Time After Time 🌹 Daniel LaRusso [1]

Chapter 40: Disappointment

Rosalía joyfully drove to Mr. Miyagi's shop to help out since she has the day off from work. She has been saving up for a car for months and today she finally bought her neighbor's grey 1978 Toyota Corolla. It's not the greatest car ever but it's in pretty good shape and was affordable for her so she's pretty content. She stands outside chatting with Jessica and Mr. Miyagi. Throughout the entire conversation, she has Daniel in the back of her mind. She can't wait to show him the car she bought all by herself.

While Jessica is showing them the pots she made, Daniel pulls up in his yellow car and honks the horn. The three look over when they hear it. Rosalía instantly feels the excitement bubble up inside her when she spots him, itching to show him her latest achievement. "Hey, Rosalía! Hey, Jessica!" he greets the girls. "Hey, Daniel," they call out while he climbs out of the car. "Hey, Mr. Miyagi," Daniel voices as he shuts the car door before circling around the front of the car. Rosalía rushes over to him. "I have something to show you," she enthusiastically chats before getting cut off by her boyfriend. He grips her arms and says, "that's great, babe but hold on a second, okay?" He kisses her cheek before walking around her.

"Oh- okay..." the girl mumbles, a little disappointed that he brushed her off. However, she quickly lets it go, thinking she'll have an opportunity to tell him soon. I'll just wait until he's not busy anymore, she decides, going back to her spot beside Jessica. "Listen, I have a favor to ask of you," Daniel announces, scurrying up to Mr. Miyagi. The man puts his hand up to stop him from proceeding. "Da-da-da-da-da-da. Daniel-san, look," he interjects, showcasing the pot in his hands and looking between Jessica and Daniel. "Jessica make. Beautiful, ah? You like?" he asks.

"Yeah, I stayed up all night firing them," Jessica proudly states. "Yeah, yeah, I know. I saw one the other night. They're great," Daniel dismisses her statement. Jessica makes a quiet disappointed noise. Rosalía knits her eyebrows together, feeling bad that he just ignored Jessica when she was so proud of her work. "They're great. Listen, I have a favor to ask of you. I- I just wanna ask you... do you know how to sweep?" Daniel asks the older man. "Of course," Mr. Miyagi responds as if it's obvious. Rosalía instantly questions if he's going to break out a broom joke.

"Would you- would you mind showing me how? I mean, I'm not asking you to train me. I don't want you to train me. Just- just this one thing. Just this one thing. I'd be so appreciative, all you have to give me is this one thing. That's it. That's it. Please, please, please, please," he begs, slightly kneeling and folding his hands together. He straightens back up and continues, "You gotta do it. Be a pal." Mr. Miyagi nods and smirks, handing the pot to the boy. "You wait here. I be right back," he declares, patting Jessica's arm before heading inside.

He has the same look my dad has when he's messing with someone, Rosalía thinks, narrowing her eyes at the man. "W-what, where you going?" Daniel asks the man. "Just wait here," Miyagi orders before disappearing behind the wall. Daniel gets excited, believing he'll help him. His girlfriend opens her mouth to warn him that Mr. Miyagi might be pranking him but Daniel starts yapping, "this is great. Mr. Miyagi's gonna teach me front sweeps, right? I found out from this guy- you remember..." He points at his girlfriend and she nods. "The guys who fight in these tournaments, they're suckers for front sweeps!"

"Really?" Jessica asks. "I mean, if I- if I get that down then I'm-" the boy cuts himself off when Mr. Miyagi appears behind him. Rosalía snorts when she sees the broom. I knew it. "Daniel-san, you hold like this," Miyagi demonstrates how to properly hold the broom. The two girls laugh at his humor. "First, left sweep," he instructs, sweeping the ground. Daniel looks between them all and blurts, "it's no joke, alright." He sets the pot down and stomps away. "You don't want to show me, you don't show me. Just don't make fun of me, alright?!" he frustratedly shouts before getting into his car.