Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty-Chapter 519: The Setter Gap! (Double-Length)
The timeout ended. The match resumed.
Kaedehara Taichi served the fourth ball.
BOOM!!!
SMACK!!
Ushijima Wakatoshi received the ball.
"Was that on purpose?" Tsunotate Kazuki stepped in to cover and set.
As a result, AD was now limited to only one offensive option at the front—Hirugami Fukurō on the right.
Hoshiumi Kōrai leapt up from the back row for a feint attack but failed to draw DH's blockers.
The ball flew high toward the right wing. Hirugami Fukurō jumped and spiked.
BOOM!!
"Double block!" Kujō Reiji and Tom Wilde sprang up in unison.
The ball slipped past the left side of the block.
Smack!
Kubo Wataru, standing just beyond the three-meter line, dug the ball.
It deflected toward the left sideline. Iizuna Tsukasa quickly filled in and jumped to set.
Fwoosh!—
The ball floated high above centre court. Kaedehara Taichi leapt from the back row for a spike!
"Double block!" Ushijima Wakatoshi and Hirugami Fukurō went up together.
BOOM!!!
SMACK!!
The ball struck Ushijima's arm and ricocheted high toward the endline.
Hoshiumi Kōrai had already begun his pursuit.
Smack!
He sent the ball flying back into AD's court. Matia Bottono hustled into position and set it up.
Ushijima Wakatoshi, Tsunotate Kazuki, and Hirugami Fukurō—all three front-row attackers—simultaneously launched their offence!
BOOM!!!—
A sharp line shot crashed past the single block and slammed hard into DH's court.
Ushijima Wakatoshi scored!
[DH 3 – 1 AD]
Coming out of the timeout, AD successfully broke serve.
Serve rotation switched—AD to serve.
Ushijima Wakatoshi stepped onto the service line.
Thanks to his powerful serving performance in the first set, Coach Suzaku had elevated his tactical role during rotations.
BOOM!!!
Ushijima launched his first serve!
Yoshii Hiyu received it cleanly, and the ball arched toward the front.
Iizuna Tsukasa filled in and leapt to set. Tom Wilde sprinted from the right and attempted a quick attack.
"Double block!" Hirugami Fukurō and Matia Bottono jumped together.
Whoosh!—
A quick adjustment—back set! Iizuna lofted the ball high to the left wing.
Kujō Reiji faced off against Tsunotate Kazuki's block and smashed a spike right over the top.
—BOOM!!!
The ball struck Ushijima's arm and sailed out of bounds!
Kujō Reiji scored!
[DH 4 – 1 AD]
"Hey, that DH setter is insane!"
"Wasn't that a totally off-target first pass just now? And he still managed to set it perfectly to the left! I thought he'd just go for the quick with the middle blocker."
AD had no shortage of powerful servers—Ushijima Wakatoshi, Hirugami Fukurō, Hoshiumi Kōrai—all known for their high-pressure serves. But even so, they struggled to build an effective serve strategy against teams like Black Jackals or DH.
There were two key reasons for this:
First, Black Jackals' Miya Atsumu and DH's Iizuna Tsukasa were both elite setters. Even if the serve disrupted the receive, they could still construct brilliant plays.
Second, AD's blocking was simply not strong enough. Their best blocking rotation came when Ushijima and Hirugami were both at the net. At other times, there was usually only one reliable blocker on the front line, making it hard to form a solid collective block—much like DH when Kujō Reiji rotated out.
And now DH had taken back the serve with just one rally, slowly tipping the balance of the game in their favour.
BOOM!!!
Sokolov Tatsuto thundered down a spike.
Kaedehara Taichi dug the ball. Yoshii Hiyu backed him up with a set. Nitta Asahiro launched into a middle attack.
BOOM!!
Smack!!
"Touch!" Hoshiumi managed to pop the ball up!
"This guy again…!" Nitta gritted his teeth. He hated these sudden blocks that came flying from his blind spot.
Tsunotate Kazuki received the ball cleanly—perfect pass.
Matia Bottono jumped and set. Both Hoshiumi and Sokolov began their approach.
BAM!!
Smack!
Matia's surprise dump was steadied by Kaedehara Taichi and passed right on target.
Iizuna stepped in and quickly set.
Kaedehara Taichi (from the back), Nitta Asahiro, and Kujō Reiji—three attack points exploded at once!
BOOM!!!
The ball smacked the left sideline of AD's court with pinpoint accuracy.
A flawless back-row attack—Kaedehara Taichi scored!
[DH 13 – 10 AD]
Rotation—DH serve.
Kujō Reiji stepped to the service line. Kaedehara Taichi rotated back to the front.
Coach Nick made no move to substitute. This was it—the very rotation AD had been preparing for.
"Tweet!—" The whistle blew.
"If I'm still on the court, then there's still something only I can do!"
Kujō Reiji executed a powerful jump serve.
BOOM!!!
The ball carved a sharp arc and veered toward AD's back-right corner.
Smack!
Ushijima received the ball.
Hoshiumi filled in and set to the right. Sokolov leapt to spike!
"Whose opportunity is it?"
Taichi and Nitta jumped together.
"Double block!"
Sokolov's instincts kicked in—the wall of arms in front of him was suffocating, especially Taichi's side. It gave the illusion that escape was impossible.
BOOM!!!—
—SMACK!!
The ball struck Nitta's arm and deflected toward AD's sideline. Ushijima couldn't reach it in time.
Nitta Asahiro—point off the block!
[DH 14 – 10 AD]
"Beautiful block!" Kindaichi Yūtarō yelled from the bench.
Kunimi Akira looked at Sokolov, who had just been blocked and was clearly frustrated. He chuckled. "Hey, Kindaichi. Who do you think was Aoba Johsai's best blocker in recent years?"
The most recent middle blockers from Aoba Johsai were the now-graduated Kindaichi Yūtarō and Yuki Yōji, soon to be a third-year. Before them—it was Matsukawa Issei.
If it were about the best overall middle blocker, Kindaichi might have to think. But the best blocker?
"Taichi, no doubt." Kindaichi answered without hesitation.
Kunimi grinned. "And what about now? Among the current DH lineup—who's the best blocker?"
"…Still Taichi?" Kindaichi wavered a little.
After all, Tom Wilde stood two meters tall with sharp reaction speed. Nitta Asahiro was a national team member and ranked in the top five middle blockers in the V1 League.
"Of course it's Taichi," Kunimi said with a soft smile.
If even someone like Kindaichi, who had played alongside Taichi, had to pause, then what about those who had only played against him a few times?
To Kunimi, there was only one player on the court whose blocking—whether in solo or joint defence—could rival Taichi's: AD's ace, Hirugami Fukurō. But because of Taichi's overwhelming offensive presence and his role as an outside hitter, people often forgot just how strong his blocking really was.
Right now, DH's front row had two national-class blockers!
That was also why Kujō Reiji's serve felt so devastating.
DH continued serving.
Kujō Reiji sent out his second ball.
BOOM!!!
Smack!!!
With their strongest attacker, Ushijima, being targeted by the serve, AD's remaining players were forced to confront DH's fiercest blocking formation!
Ushijima received again.
"I got it!" Tsunotate Kazuki moved up to set.
"This guy's insane…" Kitajima Kippei muttered from the bench.
With Tsunotate's set, both Matia Bottono and Hoshiumi were unleashed up front—AD's triple-threat offence activated!
Fwoosh!—
The ball soared high toward the middle.
Thud!
Hoshiumi sprang into the air!
"Stay on him!"
"Double block!" Taichi and Nitta went up together.
No way through!
Their block sealed off the angle completely!
BAM!—
Hoshiumi tried for a soft rebound, targeting Nitta's arm.
—Smack!
Denied! The ball was pressed straight down into AD's court!
Tsunotate dove with a full-body lunge and barely saved it. The ball dropped near the net.
Sokolov reacted fast and flicked it up with one hand.
Last touch!
Hoshiumi jumped and spiked again.
"Double block!"
Taichi and Nitta's towering presence eclipsed the sky—swallowing Hoshiumi whole.
"Damn it!"
Only in moments like these did Hoshiumi feel helpless.
Tap!
But he didn't let frustration cloud his judgment. Instead of crashing into the wall, he gently tipped the ball to DH's backcourt.
"Chance ball!"
Kujō easily received it. Iizuna calmly set to the high left wing.
Kaedehara Taichi jumped and spiked!
BOOOM!!!
The block from Matia and Hoshiumi was completely shattered. The ball ripped through the net defence and hammered into AD's court.
Kaedehara Taichi scored again!
[DH 15 – 10 AD]
Something was off.
This wasn't the game AD had imagined.
Before they could even target Kujō Reiji—now in the back row—Taichi's return to the front had already left them reeling!
"Beep! AD calls for a timeout."
With the second set only halfway through, Coach Suzaku was forced to burn his second timeout.
They couldn't afford to let the gap grow any wider.
-----
The timeout ended. Both teams returned to the court and the match resumed.
Facing Kujō Reiji's serve, Hoshiumi Kōrai dropped back to the back row, and AD shifted into a four-man receive formation.
Not because they couldn't handle Kujō's serve, but because they needed to set up a scoring offence right after the reception!
"Tweet!—" The whistle blew for the serve.
Kujō Reiji sent out his third serve.
DH's strategy didn't change—they continued targeting Ushijima Wakatoshi.
"I got it!"
Smack!
Tsunotate Kazuki moved in to shield Ushijima as he received the ball!
With Hoshiumi now in the back row, Tsunotate's position skewed noticeably to the right side.
Matia Bottono moved in to cover and make the set.
Kaedehara Taichi and Nitta Asahiro didn't act rashly. Their eyes stayed locked on AD's setter.
Whoosh—!
The ball flew to the far left. Hoshiumi Kōrai jumped for the spike once more!
Only Kaedehara Taichi could keep up with the block.
BOOM!!
A sharp cross shot!
The ball struck Kujō Reiji's arm and flew out of bounds.
Hoshiumi scored!
[DH 15 - 11 AD]
Ushijima was part of the offensive formation, but the final attacker wasn't necessarily him. Just pulling one side of the block was enough to give AD a smoother rhythm in their offence.
AD finally managed to stop DH's scoring streak.
Service switched. AD to serve. Ushijima returned to the front row.
Matia Bottono jumped into a powerful jump serve. Kujō Reiji received it cleanly.
Iizuna Tsukasa moved in to support, and Kaedehara Taichi and Nitta Asahiro launched a synchronised attack.
—BOOM!!!
An overhand spike!
The ball soared over Hoshiumi's block and slammed hard into Matia's arm, bouncing out of bounds.
Kaedehara Taichi scored!
[DH 16 - 11 AD]
The reason DH had no rush to substitute Kujō Reiji—was because as long as they handed the ball to Kaedehara Taichi, he'd bring in the points!
-----
Sokolov Takanori scored with a quick middle attack!
[DH 16 - 12 AD]
-----
Kaedehara Taichi answered with another overhand spike from the middle!
[DH 17 - 12 AD]
-----
Ushijima Wakatoshi responded with a middle overhand spike!
[DH 17 - 13 AD]
-----
Hoshiumi Kōrai targeted Kujō Reiji with his serve and scored an ace!
[DH 17 - 14 AD]
-----
Kaedehara Taichi leapt on the right side and spiked a fierce sharp-angle shot to score directly!
[DH 18 - 14 AD]
AD had indeed tried to claw back during the rotation where Kujō Reiji was in the back row, but the results weren't ideal.
After several rotations, AD had only trimmed the deficit by one point.
Service changed hands again. DH served. Kujō Reiji returned to the front row.
-----
—BOOM!!!
Kaedehara Taichi scored another point with a back-row attack.
[DH 23 - 20 AD]
Service change—DH to serve.
Tom Wilde launched a powerful jump serve. Heiwajima Toshirō received it.
Matia Bottono jumped in the front row and back-set the ball to the left wing.
Hirugami Fukurō jumped for the spike!
"Double block!" Nitta Asahiro and Kujō Reiji tracked tightly, not giving the spiker any space!
BOOM!!!—
—SMACK!!
The ball struck Kujō's arm and bounced back into AD's court.
"They blocked it again! Kujō's performance is on a whole different level compared to the first set!!"
Smack!
Heiwajima dived to save the rebound. Matia quickly repositioned and set the ball high to the right.
Hoshiumi Kōrai launched from the back row!
"One, two—jump!"
"Double block!" Nitta and Kujō shuffled right and jumped diagonally to intercept.
BOOM!!!—
—Smack!!
The ball rebounded again into AD's court!
Tsunotate Kazuki kept the ball in play. Matia set it again.
Ushijima attacked from a back-row middle approach!
"Double block!"
But after so many consecutive jumps, Nitta and Kujō's block height had dropped. The ball soared over their hands, into the centre of DH's court.
Smack!
Kaedehara Taichi received it!
Iizuna steadied the ball, jumping to set it.
Nitta Asahiro and Kujō Reiji both launched an attack!
BOOM!!!
SMACK!
The ball struck Matia's arm and deflected out of bounds.
Touch out.
Kujō Reiji scored with a spike!
[DH 24 - 20 AD]
DH was the first to reach 24—set point!
"What a shame. The difference between the two setters is pretty stark," Miya Atsumu commented, propping his chin on his palm. "Too bad Tobio-chan on the bench can't come in. He must be really itching to play right now."
"Yeah," Sakusa Kiyoomi agreed—something that rarely happened.
The current AD setter couldn't bring out the full potential of either Ushijima or Hoshiumi.
-----
DH continued to serve.
Tom Wilde served his second ball!
BOOM!!!
Smack!
Hoshiumi received it cleanly. Matia jumped in the front row to set.
Iizuna blocked him in front, anticipating a setter dump.
Whoosh!—
A quick set to Hirugami Fukurō.
"Double block!"
This time, Hirugami's spike was even faster!
The ball slipped past the block.
Smack!
Yoshii Hiyu saved the ball, sending it off at an angle.
"Cover!"
Iizuna moved swiftly into position.
Every time the ball passed through Iizuna's hands, DH's tempo seemed to slow and settle.
Whoosh—!
The ball arced steadily toward the middle in a high set.
That height—was meant for him.
Thump!
Kaedehara Taichi's steps hit the floor with force. He rose into the air.
"Triple block!" Tsunotate, Hirugami, and Matia jumped simultaneously.
Taichi's arm tightened as he smashed the ball.
—BOOM!!!
The ball flew above the block.
SMACK!!!
Hoshiumi met the ball head-on, dropping to one knee as the ball ricocheted off his wrist.
"Save it!"
The ball skimmed the floor, flying parallel toward the far corner.
Smack!
Heiwajima dived and popped it back up.
The ball floated into the air—but still within AD's backcourt.
Ushijima went for the spike, but upon seeing DH's blockers, he had to opt for a non-attacking return.
"Free ball!"
Yoshii received it easily, the pass precise.
And at that moment, a shadow was already at the net.
"Tsukasaaa—!"
Whooosh!—
Iizuna still had a troubled smile on his lips, but the ball flew perfectly to Taichi, not a hair off.
—BOOM!
Kaedehara Taichi spiked and scored!
[DH 25 - 20 AD]
DH secured the second set with ease!
_________
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