Cobra Kai: Under the Cobra Emblem

"Yes, I'm fine. Those boys were smart to back off," Daniel said, walking through the hospital halls where he had taken Kyler to get treated for his injuries.

It was true that, in his youth, he had also endured beatings, but the state Kyler was in now was far more brutal than anything Daniel had experienced years ago.

Without a doubt, the level of violence had escalated to dangerous extremes.

Kyler's parents arrived shortly after. They questioned Daniel repeatedly, asking if he recognized any of the attackers. Knowing that one of them was an orphan, Daniel decided he wanted to speak with Max first to reason with him and convince him to stop committing such acts.

Daniel firmly believed that if he offered his guidance, Max would choose the right path. However, if Max refused, Daniel was prepared to testify against him to ensure he faced consequences.

"Yes, I'm on my way," Daniel said, ending a phone call. As he went to put his phone away, a notification popped up in his inbox.

Opening the message, Daniel was surprised to find a video showing clear footage from a security camera. From the angle shown, it was evident that a group of boys had been harassing Miguel.

Miguel's face was blurred, but the aggressors' faces were fully visible, and Daniel immediately recognized them, including Kyler—the same boy he had just defended.

"This can't be." Daniel murmured. The video then cut to a voice narrating Kyler's backstory, exposing all the terrible things he had done.

Kyler's misdeeds were laid bare, and the one-on-one fight between him and Miguel was shown in its entirety. The video demonstrated that Miguel, the one who had been attacked, decisively defeated his aggressor in mere moments. Kyler, who had arrogantly boasted about beating Miguel, couldn't even lift his hands in defense.

As Daniel continued watching, the footage ended just before Miguel could land the kick that Daniel had intervened to stop. The video then shifted to show Ryan's secret fight club.

Confused, Daniel returned to the chat where the video had been sent. Under it, a message read:

[I love seeing bullies get what they deserve.]

[Oh no, boss, I meant to send this to a colleague!]

"Of course," Daniel muttered, addressing his brother-in-law, who had a reputation for being absent-minded.

Curious about where the video had originated, Daniel pressed his brother-in-law for more information. He eventually learned about a website where similar videos were shared and widely viewed.

After exploring the site and its content, Daniel confirmed his suspicions: Kyler was a bad influence, not just a bully but also a compulsive liar.

Johnny had once tried to explain this to him, and while Daniel, as an adult, had trusted Johnny's account to some extent, he had still taken precautions to ensure his daughter didn't make any reckless decisions. In the end, Daniel had been right.

Now, Daniel began questioning whether what Max and his friends had done was justified.

What truly defines right and wrong in this story?

Kyler was clearly in the wrong, but the methods used against him were extreme, and that wasn't the right path for anyone to take. Yet Daniel also couldn't—or perhaps didn't want to—fully grasp the lasting damage of being physically abused without fighting back.

For Max, the scars of his inaction when he was bullied were deep. In his dreams, he relived his moments of helplessness, and that weakness would haunt him for the rest of his life.

"These kids need to learn Mr. Miyagi's way." Daniel murmured to himself. He realized that simply being a good father wouldn't be enough to resolve the situation.

If he wanted them to understand, they would first need to experience the wisdom of Mr. Miyagi's teachings—and Daniel was determined to make sure they did.