Chapter 46*tournament

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As everyone fought, the gym throbbed with energy, the sound of punches and heavy breathing echoing through the stands. With each victory Tory and Sam won, their gazes would dart toward me, like arrows filled with meaning. Some had noticed—the whispers grew louder, curious eyes turning to where I stood, a lone figure with a nearly empty bucket of popcorn.

What is this guy doing here? Miguel thought, his brow furrowed as he warmed his fists.

So he came back… , Eli mused, a gleam of recognition crossing his gaze.

Let's hope this doesn't turn into a fight... I mean, we're already fighting , Demitri thought, his heart racing with the tension of the tournament.

Roby watched Tory fight, pride mixed with a shadow of doubt. When she won, she turned fully toward me, her eyes fixed, intense, as if searching for something—a reaction, a signal. The silence between us screamed louder than the crowd.

Where is she looking? Roby thought, following her gaze to me. Clark? What is he doing here? I thought Samantha had broken up with him… Why is Tory looking at him like that? Confusion tightened his chest, a pang of jealousy burning deep inside.

I was peacefully eating my popcorn, feeling the weight of those stares. Why is Samantha staring at me like that? Wasn't she the one who broke up with me? I thought, my heart skipping a beat. Interesting... They're using Miyagi-Do moves. Roby taught it, I remember that from the series...

Moments later, an impressive kick from Miguel drew gasps from the audience—a perfect side somersault, hitting his opponent with precision. "Wow, what a move!" I exclaimed, nearly dropping the last of the popcorn.

Later, it was Tory versus Devon. Interesting… Devon started fighting what, a month ago? She's too good for so little training , I thought, admiring her evolution.

Demitri won his fight next, pride shining on his tired face. Very good… They've all grown so much.

The next fight looked promising. I remembered Kyle tormenting Eli in high school, the venom in his words cutting deep. Why not stir things up a bit? "Hey, Eli!" I yelled, my voice echoing. He turned to me, curious. "After all that training, you're going to let this guy call you 'Lip' again? Why don't you scare him, too?"

The crowd stared at me, surprised at the challenge thrown into the air. Eli grinned, a mischievous glint in his eyes, before frowning with renewed anger. Kyle glared at me, his teeth clenched.

"Tsk," Roby huffed. "Don't let him get to you, Kyle. You win this fight!" Cobra Kai's screams echoed, but as in the original story, Eli humiliated him, each blow tinged with years of resentment.

I laughed out loud, the sound escaping like thunder. Cobra Kai's glares came my way, especially Roby's. Tory glared at me too, but her face wavered—anger melting into something neutral, almost vulnerable.

Sam's fight was next. She'd lost a point early on, the weight of her initial defeat evident on her shoulders. But then something changed—she came back with fire in her eyes, attacking with everything she had, and won. She looked at Tory defiantly, then back at me. I smiled and clapped, my heart lightening for a moment. She smiled back at me, a small smile of connection across the distance.

Roby faced Kenya next. It started off poorly, with hesitant blows, but after a chat with Kreese, it turned into a one-sided beating. What a turnaround… , I thought, impressed.

"Now then… Michael versus Eli," I muttered. He didn't need to remind himself—he knew Miguel would hurt his back and leave crying, defeated by knockout. And so it was, pain written all over his face as he left the arena.

"Best fight of the night: Eli versus Roby." I sighed, wishing for more popcorn. What? I can't get excited watching a fight? It was incredible—the two of them clashed like titans, and in the end Eli won, sweat and determination shining through in his victory.

Moments later, the finals approached: Tory versus Sam. Sam hugged her father, finding strength in his words. Tory listened to Kreese, her face hard, but Roby caught up to her before she could step onto the mat. "Good luck," he said, his voice thick with support.

The judge raised his voice: "Ladies, face me, bow. Face each other, bow." They did so, the air between them crackling with rivalry.

"This time, Larusso, it's over for you," Tory declared, his eyes flashing.

"I won't lose to you again," Sam snapped, determination burning in his voice.

The fight began, and soon a tornado kick from Sam connected with Tory's face, a blow so fast it drew gasps from the crowd. Tory responded with pure hatred, fists flying, scoring 2 to 1 against Sam. The crowd roared, the heat of the battle rising.

Sam ran to Lawrence, her father, her eyes asking for guidance. She came back stronger, scoring a point—but the referee didn't call it, saying it was out of bounds. Of course, like in the series, it's being cheated… , I thought, my stomach tightening at the injustice. She had scored another point, and if everything had been right, she would have won the tournament right there.

Then came a warning. As they spun between them, Tory kicked Sam in the face, the impact echoing like thunder. Tory ran toward Kreese and Silver, panting. I heard her words, the tone heavy with urgency, but Kreese remained silent, just listening. Strange… He's not going to say anything? She turned to Silver, ready to continue.

So something's changed around here… , I thought, my heart racing. I raised my voice, cutting through the hubbub. "Tory!"

She turned, surprised by my shout. "Fair fight, clean heart!" I declared, the words charged with intent, an echo of something greater.

She smiled—a small smile, but it was genuine—and nodded. Silver gave me an icy glare, but Kreese's lips curved into a subtle smile. Jhony, in the distance, seemed to understand, a gleam of approval on his face.

Roby watched everything, his chest tight. When Tory smiled at me, something broke inside him—a strange feeling, an emptiness he couldn't name. He opened his mouth, astonished, trying to decipher our connection. That warm smile… It's not just friendship. There's something more here…

The fight continued, as in the original story, and Tory won, sweat glistening on his forehead as he raised his fist. Silver took the floor, talking about franchises and plans, his voice echoing like a king proclaiming victory.

"Well… It looks like this tournament was worth watching live," I muttered, standing up, my heart still racing from the raw emotion of the fights.

As I walked away, a voice cut through the air. "Hey!"

I turned. It was Roby, his eyes flashing with something between confusion and defiance.