Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty

"Oh wow! That was a lightning-fast back-row attack!"

"Kaedehara Taichi mercilessly spiked the ball that came from behind him!!"

"Judging from Taichi's movement just now, I thought he was going to receive the ball! That must be what the front row of Kamomedai assumed as well, which is why they were a step too slow..."

"Kunimi's set was also incredibly precise! Those two look like they've been working together for ages!"

"Kamomedai is only one point away from taking the second set, yet they just can't seem to close it out!"

"Both teams are burning with intensity—after this gruelling tug-of-war, who will be the one to laugh last?!!"

-----

"Stay focused!" Suwa Aikichi called out to his teammates.

"YES!"

Even though Aoba Johsai had closed the gap to one point, Kamomedai still held the set point. There was no need to panic.

Aoba Johsai continued their serve.

Matsukawa Issei sent the second serve over.

Boom!

"I got it!" Kanbayashi Keiichirō received the ball.

Just like Aoba Johsai, Kamomedai also prioritized freeing up their ace, Hoshiumi Kōrai, from defensive duties so he could focus on attacking.

Suwa Aikichi stepped in to set the ball. At that moment, Kamomedai had three attacking options—Hakuba Gao and Hoshiumi Kōrai in the back row, and Bessho Kazuyoshi in the front.

Kindaichi Yūtarō's gaze darted between the Kamomedai players. This match had forced him to experience firsthand the terror of a well-coordinated blocking system.

"I can't let myself fall behind..."

Carefully observing every movement on the court—The set, the trajectory, the speed, the approach…

Boom!—

Smack!—

"I can keep up with their attack!" Kindaichi called out from the back. "I got a touch!!"

"Aoba Johsai's blockers are showing incredible reflexes! Hakuba Gao's spike was denied once again!"

"A chance ball!" Watari Shinji sent a perfect pass forward.

Oikawa Tōru glanced at the baseline—at Kaedehara Taichi.

In that instant, he understood exactly what his ace wanted.

This ball needed to be flawless!

Whoosh—!

Everyone could see it—the high set heading straight for the left side.

It was a toss for the ace.

Kaedehara Taichi started his approach from the baseline, his powerful strides gaining momentum. Just before the three-meter line, he planted his foot and launched himself into the air.

BAM!

"Triple block!" Bessho Kazuyoshi, Nozawa Izuru, and Suwa Aikichi all jumped up to meet him.

But even though Kaedehara Taichi was attacking from the back row, his spike point still loomed just above the triple block.

Kamomedai's three blockers stretched their hands upward as far as they could, hoping to at least get a touch.

At the peak of his jump, Kaedehara Taichi tightened his core and drove his arm forward. His palm moulded perfectly against the ball, fingers slightly curled, pressing the ball down forcefully.

BOOM!!!—

Bessho Kazuyoshi hadn't expected it—the ball was coming at him again!

The memory of his failed block against Kaedehara Taichi's spike was still fresh in his mind. This time, his body tensed instinctively.

BOOM!

A look of shock spread across Bessho Kazuyoshi's face.

The power behind this spike—it was even stronger than before!

His blocking stance didn't last even one second—no, not even 0.1 seconds!!

BANG!

The sound of Kaedehara Taichi's hand striking the ball, the ball smashing into Bessho Chiharu's arms, and the ball slamming onto Kamomedai's court—all three sounds blended together as one.

Even though the brain could process each stage of the play, visually, it looked as if Kaedehara Taichi had completely ignored the block!

Point, Aoba Johsai!

[Aoba Johsai 24 – 24 Kamomedai]

"T-they actually tied it up?!?!"

Bessho Kazuyoshi sat on the floor, his face frozen in disbelief.

"Kaedehara Taichi has scored three consecutive points! The match is back to square one!!!"

"Sorry, was that too much power?" Kaedehara Taichi looked down at Bessho Kazuyoshi with a friendly smile.

Was it really impossible to stop his back-row attack when Kamomedai's strongest blocker wasn't in the front row?

"Kazuyoshi!" Nozawa Izuru reached out and pulled up his teammate.

Even as he helped him up, Nozawa couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy.

Going up against a monster like this—even for the strongest first-year in Kamomedai—it had to feel overwhelming.

Hoshiumi Kōrai gazed at Kaedehara Taichi with a complex expression.

"Height and power…I thought I had already learned to ignore those things. But seeing them right in front of me, I can't help but feel a little envious."

This world was both fair and unfair.

Hoshiumi had always believed that despite his short stature, he could challenge taller opponents by refining his skills to perfection.

But reality was different—

Height or no height, anyone who trained relentlessly could develop extraordinary technique.

So…was there really no way to beat them?

"There are countless ways to get stronger!"

"I've always known that I was at a disadvantage." Hoshiumi straightened his back, his eyes burning with determination.

"Which is why I realized much earlier than others—"

"The sheer hunger to become stronger!"

[Ding! Hoshiumi Kōrai has entered Burst Mode]

[Hoshiumi Kōrai (Burst Mode)—Outside Hitter: Overall Ability Rating: 96

Height: 169.2 cm | Power: 90 | Jump: 100 | Stamina: 98 | Speed: 92

Technique: Serve: 98 | Receive: 98 | Set: 92 | Spike: 100]

"Come at me, Taichi!" Hoshiumi's eyes shone with unyielding brilliance.

"Let me be the one to end this set!"

Aoba Johsai's serve continued.

Matsukawa Issei sent his third serve over, and once again, Kanbayashi Keiichirō received it cleanly.

"Middle!" Hoshiumi raised his right hand, calling for the ball.

A back-row attack from a high set—

It would challenge Aoba Johsai's three-man block head-on.

But Kamomedai had absolute faith in their Little Giant!

Suwa Aikichi set the ball high toward the middle.

Hoshiumi Kōrai soared into the air.

"Triple block!" Kindaichi Yūtarō, Iwaizumi Hajime, and Oikawa Tōru jumped up to meet him.

His gaze sharpened—

Their positioning—

During the timeout, Kindaichi Yūtarō consulted Matsukawa Issei on how to avoid getting used for "off-the-block" attacks. He never expected that, despite being Aoba Johsai's tallest blocker, he would become Hoshiumi Kōrai's primary target.

Boom!

Hoshiumi's right arm swung down with force, spiking the ball fiercely.

Kindaichi stretched his arms to the left as much as he could.

Too slow!

Smack!

He still got hit!

The ball ricocheted off Kindaichi's arm, skimmed the net, and landed outside Aoba Johsai's sideline.

[Aoba Johsai 24 – 25 Kamomedai]

"Ohhh—! Out off the block!"

"Kindaichi was clearly trying to adjust to Hoshiumi's spikes, but he still couldn't stop his off-the-block attack!"

"The ace, Hoshiumi, keeps Kamomedai in the lead!!!"

Kamomedai regained the serve, and Hirugami Sachirō rotated into the front row.

"You guys need to make success a habit."

"From now on, stop thinking things like 'I'm just not in good form today.' Of course, that doesn't count when you're injured…"

"Figure out whether the problem is technical or mental, then make adjustments immediately."

"Alright, let's play this next rally as if we're two points behind and our opponents are at match point!"

"Bessho, treat this like practice!" Captain Suwa Aikichi reminded warmly.

"…Got it."

Bessho Kazuyoshi sent a float serve over.

Bang!

The ball drifted unpredictably toward Aoba Johsai's back row, targeting Kaedehara Taichi.

This guy…! He's not shaken at all!

The serve was well-placed—if Kunimi Akira tried to help receive, it could easily lead to a mistake. That left Kaedehara with no choice but to take the first touch.

Oikawa Tōru moved into position. Aoba Johsai had Kindaichi and Iwaizumi Hajime in the front row, while Kunimi was available in the back for a pipe attack.

But with Hirugami stationed at the net, it felt like a third of their attack zones had been completely cut off!

"Iwa-chan!"

Oikawa took a risk, setting a quick attack through the middle. Iwaizumi shot up and swung with full force.

BOOM!—

Smack!

Kamomedai's reaction was sharp—Suwa Aikichi blocked alone, directly in front of Iwaizumi.

Iwaizumi's muscles tensed as he increased his power, forcing the ball past Suwa's hands. It rocketed toward Kamomedai's backcourt.

"Hirugami!"

Hoshiumi bolted past the end line and shouted toward the net.

In the next instant, the ball appeared above the right-wing. Hirugami leaped.

"A perfect long set from beyond the end line!"

"Not happening!" Oikawa jumped up, determined to block Hirugami one-on-one.

"I guess I'll give it a shot too." Hirugami smiled.

[Ding! Hirugami Sachirō has entered Burst Mode]

[Hirugami Sachirō (Burst Mode)—Middle Blocker: Overall Ability Rating: 92

Height: 190.4 cm | Power: 95 | Jump: 88 | Stamina: 95 | Speed: 92

Technique: Serve: 92 | Block: 95 | Set: 90 | Spike: 92]

Whoosh!— The ball was redirected from the right-wing straight to the left.

"Damn it!"

Aoba Johsai's defensive line was completely torn apart!

Nozawa Izuru launched into the air on the left to spike. But—there was still a pair of hands reaching up to stop him!

It can't end here!

Kindaichi lunged diagonally and extended his arms over the net.

Boom!

Nozawa adjusted mid-air, avoiding the block and hammering a sharp straight shot.

Smack!

Taichi received it cleanly—perfect pass!

"Here we go!"

Oikawa jumped in the middle as if he were going to spike.

"Double block!" Nozawa and Suwa leapt to seal him off.

Hirugami was still watching!

Whoosh—!

It was a set! Oikawa had executed a back-set to the right-wing—Kunimi soared from the back row.

And his target—was Hirugami!

Even a solo block from him was enough pressure to feel suffocating! To Kunimi, every gap in Hirugami's block looked like a deliberate trap.

Smack!

Then he'd just go over the top! Kunimi tipped the ball just behind Hirugami.

Only one person was positioned to save it—Hakuba Gao…

"Sigh..."

Hirugami exhaled. Looks like it's out of reach.

But—there was still one last thing he could try!

Hirugami hit the floor, twisting his waist slightly. His arm shot backwards ahead of the rest of his body.

It should be somewhere around here…

Smack!

With no visual on the ball, he somehow made the save from behind!

But—the ball sailed out of bounds.

"Out!"

Aoba Johsai scored.

[Aoba Johsai 25 – 25 Kamomedai]

"Ahh…the angle was hard to judge," Hirugami scratched his head. "My bad."

"What was that guy even trying to do?! Is he a monster?"

"He actually managed to get a touch on it…!"

Even though Aoba Johsai had won the point, the pressure on them somehow felt even greater.

Against Kaedehara's relentless attack, two players in Kamomedai's already formidable lineup had begun to stand out even more.

But—the serve was back in Aoba Johsai's hands.

As the rotations shifted, Kaedehara finally rotated to the front row, while Oikawa stepped up to serve.

Aoba Johsai had entered its strongest formation.

Only the last one standing—will get to laugh in the end!

_________

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