"Aoba Johsai is actually falling behind..."
"So this is Date Tech's strategy? If there's no way to stop Kaedehara Taichi, then leave the strongest blocking formation for the rest of Aoba Johsai instead!"
And sure enough, it was working.
Kaedehara Taichi was scoring even more easily than in the first set, sometimes stringing together consecutive point...
2025-03-16 16:22:32 +0000 UTC View Post"Aoba Johsai really is terrifying. Even though it's obvious they're not at full strength, no team has been able to beat them?"
"Is Date Tech really going to lose just like that? Looks like they still don't have an answer for Kaedehara Taichi…"
In Date Tech's bench area, despite losing the first set, the players remained fired up.
Coach Oiwake tapped his tac...
2025-03-16 16:21:13 +0000 UTC View Post"So terrifying…" Date Tech's coach Oiwake muttered to himself, resting his chin on his hand.
"We've long known that Kaedehara Taichi's strength isn't solely reliant on Oikawa Tōru, but compared to their unstoppable synergy, the current Kaedehara Taichi should have exploitable weaknesses."
"He's still at peak condition, so stopping him completely in the first set isn't realistic. ...
2025-03-15 16:01:06 +0000 UTC View Post"Beep—!"
"Please take care of us!!"
Date Tech's starting lineup:
Front row—Outside hitter Futakuchi Kenji, Middle Blocker Aone Takanobu, Setter Kanji Koganegawa.
Back row—Outside Hitter Onagawa Tarō, Middle Blocker Fukiage JIngo (Libero: Sakunami Kōsuke) and Outside Hitter Obara Y...
[March 18th, Sendai City Gymnasium]
The Prefectural Tournament final between Aoba Johsai and Date Tech was about to begin.
"This match is going to be exciting."
"But there's not much suspense, right? Shiratorizawa got completely crushed by Aoba Johsai—I can't even picture them losing."
"Honestly, Aoba Johsai isn't as strong as th...
2025-03-14 16:02:01 +0000 UTC View PostBefore the semifinals began in the afternoon, a stranger blocked the Seijoh players' path to the court.
"Hey, you're their leader, right?"
Towada Yoshiki swept his gaze over Seijoh's group of second-years before finally locking onto Kyōtani Kentarō—this guy had the aura of a strong player.
Yahaba Shigeru frowned. Is my presence as captain really that weak...
2025-03-14 16:01:26 +0000 UTC View Post"Moniwa-senpai, can I ask about the scores from the first two sets?"
"Oh, of course." Moniwa Kaname pulled out his phone. He had taken photos of the scoreboard earlier.
[Karasuno 20 - 25 Date Tech]
[Karasuno 30 - 28 Date Tech]
They lost decisively but won by the skin of their teeth...
Kaedehara Taichi suddenly realized that this seeme...
2025-03-14 16:00:20 +0000 UTC View Post"We still have a chance! Stay calm and take back one point—!"
"Yes!!!"
Compared to the shouts of the players on the court, the cheers from the stands were sparse.
Perhaps the audience still hadn't accepted that Shiratorizawa was no longer the powerhouse it once was.
Bang!
Shirabu Kenjirō sent out a jump float serve, which Watari Shinji bar...
2025-03-13 16:07:23 +0000 UTC View PostAoba Johsai reclaimed the serve, with Yahaba Shigeru stepping up to the service line.
With Kindaichi Yūtarō subbed out, Aoba Johsai's overall height had noticeably dropped. Aside from Kaedehara Taichi, who stood at 188 cm, no other player on the court was above 185 cm.
The same situation applied to Shiratorizawa. Aside from their two middle blockers, who exceeded 185 cm, most of t...
2025-03-13 16:01:59 +0000 UTC View PostShiratorizawa reacted swiftly, immediately adjusting their receive formation to a four-man setup. Goshiki Tsutomu, positioned at the left wing, retreated to the back row, guarding the right corner of the court.
Although they hadn't expected Kyōtani Kentarō's serve to carry such immense power, his ball control still seemed somewhat lacking. Compared to the footage from Spring Nationals, ...
2025-03-12 16:01:18 +0000 UTC View Post[March 17th, Sendai City Gymnasium]
The eight teams that had advanced from the group stage gathered once more in the same venue. After the quarterfinal matches in the morning, the East and West block semifinals would take place in the afternoon.
"Every time I see our match schedule, I can't help but feel how inhumane it is..." Kunimi Akira muttered listlessly.
Finally~
After months of endless procrastination, I’m excited to present my new story—HPxLOTM: A Wizard’s Pathway to Divinity.
Let’s address the obvious first—Yes, it’s a translation. Yes, it’s posted on Webnovel (for now).
Did I say anywhere that it’s a translation? Nope. And for good reason—last time I did, my story g...
2025-03-11 16:41:03 +0000 UTC View Post"Aoba Johsai's match yesterday was a complete domination, too."
"In the second set, Kaedehara Taichi was unstoppable—he actually scored nine consecutive points!"
March 16th. Once again, the stands were packed with spectators eager to watch Kaedehara Taichi in action.
Facing Tenzan South, who had also won their first two matches and carried strong m...
2025-03-11 16:01:05 +0000 UTC View PostThe "numbered shot" was the name Kaedehara Taichi had given to his training over the past two months.
By mentally dividing the opponent's court into a three-by-three grid and numbering each section from 1 to 9, he repeatedly practised spiking the ball into specific areas to refine his control. Over time, this method also sharpened his ability to read the opponent's ...
2025-03-11 16:00:15 +0000 UTC View PostBang!
With a sharp, resounding smack, the volleyball struck the court and bounced away.
Kindaichi Yūtarō scored with a spike.
[Aoba Johsai 25 - 14 Jisuikan]
"Tweet—!"
The referee's whistle signalled the end of the first set in Round 2, Group A of the Miyagi Prefectural T...
2025-03-10 16:03:00 +0000 UTC View Post"Leaving today?"
"Yeah, I'm heading out with Coach José."
"What about the club?"
"I won't be going. I already said my goodbyes last time."
"In that case, Issei and I should at least see you off."
"No need. Iwa-chan's coming with me—that's enough. You two should focus on the career guidance seminar. When I get back, you'd better treat me to a feast!"
"…Yo...
2025-03-10 16:02:01 +0000 UTC View PostEight players. Even if there had been a playful air to it, the fact remained—not a single one of them had even touched Kaedehara Taichi's spike.
It wasn't until they stood on the same court as him that Aoba Johsai's first and second-year bench players finally understood what it meant to be a national-level ace.
Off to the side, Yahaba Shigeru found himse...
2025-03-10 16:01:08 +0000 UTC View Post[Author's Note]: In reality, the Spring High Tournament, Interhigh, and National Sports Festival (Kokutai) are considered the three major high school volleyball competitions in Japan. This fanfiction follows Haikyuu!!'s setting and omits the National Sports Festival.
-----
The Prefectural Tournament in March was different from the Interhigh an...
2025-03-10 16:00:15 +0000 UTC View PostBy mid-January, schools across Miyagi Prefecture had resumed classes one after another.
This was the shortest term in Japanese high schools, marking the final stretch for third-year students before graduation. During this period, most third-years were preoccupied with entrance exam preparations, job fairs, and graduation ceremonies. Their schedules naturally shifted back to academic studi...
2025-03-09 16:38:12 +0000 UTC View Post[VOLUME 3]
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[Aoba Johsai 25 - 20 Itachiyama]
[Aoba Johsai 27 - 29 Itachiyama]
[Aoba Johsai 25 - 23 Itachiyama]
[Aoba Johsai 25 - 23 Itachiyama]
"Beep, beep—!"
The final whistle echoed through the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.
"Aoba Johsai w...
2025-03-09 16:36:58 +0000 UTC View Post"It feels like Itachiyama has a chance to overtake the lead, yet they just can't seem to secure that crucial point!"
"Now that Kaedehara Taichi has rotated to the front row before Sakusa Kiyoomi, could this be Aoba Johsai's opportunity to widen the gap?"
Aoba Johsai's serve—Kunimi Akira steps up to the service line!
"Hold the line! Take back every single po...
2025-03-08 16:01:03 +0000 UTC View Post"That curve…That's Bokuto Kōtarō's signature serve!"
It was only now that Komori Motoya realized it.
As two of Tokyo's powerhouse schools, Itachiyama and Fukurōdani had faced off numerous times.
But Komori simply couldn't believe it—was Kaedehara Taichi really attempting a new technique at such a critical moment?!!
This monster…completely impos...
2025-03-08 16:00:14 +0000 UTC View Post"Eh? The boys' final isn't over yet? I thought it would be finished by now."
A girl from Niiyama High glanced toward the centre court after seeing another set conclude.
"It won't end that fast. They just finished the third set."
"The overall score is now 2-1, and Aoba Johsai is in the lead?!!" Kanoka Amanai gasped, covering her mouth in shock.
"Aoba Johsai? ...
2025-03-07 16:02:01 +0000 UTC View PostJust one more point—if he could score one more point, he might fully grasp this elusive sensation.
Kunimi Akira stood at the service line, spinning the volleyball in his hand. He pressed his fingers against the ball's surface, feeling its texture and firmness. Despite having touched a volleyball tens of thousands of times before, it felt strangely different at this moment.
He took...
2025-03-07 16:01:06 +0000 UTC View Post"The powerful server, Kaedehara Taichi, is back at the service line!"
"Another cannon shot—but Itachiyama's Iizuna Tsukasa handled it beautifully!"
"What a shame! That trajectory looked perfect to me!"
"Komori Motoya leaps from the back row—a stunning set! Even with their setter being held back, Itachiyama still manages to launch a flawless atta...
2025-03-07 16:00:15 +0000 UTC View Post"Tweet!—"
"Itachiyama calls for a timeout."
"I never expected Aoba Johsai to pull out such a trump card in the second set. They've just completed the final piece of their offensive puzzle in the nationals final," Coach Yamazaki remarked with admiration.
"However, there's no need for us to panic."
"Itachiyama has faced situations ...
2025-03-06 16:07:40 +0000 UTC View Post"The same as Itachiyama's offence, Aoba Johsai's play just now was an open scheme," Miya Atsumu said grimly. "When Taichi suddenly leaps to the net, there's no way anyone can ignore him."
"I think Itachiyama's back row made a mistake," Kita Shinsuke said. "It wasn't an easy ball to spike—there weren't many attack angles available. If they had anticipated Oikawa Tōru going for a setter ...
2025-03-06 16:05:50 +0000 UTC View Post"This…this—Aoba Johsai scores again!"
"After a receiving error sent the ball spiralling toward Itachiyama's side, Kaedehara Taichi slammed it down at an almost vertical angle!"
"Despite relying only on his wrist strength, the ball's placement was so precise that even Komori Motoya, who had rushed in from the back row, could do nothing but watch!"
"Hurry and adjust your mindset! Stay focused!!"
The urgent shouts from the cheering squad echoed through the air. The first set had ended with Itachiyama losing by five points.
While losing the first set was already a rare occurrence for Itachiyama, what weighed even heavier was the sheer gap—it felt like a massive boulder pressing down on the hearts of their supporters.<...
2025-03-05 16:07:15 +0000 UTC View PostBoom!
Kindaichi Yūtarō's serve was particularly fierce this time, but Komori Motoya still received it cleanly!
Iizuna Tsukasa quickly moved into position and set the ball to the left wing. Sakusa Kiyoomi faced a triple block and scored off the blockers' hands.
[Aoba Johsai 19 – 16 Itachiyama]
"Damn it!" Kindaichi Yūtarō sh...
2025-03-05 16:06:09 +0000 UTC View Post