Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty

Chapter 125: The Nation’s No. 1 High School Setter (D-L)

Miya Atsumu stood at the service line, as though the spotlight in the entire arena had focused solely on him. From the Inarizaki supporters' section, a thunderous wave of cheers erupted. The rhythm of drums grew more intense, gradually accompanied by the blaring sounds of horns.

The charged atmosphere made Aoba Johsai's players' hearts pound uncontrollably. In Miya Atsumu's calm and confident gaze, they sensed an unprecedented threat.

As the symphony orchestra's performance reached its peak, the majestic music surged like a tidal wave, elevating the arena's atmosphere to its zenith.

And then—

"!!!"

Atsumu raised his left hand slowly and clenched it into a fist with sudden force.

At the pinnacle of the music's crescendo, everything abruptly fell silent.

The cessation was so sudden that an almost suffocating silence enveloped the stadium, as if the air itself had solidified.

This fleeting moment of stillness carried immense tension, silencing the chaos outside and concentrating everyone's focus on the ball that Miya Atsumu was about to serve.

"Damn it, what's this guy playing at? Manual BGM?" Oikawa T?ru grumbled, annoyed. This entire sequence had left the Aoba Johsai players slightly tense.

Atsumu tossed the ball into the air and initiated his serve.

"Nice serve!" a few girls in the stands cheered loudly.

Atsumu's brows furrowed tightly mid-approach.

"Oh dear…" Osamu chuckled softly. "Atsumu absolutely hates distractions during his serves."

Wham!

"Out!" Watari Shinji judged the ball quickly, shifting his position to let it go.

So fast! So powerful! It's just like Oikawa-senpai's serves, thought the players.

"OUT!"

The line judge signalled the call, and Miya Atsumu's serve was ruled a fault. Aoba Johsai scored.

[Aoba Johsai 1 – 0 Inarizaki]

Atsumu turned his head toward the source of the cheering, his face filled with disdain.

"Don't yell like that during my serves, you noisy pigheads!" he snarled.

The girls in the stands flinched, startled by Atsumu's fierce expression.

"Are you two Inarizaki fans?" Two members of Inarizaki's cheering squad ran over to the girls. "Could you please stay quiet during our serves?"

"What?! This kind of thing happens all the time on TV!" the girls protested indignantly.

...

"Pfft!" Kaedehara Taichi suddenly burst into laughter. If Miya Atsumu's mental game was this unstable, why not mess with him even more?

"Oikawa-senpai, why don't you teach them how to serve properly?" Taichi shouted loudly.

"Huh? Teach me how to serve?!" Atsumu's gaze locked onto Taichi with fury.

Oikawa instantly caught onto Taichi's ploy and played along, pointing mockingly at Atsumu with one hand.

"Hey, kid! Pay attention. This one's on the house," Oikawa said smugly as he stepped up to serve.

"Out—"

"OUT—!"

"It's definitely going out!"

The Inarizaki supporters launched a chorus of heckling aimed directly at Oikawa.

"Tch...Silence to help your team focus, noise to distract your opponents…Even their cheer squad is well-trained." Yahaba Shigeru remarked with a mix of sarcasm and grudging admiration.

Unbothered, Oikawa looked at Atsumu with a playful smirk. Is this all you've got? His serves wouldn't lose their edge because of a little racket.

Oikawa raised his arms toward the crowd, inviting louder cheers. Some spectators, disapproving of Inarizaki's tactics, responded with scattered applause and shouts of support.

They couldn't maintain silence, but making it equally noisy on both sides was definitely an option.

Suna Rintar? sneered. Noise? So what? Let's see you handle this.

Oikawa tossed the ball high and began his approach, smooth and deliberate.

"OH-EEE-HEY!" The crowd adopted the most common chant heard during televised matches.

Oikawa's smile widened. He was in his element.

Bam!

The first serve of any match is always the hardest to return. Without familiarity with the opponent's ball trajectory, reactions often lag.

The ball landed between Atsumu and libero Akagi Michinari, bouncing high into the air.

Completely unfazed by the noise, Oikawa delivered a serve that struck with precision.

[Aoba Johsai 2 – 0 Inarizaki]

Though their serving techniques weren't drastically different, Oikawa's years of experience leading a team largely on his own had given him an unshakable composure that Atsumu, coming from a powerhouse team, hadn't yet fully developed.

Atsumu's playful demeanour vanished. His expression grew serious as he stared at Oikawa. This third-year setter wasn't all talk—he was the real deal.

"The match begins with both teams battling for dominance through powerful serves!"

"Both setters boast exceptional serving skills and are pivotal to their team's offence."

"Mr. Otomo, it seems like Miya Atsumu from Inarizaki is the player to watch in this match. His popularity is skyrocketing, and some are already calling him the best high school setter in the nation."

"That's true, but I'd argue that Aoba Johsai's Oikawa T?ru deserves just as much attention," Commentator Otomo replied, his expression one of anticipation.

"You mean Aoba Johsai's #1? He's certainly made a lasting impression in previous matches."

"While he may not have stood out much in his first two years, I believe his future prospects are incredibly bright!"

Otomo's certainty was palpable. "This match isn't just a battle between eastern and western setters—it might very well determine who's the No. 1 high school setter in the nation!"

Aoi, his co-commentator, looked at him in shock. He hadn't expected him to rate Oikawa so highly.

"The nation's No. 1 setter, huh?" Oikawa bounced the ball rhythmically at the service line. "It's impossible not to think about it…but for now, all I want is to play a good game with my teammates and see how far we can go in this national tournament."

Bam!

Oikawa's second serve was unleashed. Akagi Michinari read its trajectory and barely managed to receive it.

"Ball saved!"

"Oikawa T?ru's strong serve disrupted Inarizaki's first pass, but—"

"Miya Atsumu took a perfect step! You can immediately see the brilliance of his positioning—it's fast, precise, and puts him in full control of his passing options!"

"Going straight for a quick attack? Atsumu sets the ball to the right wing, where Suna Rintar? is already in the air!"

Suna's spike descended rapidly, but a hand intercepted it.

Smack!

"One touch!"

"Incredible! Kaedehara Taichi predicted this quick attack and perfectly positioned himself to block Suna Rintar?'s strike!"

Iwaizumi Hajime set the ball high to Oikawa. As soon as Taichi landed from his block, he sprinted toward the left wing.

Underestimating your opponent without proper research? You'll pay for it in points.

Taichi leaped on the left wing, meeting Oikawa's backward set with impeccable timing.

Smack!

The announcer's voice boomed across the gymnasium, narrating the breathtaking rally that had just unfolded:

"Oikawa T?ru, even when under immense pressure from Inarizaki's fierce attack, opts for a quick attack—a play Aoba Johsai has perfected to an art form!"

"What incredible resolve!" Aoi marvelled. "The unwavering spirit displayed by these players is nothing short of inspiring!"

Kaedehara Taichi's powerful spike thundered past Inarizaki's blockers, landing cleanly on their side of the court.

[Aoba Johsai 3 - 0 Inarizaki]

The stadium erupted into cheers as the announcers continued to hype up the match.

"Kaedehara Taichi's extensive court coverage earns Aoba Johsai another point! His dynamic movement combined with Oikawa's precision setting creates a lethal first-strike offence!"

"The Oikawa-Kaedehara Duo's quick attack is a surefire ace—it's a devastating move that can dismantle even the strongest defences!"

Inarizaki's court had fallen silent momentarily as their ace, Miya Atsumu, scowled. His lips curled downward, but beneath the frustration glimmered undeniable excitement.

"Sorry," Suna Rintar? muttered, his head slightly bowed. The veteran middle blocker had misjudged his positioning and let the point slip.

Atsumu didn't waste time consoling him. Instead, he curtly replied, "Mm," his tone devoid of any softness.

Mistakes like these shouldn't even happen. That ball was textbook-perfect for a clean finish. If you can't secure the point, go reflect on it.

As Aoba Johsai prepared to serve again, Oikawa T?ru methodically went through his routine. Tossing the ball into the air, he launched into his serve. His calculated approach blended grace and precision, his arm pausing ever so briefly before smashing the ball with a resounding crack.

"OHH-HEYY!" The crowd echoed his movements, spurred on by the rhythm of the game.

Wham!

"A jump float serve!" Atsumu's sharp eyes immediately caught on. Unlike the raw power of the earlier serves, this one demanded finesse and adaptability.

Atsumu, a versatile dual-serve expert himself, knew this subtle switch could be even deadlier.

Slight hesitation on Inarizaki's backline was all it took. Akagi Michinari miscalculated the ball's trajectory.

The volleyball dipped sharply at the last second, evading his hands and striking the floor cleanly.

[Aoba Johsai 4 - 0 Inarizaki]

The commentator erupted, unable to contain his excitement.

"Unbelievable! Aoba Johsai has surged to a 4-0 lead against Inarizaki—one of the favourites to win it all! This is the dream start for a dark horse team!"

His co-commentator offered a measured response.

"Could it be that Inarizaki underestimated their opponents?"

Inarizaki's bench called for a timeout.

Their coach, Kurosu Norimune, glared at the players huddled around him, his stern expression enough to quiet even the boisterous Miya twins.

"Do you think you've already won the championship? Are you this careless because people call us 'The Strongest Challengers'? Do you think Shiratorizawa is proud of being called 'The Kings' when they can't even represent their own prefecture in nationals, huh?!"

Atsumu visibly flinched but quickly masked it.

The coach's sharp words continued.

"Atsumu, are you so fragile that a bit of noise throws off your serve? What if the opposing cheering section tries to throw you off? Will you storm over and tell them to shut up?"

"Rintar?! Do you believe a disrupted first touch means we can't pull off fast attacks? You should know better—this isn't your first rodeo. Treat Aoba Johsai like the national quarterfinalists they are, or you'll pay for it in points!"

Assistant coach ?mi Tar? clapped his hands, signalling a change in tone.

"Calm down. Take note of Aoba Johsai's capabilities—this team has proven themselves on the court. But there's no need for fear or overconfidence."

He pointed to the team's mantra displayed prominently on their bench:

'We don't need memories'

"Yesterday's game is history—focus on the next point."

"You're strong," Coach Omi reminded them firmly. "Stronger than Aoba Johsai. Stick to our strategy and trust your training. Let's win this first set."

"YES, COACH!" the team responded in unison, revitalized.

As Inarizaki prepared to re-enter the court, their coach murmured to himself, "If they keep faltering, I'll have no choice but to send Kita Shinsuke in early to stabilize them."

The match resumed.

Oikawa T?ru launched another jump float serve, but this time Akagi Michinari, fully focused, stepped up to receive.

Despite the challenging spin and drop of the ball, he managed to lift it cleanly into the air.

"Aran!" Atsumu's sharp voice commanded. The star setter immediately transitioned into playmaker mode and instead set a high ball for Osamu Miya, who was charging from the backline.

"Double block!" Kaedehara Taichi and Ky?tani Kentar? leapt in unison, anticipating Osamu's spike.

Boom! Osamu hammered the ball at a steep cross-angle, evading their reach and landing it cleanly inbounds.

[Aoba Johsai 4 - 1 Inarizaki]

"The Miya twins' synchronized play strikes again! Atsumu's split-second decision-making combined with Osamu's powerful finish has finally gotten Inarizaki on the board!"

From the stands, Inarizaki's cheer squad erupted into their signature chant:

"Osamu! Osamu! Way to go!"

"Osamu! Osamu! What a show!"

The twins shared a smirk and a high five, their confidence palpable.

"That was scary," Akagi muttered nervously.

"Focus, idiot," Atsumu replied sharply, though there was a playful edge to his tone.

"Damn it, they're good," Oikawa murmured as he took his position in the back row. "But we're better. Right, Taichi?"

Taichi flashed a wide grin, adjusting his position for the upcoming play. "Always."

Inarizaki's turn to serve, with Ginjima Hitoshi stepping up to deliver a powerful jump serve.

As the ball screamed over the net, Iwaizumi Hajime lunged forward, stabilizing the pass despite the sheer force.

"Nice receive!" Oikawa shouted, leaping into position. With perfect precision, he sent a single-handed toss to Kaedehara Taichi, who was already sprinting toward the left wing.

Taichi took to the air, Oikawa's timing impeccable. With a thunderous spike, he sent the ball crashing past Inarizaki's blockers.

[Aoba Johsai 5 - 1 Inarizaki]

"Atsumu, you idiot!" Osamu shouted, his sharp voice cutting through the tension.

Atsumu froze for a second, then mumbled, "..fair enough.." He had no solid argument to counter the scolding.

"But seriously! That play was so cool! And that quick attack earlier? Absolute perfection! How can I not watch something like that?!" Atsumu suddenly shouted, his enthusiasm bursting forth like a child marvelling at their favourite toy.

"Shut up!" Osamu snapped, glaring daggers at his twin. "You're playing in a national match, not a pickup game in the park!"

Atsumu sheepishly grinned, scratching the back of his neck. "I know, I know. Just got a little distracted…"

On the other side of the court

Kaedehara Taichi confidently strode to the service line, twirling the volleyball between his hands as the crowd buzzed in anticipation.

This was it—the perfect momentum for Aoba Johsai to seize control of the first set. Taichi adjusted his grip and took a deep breath, exhaling slowly to clear his mind.

_________

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