Johnny needed time to pray alone and think about all the recent issues he had been involved in. He briefly recalled the conversation with Dash and, upon learning that his son had almost been stabbed, wanted to know how he was.
All that anger, resentment, and loneliness were erased by the desire to talk to his son.
He tended to give up too quickly, but hearing the story of a student the same age as his son made him want to try again.
"Maybe my students don't understand me now; they are just kids, youngsters who have been hurt by life and are only returning the hate they've received. But this doesn't have to continue; I must ensure that as their Sensei..."
Empathy, patience, and understanding are the keys to reconciliation, and at the same time, they are fleeting moments that disappear due to the outcomes of one's actions, something Dash knew perfectly well as he acted as an intermediary.
He just hoped that those two Sensei, who were not to blame for their mistakes, could at least take a step forward and calm things down before everything crumbled.
...
Seeing how far things had gone, all those involved in the destruction of Daniel's Dojo felt scared. Eli gathered with his friends; he wanted to talk to them and said, "I'll take responsibility if something is known. You went to that place that night because of me... I'll really take the blame; you have nothing to worry about."
"No, friend, that's something we should all take responsibility for."
"I don't think that's what Mr. Lawrence is looking for. He won't seek culprits; he wants us not to do it again."
Eli felt bad when he heard those words from his Sensei. He thought he was doing the right thing as a Cobra Kai, but if this is considered cowardice, he prefers to forget his mistakes and do things better next time.
"Calm down; I'll take care of apologizing... Go home; I'll handle it." Eli didn't want anyone else to be blamed because of him, so he took the medal he had stolen from Lawrence's Dojo and walked to the bathroom.
When he came out of the bathroom, Kreese looked at Eli leaving and shook his head. It was indeed an act of cowardice, but reaching these extremes was shameful.
"Strike first..."
Eli, walking back home, was surprised when something hit his shoulder. He turned around to find Dash coming out of a store with a bag full of ice cream popsicles.
"What are you doing?" Eli asked, looking at Dash with confusion.
Dash looked into Eli's eyes and said, "I heard you fought with your best friend; you should consider apologizing to him."
"He deserved it..."
"I see, so now that he's not your friend, you won't care about him at all. What happened to you, buddy? I know it's not cool to be withdrawn, but it's not cool to be a jerk either. Will you stop with the tough guy act and all that? If the problem is Cobra Kai, you can come to Sakura Bushido." Dash knew Eli was going through a tough phase where he was letting out all his long-buried anger, but as a friend, he didn't want him to be a jerk.
Eli looked away, then said, "Mind your own business; I respect you, but don't cross the line."
"You have open doors at Sakura Bushido, free classes!" Dash said, waving his hands.
At that moment, Dash heard his cellphone vibrating, so he took it out and answered the call, which was from Devon. "Are you taking me home as you promised?"
"Wrong number?"
"Dash, are you joking with me again?"
"I don't speak English..."
"You're speaking English, idiot!"
"Yes, but British English..."
"Your jokes died on your trip to Japan; I'll be waiting."
"Well..."
...
The next day, Johnny, who entered the Dojo, found the medal that his students had stolen. After framing it in a frame, he prepared to go to LaRusso's house. But since it was too late, he went to find him at his workplace.
"You've got a minute." Johnny looked at Daniel, who was serving two customers, and spoke directly to him.
Daniel, seeing Johnny, nearly exploded a vein on his forehead and said, "Amanda, take care of these customers."
Walking towards Johnny, Daniel asked, "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to clear things up..." Johnny said very dryly, trying not to turn back and leave.
Daniel shook his head and said, "Fine, follow me."
He didn't want to make a scene in his store, so he led Johnny to a private place. He knew he also had to contribute, so he did his best right now.
After entering the room, Johnny extended his hand and handed over the medal that his students had stolen. "I wasn't aware; I'm really sincere in telling you this. It seems your son and my son fought with Cobra Kai students; they retaliated in a way I don't support, and as an apology, all my Dojo's students will fix the damage caused to your Dojo."
"No, I also went too far... I didn't consider that you wouldn't be aware of what happened. In the end, they're just kids..." Daniel opened the bag and found a glass frame where the medal he had cared so much about was in perfect condition.
"As for the Dojo repairs, it's not necessary..."
Johnny shook his head and said, "Even though I didn't delve into who did it, I want to teach them all a lesson. They won't be like the Cobra Kai of the past; let me give them an important lesson."
"Okay..." Daniel nodded and looked at Johnny with a calmer gaze.
Before leaving, Johnny looked at Daniel and said, "By the way, can you help me with Robby to sort things out? Now that I live in your house, I don't want my responsibilities to be yours. You should have told me; you know he's still my son..."
"I'll talk to him; I really regret not telling you... I was very inconsiderate. I'll try to talk to him." Daniel could only apologize; in the end, he was more confused than he thought, so he needed time to process everything that had just happened.