Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty-Chapter 520: You Think I’m the Final Boss or Something? (Double-Length)

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It wasn't that Matia Bottono lacked ability—rather, his playstyle simply didn't suit AD.

Japanese setters were known for the stealthiness of their sets and their ability to orchestrate multi-point attacks. In international matches, they often used jump sets and second-touch attacks, always pursuing "speed, precision, and variety." In contrast, Matia Bottono favoured high sets and structured plays—a stark mismatch.

AD's attackers were at a slight height disadvantage compared to other teams, so their entire system revolved around fast-paced offence and defence. They aimed to disrupt opponents' rhythm through frequent quick attacks, wide swings, and back-row assaults.

By emphasising total-team defence and increasing the involvement of attackers in defensive plays, they generated chances for counterattacks. Grinding down opponents through persistence and resilience—that was both AD's and Japanese volleyball's defining philosophy.

"Matia." Ushijima Wakatoshi walked up to Matia Bottono, his expression unreadable.

"What is it?"

Matia frowned slightly. He could tell this genius player was highly valued by AD—Ushijima Wakatoshi's skill was something he fully acknowledged. However, if this guy was here to blame him over the result of just the second set, he wasn't about to take it lying down.

But Ushijima said nothing at first. He seemed to still be organising his words. His tall, upright frame and stern face exuded an inescapable sense of presence, the sheer pressure of it almost physical.

What, trying to intimidate me now? Matia thought to himself, his chin lifting stubbornly, unwilling to back down.

DH was a powerhouse team. The match had gone back and forth. How could a single lost set be pinned on him alone? Besides, he'd done everything he could on court. Maybe it hadn't turned the tide—but he had no regrets.

For a long moment, the air around them seemed frozen. Only the faint sound of their breathing echoed in the silence.

At last, Ushijima spoke—his voice deep and resonant, steady as bedrock. "Set the ball your way. If it's a matter of height or power, I won't give up."

"…Huh?" Matia blinked, caught off guard. That's it?

"I won't lose in height either," said Hoshiumi Kōrai as he stepped forward. "Relax—we're winning this one."

Coincidentally, neither Ushijima nor Hoshiumi had a setter in high school who was considered a genius by public opinion.

Q:What's the best way to calm down your own setter?

A:Score! Let your ace lead the team forward with sheer presence!

-----

Intermission over. Set three began!

DESEO Hornets' Starting 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).

Schweiden Adlers' 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 Club's lineup: front row—opposite hitter Ushijima Wakatoshi, middle blocker Hirugami Fukurō, and outside hitter Tsunotate Kazuki; back row—outside hitter Hoshiumi Kōrai, middle blocker Sokolov Tatsuto (libero Heiwajima Toshirō), and setter Matia Bottono.

The match resumed with AD serving.

Matia Bottono leapt into a powerful jump serve.

BOOM!!!

The serve rocketed toward DH's left back corner. Kitajima Kippei reacted swiftly, reading the trajectory with perfect precision. He darted into position, arms outstretched to form a clean platform, and received the ball fluidly—quick, crisp, and free of any wasted movement.

Despite sitting out all of set two, Kitajima now moved as though he'd never left the court, seamlessly locking back into match rhythm.

Smack!

The ball arced high—an ideal first pass!

Iizuna Tsukasa sent the ball soaring to the right wing. Kaedehara Taichi leapt into his approach!

"Triple block!" Ushijima, Hirugami, and Tsunotate all jumped together.

AD's defensive setup against Taichi had evolved again. Now even the shorter Tsunotate was joining the block. They would rather let Taichi spike over the top than risk his shots warping their defensive alignment.

—BOOM!!!

The ball sailed over Tsunotate's block and struck Matia Bottono's arm before flying out of bounds.

Kaedehara Taichi scores!

[DH 1 - 0 AD]

"Don't worry! Take your time!" Hirugami shouted.

Serve rotation. DH to serve.

Nitta Asahiro launched a blistering jump serve.

BOOM!!!

Smack!!!

The ball smashed into Matia Bottono's arm and bounced back into DH's court. Nitta's serve was already making a statement.

Taichi rushed in to dig the ball and sent it high to the centre court. Yoshii Hiyu faked a spike, drawing Tsunotate into the air.

The ball veered to the left wing.

Tom Wilde launched into his attack!

"Double block!" Ushijima and Hirugami rose together.

BOOM!!—

Smack!!

"Touched once!" The ball deflected off Hirugami's hand.

Heiwajima dove from the back row and pushed the ball up to the front. Tsunotate leapt and set it.

Yoshii faced him at the net as the ball soared leftward—Ushijima leapt again!

"Double block!" Taichi and Tom Wilde rose to meet him.

BOOM!!!

The ball pierced the block to the right.

Smack!

Iizuna barely got under it, sending it toward the baseline.

Kitajima scrambled into position and popped the ball back toward the net.

"Too close!"

"Block him!"

Taichi jumped again and gently tipped the ball behind the two blockers.

Smack!

Hoshiumi hurled himself into a dive and saved it.

Matia Bottono covered the zone and quickly set the ball high—Ushijima soared again!

"Double block!" Taichi jumped for a second time, joined by Tom Wilde.

BOOM!!!—

—SMACK!!

The ball bounced off Taichi's arm, back toward AD's side—

THUD!

—and out of bounds. Block deflected out.

Ushijima scores!

[DH 1 - 1 AD]

Rotation. AD to serve.

Tsunotate's serve dropped just in front of the net, targeting Tom Wilde.

Smack!

Tom Wilde kept the ball up with a clean overhead pass. Iizuna moved to set the ball high over the middle.

Taichi faced a double block—and powered through with a thunderous spike!

BOOM!!!—

Tsunotate stepped into its path but immediately felt his feet lift off the ground. He lost balance and crashed backwards.

"Woah! Tsunotate just went airborne!"

The ball rebounded high.

"Send it to me."

Ushijima's voice was low and steady as he began his approach from the backline.

I don't need to imitate the Japanese setters, Matia thought, eyes firm. I've got my own style! He planted himself under the descending ball and sent it soaring, straight up centre.

Whoosh!—

Thud!

Ushijima's foot pounded into the floor just inside the three-meter line as he launched into the air.

"So high…he really can do it!" Matia thought in awe. Even against Western players, this kind of form is world-class!

BOOOM!!!—

—SMACK!!!

The spike ricocheted straight down—right next to Matia's feet.

"…???"

Taichi landed, his gaze icy as it swept over Ushijima and Matia.

"You're not underestimating my blocking, are you?"

Kaedehara Taichi scores with a block!

[DH 2 - 1 AD]

"He blocked a spike over 350 cm?!" Matia stared, utterly shocked.

(Author's Note: A spike with a hitting point over 350 cm still has a downward angle. A successful block doesn't necessarily require the block point to be over 350.)

Ushijima gazed at Taichi with grim silence.

"No way?!" On the sidelines, Goshiki Tsutomu shot up from his seat, disbelief written all over his face. "Wakatoshi-senpai actually lost in height and power to Taichi?!"

"You're blocking my view." Shirabu Kenjirō yanked him back down.

Even though Shiratorizawa had lost twice to Aoba Johsai in the prefectural finals during Ushijima's third year, none of the Shiratorizawa players had ever believed that Ushijima had been defeated by Kaedehara Taichi.

But today…they were beginning to sense it—Kaedehara Taichi might really be the strongest player on the court.

Still, the sight of Ushijima's spike getting stuffed cleanly by Taichi left a sour taste in their mouths.

"Shirabu-senpai…"

"Shut it," said Shirabu Kenjirō coldly.

He could tell—Ushijima Wakatoshi's spike had been fully prepared, and the setter had done everything right.

This was a clean and utter defeat—

In both height and power, they had been overwhelmed!

"Ushijima…" Hoshiumi Kōrai looked toward Ushijima with concern.

"I'm fine," Ushijima replied calmly. Then he turned to Matia Bottono. "Sorry, that was my mistake."

"Can you still give me a toss like that next time?"

"Huh?" Matia Bottono blinked in surprise. "I think it's better to adjust next time…"

"No need," Ushijima insisted. "Just give me a high toss."

"Again. Don't hesitate. Just give me a high toss!"

Serve rotates. DH to serve.

Yoshii Hiyu's serve dropped toward the front row.

Hirugami Fukurō received it easily.

Matia Bottono rotated in and sent a quick toss—

Fwoosh—!

The ball flew sharply to the far left. Hoshiumi Kōrai jumped and swung down.

"Double block!" Kaedehara Taichi and Tom Wilde rose to meet him.

BOOM!!—

The ball zipped past their hands and fell just inside DH's right sideline—

A sharp angle shot along the net!

Smack!

Kitajima Kippei dug the ball cleanly!

Iizuna Tsukasa quickly stepped in and passed it to the left wing. Kaedehara Taichi took off to spike!

"Triple block!" Hoshiumi, Ushijima, and Hirugami all leapt in sync.

BOOM!!!

The ball blasted through Hoshiumi's hands and slammed into the middle of AD's court.

Smack!

Heiwajima Toshirō managed to dig it out!

"Give it to me!"

Ushijima had already landed, retreating deep into the back row to prepare for a full approach, voice sharp and commanding.

"Was it because I didn't toss to him on the first play?" Matia thought as he rotated back into position. Still, it was the first time he'd heard Ushijima this emotional when calling for the ball!

Fwoosh—!

The toss arced high toward centre court again.

"Then let's do it again!"

Ushijima's eyes gleamed like a hawk's as he locked onto the ball, feet pounding a rhythm into the court.

Thump!

The instant the ball reached peak height, Ushijima stepped in with a final, grounded step. His legs bent just enough to coil every ounce of strength in his body.

Then—he launched.

With a gust of air, he surged upward like a rocket leaving the earth.

Midair, Ushijima's left arm swung high behind him. Every muscle along it tensed and bulged with explosive power, veins popping out visibly.

"Triple block!" Taichi, Tom Wilde, and Iizuna all leapt to stop him.

They could see it too—

This spike…was not to be underestimated!

BOOOOM!!!

As the ball hovered at its apex, Ushijima's left palm collided with it with the force of a thunderclap that echoed across the arena.

Under that overwhelming power, the volleyball distorted visibly in the air. Its path curved unnaturally from the sheer force, bypassing the block entirely and—

BANG!!!

—crashed dead-centre into DH's side of the court, rebounding a full five meters high from the impact.

Ushijima Wakatoshi scored with an overhand spike!

[DH 2 - 2 AD]

The entire venue went still.

"360 cm!!!"

"My god—three meters sixty!" Goshiki Tsutomu leapt from his seat. "Did you see that, Shirabu-senpai?! Ushiwaka-senpai really is the strongest!"

"You're blocking my view," Shirabu muttered, pulling Goshiki back down—but this time, there was a noticeable smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

As the replay lit up the big screen overhead, the home crowd at AD's stadium exploded with cheers.

"Beautiful spike!"

"That's what we needed, Ushiwaka!"

"Wakatoshi, you're a damn monster!"

The team swarmed around Ushijima in celebration.

"Ushijima," Hoshiumi said, still slightly stunned, "didn't your previous max spike height cap out at 358 cm?"

"Yeah," Ushijima replied without emotion.

Then he looked toward Taichi across the net. "To maintain your place at the top, you have to be willing to abandon your old strength—again and again."

"My father taught me that. If you can't keep getting stronger, someone will surpass you eventually."

With that one spike, Ushijima had completely flipped the momentum—not just of the rally, but of the entire previous set.

"Another breakthrough?" Taichi's lips curled into an eager grin. "Man…playing against Ushijima-senpai really is fun."

"First that serve, and now this spike…"

"He really gives off this shounen protagonist aura..."

"You're using me to push your level cap, huh? Am I your final boss or something?"

Taichi turned to Iizuna, eyes burning bright. "Iizuna-senpai, give me a high toss like that too! But make it higher."

Serve rotates again. AD to serve.

Hirugami Fukurō stepped up and went for a power jump serve.

BOOM!!! frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

It was as if he, too, had been inspired by Ushijima. The force behind that serve was unreal.

Smack!

Kitajima Kippei managed to dig it up, though the first touch veered awkwardly toward the front.

"Tch!" Taichi was forced to act as setter, tossing the ball high toward the left wing.

Tom Wilde jumped to spike!

"Double block!" Sokolov Tatsuto and Ushijima leapt together.

BOOM!!

Smack!

The ball struck their hands and rebounded high above.

"One touch!" Sokolov shouted.

Tsunotate quickly adjusted and passed the ball back up cleanly.

With Ushijima still in top form, Matia Bottono lifted another toss to the middle. Ushijima ran in and launched again!

"Triple block!" DH's front line leapt in unison!

—BOOM!!!

Once again, the ball punched through their block!

Another overhand spike!

Smack!

"You're not stopping our ace that easily!"

Kubo Wataru dove along the baseline and made the save!

"Go, Taichi!"

Iizuna moved in fast and sent a high toss to centre court.

"Nice toss!"

Taichi's eyes lit up. A grin played on his lips—he was thrilled.

THUMP!

As the ball arrived just above him, Taichi fired off the ground. His leg muscles snapped with power, launching him skyward.

Midair, his body tilted forward slightly, stretching out into perfect form. His right arm pulled back like a bowstring at full draw.

"Triple block!" Sokolov, Hoshiumi, and Ushijima all went up to stop him.

But Taichi's eyes were laser-focused—completely shut out from the noise of the world.

—BOOOOM!!!

His palm crashed into the ball, and for a split second, even the air seemed to shudder. Under his force, the ball became a streak of white lightning, streaking toward AD's court with terrifying speed.

An unmistakable overhand spike!

Taichi's point of contact soared a full forearm's length above the block!

The ball's flight path was a near-perfect straight line, tearing through the air with a harsh hiss.

CRASHH!!!

It landed clean in the centre of AD's court, bouncing high.

Point score—Kaedehara Taichi!

[DH 3 - 2 AD]

The home commentators at AD's arena stared up at the big screen, stunned into silence.

"370 cm!!!"

_________

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