Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty-Chapter 322: Running Normally

"I didn't expect Aoba Johsai's defence to be this solid…"

Ukai Keishin had been sure that Tsukishima Kei's spike would score, yet Kaedehara Taichi managed to dig it up.

"And that little guy…No idea where he came from. His receiving form looks a little awkward, but his reaction speed is sharp, and he's got a keen sense for passing…"

Kita Seio's addition had helped Karasuno make up for their lack of an ace, but from a single glance, Ukai could tell that he had experienced a long break from volleyball.

Receiving was one of the most fundamental skills in the game. Once a player was away from training and competition for an extended period, it became painfully obvious.

Kita's footwork when receiving was slightly sluggish, and his arm movements weren't as fluid as they should be. These small flaws, against a powerhouse team like Aoba Johsai, could prove deadly.

Boom!

Kyōtani Kentarō's serve landed for a direct ace!

[Aoba Johsai 18 – 13 Karasuno]

There was no doubt that Karasuno was far stronger than last year overall, but after losing Sawamura Daichi, their receive had undeniably weakened.

And as long as there was a gap, Aoba Johsai would find a way to exploit it.

"…Are we still not going to overcome them today?"

Karasuno had suffered at Aoba Johsai's hands for too long.

Kyōtani served again.

Boom!

Nishinoya Yū got under the ball and received it cleanly.

"Cover!"

Kageyama Tobio quickly positioned himself—so long as the ball was in play, everything was still under control.

Karasuno's entire lineup launched a synchronized multi-position attack!

Smash!

Ennoshita Chikara's spike landed for a point!

[Aoba Johsai 18 – 14 Karasuno]

"Haha…Only Kageyama would make a choice like that," Irihata Nobuteru remarked with amusement. "The least likely spiker always ends up being the most dangerous in his plays."

"Yeah…Oikawa used to do that a lot too," Mizoguchi Sadayuki recalled. "But once Taichi got stronger, he started focusing the sets on him instead."

"Well, if you have a stable scoring option, why take risks?" Irihata stated matter-of-factly.

Karasuno now had the serve.

Tsukishima Kei glanced at Aoba Johsai's formation and felt a headache coming on.

Kaedehara Taichi was in the front row, meaning disrupting Kyōtani Kentarō's rhythm wouldn't be effective. Aoba Johsai had multiple secondary setters, so even if Yahaba Shigeru was forced to receive, it wouldn't cripple them.

As for his own serve—nothing special. He could aim for tricky spots, but no matter where he targeted, it would still end up being an easy ball for either the libero or Kunimi Akira.

"…Sigh." Tsukishima let out a deep breath. At the end of the day, it came down to his own lack of skill.

Smash!

The ball flew toward Kindaichi Yūtarō in the front row.

Smack!

Kindaichi received with his hands, and Kunimi jumped to set.

There was no doubt—only one person in the front row could launch an attack!

BAM!

Kaedehara Taichi leaped at the net.

Kageyama moved to the right side of the block, feeling a pang of helplessness.

No matter how much he hated to admit it, a three-man block with Hinata Shōyō, himself, and Ennoshita Chikara wouldn't be enough to stop Taichi.

Wait—no!

Kageyama suddenly halted mid-step and jumped to the left instead.

Boom!—

—Smack!

Kunimi's unexpected second attack was stuffed back down by Kageyama!

The ball dropped into Aoba Johsai's court.

[Aoba Johsai 18 – 15 Karasuno]

Kunimi Akira: "???"

He had seen Kageyama move toward the right—how the hell did he end up blocking him?!

"Why?" Kunimi couldn't help but ask.

"If it were a set, you wouldn't have had enough time." Kageyama answered seriously. "With your setting speed, at that moment, you wouldn't have been able to get the ball where Taichi needed it—so it couldn't have been a set."

Kunimi: "…"

Who the hell calculates setting speed in real time like that?!

Beside him, Kaedehara Taichi twitched at the corner of his mouth. Even he had to admit—that level of instinct was just ridiculous.

Tsukishima found himself back at the service line. He hadn't expected to get a second serve.

Smash!

There really wasn't a better option—the ball once again flew toward Kindaichi Yūtarō.

Thwack!

"!!!"

The ball struck the top of the net and began to drop toward Aoba Johsai's side.

"Damn it!" Kunimi Akira cursed under his breath as he lunged forward.

Smack!

The ball popped up at the net, but its height wasn't enough to cross over.

"Kindaichi! Right-wing!" Kaedehara Taichi shouted.

"Got it!"

Kindaichi Yūtarō set the ball up.

Kaedehara Taichi: "..." That's way off.

He took a last-minute angled jump, barely hooking the ball over the net with his right hand.

"Chance ball!"

Kageyama Tobio steadied himself and received cleanly.

Whoosh!—

Boom!

Hinata Shōyō's spike was so fast it seemed as if everyone else had frozen in place.

Kaedehara Taichi had barely landed when he heard the ball slam into Aoba Johsai's backcourt.

Hinata & Kageyama's freak quick attack—point.

[Aoba Johsai 18 – 16 Karasuno]

"They're only two points away?!" Tōma Kaoru snapped back to reality as he saw the scoreboard. Karasuno's momentum was terrifying—before he knew it, they had crept up.

"Haa—" Nakamori Daiki straightened his posture, finally understanding why this play was so difficult to counter.

Usually, when receiving, Nakamori would track the setter's hands, since vision was faster than the ball's movement. He would confirm the spiker and then adjust based on their positioning and the blockers.

But against Hinata and Kageyama's ultra-fast quick attack, the only option was to track Hinata directly. If he followed Kageyama instead, by the time Kageyama set the ball, it would already be too late to shift his focus.

"This is the ultimate decoy."

As long as Hinata was near the net, he had to split his attention. And that meant openings for Karasuno's other attackers.

"All right, all right." Taichi clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention.

"Daiki, a libero alone can't cover everything." He grinned. "That's why we have six players on the court."

"That may be true, but—" Nakamori still wasn't sure how to stop the attack.

"Kindaichi, you—" Kaedehara started, then paused. "Never mind, I'll handle it." Given Hinata's speed, leaving it to Kindaichi wasn't an option.

"Kindaichi, just focus on attacking."

"Got it!"

Coach Irihata had been preparing to call a timeout, but seeing Taichi already handling the adjustments, he simply smiled and sat back down. So easy!

"Must be nice," Sadayuki Mizoguchi sighed enviously at Irihata Nobuteru. I wish I could coach like that.

"Must be nice," Ukai Keishin echoed the sentiment. If only we still had Sawamura Daichi, I could relax like that, too.

Tsukishima Kei stepped onto the service line yet again. Even he found it a little ridiculous.

Smack!

This time, Tsukishima's third serve took a different trajectory, targeting the gap between Kunimi Akira and Kaedehara Taichi in the front row.

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"I got it!" Taichi quickly shifted into position.

He reads the game really well, Taichi thought. The moment Kunimi shifted slightly toward Kindaichi's side, Tsukishima had adjusted his serve accordingly.

Even though Tsukishima's serving technique was nothing special, he wasn't treated like a complete opportunity ball like Hinata.

Smack!

Yahaba moved in swiftly—Taichi had to sacrifice his approach run to receive, so Yahaba hesitated briefly before setting to the left wing.

Kindaichi Yūtarō jumped for the spike.

"Double block!"

Hinata and Kageyama both positioned themselves in front of him.

Boom!

Smack!

"One Touch!" Hinata shouted toward the backcourt.

Tanaka Ryūnosuke dug the ball up, and Kageyama quickly moved into position.

"Give it to me!"

Hinata made a lateral approach, his speed astonishing.

Thud!

Hinata leapt at the far right, but this time, he wasn't met with an open net.

"No good!"

Kageyama adjusted mid-air and sent the ball to the right side. Ennoshita leapt for the spike.

"Double block!"

Kindaichi and Kunimi jumped together.

Ennoshita Chikara barely managed to angle around the block and send the ball down.

Smack!

Nakamori Daiki handled the receive effortlessly. However, his attention was entirely on Taichi. Even with only one blocker marking him, Kageyama still didn't set to him…

Yahaba quickly set the ball to the left. Kyōtani Kentarō leapt from the back row.

Boom!!!—

Karasuno's formation had scattered. Kyōtani's back-row attack landed cleanly.

[Aoba Johsai 19 – 16 Karasuno]

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