Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty-Chapter 404: Thank You, Miya Atsumu (Triple-Length)
"When did he get back to the net again? His speed is incredible!"
"After pulling off a difficult turning spike, Kaedehara Taichi instantly retreated to defend!"
"Not only did he neutralise Inarizaki's attack, but he even scored directly for Aoba Johsai with that block!"
"Even though Inarizaki keeps entangling Aoba Johsai with their 'double setter' tactic, their playstyle is starting to feel...off." Futakuchi Kenji rested his chin on his hand, frowning.
"At this rate, they won't be able to beat Aoba Johsai."
-----
The serve rotated. Aoba Johsai was serving.
Yahaba Shigeru jumped and floated a serve, but the ball was too low and hit the net.
Aoba Johsai's service error gave Inarizaki the point.
[Aoba Johsai 9 - 10 Inarizaki]
"Sorry!"
"Don't worry about it, next one!"
The serve rotated again—Inarizaki's turn.
Ginjima Hitoshi delivered a powerful jump serve, but Nakamori Daiki successfully received it.
Yahaba quickly stepped in and set the ball to the right side.
BOOM!!!
Kaedehara Taichi smashed it down for a heavy kill.
[Aoba Johsai 10 - 10 Inarizaki]
Aoba Johsai's serve again. Kaedehara Taichi walked to the service line.
He tossed the ball up, accelerated, leapt—and struck.
BOOM!!!
Smack!
Miya Atsumu received it squarely from the front.
"Beautiful pass!"
This time, the first touch was perfect. Miya Osamu leapt in the front row, faking a spike to draw up Kunimi Akira's block.
Whoosh!—
The ball flew to the left-side attacker position.
Riseki Heisuke jumped and spiked it sharply.
BOOM!
Smack!
The ball slammed into Yūki Yōji's arm.
Bang!
"Out!"
The block deflected out of bounds—point for Inarizaki, courtesy of Riseki's spike.
[Aoba Johsai 10 - 11 Inarizaki]
"Nice! That's the way!"
There was a fair amount of luck involved, but Inarizaki still managed to break Kaedehara Taichi's serve with just one rally.
This was turning into the best start they could have hoped for.
Inarizaki's serve again.
Nojima Nobu unleashed a powerful jump serve.
Kaedehara Taichi received it steadily, perfect first touch.
Kunimi Akira imitated Miya Osamu's earlier movement—pretending to spike, but instead setting the ball over to the left.
Kyōtani Kentarō charged up and smashed a sharp line shot.
[Aoba Johsai 11 - 11 Inarizaki]
Even with Miya Atsumu participating in defense, it just meant Inarizaki had one extra player in the back row.
Aoba Johsai's serve.
Yūki Yōji launched a strong jump serve.
BOOM!
The ball flew straight; Ginjima Hitoshi received it, but his body was slightly thrown off-balance.
The ball veered toward the baseline—Miya Atsumu quickly stepped in to cover.
"Still feels best when I'm setting…" Miya Atsumu murmured as he accurately sent the ball back to the net from outside the court.
Suna Rintarō jumped and spiked.
"Three-man block!"
Kindaichi Yūtarō, Kyōtani Kentarō, and Kunimi Akira leaped together.
Although Kindaichi's block had some substance, the other two mainly added presence rather than effectiveness.
Bang!!—
The spike slipped past the block and flew toward Aoba Johsai's right sideline.
"I got it!"
Kaedehara Taichi gestured for Yūki Yōji to move up while he himself received the ball cleanly.
Yahaba stepped in to set. Yūki Yōji, coming from the back row, jumped to spike.
Bang!—
While Inarizaki's front line was still wary of Yūki Yōji, Kunimi Akira suddenly sprang up for a quick attack, sending the ball toward the deep corner of Inarizaki's court.
The sudden assault caught Inarizaki's blockers half a step slow.
Thud!
The ball hit the floor. Kunimi scored.
[Aoba Johsai 12 - 11 Inarizaki]
"Aoba Johsai's offence is deliberately steering clear of where Miya Atsumu is positioned. Must be driving him crazy not being able to make an impact," Futakuchi Kenji chuckled gloatingly.
Yūki Yōji prepared for his second serve.
BOOM!
The ball angled even further to the left.
Smack!
Sakurai Shōta barely managed to receive it; Miya Osamu dropped back a step to cover and set.
Inarizaki launched a full-on four-point offence.
Boom!!
Miya Atsumu, attacking from the back row, unleashed a spike.
Smack!
Kaedehara Taichi easily received it.
"Strange, Futakuchi-senpai," Kimura Ryōta murmured, sensing something unusual.
"Don't you feel like Taichi-senpai's movements…are starting to mimic Miya Atsumu's?"
"Now that you mention it…" Futakuchi's expression changed subtly.
Kunimi Akira filled in for the set, and Kyōtani Kentarō attacked from the right side.
"Three-man block!"
Miya Osamu, Riseki Heisuke, and Suna Rintarō leapt up together.
BOOM!!!—
The ball barely grazed Miya Osamu's fingertips and smashed heavily onto Inarizaki's left sideline.
—"So close!"
Miya Osamu and Kyōtani Kentarō locked eyes through the net.
Kyōtani scored.
[Aoba Johsai 13 - 11 Inarizaki]
"YEEAAAHHHH!!" Kyōtani roared.
—"A signature cross-court shot from Kyōtani Kentarō, shaking off Inarizaki's relentless pursuit!"
"Strange, why aren't they switching back yet?" Futakuchi frowned.
"Now that Aoba Johsai has adapted to the double setter setup, relying on Miya Osamu alone to orchestrate the offence isn't enough anymore."
Miya Atsumu and Miya Osamu exchanged glances.
Only after entering their third year had they truly understood: being a senior wasn't easy.
Before, they had players like Ojiro Aran, Akagi Michinari, even Kita Shinsuke covering for them, letting them run wild without fear.
But now—they had become the backbone.
It was their turn to shield the team from the wind and rain, and to lead these newcomers step by step…
Yūki Yōji served for the third time.
BOOM!
Smack!
"No way we're gonna keep letting a first-year push us around!"
Ginjima Hitoshi stabilised himself and received the ball cleanly.
Miya Atsumu quickly moved in to cover—this was Inarizaki's real offence!
Whoosh!—
Compared to Miya Osamu and Suna Rintarō, Riseki Heisuke at centre was left almost completely uncovered by Aoba Johsai's defence.
BOOM!
Smack!
The ball deflected off Yahaba Shigeru's arm and flew out of bounds.
Riseki scored.
[Aoba Johsai 13 - 12 Inarizaki]
Inarizaki's serve.
Miya Osamu delivered a sharp jump serve targeting the deep left corner of Aoba Johsai's court.
BOOM!!—
Smack!
Yahaba Shigeru picked it up.
"Nice receive!" freewebnσvel.cøm
—"Miya Osamu's serve was vicious, but Yahaba still managed to handle it!"
—"Looks like both teams are really warming up now!"
Kaedehara Taichi quickly filled in and set the ball. Kyōtani Kentarō sprinted along the sideline and jumped for a spike.
"Three-man block!" Riseki, Suna, and Miya Atsumu sprang up together.
Miya Atsumu guarded the straight path.
But the cross-court angle—Miya Osamu was already there.
"That bastard!"
Kyōtani tightened the muscles in his arm and slammed the ball with full power.
BOOM!!!—
—Smack!
"—?!"
The ball flying from Aoba Johsai's right wing toward Inarizaki's left was blocked outright.
BANG!
The ball slammed back onto Aoba Johsai's court.
Suna Rintarō with the clean block!
[Aoba Johsai 13 - 13 Inarizaki]
—"A sharp, decisive block!"
—"Suna read it perfectly, not missing a single opening!"
—"Looks like Inarizaki's defensive pressure is finally showing results — Kyōtani's spike action showed a slight hesitation under the heavy pressure."
"Tch, you can't even relax for a second against these guys…" Futakuchi clicked his tongue in annoyance.
The score was tied once again!
-----
Aoba Johsai's serve.
Kunimi Akira launched a jump float serve.
"I got it!"
Miya Atsumu received it directly, lifting the ball high toward the left wing.
From the back row, Miya Osamu jumped to spike.
"Double block!"
Yahaba Shigeru and Kindaichi Yūtarō leapt together.
Whoosh—!
But Miya Osamu redirected the ball midair, setting it toward the middle!
Suna Rintarō sprang up for a quick attack, met by Kyōtani Kentarō's jump block.
Boom!!—
Smack!
—"Suna's spike avoided the block but was caught by Kindaichi!"
—"So fast! And so high!"
—"Even after being fooled by the second attack, Kindaichi still managed to recover and cover properly!"
"Damn it!"
"One touch!" Kindaichi shouted.
Nakamori Daiki picked up the ball, Yahaba rushed in for backup, and sent a set toward the left wing.
Kaedehara Taichi charged in from the back row.
"Double block!" Riseki Heisuke and Suna Rintarō jumped to intercept.
BOOM!!!—
Even from the back row, Kaedehara smashed out a sharp diagonal spike!
Smack!
Spotting that the target was no longer on the right side, Miya Atsumu swiftly retreated from the front to the three-meter line, barely managing to dig Taichi's spike.
Ginjima Hitoshi moved into place.
"I got it—!"
Miya Osamu, who had been on the left, rushed to the right.
"Even if I'm not a setter, I can still pull this off!"
Whoosh—!
The ball was set cleanly into the air above the right side.
After a slight adjustment, Miya Atsumu leapt for a spike.
"Double block!" Kindaichi and Kyōtani jumped to block.
Bang!!!—
Smack!
The ball dropped between the net and Kyōtani's hands.
Off the block, in bounds.
Miya Atsumu scored with the spike!
[Aoba Johsai 19 - 20 Inarizaki]
Inarizaki was the first to reach 20 points.
—"Both teams are improving the precision of their attacks and blocks!"
—"But at this crucial moment, it's Inarizaki's miraculous twins who scored!"
"Miya Osamu's set perfectly connected to Miya Atsumu's spike, and even after switching—positions, there wasn't the slightest mistake!"
—"If it weren't for their hairstyles and hair colours, I seriously wouldn't be able to tell them apart! (laughs)"
Service rotation. Inarizaki's serve.
Inarizaki's second-strongest server, Riseki Heisuke, stepped up to the line.
"It's my time to really shine for the team!"
He tossed the ball up, approached, jumped, and struck!
Boom!!!—
The volleyball spun fiercely, flying toward Aoba Johsai's back row.
From a spectator's viewpoint, it seemed to accelerate again after crossing the net!
"That's why it's so hard to time the receive…"
Smack!
Nakamori Daiki received it steadily!
Yahaba quickly backed him up, and Kyōtani launched an attack from the right.
Whoosh—!
But the set headed left instead—a back quick set from Yahaba!
"Even if a back-row attack gets dug, you still have to make up for it," someone muttered.
Thud!
Kaedehara Taichi sprang up from the back row.
"Double block!" Suna and Miya Atsumu jumped together.
BOOOM!!!
The spike pierced straight through Suna's block.
Miya Osamu, as if predicting it, dove for a save—
Smack!
—but the ball deflected hard off Osamu's wrist and flew far past the end line.
Taichi scored with a back-row spike!
[Aoba Johsai 20 - 20 Inarizaki]
"Nice set," Taichi said, smiling at Yahaba, completely unfazed by the murderous glares from the three Inarizaki players across the net.
Service rotation. Aoba Johsai's serve.
Kaedehara Taichi rotated into the front row.
The players from Inarizaki tensed up.
They had lost the first set precisely because of this rotation from Aoba Johsai.
Kyōtani Kentarō unleashed a powerful jump serve!
BOOM!!!
Smack!
Miya Osamu received it cleanly!!
Miya Atsumu, now at the front, jumped to set.
Suna and Ginjima sprinted forward from the left and right, respectively.
Whoosh—!
The ball headed toward the left wing.
Suna Rintarō rose up for a spike.
Aoba Johsai's front-row blockers, Yahaba and Kindaichi, were both drawn to Miya Atsumu and Ginjima, leaving the net in a one-on-one matchup between Taichi and Suna!
But Taichi was not alone.
"Don't move!"
Nakamori Daiki locked his focus on Suna from the back row.
"You little…"
Suna abruptly bent his waist, twisting his arm and snapping his right hand down onto the ball.
Bang!!—
—Smack!
Kaedehara's right hand slammed the ball down as it crossed the net.
BANG!
The volleyball crashed into Inarizaki's court with even greater force.
Kaedehara Taichi scored with a block!
[Aoba Johsai 21 - 20 Inarizaki]
"...!"
Nakamori Daiki glared furiously at Taichi.
"Hehe," Taichi chuckled awkwardly. "At least I managed to block it."
—"Taichi managed to block Suna's spike single-handedly!"
—"You could see Suna's signature flexible body motion leading into the spike, but Taichi still captured it at the net!"
—"Kaedehara Taichi! The most highly anticipated ace at this year's Nationals! He's playing as fearlessly and dominantly as ever today!"
"Are we going to fall here again…?"
"One more ball."
Suna looked at Miya Atsumu.
"At least in the air, I don't want to lose."
Aoba Johsai continued their serve.
Kyōtani Kentarō served again!
BOOM!!!
"I'm not going to fall in the same spot twice!!!"
Smack!
Riseki Heisuke received the serve.
Miya Atsumu quickly moved into position and, without hesitation, sent the ball once more to the left wing.
"I acknowledge the determination in your eyes."
Thud!
Suna Rintarō jumped for the spike.
"Double block!"
Kaedehara Taichi and Yahaba Shigeru leapt up together.
Without Atsumu's threat on the right, Aoba Johsai's defence against Suna tightened.
Suna twisted his waist and swung his arm for a diagonal spike.
On the right side, Yahaba raised his arm straight up without moving, trusting the genius behind him to handle it.
Boom!!!—
Just before striking, Suna suddenly twisted his wrist inward—
The ball, originally aimed for the right, suddenly flew left instead!
"!?"
Taichi stretched out his left hand desperately toward the ball.
Smack!
Thud!
The ball landed—
—but it landed just outside Aoba Johsai's sideline.
Off the block and out!
Suna Rintarō scored!
[Aoba Johsai 21 - 21 Inarizaki]
Suna Rintarō refused to back down and launched another attack against Kaedehara Taichi!
This time, he successfully scored a point from Aoba Johsai!
—"What an unbelievable shot! Even from above, we could have guessed it would go in the opposite direction from his body!"
Inarizaki was not crushed by Aoba Johsai's so-called "strongest formation"; they were clinging tightly to the score!
Serve change—Inarizaki to serve!
"Tweet!—"
The moment the whistle blew, Suna Rintarō sent the ball flying. Kunimi Akira received it cleanly.
Yahaba Shigeru moved in to cover.
"Set it to me," Kaedehara Taichi said calmly.
Yahaba let out a soft laugh. Returning the ball immediately, huh? How petty for the so-called 'strongest' ace.
Whoosh!—
Without any hesitation, the volleyball flew high toward the left wing.
Thump!
Kaedehara Taichi leapt, his body stretching perfectly in midair.
"Three-man block!" Miya Atsumu, Ginjima Hitoshi, and Nojima Nobu all jumped together.
"What?!"
"So high?!"
—BOOOM!!!—
Right in front of Miya Atsumu, Taichi unleashed a spike over the block!
The ball, packed with tremendous force, shot forward like a cannonball.
Suna Rintarō kept his eyes locked on it, his gaze a mix of tension and fierce determination, trying to react in that split second.
BANG!
The moment he touched the ball, Rintarō's entire body shuddered violently, as if he had been slammed by an invisible force. His legs buckled instantly, and he fell backwards uncontrollably.
The ball ricocheted off his arm and flew way out past the end line.
Riseki Heisuke desperately chased after it but could only watch as the ball sailed over the advertisement boards surrounding the court.
Thud!
The ball landed with a distant thud.
Kaedehara Taichi scored with a spike.
[Aoba Johsai 22 - 21 Inarizaki]
"See ya! No—more like, buh-bye!" Taichi said with a small wave toward the fallen Rintarō.
And just like that, with the serve changing hands, Inarizaki swapped Rintarō out and brought their libero, Sakurai Shōta, back onto the court.
Aoba Johsai to serve.
Kindaichi Yūtarō went for a powerful jump serve, and Sakurai Shōta received it cleanly.
Miya Atsumu jumped to set at the front row.
Inarizaki launched a four-point simultaneous attack.
Bang!
"Yūki!" someone shouted.
It was Miya Atsumu's second attack—but Taichi and Yūki Yōji had read it perfectly!
This was Inarizaki's best chance to score with this formation.
Smack!
The ball ricocheted off Yūki's hand and flew out of bounds.
Kaedehara Taichi: "..."
Yūki Yōji: "..."
Miya Atsumu scored with his second attack.
[Aoba Johsai 22 - 22 Inarizaki]
—"Hahaha! Even when Aoba Johsai predicts Atsumu's choices, his second attacks are still tough to deal with!"
Serve change—Inarizaki to serve.
Miya Atsumu stepped up to the service line.
He knew this might be Inarizaki's final opportunity.
In Aoba Johsai's back row were Kunimi Akira, Kyōtani Kentarō, and Nakamori Daiki.
"Huff—" Miya Atsumu took a deep breath. It had been a long time since he felt nervous while serving.
"Tweet!—"
The whistle blew.
Atsumu tossed the ball up—one step, two steps, three steps, four steps.
Even though he no longer needed the steps to measure the best hitting point, it was the serving rhythm he was most familiar with.
BANG!!
His first serve—a jump float serve!
The ball flew toward the front left side—right at Yūki Yōji.
Only a float serve could threaten a front-row middle blocker.
Yūki had long since been on high alert after being targeted multiple times.
"Step back first, lower the centre of gravity..."
Yūki stayed calm, but Atsumu's jump float didn't give him any room to adjust.
Smack!
Yūki barely touched the ball—it veered sharply left!
Thud!
The ball dropped straight down, outside the left sideline.
"OUT!"
Miya Atsumu scored directly off his serve!
[Aoba Johsai 22 - 23 Inarizaki]
Was that a mistake? Whose mistake, exactly?
From the outcome, even if Yūki hadn't touched it, the ball would have gone out—so technically it was Miya Atsumu's service error.
But because he scored directly, it counted as a service ace—a receiving error on Yūki's part.
Kunimi Akira glanced at Atsumu.
Atsumu's expression was perfectly calm—no regret, no fear.
So...it was a deliberate risky serve?
"Sorry!" Yūki Yōji apologized.
"Don't mind it. No one could predict the ball would drift left like that," Kunimi replied seriously, unconsciously stepping closer to him.
Among the six on court, Yūki—a first-year—was naturally the most convenient target.
Inarizaki continued serving.
Miya Atsumu sent out his second ball.
BOOM!!!
But this time, Atsumu had long since decided his true target—Kyōtani Kentarō!
The first serve was just to pull Kunimi slightly out of position!
Smack!
Kyōtani barely caught the ball one-handed—it flew toward the sidelines!
"Thanks, Atsumu," Kaedehara Taichi smirked.
[Ding! Nakamori Daiki has entered Burst Mode.]
[Nakamori Daiki (Burst Mode)—Libero: Overall Ability Rating: 94
Height: 168 cm | Power: 85 | Jump: 99 | Stamina: 92 | Speed: 99
Technique: Receive: 96 | Set: 92.]
A black blur shot toward the baseline like a released arrow, feet seemingly gliding over the floor, racing at full speed.
Nakamori Daiki's eyes were filled with unwavering focus, there was only the ball. The moment the ball was just about to kiss the ground—
He dove, arms outstretched!
For a split second, Nakamori's body was parallel to the floor, floating midair!
Smack!
The ball popped back into play!
Meanwhile, Nakamori slid along the ground under the momentum.
"Taichi!!!" he called out.
Dust clung to his face, but his eyes remained locked onto the ball.
"Nice receive!"
Taichi sprinted from the front row, stepped onto the three-meter line, and rotated midair to meet the ball that barely made it to the front row.
"Three-man block!" Ginjima, Nojima, and Miya Atsumu all jumped!
Aoba Johsai now had another little monster!
That unbelievable save had rattled Inarizaki—but no matter what, they couldn't afford to give up the serve!
BOOM!!!
Smack!
"First touch!" Nojima shouted.
Sakurai sprinted toward the baseline.
"I got it!" Atsumu beat him there!
They needed to leave the front row enough space to adjust—a regular attack wouldn't score against that guy!
Whoosh!—
At the last step, Atsumu stabilised himself and sent the ball perfectly toward the right wing.
Thud!
Miya Osamu leapt to spike!
His eyes locked on Taichi—who, after spiking, had barely made it back to the front row and didn't have enough time to set up a block!
—BOOM!!
The ball shot past Yahaba's right side, smashing toward Aoba Johsai's sideline!
Smack!
Another impossible save—Nakamori dove again and saved it!
"Beautiful—!!"
The cheers exploded from Aoba Johsai's bench.
"Kunimi!"
Taichi sprinted horizontally to the left and jumped.
"Damn it!!!"
Osamu rushed after him desperately.
Inarizaki had completely abandoned their right-side defence—they were betting everything on blocking Taichi from the left wing!
Whoosh!—
The ball was set perfectly to the left—Aoba Johsai chose the left wing too!
BOOM!!!—
"Three-man block!"
"Damn it—!"
Osamu was still a step too late—the ball slipped just above his fingers, arcing perfectly—and smashed down onto Inarizaki's right-side corner...
Kaedehara Taichi scored with a spike!
[Aoba Johsai 23 - 23 Inarizaki]
_________
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