❛ God, I have got to stop crying. ❜

     Jae's words still lingered in Ayane's mind as she returned to the hotel, swapping her gi for something more casual.

The flashes in her mind of him and Ennis haunted her– the hushed words her father shared with the boy each time his gaze drifted toward her.

A small, fragile hope stirred within the girl, though. That maybe Jae felt this way because of Ennis, not her. She tried to bury the thought, leaving it behind as she stepped out of her room. Ayane decided to join the others in the lobby, needing a distraction from the chaos in her mind.

As the elevator doors slid open, Miguel was waiting. His face lit up the second he saw her, his boyish grin breaking through any tension she might've felt.

Ayane couldn't help but laugh softly at his smile as she approached.

"Hi," she greeted.

"Hi," Miguel replied, his hand going to the back of his neck. "So, uh... what are your plans until the next event?"

Ayane glanced around the bustling lobby, filled with fighters and their dojos, before looking back at Miguel with a casual shrug.

"I don't know. I was thinking of doing some sightseeing. Wanna come?"

Miguel nodded almost too quickly. "Yeah, of course. I'd like that. Uh..."

Ayane could see the hesitation in his expression, the way he searched for words. She knew what he was trying to bring up.

"You want to talk about the kiss?" she asked, cutting through the awkwardness.

Miguel's face flushed, and just as he started to respond, his attention shifted.

He frowned, his eyes narrowing. "Okay, what is this guy's problem?"

Ayane followed his gaze and spotted Axel, standing stiffly near Zara. His glare was unmistakable, burning holes into Miguel. As soon as Axel realized they'd caught him staring, he glanced away, trying to appear indifferent.

Ayane sighed, pursing her lips. "Well, uh... speaking of kisses," she began.

Miguel turned to her with a puzzled look. Before he could ask what she meant, Ayane grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the hotel exit, steering them outside.

Once they were alone, she turned to him, rubbing her hands over her face. "Okay, that wasn't the best way to lead into this, but... last night, I ran into Axel on the beach."

Miguel raised a brow, his posture stiffening.

"And... he's actually a really nice guy," Ayane continued, "but he kind of got the wrong idea. He, uh, tried to kiss me."

Miguel blinked a few times, then slowly brought a hand to his chin.

"He... might be jealous," she added, shrugging. "I mean, he probably saw us kiss after the match."

Miguel scoffed, shaking his head. "As long as nothing happened..."

Ayane winced, her hesitation clear. Miguel caught the look instantly, his brows furrowing.

"What?"

"Well... Axel wasn't the only one who tried to kiss me last night," she admitted, her voice small.

Miguel's face dropped. "What do you– wait." His expression shifted to realization. "Robby?"

Ayane covered her face briefly, letting out a sigh. Miguel stepped back, letting out a sharp laugh– one that held no humor.

"Tell me you're joking."

"I wish I were," Ayane said. "He was really drunk, Miguel. I don't think he even knew what he was doing."

Miguel's jaw tightened, the anger rising in his chest. But Ayane wasn't finished.

"And he... told me he loved me."

Miguel's eyes widened, his anger replaced with disbelief. "He what?"

Ayane grabbed his hand, her voice gentle but firm. "Look, I know you probably want to kill him right now, but it's not worth it. Robby and I talked. He knows how I feel, and he's accepted it. It's over. Let's move on."

Miguel held her gaze, her sincerity slowly chipping away at his frustration. He exhaled deeply, running a hand through his hair.

"Is there anyone else I should know about before we continue this conversation?" he asked dryly.

Ayane cracked a smile. "No, just the two. Hey, at least it's not Vincent this time."

Miguel couldn't help but smile at that, shaking his head. "You have a way of making people fall for you, huh?"

Ayane raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "You think so?"

Miguel's grin softened as he stepped closer. This was all he had been waiting for, all he'd been thinking of since the tournament– and other things– separated them.

"I know so."

Ayane glanced up at Miguel, studying him closely. She realized, in that quiet moment, that he was one of the few people who could make her smile without even trying.

"I know it's been hard to be patient with me," Ayane said softly, her eyes flicking away from his for a moment. "And I know everything you've done has been because you care. Honestly, Miguel... you're the best thing I've got going in my life right now."

Miguel's expression softened with a hint of sadness. He reached out, resting his hands gently on her shoulders.

"Hey," he murmured, leaning down so she had no choice but to meet his gaze. "I should've been more patient, Ayane. I guess I was just... scared of losing you. I'm sorry for the way I've been acting."

Ayane drew in a slow breath, her lips pressed together. "Well, I-I think I've had enough space. Enough time to think things over. And all it's made me realize is how much I need you in my life."

Her voice cracked slightly, and Miguel's chest swelled, his heart racing as he fought not to let his excitement spill over.

"Really?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Ayane placed her hands on either side of his face, stepping closer to him.

"I love you, Miguel."

A wide grin broke across his face, and without hesitation, his hands slid to her waist as he pulled her into a kiss. Ayane's hands stayed cupped around his face, and after a few blissful moments, Miguel pulled back slightly, his grin still intact.

"Does that mean you love me too?"

He laughed, holding her as close as possible. "I love you too, Ayane. More than you know."

Ayane wrapped her arms around his neck, tilting her head with a playful smirk.

"Mm, I think I can guess."

She was just about to lean in for another kiss when a loud intercom beep cut through the air.

"Attention, Sekai Taikai competitors," came the voice overhead. "All dojos convene immediately in the main lobby, including those who have been eliminated."

Ayane and Miguel exchanged a look of confusion. She reluctantly let her arms fall from around him, and he stepped back. Together, they walked back inside to join the growing crowd gathering in the lobby.

Gunther Braun stood at the center, his commanding presence quieting the murmurs as everyone assembled. Ayane joined her teammates and senseis, all of whom wore the same puzzled expressions.

"My apologies for summoning you all like this," Gunther began, his voice firm. "But under the circumstances, it was necessary. The Sekai Taikai has a long and honorable tradition. We fight hard, but we fight fair."

Ayane folded her arms, her thoughts already jumping to the obvious suspect: Terry Silver.

"That is why I'm saddened to announce that one of the dojos here has tarnished that tradition by cheating."

The room buzzed with whispers as Ayane's eyes darted toward Silver. He looked uneasy, which only reinforced her suspicions.

"Sensei Ivanov," Gunther announced, turning to the Tiger Strike sensei. "Four of your students have tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. You are hereby eliminated."

Ayane's eyebrows shot up as she watched the scene unfold. Sensei Ivanov exploded with outrage, but Gunther swiftly shut him down. The tension between them was palpable as Ivanov stormed out, leading his disgraced team away.

"Replacing Udar Tigra," Gunther continued, folding his hands neatly, "will be the dojo with the next highest point total."

Ayane's stomach dropped.

"Cobra Kai."

A wave of celebration rippled through the Cobra Kai students, and Ayane's jaw slackened. Her gaze landed on Ennis, who smiled ever so slightly.

"And on a more positive note," Gunther said, shifting the focus, "we will now announce the draws for our semifinals."

His assistant handed him a stack of cards, which he opened one by one.

"In our girls' bracket, the first semifinal will be Maria Alvarez versus Zara Malik. And, in the second match, that will pit Tory Nichols against Ayane Cain."

Ayane closed her eyes briefly, exhaling deeply. Of course. It always came down to her and Tory.

"In our boys' bracket, our first semifinal match will be Diego Aguilar versus Kwon Jae-Sung."

Ayane kept her eyes firmly away from Jae and the rest of Cobra Kai. Every glance only unsettled her focus further.

"And our second semifinal match will pit Axel Kovačević against Robby Keene."

Ayane raised her head, her gaze locking with Axel's across the room. His glare was sharp and unrelenting, and she couldn't help but feel a flicker of doubt. Did Robby stand a chance against him?

"Good luck to all our semifinalists," Gunther concluded. "We look forward to seeing you tomorrow at the venue."

As the crowd began to disperse, Ayane let out a long sigh.

"Axel the Invincible, and Ayane-Tory chapter a billion. That's less than ideal," Demetri quipped from behind her. Ayane pressed her fingers to her forehead before letting her hand drop.

She turned to Miguel, who stood beside Robby, his expression far from enthusiastic. Ayane drew in a deep breath, letting her hands fall to her sides.

"Well..." she said with a wry smile.

"What's one last fight against Tory Nichols?"

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

     The Miyagi-Do senseis gathered their students at the stairwell, their frustration palpable over Cobra Kai's sudden reentry into the tournament.

"Screw this horseshit, man," Johnny snapped. "How many times do we have to kill that son of a bitch before he stays dead?"

Chozen threw his arms wide in frustration. "Kreese is like cockroach. But he is not one fighting on mat."

Robby, seated on the step just below Ayane and Miguel, chimed in. "Sensei Chozen's right. We've got the rest of the day to tune up for tomorrow."

Ayane was unusually quiet, and Miguel noticed it immediately. Cobra Kai's return seemed to weigh heavier on her than it did on anyone else.

"What's the plan?" Robby asked after a moment.

"Knock Kreese's head off his neck, for starters," Johnny answered without hesitation.

The group fell into an uneasy silence, and Ayane's gaze drifted again– this time noticing Mr. LaRusso caught in his own trance.

"Dad?" Sam's voice broke the quiet, snapping Daniel out of it.

"What?"

She frowned, her concern evident. "The training? For our final fights?"

Daniel seemed distracted, brushing off the question with a vague, "We'll run through the usual stuff."

The students exchanged glances. Everyone knew that answer was unusual for Daniel LaRusso.

Chozen finally stepped in, his voice decisive. "Senseis need time to discuss. Go get changed. Meet me at gym," he added, looking directly at Ayane and Robby.

The students dispersed, and Ayane stood, her hands fidgeting as she chewed on her thumbnail. She spaced out again until Miguel gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Hey," he said softly, pulling her back to the moment. "You okay?"

Ayane lowered her hand from her mouth, pulling her lips in as she wrestled with her thoughts.

"We beat them," she said, locking eyes with Miguel. "We beat Cobra Kai, and I hoped it would finally be over. But now– now it's me and Tory all over again. And Jae..." She trailed off, her shoulders slumping. "I can hardly stand to look at him."

Miguel slid his hand into hers and guided her down the steps. When they reached the bottom, he turned to face her, placing both hands firmly on her shoulders.

"Ayane," he said, his tone steady, "you've never lost a fight against Tory."

"That's not what I'm worried about," Ayane replied, shaking her head. "I just... I can't stand having to look my own family in the eyes and feel like I betrayed them."

Miguel's expression softened. He searched for the right words, wishing he could ease her mind.

"If anything, Ayane, they betrayed you," Miguel said, his voice firm. "It's not your fault. Do you hear me?"

The words struck her deeply. Ayane's jaw tightened, her eyes filling with tears as Miguel gently cupped her face, his gaze steady and unwavering.

"It's not your fault, Ayane."

Her chin trembled, and she broke away from his gaze, stepping forward to wrap her arms around him in a tight hug. She hadn't realized how much she needed to hear those words until now.

Miguel held her close, his arms secure around her as he stroked her hair gently. Ayane's breath hitched as she tried to compose herself. After a moment, she pulled back, wiping the tears from her eyes.

"God, I have got to stop crying," she muttered, earning a soft laugh from Miguel.

"Do you wanna go for a walk? Some fresh air might help."

She nodded immediately, following him as they left the hotel.

As they strolled along the beach, Miguel glanced over at her. "So... you're not nervous at all about fighting Tory?"

Ayane shrugged, slipping her hands into her pockets. "I mean, she's definitely gotten better. But I've fought her enough times that I could probably do it in my sleep. And like you said, I've never lost to–"

Her words trailed off as she spotted Daniel and Johnny a few yards ahead on the beach, shoving each other like teenagers.

Miguel didn't hesitate, jogging ahead. "Hey, hey, hey! What the hell are you two doing?"

The senseis turned to see Miguel and Ayane approaching. With identical sighs, Daniel and Johnny dropped onto the sand, sitting side by side.

Ayane and Miguel exchanged a look before walking closer, their irritation clear.

Miguel paced in front of them, his tone firm. "I'm not leaving until you two tell me what's going on."

"Neither am I," Ayane chimed in, glancing at her phone. "And I've got to meet Sensei Chozen at the gym in forty-five minutes. If I'm late because of you two, he's gonna be pissed."

"Fine with me," Johnny shrugged. "It's a topless beach."

Miguel glared at him. "I'm serious! I thought you guys were done with this shit!"

"We were," Daniel admitted, his tone halfhearted, "but we never really are, I guess."

"LaRusso just found out his sensei isn't who he thought he was," Johnny interjected. "And I just found out mine is exactly who I thought he was. And I'm never getting rid of him."

Miguel sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, it sucks. But that doesn't change the fact that you turned a bunch of bullied kids into one of the most badass dojos this world has ever seen. Alright?"

"Uh, not all of us were bullied," Ayane cut in, raising a hand.

Miguel chose to ignore her. "Seriously. You guys didn't just teach us what your senseis taught– you built on it. Did Kreese take some scrawny, wimpy kid and turn him into an All-Valley champ in six months? Did he fix me when I was broken?"

"Not a chance," Johnny replied without hesitation.

Ayane looked at Daniel, her tone firm. "Mr. Miyagi didn't take in all the kids in the Valley when Cobra Kai came back. He didn't crane kick Silver out of the Valley for good, either."

Daniel's lips curved into a reluctant smile as Johnny glanced at him, smirking.

Miguel clapped his hands together. "Alright. Are you two seriously gonna let your issues with your senseis stop you from being the senseis we need to win this tournament?"

"Hell no," Johnny said, jumping to his feet and offering a hand to Daniel.

As Daniel stood, he looked between Ayane and Miguel. "You two do a lot of good when you're together, you know that?"

Ayane and Miguel exchanged a glance, soft smiles spreading across their faces.

"Alright, let's hit the gym with Ayane and Robby," Johnny said, clapping Daniel on the shoulder. "Let's win this thing."

Then, a sly smile crept onto his face.

"I got a better idea."

Notes.
ayane and miguel, my otp <3

next chapter will be the final one until part 3 of season 6 drops... 🥲 we're all gonna cry

will say that ayane and ennis will have an interaction in the next chapter, and it's gonna get ugly

BUT... ayane takes on zara in the brawl 🙂‍↕️ the only good thing that's gonna come out of that brawl for sure

who else do you think ayane will fight in the brawl?