Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty-Chapter 358: Optimus Prime (Triple-Length)

"Isn't Aoba Johsai being a little too arrogant? Even against Kakugawa Gakuen's Hyakuzawa, they're not putting Kaedehara Taichi on the court?"

"Hmph, it'll be hilarious if Seijoh ends up losing here."

"There's no way they'll lose, right? Isn't Taichi just watching from the bench?"

"Do you think…maybe Taichi's injured?"

"That's...impossible, right? The rest of the team looks totally normal."

"But still—"

On the court, Kakugawa Gakuen was leading…

[Aoba Johsai 10 - 12 Kakugawa]

"Tweet!—" "Aoba Johsai calls for a timeout."

"They're still not subbing anyone in…?"

Mizoguchi Sadayuki asked, "Kindaichi, Yūki—how are you two adjusting to their spikes?"

"He—Hyakuzawa—his contact point is way too high," Kindaichi Yūtarō said after thinking for a moment. "Compared to a year ago, he's also added more shots to his arsenal…If he's got a full jump, I can block his cross, but we still need a straight block up too. With his height, he can easily slam it inside the three-meter line."

"Yeah, at that height, the angles he can pull off are ridiculous," Mizoguchi nodded. "Even if he goes over our hands, we need to put up a wall in front of him. Force him to spike to the back row, and then—"

"Leave the back row to me!" Nakamori Daiki pounded his chest. "His ball speed isn't all that fast. It just hits heavier than you'd think."

Mizoguchi drew something else on the tactics board. "Then Yūki, try for a soft touch on the line. We can't let Hyakuzawa go unchecked with those straight shots."

"Got it!"

"Yahaba, go all-out with your sets. This is where the counterattack starts."

"Yes, sir!"

Timeout ended, and the match resumed.

Aoba Johsai's rotation:

Front row—Outside Hitter Kyōtani Kentarō, Middle Blocker Kindaichi Yūtarō, Outside Hitter Kunimi Akira.

Back row—Setter Yahaba Shigeru, Middle Blocker Yūki Yōji (Libero: Nakamori Daiki) and Outside Hitter Yamabuki Yūjin.

Kakugawa's rotation:

Front row—Outside Hitter Hyakuzawa Yūdai, Middle Blocker Nurukawa Yoshiaki, Setter Komaki Yuzuru.

Back row—Outside Hitter Inagaki Isao, Middle Blocker Makado Eiji (Libero: Minamida Taishi) and Outside Hitter Asamushi Kaito.

Kakugawa to serve.

Asamushi Kaito jumped and served straight toward Aoba Johsai's back row. Nakamori Daiki received it easily.

Yahaba leapt to set.

Kyōtani Kentarō hovered just outside the left sideline, raring to go.

Fwoosh—!

The ball soared to the right wing. Kunimi Akira rose to spike.

"Double block!" Nurukawa and Komaki jumped up.

Kakugawa's players were clearly frustrated. It was obvious that Aoba Johsai was using Kyōtani as bait to draw Hyakuzawa's attention—and there wasn't much they could do about it.

Kunimi glanced at Kakugawa's back row. Libero Minamida Taishi had quick reflexes and was already sliding into position along Kunimi's spike path.

"So obedient," Kunimi murmured.

He lightly pushed the ball over the blockers' hands.

A tip!

Kakugawa couldn't get to it in time. Aoba Johsai scored an easy point.

[Aoba Johsai 11 - 12 Kakugawa]

Serve switched hands—Aoba Johsai to serve.

Kyōtani Kentarō stepped up to the line. Kakugawa's setter, Komaki, shifted to the far end of the back line, creating a four-man receive formation.

"Tch." Kyōtani clicked his tongue in annoyance.

Kakugawa's strategy was painfully obvious. Everyone existed to support their ace. As long as they could keep the ball in play, as long as they could toss it high into the front row, their job was done.

Kyōtani tossed the ball, stepped forward, jumped, and struck.

BOOM!!!

"Kaito!"

The ball came in fast—but it was flying straight.

Smack!

Asamushi Kaito caught it cleanly. The powerful sidespin, however, sent the ball careening toward the sideline.

"Right wing!" Komaki shouted.

He knew he wasn't some genius setter—he couldn't save the ball and still perfectly place it for the hitter at the same time.

But Kakugawa was lucky to have Hyakuzawa Yūdai. His height was the greatest weapon of all!

Tap!

From the sideline, Komaki bumped the ball back inbounds. Hyakuzawa had already started his approach on the right.

"As long as it's high enough, I can score!"

Thud!

Hyakuzawa jumped from the right!

"Triple block!" Yamabuki, Kindaichi, and Kunimi jumped together.

Hyakuzawa still couldn't pull off tight-angle crosses. The sharp diagonal was covered by Kindaichi.

"But…we can only block one angle."

BOOM!!!

The ball flew just above Kunimi's hands—an entire palm's width above his block.

"He's got it—!"

Smack!

Yahaba caught the ball from the back row.

"Crap! It's too heavy!"

Yahaba staggered. The ball rebounded high into Kakugawa's court.

A joust!

"Unbelievable…" Kunimi muttered as a shadow loomed over him.

Hyakuzawa jumped straight up—he didn't even need a run-up. He hammered the rebounded ball right back down.

Bam!

The ball fell towards the three-meter line behind Kunimi.

Smack!

"What—!?"

Before it hit the ground, Nakamori Daiki dove and popped it back into the air.

"Cover!"

A small smile tugged at Kunimi's lips. Thank goodness he didn't have to face this guy alone.

Fwoosh—!

Kunimi passed the ball to the far left. A full-court cross—it was Kyōtani's favourite spot.

"Crap!"

The pass tore through Kakugawa's block. Only Nurukawa managed to get in front of Kyōtani in time. Komaki jumped diagonally, barely able to cover the cross.

BOOM!!!

Kyōtani slammed a sharp line shot that landed right on Kakugawa's left sideline.

Back-row attack—point!

[Aoba Johsai 12 - 12 Kakugawa]

Aoba Johsai tied the score.

"That was too easy…" Spectators on the stands couldn't believe it. They were still waiting for Kaedehara Taichi to make his appearance and turn things around.

But right after the timeout, Seijoh had scored back-to-back and caught up.

"Well…maybe not that easy," said another. He pointed toward Aoba Johsai's back row. "That little libero…he actually received that joust?!"

The first touch that keeps an attack alive—it may seem insignificant, but it was crucial.

Hyakuzawa glanced at the sideline—at Kaedehara Taichi. Silently, he reflected on the distance between himself and what he considered the true No.1 ace in the nation.

"Kid, you've got the nerve to be watching people on the sidelines?" Kyōtani growled and fired his second serve.

BOOM!!!

Libero Minamida Taishi received it head-on, but failed to absorb the force completely—the ball popped straight back into Seijoh's airspace.

"Hyakuzawa!"

Hyakuzawa's eyes were always skyward. He had a sixth sense for balls appearing in the front row.

THUD!

With one step, he took off—chasing the ball into the air.

Kindaichi was the only blocker fast enough to react. He met Hyakuzawa head-on.

BOOM!

The ball slipped past the block and crashed into Seijoh's back row.

A sharp cross. Direct point for Hyakuzawa.

[Aoba Johsai 12 - 13 Kakugawa]

"His hunger to attack is insane!"

"He timed that? Seriously? And to think he only started volleyball in high school…" Mizoguchi recalled the training camp with Shiratorizawa last year. Back then, Hyakuzawa's attacks had been easy to read and easy to block.

"Kids these days, huh? Give him some defence and he'll be every pro team's dream ace."

[Hyakuzawa Yūdai—Outside Hitter: Overall Rating: 85; Height: 203 cm, Strength: 95, Jump: 80, Stamina: 88, Speed: 72; Key Attributes: Block: 85, Spike: 90.]

Kaedehara Taichi watched Hyakuzawa with interest. His overall numbers might not be the highest, but when it came to offense, his instincts and explosiveness were terrifying. Against most teams, Hyakuzawa might be an even greater threat than Kyōtani.

"I really do want to test him out for myself…"

Kakugawa regained serve. Komaki walked up to the line.

"If this were the Sejoh from last year, we'd have zero chance," Komaki murmured, pushing his glasses up. "But now…at least until Taichi comes in, we're going to take a set!"

Thwack!

Komaki delivered a standing float serve aimed at first-year Yamabuki Yūjin.

"Our one shot!"

Yamabuki raised his arms. The float looked steady enough—but—

The ball skimmed right over his fingers.

He didn't touch it!

Komaki pushed up his glasses again, a glint flashing from the corner of the lens.

His one and only perfected serve in three years of high school volleyball—finally proving its worth.

Smack!

Once again, Nakamori Daiki dove and saved the ball.

"Nice one, Daiki!"

Yahaba quickly moved into position and sent the ball left. Kindaichi leapt.

"Double block!" Inagaki and Hyakuzawa jumped together.

"Whoa—!" The crowd gasped. Hyakuzawa's block towered nearly half a forearm above Inagaki's.

Kindaichi, however, spiked straight into the gap.

Boom!!!—

—Smack!

Hyakuzawa Yūdai's arm suddenly slanted downward, intercepting Kindaichi Yūtarō's spike.

"No one understands how weak we are better than we do."

Thud!

The ball dropped cleanly into Aoba Johsai's court.

Kakugawa scored with a block!

[Aoba Johsai 12 - 14 Kakugawa]

"Hey, that huge guy's insanely strong, isn't he?!"

"They used their own teammate's block as a decoy?! Kakugawa's kind of amazing!"

Kakugawa continued to serve, with Komaki Yuzuru stepping up to the line.

"We just need to rely on Hyakuzawa. No matter what anyone says, that's our path to victory."

Thwack!

Komaki Yuzuru served the second ball.

"I knew they were targeting me!" Yamabuki Yūjin clenched his teeth, frustrated. There was no doubt the opponent had already identified him as the weakest player on Aoba Johsai's side.

"Damn it...And I'm standing in Taichi-senpai's spot too!"

"Yamabuki! Step back!"

Nakamori Daiki's voice rang from behind. Without hesitation, Yamabuki stepped back.

"I see it…"

As the ball curved in its final arc through the air, that single step backwards gave him a clear view of the serve's trajectory.

"Not all floaters need to be received overhead," Nakamori Daiki said softly.

Yamabuki Yūjin lowered his stance, letting the ball brush against his wrists.

What had just moments ago left him completely flustered was now a powerless floater.

Smack!

Yamabuki's receive landed perfectly.

Kunimi Akira jumped for a quick hit down the middle!

Hyakuzawa Yūdai leapt to block him.

Whoosh!—

Both sides could tell—the final attack wasn't coming from the middle.

The ball flew to the left—Kindaichi Yūtarō jumped to spike again!

"Double block!"

Hyakuzawa Yūdai managed to land and take two quick steps before launching diagonally to the left.

Boom!!!—

The ball shot past Inagaki Isao's left side and landed in Kakugawa's backcourt.

"No way I'm letting you block me a second time!!!"

Kindaichi Yūtarō scored with a straight-line spike!

[Aoba Johsai 13 - 14 Kakugawa]

"What quick blocking reaction…" Kunimi Akira glanced at Hyakuzawa Yūdai, deep in thought.

Serve change—Aoba Johsai to serve.

Kindaichi Yūtarō executed a powerful jump serve.

Boom!!!

Smack!

Asamushi Kaito received the ball.

"Even without being a libero, he receives really well," Mizoguchi Sadayuki nodded quietly. "All as setup for Hyakuzawa Yūdai's attack."

Komaki Yuzuru rotated into position and set the ball to the middle.

"Only one person in Aoba Johsai's front row can restrict Hyakuzawa's spike routes. Whether it's left or right, they can only block one side!"

Thud!

Hyakuzawa Yūdai jumped to spike.

"Triple block!" Kunimi Akira, Yūki Yōji, and Yamabuki Yūjin all jumped together to form a wall!

"They're blocking the centre?!"

Boom!—

Hyakuzawa avoided the block and aimed a diagonal spike to the left.

Smack!

The ball struck Kindaichi Yūtarō's hand and flew out of bounds.

Hyakuzawa Yūdai scored again!

[Aoba Johsai 13 - 15 Kakugawa]

"Nice one, Hyakuzawa!"

"Your spiking's getting more and more composed."

"Thank you, senpai," Hyakuzawa Yūdai murmured quietly, bowing his head.

Then he looked once again toward Aoba Johsai's bench.

"Taichi, hurry and get on court—I want to face you!"

"That big guy really wants you back out there," Nakamori Daiki said, turning around.

"I do too," Taichi grinned. "But with you out there, isn't that enough?"

"Maybe so. But I really like blocking this guy's spikes!"

Nakamori Daiki jogged onto the court, switching places with Kindaichi Yūtarō.

"Hey, Optimus Prime, come at me!" Nakamori gestured toward Hyakuzawa with a crook of his finger. "Beat me, and you'll earn your duel with Taichi."

Hyakuzawa blinked, not realising he was being called "Optimus Prime" until everyone's eyes turned to him.

"…Very well. Then there's no problem," Hyakuzawa replied without changing his expression.

"Oh, he's confident," Taichi chuckled. "Watching from the bench might actually be pretty fun…'Little Shimp VS. Optimus Prime.' Mhm. Sounds like a good headline."

Serve change—Kakugawa to serve.

Nurukawa Yoshiaki's jump serve was received by Kyōtani Kentarō, with Yahaba Shigeru rotating to set the ball high to the right.

Yūki Yōji dashed forward and leapt for a spike.

"Double block!!" Inagaki Isao and Hyakuzawa Yūdai jumped together.

It was the first time Yūki Yōji had felt such a solid wall in front of him.

Boom!

The ball slipped past the block, flying toward Kakugawa's back left.

"I've got it!" Asamushi Kaito barely managed to receive it.

Komaki Yuzuru stepped in. "As long as we set it high, they'll all become scoring chances!"

Whoosh!—

The ball soared high to the right side. Hyakuzawa Yūdai leapt for another spike.

"Double block!" Yamabuki Yūjin and Yūki Yōji jumped.

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BOOM!!!

The ball blasted over Yamabuki's fingertips, heading straight for the left corner of Aoba Johsai's court.

Smack!

The ball arced almost perfectly back to Aoba Johsai's front line—a flawless receive!

"Nice dig, Daiki!" Kunimi Akira jumped to set the ball.

"Block fast!"

If Hyakuzawa's spike didn't score directly, Kakugawa's formation became vulnerable to counters.

Makado Eiji and Inagaki Isao were already moving to cover Kyōtani Kentarō's fake attack. But Hyakuzawa, using his mobility, landed and shifted with a single step—jumping diagonally to block Kunimi's path.

"He's seriously tall…" Kunimi glanced at the net.

Even on his second diagonal jump, Hyakuzawa had managed to cut off most of Kunimi's available angles.

Smack!

"???"

Kunimi tapped the ball to the opposite side of his body with his right hand—

A second-touch attack!

The ball landed on the right side of Kakugawa's front court.

Kunimi Akira scored!

[Aoba Johsai 14 - 15 Kakugawa]

"I am an outside hitter, after all," Kunimi drawled. "If I'm always the one getting blocked, I'll want to attack too, you know."

Serve change—Aoba Johsai to serve.

"Taichi may be getting a break, but in this situation, they don't really need him either."

Bang!

Kunimi served a floating jump ball that dropped near Kakugawa's front right.

"Hyakuzawa!"

The ball dropped sharply past the net—Hyakuzawa had no time to react.

Thud!

The ball landed right in front of him.

Service ace by Kunimi Akira!

[Aoba Johsai 15 - 15 Kakugawa]

The score was tied again.

Kakugawa quickly adjusted their receiving formation to shield Hyakuzawa.

"We've been through this kind of situation plenty of times before!" Asamushi shouted. "Hyakuzawa, just focus on attacking—we'll take care of the rest!"

"What a spoiled ace…" Kunimi muttered.

Kunimi served again.

Bang!

Smack!

Komaki Yuzuru received the ball. Inagaki Isao stepped aside from Hyakuzawa's path and moved into position, setting the ball high to the right.

Thud!

Hyakuzawa Yūdai jumped to spike.

"Triple block!" Yamabuki Yūjin, Yahaba Shigeru, and Yūki Yōji rose to block.

"They're sealing off the straight shot—Aoba Johsai has shifted their blocking strategy." Hyakuzawa thought quickly as he aimed another cross-court spike.

Boom!!—

Smack!

"It's up again!!!"

Nakamori Daiki turned to him with a taunting grin. "We've already figured you out!"

Nakamori's receive was perfect. Kunimi stepped in to set the ball—Aoba Johsai's blockers dispersed after landing.

Simultaneous multi-position attack!

"Which one?!"

Kakugawa's defence was instantly thrown off.

The ball went left—Yamabuki Yūjin spiked and scored!

[Aoba Johsai 16 - 15 Kakugawa]

Hyakuzawa Yūdai's spike had been successfully defended again, and Aoba Johsai had scored three consecutive points!

The match was only halfway through, but the momentum was clearly shifting in Aoba Johsai's favour.

They had pulled ahead.

_________

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