Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty

Chapter 48: Crazy Training

[May 2nd, 9:00 AM, Aoba Johsai High School Gymnasium]

After an hour of intense training, the players of the Aoba Johsai volleyball team were scattered along the edges of the gymnasium in small groups, catching their breath. Beads of sweat rolled down their faces, dripping onto the polished wooden floor.

Although today's practice had only just begun, the fatigue accumulated from the previous day lingered like a shadow, sapping their energy and leaving traces of weariness on their expressions.

That's the thing about training camps—they're nothing short of brutal. Even Kyōtani Kentarō and Iwaizumi Hajime had slumped against the wall to rest, knowing full well they had an entire day of practice still ahead.

"Oikawa-senpai, how do you serve a jump float?"

And yet, amidst this atmosphere of exhaustion, one 'monster' continued to thrive—tirelessly chasing improvement.

"You want to learn the jump float now?" Iwaizumi was the first to respond, raising an eyebrow at Taichi Kaedehara.

"Yeah," Taichi replied earnestly. "After the match against Shiratorizawa, I realized that regular serves don't just lack power—they're practically a free ball for the opposing team." He clenched his fists, unwilling to relive the moment his serve had been effortlessly returned and turned into a devastating counterattack.

"Then why a jump float? Most players would aim to master the jump serve for direct points."

"Uh....because I'm not strong enough yet."

Thanks to a system that only he had access to, Taichi was keenly aware of his own weaknesses.

However, to others, his spikes and blocks often overshadowed this particular shortcoming.

"Don't worry—I'll master it eventually," he said, his confidence unwavering. "For now, I just want to focus on the jump float since it's more realistic in the short term."

There was something about Taichi's self-assured tone and insatiable desire to improve that made others uneasy, as if his ambition placed a constant pressure on them.

After a brief pause, Oikawa Tōru said, "Taichi, even a jump float isn't that easy to master."

"I know," Taichi replied nonchalantly. "But there's still a month left before the IH qualifiers. As long as I learn it before then, it's fine."

This kid....His cocky attitude makes me not want to teach him.

Oikawa smirked and said, "Fine. Start by practising ball control. Line up some water bottles along the baseline, and try jump-serving to knock them over one by one. Come back when you hit an 80% accuracy rate, and I'll teach you the next step."

"Got it!"

From then on, the Aoba Johsai team often saw Taichi Kaedehara practising serves alone during their breaks.

[May 3rd]@@@@

Iwaizumi Hajime and Hanamaki Takahiro decided to shift their training focus to serve-receives. Other than their daily spiking drills, they devoted almost all their time to mastering the fundamentals of reception.

Together with libero Watari Shinji, the three often huddled to discuss footwork and hand positioning for receiving powerful serves.

That day, the trio decided to test their skills against Oikawa's infamous serves.

"Even if it's three-on-one, I'm not losing to you guys!" Oikawa teased, bouncing the ball casually with one hand.

They were folded with precision, each one like a soldier standing at attention, waiting for its owner. The bright school name emblazoned across the front gleamed under the sunlight, a proud emblem of honour and belonging.

Mizoguchi's face bore a warm smile, his eyes brimming with encouragement and high expectations for the team.

"I won't say much," his voice boomed, carrying across every corner of the gym. "From the moment you put on this jersey, you carry the honour of Aoba Johsai. Let us face the challenges ahead together and create new glory for our team!"

"One, Oikawa Tōru."

"Two, Matsukawa Issei."

"Three, Hanamaki Takahiro."

"Four, Iwaizumi Hajime."

...

"Six, Yahaba Shigeru."

"Seven, Watari Shinji."

...

"Ten, Kaedehara Taichi."

"Twelve, Kindaichi Yūtaro."

"Thirteen, Kunimi Akira."

...

"Sixteen, Kyōtani Kentarō."

As Mizoguchi called each number, he handed out the jerseys one by one. The players stepped forward, each accepting their uniform with pride.

Without exception, they all wore bright smiles—some lightly stroking the fabric, others eagerly trying on their new gear. The gym was filled with an indescribable mix of joy and solemnity.

Once dressed in their new uniforms, the players seemed to radiate energy, moving freely around the court and glancing at one another's fresh looks.

Coach Irihata observed the scene from the sidelines, a satisfied expression on his face. Once the players had calmed down a bit, he addressed them:

"Tomorrow, the team from Tokyo—Nekoma—will be visiting. I've heard their recent matches have been nearly all wins."

"Then let's make sure we hand them their first loss in Miyagi!"

The entire Aoba Johsai team was fired up, ready to take on the challenge!

_________

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