Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty-Chapter 363: I’m Not Going to Wait for You
"Not sure what Taichi is thinking right now, but if Seijoh loses this match here—" Futakuchi Kenji frowned deeply. "He'll definitely be the one to blame."
The Date Tech players all turned to look at Futakuchi in surprise. After all, he was the one most wary of Kaedehara Taichi on their team. It was rare for him to make such a critical comment.
Futakuchi pointed toward the court.
"Maybe he's been influenced by Karasuno's super-quick attack, but Seijoh's Kunimi Akira and Nakamori Daiki—Taichi's clearly expecting them to set the same kind of ball for him."
"I thought they'd already practised it enough in private, but messing it up three times in a single set? That just proves they're ready."
"You can tell at a glance how difficult those sets are. He didn't try this even once during our match, but now he's placing these unrealistic expectations on them."
"Setters like Oikawa Tōru and Kageyama Tobio don't grow on trees…"
"But Seijoh's not going to lose, right?" Kimura Ryōta turned around. "Taichi-senpai's been controlling the tempo of the match the entire time. He only tries risky plays when we're ahead by at least three points."
"Controlling the entire time?" Futakuchi scoffed. "Karasuno's not just going to roll over and die. This is their last shot."
"That unassuming final server…he's their spearhead." Futakuchi's expression turned grim. "Taichi's clearly let his guard down."
"Tweet!—"
The whistle blew. Yamaguchi Tadashi served his second ball.
Bang!
"I got it!"
Once again, the ball flew straight toward Kindaichi Yūtarō. It wasn't fast, but Kunimi Akira quickly moved in to cover.
"What?!"
The ball struck the upper edge of the net and tumbled down toward Seijoh's side.
"This guy's luck is out of control!"
Smack!
Kunimi dove forward and barely kept the ball alive. Kindaichi sent it to the right wing.
It was clearly short!
Kaedehara Taichi took his final approach step and quickly adjusted to the left before jumping diagonally.
"Three-man block!"
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Hinata Shōyō jumped up and collided with Kageyama Tobio mid-air.
"I'm not losing to him!" Kageyama gritted his teeth and held firm.
Boom!—
"He hit it?!!"
Taichi swung with his left hand and spiked to the opposite side mid-jump—the ball zipped past under Ennoshita Chikara's right side.
"Damn it!"
Kageyama turned his head quickly. Nishinoya Yū wasn't on the court for this rotation. He couldn't think of anyone else who could possibly save it.
Thud!
Yamaguchi Tadashi crashed to the floor, lunging forward with all his strength—he just barely managed to get his right hand under the ball.
"Don't let it hit the ground!"
Whack!
The ball bounced off the back of Yamaguchi's hand and popped up into the air.
It didn't hit the floor!!!
"This is it!"
Kageyama and Hinata locked eyes for a split second—and both understood the determination behind the other's gaze.
The moment they landed, they took off in opposite directions.
[Ding! Hinata Shōyō has entered Burst Mode.]
[Hinata Shōyō (Burst Mode)—Middle Blocker: Overall Ability Rating: 91.8
Height: 164 cm | Power: 75 | Jump: 99 | Stamina: 100 | Speed: 100
Technique: Block: 85 | Spike: 92]
[Ding! Kageyama Tobio has entered Burst Mode.]
[Kageyama Tobio (Burst Mode)—Setter: Overall Ability Rating: 97.3
Height: 182 cm | Power: 96 | Jump: 95 | Stamina: 99 | Speed: 95
Technique: Serve: 99 | Set: 100]
"Kindaichi!!!"
Taichi landed off balance and was a step too slow to chase after Hinata.
BAM!
Hinata jumped from the far left side, while Kageyama moved under the ball at the far right.
Fwoosh—!
Once again, the Hinata-Kageyama Quick Attack: Modified – Back Minus!
The ball zipped in front of Hinata Shōyō with blinding speed, precisely on target—beyond what the eye could track.
"Double block!!!"
Kindaichi Yūtarō and Kaedehara Taichi, who rushed in just in time, leapt up together. The high wall they formed cast a shadow over Hinata.
Bang!
Smack!
"They blocked it!"
The ball struck Kindaichi's hand and bounced back toward Karasuno's side.
Thud!
It hit the ground—outside the line.
Block out!
Hinata Shōyō scores!
[Aoba Johsai 20 – 20 Karasuno]
The score is tied!
"What the hell was that?!!"
Futakuchi Kenji shot to his feet in the stands. The usual calm smile on his face was gone, replaced by ragged, heavy breaths.
The rest of Date Tech's players stared wide-eyed, jaws dropped in disbelief.
Aone Takanobu silently fixed his gaze on Hinata Shōyō. Every time Date Tech managed to lock him down with their blocks, the next time they faced him, he had evolved into something stronger.
"Was that really a set…?"
Even the usually carefree Koganegawa couldn't find the words. He was a setter too, but watching Kageyama Tobio in action—it felt like the two of them didn't even play the same position.
Both players were jaw-droppingly impressive on their own…but their combination was flawless—almost divine.
The mood in the gym shifted unmistakably in Karasuno's favour. Challenging someone stronger and toppling a powerful boss—that was always a crowd-pleaser.
"Haaah—"
Taichi took a long, deep breath…then exhaled just as heavily.
"Taichi?"
His teammates could feel it. His focus—his aura—sharpened even further.
"Hey…I'm not going to wait for you," Kaedehara Taichi said, his eyes narrowing, entering a state of complete and undivided concentration.
Oikawa Tōru, Bokuto Kōtarō—they've already made it to the pros. Ushijima Wakatoshi and Kiryū Wakatsu must be fighting their own battles somewhere out there, too…
Kageyama Tobio, Hinata Shōyō…even Sarukui Fūto, Shirakawa Kaito…the next generation of players is rising fast.
There's no reason to hold back anymore. Now isn't the time to lower my level to match my teammates.
If you guys can't keep up—then I'll just win this match by myself.
[Ding! The Host has entered Burst Mode.]
[Kaedehara Taichi (Burst Mode)—Outside Hitter:
Height: 189 cm | Power: 100 | Jump: 96 | Stamina: 98 | Speed: 100
Technique: Serve: 100 | Receive: 95 | Set: 90 | Spike: 100]
"What…did Taichi just say?" Kindaichi Yūtarō watched, baffled. He didn't quite catch the meaning, but something changed—Taichi's entire presence had shifted. That much, he understood.
Yūki Yōji and Yahaba Shigeru were equally confused.
But they knew this—when Taichi wants to sync with his teammates, he always can. So what did that line mean?
Was he…abandoning them?
"Damn it…Are we really that far behind, even indoors?" Nakamori Daiki clenched his teeth. Maybe in beach volleyball, they could match each other. But in indoor volleyball, the gap between him and Taichi was obvious.
"Still can't catch up to him?" Kyōtani Kentarō stared at Taichi's back. "At the very least—I can't let the distance grow any wider!"
"Taichi…don't lower your standards for our sake." After that one mistake, Kunimi Akira had long discarded his usual lazy attitude. "There's not a single person on Aoba Johsai who'd be happy if you did."
"Just be yourself. We'll figure out the rest," Kunimi said, sincerely.
"I will."
"Tweet!—" The serve whistle blew.
Yamaguchi Tadashi sent off his third serve.
"I got it!"
Kunimi calmly bumped the ball toward the centre.
Thud!
Three sounds rang out almost at once.
Kaedehara Taichi soared up in the middle. Directly across from him—
"Double block!"
Hinata Shōyō and Kageyama Tobio jumped together.
The three brightest stars on the court clashed mid-air, divided by the net—an all-out duel of spike versus block!
Taichi's arm tensed. He swung in a wide arc behind him and slammed the ball down with crushing force.
B O O M ! ! !
"Hinata!"
"Kageyama!"
They shouted each other's names simultaneously—both of them spotted where Taichi was aiming!
SMACK!
Each of them got one hand on the ball.
Touch!
BOOM!!!
"No way…"
The ball smashed past their hands, which were blown away on contact.
The ball crashed hard onto Karasuno's court.
Kaedehara Taichi scores!
[Aoba Johsai 21 – 20 Karasuno]
_________
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