❝ still better than you. ❞

AYANE WATCHED THE COBRA KAIS do their warm ups, which was quite interesting.

She had not seen Cobra Kai as a full dojo, only with Miguel and Aisha. Now, it seemed like an entirely different place.

Miguel was clearly the favored student, which Ayane found amusing. Of course that was expected, as he had been Johnny's first student. But Miguel didn't even seem to realize it.

"You guys," Aisha walked up to Ayane, Miguel and Hawk after the warm ups were over, holding her phone in her hand. "Have you seen the commercial?"

They all frowned in confusion.

"Sam's dad started a new dojo and he disses Cobra Kai," she explained, holding out her phone.

Ayane furrowed her eyebrows, finding Mr. LaRusso on Aisha's phone.

"...because at Miyagi-Do, it's not about the money."

She exchanged a look with Miguel, who narrowed his eyes at her suspiciously.

"I-I swear I didn't know anything about this," she said, shaking her head. "I mean- I knew it was free, but-"

"Yeah, I bet you did," Hawk replied, clenching his jaw. "Is that why you came today? To spy on us and go running back and reporting it to your sensei?"

Ayane scoffed, laughing dryly. "That's a great theory, Eli. But no. Like I said, I knew nothing about this."

Before things could get anymore tense, Miguel cut in, "We need to show this to Sensei."

He did not say anything to Ayane, but she could tell he was a bit suspecting of her. Ayane rolled her eyes as she stood in the same spot, watching the students.

Soon enough, the video started circulating around the room, with the students all talking about it.

Miguel walked back over to Ayane. "Looks like your sensei's giving us a run for our money. Literally."

Ayane's expression turned soft. She placed a hand on Miguel's shoulder, saying, "I think he's just doing it because he hates Cobra Kai that much."

She paused, waiting for Miguel to say something. He didn't, so she continued, "But- maybe I should get going now. People are starting to give me death stares. 'People' meaning Hawk."

Miguel sighed, nodding. "I'll call you later."

Ayane nodded in return. "Sounds good. And hey- I'm still looking forward to this fun thing you're planning."

He smiled softly.

"Good. I think you'll like it."

Ayane made her way back to the LaRusso's, going to the backyard to find Robby there, with Sam.

"Hey guys," she said as she walked over, looking at Sam. "I didn't know you were getting back into karate."

Sam shrugged with a smile. "What can I say? I was inspired," she gestured at Ayane.

Ayane grinned. "Really? I'm glad. Now I can spar with someone who isn't as predictable as Robby."

Robby looked between the two girls, holding his chest to appear offended. "Hey, I made it to the quarterfinals in the All Valley, thank you."

"Because you didn't have to fight me," Ayane retorted, smiling briefly and looking back to Sam.

"So, you up for some sparring?"

Sam shrugged. "Sure. I'd love to."

Robby moved out of the way as the other two assumed their fighting positions, facing each other.

"Hey," Ayane paused, standing at a normal position, "have either of you seen Mr. LaRusso's commercial advertising for Miyagi-Do?"

Sam and Robby looked at each other then looked back, shaking their heads.

"I didn't even know he had done one," Sam admitted.

Ayane made a face, then brushed it off. "Yeah. Maybe we'll get some more students, now."

She got back into fighting position, readying herself. Ayane was actually glad to fight against someone she had never fought before.

"Hai!" Ayane came forward with a round kick, to which Sam readily blocked. Ayane was surprised, as that was her fastest kick, but she persisted nonetheless.

Sam was good at defense, which Ayane already assumed she would be. Being trained in Miyagi-Do, your defense would always be stronger.

Ayane turned on her heel with a roundhouse, which had enough force to knock Sam back even when she was blocking.

Sam paused, looking up at Ayane with a small smile. "You don't even telegraph your kicks, wow."

Ayane shrugged a little. "Kicking is what I'm best at."

Robby added in, "But wait until you make her throw strikes."

Ayane shot him a look, rolling her eyes. "Still better than you."

"If you say so."

She looked at Sam, reassuming her fighting position. Sam got ready as well, but when Ayane went to strike she turned, hitting Robby in the stomach with a side strike.

Robby grunted, stumbling back. Ayane and Sam both laughed with amusement, watching him straighten up with a not so amused expression.

"You caught me off guard," he pointed at her, "that doesn't count."

Ayane smirked at him. "I think it counts." She glanced at Sam. "Do you think it counts?"

Sam grinned, raising her arms. "I think so..."

Robby shook his head, sighing. "I get the sense that I'm gonna be ganged up on when Mr. LaRusso isn't around."

Sam and Ayane exchanged a look.

"Nah," they both said, laughing with each other.

. . . .

THE NEXT DAY, Ayane woke up and for a moment, forgot where she was.

But when Ayane realized that she was in the LaRusso's home, she got a warm feeling. This place was already more of a home than the other place.

Ayane grabbed her phone, then her eyes widened as she saw the date: May 20th.

It was her birthday.

She groaned, hoping that no one knew. Ayane knew everyone around here had enough going on and the last thing they needed was a birthday.

Ayane got up and got dressed, wearing her usual athletic clothes and tennis shoes. She went downstairs to find Daniel in the kitchen, cooking busily.

"Good morning!" He said brightly, smiling as she walked in. "Did you sleep well?"

"Unbelievably well," she replied, smiling for a moment.

Daniel nodded. "That's good. Sam and Anthony should be in here eventually, but then again they may not. You're one of the few kids these days that doesn't sleep until ten or later."

Ayane laughed a little, sitting at the kitchen table with Amanda.

"Morning, sweetie," she said busily, seeming to be leafing through some papers.

"Good morning," Ayane replied, looking around the home. Everything still felt so surreal to her.

Amanda looked up after a moment. "Hey, when's your birthday? I need to fill out some of this paperwork for your legal stuff."

Ayane's eyes widened for a second. She inhaled sharply. "Um... May... twentieth."

"May twentieth," Amanda wrote down, then pausing for a moment. "Wait a minute, that's today. Ayane, why didn't you tell anyone it was your birthday?"

Daniel turned, walking over to the table.

"Uh- I just- didn't think it was a big deal," Ayane shrugged, folding her hands in her lap.

"What?" Mr. LaRusso replied. "This is a huge deal! How old are you?"

Ayane scrunched her nose. "Seventeen."

Amanda and Daniel looked at each other. "Ayane, you know you could have told us, right?" Amanda said. "I know there's a lot going on right now but that doesn't mean we can't celebrate! We need a cake or something, at least."

Ayane sat there with her mouth agape, unsure of what to say.

"No, no. It's fine-" she tried to protest, but neither of them were having it.

"It is absolutely not fine," Daniel replied. "We're having a celebration."

Ayane sat there in defeat, shaking her head with a small smile. She had never really celebrated her birthday before. Other than a simple 'happy birthday' and a few gifts from her parents, that was it. She had never had a party.

At noon, the LaRusso's and Robby were all outside on the patio, singing Happy Birthday to Ayane.

In front of her sat a chocolate cake, which Amanda had picked up from the grocery store but Ayane didn't mind.

Ayane blew out the candles, smiling up at everyone.

"You really just weren't gonna mention that it was your birthday?" Robby said a few minutes later, sitting beside her.

The girl shrugged. "It's not really that big of a deal, is it? It's just another day."

Robby shook his head in disbelief. "Just another day? Ayane..." He shook his head once more, taking a bite of cake from his fork.

Though she still did not see the big deal, Ayane was surprised a few minutes later to see a bunch of kids from school texting her Happy Birthday. And then, not too long after that, Ayane was getting a phone call from Miguel.

Excusing herself, Ayane walked inside to answer it.

"Hi-"

"Ayane Cain, why the hell didn't you tell me today was your birthday?" Miguel cut her off.

Before she could reply he continued, "Never mind. I'm forgetting who I'm talking to. Anyway, I want to see you."

"Then come and see me," Ayane simply replied, taking a few steps back and forth in the living room.

"I will. I'm going to pick you up in an hour, so be ready. Got it?"

Ayane pinched the bridge of her nose. "Got it, Mig."

"Good. I'll see you soon. I love you, bye."

With that, Miguel hung up. Ayane stood there for a moment perplexed by the bizarre conversation she had just had.

"Ayane," Amanda slid the glass door open, walking inside, "where'd you go? We were looking for you."

"Oh, my boyfriend called," Ayane explained with a curt smile. "I was going to go out with him in a bit, if that's okay with you?"

Amanda smiled, almost frowning a little as if Ayane did not even need to ask. "Of course. It's your big day, after all. You should enjoy it."

She then continued, "Daniel and I have to get down to this fair and start setting up. It's for the dealership. I hope you'll be able to make it tonight."

Ayane shrugged with a nod. "I'm sure I'll be able to."

One hour later, Ayane left her training with Robby and Sam as Miguel texted her. She walked out front, startled as she nearly walked right into Miguel.

"Shit-" she clutched her chest, seeing that it was Miguel and letting out a sigh of relief.

He laughed at her with a grin, and then from behind his back brought out a bouquet of baby blue iris flowers.

Ayane took the flowers with a surprised smile, looking up at Miguel. "How did you know my favorite color?"

Miguel smiled slyly. "I could lie and say it was a wild guess, or I could tell you that I found a note from you that said, 'Dear Miguel, my favorite color is baby blue, by the way' in my English textbook."

"I forgot I put that there," Ayane admitted, grinning once more. "Thank you, Miguel. They're beautiful."

"As are you," he replied, holding out an arm with fake grandiosity. "Now, your chariot awaits, m'lady!"

Ayane frowned, taking his arm and looking up to find Miguel's mom's car at the end of the driveway. They walked up, Miguel opening the passenger door for Ayane and closing it once she was inside.

As Miguel got in the driver's side, Ayane immediately had questions.

"Okay, catch me up here; since when do you drive?"

Miguel buckled his seatbelt, sending her a look. "I've had my license for a year. I just don't have a car, so it makes it kind of hard to actually use it."

Ayane smiled at him, shaking her head. "You certainly are full of surprises today."

"Now you know how it feels," Miguel replied, driving along smoothly. Ayane was rather impressed with how good of a driver he was. While she, on the other hand, didn't even have her permit.

"So is our destination another guessing game or what?" Ayane asked, looking out of the window.

Miguel laughed a little. "It's definitely a place you've never been before. Although, I think you're really going to like it."

"Fingers crossed," she replied wittily, tapping her hand on the door handle.

A few minutes later they arrived at what appeared to be an arcade. Miguel came around to open the door for Ayane, who gave him a look.

"An arcade?"

Miguel held up a finger. "Yes, but not the arcade part. There's something else I have in mind."

He took her hand, leading Ayane inside. There were a lot of people there, kids, teenagers and adults alike. Miguel paid for their admission and pulled her along.

"I know you like to be competitive," Miguel explained as they walked through the arcade, "because you wouldn't be Ayane if you weren't. I was planning on taking you here even when it wasn't your birthday, but now I guess it can be extra special."

Miguel stopped and Ayane looked up, seeing a colorful neon sign in front of them.

"Laser tag?" She read aloud, glancing at Miguel. "What's that? It sounds fun."

He grinned at her, walking backwards as he pulled her into the room.

"It's the perfect thing for you. I can't believe I didn't think of it sooner, honestly."

A teenager walked up to them, handing each of them black vests and then walking away. Ayane held it up, seeing a small rectangle in the middle.

"I don't exactly know what this is but I like the word laser," Ayane shrugged, pulling the vest on as Miguel did the same.

"Trust me," he replied, "you're going to love it."

NOTES!
the way ayane was just like 'yah it's my birthday lolz' like pls... this girl is gonna be the death of me