"Lesson not just karate only. Lesson for whole life. Whole life has a balance. Everything be better."

Mr. Miyagi's words rang through Daniel's head as he drove a silver SUV to the Miyagi-Do dojo.

"If only those words could be a reality, Mr. Miyagi," thought Daniel to himself, sighing.

Miyagi-Do had been so close to winning the tournament! Mere points away from victory when Sam was defeated by her rival, Tory Nichols.

Her Johnny Lawrence.

But there was no doubt in Daniel's mind about who's fault it was. His own. If he had only put his rivalry aside and been the bigger man, he and Johnny could have worked together and beat Cobra Kai.

He turned right on the dirt road where he saw the circular, wooden entrance sign reading, "Miyagi-Do." The dojo was small, consisting of only a wooden shack and grassy backyard but to Daniel, the memories it held were priceless. Every wooden plank had been built by Mr. Miyagi, Daniel himself, or his students. As he unbuckled his seatbelt and got out of the car, he noticed the gentle breeze blowing through the willow trees surrounding the dojo's crosswalk. It reminded him of when he first cut bonsai trees in Mr. Miyagi's workshop.

"Daniel-San, It is time," stated Chozen, stepping aside so that Daniel could enter the dojo.

It was customary for the sensei of the dojo to enter first. Daniel nodded in appreciation as he walked up the wooden steps and onto the soft white mats of the mediating room, Chozen following close behind.

"If we are to beat enemy, then we must think like enemy," explained Chozen, holding two fingers to the side of his head.

"So we should try putting ourselves in Kreese's position?" confirmed Daniel.

Chozen nodded approvingly.

I never thought I'd have to say those words.

"Now sit, close your eyes, and think of everything you know of John Kreese," instructed Chozen.

Daniel did as Chozen suggested, sitting cross-legged on the cushioned mat. He closed his eyes and pictured Kreese. The immediate image that came to mind was of when Kreese had put his arm around Robby's shoulder gently, just to get under his and Johnny's skin.

"What word comes to mind?" asked Chozen, pacing back and forth, his arms folded elegantly behind his back.

"Spite," said Daniel, gritting his teeth.

Robby deserves so much better than Kreese.

"Dig deeper," urged Chozen.

The next image that came to mind was when Kreese broke into Miyagi-Do a year before to try and scare him into shutting down the dojo.

"Manipulation," answered Daniel again.

"Stop focusing on your point of view and think of it from his!" demanded Chozen, throwing his hands up.

"That's what I'm trying to do!" insisted Daniel, opening his eyes.

"No, you put your feelings before reason," lectured Chozen.

Daniel rolled his eyes and sighed, though deep down, he knew Chozen was right. He wasn't thinking of Kreese in any opinion except his own.

No one's heartless.

He closed his eyes once more, focusing his mind on Kreese's emotions. Somehow, his mind fell to when Kreese was choking Johnny and Mr. Miyagi had to step in to save the Cobra Kai student. His face was red with rage and he pulled back his fist, anger pulsing through his every bone. He charged at Mr. Miyagi, his fists balled tightly but Mr. Miyagi dodged easily to the side, letting Kreese's fist instead smash the glass of a nearby car. His hand started to bleed, dripping red blood down his sleeve.

Somehow, he could almost feel Kreese's anger rushing through him.

"Now, what word comes to mind?" asked Chozen.

"Defeat," stated Daniel, his voice clear.

He opened his eyes to see Chozen offering him a hand up, smiling.

"You have mastered lesson one," bowed Chozen.

Daniel smiled and bowed back.
One step closer to beating Cobra Kai.