Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty

"The powerful server, Kaedehara Taichi, is back at the service line!"

"Another cannon shot—but Itachiyama's Iizuna Tsukasa handled it beautifully!"

"What a shame! That trajectory looked perfect to me!"

"Komori Motoya leaps from the back row—a stunning set! Even with their setter being held back, Itachiyama still manages to launch a flawless attack!"

"While it's widely believed that the libero's role is solely defensive, at higher levels of play, they have started to shine beyond just defence. Only players who challenge the limits of their positions can continue to grow on the competitive stage!"

"The one receiving this ball is Itachiyama's ace, Sakusa Kiyoomi! He spikes it straight toward Aoba Johsai's baseline—"

"Aoba Johsai digs it up! Kaedehara Taichi's back-row defence is just as impressive!"

"Oikawa Tōru quickly sets up the attack—on the left side, Kyōtani Kentarō jumps! He's up against Itachiyama's triple block—"

"A masterful cross-court spike! Direct point!"

"Kyōtani Kentarō maintains his rhythm in the third set!"

[Aoba Johsai 12 - 13 Itachiyama]

Neither team made substitutions at the start of the third set, and the game resumed with Kaedehara Taichi's service turn.

Coach Irihata had hoped to capitalize on Taichi's powerful serves to seize an early lead and minimize Kyōtani Kentarō's time in the back row. However, Itachiyama had completely adapted to Aoba Johsai's serve intensity.

For the first time in the finals, Itachiyama had secured an early lead.

The current lineups on the court were:

Itachiyama:

Front row—Middle blocker Mizushima Yū, Outside Hitter Nishimura Hiroyuki, Outside Hitter Takeshita Yūshin.

Back row—Outside Hitter Sakusa Kiyoomi, Setter Iizuna Tsukasa and Middle Blocker Sakano Sawaji (Libero: Komori Motoya).

Aoba Johsai:

Front row—Outside hitter Kyōtani Kentarō, Middle Blocker Matsukawa Issei, Outside Hitter Iwaizumi Hajime.

Back row—Setter Oikawa Tōru, Middle Blocker Kindaichi Yūtarō (Libero: Watari Shinjī) and Outside Hitter Kaedehara Taichi.

Finally, midway through the third set, Aoba Johsai had closed the gap to a single point.

"Don't panic. Even if they catch up, we'll just overtake them again soon," Iizuna Tsukasa reassured his teammates.

"Yes!" The victory in the second set had given Itachiyama's players unwavering confidence—they still ruled this court.

Kaedehara Taichi let out a small sigh. Losing the second set had been a real shame, and now, they were in for another gruelling battle.

But no matter—he just had to treat it like a best-of-three match. As long as Kyōtani Kentarō was on the court, a lot of the attacking pressure was lifted off his shoulders.

A stage this grand wasn't just for watching his teammates perform—

Taichi served his second ball.

—Bang!

The ball was aimed at Mizushima Yū in the front row.

"I got it!" Mizushima Yū called, raising his hands for the reception.

It's drifting backwards?!

Before Mizushima Yū could get his arms overhead, the ball seemed to pause midair before suddenly dropping in height.

No time!

He quickly stepped back and switched to an underhand pass.

At the very least, he needed to keep the ball in play—

Smack!

The ball struck his forearm and ricocheted straight to the floor.

"Damn it!!!"

A direct service ace for Kaedehara Taichi.

[Aoba Johsai 13 - 13 Itachiyama]

"Aoba Johsai's first service ace in the third set! Kaedehara Taichi has levelled the score with a spectacular serve!"

"Tweet!—" Itachiyama called for a timeout.

"So soon?!" Kaedehara Taichi scowled at Itachiyama's coach.

"You all played well in the first half—don't let them disrupt your rhythm." Coach Yamazaki gathered his team during the break. "Aoba Johsai's No. 10 is likely resorting to his final serving tricks. Mizushima, you'll handle the next one, right?"

"No problem, Coach!" Mizushima Yū answered confidently.

"Good. And No. 16's spikes—close off his cross-court angles at the net and leave the straight shot open."

"Sakusa, Motoya, I want you two to be ready on the sideline for a direct reception."

"Got it!"

"Now go. The momentum is still on our side—the results won't betray our efforts."

———

The timeout ended, and the match resumed.

Kaedehara Taichi served another jump float, this time targeting the middle—Nishimura Hiroyuki.

"Damn, the angle's too high…!"

The ball flew toward the back row, where Komori Motoya stepped in to receive.

Smack!

"Perfect pass!"

The ball was sent cleanly to the left—Sakusa Kiyoomi leapt from the back row for a spike.

"Double block!" Kyōtani Kentarō and Matsukawa Issei jumped up.

Whoosh—!

But the ball was set to the right instead—

Mizushima Yū spiked it straight down.

[Aoba Johsai 13 - 14 Itachiyama]

"Nice one, Yū!"

"Heh~"

Mizushima Yū grinned as he high-fived his teammates before heading to the service line.

Service rotation—Itachiyama to serve.

Mizushima Yū's powerful jump serve was received by Watari Shinjī.

Oikawa Tōru adjusted and sent the ball to the right side—Kyōtani Kentarō soared for the spike.

"Triple block!" Sakano Sawaji, Takeshita Yūshin, and Nishimura Hiroyuki jumped in unison, sealing off the cross-court angle while leaving the straight path open.

Itachiyama's back row adjusted—Sakusa Kiyoomi and Mizushima Yū switched positions, guarding the right sideline.

Bang!!

Kyōtani Kentarō slammed the ball down.

A single option—straight shot.

Smack!

Sakusa Kiyoomi barely flinched but executed a flawless dig.

Iizuna Tsukasa set up the counterattack—four Itachiyama attackers moved into position simultaneously.

Boom!

Takeshita Yūshin scored through the middle.

[Aoba Johsai 13 - 15 Itachiyama]

"Beautiful spike, Yūshin!"

Itachiyama's defensive counterattack was perfectly coordinated, securing the point with precision.

Kyōtani Kentarō instinctively turned to look at Kaedehara Taichi.

Was this what he went through—scoring despite defences like this?

"Huh? What is it, Mad Dog-senpai?" Kaedehara Taichi noticed the glance, tilting his head in confusion.

Was he blaming himself? But missing that point wasn't his fault. Taichi was about to offer words of reassurance—

"Hmph, nothing." Kyōtani Kentarō said stiffly. "Next time, I'll score."

Kaedehara Taichi: "…Who even asked you?!"

———

Mizushima Yū served his second ball.

Watari Shinjī received it cleanly—Oikawa Tōru set it to the right.

Kaedehara Taichi launched from the back row.

"Triple block!" Itachiyama's front row reacted instantly, sealing off every angle.

Taichi aimed at Sakano Sawaji's right hand, preparing to spike—when their eyes met across the net.

He's going to dodge!

Taichi tensed his muscles and shifted all his power into his arm—slamming the ball directly into the block.

Boom!!!—

Sakano Sawaji's hands softened at the last second, creating the perfect opening. The ball deflected off his arm, its speed completely unrelenting—

Smack!

It hit Itachiyama's floor.

Kaedehara Taichi had scored.

[Aoba Johsai 14 - 15 Itachiyama]

Aoba Johsai kept a tight grip on the score.

The serve rotated—Aoba Johsai's turn.

"Iwaizumi Hajime with a powerful jump serve!"

"But once again, Komori Motoya receives it perfectly! The ball carves a graceful arc in the air before flying toward the setter, Iizuna Tsukasa!"

"Nice receive!" Iizuna jumped to set.

"That serve had a great feel to it just now," Iwaizumi muttered through clenched teeth as he returned to the court.

Sakusa Kiyoomi soared up from the back row for another spike.

"A three-man block!"

With Oikawa Tōru back in the front row, Aoba Johsai's blocking height had increased once more.

Bang!—

Sakusa twisted his wrist, sending the ball ricocheting off Iwaizumi's arm—straight into his chin.

Smack!

The ball ultimately landed on the floor.

Sakusa Kiyoomi scored.

[Aoba Johsai 14 – 16 Itachiyama]

Clearly, the spin on the ball had changed again…

"Are you okay, Iwaizumi!"

"Iwaizumi-senpai!"

His teammates immediately gathered around him.

"I'm fine," Iwaizumi said, his expression grim. He had finally thought he was getting a handle on Sakusa's spikes.

"This is insane. We still can't find a way to handle his shots?" On the bench, Yahaba Shigeru let out a frustrated wail. From the sidelines, Sakusa's attacks seemed sharp but not overwhelmingly powerful. Yet, every single receive flew off-target.

"I think I saw it…" Kunimi Akira murmured.

Just for a moment, he had visualized himself receiving the ball—Sakusa's wrist snap, the ball's altered trajectory. If he disregarded the ball's path and focused solely on the impact, he felt like he could handle it.

"Saw what?" Yahaba asked, bewildered.

Kunimi didn't answer. His fists clenched, body leaning slightly forward, eyes locked onto the court with laser focus. For the first time, he showed an unmistakable hunger to be on the court.

Everything around him seemed to fade away. Only one voice echoed in his mind—Get in the game.

———

In this high-stakes battle, both teams were at peak intensity, the score rising back and forth.

Boom!!

Kyōtani Kentarō made good on his words, scoring past Itachiyama's triple block.

[Aoba Johsai 18 – 19 Itachiyama]

The serve rotated—Aoba Johsai's turn.

Kyōtani stepped onto the service line.

"Tweet!—"

Aoba Johsai requests a substitution—Kunimi Akira IN, Kyōtani Kentarō OUT.

"Huh?" Coach Yamazaki was momentarily caught off guard. "Aoba Johsai is voluntarily giving up a strong serve?"

Kyōtani's serves had left a deep impression in the second set. Even if the goal was to strengthen their defence, Yamazaki felt they should have waited until this service round was over.

"At this rate, this substitution actually benefits Itachiyama more."

Kunimi walked to the service line.

Bang!

A floating jump serve went straight toward Sakusa Kiyoomi in the front row.

"Hah?" Sakusa couldn't hide his surprise. Someone's targeting me with a float serve?

Smack!

Sakusa calmly set the ball above Iizuna's position—a perfect first touch!

Iizuna immediately jumped to attack.

Boom!

Smack!

"One touch!" Kaedehara Taichi shouted toward the backline.

So fast!

Iizuna's eyes narrowed—had Itachiyama's quick attack been read?!

No…Aoba Johsai baited him into using it!

The opportunity had been placed right in front of him—there was no reason not to take it.

"Chance ball!"

Kunimi's receive sent the ball directly to the left wing. Oikawa Tōru leapt up to attack.

"Damn, they turned it around on us!"

Sakusa jumped to block, but Oikawa faked a spike—opting for a set to the right.

"A double block!" Iizuna and Sakano Sawaji jumped.

Boom!!

A pinpoint shot down the line.

Kaedehara Taichi scored.

[Aoba Johsai 19 – 19 Itachiyama]

Aoba Johsai equalized once again!

"Two blockers aren't enough to stop me," Taichi said with a smirk.

Itachiyama had just been scored on with their own most familiar playstyle.

Sakusa furrowed his brows. These guys from Aoba Johsai were ridiculously crafty. It was best to go for the most reliable method to score.

Kunimi served again.

Bang!

"Again?"

Sakusa begrudgingly lifted the ball for Iizuna.

This ball had a zero percent chance of being an attack touch.

Of course, if no one blocked, then the chance of a second attack would be one hundred percent.

Kaedehara Taichi leapt to block, forcing Iizuna to send the ball back to the left wing.

Sakusa charged in.

"A double block!" Oikawa and Kindaichi Yūtarō went up.

"Make that three!"

Kaedehara Taichi closed in from the side.

He planned this from the beginning.

Sakusa abandoned the thought of aiming cross-court. Instead, his gaze shifted to the baseline—where Kunimi was positioned.

So this was your goal all along?

"Sealing my shot and trying to receive my spike?"

"Heh. Let's see you try."

Sakusa twisted his arm back, his movements clean and precise. His wrist snapped at a devastating angle as he struck.

Boom!—

The ball's vicious spin shrieked through the air, cutting straight toward Kunimi.

Kunimi's eyes sharpened, his entire focus locked onto the incoming ball. As it neared, he swiftly adjusted his footwork, lowering his stance, hands positioned steadily in front of him.

He had visualized this moment countless times.

As his arms absorbed the impact, he expertly twisted his wrists to soften the ball's rotation—redirecting its trajectory ever so slightly.

Smack!

The ball rebounded exactly as he intended—right toward Oikawa.

"Beautiful receive!!!" Oikawa praised excitedly.

This was no fluke.

Sakusa knew that much.

Kunimi had genuinely figured out his spike.

Oikawa set a high ball to the right wing—Aoba Johsai was launching their counterattack!

BAM!

Kaedehara Taichi soared into the air!

As the ace, it was his duty to deliver the final blow!

"A triple block!"

Sakusa, Iizuna, and Sakano all jumped to stop him.

But—he could see beyond them.

Boom!!!

Taichi struck clean over the block.

An overhand shot!

The ball slammed into the floor just past Komori Motoya's feet, bouncing high into the air.

Kaedehara Taichi scored!!!

[Aoba Johsai 20 – 19 Itachiyama]

Aoba Johsai took the lead!

"Ohoho…" Coach Irihata let out a hearty chuckle.

Just moments ago, Kunimi had signalled to him—saying he wanted to try receiving Sakusa's spikes. Seeing his usually indifferent player display such initiative, Iribata hadn't hesitated at all. The moment Kyōtani rotated to the back row, he made the switch.

Iribata had always taught his players to think for themselves and find solutions.

And when his players made a judgment, he placed absolute trust in them.

This was Aoba Johsai's true strength.

Itachiyama had been caught off guard.

"It's just one receive," Sakusa said flatly, his tone completely unaffected. "This won't become a turning point for you."

Kaedehara Taichi understood exactly what he meant.

Itachiyama had overturned Aoba Johsai's 18-point lead in the second set to snatch the win.

"You're right," Taichi replied coolly. "This time, you won't even get the chance to reach 27 points."

_________

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