Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty

Akutsu Ao stood in his dark EJP warm-up uniform. His build wasn't particularly bulky, yet anyone who laid eyes on him could feel the overwhelming sense of power radiating from his body.

Though it was their first time meeting, and there was no logical reason for it, Kaedehara Taichi instinctively knew—the man was here for him.

Under the lighting in the player hallway, Akutsu's expression was hard to make out. The tall, narrow bridge of his nose split his face into light and shadow. His lips were thin, pressed tightly into a straight line.

"Hey, brat. You think you can win the V.1 League championship?" Akutsu leaned in, his voice low and menacing. "A guy who's never even played in a professional match talking big like this—it's disgusting."

"Are you speaking to me as the MVP of last season's championship team?" Taichi asked calmly, meeting the intruder's eyes.

"Oh?" Akutsu sneered. "So even a rookie fresh out of high school can tell the difference in our levels."

A faint, ambiguous smile tugged at the corner of Taichi's lips. "What I mean is—since that's the case, I accept your challenge."

"Ha? A challenge?" Akutsu's fury turned to laughter. "Just as arrogant as I thought. You little shit."

Almost instantly, Akutsu lashed out, hand shooting toward Taichi's forehead.

Smack!

His arm froze midair—unable to move forward even an inch.

"No need to rush. I prefer settling things on the court." Taichi's right hand had clamped down tightly around Akutsu's arm.

There was no dramatic motion, but the tension in their muscles made it clear—they were holding back strength that could explode at any moment.

"Hey, hey, hey—you two. What the hell are you doing at our locker room door?"

The Black Jackals' captain, Meian Shūgo, arrived just in time. Sensing the hostility in the air, he immediately stepped in.

"Hmph." Akutsu twisted his wrist and slipped free of Taichi's grip with ease. "You're a little more interesting than I expected."

Quick reaction speed and that athletic build hidden beneath his warm-up suit—Akutsu could tell, at least in those two aspects, Kaedehara Taichi was already on a professional level.

"But you're more boring than I thought," Taichi replied with a teasing smirk.

"I hope your performance on the court is sharper than that smart mouth of yours."

Akutsu didn't glance at Meian even once from beginning to end. He simply turned and walked off.

"What a goddamn arrogant bastard." Meian raised his middle finger at Akutsu's retreating back. They had been rivals since high school, but Meiura had mostly been on the losing end of that history.

Seeing someone as rugged-looking as Meian make such a childish gesture, Taichi couldn't help but laugh.

"Sorry for the trouble."

"No worries," Meian replied with a hearty grin. "You're even tougher than I expected, Taichi."

"You didn't feel anything weird when facing Akutsu? Isn't he kind of terrifying?"

Taichi blinked. "I went through 'mad dog special training.' I'm used to it."

"Huh?"

"Yup!"

"Ahaha, I swear—outside hitters really are all weird in the same way." Meian laughed without a care. "Anyway, go easy on us this afternoon, yeah?"

"I'll be giving it my all," Taichi said seriously.

-----

For spectators who only followed the professional league, the morning's main event was undoubtedly the ongoing rivalry between the EJP and AD Clubs. Compared to last season, both teams had retained their core starters—and had even been reinforced with young blood.

It was safe to say that both clubs remained favourites to win the 2014–2015 championship.

But for fans who followed both the pro league and the national high school tournaments, the real attraction was still the afternoon match—Kaedehara Taichi's debut performance.

—"The strongest high schooler in all of Japan"—

It had been a long time since anyone had earned that title.

After all, every time Volleyball Monthly published its national top-three or top-five player rankings, there was always debate—and picking a definitive Number One was even harder.

But Taichi Kaedehara had forcibly claimed that title for himself, backed by three consecutive national championships and an undefeated run through the entire second-year national tournament.

No one who followed his career ever doubted whether he could adapt to the pros. What they wanted to see was—

Could Taichi Kaedehara continue to dominate the court the way he did in high school?

"Ladies and gentlemen, the 2014–2015 season of the V-League Division 1 is about to begin!"

"First, let us introduce the starting players for last season's champions—EJP Raijin!!"

"Number 4, Captain—Kitō Yūkan!"

"Number 7, the Ace—Akutsu Ao!!"

"Ugh, even in the official profile photo, Akutsu still looks like a demon…" Taichi muttered as he stared up at the massive display screen suspended above the court. "He's gonna scare the crap out of any kids in the audience."

"There are people who are into that kind of overpowering aesthetic, y'know," Iizuna Tsukasa added with a shrug.

"Number 13, Libero—Komori Motoya!!"

The moment his junior appeared on screen, Iizuna leapt to his feet and clapped enthusiastically.

"Hey, hey, Tsukasa-senpai," Taichi said, narrowing his eyes at the screen. "Doesn't Motoya's photo make him look like he's trying to pass for a middle schooler? I mean, I look older than him."

"W-Well…some people are into the cutesy vibe too…"

"Number 18, Middle Blocker—Suna Rintarō!!"

"Next up—the starting players for last season's runner-up—Schweiden Adlers!!"

"Number 1, Libero—Heiwajima Toshirō!!"

"Number 2, Captain—Hirugami Fukurō!!"

...

"Number 11, Opposite Hitter—Ushijima Wakatoshi!!"

...

"Number 16, Outside Hitter—Hoshiumi Kōrai!!"

"It seems like ever since Iizuna's class graduated, we've had more and more high schoolers going straight into Division 1," Kubo Wataru mused from the stands.

"And most of them are doing really well, too," Kitajima Kippei added. "The younger generation really is something else…"

"Huh? You guys seriously haven't heard?" Yoshii Hiyuu cut in, shooting the two of them a knowing look. "That whole batch—including this year's third-years—they're being called the 'Monster Generation' online."

"After this year's Inter-High ended, I heard a bunch of clubs immediately started trying to poach a setter from Miyagi Prefecture named Kageyama Tobio."

"Miyagi?" Nitta Asahiro glanced at Taichi. "That's your turf? You know him?"

"Yeah. He's strong."

"Huh. If you're saying that, then he must be something else."

"There's also a two-meter-tall outside hitter from Miyagi," Yoshii continued. "Didn't make it to Nationals, but scouts have been all over his matches."

"I've seen that one," Kitajima said. "He played in the Japan–USA exchange match. A two-meter homegrown spiker? No club would pass that up. I'd bet even our front office tried to send an offer."

"And there's also a libero…"

As they spoke, the entire group gradually shifted their gaze toward Taichi.

Miyagi turning out a few pros in recent years was already impressive—but why were all of them turning out to be national team calibre?!

"Why don't we just let your whole prefecture form a national team already?!"

_________

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