Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty-Chapter 204: Star Player (Double-Length)
"Coach, can I go in now?" Bokuto Kōtarō seemed to have shaken off his earlier frustration.
Hibarida Fuki didn't answer immediately. Instead, he asked, "Bokuto, I recall Volleyball Monthly ranking you among the top five aces in the nation, alongside a few others."
"Uh…yeah." It was rare to see Bokuto this quiet.
"Even though the whole 'Top Five' or 'Top Three' thing is just a gimmick from Volleyball Monthly, the fact that there's little controversy about it means the public sees some truth in those rankings," Hibarida said, turning to face him. "So, Bokuto, why aren't you in the top three?"
Bokuto didn't answer. He simply stepped past Hibarida, gazing at the ongoing match in silence.
"…Coach, can I go in now?" Bokuto asked again.
Hibarida looked at his back and let out a soft chuckle.
They had kept an eye on Bokuto Kōtarō since his first year, when he became a starting player for Fukurodani.
From a young age, he had set his sights on going pro.
His technique—especially his ability to read the ball's trajectory—was remarkably precise.
But his childlike personality had been a constant headache for the U19 coaching staff.
Just what kind of player was he, really?
At this moment, as Hibarida took in Bokuto's broad back, the defined muscle lines, and the calmness in his voice, realization dawned on him.
Maybe Bokuto understood everything already. Maybe he was just waiting for the right moment to grow.
"Go, Bokuto Kōtarō," Hibarida thought, feeling a sudden surge of anticipation.
Beep! The Youth National Team called for a substitution—Bokuto Kōtarō IN, Ojiro Aran OUT.
Bokuto exchanged places with Ojiro without any flashy gestures.
But because it was Bokuto Kōtarō, not being flashy was what felt the most unusual.
[Ding! Bokuto Kōtarō has entered Burst Mode]
[Bokuto Kōtarō (Burst Mode)—Outside Hitter: Overall Ability Rating: 96.7
Height: 185.3 cm | Power: 98 | Jump: 95 | Stamina: 97 | Speed: 95
Technique: Serve: 96 | Receive: 96 | Spike: 100]
A player who could get dejected over the smallest thing was also capable of becoming unexpectedly unstoppable.
The moment Bokuto stepped onto the court, his entire presence ignited.
The worst part? Miya Atsumu had just missed a serve, handing the ball to the Youth National Team.
And stepping up to the service line was Oikawa Tōru.
This was the signal for a counterattack.
Against Oikawa, it was impossible to cover both of his serve variations at once.
"Step back a bit. Oikawa-senpai's jump serve is stronger," Kaedehara Taichi advised. "If he uses a float serve, we'll just have to react accordingly."
As Oikawa's teammate, Taichi's insight carried weight.
Even though the three back-row receivers were confident in their skills, they all took a small step backwards.
Oikawa gritted his teeth. Are they seriously underestimating my float serve?!
He tossed the ball into the air, rushed forward, and smashed it with a powerful jump serve.
Sure enough, if they had prepared for his float serve instead, this would have turned into a quick attack for the Reserve Team.
BOOM!
The serve shot straight toward Miya Atsumu. Despite his earlier mistake, Atsumu remained completely focused. The extra space from stepping back gave him more time to adjust his posture.
Smack!
Kageyama Tobio swiftly moved into position, setting the ball high in the centre. Hoshiumi Kōrai soared up and spiked it down.
Bang!
Smack!
Finally, Tatsuki Washio managed to time Hoshiumi's spike, scoring an effective block touch.
Iizuna Tsukasa sprinted to the baseline to save the ball while Oikawa dashed forward to set.
As they passed each other, their eyes met—each instantly understanding the other's intent.
"Bokuto!" Oikawa called out.
His first ball back on the court had to be spectacular.
Iizuna's pass was clean. As the ball floated into Oikawa's hands, he jumped, weighing his options.
But the man who had been waiting quietly on the side…
He hadn't moved much.
And yet, his presence was impossible to ignore.
—Whoosh!
Oikawa sent the ball soaring to the left wing.
Bokuto sprinted in from outside the sideline at an angle.
"Three-man block!"
Kaedehara Taichi, Hoshiumi Kōrai, and Kageyama Tobio jumped, sealing off the crosscourt angle.
Taichi and Hoshiumi stretched their hands as far as they could, pressing them diagonally to eliminate Bokuto's cross-shot.
Bokuto's body unfurled midair, his right arm drawing back to its limit. Unlike Kyōtani Kentarō, who folded his entire torso for insane angles, Bokuto's form balanced power and grace.
"Atsumu! Block the straight shot!"
Kaedehara Taichi's instincts kicked in. He shouted out without hesitation—even skipping the honorifics.
Atsumu didn't care about that detail. He had already been watching Bokuto's movements. Even though he didn't believe Bokuto could hit a straight shot, he still shuffled a step toward the sideline.
BOOM!!
Bokuto's straight shot arrived right on cue.
But what no one expected—
It slammed into the three-meter line.
[Reserve Team 21 – 21 Youth National Team]
"…He really pulled that off?"
"I thought for sure he was going crosscourt!"
"Not only did he fake the angle, but he practically crushed it into the front row! That was insane!"
Players on the sidelines gasped in shock. But Bokuto simply stared at the spot where the ball had landed, completely focused.
Actually, the crosscourt shot might've worked too, he thought absentmindedly.
"Taichi, did you know he was going for the straight shot?" Hoshiumi asked.
Even though he had blocked directly in front of Bokuto, he had been convinced the shot would go crosscourt.
"…No." Taichi's expression was serious. "I thought he would go for the cross. But Bokuto-senpai has great court vision. Since we sealed off the cross shot so tightly, I had Atsumu guard the straight."
"…But…"
"Based on that shot just now, he probably could have hit the cross, too," Taichi admitted.
"Agreed," Hoshiumi muttered, still rattled.
A few months ago, Kaedehara Taichi, Hoshiumi Kōrai, and Bokuto Kōtarō had all been eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Interhigh Nationals.
In another timeline, Hoshiumi and Bokuto could have faced off as opponents.
Oikawa's eyes lit up.
Man, coming here was the best decision ever. Just playing against these monsters makes it worth it.
BOOM!
Oikawa's second serve tore through the air.
Sakusa Kiyoomi received it almost perfectly, sending the ball into Kageyama's hands.
Terrifying…Oikawa thought. Sakusa's technique was so refined, he barely felt like a high school player.
Kageyama jumped.
Kaedehara Taichi and Hoshiumi Kōrai both sprinted forward.
"Waka-chan!"
Kageyama Tobio twisted his body midair and spiked the ball straight down.
Thanks to Oikawa Tōru's earlier call, Kiryū Wakatsu had already taken a step forward.
The moment he saw Kageyama's attack, he dove forward and just barely managed to save the ball with a last-second dive.
"Damn it!" Kageyama clicked his tongue in frustration. Only Oikawa-senpai could occasionally read his second-touch attacks.
Oikawa shot Kageyama a smug glance.
In truth, he had to thank his monstrous teammates.
Even if he had predicted the attack, under normal circumstances, his teammates wouldn't have been able to save it in time.
Iizuna Tsukasa took two steps forward from the back row and leapt into the air. For a brief moment, it was as if he had frozen in midair.
—Whoosh!
With a sharp motion, he set the ball high into the air towards the right wing.
"Phew...That was close. For a second, I almost forgot I was a libero..." Iizuna sighed in relief, realizing that for a split second, he had nearly gone for a back-row attack.
???
The Reserve Team's blockers hesitated for a moment, having been momentarily faked out. Only when the ball was set did they scramble to react.
Bokuto Kōtarō's eyes lit up.
Even with Ushijima Wakatoshi in the front row, both setters had consecutively chosen to set the ball to him!
Ace!
They trust me as their ace!
"Triple block!" The Reserve Team's front-row players leapt again.
Kaedehara Taichi and Hoshiumi Kōrai stepped laterally, synchronized in their approach. Their block this time was even higher than before!
Bokuto approached from outside the sideline, mirroring his movement from the previous play.
"He wouldn't…"
"This time, his cross-court angle is completely shut down!"
"If he still tries to go for it, he's gonna get stuffed—"
Even the players on the sidelines were holding their breath at Bokuto's decision.
There was no doubt—he was going for the cross-court spike!
Suspended midair, Bokuto seemed to defy gravity. His core strength kept him airborne for an extra fraction of a second.
No—this wasn't an illusion.
The Reserve Team's blockers were already descending, but Bokuto remained up there!
The players around him, most of them first and second years, felt their heartbeats accelerate, their attention completely locked onto Bokuto's movements.
Bokuto raised his arm high. His body had already started to descend, yet in that exact moment, he whipped his hand down, gathering all his power into a single point.
At the moment of impact, he flicked his wrist, subtly altering the ball's trajectory.
BANG!
With an explosive force, the ball cut through the air in a straight line, slipping past the three-man block and the narrow space above the net. It shot toward the precise intersection of the three-meter line and the sideline—
THWACK!
The ball slammed into the ground and bounced high into the air.
The Way of Ace:
Always inspire your teammates with your back.
No matter what kind of wall stands before you, shatter it.
Every ball must be spiked!
"Hey! Hey! HEY!!!"
Bokuto let out a triumphant roar, facing the sideline, his back to his teammates.
"Hey! Hey! HEY!!!"
The players on the sidelines instinctively echoed his cry. For a moment, the entire court seemed to be bathed in Bokuto's presence.
"Hahaha…"
Hibarida Fuki chuckled. There are players like him—athletes who can control the entire atmosphere with their presence, lifting both their team and the crowd.
A true star ace.
[Reserve Team 21 – 22 Japan Youth Team]
At the crucial moment, the Japan Youth Team had taken the lead!
Oikawa Tōru stepped up to the service line, a knowing smirk on his face.
"Taichi, after seeing that, can you still hold yourself back?"
[Ding! The Host has entered Burst Mode]
[Kaedehara Taichi (Burst Mode)—Outside Hitter:
Height: 188 cm | Power: 99 | Jump: 92 | Stamina: 95 | Speed: 98
Technique: Serve: 98 | Receive: 92 | Set: 88 | Spike: 96]
[Ding! Hoshiumi Kōrai has entered Burst Mode]
[Hoshiumi Kōrai (Burst Mode)—Outside Hitter: Overall Ability Rating: 96
Height: 169.2 cm | Power: 90 | Jump: 100 | Stamina: 98 | Speed: 92
Technique: Serve: 98 | Receive: 98 | Set: 92 | Spike: 100]
After being directly challenged by Bokuto Kōtarō—who could possibly remain calm?
Oikawa served for the third time, this time targeting Komori Motoya.
Smack!
Komori handled the serve with ease.
For a moment, Oikawa wondered if there was something wrong with his serve.
THUMP!
Hoshiumi leapt into the air.
Only Mujinazaka's Unnan had jumped to block.
SMASH!
Without drawing in extra blockers, Hoshiumi went for a direct spike!
Despite an imperfect set, Hoshiumi forced the ball straight to the backline.
Smack!
Iizuna reacted instantly, cushioning the ball as he retreated.
Oikawa quickly stepped in. The Reserve Team's defence had shifted toward Bokuto, and after a brief hesitation, he set the ball left—
For the first time, Ushijima Wakatoshi had been completely overlooked.
His face remained expressionless. Bokuto's performance hadn't affected him, but it was rare for him to be left completely unguarded.
As the high ball descended, Ushijima began his approach.
Komori, Sakusa, and Miya Atsumu all turned to focus on him.
Kageyama had no time to reach the left side. Hoshiumi was sprinting over, but the only one who could set up a proper block in time was—
Kaedehara Taichi.
At the very least, he had to form a barrier in front of Ushijima.
Ushijima jumped, swinging into his spike—
Right in front of him, Taichi extended both arms.
Ushijima adjusted, spiking down the straight line instead.
BOOM!!
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SMACK!
THWACK!
Three sounds rang out almost simultaneously.
Ushijima's spike.
A hand appears from below on the right.
Another hand reaching from the left.
The ball ricocheted off both Hoshiumi and Taichi's hands, bouncing back into the Japan Youth Team's court.
Iizuna tried to kick-save it but failed.
[Reserve Team 22 – 22 Japan Youth Team]
They had actually blocked Ushijima!
Aside from the two blockers, no one had anticipated this outcome.
"Yosshaa!—"
Hoshiumi and Taichi jumped and high-fived midair—finally, the Reserve Team had stopped the Japan Youth Team's scoring streak!
Serve change.
Kageyama Tobio stepped up to serve.
He tossed the ball, took his approach, and launched into his serve.
His form—his entire motion—was identical to Oikawa Tōru's.
BOOM!
Even the sheer force of the serve was identical!
Iizuna braced himself, absorbing the serve's impact and sending it high.
Oikawa rushed over and set the ball to the right. Bokuto leapt once again—
"Double block!"
This time, the Reserve Team had committed to a two-man block, with four defenders covering the court behind them.
Kaedehara Taichi and Chigaya Eikichi stood in front of Bokuto.
Sakusa covered the sharp cross, Hoshiumi stepped back to cover the straight shot, Miya Atsumu guarded the deep angle, and Kageyama anchored the centre.
BAM!
"This is AMAZING!!!"
Bokuto's eyes sparkled. Being completely marked only made him more excited.
In an instant, he locked eyes with Taichi—his instincts screamed that if he spiked right, he'd be shut down.
So—he twisted his wrist at the last second, slamming the ball down against Chigaya's forearm.
The ball dropped straight through the seam.
Bokuto scored!
[Reserve Team 22 – 23 Japan Youth Team]
"Hey! Hey! HEY!!!"
Bokuto's celebration echoed through the gym once more.
_________
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