Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty-Chapter 411: To Face the Strongest, What a Blessing (Double-Length)

"Even though Kamomedai lost the first set, the gap between the two sides doesn't seem that wide, huh?"

"Well, considering Aoba Johsai scored seven consecutive points during Taichi's service turn and still only won by three points…"

"Kamomedai couldn't block Kaedehara Taichi at all, but Aoba Johsai didn't have an answer to Kamomedai's big three either. If you ask me, this final might go all the way to five sets—Kamomedai is the kind of team that just keeps gaining momentum."

"Once their blockers get a feel for the rhythm, it won't be so easy to break free from them."

"Hmph, if you ask me, it's Aoba Johsai who's gaining momentum! I bet they'll break through Kamomedai's block first!"

The audience buzzed with excited chatter about the just-concluded first set, while both teams returned to their benches for a short breather and regroup.

"Hikaru, are you okay?" Hirugami Sachirō turned toward Wakabayashi Hikaru, who sat there looking completely shaken.

"Ah, Hirugami-senpai…I'm okay."

Hikaru looked down at his own hands. With time, the bright red marks on his arms from receiving had begun to fade.

Still, the space between his thumbs ached dully. The final spike from Kaedehara Taichi lingered vividly in his mind.

Thank goodness it had been the last rally of the set. If there'd been another right after…Hikaru wasn't sure if he'd have dared to stretch out his arms again like he did.

No, wait!

For a libero to even entertain that kind of hesitation—was already a major problem!

"Hirugami-senpai…" Hikaru asked tentatively, "Aren't you scared when you're blocking Taichi-senpai's spikes?"

"Well, duh," Hirugami replied with a look that said isn't it obvious?

"Ah—sorry! As expected of you, senpai, I knew you wouldn't—"

"Of course I'm scared!" Hirugami said matter-of-factly.

"Eh—?"

"That guy's spikes are terrifying! Just thinking about it freaks me out. And you never know where he's aiming—straight shot, cross, off the block, over the block, out of bounds, into the net…There's too much to consider."

So he's scared of not being able to block Taichi-senpai, Hikaru thought with a sigh of relief. "But, Hirugami-senpai, I meant—"

"Hikaru means the feeling when it seems like your hands are gonna snap from taking his spike head-on. What should we do about that?" Tokura Liam asked calmly. "I get that feeling too when I'm blocking."

Kaedehara Taichi's muscle lines were sleek rather than bulky. That gave him both explosive power and incredible speed when spiking. Now that he stood at 190cm, perhaps only Hakuba Gao and Hirugami Sachirō among the Kamomedai squad weren't fazed by the sheer fear of facing him directly.

"Then what if you just don't receive it?" Hirugami tossed out casually. "Not receiving it won't kill you, after all."

"Huh?" Hikaru blinked. Judging by senpai's tone, he wasn't even mocking him…

"No no no! That'd cost us points! If we lose because of me, that'd feel worse than dying!"

"Hmm…then I guess you already have your answer." Hirugami grinned.

Volleyball's a sport where even if you don't play, you won't die. That simple truth applies to many things in life.

But the reason these players stand on this court—comes down to something personal they refuse to compromise on.

A hobby? A club activity? A professional dream? Everyone's relationship with volleyball may be different—or maybe the same.

Either way, finding a way to play that you won't regret—that's enough.

Seagulls fly undisturbed through strong winds and blizzards. Perhaps beyond strength, what they truly possess is a sense of freedom…and joy.

-----

"…Both teams are back on the court now, and we've got some slight rotation changes on each side! Can Kamomedai take this set and tie it up? Or will Aoba Johsai ride this momentum straight to the championship?"

"It's Aoba Johsai versus Kamomedai—Set Two begins! The serve will come from Kamomedai's Tokura Liam!"

Aoba Johsai's lineup:

Front row—Middle blocker Kindaichi Yūtarō, Setter Tōma Kaoru, Outside Hitter Kaedehara Taichi.

Back row—Outside Hitter Kyōtani Kentarō, Outside Hitter Kunimi Akira and Middle Blocker Yūki Yōji (Libero: Nakamori Daiki).

Kamomedai's lineup:

Front row—Outside Hitter Hakuba Gao, Middle Blocker Hirugami Sachirō, Outside Hitter Hoshiumi Kōrai.

Back row—Outside Hitter Ogawa Ryūhei, Middle Blocker Bessho Kazuyoshi (Libero: Wakabayashi Hikaru) and setter Tokura Liam.

"Looks like Kamomedai nailed the rotation to pin down Kaedehara Taichi…"

"Yeah, Aoba Johsai's using their standard lineup, and Kamomedai didn't fall for the rotation trick they pulled in the first set."

"They've stacked their strongest three in the front row to give Aoba Johsai a taste of their real power," Miya Atsumu muttered. "Aoba Johsai really struggles when they fall behind. If Taichi hadn't turned things around with that serving run, Kamomedai would've taken the lead easily."

"What kinda dumb thing are you saying? That's why he's a monster—'cause he can do that!" Miya Osamu replied, clearly annoyed.

"Ughhh, you're so annoying!" Atsumu yelled in frustration.

-----

"Tweet!—"

The serve whistle blew. Tokura Liam launched a jump float serve—

Bang!

The ball flew straight toward Kaedehara Taichi in the front row!

"Hm?"

Smack!

Taichi received the ball easily, the pass perfectly in place.

Tōma Kaoru leapt up. The three Kamomedai front-row players didn't move—instead, they simply stared intently at him.

"Damn it, they're underestimating Aoba Johsai's rookie setter!" Atsumu grumbled. "They're just watching him to stop a dump attack?!"

They'll pick it up…Tōma knew his second-touch attack wouldn't work under such watchful eyes.

Whoosh—!

The ball was sent to the right side. And that's when Tōma suddenly realised why they had Taichi receive the first pass—he had no time for a proper run-up!

Thud!

Kaedehara Taichi sprang up with a single step.

"Incredible—he still jumped that high? And with perfect form too," Atsumu murmured, mesmerised by Taichi's airborne figure.

"Triple block!" Hakuba Gao, Hirugami Sachirō, and Hoshiumi Kōrai all leapt up at once!

BOOM!!!

Smack!

The ball struck Hirugami's arms.

"He actually went for it!" Osamu scowled. A spike with that much force—if blocked, there'd be no saving it.

The ball rebounded hard off Hirugami's arms—shooting high.

Right above the net.

Kaedehara Taichi, Hirugami Sachirō, Hoshiumi Kōrai, and Hakuba Gao all locked eyes on the rising ball.

Thud!

Taichi leapt again.

"Triple block!"

Smack!

Taichi, Hirugami, and Hakuba's hands pressed against the ball simultaneously.

"Go back where you came from!" Hakuba shouted.

The ball fell toward Aoba Johsai's side—

It worked!

Smack!

Nakamori Daiki dove and saved it.

Kunimi Akira was right behind him, ready for the follow-up. Taichi's first spike had already made his stance clear—he wouldn't back down!

Landing swiftly, Taichi retreated to the back row, then ran forward for another spike.

By Kunimi's judgment, the safest option now was to set a quick attack for Kindaichi Yūtarō on the left. But—

That guy was Aoba Johsai's ace.

Whoosh!—

Kunimi sent up a slow, high, and perfectly placed toss.

"Nice set." A warm smile appeared on Taichi's face—only to twist into one of pure arrogance.

"I'll shatter that block you take so much pride in!"

Thump!

Kaedehara Taichi soared for his third spike! His body stretched out like an eagle in flight, arms pulled taut and winding back—ready to unleash the full force of his being into this one hit.

"Triple block!"

Kamomedai's blockers showed no panic whatsoever! Their eyes were focused, arms extending forward and downward in unison, forming a solid, impenetrable wall.

The spectators clenched their fists and held their breath. They unconsciously leaned forward in their seats, eyes wide as they stared at the centre of the court. The atmosphere in the gymnasium seemed to freeze completely, and everyone's hearts were suspended in the air alongside the ball.

BOOM!!!

Smack!!

Hoshiumi Kōrai's right hand was sharply deflected.

The ball soared out of bounds.

Kaedehara Taichi scored with a spike!

[Aoba Johsai 1 – 0 Kamomedai]

"Even that didn't stop him?!"

Gasps and sighs rippled through Kamomedai's cheering section. The hopeful gleam in their eyes instantly dimmed.

This was supposed to be Kamomedai's strongest triple block—and yet, they still couldn't stop Kaedehara Taichi from scoring. A deep sense of frustration began to spread throughout the hearts of the fans.

"Taichi! Do it again!" Hoshiumi Kōrai called out, his eyes shining.

And it wasn't just him—there was no trace of discouragement on the faces of Hakuba Gao or Hirugami Sachirō either. To stand on the same court as the "strongest"—what a privilege that was!

Kaedehara Taichi blinked innocently.

"You upperclassmen are really amazing."

Serve rotation. Aoba Johsai to serve.

Kindaichi Yūtarō unleashed a powerful jump serve, which was received by Wakabayashi Hikaru.

"Cover!"

Tokura Liam stepped in to make the second touch, and Kamomedai's front-row trio launched a synchronised attack!

Whoosh—!

BOOM!!!

Hakuba Gao spiked from the left side and scored.

[Aoba Johsai 1 – 1 Kamomedai]

—"In the second set, both teams are still trading heavy blows! After Taichi's overpowering strike, Gao responds in kind!"

Kamomedai reclaimed the serve. Hoshiumi Kōrai stepped up to the line.

"This time, I'll show everyone what Kamomedai's serve is all about!"

He tossed the ball up, ran forward, leapt, and swung.

Boom!!—

The ball drew a beautiful arc across the air.

"Sidespin?"

Smack

"Guessed right!" Kunimi Akira received the ball.

"Cover!"

Kyōtani Kentarō followed up on the right and sent a set toward the middle.

Smack!

Kaedehara Taichi jumped to spike.

"Triple block!" Ogawa Ryūhei, Hakuba Gao, and Hirugami Sachirō all leapt at once.

Thud!

The ball's trajectory was slightly low and too close to the net.

BOOM!!

Taichi couldn't create a sharp enough angle—his spike deflected off Hakuba Gao's arms.

"One touch!"

"Chance ball!"

Tokura Liam bumped the ball to the net. Hoshiumi Kōrai jumped from the back row to spike.

"He's probably going for it."

Even with that assumption, Kaedehara Taichi couldn't just let him attack freely.

"Double block!" Kaedehara Taichi and Yūki Yōji jumped together to block him.

Whoosh—!

The ball veered left—Hakuba Gao once again spiked and scored.

[Aoba Johsai 1 – 2 Kamomedai]

"Nice set!" Gao shouted in praise. In his eyes, Hoshiumi Kōrai was the strongest 170cm player—bar none.

"Let's go for another strong serve!"

"Tweet!—"

The whistle blew for the next serve.

Hoshiumi Kōrai served his second ball.

—Boom!!

The ball dropped sharply in a vertical arc, soaring past Aoba Johsai's players and landing directly on their baseline.

"Line ball!"

Hoshiumi scored an ace.

[Aoba Johsai 1 – 3 Kamomedai]

—"What accuracy from Hoshiumi Kōrai!"

"Again!"

Aoba Johsai's players all took a step back. After all, moving forward to receive was much easier than retreating.

Hoshiumi served a third time.

Bang!!

This time, it was a jump float—targeting Kaedehara Taichi!

Smack!

Taichi stepped forward and received it cleanly, sending the ball to the right wing.

"Mine!"

Kunimi Akira leapt from the back row for an attack!

"Can't let him go unchecked!"

Hirugami Sachirō jumped to block him.

Taichi drew Hakuba Gao to the left side.

Whoosh—!

As Kunimi and Hirugami landed at the same time, the ball floated up near the right wing.

BOOM!

Yūki Yōji launched a quick attack right where he stood. Hoshiumi dove forward for the dig.

With no blockers in front, the ball slammed into Kamomedai's three-meter line and bounced up.

Yūki Yōji scored with a spike.

[Aoba Johsai 2 – 3 Kamomedai]

—"Kunimi once again showcases his exceptional court sense, completely dismantling Kamomedai's block!"

—"And Yūki scores a clean point off a quick with no contact!"

Serve rotation. Aoba Johsai to serve.

Tōma Kaoru targeted Hakuba Gao with a float serve.

Bang!

Smack

"Still hasn't learned, huh?"

Gao easily received it.

Tokura Liam set it, and Hirugami Sachirō, facing a solo block from Kunimi, spiked a tight line shot on the sideline.

Kamomedai scored. freewebnσvel.cøm

[Aoba Johsai 2 – 4 Kamomedai]

Serve rotation. Kamomedai to serve.

"Huh? Even though Taichi-senpai came out swinging and gave Aoba Johsai the momentum, why does it feel like Kamomedai's the one controlling the pace this set...?"

Itachiyama's setter, Shirakawa Kaito, whispered to Komori Motoya.

"It's a rotation problem," said Sakusa Kiyoomi with a gloomy face before Komori could reply.

"With Aoba Johsai's current formation, Taichi is the only threatening attacker up front. Kamomedai's entire strategy revolves around denying him comfortable spiking opportunities."

"At the same time, Aoba Johsai's back row has consistent gaps in their reception, so they can't properly handle attacks from all three of Kamomedai's attacking zones."

"If the last set was won because Taichi exploited Kamomedai's serve-receive weakness—this set, Aoba Johsai's formation is being completely shut down by Kamomedai."

-----

BOOM!

The ball slammed behind Kyōtani Kentarō and flew out of bounds.

Hirugami Sachirō scored a service ace!

[Aoba Johsai 2 – 5 Kamomedai]

"Kyōtani Kentarō, in a national final, having a glaring weakness like that makes you a liability…"

_________

[T/N] - If you guys want to read 50 Chapters in advance of the current story, you can support me on my Patreon. Trust me, it's awesome!

Link - (P)atreon.com/Iseeblack [Remove the brackets]