Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty-Chapter 554: The Strong and the Weak (Double-Length)

San Juan's victory in the first set wasn't exactly an upset—after all, the four teams in Group A were generally considered evenly matched in the eyes of spectators.

But the final score of 25–17 was something no one had expected.

San Juan had taken the first set with overwhelming dominance!

"San Juan's performance was truly surprising. Their fast attacks flowed like a tango—smooth and rhythmic—and their pinpoint counterattacks pierced through Nizhnev's towering wall of a defence like a blade."

"In contrast, Nizhnev looked completely out of sync. Not only did they make frequent errors on offence, even their world-renowned blocking didn't live up to expectations…"

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After a short intermission, the second set was about to begin.

Both teams returned to the court, locked in and ready. San Juan's players were riding high on momentum after taking the first set, while Nizhnev, at least on the surface, appeared to have adjusted. Their eyes were sharper now, their focus more intense.

San Juan's lineup:

Front row—Setter Oikawa Tōru, Middle Blocker Agustín Loser, Outside Hitter Kaedehara Taichi.

Back row—Outside Hitter Facundo Conte, Middle Blocker Martín Ramos (Libero: Santiago Danani) and Opposite Hitter Bruno Lima.

Nizhnev's lineup:

Front row—Opposite Hitter Mikhail, Middle Blocker Igor Kulikov, Outside Hitter Victor Bohl.

Back row—Outside Hitter Ivan Glukhov, Middle Blocker Volvich (Libero: Yaku Morisuke) and Setter Kobzar.

There weren't many changes to either team's starting lineup. Coach José had only shifted Loser closer to Kaedehara Taichi in the front row to boost their blocking power, while Coach Maksim doubled down on matching Nizhnev's strongest rotation against Kaedehara Taichi head-on.

If their weaker rotations got caught by Taichi, they risked getting stuck in a rotation lock. So all Maksim could do was trust that Mikhail and the "Twin Stars" would be enough to hold the line.

The second set began with Nizhnev serving.

This time again, Nizhnev opted to open with a power serve. And judging from the first set, it was clear their serving hadn't shaken San Juan much anyway.

"Tweet!—" The whistle blew for serve.

Kobzar jump-served with force!

Smack!

Santiago received it cleanly—perfect pass.

Oikawa jumped at the net, tossing the ball forward as Loser and Taichi launched their approach from both sides.

"Triple block!" Mikhail, Igor, and Victor sprang up together at the net.

BOOM!!!

Taichi's spike slammed into Igor's arm and popped up.

"Hmm?" Oikawa frowned slightly. He didn't think they had read his set direction—more like they'd deliberately abandoned blocking Loser.

No. It was a read—just not of the motion, but the intent.

Yaku handled the ball with ease, and Kobzar quickly stepped in to push the pace with a quick attack.

Nizhnev's front row spread out to disrupt San Juan's block formation.

Kobzar's toss soared to the far left, away from Taichi—Mikhail jumped and swung.

—BOOM!!

The ball flew past Oikawa's head and pounded into San Juan's court.

Mikhail scored with an over-the-block smash!

[San Juan 0 – 1 Nizhnev]

"Nice! Nice one!" Coach Maksim pumped his fist from the sideline. It was an excellent start.

For the attacking team, the key was to establish a threat zone—usually their ace or opposite—so that it forces pressure onto the opponent's block and frees up the rest of the offence.

Conversely, for the defending side, it was all about making the blocker a threat. If a spiker can't score against a well-formed block—or worse, gives up points off the counter—they'll start hesitating on their attacks.

"Don't mind it!" Conte called, trying to comfort Taichi.

"…Sure," Taichi replied coolly.

Conte: "..."

Yeah, worrying about Taichi was probably pointless.

Nizhnev continued serving. Kobzar's second serve came flying in.

BOOM!!

Conte received it. Pass wasn't perfect, but workable.

Oikawa quickly adjusted and tossed to the far right—this time even faster than before.

Thud!

Taichi leapt without hesitation and fired his spike.

"Not even a flicker of doubt?! He just got blocked last time!"

"This setter-hitter duo is insane…"

"Triple Block!" Nizhnev's front line jumped to meet Taichi once more.

—BOOM!!!

Smack!

The ball sailed over the block, ricocheted off Ivan's arm, and flew out of bounds.

Taichi scored!

[San Juan 1 – 1 Nizhnev]

San Juan to serve.

"Heh heh heh~" Oikawa grinned as he stepped to the line.

"Tweet!—"

BOOOM!!!

"Out!"

The line judge's flag shot up—the serve was clearly long.

"Nooo!"

"Idiot," Taichi muttered under his breath.

Oikawa's service error.

[San Juan 1 – 2 Nizhnev]

Serve returned to Nizhnev.

Victor's jump serve came with a vengeance.

Conte took the reception cleanly. Oikawa stepped in to set.

Swoosh!—

Taichi drew a double block with a feint to the right. The ball instead flew left—Loser launched into the attack!

Ivan jumped alone to block—

BOOM!!!

Loser's spike evaded the block and slammed into Nizhnev's court.

Point for San Juan.

[San Juan 2 – 2 Nizhnev]

"Don't worry! Next ball!" Yaku shouted.

As long as Taichi was still in the front row, this back-and-forth exchange was something Nizhnev could live with.

Serve went back to San Juan.

Loser took the line.

Jump serve—

BOOM!!!

Yaku received, perfect pass.

Kobzar sent a toss to the middle—Mikhail attacked!

"Double Block!" Taichi and Ramos both jumped!

BANG!—

The ball hit the block and bounced back onto Nizhnev's side.

Rebound!

Kobzar scrambled and tossed it high to the left—Ivan adjusted his position and went for it!

BOOM!!!

Taichi made a sharp diagonal leap to cut off the right lane, forcing Ivan's spike down the left straight path.

Smack!!

Oikawa barely managed to dig it out.

Bruno stepped in for a quick bump set—Ramos jumped from the right and spiked—

BOOM!!!—

—SMACK!!

The ball slammed into Mikhail and Igor's block and bounced straight back to San Juan's side.

Block point for Nizhnev!

[San Juan 2 – 3 Nizhnev]

"Nice block!" The crowd burst into applause.

—"Nizhnev clearly looks sharper in the second set. That double block shut down San Juan's right-side offence completely!"

Serve went back to Nizhnev.

Igor tossed the ball high. Maybe it was the momentum from taking the lead, but his approach now carried a thunderous intensity.

Thump!

He sprang upward, muscles taut and flexed.

San Juan's back row instinctively lowered their stance to brace for impact—

But at the last second, Igor's arm relaxed, tapping the ball gently.

"Front row!"

It wasn't a float or jump-float serve—just a soft drop targeted right at Taichi!

"Oh? From a power jump to a gentle tap? Not a bad idea...Just no real threat."

Taichi didn't flinch. He passed the ball cleanly to the middle.

Bruno jumped to spike!

"Triple Block!" Volvich, Ivan, and Mikhail rose in unison!

"So this was the plan?!"

Oikawa's eyes widened. The block had been way too fast—like they knew where it was going all along!

To Bruno, it felt like he was facing a wall of stone. Even aiming for fingertips to try and force a touch-out was near impossible.

Tap!

He managed a soft tip past the block, dropping it toward the back row.

"Free ball!"

With Yaku not on the court during this rotation, Nizhnev had a golden opportunity to set up the perfect counterattack.

Whoosh!—

Kobzar sent it to the right. Mikhail went for the kill!

"Double Block!" Taichi and Ramos jumped together!

BOOM!!!

The ball slammed into the block and deflected far out of bounds.

Touch out.

Point for Nizhnev!

[San Juan 2 – 4 Nizhnev]

"You're strong, no doubt," Mikhail said with a warm smile to Taichi, "but if that makes you see us as weak, well…I'd be a little upset."

From the first set until now, Mikhail had been performing at a consistently high level.

"I don't see you as weak," Taichi replied frankly. He didn't waste his breath on opponents he considered beneath him.

"That's good to hear," Mikhail said, genuinely pleased.

"Is it?" Taichi's eyes narrowed slightly as if something had crossed his mind. "Then I hope you can keep that smile on your face…when the match is over."

Nizhnev to serve.

Igor's second serve—full power jump serve!

BOOM!!!

Blending power with precision was the secret to making a serve truly lethal.

Conte barely managed to get under it—his reception veering off toward the sideline.

"Cover!"

"I got it!" Oikawa moved swiftly into position.

San Juan had three viable hitters in the front row: Taichi, Bruno, and Ramos. But with the first pass off-target, no matter who got the set, they'd likely be facing a full triple block from Nizhnev.

Oikawa's mind worked at lightning speed.

As much as he wanted to open the court up for his other hitters…right now, the safest bet was still—

Taichi.

Swoosh—!

The ball flew high toward the left wing. Taichi leapt for the spike!

"Triple Block!"

BOOM!!!

The ball ricocheted off Volvich's arm and flew out of bounds.

Taichi scores again!

[San Juan 3 – 4 Nizhnev]

"Shake it off! Next ball!" Yaku called.

He and Igor switched back, rejoining the court.

For Nizhnev, Taichi scoring wasn't unexpected. Before they could truly shut him down, they'd have to gradually chip away at his options.

Serve returned to San Juan.

Taichi stepped to the line—tossed, approached, jumped, and—

BOOOM!!!

Smack!

The ball struck Yaku's arms and shot out of bounds.

Taichi scores a service ace!

[San Juan 4 – 4 Nizhnev]

"Bring it on!" Yaku shouted, locking eyes with Taichi.

"As you wish."

Taichi's second serve—

BOOM!!!—

The ball carved a streak through the air.

Smack!

Yaku made contact—but his balance faltered the moment he touched the ball, stumbling forward.

And yet—his platform remained perfectly still!

"He got it up!"

"Cover!"

Yaku shouted, dropping to both knees and diving fully forward.

Kobzar rushed in to cover, sending the ball high to the left wing.

Volvich took flight!

"Double Block!" Bruno and Ramos went up together.

BOOM!!!

The ball nicked Bruno's fingertips and soared down San Juan's left sideline.

Touch out!

Volvich scores!

[San Juan 4 – 5 Nizhnev]

"Nice swing!" Yaku got up and gave the 'Polar Bear' a hearty smack on the back.

"Hehe." Volvich grinned sheepishly. "Total guess, but I got lucky!"

"I just didn't want to waste the ball you worked so hard to save, Yaku-san!"

"Good work!" Kobzar added with a nod.

They'd weathered that monster's service rotation in just two balls. This set would not repeat the disaster of the first.

Serve returned to Nizhnev.

Mikhail jump served with power!

BOOM!!!

Smack!

Taichi fielded it—pass slightly off-target.

Oikawa jumped to set, and Conte charged from the right side!

"Double Block!" Volvich and Ivan rose up.

—BOOM!!!

A powerful over-the-top spike!

The ball sailed over Ivan's block.

Smack!

Mikhail dug it up!

Kobzar passed it back in—Volvich and Ivan again prepared to attack.

Ramos and Conte mirrored them on defence.

Swoosh—!

The ball zipped to the left—Victor leapt from the back row!

"Damn it!"

Bruno jumped alone to challenge the attack.

—BOOM!!!

The ball slammed almost uncontested into San Juan's court and bounced high.

Victor scores with a back-row attack!

[San Juan 4 – 6 Nizhnev]

"There are no weak teams at the World Championships," Oikawa reminded himself again.

Nizhnev had pulled off back-to-back points.

Coach José considered a timeout—but ultimately held off.

Though the momentum was shifting, the score difference was still only two points, and a technical timeout was coming soon anyway. freeweɓnovel-cøm

"Conte…don't fall behind now…"

Nizhnev continued serving.

Mikhail's second serve—target locked.

BOOM!!!

Smack!

Taichi again received cleanly—the ball arcing toward the net.

Oikawa stepped in to set.

"Give it to me!" Conte shouted.

If Taichi was in the back row and they still had to rely on him to score, then what did that say about the rest of them?

"Triple Block!" Kobzar, Volvich, and Ivan all jumped.

BOOM!!!—

The ball struck Ivan's hands, bouncing high and out of bounds.

—"That was a thunderous spike from Facundo Conte!"

Smack!

But—Yaku raced past the sideline and made a miraculous save!

—"I've lost count of how many saves Yaku Morisuke has pulled off this match! His title as one of the world's top five liberos is no exaggeration!"

"Damn it!" Conte growled, recovering and tracking the rebounding ball.

Kobzar sent it back out to the right. Ivan went up for the hit!

"Ramos!"

Conte signalled, jumping alone to block.

Swish!

Ivan's arm swung—but missed!

At the net appeared—

Mikhail! Jumping from the back row!

"Knew it was you!"

"Double Block!" Conte joined Ramos, walling off Mikhail's path.

"I'm not Volvich," Mikhail thought. "I'm damn good at aiming for hands."

His eyes locked on the outer edge of Conte's hand.

His arm coiled, muscles tense—and fired!

BOOM!!!—

"—?!"

The ball soared over the net—and out of bounds!

At the very last second, Conte had pulled his arm back just a few centimetres…

Mikhail's spike went out!

[San Juan 5 – 6 Nizhnev]

San Juan narrows the gap by one!

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