Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty

Sakusa Kiyoomi was slightly surprised.
An utterly ordinary libero from Aoba Johsai had just challenged him.
Sakusa frowned.
Like Ushijima Wakatoshi, he despised confidence that had no foundation.
His serves weren't something that could be received just by
at them.
Lifting his chin slightly, his sharp gaze locked onto Watari Shinji like a blade.
Sakusa launched his second serve.
—
Shinji took a small step, positioning himself at the right sideline.
—
His face tensed.
The instant the ball struck his arms, it veered sharply to the right.
Kaedehara Taichi lunged toward the ball's path.
He sent it back into Aoba Johsai's court—
Kunimi Akira jumped for the spike.
"Double block!"
Nishimura Hiroyuki and Takeshita Yūshin rose to meet him.
Kunimi adjusted midair, lightly tipping the ball over them.
"Too obvious!"
"Chance ball!"
Komori Motoya had already stepped forward in anticipation.
A perfect pass.
Iizuna Tsukasa leapt from the back row.
Kunimi quickly repositioned, jumping in the middle to block.
As expected, the ball was set to the left wing.
Sakusa Kiyoomi soared up from the back row.
"Double block!"
Matsukawa Issei and Taichi—who had sprinted back from the sideline—formed an impenetrable wall in front of him.
Sakusa aimed around the block, spiking past them.
Taichi forcefully extended one hand, stopping the attack midair.
The ball spun strangely—
Instead of rebounding into Itachiyama's court, it popped straight up.
"A floating-ball touch!"
Taichi steadied the ball with one hand, dampening its force and speed.
Iwaizumi Hajime dove, saving it with a one-handed dig.
Oikawa Tōru quickly moved into position—
Taichi, landing after the block, had already taken off in a sprint.
Nishimura and Takeshita chased him down.
One defender remained on Itachiyama's left side, watching Matsukawa Issei.
Oikawa had to admit—it was impressive how detail-oriented Itachiyama was.
Taichi's aggressive movements
tend to draw a lot of attention from opponents.
Originally, Oikawa had intended to set to Matsukawa—
"Do they really think just two blockers can stop Taichi?"
The ball soared to the right wing—
Kaedehara Taichi took flight.
"Double block!"
The ball deflected—
.
Aoba Johsai had scored.
"Nice receive, Shinji-senpai!" Taichi genuinely praised.
As long as the ball was kept in play—he was already prepared to chase it down.
"Thanks."
Shinji smiled sheepishly.
Sakusa Kiyoomi's serve had only scored
point against Aoba Johsai.
Now, it was time for the tables to turn.
Aoba Johsai was on serve.
Kaedehara Taichi stepped up to the service line.
!!!
"I see…so this was Itachiyama's true intention."
Kaedehara Taichi gripped the volleyball and looked across the court.
In Itachiyama's back row stood Sakusa Kiyoomi, Iizuna Tsukasa, and Komori Motoya.
An absolutely terrifying receive formation—
It was like being back at the Youth National Training Camp.
"Interesting."
Taichi's eyes lifted slightly, his gaze filled with unshakable confidence and overwhelming dominance.
The referee's whistle blew, but Taichi didn't move immediately.
Seconds passed.
The Itachiyama players, already in position to receive, grew increasingly tense.
As the countdown neared eight seconds—
Taichi suddenly sprang into motion.
The ball soared into the air just as he sank low, his feet fully planted against the floor.
Then—explosively—his legs drove him upward.
A burst of sheer muscle power launched him into the air.
The ball rocketed forward like a bolt of lightning—
A blistering speed, a viciously deceptive trajectory—
Screaming toward Itachiyama's back row.
Komori Motoya had expected a jump float serve, aimed at the front line.
But—
The ball had yet to drop as it reached him.
"Out?"
A smirk tugged at Taichi's lips.
The ball had felt
good coming off his hand.
Then—
Just as it passed over Komori, it
downward—
A sudden, violent nosedive!
As if it had struck an invisible slanted wall of air!
The ball slammed into Itachiyama's back line.
Service ace—Kaedehara Taichi!
That serve—
It had the shadow of Hoshiumi Kōrai.
For once, Komori Motoya wasn't grinning.
These guys from Aoba Johsai—each and every one of them was treating him like a measuring stick for their progress.
Taichi gazed at Itachiyama in silence, his expression appraising.
As if to ask—

Komori's voice rang out—the same words Watari Shinji had shouted earlier.
"That's what I like to hear!"
Excited, Taichi launched his second serve.
The ball landed between Iizuna and Komori.
"Mine!"
Komori stepped forward, taking charge.
Relying on instincts honed from the Youth Camp—
He adjusted his stance, crouched low, and
the impact.
The moment the ball struck his arms, he forced it downward, arching back to absorb the shock.
"Beautiful receive!!!"
Iizuna couldn't help but shout in praise.
The ball floated cleanly into the air—
Iizuna moved into position.
A decisive set to the left wing.
Mizushima Yū leapt from the front row—ready to spike.
"Double block!"
Oikawa Tōru and Matsukawa Issei jumped to meet him.
"One touch!"
Matsukawa called out as he redirected the block.
Watari Shinji covered—perfect pass.
Oikawa, just landing, leapt back up—
Taichi prepared to attack from the right.
Mizushima shifted to defend.
"Watch for the setters dump!"
Nishimura Hiroyuki shoved Mizushima back to the left—
He jumped—
Oikawa had already begun his swing.
He had no choice but to
the blockers.
Sakusa picked it up cleanly.
"I've got it!"
Despite being closer, Komori rushed in to take the set—
Itachiyama, minus Sakusa,
!
Aoba Johsai's blockers were instantly
.
A
from Komori!
Right side—Takeshita Yūshin took flight.
Kunimi Akira—single blocker.
Takeshita easily hammered a straight shot past him.