Blame Game ; Eli Moskowitz

05 ― prove him wrong.

Johnny nodded his head, looking away from her and stepping closer to Flora. He glanced at her, his eyebrows furrowing together at her outfit—a green "Save the Trees!" t-shirt paired with a denim skirt adorned with flower patches, and rainbow striped socks.

"What are you, one of those hippie tree huggers?" Johnny asked.

Flora shook her head. "I mean, I am all about protecting the environment and preserving the natural state of the planet."

Johnny nodded his head. "Yeah, okay, Green Bean."

Flora's eyebrows knitted together. She pouted at the ground as Johnny moved on to Sebastian and Oliver. He glanced back and forth between them. Nathalie could see the gears turning in his head as she tried to think of an insult or remark to say about them.

Sebastian, being the ever-so confident teenage boy that he is, decided to introduce himself first.

"Sebastian Torres, Sensei," Sebastian spoke. "This is my friend Oliver."

"Oliver Brooks sir—I mean Sensei," Oliver said nervously.

Johnny continued to glance between them. He shook his head, turning on his heels and walking away from them.

"Robinson," Johnny said, causing Nathalie to roll her eyes. "On the mat. Let's see what you can do."

Aisha stepped onto the mat.

"Diaz," Johnny turned to Miguel and motioned to the mat.

Miguel stepped in front of Aisha. They both looked at Johnny as they waited to be told what to do.

"Face me," Johnny instructed. "Bow. Face each other. Bow."

They bowed at each other before immediately looking at Johnny once again.

"Mr. Diaz, show her everything you've learned," Johnny said.

"Wait, wait," Miguel protested. "I don't think this is right, Sensei."

"You don't think what's right?" Sensei asked.

Miguel motioned at Aisha. "She's a girl. I'm not gonna..."

"And?" Johnny questioned. "I thought you said women were equal to men."

"I did say that," Miguel admitted. "I didn't mean it like that. I meant that she—"

"Alright then show her that women are equal, and give her everything you've got," Johnny interrupted him.

"Wait," Aisha added. "I just wanna remind everyone this is my first day."

"Your enemies don't care what day it is," Johnny replied. "They prey on weakness. If you wanna beat them, you gotta conquer your fears and jump face first into the fire. Are you ready, Ms. Robinson?"

"I guess," Aisha responded.

"Mr. Diaz?"

"Uh..." Miguel trailed off.

"Fight!"

Nathalie, Flora, Sebastian, and Oliver looked back and forth between them as they waited for one of them to
make a move.

"Don't just stand there," Johnny shouted. "Fight!"

Miguel got into a fighting position. Aisha looked around, unsure about what she was supposed to do. Miguel mumbled a quick apology before he lifted his leg and kicked Aisha in the stomach. She fell back into the mat,

"Oh my god!" Miguel reached his hand out to help her up. "Aisha, are you okay? I'm—I'm sorry. Come on."

Aisha stood up, charging at Miguel before pushing him to the ground. When his back hit the mat, Aisha let out a yell and slammed her knees into Miguel's side, hitting his ribcage.

"My ribs..." Miguel wheezed, clutching his side.

"Girl's a natural Cobra," Johnny complimented Aisha and then turned to Nathalie. "Runt, your turn. On the mat. Diaz, get your ass back up."

Nathalie stepped onto the mat. She uncrossed her arms and stared at Miguel as he struggled to get up from the mat. Once he stood across from her, Johnny instructed them to bow.

Miguel got into a fighting position. Nathalie copied his stance, staring directly at him as she waited for Johnny to announce that they could begin.

"Fight!"

Miguel tried to land a kick just like he had with Aisha, but Nathalie quickly dodged it. She squatted down, circling around Miguel. He turned his body around, trying to follow her with his eyes. As she stood up, Miguel tried to send a punch flying her way. Nathalie squatted once more, extending her leg out to the side, and swinging it against Miguel's ankles.

She kicked his feet out from under him, causing him to fall to the mat once more.

Nathalie smiled as she stood up straight, pleased with herself. All those karate videos that Sebastian and Oliver watched actually came in handy.

Maybe karate wouldn't be so bad after all.

— EMILIA'S NOTES

no nathalie/hawk interaction this chapter. but trust, there will be in the next.

also yes, splitting the episode in 2 so that the cafeteria fight will be next chapter.

the way nathalie is going to be punching the wall when eli joins cobra kai. get ready for the angst.