Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty-Chapter 313: The Big Villain (D-L)
[April 5th, Aoba Johsai's Third Gymnasium]
With the new first-years joining the team, Aoba Johsai had allowed them a week to adjust before ramping up the intensity of training.
"One more ball!"
Thud!
"What's the matter? Why are all the first-years so quiet?!" The sharp voice of Mizoguchi Sadayuki echoed through the gym. "Whether you're receiving or spiking, make some noise!"
"Yes, sir!"
For the second and third-years, the training intensity was manageable, but for most of the first-years, keeping up was a struggle. The coaches' and upperclassmen's whistles rang through the air like sharp commands, pushing them forward relentlessly.
"Pick up the pace on your sprints! You guys are basically walking!" Kindaichi Yūtarō barked from the sidelines.
"YES, SIR!!!"
"Ohhh, Kindaichi really looks like an upperclassman now."
"Haha, well, considering the other two are so self-centred…"
Bump, set, spike—one movement followed another with no room for even a moment's respite.
"Hah—hah—" The first-years panted heavily, their jerseys soaked in sweat as it dripped down their faces.
"Why…did the intensity…suddenly go up…?" Tōchi Shishin could barely string a sentence together.
"I heard there's a practice match this weekend," Tōma Kaoru said. "They're probably deciding the official roster and starting lineup."
Having played at Kitagawa Daiichi, he was used to this kind of structure, but back in middle school, it was rare for a first-year to make the starting team.
A practice match was the best chance to prove oneself. Integrating first-years into the regular training was a way to filter them out in advance.
Thud!
Kaedehara Taichi made a smooth approach, leapt high, and spiked the ball with his usual perfect form. Every hit carried both power and precision.
"Damn it, we're training together, but…" Yamabuki Yūjin felt his legs trembling, sensing he was approaching his limit.
The other first-years were struggling even more—some were stumbling, their footwork faltering, their movements falling apart.
"Everyone, gather up! First-years can take a break on the side. The rest of you, start a 3v3 scrimmage!"
"Yes, sir!"
The second and third-years split into teams naturally, while the first-years collapsed onto the sidelines, their muscles aching from the relentless drills.
Team manager Chiba Kaho arrived just in time with the logistics team, setting out the pre-prepared sports drinks.
"Thank you, senpai!" The first-years felt their fatigue lessen slightly as they drank.
"Mm." Kaho nodded quietly.
Since the training intensity had increased, a few first-years had already quit the club or switched to team staff positions. Even among those who had initially signed up as managers, only one remained.
"The manager's job seems easy, but if you're not genuinely interested in volleyball, it's hard to stick with it." Chiba Kaho explained calmly to Maihara Sakurako.
"Not necessarily," Sakurako replied. "I don't think she's interested in volleyball at all." She pointed at the lone first-year manager on the other side of the court, watching the team while holding a sports drink. "She's just like a certain someone."
"Sakurako—"
"Okay, okay, I won't say anything." Sakurako had tagged along with Kaho to watch the volleyball team's training today. Seeing Kaedehara Taichi on the court, she could finally understand why her best friend had taken such a liking to him.
In this space, his presence was impossible to ignore.
BANG!
Taichi spiked another ball.
Aoba Johsai was still missing something. There was a gap somewhere—something everyone had overlooked.
The team's desire to win hadn't changed, but compared to last year's gritted determination, their desperation to throw everything on the line, this year's Aoba Johsai felt…a little too relaxed.
Taichi didn't know how to erase that feeling. Even after their loss in the Prefectural Tournament, everyone had reflected on it, but this subtle, lingering detachment remained.
So, the only thing he could do was train.
Complacency, arrogance—whatever it was, as long as he became strong enough, it would all transform into confidence.
"Coach Irihata, don't you think Taichi has been acting a little strange lately?" Mizoguchi Sadayuki muttered. "He's always been hardworking, but lately, it's like he's pushing himself to the absolute limit. If he gets injured like in the Prefectural Tournament, it won't be worth it."
Irihata Nobuteru watched Taichi silently for a long moment before responding.
"I think the scenery Taichi sees right now is different from what the rest of the team is looking at."
Mizoguchi: "???"
"Hahaha…" Irihata chuckled. "Players like that appear from time to time. Don't worry, it's not a bad thing."
-----
[April 6th, 8:50 AM, Shiratorizawa's Main Gymnasium]
"It's huge—"
Aoba Johsai's first-years couldn't help but exclaim. Their own gym was already one of the larger ones for a high school, but Shiratorizawa's facilities were on an entirely different level.
Recently, Aoba Johsai had been receiving countless practice match invitations. After considering their options, Coach Irihata had ultimately chosen their old rivals, Shiratorizawa, as their first opponent of the new season.
This time, as Aoba Johsai walked through Shiratorizawa's campus, their mindset was completely different from last year.
"Goshiki! We're so familiar now, why aren't you greeting me?" Taichi shamelessly inserted himself into the middle of the Shiratorizawa players.
"It's Taichi-senpai!"
"We're seeing him in person!"
The first-year Shiratorizawa players quickly recognized him, watching as he casually pulled their ace into conversation.
"So he and Goshiki-senpai are that close, huh? No wonder Goshiki-senpai keeps talking about him."
"You guys seem a little too relaxed today."
Shirabu Kenjirō's voice cut through the chatter coldly.
"If you have that much energy, maybe you'd like to write a report on today's match instead."
"Y-yes, sir! Wait, no! That's not—"
The nervous first-years immediately straightened up.
"Sagae, double their serve reception drills today. No joining the practice match until they're done."
"Understood, Shirabu-senpai!"
The first-years groaned internally. Just a few casual words, and they'd been caught by Shirabu-senpai.
The rumours were true—after Taichi had defeated Ushijima Wakatoshi and ended Shiratorizawa's last chance at Nationals, Shirabu had supposedly harboured a deep resentment toward him.
Seeing this confirmed their fears.
"Any complaints?" Shirabu's icy gaze swept over them.
"No, sir!" They immediately scurried off to start their extra drills.
-----
Back on Taichi's side, Goshiki Tsutomu hesitated, his expression conflicted.
He couldn't exactly say that Shirabu had forbidden him from talking to Taichi alone. He was a second-year now—he should act more mature.
"Ahem. Some things… I'll only say after I defeat you!" Goshiki declared, recalling a line from one of Tendō-senpai's old manga.
"Huh, so you'll never get to say it, then?" Taichi blinked at him.
"Damn it! Are you saying you'll never lose?!" Goshiki glared at him.
"No, no," Taichi grinned. "I just might not be playing today."
Goshiki: "…?"
"But, well, what you said is partly true."
Goshiki: "???"
"You—You—"
"What, is Aoba Johsai really that arrogant? You guys didn't even win the Prefectural Tournament." Shirabu Kenjirō stepped in just in time to rescue Goshiki Tsutomu, who had been rendered speechless.
"Oh, it's you, Shirabu-senpai." Kaedehara Taichi smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "That's why we've been reflecting on our performance. This time, we're here to test the results of our training."
"Hmph. You'll find us more than satisfactory opponents." Shirabu scoffed, dragging Goshiki away.
"Taichi, I'll make sure you get on the court! There's definitely a place for Shiratorizawa in taking down Aoba Johsai!"
Kaedehara Taichi chuckled as he watched them leave. From a glance, Shiratorizawa's lineup included several new faces that hadn't been present during the Prefectural Tournament. It seemed like they had embraced change even earlier than Aoba Johsai.
"Tweet!—"
"Both teams, please wrap up your warm-ups. The match will begin in thirty minutes."
"Yes!"
Taichi hadn't been lying—his name was not in Aoba Johsai's starting lineup.
Coach Irihata was using this practice match against Shiratorizawa to finalize Aoba Johsai's starting roster for the Interhigh qualifiers.
Both teams had unfamiliar newcomers, but judging from the first-years' reactions on Aoba Johsai's side, the new additions to Shiratorizawa must have been outstanding players back in middle school.
"Shishin, come here for a sec."
"Yes! Taichi-senpai!" Tōchi Shishin eagerly ran over.
"Do you recognize any of the first-years warming up for Shiratorizawa?"
"Of course!" Tōchi nodded enthusiastically and began his explanation.
"The one on the far left is Matsudaira Kiyomasa, an outside hitter from Shiratorizawa's junior high division. Last spring, he led their team to the runner-up position in the prefecture. The tallest one with purple hair is Kamihara Atsushi, an outside hitter from Kōsen Academy—he was already 190 cm tall last year. And the other one, Nagamatsu Mokuto, was Kōsen Academy's middle blocker and was named Best Middle Blocker in the autumn tournament."
"Kōsen Academy was the autumn middle school champion, right?" Kaedehara Taichi asked. Coach Washijō had really outdone himself—these first-years had immediately raised Shiratorizawa's overall height.
"Yeah. Their three best players got split up—one went to Date Tech, and the other two are here at Shiratorizawa."
"Oh~" Kaedehara Taichi hummed, gazing thoughtfully at them. He really wanted to play against them…
"Coach Washijō had his eye on these guys since last year," Kunimi Akira added from the side. "Kindaichi and I played against them before, and their ball control is definitely solid."
"Huh? When was this?" Kaedehara Taichi's eyes widened. "You two actually played against them behind my back—"
Kunimi rolled his eyes. "When you and Oikawa-senpai were at the Youth National Training Camp."
"Oh, oh, then that's fine." Kaedehara Taichi laughed sheepishly.
Even though Aoba Johsai carried the prestige of a reigning champion, the advantage in recruiting top middle school players still lay firmly with Shiratorizawa.
But that was no big deal. They just had to win a few more championships.
"Thanks, Shishin. You really are a volleyball encyclopedia among the first-years."
"N-No problem! As long as I can help Taichi-senpai!" Tsuichi said excitedly.
"But you should focus on improving your skills too. Volleyball isn't a sport you can win with just words."
"Ah, yes!"
After Tōchi left, Taichi fell into a moment of quiet contemplation.
He couldn't shake the feeling that, ever since he arrived, something about Miyagi's volleyball scene had shifted in a subtle yet significant way. It wasn't just about accelerated growth anymore.
Date Tech, Karasuno, and now Shiratorizawa.
He could almost sense the same goal radiating from all of them—
"Defeat Kaedehara Taichi!"
How strange. A team's objective should be something like "Advance to Nationals" or "Dominate the country," right?
Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freewebnσvel.cøm.
Taichi propped his chin on his hand with a sigh—had he somehow become the ultimate villain?
-----
Thirty minutes passed quickly, and both teams lined up on opposite sides of the court.
"Let's have a good match!"
Shiratorizawa's starting lineup:
Front row—Middle blocker Nagamatsu Mokuto, Outside Hitter Kamihara Atsushi, Outside Hitter Goshiki Tsutomu.
Back row—Setter Shirabu Kenjirō, Outside Hitter Matsudaira Kiyomasa and Middle Blocker Kawanishi Taichi (Libero: Akakura Sō).
Aoba Johsai's starting lineup:
Front row—Outside Hitter Yamabuki Yūjin, Middle Blocker Yūki Yōji, Setter Yahaba Shigeru.
Back row—Outside Hitter Kunimi Akira, Middle Blocker Kindaichi Yūtarō (Libero: Watari Shinj) and Outside Hitter Kyōtani Kentarō.
Several of Shiratorizawa's first-years glanced toward Aoba Johsai's bench.
The player they were most looking forward to—Taichi-senpai—wasn't even in the starting lineup.
He didn't look injured either.
The only explanation that crossed their minds left them indignant.
Was Aoba Johsai underestimating them that much?!
-----
The first set began with Aoba Johsai serving.
Kyōtani Kentarō's hair had grown out slightly, now a short buzz cut—making him look even more like Tanaka Ryuunosuke.
Kaedehara Taichi had once seriously discussed with Kindaichi whether the two were long-lost twins.
The ball was tossed high into the air, and Kyōtani Kentarō took his approach.
As Aoba Johsai's second-most aggressive attacker, no one underestimated him, despite his shorter stature.
But the changes in Kyōtani Kentarō weren't just in his hairstyle.
Bam!
He launched himself into the air, his back muscles exploding with power as his right arm swung forward at full strength.
BOOM!
It was a full-power spike serve!
The ball tore through the air with a violent side spin, hurtling toward Shiratorizawa's back row.
Smack!
The ball slammed onto the floor, leaving a stark white mark.
"Out!" The referee signaled.
Shiratorizawa took the first point.
[Aoba Johsai 0 - 1 Shiratorizawa]
"Sorry!" Kyōtani apologized loudly, his voice as intense as ever.
"Don't worry about it—it was close."
Matsudaira Kiyomasa let out a breath of relief.
This was the top-tier serving power in the prefecture.
Right now, Shiratorizawa didn't have a single player capable of pulling that off.
He hadn't even been able to read where the ball was going—his feet had barely moved before the serve landed behind him.
Shiratorizawa's serve.
Nagamatsu Mokuto stepped up for a powerful jump serve.
Boom!
Even from the sound alone, the difference in power was clear.
Smack!
Watari Shinj received the ball perfectly, and Yahaba Shigeru jumped to set.
Whoosh!—
Middle blocker Yūki Yōji charged in for a quick attack.
"Double block!"
Not only did Goshiki react in front, but Kamihara Atsushi also shifted over from the left.
Smack!
But Yūki Yōji wasn't deterred. He powered through, spiking cleanly over Goshiki's hands.
A high-point attack!
Thud!
Shirabu Kenjirō barely managed to dig it up.
"Tch, what a hassle."
"Cover!"
Nagamatsu Mokuto quickly bumped the ball up. With the natural synergy from their middle school days, Kamihara Atsushi took the chance to attack.
"Double block!"
Yamabuki Yūjin and Yūki Yōji jumped up.
Behind them, Kunimi Akira's eyes stayed locked on Kamihara Atsushi.
He was going to pick this one up.
Kamihara Atsushi saw it too.
If he swung straight through, it would only get dug up—just like what happened to Aoba Johsai earlier.
Boom!—
Kamihara Atsushi aimed for a sharp cross-court shot instead!
"I'm an outside hitter. I'm not like those middle blockers who can only hit straight on—"
—Smack!
Yūki Yōji's arm swung diagonally to the right, blocking the ball.
Thud!
The volleyball slammed back into Shiratorizawa's court.
Yūki Yōji scored with a block.
[Aoba Johsai 1 - 1 Shiratorizawa]
"You really haven't improved at all, have you? Acting all high and mighty just because you think you're a little clever."
The only player on the court taller than Kamihara Atsushi, Yūki Yōji, said bluntly, showing no mercy.
_________
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