Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty-Chapter 283: The Strongest Ace Showdown! (D-L)

"That curve…That's Bokuto Kōtarō's signature serve!"

It was only now that Komori Motoya realized it.

As two of Tokyo's powerhouse schools, Itachiyama and Fukurōdani had faced off numerous times.

But Komori simply couldn't believe it—was Kaedehara Taichi really attempting a new technique at such a critical moment?!!

This monster…completely impossible to predict…

"Taichi, you really are fearless…" Even Oikawa Tōru couldn't help but remark.

Since Aoba Johsai's players had their backs to Kaedehara Taichi while he served, they only realized what he had done after seeing the ball's exaggerated trajectory.

"It's not about being fearless," Taichi replied flatly. "It's just that right now—I know I can do it."

Kaedehara Taichi stepped onto the service line again, cradling the ball in one hand. The stadium lights overhead illuminated his tall, unwavering figure.

A sudden wave of pressure crashed over the Itachiyama players like an unrelenting tide threatening to pull them under. They looked at Taichi, a sense of unease creeping into their chests.

If, in the first three sets, Kaedehara Taichi had seemed like a brilliant rising star—strong, brimming with potential—then now, the aura he radiated was that of a volcano on the verge of eruption.

Silent yet suffocating, his sheer presence enveloped all of Itachiyama.

Their nerves tensed instinctively. Their eyes flickered with wariness.

We have to survive this rotation…!

Even Itachiyama's supporters, seated at the back, could feel the ominous intensity radiating from Kaedehara Taichi. Yet, all they could do was silently pray for their team.

The air thickened. The entire stadium fell into a hushed silence.

Everyone waited for Taichi's next serve.

"It's not the technique that scores points," Taichi murmured to himself.

With a light toss, he lowered his centre of gravity, his approach accelerating from slow to explosive. Just as the ball reached its highest point—

Kaedehara Taichi was already underneath it, leg muscles coiling like springs before unleashing their full power.

BAAMM!

"Come at us!!!"

Sakusa Kiyoomi had already rotated to the back row. Itachiyama shifted into a four-man reception formation.

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Taichi soared, his body arching into a perfect bow. His left arm stretched back in a smooth yet forceful motion.

A powerful left-handed jump serve!

Recognizing the familiar serve type, Itachiyama's back-row players felt a momentary sense of relief.

BOOM!!!—

Like a thunderclap, the ball rocketed off Taichi's palm and blasted toward Itachiyama's defence in the blink of an eye.

In the back row, Itachiyama's receivers—Iizuna Tsukasa, Komori Motoya, Takeshita Yūshin, and Sakusa Kiyoomi—watched as the ball targeted the smallest defensive zone, right in front of Takeshita Yūshin.

THUD!

Takeshita dropped to the ground, landing flat on his backside. The ball ricocheted off his arms and shot out of bounds.

Kaedehara Taichi had scored again with his serve!

[Aoba Johsai 5 - 2 Itachiyama]

"WHOOOAAA!!!"

"Taichi! Taichi! That was insane!!!"

"Damn it, we're already down by three points again…"

In stark contrast to Aoba Johsai's roaring cheers, Itachiyama's side was drowning in tension.

Every set, we keep falling behind early…

They couldn't deny it anymore—Aoba Johsai might just be stronger than Itachiyama.

On the sidelines, Coach Yamazaki clenched his fists tightly.

Should he call a timeout to break Kaedehara Taichi's rhythm?

But would that actually solve the problem? Or would it just disrupt his own team's reception flow?

At this level, every decision felt like a double-edged sword.

"Sorry!" Takeshita Yūshin gritted his teeth as Komori helped him up.

"Don't dwell on it. I'll get those points back," Sakusa Kiyoomi declared. "I refuse to let it end here!"

If their ace had spoken—

The fire in Itachiyama's eyes reignited.

"Haha…" Iizuna Tsukasa chuckled, his tone laced with relief. "Sakusa, you're really starting to sound like a captain now."

Win or lose, this was the third-years' final match. There was no doubt that Sakusa Kiyoomi would be Itachiyama's next captain. His skill and talent made that obvious.

But until now, Iizuna had worried—Sakusa was too focused on himself, rarely considering the team as a whole.

Komori Motoya, if he weren't a libero, might've been a more natural choice for captain. In Iizuna's mind, a great captain wasn't just the strongest player—they needed to unite the team.

But just moments ago, as Sakusa reassured Takeshita, Iizuna saw something new in his expression.

The old Sakusa had believed that his strength alone could defeat any opponent.

Now, in his eyes, there was something different—calm, resolute leadership.

Not just an individual force—he was starting to understand the weight of a team.

Maybe…this gruelling match wasn't without its benefits after all.

Iizuna let go of his last lingering doubts.

From this moment forward, he was all in.

"If we don't give it our all now—then when?!"

[Ding! Iizuna Tsukasa has entered Burst Mode]

[Iizuna Tsukasa (Burst Mode)—Setter: Overall Ability Rating: 93

Height: 181.4 cm | Power: 95 | Jump: 85 | Stamina: 95 | Speed: 95

Technique: Serve: 90 | Recieve: 95 | Set: 98]

Kaedehara Taichi's eyes gleamed with excitement.

If we're going to win, I want to defeat the strongest Itachiyama possible.

On the other side of the net, Itachiyama's players locked eyes with the figure at Aoba Johsai's service line.

Kaedehara Taichi.

First-year.

The most formidable opponent they had ever faced.

Takeshita Yūshin: "Bring it on!"

Komori Motoya: "Bring it on!"

Sakusa Kiyoomi: "Bring it on!"

Iizuna Tsukasa: "Give us your best shot!!!"

Taichi grinned.

"That's exactly what I wanted."

He tossed the ball into the air.

BOOM!!!

SMACK!

Komori Motoya reacted instantly, lunging forward and dropping to one knee to receive the serve.

—"Iizuna-senpai! Set!"

—"Sakusa! Right wing!"

Komori and Iizuna shouted simultaneously. Without hesitation, Sakusa launched himself toward the net.

Kindaichi Yūtarō and Kunimi Akira's eyes flickered between the ball and Sakusa.

Sakusa soared, perfectly timing his approach as Iizuna's set arrived—flawless in precision.

"Double block!"

Kindaichi and Kunimi closed in.

But—

Bang!—

Sakusa's spike curved past Kunimi's outstretched fingertips.

A perfect cross-court shot!

Smack!

Oikawa Tōru flung himself toward the ball, barely keeping it in play.

So fast!!!

Before Oikawa could even finish shouting—

Kaedehara Taichi was already underneath the ball.

"Mad Dog-senpai!"

Fwish—!

Taichi leapt, setting the ball at the perfect height for Kyōtani Kentarō.

Boom!!!

Kyōtani rocketed a vicious straight-line spike—

Smack!

Iizuna Tsukasa dug it out!

"Sakusa—"

"IS THE STRONGEST ACE!!!"

Komori Motoya sprang up, launching the ball high.

All eyes turned to their ace.

Sakusa Kiyoomi soared.

—Bang!—

"Triple block!!!"

The ball slammed into Aoba Johsai's deep right corner and bounced out.

Sakusa Kiyoomi scores!

[Aoba Johsai 5 - 3 Itachiyama]

"YES!!!"

Finally, Itachiyama had broken Aoba Johsai's serve!

Sakusa stepped up to the service line.

"I believe—our team will win."

He pointed at Kaedehara Taichi.

"And I'll crush anyone who stands in our way."

The toss.

The approach.

The hit.

Boom!—

THUD!

The ball bounced off the right side of Aoba Johsai's court at waist height.

Sakusa Kiyoomi's serve scored.

[Aoba Johsai 5 – 4 Itachiyama]

"What an exaggerated underspin…It actually drops this sharply at that speed?" Kunimi Akira cast a glance at the ball's landing point behind him. "And the trajectory is this tricky too."

Just one point away!

The battle was growing increasingly unpredictable!

Sakusa Kiyoomi sent out his second serve.

Bang!—

The exact same technique—but this time, he aimed for the left side!

Smack!

A figure moved even faster than the ball's descent! Kaedehara Taichi lunged and received the serve.

"He even got that?!!" Itachiyama's cheering section was grinding their teeth in frustration.

"I got it!"

Oikawa Tōru quickly moved into position, and Aoba Johsai launched a synchronized three-man attack from the front row.

Boom!

Itachiyama's blockers were spread too thin. Kindaichi Yūtarō spiked the ball down from the left side.

Smack!

Komori Motoya's reception was flawless. Sakusa Kiyoomi jumped from the back row for a counterattack.

"Block him!"

"Triple block!" Aoba Johsai's front row sealed off Sakusa's diagonal shot.

Whoosh—!

Sakusa sent a set to the left side instead—Iizuna Tsukasa leapt from the back row for an attack!

"What?!!"

—"We must be an unshakable wall before our opponents!"

The moment he landed, Kindaichi Yūtarō immediately sidestepped and jumped again. On his third attempt—he finally blocked it!

"This guy…!"

Iizuna Tsukasa twisted his wrist in mid-air, evading the block with a cut shot.

Boom!

Smack!

Kaedehara Taichi dug the ball and bumped it straight toward the net!

Itachiyama's blockers were caught off guard—Oikawa Tōru soared from the back row for a spike!

!!!

In Itachiyama's back row, Komori Motoya's eyes locked onto Oikawa like a predator stalking its prey. "I won't let you score!"

—"Give me the ball!!!"

Kaedehara Taichi had already repositioned after his dig—he was now part of the attack!

Oikawa sent a set to the left wing.

"Triple block!" Takeshita Yūshin, Nishimura Hiroyuki, and Mizushima Yū lined up in unison.

Itachiyama's blockers had been waiting for this exact moment!

BOOM!!

Unstoppable!

The ball tore through Nishimura Hiroyuki's block and slammed into Itachiyama's court.

Smack!

Komori Motoya and Iizuna Tsukasa dove simultaneously, their hands wedging between the ball and the ground. The ball ricocheted off Komori's wrist and popped up.

"An attack that doesn't score is meaningless." Takeshita Yūshin barely managed to reposition and set the ball to the right wing.

Itachiyama's formation was in disarray.

Sakusa Kiyoomi jumped from the back row once more.

"Triple block!" Aoba Johsai's blockers stood resolute—the low set left Sakusa with no alternative attack paths.

Boom!

Smack!

He went for a tool-out?!

The ball struck Kunimi Akira's arm and flew out past the right sideline. Watari Shinji chased it down but couldn't reach it.

Sakusa Kiyoomi's spike scored!

[Aoba Johsai 5 – 5 Itachiyama]

Itachiyama had reeled in three consecutive points—Sakusa Kiyoomi had delivered on his promise!

And Aoba Johsai's crisis wasn't over yet!

"Fight! Fight! Itachiyama!"

"Burn! Burn! Itachiyama!"

"Now, I'll take the lead in one go!" Sakusa Kiyoomi launched his third serve.

Boom!—

If they wanted to cover both sides, the middle would be left open!

The ball traced a perfect arc in mid-air, descending straight toward the centre of Aoba Johsai's court!

"Damn it!" Oikawa Tōru lunged forward.

Smack!

The ball rebounded off Oikawa's hand and crashed into the net.

"It can't drop!"

Iwaizumi Hajime took a long stride forward and kicked the ball high into the air.

"What kind of move is that?!!"

"Which side will it fall to?"

"I got it!!!" Kaedehara Taichi shouted.

He tilted his head back, eyes fixed on the airborne ball. He didn't move immediately—just watched, waiting.

"It's coming…"

In the next instant, Kaedehara Taichi suddenly exploded into motion. From a standstill to full acceleration, his movements were decisive and sharp—Itachiyama's front row had no choice but to follow him.

"Can I spike it?"

That doubt flickered in Kaedehara Taichi's mind for only a split second before he shoved it aside.

"I must be able to."

Bad Ball Killer—I'll take that title too!

"If Itachiyama's back row defense is impenetrable—"

"Triple block!"

Boom!!!—

The ball slipped through the gap between Itachiyama's block and the net, slamming into the three-meter line and bouncing high.

A super sharp cross-court shot!

Kaedehara Taichi's spike scored!

[Aoba Johsai 6 – 5 Itachiyama]

"I've never seen anything like this before…"

"For such an extreme approach to still produce a shot this precise—" Even the commentator was left speechless by the play.

Aoba Johsai finally regained the serve. Kindaichi Yūtarō stepped up to serve.

Komori Motoya handled the reception with ease, Iizuna Tsukasa set up a steady pass.

Sakusa Kiyoomi attacked from the back row—the ball deflected off Kyōtani Kentarō's arm and landed inside Aoba Johsai's court.

Itachiyama tied the score.

[Aoba Johsai 6 – 6 Itachiyama]

The serve switched—Mizushima Yū stepped up.

Watari Shinji received the serve cleanly. Kaedehara Taichi and Oikawa Tōru connected from the back row for a rapid quick attack.

Within three seconds, Aoba Johsai reclaimed the lead.

[Aoba Johsai 7 – 6 Itachiyama]

Iwaizumi Hajime served. Itachiyama's reception finally faltered, but Iizuna Tsukasa quickly adjusted, delivering a perfect pass to Sakusa Kiyoomi.

Sakusa attacked from the back left—his precise down-the-line spike was received by Iwaizumi, but the intense spin sent the ball out of bounds.

Sakusa Kiyoomi scored!

[Aoba Johsai 7 – 7 Itachiyama]

Neither side was letting up!

The once deafening crowd had gradually fallen silent as the match progressed. The only sounds left were the sharp smacks of the ball hitting the ground and the players' voices ringing through the air.

The spectators were mesmerized, bodies leaning forward in unison, hands gripping the edges of their seats. No one blinked. No one dared to look away. The tension was written across every face—their hearts pounded in sync with the game's rhythm.

BOOM!!!

Another ball hit the ground.

Kaedehara Taichi landed steadily.

[Aoba Johsai 8 – 7 Itachiyama]

"This point…you'll never reach it."

The serve switched again—Aoba Johsai's turn. Kaedehara Taichi stepped up to the front row.

_________

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