Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty

Hirugami Sachirō launched his second serve.

The volleyball sliced through the air like a laser beam, hurtling straight toward Aoba Johsai's back row, where Kyōtani Kentarō stood ready.

BOOM!!—

"Damn it!"

Thud!

A dull sound followed as Kyōtani managed to receive the ball.

The ball soared high. Kunimi Akira quickly stepped in to cover and sent it toward the left wing. Kaedehara Taichi leapt to spike.

"Triple block!" Bessho Kazuyoshi, Ogawa Ryūhei, and Hakuba Gao all jumped in unison.

—BOOM!!!

The ball pierced through the left side of Bessho Kazuyoshi's block and slammed onto Kamomedai's sideline before bouncing off.

Kaedehara Taichi scored with a spike.

[Aoba Johsai 3 - 5 Kamomedai]

The serve rotated. Kaedehara Taichi walked to the service line.

Looking at the current score and Aoba Johsai's formation, many in the audience were struck with a sense of déjà vu—

It felt just like the first set all over again.

Could Kaedehara Taichi shift the momentum again with his serve this time?

"Tweet!—"

The whistle for serve sounded.

Taichi tossed the ball, took his approach, jumped, and struck.

BOOM!!!

The ball flew straight toward the back corner where Wakabayashi Hikaru was positioned.

Smack!

"I got it!"

The ball struck Wakabayashi's arm and veered out of bounds—

A flash of white zipped past—so fast it left only a blur.

Smack!

A crisp, swift sound rang out immediately after.

"Gao!"

Hoshiumi Kōrai managed to save the ball in time, setting it to the right front. Hakuba Gao leapt for the spike.

"Triple block!" Yūki Yōji, Kunimi Akira, and Kyōtani Kentarō all went up together.

BOOM!!!

The ball, unsurprisingly, sailed over Kyōtani's block.

Hakuba Gao grinned in satisfaction.

Smack!

Nakamori Daiki received it cleanly.

Whoosh—!

The ball flew to the left wing.

Kaedehara Taichi leapt from the back row to attack.

"Double block!" Bessho Kazuyoshi and Ogawa Ryūhei jumped up together.

BOOM!!!—

Tokura Liam, guarding the straight line, stared in surprise—

The ball passed just over his head and plunged down just inside the back line.

BANG!

A line shot.

Kaedehara Taichi scored from a back-row attack.

[Aoba Johsai 4 - 5 Kamomedai]

—"Disrupting the receive with his serve, then scoring with his own spike! Even from the back row, Kaedehara Taichi remains the most dominant presence on the court!"

"Don't let it bother you! Next ball!" Hoshiumi Kōrai called out loudly, keeping his teammates grounded.

The painful loss in the first set hadn't been in vain. The fact that they were now able to receive Kaedehara's first serve and rebuild the offence meant Kamomedai was already a different team from earlier.

Kaedehara Taichi served again.

BANG!

The ball floated over the net and dropped rapidly—

This time targeting the front row, where Hakuba Gao stood.

Smack!

Gao was sharply focused, lifting the ball cleanly with his hands.

Kamomedai's front-row trio surged forward for the attack. Tokura Liam stepped in to set to the right wing.

Hakuba Gao jumped once more.

At two meters tall, even a standing jump easily cleared the net.

BOOM!

"Double block!" Kunimi Akira and Kyōtani Kentarō leapt to meet him.

Smack!

"One touch!" Kyōtani shouted.

Gao's height was his greatest weapon—but without a wipe-off or tool spike, he posed little threat to Aoba Johsai.

"Chance ball!" Nakamori Daiki shouted.

Smack!

He bumped the ball toward the left wing.

Kaedehara Taichi sprang up from the back row.

"Double block!" Bessho Kazuyoshi and Ogawa Ryūhei moved in quickly.

Kamomedai's defenders had their eyes glued to the left side.

"Ah, but I'm not our only offensive option anymore," Taichi said with a grin.

Whoosh!—

The ball crossed Aoba Johsai's court diagonally—flying toward the far right.

Kyōtani Kentarō jumped—the ball met his swing at the perfect peak, not a millisecond off.

BOOM!!!

Hakuba Gao's solo block stood no chance.

The ball slammed into the centre of Kamomedai's court and bounced away.

Kyōtani Kentarō scored.

[Aoba Johsai 5 - 5 Kamomedai]

"One-on-one? Even two meters doesn't mean much," Kyōtani sneered, glaring at Gao.

Aoba Johsai continued to serve.

Kaedehara Taichi launched his third serve.

BOOM!!!—

A left-handed power jump serve that shifted from slow to fast—targeting Kamomedai's back-row, specifically Tokura Liam.

Smack!

The ball veered off-court again.

Hoshiumi Kōrai once more sprinted after it without hesitation.

Smack!

He sent the ball high above the left wing.

Bessho Kazuyoshi jumped for the spike.

Yūki Yōji reacted quickly and went up to block.

…This guy's block coverage is bigger than it looks...

Bessho twisted his wrist mid-air and hit a straight shot.

Boom!!

Yūki Yōji watched the ball pass just to his left.

If I'd forced a block there, it likely would've gone out. In situations like these—just trust the back row.

Smack!

Kaedehara Taichi calmly received it, a perfect first touch.

Kunimi Akira jumped in the centre, faking a spike and drawing Ogawa's block.

Whoosh—!

The ball flew right.

Kyōtani Kentarō launched into a spike.

"Double block!" Bessho Kazuyoshi made it just in time to jump with Hakuba Gao.

BOOM!!!—

Even that double block couldn't stop it.

The ball slammed down along the left three-meter line of Kamomedai's court.

Kyōtani scored again.

[Aoba Johsai 6 - 5 Kamomedai]

"Something's wrong—really wrong!"

Kamomedai hadn't given up any direct points from Taichi's serves, but Aoba Johsai's scoring never stopped!

"They're playing counter-defence now," Sakusa Kiyoomi said, frowning. "Aoba Johsai's using their serves to disrupt Kamomedai's rhythm."

"But wait, Sakusa-senpai," Shirakawa Kaito interjected. "Kamomedai's offence doesn't look that messy. They're still building decent attacks each time, right?"

To be honest, Shirakawa thought Hoshiumi's sets had been incredible. Not only did he save the ball, he passed it cleanly to the spiker—even Shirakawa himself, as a setter, wasn't sure he could've done it better.

"Kōrai's playmaking is strong, no doubt. But the fact remains—Kamomedai's standard attacks can't break through Aoba Johsai's defence." Sakusa rarely explained things this patiently. "Don't just focus on what Taichi's doing—look at Kamomedai's current lineup. What's changed from earlier, when they were scoring with ease?"

"What's changed…?" Shirakawa turned his gaze back to the court, seriously analysing it.

"Hirugami-senpai isn't on the court? And Hoshiumi-senpai's in the back row?" he guessed. But weren't those just natural rotation shifts?

"Whether Kōrai's in the back or not doesn't matter as much—but he has to be part of the attack."

"With Hirugami off and Kōrai forced to set, if the front row only relies on Hakuba Gao, there's no way to break through Aoba Johsai's wall," Sakusa said, almost smugly. After all, the number of teams that could do that was vanishingly small.

Receiving Taichi's serve was one thing—but that wasn't the point of the game.

-----

"Kōrai!" Hakuba Gao called, glancing back. "Next one—I will score."

"Yeah. I believe in you." Hoshiumi Kōrai nodded.

Kamomedai had clearly realised what was causing the last two failed plays.

Would they stick with trying to break through with Gao—or find a way to free Kōrai?

"Tweet!—"

The whistle blew.

Kaedehara Taichi served his fourth ball.

BOOOM!!!

CRASH!

"Better stay focused~" Taichi said in a light, teasing tone.

His full-powered jump serve with his right hand crashed into the back-left corner of Kamomedai's court—

Tokura Liam didn't even have time to react.

Service ace for Kaedehara Taichi!

[Aoba Johsai 7 - 5 Kamomedai]

—"It Finally Came! A Direct Point from the Serve!"

—"Here's a fun fact for our viewers: up until now, Kaedehara Taichi has scored with his serve in every single set he's played in—without exception!"

—"And that last one just marked his 30th direct serve point in this Nationals tournament, putting him far ahead of the second-place player, Miya Atsumu, who's at 24!"

"Atsumu, you're second even when it comes to serving, huh?"

"Shut up, Osamu!"

-----

Aoba Johsai continued serving.

Kaedehara Taichi sent out his fifth serve.

BOOM!!!

Smack!

Wakabayashi Hikaru received the ball, but it flew out of bounds.

"I got it!" Hoshiumi Kōrai stepped in to recover.

This time, all three of Kamomedai's front-row players launched a simultaneous attack!

"Can they make that set in time?! Or is it just going back to Hakuba—"

Fwip—!

The very next second, the ball flew precisely above the middle. Of course he could. Because he was Hoshiumi Kōrai!

Ogawa Ryūhei jumped for the spike—only Kunimi Akira stood blocking on the opposite side.

—Boom!!

The ball easily dodged the block and sped toward Aoba Johsai's back row.

Smack!

Caught it again?!!

Tōma Kaoru made a diving save, but the ball still rebounded toward the boundary.

Smack!

Kaedehara Taichi chased it down and sent it back toward the net.

Kyōtani Kentarō leapt up for the spike.

"Triple block!" Bessho Kazuyoshi, Ogawa Ryūhei, and Hakuba Gao all jumped together.

BOOM!!!—

Smack!

Kyōtani Kentarō's signature cross-court shot was received by Tokura Liam. Hoshiumi swiftly repositioned, crossing Kamomedai's court with speed, and sent the ball flying back to Hakuba.

BOOM!!!

"Double block!" Kunimi Akira and Kyōtani jumped together.

Once again, Hakuba attacked from the front row with a standing vertical jump—his spike still cleanly bypassed Kyōtani's block.

Smack!

The ball slammed into the centre of Aoba Johsai's court.

Point for Hakuba Gao.

[Aoba Johsai 7 – 6 Kamomedai]

Kamomedai finally broke Aoba Johsai's serve.

Serve rotation—Kamomedai to serve.

-----

Hakuba Gao delivered a powerful jump serve—Tōma Kaoru barely received it.

Kunimi filled in and set the ball. Aoba Johsai launched a three-point attack.

BOOM!!!

Kyōtani Kentarō's line shot from the right wing clipped the sideline for a clean point.

[Aoba Johsai 18 – 16 Kamomedai]

Serve rotation—Aoba Johsai to serve.

Yūki Yōji's jump serve flew out of bounds.

Point to Kamomedai.

[Aoba Johsai 18 – 17 Kamomedai]

Serve rotation—Kamomedai to serve.

Ogawa Ryūhei aimed a float serve at the front-row Kindaichi Yūtarō.

Bang!!

Smack!

The ball drifted toward the back row, Tōma Kaoru moved to cover and set the ball to the middle—Kyōtani jumped in to attack.

"Triple block!" Hoshiumi, Tokura Liam, and Bessho Kazuyoshi all rose together.

BOOM!!

Smack!

"One touch!" Hoshiumi shouted.

Kyōtani scowled. With a wall like that suddenly appearing in front of him, it was hard to gauge where to aim his spike.

"Chance ball!" Wakabayashi quickly received it.

Tokura Liam moved in to set the ball—Kamomedai launched a four-point attack!

Whoosh—!

The ball flew to the left. Hoshiumi jumped to spike.

Kunimi leapt to block while Kaedehara Taichi watched closely from the back row.

Bang!!

Smack!

The spike struck Kunimi's arm and deflected out of bounds.

Hoshiumi scores.

[Aoba Johsai 18 – 18 Kamomedai]

– "He didn't dodge?"

– "He tried to?"

Kunimi and Hoshiumi locked eyes—both filled with mutual wariness.

Kamomedai continued serving.

Ogawa Ryūhei once again aimed a float serve toward Kyōtani.

Bang!!

Smack!

Kyōtani received it smoothly.

Kaedehara Taichi leapt from the back row to spike!

"Out of the way!"

Before he could even react, Tokura Liam hastily stepped aside. Hoshiumi and Bessho quickly shifted in from either side.

"Is he really going for a quick here?! At this moment?!"

Tokura craned his neck to follow the aerial movement.

BOOM!!!—

Smack!—

The ball squeezed between Hoshiumi and Bessho's outstretched arms, splitting their block.

Thud!

The ball landed at Tokura Liam's feet and bounced upward.

Point for Kaedehara Taichi's back-row attack.

[Aoba Johsai 19 – 18 Kamomedai]

"Nice set, Mad Dog-senpai."

"…Yeah." Kyōtani silently rotated positions. Soon, he would be shifting to the back row. That's when the real challenge would begin. The score wasn't yet pulled apart, but if he became the weak link like at the start…

Serve rotation—Aoba Johsai to serve.

Kunimi Akira aimed a float serve at Hoshiumi.

Bang!

Smack!

"Damn—" Kunimi regretted his judgment the second he saw Hoshiumi's receive form.

The ball flew cleanly toward the middle. Hakuba jumped from the back row for a quick attack.

Kamomedai returned the fast-paced play!

BOOM!!!

Smack!

"One touch!" Kindaichi shouted.

"Nice block!" Kunimi called nervously, deliberately ignoring Kaedehara Taichi's amused smirk.

"Chance ball!"

Smack!

Nakamori Daiki easily received the ball.

Tōma Kaoru shifted over and set a high ball to the left. Kyōtani leapt for the spike. Before I rotate to the back row, I've got to score a few more!

"Triple block!" Hoshiumi, Tokura, and Bessho leapt in unison.

Kyōtani's arms tensed as he forcefully spiked.

BOOM!!!—

—Smack!

Kamomedai's blockers focused their coverage on his signature cross shot, forcing Kyōtani to redirect toward the line—where Hoshiumi was ready for the counter.

The ball struck Hoshiumi's diagonally angled arm and rebounded back into Aoba Johsai's court.

Thud!

The ball landed cleanly. Kamomedai scores from a block.

[Aoba Johsai 19 – 19 Kamomedai]

"Whoa, now that's…" Miya Atsumu's expression lit up with interest.

Miya Osamu gave his twin a look of disdain. "You're such a little menace, Atsumu."

Kyōtani stood dazed in place, a rare glimmer of confusion and reflection surfacing in his eyes.

If his match-up with Hakuba was a game of give-and-take—two specialists in offence—then Kyōtani had a slight edge in receiving and setting, while Hakuba's two-meter height made him a far more effective blocker. It was a match-up of strengths and trade-offs.

But this guy in front of him? The one who was ten centimetres shorter?

His spiking, receiving, setting—even blocking—wasn't weaker than Kyōtani's in any aspect.

"Even if Hakuba blocked that mad dog's spike," Atsumu said with a teasing smile, "he wouldn't have looked that shaken. But because it was Hoshiumi Kōrai—someone shorter than him—it's just that much harder to swallow, huh?"

"So," he continued, grinning mischievously, "what now, Taichi?"

_________

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