Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty-Chapter 304: Growth (D-L)

"Tweet!—"

"Date Tech calls for a timeout."

The Date Tech players gathered around their coach.

"Aren't you all paying too much attention to Kaedehara Taichi?" Despite holding the lead, Coach Oiwake's tone was the most serious it had been all day.

"What's the most important aspect of blocking?" Oiwake tossed his tactics board onto the bench. "Height? Strength? Hand positioning? Timing…? These are all things we drill into you during training."

"But there's one more thing—something I emphasized the moment you became members of Date Tech."

"It's presence! The sheer, unshakable will to deny the opponent any points!"

"Are you afraid of Kaedehara Taichi?"

The players stiffened. It wasn't just Aoba Johsai that had felt the shift in momentum when Taichi rotated to the front row—they had, too.

"Onagawa, you should understand what I mean," Oiwake said.

"Yes!" Onagawa Tarō lowered his head. He had just lost a battle of willpower to Aoba Johsai's first-year middle blocker.

"If you keep carrying this fear of Kaedehara Taichi, what does it even matter if we win this final?" Oiwake stood up. "I've never heard of a champion team that fears a single opponent."

"Understood!" Futakuchi Kenji was the first to respond. If they couldn't block even one of Taichi's attacks, it would feel as though something was missing from the game itself.

Oiwake cast him an approving glance. Futakuchi might act unruly at times, but when it truly mattered, he always led the team forward.

"Taichi is far more exhausted than you think. Receiving, blocking, attacking—he's trying to carry too much. For Aoba Johsai, that could be a double-edged sword. After all, even spiking isn't as easy for him now as it was when Oikawa Tōru was on the court."

"Then let's show him what Date Tech's Iron Wall is really made of!"

"Let's go!"

"Yeah!!!"

-----

At Aoba Johsai's bench, Irihata Nobuteru was giving out instructions, pointing out areas for improvement.

Kaedehara Taichi sat quietly to the side, eyes closed, conserving his energy.

"Tweet!—" The referee blew the whistle.

Aoba Johsai gathered together, steeling their resolve before stepping onto the court. But their expressions weren't much better than Date Tech's.

Taichi opened his eyes and followed his teammates back onto the court.

"Senpai, you're not thinking that it's fine even if we lose this second set, right?"

The team's footsteps faltered slightly, but only Yahaba Shigeru and Honda Heisuke turned back.

—"Of course not." Their voices were firm. Precisely because of that, they felt the weight of pressure on their backs.

"Good." Taichi's tone gradually grew more eager. "Then let's crush them—2-0!"

-----

The timeout ended. The match resumed.

Aoba Johsai serve.

Kyōtani Kentarō launched a powerful jump serve!

Boom!

Smack!

"Cover!" Sakunami Kōsuke received the ball.

Koganegawa Kanji moved into position. Date Tech launched their attack!

Whoosh—!

This time, Onagawa Tarō leapt on the far right.

Kaedehara Taichi jumped at the same time to block.

One-on-one!

This guy really is terrifying...Onagawa thought. Even though it was just one blocker, it felt like no matter where he aimed, Taichi would get a hand on it.

Bang!

Onagawa avoided the block and aimed toward Taichi's right side.

A straight shot!

Smack!

As expected! Just as Onagawa had feared, Taichi blocked the ball single-handedly.

"Such a soft touch…"

Taichi cradled the ball with his palm, keeping it in play.

—"What?!!"

Onagawa had deliberately aimed for that spot, believing the ball would ricochet off for a touch-out.

The ball soared high.

"One touch!" Taichi called.

Honda Heisuke easily secured the pass, and Yahaba Shigeru jumped to set.

Date Tech's front row was now at its weakest rotation—Aone Takanobu, Futakuchi Kenji, and Koganegawa Kanji were all in the back row.

Yahaba glanced across the Date Tech court. Would a second-touch attack work?

Whoosh—!

He set the ball high to the right. Just as he made his decision, he felt at least two sets of eyes locked onto him.

Thud!

Kaedehara Taichi leapt in the front row.

"Three-man block!" Obara Yutaka, Onagawa Tarō, and Fukiage Jingo stood tall in front of him.

Boom!

A high shot over the block.

The ball slipped past Fukiage's fingertips and slammed into Date Tech's floor.

Kaedehara Taichi scored!

[Aoba Johsai 22 - 22 Date Tech]

It was a tie!

"He saw through it?" Sakunami furrowed his brows. Taichi hadn't targeted Onagawa, the shortest blocker, but had instead chosen the far right side for a straight shot.

Not only had he accounted for the front-row blockers, but he had also factored in the back-row defence…

—That's seriously annoying.

"Nice set, Yahaba-senpai!" Taichi gave him a thumbs-up. "And you made the right call not going for a second touch attack. You were being watched by three guys just now."

Even Taichi noticed I was about to try a second touch attack? Yahaba's face turned slightly red. Was he that obvious...?

"I'll focus entirely on setting from now on," he said awkwardly.

"Hm? You didn't actually need to finish the second touch attack. Just the threat of it already drew their attention," Taichi pointed out. "That hesitation, combined with a precise set, is what made it a great play."

Yahaba froze. He had spent so much time training alone, perfecting his skills, that he had almost forgotten the real role of a setter.

"Never let the opponent predict your next move. Setting accurately is just the foundation—not the end goal. A setter's true purpose is to carve out a path for the attackers."

"I think I finally get it now," Yahaba murmured.

Taichi: "…"

—Isn't this realization coming a bit late? Well, blame Oikawa for that!

Yahaba was a normal high school player—he would never match the ceiling of those naturally gifted 'monsters'.

But he still hadn't reached his limit yet.

-----

Kyōtani Kentarō served for the third time!

Boom!!

"I got it!"

Smack! Futakuchi Kenji received the ball steadily.

The ball soared high toward the net, and Koganegawa Kanji jumped to set.

"Even from the back row, his height is terrifying," Kunimi Akira thought, watching Koganegawa's movements closely.

Whoosh!—

The ball flew to the left. Obara Yutaka leaped for a spike.

"Double block!" Kindaichi Yūtarō and Yahaba jumped, but once again, Date Tech had deliberately avoided Taichi's side.

Bang!

Smack!

"First touch!" Yahaba shouted.

Kunimi received the ball.

"Wait…the front row has no one to cover the setter?!!"

Yahaba had just landed from his block, and Kunimi was still adjusting after the receive.

"I got it!" Taichi swiftly stepped in, setting the ball to the left.

Kindaichi Yūtarō jumped for the spike.

"Three-man block!" Date Tech's front row leapt.

Fukiage and Onagawa switched positions, putting their tallest blockers directly in front of Kindaichi.

Boom!—

—Smack!

The ball fell back into Aoba Johsai's court.

Date Tech's block scored!

[Aoba Johsai 22 - 23 Date Tech]

Up until now, those balls that had been received effortlessly, those perfect sets delivered as if they were a given—what would happen when such responsibilities suddenly fell on his own shoulders?

IrIrihata Nobuteru watched as Kaedehara Taichi sank into deep thought.

Mizoguchi Sadayuki suddenly realized that even now, the team was still adjusting to the changes brought about by the third-years' departure.

Without their foundation, the cracks in the team were starting to show.

"You don't need to worry too much."

Mizoguchi turned around to find Coach Irihata speaking to him.

"This might actually be good for Taichi. Maybe only by leaving Oikawa Tōru's side will he truly grow. After all, it's impossible for him to always have a setter of that calibre as his partner."

Mizuguchi nodded. But growth always came with pain…

Serve change.

Date Tech to serve. Aone Takanobu returned to the front row.

Fukiage Jingo targeted Kunimi Akira with a powerful jump serve.

Compared to Yahaba Shigeru, Date Tech was far more unwilling to let Kunimi take control of the sets.

Smack!

Seeing this, Kunimi adjusted and bumped the ball straight to the right wing. Kaedehara Taichi jumped for the spike!

BAM!

Aone was already there, standing tall on the other side of the net.

Boom!!

The ball flew past Aone's right side, heading toward Date Tech's backcourt.

Smack!

After two full sets, Sakunami Kōsuke finally managed to receive one of Kaedehara Taichi's spikes.

"Cover!!!"

Sakunami fell backwards to absorb the impact, and the ball soared toward the centre of Date Tech's court.

"Mine!" Koganegawa Kanji leapt up for the set.

Kaedehara Taichi locked onto Aone, shadowing his every move.

The ball was sent to the left. Obara Yutaka jumped for the spike.

"Not happening!"

Kindaichi Yūtarō timed his block perfectly, jumping at the net.

Swish—

Obara swung but missed. Both players descended at the same time.

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Bang!

A massive hand slammed against the ball. From the back row, Futakuchi Kenji had leapt up and spiked it precisely to the baseline of Aoba Johsai's court.

A layered attack!

Futakuchi Kenji scores.

[Aoba Johsai 22 – 24 Date Tech]

Date Tech had strung together consecutive points!

Aoba Johsai had just managed to even the score, only to find themselves in an even worse predicament.

Date Tech now held two set points.

"Tweet!—"

"Aoba Johsai calls a timeout."

"Their No. 11's serve isn't particularly strong. We don't need to force a fast attack."

"Got it!"

"Kyōtani, be more active in the back row. You create your own attacking opportunities."

"Understood!"

"Don't think about anything else. No matter what, the only thing that matters is the next point!"

"Yes!"

Irihata glanced at Kaedehara Taichi. The rest of the team followed his gaze.

"Just give me the ball. It'll be fine."

Kaedehara Taichi smiled calmly.

"Alright! Let's take this next point!"

-----

Timeout ended. The match resumed.

Fukiage Jingo served his second ball.

"I got it!"

Watari Shinji received it cleanly. Yahaba jumped to set.

Front row: Kindaichi Yūtarō and Kaedehara Taichi.

Back row: Kyōtani Kentarō and Kunimi Akira.

Aoba Johsai launched an all-position synchronized attack!

Aone locked onto Kaedehara Taichi, disregarding everything else. Obara and Onagawa Tarō spread out to defend, but their eyes kept drifting toward Taichi.

Boom!

???

Not just Date Tech—the Aoba Johsai players were stunned too.

Yahaba, rather than setting, had spiked the ball himself.

A setter's dump!

[Aoba Johsai 23 – 24 Date Tech]

"That…That was amazing!!!"

"Yahaba-senpai, that was incredible!"

"Nice!"

"Yahaba-senpai, you're insane!"

Yahaba landed, his right hand trembling slightly. The delayed sense of risk finally caught up to him—but so did the overwhelming exhilaration.

"If I had messed up, Aoba Johsai would've lost the set right there."

But at that moment, he hadn't thought about failure at all. It was instinct. He had simply noticed the gap in Date Tech's defence—and his right hand had reacted before his mind.

"Damn it—!!!"

Futakuchi Kenji glared at Yahaba.

"When did this guy get such guts?!"

Serve change. Aoba Johsai to serve.

Kindaichi Yūtarō fired a powerful jump serve. Sakunami received it.

Koganegawa set the ball higher than usual, as if pausing time for a brief moment.

Aone sprinted, then jumped.

"Triple block!"

Yahaba, Kaedehara Taichi, and Honda Heisuke leapt up together.

But only Kaedehara Taichi managed to reach his height.

Boom!!!

Aone tightened his arms and slammed the ball down with full force.

Smack!

The ball shot past Yahaba—but Kunimi had already positioned himself.

"What the hell?!"

Kunimi was floored by the impact, the ball ricocheting out of bounds.

Swish!

Before Kindaichi could react, a figure had already darted forward.

"No way I'm letting that guy's point go to waste!"

Kyōtani Kentarō dove, smacking the ball back into play before crashing to the ground.

"You said to give you the ball, right, Ace?!"

The ball soared toward the net.

Kaedehara Taichi swiftly retreated, then charged forward.

Date Tech braced for impact.

BAM!

Kaedehara Taichi launched into the air at the centre of the court.

"Triple block!!!"

Ohara, Aone, and Onagawa leaped in unison.

Sakunami positioned himself behind Onagawa for backup.

Kyōtani's dig had sent the ball too close to the net—Taichi had limited angles to attack.

Boom!!!—

Smack!!—

The ball crashed against Aone's arms and bounced high.

It arced through the air—then landed out of bounds.

Block-out!

Kaedehara Taichi scores.

[Aoba Johsai 24 – 24 Date Tech]

The crowd erupted.

"These two…their power is insane…!"

"Again!" Aone locked eyes with Kaedehara Taichi.

"As you wish." Taichi refused to back down.

-----

Kindaichi served again. Date Tech responded the same way.

Aone faced another triple block from Aoba Johsai.

Boom!!

Smack!

The ball zipped past Yahaba and struck Kindaichi's arm, bouncing away.

Aone Takanobu scores.

[Aoba Johsai 24 – 25 Date Tech]

Date Tech reached set point once again.

Serve change. Date Tech to serve.

Onagawa aimed a sharp serve at Kunimi's right sideline.

"Damn, that's precise!"

Kunimi shuffled sideways and popped the ball up.

"Cover!"

Yahaba immediately set to the middle.

Taichi stepped back, then drove forward.

BA—

He planted his foot, but—

A sharp pain suddenly shot through his leg.

Like needles stabbing into his calf.

His powerful jump turned into an awkward, unbalanced stumble.

Tap, tap, tap…

The ball hit the ground.

At the same time—so did Taichi.

[Aoba Johsai 24 – 26 Date Tech]

"Tweet—!"

Set 2 ends.

Winner: Date Tech.

Kaedehara Taichi had fallen—not against Date Tech's block, but in another way.

Aoba Johsai's players gathered around him, finally noticing that his excessive sweating was far more pronounced than anyone else's.

No matter how strong he was, at his core, he was still just a first-year.

Kyōtani Kentarō and Yahaba Shigeru exchanged glances, their expressions slightly tense as they realized this.

Perhaps due to the pain, beads of sweat trickled even more visibly down Kaedehara Taichi's forehead.

"I'm fine. It's just a cramp."

Since the set had ended, there was no rush for him to stand up.

He pressed lightly against his calf, which trembled slightly from the cramp, and stubbornly looked toward the Date Tech players.

"The match isn't over. The real battle starts now."

Aone Takanobu nodded seriously.

"We'll be waiting."

Date Tech was eager for the moment when they could truly shut down Kaedehara Taichi.

Final set.

The ultimate showdown!

_________

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