WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Season 4, Episode 23 of Haikyuu!!, now streaming on Crunchyroll.
Haikyuu!! has been making great use of past adversaries and other characters reacting to Karasuno’s match - despite not being at the venue itself. Shots of teams like Aoba Johsai and Shiratorizawa have been cleverly placed to help convey additional layers of importance to specific plays during the game. No cameo, however, was more important than Toru Oikawa’s brief 24-second scene.
Longtime fans will remember Oikawa as the genius setter for Aoba Johsai and the first serious adversary for Hinata and Kageyama. While he hasn’t been seen much since Karasuno defeated Aoba Johsai, the prideful and charming setter is still able to steal the show with his return. He is seen watching the game on his cell phone while out on a jog after an insane play from Karasuno. He rips his headphones out and runs in frustration. That frustration then turns to motivation and it seems like a nice character moment for Oikawa. He still eagerly wants to catch up to Kageyama and redeem himself, but it’s an even more powerful moment for Kageyama.
Kageyama has routinely struggled in the past with his setting style. Before Karasuno, he was called a selfish tyrant on the court because he would berate his team for not playing at his prodigal level. After joining Karasuno he tried to let go of the King of The Court persona, going as far as asking Oikawa for advice. Oikawa’s strength is to pull the best out of his teammates. He is perceptive and intuitive, able to give the exact ball his spikers want, and so he gives Kageyama proper advice for the time. He tells Kageyama that he should try giving the ball his teammates want at the time.
Contrast this with what Kageyama encounters at the All Japan Youth Intensive Training Camp, where Kageyama first met Atsumu Miya, and it’s easy to see how Kageyama would feel conflicted. Atsumu has an extremely more selfish approach to setting and calls Kageyama a “Goody Two-Shoes.” While he was faced with this conundrum, not wanting to be a King but wanting to play his game the best he could, it was Hinata and the rest of the team who let him know it's okay to be "The King." He needs to find a playstyle that works for him and incorporates the healthy communication in Karasuno’s foundation.
It was the events of this last episode that would show that he learned from his experience. It is revealed that Tanaka previously asked Kageyama to limit serves his way, and Kageyama swiftly responded “No.” Tanaka has been at the top of his game, but he’s starting to get blocked hard again. Kageyama knows that Tanaka can do more and on the next play delivers an incredibly well-placed ball to help direct an insane line shot from Tanaka to score.
Kageyama took the charge, which makes Atsumu ask “Where did Goody Two-Shoes go?” Right after this play is the first glimpse of Oikawa this season. His arrival really puts Kageyama’s growth into perspective. He knows that Kageyama was able to draw the best out of Tanaka at that moment. The juxtaposition shows that while Kageyama took the lead in supporting his spiker, he was just as receptive to Tanaka’s needs. It’s a perfect blend of both styles. Oikawa’s cameo isn’t just to revisit the fan-favorite character -- it ties together Kageyama’s entire arc.
It’s unlikely we’ll see more of Oikawa later in the season since he’s too prideful to show up to the venue. If we do, it’ll definitely be tied to Kageyama. As for Kageyama, his communication has never been better, and his confidence in his sets is booming. The match will likely wrap in the next episode, and it seems this will come down to a showdown between Kageyama and Atsumu.
