Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty-Chapter 438: Endgame (Double-Length)

As the final set neared its end, both teams were once again tied.

The serve rotated—Team USA to serve.

Max Holt launched a powerful jump serve. Kaedehara Taichi received it cleanly.

The ball was sent to the right wing. Hoshiumi Kōrai used a feint to shake Matt Anderson's block, and Sakusa Kiyoomi rose up to spike.

"Double block!" Torey DeFalco and Jeff Jendryk leapt up together.

BOOM!!—

Smack!

The ball hit Jendryk's arm and deflected out of bounds.

Smack!

Aaron Russell dived and saved it. Bit by bit, Team USA was starting to adjust to the offensive patterns of Team Japan.

Micah Christenson sent a high toss to the far left. Matt Anderson jumped and spiked.

"Double block!" Kai Suzuharu and Hoshiumi Kōrai both went up.

Miya Atsumu moved up to cover, fully alert for a hard spike targeting the block.

BOOM!!!—

The ball soared above the block and landed right on Japan's back line.

Smack!

Kaedehara Taichi dashed in from the right, but the ball hit his arm and shot out of bounds.

Matt Anderson scored with an over-the-block spike.

[Japan 20 – 21 USA]

USA took the lead with consecutive points.

They continued serving. Max Holt sent the second serve flying.

BOOM!!

The ball clipped the net and dropped toward Japan's side. Hoshiumi Kōrai picked it up.

Miya Atsumu filled in and set the ball—Sakusa Kiyoomi leapt up to attack.

"Triple block!"

—BOOM!

Smack!—

The ball hit the top of the net and bounced back into Japan's court.

"Chance ball!" Komori Motoya called loudly as he calmly received it.

Miya set up the attack. Japan initiated a full three-point assault.

"I got it!" Sakusa shouted from the right side.

Matt Anderson glanced at him but continued to guard the left.

Miya sent the set to the right. Sakusa jumped again to strike.

"Double block!" DeFalco and Jendryk jumped simultaneously.

BOOM!!—

—Smack!

Once again, the ball was stuffed and bounced back into Japan's court.

"What's he trying to do? Going for such a high-risk spike?"

"Set me again!" Sakusa called for a third time, charging toward the net.

Atsumu went with a direct hand set to the right. Whatever it was, as the setter, he could sense that Sakusa was in peak form right now.

"This isn't just recklessness."

Thud!

Sakusa leapt for another spike.

Here it comes!

"Triple block!" Anderson, DeFalco, and Jendryk jumped together.

With their height advantage, the three braced tightly, their arms pressing down toward Sakusa at almost a 45-degree angle.

A steel wall formed above him, leaving him no vision, no space—even a side pass seemed impossible.

"As much as I hate to admit it…I'm not the best choice to finish this match."

Sakusa didn't swing.

The players on both sides were already starting to descend.

And then—

Whoosh!—

With his eyes lowered, Sakusa leaned back and tipped the ball toward the back row.

A quiet back-row set.

BOOM!!!

The ball soared over the triple block and slammed into the three-meter line behind them.

Kaedehara Taichi's back-row over-the-block attack scored!

[Japan 21 – 21 USA]

"You really didn't have to go that hard," Taichi chuckled. "But that was a beautiful set, Sakusa-senpai."

"They seem pretty confident in their blocks," Sakusa said grimly. "But overconfidence tends to be punished in this sport…You get that, don't you, Taichi?"

"Yeah. I do."

The serve rotated. Japan's turn to serve.

Sakusa sent a powerful jump serve. Erik Shoji received it.

"Cover!"

Micah Christenson moved into position and set to the left. Matt Anderson jumped for the spike.

"Triple block!" Miya, Kai Suzuharu, and Hoshiumi went up together.

BOOM!!!

Smack!

Komori Motoya received the ball with one hand, sending it flying out of bounds.

Taichi chased it down and bumped it back to the front row. Sakusa launched into a back-row attack.

"Him again?"

"Triple block!"

Smack!

Sakusa tipped it gently behind the triple block.

But with such a high arc, Team USA had time to react.

Smack!

Erik Shoji rushed forward and saved it. Christenson bumped it to the right—quick attack by Jeff Jendryk.

"Triple block!"

BOOM!!!

Smack!

"One touch!" The ball ricocheted high off Hoshiumi's palm.

"Hm?"

Komori received it, and Miya Atsumu set it up again.

Sakusa was already in the air at the net.

"A quick on the right?!!"

"Double block!" DeFalco and Jendryk sprang up together.

BOOM!!—

Sakusa sliced a deadly low-angle cross spike right past the block, sending the ball crashing into the three-meter line on Team USA's left.

Smack!

Micah Christenson chased it down from the back row with a diving save.

Matt Anderson covered and set.

"Back row—!"

Christenson's call came a second too late. The ball went to the right. DeFalco jumped to spike.

"Triple block!"

BOOM!!!—

—Smack!

The ball hit Kai Suzuharu's arm and dropped back into Team USA's court.

Blocked?!!

Gasps echoed from the crowd.

Smack!

But it wasn't over yet.

Aaron Russell dove to protect it. Jendryk launched into a quick attack.

BOOM!!!

The ball soared over the heads of Japan's three blockers.

Smack!

Sakusa received it.

Komori jumped from the back to set. If anyone on the court could read Sakusa Kiyoomi's mind, it was Komori Motoya.

Whoosh!—

The ball flew high to the left. Kaedehara Taichi jumped for the spike.

"Triple block!"

Team USA's block remained fast—but—

—BOOM!!!

Over-the-block spike!

The ball shot over DeFalco's head and slammed into the centre of Team USA's court.

Kaedehara Taichi scored with a back-row spike!

[Japan 22 – 21 USA]

—"OOOOOH! What a spike!!"

Taichi's explosive back-row attack ended the gruelling rally and ignited the crowd. However, some sharp-eyed spectators noticed something off.

"Was that a weaker block from Team USA?"

"Not just the block—they had a spike stuffed earlier too, didn't they?"

"What's going on?"

Micah Christenson glanced toward Sakusa Kiyoomi. Since Sakusa's spikes hadn't seemed that threatening, neither he nor Anderson had paid much attention to him.

But now it was clear—Sakusa hadn't been trying to score directly.

He had been baiting the American blockers with his attacks.

Before Christenson realised it, Team USA's front row had been participating nonstop in blocks and attacks, with no time to rest.

"So it was useful after all," Micah murmured with a faint, composed smile, not appearing to take Sakusa's tactics too seriously.

"This level of physical demand…As long as we get a bit of breathing room, it shouldn't be a problem…"

As Sakusa Kiyoomi stepped up to the service line once again, Jeff Jendryk and the others had already reset their stance. Their eyes, sharp like hawks, locked onto Sakusa with unwavering focus.

"In the end, as long as we can shut down his spikes, we'll be fine."

"Like it's that easy," Kaedehara Taichi chuckled softly. "Just scoring once like that is already pretty good…"

After all, the "double-setter tactic" they'd initially pinned their hopes on hadn't produced the results they'd imagined.

"Tweet!—"

The whistle signalled the next serve.

Sakusa sent off his second ball. Micah Christenson moved in to receive in place of Aaron Russell, cleanly bumping the ball toward the net.

Aaron Russell launched into a back-row attack, with Hoshiumi flying in to solo block.

"Sharp read."

Whoosh—!

Aaron sent the ball to the left wing.

Thud!

Matt Anderson soared up and unleashed a spike.

"We're not trying to avoid a fight!"

"Double block!" Kai Suzuharu and Miya Atsumu jumped together.

BOOM!!!—

Smack!

The ball tore through the blockers and shot straight toward the Japan team's side.

Smack!

A single palm slipped under the ball just before it could hit the floor—Komori Motoya had kept it alive, and Sakusa quickly moved in to cover.

Whoosh—!

Anyone on Japan's side could make the set if needed—five players on court could pass.

Thump!

Kaedehara Taichi sprang up from the back row.

"Triple block!"

BOOM!!!

The ball slammed into the net and bounced back into Japan's court.

"It's in! Motoya!"

"Mine!" Komori Motoya dug it up from near the endline.

Miya Atsumu leapt in the front row to set.

"Give it to me!!" Kaedehara Taichi took off from the backline again for another attack.

"Trying to wear down someone else this time?"

"How naive!"

"Triple block!" Matt Anderson, Torey DeFalco, and Jeff Jendryk jumped together.

Their blocking wall didn't falter in the slightest.

In midair, Taichi stretched his entire body, veins bulging faintly on his arms as he unleashed a full-force swing from behind.

BOOOM!!!

Smack!

The ball slipped cleanly through the gap between Anderson and DeFalco, crashing into Team USA's court.

"It's not the same—I went up there to break through the block."

Kaedehara Taichi scored.

[Japan 23 - 21 USA]

"Tweet!—"

"Time-out requested by USA!"

Team USA used up their final timeout.

Because of their different preparation approaches before the match, Japan had adapted faster to the Americans' offense—and sometimes, the result hinged on those subtle margins.

-----

The timeout ended, and the match resumed.

Japan retained serve.

Sakusa sent his third ball flying.

Aaron Russell received it, and Micah Christenson moved in for the set.

All three front-row attackers from Team USA launched into motion.

BOOM!!!

Even Kai Suzuharu couldn't read the set's direction. With Japan's block split apart, the Americans broke through easily.

Torey DeFalco scored with a spike.

[Japan 23 - 22 USA]

Serve switched sides. Team USA to serve.

Matt Anderson launched a powerful jump serve, but the ball clipped the net and dropped into Japan's court.

Miya Atsumu dove and bumped it upward; the ball rolled off the tape and began to drop again.

Kai Suzuharu reached out with one hand and scooped it up, and Kaedehara Taichi jumped in the back row to make a non-attack pass over the net.

"Chance ball!" Erik Shoji smoothly received and passed it right up front.

Micah Christenson set it high—Aaron Russell had already jumped in the front row.

Whoosh!—

BOOM!!!—

Without giving Japan any time to react, the ball slammed down by Sakusa Kiyoomi's feet and bounced up.

Aaron Russell scored.

[Japan 23 - 23 USA]

Matt Anderson's second serve.

BOOM!!!

Smack!

Kaedehara Taichi received the ball calmly, sending it perfectly forward.

Miya Atsumu sent it to the far right—Hoshiumi leapt in for the kill.

"Triple block!" DeFalco, Jendryk, and Russell jumped together.

In terms of vertical coverage, the USA's block left no weak points.

BOOM!—

—Smack!

The ball was stuffed directly by Jeff Jendryk.

Smack!

Sakusa dove in and popped the ball up again.

"Nice save!" Atsumu shouted nearby. "Damn it, is there anything this guy can't do?!"

Hoshiumi hit the floor but didn't waste a second mourning his failed spike. He quickly repositioned and tossed the ball toward the left wing.

Thud!

Kaedehara Taichi took off for another spike.

"Triple block!"

The American front-row trio shuffled left with perfect footwork, jumping up without a hint of hesitation.

Taichi aimed at the left side of DeFalco and whipped his arm forward.

Torey DeFalco's mouth curled into a knowing grin as he dropped his arm to cut off the angle.

—BOOM!!!—

The ball threaded through a narrow gap in the block and landed hard on the left sideline of Team USA's court.

Kaedehara Taichi scored again.

[Japan 24 - 23 USA]

Japan reached 24 first—set point.

"You little punk!" Torey DeFalco cursed, gritting his teeth.

"However many are left, just give them all to me," Taichi said flatly, as if he hadn't heard the outburst.

"Yeah," Miya Atsumu replied seriously. "I'll keep setting until your legs give out."

Serve switched again—Japan to serve.

"Ending this with a service ace would be the coolest, right?"

Hoshiumi excitedly tossed the ball up, ran, leapt, and struck it.

—BOOM!!

The ball drew a perfect arc in the air, falling deep in the back row of Team USA's court.

Smack!

Matt Anderson barely managed to receive it.

"Cover it!"

Even with a broken first touch, Micah Christenson managed to set it cleanly to the right wing.

Aaron Russell went up for the kill!

"Triple block!" Kaedehara, Miya, and Kai jumped together.

BOOM!!!—

The ball sailed over the block.

Smack!

Sakusa picked it up!

Hoshiumi quickly moved into position.

"Send it to me!" Kaedehara Taichi shouted as he sprinted toward the far left.

Whoosh!—

The ball flew toward the left wing.

Taichi sprinted laterally and jumped again—the USA blockers tracked him tightly.

"Triple block!"

While covering for Taichi on the left side, Atsumu caught a glimpse of the signal he flashed—like a twist of fate.

"...Can we really do this?"

Without hesitation, Miya Atsumu changed direction and sprinted toward the back row.

BOOM!!!—

The ball deflected off the block and flew precisely toward Atsumu.

Kaedehara Taichi landed and dashed horizontally toward the right side.

"Follow him!"

"Triple block!" The USA blockers gritted their teeth and chased after him.

There was no need to block him straight on—Team USA's back right was guarded by Micah Christenson.

Thump!

Taichi planted his foot and launched himself skyward. Atsumu's set came perfectly into position.

Hoshiumi, running toward the right side, abruptly stopped. He had a hunch—Taichi wasn't going to pass this time.

—BOOM!!!

The ball sailed above the three-man block and landed flush on the left sideline of Team USA's court.

"So that's what he was aiming for?" Micah Christenson smiled in understanding.

In that brief pause in the air, Taichi spiked to the opposite side of his approach.

A faster attack, a higher contact point, more precise control…

He must've been calculating everything—from his first attack's outcome to his second strike's setup.

Somehow, he made it all work.

Kaedehara Taichi scored with a cross-body overhand spike.

[Japan 25 - 23 USA]

The game hadn't dragged into a deuce like many expected. The crowd, stunned, found themselves feeling strangely empty.

"Beeeeep—"

The long whistle rang.

Set 3: End.

Winner: Team Japan.

_________

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