Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty

Chapter 388: A Distinct Edge

Representing Miyagi Prefecture, Aoba Johsai High School—making their second consecutive appearance and ninth overall at Nationals.

Representing Fukuoka Prefecture, Ichibayashi High School—making their second consecutive appearance and third overall at Nationals.

Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Court A. The quarterfinal match of the National Tournament: Aoba Johsai versus Ichibayashi. The match began.

Ichibayashi's starting lineup:

Front row—Middle Blocker Shiramine S?ji, Outside Hitter Matsukawa Takuya, Outside Hitter Araki K?sei.

Back row—Outside Hitter Yasui Junichi, Setter Matsuo Satoshi, and Middle Blocker Uchizawa Iori (Libero: Hany? K?mitsu).

Aoba Johsai's starting lineup:

Front row—Outside Hitter Ky?tani Kentar?, Setter Yahaba Shigeru, Middle Blocker Y?ki Y?ji.

Back row—Middle Blocker Kindaichi Y?tar? (Libero: Nakamori Daiki), Outside Hitter Kunimi Akira, and Outside Hitter Kaedehara Taichi.

Aoba Johsai to serve first. Kaedehara Taichi stepped up to the service line.

"Up to now, we've seen all kinds of teams, but it's rare to see a squad like Ichibayashi that shows absolutely no sign of nerves when facing Aoba Johsai," said Mizoguchi Sadayuki with a serious expression.

Irihata Nobuteru gave a slow nod. By now, most teams felt immense pressure just standing opposite Aoba Johsai. And yet Ichibayashi stood there—calm, composed.

"They must have put in enough effort during their training to earn that kind of confidence," he murmured.

"Tweet!—"

The whistle for service blew.

The volleyball floated gently into the air. Kaedehara Taichi took a relaxed approach, as if strolling through a garden, then leapt and struck.

BOOM!!!

A thunderous sound marked the official start of the match.

The ball shot like lightning toward Ichibayashi's back row, its momentum overwhelming!

BANG!

The ball slammed into the floor and bounced high.

Kaedehara Taichi scored an ace.

[Aoba Johsai 1 – 0 Ichibayashi]

"These guys..."

At Taichi's very first serve, both the setter and the libero in Ichibayashi's back row had reacted at the same time.

"Don't worry about it! Next one!"

Even after giving up a service ace, none of Ichibayashi's players showed the slightest hint of panic.

"It's been over a month since we last received his serve…Yeah, it's even faster than I remembered," Matsuo Satoshi murmured.

Hany? K?mitsu nodded. The ball had flown exactly along the path he'd pictured in his mind—just too fast for his body to keep up.

"I'll get the next one."

Matsuo squinted with a grin. "Of course. I believe in you."

"That's the look of someone trying to prove himself," Kaedehara Taichi observed with a trace of surprise. "So that's why they're not afraid of us…"

BOOM!!!

Kaedehara Taichi served his second ball.

Almost simultaneously, Hany? K?mitsu sprang into motion.

Smack!

He got it! But the left-handed spin sent the ball out of bounds!

"Nice dig!"

Matsuo had moved the moment the ball was struck—but not toward where Hany? sent it. Instead, he was already headed for where the ball would land—out of bounds.

Smack!

Matsuo dove and rescued the ball back into play, sprawling across the floor in the process.

Thud!

Araki K?sei launched from the back row and swung with full force!

BOOM!!

"Triple block!"

Ky?tani Kentar?, Yahaba Shigeru, and Y?ki Y?ji all jumped together.

But since Araki had hit from the back row, by the time the ball reached the net, his momentum had already dropped—giving the blockers the edge.

Blocked!

BOOM!

The ball slammed into Yahaba's arms.

"What?!"

The ball pierced through the block! It went straight down toward Aoba Johsai's court!

Smack!

Kaedehara Taichi dove and barely kept the ball alive.

"Cover it!"

Kunimi Akira followed up, sending a high set to the right. Y?ki Y?ji leapt and swung again.

BOOM!—

—Smack!

The ball struck Araki K?sei's arm and deflected back into Aoba Johsai's court…

Ichibayashi scored off the block.

[Aoba Johsai 1 – 1 Ichibayashi]

This guy…When did he—

The drowsiness in Kunimi Akira's eyes vanished completely.

Did he already expect his spike to be dug up from the start?

—"Araki K?sei! After executing the final back-row attack, he immediately sprinted to join the front-row block!"

—"In the rally right after Taichi scored with his serve, Ichibayashi successfully reclaimed control of the ball!"

Because of the block, Y?ki Y?ji had to jump and attack from where he stood. In contrast, Araki K?sei had backed off for a back-row spike and then rushed forward again to leap for the block. Even with his height advantage, Y?ki had his spike shut down head-on.

"Sorry," Y?ki muttered, lowering his head.

"Don't sweat it!" Taichi called out loudly. "Get your head back in the game. They're even more fired up than we are!"

Possession changed—Ichibayashi to serve.

Shiramine S?ji stepped up and unleashed a powerful jump serve. Nakamori Daiki received it cleanly.

Yahaba Shigeru set the ball high toward the left wing.

BOOM!!

Ky?tani Kentar? spiked through a three-man block and scored.

[Aoba Johsai 2 – 1 Ichibayashi]

"Tch. These guys...Would it kill them to act a little intimidated?" Ky?tani growled, glaring through the net.

Despite losing the point, the Ichibayashi players remained perfectly calm.

"Next ball, next ball!"

Possession changed—Y?ki Y?ji with the serve.

Boom!!!

Smack!

Hany? K?mitsu received the serve but fell to the ground in the process.

"Cover him!"

Matsuo Satoshi quickly moved in and set the ball to the middle. Araki K?sei leapt up and spiked.

"Three-man block!" Kindaichi Y?tar?, Ky?tani Kentar?, and Yahaba Shigeru all jumped to intercept.

BOOM!!!

A super spike!

The ball soared past Yahaba's outstretched hands, heading straight for Y?ki Y?ji.

Smack!

The ball hit his hands and ricocheted out of bounds.

Araki K?sei scored.

[Aoba Johsai 2 – 2 Ichibayashi]

Among the well-balanced Ichibayashi lineup, one player stood out—Araki K?sei.

"He's really hard to stop," Taichi muttered, straightening his posture and stretching slightly. "Makes me wanna block him myself."

Ichibayashi served again.

Matsukawa Takuya launched a powerful jump serve, which Taichi received.

Yahaba leapt to set the ball. Taichi jumped from the back row.

"Set it to me!"

Whoosh—!

"Double block!" Uchizawa Iori and Matsuo Satoshi leapt in front of Taichi.

But the ball flew past Taichi and toward the far-left side. Ky?tani Kentar? leapt for the spike—Araki K?sei stood alone before him.

Even a three-man block struggled to stop Ky?tani, let alone one person.

Ky?tani's right arm tensed—he swung down hard.

BOOM!!!

"Not so fast!"

From Ky?tani's right, middle blocker Uchizawa Iori jumped again to interfere with the attack. But his second jump lacked both height and proper form.

The ball blasted over Uchizawa's hands, aiming straight for Ichibayashi's court.

Smack!

Hany? K?mitsu dove and made the save.

The ball veered out of bounds, but Yasui Junichi chased it down and sent it flying back into play.

Ichibayashi's formation was in disarray. Matsuo, covering from the back, returned the ball to Aoba Johsai with a no-attack free ball.

"Chance ball!"

Nakamori Daiki received it perfectly.

Yahaba leapt and set the ball.

Thud!

Taichi jumped again from the back row.

Yahaba let out a wry smile—this play was a little too obvious.

Whoosh—!

The ball soared high toward midcourt, and Taichi spiked it hard.

BANG!!!

"Triple block!" Araki K?sei, Uchizawa Iori, and Matsuo Satoshi jumped together to intercept.

Despite their messy formation, every Ichibayashi player stuck to their role.

Smack!

The ball struck Uchizawa's arm and flew high—soaring past the backline.

Hany? K?mitsu, who had just gotten to his feet, whipped his head around and gave chase.

Thump!

Hany? flung himself forward, diving full-length to reach the ball and crashing hard onto the floor.

Thud!

The ball hit the ground.

Kaedehara Taichi scored again with a back-row spike.

[Aoba Johsai 3 – 2 Ichibayashi]

_________

[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]