Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty

Chapter 231: Kaedehara Taichi vs. Inarizaki



"A miracle shot! An absolutely incredible shot!!"

"Taichi pulls off an impossible move to score!!!"

"Just when it looked like he was completely trapped by the block, Kaedehara Taichi found that last sliver of opportunity as the blockers descended!"

Less than five minutes into the second set, the atmosphere in the arena was already heating up again!!

"That actually worked—?!!" Miya Atsumu shouted from Inarizaki's back row, torn between shock and frustration.

Meanwhile, Aoba Johsai's players rushed toward Kaedehara Taichi, concerned by the loud impact of his fall.

"No need!"

Taichi, clearly exhilarated, suddenly used the strength of his core and legs to spring back up like a coiled spring, landing firmly on his feet once more.

"UWOOOOAH!!" The crowd erupted in astonishment.

Even Inarizaki's back-row player, Ojiro Aran, had his eyes wide in disbelief. With a move like that, his earlier acrobatics now seemed oddly reasonable.

Taichi's gaze swept across Inarizaki's lineup, a hint of excitement flickering in his eyes. "Again!"

"This guy…he's actually enjoying this…?" Miya Osamu muttered in irritation. "Just like that idiot Atsumu—another freak."

—Serve switch.

Iwaizumi Hajime stepped up to the service line.

Boom!

The sound of the serve was loud and crisp—a powerful jump serve aimed straight at Miya Atsumu.

Pop!

Atsumu received the ball, intending to send it cleanly to the setter's position. However, the sheer force of the serve forced him to lift the ball high instead.

"Cover!"

Miya Osamu quickly positioned himself underneath.

Aoba Johsai's defensive wall had now centred around Kaedehara Taichi. A reckless attack could easily be shut down by his block.

"Aran!"

Osamu set the ball high, and from the back row, Ojiro Aran leapt into the air.

"Double block!"

It was only two blockers—but with Kaedehara Taichi and Kindaichi Yūtarō together, it was like an impenetrable wall towering over the net.

Bang!

Ojiro Aran adjusted and went for a sharp cross-court spike.

Smack!

Watari Shinji received the ball cleanly, and Oikawa Tōru quickly set it high in the middle.

Finally, the moment had arrived!

Kaedehara Taichi stepped back into the back row for a running approach.

Thud!

His form soared over the net.

"Triple block!"

By now, Inarizaki's front-row blockers were already somewhat numb to it—but endurance was just as much a part of volleyball as technique. The battle wasn't just about power, but about who could last longer.

Taichi's contact point was still above the block, but this time, his target was…Miya Osamu.

BOOM!

The ball smashed downward, striking Miya Osamu's arm and dropping between him and the net.

Kaedehara Taichi scores!

[Aoba Johsai 4 – 2 Inarizaki]

"Unstoppable!!"

"Kaedehara Taichi breaks through Inarizaki's triple block once again!!"

Boom!

Iwaizumi launched his second serve, maintaining his power but slightly sacrificing accuracy.

Smack! Akagi Michinari received the ball.

Atsumu jumped for the set, sending the ball to Miya Osamu on the far right.

Bang!

Instead, it was Ginjima Hitoshi on the far left who spiked the ball—slamming it into Aoba Johsai's court.

[Aoba Johsai 4 – 3 Inarizaki]

Despite struggling to break through Aoba Johsai's ironclad defence, Atsumu's decision-making remained sharp. He had opted to set to the least conspicuous player—Ginjima Hitoshi.

As a setter, his composure never wavered.

Inarizaki was not letting the gap widen.

BOOM!

Kaedehara Taichi spiked over the block, scoring with a high-powered attack.

[Aoba Johsai 5 – 3 Inarizaki]

Boom!

Ojiro Aran fired a sharp cross-court spike, the ball landing just inside Aoba Johsai's three-meter line.

[Aoba Johsai 5 – 4 Inarizaki]

Boom!

Kaedehara Taichi retaliated with an equally sharp cross-court spike from the right side, the ball striking Inarizaki's left three-meter line before bouncing out of bounds.

[Aoba Johsai 6 – 4 Inarizaki]

Kaedehara Taichi stepped up to the service line.

BOOM!

His powerful left-handed jump serve slammed into Ginjima Hitoshi's arm and deflected out of bounds.

[Aoba Johsai 7 – 4 Inarizaki]

Boom!

Taichi's serve was received by Miya Atsumu, who quickly moved to position. Ojiro Aran covered and set the ball, allowing Osamu Miya to leap over Kunimi Akira for the spike.

Smack!

Taichi dug the ball cleanly and steadied himself as he sprinted forward.

Kunimi set the ball high.

Taichi took off from the back row—

Boom!

The ball shot past Osamu Miya's right side and slammed onto Inarizaki's sideline.

[Aoba Johsai 8 – 4 Inarizaki]

Boom!

Taichi's third serve was handled by Akagi Michinari.

Atsumu sent the ball high, and Ojiro Aran rocketed a middle attack straight through the block.

[Aoba Johsai 8 – 5 Inarizaki]

Boom!

Taichi launched another back-row attack, the ball landing flush on Inarizaki's baseline.

[Aoba Johsai 9 – 5 Inarizaki]

Bang!

The Miya twins executed a perfectly timed combination—Ojiro Aran faked a spike, and Osamu Miya followed through with a seamless step attack.

[Aoba Johsai 9 – 6 Inarizaki]

Boom!

Smack!

Taichi hammered another back-row attack. The ball ricocheted off Osamu Miya's arm and flew out of bounds.

[Aoba Johsai 10 – 6 Inarizaki]

Smack!

Atsumu Miya struck with a setter dump.

[Aoba Johsai 10 – 7 Inarizaki]

Boom!

Kaedehara Taichi scored with a well-placed tip from the back row.

[Aoba Johsai 11 – 7 Inarizaki]

Kaedehara rotated to the front row. Aoba Johsai took serve, and Oikawa Tōru stepped up to the service line.

Boom!

Oikawa's powerful jump serve was received by Akagi.

Atsumu quickly adjusted and set the ball to the far right. Suna Rintarō gathered momentum, jumping high for the spike.

With Kunimi Akira positioned for the cross-court block, Suna took the risk—he aimed for the straight shot, sending the ball hurtling along the sideline toward Aoba Johsai's backcourt.

Smack!

Oikawa dived, stretching out his body to dig the ball just in time.

Watari Shinji moved in to set, sending the ball toward Kindaichi Yūtarō at the middle.

Boom!

Smack!

Ojiro Aran received it, and Atsumu quickly stabilized before setting the ball back to the centre. Ginjima took flight—

Faced with Kindaichi's scrambling block, Ginjima adjusted midair, tipping the ball at an angle—

"No!"

Bang!

Smack!

Before Atsumu could even finish his warning, Ginjima's attack was met by a pair of powerful hands—Kaedehara Taichi's.

The ball bounced off Taichi's forearms, slamming straight back onto Inarizaki's court with even greater speed.

Atsumu instinctively reached out, but the ball had already struck the floor and rebounded high into the air.

Kaedehara Taichi had scored with a block!

[Aoba Johsai 12 – 7 Inarizaki]

He did that on purpose!

Atsumu had seen it clearly—Kaedehara had subtly bent his leg, preparing to spring into action. The moment Ginjima committed to the attack, Taichi exploded upward, reaching his highest point before anyone else.

A fierce back-and-forth battle had unfolded, but the gap in points continued to widen.

"And it's another point for Kaedehara Taichi with a block!"

The announcer's voice echoed through the stadium. Though his throat was hoarse, he still poured everything into describing the breathtaking intensity of the match.

"A miracle is unfolding before our eyes!" he shouted with all his strength.

The entire arena erupted, spectators waving whatever they could find, the sheer energy threatening to blow the roof off the stadium.

A miracle? What miracle?!

The players on the court briefly turned toward the commentary booth, confused by the exaggerated phrasing.

"We're nearing the halfway mark of the second set, and Aoba Johsai's number 10, Kaedehara Taichi, has single-handedly scored every single point for his team!"

"From the start of this set until now, he has claimed twelve consecutive points! This is an absolutely staggering number!"

"Not only that, but Kaedehara Taichi's incredible performance has put Aoba Johsai ahead of Inarizaki by a full five points!"

"He is controlling the entire game—he is Aoba Johsai's ABSOLUTE ACE!!!"

_________

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