Haikyuu!! Chapter 338: The Decider Match For the Little Giant
I’m so late for this chapter’s anaysis! But there’s so much to dig into! Not to mention we get four, FOUR, colored pages (if we count the cover)!!
I can hardly believe Haikyuu has reached its seventh anniversary already!! Time sure flies.
The cover interestingly has Hinata at the forefront, with Kenma, Bokuto, Hoshiumi, and Atsumu? Wait, that’s like, three opponents that Karasuno has/is about to face… Could it be? gasps A foreshadowing??? The match after Kamomedai, it could be… Fukurodani???
Furudate sure loves his captains T_T
Another appearance kuroiboku! There’s only one brain cell between the three (four if you add hinata), and it belongs to Kuroo lolololol.
Saeko strikes back with her shorthand. This time she doesn’t bite her tongue, I hope.
So many shenanigans in one spread! Hinata and Kageyama run ahead, competing against each other as usual. Daichi tries to reign in the problem children. Ukai is supervising or at least he’s supposed to be. He looks like he wants to be anywhere but there. Though that award goes to Tsukki, who’s like has the most layers of all of them, which confirms that the boy cannot stand the cold at all, and he doesn’t even look like he’s trying to join the run even though it’ll warm him up. Yamaguchi is… surprisingly with the trouble duo of Tanaka and Noya. What are they doing?? XD Talking about fashion, Kageyama looks the most professional, but Suga looks the most fashionable with pink jacket and green shoes. On the other hand, Hinata has the least layers, assuming that Kageyama has another shirt under his jacket and Hinata wears nothing else. I’m not surprised if he is. He is the sun after all.
The chapter opens to the declaration of war, which also refers to the title of the chapter: the decider match for the little giant.
Meanwhile, the girls have gotten along swimmingly despite the previous match with Alisa looking on with such sisterly vibe.
Someone manages to recognize Akiteru… then earns such a hysterical reaction from Saeko… Someone who both Akiteru and Saeko know? Someone in Karasuno? Someone in the vollyeball team?
Yas Datekou!! They’re back!!
But this time, they’re not for Karasuno… but for Kamomedai??? That definitely does not bode well… Ukai’s description doesn’t help lol. Kageyama and Hinata are as enthusiastic as always, but not so much with Asahi and Tanaka, I think despite their win against Datekou and eventual better relationship, they do not have good memories when it comes to block-oriented team.
(oh, yachi, you precious, precious girl… nope they’re just that terrifying, yachi… though the food might help, they’re the top two big eaters in haikyuu!! afterall)
Realizing his mistake, Ukai asks Daichi to rectify him terrifying the team with facts lol
Daichi’s captain speech never gets old. No wonder Ukai relies on him to fire up the team.
KARASUNO IS A NATIONAL TOP 8 TEAM!! HELL YEAH!! FALLEN CROWS NO MORE!! GO GO KARASUNO!! YOU CAN MAKE IT TO CENTER COURT!!
Food is always a good bribe. Good job Ukai.
GROWTH!! Oh my god, these two have come a long way. Yamaguchi is no longer afraid of speaking up his mind and of wanting more. Tsukishima is no longer preoccupied at thinking the worst and dismissing them as impossible before even trying.
Both has gained confidence in themselves and their own skills. They’ve come into their own.
(brb, need to go and cry in the corner)
Ooooh la la, that back. That back.
Their game faces are so handsome. (though it’s rather spoiled by their conversation lol. but daymnnnn, daichi’s back. daichi’s. back.)
That said, you have good back too Tanaka. You stand equal to them. You have been by their side since the very beginning on and off the court.
But at the same time, all this optimism makes me incredibly wary.
I cannot help seeing red flags everywhere now. Their confidence is not unreasonable. They’ve come this far, and it has not been easy, not at all. However, I cannot be afraid that they will unconsciously lower their guard. Not to mention, this is their second match on the same day, after Nekoma’s long, tiring match. It might be me just being paranoid, but I cannot help being on guard.
Awwww… Hinata surely understands Kageyama best. He knows that Kageyama is not pure talent or genius, but also hard work. He doesn’t fall to the trap that most people get into. He knows he has a long way to go to catch up with Kageyama, but considering the time he gets to simply keep up with him??? Boy, you underestimate yourself. You’ll get there, Hinata.
Another Hinata and Kiyoko interaction? It seems Kiyoko feels the most comfortable with Hinata of all first years. I cannot recall the other first years interacting with Kiyoko (besides yachi ofc. oh yachi, your imaginary is sure something. that’s just hinata for you)
SO IT’S TRUE!! IT’S THE LITTLE GIANT!!!
THEY MEET!!! THEY FINALLY MEET!!!
WHOA. LITTLE GIANT IS A CUTIE!! (cutie alert blaring in the background)
Is that really him???? I mean look at the flashback.
I can hardly believe it’s the same person!! But that panel at the right, he can easily be mistaken as Hinata. they have a similar haircut and intensity. And Hinata, well, he’s soft and fluffy… until he gets on the court. Why not Little Giant?
(wait, does that mean little giant is what hinata will look like in the future?? omg)
Most of the aces are like that too. So earnest, so cuddly, but on the court, they might break your arms.
So it’s confirmed that Saeko is a classmate of his, and Akiteru is their upperclassmen, considering the one-year difference. (wow, akiteru is sure in karasuno’s best years, that’s one hella of competition he had, no wonder he cannot make it even on the bench)
Good question Hinata. It’s odd how Little Giant is so well-known and yet… no word of him. I’d expect for curious Hinata trying to find out everything about his idol, and yet he finds… nothing?? (but… wait, kageyama knows?)
That’s… wow. I don’t even consider that. Okay with him having other things he wants to do, kudos to you. He looks happy too, at least from what we see now. But… no place inviting him to play?
(omg, little giant is such a cinnamon roll. protect at all costs!)
Awww, the original Little Giant encouraging the new Little Giant!
How adorable how he tags along. Then there’s the easy interaction between him and Akiteru, they’re more than just familiar to each other. I mean, come on, Little Giant calls out to Akiteru, from afar, just from the sight of his back??? After finding out they have been in the same team and competing for the same spot… I won’t be surprised if there’s lingering resentment, but Akiteru’s face is completely open. Either Akiteru has really gotten over it or he holds no such resentment towards his supposed rival. I’m not surprised that we’re seeing a ship sailing.
(by the time i’ve written this. it has sailed. wow, there’s a lot. nice. i remember the time when the content is so few. yup, i’ve shipped them a long, long time ago lol)
Such pride in his little brother. It’s like a switching of places. Before, it’s Tsukishima who looks up to his brother, who raves about him, now it’s Akiteru who does it. Haikyuu siblings are truly the best T_T
Saeko needs not to be worried. Hinata doesn’t feel disappointed at all.
…which I really find interesting, because… like Little Giant is the reason why he plays volleyball, and keeps him going despite everything that stands his way. But then again, I didn’t see Little Giant mentioned much besides solidifying Hinata’s goal and motivation. He’s brought up in the Training Camp, but nothing more. Hinata never brings him up anymore.
Hinata… has long come into his own. He has found his own goals, his own motivation to play… to win.
In the end, Little Giant is just a symbol (as painful as it is to admit that hoshiumi has a point). That explains why until the end of this chapter, Little Giant is not introduced by name. It’s not a person, it’s a title, and ideal… of someone who can overcome adversity.
Another interesting thing is that Kageyama knows, and yet he keeps that knowledge from Hinata. Is it because he’s worried that Hinata will lose motivation? That’s… kinda cute :D
I’m looking forward to the match!!
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