Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty

"They cracked Taichi's serve in just one play."

Kuroo Tetsurō scowled at the court.

"Now that I think about it, does Aoba Johsai have a grudge against Tokyo? Nekoma, Fukurōdani, Itachiyama…They've faced every Tokyo representative team in a single Nationals."

"So if Aoba Johsai wins against Itachiyama," Kozume Kenma mused, "Taichi will complete two achievements at once."

"What achievements?"

"[Defeat All Five National Aces] and [Conquer Tokyo]."

Kuroo: "…"

Does he think this is a video game?

No, actually—if only Kenma did treat volleyball like a game.

"But beating Itachiyama won't be that easy."

Despite Aoba Johsai holding a slight lead, most of the crowd still favoured Itachiyama.

Part of it was because they were Tokyo locals—

But more than that—

For the past decade, Itachiyama had never missed a single Nationals.

And in those ten years—

They had won three Spring High titles and five Interhigh championships.

"This should be the first time Aoba Johsai has ever faced them. By now, they've probably realized just how difficult this team is to deal with…"

"Unlike the other top schools, each with their own distinct style, Itachiyama's defining trait is balance—"

"Attack, defence, passing—they're the best in the country at everything."

Many people found it odd—

That a team known as the 'Kings' had such an ordinary banner.

[Effort]

But to Itachiyama—

"If effort alone can lead to victory, there's nothing more worthy of pride."

—

The game remained locked in a fierce struggle.

Itachiyama clung tightly to Aoba Johsai, refusing to let them pull away—

Meanwhile, Aoba Johsai denied them any consecutive points.

[Aoba Johsai 15 - 13 Itachiyama]

Itachiyama's serve.

Sakusa Kiyoomi rotated to the front row.

Bang!

Takeshita Yūshin sent a jump float serve across the net.

"Mine!"

Kunimi Akira stepped forward for the receive.

After half a set, Aoba Johsai's players had come to understand—

Itachiyama's stability meant they couldn't rely on mistakes to create a lead.

If they wanted to win—

They had to take the initiative.

Aggressive adjustments.

Strategic offense.

They had to force their own scoring opportunities.

Smack!

Kunimi's pass sailed to the left—

Taichi exploded into the air for the spike.

"Double block!"

Sakano Sawaji and Iizuna Tsukasa jumped to meet him—

Sakusa, behind them, prepared for a possible set to the right.

BOOM!!

A straight-line spike.

Clean.

Unstoppable.

Point—Kaedehara Taichi!

[Aoba Johsai 16 - 13 Itachiyama]

"They can't stop him!"

"Itachiyama's defence is already at its highest level, but it still isn't enough!"

"This is the only first-year among Japan's top three Aces—Kaedehara Taichi!!!"

Commentator Aoi's voice was practically trembling with excitement.

The first time he had seen Taichi play, he had declared—

"This first-year is going to be a star."

He just hadn't expected—

That in only half a year, Taichi would grow into a fully-fledged national Ace.

"The more Taichi shows, the more problems Itachiyama has to solve," Kenma remarked, amused.

It was only fair—he wasn't the only one who should have to deal with these kinds of headaches.

"Itachiyama's giving their best possible response," Kuroo analyzed.

"Since they can't stop him, they're not making any drastic changes. They're letting their blockers and libero adjust naturally over time—"

"But at this rate, they might have to sacrifice the first set."

"…Though, who's really adapting to who?" Kenma muttered under his breath.

Kuroo froze.

That was Nekoma's plan back then—

And yet, the second set had been even worse than the first…

Taichi, Kunimi, Oikawa—

Aoba Johsai had way too many smart players.

"…Give me a piece of candy," Kuroo sighed.

He needed to calm his nerves.

Kenma shot him a glance, then fished around in his pocket before handing one over.

"Not the mint one!"

"Mint's the only one I have!"

-----

The serve rotated.

Oikawa Tōru stepped onto the service line.

Across the court, the Itachiyama players looked grim.

They still hadn't caught up—

And now it was his turn to serve again.

This was the worst possible scenario.

Oikawa tossed the ball, took his approach, and leapt into the air—

BANG!

Jump float serve!

Facing a four-man receive formation, Oikawa decisively adjusted his serving strategy.

The ball cleared the net—

Then plunged

Iizuna Tsukasa dove to his right, forced to receive with an underhand dig.

Smack!

The ball deflected off his arm, wobbling unpredictably—

Thud!

Sakusa Kiyoomi, sprinting back from the front row, kicked the ball skyward.

"Unbelievable! What reflexes! Sakusa Kiyoomi rescues the ball at the last second!"

Nishimura Hiroyuki sent a free ball over.

"Chance ball!"

Watari Shinji's voice rang out.

And for Aoba Johsai—

That only meant one thing.

BOOM!

"It's back! The Oikawa-Kaedehara ultra-fast attack scores again!!"

[Aoba Johsai 17 - 13 Itachiyama]

"Damn it!!"

Sakano Sawaji gritted his teeth.

That first-year was just too fast—

Even tracking him closely, there was no way to keep up once he jumped.

How the hell had Kamomedai managed to contain him?!

"Sawaji-senpai, don't stress!"

From the back row, Komori Motoya called out.

"If you can't get a clean block, just cut off his angles!"

Sakano exhaled.

That was true—

Compared to their blocking, Itachiyama's receiving was far more refined.

At this pace, both teams' offences were moving too fast for a proper defence.

The first to establish a structured attack off their serve—

Would take control of the game.

Aoba Johsai's lead proved one thing—

Their serving pressure was stronger than Itachiyama's.

If someone had said this before Spring High—

Itachiyama's players would have laughed.

After all—

Just Sakusa's serves alone were enough to overwhelm most high school teams.

But no one had expected—

That Aoba Johsai would have two servers of that calibre.

No time to dwell on it.

Oikawa sent his second serve flying.

BANG!

Another jump float!

The last one had worked—

As long as he disrupted the first touch, that was enough.

Smack!

Iizuna reacted faster this time.

The ball drifted to the right—

He took it with an overhead pass.

"Motoya—!"

Iizuna frowned—

Despite the cleaner contact, the ball still dropped awkwardly behind him.

But at least this time—

It was high enough.

Komori surged in from the back row, cleanly bumping it toward the right wing.

Sakusa took his approach and launched from the back row.

"Double block!"

Kaedehara Taichi and Kindaichi Yūtarō shut down his line of sight.

Boom!—

Sakusa adjusted—

A sharp angle past the blockers.

Smack!

Taichi, shifting his arm down, brushed the ball—

"You're not getting away!"

"Touch!"

The ball popped into the air—

A chance ball for Aoba Johsai!

Watari was already in position.

Taichi, landing smoothly, sprinted left, maximizing his approach.

He cut in from the far left—

FWOOOOSH—!

The ball arced perfectly into his path—

And Taichi crushed it down.

BOOM!

SMACK!

Two hands slammed into the ball mid-air.

A perfectly timed block.

One belonged to Iizuna Tsukasa—already waiting.

The other—

Sakusa Kiyoomi—who had sprinted in right after him.

The ball ricocheted off their arms—

And crashed back into Aoba Johsai's court.

Itachiyama scores on a block!

[Aoba Johsai 17 - 14 Itachiyama]

Since their time at the Youth National Training Camp—

All three of Itachiyama's players had marked Kaedehara Taichi as a potential threat.

"No amount of preparation is too much."

This exact scenario—

They had simulated it hundreds of times before.

Taichi had noticed Iizuna's block.

A single blocker?

Not an issue.

But because of that—

He had ignored the presence of Sakusa, lurking just behind.

"Taichi—"

Sakusa's voice was low.

"It's about time I blocked you."

_________

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