Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty

Chapter 157: Discovering a Prodigy (Double Length)

Kakugawa Academy ultimately fell to Karasuno, which was expected.

While Hyakuzawa Yūdai had made considerable progress, Karasuno simply had more players capable of stepping up when needed.

Shaking off his thoughts, Taichi resumed his relentless running on the beach.@@@@

Each step fought against the resistance of the sand, strengthening his ankles. With time, the increased intensity of his training sculpted the muscles in his legs, making them more defined and powerful.

"Is that the 'Left-Handed Magician' from the East?" a young boy with a backpack asked at the club's bar, pointing to Taichi as he jogged past the entrance.

The boy was short—barely 170 centimetres tall—with dark blue hair and sun-bronzed skin, giving him the appearance of a local kid.

However, his facial features hinted at his Asian heritage.

"Yo, Daiki, you're back!" Coach Kuno greeted with a wide smile. "How did the tournament go?"

"Of course, I won," Nakamori Daiki replied nonchalantly.

"That's incredible!" Coach Kuno gave him a thumbs-up and slid over a glass of lemonade.

Daiki's parents were both Japanese, but he had grown up in Hawaii due to his father's work.

He attended middle school locally and fell in love with beach volleyball.

The tournament Coach Kuno referred to was a junior cup hosted by 30 beach volleyball clubs across Hawaii. Open to players under 15, it was not just a competition but also a promotional event for the participating clubs, with a $3,000 prize for the winning team.

"You just got back, and you've already heard that nickname?"

"I was hanging out with Norton for a bit, and he told me," Daiki replied. "How old is he? Is he really that good?"

"I think he's in high school. As for his volleyball skills, he's primarily an indoor player who only recently started learning beach volleyball."

"Oh..." Daiki lost interest immediately.

Noticing his reaction, Coach Kuno chuckled and added, "But he's improving fast. You should see for yourself tomorrow."

"Fine," Daiki shrugged as he jumped off his stool. "Oh, and Uncle Kuno, remember our deal—I won the championship, so I get to train with the high school group now. Those middle school kids are way too weak."

"Alright, alright," Coach Kuno waved him off, watching as Daiki ran outside. "You're just a kid yourself."

-----

The next morning, Taichi arrived at the training grounds earlier than usual, only to find a short tanned-boy already sitting there.

Curious but unfazed, Taichi went straight into his warm-ups.

Daiki blinked in surprise. What? He's not even going to acknowledge me? He clearly hasn't heard of my reputation.

Determined to get his attention, Daiki walked up to Taichi and said, "Hey, I heard your serves are pretty amazing."

Japanese? So, this kid was here for him after all.

Taichi finally took a good look at the boy. Calloused hands and scarred knees showed signs of rigorous training. Despite his small stature and lean frame, his muscle definition suggested strength.

However, the boy's attitude was far from endearing. Taichi leaned forward slightly, pretending not to understand. "Ah, did you get lost, little one? Need big brother to help you find your mom?"

"???"

Even with his tanned complexion, Daiki's face flushed bright red in anger.

"I'm Nakamori Daiki! The only recognized genius in this club!"

"Ohhh—" Taichi drew out the sound meaningfully. "I'm Kaedehara Taichi. So, genius-chan, what do you want from me?"

"I want to see how strong your serves really are," Daiki said, getting straight to the point.

Daiki had deliberately set his alarm for 4 a.m. and arrived at the beach by 5, thinking he would have the place to himself for a while.

But to his surprise, Taichi was already there, deep into his training routine.

His sleepiness evaporated instantly, replaced by curiosity and annoyance. This guy is seriously something else. And seriously annoying!

Taichi gave him a quick once-over. "You're...?"

"A middle schooler!" Daiki shouted preemptively, determined to avoid being mistaken for a grade-schooler. "But I'll be in high school next year, and starting today, I'm training with the high school group."

"Got it." Taichi smirked. "Let's begin."

"That fast?" Daiki blinked, caught off guard by how abruptly the conversation ended. Still, he quickly ran to the nearest court and signalled for Taichi to serve.

As Taichi stepped up to the service line, he recalled hearing the boy's name before.

Players at the club often praised Nakamori Daiki's skills, and just last night, he'd learned that Daiki had won a local championship.

In that case, there's no need to hold back.

"Come at me!" Daiki lowered his centre of gravity, his posture suddenly serious and focused. His earlier arrogance vanished, replaced by a sharp intensity that surprised Taichi.

Taking the match seriously, Taichi tossed the ball high and began his approach. His feet moved effortlessly across the sand, a testament to the progress he had made since his early days on the beach.

With a powerful leap, he struck the ball mid-air.

Boom!

The ball sped over the net with force and precision.

Daiki's eyes narrowed. From the approach to the jump, everything about Taichi screamed strong.

Nakamori Daiki glared at him fiercely. "Again!"

"Alright, alright..." Taichi replied cheerfully. After all, he needed someone to fetch the balls for him.

-----

[One hour later]

The two lay side by side on the sand, taking a break.

"Taichi-senpai, let's form a permanent team!"

"Sure, why not."

Once he admitted defeat, Nakamori Daiki became surprisingly docile—a trait Taichi quite liked.

The sun was fully up now, and other players from the club began arriving. Spotting the duo, everyone greeted them enthusiastically.

"You two are teaming up?" Coach Kuno's expression looked a bit odd.

"Yeah!" Nakamori Daiki leaned closer to the coach. "Uncle, Taichi-senpai is already amazing!"

"Is that so..." Coach Kuno didn't comment further and happily approved their registration.

-----

[Another hour later]

Nakamori Daiki finally understood why Coach Kuno's expression had been so peculiar.

Kaedehara Taichi's receiving and setting skills were...average at best. In beach volleyball, where each team has only two players, such weaknesses could be fatal.

"Don't tense your wrist so much—relax at the start!"

"Be gentler when receiving! The ball's bouncing back to the other side!"

"That's too close!"

"That's too far!"

"Your contact time is too long!"

"Taichi!!!"

Taichi earned himself some meticulous one-on-one coaching from Nakamori Daiki but lost his title of senpai in the process.

Meanwhile, Coach Kuno kept a close eye on the boys' progress. Though Nakamori Daiki might not realize it yet, the coach saw Kaedehara Taichi adapting to beach volleyball at a startling speed.

Even with his indoor volleyball background, this kind of progress was rare.

Moreover, his instinctive feel for the ball and sharp court sense allowed him to mask his weaknesses and maximize his strengths.

But what if he had no weaknesses?

Coach Kuno chuckled and shook his head, dismissing the fanciful thought. How could such a perfectly versatile player exist?

-----

Weeks passed quickly, and Kaedehara Taichi's Hawaiian volleyball journey neared its end.

Nearly a month of beach volleyball training had significantly elevated his stamina, techniques, and understanding of the game. His skin, now tanned to a healthy bronze, bore witness to countless hours under the Hawaiian sun.

Standing on the golden sands at sunset, Taichi gazed at the sun sinking into the horizon, filled with a sense of bittersweet reflection.

"Taichi, do you really have to leave? We haven't even reached the first place yet!" Nakamori Daiki crouched beside him, the sunset casting a faint golden glow over his sun-kissed skin.

"It is a pity, but school starts the day after tomorrow," Taichi replied, his thoughts already drifting back to the court in Tokyo. "I've got unfinished goals waiting for me there."

In the past week, their duo had started to rack up wins after a rocky start. By Nakamori Daiki's estimate, they could reach the top of the club rankings by next month.

"Is indoor volleyball more fun than beach volleyball?" Nakamori Daiki suddenly asked.

"I'm not sure, but with six people, there's a lot more unpredictability," Kaedehara Taichi answered, feeling a twinge of nostalgia for his Aoba Johsai teammates.

"Ugh, I'll have to find a new partner again." Nakamori Daiki stood up and kicked at the sand, visibly annoyed.

Taichi placed a hand on his head. "Do you regret teaming up with me?"

Nakamori Daiki slapped the hand away and didn't respond.

"You said you'd win Nationals, so don't back out now," Nakamori Daiki said seriously.

Kaedehara Taichi nodded firmly. "I won't!"

"Next year, I'll be moving to Japan for high school. If you win Nationals, I'll partner with you again!" Nakamori Daiki declared with a sly grin.

Kaedehara Taichi blinked in surprise. He hadn't heard about that.

"Hardcourt volleyball isn't as simple as beach volleyball. If you're not good enough, I'm not carrying you," Kaedehara Taichi teased.

This unexpected journey didn't feel like it was ending anytime soon...

_________

[T/N] - If you guys want to read 50 Chapters in advance of the current story, you can support me on my Patreon. Trust me, it's awesome!

Link - /Iseeblack [Remove the brackets]