Graduation

Richmond takes a deep breath, practice was going pretty decent but no one was super good at the sport yet. Taking a deep breath and jumping a bit as a loud booming echoes out of the gym. Richmond leaning to look in. Lucas swings his hand all the way back, as if he was pulling back a bow and arrow, slamming it into the ball, releasing another echo as it slammed against the court, then the wall.

"h-How do you do that!?" Lucas catches the ball and looks over.

"It's called a swinging motion… I think… I can teach you" Richmond smiles.

"Please do!"

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Xavier walks over to the door with Nathan and Erik. Nathan was shocked.

"I heard, Lucas and Richmond have been practicing since 6 o'clock this morning!" Xavier is shocked.

"On a saturday? Really?" Everyone laughs a bit as a loud echo erupts from the gym. Both rushing to the gym door. 

Lucas tosses the ball high and overhand sets the ball. Richmond took one step, then another, then slamming his feet onto the ground, jumping high into the air, swinging his arm back like an archer and slamming the ball over the net with a smile. Richmond lands and high fives Lucas.

"We did it!"

They all rush in and start huddling around Lucas to show them how to pull off insane stuff like that, lucas smiling brightly.

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As time continued and Lucas and his Friends became sophomores, something happens. Xavier stands off to the side one practice, practicing his receives. Turning around and looking at everyone else, Richmond's spikes had only gotten better and everyone else was improving at an impressive speed, while he was still struggling with the basics, he was average. As he hits the ball in anger, the door to the gym opens. Everyone turning to look. 3 new kids standing at the door.

"Uh… Is this the boys Volleyball Club?" Lucas lights up, rushing over.

"Y-yes it is! Would you like to join?" They jump a bit.

"Y-yes… we saw your practice match with MCHS the other day… and thought you guys were cool… so we came to join" Lucas eyes light up, his hard work was paying off.

"Well introduce yourselves" they all take their turns introducing themselves. Nete Xarajico (Nate), Oswin Lewis, Oakleigh Robinson.

"Nice to meet you, welcome to the team… mind signing this for me?" Richmond walks over.

"What is it?" Lucas smiles brightly.

"It's an official petition sheet the office gave me, if we get 10 people to sign this, then we can possibly become a school sponsored Varsity team WITH a coach!"

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The school board director takes a long stare at the petition sheet, placing it on the table.

"Why are kids like this…? Tell them no, they should give up" the officer in the room walks over and prepares to grab the paper as parents start shouting.

"What's wrong with you, not letting kids have their dreams!"

"They tried so hard to make a club, then you just REJECT them!?"

"Why're you so petty!?"

Suddenly, someone stands up, calming the crowd down. Tilting his head to the director and raising his voice.

"As Principal of LakeWood Technical High School, the decision the director makes must also go through me… so Mr. Board of education director… I decline your decline… This club will become LakeWood Technical High School Boys Volleyball Varsity Team"

------

Lucas's breath was cold, the air freezing as he wraps a scarf around his neck. Walking up to the basketball gym door. Opening it as his eyes widen, aman stands in the middle of the room, the Volleyball net set up.

"Uh… Who are you?" The man looks over, short black hair and gray eyes. Walking over and shaking Lucas's hands.

"You must be Lucas Baker, Team Captain of the team? My name is Coach Russel Williams, you can call me Coach Russ, as directed by the school board, I'm to be your guys' official coach, nice to meet you" Coach Russ smiles.

"Wait, wait, wait… does that mean-" Russ nods.

"This little club you have here in now an official Boys Varsity Team… and as such, the school will be delegated money to build you guys an official training building" Lucas's eyes widen, slightly tearing up, his hard work wasn't just payed off, but his hard work has given him double or triple the rewards he was expecting.

[3 years later]

Ajax watches the ball from behind the door that leads from the lobby to the courts.

"Kaneko, back to Kurai, then to Dougal once again, they're doing better than I ever could…" Thinking to himself. Suddenly, Ajax feels someone standing behind him.

"What are you so scared about?" Ajax jumps and turns to see the man. "Uh…" He was shorter than him by a few inches with blue eyes and parted blonde hair. as ominous of an aura as Kurai, Kaneko, and Dougal. 

"let me guess, are you too scared to stand side by side with those new guys because they look intimidating?" behind him stands a few other people.

"h-how did you know?" The man slightly laughs.

"Don't worry, I used to be just like you. My name is Lucas Baker, the current team captain" Lucas smiles calmly. Instead of wearing long brown hair, he had an undercut with the long part of hair being dyed blonde and parted off to the left. Several students beside him.

"Yup, I'm Richmond Walker, and I'm jersey number 6 and acting Ace." This guy was just taller than Lucas with hair combed straight back and seemingly green eyes.

"Sorry about these guys, they make everything super dramatic. I'm Xavier Ford, acting jersey number 5" This one was the shortest with combed back dyed blue hair. From its original blonde shade still visible in some parts. Noticeable as a hand-done job.

"O-of the actual Ford family??" Xavier laughs nervously.

"Sadly not, that's a common misconception though…" Ajax quickly apologizes.

"You're good and this is Nathan Hood…" Xavier points at the only one in similar height to him.

"Hey! I wanted to introduce myself!..." Xavier cackles.

"You're just a bit too late…" Nathan growls before sighing.

"I'm the current acting Libero…" Ajax looks down at Nathan with a smile.

"R-really…? You can teach me some stuff then!" Nathan raises an eyebrow.

"What do you mean?" Ajax points at himself.

"My role is also a Libero…" Nathan smirks.

"Ah, uh, well shall we get this thing starte-'' Erik runs in from the outside door apologizing.

"SORRY GUYS! Sorry I'm late! I got busy at a meeting. Coach Russ or Isabella won't be able to make it so i'm going to proctor the match…"

[Present day]

At the front of the LWT school sign sits a poster flying in the wind. A calming cool breeze as summer begins to arrive, flowers sprouting and trees with pretty bright green leaves. The sign reading 'Spring Senior Graduation, mound ceremony'

Cars fill almost all parking spots and there's nowhere to stand in front of the hill. LakeWood Tech finished Senior Graduation with Graduates walking over a hill to reunite with their family after graduation. They called this the 'Mound Ceremony'

Lucas stood on the edge of the road, looking up at the mound, his graduating class standing beside him. Richmond walks over, then Xavier, Erik, and Nathan. all preparing for their future. Lucas takes a deep breath and stepsforward. Taking small calculated steps up the hill. Stopping at the top and turning to look back at LakeWood Technicals campus. Memories flowing through his mind as he smiles calmly.

"Thank you for everything… LakeWood Technical High School" Lucas turns around and walking down the other side of the mound to his family followed by Richmond, Xavier, then Erik, and Nathan.