#(i mean obviously the aoba johsai matches r about other things too but to me the culmination of sugas growth is when tendou blocks him)

[runayachi]

i know that we love to talk about how much kageyama learned from suga, but it's important to remember that it went both ways, because suga learned from kageyama as well.

when we first meet suga, he's (quietly) shouldering the blame for asahi and noya leaving. kageyama shows up, and suga's relieved that there's a setter better than him because he won't have to handle that responsibility of guiding the ace, of getting the ball to his spikers. he thinks that maybe he can fall back into the shadows, because karasuno has a genius setter now, so what use would they have for a regular one?

and yet.

kageyama wants to fight suga for the position. "the gap in experience between us isn't that easily overcome!" "suga-san, you better not be doing this to give me the position." he knows he's good. but he still respects suga, as a senpai, as another setter, and kageyama knows that he has shortcomings in areas that suga excels at.

and he says as much to suga. and suga promises to fight him for that starting position.

by the time the shiratorizawa match comes around, suga has gained so much more confidence. but he admits that he's still scared of being blocked and he does not have the same unwavering faith in his spikers (in himself) that kageyama does. he acknowledges that it is a relief having kageyama there.

and yet he steps onto the court anyways.

because suga doesn't give up. even when he's scared (not anymore).

and what happens is this: suga goes to spike (something he is terrified of) and tendou blocks him. and suga simply promises to do it again. and when the time comes, suga runs forward without hesitation, and tendou leaps to block him, because to him, the ball has to be going to suga.

(and then it doesn't, and tendou realizes he was wrong, and suga's smiling and promising to do it again.)

when we first meet suga, he's relieved that there's a better setter than him.

in a few months' time, that is no longer the case.