Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty-Chapter 543: The Trial Grounds of Rome (Double-Length)

May 15th. Rome, Italy. Trentino Volley.

"That guy—is he the new setter for Trentino?"

"Riesen, do you really think that setter from Japan is going to be useful?"

Head coach Ferdinando De Giorgi asked bluntly.

"He's exactly as we saw in the footage," assistant coach Frank Riesen replied. "He can deliver the ball precisely where it needs to be, and at speed. We've never had anyone in our squad who could do that."

"But—you're about to say 'but,' aren't you?" said Ferdinando.

Riesen spread his hands.

"But his Italian is terrible, and there are coordination issues with the team."

"He's been here for a month, right? How much has he learned?"

"Exactly a month. He's memorised all the on-court terms," Riesen said with a grin. "But outside of that—he's completely clueless."

"Oh?" Ferdinando raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.

"If his setting technique is solid, then why the trouble with the second team? Be specific."

Riesen nodded, paused in thought, then answered, "Initially, it was tactical calls and hand signals—he had zero understanding, so miscommunication and slow reactions were constant. But he's adapted to that now."

"The current issue is—attack tempo."

"He's got his own rhythm. And he won't compromise for anyone."

Ferdinando's eyes narrowed at Riesen's choice of the word 'compromise'.

"In your opinion, is his decision-making better most of the time?"

"Not most—every time," Riesen said firmly. "In every disagreement, his timing was the more effective choice."

"But our second team players either didn't notice, or couldn't be bothered to adjust to him."

Ferdinando furrowed his brows. "Sounds like you've taken a clear side."

"Of course. But once you see him play, you'll understand," Riesen said with a slight smile.

"Alright then. Let's give him a shot in the next match," Ferdinando said. "But no matter how brilliant his plays are—if even our starting lineup can't work with him, then he's not the setter we need."

"I understand."

-----

May 20th. PalaLottomatica Sports Arena.

The final regular-season match of Italy's top league, SuperLega, was about to begin.

It was a showdown between rising powerhouse Umbria Volley Perugia—who surged in 2010—and traditional titan Trentino Volley.

"Trentino's starting a new setter today? Heard he's Asian?"

Foreign players made up more than 40% of the SuperLega, with constant roster rotations.

But usually, those players came from Brazil, Poland, or Cuba—rarely from Asia.

Perugia's setter Ricardo stared across the court coldly.

Sure enough, there was an unfamiliar foreign face warming up with Trentino.

"Are they underestimating us?"

"Isn't that great?" outside hitter Giovanni laughed. "We can settle the score from last time."

"Hmph. I'd rather beat them when they're at full power."

-----

Across the net, on Trentino's bench:

"Hey, it's your first match today, right?" Outside hitter Yuri Romano greeted the newcomer, Kageyama Tobio, cheerfully. "Perugia's no pushover. Looks like coach has high hopes for you!"

"Huh?" Kageyama's brow twitched—not out of annoyance, but confusion.

He didn't understand a word of what was just said.

"Relax, don't be nervous." Middle blocker Zayen Mosca patted his shoulder. "You look pretty young. Are you even twenty yet?"

"S-Sorry, I don't know…I don't speak…um, shrink…Italian?"

Kageyama stammered, pulling from the few phrases he knew.

"…."

"…Got it."

Yuri and Mosca's expressions stiffened, and they said nothing more.

"We're supposed to play with someone who doesn't even speak Italian?"

"Hope he doesn't drag us down…"

-----

[Trentino 10 – 12 Perugia]

"Hey! What's that kid doing? Isn't he the setter? Why isn't he organising anything?!"

"What the hell is Ferdinando thinking—sending some rookie no one's even heard of into a real match!"

"Sub him out! Get him off the court!"

BOOM!!!

Perugia served again. The ball flew sharply toward Trentino's back row.

Smack!

Libero Fabio received it, his pass arcing diagonally toward the net.

"Mine!" Kageyama quickly moved into position.

...

Whoosh—!

Yuri got into position first and took the ball himself.

Mosca jumped through the middle—quick attack!

BOOM!!—

SMACK!!!

The ball struck the block and ricocheted upward.

Perugia recovered it. Ricardo sent the ball to the right side—Giovanni leapt and spiked!

"Damn it!"

Kageyama jumped to block—

—BOOM!!!

The ball shot clean over Kageyama's hands and slammed to the court behind him.

Super spike!

Giovanni scores again!

[Trentino 10 – 13 Perugia]

"Too easy!" Giovanni grinned, high-fiving his teammates.

Kageyama: "…"

On this court, the only thing he could offer was his setting.

But he had barely gotten a single touch on the ball.

Why?

What would Oikawa-senpai do in this situation?

"Even when the score's behind, who would trust some random Asian guy they've never seen before?"

Yuri glanced at Kageyama, thinking silently.

"This is pro volleyball. No one gambles on strangers."

"Can't even speak the language. Just having skills isn't enough…If he thought he could just come to Trentino and make it—that's arrogance."

Mosca shot Kageyama a glance before returning to his position.

On the sidelines, Riesen looked toward coach Ferdinando. After a moment's hesitation, he asked:

"Aren't you going to step in? This is turning into a ridiculous 5-on-6."

"You wanted him to get a chance. I agreed." Ferdinando looked Riesen dead in the eye.

"But even now, with a spot on the court, he hasn't changed anything."

"He's just a kid, Ferdinando!"

"He's a professional, Riesen," Ferdinando said sternly.

"I've already given him an entire official match to prove himself. That's more than any other player here would ever get. I won't force the others to accommodate him."

"And he's had his chances."

"That last play—Yuri didn't steal it on purpose. He had already moved when Kageyama called it. The kid was just a beat too late. He could have joined the attack, maybe disrupted the block."

"But he didn't. His focus was only on himself—and the ball."

"But he's a setter! If he's the one organising the offence, the team works better—"

Riesen trailed off. He knew it wouldn't convince Ferdinando.

"He is a setter. That means he needs to see his teammates," Ferdinando said.

"And he can't just be a setter—he needs to be more than that."

"…I understand."

Riesen sighed.

He truly wanted this talented setter to shine—but Ferdinando wasn't wrong.

Kageyama had to earn the trust of his teammates.

-----

THUD!!!

The ball slammed into the sideline on Trentino's court and bounced high.

Perugia scored again.

[Trentino 10 – 14 Perugia]

"Tch!"

Kageyama Tobio could hear the dissatisfaction from his teammates. But right now, what mattered was—

"Kageyama, I made it into São Paulo's regular rotation! Later, I found out it was thanks to the Great King and Taichi's help. Hahaha, now I can finally share the court with you guys!"

"Tobio-chan, Taichi and I just qualified for Worlds. Next time we meet, we'll be fighting for the title of the world's best setter. But in the end, you'll still fall beneath me—hahaha..."

"Kageyama, get stronger. Then come face me. I'll be waiting for your challenge."

For some reason, those messages from them echoed through his mind.

Kageyama drew in a deep breath and murmured under his breath, inaudible to anyone else:

"I can't be the only one left behind."

"Tweet!—"

The whistle for service sounded.

Perugia served.

BOOM!!!

Smack!

Fabio received the ball cleanly, the first touch heading neatly toward the net.

"I—" Kageyama opened his mouth to call for the set, but noticed Yuri already in position under the ball.

"So fast!"

Even if he was being sidelined, one thing was clear to Kageyama—

The players on Trentino were really strong.

Whoosh—!

The ball soared high and steady toward centre court.

Thump!

From the back row, Alexander jumped. His form was textbook perfect. In mid-air, his right arm cut a graceful arc through the air, striking the upper back of the ball with sharp precision.

—BOOOM!!!

Facing a triple block, he powered through with a back-row super spike!

The ball slammed dead-centre into Perugia's court and bounced high.

Alexander scores with a back-row attack!

[Trentino 11 – 14 Perugia]

"So high!"

Kageyama muttered in awe, as the stadium replay flashed up the jump height from Alexander's spike:

"370cm!!!"

No wonder—at that moment, Kageyama could almost see the figure of Kaedehara Taichi overlapping with Alexander.

Alexander, seeing that Kageyama's only reaction was a mild murmur instead of surprise, frowned.

"Newbie, you don't look too impressed?"

"???"

Kageyama blinked, confused. Why did it seem like the guy was mad at him for scoring a point?

"Hahaha, he doesn't understand a word you're saying," Yuri said with a chuckle.

Alexander: "..."

Kageyama forced a smile—something he'd practised countless times in the mirror.

It wasn't friendly. It was terrifying.

Alexander instinctively stepped back.

What kind of pressure is this guy giving off…?

Kageyama did know a bit about this teammate—not just because they were the same age, but because the guy was famous.

Alexander Delloro, age 19, a volleyball prodigy who had been in the media spotlight since age 12.

He entered Trentino's junior program at 16, represented Italy at the World Championships at 17, and became Trentino's ace at 18.

He had never lost a tournament he participated in. The media nicknamed him "Alexander the Great" of Italian volleyball.

This season, he was aiming to lead Trentino to their fourth consecutive title—a joint record with the club.

"Newbie, don't mess up your serve," Alexander reassured Kageyama in his own way—though from the opponent's point of view, it definitely sounded like an order.

Kageyama didn't respond.

He walked silently toward the service line.

Serving is something I can do alone.

He pressed the ball firmly between his hands, lowered his gaze slightly, eyes sharp and focused.

The stadium buzzed with shouts he couldn't understand.

Judging by the crowd's faces, it wasn't encouragement—but Kageyama didn't care.

He just stood there, like a man alone at the edge of a cliff, radiating a presence that couldn't be ignored.

Kageyama took a deep breath, his chest rising.

He extended his right arm, letting the ball rest in his palm. He knew the texture of every panel, every seam.

"Tweet!—"

The whistle blew. Kageyama moved.

He tossed the ball high, dipped slightly with a brief pause, then sprang forward.

Thump! frёeweɓηovel_coɱ

Pushing off powerfully with both legs, he soared into the air.

His vision sliced through the space in front of him, locked on the opposing court.

His right arm tightened—and whipped out like lightning.

BOOOM!!!

The ball compressed violently under his hand and shot forward like a missile.

It carved through the air in a fast, flat arc—a falling meteor streaking across the night sky.

The opponents didn't even have time to react.

THUD!!!

The ball hit the line—just barely.

Kageyama scores directly off the serve!

[Trentino 12 – 14 Perugia]

"122 km/h!"

"No…no one touched it!"

"Right on the line! Kageyama scores directly off the serve!!!" the commentator shouted again.

"Nice one!" Alexander yelled across the court.

"Hahaha! That's my setter for you!"

"When did you recruit him?" Yuri groaned, covering his face.

Contrary to public perception, this so-called "emperor" had a very chaotic personality.

The Trentino players looked toward the serving line again.

Their expressions had changed, if only slightly.

Kageyama could guess Alexander was praising him, but didn't respond.

"Not enough!"

He grabbed a second ball and returned to the service line.

"Next, we turn the tide."

"Tweet!—"

The whistle sounded again.

Kageyama served a second time.

BOOOM!!!

THUD!!!

"Out!"

The ball, just as fast, missed the baseline.

Kageyama's service error.

[Trentino 12 – 15 Perugia]

"Damn."

Kageyama frowned.

Just like that, they were back where they started.

"Tweet!—"

BOOM!!!

Thud!!

"Out!"

Luckily, Perugia returned the favour with a frustrated service error.

[Trentino 13 – 15 Perugia]

Serve returned to Trentino.

"Kid, that's how you serve," middle blocker Ivan Zaytsev said as he passed Kageyama. Then he stopped.

"I'm a foreigner too. When you're not sure—just set it to me."

The second half of his sentence was in English—though Kageyama only caught fragments.

But he could feel the man's determination to attack.

"I. Set. You."

"You. Spike."

"We. Win."

"Hahaha! Straight to the point, huh?" Zaytsev laughed.

"No problem. We'll win this one—together!"

_________

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