Time After Time 🌹 Daniel LaRusso [1]

Chapter 17: Trip to Okinawa

The trio stands in line at the passport agency, getting Mr. Miyagi a passport so he can leave the country. "How come you can get a passport in one day?" Daniel asks. Does this boy ever not ask questions? "Have next-day plane ticket," Mr. Miyagi replies. "Oh... you know, you never told me. Why'd you leave Okinawa in the first place?" he questions. "Fall in love with girl," Miyagi simply states. Daniel glances at the girl beside him for a second. I'm in the same boat right now, he thinks. Damn, why is love so complicated? Rosalía wonders. "So why- why'd you leave?" the boy stutters.

"Was arranged by her parents she marry someone else," the man conveys. "Mm," Daniel mutters. "Well, did you ever meet the guy?" Mr. Miyagi nods and responds, "hai." Rosalía jumps into the conversation. "What was he like?" she questions. "Was Miyagi best friend," the man answers, looking at her. The girl's eyes widen and she huffs. "Mr. Miyagi, your life could be a telenovela," she sarcastically remarks.

———(🌹)———

Rosalía and Daniel sit next to each other. Daniel is looking at a picture of Mr. Miyagi's old best friend and Rosalía is looking at an ancient photograph of Yukie. Wow, she was gorgeous, she thinks. The two switch photos and the girl is now studying the best friend's picture. "So this is your old girlfriend, Yukie? She sent the letter?" the boy asks as he analyzes the photograph.

"Hai."

"And this is your friend?" the girl asks. "Mm. My best friend, Sato," Mr. Miyagi confirms. Rosalía holds the photograph next to the one in Daniel's hand and they look at both images. "You think he's still alive?" he inquires. "We were same age," the man replies. "Yeah, but you never know," Rosalía chimes in, making the man shrug. She gives her picture to Daniel and holds onto his bicep, leaning her head on his shoulder. "What did he do when he found out about you two?" the boy asks, still studying the photographs. This makes Mr. Miyagi chuckle. "Challenge Miyagi to fight," he states.

The two teens raise their eyebrows in disbelief. "Men," the girl scoffs, rolling her eyes. "Must've been some girl," Daniel comments. "Oh, Miyagi remember," the man begins, causing the couple to gaze at him. He looks into the distance with a dazed grin. "I make big speech in front of whole village. Miyagi break with tradition, go against parent arrangement..." Rosalía smiles at the romance of it all. This sounds like such a romance novel. Daniel smiles too, admiring the way the man speaks about it. He'd do the same thing for his girl if it comes to that.

"Marry Yukie anyway," Miyagi concludes. The teens' smiles slowly disappear. The man's happy expression fades, and he shakes his head and sighs. "Of course, Sato feel disgrace... So, challenge Miyagi to fight to save his honor," he explains. The girl's frown deepens. "And you lost?" Daniel inquires. "No. Never fight. Next day, leave Okinawa forever," Mr. Miyagi wraps up the story. Rosalía looks down, feeling sorry that it didn't work out for him. Daniel doesn't understand Mr. Miyagi's past decisions and questions, "well, what about her? Didn't you love her?"

"Very much."

"Well, did she love you?"

"Hai."

"Oh, so then how could you leave?" the boy asks. "Miyagi no believe in fighting," the man responds. "Yeah, I know that but you guys were in love. Come on," Daniel insists. Mr. Miyagi bends down to open a drawer and looks at the boy. "Daniel-san, never put passion before principle. Even if win, you lose," the man advises. The man walks out and Daniel's eyes follow him. He feels Rosalía's head moving on his shoulder and he looks down to see her nodding her head in agreement with Miyagi's words. She knows he's right. She would never allow herself to go against her principles or change herself for anyone.