Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty-Chapter 414: Mad Dog! (Triple-Length)

Kaedehara Taichi moved to the back row as Aoba Johsai adopted a four-man serve-receive formation to counter Hoshiumi Kōrai's serve.

Of course, Hoshiumi could serve short, but honestly—that'd be a little too anticlimactic.

Nakamori Daiki, Kyōtani Kentarō, Kaedehara Taichi, and Kunimi Akira made up Aoba Johsai's serve reception line. The sight of it made Hoshiumi's fingertips itch.

He tossed the ball up for his second serve.

BOOM!!

The volleyball shot toward the seam between Kyōtani Kentarō and Kaedehara Taichi. Hoshiumi was known for his control-based serving—he wasn't going to let ego get in the way and deliberately target Taichi's centre.

Besides, he had a bit of a hidden intention with this one.

"I got it!"

Kaedehara Taichi stepped left.

At that very moment, the ball suddenly curved farther to the left—

A side spin!

Smack!

Fortunately, Kyōtani Kentarō hadn't let his guard down. He barely got under the ball.

It bounced backwards—then, in a flash of motion, Nakamori Daiki chased it down past the endline.

Smack!

He successfully kept the ball in play. Kaedehara Taichi leapt.

"Gao!" Hirugami Sachirō shouted.

In all the tapes Kamomedai had watched, Kaedehara Taichi had hammered in sharp line shots from the back row more than once.

Tap!

Kamomedai's front blockers had already formed a solid wall, leaving Taichi with no choice but to send over a soft shot instead.

"Chance ball!"

Though his tip placement was clever, Hoshiumi Kōrai received it cleanly—perfect pass.

Tokura Liam jumped into the set. On the front line, both Hakuba Gao and Hirugami Sachirō launched into their approaches!

Whoosh—!

The ball was sent right—Hirugami Sachirō soared in for the spike.

Kaedehara Taichi was already back in the front row, but only Yūki Yōji jumped to block.

"I knew it was you!"

THUD!

Hoshiumi Kōrai rose up behind Hirugami. That small frame of his practically sprouted wings—he leapt from the back row, even higher than Sachirō's swing point!

Kaedehara Taichi jumped to block.

Tap!

The ball skimmed off Taichi's fingertips.

It was a tip!

It landed right in front of the block, just behind the wall!

Kyōtani and Kunimi lunged forward desperately, but they still couldn't reach it in time.

Tap, tap, tap...

Hoshiumi Kōrai scored!

[Aoba Johsai 23 – 24 Kamomedai]

—"Hoshiumi Kōrai with three straight points!"

—"Kamomedai comes from behind at the set's end—reaches set point first!"

"Ahahaha!!" Hoshiumi Kōrai stood with hands on his hips, laughing boldly. "I've always wanted to beat you, Taichi!"

"Wow, I've never seen Senpai smile like this during a match..." Kamomedai's rookie team manager murmured in awe.

"Hohoho~" murmured Aaron Murphy with a grin. "Our star's feelin' it."

Hoshiumi served his third ball.

This crucial point targeted Aoba Johsai's front line!

"I was ready for that!" Of course Kaedehara Taichi was prepared—it was the very gap he himself had left open earlier.

Smack!

He dove and saved the ball. Kunimi Akira quickly stepped in and set.

"The first touch was shaky!" Hirugami Sachirō called out loudly.

It was Kamomedai's signature tactic—disrupt the offence with the serve, then finish with the block!

Whoosh—!

The ball went to the left wing—Kyōtani Kentarō jumped from the back row.

"Triple block!" Ogawa Ryūhei, Hakuba Gao, and Hirugami Sachirō all jumped together.

With Hoshiumi guarding the cross, Kamomedai's wall shut down the line completely. Against their towering wall, the airborne Kyōtani looked almost small.

BOOM!!!—

The ball cut through in front of all three—Kyōtani slammed a wicked sharp cross-court spike!

Hoshiumi Kōrai was there again for a clean receive!

Smack!

Tokura Liam quickly got into position and sent it toward the middle. Hakuba Gao landed and instantly sprinted laterally before jumping again.

"Take this point! Take the set!"

BOOM!!

Smack!

"One touch!" Kaedehara Taichi shouted.

"Chance ball!" Nakamori Daiki received it solidly.

"Once more!"

"Set me up!"

Kyōtani Kentarō and Kaedehara Taichi called out at the same time, both launching from opposite sides.

Thump!

Kamomedai's block spread out—Ogawa stayed on Kyōtani, while Hakuba and Hirugami moved to Taichi's side.

Kunimi jumped and chose to set...

He chose Kaedehara Taichi—despite Kamomedai's double block focused on him and the threat of losing the set.

BOOM!!!—

"Double block!"

Smack!

Taichi crushed a massive cross-court spike—it ricocheted off Wakabayashi Hikaru's arm and flew out of bounds.

Kaedehara Taichi scored!

[Aoba Johsai 24 – 24 Kamomedai]

Aoba Johsai tied it up!

Finally, service rotated back to them.

"Vice President Katase, I'm sure you remember the national team's criteria when selecting players," Hibarida Fuki muttered from the stands as he watched the court. "We weren't looking for short players with outrageous skill."

"Mmh." Katase Jun's gaze flicked between Hoshiumi and Kaedehara. "What we've always wanted...are the ones who are tall and outrageously skilled."

-----

Tōma Kaoru served a jump float.

Bang!

Smack!

Hoshiumi easily received it.

Tokura Liam stepped in to set—Kamomedai launched a three-point offence!

"I got it!" Hoshiumi Kōrai leapt from the back row.

"Double block!" This time, Yūki Yōji had read the real attack point.

—BOOM!

The ball landed squarely on Aoba Johsai's backline and bounced out.

The block meant nothing!

Hoshiumi Kōrai scored!

[Aoba Johsai 24 – 25 Kamomedai]

"Hoshiumi scores again! Kamomedai reclaims the lead!" the announcer shouted, voice echoing above the court. "This court—it's become his stage!"

"Haha..." Hibarida chuckled. "In the end, there's always someone like Hoshiumi. Even if we don't plan to pick him, he forces us to change our minds with a performance like this."

"So strong you forget his height—so strong you forget his age."

-----

Kamomedai rotated back to serve.

"Guess I barely got to do anything before heading back to the rear again," Hirugami Sachirō mused as he stepped to the service line.

"Kōrai's on fire, Gao's unusually sharp...everyone's a little different today…"

"Then again, it's not every day you get to face that guy again—and on the national stage no less…"

"Thinking like that, it's hard not to get hyped…"

"Tweet!—"

The whistle blew.

"Then let's all make this even more fun—this set's win is mine to take!"

[Ding! Hirugami Sachirō has entered Burst Mode.]

[Hirugami Sachirō (Burst Mode)—Middle Blocker: Overall Ability Rating: 94.5

Height: 192 cm | Power: 96 | Jump: 90 | Stamina: 95 | Speed: 92

Technique: Block: 99 | Serve:95 | Spike: 95.]

"Hm?" Kaedehara Taichi let out a low sound of confusion. But what surprised him came from behind.

[Ding! Kyōtani Kentarō has entered Burst Mode.]

[Kyōtani Kentarō (Burst Mode)—Outside Hitter: Overall Ability Rating: 94

Height: 179 cm | Power: 99 | Jump: 94 | Stamina: 92 | Speed: 90

Technique: Serve: 93 | Spike: 97.]

"Looks like I'm not the only one who refuses to give up a single set," Taichi said with a grin.

Hirugami tossed the ball, took his approach, jumped—and struck!

BOOM!!!

Smack!

Nakamori Daiki barely got under it.

"You damn brat! You even got that?!"

Kaedehara Taichi and Kyōtani Kentarō launched a synchronised attack—Taichi from the front left, Kyōtani from the back right!

"Left side!" Hirugami Sachirō shouted. It wasn't that he underestimated Kyōtani Kentarō's threat. Rather, the setter who had just rushed to the far corner of Aoba Johsai's side couldn't possibly deliver such a pinpoint set to the right!

Kamomedai's front line immediately closed in on the left side.

Whoosh—!

As expected, Tōma Kaoru sent a high set to the left.

"That's a bit of a shame," Kaedehara Taichi thought.

Thud!

Kaedehara Taichi jumped up for the spike.

"Triple block!" Bessho Kazuyoshi, Ogawa Ryūhei, and Hakuba Gao leapt at the same time.

Hoshiumi Kōrai held the line, Hirugami covered the cross.

As long as they can restrict his swing, even if they don't block it outright—

BOOM!!!—

The ball emerged from an unexpected angle.

It burst right through Ogawa Ryūhei's block, slamming hard into the centre of Kamomedai's court.

Kaedehara Taichi scored with the spike.

[Aoba Johsai 25 - 25 Kamomedai]

"I'm not done having fun yet. You're not thinking of ending this already, are you?" Kaedehara Taichi said with a meaningful smile.

After all, only Aoba Johsai had the right to end this match.

Serve switch—Aoba Johsai to serve.

Kaedehara Taichi stepped onto the service line. Kyōtani Kentarō rotated to the front row.

The atmosphere around Kamomedai tightened. Aoba Johsai had dragged them into this moment...

Taichi rotating to the back row should naturally dull Aoba Johsai's offensive threat—but only if they could withstand his serve first.

"No problem! I'll finish him in one shot!" Hoshiumi Kōrai's eyes gleamed with anticipation.

"Tweet!—"

The whistle for serve echoed.

Kaedehara Taichi launched his first serve.

BOOM!!!

The moment the ball left Taichi's hand, Hoshiumi was already on the move!

"I got it!"

Smack!

The ball flew out of bounds.

Originally aimed at Tokura Liam, that serve had been tough even for Hoshiumi to reach. But it wasn't because he didn't trust his teammate—

It was because if he made the receive, he could be part of the attack!

Tokura Liam moved in and made the set. Hoshiumi launched himself from the back row for a spike.

"Double block!" Yūki Yōji and Kunimi Akira jumped up in sync.

Whoosh—!

But the ball flew toward the far right of Kamomedai's court.

The opportunity created by Hoshiumi's desperate first touch wasn't meant for him to finish!

Hakuba Gao sprang up from the far left wing.

BOOM!!!

In that crucial moment, Hakuba didn't challenge Nakamori Daiki down the line—instead, he spiked over the blockers' hands and slammed the ball into the centre of Aoba Johsai's court.

Tōma Kaoru dove forward, crashing to the floor, but couldn't save it.

Hakuba Gao scored!

[Aoba Johsai 25 - 26 Kamomedai]

—"Kamomedai takes Kaedehara's service rotation with just one ball!"

—"Incredible! It's clear they're dead set on winning this second set!"

"YEAHHHH!!!" Hakuba roared.

"Nice set!" Hoshiumi praised Tokura Liam—though he was confident he could've scored with the spike too.

Serve switch—Kamomedai to serve.

Hakuba Gao launched a powerful jump serve. Kaedehara Taichi received it cleanly.

Tōma Kaoru made the set from the back, and Aoba Johsai launched a triple-pronged attack from the front.

But Kamomedai's blockers didn't split up!

"Aoba Johsai's little setter seems to be at his limit. His setting's getting shaky—Kamomedai must be getting used to it," Miya Atsumu observed sharply, picking up on the problem immediately.

Whoosh—!

The set went to the right wing, and Kamomedai's blockers all stepped in that direction.

Thud!

Just then, Kyōtani Kentarō soared upward, exploding into the air.

Hoshiumi Kōrai's power had left a mark on Kyōtani's mind. And suddenly, he realised—they were two completely different types.

Hoshiumi was balanced, all-rounded. He proved that height didn't limit what one could do on the court.

But Kyōtani? What he'd always chased—was absolute offence!

"Triple block!" Tokura Liam, Bessho Kazuyoshi, and Ogawa Ryūhei leapt up.

Though not their tallest setup, Kamomedai's wall still towered over Kyōtani.

In the air, Kyōtani Kentarō stretched his body to the limit—his spine bent backwards, his legs curled as if forming a perfect inverse arc. Through sheer flexibility and uncanny hang-time, he hovered in midair, as though he had shattered the boundaries of human anatomy.

"—!?"

Kamomedai's blockers began their descent.

"Now!!" Kyōtani tensed his arms, pouring every ounce of strength into the ball for a perfectly timed strike.

BOOM!!!

The ball brushed past Ogawa Ryūhei's fingertips and smashed into Kamomedai's floor with almost no resistance.

BANG!

The ball bounced high into the air.

Kyōtani Kentarō scored!

[Aoba Johsai 26 - 26 Kamomedai]

—"Ōtomo-sensei, unless I was seeing things, didn't Kyōtani seem to hover in the air just now?"

—"You're not wrong. Facing blockers taller than himself, Kyōtani delivered a spike that was practically over-the-block!"

—"Aoba Johsai ties the score with a strong statement—Kyōtani's performance almost seems to say: 'Even without our ace at the net, we haven't lost a single ounce of offensive power!'"

Serve switch—Aoba Johsai to serve.

Yūki Yōji launched a heavy jump serve. Hoshiumi received it with ease.

Tokura Liam moved in and made the set. Hoshiumi came charging from the back row.

—BOOM!!

The ball landed just inside the left sideline, near Yūki Yōji.

On the line.

Hoshiumi Kōrai scored!

[Aoba Johsai 26 - 27 Kamomedai]

Serve switch—Kamomedai to serve. Hoshiumi returned to the front row.

Ogawa Ryūhei jumped and smashed a powerful serve. Kaedehara Taichi calmly received it—perfect pass.

Kunimi Akira jumped for a spike, forcing Hoshiumi to commit to the block.

Whoosh!—

BOOM!!!

The set went to the right wing—Kyōtani Kentarō delivered a line shot and claimed the point.

[Aoba Johsai 27 - 27 Kamomedai]

Serve change—Aoba Johsai's serve.

Kunimi Akira aimed for Hoshiumi Kōrai and launched a jump float serve.

Smack!

Hoshiumi's first touch was spot-on, sending the ball directly to the far right. Bessho Kazuyoshi leapt up for a spike.

"Double block!" Tōma Kaoru and Kindaichi Yūtarō jumped at once.

"I got it!" Hoshiumi sprinted laterally and took off again. Bessho barely managed to bump the ball back toward centre court.

While still in midair, Hoshiumi adjusted for an attack.

"Not happening!" Kyōtani Kentarō moved in to cover. There's a big difference between not blocking and an open net!

Boom!!!—

The ball cleanly avoided the blockers and flew toward Aoba Johsai's back row.

Smack!

Nakamori Daiki received it. Kunimi quickly moved into position and set the ball.

Thump!

Kaedehara Taichi leapt up from the back row.

By the time Kamomedai realised what was coming, it was already too late.

BOOM!!!

Kaedehara Taichi scored with a back-row spike.

[Aoba Johsai 28 – 27 Kamomedai]

"Damn it!" Hakuba Gao growled in frustration. Moments like this reminded him that being two meters tall sometimes felt more like a burden than an advantage.

Aoba Johsai had taken the lead!

Ogawa Ryūhei stared at the faint imprint on the floor left by Kaedehara's spike, his expression dimming.

He was exhausted. Just this single set with Aoba Johsai had drained him more than two full sets against any other team.

The joy Kamomedai felt when they first reached set point…had long since been eroded by Aoba Johsai's relentless pursuit. The tension clung to them like a shadow, the constant fear of being overtaken weighing on their chests.

As if it had been inevitable from the start, that moment had finally arrived.

Ogawa's mind was in disarray. The match felt like it had slipped completely out of their control.

"Don't worry, it's not over yet!" said Hoshiumi, his presence like a pillar holding up Kamomedai. "Just give me the ball—I'll score!"

"Tweet!—"

The whistle blew for the next serve.

Kunimi Akira served again.

Hoshiumi received it cleanly. The first touch was perfect.

If a second-touch attack wouldn't work—then he would take care of it himself!

Hoshiumi backed off to gain momentum for his approach. Tokura Liam understood instantly and sent a high, deliberate set.

THUD!

Hoshiumi jumped and spiked!

"Triple block!" Kyōtani, Kindaichi, and Tōma all jumped together.

Hoshiumi's eyes peered through the wall of blockers at Aoba Johsai's back row—Kunimi, Nakamori, and Kaedehara were waiting with sharp focus.

No opening at all…

BAM!

Smack!

The spike looked casual, but it deflected cleverly off Kyōtani's hand and flew out of bounds.

In a moment like this—go for a tool-out!

Hoshiumi scored!

[Aoba Johsai 28 – 28 Kamomedai]

The score was tied again!

Serve change. Kamomedai to serve.

Hirugami Sachirō returned to the front row!

At last, it wasn't like the Spring High tournament, where he hadn't even made it onto the court before the match ended.

Wearing a calm smile, Hirugami stepped back onto the court. The momentum seemed to shift once again in Kamomedai's favour.

Bessho Kazuyoshi launched a powerful jump serve, but Nakamori Daiki received it steadily.

Kunimi stepped in for the set. Kyōtani from the left front and Kaedehara from the right back both sprang into motion!

"Which one is it?"

Kamomedai's blockers didn't act too soon.

Logically, with Hirugami and Hoshiumi in the front row, the safer bet was that the ball would go to Kaedehara in the back row. But Kyōtani's dogged pressure throughout the set had left a deep impression.

Too late...Tokura Liam began shifting rightward—

"LEFT WING!!" Hirugami suddenly shouted as the ball left Kunimi's hand.

You've got to be kidding…that bold?! Tokura reacted instantly and dashed left.

Thud!

Kyōtani leapt up for the spike.

"Triple block!" Hirugami, Hoshiumi, and Tokura all jumped to meet him.

Two of them had already blocked Kyōtani's spikes earlier in this very set—

Now, they stood right in front of him again.

—"I will score!"

—"I have to block this!"

BOOM!!!—

Smack!—

That wasn't the sound of the ball hitting the block.

Hirugami's hand had been a split second too slow. The ball struck Hakuba Gao in the arm and deflected out of bounds.

Kyōtani Kentarō scored!

[Aoba Johsai 29 – 28 Kamomedai]

"Nice hit, Mad Dog senpai!" Taichi praised, completely unsurprised.

"Nice set, Kunimi." Kyōtani suppressed the urge to roar in triumph and tried to stay calm. The match wasn't over yet.

"O-oh, thanks, Mad Dog-senpai," Kunimi said sheepishly. Truth be told, his confidence in Kyōtani scoring that point had only been about 80%. He simply figured Kamomedai wouldn't expect him to go that route.

Then again, Kunimi's confidence in himself scoring was 50%, and Kaedehara Taichi—when in the front row—was 100%. He believed every ball he sent to that guy would turn into a point.

Serve change. Aoba Johsai to serve.

Kyōtani stepped up to the line, while Taichi rotated back into the front row.

"Don't let it get to you! Just break his serve!" Hirugami shouted.

Kyōtani tossed the ball, ran up, jumped, and smashed it.

BOOM!!!—

The serve sliced through the air with brutal sidespin.

SMACK!

Hoshiumi got under it in time.

Tokura filled in for the set. Hirugami jumped on the left wing to attack.

BOOM!!!

"Double block!" Kindaichi and Taichi leapt together.

Smack!

"One touch!" Kindaichi called out.

"Chance ball!" Nakamori received it stably.

"Wait—!" Hirugami's eyes widened suddenly. "Kōrai—!"

Taichi landed from the block and immediately sprinted left. He jumped in a single motion.

Whoosh!—

Kunimi's set flew toward him—perfect, not a millimetre off.

"Not happening—!" Hoshiumi jumped up in front of him.

Just a second earlier. No—just a fraction of a second sooner, if he could reach his peak faster—

BOOM!!!

Kaedehara Taichi spiked it. He scored.

[Aoba Johsai 30 – 28 Kamomedai]

In the final moment, Aoba Johsai used a play that shouldn't have been surprising—but still managed to stun.

"Should I be praising Taichi for his courage, or that Kunimi guy for making that perfect set under pressure?"

Hoshiumi's fingertips had just barely brushed the ball in the end.

But…maybe this time, he really had lost because of the height difference.

"Beeep—!"

The long whistle echoed through the gym.

The second set of the National Finals concluded.

Winner: Aoba Johsai.

_________

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