Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty
Chapter 481: Five Consecutive Wins

[DESEO Hornets 25 - 23 NSC Rootless Birds]

[DESEO Hornets 25 - 18 NSC Rootless Birds]

[DESEO Hornets 25 - 16 NSC Rootless Birds]

After the end of the first set, Kobayashi Takuma left the court with a slightly swollen knee. The next two sets went exactly as expected—DH claimed them with ease. With this, their two-match away streak concluded in total victory.

Outside the venue, the night wind from Yokohama Bay billowed through the coat draped over Kaedehara Taichi's shoulders.

When reporters raised sharp-edged questions about Kobayashi Takuma, Kaedehara Taichi—usually the type to stir the pot—said not a single word.

Every professional athlete eventually approaches the twilight of their career. But Taichi never allowed himself to dwell on that. As long as he stood on the court, he only ever wanted one thing:

To be the strongest.

"That damn brat…why does it feel like he's gotten even stronger?"

A low voice grumbled from the stands.

"Isn't that only natural, you idiot?"

Another voice chimed in.

"And watch your language."

"Hah? Don't you call him that all the time too?"

"I'm his senpai. And he's Aoba Johsai's ace."

"Tch."

"You wanna get decked?"

"Hmph! You think this mighty tiger's scared of some mangy mutt?"

"Enough!"

Fujii Ryōsuke stepped between the two of them with both arms outstretched.

"You guys don't wanna lose your starting spots, do you? If the coach gets pissed, it's over for you."

"Hmph."

The two turned their heads away at the same time.

Fujii Ryōsuke let out a long sigh. He never imagined their team would end up with both of these "delinquents."

These three were from another V1 League club in Kanagawa—VC Kanagawa.

VC Kanagawa was a recently promoted V-League team, known for its focus on developing young players. But what truly set VC apart was that it wasn't just a pro club—it was an integrated volleyball talent pipeline. They were Japan's very first professional volleyball youth training base, aiming to establish a seamless path from development to the pros.

Kyōtani Kentarō never expected that by joining this club, he'd run into someone familiar—Yamamoto Taketora, straight out of Nekoma.

To emphasize their commitment to mental growth and team culture, the coaching staff made a bold decision: they placed the two of them in the same dorm room. Risky? Definitely. But they hoped that this "clash of personalities" would ignite sparks of competitive growth.

Of course, reality rarely goes as smoothly as theory.

What sparked between Kyōtani and Yamamoto wasn't so much fireworks…as it was explosives.

At first, the coaching staff figured they might argue once every three days at worst.

In reality, over six months of cohabitation, the two managed to bring their fight count down—from thirty arguments a day to just three.

A miracle, truly. Cause for celebration.

And since this match was taking place in Kanagawa, naturally the whole VC team showed up to watch.

Having only joined the V1 League two years ago, VC Kanagawa still gave off an air of inexperience. From coaching staff to support crew to recruited players, everything felt young. You could call them unpolished—or you could call them bursting with potential.

Head Coach:Satō Kenta, age 36, former starting setter for Japan's national men's team.

Strength Coach:Suzuki Michiko, age 30, Ph.D. in sports medicine.

Tactical Analyst:Chōnan Shōta, age 32, former national team data analyst.

As for the players, the oldest was Fujii Ryōsuke, 21 years old and the team's captain and setter.

The youngest were Kyōtani Kentarō and Yamamoto Taketora—both 18.

"Not going to talk to Taichi?" Yamamoto Taketora asked.

"No need. There's nothing much to say to him," Kyōtani Kentarō replied flatly.

"Hah! I knew it! You two don't actually get along, huh?" Yamamoto laughed loudly.

"You bastard!" Kyōtani snapped, then quickly fell silent. In a lower voice, he added, "I just think we're still not strong enough."

"Mhm. Don't worry, this year we're definitely not finishing at the bottom!" Fujii Ryōsuke pumped his fist in the air, sounding full of spirit.

Kyōtani and Yamamoto glanced over at him. It was true—lately the team's coordination had been steadily improving.

"Our first-stage goal is to make it into the top eight!"

Kyōtani: "…"

Yamamoto: "…"

All that energy, and the goal was just the top eight…

Noticing the disdain in their gazes, Fujii blushed a little.

"Hey, I'm just being realistic here—that's only the first stage goal," he said defensively.

"Hah, so the second-stage goal is top four?" Kyōtani scoffed.

"Ahem." Fujii cleared his throat. "The championship."

"Too quiet, Captain!" Yamamoto bellowed cheerfully. "Say it louder, or people won't take us seriously!"

"No, no, no—!"

Before Yamamoto could shout at the top of his lungs, Fujii quickly clamped a hand over his mouth. Yelling it out like that would just be embarrassing…

First, they needed the strength to back it up.

-----

After winning both away games, the DH Club returned to familiar Aichi Prefecture, bringing back the joy of victory with them.

On the ride home, the team bus was filled with a lighthearted and cheerful atmosphere. The players teased each other and shared highlights from the matches, while the coaches smiled from the sidelines, occasionally reminding everyone not to relax too much—more challenges were right around the corner.

November 5th, backed by thunderous cheers from their home crowd, DH faced the Gunma Hornets—a team known for their tenacious playstyle.

[DESEO Hornets 25 – 21 Gunma Hornets]

[DESEO Hornets 25 – 19 Gunma Hornets]

[DESEO Hornets 25 – 23 Gunma Hornets]

Gunma Hornets came out swinging with a fierce offensive, spreading out their attacks across multiple points. But DH quickly adjusted, stabilizing with strong defense and repeatedly defusing the opposition's assaults.

Kaedehara Taichi, like an anchor in a storm, maintained his powerful offence. In the end, they secured the win without dropping a single set, notching their fourth straight victory in the regular season.

November 12th, the Toray Arrows came to visit—another formidable opponent who had clearly prepared several tactical counters specifically for DH.

[DESEO Hornets 27 – 25 Toray Arrows]

[DESEO Hornets 25 – 23 Toray Arrows]

[DESEO Hornets 25 – 20 Toray Arrows]

With DH growing a bit complacent from their win streak, the first set on their home court nearly slipped away.

But DH was no longer the same team as before. They had Kaedehara Taichi—someone who was nearly obsessive about winning. In the final stretch, he completely took over, scoring eight consecutive points and singlehandedly securing the opening set.

After that, with the support of their home crowd, team captain Nitta Asahi led by example, guiding the team with steady play. They edged out the second set, and after adjusting to the match tempo, DH capitalized on the opponent's drop in morale during the third. They amped up their quick attacks and coordinated blocks, gradually pulling ahead to claim the win.

Five consecutive victories to start the season—without dropping a single set.

_________

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