Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty

Sakusa Kiyoomi was slightly surprised.

An utterly ordinary libero from Aoba Johsai had just challenged him.

Am I being underestimated?

Sakusa frowned.

Like Ushijima Wakatoshi, he despised confidence that had no foundation.

His serves weren't something that could be received just by looking at them.

Lifting his chin slightly, his sharp gaze locked onto Watari Shinji like a blade.

Boom!—

Sakusa launched his second serve.

—First, predict the trajectory!

Shinji took a small step, positioning himself at the right sideline.

—Then, handle the spin!

Smack!

His face tensed.

"Damn it!"

The instant the ball struck his arms, it veered sharply to the right.

"Got you!"

Kaedehara Taichi lunged toward the ball's path.

Whoosh!

He sent it back into Aoba Johsai's court—

Kunimi Akira jumped for the spike.

"Double block!"

Nishimura Hiroyuki and Takeshita Yūshin rose to meet him.

Smack!

Kunimi adjusted midair, lightly tipping the ball over them.

"Too obvious!"

"Chance ball!"

Komori Motoya had already stepped forward in anticipation.

Smack!

A perfect pass.

Iizuna Tsukasa leapt from the back row.

"This guy—!"

Kunimi quickly repositioned, jumping in the middle to block.

Whoosh!—

As expected, the ball was set to the left wing.

Sakusa Kiyoomi soared up from the back row.

"Double block!"

Matsukawa Issei and Taichi—who had sprinted back from the sideline—formed an impenetrable wall in front of him.

Boom!—

Sakusa aimed around the block, spiking past them.

Smack!

Taichi forcefully extended one hand, stopping the attack midair.

The ball spun strangely—

Instead of rebounding into Itachiyama's court, it popped straight up.

"A floating-ball touch!"

Taichi steadied the ball with one hand, dampening its force and speed.

Iwaizumi Hajime dove, saving it with a one-handed dig.

Oikawa Tōru quickly moved into position—

Taichi, landing after the block, had already taken off in a sprint.

"Does this guy ever get tired?!"

Nishimura and Takeshita chased him down.

One defender remained on Itachiyama's left side, watching Matsukawa Issei.

Oikawa had to admit—it was impressive how detail-oriented Itachiyama was.

Taichi's aggressive movements did tend to draw a lot of attention from opponents.

Originally, Oikawa had intended to set to Matsukawa—

But…

"Do they really think just two blockers can stop Taichi?"

Whoosh!—

The ball soared to the right wing—

Kaedehara Taichi took flight.

"Double block!"

Boom!—

Smack!

The ball deflected—off their hands, out of bounds.

Aoba Johsai had scored.

[Aoba Johsai 7 - 4 Itachiyama]

"Nice receive, Shinji-senpai!" Taichi genuinely praised.

As long as the ball was kept in play—he was already prepared to chase it down.

"Thanks."

Shinji smiled sheepishly.

Sakusa Kiyoomi's serve had only scored one point against Aoba Johsai.

Now, it was time for the tables to turn.

Aoba Johsai was on serve.

Kaedehara Taichi stepped up to the service line.

!!!

"I see…so this was Itachiyama's true intention."

Kaedehara Taichi gripped the volleyball and looked across the court.

In Itachiyama's back row stood Sakusa Kiyoomi, Iizuna Tsukasa, and Komori Motoya.

An absolutely terrifying receive formation—

It was like being back at the Youth National Training Camp.

"Interesting."

"I want to see how much I've grown since then!"

Taichi's eyes lifted slightly, his gaze filled with unshakable confidence and overwhelming dominance.

"Tweet!—"

The referee's whistle blew, but Taichi didn't move immediately.

Seconds passed.

The Itachiyama players, already in position to receive, grew increasingly tense.

As the countdown neared eight seconds—

Taichi suddenly sprang into motion.

The ball soared into the air just as he sank low, his feet fully planted against the floor.

Then—explosively—his legs drove him upward.

A burst of sheer muscle power launched him into the air.

BOOM!!!

The ball rocketed forward like a bolt of lightning—

A blistering speed, a viciously deceptive trajectory—

Screaming toward Itachiyama's back row.

"It's really coming!"

Komori Motoya had expected a jump float serve, aimed at the front line.

But—

The ball had yet to drop as it reached him.

"Out?"

A smirk tugged at Taichi's lips.

The ball had felt exceptionally good coming off his hand.

Then—

Just as it passed over Komori, it plunged downward—

A sudden, violent nosedive!

As if it had struck an invisible slanted wall of air!

BANG!

The ball slammed into Itachiyama's back line.

Service ace—Kaedehara Taichi!

[Aoba Johsai 8 - 4 Itachiyama]

That serve—

It had the shadow of Hoshiumi Kōrai.

"How much more is he capable of learning…?"

For once, Komori Motoya wasn't grinning.

These guys from Aoba Johsai—each and every one of them was treating him like a measuring stick for their progress.

Taichi gazed at Itachiyama in silence, his expression appraising.

As if to ask—

"Is this really the strongest lineup you've got?"

[Ding! Komori Motoya has entered Burst Mode]

[Komori Motoya (Burst Mode)—Libero: Overall Ability Rating: 92

Height: 180 cm | Power: 90 | Jump: 88 | Stamina: 92 | Speed: 90

Technique: Receive: 99 | Set: 95 | Spike: 90]

"Bring it on!"

Komori's voice rang out—the same words Watari Shinji had shouted earlier.

"That's what I like to hear!"

Excited, Taichi launched his second serve.

A powerful left-handed jump serve!

The ball landed between Iizuna and Komori.

"Mine!"

Komori stepped forward, taking charge.

Relying on instincts honed from the Youth Camp—

He adjusted his stance, crouched low, and absorbed the impact.

BANG!

The moment the ball struck his arms, he forced it downward, arching back to absorb the shock.

"Beautiful receive!!!"

Iizuna couldn't help but shout in praise.

The ball floated cleanly into the air—

Iizuna moved into position.

Whoosh!—

A decisive set to the left wing.

Mizushima Yū leapt from the front row—ready to spike.

"Double block!"

Oikawa Tōru and Matsukawa Issei jumped to meet him.

Boom!

Smack!

"One touch!"

Matsukawa called out as he redirected the block.

Watari Shinji covered—perfect pass.

Oikawa, just landing, leapt back up—

Taichi prepared to attack from the right.

Mizushima shifted to defend.

"Watch for the setters dump!"

Nishimura Hiroyuki shoved Mizushima back to the left—

He jumped—

"Ah, they caught on."

Oikawa had already begun his swing.

He had no choice but to avoid the blockers.

BANG!

Smack!

Sakusa picked it up cleanly.

"This guy—he's still trying to disrupt my offence?!"

"I've got it!"

Despite being closer, Komori rushed in to take the set—

Itachiyama, minus Sakusa, all four remaining attackers moved at once!

Aoba Johsai's blockers were instantly split apart.

Whoosh—!

A backset from Komori!

Right side—Takeshita Yūshin took flight.

Kunimi Akira—single blocker.

Takeshita easily hammered a straight shot past him.

[Aoba Johsai 8 - 5 Itachiyama]

"After receiving Kaedehara Taichi's devastating serve, Komori Motoya orchestrates a perfect attack—"

"The best libero in high school volleyball truly lives up to his name!"

"And just like that, Itachiyama shuts down Taichi's serve in a single point!"

_________

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