Eli Moskowitz had been on a journey ever since he first stepped foot into Cobra Kai. The transformation into Hawk had been thrilling—a rush of adrenaline, confidence, and rebellion rolled into one. He loved the mohawk, the swagger, and the newfound respect it commanded. But over time, something began to gnaw at him. The "Strike First. Strike Hard. No Mercy" mantra had burrowed into his soul, eroding the kindness and vulnerability that once defined him. He realized that while being Hawk gave him strength, it was also turning him into someone he didn’t recognize. So, with a heavy heart and a resolve to reclaim his true self, Eli left Cobra Kai for Miyagi-Do.

The decision wasn’t without consequences.

Word spread quickly about his departure, and Cobra Kai saw it as a betrayal. One afternoon, Robby Keene and a group of Cobra Kai students cornered Eli. They didn’t just want to confront him—they wanted revenge. In a flurry of taunts and mocking laughter, they pinned him down. Robby held the razor with a smirk.

When it was over, Eli’s mohawk—his signature, his armor—was gone. The strands of dyed purple and brown hair lay scattered on the ground, mocking him. It wasn’t just hair; it was his identity, his shield against the world’s judgment. Now, it was reduced to uneven patches of brown, the purple tips clinging stubbornly to his remaining strands like ghosts of his past self.

He stumbled back to Miyagi-Do hours later, his hood pulled tight over his head. His face was blotchy, his eyes red and swollen from crying. He couldn’t meet anyone’s gaze, couldn’t bear to see their pity—or worse, their indifference. He walked straight past them, his shoulders hunched, the weight of humiliation pressing down on him.

The familiar serenity of the dojo offered little comfort. He stared at the wall, his jaw clenched, tears threatening to fall again. This wasn’t just about the hair. It was about losing a part of himself he hadn’t realized he still needed.