THE WAY WE BREAK || cobra kai

As the sun climbed higher, the heat intensified, a wave of warmth pressing down on everyone in the dojo. The air felt thick, and sweat quickly began to bead on everyone's foreheads. The group of kids had taken refuge beneath the only tree that offered any shade, but even there, it wasn't enough to escape the sweltering heat.

Tessa had already met the rest of the team, and as expected, they all instantly adored her. But now, as she sat close to Robby, she was fidgeting, trying to find a way to get comfortable in the heat.

It wasn't just the heat that had her seeking his side—weighing on her mind was the threat Kreese had made, the constant worry gnawing at her. She knew Robby would overreact, and the last thing she wanted was for him to go off and make things worse. She couldn't bear the thought of him getting hurt because of her.

"Robbyyy," Tessa groaned, her voice exaggerated in the best way possible, as she slumped against his side. "I'm melting."

Robby glanced down at her, amused by her dramatic tone. He could feel her little sighs of frustration, and offered her his water bottle without a second thought.

"Here," he said simply.

Tessa gratefully took the bottle, unscrewing the cap and taking a long drink. The cool water helped soothe her parched throat, but it didn't do much to cool her down. She handed the bottle back to him, her expression softening as she looked up at him. Robby's presence alone made her feel a little safer. She knew he would never let anything happen to her.

"Alright, guys, get out from under that tree," Daniel called, striding into the yard with a determined look. The group groaned in unison at the request, reluctant to leave the meager shade and face the blazing sun. Slowly, they began to stand, dragging their feet as if the heat was too much to bear.

"Mr. LaRusso, it's like 100 degrees out. Can't we take it easy today?" Robby asked, his voice drenched in exhaustion as he extended his hand to pull Tessa up beside him. She accepted his hand but shot him a look of sheer misery at the thought of training in this heat.

Daniel raised an eyebrow, a knowing smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Are you kidding?" he replied with a light laugh. "This heatwave is a gift." He paused for dramatic effect, then added, "Today, you're going to experience Shochu-Geiko."

"Like the car insurance?" Mitch asked, flatly.

Tessa's couldn't resist correcting him. "It's not geiko, it's gecko, and his name is Martin, not Shochu." She flashed a smile, wiping sweat away from her face.

Daniel laughed lightly, clearly amused by Tessa's quick wit. "No, no," he replied, shaking his head with a smirk. "Shochu-Geiko is a Japanese exercise where you train during the hottest days of the year." His expression shifted, becoming more serious. "It's about pushing yourself to your limit. The fight isn't always gonna come when it's 75 degrees and breezy."

"Aren't we supposed to avoid fighting?" Sam asked, her voice laced with boredom, clearly uninterested in the training for the day.

"Sometimes you can't." Daniel's voice was steady, but his gaze lingered on Tessa, a quiet intensity in his eyes. "Someday, the fight may come to you. And I want to make sure you're ready when that happens."

Tessa's heart skipped a beat, and her stomach twisted into knots. Her gaze dropped to the ground, her thoughts racing. Daniel had promised that Cobra Kai wouldn't hurt her, and now he was telling her that she had to be ready to fight? The promise felt shattered in an instant, and an overwhelming anxiety swept over her. Was she really ready for that? What if she failed? What if she got hurt?

Her mind was spinning, but Daniel's next words cut through her thoughts.

"So, today, we're gonna see what Miyagi-Do is made of."