Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty
Chapter 485: Kill Block! (Double-Length)

"I gotta admit, sometimes those media outlets that love ranking team strengths are actually spot-on."

"What's with the sudden change of heart?"

"When they analysed the championship contenders, didn't they list both DESEO Hornets and Tachibana Red Falcons as fourth seeds? Look at how the game's going—doesn't matter who the Black Jackals play, the result's about the same."

"True. Plus, Tachibana even took a set off the Black Jackals, and DH looks like they're about to get swept 3-0."

"Right? All that talk about a six-match win streak and not dropping a single set—it's really just favourable scheduling, that's all…"

Conversations like that echoed throughout the venue. Black Jackals fans had always carried a distinct sense of pride. Other than AD, whom they regarded as a true rival, they had never considered any other team in the league a serious threat. That included last season's champions, EJP.

Shirabu Kenjirō sat quietly in the stands. He overheard the discussions around him, but on the surface, he showed not even a flicker of reaction.

"If we're analysing things purely rationally, this match is already decided. DH's tried everything they can, but the gap in strength between the teams isn't something they can just close like that."

"But if rational analysis were all that mattered," he murmured to himself, "then you wouldn't be standing on that court."

"Kaedehara Taichi…can you still make a miracle happen?"

-----

The third set began.

DESEO Hornets' lineup:

Front row—Middle Blocker Nitta Asahiro, Opposite Hitter Yoshii Hiyu, Outside Hitter Kaedehara Taichi.

Back row—Outside Hitter Nishikawa Tadahisa, Setter Iizuna Tsukasa and Middle Blocker Tom Wilde (Libero: Kubo Wataru).

MSBY Black Jackals' lineup:

Front row—Opposite Hitter Oliver Barnes, Middle Blocker Meian Shūgo, Outside Hitter Bokuto Kōtarō.

Back row—Outside Hitter Sakusa Kiyoomi, Middle Blocker Adriah Thomas (Libero: Inunaki Shion) and Setter Miya Atsumu.

Both teams kept their original rotations from the first set, but DH opened with a substitution—Nishikawa Tadahisa came in off the bench.

In their previous encounter with the Black Jackals, Kitajima Kippei had run out of stamina near the end of the third set. That time, Nishikawa had subbed in to help DH hold on through the remainder of the third and the entire fourth set. That change gave Kitajima nearly forty minutes of rest and helped secure his return in the fifth set.

"Why's Kitajima not on court? Is it another stamina issue?"

"Can't be. They've only played two sets so far…uh, not that three is that much different?"

"It's not like you have to wait until total exhaustion to rest. What's the big deal?"

"Still…doesn't this kind of mean…DH's giving up the third set? They're already down 0-2."

Compared to Kitajima Kippei, Nishikawa Tadahisa only had a slight edge in offence—but was far weaker defensively. And right at the start of the set, DH had to face Miya Atsumu's serve.

"Tweet!—"

The whistle for serve echoed through the court.

Miya Atsumu stood on the service line, a strange tangle of emotions swirling inside him. He had been wanting to defeat Kaedehara Taichi for a long time—but now that the moment had arrived, he didn't feel nearly as thrilled as he'd imagined.

"Maybe it's because we didn't start from the same line…"

"But that was your own selfish choice—don't expect me to go easy on you!"

Atsumu looked up, locking eyes with Kaedehara Taichi. In those eyes, he saw nothing but an unshakable determination to win—no other emotion remained.

In that moment, Atsumu's competitive spirit surged.

"The match isn't over yet. What the hell am I getting sentimental for…" Atsumu chuckled at himself. His fingers curled tighter around the ball, gripping it firmly.

"Here it comes!"

With DH's players on high alert, Atsumu tossed the ball into the air.

One step. Two steps. Three steps. Four!

Thud!

He soared upward, raised his arm high, and swung down with all his might.

BOOM!!!

The ball carved through the air like a scimitar and slammed toward Nishikawa Tadahisa's position.

Smack!

"Cover!" Iizuna Tsukasa managed to dig it out.

"I got it!"

Nishikawa Tadahisa moved up to assist—but quickly backed off to make space for Yoshii Hiyu.

If Nishikawa had taken the set, he would most likely have gone for the easy option and passed it left to Nitta Asahiro. But with Yoshii, there was still a decent chance the ball would go to Kaedehara Taichi.

"Send it to me."

Whoosh—!

The moment he heard the ace's voice, Yoshii didn't hesitate. He launched the ball high and wide toward the right.

"Right side!" Meian Shūgo called.

The Black Jackals' front row moved as one, shifting swiftly to the right.

Thud!

Kaedehara Taichi jumped for the spike.

"Triple block!" Oliver Barnes, Meian Shūgo, and Bokuto Kōtarō all took to the air together.

As the match progressed, both teams had begun to adapt to each other's rhythm and style.

—During the break between sets—

"Kaedehara Taichi's already scored 40 points in just two sets," Coach Samson said, "and his spike conversion rate is still above 70%. Do you know what that means?"

"It means we haven't been able to stop him?" middle blocker Adriah Thomas ventured.

Honestly, the moment he heard that number, Thomas had felt a flicker of disbelief. After all, the Black Jackals' blocking prowess easily ranked top three in the entire V1 League. Sure, there were some impressive individual middle blockers on other teams—like AD's Hirugami Fukurō or Tachibana's Hondō Sakuma—but when it came to teamwide blocking? The Black Jackals lost to no one.

So for Kaedehara Taichi to be performing this well…the only word to describe it was:

"Terrifying."

Coach Samson smiled and turned to the team's other middle blocker.

Given that Kaedehara Taichi was only seventeen, even on a global scale, he'd rank among the best of the best. But right now, he was the enemy. The opponent. While it was important to fairly acknowledge his strength, it was just as important to harbour the will to tear him down.

Meian Shūgo held a stat sheet detailing Kaedehara Taichi's spike patterns and outcomes. He studied it again and again. When he noticed Coach Samson's gaze, he slowly set the paper down.

"It means there's still nearly 30% of his spikes that don't score."

Coach Samson chuckled in satisfaction. "It's nearly impossible to shut down a hitter like him completely—but what I want is for you to turn that 30% failure rate into 40%."

"You think you can manage that?"

"We have to." Meian Shūgo replied seriously. And more than that—he wanted to kill block at least one of Kaedehara Taichi's spikes.

-----

Back in the present, Meian Shūgo stared across the net at Kaedehara Taichi.

BOOM!!!

Smack!!!

The ball slammed into Meian's arms and soared high into the air.

"Inunaki!"

"On it!"

From the moment Yoshii set the ball, the Black Jackals had begun their transition.

If the setter weren't Iizuna Tsukasa, most players wouldn't dare attempt such a high-risk toss. Since it was Yoshii, the Black Jackals were ready—their block height alone could already apply pressure on Kaedehara Taichi.

Miya Atsumu had shifted his defensive position forward. First, to cover the block in case Taichi broke through or aimed for the hands-out or sideline; second, to quickly move to Position 3 in transition and set up the next offensive play.

Inunaki Shion had dropped far back, nearly to the baseline. That way, he could cover any drop shots aimed at the back line—or dig a spike that glanced off the block and headed long.

Just like now—

Smack!

Inunaki Shion dove and successfully kept the ball in play on the Black Jackals' court. Miya Atsumu took two quick steps back to reposition and set the ball.

Whoosh!—

The volleyball soared toward the centre. Meian Shūgo leapt to spike it.

A quick attack down the middle!

BOOM!!!—

—SMACK!

The instant the ball crossed the net, a pair of hands slammed down hard on it.

THUD!

The ball was stuffed and shot straight back down inside the Black Jackals' three-meter line.

Kaedehara Taichi scored with a block!

[DH 1 – 0 Black Jackals]

The first point of the third set wasn't won by a Kaedehara Taichi spike—

Nor was it the result of a Black Jackals counterattack.

It came from Kaedehara Taichi's solo block!

"Atsumu, if you want to score, you'd better avoid setting toward me—just like you did in the first two sets. Don't forget that."

"You bastard—!"

Miya Atsumu glared furiously at Kaedehara Taichi. The centre wasn't even supposed to be in his blocking zone!

When he set the ball, Atsumu had clearly seen Taichi stationed all the way to the far right—directly across from Bokuto Kōtarō.

Serve change. DH to serve.

Nitta Asahiro launched a powerful jump serve. Inunaki Shion covered for Miya and successfully received the ball. At once, the Black Jackals' front row launched a synchronised attack.

Atsumu quickly moved into position, sweeping his gaze across DH's front row—

After rotation, Kaedehara Taichi was now in the middle, with Yoshii Hiyu on the left and Tom Wilde on the right.

By conventional logic, Yoshii on the left would be the most vulnerable point to attack. Sending the ball to the right might lead to a double block by Taichi and Wilde—the hardest route to break through.

Whoosh—!

The volleyball once again arced high toward the centre.

Atsumu's intent was clear—

He was going straight at Kaedehara Taichi again!

Thud!

Meian Shūgo jumped up for the spike.

Kaedehara Taichi faced him alone across the net.

BOOM!!!—

—SMACK!!!

THUD!

"—?!!"

The ball slammed into the ground right next to Miya Atsumu's foot and bounced upward.

A second time—

Meian Shūgo's spike was directly stuffed by Kaedehara Taichi!

[DH 2 – 0 Black Jackals]

Shirabu Kenjirō rose from his seat, his eyes locked on Kaedehara Taichi's long, lithe silhouette.

The boy who once stood side by side with Oikawa Tōru, who later led Aoba Johsai from the very front—

At this moment, he seemed almost...lonely.

Taichi's performance in the first two sets had already been nothing short of flawless.

Shirabu couldn't even imagine how he could improve any further—

But Taichi gave his answer:

Opening the set with two consecutive blocks.

Once again, he was fighting alone.

"...???" Meian Shūgo stared, dumbfounded.

"Damn it...!" Miya Atsumu gritted his teeth, absolutely seething.

"Atsumu," called Oliver Barnes from the left.

"...Sorry."

Atsumu dug his fingernails into his palm to steady himself.

He hadn't stayed calm.

Provoked by Taichi, he had intentionally set the ball to centre—

Which indirectly led to the blocked spike.

"How?" Meian Shūgo turned to Kaedehara Taichi.

Even so, getting blocked one-on-one at the net...

Meian's attack pattern being read was the direct cause.

"We're still in the middle of a match, aren't we, Meian-senpai?" Taichi replied coolly.

The implication was clear—

Of course Kaedehara Taichi wasn't going to explain how he did it.

Meian felt no emotional turbulence.

He'd asked mostly out of confusion—

And frankly, if he blocked an opponent's spike, he wouldn't explain how either.

Still, he didn't expect Taichi to remain so composed.

Taichi turned away from Meian, giving Miya Atsumu a sidelong glance as he remarked lightly,

"Looks like you still haven't learned your lesson, Atsumu."

"You—!"

"Instead of throwing around threats, you should think about how to organise your next attack."

Kaedehara Taichi returned to his position without a change in expression.

"Nitta-senpai—serve us a good one."

"You got it!" Nitta Asahiro answered with gusto.

"Tweet!—"

The whistle blew.

Nitta Asahiro served again, continuing to target Miya Atsumu.

BOOM!!!

Smack!

Inunaki Shion received it, and Atsumu quickly moved in to set.

Meian Shūgo, who had shone brilliantly on offence in the first two sets, now stood in the front row looking oddly...harmless.

Was Kaedehara Taichi just getting lucky?

It was possible—

But Black Jackals couldn't afford to gamble on that chance.

Whoosh!—

The ball flew toward the left wing. Oliver Barnes sprinted along the sideline and leapt for the spike.

"Double block!" Yoshii Hiyu and Kaedehara Taichi jumped together.

Barnes had no intention of cutting to Taichi's side—

Instead, he launched a super cross-court shot over Yoshii Hiyu.

BOOM!!—

"I got it!"

Smack!

Kubo Wataru received the ball.

With Kitajima Kippei not on the court, DH's back row defence had weakened. But Coach Nick had swapped libero Kubo Wataru with Nishikawa Tadahisa, maintaining defensive coverage while preserving the option of back-row attacks from Nitta Asahiro.

Iizuna Tsukasa swiftly moved in and set the ball high to centre.

Thud!

That same figure—

All night long, relentlessly hammering the ball down into Black Jackals' court.

"Three-man block!"

Black Jackals' front row jumped again.

BOOM!!—

Super cross-court shot!

The ball soared above Meian's block and smashed cleanly into Black Jackals' back-right corner—then bounced out of bounds.

Kaedehara Taichi scored with a spike!

[DH 3 – 0 Black Jackals]

This pinnacle of offence and defence—

Held entirely in one man's hands.

Kaedehara Taichi's play in the third set once again surpassed the audience's imagination.

It was as if his strength had no limits...

"Beep! Black Jackals requests a timeout."

Coach Samson called a timeout just in time—

Before Black Jackals' morale collapsed completely.

His wariness toward Kaedehara Taichi deepened even further.

Before, he'd thought that Taichi had made a mistake by not joining a stronger team. But now, Samson felt only relief that Kaedehara Taichi wasn't on one.

After all, Black Jackals had never invited him—

And he certainly wouldn't have ended up on their team.

"Atsumu, get your act together. Your sets are noticeably slower."

"...Yes." Miya answered, sounding distracted.

"Miya Atsumu!" Meian Shūgo's voice sharpened.

"Yes!" Atsumu snapped back to attention.

Despite being crushed on both offence and defence, Meian Shūgo acted as if nothing was wrong.

"Until this guy clears his head, I'll handle the setting." Sakusa Kiyoomi volunteered.

"Sakusa?" Miya turned in surprise.

"No matter how strong Taichi is—the one who's going to win this match is me."

Sakusa Kiyoomi spoke with quiet conviction.

_________

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