Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty

Irihata Nobuteru stood on the sidelines, his expression a mixture of excitement and concern.

Just moments ago, team manager Mizoguchi Sadayuki had brought news about their next opponent—the second representative from Tokyo, Fukurodani Academy. Without a doubt, this was another powerhouse team.

In fact, by the time teams reached the quarterfinals of the national tournament, every opponent had been battle-tested. There was no such thing as an easy match at this stage.

Kaedehara Taichi was in peak form. His relentless scoring streak on the national stage had already set a record worth paying attention to. The reactions of both the commentators and the spectators made that clear.

What worried Irihata was whether Taichi could sustain this level of intensity without exhausting himself before the afternoon match. However, forcing him to slow down now seemed equally unreasonable.

"Sigh…Sometimes, having a player this good is a real headache..." Irihata muttered.

Mizoguchi shot him a look of admiration. Despite his supposedly troubled tone, the coach's grin was practically stretching to his ears.

-----

Oikawa Tōru launched his second serve.

Boom!

Smack!

Inarizaki had clearly discussed their reception strategy beforehand—Miya Atsumu moved aside, letting Akagi Michinari step in to receive the service.

"Aran!" Atsumu adjusted, sending a sharp set across the court.

From the back row, Ojiro Aran soared into the air. Even if he had no interest in being called the best ace in the country—

—As Inarizaki's ace, he could not lose!

Bang!

The spike crashed against Iwaizumi Hajime's arms and flew high out of bounds.

Touch out! Ojiro Aran scored.

[Aoba Johsai 12 – 8 Inarizaki]

Serve switched. Miya Atsumu stepped up to the line.

"You hungry, 'Samu?"

"Yeah, 'Tsumu."

[Ding! Miya Osamu has entered Burst Mode]

[Ding! Miya Atsumu has entered Burst Mode]

Watching Kaedehara Taichi's performance, hearing the crowd's roaring cheers—how could they not be fired up?!

This time, Miya Osamu was the one pulling Atsumu into the zone!

"Hahaha! Twins are basically a cheat code, huh?" Taichi's eyes gleamed with an almost manic excitement.

"BRING IT ON!!!"

[Ding! The Host has entered Burst Mode]

[Kaedehara Taichi (Burst Mode)—Outside Hitter: 

Height: 188 cm | Power: 99 | Jump: 93 | Stamina: 95 | Speed: 99

Technique: Serve: 98 | Receive: 92 | Set: 88 | Spike: 96]

Atsumu tossed the ball into the air. The best defence was a strong offence!

BOOM!!

A thunderous jump serve!

Smack!

Oikawa received it cleanly.

"Right-wing! High ball!!" Taichi called, sprinting in from the back row.

Watari Shinji hesitated under Taichi's intense gaze. For the first time, he felt pressure while setting the ball.

—Whoosh!

The ball arced toward the right wing, but it was slightly off-target.

"Double block!" Ginjima Hitoshi and Suna Rintarō sealed off the straight shot.

Taichi rose high, his left arm whipping forward at full force. His wrist snapped sharply—

BOOM!!

The ball curved in a long arc, plunging into Inarizaki's deep left corner!

!!!

Akagi Michinari backpedalled, desperately trying to find the right angle for the receive.

Too late!

At that moment, Miya Atsumu and Miya Osamu bolted past him from both sides.

There was no need for communication.

Osamu launched himself toward the deep corner, body fully extended. Atsumu, without breaking stride, charged toward the sidelines.

Smack!

Osamu crashed hard onto the floor, barely getting his fingers under the ball. It rebounded toward the edge of the court—

And there, Atsumu was already in the air.

"Aran!!!"

—Whoosh!

Once again, a perfect airborne set from outside the boundary, soaring across the court!

It was flawless!!!

From the back row, Ojiro Aran launched himself into the air once more.

BOOM!!

The ball slipped through the gap in Kindaichi Yūtarō's block and slammed into Aoba Johsai's court.

Ojiro Aran scores!

[Aoba Johsai 12 – 9 Inarizaki]

"YEEEEEAH!!!"

The twins had just saved one of Kaedehara Taichi's supposed 'unstoppable' spikes and turned it into a successful counterattack!

"Inarizaki is closing the gap!"

"The Miya brothers and Ojiro Aran have seized the momentum before Aoba Johsai could run away with the set!!"

"This match is FAR from over!!!"

With commentator Otomo nearly losing his voice, Aoi had taken over, shouting into the mic.

"Aaaah, how do I even explain this? Our rhythm is insane right now!" Atsumu and Osamu locked eyes.

"Somehow, we're feeling even better than we did in the first set!"

Bang!

Atsumu sent out his second serve—a jump float!

The ball flew straight toward Taichi in the front row.

His eyes locked onto the ball.

Whoosh—!

The ball dipped sharply over the net!

In an instant, Taichi's legs exploded into motion. He lunged forward, positioning himself directly under the ball, arms outstretched—

A set?

Even Oikawa had to admire Taichi's boldness. His reaction time had been unbelievably fast.

And not only that—

He had immediately chosen to turn his receive into a set!

Oikawa took off from the back row.

Suna Rintarō and Ginshima reacted at the same time.

"Double block!"

Boom!

Oikawa Tōru barely managed to execute a diagonal spike—after all, a setter who can't attack from the back row isn't a good setter!

"I'm on it!" Ojiro Aran reacted swiftly, taking a step to the left and receiving the ball, sending it flying toward the right.

Miya Osamu jumped to set. Miya Atsumu was already soaring at the left-side net.

Twin's quick attack—Reverse Edition!!!

The ball reached Miya Atsumu with pinpoint accuracy.

Boom!

Smack!

In that split second, Miya Atsumu saw the shock in the eyes of Ginjima Hitoshi and Suna Rintarō.

Too fast! When did he get here?! How did he move so quickly?!

But before the ball could land—

A massive pair of hands covered Miya Atsumu's spike path.

The ball slammed into Kaedehara Taichi's arm and bounced back into Inarizaki's court.

Kaedehara Taichi scores with a block!!!

[Aoba Johsai 13 VS 9 Inarizaki]

Kaedehara Taichi landed steadily, slowly straightening up, his face expressionless as he spoke:

"Atsumu-senpai...Did you forget what I once said?"

"No one understands how to defeat this quick attack better than I do."

"The thirteenth point! Once again, it's Kaedehara Taichi securing it for Aoba Johsai!!"

"Miya Osamu set the ball, Miya Atsumu spiked it—an incredible twin quick attack!"

"But what's even more incredible is that Kaedehara Taichi saw through it again!!!"

"TAICHI!! TAICHI!! TAICHI!!"

"TAICHI!! TAICHI!! TAICHI!!"

The entire stadium erupted with chants of his name.

The serve switched. Aoba Johsai served.

Iwaizumi Hajime's powerful jump serve was received by Akagi Michinari. Miya Atsumu set the ball to the right, and Miya Osamu avoided the block to spike a clean line shot.

Point for Inarizaki!

[Aoba Johsai 13 VS 10 Inarizaki]

BOOM!!!

Kaedehara Taichi blasted a spike over Miya Osamu's outstretched hands.

Point for Aoba Johsai!

[Aoba Johsai 14 VS 10 Inarizaki]

Boom!

The twin quick attack was a feint—Ojiro Aran smashed through Kunimi Akira's block.

Point for Inarizaki!

[Aoba Johsai 14 VS 11 Inarizaki]

BOOM!!!

Kaedehara Taichi smashed through Ōmimi Ren's block.

Point for Aoba Johsai!

[Aoba Johsai 15 VS 11 Inarizaki]

"Kaedehara Taichi answers Ojiro Aran's spike with one of his own!!!"

"Inarizaki is fighting with everything they have, but they just can't close the gap!"

Aoba Johsai served—Kindaichi Yūtarō's powerful jump serve.

Akagi Michinari received it cleanly. Miya Atsumu jumped to set.

Ojiro Aran soared in front of the net.

"Three-man block!!"

Kaedehara Taichi, Kunimi Akira, and Matsukawa Issei formed a wall in front of him.

But—

Whoosh—

Aran didn't spike!

The ball flew further left.

The real attacker was Miya Osamu!!!

THUD!

Kaedehara Taichi landed and immediately lunged left, jumping again.

Boom!

Smack!

"One touch!" Kaedehara Taichi shouted.

His second jump barely softened Miya Atsumu's spike.

Iwaizumi made a perfect pass.

Kaedehara Taichi landed but instantly sprinted to the far-right side.

No one on Inarizaki could keep up with his speed!

Oikawa Tōru jumped to set—

The ball flew straight to Kaedehara Taichi with pinpoint accuracy!!

BOOM!!!

Oikawa-Kaedehara Quick Attack.

Point for Aoba Johsai!

[Aoba Johsai 16 VS 11 Inarizaki]

"Sixteen points!!!"

"Kaedehara Taichi...has no limits!!!"

But—

Kaedehara Taichi landed—

And suddenly collapsed.

"TAICHI!!!"

Aoba Johsai's players rushed to his side.

"Hahaha…"

Kaedehara Taichi lay on the ground, gasping for air—but his face was beaming with joy.

His legs had cramped up.

"...Again?!" Taichi muttered to himself. He tried to move but quickly realized—he couldn't stand up.

"TAICHI!!!"

Aoba Johsai's players surrounded him instantly, their worry written all over their faces.

But Taichi remained on the floor, laughing.

He was exhausted, but he felt incredible.

The consecutive high jumps had put too much strain on his legs.

But—he was fine.

Hearing his laughter, his teammates sighed in relief.

"Idiot. We can still win without you," Iwaizumi muttered, crouching down to help him up.

"You just wanted to show off, huh? Trying to steal my spotlight?" Oikawa teased, offering his hand.

Coach Irihata immediately called a timeout.

On the sidelines, Mizoguchi Sadayuki and Manager Chiba Kano watched anxiously.

"Even if you're okay, you should rest," Oikawa said, supporting Taichi to the bench.

"Leave the rest to us. We won't lose."

"Yeah…I believe in you, Oikawa-senpai."

Taichi nodded firmly as he sat next to Coach Irihata.

"Tweet!—"

Aoba Johsai requests a substitution—Kyotani Kentarō IN, Kaedehara Taichi OUT.

"Taichi, have you forgotten that we still have a match in the afternoon?" Coach Irihata asked, his expression unreadable.

"Ah? Haha…"

He had definitely gotten too caught up in the moment.

"But I'm fine! There's plenty of time to recover," Taichi said confidently, flexing his arms.

"Taichi, managing your physical condition is just as important as playing well," Coach Irihata said sternly.

"Yeah…I get it."

Taichi nodded seriously.

He suddenly remembered—

In the original Spring High, during the quarterfinals—

Hinata Shōyō's fever.

Iizuna Tsukasa's injury.

…He needed to be more careful.

Coach Irihata said nothing more.

Kaedehara Taichi glanced around the court—

And finally noticed—

On the sidelines—

Bokuto Kōtarō and Akaashi Keiji.

They were watching him.

Kaedehara Taichi met their gaze.

He gave a slight nod.

So—

They were the next opponents.

Finally.

The match he had been waiting for.

_________

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