Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty

Kaedehara Taichi stood at the service line, his eyes fixed on Ushijima Wakatoshi. Despite being provoked so blatantly, Ushijima’s expression remained calm and unreadable.

"Then I'll just increase the intensity," Taichi muttered, a sly grin spreading across his face.

For his second serve, Taichi unleashed a powerful left-handed jump serve, targeting none other than Ushijima Wakatoshi.

During Shiratorizawa's training camp, Ushijima had struggled to receive Taichi's left-handed power serves, a rare weakness he had undoubtedly worked hard to address.

But who could possibly replicate a serve with the same overwhelming force as Ushijima’s own?

Perhaps only Kaedehara Taichi, after another month of rigorous training, had achieved the strength and precision to do so.

Boom!

The moment Taichi struck the ball, Shiratorizawa’s players felt a chilling sense of familiarity—it was as if their own captain had unleashed the serve.

The trajectory, the power, the spin...a near-perfect replica of Ushijima’s trademark cannon.

Ushijima reacted swiftly, stepping out with perfect timing as he predicted the ball's path. He lowered his hands, focusing all his strength on a controlled platform receive.

Smack!

The ball slammed into Ushijima’s arms with immense force. Rarely involved in receiving, Ushijima found himself grappling with a serve that rivalled his own power.

Just as he thought he had the ball under control, it ricocheted off at an even sharper angle, careening out of bounds.

A service ace.

[Aoba Johsai 5 – 3 Shiratorizawa]

Even Ushijima Wakatoshi couldn’t handle “his own” serve.

"Interesting," Ushijima murmured, straightening up and locking eyes with Taichi.

Shirabu Kenjirō blinked in disbelief. Did I hear that right? Did Ushijima-senpai just say something like that?

He turned sharply to confirm, only to see an almost imperceptible smile on Ushijima's face. It was unbelievable—over the course of this match, Ushijima had smiled more than in the two years Shirabu had known him.

[Ding! Ushijima Wakatoshi has entered Burst Mode]

[Ushijima Wakatoshi (Burst Mode): Overall Ability Rating: 96

Height: 189.5 cm | Power: 100 | Jump: 95 | Stamina: 100 | Speed: 92

Technique: Serve: 98 | Receive: 96 | Set:

A palpable pressure filled the court. Ushijima Wakatoshi, standing at the pinnacle of high school volleyball, was even stronger than before.

Kaedehara Taichi's black eyes burned with determination as he stared down the Shiratorizawa ace. This was exactly what Taichi wanted—to force Ushijima into his peak state.

Shiratorizawa had been evolving as a team, with Ushijima steadily integrating into their more dynamic gameplay. But Taichi’s plan was to disrupt that process entirely, isolating Ushijima and forcing him back into the role of a solitary ace.

Taichi stepped up for his third serve. Another cannon fired from his left hand, a test of whether Ushijima could overcome his counterpart.

Smack!

This time, Ushijima managed to receive the ball, sending it high into the air.

Despite the imbalance caused by his powerful reception, Ushijima began his approach from the back row, regaining perfect form in just a few strides.

Shirabu knew what this meant. The ball was going to Ushijima, and there was no stopping him.

—Whoosh!

The ball soared high, perfectly positioned for Ushijima. The Shiratorizawa ace leapt, his powerful silhouette momentarily eclipsing the lights above Aoba Johsai’s front line.

"Triple block!" Oikawa Tōru, Iwaizumi Hajime, and Kindaichi Yūtarō rose to challenge him.

—BOOM!!—

Even with his spike exceeding the blockers’ reach, Ushijima aimed directly for Kindaichi, the tallest of the trio.

Crack!

The ball struck Kindaichi's arms with a deafening thud, blasting through his block and slamming into the court.

An unstoppable force.

[Aoba Johsai 5 – 4 Shiratorizawa]

Kindaichi stumbled as he landed, collapsing onto the floor in a daze.

Kunimi Akira, sitting on the bench, quietly edged further back. He had no desire to face such a monstrous spike, whether in reception or blocking.

"Taichi, how does it feel?"

For the first time, Ushijima took the initiative to speak to an opposing player.

Taichi froze for a moment before realizing that Ushijima was echoing the very question he had posed earlier.

"It feels great!" Taichi replied with a wide grin.

-----

The match continued with ferocity, the scoreline climbing as both teams traded points.

It was less a team battle and more a duel between two titans—Kaedehara Taichi and Ushijima Wakatoshi.

No defence could contain them.

Both aces shredded through blocks and back-row defences alike with their distinct styles: Taichi’s dazzling technical plays and Ushijima’s raw, unrelenting power.

Point after point after point.

Even during the technical timeout, their energy didn’t waver.

By the time the second technical timeout was called, both Taichi and Ushijima had exhausted their Burst Modes. The score stood at:

[Aoba Johsai 16 – 15 Shiratorizawa]

In the span of half a set, Taichi had scored 13 points, and Ushijima 12. The gap was negligible, but Taichi’s true goal had already been achieved.

Shiratorizawa had reverted to a one-dimensional strategy: feeding the ball to Ushijima for every attack.

"From here on out, it’s all up to you guys," Taichi said between ragged breaths.

Oikawa Tōru’s expression tightened. This scenario was exactly what Aoba Johsai had planned the night before. Taichi was supposed to push Shiratorizawa into a corner within half a set, even if it meant sacrificing the first set entirely.

But not only had Taichi delivered—he’d done so with flying colours, leaving Aoba Johsai with a narrow lead instead of a deficit.

Oikawa glanced across the net at Ushijima. Though still composed, the slight rise and fall of his chest betrayed the toll of his relentless attacks.

"You’ve done the hardest part. Leave the rest to us," Oikawa said, a confident smile spreading across his face.

"Don’t underestimate Shiratorizawa just because they rely on individual brilliance," Taichi warned, worried that Oikawa might become complacent.

"I know, little monster." Oikawa ruffled Taichi’s hair affectionately. When did he get taller than me?

"I’ve spent years losing to a team like theirs," Oikawa added, his tone turning serious.

"And I’m not losing again."

-----

Break Over, Game Resumes

Both teams returned to the court. The Shiratorizawa players felt that Aoba Johsai had undergone some subtle change, though they couldn't quite pinpoint what it was—at least, not yet.

During the earlier rally, the most shocked were undoubtedly the Shiratorizawa players. After all, Ushijima Wakatoshi was one of the nation's top three aces. To see someone capable of trading blows with him was astonishing. In their experience, the only other player who could go head-to-head with Ushijima in such a manner was Mujinazaka's Kiryū Wakatsu, another top-three ace.

As for Itachiyama's Sakusa Kiyoomi, they had neither faced him directly nor seen him play in the same style.

Still, even among the nation's top three aces, the Shiratorizawa players firmly believed that Ushijima would never lose to a second-year player.

But Kaedehara Taichi of Aoba Johsai was only a first-year...

Their thoughts drifted to Karasuno, the team they'd just faced. While their first-year Hinata Shoyo wasn’t as overwhelming as Taichi, he too was a player not to be underestimated.

What is it with these monstrous first-years…?

Aoba Johsai served next, with Kindaichi Yutaro delivering a straightforward power jump serve. Yamagata Hayato received it cleanly.@@novelbin@@

The simplicity of the serve almost felt comforting, allowing him to set up a perfect pass without trouble.

The ball naturally went to their ace. Ushijima Wakatoshi leapt from the back row as the ball soared toward the right wing.

Bang!

The ball whizzed past Iwaizumi Hajime's block on the right side, landing heavily on Aoba Johsai's right sideline.

Ushijima Wakatoshi scored with a flawless spike.

[Aoba Johsai 16 – 16 Shiratorizawa]

-----

"Since Taichi is no longer the offensive focal point, why not sub him out to rest?" Manager Sadayuki Mizoguchi asked Coach Nobuteru Irihata, puzzled by the choice to leave the seemingly exhausted first-year on the court.

"He doesn't want to come off!" Irihata laughed, looking slightly exasperated yet fond.

Mizoguchi raised a sceptical eyebrow. "..."

He wanted to say, Sure, we all know you favour this kid, but can we get serious for a moment?

Irihata, noticing Mizoguchi's expression, chuckled for a moment before responding warmly. "What I said is indeed one of the reasons. Taichi won't agree to come off the court right now."

"Besides, who in their right mind would bench a player performing as well as our ace?"

"But—" Mizoguchi started, wanting to argue that resting Taichi now could help him perform better in later sets.

Irihata cut him off with a wave of his hand.

"Furthermore, there's one task on the court only Taichi can accomplish right now."

"Only Taichi?" Goshoku echoed, his curiosity piqued.

-----

The serve rotated, and Shiratorizawa took their turn.

Boom!

Goshiki Tsutomu delivered a powerful jump serve aimed straight at Aoba Johsai's back row, targeting Kaedehara Taichi. Instead, Watari Shinji slid in to intercept the serve.

"Darn it!" Goshiki grumbled, frustrated that he hadn't forced Taichi to receive. He quickly retreated into position to defend.

But just as he steadied himself, Taichi was already airborne in the back row. Though they were both first-years, Goshiki couldn’t shake a faint feeling of inferiority as he watched Taichi mid-flight.

"Triple block!" Shiratorizawa's Shirabu Kenjirō, Tendō Satori, and Ushijima Wakatoshi closed off all crosscourt angles, leaving only a narrow straight line open for Goshiki to cover.

Bang!

The ball didn’t come toward him.

Oikawa Tōru's back-row set had flown to the far right, landing precisely in front of Kyōtani Kentarō. With no defenders in sight, Kyōtani hammered the ball down for an uncontested point.

[Aoba Johsai 17 – 16 Shiratorizawa]

A player who had just racked up 13 points as the team's ace had now become a decoy.

To Shiratorizawa, this was an incomprehensible strategy.

However, this wasn't the first time Aoba Johsai had employed such tactics. Shiratorizawa quickly adjusted their mindset. If anything, this only reinforced one belief: their ace was still the strongest.

Kaedehara Taichi, oblivious to their thoughts, simply marvelled at how unshaken Shiratorizawa seemed despite being tricked. If he were aware of their mindset, he’d likely just think how tragic it was for the strongest player to end their journey without a championship.

The serve rotated again, and Iwaizumi Hajime stepped up. His power jump serve was only growing fiercer.

Smack!

Goshiki received the ball cleanly. Shirabu hesitated as he processed Aoba Johsai's shift in strategy. Should Ushijima take a breather as well?

"Shirabu!" Ushijima's commanding voice snapped him out of his indecision.

There was no need to overthink. With Ushijima in the front row, the optimal choice was clear: set it to the ace.

Ushijima leapt, his form perfect, effortlessly out-jumping Kyōtani and Hanamaki Takahiro.

—Boom!

The ball soared toward the court, but a shadow suddenly appeared between it and the ground.

Smack!

Ushijima's pupils contracted. The ball ricocheted off Kaedehara Taichi's arms and flew out of bounds.

[Aoba Johsai 17 – 17 Shiratorizawa]

He had read Ushijima’s spike trajectory?

This wasn’t a fluke. Ushijima was certain of it. Was it possible Taichi had improved not just as an attacker but also as a receiver?

Taichi shook out his aching arms. Receiving Ushijima's spikes required an adjustment period—for both the immense force and the left-handed spin.

But the first step had been successful. Thanks to beach volleyball training, he could now track Ushijima’s spiking trajectory!

Shirabu stepped up to serve, but the pressure weighed on him. Ushijima’s spike being received had rattled him.

Shirabu’s toss faltered—too low—and his serve hit the net.

[Aoba Johsai 18 – 17 Shiratorizawa]

"Sorry!!!" Shirabu shouted, jolted by the whistle’s sharp tone. He slapped his cheeks forcefully, trying to clear his head.

When your opponents’ setter and ace were this exceptional, the pressure on Shirabu felt suffocating.

Among the four key players on their side, he always felt like the odd one out.

"Shirabu, you're the setter I trust most right now," Ushijima said calmly, without turning around.

He understood the immense pressure Shirabu was under, particularly when faced with Oikawa’s brilliance.

"Thank you, Ushijima-san. I understand," Shirabu replied, steeling himself.

"They're special," Tendō Satori said with a grin, glancing back at Shirabu. "Just focus on being yourself."

"Understood, Tendō-san," Shirabu responded, his composure returning.

"Ah, is the counselling session over?" Oikawa quipped from the service line, pointing playfully at Shirabu.

"Now, it’s my turn to attack~"

_________

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