Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty

Chapter 348: I Can Do It Too

Sarukui F?to served the second ball.

The volleyball targeted Ky?tani Kentar? in Aoba Johsai's backcourt corner.

It had to be said—very few first-years could deliver such a threatening serve.

Smack!

Ky?tani barely managed to receive it.

Yahaba Shigeru stepped in to cover and set the ball toward the left side—Kindaichi Y?tar? leapt for a spike.

Boom!!—

"Double block!"

Smack!

The ball ricocheted off Sarukui F?to's arm and out of bounds.

Kindaichi Y?tar? scores!

[Aoba Johsai 4 - 7 Fukurodani]

"That was a heavy ball...and such a high contact point..."

Sarukui stared at his reddened arm. Aoba Johsai's players were ridiculously powerful.

"Nice spike, Kindaichi!"

His teammates' praise made Kindaichi feel a little embarrassed, but knowing he could contribute more to the team gave him confidence.

Serve Exchange – Aoba Johsai's Turn

Kaedehara Taichi stepped onto the service line.

The slight ease that had settled over Fukurodani's players instantly vanished—an ominous shadow loomed over them again.

"No worries! I'm here!" Bokuto K?tar? called out from the back row, grinning carelessly. "We'll shut him down in one go!"

"Taichi! Send it my way!"

Standing on the service line, Kaedehara Taichi smiled faintly. "Just what I had in mind."

He tossed the ball high into the air and took three perfectly timed steps forward, positioning himself right underneath it.

Thud!

His leg muscles exploded with power as he launched himself into the air, his body stretching like a fully drawn bow.

Boom!!!—

The volleyball carved a sharp arc through the air, hurtling toward Fukurodani's back row like an arrow.

Bokuto swiftly shifted into position, the ball already halfway to the floor—a precarious moment.

"Too late!"

Sarukui F?to's eyes flashed with regret.

Bokuto had tracked the ball's trajectory, but he was still just a fraction of a second behind.

"Ha!"

Just as the ball reached him, Bokuto planted his feet and arched his upper body backwards to meet it.

Smack!!

—He had chosen to take it with an overhead set!

Bokuto fell onto his back from the impact, but he flipped over and sprang to his feet almost instantly.

"Nice receive!" Akaashi Keiji was already in position, unfazed by the play. He quickly stepped up and set the ball to the left wing.

Sarukui F?to launched into a back-row attack!

"Double block!" Ky?tani Kentar? and Kindaichi Y?tar? jumped up.

Boom!—

The ball slipped past Ky?tani's left side, landing perfectly on Aoba Johsai's baseline.

Sarukui F?to scores!

[Aoba Johsai 4 - 8 Fukurodani]

"The rhythm of the match has completely shifted..."

"They really shut down Taichi's serve in just one play!"

Fukurodani maintained their lead!

"Using an overhead set to receive such a powerful serve...that's just unfair." Taichi muttered inwardly.

Serve Exchange – Fukurodani's Turn

Takeshima Kanjitsu stepped onto the service line, his heart pounding with excitement.

Both he and Fujimiya Yoshiro had joined Fukurodani alongside Sarukui F?to. As former middle school national champions, they had even received offers from Itachiyama.

But after careful consideration, they had chosen Fukurodani instead.

Reason number one—Takeshima wanted to see just how far Sarukui could go.

Reason number two—They had watched Fukurodani's matches at Spring High. Bokuto K?tar?'s presence had left an unforgettable impression on them.

"I figured I wouldn't really get a chance to play alongside Bokuto-senpai, but I still wanted to be part of Fukurodani."

Takeshima never imagined that within just two months of joining, he would be sharing the court with Bokuto himself.

And after seeing Bokuto's performance firsthand, he was once again struck by his overwhelming strength.

"I think I'll be Bokuto-senpai's fan for life."

Takejima executed a powerful jump serve.

Nakamori Daiki smoothly received it.

Kunimi Akira jumped in for a fake spike but instead sent a set past Onaga Wataru's block.

On the left wing, Ky?tani Kentar? faced a double block and fired a beautiful straight shot—direct hit!

Ky?tani Kentar? scores!

[Aoba Johsai 5 - 8 Fukurodani]

-----

The match entered a phase of steady back-and-forth exchanges, with both teams trading points in succession.

With Bokuto K?tar? now on the court, Aoba Johsai shifted their defensive focus from Sarukui F?to to him. However, even with this adjustment, they still struggled to contain his scoring. Not only that—now that Bokuto was shouldering part of the offensive burden, Sarukui's threat gradually began to resurface.

The score reached:

[Aoba Johsai 13 - 16 Fukurodani]

Kunimi Akira executed a float jump serve.

"I've got it!" Sarukui F?to shouted, stepping forward to receive the ball.

A perfect pass. Akaashi Keiji set the ball to the middle—Bokuto K?tar? leapt for a spike.

"Triple block!" Yahaba Shigeru, Ky?tani Kentar?, and Kindaichi Y?tar? all jumped to stop him.

Boom!!

—A high-contact spike over the block!

The ball soared past Ky?tani's outstretched hands.

Smack!

Kaedehara Taichi dove to make the save.

Kunimi quickly set the ball to the right front—Ky?tani followed up for the attack.

Boom!!

"Double block!" Bokuto K?tar? and Toinaga Seki sealed him off.

Smack!

The ball ricocheted off Bokuto's arm, rebounding toward Aoba Johsai's left-back corner.

Nakamori Daiki lunged forward, executing a diving save!

"Cover it!"

Kaedehara Taichi quickly positioned himself and set the ball back to the right.

Ky?tani launched another attack.

"Double block!" Fukurodani's front line once again stood in his way.

His approach was slightly rushed due to the continuous attempts, making it difficult to clear the block's height. But the more intense the match, the more common situations like this became.

Boom!!!

Ky?tani increased his power and spiked directly into the block.

Smack!

Just like before, the ball rebounded into Aoba Johsai's court.

—But this time, it landed beyond their baseline.

Out off the block!

Ky?tani Kentar? scores!

[Aoba Johsai 14 - 16 Fukurodani]

"Nice spike, Mad Dog-senpai!"

Ky?tani ignored Kaedehara Taichi's praise and instead turned to Nakamori Daiki. "Nice receive, Nakamori."

"Thank you, Ky?tani-senpai."

Kunimi Akira served again, continuing to target Sarukui F?to.

Smack!

Sarukui delivered another perfect pass—Akaashi Keiji set the ball high to the right.

—The ideal position for Bokuto K?tar?'s cross-court shot!

"Triple block!" Kindaichi Y?tar? led the charge as Aoba Johsai's front line leapt up.

Bokuto adjusted in midair and hammered a straight shot down the sideline—straight into Aoba Johsai's backcourt.

Boom!!!—

Smack!

Kaedehara Taichi once again dug it up!

"Seriously?! That got saved too?!" Bokuto blinked in surprise.

"Heh heh!"

The two locked eyes over the net.

Kunimi rotated into position and set the ball to Ky?tani once more.

"Hrah!!"

Ky?tani was fully fired up now, feeling the roar of an engine surging inside him.

Thud!

He sprinted along the right sideline before taking flight, his body stretching to its limits. His incredible flexibility was on full display!

"Triple block!" Naganohara Yukawa, Bokuto K?tar?, and Onaga Wataru all jumped to stop him.

BOOM!!!—

A vicious sharp-angle spike tore through the air just above the net!

Fujimiya Yoshiro was stationed at the three-meter line on the left, but he could only watch as the ball slammed into the floor right in front of him.

—Just one meter from the net.

A super tight-angle shot!

"That angle...I can do it too!"

Ky?tani Kentar? had crashed right into the spotlight between Kaedehara Taichi and Bokuto K?tar?, forcing both of them to focus on him!

[Aoba Johsai 15 - 16 Fukurodani]

Ky?tani Kentar? had cut the gap to just one point!

_________

[T/N] - If you guys want to read 50 Chapters in advance of the current story, you can support me on my Patreon. Trust me, it's awesome!

Link - (P)atreon.com/Iseeblack [Remove the brackets]