Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty

Chapter 177: Victory!

The atmosphere on the court grew increasingly intense.

After Tsukishima Kei's critical block, not only had the score returned to a tie, but more importantly, Shōyō Hinata was back in the front row!

Now with both the ace, Asahi Azumane, and the "Little Giant", Shōyō Hinata, in the front line, Karasuno was in its strongest offensive rotation.

"Karasuno's growth is incredible. Who would've thought they could push Shiratorizawa this far?"

"With the Little Giant back in the front, Karasuno might actually take the second set..."

Amid his teammates' chatter, Kaedehara Taichi felt a vague sense of unease. Ushijima Wakatoshi had spiked surprisingly few balls so far—and this wasn't the result of Karasuno's blocking efforts.

Karasuno's serve. Tsukishima Kei executed a basic overhand serve.

Karasuno's weakness was fully exposed at this moment: the team didn't have enough powerful servers.

Kageyama Tobio could be counted as one, and Asahi Azumane was borderline. Daichi Sawamura and Ryūnosuke Tanaka could deliver steady serves, but nothing spectacular.

Meanwhile, Shōyō Hinata and Tsukishima Kei's serves were practically gifts to the opponents.

Shirabu Kenjirō easily received the ball, and without hesitation, set it to the right wing.

Wakatoshi Ushijima followed closely, starting his approach and leaping at the net.

Eager to make an impact after returning to the court, Shōyō Hinata actively joined the block. Sprinting laterally, he jumped alongside his two front-row teammates.

"Triple block!"

Hinata, Sawamura, and Azumane stood in front of Ushijima.

Thanks to his running start, Hinata's blocking height was nearly equal to Azumane's. Stretching his arms as far forward as possible, he recalled Kuroo Tetsurō's tips about blocking techniques from the training camp.

BANG!!!

The overwhelming force that struck Hinata's arms cut his thoughts short. His entire body was pushed backwards, and he fell to the court, landing hard.

The volleyball hit Karasuno's side of the court before he did, bouncing high into the air.

[Karasuno 26 – 27 Shiratorizawa]

Kenjirō Shirabu glanced at the Little Giant sitting on the floor, his expression one of pity.

So eager to get back on the court, thinking he could turn the tide...And then what?

Even when jumping with all his might, he could only reach Ushijima-senpai's level.

But what about the power gap? How could that possibly be bridged?

Shirabu acknowledged Hinata's strength, but for Ushijima Wakatoshi, that was all it amounted to.

Sitting on the floor, Hinata's wide eyes were filled with confusion and shock.

Being completely overpowered like that made him painfully aware of the vast gap between him and Ushijima.

What Karasuno had struggled to earn through sheer effort, Shiratorizawa's ace could reclaim with ease.

"Shirabu, leave the rest to me," came Ushijima Wakatoshi's calm voice. Even with the score at set point, his composure was unshaken.

"Yes, Ushijima-senpai!" Shirabu replied, his trust in his ace absolute.

Shiratorizawa was just one point away from victory, but Ushijima's words—the rest—implied complete confidence in handling any comeback Karasuno might mount.

"One touch!"

Hayato Yamagata was already retreating, his sharp instincts guiding him to the backline. With a desperate dive, he extended his arm to keep the ball in play.

Smack!

Yamagata's single-handed dig sent the ball skyward, but the effort came at a cost—his body crashed into the wall with a heavy thud.

"Yamagata!"

"Yamagata-senpai!"

"I'm fine!" Yamagata gritted his teeth, shouting toward his teammates. "Wakatoshi!"

White-knuckling his resolve, Kenjirō Shirabu set the ball high and steady to their ace.

The ball sailed toward the right wing. Ushijima, undeterred by the chaos, repositioned himself. His focus narrowed, his thoughts entirely on the ball.

Taking two steps back from the net, Ushijima began his approach. His powerful strides culminated in a leap that seemed to freeze time. His body stretched, legs tucked, and left arm pulled back in a perfect arc.

Suspended in mid-air, he was a picture of raw power and precision.

"Three-man block!"

Karasuno's front line—Daichi Sawamura, Asahi Azumane, and Shōyō Hinata—rose in unison, a final wall of resistance against the Shiratorizawa ace.

But Ushijima, with his immense strength and composure, waited for their timing to falter. Like Asahi moments before, he hovered in the air, outlasting their block.

"No!"

In that agonizing moment of realization, Karasuno's trio felt themselves descending, their reach slipping further from the ball.

Ushijima seized the opportunity, snapping his arm forward with unparalleled speed and precision.

—Boom!—

The ball tore past the block and rocketed toward Karasuno's court. Nishinoya darted to the falling ball's trajectory with a final burst of energy, attempting to intercept it. His arms came together just as the ball arrived, but its raw power forced them apart.

The ball struck the court.

[Karasuno 26 – 28 Shiratorizawa]

The sound of impact reverberated through the gym. For a moment, time seemed to stand still.

Daichi Sawamura, Asahi Azumane, and Sugawara Kōshi stood frozen, their expressions blank as the reality sank in.

For Karasuno's third-years, this marked the end of their high school volleyball journey.

"Tweet!—"

The referee's whistle pierced the air.

Game over.

Winner: Shiratorizawa Academy!

_________

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