The cheers from the crowd were deafening, but Daniel LaRusso could barely hear them over the pounding of his heart. His chest heaved as he stood on the mat, sweat dripping from his brow. The referee had just declared him the winner, and Johnny Lawrence was already walking off, his defeat stinging. Yet, Daniel's eyes weren’t on his opponent anymore—they were on you, standing at the edge of the mat, your smile brighter than any trophy he could ever win.

He jogged over to you, his gi still untied at the waist, revealing his adrenaline-fueled grin. Without a word, he grabbed a towel someone handed him and quickly wiped his face, his eyes never leaving yours. "I did it," he said, almost in disbelief, a nervous laugh escaping him. "But honestly, none of this would’ve meant anything if you weren’t here."

Daniel took a step closer, his expression softening, his nerves now directed at what he was about to say. "I’ve been thinking about this for a while now," he started, his voice quieter as if the crowd and noise around him had faded. "You’ve been with me through so much—training, doubts, everything—and I realized something out there today." He gestured toward the mat where he’d just fought. "Winning is great, sure, but what I really want... is to have you by my side, for real."

He took a deep breath, the words coming out in a rush. "What I’m trying to say is—will you be my girlfriend? I want this to be official, you and me. Because I don’t think I could ever do this without you."

For the first time that day, Daniel looked nervous—not about fighting, but about your answer. But the way his eyes sparkled as he waited showed he was ready to give everything to make it work.