Out of Place [Cobra Kai OC x Robby Keene]

121 - Nothing's Gonna Ever Keep You Down

The past week has been nothing but amazing. Staying with the LaRussos hits different now that I actually am a LaRusso. Robby, Miguel, Sam, Anthony, Demetri, Eli, and I all went back to school shopping together. I invited Tory, but she declined. That's okay. We went out and got ice cream and we caught up some. I told her that the LaRussos now have custody over me. She joked that I bring down the net entitlement level of the family. I just laughed. Other than that, I've been at the dojang most evenings getting in some last minute preparation for today.

The Taekwondo All Valley followed the Karate All Valley's suit and split up the genders into two separate divisions for sparring, much to Cameron and I's dismay, since this is his last year to compete and therefore would've been his final chance to best me in a tournament. On the bright side, it means that both of us have a chance to win. And winning is something I feel like I have to do.

I've won the summer tournament for two years in a row, and I've won the winter one now too. If I win this one, I'll have beaten Mr LaRusso and Mr Lawrence's consecutive anual All Valley tournament wins. After coming second at the All Valley for karate once again, I feel like I need this in order to prove myself. I've trained harder than ever between last year and this year. I've trained harder than ever between the karate All Valley and this one. I'm immensely more knowledgeable in both taekwondo and karate than I ever was before. If I don't win today... how am I supposed to compete on a national level?

"Y'know kata, I've got a good feeling about today," Cameron says as we stretch together. Ever since the karate All Valley, Cameron and I have gotten a lot closer. I think both of us kinda finally realized that the other was the closest remaining memory of René, on top of Cameron just being a good friend in general.

"That's good, because I'm nervous out of my mind," I reply. He looks over at me.

"C'mon, you're the winningest person here. You've won the past three taekwondo tournaments you've competed in. You're reigning champ,"

"Yeah, that's why I'm so nervous..." I say. His expression softens. "If I can't hold my title here, how am I supposed to compete, let alone win, at the Sekai Taikai?"

He stops what he's doing, putting his hands on my shoulders.

"Kata. Parker. You're the best fighter I've ever seen- aside from maybe Abelardo, maybe. I'm convinced that at this point, the only thing that can stop you is yourself. I've never seen someone who actually has every right to be confident doubt themselves so much. We're all rooting for you. Now in the skills divisions, I will be rooting for you a little less, said with all of my love, because obviously I would like to win," he says, giving me a small shoulder pat, "but sparring? You're taking. Scratch that, you won't even have to take it. You'll just pick it up right where you left off last year."

I snicker. Very funny, very funny. It is nice that someone believes in me though.

"Do I hear my students being cocky even though they know I've taught them better?" Mr Abelardo asks as he walks up. Oh no, he's not mad is he?

"Abelardo, we all know Kata is anything but cocky. If anything, she's under-confident and I'm just trying to get her to believe in herself so she doesn't get so in her head," Cameron says. Mr Abelardo relaxes, looking over at me.