Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty
Chapter 491: A Bit Like Me? (Double-Length)

[January 9th, Matsumoto City Gymnasium, Nagano Prefecture]

Inside the visiting team's locker room, the DH Club players were finishing their final preparations for tonight's match.

Iizuna Tsukasa was silently meditating, Nitta Asahiro was stretching his muscles, and Tom Wilde was loosening up his joints—the cracking sounds in the small space seemed unusually loud. Kubo Wataru and Kitajima Kippei were watching recent footage of EJP matches with headphones on. Meanwhile, Yoshii Hiyu held the tactics board in his hand, intently reviewing the match plan. His gaze was especially focused.

The atmosphere in the away team's locker room was both tense and electric—it felt like even the air had solidified under the weight of their emotions.

Bang!

Kaedehara Taichi pushed open the door and swept his gaze across the room.

"Why's it so quiet in here? I thought you all had fallen asleep."

Yoshii Hiyu put down his pencil and looked at Kaedehara. "How was the interview? I'm guessing the press thinks there's not much suspense in this match."

"Pretty much. First thing they said was 'a match between two teams of vastly different strength.' I gave it some thought...Akutsu's performance isn't that much better than mine, is it?"

Yoshii didn't respond.

"Haha, Taichi, you're still as funny as ever," Tom Wilde chuckled.

"Hm? Am I wrong?" Taichi looked directly at Tom, his eyes deep and sharp. "Is Akutsu's performance better than mine?"

Under Taichi's gaze, for some reason, Tom Wilde actually felt a bit nervous.

Thinking about it carefully, the team's mood had been slightly heavy lately—which was honestly quite strange. After all, their current record was 9 wins and 2 losses, tied for third place with AD!

This time last year, they were only at 6 wins and 5 losses, barely clinging to 7th or 8th place in the league standings.

Logically, they should be ecstatic. But with their recent performance dipping a bit, and Taichi's attitude turning oddly distant after the loss to the Black Wolves, the whole team's energy had started to shift.

Even though Akutsu Ao had just been named "Player of the Month" for December, looking at individual stats alone, Kaedehara Taichi was without question the better player.

"…Y-You're probably stronger," Tom Wilde murmured, rubbing his nose.

"Not probably." Taichi raised an index finger. "Tonight, we'll show them who the strongest player really is."

-----

"Let's go, EJP! One-hit kill! SPIKE!"

"Our rainbow-colored attacks bloom! A sakura storm from EJP!"

"Boom! Boom! E-J-P! Boom! Boom!"

The moment DH stepped onto the court, they were greeted by thunderous cheers from EJP's home fans. The crowd performed synchronised hand signs for "E," "J," and "P," accompanied by alternating black and orange cheer batons and clapping paddles, creating a rhythmically powerful display.

The announcer shouted out each of the home team's names, and every time one was called, the stands erupted into cheers.

But when the DH starting lineup was introduced, the crowd immediately switched to a deafening wave of boos.

"Yikes, this is intense. It wasn't like this the last time we played here," Nitta Asahiro commented, glancing toward the fired-up spectators.

Before Akutsu Ao joined EJP, the team's best record had only been a semifinal finish, and their fanbase was relatively small. But after Akutsu led them to back-to-back wins over the Black Jackals and AD in the championship run last season, their fans had tripled in number.

"Still, even for a championship team, isn't this kind of reaction a little…over the top?" Kubo Wataru asked, confused. "It's like they have a personal grudge against us."

"Yeah, if anyone should be upset, it's us—Taichi lost the Player of the Month award to Akutsu," Kitajima Kippei muttered, stroking his meticulously trimmed beard.

"Ohoho, the passion's real," said Coach Nick with a dry laugh.

"You guys really don't get it, do you? The fans being this hyped is all thanks to Taichi," the team manager snapped.

"Taichi?" Yoshii Hiyu turned to him, only to see Taichi wearing an utterly innocent smile. "We've only been here for a few hours, and he's been with us the whole time, hasn't he?"

Wait—something didn't add up.

Yoshii suddenly remembered—during the interview, Kaedehara Taichi had gone alone!

"Taichi, what did you say during that interview?" Nitta asked. "No, wait. I think I already know."

"Heh, just the usual—that we're gonna end their winning streak and crush them," Taichi replied casually. "Pretty standard stuff."

"You seem to be in a better mood now," Iizuna Tsukasa asked gently.

"Do I?" Taichi blinked. "Maybe."

Earlier that day at noon, Kaedehara Taichi had received a message from Kunimi Akira.

—"We won the championship. What about you?"

Seriously, was that supposed to be some kind of challenge?

Before heading onto the court, Taichi turned back and smiled at his teammates.

"Don't worry. Any team with me on it—wins."

After both sides wrapped up their warmups, the referee blew the whistle and the match began.

EJP Raijin's starting lineup:

Front row—Setter Sengoku Chisato, Middle Blocker Washio Tatsuki, Outside Hitter Akutsu Ao.

Back row—Outside Hitter Evan Krauss, Middle Blocker Suna Rintarō (Libero: Komori Motoya) and Opposite Hitter Kitō Yūkan.

DESEO Hornets' starting lineup:

Front row—Outside Hitter Kitajima Kippei, Setter Iizuna Tsukasa, Middle Blocker Tom Wilde.

Back row—Middle Blocker Nitta Asahiro (Libero: Kubo Wataru), Opposite Hitter Yoshii Hiyu and Outside Hitter Kaedehara Taichi.

Both teams came out with their regular starting rosters, no unexpected changes. DH clearly wanted to rely on Kaedehara Taichi's powerful serve to seize early momentum in the first set.

[Akutsu Ao—Outside Hitter:Height: 196 cm

Serve: 96 | Receive: 90 | Dig: 92 | Set: 90 | Spike: 99| Block: 96

Spike Reach: 362 cm /Block Reach: 340 cm.]

Compared to the last time Taichi had seen his stats, Akutsu had improved in serving and spike reach (thanks to a certain someone's influence). His strength had grown even more.

To think that, in just two short months, Akutsu had found ways to push past even his own peak—he was clearly a true genius.

Kaedehara Taichi stepped slowly up to the service line, carefully studying the opposing back row.

[Evan Krauss—Outside Hitter:Height: 205 cm

Serve: 92 | Receive: 88 | Dig: 86 | Set: 88 | Spike: 96| Block: 96

Spike Reach: 358 cm /Block Reach: 342 cm.]

[Komori Motoya—Libero:Height: 181 cm

Serve: 70 | Receive: 95 | Dig: 93 | Set: 85 | Spike: 65| Block: 62.]

[Kitō Yūkan—Opposite Hitter:Height: 181 cm

Serve: 88 | Receive: 96 | Dig: 96 | Set: 92 | Spike: 88| Block: 76

Spike Reach: 333 cm /Block Reach: 310 cm.]

"So strong," Kaedehara Taichi murmured.

No wonder they could beat AD even with newcomers like Komori, Suna, and Washio just getting promoted to starters. This team wasn't riding on Akutsu Ao alone.

EJP's championship roster from last season really was stacked. But—

"That just makes it more fun."

Taichi locked eyes on the 205 cm-tall French player, Evan Krauss.

"Let's start with you."

"Tweet!—" The whistle for the serve blew.

The front-row setter, Sengoku Chisato, quickly shifted to the back row, positioning himself diagonally in front of Evan Krauss.

[Sengoku Chisato—Setter:Height: 190 cm

Serve: 85 | Receive: 92 | Dig: 90 | Set: 92 | Spike: 75| Block: 80

Spike Reach: 335 cm /Block Reach: 315 cm.]

"Haha! Looks like EJP is taking Kaedehara's serve very seriously—putting their setter in front to help shield their wing spiker right at the start!" the commentator shouted with a hint of admiration in his voice.

"Trying to protect your ace with your setter, huh?"

Taichi tossed the ball high into the air.

BOOM!!!

Kaedehara Taichi didn't go all out on the first serve—he simply tested EJP's reception with a powerful left-handed jump serve.

Smack!

Sengoku Chisato stepped in and received the ball.

The volleyball flew diagonally and out of bounds.

"I got it!"

Whoosh—!

Tatsuki Washio reacted quickly, but his set was a bit messy.

The ball, drifting above the left wing, could only be handled by Evan Krauss in the back row. Still, Taichi's serve had done its job—it disrupted EJP's offensive rhythm.

Thud!

Evan Krauss jumped from the back row to spike, while DH's front row immediately formed a blocking wall.

"Triple block!" Kitajima Kippei, Iizuna Tsukasa, and Tom Wilde jumped together.

Even if the attack had been rushed, a spiker over two meters tall was still "out of reach" for Kitajima and Iizuna!

—BOOM!!!

A high-powered spike!

The ball cleared the top of the block.

Smack!

Fortunately, the block had still limited Evan Krauss's angle. Yoshii Hiyu stepped in and received it cleanly.

The ball flew toward the net, and Kaedehara Taichi jumped from the back row.

"What's he trying to do?!!" A ripple of surprised voices echoed from the stands.

"Double block!" Tatsuki Washio and Akutsu Ao jumped at once, forming a wall in front of him.

Evan Krauss had already experienced it firsthand—these forced back-row attacks wouldn't score so easily!

Whoosh!—

"—?!"

Taichi didn't even glance to his left, but at the last second—just as he was about to spike—he faked the attack and passed instead!

With one hand, he tossed the ball toward the left wing!

EJP didn't see it coming—nor did Tom Wilde!

"What—!"

At 202 cm tall, Tom Wilde jumped on the spot to spike—but he was just one inch short!

"A mistake?! Taichi's spur-of-the-moment decision might have backfi—"

BOOM!

Kitajima Kippei spiked and scored!

Kaedehara Taichi glanced mockingly toward the commentary booth.

"At least wait to see who I'm passing to before running your mouths."

[DH 1 – 0 EJP]

Amazingly, DH's first offensive point had come from Kitajima Kippei, who only averaged 2.1 points per set!

Many of EJP's fans didn't even know his name—it was hard to believe!

But from a bird's-eye view, it was clear—Kitajima had timed his run perfectly. The real mystery was: how had Taichi managed to pass left…without ever looking that way?

DH continued to serve.

Kaedehara Taichi stepped up to the line and served his second ball.

BOOM!!!

It was obvious he was targeting EJP's left side. Whether it interfered with Sengoku Chisato or Evan Krauss, it was a sound strategy either way.

Motoya Komori shifted slightly to the left—but the ball flew right between him and Kitō Yūkan.

"I got it!"

Kitō noticed Komori's balance had shifted too far left, so he stepped in to receive.

Smack!

The ball arced diagonally toward the net, and Chisato quickly moved in to make the set.

"Set it to me!"

No question—after the adjustment, there was only one spiker he was aiming for.

Thud!

Akutsu Ao sprinted along the sideline and leapt.

"Triple block!"

The upside? DH didn't even need to hesitate on where the ball was going.

BOOM!!!

SMACK!

Tom Wilde's block was blown open.

Smack!

The ball slammed off Taichi's arm and flew out of bounds.

Akutsu scored with a powerful spike!

[DH 1 – 1 EJP]

"What a dominant spike! Unstoppable—!"

"From Akutsu—Aoooo!!!"

"Hmph." Akutsu shot a provocative glare at Taichi.

Taichi: "..."

Sure, this was technically their home court—but wasn't the commentary a bit too biased?

"Don't they get embarrassed yelling out those cringe lines all the time?" Taichi muttered with a scoff.

"What does 'cringe' mean?" Tom Wilde blinked in confusion.

"Emmm…forget it," Taichi replied after a moment of thought. Explaining would be too much trouble. Maybe it was because he'd recently visited his Seijoh teammates again, but lately, Tom Wilde was starting to remind him more and more of Kindaichi.

Serve change—EJP's turn.

Sengoku Chisato's serve wasn't particularly powerful; he was going for a sharp angle to pressure Taichi.

Smack!

Taichi calmly received it and passed the ball precisely to Iizuna Tsukasa—then immediately sprinted forward.

Akutsu Ao was right in front of Iizuna and watching closely. A direct dump would likely be blocked. Iizuna glanced slightly, then set the ball to the right wing.

"Kitō!"

But before Akutsu could even shout, Kitō Yūkan had already jumped to block.

Even so, he couldn't stop Tom Wilde's lightning-fast quick attack.

BOOM!—

The ball landed cleanly—Tom Wilde scored!

[DH 2 – 1 EJP]

"Sorry!" Motoya Komori shouted. He'd focused so hard on Taichi that he assumed Iizuna would set for a back-row attack.

"It's okay, it was in my zone," Evan Krauss said calmly.

"Get your heads in the game—how are we not picking up those balls?!" Akutsu Ao barked without mercy.

"Yes, sir!" Komori replied loudly.

Evan Krauss, on the other hand, didn't seem fazed at all.

DH reclaimed the serve. Tom Wilde stepped up for a jump serve.

This time, Evan Krauss moved to shield Sengoku Chisato as he received.

Chisato followed up with a set, and Akutsu launched an attack from the middle.

"Triple block!" With Nitta Asahiro now in the front row, he quickly swapped with Kitajima to take the center of the block.

—BOOM!!!

Another high-powered spike!

The ball cleared Iizuna Tsukasa's block and smashed into the far right corner of DH's side—Tom Wilde didn't even have time to react.

Akutsu scored again!

[DH 2 – 2 EJP]

Five minutes into the match, the score was tied.

Kaedehara Taichi:0 points.

Akutsu Ao:2 points.

"So this is what it feels like…watching myself play?" Taichi's expression twisted into something faintly amused—and faintly disturbed.

_________

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