❝ but we can still beat the shit out of them if we need to, right? ❞

THERE WAS SILENCE FOR A moment before Ayane finally found something to say.

"Divorce? Uh- wow. I-I never would've expected that. Good for you, I guess?"

Liana smiled a little, sitting beside Ayane at once.

"Ayane, I think I owe you an apology."

The girl blinked, unsure if she was hearing her mother correctly.

Liana continued, "I've been the worst mother in the world to you. I-I don't have any excuse for it but- I was just so unhappy with Ennis and I guess I-I took that out on you. And I'm sorry. I don't want you to forgive me, I just want you to know that I truly am sorry for how I've treated you."

Ayane sat there in shock, disbelieving of what she was hearing. She could not respond.

"And I also really regret not... loving you the way I should've. I guess- after your brother's passing... I was just scared to love you and then lose you-"

Her voice broke and Ayane looked up, seeing tears streaked down Liana's face. She was not even sure if she had ever seen her mom cry.

Ayane slowly reached over and placed a hand on Liana's shoulder, trying to comfort her.

"I understand," Ayane replied after a moment. "I know what you mean."

She paused, then added, "But I need some time. Before I can- forgive you. If you get what I'm saying."

Liana nodded quickly. "Of course."

Ayane withdrew her hand, folding them in her lap for a moment and thinking.

"So have you already filed for divorce or...?"

Liana smiled thinly, dabbing at her eyes. "No, not until he gets out. Which is in just a few weeks, I might add. I wish he could just stay." Her tone sounded bitter, and Ayane understood exactly how she felt. She had just not known that Liana hated Ennis as much as her.

"But- you know he's going to get all of the money, right?"

Sighing, Liana nodded once more.

"I don't care about the money. Or this house, or any of it for that matter. I already plan on moving in with Finn, anyway."

Ayane raised her eyebrows. "Moving in already? It must be pretty serious."

Liana laughed a little, shrugging.

"He's made me happier in two months than Ennis made me in thirty years. Kind of like how the Diaz boy is to you."

Ayane glanced down, smiling a bit.

"Are you still with him?" Liana asked.

"Yeah," Ayane nodded, looking back up. "I think it'll be close to a year now that we've been dating. Which I hear are pretty good statistics for a high school relationship."

Liana nodded with confirmation. "Believe me, you'd be surprised to know how many boys I dated in grade school. You're doing better than me."

She stood up and Ayane stood as well, checking the time on her phone.

"Finn seems like a nice guy," Ayane said, basically giving her approval of the guy. "What does he do for a living?"

"He's an engineer. Very smart. He might be able to help you out with school if you ever need it."

Ayane smirked. "Maybe I'll come around more often, then," she joked.

Liana went quiet for a moment, looking at her daughter.

"You know you can come back at any time, right? Or at least- once Ennis is out of our lives. You can live with Finn and I."

Ayane chewed her lip, trying to process all of this.

"I'll have to think about it. All of this. But- thank you for this conversation."

Liana nodded curtly, folding her hands together. "Of course. Oh- and I... I got you a birthday present, I just never gave it to you."

Tilting her head, Ayane simply replied, "Oh."

She followed Liana out of the office, passing by Finn as they walked out to the garage.

Flipping the light on, Liana gestured to a very new car and in the other hand, held out a set of car keys to Ayane.

"I figured you had to learn sometime."

. . . .

"YOUR MOM GOT YOU a car?" Miguel said in disbelief the next day at the park, when Ayane told him.

She nodded, stretching her arms. "Yeah. Believe me, I was just as shocked. It's like- she's done a complete one-eighty since my dad went to jail."

Miguel shook his head a little.

"...Wow. And she's divorcing him too?"

Ayane nodded once more, smiling a little. "No complaints here. I've been wanting that asshole out of my life ever since I could form a coherent thought."

He laughed a little, about to reply when Johnny interrupted them.

"Alright, cut the chit chat and fall in!"

All of the kids lined into a row, listening intently to Johnny.

"I have a new lesson for you today," he paced with his hands behind him, "and that lesson is that reason we learn karate is to show the world that you're not a bunch of pansy-ass nerds!"

Ayane sighed.

"We're gonna show 'em that you're tough! Because eagles don't get shit on. They're the ones that do the shitting."

Miguel laughed, while Ayane simply shook her head. Johnny had some very questionable lessons, she had learned by now.

"Just don't forget," he continued, "being a badass doesn't mean being an asshole. The goal isn't to hurt other kids."

"But we can still beat the shit out of them if we need to, right?" Ayane asked, squinting.

Johnny stared at her, then sighed. "Yeah, I guess."

They did their warmups and then they were paired off to practice sparring.

"Are you sure you're up for this?" Ayane asked Miguel warily. "You just got back to walking."

He shot her a look. "All that shit you gave me for not helping you when you got hurt, and then you decide to pull the same thing on me?"

Ayane rolled her eyes, as Miguel did have a point.

"Okay, but- I didn't get kicked off a railing. All I did was hit the concrete. There's a big difference, Mig."

He dismissed her with a wave, shrugging. "Nah. Look, I'm fine, alright. I'm not gonna push myself past my limits."

Ayane held her hands up.

"Whatever you say."

They sparred very lightly, nothing like how they did before. Ayane could have had Miguel in a literal chokehold, or vice versa.

But now it was like they barely touched each other, but Ayane was not trying to risk him getting hurt.

"I'm getting the sense that you're not trying very hard," Miguel finally said, giving her a look.

Ayane shook her head. "Mm... no, I'm trying. I promise."

She came across with another strike and Miguel grabbed her wrist, stopping her.

"Ayane, I've known you for like a year now. And I've seen you fight a lot of people. This is not you trying."

He let go of her wrist and Ayane rolled her eyes, placing her hands on her hips.

"Okay, I haven't even fully agreed to start doing karate again. As far as I'm concerned, I'm just here to be emotional support."

Miguel was unable to help but laugh, shaking his head. "Emotional support? Do you think I need emotional support?"

Ayane tilted her head, silently answering his question.

"Whatever," he rolled his eyes, "I promise you. I'm doing a lot better than you think."

"Sure, sure," Ayane nodded but clearly did not believe him.

Miguel shot a look at her. "You don't believe me."

"Of course I do," Ayane replied quickly, "I totally believe you."

He licked his lips and looked up, folding his arms.

"You are so frustrating."

Ayane shrugged.

"So I've been told."

. . . .

AT SCHOOL THE NEXT DAY, tensions seemed to have grown even higher with all of the dojos.

Ayane and Miguel passed by Hawk and some of the others, who basically stared them down until they were out of sight.

"Why can't they realize what Kreese is teaching them is wrong?" Ayane said, shaking her head.

Miguel chewed his lip in thought. "I guess... because what Kreese teaches them makes them feel powerful. You know, like they're the- top of the food chain, so to speak."

"Interesting choice of words," Ayane replied, walking alongside him. "But yeah, I get what you're saying."

"Ayane."

She and Miguel turned to the left, seeing Sam approaching them.

Ayane raised her eyebrows. "Yeah?"

Sam glanced around, looking at her with some hesitation. "Um- can I talk to you for a second?"

After a moment Ayane shrugged, following Sam around the corner.

Sam stopped and turned to her, a serious look on her face.

"Did you ditch Miyagi-Do for another dojo?"

Ayane's face told it all. She rubbed her arm, trying to think of something to say.

"I- well, not exactly. I just- I didn't want to be part of the rivalry thing between Cobra Kai and Miyagi-Do anymore, alright? So I'm just trying to be on a more neutral side of the karate community, if you get what I'm saying-"

"Eagle Fang?" Sam questioned, furrowing her eyebrows.

"I know, it sounds stupid. Anyway, I mean- surely you can understand what I'm getting at. I still like karate- I think- but I don't want to be involved with something that keeps getting people hurt."

Sam scoffed, taking offense to this. "Miyagi-Do weren't the ones hurting people. It was Cobra Kai."

"Robby wasn't Cobra Kai," Ayane quickly reminded her, arching an eyebrow.

Sam realized what Ayane was getting at.

"So this is still about Robby. He's the reason you won't come back to Miyagi-Do?"

Ayane fought the urge to roll her eyes. "Call it what you want. I've already told you why I'm not coming back. So you can just accept that and move on or be mad about it, I don't care. Just leave me out of this, please."

With that Ayane walked away to find Miguel, leaving Sam at a loss for words.

"You won't believe what I just saw," Miguel said, almost smiling a little. "Demetri and Yasmine were making out."

Ayane's eyes widened a little in surprise, looking over at Miguel.

"Are you serious?"

He nodded vigorously. "Very. I don't know what I was expecting to see today but it was not that."

Ayane nodded a little, still shocked. Miguel caught on that something was off, assuming it had to do with her conversation with Sam.

"What did Sam want?" he asked at once, leaning forward a little to see her face.

Ayane sighed. "Uh, she asked me why I quit Miyagi-Do. She found out that I've been spending my afternoons at the park, somehow. My guess would be that a Cobra Kai kid told her, but who knows."

Miguel shook his head a little.

"That's quite the predicament. Hey, this won't get you in trouble with Mr. LaRusso, will it? Because if so, you don't have to be a part of this-"

"Miguel," Ayane cut him off, stopping in the hallway and grabbing him by the shoulders. "I quit Miyagi-Do, and Mr. LaRusso knows that. No, he doesn't know I'm doing karate with his rival, and he doesn't have to know for now. All that matters to me, is being with you."

He slowly smiled, falling victim to Ayane's words as he always did.

"You must really like me then," Miguel finally replied with a sly smile.

Ayane shrugged. "More than most."

That afternoon they were back at the park. Before they began, Johnny said, "Ayannie! Come here for a second."

She exchanged a look with Miguel, who shrugged with confusion. Ayane walked over to Johnny at once.

"Yes?"

He lowered his voice a little. "I've been meaning to ask you this, but- does LaRusso know you're out here?"

Ayane tilted her head to the side. "Uh, well- not exactly, no. I just- told him I was taking a break from karate."

Johnny thought for a moment, frowning a little. "Okay. Oh- also. Have you... heard from Robby, by any chance?"

She shook her head. "I haven't talked to Robby since- you know. Why?"

He shook his head dismissively.

"No reason. Get back to your spot."

Ayane did so, walking back over and standing in her spot.

"What was that about?" Miguel asked quietly.

"Mr. LaRusso. Robby," Ayane replied curtly, inhaling deeply.

Johnny pulled out a frisbee just then. "Alright, let's try this out. Ayannie, come on up and give this a try."

She rolled her eyes a little and walked over, knowing that Johnny was never going to say her name right.

"Simple goal. Kick the frisbee out of my hand."

Ayane nodded, taking a few steps back and getting into her fighting stance. She turned on her leg and brought the other around, kicking the frisbee over everyone's heads.

"Now, everyone else do the same thing."

They all went through, and then it got to Miguel.

"Alright, Diaz, you're up."

Miguel walked forward, Ayane picking at her nails warily. She wanted him to be able to do it but, she was afraid he couldn't.

"Now, imagine this is the guy I stole this frisbee from. Imagine his stupid white dreads."

Miguel nodded a little, positioning himself. He turned and weakly attempted to kick the frisbee, barely making contact with it. Ayane sighed a little, feeling bad for him. She could see the determination in his eyes.

"Alright, good hustle," Johnny said. "Who's next?"

"No, I can do it Sensei," Miguel persisted. Ayane held her tongue, but she wanted to advise him not to try it.

Johnny shook his head a little. "Diaz, it's fine-"

"I got it," Miguel interrupted determinedly.

Ayane was not expecting Johnny to let him try it, but he finally replied, "Fine. Get in a side stance, use the balls of your feet."

"Sensei-" Ayane stepped forward, then stopped herself as Miguel looked over at her. She huffed, stepping back.

Miguel drew in a deep breath as Johnny held out the frisbee once more, then turned and attempted the kick. However, Miguel completely missed and fell to the ground.

"Miguel," Ayane hurried over to help him, leaning down to take his hand.

But Miguel pushed her away. "I'm fine, I'm fine," his voice raised a little as he stood back up, Ayane frowning at him.

"Everybody take five and go get some water," Johnny said at once. "But not from the water fountain, I saw some meth head wipe his ass in it."

Ayane stayed beside Miguel, who refused to look at her.

Johnny looked at Miguel. "It's okay if you can't do things you could do before, nobody's expecting you to be your old self."

Ayane placed a hand on his shoulder as someone's phone began ringing.

"You gotta be shitting me!" Ass Face said from behind them, Ayane and Miguel both turning to see what was wrong.

"What happened?"

He looked up from his phone.

"They canceled the All Valley."

NOTES!
hi again!! i know it's been a hot minute since an update, but i've been completely overloaded with school and i'm finally out on spring break, so here's the new chapter! i'm probably going to end up writing more chapters than i said, or i'll just write two more really long chapters. i hope everyone is doing well!!