Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty

He's just a second-year too—how could the difference be this big…?

The players of Takezō Academy couldn't wrap their heads around it. Still, they didn't want to dwell on it any longer. All that mattered now was giving it everything they had in the second set, and playing Aoba Johsai seriously.

However—

Kaedehara Taichi didn't take the court in the second set.

"This guy really does look down on us!" Moritake Kazuya's eyes burned with fury—but at the same time, he felt slightly relieved. He honestly couldn't even picture a scenario where he managed to beat Kaedehara Taichi.

"It's frustrating, but this is our chance!" said the setter, Ōki Kazuki. "Let's all get in there and fight! We are one of Tokyo's top eight schools—if Kaedehara Taichi's not playing, we can definitely win this set!"

"Yeah, let's do it!"

"Right!"

The Takezō players, now regrouped and revitalised, shouted in unison. Their voices filled the home court with impressive momentum.

On the other side of the net, Aoba Johsai's players calmly discussed their strategy, not underestimating their opponents despite the lopsided win in the first set.

"My, my. Mad Dog-senpai, seems like the other side thinks they've got a chance now," Taichi said from the sideline, cheerfully fanning the flames. "If it's too much pressure, I can hop in anytime, you know?"

"I want my sets closer to the sideline, Tōma," Kyōtani Kentarō replied, completely ignoring the comment.

"Got it!"

"Yūki, if you're not confident in blocking a shot directly, just seal off the line. If you wave your hands around too much, it'll mess up my line of sight," Daiki said bluntly.

"No problem."

"Kunimi-senpai, anything I should keep in mind?" Yamabuki Yūjin asked eagerly. He was determined to make the most of this rare chance to play during Golden Week.

"Hmm…When we're running a multi-player attack, be loud when you call for the ball. And if you're supporting a play, make sure you shout," Kunimi Akira said lazily.

"That's…that's it?"

"The rest, just adapt during the match. Don't stop thinking."

"Yes, sir!" Yamabuki answered earnestly.

Still, with his sharp eye for reading people, Taichi could easily tell this was just Kunimi's way of avoiding having to think things through himself.

"Kindaichi, with the first-years being this reliable, it's starting to feel like we're not needed anymore," Taichi said idly.

"Well, actually, it's just you and Yahaba-senpai who are resting. I'm still playing this set," Kindaichi Yūtarō replied, completely missing the point.

Taichi fell silent…Forget it. There was no use trying to explain.

The second set began, with Aoba Johsai serving first.

Takezō's lineup:

Front row—Middle Blocker Hirata Shūichi, Setter Ōki Kazuki, Outside Hitter Moritake Kazuya

Back row—Outside Hitter Nishimoto Narumi, Outside Hitter Hirota Jirō and Middle Blocker Nakamoto Katsuhik (Libero: Teragane Gō).

Aoba Johsai's lineup:

Front row—Outside Hitter Kunimi Akira, Outside Hitter Yamabuki Yūjin, Middle Blocker Yūki Yōji.

Back row—Middle Blocker Kindaichi Yūtarō (Libero: Nakamori Daiki), Outside Hitter Kyōtani Kentarō and Setter Tōma Kaoru.

Tōma Kaoru's increasingly threatening jump float serve disrupted Takezō's first touch.

Setter Ōki Kazuki scrambled to make the set. Moritake Kazuya leapt from the right wing for the spike.

"Double block!" Yamabuki Yūjin and Yūki Yōji rose up to meet him.

Moritake's expression was tense. They were both just first-years, yet they'd already managed to shut down almost all his hitting angles.

One-ninety-five…there's no way I can force it down the line.

Bang!

Moritake drove the ball toward the left.

Smack!

"Touch!" Yamabuki called loudly to the back.

Nakamori Daiki received the ball with ease. At the net, Kunimi Akira went up for the attack.

"Double block!" Hirata Shūichi and Ōki Kazuki jumped to stop him.

Bang!

Even Yamabuki, who had already prepared himself to receive Kunimi's set, hadn't expected him to go for the direct spike.

Smack!

The ball struck Hirata Shūichi's forearm and flew out of bounds.

Kunimi Akira scored with the spike.

[Aoba Johsai 1 – 0 Takezō]

"Nice hit, Kunimi-senpai!" Yamabuki called out in delight.

"It was alright," Kunimi replied coolly. After all, he was a wing spiker.

Tōma Kaoru served again.

The ball dropped between Nishimoto Narumi and Hirota Jirō.

"I got it!" Nishimoto shouted. They had promised to change things—no way would they let a bunch of first-years run over them again.

Smack!

The ball was sent to the front. Ōki Kazuki jumped to set.

Whoosh—!

The ball flew to the left, and Hirata Shūichi launched into a quick attack.

"Double block!" Kunimi and Yamabuki leapt to intercept.

But Takezō's play had been carefully planned to avoid Yūki Yōji, who had been patrolling the right. Hirata easily bypassed Aoba Johsai's blockers and hammered the ball down.

Boom!

Smack!

Aoba Johsai's second line of defence—Nakamori Daiki—easily received the ball. A perfect first touch.

Tōma Kaoru sent the ball to the left wing. Kunimi Akira jumped.

"Not a chance!!"

"Triple block!" The Takezō players were fully focused, quickly gathering at the net.

Swish! Kunimi swung and missed.

BOOM!!!

Kyōtani Kentarō, who had leapt from the back row, delivered a violent spike that shattered Takezō's already-falling block.

A textbook tandem attack—Aoba Johsai scored!

[Aoba Johsai 2 – 0 Takezō]

"Whoa, I thought tandem attacks weren't supposed to be this violent," Taichi commented with mock surprise. "The block was already coming down, and Mad Dog-senpai still slammed it right into them. So mean."

Yahaba Shigeru shot him a glance. This guy has some nerve—wasn't he the one spiking straight into Takezō's block all throughout the first set?

Tōma served the third ball.

Libero Teragane Gō made a solid receive. Ōki Kazuki jumped to set.

Takezō launched a four-point offence all at once!

—"Yūjin! Middle!"

Bang!

Both Kunimi and Tōma saw through the setter's intent, but Yamabuki Yūjin failed to react in time.

Ōki's surprise second attack scored the point.

[Aoba Johsai 2 – 1 Takezō]

"Yes!!!"

They finally managed a satisfying point! The pent-up tension on Takezō's side burst forth all at once.

"Sorry!" Yamabuki said, frustrated. He was the only one who hadn't caught on, and that fact stung more than anything.

"Focus. Next ball!"

Oddly enough, the responsibility of stabilising Aoba Johsai's on-court mindset had now fallen onto none other than Kyōtani Kentarō.

"Heh, now that's rare," Taichi said with a grin, amused.

"Taichi, did you notice the sette's second attack coming just now?" Yahaba asked, frowning. "He jumped like he was setting—his form was textbook. Even his eyes were scanning for a spiker. So how did you all figure it out?"

"Was it…not about eye movement?"

"It was about the eyes~," Taichi replied lightly.

"Then…?" Yahaba still looked puzzled.

"It's simple," Taichi said with a smile. "It wasn't during the set—it was before the jump."

"He glanced at Yamabuki for just a second before taking off. After confirming that Yamabuki wasn't going to follow him into the air, he pretended he was going to set."

"That moment?!" Yahaba frowned as he recalled. Yeah…maybe there had been something there, just for an instant. "But that could've just been him reading our defence, right?"

"That's possible too," Taichi agreed, "but his jump was way too close to the net, and he twisted his body sideways to set. If he was going to pass to a spiker, the ball would've been way too close to the net. It was risky."

"If it were a simple set, there'd be no need to take that kind of gamble," he added calmly.

"I see…" Yahaba fell into deep thought. Taichi's not just sharp—his brain really works in battle, too.

"But if it were someone like Kenma, you'd never know which part of the process he's faking," Taichi continued with a smile. "Once he figures out your logic, he'll start planting bait all over the place."

"At that point," Yahaba sighed, "all you can do is guess."

He remembered their practice match against Nekoma well. That eerie feeling of being read like a book by Kozume Kenma… Honestly, their victory had come from Taichi and Kentarō's brute force attacks. As a setter, Yahaba himself hadn't contributed much.

"Guessing's a last resort," Taichi said, eyes gleaming with excitement.

"If you can help it—just move faster than the cat."

_________

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