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Haikyuu!! Observations: Making the Case for Oikawa

**GREAT KING SPOILERS BELOW**

Okay, so the final chapter of Haikyuu!! is upon us. It’s coming out on Oikawa’s BIRTHDAY, even. 

And my one wish is for the Great King, Tooru Oikawa, to show up one final time as the stage is set for the 2021 Olympics, with Hinata and Kageyama set to play together for Japan. We also are led to believe Ushijima and Bokuto are at least on the team for Japan as well, from the promotional material for Shonen Jump. 

I personally think this series will end with Hinata and Kageyama about to face “The Great King” one final time, at the Olympics. And not just because we haven’t seen Seijoh’s banner yet – although that’s a really valid reason.

I’ve seen a lot of people post that we won’t see Oikawa again, because his arc supposedly ended with meeting Hinata in Rio. I’m going to argue that, though, for a few key reasons:

1. Oikawa is THE Antagonist of Haikyuu!!

Now, don’t misinterpret “antagonist.” By antagonist, I don’t mean villain or “bad guy,” because that’s not what Haikyuu!! is really about. By antagonist, I mean a “hurdle” for the protagonists, which are mainly Hinata AND Kageyama, since they are the two narrative threads we follow throughout the manga. Hinata, sure, is our lead protagonist, but any time the manga has diverged away from Shoyo’s story…it’s been to see what Kageyama is doing. 

For example, in Chapter 83, while Hinata is learning from Coach Ukai during the Tokyo training arc, Kageyama gets some much needed advice, albeit a little one-sided, from his former senpai: 

For the first third of the manga, Oikawa establishes himself as the main rival to beat, mainly for Kageyama, but also for Hinata, who dubbed Oikawa “The Great King” to begin with. 

True, after Karasuno beats Seijoh in the the Qualifier semifinals, we don’t get nearly as much Oikawa…but he’s still a presence. He and Iwaizumi are our main commentators for the Karasuno vs. Shiratorizawa qualifier finals and he keeps popping up throughout their future matches. For example, during the Inarizaki match, in chapter 285, Kageyama FINALLY starts to imitate what Oikawa’s gimmick has been all along:

Having faith in his teammates to hit the sets he sends them. His faith in Tanaka mirrors the moment Oikawa would tell his team, “I have faith in you” – 

And immediately after that moment is successful for Kageyama, it cuts to this:  

Oikawa is spurned to work harder, knowing that his kouhai is getting closer to catching up to him and possibly surpassing him. 

“The Great King” being the main rival for both Hinata and Kageyama is emphasized further in how: 

2. Oikawa is connected to Kageyama and Hinata’s Growth

It is NO coincidence to me that in Chapter 365, when Takeda is giving Hinata his speech on moving forward after a crippling blow prevents you from playing, that we see THIS panel of Oikawa’s back, watching this moment unfold, and we have THIS part of Takeda’s speech in that same panel. Furudate knows what they are doing:

Furthermore, in Chapter 368, just a few chapters later, we get this stunning panel, from Hinata’s perspective…and just WHO happens to be right next to the text bubble about being defeated? It’s almost as if Oikawa is feeling their defeat alongside them, knowing that sensation all too well, after being denied a chance to ever go to nationals, despite all his hard work. 

It’s only fitting that not four chapters later, as we get the time skip, and Hinata off to Rio, that the person who shows up, who gets him out of his temporary slump, who realizes alongside him how volleyball is FUN again…is Oikawa.

In Chapter 372, we see that despite his best wishes, he IS in fact not only the foil to Kageyama, but also more similar to him than he’d like to admit:

Oikawa, though, may have more in common with Hinata that we realize. Oikawa isn’t a prodigy or a “genius” like Oikawa or Atsumu…but he works his butt off and pushes his limits time and time again to get better…because he knows he has to to play on the same stage as his rivals. Sound….familiar? Like a certain ball of sunshine we know and love?

And, most importantly, Hinata LEARNS from Oikawa in his time spent with him in Rio. He realizes what makes Oikawa such a strong player, and he applies the words in the panel below to when he plays later on the MSBY Black Jackals.

On Kageyama’s end, we see in Chapter 387, as he’s remembering his grandfather’s promise that if he gets good, stronger opponents will come his way – we see Kageyama remembering Oikawa in his Argentina jersey, because we know he’s watched Oikawa’s matches, too. 

And, just like Oikawa told him back in Chapter 83…nearly 300+ chapters later, we see Kageyama connect the dots and realize he can’t just be a dictator and force his hitters to connect to whatever he gives…but he also can’t be passive and cater to their every whims. He has to give the best sets he can for each of his teammates and inspire the faith that they all believe in each other’s abilities…

And remember this amazing play from Chapter 399? Many people that said it was just like Oikawa’s crazy set to Iwaizumi…y’all aren’t wrong. There are similarities…I am convinced Furudate wanted us to see the parallels…

To show that finally, Kageyama is at the same stage as Oikawa as a setter, if not finally surpassing him…

And him having a very similar “Oikawa” vibe in his expression with this last shot of Chapter 399, instilling a similar fear in his opponents as he serves is SO telling…

Oh, and going back to Chapter 373?

Here’s the color spread:

“Declaration of War: Part 2″ – the first part was Oikawa declaring war against Ushijima after Seijoh lost to Karasuno, saying his “volleyball career was just getting started” and to not underestimate his ‘worthless pride.’“

Here, we see both Kageyama and Hinata “won’t be outdone…” by each other…but it’s their interactions with Oikawa that they won’t be defeated, either.

3. Oikawa’s Connection to the End of Haikyuu!!

This moment of Oikawa, and his expression here is probably one of my favorite in the manga. Aside from the “Worthless Pride” panel. Oikawa looks so beautiful and confident, and honestly, if it were the last panel we saw of him in the manga…you might convince me that yes, this is the last time we will see The Great King in the series…but then, Furudate can’t resist, and gives us this:

“Ah Well, see you later.” 

Yeah, Furudate, we aren’t fools. If that’s not a “I’m going to fight you one final time,” line, I don’t know what is. The fact that Oikawa says that Hinata is included in that “I’m going to beat everyone” line? And Hinata being inspired to train further and harder, knowing that Oikawa awaits as a possible opponent? Yeah…

…I am all but convinced Oikawa is going to be in Chapter 402. 

It may not be Oikawa on the Japan National Team. It may not be Oikawa’s team facing Japan in an Olympic match.

But I just need to see Oikawa at the Olympics. On that National Stage. 

Oikawa himself said in Chapter 372: “The stage I’m going to play on hasn’t changed at all.” 

And we’ve seen that even in these Covid-19 times, Furudate did not let that stop the Olympics from happening in their manga. 

Y’all. Oikawa deserves this. He was denied Nationals all throughout high school, but how fitting it would be, in a manga all about overcoming odds, perseverance, hard work and determination…to see Oikawa finally get to the place he’s been aiming for all along.

We need to see him with Seijoh’s banner flying proudly behind him, saying “Rule the Court” because if there was any place that the “royalty” of the volleyball world would gather…it would be the Olympics. 

This is my last post on Tumblr until Sunday. I am going to avoid spoilers at all costs! Chapter 402 is coming…the HYPE IS REAL!

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The day when y’all became Suho-Ls ᗶ Elgis ᙨ Bunny Citizens ᕱᕱ 

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if I’m dreaming, don’t ever wake me up

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Pentagon acording to tumblr tags: Jinho edition

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I HAVE NEVER FELT SO ATTACKED

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© cotton j

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jinyoung can get away with anything

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suho’s (and pcy’s) version of kai’s dance in “miracle that we met” (x) (x)

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do not edit ✧ wonderlust j

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUHO !!

“As the leader, Suho has a heavy burden on his shoulders. I wish I can help him to lighten the load, I still have a lot of shortcomings as the older brother. But it’s time to say it out. Suho, you can share some of these burdens with me now, share some sense of responsibility with me. And thank you for leading EXO.” — Xiumin

“Suho is always filled with confidence. I personally feel that it would be due to the fact that he frequently prepares (for the concerts) a lot hence he’s able to feel very confident. He has an upright look which is very good.” — Lay

“Suho hyung, even though my jokes may be too much you’ll still be accepting them, thank you. And thank you for whenever I’m troubled, you’ll brood over it as if it’s your own problem.“ — Baekhyun

“Suho hyung, I’m very grateful for you, leading the EXO members who have strong personalities all the way until today. If it were me I would probably be unable to do it, so I feel that’s even more amazing.” — Chen

“Suho hyung is the person I consult the most often with about my problems. Hyung, now you know how much I like you, right? I hope that from now on, we can depend on each other.” — Chanyeol

“Suho hyung, thank you for always tolerating the members’ childishness.” — D.O.

“Suho hyung, thank you for always taking care of every member’s condition so meticulously as the leader. Please take care of me well in the future too.”  — Kai

“Suho hyung, you must have a lot of difficulties as the leader, right? Although I cannot fully understand how much responsibility you’ve shouldered, I hope that you’ll know our gratitude towards you.” — Sehun

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he’s sassy and he knows it

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handsome woojoo [part 3]

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(Rich Man) Charismatic CEO Lee Yoochan/ Suho looking great

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He saw the chance and took it