Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty
Chapter 560: Hinata vs Kageyama

[Ryujin NIPPON 22 - 25 Al-Rayyan]

[Ryujin NIPPON 25 - 21 Al-Rayyan]

[Ryujin NIPPON 25 - 20 Al-Rayyan]

[Ryujin NIPPON 24 - 26 Al-Rayyan]

[Ryujin NIPPON 15 - 12 Al-Rayyan]

Ryujin's first match of the Club World Championship turned out to be far more gruelling than expected.

As usual, Kaedehara Taichi sat next to Chiba Kaho, offering his characteristic sarcastic commentary while watching the match. After Ryujin won the third set, they substituted Kunimi Akira out, and Taichi promptly lost interest in continuing to watch.

Of course, he never imagined the match would drag on all the way to a decisive fifth set.

Later, at Chiba Kaho's suggestion, the two decided to take a stroll around the arena.

"Don't think that just because of this, I'll forgive you," Chiba said, pouting as she ate the dessert Taichi had bought her.

"Y-Yeah…"

To be honest, Taichi wasn't entirely sure where their relationship stood. While dating during high school in Japan wasn't anything unusual, they hadn't quite gotten that far and had already begun walking separate paths.

Yet, after that one time they held hands, he finally realised the subtle change in their dynamic. But soon after, he graduated early and joined the DESEO Hornets in Aichi.

Until he achieved his goals, Taichi didn't have the bandwidth to think about anything else.

Their feelings for each other progressed slowly and cautiously. Chiba wasn't in a rush, gently guiding the pace forward. They often chatted on their phones, and over time, Taichi found that the total time he spent messaging Chiba had surpassed that of talking to Kenma or even all the Aoba Johsai members combined.

However, about a year and a half ago, Taichi's idiotic move completely infuriated Chiba—he left for Argentina without telling anyone (Kunimi only knew he was going abroad).

When Chiba received her acceptance letter to Nagoya University, Taichi was already in Argentina, blissfully thinking he had given everyone a "pleasant surprise."

"So, if you win the championship this time, will you come back to Japan?" Chiba asked, tilting her chin slightly.

"There's no 'if.' I will win, and then I'll come back," Taichi replied confidently, as if stating an undeniable fact.

"I see~"

Chiba let out a small laugh—this unshakable confidence was precisely what she liked about him.

But with that answer, her plan to go to Argentina was rendered meaningless. Deep down, she felt a tiny twinge of disappointment; after all, she had secretly imagined what it would be like to surprise Taichi by suddenly showing up in Argentina.

Taichi and Chiba didn't walk around for too long—about three hours at most. In the afternoon, there was an important match in Group A, and Taichi had to return to analyse their upcoming opponents with the San Juan team.

The two eventually wandered back to the venue. Iwaizumi Hajime gave Taichi a strange look as he took the big bag stuffed with souvenirs from him.

"They actually went to five sets?"

Taichi glanced up at the updated scoreboard above the arena.

With this result, Ryujin would have 2 points and Al-Rayyan 1 point. But in Group B's case, they probably wouldn't need to calculate points to determine advancement, Taichi thought idly.

"Oikawa already went back; you should hurry up too," Iwaizumi said.

"Oh, thank you, Iwaizumi-senpai."

After saying goodbye to Chiba, Taichi prepared to leave.

"Taichi."

Iwaizumi hesitated for a moment before calling out.

"I know it might sound strange coming from a Japanese trainer…but you and Oikawa have to win it all!"

"Of course!"

-----

"Sorry I'm late."

Taichi returned to San Juan's resting area. On the court, both teams had already finished warming up and were about to begin.

"It's fine. We understand."

Ramos gave him a playful wink.

His teammates were all smiling knowingly, even Coach Jose had a "you rascal, hiding something like this the whole time" expression on his face.

"…"

Damn that Oikawa. What exactly had he said? Taichi could only hope Iwaizumi had given him a good scolding earlier.

-----

"BEEEEP—!"

"2016 FIVB Men's Club World Championship, Group A second match: Brazil's ASAS São Paulo versus Italy's Trentino Volley."

"Match, start!"

ASAS São Paulo's lineup:

Front row—Middle Blocker Lucas Saatkamp, Setter Fernand Colin, Outside Hitter Yoandy Leal.

Back row—Outside Hitter Hinata Shōyō, Opposite Hitter Wallace Souza and Middle Blocker Darlan Souza (Libero: Sanhos).

Trentino Volley's lineup:

Front row—Opposite Hitter Luca Boro, Outside Hitter Alexander Delloro, Middle Blocker Ivan Zaytsev.

Back row—Middle Blocker Ryan Mosca (Libero: Fabio Balaso), Outside Hitter Yuri Romano, Setter Kageyama Tobio.

"Hinata's position is outside hitter?!"

Oikawa sounded surprised. From a middle blocker in high school, to an opposite hitter half a year ago, and now finally to an outside hitter—Hinata's journey had been full of challenges.

[Shōyō Hinata—Outside Hitter:Height: 171 cm

Spike Reach: 352 cm /Block Reach: 320 cm.]

[Wallace Souza—Opposite Hitter:Height: 202 cm

Spike Reach: 375 cm /Block Reach: 352 cm.]

"It's probably because Wallace is the opposite…" Taichi said seriously. "São Paulo definitely won't be as easy to handle as before."

No surprise—that truly was the legendary opposite hitter. Over thirty, and yet he'd come out of retirement and returned to peak form.

On the other side, every position on Trentino's side was occupied by world-class players—

The most renowned prodigy of all, "The Emperor," Alexander Delloro—only 19 years old.

[Alexander Delloro—Outside Hitter:Height: 211 cm

Spike Reach: 376 cm /Block Reach: 354 cm.]

Russia's former "Imperial Wall," the "Tsar," Ivan Zaytsev—28 years old.

[Ivan Zaytsev—Middle Blocker:Height: 205 cm

Spike Reach: 372 cm /Block Reach: 352 cm.]

Ranked among the world's top five liberos along with Yaku Morisuke, Fabio Balaso—27 years old.

[Fabio Balaso—Libero:Height: 182 cm

In addition, they had:

[Luca Boro—Opposite Hitter:Height: 193 cm

Spike Reach: 360 cm /Block Reach: 338 cm.]

[Yuri Romano—Outside Hitter:Height: 203 cm

Spike Reach: 365 cm /Block Reach: 343 cm.]

[Ryan Mosca—Middle Blocker:Height: 208 cm

Spike Reach: 368 cm /Block Reach: 352 cm.]

And now, into this fearsome lineup, they had fitted the final missing piece—the "King of Setters," Kageyama Tobio.

There was no doubt: Trentino would be San Juan's strongest opponent in the Group A round robin.

The match began with Trentino serving.

"Hinata…how much have you changed since high school?"

Kageyama Tobio stood at the service line, the ball spinning slowly between his hands.

"Tweet!—" The whistle sounded.

The ball stopped spinning and was tossed high into the air.

"I can hear every sound around me clearly. Lunch has digested just right. My vision is perfect…"

Kageyama felt an unprecedented calm settle over him.

THUD!

Kageyama took his approach, leaped high, his body stretching to its limit in midair. His right arm swung backwards, fully loaded with power, then whipped forward in a sharp, explosive motion.

"I'm nothing like who I was in high school anymore."

BOOM!!!

The ball tore through the air, leaving a ghostly trail behind it, before appearing directly in front of Hinata Shōyō in the next instant.

"Perfect timing!"

Hinata had known from the start that this serve was aimed at him!

Smack!!!

The ball shot high into the air—a first pass that was only half-accurate!

Setter Fernando quickly moved to adjust and set it high. Yoandy sprinted in from the right and launched into the air!

"Double block!" Alexander and Zaytsev jumped together. The attack route was sealed!

BOOM!!!—

The ball slipped right through the narrow gap in front of them. Luca Boro rushed forward —

SMACK!!!

A sharp, tight cross!

The ball skimmed Boro's arm and struck the court at a devilish angle, hitting the floor a meter inside Trentino's left-side three-meter line!

Yoandy scored!

[São Paulo 1 - 0 Trentino]

"I told you, there are others who can pull off a cross shot like that," Zaytsev said with a helpless smile.

"It doesn't count if it wasn't a triple block," Alexander insisted stubbornly.

Neither seemed particularly concerned by that brutal spike.

"Since you received it…consider that point a gift from me."

Kageyama and Hinata exchanged a knowing look across the net.

"Today…"

"Today too…"

— "I'll be the one to win!"

_________

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Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty - Chapter 560: Hinata vs Kageyama

Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty
Chapter 560: Hinata vs Kageyama