COBRA KAI: The Way of the Fist (Prequel to "COBRA KAI: Clash of the Five Dojos")

CHAPTER 22: "1984 (Part 2)."

For the next four days, Daniel has been doing chores around Nariyoshi’s house. After learning “Wax On, Wax Off”, he learned “Sand the Floor”, then “Paint the Fence”. The lesson he was learning now was “Side to Side” by painting the house while Nariyoshi was on a fishing trip. Later in the night, He got to the last side of the house and only got half way. “Oh. Missed spot.” Nariyoshi joked with Daniel, holding his fishing rod. “What spot?! Hey, why didn’t you tell me you were going fishing?” Daniel asked, irritated. “You not here when I go.” Nariyoshi answered. “Well, maybe I would’ve wanted to go, did you ever think of that?” Daniel asked, angry. Nariyoshi puts down the fishing rod and walks to the back yard with Daniel following him. “You karate training.” Nariyoshi answered. “I’m what? I’m being your goddamn slave, is what I’m being, man. We had a deal here.” Daniel reminded. “So?” Nariyoshi questioned. “So? So you’re supposed to teach and I’m supposed to learn, remember? For four days I’ve been busting my ass and I haven’t learned a goddamn thing.” Daniel ranted. “You learn plenty.” Nariyoshi said. “I learn plenty. I learned how to sand your decks maybe, maybe, how to wax your car, paint your house, paint your fence. I learned plenty. Right!” Daniel ranted again with his complaints. “Not everything is as seem.” Nariyoshi said, patiently. “Oh bullshit. I’m going home, man.” Daniel said, turning around to leave. “Daniel-san! Daniel-san! Come here!” Nariyoshi shouted, losing his patience. “Show me “Sand the Floor”.” Nariyoshi ordered. Within the next few minutes, Nariyoshi showed Daniel the skills he was teaching through muscle memory that he got from doing the chores. For the last part, He did all the attacks at once and Daniel learned the pattern very quickly. The two bowed and Nariyoshi smiled at his first student. “Come back tomorrow.” Nariyoshi said before leaving the backyard. Daniel looked at his hands in disbelief. He did karate. Like actual Miyagi-Do karate. He could not wait until tomorrow.      

(The Next Day…)

Nariyoshi and Daniel arrived at the beach. Daniel walked into the water. “Find balance! Water make kick! Find balance!” Nariyoshi yelled from the top of the hill. Daniel practiced some kicks against the waves that came at him. After a while of that, Daniel looked around for Nariyoshi and spotted him on top of a stump, doing the karate move known as the Crane Kick. The two decided to call it a day and began to leave. “What was it that you were doing on those stumps over there?” Daniel asked, curiously. “Called Crane technique. “Does it work?” Daniel asked again. “If do right, no can defense.” Nariyoshi answered. 

(Timeskip…)

Daniel walked into Nariyoshi’s home and saw him sitting in front of his coffee table, drinking whisky. “Daniel-san. Welcome. Please sit. Miyagi must tell you something important.” Nariyoshi said. Daniel sat down, curious about what his sensei was about to talk to him about. Nariyoshi told Daniel everything about the Karate War between Miyagi-Do and the Way of the Fist dojo. He also told him about how they needed students in order to win the war. After Nariyoshi told his story to Daniel, he passed out on his bed, with Daniel helping him lay down. Daniel gave a respectful bow and left his sensei to rest for the night. The teenager was in complete shock. He did not expect his sensei to flat out tell him that he was now caught up in a Karate War. He had to go home and think about what Nariyoshi told him. For the next few days Daniel confronted Nariyoshi about the Karate War and told him that he decided to help him in any way he could to get more students for Miyagi-Do.

(Timeskip…)

It was now Daniel's birthday. Nariyoshi sang him happy birthday and gave his first gift to him. Daniel opened it and saw that it was a Miyagi-Do gi. “Oh, Mr. Miyagi. This is amazing. Thank you so much.” Daniel said, with a happy smile on his face. “You are welcome, Daniel-san. Today you get driver license?” Nariyoshi asked. “Oh yeah, look!” Daniel pulls out his driver’s license. Nariyoshi told Daniel how much he was proud of him and noticed the picture of him and Ali Mills, Daniel’s girlfriend. “I did not know you had sweetheart.” Nariyoshi said. “Yeah. She is.” Daniel said, with a smile on his face. “Too bad mother not here.” Nariyoshi pointed out, which made Daniel realize something. Nariyoshi led Daniel outside telling him that he had a second birthday gift. “Choose.” He said pointing to all of his cars. Daniel tried to refuse taking one of them but Nariyoshi insisted. Daniel picked the yellow one and thanked his sensei for the amazing gift. “Daniel-san. Do you remember lesson about the balance?” Nariyoshi asked. “Yeah.” Daniel responded. “Lesson not just karate only. Lesson for whole life. Whole life have balance. Everything be better. Understand?” Nariyoshi asked. “I do.” Daniel answered. Daniel drove off and the two kept shouting “BONSAI” until Daniel left the parking lot.