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Marisol stood resolutely beside Mila and Hawk in the dojo, as Johnny and Daniel paced around, their expressions serious. The air was thick with anticipation. Johnny stopped pacing and faced the group.

"The Sekai Taikai is coming. It's up to us to pick our seven most badass fighters," Johnny declared, his voice carrying a sense of urgency.

Daniel stepped forward, adding, "And there are no easy decisions. We know you all wanna go to Barcelona."

Johnny nodded and continued, "Some of you are shoo-ins, at the top of your game, that nothing or no one can stop you."

Daniel took a breath and said, "Some of you think you're the underdogs, and you don't know if you have what it takes. You feel left out and left behind."

"But it's a level playing field. Anything can happen," Johnny emphasized.

"Each and every one of you has a shot. So, as we make our evaluations, do your best," Daniel encouraged.

Johnny's eyes scanned the group. "Now is not the time to puss out," he said, walking past Mila and attempting a quick punch, which Mila expertly blocked. Marisol grinned and fist-bumped Mila, proud of her sister's reflexes.

Daniel spoke again, his tone earnest. "Even though we're competing against each other, we are still one dojo. And it's time to bring out the best in all of us."

Johnny concluded, "So, which of you has what it takes to be in our top seven?"

Marisol stepped onto the deck with determination. She spun around, delivering a high kick into the air, followed by a series of rapid punches. Her movements were fluid and powerful, a testament to her training and dedication. She finished with a confident stance, one hand held high by her face and the other extended in front of her, ready for whatever challenge lay ahead.

The dojo watched in silence, the weight of the competition sinking in. Marisol's display had set a high bar, inspiring her fellow students to push themselves to their limits. The path to Barcelona was clear, but it would take everything they had to earn their spots.

Marisol waited outside of Mila's Spanish class, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. When the bell rang, students started streaming out, and Mila appeared, flipping off her teacher and slamming the door behind her. Marisol raised an eyebrow at her sister's dramatic exit.

"What was that for?" Marisol asked, falling into step beside Mila as they walked down the hallway.

"Stupid Mrs. Rodriguez gave me a D on the test! She said I cheated," Mila huffed, her face flushed with anger.

Marisol furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "What? We've known Spanish since we were little. Why would you cheat when you speak it?"

"That's what I said!" Mila exclaimed, throwing her hands up in frustration.

"Do you want me to talk to her?" Marisol offered.

Mila's eyes widened, and she nodded eagerly. "Yes, please."

"Alright, let's go," Marisol said, turning around and heading back to the classroom. Mila followed closely behind but paused at the door when Marisol told her to stay outside. Marisol threw the door open and walked in, seeing Mrs. Rodriguez writing on the chalkboard.

"Mrs. Rodriguez, I'm Marisol Cervantes," Marisol announced, drawing the teacher's attention.

Mrs. Rodriguez turned around, giving Marisol a blank stare. She was white, not Hispanic, and Marisol guessed by her last name that she had married a Hispanic man. "Yes, you must be Mila's older sister. What can I do for you?"

"How did my sister fail? She didn't cheat. She learned Spanish as a baby," Marisol stated, crossing her arms.

Mrs. Rodriguez gave her a tight-lipped smile. "She used every meaning wrong on her test, Miss Cervantes."

Marisol raised an eyebrow. "How long have you been a Rodriguez?"

Mrs. Rodriguez went pale. "Uh... a month."

Marisol took a step forward, her gaze unwavering. "As I can tell, you probably barely know Spanish yourself, so I'm not sure why you're even teaching it. You should regrade Mila's test, and probably everyone else's too. You shouldn't be a Spanish teacher."

Without waiting for a response, Marisol turned and walked out of the classroom. Mila perked up and fell into step beside her sister.

"So?" Mila asked, her eyes wide with anticipation.

"She's gonna regrade your test. Don't worry, Mils," Marisol reassured her.

Mila nodded, her shoulders relaxing. "Okay... uh, well, how do you feel about this whole only seven people going to Barcelona? Do you even think Dad would let one or both of us go?"

Marisol sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I'm not sure. But I think one of us will be able to go. I don't think both of us will be in the top seven. We have Miguel and Tory who won the All Valley, then Robby and Sam who are runner-ups. I didn't even compete both years, so I don't know where I stand. Hawk is definitely a yes. Demetri... maybe? And you, you just started a few months ago. And Devon as well. She's a fast learner, so she'll probably go. It's just you and I who have to fight for it."

Mila clenched her jaw. "Well, it's gonna be me! I'm a fast learner."

Marisol chuckled at her sister's confidence. "Uhm... sure."

Mila huffed, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "Do you think I can't get in the top seven?"

Marisol shrugged. "Like I said... you're still learning, and you just started, Mila."

"Seriously? You're the one who started learning a year ago. You're as behind as me and Devon are," Mila snapped, her eyes blazing with determination.

Marisol stopped walking and turned to face her sister, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Mila, it's not about who started when. It's about how much effort you put in and how quickly you can learn. If you really want to be in the top seven, you need to work harder than ever."

Mila took a deep breath, nodding slowly. "I will. I'll prove it to you and everyone else."

Marisol smiled, proud of her sister's resolve. "That's the spirit."

Marisol and Mila arrived at Miyagi-Do, ready for an intense day of training. Mila immediately spotted Anthony and ran over to kiss him. Marisol grinned, scanning the dojo for Eli. She found him sporting an American flag mohawk, a change she wasn't too fond of.

"Eli!" Marisol exclaimed as she approached him.

"Hey, babe!" Eli responded, giving her a quick peck on the lips.

"I absolutely hate your new mohawk. I need your blue mohawk back," Marisol pouted.

Eli chuckled. "This is just for the tournament. Don't worry, it's to represent that we're from the USA."

Marisol nodded, giving him a side hug. Her eyes widened as she noticed Mike Barnes walking in. "Is that Mike Barnes?" she gasped.

Eli nodded, equally shocked. "Yeah, it is."

"Everyone, fall in!" Johnny yelled, and Marisol moved to stand beside Eli. She glanced over at Mila, who stood beside Anthony. "Be nice," she mouthed to her sister.

Mila rolled her eyes but didn't respond. Daniel addressed the group. "Please welcome our guest for the weekend, Sensei Barnes."

"Isn't that the guy from the Silver house fight?" Mila asked, her voice low but loud enough for Marisol to hear.

Marisol shut her eyes, already anticipating trouble. "Silence!" Sensei Barnes yelled, glaring at Mila.

"In order to keep things unbiased, we brought in Sensei Barnes to observe and then select our top seven," Daniel explained.

Barnes stepped forward, his presence intimidating. "During my years as the Tournament Terror, all I wanted was to be in Sekai Taikai. But I blew my chance," he said, staring pointedly at Daniel.

"Oooh, drama," Mila whispered to Anthony.

Barnes' gaze snapped to Mila. "You! What's your name?" he demanded.

Mila stood tall, unflinching. "Mila Cervantes, Sensei Barnes."

Barnes walked up to her, his expression stern. "You're out. You have continued to speak without being asked."

Mila's jaw dropped. "You're just worried that I'll be better than everyone here."

Marisol frowned, concern etching her features. "I'm sorry, Sensei Barnes, for my sister," she apologized.

Barnes looked over at Marisol, a glint of recognition in his eyes. "Oh, you're the famous Marisol Cervantes. I'll be keeping an eye on you. Your senseis have said you've progressed pretty well with how little experience you had."

He then turned back to Mila. "But you, you need to get out. You've disrespected your teammates."

Mila rolled her eyes, looking at Marisol for support. "No. Don't look at me. This is all you," Marisol said, holding her hands up in surrender.

With a grunt, Mila walked over to grab her bag from against the fence and stormed out. Marisol sighed in defeat, turning her attention back to Sensei Barnes.

"As I was saying before I was interrupted, I am here to ensure that you maximize your potential. Everyone I know who participated in this tournament has horror stories. This thing is intense, unpredictable. People have died. Who's ready for that?" Barnes' voice was steely, his eyes scanning the group.

"I will do to you what the Sekai Taikai will do. I will surprise you with events. I will push you to your limits. And if any of you delicate flowers feel like going to your senseis and crying, don't. I've been given full authority for these eliminations."

"Selections. Let's keep this positive," Daniel interjected.

Barnes shot him a look. "You came to me. The deal was my way or the highway."

Marisol's eyebrows raised, but she kept her thoughts to herself. "Get on the sparring deck," Barnes ordered.

No one moved, the tension thick in the air. "NOW!" Barnes shouted, his voice like a whip.

Marisol almost jumped but was the first to step onto the deck. Barnes nodded approvingly as everyone followed her lead, making a mental note of her initiative. The real challenge was about to begin.

Mila was in full-on angry mode. She hadn't felt this furious in a month. Storming into the store, she grabbed a box of bleach to dye her hair. Once home, she went straight to her bathroom, her emotions spiraling out of control.

Slamming the bathroom door behind her, Mila's eyes locked onto her reflection in the mirror. Her long brown hair hung around her face, but all she could see was the frustration and helplessness of the day's events. She grabbed a pair of scissors from the drawer with shaking hands. Without hesitation, she began cutting her hair.

Chunks of hair fell to the floor with each snip. Her breathing grew more erratic, matching the pace of the scissors slicing through her locks. She paused for a moment, taking in the sight of her hair scattered around her feet. Her hair now hung unevenly at her shoulders, a stark contrast to the long tresses she had just minutes ago. She didn't care about the unevenness; in fact, it felt oddly liberating.

Mila reached for the box of bright blonde dye she had purchased. Tearing it open, she methodically read the instructions, not wanting to make a mistake despite her emotional turmoil. She donned the plastic gloves and began mixing the bleach. The chemical smell wafted up, but it did nothing to deter her. If anything, the sharp odor seemed to fuel her resolve.

Starting at the roots, Mila applied the bleach with swift, decisive motions. She watched as the creamy substance saturated her hair, turning it from deep brown to a lightening shade. Each section she coated felt like a step away from her anger and toward something new. Her thoughts were a chaotic swirl of anger at Sensei Barnes, frustration at her sister, and the nagging feeling of inadequacy. The physical act of changing her hair was a way to channel all that emotion into something tangible.

As she continued, Mila's hands grew steadier. The initial frantic energy gave way to a focused determination. She worked the bleach through every strand, making sure not to miss a spot. After finishing, she piled her hair on top of her head and covered it with the plastic cap from the kit.

The waiting period felt like an eternity. Mila sat on the edge of the bathtub, the anger slowly ebbing away as the bleach worked its magic. She thought about the day, about Sensei Barnes' dismissal, and about how powerless she had felt. This transformation was her way of taking back control, of proving to herself that she could change her situation, even if in a small way.

When the time was up, Mila stood and leaned over the sink to rinse out the bleach. The water ran clear, and she toweled her hair dry before looking in the mirror again. Her reflection was now framed by bright blonde hair, the uneven cut adding to the wild, rebellious look. She ran her fingers through her newly lightened locks, feeling a sense of satisfaction. This was her transformation, her way of taking charge in a world that often felt out of her control.

ASH SPEAKS!

splitting this episode into two separate episodes to keep you waiting to see if marisol gets into the sekai takai hehe

also how we feeling about mila this season???

YALL ARE NOT READY FOR THE NEXT CHAPTERRR IT WILL BE ANOTHER CLIFFHANGER