❛ this already has like a ninety percent chance of failing. ❜

     MIGUEL FACETIMED AYANE AS SOON as he heard the news about the changes in the tournament.

"So it looks like we won't have to fight each other, at least," he said.

Ayane sat down on her bed. "Yeah, but– I was kinda looking forward to a rematch."

Miguel laughed. "Well, we already know who the girl's champion is gonna be."

She shook her head.

"Everyone keeps saying that, but what if someone better than me shows up? I hope no one's putting bets on me or anything."

Miguel scoffed. "Ayane, you can literally beat anyone in a fight. I know pretty well by now."

She shook her head.

"Whatever. I'm just saying, I hope all these people aren't expecting me to win because what if I don't? I mean– Sam's pretty good isn't she?"

Miguel replied, "Ayane. Come on. Literally, I mean this as unbiased as possible, no one is better than you. The only way you'd lose is if you got hurt. Shit, now you're actually gonna get hurt."

Ayane laughed.

"What are you gonna do for the skills part?" she asked.

"I don't know, I was thinking about doing kata?"

She raised her eyebrows. "Oh, so Mr. LaRusso's been teaching you kata?"

"Yeah. I'm sorry I called it ballet. It's actually pretty cool."

"I know," was her response. "I think I'm gonna use a bo staff. But then again, I kinda wanna use a katana."

Miguel arched an eyebrow. "I don't know if I'd trust you with a sword. No offense."

Ayane scoffed. "Just because you said that, I'm gonna do it. So enjoy losing the skills competition, dork."

"I don't know, I think my kata's pretty good. I can do flips."

"So can I. But I can do flips with a sword, so..."

"Shut up," he halfway laughed, shaking his head.

Miguel cleared his throat. "So uh... you know prom's coming up, right?"

Ayane's smile fell. She had forgotten all about it.

"I'll be honest, I completely forgot. But... we're not gonna get to go together, are we?"

He glanced down. "It'll be alright," he said, trying to sound hopeful. "I-I mean, we can do something after."

Ayane sighed. "Who are you gonna go with?"

Miguel scratched the back of his neck.

"I'll probably just chill with Hawk and Demetri. I don't mind going alone."

She nodded. "Yeah. I might just do the same."

Ayane sat back on her bed, thinking for a moment.

"Let's make a deal."

Miguel hesitated. "...What kind of deal?"

She tapped her fingers on the back of her phone.

"Let's try to have the most normal prom night we possibly can. Deal?"

Miguel slowly smiled. "Deal."

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

AYANE REALLY LIKED WEAPONS.

They were much more fun to use, and that was what she began focusing on the next day at the dojo.

"Should I use the katana or bo staff?" she asked Vincent, one of each in her hands.

He shrugged. "One looks way more badass than the other, so..."

She nodded. "You're right. I'm going with the sword."

Tossing the bo staff aside, she twirled the katana in her hand. Vincent stepped back.

"Yeah, just don't come near me with it."

Ayane had been trying to avoid Silver as much as possible since their conversation the previous day. Mr. LaRusso's words had stuck with her, as well. She knew for sure that she didn't trust him now.

After practiced was dismissed for the day, Ayane changed and gathered her things, walking outside. Tory was standing there, the only one left.

It looked like it was about to storm judging by the dark clouds overhead. Tory glanced at Ayane, then looked away.

Ayane started to continue to her car, but then stopped. She turned on her heel.

Reluctantly, she asked, "Do you need a ride?"

Tory looked over. She did not reply right away, seeing the storm clouds in the sky.

"I'll just wait it out."

Thunder clapped and lightning flashed. Ayane tilted her head, raising her eyebrows.

"I don't mind, you know. It'll give me something to do besides go home."

Tory stood there, reasoning with herself. Finally she gave it up, following Ayane to her car.

"Where are we going?"

"My place. I'll show you the way," Tory said quietly.

Ayane drove out of the strip. It was excruciatingly silent between the two, until Ayane flipped on the radio. Still, the tension was thick and awkward.

"So have you decided what you're gonna do for skills in the tournament?" Ayane finally questioned.

Tory shrugged. "I'll probably do nunchucks. But I'm more focused on the actual fighting right now, so. Take a left here."

Ayane nodded a bit. "You should focus on your blocks a little more," she replied. "They're not bad, but they need to be quicker."

Tory looked over. She wished Ayane had a weakness, but after all this time Tory still had no idea what it was.

"I'll work on it," Tory responded. "You can turn in here."

Ayane hesitated a little, surprised she and Tory had gone this long without arguing or trying to rip each other's faces off.

"We could spar together tomorrow if you want," she suggested. "Since we're only gonna be fighting girls from here on out."

Tory pursed her lips, gathering her stuff as Ayane stopped at the apartment complex.

She looked over at Ayane, frowning for a moment. Tory was beginning to feel a little trust toward the Cain girl.

"Sure," she answered at once. "Um– thanks for the ride. See you tomorrow."

Tory opened the car door and hurriedly ran to her apartment in the rain. Ayane was dumbfounded by the shockingly normal conversation they had just had.

Ayane hoped she could find it in her to forgive Tory, one day.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

     AT SCHOOL THE NEXT DAY, THE LAST person Ayane was expecting to see was Johnny Lawrence.

He and Miguel walked up to her in the hallway. She looked between them, shaking her head.

"...What are you guys doing?"

"I know you're a Cobra Kai now, but I think I got a way to get you back in Eagle Fang," Johnny started off.

Ayane exchanged a look with Miguel, sighing.

"I'm afraid that can't happen, Mr. Lawrence. Sorry."

Johnny held up a hand. "I have an idea. We can make a trade. We find a girl willing to go to Cobra Kai, and you can come to Eagle Fang with us. Hm?"

Ayane closed her eyes for a moment.

"I don't think either of my senseis would be willing to go for that, unless you can somehow happen to find a girl that's been doing martial arts for thirteen years."

Miguel nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Sensei, it's not gonna work. We just need to keep looking."

Johnny sighed, looking at Ayane.

"We need you now more than ever, kid."

Ayane thought for a second.

"Well... I might not be able to join, but... I can try and help you recruit."

Johnny slowly started to smile.

"Let's get to work, Ayannie."

She rolled her eyes.

Ayane followed Johnny and Miguel out to the soccer and track field.

"You sure you're gonna be able to convince them?" Miguel asked Johnny as they stood there.

"Please," Johnny waved his hand. "When I went to this school, the only thing I was better at than karate– and I was pretty good at karate– was talking to chicks. Watch and learn, Diaz. Watch and learn."

Ayane exhaled slowly as Johnny walked onto the soccer field.

"This already has like a ninety percent chance of failing."

She and Miguel watched as Johnny ran on the track field, attempting to talk to just about every girl out there.

"They're gonna give him a restraining order," Miguel said, chasing after Johnny.

After many more failed attempts, Johnny walked back over to the two.

"Alright, Diaz, take off your jacket."

He frowned. "What– why?"

Johnny picked up a bottle of baby oil from his bag. "We're gonna try a different approach. Ayannie, we might need you too. Depends on what they're into."

A minute later, Miguel was rubbing baby oil on his arms, and he did not seem thrilled.

"You got to get it into every groove," Johnny said. "It's about molding highlights to emphasize curvature."

Ayane glanced up. "You know what those words mean?"

Johnny ignored her. "Where's your beachball?"

Reluctantly, Miguel flexed his arms. "Here's the beachball," he sighed.

Ayane tried hard to resist laughing as she watched the whole thing play out with Miguel's weak attempts at flirting from afar.

"My God, you are so bad at this," she said, shaking her head. "Why did I ever let you date me?"

Miguel shot a look at her.

When that proved to also be a failure, Johnny and Miguel decided to give up.

"I don't get it," Johnny said, walking off the field, "I thought girls today were supposed to be tough. Why can't we find anyone for our team?"

Miguel shrugged. "I mean– not everyone needs karate. Especially girls who are already on sports teams."

"Hey Ayane!"

The three turned, seeing Moon walk up to them.

Ayane smiled. "Hi Moon. What's up?"

"Apparently some perv was creeping on the track field so we're gonna practice inside," she replied.

"Oh," Ayane said, glancing at Johnny.

"What are you guys doing here?" she then asked, looking at Miguel and Johnny.

Miguel explained, "We're just recruiting for our new dojo–"

"Eagle Fang Karate," Johnny cut in.

Moon nodded enthusiastically.

"Hey, what if you did karate?" Ayane suggested to her. "You should join!"

"Really?" Moon responded, starting to smile. "Okay, that sounds fun!"

Johnny and Miguel started to high five each other until Moon continued, "Wait... do I have to hit anyone?"

"Hell yeah, you do," Johnny replied.

Moon's smile fell. "Oh no, then I-I'm out. I can't do the whole physical aggression thing."

Ayane had been expecting that answer, so she was not as disappointed as Miguel and Johnny.

"You know, you guys should ask my ex."

"Hawk? Yeah–"

"No, my other ex," Moon replied. "She's the best athlete in the school and she's not afraid to get into a fight. Kinda like you, Ayane."

Ayane raised her shoulders, looking at the other two.

"Sounds like the badass babe we've been looking for," Johnny said with a nod.

Moon frowned. "Yeah. You might wanna take a different approach with her. Want some pointers?"

Ayane, Miguel and Johnny went back inside the school after Moon told them what to do. Ayane led the way into the girl's athletics room.

They found Moon's ex, Piper, doing a series of flips on the gymnastics mat.

"She's fast and strong," Ayane pointed out. "She'd be a natural."

Johnny rubbed his hands together. "Alright, Ayannie, this is all you. Piper's into girls, so you gotta do your thing."

Ayane dropped her shoulders with a small sigh.

"Alright, Sensei, remember what Moon told you," Miguel said.

He nodded. "Yes, I will be awake."

"No, no– be woke," Miguel hurriedly followed after him.

Ayane walked up to Piper first.

"Hey Piper," she smiled, grabbing the girl's attention.

Piper smiled back. "Hey."

"Oh– um, let me introduce you," she turned to Johnny.

"Sensei John Lawrence of Eagle Fang Karate," he started, pointing at Piper. "Let me tell you why my dojo is the perfect place for a modern young woman like yourself. We live in a world where you gotta be an alpha to survive. You're either a killer, or you're dead meat. You gotta be a man."

Ayane mentally slapped her hand on her forehead.

"What he's trying to say is that's an outdated phrase and we want to... destroy the male hierarchy and meaning behind it."

Piper glanced Ayane up and down, smirking.

"Well I actually have been meaning to join a dojo. I don't wanna be the last person in the Valley who doesn't know karate."

"Well today is your lucky day," Johnny replied, handing her a flyer.

She took it, reading over it. Piper looked back up at Ayane.

"Will you be there, too?" she asked with a coy smile.

Ayane's eyes widened for a second. "Uh... I will definitely be at a dojo."

Piper laughed. "Okay, cool. I'll be there."

With that, she turned and walked away to see her friends.

Ayane turned to the other two.

"I've got game."

"Yeah, wait until she sees you aren't there," Miguel replied, sighing.

Ayane shrugged. "Hey, I did what you guys told me to do."

She checked her watch. The school day was almost over, so she had to get to the dojo soon.

"Good luck with your girl troubles, I'll see you guys later."

Ayane started to walk away when Johnny said, "Hey, Ayannie."

She stopped and turned, not even bothered by the nickname anymore.

"Come with me and Miguel tomorrow. There's something I wanna teach you."

Ayane raised her shoulders after a moment. "Alright. But this still doesn't mean I can join Eagle Fang."

Johnny dismissed it. "Don't worry about it. I've got an idea."

That was never good.

notes.
semi short chapter shawty baes, next chapter will be more ayane and tory interactions where they aren't trying to kill each other???

take a shot every time johnny says ayannie

no but, i'm afraid the prom chapters are gonna tear me up to write, especially THAT scene...

trying to decide who i want ayane's prom date to be... at first i was thinking vincent but now i'm thinking maybe robby... so y'all help me

who should ayane's prom date be?

afterparty miguel and vincent fight is coming too😩