Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty
Chapter 480: The Rookie Will Show You

The Rootless Birds' tactics were simple and aggressive—every attack revolved around their ace, Kobayashi Takuma. In contrast, DH's strategy was far more balanced. Their offence bloomed with multiple threats, and their defence responded in perfect coordination.

The lights overhead in the Oceam Dome Arena cast long shadows behind Kaedehara Taichi.

[DH 20 - 18 Rootless Birds]

Kobayashi Takuma stared across the net at Kaedehara Taichi, a hint of loneliness flickering in his eyes.

Sweat trickled down his temple and into the corner of his eye. He wiped it away with a swift motion of his hand. His breathing was rough, yet somehow still measured. From behind, he looked just like a lion in the twilight of its life.

BOOM!!!

Nitta Asahiro launched a powerful jump serve. The Rootless Birds' libero managed to receive it cleanly.

Their setter didn't overthink it—he simply sent the ball straight to the net. Kobayashi Takuma inhaled deeply and held his breath. After a three-step approach, he leapt with all his might.

Thud!

"Double block!" Kaedehara Taichi and Tom Wilde rose together.

Staring at the wall of arms in front of him, Kobayashi's eyes narrowed. His jump height was a full ten centimetres lower than during his prime. At this moment, he couldn't even see the space beyond the blockers.

BOOM!!!—

Just as DH's block began to descend, Kobayashi swung his arm abruptly, his wrist flicking with expert control.

That faint delay in his hang-time—like something calculated down to the millisecond—allowed the ball to narrowly slip through the seam in the block.

Thud!

The ball grazed past Tom Wilde's ear and crashed into DH's back-row dead zone.

Kobayashi Takuma scores with a spike!

[DH 20 - 19 Rootless Birds]

"What an incredible shot…" Tom Wilde murmured in disbelief as he landed.

"We jumped too early," Taichi said. "No…he just had impeccable control of the timing…"

Serve rotation. Now Rootless Birds were serving.

Kubo Wataru received it effortlessly—perfect first touch.

Kaedehara Taichi launched straight into a quick attack through the middle, and Iizuna Tsukasa's set was as steady as ever.

—BOOM!!

As the ball sailed past the Rootless Birds' blockers, Kobayashi's fingers were still half a palm-length away.

Kaedehara Taichi scored with an over-the-block spike.

[DH 21 - 19 Rootless Birds]

---

After receiving a serve, Kobayashi suddenly dashed toward position 3. As he jumped, a faint crack came from his knee.

This time, his spike form remained textbook-perfect—but right before contact, he subtly pulled back his wrist.

WHAM!

Like a blade, the ball cut between Kaedehara's arm and the antenna.

Kobayashi Takuma scores again.

[DH 21 - 20 Rootless Birds]

—"Like a scalpel—such precision on that trajectory! Kobayashi Takuma keeps the suspense alive with his attack!"

As Kobayashi landed, he stumbled slightly.

"Coach, he can't keep going," the team manager said gravely. "We agreed—he's only allowed to play for a max of 20 minutes per set."

The Rootless Birds' coach hadn't taken his eyes off Kobayashi for a second. After a moment of silence, he said quietly, "This is his decision. I trust that he won't push too far."

"This is pushing too far!" the manager protested. "So what if we win the first set? There's no reason to burn through his minutes before the playoffs!"

"Take a guess—why do you think Takuma chose to sign with our team for his final contract?" the coach asked, abruptly changing the subject.

"Wasn't it because of some multi-team deal?" the manager frowned.

"No. It's because we promised him that, here, he could decide how he wants to retire." The coach sighed faintly.

"Retire?!" The manager's face was filled with disbelief. "Even now, he's still better than most of the league just by playing part-time. He's got years left before retirement…"

"You don't understand."

"He's not the type to just go out like this. That's why…he needs to figure it out."

---

BOOM!!!

Kaedehara Taichi's powerful spike tore through Rootless Birds's block.

Their libero shot forward like an arrow loosed from its string to save the ball near the three-meter line.

Smack!

The intense topspin sent the ball flying out of bounds. Kobayashi Takuma chased after it for two steps before coming to a halt.

The ball landed.

Kaedehara Taichi scored with a spike.

[DH 23 - 22 Rootless Birds]

A 17-year-old genius.

A 29-year-old 'lion' in his twilight.

The two clashed under the cries of seagulls swooping over the harbour—a showdown beneath the Yokohama night.

Service change.

DH to serve.

Iizuna Tsukasa's powerful jump serve was received and accurately passed. The ball arced toward the net as Kobayashi Takuma began his approach from the baseline, launching into a powerful back-row jump.

"Double block!" Nitta Asahiro and Kitajima Kippei rose up in front of him.

Midair, Kobayashi twisted his body slightly, his palm slashing across the back of the ball at a sharp angle.

BOOM!—

Smack!

The ball grazed Kitajima's arm and sailed out of bounds.

Off the block—out of play.

Kobayashi Takuma scored.

[DH 23 - 23 Rootless Birds]

The score was tied once again!

"You pitying me, kid?"

Kobayashi murmured as he turned to retreat, his voice just loud enough to reach the other side.

Kaedehara Taichi's gaze drifted momentarily from Kobayashi's eyes to his knees.

"No. It's just that this match should be over already."

Rootless Birds served.

Yoshii Hiyu received the ball cleanly, and the pass went straight to target.

Iizuna Tsukasa feinted a front-row quick to draw the blockers.

The ball shot toward the right wing.

Kaedehara Taichi took off from beyond the three-meter line.

"He's coming!"

Kobayashi bent his knees slightly, ready to receive—

BANG!!!

A textbook back-row pipe attack crashed straight into the court.

(Pipe Attack: A back-row attack initiated from position 6, directly behind the front row center.)

Kobayashi slowly straightened up, turning his head toward the diagonal back corner.

A clean white mark on the floor told him where the ball had landed.

"…What a terrifying guy."

Kobayashi whispered.

Kaedehara Taichi scored.

[DH 24 - 23 Rootless Birds]

DH reached set point.

Service change.

DH to serve.

Match point.

Kitajima Kippei's serve was easily received by Rootless Birds.

Kobayashi's back-row attack was camouflaged behind a quick fake by the right-side middle blocker.

Nitta Asahiro quickly shifted over to cover the block. The ball barely slipped past the defence and dropped toward DH's back row—

Smack!

The moment the ball crossed the three-meter line, Kaedehara Taichi dove for a pancake dig.

Iizuna Tsukasa immediately set up the counterattack.

The ball was tossed high to the middle.

Tachi didn't stop moving.

Thump!

The image of his airborne form froze in the eyes of thousands of spectators.

—BOOM!!!

—"Taichi's contact point is a full thirty centimetres higher than the block—an absolute mismatch!"

Smack!!!

The ball slammed hard into Rootless Birds' court.

Kaedehara Taichi scored.

[DH 25 - 23 Rootless Birds]

At the peak of Tachi's jump, as the light cast a long shadow from his body, Kobayashi Takuma stood beneath it—and suddenly, he remembered a line he'd once read.

—

"How do you know it's time to retire?"

"The rookie will tell you."

—

"Beeeeep—!"

A long whistle blew.

End of Set One.

Winner: DESEO Hornets.

_________

[T/N] - If you guys want to read 50 Chapters in advance of the current story, you can support me on my Patreon. Trust me, it's awesome!

Link - (P)atreon.com/Iseeblack [Remove the brackets]