PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!!!!!!
COMMENT AND VOTE. IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:) STOP BEING A GHOST READER

STOP BEING A GHOST READER AND PLEASE VOTE!! STOP BEING ANNOYING AND JUST VOTE AND COMMENT

STOP BEING A GHOST READER!!
i'm sorry for all the notifications but us writers work hard on these chapters. i know i ask this a lot, but i really don't like ghost readers because i work super hard on these chapters so when i see views going up but votes are not... its hard for my motivation!

The diner was quiet except for the hum of the neon lights and the soft clatter of dishes as Marisol cleaned tables. She seemed lost in her thoughts, the routine motions of wiping down surfaces offering little distraction from the worries that clouded her mind. Her hands were shaking slightly, though she tried to hide it as she moved quickly, wanting to keep herself busy. Her eyes kept darting toward the door, as though she expected her mother to walk in at any moment.

When the door swung open, the bell above it jingled and Sam and Tory stepped inside. Sam's concerned expression was immediately visible, while Tory's gaze softened as she noticed Marisol's tense posture.

"Hey, Marisol," Sam greeted, sliding into a booth. "You okay? You look... stressed."

Marisol's eyes flickered up, and she gave them a small, tight smile. "Hey, Sam. Hey, Tory." Her voice was shaky, but she quickly masked it with a bright, forced cheerfulness. "Yeah, just the usual. Long day."

Tory arched an eyebrow, her gaze flicking to Marisol's hands, which were gripping the cloth rag a little too tightly. She didn't buy the act. "You don't look okay, Marisol. Is everything alright?" she asked gently.

Marisol's smile faltered as she set the rag down, unable to keep up the charade any longer. Her shoulders sagged, and she finally allowed the weight of her feelings to show. "How can I be okay, Tory?" she said, her voice trembling slightly. "My mom's back, and I'm terrified. Terrified that I'm going to turn around for one second, and she's going to take me again. She's already started with the 'I'm on my meds' bullshit, but I don't trust it. I don't trust her."

The room seemed to grow quieter as Sam and Tory exchanged a glance. Both of them could sense the fear behind Marisol's words, and they couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy. Tory stood up and walked over, gently resting a hand on Marisol's shoulder. "I get it," she said softly. "That's a lot to deal with. But you don't have to carry it alone. We're here for you."

Sam nodded, her expression serious. "You're not alone, Marisol. Not now, not ever. You've got people who care about you, people who will fight by your side."

Marisol took a deep breath, feeling a little of the weight lift off her shoulders. The reassurance was comforting, but the knot of fear still remained in her stomach. She didn't want to seem weak, but she also didn't know how to be strong when her own mother was the one causing all this fear.

Tory gave her a gentle squeeze before pulling back and sitting across from Sam. "You've been through so much, and I get why you'd be on edge, but... you can't let this hold you back. You deserve more than to live in fear of your mom. You deserve to do something for yourself, something you've always wanted."

Marisol blinked, confused. "What are you talking about?"

Sam leaned forward, her eyes filled with a quiet conviction. "We know you've never really had the chance to compete before, Marisol. You were in the hospital for the All Valley in 2018, then you couldn't compete in 2019, and 2020-you were with Cobra Kai. But now-now you have the chance to do it. The Sekai Taikai is coming up, and we need someone who can take my spot."

Marisol frowned, her brows furrowing in disbelief. "Wait, you want me to take your spot in the Sekai Taikai? But... I've never done anything like that. I don't even know if I can do it."

Tory nodded, her expression serious but encouraging. "Yes, exactly. We believe in you, Marisol. You've got the skills, we know you do. You don't need to be anyone else. You've been trained, you've been through so much already-you're ready for this."

Marisol shook her head slowly, her thoughts whirling. "I don't know, I... I'm not sure I can just jump into something like that."

"Listen," Sam interjected, her voice soft but firm, "You've never been given the chance before, and I get that. But now you can. All the stuff you've been through-everything you've been through with your mom, with Cobra Kai-it's all been building up to this moment. It's your time now. You can finally show everyone who you are, without holding back."

Marisol's eyes were distant, her gaze focused on nothing in particular. Her thoughts were a swirl of emotions. She felt the weight of her past-the pain of what she had lost, the fear of what might still come. But she also felt something else. Something that was stirring within her. A possibility. A chance to prove herself, to stand up for what she wanted.

Tory leaned forward, her gaze sincere. "You've got this, Marisol. You can take my spot. You don't have to carry all that weight anymore."

Marisol stared at Tory for a long moment, her mind racing. She thought about everything-the All Valley 2018, where she was stuck in a hospital bed, unable to compete; All Valley 2019, when she was told she wasn't allowed; Sekai Taikai 2020, where she was tangled in Cobra Kai's mess. She had been sidelined every time.

But now... now was her chance.

She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. "Okay," she said softly, her voice filled with a strange mixture of nervousness and determination. "I'll do it. I'll take your spot, Tory."

Tory's face lit up with a smile. "You won't regret it. You're gonna be amazing."

Sam smiled too, her expression proud. "You're stronger than you think, Marisol. You've always been. Now it's your turn to show everyone."

Marisol nodded slowly, her heart pounding in her chest. For the first time in what felt like forever, she felt a spark of hope. This wasn't just about competition. This was about taking control of her own life, proving to herself that she could rise above her past, above the fear her mother instilled in her.

"Thanks," she said quietly, almost to herself. "I think this is exactly what I need."

Gunther Braun's voice echoed through the speakers, cutting through the tense silence that had settled over the arena. His deep, commanding tone reverberated off the walls, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. Every head turned toward the central stage as his next words rang out.

"The Sekai Taikai has always been unpredictable, but this year has been like no other." He paused, allowing the weight of his statement to hang in the air, as though testing the reactions of those around him. His eyes swept over the gathered fighters, the audience, and the assembled coaches. "Samantha LaRusso has elected not to fight, and so has Tory Nichols."

Gasps rippled through the crowd like a wave. Across the mat, the Iron Dragon's fighters froze, their expressions a mixture of disbelief and confusion. The announcement had thrown them off balance. They had expected one of Miyagi-Do's champions to step up, but instead, two of the most formidable competitors had backed out.

Did this mean they won the Sekai Taikai by default? The Iron Dragons exchanged uncertain glances, trying to process the implications of what they had just heard.

Gunther's voice cut through their thoughts again, sharp and unwavering. "This decision officially ends Miyagi-Do Karate's impressive underdog run," he continued, the finality of his words hanging heavy in the air. "Let's give them a round of applause."

The audience responded with polite, restrained clapping, but the murmurs among the crowd were louder-some disappointed, others understanding, but everyone was on edge. It was clear that the atmosphere had shifted. The moment had deflated some of the excitement, but the suspense wasn't over yet.

Gunther stood tall and straightened his suit, exuding authority as he prepared to deliver the next bombshell. "This now concludes our semifinal matches. Cobra Kai not naming a replacement for their fallen captain means that Axel Kovacevic automatically becomes our new male champion."

A brief silence swept through the room, and the focus shifted briefly to Axel, whose eyes were wide with confusion. The announcement was almost anticlimactic for him, especially considering how hard he had fought to get this far. He stood there, processing the words, the realization settling in. He had technically won... but it didn't feel like victory. There was a sense of unfinished business hanging over him.

But then, just as the crowd began to settle, Gunther's voice broke through again, and this time, there was a distinct shift in his tone-one that hinted at more to come.

"However," Gunther said, the word hanging in the air like a challenge, "Cobra Kai has named a replacement. And a replacement for Tory."

The Iron Dragons exchanged glances, confusion turning into anticipation. What was happening? The tension in the arena grew as they wondered who could possibly fill those massive shoes.

Gunther turned toward the entrance, and for a moment, the arena was still. Then, with a dramatic flourish, the entrance was filled with a thick puff of smoke, clouding the stage in mystery. The audience held its collective breath as the smoke began to dissipate, revealing the unexpected-two figures stepping onto the mat with a sense of purpose and confidence.

"Joining on Team Cobra Kai will be... Miguel Diaz and Marisol Cervantes!" Gunther's voice rang out, and the crowd exploded into wild applause, a wave of excitement sweeping through the stands.

Miguel Diaz and Marisol Cervantes strode confidently onto the mat, moving in sync, their every step measured and deliberate. The spotlight seemed to follow them, amplifying the energy they brought into the room. They looked every bit the part of seasoned fighters-Miguel with his usual relaxed intensity and Marisol with a focus that spoke volumes. The applause roared around them, and Axel's face, already flushed from the announcement, went pale as he stared at Marisol, disbelief written across his features.

He hadn't known about this. He hadn't been told. The surprise hit him like a punch to the gut. The last time he'd seen Marisol, they hadn't spoken in over a month. He had no idea she was even considering rejoining Cobra Kai, let alone stepping into the ring at the Sekai Taikai. His gaze locked with hers as she caught his look across the mat. Her eyes briefly met his, but the moment was fleeting, and she quickly averted her gaze, her focus shifting to the task at hand.

The realization began to sink in-Marisol, his girlfriend, was here not just to support him, but to compete against him. She was no longer the person he had known in the past. This was a different Marisol, one who had her own path to follow.

But the surprises weren't over yet.

Gunther raised his hand, calling for quiet once more as the arena settled into a tense, expectant silence. "And now, allow me to introduce... the new coach of Cobra Kai." He turned toward the entrance, and the atmosphere in the room shifted again, the air thick with curiosity.

A new figure stepped onto the mat, his presence undeniable. Johnny Lawrence, the two-time All Valley champion, made his way across the stage, his signature smirk firmly in place. The crowd erupted into cheers, some louder than others, but the collective energy was undeniable. Johnny's trademark swagger filled the room as he stood alongside Miguel and Marisol, arms crossed and exuding the kind of confidence only he could.

The arena had never been this electric. The presence of Johnny, Miguel, and Marisol on the mat together felt like a turning point in the competition. It was as if the air itself was charged with anticipation.

The Iron Dragons, still in a state of shock, looked on as Gunther spoke again, his voice clear and firm. "This marks the beginning of a new era for Cobra Kai. With Johnny Lawrence at the helm, the stakes have just been raised." He paused, letting the words settle before adding, "Let the Sekai Taikai commence."

As the announcer finished, the tension in the arena reached its peak. The crowd buzzed with speculation, excitement, and doubt, but above all, the unmistakable sense that something monumental was about to happen. For Axel, it was a moment of disbelief and confusion, while for Marisol, it was the beginning of a new chapter-one that would challenge everything she had known and everything she had once believed in.

But in this new chapter, she was not alone.

ASH SPEAKS!!!

sorry for the really short chapter...
i've decided im gonna probably gonna write shit chapters because no one is reading this book

i think once im done, im doing a whole rewrite book (this book will stay up) and A LOT of things will be different. theres too many messy plots in this book and no one is even reading anymore🤧 its not like anyone really did...

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!!!!!!
COMMENT AND VOTE. IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:) STOP BEING A GHOST READER

STOP BEING A GHOST READER AND PLEASE VOTE!! STOP BEING ANNOYING AND JUST VOTE AND COMMENT

STOP BEING A GHOST READER!!
i'm sorry for all the notifications but us writers work hard on these chapters. i know i ask this a lot, but i really don't like ghost readers because i work super hard on these chapters so when i see views going up but votes are not... its hard for my motivation!