"Still friends? Yes!"

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tw: mentions of sewer side

Clementine stood outside of Sylmar Juvenile Corrections Parole Office, nervously scanning the building's exit. She had no idea how Robby would react to seeing her, especially after everything that had transpired. Johnny had told her about Robby's release and the awkward encounter with Daniel and Johnny, which hadn't gone well. Her stomach churned with anxiety as she sat on the bumper of her car, glancing at the building's entrance every few seconds.

Tory walked out first, her expression indifferent as she headed to her car. Clementine held her breath, hoping not to be noticed. Thankfully, Tory seemed preoccupied and drove off without acknowledging her presence. Clementine sighed in relief, but the knot in her stomach tightened again as she continued to wait.

Fifteen more agonizing minutes passed before Robby finally emerged. Clementine felt a surge of hope and nerves as she saw him. She jumped off the car and hurried over to him. "Robby," she breathed, reaching out to hug him. Robby hesitated but returned the hug briefly before pulling back, his eyes hardening into a glare.

"What are you doing here? You wanna talk to me now? I found out you were in the hospital because you tried to kill yourself, and when I called, you ended the call on me. Now you're here?" Robby's voice was sharp, a mixture of anger and betrayal.

Clementine felt a lump form in her throat. She placed her hands on her hips, trying to steady her emotions. "I'm really, really sorry. I—" she began, but Robby started walking away, shaking his head in disbelief. She hurried after him, her voice rising in desperation. "Robby! Come on. I had just woken up from a coma! I wanted to be dead then. I'm glad I'm alive now, but—"

Robby whirled around, cutting her off. "Clementine, enough! I hope you're getting some treatment, but if I caused you to hurt yourself again, then I shouldn't be around you. Please, just go," he said, his voice softer but still filled with pain.

Clementine's heart sank. She gaped, searching for the right words. "Robby, you weren't the reason..." she started, her voice trembling, but Robby stared at her for a moment longer before turning and walking away, leaving her standing there, stunned and heartbroken.

Her phone began to ring, jolting her back to reality. She glanced at the screen and saw it was the school calling. With a furrowed brow, she answered. "Hello?" she said, bringing the phone to her ear.

The voice on the other end was calm but concerned. "Hello, is this Clementine Katz? This is Mrs. Rodriguez from the school office. I'm calling about your friend, Alison. She's in the school counselor's office, and she's very upset. We thought it might help if you could come by."

Clementine's heart sank further. She had completely forgotten that today was Alison's first day back at school. "I'll be right there," she replied, her voice shaky. She hung up and quickly got into her car, driving to the school with a mix of worry and guilt.

As she pulled into the school parking lot, her mind raced with thoughts of Alison. She felt a wave of protectiveness wash over her. Alison had been through so much, and Clementine wanted to be there for her in any way she could.

Rushing into the school, Clementine made her way to the counselor's office. She could hear soft sobbing from inside as she approached. Taking a deep breath, she knocked gently and opened the door.

Alison sat in a chair, her face buried in her hands, tears streaming down her cheeks. Mrs. Ramirez, the school counselor, looked up and nodded to Clementine. "Alison's had a tough day," she said softly.

Clementine went to her sister, wrapping her arms around her. "Hey, Ali. I'm here. It's going to be okay," she whispered, feeling Alison's small frame shake with sobs.

"I just... I just don't know how to deal with everything. I saw hi— him." Alison choked out between sobs.

"I know, Ali. It's gonna been really hard. But we'll get through this together," Clementine reassured her, holding her tightly. She glanced at Mrs. Ramirez, who gave her a sympathetic smile.

Clementine knew that despite her own struggles, she had to be strong for Alison. Alison was going through a rough breakup.

         "Since you're here, Miss Katz, why don't we have your session? Counselor Blatt will keep an eye on Alison and wait for her older sister to come get her," Mrs. Ramirez suggested. Clementine nodded, giving Alison a comforting hug before following Mrs. Ramirez into her office within the counselor's suite.

        "Have a seat," Mrs. Ramirez pointed to a chair, and Clementine sat down. The office was warm and inviting, with soft lighting and various motivational posters on the walls. Mrs. Ramirez took a seat across from Clementine, her expression gentle yet probing.

       "So, Clementine, how are you?" Mrs. Ramirez began, leaning slightly forward. "Counselor Blatt had some choice words when she told me your session with her didn't go so well..." she trailed off, waiting for Clementine's response.

          Clementine huffed, crossing her arms. "I just told her facts. No one likes her, and she's a terrible counselor. That's why everyone prefers you because you're an actual therapist. You're the school therapist," she said bluntly.

         Mrs. Ramirez chuckled softly, not denying the comment. "Thank you, Clementine. I do my best," she said with a smile. "Also, I'm good," Clementine added, but her tone lacked conviction.

         Mrs. Ramirez raised an eyebrow. "Everything going okay?" she asked gently.

         Clementine shrugged. "Came to school late today. It's fine though, 'cause I didn't miss much," she replied, trying to sound nonchalant.

        "Why were you late?" Mrs. Ramirez inquired, her tone encouraging Clementine to open up.

         "My boyfriend... well, ex-boyfriend. He got out of juvie today. I wanted to check on him... Didn't go so well," Clementine admitted, her voice tinged with frustration and sadness.

        Mrs. Ramirez nodded understandingly. "That sounds tough. How did the encounter go?" she asked.

         Clementine sighed, looking down at her hands. "He was mad at me. He said he shouldn't be around me if he's causing me to hurt myself. He doesn't understand that it wasn't his fault," she explained, her voice wavering slightly.

         Mrs. Ramirez leaned forward, her expression softening. "It sounds like there's a lot of unresolved feelings between you two. It's important to give yourself and Robby some time to process everything. Sometimes, after a significant event like being in juvenile detention, people need space to figure out their own emotions," she advised.

         Clementine nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I know. It's just... hard. I care about him so much," she whispered.

         "It's okay to feel that way, Clementine. Your feelings are valid," Mrs. Ramirez reassured her. "Have you been continuing your own treatment? Talking to your therapist regularly?"

         Clementine took a deep breath. "I don't have a session until after the holidays." she confessed.

         "Ah, okay. Make sure to take deep breaths at hard times like these," Mrs. Ramirez said kindly. "What's important is that you keep moving forward, even if it's just a small step each day."

          Clementine nodded again, taking in Mrs. Ramirez's words. "I'll try," she said softly.

         "I know you will. You're stronger than you realize, Clementine. And remember, you're not alone. You have people who care about you and want to help," Mrs. Ramirez reminded her.

          Clementine smiled weakly. "Thank you, Mrs. Ramirez. It means a lot," she said.

           Mrs. Ramirez returned the smile. "Anytime, Clementine. We're here for you. Now, let's talk about some strategies to help you manage these tough days and continue your progress," she suggested.

          The session continued, with Clementine feeling a bit lighter as she shared her thoughts and received support. As they wrapped up, Mrs. Ramirez gave her a reassuring nod. "Remember, Clementine, take it one day at a time," she said.

        Clementine left the office, feeling a small but significant sense of hope.

            After school, it was karate time. Clementine stood in the training area, her focus sharp. She let out a fierce battle cry, executing a high kick that sent the frisbee flying from Sensei Lawrence's hand. She followed it up with a swift twirl, landing back in her stance with precision.

         "Good, Cinnamon Girl! Getting much better with your kicks. Keep up the work and your legs and feet will be as good as those fists!" Sensei Lawrence praised, a rare smile on his face.

         Clementine grinned, feeling a surge of pride. "Thanks, Sensei!"

          "Assface, you're next." Sensei called out, tossing the frisbee into the air as Mitch approached.

          "Does my nickname gotta carry over from the previous dojo?" Mitch asked, a hint of irritation in his voice. Clementine giggled at his discomfort.

          "Yes," she said, still chuckling.

          "You wanna be Penis Breath?" Sensei challenged, raising an eyebrow.

           Mitch sighed in defeat. "Assface is fine," he muttered before executing a neat twirl and kicking the frisbee out of Johnny's hand.

          "Good, Penis Breath!" Sensei shouted, causing Mitch to groan in frustration.

          "All right. Diaz, you're up." Sensei announced, and Miguel stepped forward.

          "You got this, Miggie!" Clementine cheered, her voice filled with encouragement. Miguel rolled his eyes playfully at her before focusing on the task.

         "Imagine this is the guy I stole this frisbee from, all right? Just picture his stupid white dreads," Sensei instructed, holding out the frisbee.

          Miguel nodded, trying to summon his confidence. He twirled around and aimed a kick, but it was weak, and the frisbee barely moved. Clementine bit her lip, feeling a pang of sympathy for him.

         "All right, good hustle. Who's next?" Sensei said, trying to move on, but Miguel wasn't having it.

         "No, I can do it, Sensei," Miguel insisted, determination in his eyes.

        "Miguel, it's fine," Sensei replied, but Miguel was adamant. "I got it," he repeated, getting back into position.

           Clementine watched closely as Miguel twirled around again, but this time he lost his balance and fell hard to the ground, letting out a pained groan. Clementine rushed to his side, worry etched on her face.

          "I'm fine, Clementine. Stop babying me," Miguel snapped, pushing her away. Clementine stepped back, feeling a mix of frustration and concern.

          "Take five! Get some water. But not from the fountain, I saw some meth head wipe his ass in it," Sensei yelled, trying to lighten the mood.

          Clementine, giving Miguel some space, pulled out her phone. As she scrolled through her feed, a notification caught her eye. It was from the All Valley Tournament's official page, announcing the cancellation of the tournament due to concerns about violence. Her eyes widened in shock, and she stood up abruptly.

         "No fucking way!" she cursed loudly, drawing the attention of both Miguel and Johnny. "What? What happened?" Miguel asked, still on the ground but looking concerned. "Stupid old men canceled the All Valley! They think it's too violent," Clementine spat out, her anger palpable.

        "They did what?" Johnny said, incredulous. He quickly walked over to see the post on Clementine's phone. His face hardened as he read the announcement.

         "I'm gonna fix this," Johnny declared with determination. He handed the phone back to Clementine, his mind already racing with plans.

          As the class took a break, Clementine couldn't shake the feeling of injustice. She watched as Miguel struggled to his feet, a look of pain and frustration on his face. She wanted to comfort him, to assure him that everything would be okay, but she knew he needed space right now.

        Johnny paced, muttering to himself about the unfairness of it all. "We're not gonna let them do this. The All Valley is too important. It's more than just a tournament; it's a legacy."

         Clementine nodded, her resolve strengthening. "What can we do, Sensei?"

         Johnny stopped pacing and looked at her, a fire in his eyes. "We're gonna fight this, Clementine. We'll get the other dojos on our side. We'll show them that the All Valley is about more than just fighting—it's about community, about redemption."

         Clementine felt a surge of hope. "Count me in," she said firmly.

        Johnny nodded, appreciating her support. "Good. We start tomorrow. This isn't over."

        As the class resumed, Clementine could see a renewed sense of determination in everyone's eyes. The All Valley might have been canceled for now, but they weren't going to let it go without a fight. They were ready to show everyone just what they were made of.

Clementine was determined to do things right. She had made up her mind to speak at the town hall meeting to convince the council to uncancel the All Valley tournament. When she arrived, she was surprised but relieved to see Miguel there as well.

"I guess we got the same idea," Clementine said with a grin as Miguel nodded. "Let's go save the All Valley." He held up his fist, and they shared a fist bump before walking into the building together.

Inside, they heard the councilwoman speaking against the continuation of the tournament. Without hesitation, Miguel spoke up. "Wait!" His voice echoed through the room, drawing all eyes to them. With determination, they descended the steps towards the stand.

"My name is Miguel Diaz," he began, taking a moment to steady his nerves. "And I'm Clementine Katz," Clementine added, her voice clear and unwavering.

Miguel continued, "We were part of the school fight. I was the one who got kicked off the second floor." He glanced at Clementine for confirmation.

Clementine took a deep breath. "And I was the one who tried to kill myself a few weeks back. Not because of karate, but because of the people. I've been struggling with depression for a long time, so this was never about karate for me. But I'm still here. You know why? My dad, who is a doctor, saved me. And I knew when I woke up, I needed to get better and killing myself wasn't worth it. I have so much to live for."

Miguel's eyes narrowed as he looked at her, understanding the weight of her words. He continued, "You know, I thought I was going to be paralyzed. I relearned how to stand. I relearned how to walk. And I want the tournament to continue."

The councilwoman began to speak, "We are very happy for your recovery, young man. And that you're okay now, Miss Katz. But I'm afraid you don't understand—"

She was cut off by Sam LaRusso. "Yeah, they really do," Sam asserted, walking down to stand between Clementine and Miguel. "We're the ones putting ourselves out there, fighting, and getting hurt. Our voices should be the ones that matter the most. And we want a place where we can compete, where it's fair and safe."

Miguel turned his gaze towards Councilwoman Roberts, his voice filled with a mix of nostalgia and frustration. "You know, when I first moved here, I was bullied. And I realized that there's no escaping it. There will always be that one kid who wants to steal your lunch money, give you a wedgie, or even give you a swirlie."

Curiosity sparked in Councilwoman Roberts' eyes. "A swirlie?" she questioned as Johnny, standing up in the back, explained, "You know, when they dunk your head in the toilet and flush it. Pretty funny actually."

Miguel shot him a scolding look. "Sensei!" he hissed under his breath.

Clementine sighed, her frustration evident. "Instead of ignoring the problem or thinking it'll just go away, we need to teach kids how to stand up for themselves," she asserted. "Physically and mentally. Because sometimes, it's the scars you can't see that hurt the most."

Miguel added, "Karate, it's about so much more. It's about discipline, finding your inner strength, and building confidence. Lessons that you can use for the rest of your life. Look, I don't know where I would be today, or who I would be today, if it wasn't for my sensei." He gestured towards Johnny.

Clementine turned her gaze back, her eyes filled with unwavering determination. "Look, the tournament isn't just about showboating or making a quick buck," she said with conviction. "It's about standing up to all those bullies out there and proving that we aren't scared. They call it the All Valley because it's open to everyone, giving every single person a shot to show what they're made of, to fight, and to become a true champion. And we all deserve that chance."

Councilwoman Roberts glanced around the room, meeting the approving nods of her board members. Her gaze then shifted back to the three determined kids standing before her. With a slight shake of her head, she mustered up her honesty. "To be honest, I don't get the Valley's fascination with karate," she confessed. "But if it means that much to all of you and you're willing to sign those waivers, stating the city's non-liability, then... The All Valley Under 18 Tournament is officially back on!" She punctuated her words with a firm bang of her gavel.

"Yes!" Sam exclaimed, hugging Miguel, then looking at Clementine. "Still friends?" Sam asked, hope in her eyes.

Clementine grinned at her. "Still friends? Yes!" She hugged Sam tightly, feeling a wave of relief and happiness wash over her. Together, they had made a difference, and now the All Valley tournament was back on.

Clementine pulled up to Miyagi-Do with bags of Inside Out Burger, excited to meet Sam and Miguel. As she got out of her car, she heard raised voices coming from the dojo. Curiosity turned to concern when she saw Robby taking a swing at Miguel.

"Whoa, what is going on?" Clementine shouted as she ran over, grabbing Robby's waist and holding him back. She stepped between the two boys, her eyes darting between them.

"Found these two almost kissing," Robby gritted out, glaring at Miguel.

"And?" Clementine asked, confused.

Miguel stepped forward, his expression earnest. "He thought you and I were a thing now and that I was cheating on you."

Clementine scrunched her nose up, shaking her head. "What? No. I see him as a brother, Robby," she said firmly.

Robby looked down at his feet, his anger turning into a mix of guilt and sorrow. Without another word, he walked out of the dojo. Clementine quickly followed him, catching up just as he reached the edge of the property.

"Robby, what the hell is going on? Why would you think we're together?" she demanded, grabbing his arm.

He snapped around, his face contorted with frustration and sadness. "I still like you, Clementine. I don't want you to let me go. But I don't want us to be together if I made you hurt yourself," Robby teared up, his voice breaking.

Clementine shook her head, her eyes softening as she placed her hand on his cheek. "Robby, you didn't. I promise," she said gently.

Robby looked into her eyes for a moment, searching for the truth in her words. Then, in a rush of emotion, he leaned in and kissed her passionately. Clementine kissed him back, her heart pounding in her chest. But as quickly as the kiss started, Robby pulled away, shaking his head.

"I'm sorry," Robby mumbled before turning and walking off, leaving Clementine standing there in confusion.

She watched him go, feeling a mix of sadness and frustration. Clementine sighed deeply, her mind racing with the day's events. She turned back towards the dojo, knowing she needed to talk to Sam and Miguel about what had just happened. But first, she needed a moment to process everything. She sat down on a nearby bench, taking a deep breath and trying to collect her thoughts.

After a few moments, she stood up and walked back into the dojo. Sam and Miguel were talking in hushed tones, looking concerned. When they saw Clementine, they both turned towards her, their expressions a mix of worry and curiosity.

"What happened?" Sam asked softly.

Clementine shook her head, trying to find the right words. "Robby thought Miguel and I were together. He said he still likes me, but he doesn't want us to be together if it means I might hurt myself again."

Sam's eyes widened in understanding, and she reached out to squeeze Clementine's hand. "I'm sorry, Clem. That's a lot to deal with."

Miguel looked down, guilt evident in his expression. "I didn't mean to cause any trouble. I was just trying to help Sam with her form."

Clementine managed a small smile. "I know, Miguel. It's not your fault. Robby's just... going through a lot right now."

ASH SPEAKS!

we're getting closer to season fourrrrr