Haikyuu: Zero to Almighty

Inside the Third Gymnasium of Aoba Johsai High School, the air buzzed with the resonant shouts of the players.

The recent string of victories had acted as a catalyst, infusing the team with a newfound surge of confidence and morale.

The gym was thick with an atmosphere of relentless determination. Every player pushed themselves to their limits, running and jumping tirelessly. They worked not just to hone their individual skills but to forge an unshakeable team synergy. Through sheer effort and discipline, they aimed to break past their limits.

The sharp sound of shoes skidding against the polished floor, the solid thud of the volleyball slamming onto the court, and the rhythmic echo of hits all blended into a symphony of practice.

"Thirty more balls!"

"Yes!" came the players' breathless response. Despite their fatigue, they gave it their all, jumping higher and running faster.

A shrill whistle marked the end of practice. The players, drenched in sweat, exhaled deeply as they collapsed onto the floor, utterly spent.

"This is exactly when we need a pretty team manager," said Shigeru Yahaba, sighing wistfully. "Someone to have towels and sports drinks ready for us."

"Seriously! Karasuno's manager is so cute—an absolute beauty," another player chimed in.

"Hold on," Kindaichi Yutaro said, ever the straightforward one. "Why don't we have a team manager in the first place?"

The second and third-years collectively turned their gaze toward Oikawa Tōru.

"What are you all looking at me for?" Oikawa said, feigning innocence with an exaggerated expression. "I didn't do anything!"

Just then, Taichi, who had been catching his breath nearby, picked up a volleyball and approached Oikawa.

"Oikawa-senpai, let's practice the 'Monster Quick.'"

Oikawa had been toying with the idea of refining the 'Monster Quick' Attack, but hearing Taichi suggest it first left a sour taste in his mouth.

"No way."

Without hesitation, Taichi turned and walked toward Kunimi Akira, who was curled up in a corner of the gym. "Kunimi, help me practice my spikes."

Kunimi didn't even flinch. If anything, he seemed to shrink further into himself, as though trying to disappear entirely.

"Hey! Where's the sincerity in that!?" Oikawa snapped, standing up. "Shouldn't you beg your senpai a little more earnestly?"

Taichi tilted his head thoughtfully. "But I figured you were just sooo~ exhausted, Oikawa-senpai. I didn't want to overwork you."

"Taichi! Who's exhausted?!" Oikawa roared, his voice echoing through the gym. "Fine, let's practice! But whoever quits first is buying ramen!"

"Deal, Oikawa-senpai," Taichi replied, turning back with a cheeky grin.

Watching the exchange, Matsukawa Issei smirked and leaned toward Iwaizumi Hajime. "I didn't think Taichi could handle Oikawa so easily."

Hanamaki Takahiro chuckled. "Having someone stick to him like that might not be a bad thing."

Iwaizumi's mouth twitched into a half-smile. "Unless it turns into a case of one problem child rubbing off on another."

"Do Oikawa-senpai and Taichi not get along well?" Kindaichi whispered hesitantly to Kunimi, who was still huddled in his corner.

Kunimi, looked as though he might be asleep and gave no response.

-----

Oikawa Tōru and Kaedehara Taichi began practising the Monster Quick Attack on the court.

After a few tries, Oikawa paused and asked, "Taichi, is your hitting point higher than before?"

As expected of the ace setter, he noticed the change almost instantly.

Taichi nodded slightly. He had measured it the night before and found his hitting point had increased by about 5 centimetres.

"Well, that's how it should be," Oikawa said with a knowing tone. "I always felt you were a late bloomer. Otherwise, your jumping ability would've been way too underwhelming. Sure, you've managed to cover for it with speed and a hitting style that doesn't rely on height, but I've had my suspicions for a while."

"Even Nakashima Takeru from Wakunan and Karasuno's little shrimp have higher hitting point than you," Oikawa added nonchalantly.

The comment struck Taichi like an arrow to the heart. It was exactly these kinds of truths that frustrated him the most.

He had been steadily improving—diligently completing every task assigned by the system and making significant strides in his technique. Yet, when it came to physical abilities, he still wasn't sure how to catch up.

Even so, Taichi was looking forward to the next match.

Meanwhile, Oikawa found himself facing his own challenge.

In truth, the concept of the Monster Quick Attack wasn't all that complicated. The timing of the spiker's approach dictated the speed of the attack.

The version performed by Kageyama Tobio and Hinata Shoyo relied on Hinata's almost supernatural speed paired with Kageyama's pinpoint precision as a setter.

In terms of speed, Taichi, despite his height of 180 cm, could still replicate the effect of overwhelming defenders before they had time to react. Their practice matches had already proven this potential.

Ultimately, the key to perfecting this attack boiled down to whether Oikawa could adjust fast enough to deliver the ball exactly where Taichi needed it for his spike.

A determined fire lit in Oikawa's eyes. No way was he going to concede to anyone in this area!

"Excuse us!"

The sudden interruption came from the gym entrance, where three figures stood.

"These two were sneaking around campus, causing a bit of a stir—especially Kageyama Tobio; he looked like he was ready to pick a fight with someone," said Coach Mizoguchi, gesturing to Hinata Shoyo and Kageyama Tobio standing behind him. "Luckily, I recognized them and asked what they were up to. Turns out they were looking for you, so I brought them over."

"We're very sorry!" Hinata and Kageyama bowed deeply in unison.

"But I'm actually here to see Taichi," Hinata added quickly, stepping forward.

"Oh, Shoyo!" Taichi waved him over, and the two quickly huddled together, chatting animatedly.

"Ugh, when did he get so buddy-buddy with the little shrimp?" Oikawa muttered, his gaze shifting to Kageyama. "And you? What are you here for?"

Kageyama, visibly excited, took a step forward. "Oikawa-senpai, I—"

"Absolutely not, you idiot," Oikawa cut him off before he could finish.

"Please, just hear me out!" Kageyama pleaded, bowing at a perfect ninety-degree angle.

"Wow, this is the first time I've seen Kageyama like this," Kunimi Akira, now sitting up, remarked to Kindaichi with amusement.

"Yikes, Oikawa-senpai is bullying underclassmen again," Kindaichi said, shaking his head.

"It's probably because the underclassman in question is a genius setter. He's still bitter about it," Hanamaki Takahiro and Matsukawa Issei teased from the sidelines.

"Hey, I can hear you!" Oikawa snapped, turning to glare at them, only to notice Iwaizumi Hajime approaching.

"Kageyama, you know that Aoba Johsai and Karasuno are rivals right now, don't you?" Iwaizumi's tone was serious as he looked at Kageyama with an unwavering gaze.

Kageyama didn't lift his head. "Yes, Iwaizumi-senpai. But no matter what, I have to ask Oikawa-senpai something."

Iwaizumi exchanged a look with Oikawa. After a brief silence, Oikawa sighed and shrugged. "Fine. Ask away. But afterwards, you're helping Taichi practice his sets."

"Helping Taichi?" Kageyama looked confused but didn't dwell on it. Instead, he hurried to ask his question.

"Well… uh… I have this friend. He's a setter, and his teammate suddenly wants to practice this really unreliable attack right before an important match. If that happened, what would you—"

"Pfft, Kageyama, where would you even get a setter friend?" Oikawa interrupted mercilessly. "If you're here to ask for advice, at least be straightforward about it."

Kageyama flushed, his face turning a deep red. "Fine! It's Hinata! He's always been spiking with his eyes closed, but now he says he wants to play in a way that reflects his own intentions."

"Then let him try. If he pulls it off, it'll be amazing," Oikawa said breezily.

"Don't make it sound so easy! Hinata doesn't have the skills for that!" Kageyama shouted.

Hinata, who had been talking with Taichi nearby, overheard the outburst and lowered his head in silence.

"Oh? So you want the little shrimp to follow your instructions to the letter? What a dictator," Oikawa said with a sharp edge in his voice.

Kageyama froze, Oikawa's words striking a chord. He hadn't even considered Hinata's perspective—he'd only thought about how to secure victory.

"Don't get it twisted. The one who controls the attack isn't you. It's the spiker," Oikawa said, his gaze flicking toward Hinata and Taichi. "The battle in the air is decided by the attacker."

"If you think sticking to the status quo is the best choice, then go ahead and keep stagnating. Coward."