Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty

The long-anticipated preseason exhibition matches had come to an end, officially signalling the start of what promised to be a spectacular new season. Yet the aftershocks of those two suspenseful, twist-filled games lingered in the air, refusing to fade.

Whether it was Schweiden Adlers defeating EJP Raijin, or DESEO Hornets toppling MSBY Black Jackals, the conclusion of the long off-season unleashed a flood of media coverage across the sports world.

[The Flames Reignite: Adlers Breaks Through EJP—A Shocking Season Opener!]

[Return of the Kings! Schweiden Adlers Reclaims the Court!]

[Ultimate Ace: Akutsu Ao Still Reigns Supreme!]

[The Monster Generation? A Look at the Volleyball Prodigies of Recent Years!]

[Tactical Breakdown: The Real Reason Behind Hornets' Stunning Upset!]

Of course, dominating the headlines even more than those stories was one name—Kaedehara Taichi.

[Volleyball's "Supernova": 17-Year-Old Kaedehara Taichi Shines on the Pro Stage!]

[Serving Storm! Kaedehara Taichi's Five Consecutive Serves Topple the Black Jackals!]

[Kaedehara Taichi: The Youngest Ace in Japan's History Disrupts the League!]

[The Black Jackals' Nightmare? Tactical Analysis of Kaedehara Taichi's Serve Strategy!]

[Explosive Debut! Kaedehara Taichi Shatters Two Longstanding Records in a Single Match!]

On social media, the fan discussion was nothing short of explosive. Someone had already compiled a highlight reel of Taichi's five consecutive serves, complete with stirring background music. In just a few hours, it had surpassed a million views. The comments were brimming with awe—some marvelled at his technique, others broke down the trajectory of his serves, while still others had already begun predicting the future of his pro career.

"Kaedehara Taichi's performance reminds me of Wilfredo León, the world's top outside hitter," said one veteran commentator on a sports program. "That level of control over the game—his calm under pressure—those are the hallmarks of an elite player."

An old-school V.League fan wrote: "I've watched volleyball for decades, and I've never seen someone this young dominate like this. His potential is limitless. Japanese volleyball has finally found a true genius."

A retired pro player posted: "It's not just the power behind his serve—it's his understanding of the opponent's psychology. Before each serve, he carefully studies the other team's positioning and condition, then picks the deadliest target. That kind of tactical awareness is far beyond what you'd expect from a rookie."

"There's no doubt about Kaedehara Taichi's talent, but he still needs more match experience to hone himself. Right now, he's like an uncut diamond—how brightly he shines in the future depends on how he handles the challenges ahead," a club executive said in an interview. "A team like the Hornets, which lacks a rich history, can't offer him the best environment for growth. Red Falcons (crossed out) will always keep their doors open for Taichi."

But amid the sea of praise, some voices of caution also emerged.

"Kaedehara Taichi's performance is dazzling right now, but young players often start strong and fade fast. Whether he can maintain this form remains to be seen."

"The media and fans are going overboard hyping him up. He still needs more matches to truly prove himself—right now, this is just a promising beginning."

"I just hope the weight of all this outside expectation doesn't crush him. Being thrust into the spotlight at 17 is an immense mental burden…"

-----

While the outside world buzzed in frenzied discussion and social media overflowed with his name, Kaedehara Taichi seemed to exist in an entirely different universe—he was standing stiffly inside a photography studio, shooting his very first commercial.

The magnesium lights of the studio blazed like searchlights. As Taichi adjusted his bowtie for the third time, the metallic clasp made a faint trembling sound beneath his fingertips. Fresh sweat beaded on his forehead where the makeup artist had just powdered him. He stared into the mirror at his reflection—dressed in a wine-red velvet suit—

"Ugh…it looks cool, but I'm seriously not used to this."

But there was no helping it.

The payment was just too good.

"Mr. Taichi, we need to change the scene."

His body had never felt this stiff before. As he stood up, his knee banged into the makeup table, knocking over a can of hairspray that rolled across the floor.

---

At the far end of the hallway, the next set had been arranged into a winter garden. Artificial snowflakes spun in the air from a wind machine. Following the photographer's instructions, Taichi lay on his side atop a snowy bed of roses, his muscles tense and awkward beneath the tailored suit.

"Make your gaze more dreamy! Imagine you're looking at your first love!"

The photographer from Italy gestured wildly with bejewelled fingers, his expressions and movements flamboyant and theatrical.

Taichi tried focusing his attention on the doorknob behind the camera—an old trick he'd learned from Nitta Asahiro to cope with cameras. But it wasn't helping.

This was way harder than any interview!

"Mr. Taichi, please rotate the perfume bottle thirty degrees—we need the logo facing the lens."

Suppressing the very real urge to hurl the bottle at the photographer, Taichi twisted his wrist, the bottle creaking softly as it turned.

"Smile, Mr. Taichi!"

"…"

From the outer edge of the set, Nitta Asahiro burst into laughter, gripping Iizuna Tsukasa's shoulder for support.

"Haha! So Taichi does have things he's bad at! I knew it!"

"Asahiro, keep it down," Iizuna said helplessly. "He'll lose control of his face again. Weren't we the same back then?"

"Yeah, but I didn't have this many sponsorships," Nitta huffed, looking a bit sour. "Do you know how many brands came to him?"

Iizuna nodded. "Twenty."

"No—not twenty," Nitta straightened up, arms wide, voice indignant.

"TWENTY!!!"

"When I debuted professionally, I only had two," he went on bitterly, "and they were the smallest deals! I didn't get decent endorsements until after I made the youth national team! Not even close to his level."

"So…you're jealous of Taichi?" Iizuna asked.

"I'm extremely jealous," Nitta declared without hesitation. "He's probably made more from ads than he has from playing volleyball."

"That's the rookie contract for you. Talents like him only sign one-year deals. By next year, he'll be eligible for a full pro contract."

"Damn that kid." Nitta picked up his phone and started snapping pictures of Taichi striking poses.

"???" Iizuna stared.

"These will all be part of Taichi's dark history someday. I'm charging a hundred yen per photo if he wants them deleted," Nitta said gleefully.

"And if he doesn't care?"

"Then I'll sell them to his fans!" Nitta's expression grew increasingly sinister.

Iizuna leaned over to glance at his phone, only to find a concept photo of Taichi wearing a lacy bathrobe for an ad campaign.

(No choice—those kinds of ads paid the most.)

Without realising it, Iizuna quietly took a few steps away…

_________

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