Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty-Chapter 508: MSBY Black Jackals vs. Schweiden Adlers (Double-Length)

"Aren't our playoff opponents just a bunch of familiar losers?" Miya Atsumu said casually to the gloomy guy in a mask next to him.

Sakusa Kiyoomi didn't respond, his eyes locked on Ushijima Wakatoshi.

"Today's winner will be me," Ushijima declared flatly.

"Hmph."

To Miya Atsumu's utter shock, Sakusa actually walked up to Ushijima and stared him down face to face. "Same as always—I'll beat you into the ground."

"Bokuto, did you see that? Sakusa just approached someone on his own!" Atsumu exclaimed, "And even with the mask on, I swear I could feel him smiling! Isn't that super weird?!"

Bokuto Kōtarō blinked. "Huh? Really? I feel like Omi-Omi is always pretty nice to me, though."

"???" Atsumu stared at Bokuto in disbelief. Wasn't it always the case that the moment Bokuto opened his mouth, Sakusa would run the other way?

"Sakusa! You're not scoring a single point off me today!" Hoshiumi leapt out from behind Ushijima.

"I wasn't talking to you. Buzz off." Sakusa's brows instantly knitted.

"Hahaha! See? That's how he treats normal people!" Atsumu said confidently. "That impatient, grumpy tone—that's the real him!"

"Hmm? But just now Kiyoomi didn't even acknowledge you," Bokuto pointed out.

"…"

Atsumu suddenly had a strong urge to transfer to another team.

-----

At 8:00 p.m., with the commentators' voices rising in excitement, the match officially began.

Black Jackals' starting lineup:

Front row—Setter Miya Atsumu, Outside Hitter Bokuto Kōtarō, Middle Blocker Meian Shūgo.

Back row—Middle blocker Adriah Thomas (Libero: Inunaki Shion), Outside Hitter Sakusa Kiyoomi and Opposite Hitter Oliver Barnes.

AD's starting lineup:

Front row—Opposite Hitter Ushijima Wakatoshi, Middle Blocker Hirugami Fukurō, Outside Hitter Tsunotate Kazuki.

Back row—Outside Hitter Hoshiumi Kōrai, Middle Blocker Sokolov Tatsuto (Libero: Heiwajima Toshirō) and Setter Matia Bottono.

AD served first. Matia Bottono launched a powerful jump serve.

Libero Inunaki Shion slid into a crouch and bumped the ball up. Miya Atsumu quickly stepped in and tossed a direct set high to the right wing.

Meian Shūgo jumped for a quick attack!

BOOM!

The ball slipped past the left arm of Hirugami Fukurō's block and slammed into AD's back row.

—"What a sharp diagonal spike toward Zone 5!"

Smack!

Hoshiumi dove and managed to dig the ball.

It bounced high over the net, back into Black Jackals' court.

"I got it!" Atsumu called, leaping at the net. His first touch turned into a clean set for a mid-route attack.

Bokuto Kōtarō jumped in for the spike!

"Double block!" Ushijima and Hirugami both went up.

Whoosh—!

Bokuto faked the spike—a feint! The ball arced toward the right wing!

Meian Shūgo jumped again for another quick strike!

Hirugami recovered, took a big step right, and leapt crosswise to block!

Kazuki dropped back swiftly—AD instantly formed a four-man receive formation!

BOOM!!

Meian's second spike was even stronger—it flew past Hirugami's block!

Smack!

Libero Heiwajima dug the ball again!

But the pass was off-target, veering toward the far corner.

Matia Bottono sprinted diagonally across the court and sent a precision set to the left wing.

Ushijima Wakatoshi jumped for the kill!

"Bokuto!"

"Got it!"

"Double block!" Bokuto and Meian leapt in tandem to meet him.

BOOM!!—

The ball sailed past the right edge of their block and headed toward Black Jackals' right-centre line.

Smack!

Inunaki lunged forward in a spectacular dive and dug it up!

"Great save!!!"

"Leave it to me."

The ball was flying out of bounds from the right sideline—Atsumu chased it down and made a perfect set back to the front.

Bokuto charged in and leapt for the mid attack.

"Wakatoshi!"

"Got it."

Ushijima and Hirugami slowed their timing.

And then—Sakusa Kiyoomi burst in from the back row, executing a textbook pipe attack!

"Double block!" Ushijima and Hirugami jumped together to meet him.

—BANG!!

The ball struck Hirugami's forearm and flew downward and out.

Off-the-block spike!

Sakusa Kiyoomi scored the first point.

[Black Jackals 1 – 0 AD]

"Woooooahhhhhh!!!"

—"Both teams showing off their elite offensive and defensive skills right from the very first rally!"

—"And it's 18-year-old rookie Sakusa Kiyoomi who secures the opening point for Black Jackals!"

"Sorry, my bad." Kazuki raised a hand slightly. "Didn't expect the ball to come off at such a sharp angle."

"Yeah, that was nasty," Hirugami nodded. "A deliberately off-the-block shot from midcourt? This kid's got guts."

Serve change—Black Jackals to serve.

Miya Atsumu stepped to the service line.

Boom boom! Boom boom boom! Boom boom! Boom boom boom!

The home crowd's cheer pattern thundered in the background.

Atsumu slowly raised his left hand, then clenched his fist.

—!!!

Suddenly, the entire arena fell silent.

"This guy...even in pro matches he's still doing that flashy nonsense," Hoshiumi grumbled.

"Tweet!—"

The whistle blew.

Atsumu tossed the ball, ran up, jumped, and smashed it—

BOOM!!!

The ball ripped across the court like a bullet—

THUD!!!

"Out!"

Atsumu's serve went long.

[Black Jackals 1 – 1 AD]

"Ugh…" Atsumu groaned in frustration.

"Embarrassing," Sakusa said flatly.

Serve change again—AD to serve.

Kazuki launched a powerful jump serve, but Sakusa received it cleanly. The pass was perfect.

Atsumu leapt to set—quick attack in the middle by Meian!

—BOOM!!!

The spike soared over Hoshiumi's block!

Smack!

Kazuki managed to dig it up.

"Save it!"

The ball flew over the net, dipping near the right sideline.

"I got it!" Matia Bottono sprinted and sent a high ball to the front row.

Ushijima jumped to attack!

"Triple block!" Bokuto, Meian, and Oliver Barnes all rose together!

BOOM!!—

—SMACK!!!

The ball slammed into Meian's arms and shot back like a cannon, crashing down on AD's side.

Meian scored off the block!

[Black Jackals 2 – 1 AD]

—"AD's left-handed cannon just got shut down—Black Jackals' block is solid as steel!"

"That was the setter's fault! No one can score against a perfect triple block in that position!" Goshiki Tsutomu muttered in frustration.

"Hmm." Even though he was defending Ushijima, Shirabu Kenjirō let out a soft snort.

"Cough—no offence to the setter, really," Goshiki scrambled to clarify.

"I'm not the type to get mad over stupid things," Shirabu said coolly. "But in that kind of situation, what exactly do you think the setter should do?"

"Uh—"

Goshiki had only instinctively tried to explain away Ushijima's stuff block, but on reflection…the fact that Matia managed to salvage that play at all was already impressive.

"That was a problem with the first touch!" Goshiki Tsutomu declared. If the serve hadn't been mishandled, the ball wouldn't have ended up in that terrible spot.

"Tch. Could you think for one second before opening your mouth?" Shirabu frowned. "That quick from Meian just now—could you have received it cleanly?"

Goshiki instantly knew from Shirabu's tone that he was genuinely annoyed. He quickly began mentally replaying the entire rally in his head.

"You'd better not say it was because Hoshiumi didn't get into blocking position fast enough," Shirabu said coldly.

"I'll give it proper thought!" Goshiki replied, blushing.

After Meian Shūgo scored with that blazing fast attack, AD had been completely pushed onto the back foot, unable to counter at all. There wasn't anything wrong with their response per se—they simply couldn't stop losing points. If one had to find a reason, then…

It was this: Tsunotate Kazuki should not have served to Sakusa Kiyoomi.

A perfect reception let Black Jackals execute a smooth and rapid combination play. AD's blockers couldn't keep up, and they fell into a cycle of passive defence.

"It started with the serve…" Goshiki muttered. The moment that ball was successfully received, that point was already written in Black Jackals' name.

"This is what top-level pro play looks like," Shirabu said coolly. "Ordinary spectators can watch as casually as they want. But you—you're about to become a professional player. You think you can afford to watch like that?"

He gave Goshiki a sideways glance. "With your current mindset, forget matching the level of a Taichi or Sakusa in your rookie year—just earning a starting position is going to be a challenge."

"I—I understand." A few beads of cold sweat formed on Goshiki's forehead. He suddenly remembered—just a few months from now, he'd be on the court facing these players head-on.

"Don't get cocky just because you got invited to V1. I think your goal should be higher than just being some average pro."

"Yes, Shirabu-senpai!"

-----

Black Jackals serve.

Meian Shūgo stood at the back line and launched a thunderous jump serve.

BOOM!!!

Smack!

Heiwajima Toshirō was knocked off his feet by the sheer power of the ball, which veered sharply toward the net.

Matia Bottono scrambled to cover and managed to send a clean pass forward. In the front row, Sokolov Tatsuto and Hoshiumi Kōrai both leapt into approach steps simultaneously.

Whoosh—!

Matia pulled off a back-row set, launching the ball high toward the right wing.

THUD!

Hoshiumi didn't just jump—he soared.

"Double block!" Sakusa Kiyoomi and Adriah Thomas both jumped together.

BOOM!!—

Smack!

The ball shot cleanly through the right edge of the block and struck Miya Atsumu's arm in the back row, bouncing out of bounds.

Hoshiumi Kōrai scores with a powerful spike!

[Black Jackals 6 – 6 AD]

"He jumps that high, and his hitting technique is this good? He might as well be two meters tall," Adriah Thomas said, helpless.

"Why do you think they call him the 'Little Giant'?" Meian Shūgo replied.

"Oooh, that's where the nickname comes from." Adriah Thomas glanced over at the small but explosive figure. "I'll block him."

"Of course you will." Meian patted him on the back.

Serve change—AD serve.

Ushijima Wakatoshi stepped up to the line, both hands pressing into the ball. His eyes locked on Black Jackals' back row like a missile system calibrating.

"Tweet!—" The whistle blew.

Ushijima tossed the ball and strode forward.

Black Jackals set up a four-man reception.

Ushijima leapt, body stretched to the limit, and whipped his left arm down in a massive arc from behind.

BOOOM!!!

The ball distorted in midair, then shot forward like a lightning bolt—

BANG!!!

The sheer power scattered Miya Atsumu's receiving form. The ball veered wildly off-court.

Ushijima Wakatoshi aces the serve!

[Black Jackals 6 – 7 AD]

"This monster…" Atsumu stared grimly at the ball's landing spot, thinking of that annoying guy again.

AD kept the pressure on with another serve. Black Jackals was forced to adjust—five receivers lined up in the back row.

Ushijima's second serve flew in.

BOOM!!!

"I got it!"

Smack!!!

Sakusa Kiyoomi received it and staggered back several steps. The ball popped high into the air.

Atsumu rushed in and set it toward the right wing—Adriah Thomas rose up to strike!

"Double block!" Sokolov and Hoshiumi leapt together!

BOOM!

Smack!

"Damn!" Thomas' eyes widened.

"One touch!" Hoshiumi shouted.

"Chance ball!" Heiwajima steadied himself and passed it perfectly.

Matia Bottono jumped, faked a spike, and dished a sharp set—Oliver Barnes was the only blocker in front.

Whoosh—!

The ball soared to the right wing—Hoshiumi Kōrai flew up for the kill.

"Double block!"

"Heyah!"

—BOOM!!!

Hoshiumi swung, but missed—it was a decoy!

Ushijima Wakatoshi charged in from the back row, smashing the ball clean over the block and into Black Jackals' court!

[Black Jackals 6 – 8 AD]

The Left-handed cannon fires again!

The ball smashed into Inunaki's chest and flew straight out of bounds!

"OOOOOOHHHHH!!!"

"Ushiwaka! Ushiwaka! That was mighty!"

"Ushiwaka! Ushiwaka! One more kill!"

"So cool!!!" Two players from Shiratorizawa sitting on the stands couldn't help but gasp in awe.

Black Jackals serve.

Bokuto Kōtarō launched a booming jump serve.

Tsunotate Kazuki received the ball steadily. Matia Bottono came in to set.

Hoshiumi, Ushijima, and Hirugami all made simultaneous approach steps—a triple threat!

Whoosh—! The ball flew toward the left wing.

Hoshiumi leapt in for the spike!

"Double block!" Meian Shūgo and Oliver Barnes timed it perfectly, executing a seamless cross-step and jumping together.

BOOM!!—

The ball flew past the block on the right edge—a massive diagonal shot!

Smack!

Inunaki dug it up with precision.

Atsumu moved quickly into position and launched the ball high to the right wing. Sakusa Kiyoomi sprinted in and leapt to strike!

"Triple block!" AD's front row reacted in sync—Hirugami, Hoshiumi, and Ushijima all jumped to meet him.

Across the net, Sakusa and Ushijima locked eyes.

"Why does Atsumu keep forcing these flashy combo plays?" one of Black Jackals' fans muttered nervously. "Sakusa's not the best fit for that tempo."

BOOM!!—

The ball rocketed straight through the triple block, slamming down on AD's left sideline—right at the edge of the three-meter line.

A super sharp cross!

Sakusa Kiyoomi scores!

[Black Jackals 15 – 16 AD]

"That set was on point! Sakusa can spike anything!" a fan yelled, completely ignoring the disapproving looks from those nearby.

"Sakusa Kiyoomi and Ushijima Wakatoshi—two of the top three ace spikers back in high school—are now continuing their rivalry on the professional stage!"

_________

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