't have fangs-" Mitch was stopped by being hit in the face with the shirt.

"Put em on." We all got a shirt and wore it over our other clothes.

"Anyone else feeling a little snug?" Mitch looked around the group.

"Do some more sit-ups. Alright, everybody, fall in!"

We all stood together, but from behind my dad, I saw Hawk and a few others.

"Sensei, look." I nodded towards their direction.

"Still got it. Alright, everybody. Looks like our class just got bigger. Make room."

Kyler and Tory soon walked up, heading our way.
Kreese and everyone else of Cobra Kai joined them.

"I told you... Cobra Kai for life."

Kreese walked up to Dad. "Don't worry, Johnny. I'm not here for a fight."

"Yeah? Then why the hell are you here?"

"I'd like to make another offer to come back to Cobra Kai where you belong."

"You're crazy if you think I'm ever teaming up with you again. The garbage you're feeding them, the shit they're pulling, it's messed up! And you're the blame for that."

"I have to disagree with you there. I care about my students. They're strong and they're true fighters. And they wouldn't make the mistake of showing mercy and ending up in a coma!"

This caused Miguel to walk up to Dad and Kreese, Hawk doing the same.

"This is it, Johnny. There's not gonna be another chance."

"Good."

"You made your choice. And you are gonna regret it."