The Outcome of a Duel

Daniel had his doubts. Despite losing in the last combat simulation, it didn't mean much to him. Yet, he remained uncertain, unsure of the dirty plans these two people might concoct together.

"So, this is the end." At that moment, Terry raised his hand, and Devon, who had walked over to his side, handed him the hilt of a sword. Looking coldly at Daniel, Terry said, "It's over. Let's leave the past and the present here."

Gazing at the blade of the sword, Daniel paled and said, "Wait, what are you doing?"

"I've waited a long time for this," Terry said, his expression full of hatred as he stared directly at Daniel.

Unable to move, Daniel looked at the sword and felt terror. "Terry, don't…"

"Yaaa!" Terry yelled as he brought the sword down toward Daniel's neck, whose face was as pale as paper.

But just as the blade was about to reach Daniel's body, it stopped. Terry sheathed the sword and placed it in front of Daniel, who slowly opened his eyes.

"Don't tell me… you thought I'd kill you?" Terry said mockingly, looking at Daniel, who unconsciously grabbed the sword with his hands.

Everyone who witnessed this staged prank chuckled softly as Daniel was led to the locker room. They looked at their sensei, Mr. Terry, and couldn't hold back their laughter.

"Haha!" Terry couldn't stop laughing at Daniel's terrified expression just moments ago.

Standing up, Daniel didn't seem as amused and said, "I'm glad—really glad—you're enjoying yourself."

"Oh, you should've seen your face!" Mr. Terry said, still grinning.

Knowing that everyone was complicit in the prank, Daniel waved his hands and asked, "What are you trying to prove?"

"Come on, Daniel, the things from the past are what I still regret to this day. But as grown men, let's not let that cloud our minds."

Daniel couldn't trust Terry, not when he was dressed the same way he had haunted his days before.

"Listen, class, many of you know I made great mistakes when I was younger, mistakes I've tried to make amends for. When we fail in life, we don't always acknowledge it—not out of pride, but because we can't recognize the error." Terry walked to the front of the room, all eyes fixed on him.

"Sometimes, I wish I could feel like a child again—no stress, no worries, no regrets. But whether we like it or not, we accumulate mistakes, and it's inevitable to wonder what would've happened if we had acted differently. Despite what every expert says about not blaming ourselves for past mistakes, it's hard to let go of the weight of bad decisions. And that burden catches up to anyone with even a little sensitivity."

Terry's words weren't just directed at Daniel but also at his nephew, who stood among the crowd of students listening intently.

"From personal experience, I can tell you that life isn't a one-way road. There are many exits and turnarounds, and we can take advantage of them. It's not about undoing what we did but about trying to remake it in a different way. Sometimes, it's enough to admit we were wrong, apologize, and offer to make amends."

The current Terry wanted to take Cobra Kai to a different pinnacle—one focused solely on oppressed students or those wanting to learn self-defense. Even those simply seeking to belong to a selfless social circle.

"No one's perfect, but I've always thought I'm among the most imperfect. Mistakes are part of my life, and even now, I'm judged for them." Terry didn't blame Daniel for looking at him with mistrust; he accepted it and hoped for forgiveness someday.

"I suppose part of maturing is gaining the ability to see our own flaws, along with the humility to recognize we could've acted better."

"I'm still learning to do that, and I fear I'll never master it completely. But if it helps anyone, the intangible, emotional, even spiritual value of accepting our missteps and trying to correct them is immense. And it's sweet. Very sweet."

When Terry finished speaking, he pointed to Daniel and said, "This is Daniel LaRusso, who, along with his students, will undoubtedly be strong rivals. I hope all of you avoid getting involved with them outside official zones or without the supervision of a sensei. As you can see, we won't always be the good guys."

"What are you trying to say?" Daniel still didn't understand what Terry was doing.

Terry looked at Daniel and said, "I apologize for everything in the past, and I'm making it clear that we won't fight your students unless it's in a tournament or under supervision."

"Well, now that the class is over, get to training. Stick to your gym routines, but remember—don't overdo it." Johnny pointed to the door and said to Daniel, "Now, let's settle our differences out of sight from my students."

Speechless, Daniel followed Johnny, who simply walked toward his office, accessible only to authorized personnel.

Once they were in a place where they couldn't be overheard, Johnny turned to Daniel and asked, "What the hell are you trying to do?"

"What am I trying to do? The violence you teach your students isn't right, and it's affecting their daily lives. Not only were my students beaten, but they were also humiliated in front of many people. You need to stop this."

"Stop this? As far as I know, your students crashed the party organized by Cobra Kai members and insulted everyone with derogatory comments. Who should I believe, LaRusso—your students or mine?"

"Are you implying I'm lying?" Daniel couldn't believe it.

Johnny sighed and said, "I'm trying to say you should open your mind. There are many possibilities, and maybe your students aren't as good as you think. Besides, one of them—Robby—is my son."

Daniel wanted to keep arguing but fell silent upon hearing that revelation.

Terry, watching the duo from a distance, shook his head and walked away, deciding they didn't need a babysitter. Surely, as adults, they would resolve it.