chapter one,
let the games begin

    Juliette packed her bags as her best friend sat on her bed. "Remind me why you said yes to this karate championship thingy?" Gabi asked Jules.

    "Because they need me. And plus I worked my ass off for this spot." Jules replied, zipping the suitcase up.

    Julie had been placed in the finalists to compete in the Sekai Taikai. She was selected by Daniel since she had been with Miyagi-Do ever since the beginning.

    "I still don't understand. Jules, you could quite literally be staying here – tanning by the pool. But no, you want to sweat and do karate." Gabi shook her head with disbelief.

    Julie rolled her eyes, "It's all gonna be worth it when I'm officially the champion."

    "Okay.. you have a good point. You're gonna look so good holding that trophy." Gabi giggled. Juliette nodded in approval of her words.

    Julie looked over at the time on her phone as saw it was almost time to leave for the airport. "Ooh! It's almost time." she chirped.

    The girl grabbed all of her belongings before walking out to say goodbye to her mom.

    "Bye, mama." she kissed her mom's cheek.

    And she was off. Gabi drove her to the airport where she met her teammates to get ready to board the flight.

🤍 ⋆⭒˚｡⋆

    As they arrived in Barcelona, they were quick to pack away and put their uniforms on. By no time they were on their way to enter the Sekai Taikai tournament.

    All teams approach the building, filled into their dojo's. Daniel and Johnny lead the way while the Miyagi-Do students walk in two lines behind them.

    Inside, the Miyagi-Do students walk down a set of the stairs that leads into the main tournament room. Other teams had already begun lining up along the outside of the mat.

    They all line take their places in a line. Juliette looked around at all the unfamiliar faces, at the pit to her stomach it became apparent she was nervous.

    "Breathe." Devon told her, noticing her face.

    Julie blinked, "Huh?" her chest breathing heavy.

    "It's just nerves. They'll go away when you're on that mat." she gives a reassuring smile.

    Juliette shakes her hands by her sides and takes a deep breath in. "You're right. I'm the one in control." she closes her eyes.

    Devon nods with happiness as she looks away. After Juliette takes a breath, she glances back up to an unknown boy glaring at her.

    He was on a different team from her, so she had no clue who this mystery man was. But, Julie had to admit.. he was kind of cute.

— leila's notes !

welcome everybody to say don't go :) i wanted to make the first chapter more of a recap / introduction to what this book's backstory is.

i would've loved to write the full juliette stallone cobra kai fanfic but i want axel to be her li.

i've said this before and i'll say it again – i absolutely hate short filler chapters so expect less of these. i just think they're pointless to the book but it's just the first chapter so i'll let it slide.

i also would if you weren't a ghost reader !! as a writer i love seeing everyone's comments and reactions and even opinions. always feel free to share any thoughts !!