╰┈➤ 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝, 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬! ๋࣭ ⭑⚝
✮ ⋆ ˚｡𖦹 ⋆｡°✩
⭑.ᐟ ˊˎ- In the aftermath of her mother's death, Tory Nichols finds herself at rock bottom, struggling to care for her younger brother and keep her life together...
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꩜ .ᐟ
𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐲 stood in front of the mirror in the locker room, adjusting the collar of her Cobra Kai gi. The air in the room was thick with anticipation, the sounds of other students rushing around her as they prepared for the tournament. But despite the hustle and bustle, she couldn't shake the feeling of emptiness. The thing she was missing—someone—was Yuko.
Yuko had promised to be there for her, cheering her on from the sidelines. But now, when it was time to leave, Yuko wasn't there. Tory could feel the weight of the absence in her chest. She had grown so used to Yuko's quiet support, her presence like a constant anchor. And now, standing on the brink of the tournament, Tory felt like she was facing it all alone.
"Ready?" Kreese's voice broke through her thoughts, and she quickly forced herself to focus.
"Yeah," Tory answered, her voice quiet but firm.
"Good," Kreese said with a hard clap to her back. "We need you to win this. The team is depending on you."
"I know," Tory muttered under her breath, her eyes flicking to the doorway. Where was Yuko? She had expected her to be there, as she always was, ready to cheer her on, to make her feel like she wasn't in this fight alone. But she wasn't. And that hurt more than Tory wanted to admit.
The team began to file out of the locker room, and Tory reluctantly joined them, feeling a sense of dread settle in her stomach. She hadn't heard from Yuko all morning. She hadn't gotten a text wishing her good luck. Nothing.
Tory forced herself to shake it off. The tournament was starting, and there was no time to dwell on what was missing. She had to fight, for herself, for Cobra Kai, for her.
ᡣ𐭩.ᐟ
The tournament was buzzing with excitement when they arrived. The energy in the air was palpable. Students from various dojos lined the walls, stretching, warming up, and talking strategy. The gym was massive, filled with the sound of footsteps pounding the floor, of people shouting encouragements to their teammates.
Tory's heart raced as she entered the arena. She could already see the competitors she had been warned about—each one fierce, each one determined to win. She let the adrenaline of the moment wash over her, but still, something gnawed at her insides.
She looked toward the entrance, half-expecting to see Yuko walk through the doors, but there was no sign of her. The emptiness inside her grew, but she refused to let it show.
"Everything okay?" Kreese asked, his sharp gaze landing on her as he clapped a hand on her shoulder. He could see the distraction in her eyes.
"Yeah, just... thinking," she replied, not wanting to go into details.
"Focus," Kreese snapped. "We can talk later. Right now, you've got a fight to win."
Tory nodded and pushed her emotions aside, putting on the mask of the fierce Cobra Kai fighter she had worked so hard to become. But as the first round of matches began, her mind kept drifting back to Yuko. Where was she? Was she too busy to make it? Was she upset with her? The thoughts swirled in her head, making it harder to concentrate on the fight at hand.
