❛ I readjusted your nose for you. ❜

"This is where it all started."

Ayane and Miguel stood in front of Johnny, wearing the white Cobra Kai training gis while watching him pace. They were in the formerly abandoned Cobra Kai dojo in the Reseda strip mall, which was now in Johnny's ownership again thanks to Daniel.

"Diaz, you were my first student," Johnny spoke to Miguel, stopping in front of him.

He then looked to Ayane. "Ayannie, you were the first kid I ever met who I thought could actually kick my ass."

Ayane laughed a little along with Miguel, the girl simply shaking her head.

"But I've gotten the opportunity to teach you both," Johnny continued. "We've been through a lot of Cobra Kai bullshit since then. But none of that matters. Because this is our Cobra Kai."

Miguel nodded firmly while Ayane smiled softly. "And tomorrow, we're gonna show the world that nobody strikes harder than us. Is that understood?"

"Yes, sensei!" the two said in unison, Ayane's words being a surprise. It was the first time she had ever spoken those words to Johnny Lawrence without complaining beforehand.

"Good," Johnny said. "Now let's show these international assholes how we do things in the Valley."

At that, Johnny gave them a couple of minutes to warm up. Ayane turned to Miguel, still smiling as she stepped closer to him.

"Lots of memories from this place," she said as she looked around at the graffitied building, then back to Miguel. "I taught you how to punch here."

Miguel stretched his arms, lightly rolling his eyes. "And stomped my foot, and slapped me in the face..."

"Are you complaining?"

He laughed her off, though Johnny interrupted them quickly.

"Alright lovebirds, quit being gross. We got work to do."

Soon enough, they were sure enough putting in the work. From pushups to wooden board breaking, to sparring with their friends who came to help out, Ayane and Miguel were challenged in every aspect.

As the day began coming to an end, they decided to call it. Ayane felt like she was fighting better than ever before, even successfully taking on Sam and Tory at once without having a hit landed on her.

After getting changed, Ayane walked back out to see that everyone else had left besides Johnny. Ayane furrowed her eyebrows.

"Where's Miguel?" she questioned, since he was supposed to be catching a ride with her.

"I sent him to grab some pizza next door," Johnny replied, gathering all of his things before heading toward the door.

Ayane followed, Johnny allowing her outside first and locking the door behind them.

She looked out at the near empty parking lot, and the faded paint where the Cobra Kai sign had been over the awning once before.

"You know... this was the place we first met," Ayane remarked, glancing over at Johnny.

He approached the curb, plopping down as he looked back up at the building.

"Yeah, how could I forget? Called me an asshole in the first five minutes I met you."

Ayane grinned, taking a few steps forward and sitting down beside him while bringing her knees to her chest.

"You took some warming up to, that's for sure. But I guess I did, too."

She wrapped her arms around her knees, Johnny giving a small shrug.

"I could tell you had something special. Just seemed like you lacked direction. I saw a lot of myself in you."

Ayane looked over at Johnny, raising her eyebrows in surprise. Johnny picked up some gravel and flicked it away.

"I'm sorry about what happened to your brother," he finally continued. "I know that shit's hard. But you... you're tough, kid. You're gonna make a name for yourself and it's not gonna be because of who your family is. This is all you, Cain."

Ayane had not been expecting this from Johnny, truthfully. They had never really had much of a serious conversation before.

"Thank you," Ayane replied after a moment. "I know we butted heads a lot, but... thank you for being my sensei. I guess I've learned a few things from you here and there."

Johnny cracked a small smile. "Yeah, I taught you how to get pretty damn good at head butting."

Throwing a glance over his shoulder Johnny looked behind him before looking back to Ayane.

"Don't tell Miguel I'm telling you this, but I think that kid really wants to marry you. I know you guys are going off to college, whatever, but– he's serious about you."

Ayane got a strangely warm feeling in her chest at Johnny's words, though she was unable to reply before she saw Miguel approaching the two of them.

"Hey guys," he greeted. "I can't believe you two are talking without any yelling involved," Miguel remarked, Ayane scooting over with an eye roll so he could sit between her and Johnny.

She watched Miguel as he and Johnny shared pizza, the boy offering some to her. Ayane simply shook her head, smiling warmly as she sat and gazed at the boy.

Ayane didn't think there was anyone else she'd rather love.

The girl drew in a breath at once, climbing to her feet.

"I think I may go ahead and get home," she announced, dusting her pants off. "If you're okay with going home with Johnny."

Miguel nodded as he looked up at her, standing at once.

"Yeah, yeah. That's fine. I'll call you later, yeah?"

Ayane nodded with a smile, leaning in for a quick kiss. She ruffled the boy's hair, looking down at Johnny.

"Why are you letting your student eat junk food the day before the tournament?" she asked with sarcasm, pointing at Miguel.

Johnny shot her a bird with his mouth full of pizza, the girl giving a laugh.

She looked back at Miguel. "I love you. I'll see you tomorrow."

Miguel smiled in return.

"I love you too."

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

     Nothing could have prepared Ayane for the crowd in the All Valley Sports Arena.

She had never seen this many people packed into it, not even for the past two All-Valley tournaments. There were lots of signs throughout the crowd, some that even had her name on them.

It all felt so surreal.

She stood, dressed in Jae's gi and her captain headband once more, watching the Iron Dragons enter the room. Zara was once again talking to her phone, flashing a smile as she spoke to her social media followers.

"Ignore her bullshit," a voice rang out from behind Ayane, the girl feeling Johnny walk up beside her. "She doesn't have nearly the amount of confidence as she wants you to think she does."

Ayane rolled her shoulders back, finally removing her eyes from Zara.

"She's confident because she's beat me before," Ayane muttered, shaking out some of her nerves.

Johnny waved her off. "Who gives a shit? You've got the perfect chance to prove her wrong."

Ayane looked away from Johnny, keeping still as she tried to train her focus on anything but Zara Malik.

Thankfully, Miguel joined them only moments later, nudging Ayane with his elbow.

"Hey. How you feeling?"

Ayane raised her head to him, giving a small shrug. "A little nervous, I'll admit. All I can do is replay that taekwondo match in my head from when I was nine years old."

"Good," Johnny shrugged, folding his arms behind his back. "Payback's a bitch. Remind her of that."

Miguel nodded in agreement. "You could close the gap all on your own if you had to," he remarked. "Zara's not fighting nine year-old Ayane anymore."

Ayane began to give a small smile, closing her eyes and breathing in slowly.

"Who is ready for karate?" a voice boomed across the arena, Ayane opening her eyes once more.

Gunther stood in the middle of the mat with his microphone, which meant it was time.

"Our championship bout will follow the same structure as our semifinals," he explained. "Three rounds, two minutes each, with unlimited scoring. Knockdowns are worth ten points, and if a downed fighter cannot reengage within ten seconds, they will be considered knocked out, and their opponent awarded twenty points."

Ayane looked directly across the room at Zara once again. Silver was saying something to the Malik girl, Ayane fighting the urge to roll her eyes.

"The individual title goes to the competitor who scores the most points over these three rounds. And now, the final match to determine our female world champion!"

"Alright, Ayannie. It's go time."

Johnny held out a fist, Ayane glancing over and returning his fist bump.

"Hey," Miguel reached out for arm, Ayane looking back at him. He gave her a reassuring smile, nodding firmly.

"Go get your title."

Ayane smiled slowly, turning and walking onto the mat.

The arena was buzzing with anticipation, the energy in the air almost suffocating. Fighters, senseis, and spectators from around the world watched as the two girls stepped onto the mat.

Ayane rolled her shoulders as she stopped in front of Zara, her breath steady despite the anger brewing inside her. Across from her, a smirk tugged at Zara's lips.

Ayane's eyes were sharp, filled with nothing but hatred. She had made it to the final like most anticipated she would, but this match– this wasn't just about winning. This was about proving something to herself.

Zara tilted her head as she came closer to Ayane, eyes glinting with a some amusement.

"You know, it's almost poetic," she said, her voice carrying over the crowd. "Your brother was standing here before, too. Same gi. Same tournament. And look how that ended for him."

Ayane's fingers twitched. Her blood went ice-cold, looking down at Zara with a clenched jaw and pure rage.

Zara glanced around the room before looking back at Ayane, lowering her voice just enough for only her to hear.

"Do you ever wonder if he saw it coming? If he realized, in those last moments, that he wasn't good enough, just like his big sister?"

The world around Ayane blurred. The roar of the crowd became white noise. In one explosive motion, she lunged.

A brutal headbutt smashed into Zara's nose, sending her stumbling back, eyes wide in shock. A sharp gasp swept through the audience. The referee immediately stepped between them, pushing Ayane back as Miguel rushed in from one side to grab her, Sensei Wolf grabbing Zara on the other.

Johnny was grinning, covering his mouth as Miguel held Ayane back.

"Cain! Control yourself!" the ref barked, raising a hand toward her. "If you try to fight before the match starts again, you're disqualified."

Ayane barely heard him. Blood pounded in her ears. She glared at Zara while Miguel let go of her at once, the girl's lips curled as she wiped at the blood trickling from her nose.

"Want to do that again in the match?" Zara taunted as Sensei Wolf let go of her, shaking off the pain.

Ayane rolled her neck, Miguel still standing close behind. "I'll do worse."

She looked back at Johnny, noting his look of amusement.

"That was badass," he remarked, Miguel sighing a little.

"Just play by the rules, Ayane," Miguel warned her. "I know they don't, but you can win without cheating."

Ayane exhaled, giving a nod as she regained her composure. Finally, the Cain girl got back to her spot. Zara did the same, having wiped the blood from her nose.

The referee looked between the two girls. "Face me, bow. Face each other, bow."

Ayane simply stared at Zara, giving the smallest nod of her head before assuming her fighting stance. Ayane did not have an ounce of respect for Zara Malik, nor was she going to show it.

"Ready?" The ref held out a hand, both girls readying themselves.

"Fight!"

Zara struck first, closing the distance in an instant. Her front kick shot toward Ayane's ribs. Ayane pivoted, barely dodging, but Zara adjusted mid-motion, spinning into a roundhouse aimed at Ayane's head.

Ayane ducked, her breath sharp, and countered– a sharp cross to Zara's ribs. One point.

There were some cheers around the room, Miguel and Johnny cheering Ayane on from behind her.

Zara didn't give her space. She stepped in, trapping Ayane's guard with a well-placed parry before launching a flurry of strikes. A right hook clipped Ayane's jaw. One point. A swift back kick slammed into her midsection, forcing her back. Two points.

Ayane gritted her teeth, regaining her footing, but Zara was relentless. She unleashed a spinning hook kick, and this time, Ayane wasn't fast enough. The impact sent her stumbling. Three points.

Zara surged forward, feinting left before striking right with a hammer fist to Ayane's shoulder, and a follow-up sweep kick aimed to take her balance. Ayane barely evaded the sweep, twisting midair to plant a jumping front kick against Zara's sternum.

2-3 now, Zara leading by one.

Zara staggered but recovered fast. Her grin was razor-sharp. The round continued in a vicious back-and-forth, both fighters landing clean shots, both refusing to yield. Ayane felt like she could barely see through the amount of blind rage she felt, and that was showing through her fighting.

By the time the round ended, Zara had pulled ahead. She was leading by three points, the score 8-5.

Ayane exhaled as she returned to her corner, shaking out her hands. Johnny's voice cut through the haze of the fight.

"Stay in control," Johnny instructed. "You're letting her get in your head. That's not you."

Ayane unclenched her fists, pushing stray hairs out of her face. She realized that she was fighting with far too much anger, and it was taking over. If Ayane kept up like this, she was not going to win.

"Hey," Miguel drew her attention. "I know you're angry, I can see that. But you have to fight with good emotions. She's just trying to drag you down."

Ayane locked eyes with the boy, giving a nod at once. Miguel hit the side of her arm with encouragement.

Zara fought with precision, sure, but Ayane had something more.

Returning back to their spots for the second round, Ayane breathed in slowly.

"Ready? Fight!"

This time, Ayane attacked first.

She lunged in, throwing a blistering front kick. Zara deflected, but Ayane anticipated the block and switched angles mid-air, driving her heel into Zara's ribs.

Another point, slowly but surely closing the gap.

Zara retaliated instantly, stepping in with a spinning elbow aimed at Ayane's face. Ayane dodged by inches, but Zara didn't stop– her knee snapped up into Ayane's stomach.

9-6 now.

Ayane coughed, but she didn't back down. Instead, she caught Zara's leg before she could retract it and whipped her off-balance, then drove her elbow into Zara's back as she stumbled.

9-7.

Zara grunted and lashed out. She feinted high, forcing Ayane's guard up, and swept low. Ayane's foot slipped, and in an instant, Zara struck: a jumping roundhouse kick slammed into Ayane's chest.

Ayane hit the mat hard, the breath knocked from her lungs momentarily. The referee stepped forward, but Ayane was already pushing herself up at the count of four.

19-7, Ayane saw on the scoreboard.

Zara's smirk deepened. "Looks like this match will be ending the same way as last time."

Ayane did not reply, answering with her fists instead.

She launched forward with brutal efficiency, delivering a palm strike to the sternum, a knee to the ribs, and finally, a spinning back kick that sent Zara sprawling.

Two hits and a knockdown. Twelve points. Now, she and Zara were tied.

The crowd erupted. The referee counted. Zara pushed herself up at seven, her glare burning with defiance.

She came running at Ayane, the Cain girl more than prepared. Sidestepping Zara's flashy cartwheel kick, Ayane crouched and spun on her heel into a kick of her own, her foot connecting with Zara's back to send her stumbling forward. Zara nearly fell, but didn't.

The horn blared just then, indicating the end of the second round. Ayane crossed paths with Zara to get back to her corner, smirking down at the girl before glancing up at the board.

19-20, Ayane in the lead.

Johnny clapped his hands together as Miguel placed a hand on Ayane's shoulder, smiling proudly.

"Hell yeah, Cain, keep it up. You're tiring her out, which seems hard to do."

"She's tiring me out, too," Ayane huffed, placing her hands on her hips.

Miguel gave her shoulder a squeeze. "Look, you need to play into defense. Zara can't get past a defense as strong as yours. Use Miyagi-Do, too."

Ayane nodded, looking to Johnny again.

"Seems like Diaz is coming for my job," Johnny remarked. "Just remember, Ayane. This is for you. Not your family, not your friends, not us. It's yours, if you really want it."

Pulling her lips in, Ayane slowly began to nod again.

She did want this.

The referee began signaling for them to get back to their positions, Ayane turning to do so. Before she could, however, someone grabbed her hand.

Miguel pulled her back into a kiss, holding either side of her face. He drew away before Ayane could process what had happened, giving her a soft smile.

"Never give up on each other, right?" He gave a curt nod. "I'll never give up on you, Ayane. No matter what happens.

The girl felt her chest expand with warmth, beaming before she turned and got back into her position on the mat.

This was it. Her last chance to prove what she was worth. Ayane brought her hands up, eyes locking with Zara. The Malik girl looked tired out already, which was good.

"Last round," the referee spoke. "Ready?"

Ayane held her breath.

"Fight!"

Everything slowed.

Ayane's heart pounded as she stared across the mat at Zara. The girl clearly wasn't finished. She looked even deadlier now, her stance sharp, her body coiled like a viper ready to strike.

Zara lunged forward.

Her fists blurred– left, right, feint, elbow strike. Ayane dodged one, two, and deflected the third. She kept her defense strong, just like Miguel had said. Zara was struggling to break through it, a high kick following her strikes, but Ayane blocked just in time. No points scored.

Zara was fast, and more aggressive, but Ayane was faster.

And, Ayane was slowly coming to realize, she didn't need aggression to win.

She maintained her defensive stance, letting Zara come to her. Letting her think she had control.

Zara saw the opening and lunged, which was just what Ayane wanted. Ayane stepped inside the attack and unleashed it.

It was the kick Johnny had taught her and Miguel, a flying tornado kick. Her foot whipped through the air, slamming into Zara's temple with force. Zara spun before hitting the ground, in a daze as she tried to get herself up.

The referee counted, Zara back on her feet at eight seconds, but she was not prepared for Ayane to flip into another kick that would land against the her cheek.

Zara dropped to her knee, barely blocking while Ayane's knee came up to her face. The Malik girl was on the ground again, hardly able to bring herself up.

Two knockdowns had put Ayane in a definite lead. 19-40.

Stepping back, Ayane decided to allow Zara to get up, just to see if she had any fight left in her.

Ayane watched, waiting. Once Zara was on both feet, stumbling slightly, Ayane moved in for the kill.

Zara lunged again, her fist cutting through the air, but Ayane moved like a second nature.

She spun. Once. Twice.

And then, airborne, 900 degrees.

Her body twisted through the air, momentum building, power coiling in her leg. The world blurred, and as she reached the final rotation, her foot connected.

The impact sent Zara's body twisting before she collapsed to the mat, blood spewing from the girl's mouth. Ayane's feet hit the ground, panting heavily.

The referee counted. Zara didn't move.

"Knockout! Winner, Cain!"

The crowd erupted into cheers, Ayane taking a moment to process what had just happened. She was in shock, blinking a few times as the blood rushed to her head.

Ayane exhaled sharply. She didn't look at the scoreboard. Didn't look at the screaming crowd. She looked down at Zara who was slowly regaining consciousness, stepping toward her and leaning down.

"I readjusted your nose for you," Ayane smirked, tilting her head. "Bitch."

Straightening up, Ayane was suddenly swept off of her feet by none other than Miguel, the Diaz boy spinning her around before bringing her back down to her feet. He embraced her tightly, Ayane hugging him back just as tight. Johnny joined the hug as well, and soon all of Ayane's friends were on the mat.

She went to the LaRusso family next, hugging them all as some tears stung her eyes. Ayane was unable to believe this was really happening, that she was now a world champion.

"Congratulations to our new Sekai Taikai girls' champion," Gunther announced, Ayane pulling away from the LaRussos to go receive her trophy awaiting her.

"Ayane Cain!"

Notes.
hi hello sorry for taking so long but i was nitpicking over this!!

it took me SOOOO long to write that fight scene, some of my best work dare i say

ayane cain you will ALWAYS be famous, my girl is a SEKAI TAIKAI CHAMPPP 🗣️ who cheered

this is so bittersweet for me guys 🥲 now i really have to focus on the hard part and i am NOT ready for that

anyway i should have this next chapter out quicker, i'm anticipating probably 3-4 more chapters before it's over... deep breaths everyone

so tell me what you guys thought about ayane and zara's fight!!