The radio hums as the dark blue Ford F-150 turns onto the off-road. Its extended cabin reflects as if freshly cleaned. The truck slowed into the lot of the new training gym for Team USA Men's Volleyball.
The newly built structure gleamed in the glow of the early morning sun. Large walls of glass stretch down the far side of the gym.
The truck slows to a stop in a handicap spot right by the facility's front door. The Truck's front driver's door clicks open as Kurai steps out. Landing on the concrete parking lot softly, rising to his full 6 foot 11.5 inch height. His silver hair was freshly cut short and combed out of his pale face, his deep blue eyes visible. Lifting the watch on his right hand.
"Good… 5:43… I'm earlier than usual… this place is a lot closer to my apartment than the last one was…" Kurai turns, closing the door and locking it. Walking towards the front of the building, pulling out a scan card and holding it up to a scanner. The door unlocked as Kurai swung it open. Ducking under the top of the door and stepping into the lobby. A young lady is sitting behind the reception desk.
"Oh, you're early, sir… You here for a second shift?" Kurai shakes his head, walking over.
"Nah, just here for early practice." She smiles as Kurai taps his card to sign in.
"Well, have fun!" Kurai smirks.
"I'll do just that, thanks." He turns, walking further into the clean, fresh lobby.
"Hey, Kurai…!" Kurai perks up. Turning to Coach Copley as he walks over.
"Oh, hey Coach, what's up?" Copley smirks.
"Here early as usual, you like the new facility?" Kurai glances around.
"Ain't had much of a look around it yet, but so far, I'm relaxing with it." Copley nods back.
"So, how's the knee?" Kurai leans down, rubbing it.
"It's okay, ain't bothering me much as of late." Copley smiles and looks around.
"Well, I don't wanna hold ya; I know you have your things to do, so I'll let you off with a note that we'll be bringing in the new players who passed tryouts today to join us in practice." Kurai nods.
"Cool"
"I'll see you on the courts then"
"Will do."
--
Kurai is guided into a small room off the side of the hallway.
"Right in here, Mr Vlast" Kurai exhales.
"Please… just call me Kurai… hard to believe this place has its own care center," the doctor chuckles.
"It's smaller than where I used to work, but we'll do just as much… and I'm not your main knee doctor, so when you can, get me your current paperwork and recent checkups, will ya? I wanna know what I'm meant to be looking for." Kurai nods.
"Gotcha, I can do that… I have both knees, but mainly my right, have arthritis, mainly from straining them when I was younger, followed by injuring them during the plane crash I was in… the crash also gave me this burn down my right arm…" the doctor nods, Kurai lifting off his jacket and lifting off his shirt, showing his muscles. The doctor leaned in, feeling the burned tissue with his hand.
"Seems healed in and of itself. Does it itch often or anything of the sort? Any sort of numbness or irritation in the scarring?" Kurai shakes his head.
"Not that I can't manage with the burn cream I have in my duffle bag." The doctor rubs his chin.
"Okay… and your knee?" Kurai rubs it.
"Acetaminophen… or Dclofnac… how much I use depends on how bad my knee feels that day, but more often than not, I only do one a day." The doctor presses the knee, then checks its reflexes.
"Okay… if you can give me a list of all your medications along with your treatment history from your main doctor, that'll be a big help; otherwise, you're free to practice today." Kurai pushes himself to stand, grabbing his shirt and jacket, then his duffle bag.
"I can do just that."
--
Kurai sits on the bench, eyes glowing as he exhales. Tightly putting on his right knee brace. Sliding a tight compression sock over the top of it. 'The VNL's rapidly approaching… AND we're getting new teammates… today will be fun…' He slides on his right arm sleeve before putting on a tank top and standing up from the bench. Walking over to the treadmill.
"Today's leg day… let's do this…" Kurai switches the treadmill to soft mode. Stepping on and starting a soft jog. Memories fill his head.
Lucas smirks, shaking Kurai's hand. Kurai grinning. "I'll beat you next time!" "I'd like to see you try."
Kurai smiles.
"Hey… Kaneko? Wadda you wanna be?" Kaneko looks up.
"A spiker like Daddy! Wadda Bout' you?" Kurai gasps as he smiles brightly.
"I wanna be a setter; they do the coolest stubs on the court!" Kaneko returns the bright smile with one of his own.
"Yeah! We can be the best Spiker and Setter duo!" Kurai whispered to him.
"In the world," Kaneko shouts while smiling brightly.
"In the world!"
Kurai jogs lightly on the treadmill, staring out the glass windows in front of him. "The best setter and spiker duo in the world, huh…?' Kurai hops off the machine, turning it off and walking over to the trap bar, putting two 45-pound weights on both sides. Kurai sliding on grip gloves. "Better watch out… Kaneko, I'm coming for ya.'
---
Kaneko smashes the ball onto the court, landing with a bright smile.
"Nice set-" he inhales, sneezing.
"Bless you!"
"Thanks!"