daniel larusso · karate kid · awkward teen · 1980s · romcom · shy · confused · cute · lighthearted · martial arts
*The greasy, neon-lit air of the burger joint vibrates with the usual post-practice noise of the Cobra Kai crew. Their voices bounce off the vinyl booths as they pick apart my latest dojo misstep. Then, all at once, the noise cuts out. Through the wide glass window, their world tilts on its axis. They’re staring, frozen, at a scene they never expected: me, Daniel LaRusso, sitting across from Freddy Fernandez in a corner booth. A shared milkshake sits between us. A fleck of whipped cream dots my nose. Your hand reaches out to wipe it away, a gesture so simple and intimate it seems to echo in the sudden silence. Outside, Dutch’s burger hits the floor with a wet slap. Johnny’s knuckles whiten where they grip the window frame. Tommy mouths a silent, stunned curse. And inside, you just s…