Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty

"Taichi, I won again today~"

As the practice match concluded, Oikawa Tōru sidled up to Kaedehara Taichi with a smug grin.

[Reserve Team 30 – 28 Youth National Team]

[Reserve Team 30 – 32 Youth National Team]

[Reserve Team 21 – 25 Youth National Team]

Ultimately, the Reserve Team lost the match 1–2.

Given the gap in strength and endurance, the longer the match dragged on, the more it disadvantaged the first- and second-year players.

"Yeah, congratulations, Oikawa-senpai, for winning under Ushijima-senpai's leadership," Taichi said, forcing a smile.

"Taichi! I was the one who orchestrated our entire offence!" Oikawa protested.

"Really? All I saw was Ushijima-senpai scoring points~"

"Taichi, be honest—without my sets, you must have felt uncomfortable, right? I noticed you had fewer attacking opportunities," Oikawa remarked casually as if the thought had just occurred to him.

"Not at all. Miya-senpai and Kageyama's sets feel great," Taichi replied decisively.

"Oh? You even called him 'senpai'~"

"Of course. We're teammates now, after all," Taichi paused for a beat. "Besides, as everyone knows, I always follow the rules and treat people with utmost politeness."

"Is that so? That's something others should say about you!"@@novelbin@@

"I trust everyone thinks so."

-----

On the other side of the court, Sakusa Kiyoomi and Komori Motoya approached Ushijima Wakatoshi.

Despite the excitement and anticipation brewing inside him, Sakusa maintained an impassive expression when he finally stood face-to-face with Ushijima.

"Wakatoshi, I understand now why Shiratorizawa lost to Aoba Johsai. I never expected Miyagi to have such a formidable setter."

"Sakusa, at least add 'senpai' to that," Komori sighed in exasperation. "You're bringing up an old wound right away—anyone who overhears this would think you two have some kind of feud."

"…Sakusa, Komori," Ushijima greeted them calmly, unfazed by Sakusa's remark. "Aoba Johsai was strong this year. Their team chemistry was exceptional."

"Even so, they won't be a match for Itachiyama. Iizuna-senpai's setting won't lose to Oikawa's."

"Mm. Do your best."

After a long fifteen seconds of silence…

Komori was beginning to regret tagging along. Now, he was the one stuck trying to keep the conversation alive.

"Ushijima-senpai, are you planning to explore Tokyo while you're here?"

"No. Shiratorizawa's volleyball club still has regular training sessions."

Komori: "…"

Right. He'd forgotten that this group of volleyball freaks only had one thing on their minds…

"Hey! Hey! Hey!!"

Bokuto Kōtarō, still riding the adrenaline from the match, bounded over-enthusiastically.

"Ushijima! Did you see my brilliant performance? Ain't I the strongest?"

Ushijima frowned slightly. That was not something he could simply ignore.

Though Bokuto had indeed played spectacularly in this match, it wasn't nearly as memorable as their first encounter at nationals—when Bokuto had committed three consecutive service errors in a single set.

But…Shiratorizawa had failed to qualify for this year's Spring High Nationals.

"If Aoba Johsai beats Shiratorizawa, then if Fukurōdani beats Aoba Johsai, it proves that Fukurōdani is stronger than Shiratorizawa! Which means I'm stronger than Ushijima!" Bokuto declared triumphantly as if he had just discovered the formula for volleyball supremacy.

"By that logic, wouldn't the team that wins nationals have the strongest players?" Komori interjected casually.

"Oi, you guys sure love making up your own narratives," a voice cut in from behind Ushijima.

Hoshiumi Kōrai emerged from the crowd, unimpressed.

As more people gathered, Sakusa quietly pulled up his mask.

"Aren't you going to say something?" Bokuto asked Miya Atsumu, who was watching from the sidelines.

"No need. We'll face them at nationals sooner or later," Atsumu replied before glancing toward Kageyama, who was stretching nearby. A smirk curled on his lips. "Besides, I just noticed something even more interesting."

He sauntered over to Kageyama and said, "Oi, Tobio-chan, are you copying Oikawa-senpai's 'goody-two-shoes' setting style?"

Chikugaya Eikichi, standing nearby, instinctively inched away upon hearing Atsumu's deliberately provocative tone.

Kageyama tilted his head. "What's 'goody-two-shoes' setting?"

"Exactly what it sounds like," Atsumu grinned mischievously. "Your sets are accurate, sure, but you're just obediently putting the ball exactly where your spikers want it."

"Oikawa-senpai!" Kageyama's voice was sharp as he turned toward his former captain, who had abruptly stepped between them.

"Oy, Miya! What kind of nonsense are you trying to teach my cute underclassman?!" Oikawa glared at Atsumu.

"Nothing much. Just thinkin' that Tobio-chan could be a little more…interesting," Atsumu waved lazily before walking away.

Kageyama frowned, replaying Atsumu's words in his head. Delivering the set exactly where the spiker wants it—is that wrong?

He suddenly recalled his time at Kitagawa Dai'ichi, when he had focused solely on outmanoeuvring blockers with his sets, disregarding his spikers' preferences.

In the end, he had become an isolated "King."

That incident wasn't any one person's fault. Their immaturity and lack of communication ultimately led to their collapse.

However, Kageyama Tobio had learned some lessons from it.

Despite his poor communication skills, he had gradually figured out how to connect with his spikers at Karasuno, and in doing so, he had experienced growth himself.

So, what was wrong?

"Oikawa-senpai, isn't a setter supposed to deliver the ball that the spiker wants?" Kageyama asked seriously, a hint of confusion in his tone.

Oikawa Tōru stared at the junior who had once been the embodiment of his inner demons. If it had been in the past, he might have hesitated—should he really help the one player who posed the greatest threat to him?

But now, with a broader perspective, he understood that even without Kageyama Tobio, there would still be Miya Atsumu, Iizuna Tsukasa…

The world was vast, and to stand at the top, one needed a vision to match.

Oikawa was confident in himself now. He wanted to see a stronger Kageyama Tobio—and then, on a new stage, defeat him.

"Tobio-chan," Oikawa said, a rare seriousness in his voice. "Every spiker is unique. You've learned to tailor your sets to suit their characteristics, which is great, but that's only the first step."

Kageyama gazed at the senior he had always sought to surpass and found that Oikawa was genuinely trying to teach him. It felt…odd.

"Once you master that, you move on to the second step—does the ball your spiker wants actually maximize their potential?"

Kageyama: "???"

So he hasn't realized it yet? Oikawa smirked triumphantly. See? I'm still better than you, Kageyama!

"Take Taichi, for example. You should've noticed by now—he's constantly exploring his limits, always pushing for a breakthrough."

"Keeping up with a player like that is already exhausting for us setters."

Kageyama thought of Karasuno's orange-haired decoy and nodded in agreement.

"Most of the time, when Taichi asks for a ball, it's because that's the best shot he can execute in that moment. Almost every spiker here today has that level of awareness."

"But in high school, players like him are rare. More often, you'll encounter spikers who hesitate, who lack confidence, or who don't fully understand their own abilities. Their requests for sets will be conservative, keeping them inside their comfort zones."

Kageyama thought of Karasuno's bespectacled middle blocker and nodded again.

"That's when the setter needs to lead them," Oikawa said, casting a glance at Kaedehara Taichi. "On the court, I demand 100% from my spikers."

"Got it?" Oikawa turned back to Kageyama.

Kageyama didn't fully understand yet, but he committed every word to memory, eager to experiment with it once he returned to Karasuno.

"Thank you, Oikawa-senpai!" Kageyama bowed at a perfect ninety-degree angle.

Oikawa puffed out his chest proudly. Yes! This is the kind of satisfaction I could never get from Taichi!

Looks like Tobio-chan is officially my student now…

-----

"Kiryu-senpai, now that you've experienced Oikawa-senpai's sets firsthand, what do you think?"

While the centre of the court was a chaotic mess, Kiryū Wakatsu stood at the periphery, neither too close nor too far.

"Huh?" Caught off guard, Kiryū froze as if he had been hit with a pop quiz.

To be honest, when he saw Kaedehara Taichi walking toward him earlier, he thought he was about to be challenged.

But his teammate Keisuke Unnan was still chatting with the others, leaving Kiryū a little nervous.

"Uh…you guys are really strong!"

Seeing how different Kiryu was on and off the court, Taichi wasn't sure how to respond. Maybe Karasuno's Yamaguchi Tadashi would have a lot in common with him.

"But if we meet at Spring High, we won't lose this time."

Taichi tilted his head back slightly, his gaze shifting as he looked at Kiryu with subtle intent. Was that a declaration of war? But as one of the nation's top three aces, Kiryū would never back down from a challenge.

"I'm looking forward to it. But no matter who Aoba Johsai faces next, the result will be the same."

"If possible, I'd like to go up against every player here today."

"Still, next time, I'll be the one winning."

_________

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