Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty-Chapter 512: Calculating Each Other (Double-Length)

Even after the first set ended, the players on both sides remained dazed.

A ten-point lead from serves alone at the beginning of a match between two evenly matched teams—this was something that had never happened before.

Kaedehara Taichi simultaneously broke two records in Japan's pro volleyball league: the most consecutive service points in a single match, and the most points scored from serves in one set.

Only after his eleventh serve finally resulted in a fault did the match attempt to return to "normal"—but it never quite did.

Neither DH nor EJP knew how to proceed from there.

Especially EJP.

Was there even any point in fighting desperately to win the first set anymore?

The players didn't understand.

Coach Otani didn't understand either.

EJP continued playing seriously, but though no one said it aloud, they had already lost the will to fight for that set.

As for DH, they took it easy and conserved their stamina.

After taking a ten-point lead right out of the gate, would they still lose the set? Unlikely.

[DH 25 - 18 EJP]

DH claimed the first set with ease.

"Hohoho…"

Coach Nick hadn't stopped smiling since midway through the match. The court-side reporters eagerly snapped a slew of close-ups, and Coach Nick even played along, pulling a few silly faces.

There was no doubt now: recruiting Kaedehara Taichi this season had been the best decision he had made for the DH Club.

-----

"Toshirō, could you even receive a serve like that?" Hirugami Fukurō asked.

"Which one are you talking about?" Heiwajima Toshirō rubbed his face vigorously to loosen the stiffness brought on by shock. "At most, I could probably handle five out of ten—if they were all aimed directly at me."

"Is that so…" Hirugami gave a wry smile.

But it was within his expectations. Heiwajima Toshirō might be Japan's current number-one libero, but that genius rookie Komori Motoya and even Kitō Yūkan weren't far behind.

In fact, anyone with a sharp eye could see it: That ridiculous ten-serve streak didn't have much to do with the receiving players. They had already performed more than adequately—Kaedehara Taichi was simply operating on a completely different level.

"If you can receive five, then you have to do everything you can to get the first one up," Tsue Tatewa said. "You absolutely can't let his momentum build like that."

"Wakatoshi," Hoshiumi Kōrai said with a chuckle, "Yesterday they were still debating who we'd face in the finals. But after watching the first set, they've all decided it's going to be DH."

"Mm." Ushijima Wakatoshi's expression didn't change. "Taichi will be there in the final."

-----

The second set began quickly.

DESEO Hornets' lineup:

Front row—Middle Blocker Nitta Asahiro, Opposite Hitter Yoshii Hiyu, Outside Hitter Kaedehara Taichi.

Back row—Outside Hitter Kitajima Kippei, Setter Iizuna Tsukasa and Middle Blocker Tom Wilde (Libero: Kubo Wataru).

EJP Raijin's lineup:

Front row—Outside Hitter Akutsu Ao, Middle Blocker Suna Rintarō, Setter Sengoku Chisato.

Back row—Opposite Hitter Kitō Yūkan, Middle Blocker Washio Tatsuki (Libero: Komori Motoya) and Outside Hitter Evan Krauss.

EJP had the serve, and Evan Krauss stepped up to the line.

Although EJP's strongest server was Akutsu Ao, with Kaedehara Taichi in the front row, they had no choice but to line him up against those two.

The last thing they wanted was to get wrecked by Taichi's serves, then immediately crushed by his attacks.

"Tweet!—"

The whistle blew for serve.

Evan Krauss launched a powerful jump serve.

BOOM!!

"I got it!"

Smack!

Kubo Wataru received the ball cleanly—perfect first touch.

Iizuna Tsukasa leapt at the net to set, while Kaedehara Taichi began his approach from the right.

BAM!!

"—?!"

A second touch attack—!

Iizuna twisted his body midair and sent the ball over himself!

Komori Motoya reacted on instinct, diving forward with his right hand just barely wedged between the ball and the floor.

Smack!

The ball popped up off the back of his hand—but the height was too low!

Suna Rintarō dove left and hooked the ball up with his left hand!

Two players collapsed on the court, but they saved the ball!

The ball hovered midair, right in the centre.

Akutsu Ao sprinted sideways and jumped to spike!

"Double block!" Nitta Asahiro and Kaedehara Taichi rose together.

The attack route was completely sealed!

Tap!

"What?!"

A gasp swept through the stands.

"Akutsu went for a tip!"

"Hard to believe he'd make such a play right out of the gate!"

Smack!

Kitajima Kippei was already prepared and dug the ball from the baseline.

"What's so strange about that?" he said flatly. "Anyone who'd try to force a spike against Asahiro and Taichi's block is an idiot."

Iizuna adjusted and set again. Nitta and Taichi split off left and right for the attack.

Fwoosh!—

DH's choice—left quick from Nitta Asahiro!

—BOOM!!

Suna Rintarō read the play at the last second, but his block came a moment too late.

A wipe-off hit!

The ball rocketed toward EJP's back row!

Smack!

Kitō Yūkan darted in and managed to receive it cleanly!

The ball floated directly above the net.

"Akutsu!"

"Taichi!"

Akutsu Ao and Kaedehara Taichi both charged in for a mirrored approach. Their hands met the ball at the same time—but Taichi had a few centimetres of height advantage.

Smash!

"You bastard—!"

The ball dropped toward EJP's court.

"Look out!" Kaedehara Taichi shouted.

"Sengoku—!"

In midair, Sengoku Chisato lifted the ball—Evan Krauss leapt from the back row for the spike.

BOOM!!!

Thud!!

The ball slammed into DH's back row and bounced high.

Evan Krauss scored!

[DH 0 - 1 EJP]

Although Taichi had the upper hand in the net battle, Akutsu Ao immediately shifted his momentum, gently redirecting the ball toward EJP's side.

"Sengoku, don't wait for someone to tell you. You should've anticipated that," said Kitō Yūkan.

It was his voice that had prompted Sengoku's perfect quick response just now.

"Yes!" Sengoku responded immediately.

A moment slower, and that attack would've been wasted.

Only a handful of players on court had picked up on the timing of that play.

EJP continued to serve.

Both teams had now seen the determination in each other's eyes.

DH's offence was no longer centred solely on Taichi, and Akutsu had given up on his reckless attacks.

More importantly, both sides showed a level of focus—on tempo and defensive hustle—that far surpassed what they'd shown during the regular season.

Evan Krauss served his second ball.

BOOM!!

Smack!

Kitajima Kippei received the serve with textbook precision.

Iizuna leapt to set again, and Taichi approached along the right sideline for the spike.

Thud!

"Here it comes!"

"Triple block!" Akutsu Ao, Suna Rintarō, and Sengoku Chisato all went up together.

—BOOOM!!!

A wipe-off spike!

SMACK!!!

The ball, packed with explosive power, shot through the air like a missile, piercing EJP's back row.

Kitō Yūkan was ready—but the sheer impact of the ball instantly blew apart his block form.

His feet left the floor, his body bent backwards, and he was knocked flat to the ground!

The ball didn't lose momentum. It soared straight into the second-floor stands and landed perfectly in the hands of a lucky spectator, sparking a burst of gasps and cheers.

Kaedehara Taichi scored!

[DH 1 - 1 EJP]

"Savage…"

Even EJP's fans couldn't help but gulp.

Getting knocked over by a ball was something they were used to seeing happen to the other team.

"Are you okay, senpai?"

Komori Motoya reached out and pulled Kitō Yūkan to his feet.

When the ball had shot toward Kitō, its height had been just at chest level—making it impossible for him to execute a proper roll after an underhand receive. The moment he made contact, he felt his balance give way. Fortunately, years of experience and exceptional body control helped him quickly adjust his centre of gravity, and his fall had no real consequences.

"Sorry, was that a bit too much?" Kaedehara Taichi asked lightly. "But hey, this is a match. Next time, senpai, you might want to consider getting out of the way."

"No problem. Bring it on," Kitō replied, his voice tinged with rare, rising anger.

Taichi grinned sincerely. "Good to hear. After all, a match should be enjoyed."

The serve rotated to DH's side.

Nitta Asahiro stepped up and launched a powerful jump serve.

Kitō received it solidly—he really seemed unaffected.

Sengoku Chisato rotated in for coverage and set the ball high to the left wing.

Akutsu Ao soared in for the spike!

"Double block!" Nitta Asahiro and Kaedehara Taichi both went up at the same time.

Yoshii Hiyu dropped to the back row, forming a four-man receive formation.

BOOM!!!

The ball veered past the block and cut through the right side—flying precisely in DH's deep corner!

Smack!!

Kitajima Kippei received the ball but staggered backwards from the impact. The ball arced high into the air.

"Cover it!"

"Tsukasa!"

Kaedehara Taichi backed off for a running approach. Iizuna Tsukasa, stationed near the baseline, passed the ball cleanly to the right wing.

"Triple block!"

EJP's front row assembled again.

Midair, Kaedehara Taichi's arm tensed—then came the hammering spike.

BOOOM!!!—

SMASH!!!

The ball crashed through the block and slammed into EJP's court.

Kaedehara Taichi scored with a kill.

[DH 2 - 1 EJP]

"Don't you feel DH's setter's tempo is noticeably faster than last season?"

Coach Suzaku asked their club's manager.

"Yeah, it's obvious," replied Royce Campbell with a nod.

"Maybe we should've tried to poach him during the last transfer window," Suzaku mused. "To keep such consistency with negative-angle bump sets…doesn't he seem like a perfect fit for our team?"

"Don't joke, Mr. Suzaku. Iizuna Tsukasa is not for sale," Royce Campbell replied, hands spread. "We managed to snag Ushijima—that's already more than enough."

"Strong teams naturally attract strong rookies," Suzaku said. "Still, I never expected these past two years' rookies to make such an impact in their very first professional season."

"It is surprising," Royce Campbell admitted. "Let's hope the player reporting tomorrow—Kageyama—can also blend in quickly."

"He will." Suzaku offered a mysterious smile. "Don't forget—he's from Miyagi, just like Wakatoshi and Taichi."

Royce Campbell stared deeply at him.

"Mr. Suzaku, I'm beginning to think you might have a sense of humour after all."

"I'm not joking," Suzaku replied seriously. "I'm not saying Miyagi is a magical place—but the fact that Kageyama Tobio came from there means he's been growing up with Wakatoshi and Taichi as his targets."

"…I get it now," Campbell nodded slowly. "Iizuna Tsukasa, Miya Atsumu, Kageyama Tobio—I've never seen this many ridiculously talented setters emerge in the same era."

"There's one more," Suzaku said.

Oikawa Tōru—the setter AD initially wanted.

"If he ever returns to Japan," Campbell chuckled, "he might shake up the entire league the same way that kid did."

"Even if it's chaos, the championship will still be ours," Suzaku said with quiet confidence.

"Of course," Campbell agreed.

Even after witnessing Taichi's monstrous ten-point serve streak…

Even after witnessing his unrivalled offensive dominance…

AD still did not believe they would lose to DH.

Kaedehara Taichi was strong. DH was strong.

But AD was strong too—every single player on their roster was strong.

-----

DH serve.

Nitta Asahiro jumped and smashed another powerful serve.

BOOM!!!

Smack!!

"Crap!"

The ball struck Evan Krauss's forearm and ricocheted back over the net, high above DH's court.

Kaedehara Taichi leapt and met the ball with a blistering spike!

BOOM!!

Smack!

Akutsu Ao dug the ball out!

It collided with the net and began to drop—Sengoku Chisato dove and bumped it up just in time.

"Nice pass!"

The ball flew toward the right wing—Suna Rintarō jumped to spike!

"Double block!" Kaedehara Taichi and Tom Wilde both sprang up.

"This bastard—!"

Suna couldn't even tell when Taichi had rotated over for coverage.

BANG!—

Smack!

Suna tried to use the rebound to set up a follow-up attack, but the ball deflected off Taichi's hand and floated high over DH's side.

"Touch!" Taichi shouted.

Iizuna quickly moved in for the pass.

Taichi leapt again, feinting a spike to freeze Suna's block.

Whoosh!—

But the ball was sent to the left wing instead—Nitta Asahiro rose from the back row and launched a spike!

BOOM!

The ball avoided Akutsu Ao's block and rocketed toward EJP's right corner.

Komori Motoya made a diving save!

Sengoku Chisato rotated and bumped the ball to the centre.

Thud!

Akutsu Ao jumped to spike again!

"Double block!"

"You're running again?!"

Taichi stared straight at Akutsu.

In the air, Akutsu Ao's body stretched fully, muscles taut and well-defined, his right arm reared back—

BOOOM!!!

SMASH!!!

Tom Wilde's block shattered instantly, and the ball crashed into DH's court.

Smack!

Kitajima Kippei made a clean dig!

"Beautiful receive!"

Taichi landed and sprinted left.

"—Tsukasa!!"

Iizuna delivered a precision set, floating the ball to the left wing just as Taichi launched into the air.

"Not happening!!"

"Triple block!" Akutsu Ao, Suna Rintarō, and Sengoku Chisato all leapt together!

After the last match, EJP had been preparing for this—Kaedehara Taichi's quick-switch cross-court assault.

The rushed jump dropped Taichi's contact point, and a towering triple block loomed in front of him.

DH had been guarding against Akutsu's power hits—

EJP had been bracing for this moment.

BOOM!!

The ball flew past the left edge of the block and slammed into EJP's back row.

Kitō Yūkan adjusted perfectly—

Thwack!

Smack!

—but the ball deflected off both his and Evan Krauss's arms and shot out of bounds.

Kaedehara Taichi scored again!

[DH 26 - 24 EJP]

"Not easy to receive, huh? Left-handed spin," Taichi remarked with a grin.

Kitō's expression darkened.

He had noticed the left-handed spike—but had underestimated the spin.

"BEEEEP—!"

The whistle blew to signal the end of the second set.

Winner: DESEO Hornets.

_________

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