Team Okinawa had finally arrived at the busy Barcelona Airport after a long wait, exhausted after almost 14 hours of flying and just 48 hours before the official opening of the Sekai Taikai. The youngsters couldn't wait to explore the city before the tournament.
The city's incredible landscapes, with their distinctive architecture, were already starting to catch their attention as they made their way by van to the hotel.
"Look at this, guys," Milton commented, pointing to the buildings through the window. "It's like I'm daydreaming."
"And Camp Nou is around here somewhere," Nils added excitedly. "It's one of the biggest stadiums in the world!"
"You only think about football," Kim replied with a laugh.
Despite their tiredness, their excitement grew as they arrived at the hotel, located in the city center.
Shisa, as always, took the lead of the group and walked to the reception desk. The receptionist, a young woman who looked to be about 25 years old with a welcoming smile, greeted them in Catalan. Shisa, however, surprised everyone by responding in Catalan:
– "Bon dia! Estem aquí per participar al Sekai Taikai i tenim reservas als noms següents." (Good morning! We are here to participate in Sekai Taikai and we have reservations under the following names.)
– "Chozen Toguchi, Mike Barnes, Shisa Toguchi, Jack Brewer, Sabrina Cavendish, Kim Crawford, Milton David, Nils Aukai i Kenny Payne."
The receptionist was visibly impressed by Shisa's effort to use the local language, given that most of the tourists spoke English or Spanish. She smiled and began to check the system. While she checked the names of the members, the other members of the team waited patiently, some even fighting off sleepiness from the trip.
She checked the information and confirmed all the reservations. Handing over the room cards and corresponding numbers, she concluded with a smile:
"Tot està correcte. Que tingueu una bona estada!" (Everything is fine. Have a great stay!)
Shisa returned a polite smile:
"Moltes gràcies." (Thank you very much.)
As they walked towards the elevators, Milton, still sleepy, didn't miss the chance to tease his long-time friend:
"Did you really need to speak Catalan? I bet the girl understands English perfectly."
"Training a new language is never unnecessary," Shisa replied, with a satisfied smile. "Besides, you never know when it might come in handy, right?"
Shisa shrugged, with a smile.
Milton chuckled softly and shook his head.
"Always the same Shisa... you have to be a perfectionist even in this."
The others laughed, but were a little impressed by Shisa's fluency in another language. "He always has to be the best at everything," some thought, but it was said with admiration.
In the hallway, with their access cards in hand, they began to organize themselves to occupy the rooms. The hotel had reserved three double rooms and one triple, as planned. Chozen took the lead:
"This is how the rooms will be
Shisa and Jack.
Sabrina and Kim.
Milton, Nils and Kenny.
Chozen, Barnes.
Before they separated, Sabrina pulled Shisa aside.
"Shisa, after we rest, I want us to go to Park Güell. It's one of the most beautiful places here."
Shisa nodded excitedly.
"Deal. We can take some pictures. Maybe it will inspire something for your songs."
Kim, on the other side, pulled Jack towards her.
"You're with me, Jack. Let's visit the Barcelona Cathedral. I need to see that place up close."
Jack laughed, somewhat resigned.
"If that's what you want, who am I to say no?"
Milton, Nils and Kenny had a completely different idea in mind, with the destination being Camp Nou. Booboo, as always, was excited:
"Barcelona Stadium is a must-see! We have to take lots of pictures."
Milton, smiling, added:
"I can already imagine the incredible view. We'll have to explore every corner."
Kenny smiled, but was more reserved. Deep down, he still felt a little out of place in relation to the group.
"Sounds like a good plan. I'm in."
Finally, Chozen and Mike Barnes looked at each other. They didn't need to say much, they both knew they were thinking the same thing.
"After we rest, we'll explore the hotel bar first," Barnes said.
"An introduction to the 'local culture' sounds like a great way to start," Chozen replied, with a slight smile.
After the group had dispersed and rested, each one began to prepare to explore the city.
Shisa was sitting on the bed, already dressed, waiting for Jack, who seemed to have been in the bathroom for ages. He looked at the clock and, impatiently, knocked on the door.
"Jack, how much longer are you going to take? The girls will kill us if we're late!"
From the other side of the door, Jack's voice came relaxed, almost mocking:
"Relax, man. Do you know how long it takes to get that hair perfect, shiny and soft? It's an art, Shisa. Kim fell in love with it, so I'll keep going."
Shisa was silent for a few seconds, not knowing how to respond, and ended up giving up.
"Okay, just don't take forever anymore."
Ten minutes later, Jack finally came out of the bathroom, showing off his perfectly styled hair. Shisa rolled her eyes, but chose not to comment. They walked together to Sabrina and Kim's room.
The girls were already ready, with Sabrina checking her phone while Kim looked out the window. When they heard the knock on the door, Sabrina opened it with a slightly irritated expression:
"You're late."
Kim turned and immediately looked at Jack, arching an eyebrow.
"I bet you were fixing your hair."
Jack, without a hint of shame, gave a smug smile.
"You know you were, and you like it."
Kim rolled her eyes, but there was a slight smile on her face. Shisa just sighed and muttered:
"I tried."
They then decided to go their separate ways. Sabrina and Shisa left towards Park Güell, while Jack and Kim went to explore the Barcelona Cathedral.
Jack and Kim walked side by side through the streets of Barcelona, with the afternoon sun illuminating the city. The streets had vibrant colors around them and created a magical atmosphere, but the silence between them was still filled with a shy tension.
___________________________________________________________________
Edit: Jack and Kim started dating very recently, so they are still shy.
___________________________________________________________________
When they arrived at the Barcelona Cathedral, they were both in awe. Kim looked up, admiring the grandeur.
"It's even more impressive than in the pictures..." she said, almost whispering.
Jack, taking the chance, tried to break the ice
"Impressive, yes. But not as much as my hair today."
Kim let out a short laugh, shaking her head.
"You never stop doing that, do you?"
"No. And it seems to work, since you're smiling."
Kim looked at him, trying to hide the blush that rose to her cheeks. They walked around the cathedral, looking at the details of the building and talking about random things. Jack, still nervous, decided to buy ice cream for both of them from a nearby cart.
As they walked back to a nearby bench, Jack, almost imperceptibly, began to move his hand towards Kim's. At first, his fingers brushed hers, and they both froze for a moment. Kim glanced at him from the corner of her eye, but didn't pull her hand away.
Jack took this as a sign and finally took her hand.
"I hope you don't mind..." he said, unable to look directly at her.
Kim squeezed his hand lightly, a shy smile appearing on her face.
"No. I don't mind."
They stayed like that for a while, enjoying the moment and the surroundings. Jack, trying to relax, commented:
"I think this is the perfect place for a date."
Kim looked at him, a little surprised.
"So you think this is a date?"
Jack, realizing the trap in the question, tried to cover it up.
"Well... if you think it is, then... it is."
Kim actually laughed this time, shaking her head.
"You're unbelievable, Jack Brewer."
Shisa and Sabrina walked through Park Güell, surrounded by Gaudí's colorful and vibrant architecture. Sabrina, who usually had a serious and reserved demeanor, seemed more relaxed as she admired the place. Shisa, with his energy, made little comments about the beauty of the place and even took some funny photos to make her laugh.
They spent much of the time exploring the incredible views of the park. At one point, Shisa suggested that they take a photo together. Sabrina, although reluctant at first, eventually gave in.
"Come on, Sab, it's a moment to remember. You don't want to forget this, do you?"
"Okay, but only if you don't make that weird face."
"No promises," Shisa replied with a mischievous smile.
After a few selfies and photos together, Shisa suggested a more spontaneous pose, catching her by surprise and hugging her from the side while smiling at the camera. Sabrina visibly blushed, but didn't pull away.
After exploring the park, they decided to walk through the surrounding streets. That's when they heard a street singer playing the guitar on a busy street corner. He was drawing a small crowd, and his music sounded pretty good for an amateur.
Shisa stopped, watching the musician carefully. A sudden idea came to his mind. He walked over to the singer, taking 100 euros from his wallet.
"Can I borrow your guitar and microphone, just for a moment?" he asked, smiling.
The singer, surprised, accepted the offer, handing over the items. Shisa took the guitar and microphone, he also asked for an extra microphone, which he got, and turned to Sabrina with a determined smile.
"Let's sing."
Sabrina took a step back, surprised and visibly nervous.
"What? No, Shisa, this is crazy. I'm not going to sing here."
He approached, gently holding her hand.
"Come on, I believe in you. You can do it. And if you mess up, I'll be here to support you."
Sabrina hesitated for a few seconds, looking into Shisa's eyes. Something about his confidence made her take a deep breath and accept the microphone.
"Okay. But if you get the lyrics wrong, I'll kill you."
Shisa smiled.
"Deal."
They got into position, and Shisa began to play the first chords of "All We Have Is Love." Sabrina, still a little hesitant, took a deep breath and began to sing with a soft voice that caught the attention of the audience around her.
Sabrina:
"They could tear this house down, brick by brick
But we won't even miss a thing
They said we'd never make it, but our hearts won't quit
A never-ending fantasy"
The audience, attracted by the sweetness of Sabrina's voice, began to get even closer, forming a small circle around them. Shisa joins in with his voice in the chorus, creating a harmony between them:
Both:
"We could be royalty, king and queen of nowhere
Lose it all, everything, as long as we got you and I, you and me
They can tear this whole house down
All we have is love, all we have is love
All we have is love, love"
The audience starts to sway to the rhythm, some even clap along to the beat of the music. Sabrina, now more confident, gives herself completely to the performance, her voice shining.
Sabrina:
"When shadows and demons are chasing
There's no limit in our heart 'til we break it
'Cause all we have is love, love"
Shisa does a brief solo on the guitar, impressing the audience. He smiles at Sabrina, who returns it with a look full of affection. Together, they continue the song, singing with increasing passion:
Both:
"We don't need a dream to be wide awake
When every day is ecstasy
We won't let the stars cross, change our fate
It's heaven when you're next to me"
The crowd begins to grow. Children, tourists and locals are enchanted by the couple's harmony. In the final chorus, Sabrina and Shisa's voices blend perfectly, transmitting a great energy:
Both:
"All we have is love
All we have is love
All we have is love, love
When shadows and demons are chasing
There's no limit in our heart 'til we break it
'Cause all we have is love"
When the song ends, the audience bursts into applause and shouts of approval. Money begins to be thrown into the guitar case, quickly filling it. Sabrina and Shisa thank her with wide smiles and light bows.
As they leave, arm in arm, Sabrina whispers:
"Thank you for believing in me."
Shisa responds with a warm smile:
"Always."
And with a sweet kiss, the two walk away together...
Meanwhile at the Barcelona stadium
Milton, Nils and Kenny were amazed at the size of the Camp Nou. As soon as they entered, Nils started running around the corridors like a small child at an amusement park, while Kenny looked around curiously. Milton, in his nerdy way, already had a stadium guide in his hands, ready to make comments.
Milton
"Did you know that this stadium was built in 1957? It's one of the biggest in Europe and has held over 90,000 people for a single game!"
Nils (interrupting)
"That's great and all, but where's the souvenir shop? I want to buy a keychain!"
Kenny (laughing)
"Keychain? I thought you'd want a full uniform with your excitement."
Nils
"Now that you mention it... Good idea!"
While Nils ran off to find the store, Milton and Kenny decided to explore the stands. When they got to the field, they checked out the entire structure, took pictures and talked about other interesting things about the stadium.
At that moment, Nils came back with a full Barcelona uniform, including boots and a ball. He was so excited that he started pretending to be a player, dribbling past tourists and kicking the ball up in the air.
Nils
"It's Messi, it's Messi... It's a goal!"
But in his excitement, he kicked the ball too hard, hitting a security guard who was coming towards him. The man gave him a serious look, and Nils stopped in his tracks.
Milton (whispering)
"We're about to be thrown out of the stadium, thanks to the "great player."
Nils notices a nearby golf cart and has a brilliant idea.
"What if we explore a little? I bet we can get away with that cart!"
Milton (horrified)
"Nils, that's trespassing! We could get arrested!"
Nils
"Relax, Milton! We're just...improving the tourist experience!"
Without waiting, Nils runs to the cart and starts honking. Kenny, hesitant, looks at Milton, who sighs in defeat.
"Okay, but if we get arrested, I'll say I was kidnapped."
They all get in the cart, and Nils starts driving clumsily, almost running over another security guard, who yells something in Spanish.
Milton (desperate)
"HE SAID TO STOP"
Nils (smiling)
"Or he said "welcome"... hard to tell!"
After nearly hitting a security barrier, they finally park. As they get out of the cart, another security guard approaches.
Kenny (trying to sound casual)
"Err... sorry, where's the exit?"
The security guard shakes his head, clearly frustrated, but points to the elevator.
Milton (whispering)
"We're alive. That's a miracle in itself."
Nils laughs while Kenny hides a smile.
When they finished the tour, Nils bought some more souvenirs, Milton left with another book about the history of Barcelona, and Kenny just had an amused expression on his face for having survived.
At the Hotel Bar
At the hotel bar, Chozen and Mike were sitting in a quiet corner, each with a drink in hand. Chozen kept his serious posture, while Mike, more relaxed, analyzed the surroundings.
"What do you think Daniel and Johnny's reaction will be when they find out about all this?" Mike asked, giving his companion a curious look.
"Daniel-san... at first, he might think this is a betrayal. He's very emotional, but after a few conversations, I think he'll understand."
Mike laughed, shaking his head. "And Lawrence?"
After a brief pause, Chozen answered calmly. "Johnny will be mad, for sure. He'll insult us, maybe even invent some nickname for the team. But he'll probably think we're not real competition."
Nodding, Mike took a sip of his drink. "Sounds like him. But do you think they can get over it?"
Chozen stared at his glass for a moment before answering. "The biggest problem won't be them. It'll be... my wife."
Arching his eyebrows, Mike asked puzzledly. "Your wife? Why?"
"She's... persuasive. You'll find out." Chozen spoke in a shaky tone, looking away.
Mike burst out laughing and patted Chozen hard on the shoulder. "Oh, I never thought I'd see you, the guy who once tried to kill Daniel, scared of a woman!"
Without answering, Chozen took another sip of his drink, while Mike continued to laugh, clearly enjoying the situation.
After dark, everyone gathered around a large table in the hotel restaurant for dinner. The mood was light, with the day's conversations echoing in laughter and comments. Chozen, sitting at the head of the table, observed the group and asked the question everyone was waiting for.
"So, how was the tour today?"
Kim and Jack, who were sitting next to each other, exchanged shy glances and lowered their heads. Shisa and Sabrina, on the other hand, couldn't hide a fond smile. Across the table, Milton, Nils and Kenny looked away, trying to appear distracted.
Chozen narrowed his eyes at the three quieter ones, but said nothing. Mike Barnes, sitting next to him, noticed the hesitation and gave the trio a direct look.
"What have you guys been up to, huh?"
Before they could answer, Jack cleared his throat and spoke, still visibly embarrassed.
"Kim and I... have taken our relationship one step further."
Barnes gave a sarcastic smile and, with a mocking tone, replied:
"Look how cute!"
Meanwhile, Chozen smiled calmly and nodded.
"Congratulations to you both."
Kim tried to hide the blush on her face, while Jack looked at his plate, uncomfortable with the moment.
Then, Shisa and Sabrina decided to share. Sabrina took the initiative, which made Shisa smile.
"Our date was wonderful. And Shisa... he made an incredible surprise. He paid an amateur singer to lend us his equipment, and we sang together. The audience loved it."
Barnes laughed and shook his head, looking at Shisa with an amused expression.
"This boy really knows how to win women's hearts."
Jack, feeling the pressure, lowered his head even further and, on impulse, looked at Kim with a nervous half-smile.
"Even in this, competing with Shisa is harder than in fights."
The table burst into laughter. Chozen, pleased with the comment, crossed his arms and looked at Shisa with an air of approval.
"I taught him correctly."
The laughter suddenly stopped, and everyone at the table cast doubtful glances at Chozen, who frowned.
"What is it? Why are you looking at me like that?"
Shisa, noticing the discomfort, decided to intervene and quickly changed the subject.
"So, what about you three? How was the tour at the stadium?"
Milton, Nils and Kenny looked at each other before starting to tell the story. With every detail, from the "great player" Nils hitting the ball into the bouncer to the hilarious escape in the golf cart, the table erupted in laughter.
"You guys are idiots!" Barnes said, wiping away tears from his laughter. "But I have to admit, it was the funniest part of the day."
Chozen chuckled lightly, trying to keep his demeanor serious, but it was clear that he found the story amusing as well.
The long-awaited day had finally arrived. The venue was packed with the world's best karate competitors, and tension was in the air. The Sekai Taikai competitors were ready to begin what would be a brutal competition. Each team would be called, and everyone's anticipation was palpable. Team Okinawa was focused, waiting for their group to be introduced last.
Chozen calmly adjusted his kimono while Mike Barnes watched the group. Milton and Nils made jokes to ease the tension, while Jack seemed to recite some sort of mantra to calm himself down. Kim, serious, kept her focus, Sabrina firmly adjusted the belt of her kimono. Shisa, as captain, looked at everyone and calmly stated:
"We're ready."
When Gunther Braun, the main director and committee member of Sekai Taikai, approached the microphone, the atmosphere became tense. He began announcing the teams one by one.
"Now, team number 16!" Gunther announced enthusiastically. The team prepared themselves, lining up to be called.
Nils Booboo
The first to enter was Nils, beaming with joy. He waved like a celebrity, smiling at everyone as if he were at a fashion show.
"He looks too happy for a brutal tournament," commented Devon from Miyagi-Do.
Dimitri, standing next to him, countered.
"He seems pretty strong, apparently."
"That's just a happy fool," scoffed Hawk.
At Cobra Kai, the comments were less kind.
"That guy looks like an idiot," scoffed Kwon.
Kreese didn't even look, but Kim Da Eun seemed uninterested.
Milton David
Next was Milton, who entered with hesitant steps, clearly uncomfortable with all the attention. He constantly adjusted his Kimono.
"Look, Dimitri, you're not the only one who looks like an idiot!" said Hawk, laughing.
"Could you shut up for five minutes?" Dimitri snapped, irritated.
Johnny, standing next to him, commented:
"That one won't make it past the first round. He's a weak nerd."
Kim Crawford
When Kim walked in, the mood began to change. She had a serious, determined look on her face, without any trace of hesitation. Her posture exuded discipline.
"She looks very serious, very different from the other two," commented Samantha.
Tory, watching closely, thought: "She could be a dangerous opponent."
Jack Brewer
Jack walked in, waving to the audience sympathetically. Before stopping in the center, he fixed his hair, which drew mixed reactions.
"That one... really good-looking," said Devon, clearly impressed.
Hawk let out a mocking laugh.
"Pretty guys like that never make good fighters."
Johnny, on the other hand, didn't miss the opportunity to reminisce about the good old days.
"My hair was better than his when I was younger," he said, earning disapproving looks from his team.
Sabrina Cavendish
Sabrina walked in with an almost defiant confidence. Her sneering glance at the other teams made the room immediately aware of her presence.
"She seems very confident," Samantha commented, concerned.
Miguel and Robby nodded silently, while Daniel muttered,
"She seems nice, but she has an attitude that could be a problem."
Kreese watched intently from Cobra Kai.
"Tory, pay attention to her. This captain could be your biggest challenge."
Kim Da Eun, off to the side, commented with a smile.
"I like this girl. She's got strength."
Shisa Kim Toguchi
When Shisa's name was announced, the buzz increased. As soon as he entered, his firm posture and familiar surname attracted all eyes.
Miguel asked, confused:
"Isn't that Sensei Chozen's name?"
Daniel, massaging his forehead, confirmed.
"Yes, but it must be just a coincidence..."
Samantha narrowed her eyes.
"He reminds me a bit of Sensei Chozen."
Dimitri, watching closely, commented quietly:
"He looks like a trained assassin..."
Falcon, rolling his eyes, teased:
"M.I.T. really messed with your head, man."
At Cobra Kai, few paid attention, except Tory, who was already starting to connect the dots, and Yoon, who clearly recognized Shisa.
Kim Da Eun muttered a low "Damn," hiding the tension. Kreese, in a casual tone, commented to Kwon:
"This captain could be a problem. Keep an eye on him."
Kwon laughed, disdainful.
"He would be no match for me."
Upon hearing this, Yoon gave a discreet and enigmatic smile.
Mike Barnes
When Mike Barnes' name was announced as one of the senseis, he walked onto the stage with a completely impassive expression, showing no emotion.
Johnny immediately recognized Mike and blurted out loudly,
"What the hell is he doing here?"
Daniel, with an uncomfortable expression, echoed Johnny's sentiment, but chose not to prolong the comment.
The Miyagi-Do students were visibly confused, but remained silent, exchanging disconcerted glances. At Cobra Kai, Kreese, with a slightly satisfied smile, commented in a low voice:
"That got interesting..."
Then, Chozen Toguchi's name was announced, and the audience reacted with a mix of surprise and curiosity. Chozen entered with firm steps, maintaining his warrior posture. He looked around, his expression calm, but with an intimidating energy.
Daniel, upon seeing his friend, looked down, trying to hide his uneasiness.
Johnny, on the other hand, laughed out loud and commented in a mocking tone:
"I was right all along. I knew this guy was up to something."
The Miyagi-Do students were left open-mouthed, clearly impressed. None of them could hide their shock. At Cobra Kai, Tory immediately recognized Chozen
Kreese, observing Tory's reaction, let out a low chuckle, while Kim Da Eun's face closed in an expression of contained irritation, even though she knew that if Shisa was here, Chozen would be too. She looked at the stage, showing anger that was not explicit, but clearly uncomfortable.
Finally, Kenny Payne's name was called as a reserve. Kenny entered with the "R" armband on his arm, a serious expression on his face. He did not look to the sides, focusing only on what was in front of him.
At Miyagi-Do, each student reacted differently:
Dimitri, surprised, commented in a mocking tone
"The coward changed teams."
Falcão, laughing, added:
"He must have felt resentful after everyone laughed at him."
Devon, on the other hand, looked uncomfortable, lowering her head, clearly embarrassed by Kenny's change of team.
Miguel just watched, showing no emotion, but his eyes remained fixed on Kenny.
Samantha, worried, looked at Robby, who had an expression of sadness and surprise. Robby seemed deeply shaken to see his protégé on another team.
Johnny, irritated, commented:
"Chozen stole Kenny from Miyagi-Do."
Daniel, trying to remain calm, replied:
"He wasn't on the team, so he wasn't stolen."
At Cobra Kai, the reactions were also intense:
Kreese, surprised, watched Kenny carefully, evaluating the young man.
Kim Da Eun, still bothered by the previous events, didn't show much interest in Kenny's entrance.
Tory, however, was left open-mouthed, clearly surprised to see the former Miyagi-Do member there.
When all the competitors and senseis were lined up, Shisa gave the command:
"OKINAWA GUARDS!"
And in unison, the group of young people responded with a loud shout
"HAI!"
The tension was established, and the looks on the faces of Miyagi-Do and Cobra Kai and the other competitors showed that the competition would be intense.
After putting pressure on the competitors, Shisa couldn't help but look at Kim Da Eun, the Cobra Kai sensei. Her face remained expressionless, but exuded a palpable anger that he knew all too well. He couldn't help but smile at the corner of his mouth, almost defiant, trying to disguise the slight nervousness that was beginning to form.
In Shisa's thoughts:
"You're angry, aren't you, Mom? Judging by your face, you are... Damn it, why did I have to inherit your intensity?"
He quickly looked away, without losing his composure, as he formulated a plan.
"Okay, when I meet her after the opening, I already know what to do. I'll blame my father. Yeah, that's it! It'll be all his fault, he'll handle it... I think he even expects it. Maybe, just maybe, it'll ease the storm."
Shisa took a deep breath, feigning concentration as he continued to formulate the plan.
"Besides, I'll introduce Sabrina. Everyone likes her... Right? She's pretty, bossy, strong and clearly has nothing to do with this story. Maybe, seeing that I'm in good hands, she won't be so mad at me."
He glanced at Sabrina, who maintained her confident expression.
"Yes, it's perfect. Blame Chozen, and throw Sabrina in the middle. What could possibly go wrong?"
Shisa's smile grew even more evident, albeit disguised. However, he knew that, even with his plan, facing his mother's wrath would literally be a fight that not even karate could fully prepare him for.
The end.