Out of Place [Cobra Kai OC x Robby Keene]

73 - Opposing Viewpoints

"Sensei Lawrence and I have the same goal of preparing you for the tournament," Mr LaRusso says.

"But we have different ways of getting you there," Mr Lawrence follows up.

"We realize that teaching you opposing viewpoints at the same time can be a little confusing,"

"So we've discussed it and come up with a solution. We're gonna divide and conquer,"

Wait... what? ¿Por qué? I thought we were all supposed to come together. We can't beat Cobra Kai alone. We both need each other, whether we like it or not. We all look around at each other in confusion.

"Eagle Fang trains out front," Mr Lawrence says.

"And I'll be back here will the Miyagi-Dos," Mr LaRusso says. So just like that we're separating?

"I thought we were stronger working together," Miguel says. Exactly.

"We're still working together," Mr LaRusso says.

"Just separately," Mr Lawrence agrees, "on opposite ends of the dojo. Alright Eagles follow-"

"Wait wait wait!" I call out on a whim. We can't be doing this. We have to beat Cobra Kai, we need to work together. Surprising me a little, Mr Lawrence listens, pausing to look back at me.

"What is it, Parker?" Mr LaRusso asks. Now that everyone's eyes are on me, my courage starts to falter and heat rushes to my face. I take a deep breath and pretend like Robby is standing just behind me, ready to back me up on what I'm about to say.

"Remember the tree? When R- when I was with- when me and my partner were on different pages and it was chaos? Do you remember what you said to us?" I ask. He and Sam both know I'm talking about Robby, and everybody else probably does too, but still. I know there are still some... fresh wounds concerning him, and we've already got enough to bandage here. Mr LaRusso sighs.

"I told you that 'you're in this together whether you like it or not'..." he says, not quite meeting my eyes. I nod.

"Why is this any different?" I ask. We have to put our differences, though they may be numerous, aside. There's too much riding on the All Valley, which is less than six months away. I don't care how much time that feels like, it'll be on us fast, and we have to be ready.

"It's a lot different, the two of you have a lot more in common and didn't go through what Sensei Lawrence and I did," Mr LaRusso says, "this is what's best for you and what's best for all of us."

He sounds so convinced that this is what's best for us... that this is what's best for me... Mr Lawrence looks at me for a moment longer before motioning for the Eagle Fangs to continue following him out to the front, though something on his face is a little... out of place... something like confusion, I think... curiosity... something like that, yeah. He walks away before I can figure out what it is, and Miguel stealing a look at me catches my attention instead. He looks like he feels the same way I do. I give him the same look in return. I think more than anything, I'm hurt by the way Mr LaRusso just... brushed me off... I follow him into the dojo nonetheless, trying to shove down my feelings and focus on what we're really doing here, which is train for karate.