Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty

A two-point gap. The opportunity had arrived...

The serve rotated, and Kaedehara Taichi stepped onto the service line.

He tossed the ball up, took his approach, leapt, and struck—

Bang!

A left-handed jump float serve aimed directly at Kamomedai's front-row left side—Hoshiumi Kōrai!

"Read the changes carefully..."

Hoshiumi's natural jumping ability worked in his favour on receive. Even as he bent his knees and leaned back, his centre of gravity remained exceptionally stable.

Smack!

The ball's rightward drift did not exceed Hoshiumi's expectations. His pass arced high toward the net.

"I got it!"

Although Taichi's serve had disrupted Hoshiumi, there was still another deadly weapon on Kamomedai's front line!

The 2-meter-tall Hakuba Gao soared into the air for a spike.

"Double block!" Oikawa Tōru and Matsukawa Issei jumped up to meet him.

Because Hoshiumi had been forced to receive a float serve, his pass wasn't perfectly in sync with Hakuba's highest point of attack.

Smack!

"Touch!" Matsukawa shouted to his teammates behind him.

Watari Shinji quickly adjusted and sent a precise pass to Oikawa. The setter redirected the ball toward the right wing.

Kunimi Akira jumped as if preparing to spike—only for the real attacker to emerge from the back row—Kaedehara Taichi!

Boom!

The ball blasted past Bessho Kazuyoshi's block and slammed into Kamomedai's court.

—Smack!

From the back row, Nozawa Izuru gritted his teeth and dove forward, managing to dig it up!

"I got it!" Suwa Aikichi rushed in to cover. Kamomedai needed a counterattack!

"Kōrai!!!"

The ball was set to the left wing.

With a sharp thud, Hoshiumi Kōrai's figure soared into the air, right in front of the net.

"Double block!" Oikawa and Matsukawa quickly repositioned and jumped again.

Boom!

An overhand spike!

The ball cleared Oikawa's fingertips and shot toward Aoba Johsai's court like a laser.

Smack!

Iwaizumi Hajime absorbed the powerful hit, keeping it in play!

"I got it!" Kunimi sprinted to the centre of Aoba Johsai's court, setting up for a transition play. Taichi once again took his approach from the back row.

"Three-man block!"

Hoshiumi collided with Hakuba midair, but the taller player barely budged, remaining perfectly balanced. On the far right, Bessho stood in position, while Nozawa waited at the backline, locked onto Taichi.

Boom!

Except—Oikawa Tōru had spiked from the left wing!

Point, Aoba Johsai!

[Aoba Johsai 20 - 21 Kamomedai]

"Huh?!!"

Suwa Aikichi turned to stare at Kunimi, who wore his usual lazy expression. What the hell was that?

"Damn it…we got fooled," Hoshiumi muttered in disbelief.

That first-year had already decided on his target when he moved to cover. By positioning himself closer to the right wing, he had acted as if he was setting up for a back attack—just to pull Hoshiumi away from the left side.

With Aoba Johsai's front-row offence struggling, Kunimi had cleverly used tempo and passing variations to create more attacking options. Kamomedai's blockers had been completely outplayed on that point.

More importantly, they hadn't expected anyone other than Oikawa to be able to organize such a deceptive attack.

"Nice set, Kunimi!" Oikawa beamed.

"Thanks, Oikawa-senpai," Kunimi replied nonchalantly. After all, it had all gone exactly as he planned.

Kaedehara Taichi shot a deep glance at Kunimi. Somehow, his setting felt even smoother than his own…

Aoba Johsai continued serving.

Taichi stepped up for his second serve.

Bang!

Another jump float, but this time targeting Hakuba Gao!

"I got it!"

Hearing Hoshiumi's voice, Hakuba quickly stepped aside to let him receive.

For just a brief moment, Hakuba felt an odd sense of frustration—as if he, at 2 meters tall, had just lost to someone under 170 cm.

Smack!

Hoshiumi's pass was solid. This time, Kamomedai didn't rush into a quick attack.

Hakuba took a step back, preparing for his approach.

Suwa covered the ball, delivering a steady high set to the middle.

"Right now, all I need to do is attack!"

"Who's setting up the block? Should I go for a power spike or a tip? Or maybe... I can use the block to my advantage?"

Hakuba Gao had always known exactly what his team needed from him.

Thud!

A heavy footstep echoed as Hakuba's massive frame launched into the air in front of the net for a spike.

"Double block!" Oikawa Tōru and Matsukawa Issei jumped up to stop him.

Boom!

A high-angle overhand spike!

Smack!

Aoba Johsai's back-row defence had four players in position!

Kaedehara Taichi received the ball, sending it high into the air.

"The ball was dug up. It's still in play."

Hakuba didn't even have time to be surprised.

"Next comes the set, then the attack, then—"

"Keep thinking, keep analyzing the situation, and then—"

"Act!"

"Double block!!" Hakuba and Bessho Kazuyoshi jumped up again.

This time, Oikawa was the setter. Hoshiumi Kōrai couldn't read the direction of his set and was forced to stay in front of Matsukawa.

Kunimi Akira took off for a spike.

The blockers—insanely tall.

Kunimi attempted to tip the ball past them.

Smack!

At his highest point, Hakuba pressed the ball straight back into Aoba Johsai's court.

Point, Kamomedai!

[Aoba Johsai 20 - 22 Kamomedai]

"Kamomedai's offence has been absolutely dazzling, but what's even more incredible is their impenetrable defence!!!"

The serve rotated, and Hoshiumi Kōrai stepped up to the service line.

Aoba Johsai's players collectively took a step back. It was always easier to move forward for a receive than to retreat at the last second.

Hoshiumi planted his feet shoulder-width apart, his knees slightly bent, his centre of gravity leaning forward. His right hand extended outward, thumb and index finger forming a precise "V" shape—balancing the ball perfectly in his palm.

His gaze pierced through the ball, locking onto his target on the opposite court.

Calculating the angle and power—mapping the trajectory—Hoshiumi gently tossed the ball.

The moment it left his fingertips, he tracked its flight, took his approach, and leapt.

In midair, he stretched like a fully drawn bow, brimming with power.

At the perfect height, his arm snapped forward in a clean, explosive motion.

The ball rocketed off his palm, spinning fiercely, slicing through the air as it hurtled toward Aoba Johsai's court.

From Kaedehara Taichi's perspective, it looked like the ball would land out of bounds behind him.

But Aoba Johsai had already been burned by Hoshiumi's serves multiple times before!

Taichi twisted his waist, planted his foot, and stepped forward to meet the ball head-on.

Smack!

Sure enough, the ball curved downward into the court. Taichi managed to interrupt its trajectory, but it shot high into the air.

"Save it!"

The receive was messy—but at least it was up!

Kunimi rushed in beside Taichi, setting the ball toward the net.

Hoshiumi's serve had locked two Aoba Johsai players into the back corner.

Matsukawa leapt for the spike.

"Triple block!" Hakuba, Bessho, and Nozawa all rose to meet him.

"At least this one isn't as insanely tall..."

Matsukawa barely managed to angle his shot toward the lowest point in the block.

Smack!

"Touch!" Nozawa called out.

"Chance ball!" Kanbayashi Keijirō's pass was perfect, allowing Suwa Aikichi to set to the left wing.

Hakuba sprinted down the sideline before launching himself into the air.

"Double block!" Oikawa and Matsukawa gritted their teeth and jumped.

A textbook 2-meter attack.

Aoba Johsai's back-row defenders were fully prepared!

Smack!

Except—Hakuba lightly tipped the ball past the block.

The contrast between his powerful swing and the feather-light touch was devastating.

Iwaizumi lunged forward, but he couldn't reach it in time.

Point, Kamomedai!

[Aoba Johsai 20 - 23 Kamomedai]

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