Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty

Chapter 73: Ace

The evolution of the "Freak Quick Attack" was, as expected, complete.

Hinata Shōyō and Kageyama Tobio had mastered their "New Freak Quick Attack" much earlier than in the original storyline. The efforts they must have poured into this were undoubtedly immense.

Relatively speaking, Kageyama Tobio's role was the more challenging one. Yet, for him, completing this new technique seemed as natural as breathing.

Kaedehara Taichi glanced at Oikawa Tōru beside him. He must have noticed the difference in their "Freak Quick Attack" as well.

"That little guy can control the ball mid-air now...?" Oikawa muttered, a grim realization dawning on him.

"Oikawa-senpai, I also want to—"

"No."

"But I haven't even said anything yet..."

"You were about to say we should try that too, weren't you?" Oikawa shook his head, his tone a mixture of resignation and frustration. "Unfortunately, I can't pull off Kageyama's precision—the kind that stops the ball exactly where it needs to be."

Unlike the initial version of the Super Quick Attack, where the ball simply had to reach the hitter's strike zone in a short time, Oikawa realized this New Freak Quick Attack was a step beyond.

And to be honest, he knew he couldn't control the ball with that level of pinpoint accuracy yet.

"Oh, well, forget it then." Kaedehara Taichi turned back calmly.

Oikawa blinked. "???"

Wasn't this the same Taichi who had been so insistent when they worked on the "Taichi-Oikawa Quick Attack" last time?

"I trust Oikawa-senpai's judgment. There are so many things I want to learn right now, but I also know some techniques just aren't within my reach yet."

Oikawa stared. "Taichi—" This kid....had matured so much!

"Besides, you admitted yourself that you're not as good at setting as Kageyama. What more can I say?" Taichi added nonchalantly.

"...."

Oikawa Tōru vowed never to set for Taichi again!!

-----

The match on the court was heating up. After Hinata Shōyō and Kageyama Tobio's New Freak Quick Attack landed successfully, Date Tech's defence was once again thrown off balance.

Smack!

Kamizaki Yasushi, Date Tech's third-year middle blocker, answered back with a clean and powerful spike to win a point.

"If they take a point, we'll snatch it right back!"

"Well done, Kamizaki!"

"As expected from Kamizaki-senpai!"

[Karasuno 6 - 8 Date Tech]

Azumane Asahi seized an opportunity and scored with a back-row attack.

[Karasuno 7 - 8 Date Tech]

Hinata and Kageyama's New Freak Quick Attack broke through Date Tech's blockers once again, scoring another point.

"Even if we can't score directly, the other team can't launch an attack if they can't receive the ball. Maintaining this tight score is tied directly to winning!"

Tsukishima looked surprised. Asahi-senpai had just spoken so....ace-like.

Noticing Tsukishima's expression, Asahi couldn't help but chuckle slightly.

As the ball Nishinoya had just saved sailed toward Kageyama, Asahi's voice boomed through the court:

"I got it!"

Stepping up to spike under pressure—that was the ace's job. Even against a steel wall, he would break through it!

Kageyama hesitated for a brief moment but then decided to set the ball.

"Triple block!" Aone Takanobu, Futakuchi Kenji, and Moniwa Kaname leapt up together. The Iron Wall of Date Tech rose in front of Asahi.

Thud!

The ball struck Futakuchi's arm with a loud smack but rebounded back into Karasuno's court.

Tsukishima was ready. He hadn't expected Asahi to pierce through the block on the first try, but he refused to let the play end there.

Taking a step to the side, Tsukishima reached out with his left hand and scooped the ball up.

Kageyama adjusted quickly, running to find a new angle for attack.

"Again!" Asahi's voice rang out, resolute and unwavering.

Kageyama's eyes flickered, searching for a route around the block. He knew letting a single player spike consecutively would exhaust them, but...

"Give it to me!!" Asahi called once more, his tone firm and unshakable.

Stepping back to the rear court, Asahi ensured he had enough room to take a running start. With full force, he sprinted toward the net, launching himself upward just a step before it.

In Kageyama's mind, Sugawara Koushi's words echoed from a past training session: "Asahi's speciality is a slightly higher set, a little further off the net."

The ball arched perfectly toward Asahi's hitting zone.

"Triple block!"

—If we can't even stop opponents we've defeated before, how can we call ourselves an Iron Wall?

—If I can't win this decisive point, how can I call myself an ace?

Smack!

The ball struck Moniwa Kaname's arm and rebounded high into the air.

"Out!" Sawamura Daichi shouted as he tracked the ball's trajectory.

The ball had landed outside the court. Block-out.

Asahi's spike had scored.

_________

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