Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty

The warm-ups concluded, and the match officially began.

Fukurōdani's starting lineup:

Front row—Middle Blocker Onaga Wataru, Setter Akaashi Keiji, Outside Hitter Bokuto Kōtarō.

Back row—Middle blocker Washio Tatsuki (Libero: Komi Haruki), Outside Hitter Konoha Akinori and Outside Hitter Sarukui Yamato.

Aoba Johsai's starting lineup:

Front row—Outside Hitter Kaedehara Taichi, Middle Blocker Kindaichi Yūtarō, Outside Hitter Iwaizumi Hajime.

Back row—Outside Hitter Hanamaki Takahiro and Middle Blocker Matsukawa Issei (Libero: Watari Shinji) and Setter Oikawa Tōru.

Aoba Johsai had the first serve, and Oikawa Tōru stepped onto the service line.

[Ding! Bokuto Kōtarō has entered Burst Mode]

[Bokuto Kōtarō (Burst Mode)—Outside Hitter: Overall Ability Rating: 96.7

Height: 185.3 cm | Power: 98 | Jump: 95 | Stamina: 97 | Speed: 95

Technique: Serve: 96 | Receive: 96 | Spike: 100]

Kaedehara Taichi: "???"

Wait, what? Bokuto Kōtarō hadn't even touched the ball yet—how was he already in burst mode?!

Oikawa tossed the ball into the air.

Boom!—

The very first serve was a thunderous jump serve, a statement of dominance, hurtling straight toward Fukurōdani's back row.

"Konoha! Cover!"

Komi Haruki and Konoha Akinori moved in near-perfect sync.

Smack!

Komi stepped forward, reacting with lightning speed, absorbing Oikawa's powerful serve with his arms. The ball rebounded high, heading toward the backcourt.

Konoha was already waiting outside the boundary lines. From the start, they hadn't planned to receive Oikawa's jump serve perfectly with just one player.

Whoosh—!

The ball arced back toward the net with the precision and stability of a setter's hands.

Bokuto Kōtarō launched into motion. Sprinting down the right sideline, each step was explosive, his muscles tensing with every stride. As he reached the net, he planted his foot and sprang upward—like an arrow fired from a bow.

Here it comes!

It was hard to believe that Fukurōdani had neutralized Oikawa's first serve so cleanly.

Aoba Johsai's front row reacted instantly, assembling a blockade in front of Bokuto.

"Three-man block!"

Kaedehara Taichi, Kindaichi Yūtarō, and Iwaizumi Hajime formed an iron wall.

Bokuto's gaze flicked toward the back row. Hanamaki Takahiro had already stepped forward.

"Bokuto's cross-court spikes are deadly."

"So first, we seal off his straight shot with the block, then dedicate a defender to his cross-court attacks—just like Nekoma did against Taichi. Our defence needs a 'Bokuto Formation' too!"

Aoba Johsai had clearly prepared for Bokuto.

—Boom!!

Smack!

Bokuto's spike blasted against Iwaizumi's forearm, deflecting high into the air.

"Got it!"

Oikawa chased it down past the boundary line, leapt up, and sent the ball flying back.

Whoosh!—

Another laser-guided long set—this time, streaking straight to the left wing.

"This is ridiculous!"

Konoha Akinori had just sprinted back onto the court when he saw Oikawa's set. Comparing it to his own earlier set, the difference in quality was painfully obvious.

Kaedehara Taichi dashed across the court, leapt, and prepared for a swift second attack.

"Double block!"

Onaga Wataru and Akaashi Keiji jumped in front of him.

Taichi adjusted in midair—and snapped off a sharp cross-court spike.

Smack!

Akaashi's right hand suddenly appeared, palm flat, deflecting the ball upward.

"One touch!" Bokuto called out, landing and immediately pulling back into position.

What the hell—?!

Taichi was stunned. They were defending this hard already?! It's only the first rally!

"Chance ball!"

Komi Haruki delivered a clean pass, and Akaashi pushed the ball to the right wing—

Bokuto's favorite attack position.

"Hoo—"

Bokuto exhaled and began his approach, back muscles tightening like a drawn bowstring.

BAM!

The moment he planted, his muscles detonated. His entire back flexed, shoulder blades shifting into a solid, shield-like form.

"Three-man block!"

Aoba Johsai did not change their defence. Their front line sealed off the straight shot, while Hanamaki stationed himself at the three-meter line to guard against the cross.

Bokuto's eyes gleamed.

"They're blocking my straight shots completely—so they want me to hit cross-court, huh?"

"Then let's see how they handle a SUPER SHARP CUT SHOT!"

Bokuto's right arm pulled back, his shoulder and back coiling like a whip, transferring all the force into his arm.

BOOM!!!

At the very moment Bokuto Kōtarō swung his arm for the spike, the tension in his back muscles reached its peak. His muscle fibres stretched to the limit, creating a strikingly dynamic visual.

The volleyball traced a straight trajectory through the air, slamming into Aoba Johsai's court with astonishing speed and precision—almost grazing the net as it shot down.

Bang!

The ball struck the ground with a resounding impact before bouncing high into the air.

Hanamaki Takahiro's outstretched hands hovered midair, his fingers barely missing the ball by a hair's breadth…

Bokuto Kōtarō scores!

[Aoba Johsai 0 – 1 Fukurōdani]

"T-This is unbelievable!"

"Even with a defender positioned at the three-meter line, they still couldn't stop Bokuto Kōtarō's sharp angle shot!!!"

"Hey! Hey!! Hey!!!"

Facing Fukurōdani's cheering section, Bokuto let out a loud battle cry.

"Hey! Hey!! Hey!!!"

The supporters roared back, showering their ace with adoration.

"Taichi!" Bokuto turned to face the Aoba Johsai players. "After watching your match this morning, I couldn't wait to play against you guys!"

"Not only that—" his golden eyes gleamed with excitement. "I want to make this match as electrifying as possible!"

This guy…

Aoba Johsai could feel Bokuto Kōtarō's battle spirit surging even higher. It was impossible not to get fired up in response.

So this is why he's already burning from the start? There's nothing fancy about it…just pure, raw passion.

"As you wish, Bokuto-senpai." Kaedehara Taichi answered with unwavering focus.

The serve rotated. Onaga Wataru stepped up to serve.

As a first-year, Onaga opted for a simple standing serve, giving Aoba Johsai a golden opportunity to attack.

"Chance ball!"

Watari Shinji effortlessly received the serve, sending a perfect first pass.

Kaedehara Taichi took his approach on the left side as Oikawa Tōru's set arrived at lightning speed.

Boom!—

Akaashi Keiji leapt in an attempt to disrupt the attack, but it did nothing to stop the sheer power behind it. The ball ricocheted off Sarukui Yamato's arm and flew out of bounds.

Kaedehara Taichi scores!

[Aoba Johsai 1 – 1 Fukurōdani]

"Whoa, Taichi's spike has way more force than Hinata's! No wonder Sarukui couldn't handle it…" Bokuto Kōtarō mused aloud.

Right, Karasuno had attended the Fukurōdani training camp during the summer. He had seen Hinata's quick attacks countless times before, so of course, he wasn't surprised at all.

This match…looks like it'll be way more exciting than I thought.

Aoba Johsai reclaimed the serve. Iwaizumi Hajime stepped up for a powerful jump serve.

Smack!

Komi Haruki received the ball, sending it high into the air.

Ridiculous. While his speed and control weren't on par with Oikawa Tōru's, his sheer force was just as strong. Komi had a feeling his arms would be sore all night after this match.

"Cover!"

Akaashi Keiji stepped in, setting the ball to the right wing. His internal Owl Care Guide instincts told him one thing—Bokuto's condition was at an all-time high!

Bokuto Kōtarō took off from the back row, his wide, owl-like eyes locked onto the ball—and his "prey" on the other side of the net.

"Three-man block!"

Hanamaki Takahiro, Kaedehara Taichi, and Kindaichi Yūtarō leaped up to form a defensive wall.

BOOM!

Bokuto's arm whipped downward, targeting the only loophole in Aoba Johsai's seemingly airtight block.

Due to his devastating sharp-angle spike earlier, this time, Aoba Johsai's blockers had unconsciously shifted slightly to the left.

A minuscule, nearly imperceptible adjustment…but Bokuto Kōtarō had locked onto it in midair within an instant.

Bang!

The ball shot past Kindaichi Yūtarō's right side, crashing into the edge of the backline.

A line shot.

Direct. Precise. Devastating.

Bokuto Kōtarō scores!

[Aoba Johsai 1 – 2 Fukurōdani]

"Bokuto Kōtarō delivers an absolutely lethal straight shot!"

"What's even scarier is that he did this right after an insane sharp-angle spike!!"

"Even from the commentary box, it's hard to notice the slight gap in Aoba Johsai's block."

"Bokuto Kōtarō's extraordinary court vision is leaving Aoba Johsai's blockers helpless!"

"Hey! Hey!! Hey!!!"

Bokuto spread his arms wide, asserting his presence on the court.

"Hey! Hey!! Hey!!!"

The arena erupted in an overwhelming chorus of cheers, answering his call.

_________

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