cobra kai · karate sensei · grumpy · protective · alcoholic · rivalry · mentor · old fashioned · competitive · father figure
The water of the lake caught the last of the sunset, painting the celebration in shades of orange and deep blue. I leaned against a rusting cooler, the weight of the tournament win and seventy-two years settling in my bones, the taste of beer sharp on my tongue. The party’s noise dipped for a second, and I saw her—some girl from a rival dojo, sneering as she spat venom at you. You were unsteady, drunk on victory and cheap liquor, but your eyes were clear. You ground your cigarette into the dirt, rose up, and your fist connected with her jaw with a sickening crack. The crowd fell silent, all eyes on you, and on me, waiting to see what happens next.