Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty-Chapter 385: A Terrifying Team

"Hahaha…Taichi really does enjoy messing with interesting underclassmen," Hibarida Fuki laughed.

"Oh? What do you mean?" Katase Jun asked curiously. He had seen Kaedehara Taichi break the will of Date Tech's first-year ace during the Miyagi finals, but as far as he knew, Hibarida wasn't aware of that incident.

"I heard from one of the Tokyo coordinators that Aoba Johsai went on a little tour around Tokyo during Golden Week."

"A little tour?" Katase Jun chuckled. "You make it sound like they were out there, organising concerts."

"They played against all of last year's Tokyo top 8—and returned to Miyagi completely undefeated."

"Well, damn…" Katase Jun shook his head. He figured this probably had something to do with the Tokyo media labelling Aoba Johsai as the third seed. "So who's the interesting underclassman in question?"

"Haha, all the well-known guys from middle school usually end up at a few specific schools, right?" Hibarida Fuki grinned. "Itachiyama, Fukurodani, Nekoma…naturally, Taichi gave their first-years some extra special attention."

"Hahaha…that guy, I swear…" Katase Jun couldn't help but laugh. Whatever annoyance he'd felt about the genius from his alma mater getting bullied vanished into thin air.

He glanced casually at Hibarida Fuki. It seemed like the guy genuinely liked that unique weirdo.

-----

Serve rotation. Aoba Johsai to serve.

"You're about to face Inubishi Higashi's first-years at the net next rotation, and you still can't wait?" Kunimi Akira stared at Kaedehara Taichi, muttering complaints in his head. "Receiving the serve yourself and jumping straight into the attack right after? That's a pretty clear message…"

"Kunimi?" Kaedehara Taichi turned around, confused by the vague aura of resentment coming from behind him.

"So annoying…" Kunimi muttered, walking up to the service line.

Taichi: "???"

"Kunimi, give 'em a good one!" Kindaichi Yūtarō called out excitedly, still amped up by Taichi's earlier spike.

Kunimi let out a sigh and tossed the ball up.

Bang!

A jump float serve.

Kunimi's target was the back row—Shimura Ryo!

The ball floated over the net lazily, giving Shimura plenty of time to prepare. But still, the trajectory was impossible to read!

Smack!

As Shimura raised his arms to receive, the ball veered just slightly—drifting further back at the last moment.

Tap!

The ball grazed his fingertips and dropped to the floor.

Service ace by Kunimi Akira.

[Aoba Johsai 4 - 2 Inubishi Higashi]

"Another service ace! This time from Aoba Johsai's Kunimi!"

"That bizarre float serve is giving Inubishi Higashi all kinds of trouble!"

On the sidelines, Coach Terashima's expression was grim. Something about this set wasn't right...

Kunimi served again, targeting Shimura Ryo once more.

Bang!

Moriyama Makoto moved closer to help Shimura. This time, the ball nosedived just inside the three-meter line.

"I got it!" Moriyama dove for the save.

If Shimura had taken the receive, Inubishi Higashi didn't have as many offensive options as Aoba Johsai.

Smack!

"Saved it!" Moriyama called out.

Shimura quickly filled in, sending the ball to the middle. Sanada Shunpei leapt up for a spike.

"Double block!"

Kindaichi Yūtarō and Kyōtani Kentarō both jumped to block.

"—!?"

In midair, Sanada felt three sharp gazes pierce into him. Kaedehara Taichi, Nakamori Daiki, and Kunimi Akira had sealed off Aoba Johsai's back row completely.

No room to swing.

Sanada hesitated—his first hesitation all game.

Bang!—

The ball dropped between Kyōtani's arms and the net.

Off the block and into the net. Point for Inubishi Higashi.

[Aoba Johsai 4 - 3 Inubishi Higashi]

"Damn it…" Kyōtani growled under his breath.

When you're shorter, if your hands press downward, you lose blocking height and become easy to tool; but if you keep your hands upright or "tray-style" for a clean touch, you risk gaps that opponents can sneak the ball through.

In volleyball, height doesn't just affect offence.

Serve rotation. Inubishi Higashi to serve.

Naitō Tetsuto launched a powerful jump serve. Nakamori Daiki received it easily, and Tōma Kaoru set it from the front row. ƒreewebɳovel.com

"Shunpei-senpai!"

"That guy again?!"

Just as Kai Suzuharu shouted, Sanada Shunpei had already jumped in front of Tōma to block.

Whoosh—!

But the ball flew to the far right instead—Kyōtani Kentarō leapt up in one stride.

"Double block!" Kai Suzuharu and Kumadō Sōichi went up together.

BOOM!!!—

As if to declare war, the spike roared across the court from Aoba Johsai's right wing, slamming down just inside Inubishi Higashi's left-side three-meter line.

Bang!

The ball bounced up beneath Sanada's feet.

You lose a point, you take one back. Kyōtani Kentarō scored.

[Aoba Johsai 5 - 3 Inubishi Higashi]

Sanada Shunpei locked eyes with Tōma Kaoru across the net. More than Kyōtani's spike, what caught his attention was that first-year setter's aggressiveness.

Unlike the slender, timid-looking Yahaba Shigeru, Tōma had a sharp, attacking presence. Sanada was certain—those eyes from earlier weren't a decoy. If he hadn't blocked him, that setter absolutely would've gone for a dump.

Serve rotation. Aoba Johsai to serve.

Kyōtani Kentarō walked up to the service line. Kaedehara Taichi rotated to the front row—facing Sanada Shunpei across the net.

"Looks like you still don't get it, even after the first set," Kaedehara said quietly. "Aoba Johsai didn't make it this far because I'm strong. It's because every single one of us is strong."

BOOM!!

Kyōtani Kentarō served an ace.

[Aoba Johsai 6 - 3 Inubishi Higashi]

"Aoba Johsai's serve is unstoppable!!!"

"Following Yūki Yōji and Kunimi Akira, Kyōtani Kentarō also lands a direct service point!"

"Unreal…" Coach Terashima finally realised what that strange feeling was. Though they'd managed to end Kaedehara Taichi's service run with just one point, now every single one of Aoba Johsai's attackers was scoring service aces in turn!

"This team is terrifying."

"Tweet!—"

"Time-out requested by Inubishi Higashi."

Against the emotional Kyōtani Kentarō, Coach Terashima didn't hesitate to use a time-out to cool his momentum.

Besides, a three-point deficit was the limit Inubishi Higashi could handle. If they let Aoba Johsai run with the momentum, the second set would be over in no time.

"Keep it close! The court is where players grow the fastest. Treat every one of their serves like it's match point—you can do it!"

"Yes, Coach!"

"Kai, don't think about stuffing Kaedehara Taichi. Just focus on limiting his angles."

"Got it!"

"If we can hold out until the end of the set, give every ball to Sanada. That's when we'll turn this match around!"

"YES!!"

-----

Time-out over. The game resumed.

Kyōtani Kentarō, slightly shaken by the time-out, made a service error. When Sanada Shunpei took the service line, he targeted both Kyōtani and Yūki Yōji—scoring three consecutive points and briefly tying the game.

But the flow of the match remained firmly in Aoba Johsai's grasp. Kaedehara Taichi's relentless offence pulled them back into the lead.

Even so, Sanada Shunpei's performance steadily improved. And Kai Suzuharu didn't falter despite being the target of Kaedehara's pressure.

With Sanada burning energy to trade blows with Kaedehara, the crowd began to heat up—after all, nothing fired up an audience like a clash of aces.

But then—

BOOM!!!

A service laser from Kyōtani Kentarō kissed the baseline.

[Aoba Johsai 20 - 16 Inubishi Higashi]

Aoba Johsai hit 20 points first, with a four-point lead.

Aoba Johsai served again.

Yūki Yōji fired a powerful jump serve. Moriyama received it cleanly.

Kumadō Sōichi set it to the right. Sanada spiked—point scored.

[Aoba Johsai 20 - 17 Inubishi Higashi]

——

Serve rotation.

Akiha Kazuma served—and aced it.

[Aoba Johsai 20 - 18 Inubishi Higashi]

——

Akiha served again, but this one hit the net.

Point to Aoba Johsai.

[Aoba Johsai 21 - 18 Inubishi Higashi]

——

Kaedehara Taichi scored with a super-high spike.

[Aoba Johsai 22 - 18 Inubushi-Higashi]

——

Kai Suzuharu broke through the block with a delayed timing spike and scored.

[Aoba Johsai 22 - 19 Inubushi-Higashi]

Serve rotation—Inubushi-Higashi to serve.

Sanada Shunpei tossed the ball up, stepped into his run-up, leapt, and struck it.

Boom!

Smack!

Finally, Kentarō Kyōtani—who had been relentlessly targeted by serves—managed to receive the ball.

"Cover!"

Kunimi Akira sprinted past the right sideline and sent the ball high toward the right wing.

Kindaichi Yūtarō jumped and spiked.

"Triple block!"

Boom!!—

—Smack!

The moment the ball flew off his hand, it struck Kai Suzuharu's arm and bounced back into Aoba Johsai's court.

Inubushi-Higashi scored off the block.

[Aoba Johsai 22 - 20 Inubushi-Higashi]

Among the entire match between Aoba Johsai and Inubushi-Higashi, the one position that had been having the roughest time—was Kindaichi Yūtarō's.

He couldn't block Sanada Shunpei on defence, and his attacks kept getting shut down on offence.

The two middle blockers on Inubushi-Higashi—Akiha Kazuma and Kai Suzuharu—one was taller and stronger, while the other was more agile and had an impeccable sense of timing at the net…

"What am I even doing out here?"

Kindaichi could clearly feel how much Kyōtani and Kunimi had grown, and yet he, who had always worked quietly and diligently, seemed to have changed the least.

"Have I been the one stuck in a comfort zone all along? Maybe just grinding day after day in the same way isn't enough..."

"There's definitely something I'm still missing."

"But this isn't the time to dwell on that!"

Kindaichi's brain, simple as it was, didn't allow for deep contemplation in the heat of the moment.

"Even if I have to rely on my teammates, as long as I'm on the court—I'll do everything I can to make an impact!"

"…This guy…" Kaedehara Taichi didn't even have time to comment before he saw the determination return to Kindaichi's eyes.

Kunimi, however, was never the type to rush things. He had always known that Kindaichi was the kind of person who, once he found a path, would follow it through to the end.

"Tweet!—"

The whistle blew to signal the serve.

Sanada Shunpei served his second ball.

Boom!—

It came at a slightly faster pace than the previous one, but its accuracy remained flawless.

Smack!

Kyōtani received it with a fierce expression, and Kunimi was quick to support.

"Kunimi!" Kaedehara Taichi called from the left. That guy was always trying to slack off unless someone yelled at him—just like the last ball, where he went for the easier toss to Kindaichi and got blocked. Taichi figured Kunimi was at least half to blame for that.

Whoosh—!

Kunimi frowned as he sent a high, precise set across the court toward the left wing.

Thud!

Kaedehara Taichi jumped for the spike.

"Triple block!" Kai Suzuharu, Kumadō Sōichi, and Shimura Ryo leapt together.

Kai Suzuharu stood directly in front of Taichi, unflinching.

But it didn't matter.

BOOM!!!

The volleyball blasted straight past all three of them and slammed into the floor just inside Inubushi-Higashi's right three-meter line.

Kaedehara Taichi scored with a spike.

[Aoba Johsai 23 - 20 Inubushi-Higashi]

Moriyama Makoto's outstretched hand froze in midair. He had known exactly where the ball would go—yet he hadn't been able to touch it.

Serve rotation—Aoba Johsai to serve.

"Kindaichi, give us a good one!"

Kaedehara Taichi casually piled the pressure onto Kindaichi—not that it mattered if he missed. What mattered was the momentum.

Kindaichi Yūtarō took a deep breath and launched a powerful jump serve.

BOOM!!

"Nice serve!"

A serve full of spirit, completely unafraid!

Smack!

Sanada Shunpei was forced to receive it, the force of the ball even staggering his stance.

"Damn it!"

Shimura Ryo stepped in to help and sent it to the centre. Kumadō Sōichi spiked it hard.

Boom!

Smack!

"One touch!" Kaedehara Taichi shouted toward the back.

"Chance ball!"

Kyōtani picked it up and delivered a perfect first touch.

Tōma Kaoru jumped to set. In the front row, Yūki Yōji and Kaedehara Taichi launched a synchronised attack.

At 195cm tall, Yūki Yōji looked intimidating—but Kai Suzuharu only gave him a glance before dismissing him as the decoy.

"Middle! Block the middle!"

At the very least, they had to stop one ball! Inubushi-Higashi's front row rushed to the centre.

"Triple block!" Kai Suzuharu, Kumadō Sōichi, and Shimura Ryo jumped at once.

Boom!

For a moment, time seemed to stretch out.

Moriyama Makoto silently watched the ball fall in front of him.

Tōma Kaoru had scored with a second-touch attack!

[Aoba Johsai 24 - 20 Inubushi-Higashi]

Inubushi-Higashi: "???"

"What the...?"

What shocked them more than the fact that Tōma scored with a dump was the fact that Kai Suzuharu had made a misjudgment.

He might have been slow to react or missed a read before, but he had never gotten one wrong. He couldn't explain his predictive ability in words—but his teammates firmly believed it was some kind of instinctual genius.

Yet for the first time, that genius had faltered.

"What the hell?" Katase Jun's brows furrowed. Kai Suzuharu's rare talent was exactly why Coach Terashima had contacted him early on. If something happened to that ability…

"Don't worry," Hibarida Fuki chuckled. "My guess is—it's the overwhelming pressure from Taichi at the net. He couldn't process the rest of the court."

"Look at his eyes. Honestly, I think this might be a good thing for him."

Kai Suzuharu kept his eyes locked on Kaedehara Taichi. He could feel the information inside his head shifting.

There was too much to process when it came to Kaedehara Taichi—so much that it crowded his thoughts. Add to that the suffocating pressure Taichi created at the net, and it was almost like his previous decision had been a reflex.

But because of that, Kai Suzuharu now understood even more clearly what information he needed to focus on.

"I need to overcome my fear first… and next time, I'll block you!" Kai Suzuharu stared straight at Kaedehara Taichi as he declared this.

"How fun." Kaedehara Taichi beamed. "You're even more interesting than Sarukui Fūto!"

Tweet!—

Kindaichi Yūtarō sent his second serve flying.

BOOM!!

Smack!

Sanada Shunpei received it again.

Kai Suzuharu and Shimura Ryo locked eyes before running left.

Whoosh—!

Shimura Ryo backed them up and sent the ball high to the left. Sanada Shunpei came charging in from the back row.

Boom!—

But before that happened—Kai Suzuharu had already leapt and spiked.

Using their ace as bait—this was the inspiration Kai Suzuharu had drawn from Tōma Kaoru!

—Smack!

"In terms of attacking...it seems you're not exactly gifted." Kaedehara Taichi's hands stopped the ball dead centre.

Thud!

The ball hit the ground.

Kaedehara Taichi scored with a block!

[Aoba Johsai 25 - 20 Inubushi-Higashi]

"My bad—your spike's kinda weak."

Though Taichi's words were polite, they sent a chill down Kai Suzuharu's spine.

"Looks like before you think about blocking me, you should worry about not getting blocked yourself."

"Tweet—!"

The whistle blew as Kai Suzuharu stood stunned.

Match over.

Winner: Aoba Johsai.

_________

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