Celebration

Alex looks at the court from the net. Standing there breathing heavily.

"Hey" Alex jumps a bit, turning around to see Kurai staring from above. His hand outstretched under the net.

"Good game… thanks for the help, too" Alex raises and eyebrow and shakes Kurai's hand.

"I don't know what you mean by that… but thanks anyway… I've wanted to play you my whole life…" Kurai breaks the handshakes as Alex continues.

"Well… I've always been a hospital baby… I have fragile and brittle bones… and the fact I can't gain weight means it's even easier for my bones to break… so I've almost never not been in the hospital… I-" Kurai exhales.

"I get it… if it's a touchy topic, you don't have to tell me… but because of your unique playing style, I was snapped out of a mindset that almost destroyed me" Alex's eyes lighten up with sparkles.

"N-No… there's no way a measly kid like me managed to help someone from the Monster Generation… None the less The Emperor of the Court himself" Kurai chuckles.

"Well… when this game began, I found myself trying to make every set go exactly where I wanted it too… and I was messing up… but then i saw how you played… all you did was set the ball and let the spikers decide how to spike it… I took inspiration and changed how I played to be a little more freeform" Alex smiles brightly.

"I'm glad I could help… do good at Nationals for me" His voice was obviously hiding his hidden fanboy. Kurai nods.

"You too, keep striving to be better… you can do all things through Christ who strengthen you" Kurai turns around and walks away. Steam escapes Alex's mouth.

"He's so cool…" Jadon sighs and grabs Alex, dragging him back to the bench.

"Get it together"

Kurai sits on the bench swallowing water. Jaden sits beside him breathing heavily. Carlos dramatically lays on the floor as Jazz pokes him. Liam and Owen pack up some bags and suitcases of equipment as Coach Haruki smiles.

"Come on guys, you can rest on the way back home, we gotta get packed and going home before the thunderstorm hits" Kurai looks up.

"There's a storm coming?" Haruki nods.

"Now get it together, let's move… when the grass is dry, I'll hold a training camp for you guys… with barbeque" Jaden looks up. Followed by Carlos and Liam.

"Barbeque!?" Haruki exhales and nods.

"I'll contact the school and see what we can do."

[one week later]

Liam tosses the ball and runs forward, jumping and completely missing the ball.

"Too high!" He shouts as he lands. Jaden exhales.

"Try something different, not every serve has to be fast and strong" Liam exhales.

"But… but… I want it fast and powerful-" Jaden smacks Liam.

"Fist, practice landing consecutive serves, THEN focus on speed and precision" Liam groans.

Kurai walks past, holding a piece of watermelon.

"Make it over the net first, Liam, then I'll teach you precision" Liam groans again as Kurai leaves the gym. Walking through the hanging beads on the top of the door.

"These are some old steps" Kurai takes slow steps down the falling apart stairs and onto the parking lot where the barbeque was being held.

"Where's the line at?" Jazz turns around and pointing.

"Ask Coach Haruki… I've already got my piece" Kurai takes a big inhale, smelling the Barbeque steak and ribs with barbeque sauce, Corn on the cob, and potatoes. Coach Haruki shouting.

"Kurai! You're late, the food's over here!" Kurai smirks and walks over to Coach Haruki. Using the silverware to grab one of everything and stuffing his plate.

"Thank you for the food" Kurai takes his plate and walks over to the entrance of the gym. Sitting on the stairs. Stuffing a large chunk of barbeque into his mouth, using the bone sticking out as a handle. Coach Haruki walks over, standing beside Kurai as she eats her own cob of corn.