Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty

Chapter 152: Bring It On

Challenging Karasuno's libero, the best receiver on their team, head-on?

He had only mastered a powerful jump serve, which was surprising enough, but this level of provocation was on another level.

Tanaka Ry?nosuke glared fiercely at Taichi.

"Kid, you're pretty full of yourself!"

"Ry?, let him try! I want to see just how good his serves really are now!"

Even Oikawa T?ru wouldn't dare claim he could score three consecutive points off Nishinoya Y?.

Taichi merely smiled.

To him, Karasuno's "Guardian Deity" was a formidable presence—precisely why defeating him was worth everything he had.

Once again, Taichi tossed the ball and began his approach.

Nishinoya's eyes were locked on Taichi's movements.

As expected, it was impossible to predict the type of serve just from his initial movements.

—Bang!

The volleyball thundered across the court. Nishinoya's pupils contracted—not because of the power behind the serve, but because—

It was a left-handed serve!

Quickly predicting the ball's landing point, Nishinoya took a step forward, adjusted his position, and aligned his arms to receive the ball.

"Got it!" Tanaka Ry?nosuke shouted excitedly.

In the next instant, the ball flew out of bounds, rolling along the floor.

[Aoba Johsai 2 – 0 Karasuno]

Karasuno's players: "???!"

They had clearly received the ball—why did it go out of bounds?

Nishinoya Y?, someone who could perfectly receive even powerful spikes, had failed to control it.

"Left-handed serve, huh? Taichi, you're something else!" Nishinoya shouted, his tone more impressed than frustrated.

Taichi replied humbly, "To spot that so quickly, Nishinoya-senpai, you're even more amazing."

Oikawa T?ru rolled his eyes. What is this? Mutual admiration?

Nishinoya quieted down, replaying the sensation of the ball's spin in his mind, analyzing how he should adjust his arms for the next serve.

Meanwhile, Coach Ukai Keishin's frown deepened. Based on the data they had collected, the only left-handed power server in the prefecture was Shiratorizawa's Ushijima Wakatoshi. Aoba Johsai's Kaedehara Taichi had been known as a technical, quick-attacking spiker—so what in the world had happened to him between the prefectural finals and now?!

Ukai made a mental note to review all of Aoba Johsai's footage from the nationals after this practice match.

Taichi stepped up to serve for the third time.

Left-handed again! Nishinoya tracked the ball closely.

But this time, it was a jump float serve!

Nishinoya's heart raced. How is this even possible?!

The ball crossed the net and suddenly dropped sharply. Nishinoya sprinted forward and dove, desperate to make the receive.

As the ball descended, it shifted unnaturally to the left.

Thud!

The volleyball hit the ground directly. Another service ace for Kaedehara Taichi!

[Aoba Johsai 3 – 0 Karasuno]

The gym fell silent. Taichi had specifically targeted Karasuno's "Guardian Deity" with three serves. If even Nishinoya couldn't receive them, then who on Karasuno could?

"It's not over yet. That first serve doesn't count," Taichi said as if reading the thoughts of Karasuno's players. "Nishinoya-senpai, you've still got one more chance."

"Tenma, is this the opponent you said we could handle?" Tsukishima Akiteru stared at his junior in disbelief.

Kunimi Tenma looked sheepish. "Well, um...if I'm being honest, he wasn't really much of a server before this..."

The Karasuno players glanced nervously at Nishinoya. It was rare to see him struggle like this. No one knew whether they should help, or if their help would even make a difference.

"Senpai, I'll join you in receiving," Kageyama Tobio said with his usual calm expression.

He hadn't stepped in before because he had prioritized positioning for setting up attacks. But if the serve couldn't even be received, then there was no point in thinking about offence.

Still, this would mean Nishinoya admitting defeat in his one-on-one with Taichi.

"Alright, thank you." Nishinoya's voice was unusually calm.

"Noya..." Tanaka Ry?nosuke looked at him with concern.

"It's fine. When one person can't do it, you let your teammates help. That's what being brave is about!" Nishinoya's fighting spirit hadn't diminished in the slightest. "I lost this time, but next time..."

He left the rest unsaid, but everyone could see the resolve burning in his eyes.

Kageyama expanded his defensive range, and Sawamura Daichi shifted slightly back to support the back row.

"Oh? What a pity," Taichi remarked as he glanced over. Karasuno's defence on the right side of the court was now impenetrable.

Taichi chuckled softly. I'm not so arrogant as to insist on pushing through there.

—Boom!

The fourth serve was a powerful right-handed jump serve, aimed directly at Karasuno's left side—between Tanaka Ry?nosuke and Azumane Asahi.

The power was undiminished, but the accuracy was even sharper.

Azumane barely had time to step forward before the ball hit the ground.

"Still want to go one-on-one, Nishinoya-senpai?"

[Aoba Johsai 4 – 0 Karasuno]

"Tweet!" Karasuno called a timeout.

Taichi stepped aside, picking up another ball and standing quietly.

"Taichi?" Kindaichi Y?tar? looked at him curiously.

"Don't disturb him," Oikawa said, pulling Kindaichi back. "Taichi's trying to maintain his focus. There's no need to interrupt."

Oikawa himself had similar habits when his serves were interrupted. While the methods were different, the goal was the same.

-----

The timeout ended, and the match resumed.

Karasuno adjusted their formation, allowing Nishinoya Y? and Kageyama Tobio to expand their reception range. No matter what it took, they had to stop Kaedehara Taichi's serves.

Taichi pressed the volleyball firmly, feeling its texture and hardness.

Perfect…nothing's changed.

He served his fifth ball—a right-handed float serve!

Nishinoya's face lit up with a mix of excitement and challenge. Impressive, Taichi! So, you really can do it all!

He quickly positioned himself forward, reaching to receive the ball. The volleyball floated unpredictably after passing the net, drifting slightly toward Karasuno's backcourt. Nishinoya extended his fingers in a desperate attempt to stabilize it, managing to barely nudge it upward.

But the ball was still falling backwards.

"Got it!"

Kageyama dived just behind Nishinoya, perfectly setting the ball high into the air.

"I'm on it!" Azumane Asahi sprinted in from the side, launching into a back-row attack that sent the ball flying into Aoba Johsai's court.

"Finally!" muttered Oikawa T?ru, watching the ball return. His sharp gaze lingered on it. If only it were lower…it could've been a quick attack.

"Chance ball!" called Iwaizumi Hajime, easily receiving Karasuno's return.

Oikawa stepped in, smoothly setting the ball to Aoba Johsai's right side. "Taichi, it's your turn—shatter their hopes!"

From the back row, Kaedehara Taichi leaped into the air. His view of Karasuno's court was crystal clear.

"Three blockers!"

Tanaka Ry?nosuke, Hinata Sh?y?, and Sawamura Daichi jumped in unison, forming a formidable triple block.

"So what?"

Taichi's body stretched midair, his left arm fully extended behind him. With explosive power driven by his core and shoulders, his left hand smashed into the upper-back portion of the volleyball.

—BOOM!—

The ball ricocheted off Hinata's block, landing squarely in Karasuno's court.

[Aoba Johsai 5 – 0 Karasuno]

Aoba Johsai had opened the set with a commanding 5–0 lead! And almost every point had been dominated by Kaedehara Taichi alone.

As Taichi landed, he glanced calmly at Karasuno's players, his expression unreadable.

Without a word, he turned and walked back to the service line.

"Prefecture's number one?"

"Nationals' top eight?"

None of that mattered anymore.

Yet, Taichi's cold, composed demeanour only seemed to fuel Karasuno's determination.

Suddenly—

Ding!

[Hinata Sh?y? has entered burst mode.]

[Hinata Sh?y? (Burst Mode): Overall Ability Rating: 91.6

Height: 163 cm | Power: 75 | Jump: 99 | Stamina: 100 | Speed: 99

Technique: Block: 80 | Spike: 90]

Ding!

[Kageyama Tobio has entered burst mode.]

[Kageyama Tobio (Burst Mode): Overall Ability Rating: 95

Height: 182 cm | Power: 95 | Jump: 92 | Stamina: 99 | Speed: 90

Technique: Serve: 98 | Set: 99]

Ding!

[Nishinoya Y? has entered burst mode.]

[Nishinoya Y? (Burst Mode): Overall Ability Rating: 93.4

Height: 159.3 cm | Power: 75 | Jump: 95 | Stamina: 100 | Speed: 99

Technique: Receive: 98]

Taichi paused mid-stride. The system notifications rang in his ears, their synchronization unnervingly perfect.

When he turned back, his eyes met the fierce glares of Hinata, Kageyama, and Nishinoya.

Their gazes brimmed with a mix of anger, resolve, and the relentless hunger for victory—an aura unique to the fabled "Monster Generation".

So, this is what makes them legendary…

Taichi's expression shifted. His eyes sparkled with a rare, uncontrollable excitement. He couldn't help but laugh.

"Alright then…" he said, his voice brimming with anticipation.

"Come at me together!"

_________

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