I'm Not Afraid Of You Now - Robby Keene

6 : No Mercy, No Doubt

Cam sat cross-legged on her bed, the hum of late-night crickets filtering through her open window. Her fingers fiddled with the fraying edge of her notebook, where she'd jotted down a mess of thoughts about the All Valley Tournament.

Why did I even agree to this? she wondered for the hundredth time. Competing felt like stepping onto a battlefield, and she wasn't sure she had what it took to come out unscathed.

A sharp knock on her door snapped her out of her spiraling thoughts.

"Come in," she called.

Tyler poked his head in, a grin already plastered across his face. "Hey, you ready to get your ass handed to you at practice tomorrow?"

"Wow, thanks for the pep talk, TyTy," she said dryly.

"Hey, just looking out for you," he teased, stepping inside and flopping onto her desk chair. "But seriously, you're doing great. You just need to trust yourself more."

Cam tilted her head, narrowing her eyes at him. "Since when did you become Mr. Motivational Speaker?"

"Since I became the karate prodigy of the family," he said, flashing a cocky grin.

She threw a pillow at him. "Prove it tomorrow."

The next day after school, the Cobra Kai dojo was buzzing with energy. Johnny stood at the center of the mat, clapping his hands to get everyone's attention.

"Alright, listen up!" he barked. "We've got less than two months until the All Valley. That means no more slacking, no more excuses. You're gonna train harder, hit harder, and fight smarter than anyone else out there."

Miguel stood near the front, his posture straight and focused. Cam and Tyler were off to the side, trying to keep up with Johnny's rapid-fire instructions.

"Grey! Tyler! Pair up!" Johnny shouted.

Cam and Tyler exchanged a quick glance before moving into position.

"Don't go easy on her, kid," Johnny warned Tyler. "This isn't a tea party."

Cam rolled her eyes. "Oh, don't worry. He never does."

The sparring began, and Tyler immediately went on the offensive. He threw a series of quick jabs, forcing Cam to stay on her toes. She managed to block most of them but missed one, his fist tapping her shoulder.

"Come on, CC, you're faster than that!" Tyler taunted, a playful smirk on his face.

"Shut up, Ty!" she shot back, ducking under his next punch and countering with a low sweep that knocked him off balance.

Johnny clapped. "Now that's more like it! Keep it up!"

After practice, Miguel walked over to Cam and Tyler, a towel slung over his shoulder.

"You two looked good out there," he said, grinning.

Cam groaned, stretching out her sore arms. "Tell that to my bruises."

Tyler laughed. "Don't worry, Miguel. I'll take it easy on her next time."

Cam smacked his arm. "Yeah, right."

"Hey, you're improving fast," Miguel said earnestly, looking at Cam. "I'm serious. Sensei even said so."

"Sensei didn't yell at me today," Cam admitted with a small smile. "I guess that's progress."

"It is," Miguel said. "And hey, if you ever want to do some extra training, I'm around. We've gotta be ready for the tournament."

Cam nodded, appreciating the offer. Miguel had a way of making everything seem less intimidating, like they could handle anything as long as they stuck together.

At school, things were getting complicated. Miguel had been spending more time with Sam, and it didn't take a genius to see that they liked each other.

Cam watched from a distance as they talked in the hallway, their smiles bright and easy. She couldn't help feeling a twinge of... something. Not jealousy, exactly, but maybe a little protectiveness over Miguel.

"You okay?" Tyler asked, appearing beside her.

"Yeah," she said quickly. "Why wouldn't I be?"

He raised an eyebrow. "No reason. Just looks like you're deep in thought."

She shrugged, brushing it off. "It's nothing."

That evening, Johnny called Miguel into his office while the rest of the class practiced their forms.

"Diaz," Johnny said, leaning back in his chair. "I've been watching you. You're improving, but you've got a lot to learn before the tournament."

"I know, Sensei," Miguel said, nodding earnestly.

"Good. Because winning isn't just about skill—it's about attitude. You have to believe you're the best, or you're already beaten."

Miguel nodded again, determination shining in his eyes. "I understand, Sensei."

Johnny leaned forward, his tone softening slightly. "You've got what it takes, kid. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

Meanwhile, Cam and Tyler stayed late at the dojo, practicing their kicks and punches long after the official class had ended.

"You really think we have a shot at this tournament?" Cam asked as she wiped sweat from her brow.

Tyler nodded confidently. "Absolutely. We've got Sensei Lawrence, Miguel, and each other. What else do we need?"

Cam smiled despite herself. "Yeah. I guess you're right."

For the first time in a long time, she felt like she was exactly where she was meant to be.