Heartstrings | Johnny Lawrence x (y/n) | 1984 |

| 16 | Gold N Stuff

Practice at the dojo that day had an energy that was far more intense than usual. From the moment you stepped onto the mat, Sensei Kreese's gaze was locked on you, his eyes narrowing as he called out instructions with a bite in his voice. Every move he commanded seemed sharper, more demanding, as if testing just how far he could push you.

"Again, (Y/N)! Strike faster!" Kreese barked as you launched into another set of punches, your fists slamming into the bag until your knuckles stung. You stole a quick look over your shoulder; Johnny was watching you, worry etched into his expression, though he stayed quiet, unwilling to cross Kreese.

You could feel your body beginning to strain, every movement becoming heavier, but Kreese was relentless. "You call that strong?" he sneered, his tone condescending. "If this is all you've got, you're wasting my time."

. The other Cobras exchanged uneasy glances, sensing that Kreese had singled you out.

Johnny watched you, his jaw clenched, clearly uncomfortable with how hard Kreese was pushing.

Your chest tightened as his words cut deeper. You couldn't let him see any weakness — that would only make him push harder. So, you gritted your teeth and pushed on, even as every muscle burned.

"Enough with the warm-up," Kreese said finally, gesturing to one of the larger guys from the group. He smirked as he stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. "Let's see if you're tough enough to handle a real fight."

Your opponent moved forward, his stance wide and confident. Kreese's eyes glinted with a cold satisfaction as you prepared yourself , catching Johnny's worried gaze for a moment before forcing yourself to focus. You couldn't let him, or anyone, think you weren't capable.

"Begin!" Kreese's command cut through the tension, and you didn't hesitate, launching into a series of quick jabs and kicks. The guy was strong, though, and he dodged, countering with a sharp jab that clipped your shoulder, pain blossoming down your arm. Gritting your teeth, you doubled down, pouring every ounce of frustration, anger, and exhaustion into each punch.

As the sparring intensified, the tension between you and your opponent built. You were pushing past every limit, driven by Kreese's harsh words and the fear of being seen as weak. But the exhaustion was catching up, making you reckless. Your fists and kicks became harder, sloppier, each one landing with a brutal force.

"Come on!" Kreese shouted, his voice taunting. "Is that the best you can do?"

Fueled by that biting tone, you threw a punch, harder than you intended. It connected with his face, and you felt the sickening impact of bone against skin. Blood spurted from his nose, and he staggered back, clutching his face as he groaned in pain, blood dripping down his fingers. The room fell silent, eyes wide as they took in the scene. You looked down at your hand, the sight of his blood staining your knuckles sending a wave of shock through you.

Kreese's lips curled into a smirk. "Now that is Cobra Kai," he said, a disturbing glint in his eye. "But remember, control is power. Don't get lost in your anger, or you'll end up like the weak."

You were too dazed to respond, your chest heaving with a mix of exhaustion, frustration, and guilt as you watched your sparring partner stagger off, still clutching his bleeding nose.

Johnny walked up quietly once practice was over, his gaze filled with a depth of concern he didn't voice aloud. As you pulled your bag over your shoulder, he gave you a long, knowing look. You felt his hand brush yours for just a second, a silent gesture of comfort and solidarity, and it was enough to remind you that, no matter how much Kreese tried to push, you still had people who truly believed in you.

After practice, you sat on the hood of your bike with the Cobras gathered around, each of them casting cautious glances your way. You flexed your hand, the soreness in your knuckles a harsh reminder of the intensity you'd endured, and it hadn't gone unnoticed by your friends.

"Man, Kreese was on you like a hawk today," Bobby said, crossing his arms, worry visible in his eyes. "He kept pushing you way past everyone else. What's his deal?"

Jimmy nodded in agreement, kicking at the gravel. "It's like he wanted to see you break or something."

You shrugged, trying to brush it off, but the exhaustion weighed on you, and it showed. "I don't know. Maybe he thinks I can handle it. Or... maybe he's testing me, trying to see how far I'll go."

Johnny, who'd been quiet, gave a heavy sigh. "It's like he doesn't care about anyone's limits. Kreese thinks we're only strong if we're on the edge, barely holding it together. But you don't have to prove anything to him, you know?" His voice held a soft, reassuring tone that made you feel like, no matter what, he had your back.

With that, the tension lifted just a little, and Bobby clapped a hand on your shoulder. "Enough about Kreese. Tonight, we're forgetting all of that," he said with a grin. "Gold N Stuff, remember? Susan and Barbara are coming along. Let's actually have a good time for once."

A small smile crept onto your face. Gold N Stuff, the local arcade and mini-golf spot, was the perfect place to shake off the weight of Kreese's harsh training. And with Bobby and Jimmy bringing Susan and Barbara — who'd been hanging around a lot more lately, with clear sparks between them — it seemed like it might be a night to remember.

Later That Evening at Gold N Stuff

The neon lights outside Gold N Stuff cast a colorful glow over the parking lot as you and the Cobras rolled up, laughter and music already spilling out from inside. As you locked up your bike, you spotted Barbara and Susan by the entrance, laughing as they talked to Jimmy and Bobby.

The place was packed, people streaming in and out with arms full of tickets, and you could already feel the energy, the smell of popcorn, and the sound of arcade games ringing from inside.

"Ready to have some fun?" Susan grinned, nudging you playfully as she took in the buzzing atmosphere. Barbara looked over at Johnny, raising her eyebrow. "Think you can handle a little competition in mini-golf, Johnny?"

Johnny chuckled, smirking back at her. "Bring it on. You're going down."

The group headed over to the mini-golf course, where the games immediately turned competitive. Bobby and Susan teamed up, showing off with a series of playful, but surprisingly good, trick shots. Barbara was holding her own against Jimmy, giving him a run for his money. And you found yourself in a back-and-forth with Johnny, each of you trying to one-up the other with every shot.

But the best moment came when you reached the ninth hole — a tricky shot with a massive windmill. As Barbara lined up her shot, Bobby and Susan started a countdown, hyping her up.

"Three... two... one... go!" they chanted as she took the swing. The ball sailed perfectly through the rotating blades and landed right in the hole, a perfect shot. She jumped up, throwing her hands in the air as everyone cheered.

After mini-golf, you headed to the arcade. Johnny challenged you to a game of air hockey, the two of you locked in an intense match that drew a small crowd, everyone cheering as the puck darted back and forth. Finally, with one swift shot, you scored the winning point, and the Cobras erupted in cheers.

"I'll let you have that one," Johnny said, grinning and holding out his hand. You shook it, laughing. "Sure you will."

The rest of the night was a blur of laughter, competition, and a refreshing feeling of freedom. From shooting hoops in the basketball game to racing each other in the bumper cars, everyone was completely in the moment. For once, there was no pressure, no Kreese pushing you to the edge. Just friends, games, and a well-deserved break.

At one point, as you and the Cobras watched Jimmy and Barbara dance to the old jukebox by the snack bar, Johnny leaned over to you, his voice soft amidst the noise. "Tonight... this is how it should be. Just us, no worries."

You nodded, meeting his gaze. "Yeah, it really is." And for the first time in a long time, you felt like things were exactly as they should be.