Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty-Chapter 522: As Imagined (Double-Length)

Tom Wilde's second serve hit the net and dropped.

Service error.

AD clawed back a point and let out a collective breath of relief.

[DH 21 - 19 AD]

Serve switched hands—AD's turn to serve.

Hoshiumi Kōrai tossed the ball, accelerated, leapt, and struck!

BOOM!!

The ball traced a sharp, cunning path, flying between Kaedehara Taichi and Yoshii Hiyu.

"Mine!"

The ball curved further to the right at the last moment, spun sharply, and plummeted. But Kaedehara Taichi moved laterally on his own initiative and received it cleanly—

The ball softened in his hands like it had been tamed.

Smack!

Perfect first touch.

Iizuna Tsukasa leapt at the net and floated the ball toward centre court. Kujō Reiji soared upward and hammered it down!

High reach spike!

The ball shot over the top of Matia Bottono's block.

Hoshiumi Kōrai received it!

Tsunotate Kazuki quickly moved to cover, lifting it high to the right side. Sokolov Tatsuto leapt up and struck a devastating diagonal!

The ball zipped past the left side of the block and slammed off Kubo Wataru's arm near the back left corner of DH's side, flying out of bounds.

Sokolov Tatsuto scores!

[DH 21 - 20 AD]

Momentum swung in an instant—no room for error.

In just a few rallies, AD closed the gap to a single point!

AD continued serving. Hoshiumi Kōrai launched his second ball!

BANG!!

The ball skimmed just above the net, then nosedived violently!

"—?!"

Yoshii Hiyu dove forward and barely saved it.

The ball struck the net and fell; Nitta Asahiro lunged with one arm to flick it back up, Kujō Reiji got the last touch—

No proper attack—free ball.

"Perfect serve!"

"Chance ball!"

Hoshiumi Kōrai bumped it directly to the net. Amidst the confusion, Matia Bottono seized the moment with a quick second-touch spike—point!

[DH 21 - 21 AD]

"Huh? The setter went for a quick attack?!"

It was a risky play—one step later, and he'd have been stonewalled by Kujō and Nitta's double block.

But his boldness paid off, bringing AD level at the critical end of the set!

"Beep! DH calls a timeout."

Just a few exchanges were enough to remind the audience that AD was still a powerhouse—and DH's early lead only highlighted how well they had been playing.

The outcome was far from decided.

-----

Timeout over. The match resumed.

Coach Nick wanted Taichi and Nitta to more actively participate in dummy attacks. After all, even when Kujō Reiji was the one spiking, the outcome was drastically different depending on whether the opposing team focused their defence on him.

Hoshiumi Kōrai served his third ball.

BOOM!!—

Smack!!!

The sudden surge in speed and power caught Yoshii Hiyu off guard.

He got a touch, but the ball rebounded back toward AD's side.

Matia Bottono leapt up. Kujō Reiji and Nitta Asahiro followed close behind.

Whoosh!—

But Matia didn't go for a direct spike—he played it safe, sending the ball high to the right side.

Sokolov Tatsuto executed a fast attack!

The ball sailed over the collapsing double block and smashed down right on DH's right sideline.

Sokolov Tatsuto scores again!

[DH 21 - 22 AD]

AD takes the lead!

"Sorry!" Yoshii Hiyu apologised—it had been a first-touch mistake.

"Don't sweat it! Next one!" Nitta shouted back. That little guy's serve really was monstrous.

Hoshiumi Kōrai looked pleased with himself. After all, a true ace saves the team when it's on the brink.

"Tweet!—" The whistle for the next serve blew.

Hoshiumi sent out his fourth ball!

BOOM!—

Another low, skimming serve.

It clipped the net cord and dropped toward DH's front row.

"Damn it!"

Nitta Asahiro dove to the spot, barely keeping it up.

"Are we missing another offensive opportunity?"

One more lost point here and DH would be in serious trouble.

"Mine!" Iizuna Tsukasa scrambled over and slid beneath the ball. He deliberately slowed the tempo and made a calm, accurate set.

"Perfect set!"

Kaedehara Taichi leapt from the back row for the spike!

"Double block!" Matia Bottono and Sokolov were ready for it.

—BOOM!!!

But his elevated contact point decided everything.

The ball ricocheted off Hoshiumi's arms and flew out of bounds.

Kaedehara Taichi scores!

[DH 22 - 22 AD]

"That set by Iizuna was picture-perfect! It completely neutralised Hoshiumi's service pressure!"

"Honestly, he's my pick for best setter this season."

"Iizuna was Rookie Setter of the Year last season—now he's a top contender for Best Setter. DH really did luck out with a genius."

"Speaking of genius—this season's addition, Kaedehara Taichi, is even more so. Honestly, it's hard to think of him as just a rookie anymore."

"Wait, maybe it's more than just that," the commentator suddenly said with surprise, as if something had just clicked.

"If you include Nitta Asahiro from the year before…DH has drafted a genius for three straight seasons?!"

"These three young players have single-handedly brought DH—a team that once hovered on the playoff fringe—to the V1 League Finals!"

The two teams were tied once again.

Serve switched hands—DH to serve.

Iizuna Tsukasa launched a powerful jump serve. Ushijima Wakatoshi received it—a half-decent first touch.

Matia Bottono set the ball high on the right side. Sokolov Tatsuto went up for the spike!

"Double block!" Kujō and Nitta jumped together.

No room to swing—stuffed at the net!

BOOM!—

Just as Sokolov aimed for a deflection to the sideline, Nitta pulled his hand back—

The ball flew way out of bounds!

Spike out of bounds!

[DH 23 - 22 AD]

—"What a dodge! Nitta's reflexes are incredible!"

DH continued serving.

Iizuna delivered his second serve.

"Mine!" Heiwajima Toshirō screened for Ushijima to receive the ball.

Tsunotate assisted as second setter—AD launched a four-point attack!

DH's blockers were forced to split.

BOOM!!!

Back-row attack from Ushijima—score!

[DH 23 - 23 AD]

At this crucial moment, neither team backed down!

Serve switched—AD to serve. Hirugami Fukurō rotated into the front row.

Sokolov served a thunderous jump serve.

BOOM!!!

Smack!

Kaedehara Taichi received it cleanly. A slightly off-centre pass, but still playable.

"Damn it, is there anything this guy can't do?!"

Iizuna quickly moved to set.

"Give it to me!" Taichi called, sprinting along the right sideline before jumping from the back row.

"Double block!" Hirugami and Matia jumped together.

Whoosh—!

But the ball flew left—

Kujō Reiji, now facing a single block from Tsunotate, crushed a high-reach spike!

—BOOM!!!

A perfect diagonal—the ball smashed near Sokolov's feet and bounced away.

Kujō Reiji scores!

[DH 24 - 23 AD]

"Nice one!"

Kujō Reiji pumped his fist in the air—finally securing a crucial point and pushing DH to match point!

Service rotated. DH now served, and Kaedehara Taichi rotated to the front row.

"Tweet!—"The whistle blew.

Kujō tossed the ball high, took his approach, leapt—and struck!

BOOM!!!

Smack!!!

Hoshiumi barely managed to receive it, the ball arcing toward the net and nearly crossing over.

Hirugami Fukurō sprang up in one stride, only to be met mid-air by Nitta Asahiro on the other side of the net.

"My sets aren't that good," Fukurō muttered as he gently pushed the ball upward. "But this much, I can still manage."

Ushijima Wakatoshi soared from the back row and slammed the ball down!

BOOM!!!

The ball struck Kujō Reiji's arm and flew out of bounds.

Ushijima scored!

[DH 24 - 24 AD]

The teams were tied once again!

"Beep! Substitution for DH."

"Kitajima Kippei IN, Kujō Reiji OUT."

Coach Nick sent Kitajima back onto the court—both to reinforce the defence and as a clear signal: this set was entering its final, decisive phase.

Serve rotated. AD now served, with Ushijima rotating to the front.

Matia Bottono launched a powerful jump serve.

Kitajima received it, clean and to target!

Whoosh—!

—BOOM!!!

A lightning-fast quick attack in the middle—executed in the blink of an eye between Iizuna and Taichi!

Smack!!!

The audience barely registered what had happened. Even AD's blockers reacted a full beat too late.

But—

Hoshiumi dug it up!

"Taichi!!" Hoshiumi scrambled to his feet. "I'm not going to lose to that move again!"

The ball floated toward the net, and Tsunotate Kazuki moved in to assist.

"Watching these new-generation players evolve so fast…it's honestly thrilling."

Whoosh—!

The ball flew cross-court, arching down precisely above the left wing.

Thud!

Ushijima jumped—his body stretching to its limit in mid-air, left arm arcing fully before slamming down!

BOOM!!!

"Double block!!" Nitta Asahiro and Kaedehara Taichi jumped up together.

SMACK!!!

The ball ricocheted off Taichi's arm and soared past DH's endline.

"Save it!"

Kubo Wataru sprinted after it—

Bang!

—but the ball hit the ground.

Touched out! Ushijima scored!

[DH 24 - 25 AD]

"They couldn't save that?" Goshiki Tsutomu looked surprised. As happy as he was about Ushijima scoring, that ball hadn't gone that far out. DH's libero should've been able to at least make a play for it.

"He's probably exhausted after three full sets against AD's offence," Shirabu Kenjirou said, flipping through the team guide booklet. "DH's libero is the oldest player on the court."

Momentum had suddenly flipped. DH had once held the advantage this set, but now it was AD who controlled the game.

-----

Kaedehara Taichi locked eyes on Hoshiumi. He hadn't expected the other to dig up what should've been a sure point.

"Don't worry. Just get the ball up—I'll finish it," Taichi said in a calm, low voice to his teammates. "We'll take the next point for sure."

"Who's worried?" Yoshii Hiyu replied coolly.

Taichi glanced around. His teammates' expressions were sharp and focused, brimming with resolve—not even a hint of panic, despite being one point away from losing the set.

"This is your moment, ace," Kitajima Kippei said with a grin.

"Of course it is."

A surge of warmth rose in Taichi's chest. He couldn't help the small smile tugging at his lips.

He leaned forward into serve-receive position.

"Bring it on."

AD continued their serve.

Matia Bottono's second jump serve flew in.

Kubo Wataru received it—just short of perfect.

"Cover!"

Iizuna darted beneath the ball and set it cleanly to the right.

Thud!

Taichi took his approach along the right sideline and leapt.

"Double block!" Ushijima and Hirugami jumped together.

BOOOM!!!—

A sharp angle spike, hugging the net!

Hoshiumi flashed across the court—appearing right at the three-meter line on the left!

SMACK!!!

The moment he touched the ball, he lost his balance and toppled to one side.

BANG!

The ball skimmed just above the floor, bounced off the advertising board, and shot high into the air.

Kaedehara Taichi scored!

[DH 25 - 25 AD]

DH had broken AD's serve—back to square one.

Serve rotated. DH now served.

Nitta Asahiro tossed the ball high and went for a powerful jump serve!

BOOM!!!

"I got it!"

Smack!

Heiwajima Toshirō received the ball. Not perfect.

Matia Bottono moved in and set. Hirugami leapt at the net and spiked!

—Smack!!!

The ball deflected off Taichi and Tom Wilde's double block and bounced back into AD's court.

Heiwajima dove forward and kept it alive!

Tsunotate Kazuki followed up and sent the ball left—Ushijima launched into another attack!

SMACK!

—"Kaedehara Taichi once again!!!"

"One touch!"

The ball flew high after brushing Taichi's hand.

Yoshii Hiyu tracked the rebound and calmly set the ball to the setter.

Iizuna slowed the pace, giving Taichi plenty of runway.

Whoosh!—

Thud!

Taichi jumped in the middle—his third consecutive attack.

"Triple block!" Tsunotate, Ushijima, and Hirugami all jumped to form a wall.

BOOM!!!—

The ball shot through the gap between Hirugami and Ushijima, crashing into the floor.

Smack!

Heiwajima dove and got a hand on it!

—"Another save by Heiwajima!"

Hoshiumi moved in to support. Matia Bottono jumped from the back row and swung hard!

In the chaos, Hoshiumi coordinated with the setter for a sudden quick attack through the middle!

"Bold move. That little guy's terrifying!" Miya Atsumu leaned forward with a glint in his eye, clearly excited.

—Smack!!

Thud!

The ball ricocheted off Taichi's arm and dropped.

Ushijima and Hirugami both dove, but they couldn't keep it up.

Taichi's block scored!

[DH 26 - 25 AD]

"That's why you guys can't beat Taichi," Sakusa Kiyoomi said in a low voice. "What you see as a chance—he sees the same thing. And takes it."

Hoshiumi's move hadn't surprised Taichi at all.

If anything, it was Hoshiumi who hadn't expected Taichi to jump again for a block right after that spike.

"I thought he'd be too confident in his own spike to bother," Hoshiumi muttered.

But Taichi had clearly anticipated that his shot might be dug—and what would happen after.

DH served again.

Nitta Asahiro took a deep breath and tossed the ball.

—BOOM!!!

Smack!!!

The serve clipped Matia Bottono's arm and shot out of bounds.

Service ace!

[DH 27 - 25 AD]

DESEO Hornets took the third set!

_________

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