Haikyuu: Zero to Almighty

"Cough, cough... What's the specific difference between an outside hitter and a middle blocker?" Taichi leaned in close to Akira Kunimi and asked in a hushed tone. After all, Kindaichi didn't exactly strike him as a brainiac.

Kunimi Akira glanced at Taichi in slight surprise. "You've been playing for this long and you still don't know?" Normally, Taichi seemed like the analytical type—not someone who would ask questions that usually pops out of Kindaichi's mouth from time to time.

Somewhere on the court, Kindaichi suddenly felt a wave of inexplicable irritation, as though multiple people were badmouthing him. But after looking around, he found nothing amiss.

Taichi was unabashed. "Lately, I've been focusing most of my energy on improving my physical fitness. My theoretical knowledge of volleyball—especially the detailed responsibilities of these two positions—still feels a bit fuzzy."

Kunimi nodded, then began explaining. "In simple terms, the outside hitter is expected to have strong attacking capabilities. Even when faced with a two- or three-person block, they should be able to score. When the team's receive is off, the set often goes to the outside hitter. That's when they need to rely on personal skills to force a point through.

"As for the middle blocker, they focus on tactical attacks. Utilizing speed, height, and coordination with teammates, their role is to deliver quick and varied attacks to outmanoeuvre the opponent's block."

"Then I could play outside hitter too, right? I want to be the ace!" Taichi blurted out without hesitation.

Kunimi shot him a sidelong glance. "No. What I just described is only about offence. Your receiving is awful. Outside hitters also have to handle defence and are responsible for serve receive in the back row."

Being both an attacker and defender—that's what makes a true ace, the words echoed in Taichi's mind.

"Besides, who says the ace has to be an outside hitter? Isn't our team's ace Oikawa-senpai?" Kunimi remarked, casting a gaze full of admiration toward Tooru Oikawa.

Taichi was taken aback. He hadn't expected Kunimi, who always seemed so laid-back, to have such a keen eye on everyone at Aoba Johsai.

In the end, it's all about getting stronger, right? Taichi thought. Whether I'm a starter or the ace, as long as I'm strong enough, everything else will follow.

"System, what's my current stat level?"

After two weeks of intense training, Taichi felt like he had undergone a transformation.

[Name - Taichi Kaedehara

Speed: 90

Power: 75

Stamina: 70

Jump: 60

Skill: 55 (Serve, Receive, and Spike have reached passable levels.)

Ding! Training objectives have been updated.

Training Objectives: For every 10,000 serves or receives completed, Serve +1, Receive +1 (until the host reaches Skill 70). For every 10,000 spikes completed, Spike +1 (until the host reaches Skill 70).]

"So my stamina's improved, huh? But power and jump stats stayed the same..." Taichi glanced at his arm muscles, thinking they'd show some improvement.....

However, the tenfold increase in training objectives was expected. With each incremental improvement, the difficulty naturally escalated. He had known all along that becoming a top-tier player wouldn't be easy.

"Let's split into teams. Senior group: Front row—outside hitter Hajime Iwaizumi, setter Shigeru Yahaba, middle blocker Issei Matsukawa. Back row—outside hitter Takahiro Hanamaki, opposite hitter Heisuke Watari playing libero, and middle blocker Kotobuki Tamaki."

"Junior group: Front row—outside hitter Akira Kunimi, setter Tooru Oikawa, middle blocker Taichi Kaedehara. Back row—outside hitter Eiji Hino, libero Shinji Watanabe, and middle blocker Yutaro Kindaichi."

Coach Sadayuki Mizoguchi surveyed the two groups. "Warm up for 30 minutes, then we'll start the match. Show me everything you've got."

Taichi's heart raced with excitement. Was this technically his first time as a starter? He wasn't being used as a countermeasure against a tricky opponent but was stepping onto the court right from the start.

This was an opportunity he couldn't waste. For the first time, Taichi began to carefully observe his teammates.

[Stats Overview]

Tooru Oikawa: Overall Rating: 90, Height: 184 cm, Power: 95, Jump: 85, Stamina: 90, Speed: 88, Key Attributes: Serve 95, Set 94

"Wait, has Oikawa gotten faster?" Taichi noticed something different.

[The host's observation is accurate. Oikawa Tooru's speed has increased by 2 points since the last practice match.]

That's terrifying....Taichi decided to check the others instead.

Hajime Iwaizumi: Overall Rating: 86, Height: 179 cm, Power: 92, Jump: 85, Stamina: 88, Speed: 85, Key Attributes: Receive 80, Spike 85

Iwaizumi was a balanced player, similar to Daichi Sawamura. But unlike Daichi's defensive focus, Iwaizumi leaned more toward offense. As a cornerstone of the team, he somehow felt even more captain-like than Oikawa.

"Hmm, these stats are quite nuanced."

Kindaichi Yutaro: Overall Ability - 78, Height - 189 cm, Strength - 83, Jump - 78, Stamina - 88, Speed - 70, Key Attributes: Reception - 70, Spikes - 83.

Ha, a tall and clumsy stamina idiot.

Kunimi Akira: Overall Ability - 79, Height - 182 cm, Strength - 78, Jump - 80, Stamina - 75, Speed - 83, Key Attributes: Reception - 80, Spikes - 80.

From what I recall, Kunimi is a highly intelligent player who never wastes an ounce of energy. His performance on the court probably surpasses what these numbers suggest. He reminds me of players like Tsukishima Kei and Kozume Kenma, who share similar characteristics.

Watari Shinji: Overall Ability - 86, Height - 171 cm, Strength - 70, Jump - 88, Stamina - 78, Speed - 85, Key Attributes: Reception - 85, Setting - 82.

I used to think that Aoba Johsai's libero was a weak link. But, honestly, when facing teams like Karasuno and Shiratorizawa, it's tough for anyone to perform better.

Yahaba Shigeru: Overall Ability - 86, Height - 181 cm, Strength - 78, Jump - 75, Stamina - 72, Speed - 85, Key Attributes: Reception - 88, Setting - 89.

If he were at any other school, Yahaba Shigeru would likely be a starting player. However, with Oikawa Tooru's exceptional skills as a setter, Yahaba remains in a backup role.

Taichi pulled himself out of his thoughts. Looking at the data, Aoba Johsai wasn't weak at all. Except for the libero, nearly all the players were over 180 cm tall, with solid fundamentals. While they didn't have standout strengths like some other teams, they also had no glaring weaknesses.

Turning his gaze toward the banner hanging on the second floor that read: Dominate the Court. 

Taichi felt, for the first time, the true weight behind those words.

To be honest, Taichi hadn't felt much of a connection to Aoba Johsai before. The only people who truly piqued his interest were Oikawa Tooru and Iwaizumi Hajime.

After being transported to this world and becoming a member of Aoba Johsai, it hadn't exactly been his choice.

In Miyagi Prefecture, known for its "one powerhouse, many contenders" dynamic, Shiratorizawa stood tall as a perennial giant, Date Tech churned out powerful players, and Karasuno's scrappy underdog spirit made it a team of wild potential. Any of these might seem more appealing than the seemingly 'ordinary' Aoba Johsai.

However, this 'ordinariness' was precisely Aoba Johsai's pride. Their balanced excellence was proof of their hard work. It wasn't just geniuses who belonged on the court.

Oikawa Tooru wasn't a genius. And Aoba Johsai didn't have any geniuses either.

What kept Aoba Johsai among Miyagi's top four, and even propelled them to the national stage in the past, was their solid fundamentals and unshakable team cohesion.

Their captain believed in his teammates, and they, in turn, believed in their captain—the one who wasn't a genius but led them to greatness.

[Ding!]

The system prompt chimed.

[Host has comprehended the importance of teamwork and has genuinely embraced being a member of Aoba Johsai. Team Buff acquired: Unyielding Spirit.]