Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty

Chapter 349: Duel

Ky?tani Kentar? never had a clear-cut career plan like Bokuto K?tar? did, but when it came to his love for volleyball, he would never lose to anyone.

After clashing with his upperclassmen and being ostracised, Ky?tani was forced to leave his team. From that moment on, he had always been alone in the world of volleyball—like a lone star burning in silence.

No team.

No teammates.

No goal.

Even so, the stray Mad Dog never stopped chasing volleyball.

Every jump, every spike—the moment the ball made contact with his palm—it was the purest form of his passion for the sport, igniting deep within him.

Without a team, he drifted from gym to gym, looking for matches where they needed an extra player.

Without teammates, he pushed himself to the limit, training alone.

Without a goal…

Ky?tani Kentar? could only release his love for volleyball on the court, as if the entire world had narrowed down to just him and the bouncing ball.

Until one year ago, during Golden Week—when Oikawa T?ru and Kaedehara Taichi pushed open the doors of the town gymnasium.

Dominate the nation!

This goal, which had left countless high school players with bitter regrets, was finally achieved by Aoba Johsai. And Ky?tani Kentar? had been one of them.

The joy of that moment was something he would never forget.

After that, Oikawa T?ru went to Argentina, and Kaedehara Taichi began preparing for his professional career.

And Ky?tani Kentar? finally saw the path he wanted to take.

Only volleyball!

Even at eighty years old, he wanted to remain involved in the sport in some way.

[Ding! Ky?tani Kentar? has entered Burst Mode.]

[Ky?tani Kentar? (Burst Mode)—Outside Hitter: Overall Ability Rating: 93

Height: 179 cm | Power: 99 | Jump: 93 | Stamina: 93 | Speed: 90

Technique: Serve: 93 | Receive: 88 | Spike:95]

"Hah?!"

Kaedehara Taichi turned to Ky?tani in shock. At a time like this?!

"Tweet!—" The whistle blew for the serve.

Kunimi Akira launched his third serve.

Bang!

Smack!

Sarukui F?to received the ball perfectly.

Whoosh—!

Despite Bokuto failing to score on his last two attempts, Akaashi Keiji still had no hesitation in setting the ball to the right side. Compared to his earlier frustrations, Bokuto's current state gave Akaashi nothing but reassurance.

"Triple block!" Yahaba Shigeru, Ky?tani Kentar?, and Kindaichi Y?tar? jumped simultaneously.

Bokuto could tell that Ky?tani was in peak condition. As someone who also excelled in cross-court shots, Bokuto found himself intrigued by Ky?tani.

Thud!

Bokuto soared into the air, his broad and powerful back tensing instantly. The smooth lines of his muscles rippled with astonishing strength. Suspended midair, his body remained perfectly balanced as if he were standing on solid ground.

BOOM!!!—

As he swung his arm, the muscles in his back exploded with force. That power travelled down his arm, concentrated in his palm, and transformed into an unstoppable spike, slicing through the air like a cannonball aimed straight at Aoba Johsai's court.

Bang!

The ball shot past Ky?tani, crashing between Nakamori Dai and Kaedehara Taichi.

Bokuto K?tar? scores!

[Aoba Johsai 15 - 17 Fukurodani]

"Hey! Hey!! HEY!!!"

"Bokuto—"

Bokuto K?tar? formed finger guns with both hands and aimed them diagonally upward.

"Beam!!!"

"What was that?" The players on the sidelines were dumbfounded. "So cool!"

"You mean the spike or Bokuto-senpai's pose?"

"Both were awesome!"

"…Are you serious?"

Fukurodani had finally broken through Aoba Johsai's momentum, regaining serve.

Ky?tani Kentar? remained silent.

That was the level he aspired to—but scoring wasn't limited to just that kind of play.

Naganohara Yukawa executed a float jump serve.

Kaedehara Taichi received it perfectly. Yahaba Shigeru stepped in and set the ball.

"Bokuto-senpai!"

Bang!

At the exact moment Akaashi Keiji called out, Yahaba Shigeru had already twisted his body and slammed the ball down.

A second attack!

The volleyball soared over Bokuto K?tar?'s head, dropping into Fukurodani's court.

Smack!

Acting purely on instinct, Bokuto took a large step back and hooked the ball up with one hand.

"Save!"

From the back row, Fujimiya Yoshiro quickly stepped in and set the ball toward the center. Onaga Wataru leapt up for the spike.

Boom!—

Smack!

"One touch!" Kindaichi Y?tar? called out loudly.

Nakamori Daiki made a perfect reception. Kaedehara Taichi, launching himself from the back row, spiked the ball.

"Double block!" Bokuto K?tar? and Onaga Wataru jumped up to challenge him.

Whoosh!—

But the ball was sent to the right wing instead.

BANG!!!

The ball tore through Akaashi Keiji's block and crashed into Fukurodani's court.

Ky?tani Kentar? scores!

[Aoba Johsai 16 - 17 Fukurodani]

The serve switched hands—Aoba Johsai's turn.

Kindaichi Y?tar? executed a powerful jump serve, but Sarukui F?to received it cleanly. Akaashi Keiji swiftly stepped in and set the ball.

Bokuto K?tar? fired a straight-line shot past the blockers, the ball zipping past Kindaichi's feet and out of reach.

[Aoba Johsai 16 - 18 Fukurodani]

The serve switched again—Bokuto K?tar? stepped up to the service line.

Sarukui F?to rotated to the front row.

"One ball!" Taichi raised his index finger. "End Bokuto-senpai's serve rotation in one shot."

From left to right, Aoba Johsai's back row consisted of Kaedehara Taichi, Kunimi Akira, and Nakamori Daiki. At some point, their receive formation had become seamless, like an impenetrable wall.

Bokuto tossed the ball into the air.

BOOM!!!

A pure power-driven jump serve blasted straight toward Kunimi.

Thud!

A heavy impact rang out as the ball rebounded high into the air, sailing back over the net into Fukurodani's court.

"Chance ball!"

Fujimiya Yoshiro easily controlled the ball, setting it perfectly.

Akaashi Keiji jumped up, faking out Y?ki Y?ji's block before setting to the right.

Sarukui F?to took off for the spike.

"Double block!" Yahaba Shigeru and Ky?tani Kentar? jumped up to meet him.

Boom!—

The ball shot past Yahaba's hands—a sharp cross-court shot!

Sarukui F?to's execution was calm and precise.

Smack!

But Kaedehara Taichi was already there to receive it.

"Damn it!" Sarukui clenched his teeth. No matter what I do, he sees through me!

Kunimi Akira quickly stepped in, sending the ball to the left wing.

At his highest reach, Y?ki Y?ji struck the ball.

Bang!

Smack!

"One touch!"

The ball ricocheted off Onaga Wataru's hands and shot high into the air.

Bokuto leapt outside the court and made a quick recovery.

Aoba Johsai barely had time to organise their block. The ball floated easily over the net, targeting their midline.

Smack!

Nakamori Dai dove and saved it with a last-second pancake.

Kunimi immediately filled the gap. As his eyes swept across the left side, he noticed—Kaedehara Taichi wasn't calling for the ball.

So he sent it to the right.

Ky?tani Kentar? took off.

"Triple block!"

Onaga Wataru, Akaashi Keiji, and Sarukui F?to jumped together, sealing off Ky?tani's straight-line shot completely.

On the left, Bokuto K?tar? personally guarded the diagonal.

BOOM!!!

The ball blasted through Sarukui's block, slamming into Fukurodani's court.

Ky?tani Kentar? scores!

[Aoba Johsai 17 - 18 Fukurodani]

_________

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