HAIKYUU 402: LAST CHAPTER SPOILER WARNING!!!
The final chapter of Haikyuu which is the most magnificent sports anime I've ever read.
Before you scroll down I'M BEGGING YOU TO PLEASE READ THE CHAPTER 402 FIRST. This is going to be super lengthy post hehe.
This is a spoiler zone, you have been warned.
I'm not gonna lie while reading this chapter I WAS CRYING THE ENTIRE TIME.
There are so many significant moments during this chapter (I honestly feel like this summary isn't going to cover everything.)
This moment during the beginning of chapter 402 when Ushijima and Tendo, I truly believe Tendo is Ushijima's first actual friend. It was shown after Karasuno VS Shiratorizawa match (Season 3) but their friendship solidifies even more during Chapter 395 timeskip when Tendo called Ushijima after the World's Match (when Team Japan lost & Ushijima faced criticism) he's the strong pillar that grounds Ushijima.
Tendo truly deserves this moment, he & Ushijima not just considering each other as 'teammates' or 'comrades' but best friends.
Everyone is hyping up on Hinata & Kageyama or Iwaizumi & Oikawa's friendship BUT CAN WE TALK ABOUT USHIJIMA'S AND TENDO'S FRIENDSHIP?
YES. WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT. LOOK AT THEM. so beautiful. *sobs*
Everyone is talking about how glorious Lev & Alisa looks modelling together and their billboard in the streets of Shibuya but can we pause for 5 seconds to stare at the Yaku Morisuke?
LET US FREAKOUT LOOK AT YAKU WEARING THIS GORGEOUS SUIT?
Sir YOU LOOK FINE AS HELL.
I also love the fact Yaku and Lev still communicate with each other, Lev even called Yaku asking him if he has seen the billboard in Shibuya. How precious ❤ also Yaku part of the Russian VLeague team??? HOLY SHIT.
Also, I love that almost everyone in team Karasuno are gathering in Tanaka's house while watching the Olympic game together. Their solid friendship just have my heart and soul.
This moment is where all AsaNoya stans are SCREAMING TO OBLIVION. Asahi and Nishinoya TRAVELLING AROUND THE WORLD TOGETHER. Like HOLY SHIT GOOD LORD IMAGINE ALL OF THE FANFICS WE WILL GET TO READ. (Ao3 writers I'm looking at you guys)
This panel just took my breath away, I started tearing up when I was reading this. It's a full circle of Oikawa's journey - he is now against the people he wanted to defeat during this youth (Kageyama and Ushijima). He is even standing on the other side of the court against his best friend Iwaizumi.
I want to make a comparison between Ushijima & Kageyama and Iwaizumi during this panel.
Ushijima & Kageyama as Oikawa's rivals. During middle school he felt like he couldn't stand a chance against a genius setter who is 2 years his junior, in his middle school until high school him & team keeps on losing against Ushijima (who is also considered as a genius and a stroke of luck because of his left handed spikes.) Oikawa desires to DEFEAT them. This strong sense of competitiveness have matured & the adrenaline of finally become better than them WITHOUT NEEDING TO BE A GENUIS but because of SHEER HARD WORK and TENACITY.
What makes them vastly different from Iwaizumi?
It is clearly shown that it was Iwaizumi who said to Oikawa "I will defeat you on the day we fight." Not Oikawa saying that he wants to defeat Iwaizumi - instead he said "I'll be waiting for it." Oikawa does NOT have the same intense desire of needing to defeat Iwaizumi (compared to Ushijima & Kageyama) instead he said it with nostalgia. Despite Iwaizumi no longer playing volleyball professionally he is still associated with volleyball as Team Japan's athlete trainer.
It's also important to mention that Iwaizumi is Oikawa's foundation of friendship and support, Iwaizumi keeps Oikawa grounded- they have seen each other's struggles and success. THAT SHIT JUST GOT ME AND MY FEELS.
ALSO LOOK AT IWAIZUMI'S HUGE ASS PROUD GRIN, OUT OF ALL SMILES IN THIS WORLD IWAIZUMI HAJIME'S SMILE IS MY FAVORITE. (Clearly I'm an Iwaizumi simp)
the moment we've all be waiting for...
OIKAWA TOORU OFFICIALLY PART OF THE ARGENTINIAN NATIONAL TEAM.
HOLY FUCK SOMEONE HOLD MY HAND BECAUSE I'M SMILING AND CRYING AT THE SAME TIME. THERE IS NO IN BETWEEN OF MY EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER IN THIS MOMENT.
I just want to say this...
OIKAWA TOORU IS THE REAL UNDERDOG OF HAIKYUU.
Imagine he has NO National experience (unlike Hinata who actually got to go to Nationals & made a name for himself.) Oikawa got the skills, the strategy, the tactics, dedication, and intense competitiveness but HE NEVER GOT THE CHANCE (he even went as far as pushing himself to be better in volleyball resulting to injuring his knee. THAT IS SOME INTENSE DEDICATION.) During his middle school and high school volleyball matches or to be able to participate in Nationals or even in Japan All Youth Team's & Trainings NOT ONCE HE IS GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY (and honestly that shit sucks because you know that your actually good at something but no one bats an eyelash towards your direction? It must have hit on Oikawa's pride.)
OIKAWA IS THE REAL UNDERDOG. He does not lack height (compared to Hinata) but he lacks the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and he lacks the chance of be in center stage when he was in Japan.
But now in Argentina he becomes the REAL KING OF THE COURT. Now, he FINALLY is at center stage dazzling brighter than anyone, he is the most talked about volleyball player - he used to be a nobody in Japan but now he is someone that everyone knows and acknowledges.
Hands down the BEST character development.
Now I NEED Haikyuu chapter centered on Oikawa's struggles and experiences in Argentina - alone in a foreign country to chase his dreams that shit is amazing and inspiring.
This panel made me stop breathing for a while. LOOK AT MAGNIFICENT AND GLORIOUS THEY ARE.
I HAVE NO WORDS. EVERYONE LOOKS SO BEAUTIFUL AND POWERFUL AND LOOK AT THAT TINY IWA IN THE CENTER.
My skin has cleared. My sadness now gone. My lifespan increased by 10 years. Someone please put this panel on my forehead, thank you very much.
There are so many important portions in the following scenes in this panel but I choose this one because it reminded me of Hinata & Kageyama's dynamics since Season 1.
Hinata always calling for a toss to Kageyama (remember Season 1: Dateko VS Karasuno match, or during Season 2 Training camp Hinata always calls for a toss and Kageyama always delivers.)
The greatest weapon is their powerful bond and synchronization, their freak duo toss that shifts the momentum of the game.
Kageyama and Hinata: the greatest rival, the greatest opponent, the greatest ally, and now the greatest weapon FINALLY used on center stage.
For me this moment really put Haikyuu into it's full circle, it really put it into completion, and it truly made it perfect ending.
This image of Udai Tenma drawing on his new manga that is ABOUT VOLLEYBALL and this little boy riding a bicycle looking at the TV (this ICONIC moment Season 1 Episode 1, Haikyuu Chapter 1)
Hinata Shoyou used to be the boy riding his bicycle looking at Karasuno's number 10 Little Giant - now Hinata Shoyou isn't just known as 'Little Giant' but Ninja Shoyou proudly wearing this Number 10 Jersey PART OF JAPAN'S NATIONAL TEAM.
He is now someone ALL children aspires to be, someone that they want to become in the future - someone that inspires them to play volleyball and keep on breaking the tall wall looming over them.
I FULL BLOWN SOBBED DURING THIS MOMENT. The impact, the power, the intensity of volleyball into their lives.
These two moments really struck a chord, Haikyuu isn't just about Hinata and his teammates. It is about no matter how little or big your journey is it will always leave the GREATEST impact into someone's life.
This wraps up the 8 truly amazing years of Haikyuu.
Furudate and his wonderful team of assistants, editors, translators, and researchers. Thank you for bring us joy through Haikyuu - thank you for inspiring us everyday and for creating these characters.
I've been reading Haikyuu for 3 years already, when I first watched a Haikyuu with no expectations and no idea what is volleyball but now I am fully immersed in the Haikyuu fandom. Who would have thought I'll be obsessed with this anime? I've watched and read so many manga & animes but it is Haikyuu that really struck me the most.
This ending is BEYOND MY EXPECTATIONS - it really blew me off the roof and I have a mixture of both sadness and joy. I'm sad that Haikyuu is ending but I'm also happy that all of the characters I grew to love have forged their own paths and grew not just as volleyball players but as characters that we can connect and relate on.
I would like to quote my favorite line in Haikyuu:
"For today you happen to be the defeated. But what will you become tomorrow?"
- Chapter 368: What Will You Become?
Thank you for the last 8 years Furudate!
(This is an extremely lengthy post, if you have come this far, congratulations! 🎉)
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