Time After Time 🌹 Daniel LaRusso [1]

Chapter 11: La Voz de los '80

Over the course of the next few days, Daniel proceeds his training. He mostly does it on his own, wanting to invite Rosalía along but decides against it because he knows he'll get distracted. He needs his full focus when training and if she's around, he'll give her 90% of his attention and only 10% to his karate. Especially after their date, all Daniel wants to do is be with her but he knows he has his priorities. Ever since that night, they've been spending a lot of time together, mostly in school, but haven't gone on an official second date due to his training and Rosalía's responsibility of babysitting Adriana. However, they're both eager to go out together again.

Daniel is currently having a training session with Mr. Miyagi at the lake. Rosalía is here this time; the older man's presence helps Daniel not get too distracted by her. "Daniel-san... secret to punch: make up power, whole body. Fit inside one inch, here," the man says, tapping Daniel's fist. "Power. Whole body. One inch, here. Now punch hard," he orders. The boy punches him, unsatisfying the man. "What's the matter? You some kind of girl or something? Punch! Drive a punch!"

Rosalía is laying on the hood of the truck and quickly snaps her head up to glare at Mr. Miyagi. "What does that mean?" she sasses. The man shushes her and she rolls her eyes. "Not just arm. Whole body! Hip, leg, drive a punch! Make 'kiai'... hiya!" he yells before continuing. "Give you power. Now try punch," he urges Daniel. The boy punches Miyagi's vest-covered chest, yelling out, "Kiai!"

"Once more."

They repeat the process three more times before Mr. Miyagi compliments him. "Very good, Daniel-san." He throws two more hits before getting cocky and dancing around. "Hey, pretty good, huh?" Daniel asks as he starts jumping and hitting the man's vest. "Look at this, Mr. Miyagi," he prances around the man as he continues to mess around. Ooo, he's gonna beat his ass, Rosalía thinks as she views Mr. Miyagi visibly becoming upset.

"What do you think, Mr. Miyagi, huh?"

Mr. Miyagi throws himself to the ground, sweeping Daniel's leg and taking him down with him. Rosalía raises her fist to her mouth, mouthing an "ohh," as she witnesses this. This is getting interesting. "I tell you what Miyagi think. I think you dance around too much. I think you talk too much. I think you look at Rosalía-san too much. I think you not concentrate enough," the man rambles. Oh, fuck, he mentioned me, the girl thinks, suddenly feeling a little uncomfortable. "Lots of work be done. Tournament just around the corner. Come, stand up!" he finishes.

They dive right back into it. They practice punches and kicks for another two hours while the girl wanders off. She returns when they wrap up the session and right when Mr. Miyagi starts taking off his vest, she stops him. "Wait, I want to try something," she requests. "Hai," the man replies, repositioning the vest. The girl smirks and sends a powerful punch to his chest, making him stumble back. "What's the matter? You some kind of girl or something?" she quotes him from earlier, wearing a snarky smile. Mr. Miyagi chuckles and pats the girl's shoulder. "Not bad, Rosalía-san."

The girl laughs and shrugs, smiling cockily. She spins around to see Daniel staring at her with an amused grin plastered on his face. "Where'd you learn to hit like that?" he asks. Rosalía cocks her eyebrow and snickers. "Did you forget who my friends are?" She walks past him and he just remains there with his eyes lingering on the girl.

———(🌹)———

Rosalía wakes up early, feeling too excited to go back to sleep. Today is Daniel's birthday and she's been dying to give him his gift. She gets out of bed and does her morning routine, getting ready for the day. She needs to buy one more thing for Daniel, so she's going out with Marissa and Kara to get it. She exits her room and goes to the kitchen to eat something before she leaves. She sits down and pours cereal and milk into a bowl and her mom walks in, curiously eyeing her as she eats.