Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty-Chapter 305: Burden of an Ace

A team's victory is often closely tied to the performance of its ace.

Ever since Aoba Johsai won the Spring Nationals, Kaedehara Taichi had been carrying an immense weight on his shoulders.

The responsibility of being an ace.

The drive to become stronger—strong enough to dictate the game on his own, strong enough to reach the top even without Oikawa Tōru.

And yet—

[Aoba Johsai 25 – 21 Date Tech]

[Aoba Johsai 24 – 26 Date Tech]

[Aoba Johsai 22 – 25 Date Tech]

No team is ever content to stay where they are.

Miyagi Citizen's Prefectural Tournament Finals

Date Tech wins 2-1 against Aoba Johsai, claiming the championship.

-----

"Didn't see that coming..."

"Did Kaedehara Taichi burn out in the last set? It felt like he wasn't getting the ball at all."

"That's the problem, isn't it? Aoba Johsai's level seems way lower than before—it's like a completely different team from Spring Nationals."

"But what really matters is summer. If Aoba Johsai keeps playing like this, they might lose their spot in the Interhigh."

"What are you talking about? This year, Miyagi gets two spots. Besides, it's normal for a team to drop in strength after their third-years graduate. With their Spring Nationals title, they should attract plenty of strong first-years next month."

"That's true…"

"Taichi is still insanely strong as ever. He's going to be Miyagi's biggest name this summer."

"Yes. No one even came close to blocking him till the end!"

"More importantly, isn't Aoba Johsai's setter way too weak? I heard he was Oikawa Tōru's backup for two years—he might get replaced by a first-year soon."

"I thought he played decently in the third set. His sets were accurate, and breaking through Date Tech's block isn't just the setter's responsibility."

"Still, I didn't expect Date Tech to be this strong this year. Looks like Aoba Johsai's road to reclaiming the top spot won't be easy."

-----

"Get some rest for now. We'll go over the match properly once we're back."

"Yes!"

Winning is always the best outcome, but that wasn't the main goal of the prefectural tournament.

As Coach Irihata observed his players, he was satisfied to see determination rather than disappointment in their eyes.

No one had let their Spring Nationals victory make them complacent. They had fought for every point they could.

Kaedehara Taichi and Kunimi Akira had both delivered standout performances. Even Yahaba Shigeru, who had long struggled under the shadow of Oikawa Tōru, had shown steady improvement.

High school volleyball wasn't like the professional leagues—teams changed every year. Third-years graduated, first-years joined.

Even those who had once reached the top couldn't simply cling to past glory.

Aoba Johsai's goal wasn't to protect their throne.

It was to reclaim it.

-----

The team returned to school on the bus. After a short break, they gathered in the gymnasium.

"The Prefectural Tournament is over. I'd say you all did fairly well."

Coach Irihata's tone was calm as he addressed the team.

Kaedehara Taichi and the others wore frustrated expressions, but none of them lowered their heads.

The coach swept his gaze across the room before nodding in approval.

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"Judging by your faces, you've all realized what needs to be done."

"We lost today, but I'm sure you all understand that this loss was meaningful."

"We have three months to fix the weaknesses that were exposed in this match."

"The next time we step onto the court, you'll all be second and third-years. It'll be your turn to become the backbone of this team."

"Especially for those moving up to their final year of high school—I hope you give it everything you've got. No regrets."

"Yes!"

"Spring break is coming up. From the graduation ceremony until the start of the new semester, don't slack off on your individual training."

"Aoba Johsai's foundation runs deep. Step by step, keep growing stronger."

"Yes!!"

-----

That evening, as the self-training session ended and the sky darkened, the club members gradually wrapped up their practice.

"Kunimi!"

"Yahaba-senpai, what's up?"

Yahaba Shigeru gestured for Kunimi Akira to follow him for a moment and said to the two nearby players, "I'm going to discuss something with Kunimi. You and Kindaichi wait here for a bit."

"Alright." Taichi and Kindaichi stepped aside.

"Sorry, Kindaichi, I need to have a word with Taichi," Chiba Kaho suddenly appeared behind them, addressing Kindaichi.

"Okay." Kindaichi Yūtarō walked away on his own.

—

Outside the Third Gymnasium, Yahaba and Kunimi had walked quite a distance, yet Yahaba showed no signs of stopping.

"Yahaba-senpai, how much further are we going?" Kunimi asked wearily.

"Oh, oh, this is fine." Yahaba finally stopped and apologized, "Sorry, I was lost in thought."

"So? What exactly do you want to talk about, senpai?" Kunimi just wanted to go home and rest.

Yahaba hesitated, but when he noticed Kunimi's growing impatience, he finally made up his mind. Taking a deep breath, he asked, "Kunimi, would you be willing to become the team's setter?"

"Not a chance."

Kunimi's response was almost instant.

Yahaba: "..."

He had spent so much time deliberating, mustered up the courage to ask, and this guy didn't even think before rejecting him!

"At least consider it properly."

Kunimi fell silent, counted to three in his head, then replied, "Still no."

Yahaba: "…"

"Can you at least tell me why? I think your coordination with Taichi is excellent, so I figured—"

"Because it's too exhausting," Kunimi answered without hesitation. "Especially setting for Taichi. It's ridiculously tiring."

Yahaba had always thought the first-years were an odd bunch, and now that feeling had only intensified.

"Besides, Aoba Johsai's setter isn't just there to set for Taichi, right?" Kunimi added with a tired expression. "Thinking about that makes it even more exhausting."

"And anyway, isn't the setter position yours, senpai? I can't imagine why you'd give it up—wait, senpai? Yahaba-senpai?"

Yahaba stood frozen.

"Aoba Johsai's setter isn't just there to set for Taichi..."

If he had realized this earlier—before the last two sets—would the outcome of the match have been different?

"Give the ball to Taichi."

What should have been a trump card for crucial moments had become an excuse to avoid making tough decisions.

"...Thinking about it now, I really don't deserve to be Aoba Johsai's setter," Yahaba muttered.

"I actually think your setting is fine," Kaedehara Taichi suddenly appeared behind them. "You did great in the third set, didn't you?"

"Taichi, why are you—?"

Taichi held up his phone, and from the speaker, Oikawa Tōru's voice rang out:

"You idiot, Yahaba! Aoba Johsai's setter can only be you! And you need to be strong—so strong that people will realize that even a setter this good was only Oikawa-sama's backup! You—"

Click!

Taichi hung up.

"Stop looking at me like that. International calls are expensive."

Yahaba: "..."

Kunimi: "..."

"If Yahaba-senpai is only worried about not being as technically refined as Kunimi, then there's no need to think that way," Taichi continued. "After all, Kunimi only stays locked in 'performance mode' for a few minutes at most—he can't slack off as a setter."

"Taichi, you—!" Kunimi's eyes widened. "You really get me!"

Taichi rolled his eyes. "Besides, Kunimi just has more experience working with me. When it comes to setting for Mad Dog-senpai, Yahaba-senpai is way more proficient."

"You two just said it yourselves—Aoba Johsai's setter doesn't exist solely to set for me."

"That's true," Yahaba admitted, "but you are Aoba Johsai's ace. Setting for you is still the setter's most important responsibility."

"Oh~" Taichi grinned. "Then there's really nothing to worry about."

"Because no matter whether it's you or Kunimi, you can both only deliver half of the sets I want."

"So even if Kunimi isn't a setter, I'm still going to make him set for me whenever I feel like it."

"Taichi, you bastard." Kunimi cursed him with genuine feeling.

"Heh." Taichi beamed.

But then, his smile suddenly turned unreadable.

"But more importantly—" he said. "Senpai, you have to settle things with Date Tech yourself, don't you?"

-----

[Author's Notes]:

About Taichi's leg cramp—everyone on the team has good stamina, so why was he the only one who cramped?

Answer: Because he takes on too much. (Speaking of which, my calf cramped while I was typing this.)

[T/N]: Touch some grass, man.

In the original series, Date Tech made it to the top 16 at Nationals. So, are they actually this strong?

Answer: With Futakuchi and Aone on the team, Date Tech is strong. Plus, they had joint training camps with both Aoba Johsai and Shiratorizawa for a while. Originally, they beat Karasuno to qualify for Nationals this year. As for what happens once they graduate...(Let's not talk about that yet.)

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