Haikyuu: Zero To Almighty-Chapter 534: The Legendary Opposite (Double-Length)

"Hahaha, what a bunch of idiots."

Just as the players on the sidelines were still reeling from Hinata Shōyō's incredible vertical leap, an obnoxiously sharp burst of laughter pierced through the air. Everyone turned toward the sound and saw a man who looked to be in his thirties, laughing so hard he was doubling over.

He was tall, dressed in a loose short-sleeved shirt, hair a mess, and right now, he was pointing directly at the players from São Paulo on the court, wearing an openly mocking expression.

"They actually let a 170cm midget pull off a super spike—hahahaha!"

His laughter grew louder, echoing through the gym and drawing stares from those nearby. Some of the younger players looked visibly annoyed by his rudeness, but for some reason, they held back and didn't respond.

"Wallace? What's he doing here?" a sharp-eyed player muttered, visibly surprised.

"Didn't he announce his retirement last year?" another asked, puzzled.

The surrounding players wore mixed expressions. Even those on the court were momentarily distracted and stopped playing.

"Wallace Souza?" Oikawa Tōru muttered uncertainly.

"You know him?" asked Kaedehara Taichi, raising a brow. Though upon hearing the name, even he had a vague inkling.

"Wallace Souza…Brazil's legendary opposite. He won three straight championships with Cruzeiro, retired, then came back and won another three straight with São Paulo. He's also a two-time Club World Championship winner…"

"He retired in between?" Hinata asked, confused. "Why?"

"In an interview, he said…he felt bored because he didn't have any worthy opponents in volleyball," Oikawa answered with a complicated expression.

Truly a legendary player. Beyond the two Club World titles, Wallace had also competed in two World Championships for Brazil, winning one gold and one silver.

-----

"Wallace, don't interrupt the match," Luca Reilly said with a frown.

"Reilly, you still haven't grown up at all," Wallace Souza replied, grinning. "You call this a match? The two guests over there are basically holding back while playing with you."

"What are you doing here today?" Sanhos asked.

"Oh come on, Zotto, you didn't tell anyone?" Wallace ignored Sanhos and spoke lazily. "I thought the club was throwing me a party to celebrate my comeback."

"Weren't you the one who said it should be a surprise?" Coach Darlan Zotto laughed.

"Was it?" Wallace scratched his head. "Hahaha, guess it was."

"By the way, where's Leia? And Coach Bernardo?"

"They're at the association drawing lots for the South American Championship group stage," Luca Reilly replied reluctantly.

"I see."

Wallace nodded and then turned his gaze toward the court. "Hey, kids from San Juan, mind if I hop in and play a few balls?"

"Wallace, don't mess around," Coach Zotto warned. "They're just visiting today. If you want to scrimmage, we've got a practice match against San Juan tomorrow."

"It's just a couple warm-up plays. This 3v3 has already lost its meaning," Wallace replied.

"Wallace—!"

"It's fine, Coach Zotto," Oikawa said with a smile. "It's an honour to get a chance to face Brazil's legendary opposite, even just in a practice round."

"I said it's a warm-up, not a practice," Wallace corrected as he began stretching on the sideline. "Still…you're pretty strong. Interested in being my teammate?"

"Haha, I'm very happy with the teammates I've got," Oikawa replied.

Wallace just shrugged. He hadn't really expected a yes.

-----

Five minutes later—

"Alan, you're still stuck on the second team? Haven't improved at all."

"Bruno, you're playing with brute force again. Try using your head for once."

"Alston…eh, forget it, your technique's just bad."

Wallace made casual remarks about each of the players from the previous match, showing no intention of sparing anyone.

"Wallace!" Luca Reilly snapped.

"Alright, alright, I'll stop." Wallace smirked, then turned to Luca. "I take back what I said earlier. You've grown a bit—you never used to talk back to me like this."

-----

Timeout over. The match resumed.

Now warmed up, Wallace Souza subbed in for Alston. The teams were now made up of two starters from São Paulo and one player from the second team on each side.

The score was reset to zero. First to 5 points would win. This time, Hinata's team (left side) had serve.

Oikawa Tōru returned to the service line.

The setup was more casual than before, but the tension on the court had become far more serious.

"Tweet!—"

The whistle blew.

Oikawa tossed the ball high—jump serve!

BOOM!!!

Still got it. The ball turned into a streak of light, flying toward the back-right corner.

"Got it!"

Wallace Souza's eyes locked onto the ball. If this had been his first time seeing a serve like this on court, even he might've struggled—but Wallace had been watching from the sidelines the entire time.

Smack!

A clean receive—perfectly popped up and nearly on target!

"He got it up!" someone on the sidelines exclaimed.

Wallace was already over 30, yet his reaction speed and movement hadn't diminished at all. That so-called retirement year? Nowhere to be seen.

"Bruno!"

"Got it!"

Bruno Redson jumped into position at the net and sent up a smooth set.

Thud!

Wallace rose from the middle to attack!

Kaedehara Taichi jumped with him, forming a one-man block in front.

"I see now."

"Your block reaction is fast, your hands are solid, no gaps, and you're saving your power for the adjustment—plus, the height is more than enough..."

Wallace's gaze sharpened, but his swing didn't slow.

BOOM!!!

The ball slipped past Taichi's left side and slammed down hard on the three-meter line.

Wallace Souza scores!

[Hinata Team 0 - 1 Redson Team]

"Hey, kid. What's your name?" Wallace asked.

"Old man, what's your name?" Taichi shot back.

"…?" Wallace blinked in surprise. "Kid, running your mouth like that isn't going to get you far."

"Is that so?" Taichi grinned. "Do you use the internet, old man? After you lose, you can look me up."

"Hahahaha!" Wallace burst out laughing. "Kid, I like your attitude."

"But if you think that's enough to beat me, you're ten years too early."

Serve change—Wallace Souza walked up to the service line.

Hinata, Oikawa, and Taichi all took a step back toward the baseline. From Wallace's presence alone, they could tell—this wasn't going to be easy to receive.

"Tweet!—"

Wallace tossed the ball high, took three running steps, and—

Thud!

"No way—!" Oikawa's eyes widened slightly. He was certain Wallace had jumped even higher than he had for his earlier spike!

BOOM!!!—

The serve came like a cannon shot, arriving in front of Hinata Shōyō in a flash.

Wham!!!

Hinata twisted his body slightly and raised both arms. The ball bounced sharply off his forearms and flew toward the net.

"Oikawa!"

Taichi sprinted forward and leapt.

Oikawa jumped at the net and intercepted the ball single-handedly just before it crossed over.

Whoosh!—

He sent it soaring toward the right side!

"What a set!" Luca Reilly couldn't help but praise.

Wallace Souza had clearly broken the opponent's reception formation—if the ball simply made it over the net, whether it was a tip or a reorganised attack, they'd have a hard time defending.

However, Oikawa Tōru's one-handed set had, in that instant, seamlessly connected into a quick attack, and Kaedehara Taichi was already in position without a moment's delay!

"Double block!" Wallace and Alan Souza jumped together.

"Hmm?!"

Wallace stood over two meters tall, but was slightly shorter than the subbed-out Alston.

And yet—this double block carried far more pressure than the previous triple block.

BOOM!!

Kaedehara Taichi quickly adjusted his power and smacked the ball diagonally to avoid the block!

"Good read!" Wallace's eyes gleamed in recognition.

But—

Smack!

Bruno Redson managed to dig the ball!

The two blockers landed. Wallace immediately backed off, widening his approach.

"Alan! High ball!"

"Got it!"

Alan Souza barely managed to reposition and set a high ball to the middle.

A very average set—high, and nothing more.

Thump!

Wallace took his approach and launched into the air.

Taichi jumped up to block—alone!

"No way?!!"

This time, Oikawa was genuinely shocked.

—BOOM!!!

A super spike!

The ball flew straight over Taichi's outstretched arms and slammed into the left side of the court.

Wallace Souza scored!

[Hinata Team 0 - 2 Redson Team]

"Kid, when I said 'ten years,' I didn't mean you'll beat me in ten years—I meant I'll be too old to jump by then," Wallace said with a cocky grin, eyes locked onto Taichi.

"Ahahahaha…"

Oikawa frowned. In Argentina's top A1 league, the number of times Kaedehara Taichi had been beaten head-on like that was—zero.

From a setter's perspective, Wallace's second spike had been at least a palm higher than his first.

At least 370cm.

"Haha…hahaha!" Taichi's grin stretched wide, the thrill shining across his whole face. "I acknowledge you now, old man!"

"Oh? You've got some guts, kid." Wallace raised an intrigued eyebrow.

"Shōyō, get it together. It's time to go all out," Oikawa muttered. "If you mess up now, Taichi will tear you apart."

"Ah—yes!" Hinata replied, but quietly thought to himself: I've been going all out this whole time…

Redson team continued serving.

Wallace cradled the ball in one hand, his index finger locked on Taichi.

"Let's test that receive of yours!"

BOOM!!!

Wallace jump-served with full power—the ball went straight for Taichi!

Smack!

Taichi absorbed the impact cleanly. A beautiful, nearly perfect receive.

"Nice pass!" Oikawa shouted. He leapt in the front row and set the ball.

"Shōyō!"

Thump!

Hinata launched upward, legs exploding off the ground. In that moment, he found himself immersed in a sensation he hadn't felt for a long time.

Since arriving in Brazil, Hinata had struggled to find another setter like Kageyama—someone who, despite their daily bickering, had matched him perfectly on court.

Until now.

In this unfamiliar land, Oikawa-senpai's arrival brought back that exhilarating rush. The ball came to him like magic, always landing at just the right spot for him to swing with everything he had.

Not a fraction off.

"Look out—!"

BOOM!—

Just as the ball left Hinata's hand, a larger hand suddenly smothered its path.

—Smack!!!

The spike was blocked—right past Hinata.

"Eh?" Hinata blanked for a moment. What just happened?

That was a perfect swing…It felt exactly like the super spike from before…

"SHŌYŌ! SNAP OUT OF IT!!"

Smack!

Taichi dove and miraculously saved the ball!

Oikawa rushed in to cover—but Hinata had been too slow to react.

"Too late!"

Oikawa quickly flicked the ball toward the back-right corner with a second touch.

Crap...Oikawa realised too late: in a 3v3, tipping was against the rules!

"Tipping is not allowed—"

"Doesn't matter! Play on!"

Wallace's shout silenced Bruno Redson's hesitation.

Smack!

Alan Souza calmly received it—clean first touch.

Bruno adjusted and sent a high ball to the right side.

Wallace leapt to spike!

Kaedehara Taichi—who had just saved the ball—was already at the net again.

A solo block—again!

Wait—his block's gotten higher?

BOOOM!!!

Wallace spiked with all his power!

SMACK!!!

The ball struck Taichi's arms and ricocheted straight up!

"He blocked it?!"

Wallace didn't look surprised though.

"Chance ball!"

Hinata had recovered his focus and received it cleanly.

He had just realized—the rhythm of this match had completely changed since Wallace entered.

The ball flew up to the front. A perfect first touch.

Oikawa jumped in the front row to set.

Bruno stuck close, guarding against a possible dump.

Whoosh—!

Oikawa didn't set a quick, instead sending a smooth high set to the right side.

Bruno quickly shifted to cover the cross-court angle.

Thump!

Taichi soared upward.

"Double block!" Wallace and Alan jumped together.

—BOOM!!!

The ball brushed past Wallace's fingertips and slammed into the right baseline—just barely in.

Kaedehara Taichi scored with a super spike!

[Hinata Team 1 - 2 Redson Team]

"You got anything higher in you?" Taichi asked with a casual smile.

"Who knows?" Wallace grinned.

"Actually," one of the scorekeepers chimed in, "since Oikawa's earlier tip was a foul, the point technically ended there…" He began preparing to adjust the score.

"No need," Wallace said flatly. "That tip doesn't change the fact that I got blocked. Ref mistakes are part of the game. Complaining doesn't make you better."

"Let's change it," Taichi said calmly. "Respect the rules."

"No changes!" Wallace snapped.

"If you don't change it, you'll lose." Taichi's voice was even.

"Hmph. Let's see you try."

"Change it."

"No!"

"Man, these guys are weird…arguing about giving the other team points?" muttered a baffled player on the sidelines.

-----

"Enough!" Coach Zotto cut in, halting the bickering. "It's not an official match. What's there to argue about in a scrimmage?"

"No changes!"

"You're both incredible players. Let's just move on. Keep playing!"

Wallace chuckled triumphantly. "Consider it your reward for blocking my spike."

"Kaedehara Taichi," Taichi introduced himself, "It's an honour to face you."

[Wallace Souza—Opposite Hitter:Height: 202 cm

Serve: 98 | Receive: 96 | Dig: 92 | Set: 94 | Spike: 99| Block: 99

Spike Reach: 375 cm /Block Reach: 350 cm.]

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