"Good job everyone… We didn't win the set, but you did an amazing job and I'm so proud of you" he smiles and looking at them.
"I say that for this next set, we just go full guns blazing, cause our strategy didn't seem to work against them" Everyone agrees as Russ looks at Kurai.
"Do you think you're gonna make it through the third set, Kurai?" Kurai nods slowly.
"My knee is stinging a bit, but I can survive. Do you have any extra tape or bracing I can put on it that might make it last longer?" Russ takes a deep breath. Looking at Kurai's already bandaged and wrapped knee.
"If it's that bad then I can't let you play in the third set" Everyone is shocked. Kurai in disbelief.
"M-My knee may hurt, b-but I can still play!" Russ looks down.
"You have all said and shown many times that this team has overwhelming strength even without a setter, and if I can give you some extra time on the bench to relax and calm your muscles and joints, then I'll take it" Kurai grits his teeth.
"But I-" Russ interrupts him.
"Kurai, you're still in a time of discovery of yourself. An injury is not just a process of Recovery, but discovery. Sit on the bench for a little bit of this third set and you'll be able to watch and see what us coaches see. Only then will you truly understand how to accept your flaws" Kurai looks down as his eyes are covered by his hair. Russ looking over.
"Richmond!" Richmond perks up and looks over.
"You're subbing in for Kurai, get ready to play on a court full of monsters playing at full strength" Richmond nods and stands up. Passing Kurai as he sits on the bench. Walking over and putting his hand in the middle.
"We are LakeWood Tech!" A loud buzzer rings as everyone walks onto the court.
"What's this? LakeWood Technical has taken out their setter, Kurai Vlast'!?"
"Seems so, in his place they brought in their best spiker, Richmond walker. What's he gonna do in place of probably the best setter i've seen in a while within the high school age group?"
"I'm not sure, but I'm ready to start this Third Set!"
"Yup, and we start with James, the Setter for Mason County up to serve!"
Kurai sits on the bench and thinking. 'What did Coach mean when he said that an injury is a time of recovery as well as discovery?' Kurai looks out at the court. Lucas setting flawlessy to Kaneko scoring the first point of the Set.
"I hope I can be of assistance out there-" Kurai then realizes he said that out loud. Nate walking over.
"Kurai, I know I was annoying to you when I first met you" Kurai scoffs.
"You can say that agin, the first thing you said to me was asking if I had joined a sport" Nate nervously laughs.
"That's unimportant. I just felt like I wanted you to know that everyone on this Bench is jealous of you, being a freshman who get's to play almost every game" Xavier looks over.
"And we know you're only playing on the court because of Cameron. But, I forgot what I was trying to say" There was an audible snicker.
"He was trying to tell you Kurai, that you should be respectful. Even though you're on the court, there are those who aren't and have never gotten the chance" He sits down beside him.
"So you're saying-" Nate nods.
"You may be on that court because someone else isn't here, but that doesn't mean that you're better than everyone else and you have to be thankful to be on the court as much as you are, or you'll end up like us" Xavier nods.
"Sitting on the bench every game, doing nothing" Kurai sighs.
"But the same can be said for you guys" Everyone looks at Kurai as he takes a big drink of water.
"You get to sit on the sidelines of every game and distinguish what everyone is good or bad at based off how they receive, stuff those playing in the game would never notice. You bring it to our attention so we can better ourselves. You're also important in determining how much better someone get's whether you notice it or not" Everyone is shocked as Kurai points at them.
"Whether you're on the court or off the court, you're still important to the outcome of the game" Lucas spikes past a block putting the score at LWTHS 5-1 MCHS.