Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty-Chapter 405: Japan’s Number One

"UAAAAAAAH!!!"

"Unbelievable—!"

"That's insane—!"

Both sides fought with everything they had, but after a gruelling rally, Aoba Johsai finally seized the point!

The score was tied once again, just before the end of the set!

Service rotated—Aoba Johsai to serve.

Yahaba Shigeru targeted Miya Atsumu with a sharp jump float serve.

Bang!

Smack!

Miya Atsumu received it cleanly, delivering a perfect first pass.

Miya Osamu quickly slid into position, and Inarizaki launched a three-point front-row assault.

Knowing that Osamu wouldn't attempt a setter dump, Aoba Johsai's front-row trio locked onto Inarizaki's attackers with strict one-on-one blocking.

Whoosh—!

Miya Osamu chose to bypass both Yūki Yōji and Kaedehara Taichi, setting the ball far to the left for Ginjima Hitoshi's spike.

Boom!!!—

The volleyball easily evaded Kunimi Akira's block, flying toward Aoba Johsai's backcourt.

"Too slow."

In that moment, Nakamori Daiki could hardly believe the incredible state he found himself in. It was as if every single cell in his body had been activated—even the speed of the ball seemed slower to him.

Smack!

Just as the volleyball was about to hit the floor, Nakamori's hands rose up sharply and smoothly, catching the ball with perfect precision.

There was no hesitation whatsoever—it was as if he had already known where the ball would land, effortlessly receiving it with immaculate form.

The usual effort it took to control the strength and direction of his arms felt almost unnecessary. His body and the volleyball seemed connected by a strange harmony—the moment the ball approached, his instincts alone led him to the correct response.

"Beautiful...what a receive!"

Yahaba Shigeru couldn't help but admire it as the ball flew steadily toward him.

Whoosh—!

The volleyball flew toward the right wing.

Thud!

Kaedehara Taichi sprinted forward and leapt up for the spike.

"Triple block!" Ginjima Hitoshi, Nojima Nobu, and Miya Atsumu jumped up together.

"Damn it...His contact point is even higher than before, right at the end of the set…"

BOOM!!!

An over-the-block spike!

The volleyball blasted straight down the sideline into Inarizaki's backcourt.

Point for Aoba Johsai!

[Aoba Johsai 24 - 23 Inarizaki]

Aoba Johsai reached set point first.

Yahaba Shigeru served again.

Bang!

Sticking to the same strategy, Yahaba once more targeted Miya Atsumu.

Ordinarily, this would have risked giving the Miya twins a chance to launch their devastating quick attacks, but right now, Yahaba had full confidence in Nakamori Daiki's receiving.

This way, they could pin down Inarizaki's ace without worry!

Smack!

Miya Atsumu didn't immediately push the ball to Osamu, instead opting to lift it high.

This undoubtedly made Osamu's setting task more difficult, but it bought Atsumu extra time to prepare for his own attack.

Miya Osamu quickly moved into place, a smile rising on his face.

Even a setter had to give it everything they had at a moment like this.

Inarizaki launched an all-out attack from four available points!

Whoosh—!

The ball headed toward the right wing, where Miya Atsumu was already airborne.

Without the slightest hesitation, Inarizaki once again unleashed a lightning-quick assault!

Kaedehara Taichi jumped for the block.

Swish!

Miya Atsumu swung and missed—the real kill move was coming from behind—Riseki Heisuke's back-row attack!

Kaedehara Taichi knew, even if Inarizaki managed to tie the score, Aoba Johsai would still win in the end.

But—

Why drag it out any longer?

It was time to end it.

Thud!

Kaedehara Taichi jumped up again from his spot. Although his height was nowhere near as high as his first block, Riseki Heisuke was only executing a back-row attack after all.

"I knew it wouldn't be that easy." Riseki Heisuke remained composed.

Kaedehara Taichi sealed off the straight-line path.

BOOM!

The volleyball dodged the block and flew towards Aoba Johsai's court.

Smack!

The ball soared high into the air. A distinct brilliance and confidence flashed in Nakamori Daiki's eyes.

"This point belongs to Aoba Johsai!"

Kunimi Akira swiftly covered the spot, and Kaedehara Taichi took a lateral step before leaping up again!

"Send it over—!"

Whoosh!—

The ball was precisely set high to the middle.

Miya Osamu closely followed Kaedehara Taichi's move, teaming up with Nojima Nobu to form a double block in the middle.

"You should know better than anyone that speed alone can't win," Miya Osamu said as he locked eyes with Kaedehara Taichi across the net.

"Who said we're trying to win with speed?" Kaedehara Taichi caught the thought behind Miya Osamu's gaze and couldn't help but smirk slightly.

In just a split second in midair, Kaedehara Taichi had already locked onto Inarizaki's block.

BOOM!!!—

Miya Osamu's eyebrows furrowed tightly, his expression twisting in frustration.

The volleyball deflected off his fingertips and flew far over Inarizaki's court, landing deep into the stands.

Smack!

A lucky spectator sitting in the fifth row of the second-floor stands caught the ball, the force of it making his whole body jolt from the impact.

"How's anyone supposed to receive that…" Sakurai Shōta muttered blankly as he stared at the stands.

Touch out.

Kaedehara Taichi scored with a spike.

[Aoba Johsai 25 – 23 Inarizaki]

"Osamu-senpai, if you're the ace, how could you hand over such a crucial ball to someone else?" Taichi asked seriously.

"Beeep—!"

The long whistle echoed across the arena.

The second set was over.

Winner: Aoba Johsai.

"Another two-set sweep? And against Inarizaki, no less?!" someone in the stands exclaimed, unable to hide their regret and disbelief.

"Even with the Miya twins and Suna Rintarō, they couldn't take a single set off Aoba Johsai?!"

Inarizaki's cheering section was even more restless, their voices thick with incredulity.

After all, this was the year Inarizaki had aimed for the championship. Miya Atsumu, Miya Osamu, and Suna Rintarō had each had brilliant, unforgettable moments throughout the tournament. Rumour even had it that professional teams had already offered them tryouts.

And yet, this highly anticipated semifinal had ended far too quickly in the spectators' eyes—almost anticlimactically. Especially that second set, where it had felt like Inarizaki might finally take a game. If only they could have snatched one set, kept the suspense alive just a little longer…

Inarizaki High School.

Defeated in the semifinals of the IH National Tournament.

They stopped at the Top 4.

Now, Aoba Johsai had only one match left.

Kaedehara Taichi turned to look at the two teams leaving the arena first from either side of the stands—Seijoh's next opponents were between Itachiyama and Kamomedai. In the afternoon, the winner between them would determine who would face Aoba Johsai for the final match.

It was a rare sight—three of the nation's top three aces had all lasted until the final stages of Nationals.

But now, another whisper was beginning to spread—

"The Nation's Number One—Kaedehara Taichi."

As the only second-year among the nation's top three aces, Kaedehara Taichi had become the player most favoured by both the audience and the media. And there was one simple reason:

Aoba Johsai's record spoke for itself.

No matter who the opponent was, Aoba Johsai had yet to drop a single set.

No matter who the opponent was, in the final moments, Kaedehara Taichi always took over the match.

_________

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