Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty

Chapter 122: Surpassing Oneself

Finally hearing the familiar system notification sound, Kaedehara Taichi let out a deep breath of relief. Holding his ground against Kiry? Wakatsu alone had pushed him to his limit.

"Damn Oikawa, you're always a step too slow."

Mujinazaka's Nozomu Mami served the ball sharply over the net.

"Cover!" Iwaizumi Hajime called out as he barely managed to dig the serve.

Oikawa T?ru stepped in with a flawless form, balancing himself mid-step as he jumped to deliver an immaculate set.

Kaedehara Taichi was already airborne on the right wing. The Mujinazaka blockers were a step too slow to keep up.

"What a beautiful set!"

"Despite the first pass being out of position, Oikawa's exceptional movement laid the foundation for this pinpoint toss!"

Kaedehara Taichi scanned the Mujinazaka defenders' positions mid-air, his eyes sharp. For the first time in a while, there was no wall obstructing his view of the court.

His right arm swung down decisively as the ball aligned perfectly in front of his palm.

Smack! Only Kiry? Wakatsu anticipated his move.

"He got it!"

"Kiry? Wakatsu, who rotated to the back row, took charge of the reception again! Oikawa and Taichi's combination attack failed to score!"

"Save it!" Kiry? shouted.

Ezota Naoharu dashed to the back and leapt off one foot, desperately sending the ball back.

In the front row, Usuri Mitsuru tipped the ball toward Aoba Johsai's weak backcourt.

"Chance ball!"

Watari Shinji dashed to intercept, deftly controlling the ball with a precise dig.

Oikawa quickly set the ball high to the left wing, where Taichi pulled back for a running approach from the back row.

"Block him!"

The high toss gave Mujinazaka's blockers enough time to react, and both Hondo Subaru and Unnan Keisuke leapt to form a wall in front of Taichi.

Boom!

"A powerful spike! Kaedehara Taichi shattered one of Mujinazaka's twin towers, Unnan Keisuke, with brute force!"

Pop!

"But Kiry? Wakatsu anticipated the play again, picking up the spike with a stunning dig!"

Usuri Mitsuru set the ball high and centred it, creating an opportunity for their upcoming ace, Ezota Naoharu to strike from the back row.

Pop!

Oikawa handled the reception with practised ease, sending the ball perfectly to his envisioned position.

He transitioned smoothly into another precise set for the right wing.

"Mad-Dog-chan!!!"

Ky?tani Kentar? launched himself into the air, facing only Mujinazaka's setter in front of him.

Bang!

Ky?tani's spike ricocheted off Usuri's hands and crashed into Mujinazaka's court.

But...

Pop!

"Kiry? Wakatsu read it again!"

"Kiry? Wakatsu's defensive prowess is truly jaw-dropping! Even under Aoba Johsai's relentless high-speed attacks, Mujinazaka's backline holds strong!"

"This time, it was a fierce right-wing spike, but Kiry? managed to neutralize it beautifully! His ability to stay so composed in such high-pressure moments is nothing short of extraordinary!"

Taichi gazed at Kiry?, who was tirelessly anchoring Mujinazaka's defence, with a complicated expression.

His heart was filled with a mix of admiration and pity.

"Impressive as it is to keep the ball alive, is this really the best approach?"

"With Kiry? fully committed to defence, Mujinazaka's offence is effectively on pause. This is Aoba Johsai's golden opportunity!"

Mujinazaka sent a weak free ball over the net again, and Hanamaki Takahiro took control with ease.

The ball arced gracefully to Oikawa's waiting hands.

Both Ky?tani Kentar? and Kaedehara Taichi began their approaches simultaneously from the left and right wings.

"Damn it!"

Mujinazaka's blockers were in disarray. Neither of those two was a player you could block solo.

Mujinazaka's Unnan Keisuke pulled Usuri Mitsuru closer, switching positions with him. His instincts told him that Aoba Johsai's #10 was the far bigger threat.

"Give it to me!" Taichi's voice rang out from the right side. He leapt high, his arm swinging through the air.

"Double block!" Usuri Mitsuru and Hondo Subaru jumped in unison, forming a wall in front of him.

On the opposite side, Unnan Keisuke faced off against Ky?tani across the net, determined to stop the volatile hitter on his own.

"Tap, tap, tap…"

The volleyball slammed into Mujinazaka's court.

"A setters dump!"

"Oikawa T?ru with a stroke of genius! When Aoba Johsai's wing spikers were locked down by the blockers, their 'blade-wielding setter' broke through the centre with a direct attack!"

[Aoba Johsai 21 – 21 Mujinazaka]

Oikawa smirked at Mujinazaka's setter, Usuri Mitsuru.

"When did you decide you could just ignore me?"

Usuri forced a bitter smile, glancing at Oikawa.

"Even at the tail end of the third set, this guy doesn't miss a chance to mess with me. Fine, I'll admit it—he's better than me."

What a jerk.

"Don't worry about it! Just win the next point!" Kiry? Wakatsu approached Usuri, his voice calm and reassuring.

"Yes!"

But despite his words, Kiry? couldn't help but feel a creeping sense of unease as he faced Aoba Johsai's full-blown offensive.

It was as if invisible vines were climbing up his legs, binding him, dragging him down. Kiry? felt his body grow heavier with each passing moment.

Smack!

"Mujinazaka's #4, Unnan Keisuke, blocks Aoba Johsai's #16, Ky?tani Kentar?, single-handedly!"

"As expected of one of Mujinazaka's twin towers! Ky?tani appeared to notice Unnan's block and tried to adjust his spike mid-air, but Unnan still managed to shut it down!"

"With sharp instincts and incredible core strength, he sealed the angle by forcefully repositioning his block. It seems Kiry?'s intensity has inspired his teammates as well!"

As Unnan landed, he turned to Kiry?.

"Wakatsu, focus on the attack! Leave the defence to us! If we can't handle this much, we don't deserve to be your teammates."

Unnan followed up with a hand signal directed at Mujinazaka's other Twin-Tower, Nozomu.

"I've blocked two more balls than you so far."

Nozomu Mami glared at him silently.

"...I'm going to kill this guy."

"Wakatsu-senpai! The match starts now!" shouted Bishin Haruma, his voice echoing across the court.

Kiry?'s gaze steadied, his resolve reignited.

-----

[Aoba Johsai 21 – 22 Mujinazaka]

The match was neck and neck again.

Smack!

Kaedehara Taichi's spike deflected off the blockers' hands and out of bounds. Aoba Johsai scored.

[Aoba Johsai 22 – 22 Mujinazaka]

Boom!

Kiry? executed a flawless three-step approach from the back row, breaking through the double block with a powerful spike.

[Aoba Johsai 22 – 23 Mujinazaka]

Bang!

Oikawa feigned a spike but instead delivered a perfect set to the left wing. Kindaichi seized the opening and scored.

[Aoba Johsai 23 – 23 Mujinazaka]

Then...

Oikawa T?ru stepped onto the service line.

"Both teams have demonstrated incredible serving strength, but at this critical juncture, a direct scoring serve could change everything!"

The commentator, ?tomo, felt lucky to be calling such a thrilling match.

The intensity of the third set had surpassed everyone's expectations. Cheers erupted from all corners of the stadium, wave after wave.

"A-O-BA—JOH-SAI!"

"MU-JI-NA-ZA-KA!"

"Oikawa, go for it!"

"Kiry?, don't give up!"

"Taichi, fight!"

The thunderous applause and chants reverberated through the stadium, their echoes crashing against the walls like an unstoppable tide.

"Don't let him score! Take the serve back immediately!" Mujinazaka's players were laser-focused, their concentration at its peak.

"To bring out 100% of your ability in a match is no easy feat, but now is the time to surpass yourself!"

Oikawa tossed the ball into the air with one hand, taking his approach as it descended. At the apex of his jump, his arm swung through with perfect precision.

Neither the deafening cheers nor the pressure fazed him. In fact, it only fueled his energy.

"The entire world is cheering for me!!!"

Bo—om!

The ball zipped across the court like a lightning bolt, striking Mujinazaka's backline.

Oikawa scored a flawless service ace.

[Aoba Johsai 24 – 23 Mujinazaka]

Aoba Johsai had reached the match point in the deciding set.