Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty-Chapter 325: After All, Karasuno Is Weak (D-L)

"This is what a national-level ace looks like…" Kita Seio muttered, gazing at the dazzling figure across the net.

The suffocating tension on the court made it hard to breathe, and the ever-shifting tide of the match was unpredictable. Though Karasuno had been largely suppressed by Aoba Johsai, Kita could still see a sliver of hope for victory.

However, he couldn't understand it—why did Karasuno's players, despite the seemingly manageable score and back-and-forth exchanges, exude a faint sense of unease and impatience? Even Coach Ukai seemed affected by the same emotion.

"What are they afraid of?"

Then, just as Karasuno was about to close the gap, the match entered a crucial moment.

Kaedehara Taichi took over the game, scoring four consecutive points.

The court became his stage alone. It was as if a radiant aura surrounded him, turning him into the undeniable center of attention.

"If I hadn't wasted a whole year…could I have reached his level?" Kita already knew the answer.

"Probably not. After all, when I lost to Sakusa Kiyoomi back then, I had already understood the difference between an ordinary player and a genius."

-----

"Finally got Taichi to get serious, Kageyama!"

"Yeah."

Kita lifted his head, noticing that Karasuno's players hadn't fallen into despair.

Of course, this wasn't their first time facing Aoba Johsai. Still, it was strange—wouldn't it be logical to avoid playing practice matches against a team with such an overwhelming gap in strength?

"We have to take back this set first!"

"Tsukishima's block wasn't effective just now."

"Nishinoya-senpai looked so cool when he covered my receive!"

"Kageyama! Set the ball to me too! Don't forget about your upperclassman!"

Kita froze. These guys…they seriously believed they could still win?

"Kita, do you…need any adjustments for the sets?" Kageyama Tobio asked stiffly.

"A little higher, and a bit faster."

"I see. Got it." Kageyama nodded.

Kita: "???" That's all it took for him to understand?

Suddenly, he felt like losing wasn't the worst thing in the world. But…winning would still feel much better.

"Karasuno is full of irrational people, too."

-----

The Second Set Begins:

Karasuno's lineup:

Front row—Outside Hitter Kita Seio, Setter Kageyama Tobio, Middle Blocker Hinata Shōyō.

Back row—Middle Blocker Tsukishima Kei (Libero: Nishinoya Yū), Outside Hitter Ennoshita Chikara and Outside Hitter Tanaka Ryuunosuke.

Aoba Johsai's lineup:

Front row—Outside Hitter Kaedehara Taichi, Middle Blocker Yūki Yōji, Setter Yahaba Shigeru.

Back row—Outside Hitter Kunimi Akira, Middle Blocker Kindaichi Yūtarō (Libero: Nakamori Daiki) and Outside Hitter Kyōtani Kentarō.

"Karasuno's formation looks different…?" Tōma Kaoru frowned.

"They pulled that tall middle blocker out of the attacking lineup. Are they focusing on offense?" Yamabuki Yūjin analyzed.

"It's more than that." Watari Shinji chuckled. "They're probably also trying to strengthen their blocking for when Taichi rotates to the back row."

"Watari-senpai!"

"Watari-senpai, hello!"

Watari nodded in acknowledgment. "Date Tech used this strategy against Taichi as well."

"But Karasuno is avoiding Taichi's front-row rotations. How is that targeting him?" Yamabuki questioned.

Watari fell silent for a moment.

"Because if Karasuno makes it difficult for anyone else to score, Aoba Johsai will be forced to give the ball to Taichi over and over again," he explained. "Even when he's in the back row, his attacks are still a major threat."

The two first-years nodded in agreement. The previous set had ended with Taichi's back-row attacks.

"Wait, then why didn't Karasuno set up this formation from the start?" Yamabuki suddenly realized the flaw in their strategy. This lineup definitely had its weaknesses.

Watari looked at him approvingly—this was the kind of player Aoba Johsai valued, someone who constantly thought about the game.

"Indeed, this approach comes with a huge risk."

"If Karasuno can't quickly score points and force Taichi into the back row…"

"…the match will end even faster."

"So that's their plan…" Tōma finally understood Karasuno's intent. "In other words, they're forcing a direct confrontation between the Freak Quick and Taichi?!"

"Exactly. The objectives of both teams are different in this match."

"Our goal is to block Karasuno's super-speed attack and keep Taichi in the front row as long as possible. Karasuno, on the other hand, wants to prevent anyone else from scoring and keep Taichi stuck in the back row for as long as they can."

"If you don't know your role on the court, you'll just waste energy," Watari said with a smile. "While your technical skills are still developing, thinking is the key to making a difference in a match."

"Understood! Thank you, Watari-senpai!"

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Aoba Johsai to serve—Kyōtani Kentarō steps to the line

"Let's take the first point!" Ennoshita shouted.

"Yeah!"

Kyōtani tossed the ball into the air.

Boom!—

"Ryū!" Nishinoya called out.

Smack!

"Sorry, cover me!"

The ball soared high into the air. Kageyama quickly moved into position.

Kita and Hinata both launched their attacks from opposite sides.

The set went to the left wing.

Boom!

Kita spiked the ball.

Smack!

"One touch!" Yūki Yōji shouted.

"It's a chance ball!" Nakamori sent the pass straight to Yahaba.

Whoosh!—

The set left Yahaba's hand as Taichi took his run up.

"Three-man block!"

Kita, Kageyama, and Hinata followed him and jumped together.

Boom!!

Smack!

They received it!!

"Cover me!" Nishinoya called.

But Kageyama, still landing from the block, couldn't get into position fast enough.

"It's too late—!"

Smack!

Ennoshita barely saved the ball.

"HINATA!!!"

Hinata sprinted to the back row for the final attack.

Bam!—

The ball traced a sharp arc and dropped toward the back-left corner of Aoba Johsai's court.

"What a spike!"

Smack!

Kyōtani twisted his body in midair, diving to make the save. Nakamori quickly positioned himself and set the ball forward.

Thud!

Kaedehara Taichi leapt into the air once more.

"Double block!" Kita and Kageyama braced for impact.

"I'm here too—!"

Thud!

Hinata Shōyō once again dashed from the back row to the front, leaping up—it was a triple block!

"So fast! So high! Wait, doesn't he get tired?"

"Is this guy a monster?"

Bang!!

Kaedehara Taichi hadn't expected Hinata to be able to join the block, forcing him to adjust his spike angle slightly higher.

Smack!

"First touch!" Hinata shouted toward the back.

Nishinoya Yū delivered a perfect pass, and Kageyama Tobio jumped near the net to set.

"It's not over yet!!!"

The moment he landed, Hinata sprinted toward the far right of the net.

"This guy! How many times now?!!"

Kaedehara Taichi, having just landed, hurried to catch up.

A split-second lapse in focus, and Taichi was already a step behind Hinata. Still, relying on his height and wingspan, he managed to position himself in front of Hinata in time.

Boom!—

"Again?!!"

The ball landed inside Aoba Johsai's court.

Kageyama Tobio scored with a second attack.

[Aoba Johsai 0 - 1 Karasuno]

"That's just unfair…."

"Where's my ball???"

"So frustrating…"

Hinata muttered non-stop.

Just like in the previous set, Karasuno took the first point.

"With such a dominant attacker, Kageyama-senpai isn't affected at all…" Tōma Kaoru watched Kageyama in admiration. A setter's height wasn't as crucial as a spiker's, but a lack of height still affected second attacks.

"Nice hit, Kageyama!"

Shutting down Aoba Johsai's offense right from the start—this was the ideal opening play.

The serve rotated to Karasuno.

"If those two are together, then there's definitely a chance to defeat Aoba Johsai." Kita Seiō recalled their training experience before stepping up for a powerful jump serve.

Boom!!

"Out!"

"…."

Kita Seiō's serve missed, giving Aoba Johsai a point.

[Aoba Johsai 1 - 1 Karasuno]

"S-Sorry." Kita's face turned bright red.

Not only had he hit it out—it was a complete "home run."

"Don't worry about it! Stay focused—next point!" Ennoshita Chikara shouted. He could sense the transfer student gradually integrating into Karasuno.

Aoba Johsai regained the serve, with Yahaba Shigeru delivering a jump float.

"I got it!"

Ennoshita received the ball.

Whoosh!—

Bang!

Smack!

"One touch!"

Before anyone could react, the Freak Quick had already completed an attack—but Kaedehara Taichi was tightly marking Hinata.

Yahaba had barely made it back onto the court when he saw the ball flying toward him.

Smack!

Yahaba sent the ball toward the net, and Kunimi Akira positioned himself to set.

"Give me the ball!" Taichi sprinted in from the side, preparing to hit.

"No."

Kunimi ignored Taichi's request and set the ball to the far right, where Yūki Yōji jumped up for a spike.

"Double block!"

Hinata and Tanaka Ryūnosuke rushed to close in.

Boom!—

Smack!

In the back row, Ennoshita barely managed to dig the ball up.

Kageyama quickly stepped in to set, and Hinata's movement to the left drew Taichi away.

Whoosh!—

Tanaka leaped from the right side and spiked.

"Double block!"

Kunimi and Yūki jumped to block.

Boom!!—

A sharp cross-court shot landed in Aoba Johsai's court.

Tanaka Ryūnosuke scored.

[Aoba Johsai 1 - 2 Karasuno]

"YEAH!!!" Tanaka pumped his fist.

Ukai Keishin nodded from the sidelines. This lineup's offense was stronger than expected. Aoba Johsai was clearly still adjusting their formation—but so was Karasuno.

Kaedehara Taichi gave Kunimi a disgruntled look. If that ball had been set to him, it would have definitely been a point.

Kunimi subtly gestured toward the sideline, where Coach Irihata was watching with a smile.

"Fine, fine. Have it your way..." Taichi sighed, shrugging.

Karasuno rotated again, and Kageyama Tobio stepped up to serve.

"Kageyama, give us a good one!"

Taichi glanced back—Nakamori Daiki was watching expectantly.

Boom!!—

The ball rocketed toward Yahaba.

Smack!

Yahaba barely received it, sending the ball high into the air.

Taichi rushed in, with Kunimi and Yūki both approaching for a synchronized attack.

Boom!—

Instead of setting, Taichi launched a back-row spike, sending the ball arcing toward Karasuno's right-side back corner.

That's even possible?!!

A ball dropping almost vertically from the air—yet still placed with such precision?!

Smack!

Nishinoya turned and dived, making a last-second one-handed save.

"Nice save!"

Nakamori's eyes lit up—Nishinoya was an incredible libero!

The ball arced high into the air, drifting toward the net.

Yūki reacted instantly, jumping up to intercept.

"Yūki, spike it!" Kunimi shouted.

Just as Yūki reached out—

A hand appeared between his palm and the ball.

Smack!

Kageyama single-handedly redirected the ball to the right, where Ennoshita leaped for the spike!

Boom!—

—Smack!!!

The moment Ennoshita's ball cleared the net, it came flying back even faster.

Thud!

The ball slammed into Karasuno's three-meter line and bounced up.

Kaedehara Taichi scored.

[Aoba Johsai 2 i 2 Karasuno]

Ennoshita: "???"

His shot had been completely read….

Is that even possible?!

"Nice set, Kageyama." Taichi smiled.

If it were Oikawa Tōru, he would have absolutely taken that as an attacking opportunity.

Taichi hadn't read Ennoshita—he'd read Kageyama.

Kageyama's face darkened, saying nothing.

Because he had ignored Taichi's presence after that back-row attack.

—He wasn't just a setter.

—He wasn't just an attacker.

—He could move anywhere and do anything.

"Dammit!"

Kageyama shot a sharp glare at Hinata.

Hinata: "???"

The serve rotated again, and Yūki's jump serve was easily received by Nishinoya.

Kageyama set the ball as Hinata slowed down, with all four spikers launching an attack simultaneously.

Boom!

The ball went right—Ennoshita scored.

[Aoba Johsai 2 - 3 Karasuno]

Taichi: "…He's still just as stubborn."

Karasuno regained the serve, with Hinata stepping up.

Boom!

The ordinary serve was effortlessly received by Nakamori.

Aoba Johsai launched a multi-point attack of their own.

Yahaba set to the right—Taichi scored.

[Aoba Johsai 3 - 3 Karasuno]

"Tsukishima, can't you put some effort into blocking?" Taichi teased. "This is getting boring."

"Even if I put in effort, I can't stop you alone." Tsukishima replied flatly.

Taichi smirked. "Your job is to stop the other guys, isn't it?"

Tsukishima: "???"

What the hell is with this guy?!

"Once you take care of them, then I can finally have some fun."

Tsukishima clenched his fists.

This guy was insufferable.

_________

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