Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty

Back in middle school, Akaashi Keiji played volleyball just like anyone else.

He didn't particularly love it, nor did he dislike it.

But on that day, Akaashi had the vague feeling that he had just witnessed a star.

At the time, Bokuto Kōtarō was already a starting player for the powerhouse Fukurōdani as a first-year in high school. For Akaashi, it was the first time he had ever seen someone play volleyball like that in real life.

And just like that, it felt natural for him to choose Fukurōdani Academy after middle school.

-----

The moment Bokuto Kōtarō heard that Akaashi was a setter, his ears perked up.

"Akhaaashi! Can you help me practice spiking for a bit?"

On the very first day Akaashi joined the Fukurōdani volleyball team, Bokuto had already locked onto him.

"Senpai, my name is Akaashi," Akaashi replied flatly.

Still, he ended up helping Bokuto practice spikes for "a bit."

-----

"Akhaaashi! Your sets are amazing!!!"

So this is what it feels like to be praised so directly?

Akaashi thought to himself.

"Ah, thank you," he replied, his expression calm as ever. "Also, Senpai, my name is Akaashi."

"Your reaction's way too flat!!!"

Every time they won a match—

"Akaashi! Let's stay and practice a bit more!" Bokuto said, brimming with excitement.

"Alright, Senpai," Akaashi replied as usual.

-----

Every time they lost a match—

"Akaashi…let's practice spiking a little more."

After sulking under a table for a while, Bokuto would always say those words, unwilling to accept defeat.

"Alright, Senpai," Akaashi answered, his tone unchanged.

-----

"Listen, Akaashi, if you ever want to escape Bokuto's clutches, you better say so early!"

One day after practice, Konoha Akinori teased him.

"It's fine. I'm happy to train with a star player," Akaashi replied evenly.

"A star player?" Konoha's eyes widened. "Hahaha! So you're a weirdo too?"

-----

BOOM!!!

"Bokuto with a powerful spike! Absolutely terrifying!!"

"Fukurōdani halts Aoba Johsai's scoring streak and ties the game!!!"

[Aoba Johsai 21 – 21 Fukurōdani]

Bokuto Kōtarō noticed the confusion on Akaashi's face—a rare sight for someone usually so composed. But Bokuto felt no need to say anything.

After all, this was Akaashi. Unlike himself, Akaashi wasn't the type to act childish.

If there was anything Bokuto needed to express—he'd do it with his back as an ace.

The serve rotated, and Fukurōdani took possession.

Onaga Wataru's overhand serve was smoothly received by Watari Shinji.

Oikawa Tōru sent a high set toward the left wing, where Kyōtani Kentarō sprinted in from an angle.

"Three-man block!"

Washio Tatsuki, Bokuto Kōtarō, and Akaashi Keiji formed a wall in front of him.

Kyōtani Kentarō hated to admit it, but Washio and Bokuto had completely sealed his attack routes.

However, the weak link in Fukurōdani's block—was Akaashi Keiji on the far right.

Bang!—

Kyōtani whipped his right arm forward, sending the ball flying past the three blockers along a sharp diagonal.

Smack!

At the last moment, Bokuto's hands shifted, pressing over the net just enough to graze the ball's path.

Thud!

The ball crashed into Aoba Johsai's court.

All eyes turned to the referee.

"No net touch!" The call was made.

Bokuto Kōtarō had blocked the attack for a point!

[Aoba Johsai 21 – 22 Fukurōdani]

"Hey! Hey!! Hey!!!" Bokuto roared, his voice full of exhilaration.

"I can't stop—there's no way I can stop!! Because, I am BOKUTO KŌTARŌ!!!"

He placed his hands on his hips.

Until now, he had always been the type of ace that the team revolved around. A star player lifted up by his teammates.

But now, with only a few days left before they all parted ways, it was time—time to become a true ace.

[Ding! Bokuto Kōtarō has entered Burst Mode]

What the—Third burst!?!

Kaedehara Taichi stared at him in shock. What a ridiculous guy.

To be able to have a match like this before graduation—it was exhilarating.

"Here we go! Here we go!"

"You guys better not fall behind!!!"

Bokuto Kōtarō radiated an overwhelming aura—one that made him feel truly unstoppable.

Konoha Akinori and Sarukui Yamato exchanged glances.

"Seriously…"

"No matter when, our ace is always a handful."

Onaga Wataru served the next ball.

"I got it!"

Kunimi Akira handled the reception perfectly.

Oikawa Tōru leapt—this time, he wasn't setting.

He was spiking.

Akaashi Keiji jumped to block him alone.

In the back row, Konoha's eyes locked onto Oikawa.

Whoosh—!

Seeing no opening, Oikawa feigned a spike but sent a set instead.

The ball arched toward the centre, where Iwaizumi leapt, his arm swinging to draw Bokuto into the air.

But Aoba Johsai's real attack was coming from the back row—Kaedehara Taichi!

Boom!!!—

"Double block!!!"

Bokuto shot up again, aligning perfectly with Washio on the left.

Smack!

The ball struck Bokuto's fingertips and shot out of bounds.

"It's not over!" Komi shouted, diving at the last second to keep the ball in play.

"Cover!!!"

Akaashi sprinted to the back, barely getting near the ball. The only option was to lob it forward and rely on Bokuto.

Bokuto-senpai...

Bokuto had already completed his approach. His legs coiled, muscles tensed—

"Reaching one hundred percent in a match is already hard enough, but Akaashi—"

"Today, I want your one hundred and twenty percent!!!"

Akaashi's mind went blank. He wasn't Oikawa—he couldn't set something like that.

And anyway, if one hundred percent wasn't possible under normal circumstances, then how could he—

But the ace was calling for the ball

Bokuto-senpai was calling for the ball!

Whoosh!—

Akaashi leaned back and pushed with both hands.

The ball shot forward in a perfect line, arriving right in front of Bokuto—flawless placement!

BOOM!

An overhand spike!

Aoba Johsai's front line barely reacted before the ball was already crashing off Kaedehara's arms and out of bounds.

Bokuto Kōtarō scores!

[Aoba Johsai 21 – 23 Fukurōdani]

"Akaashi! That set was amazing!!!" Bokuto shouted, elated.

"Thank you, Bokuto-senpai," Akaashi replied, unable to hide his happiness.

Since when...had Bokuto stopped mispronouncing his name?

"Good, Akaashi's completely back," Komi said with a relieved smile.

Akaashi was always calm, but at times, he tended to carry too much weight on his shoulders.

"Sorry," Akaashi said, regaining his composure. "Was I that obvious just now?"

"You were so stiff even Coach Takeyuki was about to call a timeout," Sarukui chuckled.

"Thank you for covering for me!" Akaashi said, a rare moment of embarrassment creeping into his tone.

"No problem. Let's finish this in one go," Washio said in his usual gruff voice.

"Hey! That's my line!" Bokuto whined from the side.

Fukurōdani continued their streak—Onaga served.

Smack!

Watari received cleanly, and Aoba Johsai launched a synchronized attack!

Boom!

Iwaizumi struck down the middle for a clean point.

[Aoba Johsai 22 – 23 Fukurōdani]

"Aaaagh!" Bokuto clutched his head dramatically. "I thought it was going to Taichi!"

Akaashi's eyes stayed on Oikawa. If they had blocked Iwaizumi properly, the set would have gone to Kaedehara instead. Kaedehara's presence was so overwhelming that even from the back row, three Fukurōdani players had been watching him.

Serve rotation—Aoba Johsai's serve.

Kentarō Kyōtani stepped onto the service line. This was Aoba Johsai's best chance at a service-run comeback.

Kyōtani tossed the ball up.

Boom!

Smack!

Komi barely kept it up.

"Damn it!" Kyōtani hurried back into formation.

The ball had veered toward Fukurōdani's left front, out of Akaashi's reach.

"I've got it!" Komi called, stepping in.

"Set it to me!" Bokuto was already airborne.

Aoba Johsai's blockers instinctively reacted.

"Nope~" Komi smirked.

Whoosh!—

Despite being a libero, Komi's hands shaped a near-perfect set—

Boom!

Sarukui slammed a sharp-angled shot from the left!

Fukurōdani scores!

[Aoba Johsai 22 – 24 Fukurōdani]

"Komi!!!"

"What?" Komi turned with a playful grin. It was finally time to return the favour.

Fukurōdani had reached match point.

Aoba Johsai tensed.

The National Tournament's tempo was terrifying. A single misstep and the momentum completely shifted. They hadn't made any critical mistakes this set, yet they had been pushed to the edge.

Serve rotation—Fukurōdani's serve.

Akaashi stepped up. His jump-float serve targeted the gap between Kindaichi and Kaedehara.

"Tch!" Taichi rushed forward and barely got the ball up. It soared high—right into the front zone.

Oikawa jumped. Washio closed in to block.

Boom!

Oikawa somehow avoided the block and snapped a sharp cross-court spike.

Smack!

A single hand extended from the left side, catching the attack.

"One touch!" Sarukui shouted.

"Nice block!" Akaashi called out. This was the risk of targeting Kaedehara with the serve—if he did receive it, Fukurōdani had to gamble on his positioning.

Akaashi sprinted into position, eyes locking onto Komi.

"Komi-senpai, give me a perfect pass!"

"You got it!" Komi, startled by Akaashi's sudden fire, nodded. Their spiker and setter duo were just as unpredictable as their ace.

Smack!

Komi's pass was flawless.

Akaashi sent a high set to the right.

"Here you go, Bokuto-senpai!"

BAM!

Bokuto launched himself into the air, body stretching into a perfect arc.

Akaashi watched the 'star' of Fukurōdani—

"I didn't come to Fukurōdani with any grand ambition, but I'm so glad I chose this place."

"No matter what anyone says, right now, we are the protagonists of the world."

"Triple block!!!"

Iwaizumi, Oikawa, and Kindaichi all leapt at once.

BOOM!!!—

A diagonal shot cut through the court, carving a razor-sharp line from right to left, crashing into Aoba Johsai's backcourt.

An unstoppable super-sharp angle spike!

Bokuto Kōtarō scores!!!

[Aoba Johsai 22 – 25 Fukurōdani]

"Tweet—!"

The referee's whistle rang long and clear.

Set two: Fukurōdani wins.

_________

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