Fly: A Queer Haikyuu Podcast
We look at Haikyuu through an intersectional, queer lens.
Fly: A Queer Haikyuu Podcast
S4E7: Return of the King
"You can try to be a goody goody all you want but..."
This week, rainbow and em talk about season 4, episode 7 "Return of the King", where they discuss Hinata being a ride and die for his king, Kageyama's growth since middle school, and how Karasuno handles conflict as a team.
Episode Discussion Begins at 06:17
Spoiler Zone Begins at 1:08:11
Alternatives to the National Suicide Hotline:
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Link: callblackline.com
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Phone: 1 (800) 626-4959
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Link: disasterstrategies.org/hotline
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Phone: 888-843-4564
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Link: strongheartshelpline.org
Phone: 844-762-8483
Thrive Lifeline
Trans-led and operated - has a link to other non-carceral support options
Link: thrivelifeline.org
Phone: 313-662-8209
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Link: translifeline.org
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Decolonize Palestine
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Thanks for listening!!
rainbow
00:10
hello everyone and welcome to fly a queer Haikyuu podcast. I'm rainbow they, she.
em
00:14
and I'm em. And today we are talking about season four, episode seven return, return of the king. Return of the king. I I mean quite literally, and also the name of the third lord of the rings. Return of the King, I mean quite literally, and also the name of the third Lord of the Rings movie. It is.
rainbow
00:28
Do you think it's a reference? Yes, okay, I'm not going to lie. So I was prepping another episode to upload earlier and I forgot that we were doing Return. I was not prepared for you to say that title. I was like we're doing enhancements, right?
em
00:43
No, we had our enhancements last week. Now we're returning. Now we're returning.
rainbow
00:48
But before we get into that, we want to wish everyone one last happy pride. This episode is coming out on the last day of Pride Month, June 2025.
em
00:58
Happy being gay. And hey, even though they're shutting down that one suicide hotline, there's a lot of others that are not being shut down, so we should probably put those in the show notes.
rainbow
01:08
I will. Yeah, I'm thinking Trans Life Line. I'm thinking, yeah, there's like a few out there. We'll put them in our show notes and I'll make sure to post about them on social media, and I think there is. So I think what's happening is the Trevor Project is still going to have their own like number, but you just can't reach it through the national suicide hotline anymore, because our current administration doesn't care about gay people.
em
01:34
And I gotta say for me personally I mean this is horrible, the ways that they're trying to like kill us. But the more the government tries to kill me, the more I want to live out of spite, the more pussy I'll eat out of pure rage and you can't fucking stop me.
rainbow
01:51
Yeah, you're like telling all of these people who are like already queer and are already like going against the norms, and you're like, no, you shouldn't exist. And it's like bitch, I'll exist more in your face, more glitter, more sparkles, more rainbows. Let's fucking go Anyway. Also, I think this is related to Pride. We never talked about Conclave?
em
02:14
Yes, should we sneak peek what we're going to do later this episode? I think we should. So we don't have a character spotlight this episode because we just don't really have anyone new to talk about. So we decided to go over some listener comments and comment on them and whatnot. And one of them reminded us thank you to Mia, in our Spotify comments that we never did talk about Conclave and we promised that, and we love to break a promise, and that was weeks ago at this point, so long ago. So we're going to do it now, really quick yeah, spoilers for the movie conclave.
rainbow
02:45
Uh, if you haven't seen it yet, I mean go and see it. It was a really, really good movie watch mean girls and it's kind of the same thing yeah, it's just like mean girls, but they're in the catholic church like the, the main character I can't remember his name. He's played by ralph fines and he has like a full on regina george moment with like a copier and handing things out to the other cardinals. It's so juicy it's like you kept saying this that it's like they're trying to pick like prom queen.
em
03:13
Yes, the whole like thing about it, because it's them picking the new pope but it's giving like voting for homecoming queen.
rainbow
03:20
And there's lots of like there's. There's some characters where you're like, like Stanley Tucci's character especially, I'm like but you're a gay man, right.
em
03:28
That was all very ambiguous, I will say. I heard a lot about how Conclave is gay and old man yaoi and like there's no gay kissing. There's no. I thought Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci were going to end up to be lovers and they weren't, and that's fine. There is a really amazing queer twist at the end. That is great and I loved it just wasn't what it wasn't the yaoi I signed up for, but I guess I can deal with it.
rainbow
03:55
Yeah, that's. The thing is, like it was definitely a queer twist, not necessarily like a gay twist, which I'm like. I kind of like that, though, because I went into it like also like you expecting a certain thing and then it completely like subverted my expectations, which I really appreciated, and it was just. I think the. I think the acting was amazing, the set design was great, uh, the directing, the cinematography, like I think it was just a really well made movie. It was very like the tension was really good. Like the whole time I was kind of on the edge of my seat like what the fuck is gonna happen, and it's literally just like men writing each other's names down on a piece of paper.
em
04:29
I think Justin should be the king. Yeah, yeah, a lot of like serving cunt. And then I just loved like the speech at the end that the one person gives and they're like what do you know of war? I'm like tell them. Oh it's good. I I recommend definitely go check it out before pride month ends yeah, yeah, listen.
rainbow
04:47
Uh, by the end of the day you have to have seen conclave, end of story. But no, um, yeah, highly recommend, really good. I mean, I'd watch it again sometime. Um, you know, you know, the next time we have to uh, pick a new pope, I know it lined up with real world events, uh, in an eerie kind of way.
em
05:04
Now we have a Chicago Pope, chicago get a deep dish.
rainbow
05:08
Yeah, yeah, I mean listen, I'm not Catholic, I've never been Catholic.
em
05:12
I don't follow the fandom.
rainbow
05:14
Yeah, I'm not really a big fan personally. It's just not the space that I feel most comfortable in. But I really don't have any opinions on the new Pope. You know, I think he's like really strong on like immigration, yeah, which you know is cool. And he's not the first American pope, right, We've had other American popes?
em
05:32
No, I think he might be the first American. I could totally be wrong, because I don't keep up with the lore.
rainbow
05:38
Anyway, you know what we should?
em
05:41
stick to what we know, which is conclave and my main connection to the. I did grow up Catholic very loosely, but my main connection to the church is that I used to be known for my priest thread fake AUs on Twitter.
rainbow
05:52
Yeah, my dad was raised Catholic and at the age of 13, he was like I don't really like any of this. I think I'm agnostic. So I was raised agnostic, not Catholic. Rainbow got to be cool, yeah, well, you know. All right, that's it. That's all I have for Chit Chat. We don't have anything for housekeeping this week. Unless you have anything you want to add, let's keep the house nice and dirty and we'll jump into Rainbow's recap.
em
06:17
All right, count me down please. Three, two one.
rainbow
06:20
The Date Tech game is heating up and a frustrated Kageyama lets his dictator side show. But not to worry, Hinata is here to let his boyfriend know that it's okay for him to be himself. The Date Tech boys watch from the other side of the net while Karasuno works through their communication issues. Will Kageyama figure out how to be the king of the court without alienating his teammates? Find out in this week's episode of Haikyuu.
em
06:42
Kageyama learns healthy conflict skills.
rainbow
06:46
Yes, do you like how I've totally adopted your find out this week on Haikyuu thing? I love that.
em
06:50
I am an influencer.
rainbow
06:51
Yeah, I mean it just like feels wrong to end a recap without saying it now.
em
06:55
So we pick up where we left off the last episode. You may have remembered that Kageyama told Nishinoya hey, you're in the way, and Nishinoya did not. No one liked that.
rainbow
07:08
Uh, it was the rude remark heard around the gymnasium and sorry, I just love everyone's reaction to it.
em
07:12
Even the coaches are like what the fuck just happened yeah, um, because like and I'm skipping it a little bit ahead but like Kinoshita and Narita kind of say like it's one thing to like talk shit to Nishinoya off the court but no one really nitpicks him on the court because Nishinoya is on the same level as Kageyama. So like this just is like unheard of. And again, I think we have to be reminded about how new of a team Karasuno is. They haven't had, even though they do butt heads a lot. There's still arguments to be had and this is a very like therapeutic, uh developmental, episode for our boys.
07:44
They're going through growing pains right now, absolutely, um, so you know we have Nishinoya in his face, like what did you say? And Kageyama just says you were blocking the back row attackers approach and Yachi and Kiyoko are trying to figure out like didn't he? Kiyoko's like everyone's moving around, like that would be me, I'm like I don't fucking know. Um, but Noya, who is another volleyball monster, is like oh, yeah, ok, and like lets it go and walks off. He agrees with Kageyama and Nishinoya points out how amazing they both are, both Kageyama seeing that and Noya like realizing that that was the case and agreeing.
rainbow
08:27
Well, it's just so interesting because the end I think we talked about at the end, I think we talked about at the end of last episode that it seemed like this was going to be such a big fucking deal and this was about to like start spark like a huge fight. We were like Kageyama's gonna die in the next episode in response to this. But then, Noya, like he, literally he thinks back through it. You see him thinking through. He's like oh yeah.
em
08:35
And just immediately he's like yeah, no, totally, you're right, yeah and we have Yamaguchi saying I'm more amazed he talked to Nishinoya like that. And we also have Tanaka, who's not having it. He says you could have said it in a different way. And Kageyama asks how else could I say it? Which Tanaka takes, I think, as like Kageyama being sassy. But I honestly think Kageyama is being like yeah, how else would I say that? That's his struggle right now. He's like how am I supposed to like communicate effectively with my teammates? I don't know, and he's so frustrated that it's coming off in this like asshole way. But that's really like the only way he knows how to communicate right now.
rainbow
09:10
I think that's yeah, I totally I see where Tanaka is coming from, because I also see Kageyama as being pretty sassy, like I think he is just so frustrated. He's like he's kind of like it's. He's so angry he can't even be like polite to his senpai right now, like he's treating everyone the way he treats Hinata, but even then like there's something like more to it With Hinata. It's just like well, that's just how they talk to each other. But this is like Kageyama, like I literally don't know what else to do, yeah, and like he's just angry and I'm sure he's got Atsumu's voice in the back of his head right now. Being like voice in the back of his head right now, being like goody, two shoes, goody, two shoes, goody, two shoes, and he's like, well, how am I supposed to do this?
em
09:47
I think Kageyama has been a goody two shoes for a while now and it's. He knows it's not working and this is like it splitting apart at the seams and Daichi points out with Tanaka like he really does not want his teammates to be disrespected like that and, yeah, like he said it in an asshole kind of way. Yeah, then we have yachi thinking he's scarier than normal. This is not normal. Like Kageyama bluster, this is true, like frustration and disrespect coming through. So date tech continues to do well and their coaches on the sidelines are talking about how pumped the team was to play against Karasuno and the main coach comments that they used that you know they typically were getting pulled to the sides more, but now they're really holding their ground in the middle. Aka, date Tech are at the top of their game right now.
rainbow
10:32
Have we ever talked about the fact that Date Tech has a woman for their assistant coach? No, not really. We don't see a lot of female coaches, especially at the high school level, but they do have a female assistant coach, and I just think that's cool.
em
10:48
Yeah, you know what I feel like? I didn't notice that because we get a lot of female managers, yes and so, but yeah, no, this is one of our only female assistant coaches. So Tsukki has a nice kill, but Kageyama still isn't pleased, which Tsukki catches the look on his face and is like I got it in. If you have something to say, just say it, but Kageyama just walks off.
rainbow
11:08
And is this where Suga is like calling from the sidelines?
em
11:11
Yep, that's my next point is he goes. You know full well you'd start fighting if you said it. Or rather, if you think Kageyama can effectively put anything into words, you're greatly mistaken.
rainbow
11:21
Yes, yeah, in the dub he he says if you think Kageyama knows how to accurately express his thoughts, then you've lost your damn mind and I was like okay, Suga, to which?
em
11:29
Hinata immediately agrees but then says he always has trouble with tone or saying the wrong thing.
rainbow
11:36
But it's weird for him not to say anything yes, and this is like Hinata's being the Kageyama whisperer here. He's like listen, yeah, like of course Kageyama can't express himself, but he usually he can't express himself very nicely, but he usually does express himself somehow and him being quiet, and I think Hinata has kind of been noticing this since like this whole day started like, yeah, because he's kind of watching Kageyama very like in that quiet way, that he's been really focused on the court, I feel like because he's not like reacting to Kageyama like the others are, he's just like keeping an eye on him, almost yeah.
em
12:10
So then we have Kogane admiring Kageyama and his machine, like abilities, you know, even when he like gets a toss in from an awkward angle but it's still like the perfect kind of toss and he says he thinks how much is this guy practiced?
rainbow
12:32
I'm getting emotional, girl, same he's. So I love kogane. He's so adorable. His like eyes get all wobbly like he's gonna cry, like he really he's just. He is another like kind of volleyball fanboy like Hinata, where he just like is really like he doesn't seem like threatened by other players, he just gets like excited and like motivated by them, especially as a fellow setter to watch Kageyama, who's like the best in the game as a setter.
12:50
Which is really refreshing to see a setter who isn't like threatened by him the way that, like Oikawa and, I think, arguably like Atsumu, are. You know?
em
12:59
Yes, yes, or just kind of like cold, because all of our setters are a little socially awkward. Kogane is really our only like sunshine boy setter, so Tanaka goes for a cross shot, but it doesn't go over the net. Ukai notes that they're too worried about getting blocked, which I think is definitely the case here for Kageyama and all of them. And then here comes the Date Tech, third years, and I noted in a manga versus anime last episode that in the manga they actually go to date tech and I think it makes explains a lot why date tech now has to like. It's weird how date tech shows up to their gym, but it's because in the manga you know they were just at their own school and it was a little more normal, I think, for them to be there.
13:38
and now in the anime they're just like well, we came here for a practice match and they, they brought the banner. They they're like we'll go upstairs, so we're out of the way, and they hang their banner. It's so embarrassing, it's honestly so wild.
rainbow
13:50
Like yes, Futakuchi, I think, handles it great. Where he's just like why are you here? You losers, but it is. It's so wild because I had that in mind, like when they showed up, like I think I probably had this reaction the first time I watched it. Where I'm like why are you here? You literally don't even go here. How did you get onto the campus? This is wild. And I think in the anime, because I think some part of the anime realized like okay, this is ridiculous that they're here. So they had the coach be like this isn't even your school, like go home. And then Takeda's like no, no, it's fine, like they can stay.
em
14:21
Oh man, it's really funny. That part was cute. So then the old captain is happy to see Futakuchi being a good leader on the court. He's saying you know, let me hear you guys come on. But then he continues to say we got to break their spirits and be sneaky enough so that the ref doesn't notice us. If we can't do it in a practice match, we can't do it in a game. And then the old captain is like, oh, and his friends are like, well, we can't do it in a game. And then the old captain is like, oh, and his friends are like, well, we can't help. How Fudekuchi is? He's a little shit.
14:52
So Asahi is continuing to get blocked and the date tech kids on the sidelines are thinking Karasuno is off their game. We might actually win this. And they have been steadily ahead by a few points this whole set. And then we have Tsukki not going up for the block a second time when he had the time to and Kageyama berates him for this and Yamaguchi thinks on the sidelines he's kind of cringing, saying he's pretty sure Tsukki knows that without Kageyama telling him, Tsukki, in true fashion, gets sassy and asks if the king has missed his nap and they have to be separated by Daichi and Tanaka. Yes, and then we have Hinata and Yamaguchi on the sidelines talking about how their boyfriends irritate each other, like Hinata is saying you know, Tsukki typically listens to people, but not when it comes to Kageyama, and Yamaguchi goes there's no logic to it, they just grate at each other. That's ship talk, right there.
rainbow
15:39
This is. I loved this moment because it literally is just like boyfriends. Like it's just like it's the grumpy ones fighting and then the nice ones on the sidelines being like, oh man, they'll never be friends. Like I just love the idea, like you know, that Yamaguchi and Hinata make them go on double dates and Tsukishima and Kageyama are so angry.
em
16:02
They're like too similar, but also like different. Like I get disliking Kageyama, so angry they're like too similar, but also like different.
rainbow
16:10
Like I get disliking Kageyama okay, I get it, and I get disliking Tsukishima yeah, like it totally makes sense. I don't think, yeah, I don't think yamaguchi and Hinata are like mad about it. They're like, they're just kind of like well, this is who they are yep, even the teachers notice the tension.
em
16:22
And Takeda asks if they should time out, but Ukai says it'll be fine. I think he knows that his boys need this. They need to like argue and butt heads a little bit in a healthy level. Asahimasa's again to the point where even Suga comments on it like, hey, you really suck today. And just as he's apologizing and telling Kageyama you know that was a good toss Kageyama goes. Well, then, score the point already. And I will say now that I'm I feel so douchey as I say this Now that I'm learning Japanese, I really feel like and I mean it's clear that Kageyama is being rude, but just like the way he's saying things, because like he usually speaks pretty politely to his senpai, but all of that pretense is gone and he's just like, yeah, so do it already.
17:05
It's very much like that attitude and his tone and in the way he uses the words and everyone again is shook. But we still have Hinata who, again, like he's not reacting like the others, he's just like intently watching. And there's like there's something funny to me about the still frame because we have Asahi, who had his hand up in an apology to Kageyama and he's kind of frozen. And if Asahi was anyone else, I would think he'd be like bitch, like that was what feels, like what's coming on.
rainbow
17:33
Yeah, he's like, um, excuse me, you're gonna talk to me like that. But yeah, I think Asahi is just like he is, like he doesn't get, he doesn't do getting yelled at very well, I don't think no, and so this is probably like he is shocked and I mean, again, Kageyama has been nothing but polite to him their entire time together. And yeah, again, like this is like this is not how he treats anyone else right.
em
17:56
So then we do, they put in the little commercial break pretty early on in this episode and we come back and Karasuno has lost that first set. And despite that rudeness, asahi then tries to approach Kageyama very nicely, trying to explain something. But Kageyama is officially at his boiling point. He's shaking, his hands are in fists and he yells politely but angrily that his tosses are good, so please score more. And like this kind of reminded me of like the Connor rage from Love on the spectrum, he's just like overwhelmed by his feelings and he doesn't know what to do with them yeah, and I wanted to make a note here about the animation, as Kageyama is yelling, it is really intense.
rainbow
18:38
It like honestly makes me almost uncomfortable. I, I don't know, like I really I don't have the technical skills to describe it very well, but it's just like, yeah, the like shakiness of it, the like his like, the, the lines on his face, like you can just like see that he is, like you can see that this is a moment where he has lost control of himself. Yes, and then he like realizes immediately what he said and the way he said it.
em
19:04
Yeah, his face. He's like oh, I really like stepped in it now, kind of thing. And Tsukki goes oh look, it's the return of the king. And then is this where we get a flashback to middle school. Yeah, he thinks about that moment again and that's when he starts to apologize.
rainbow
19:19
And I just want to say that this, to me, is such a moment of growth, like our poor sweet boy is like he's clearly he's frustrated and you know he's reverted back to like his toxic kingly ways, which isn't good. But he like recognizes immediately that yelling at us. He like that was not okay and so he like immediately apologizes and it's very sweet and you can like see the panic in his eyes. When he bows to apologize. He's like, oh god, oh no, not again, not again. In his eyes when he bows to apologize, he's like, oh God, oh no, not again, not again.
em
19:45
Yes, and as he is about to apologize, who comes to the rescue? But Hinata, who interjects saying I've been thinking and I think that this is what's been going on in his head, as he's been like watching Kageyama and listening to the commentary from the other teammates what's wrong with him being king again? Is it because he's too bossy, too self-centered? I mean, either way, no matter what Kageyama says, if I don't like it, I'm just not going to listen to him. And we have Ukai chuckling at this gay display. And then Tanaka says no matter what he says, I'm not going to listen if I don't like his tone, to which Tsukki agrees, though Suga doubts Tanaka will actually be able to ignore it. And Asahi says I wouldn't mind if you spoke nicer to me. And Hinata continues so no one really cares if you're the king or not, not Hinata giving Kageyama permission to be himself literally my line here is like and then Hinata swoops in to be like it's okay to be the king.
20:35
Bae, live your truth and like the king here is just like being that guy who likes being the control tower and like pushing, like this is this is what Atsumu was kind of saying, but in a not nice way of like you don't have to like cater so much to your spikers, which I think is where this frustration is coming from is like and they say it more later on, but it's hard not to like.
20:58
Bring it up now where it's like I think Kageyama has been so subservient and like that's not satisfying for him as a setter and I think that has been frustrating him and ever since Atsumu blatantly pointed it out and now you know he was with such strong players and now he's struggling with Asahi and Tanaka and I just think it all came to a boiling point where it's like I'm a good setter, like to hit the fucking ball. I'm trying so hard to like, do what I'm supposed to do, give the tosses I'm supposed to give, but why is it not working?
rainbow
21:28
kind of thing. Yeah, it does. It feels a little bit like he's like rise to my level, rise to my level. Because that's what was happening to him. He was playing with these strong players and it felt like he rose to meet them. And now he's like OK, I'm doing good, why aren't you also doing good? And this is like a real breakthrough moment. And I just want to say the way that Kageyama looks at Hinata like the, the surprise on his face after Hinata says, like it's okay for you to be the king, like it's a really beautiful moment I, Hinata, is a gentle parent.
em
22:00
Yes, so Ukai says nothing beats a set. That's easy for the spiker to hit, and you find out what that is through communication, but that doesn't mean you can't fight. It feels like Kageyama has almost been like avoiding conflict by just like giving his set, his spikers, whatever they want, even if that means like stooping to their level, which is frustrating for a player like Kageyama, and so it's like he's finally being given permission Like you can be, like you can argue, it's okay, you know, like you can't. Just if you store it all up, then you blow up. But if, in the moment, you speak up and say something like that's how you effectively communicate and that's okay to ask for more.
rainbow
22:41
Yeah, before we move on from this moment, I just just just now, as you were talking about it, I think it really connects back to what happened in season two with Kagehina and their fight where Kageyama I think that was a moment where Kageyama was trying to keep control, he was trying to be the control tower, he was trying to dictate the way that Hinata has to spike, and they fought about it.
23:01
They were separated because of it. Kageyama had to learn a whole new way of setting for it and I think that kind of set him up for this like okay, so I have to figure out how to get the ball that the spiker can hit and I think we'll get into it later, like you said. But I think what's really happening now is that Kageyama has like kind of lowered his standards to meet the others and he is like but no, like I need to give them the spike that's best for them and that they can hit, but that doesn't mean I need to like lower myself because they can do. I think it's kind of like the like. They are a strong team and they can hit it. They can hit it higher, they can hit it stronger, they can hit like whatever set you want to give them and like it's up to you, as the setter, to give them that set, that's going to give them the best possible options, right.
em
23:46
As Kageyama is contemplating all of this, asahi finally gets to explain to him that he's been trying to time his attacks to not match their blocks, which is why he's been missing so much, although this has been hard to do because date tag is so good. He assures Kageyama your tosses are good, keep doing what you're doing. And I just have to say, like, what a great senpai. Because, like Kageyama was just so rude to him. But instead of taking it personally, I think, asa, he sees what's going on with him and he's just so patient and is like you know, you're doing good, buddy, it's okay. Did we have a big feeling?
rainbow
24:17
Well, asa, he's just so gentle, yeah, so kind. I think again. I think you know Karasuno is just like the best place that Kageyama could have ended up at, and a big part of that is the senpai he has there.
em
24:29
Yes. And so I say here, like this is the culmination of Kageyama's frustration. I think he was already questioning himself as a setter because of what Atsumu said and then what Hinata mentioned about Kogane getting Tsukki's jumps higher, and then with his general trouble with communication. This all led to this blow up where I think he really feels like you know, something is not connecting here, but his teammates were there to catch him and assure him it's okay to be him, led by soulmate Hinata.
rainbow
24:56
Yeah.
em
24:57
So Tanaka then adds on to that with what Asahi said, that he won't stop trying to get his cross shots in, especially since they're practicing against Datek. If you don't like it, that's your problem. And Kageyama says I can't make any promises. And I said the team is learning how to fight and play like cubs, and then we hand it over to Rainbow.
rainbow
25:16
Yeah. So then the team kind of talks these things through and they're going back to start. I guess the next set which I will say I didn't realize that that whole interaction that we just talked about happened after the first set. I was like, is this a timeout? Are they in the middle of a set right now? But no, so luckily they were not in the middle of the game, they were off on the side, so. But then the team goes to start the second set and the coaches talk about it being natural to fight, and Ukai mentions that since Kageyama is such a high level player, the others probably don't know how to criticize him. Yes, except for Hinata who, like, as Ukai is saying this, is yelling at Kageyama for not going down the middle enough during this match. And he's, like Hinata says to Kaimi, like what are you scared? Or something. And then Ukai and Takeda have a good laugh about how married Kage Hina are.
em
26:05
I mean literally just once again, the volleyball soulmate, because, yeah, his whole thing is like okay, it's good that Kage was learning how to like nitpick his players, but who's gonna check him? And right on cue, Hinata's like um, that's been my role, don't worry he's like I will I.
rainbow
26:20
That's what's so interesting, I think, about Hinata and I think what makes Kage Hina so compelling for me is that, like you know, we have seen time and time again that Hinata does view Kageyama as like the pinnacle of volleyball, like he is the peak, like it's commented on over and over again and Hinata can't help but to agree. But he also recognizes Kageyama is flawed. He's like, listen, he's a genius but he's not perfect. It's kind of like what the coach at the tokyo training camp was saying like geniuses are far from perfect, and I think Hinata recognizes that. Above all else, and I think part of the reason he's able to recognize that is because of their like antagonistic relationship where, like Kageyama is always yelling at him and Hinata's like, well, I can give it right back to you, yes, and like he's not afraid to do that. And I think it's one thing where they're like the way they communicate is like a strength for them absolutely.
em
27:07
And again, I think it's just this reoccurring theme of Hinata outmonstering Kageyama, yeah, and like not being afraid to to yell at him all right.
rainbow
27:15
And so we're back in the game and Kageyama sets to Tsukishima and he sets much higher than usual and like we see Kageyama thinking to himself like one and a half ball lengths and Tsukishima completely misses it. Um, and you know, he looks back at Kageyama and Kageyama is just kind of like I won't baby you I won't stoop to your level, he says in the sub, and I think it might be Ukai, who says that Kageyama has been accommodating Spiker's bad behavior.
em
27:42
Yes, and I think that's what Atsumu clocked in on Like he's accommodating, like lesser than playing and rather than like pushing for more?
rainbow
27:52
Yeah, I think. Well, that's the whole thing. It's like you're not bringing out the best in your players Out of fear of like being too demanding and I wrote he said said, get up, cuck, and Hinata is pleased. Yeah, Hinata is over on the side like very happy about this because he knew it.
em
28:09
He was like I knew that he could jump higher.
rainbow
28:11
Yeah, and Tsukishima is like, clearly offended by Kageyama, saying like I won't stoop to your level, but it's like. But I think the fact that he isn't like more of a bitch in his response shows that, like he knows that Kageyama is right. He knows he could be going higher, but he's a little lazy, he's a little lazy.
em
28:28
And they also explain that Kogane. I mean it was kind of accidental because Kogane is so tall and he sets kind of high that Tsukki really had no choice but to like reach for higher. And then you find that Tsukki can have a higher hit point.
rainbow
28:44
Yeah, okay, to like reach for higher, and then you find that Tsukki can have a higher hit point yeah, okay. And so then we have um on the sidelines, we have Yamaguchi and the NPCs that would be a great band name, by the way and they discuss Kageyama's outburst and Narita says that Kageyama doesn't seem like the type to get stuck in the past. Um, and this is in response to Yamaguchi asking if they think he's still upset about his feud back in middle school and Suga says that Kageyama's middle school team are the ones who forced him to realize he might be wrong about certain things. And while Suga is saying this about, like you know, about Kageyama um, like being forced to realize he might be wrong, there's like the image of a lone volleyball on like a dark volleyball court, um, which I just think is like really good visual imagery.
em
29:25
I also feel like that really lends to why Kageyama gets so frozen when trying to figure out how to like argue. Well, because the last time he butt heads it meant him being off the court.
rainbow
29:38
So I think there's just you know, I think we talked about it a little bit when we were discussing the Hinata and Kindaichi conversation where, like it's normal for teammates to fight sometimes, and like Kageyama didn't know how to fight, he only knew how to like push and push and push, and like it takes two to fight, like I think that's what's so great about Kageyama is that there's a push and pull, whereas with Kageyama and Kindaichi it was a push and a push and a push, and Kindaichi, for whatever reason and no, through no fault of his own, I'm not blaming him but like he wasn't able to push back against Kageyama in an effective way and so he just had to walk away, which is something that has to happen sometimes. You know, like there is, like there's a reason people go no contact with, like the toxic people in their lives, and you know Kageyama's just found a place and a group of people who you know, who will push back on him in a way that will get through to him, and he has grown and changed. I think if this were still Kageyama as he was in middle school, things would go differently, but he had to learn those lessons, and I think that's what Suga is saying here is like that experience he had in middle school is what led to him being able to understand what's happening here. Right, middle school is what led to him being able to understand what's happening here, right, yeah. So then we have Kageyama setting for Tsukishima again and he sets higher, but this time Tsukki does jump to reach it.
30:49
And we have like Hinata saying like, oh my gosh, he jumped for it, um, and so they managed to get the spike over date tech's wall. And Hinata is all like blushy and proud on the sidelines because, like he was right, he's like I knew it. And I think there's also a little bit like, yeah, and my boyfriend could get him. That could get him that high too. It's not just Kogane, yeah. And then when Tsukishima comes down from his spike, Kageyama has like a smug little moment where he's like, yeah, see, you could jump that high. And Yamaguchi, from the sidelines, is like defending his boyfriend. He's like like Kageyama, don't be such a jerk.
em
31:24
Yeah, this is where he's yelling. And then he's like Tsukki, stay calm.
rainbow
31:27
Yeah, yeah. He's like Tsukki, stay calm, which only earns him a. Will you shut up Tadashi From Tsukishima? And now it's time for Gremlin Hinata. Yeah To mock Kageyama. Yeah To mock Kageyama. He's like flattening his hair down, except for his little ohage that's coming out of the top of his head, and he's like mimicking Kageyama's voice, and he's like it's the greatest position there is because you get to be the ruler, the way he remembers that line by line.
em
31:53
Of course he does that first day.
rainbow
31:56
Of course. Well, yeah, because then it flashes back to Kageyama yelling about being the setter being the best position, which was in like episode two or three. Um, and then we come back and Hinata's like twisting a towel up in his hand and he like is slowly approaching Kageyama and then he jumps up and shoves it on Kageyama's head well, he's saying like we can't just forget.
em
32:16
You said that you know deep down you are a king in parentheses and I like it like I think this is something Hinata really likes about Kageyama.
rainbow
32:25
Yes, yeah, no, I think. Well, he's always found the king thing impressive. He's always thought it was cool. And he says in the dub he specifically says act like a goody. Goody, all you want. You'll always be the king in parentheses to me. Take me to the king, take me to the king, take me to the king, take me to the king. It's like it's and there's just really beautiful imagery here, because we see Hinata like jump up and then the background like whites out and it we come up to a like a garbage dump appearing around them and Kageyama is in his Karasuno jersey and Hinata like puts the towel on his head and it transforms into a big red, shiny crown and then Hinata is like floating back down to the ground, very reminiscent of like after he comes back down from a spike. And there's just this moment where, like, Kageyama is just like stunned by what has happened. He's like you've just crowned me the king.
em
33:20
it's like the metaphor here is he's really taking this like thing he was ashamed of and making it something to own and be proud of. I also wanted to know and this is a very rough translation because, again, I am such a beginner, but as he's like slamming the crown on his head, I believe he's saying the birth of the great king of the court. And yeah, you gave birth to your son like he.
rainbow
33:42
Yeah, he birthed the king of the great king of the court and yeah, you gave birth to your son like, yeah, he birthed the king of the court and then Kageyama is calm and happy and I think he like clicks for him yeah, Hinata is what, like, makes him realize like I can still be the king.
33:57
I don't have to be a dictator king, but I can still be the king of the court, I can still be in control, I can still be in charge. I cannot stoop down to other people's level and um. So you know, we have this beautiful visual imagery and then it cuts back to they're in the gym. Kageyama throws the towel back in Hinata's face and then the camera pans over and we just see the lower half of Kageyama's face and at first he's frowning, but then his lips turn up in a smile.
em
34:22
Yeah, and Ukai kind of says like, oh, I think he's okay now, yeah yeah, he is.
rainbow
34:28
And then Kageyama addresses the team and he's like I'm not good at figuring out other people's feelings and apparently I'm not exactly the best at words either, but I will be the best setter ever and they're like we've been new. Yeah, well, yeah, Daichi says something cute, just like yeah, we know that. But like when he says the whole thing about, like I'm not good at figuring out other people's feelings and I'm not exactly the best with words Hinata says like yeah, we know that. And Tsukishima says, uh, this isn't breaking news, you know? Yep, so we have this moment. Kagema addresses the team and then Tsukishima tries, tries to be a bitch and make like another snotty comment. And then Hinata comes in like very seriously, like telling him to grow up. He's like hey, Kageyama is trying to be mature here, like you need to be a little mature. And then Yamaguchi comes in to be like and that's coming from Hinata, because Hinata is so childish and immature in ways, but he's actually also low-key.
35:23
The most mature of the first years? Yeah, absolutely. And then everyone starts making fun of Tsukishima, which I think this is like such a great moment and like that's like such a perfect way to handle somebody who's like still trying to be like cause there is an immaturity to what Tsuki does, like I feel like Tsuki acts like he's so calm and cool, collected, and he's so much better than them and he's smarter and he's more mature because he doesn't care about volleyball as much, but it's like actually you're kind of the most immature of them all well, I almost kind of wanted to say, when Kageyama has that blow up and Tsukki's like, oh look, the great king is back, it's like not the time actually like something is happening.
35:58
Don't be a dick right now, yeah, it's like, well, it's again. I think Tsukishima also lacks emotional intelligence. He also has his own like emotionally stunted bullshit because of what happened to him when he was younger yeah, he like refuses to take anything seriously, and I think that's his problem and I think that's like.
36:15
that's something I've seen where like a sign of maturity is like knowing when it's okay to like be having fun and making jokes and not taking things seriously. But maturity means that you know when it is time to step up and to like handle things responsibly, right, yeah, and so we have Kageyama thinking to himself like it's okay to be a goody two-shoes here. Ukai steps up to tell him that, while it's important to consider how other people feel, it's normal not to know automatically and a setter's job is to know how the game is going and how their teammates are doing. It's not necessarily like you have to figure out what their feelings are and then we go back to the game.
em
36:52
yeah, um, and I guess date tech was just watching all of this from the other side of the net I screamed when Futakuchi was like I don't know what's really happening here, but uh, because like literally it's been and I looked, it was like 10 minutes of this like therapy session, while I guess Datek was just like why do you put a towel on his head?
rainbow
37:12
Yeah, they're just like. What's happening? What's all this king business? Their name is Karasuno. Like, relax, yeah, anyway. And so the game is going much better now. Tsukikage are way more in sync and Tsuki notes that Datek's blocks are just getting better as they play. So even as Karasuno is starting to improve in this game, Date Tech is keeping up with them.
37:33
And on the sidelines we have Hinata telling Suga and the others about Tsukishima's spikes being different at the training camp, and I think this is where he talks about like, oh, kogane was always accidentally setting too high, and so Tsukishima just ended up, like rising up to match him. And Enoshita comments that Hinata has been really paying attention. And Suga says, wow, all my teammates are growing up. And Hinata kind of has a frustrated look on his face where he's like, yeah, Tsukishima's jumping higher, and he's like, like, and Kageyama was able to like set higher, to like make him jump that high, like it's so cool. And like. Suga says, like, he's looking right at Hinata and he's like I was talking about you too, you know, like, and I think that's such an important thing is that we're seeing growth is not just your like skill of like, your technical skill, but it's also your ability to like see what's happening on the court, and I think Suga and the rest of Karasuno is has noticed the change in Hinata, which, again, he's a weird little freak.
em
38:23
He learned this in a week, right like what the hell he was a ball boy for five days and now he's a whole new man. Yes, okay.
rainbow
38:32
So now we're in the game still and Tanaka gets a great block out, um, so he like hits the ball, uh, against the blocker's hand and it like goes out and that like gives them a point and Tanaka's like pumped. He tells Kageyama to keep them coming and Kageyama says, no, your spikes are getting sloppy. And he's like, if you need, we can bring somebody else in if you're getting tired. And Ukai with like the most like oh shit, face, goes to call for a time out immediately. He's like um, hang on, no, no, no, no, no. That's not what I meant, Kageyama, that's not what I meant. Um and Tanaka it's. I love this moment, it's so funny.
39:06
Tanaka's very calm. He's got like a very like buddha face, the bright, the background is all like bright and bubbly and he's like. I know Kageyama probably thought he was being helpful when he said that, but then he switches to yelling and he's like you're not subbing me out, dumbass. And then Daichi comes in to be a good captain. He does the good captain thing and he explains to Kageyama that they should be subbing people in to gain the advantage instead of subbing people out to make up for problems.
39:32
And Kageyama is like, okay, well, I'll send fewer balls and keep an eye on Tanaka. And then things start to get confusing for our poor little autistic boy, because Tanaka's like listen, do that, but like be cool about it and I think he means like be subtle, like don't just tell me outright that you're sending me less balls, because that's going to make me feel bad. Like just kind of do it like I won't notice. But then Asahi comes up and he's like actually, Kageyama, you need to come out and say it to me, because if I notice that I'm not getting as many balls, it will hurt my feelings and this is where Kageyama starts to short circuit.
em
40:00
And again, this is where I feel like the autism coded character comes through, because it's like I get what Tanaka is trying to say, like you don't have to fucking tell me that you're gonna like just do it, be nonchalant. But nonchalant is not something that Kageyama does, and he just like can't understand why that would be hurtful and then ase being like well, actually. So, of course, like Kageyama blew up because I think it is still kind of like the communication is something he's going to continue to have to work on and like figure out the subtleties of things.
rainbow
40:30
Yeah Well, and it's funny because, like you see, there's like words in the background. I didn't really take the time to read like all of the translations. I think it's just like notes of like what they were saying, of like don't tell me, but tell me, and it's like literally that meme of like the lady with the like math equations in the background, where he's like I don't know how to figure all of this out, and then Takeda over on the sideline thinks about how the team is constantly evolving and how they're lucky to have such strong senpai to help out the first years, which I think we say this all the time.
em
40:58
We do, and I think it's such an important note that the show also acknowledges it, because he says like you know, everyone's always going on about how great our rookie first years are, but Kageyama is lucky to have these kind of senpai, which is so true. Any other team do you think they would take 10 minutes to teach him how to communicate effectively? Oh, but Josai surely wouldn't have. And like Asahi's patience and Daichi's wisdom and like they are like, and Tanaka and Nishinoya, like you know, they get a little like offended sometimes, but like they're just, the willingness to work with Kageyama is very special well, and just think about, like how would Furukuchi handle this moment?
41:33
right. Well, like what would Furukuchi have done here? I mean, you know, maturity is not exactly anyone's strong point at this point. Yeah, but our senpais they're all fathers.
rainbow
41:44
Yes, so we have. We're back in the game again and we have Kageyama sets to Asahi, but it's like a little far from the net or a little low, it's like not a great set. And so Asahi hits it, but he gets blocked and then he's apologizing for it and Tanaka and Kageyama both are just like you don't need to apologize, I think. Kageyama says something and Asi, he apologizes to him for apologizing, and then Tanaka comes in and he apologizes for apologizing.
em
42:11
They're literally just like in real time, learning how to talk to each other.
rainbow
42:15
Yes, and then Hinata pops in and he's like are we not going to talk about how Kageyama's set wasn't great? And then Kageyama has to apologize for his set, Thank God for.
em
42:24
Hinata man.
rainbow
42:25
It's they really they gel together so well. It's that. It's the chemical changes, it's the chemical reactions that happen when they encounter each other. It's the colors bleeding into black.
em
42:36
Yeah, and I just feel like there was all this focus on how Hinata is so useless without Kageyama. But where the fuck would Kageyama be without Hinata? I think that is so important.
rainbow
42:45
I mean because imagine if Hinata did manage to break into the Tokyo training camp, uh, with Kageyama. Imagine how he would have reacted to hearing Atsumu call Kageyama a goody two shoes, like how they would have talked about it afterwards, like I think that would be. That's such an interesting idea, like. Give me a fic where somehow Hinata does manage to get to the tokyo training camp and is there to witness all of this, like what would that look like? Yeah, because I think we always say it they're both important for each other's growth. They really fill in each other's gaps.
43:19
So then on the other side of the court, we finally get to see a little bit more from Datek. So we have Futakuchi serving in more ways than one, because he's thinking to himself I don't know what's going on with them, but Karasuno is off their game, let's crush them. Yep, I love Futakuchi and Hinata's on the court at this point, finally. He's been on the sidelines a lot of this game, but he's finally rotated back in and he goes for a spike, but it gets blocked. Um, and Aone and Fudukuchi do a chest bump, but Aone is just too strong and Fudukuchi ends up on the floor like clutching his chest. He's like no, just give me a second you knocked the wind out of me.
em
43:56
There was on twitter um, we even retweeted it about how Aone doesn't get a backstory, and someone had quote retweeted it and I can't remember exactly what they said, but it was something along the lines of I think Aone's backstory would like crush us emotionally.
rainbow
44:10
I think so too. I think that's. I think I bet there's like a draft somewhere that Furu Date wrote about it, and then somebody looked at it and was like we can't put this in your volleyball manga, it's too sad. So then Yamaguchi thinks back to the play that just happened and he thinks about how it's a perfect serve block combo, where you throw the opponent off with a serve so that was Futakuchi's serve and then you block them while they're off balance, and we should just put a pin in that.
em
44:37
Well, I think Ukai goes on to say like you know, they have one really good server, but they have another one.
rainbow
44:48
You know it's Daytech is gonna be like their hardest opponent, possibly next year. Yeah. So I think he specifically says that if they can get more servers like Furukuchi, they might become untouchable. And Aone, at this point, as Ukai's saying this, he does a very powerful serve that goes out, but it's very clear that like, oh, if he can get that in control, that's gonna be a nightmare, just like proving uka's point in real time. And he says next year, the team that ends up giving us the most trouble just might be date tech. All right, yeah, that's the end of the episode. Um, this game is dragging out for, uh, longer than I remembered it, but that's okay.
em
45:20
well, because we keep pausing to teach Kageyama how to talk to his teammates, that's true.
rainbow
45:25
That's true. This is, I think, the most we see of them pausing the gameplay to be like okay, and then this is how you should talk to Asahi.
em
45:33
And it makes sense because this is the first thing they've done since they've gotten everyone back home and everyone is different now and, yeah, it's more, like you said earlier, growing pains. Yeah, all right, manga versus anime, manga versus anime. This episode covers chapters 223 to 225. Um, I did notice that the date tech coach looks different, like his face is different. That's all I really got to say about that at the end of, uh, chapter 224 or maybe 223, I don't know why this exists and it says suddenly it's like a bonus drawing at the end of the chapter and in a little text bubble it says suddenly, just because and it ranks the top three biggest eaters. Number one is Yasushi Kamasaki. Which who is that? I think he's from Date Tech. No, he's from Date Tech. I just don't know who that is.
rainbow
46:23
I have no idea. I assume it's maybe one of the third years.
em
46:25
I think it's one of the third years. Could have looked it up, didn't?
rainbow
46:28
Oh, we could have done him for our character spotlight.
em
46:30
Oh, that's okay, I want to read comments. Yeah, number two is Daichi Sawamura I can't say it, his last name is hard for me to say, but Daichi. And then number three is Nishinoya Yu, which we've kind of alluded. I think Tsukki made fun of him for eating so much. And then we have Noya saying I take a dump after every meal very proudly, and then he also they're good ones too, something, something. But you can't see it because Tsukki has a little bubble over it that's like ahem.
rainbow
47:00
and I said Nishinoya is the type that would like text you a picture of his poop if it came out really good yeah, if it's like a really interesting shape, he'd be like look, you know that Tanaka and Noya have like a running thread where they're sending each other pictures of their shits.
47:17
I also don't know if taking a dump after every meal is good for you well, actually I've looked this up and like there really is not like a really good average of like how often you should be pooping. Some people poop like every day, some people poop three times a day, some people poop three times a week, and like it just depends on your body when I'm on my period I poop about five times a day.
em
47:36
So yeah, I'm pretty regular, luckily. Aren't you guys happy?
rainbow
47:39
you know that yeah, this is a great conversation. Anyway, more manga versus anime.
em
47:45
Um, there was the official announcement of season three at the top of 224. And it was Goshiki announcing. It was very cute. He's like me. Not Ushijima is announcing season three Thanks to our support. Hey, you still have our support. Give us season five.
48:00
And then I just felt like there were some lines that gave even more insight to like what Kageyama was going through. I think Ukai says this. Kageyama was going through who? I think Ukai says this Kageyama doesn't seem like the sort to hold back for anyone.
48:11
The fact that he's quietly accepted all his hitters demands on how he sets the ball this long is probably what's unusual. And I feel like you know, maybe what got lost for me is like that wasn't super obvious to me in the last, like few episodes or whatever in the last like arc or so, that Kageyama has been much more like subservient to the Spikers. But that has been what's going on and that's probably been killing him inside a little bit. And they also point out that Kageyama is partially frustrated at going back to like a lower level after the training camp. And Suga says I get the feeling Kageyama keeping quiet and not calling anyone out this whole time was the exception, not the rule and Hinata says he yells at me all the time and Suka says you're the exception, that proves the rule.
48:55
And I think that kind of links to what you were saying earlier about how they communicate, where it's like, yeah, like they kind of have this effective communication because Kageyama feels free to like berate Hinata essentially, but Hinata gives it back to him twofold, so it works. And then just the way he says to the team, because in the anime he's like my tosses are good, so please score more. In the manga it's written this isn't my fault, I'm putting the ball up just the way you want it. Stop screwing around and score.
rainbow
49:23
Oh, that's so interesting. That is a very interesting way to frame it, and I think it kind of gets more to the root of Kageyama's problem here is it's not just like my sets are good, it's like these are the sets you said you wanted. Why aren't you scoring with them?
em
49:40
and that comes down to the like crux of the issue it's like, in a way, Kageyama's been like betraying himself as a setter. He's like I put my crown down and I've been doing what you want, but it's not like that and it's like people pleasing people. That's what I've been searching for. Like it's almost like Kageyama's been people pleasing and if you know anything about people pleasing, that's the quickest way to build up resentment, um, and so I think that's what's really been going on with him from like a psychological standpoint. So, yeah, that's all I got for manga versus anime. I do love the manga. I think it does give deeper insights to things like this than the anime can get through, because you get to see thought bubbles and stuff like that. And now no character spotlight. We're gonna just like look at some comments and reviews that we like.
rainbow
50:24
Yeah, so you can leave a comment on spotify on every episode. We have a faithful commenter, cloud quartz. I think we've shouted you out before, but we do love looking at every single one of your comments and for a while I thought it was really just cloud, that we had um commenting on stuff, but we've gotten some comments from other people as well. So we have kind of a list of, like, some of our favorites although I really shouldn't say some of our favorites, because I love each and every single comment we get but just, I guess some that we thought could, like you know, spark a little bit of conversation or a little reflection on some of the stuff that we've talked about.
50:55
And so I wanted to start out with our very first episode, episode zero. We're here, we're queer, now pass the volleyball, and we had four comments which just made my heart sing. And we had somebody, queer Mushroom, who said that they searched Queer Podcast and found us Because, unfortunately, two Queer Podcasts that they liked got taken down. I hate to hear that. Yeah, you know, I hope everything's okay with those people, and you know they wanted a Queer Podcast, they love Haikyuu and here they are, so we're happy to have you.
em
51:25
That's what we love to hear. Hear because, again, like we made this because we wanted a specific podcast that not only talked about how great of a story it was, but also to like, pinpoint and celebrate the queerness aspect of it all yeah, like that's like part of the fun for the fun of it.
rainbow
51:40
For us, the comments we have here are really just like you know, like I love Haikyuu, I've been looking for something like this. Love the queer vibes. So thank you to Cloud Z, fatal Rain and Queer Mushroom for your comments on our very first episode. And, folks, if you're a Spotify listener and you want to leave a comment, please feel free to.
em
52:00
We love to remember that that's a thing and then check them.
rainbow
52:03
Yeah, I want to be more mindful about checking our social media stuff and replying to people, specifically Because I try to like react to stuff, I like to heart stuff. It can be hard sometimes I get like very like socially anxious and like I get frozen trying to respond to things. But we promise it's. If we're not responding to you it's not because we don't love hearing from you, it's just because we're humans with our own issues.
em
52:26
It's just the two of us. We don't have a team. You know we're doing the best we can yeah, but I do want to.
rainbow
52:31
I want to try to work that into my like daily routine, more especially during the week of like. Okay, I'm gonna check and I'll respond to people, because I do like the community aspect of this yes, we very much love that.
em
52:41
And hey, if you comment, maybe we'll shout it out on the podcast. Isn't that fun? Doesn't it make you want to comment? I do want to shout out, um, a comment from our apple uh platform. So, bella, back in january. I'm just gonna read I won't read the whole thing, um, because that feels too fluffing up my own butt.
52:59
But they said, I've been a part of the haiku fandom for at least half a decade and I would say after the movie the fandom has gotten a little dormant. I was searching for new content and discussion about this show, since it holds a special place in my heart and boy did this podcast give me everything I needed and we're so happy to hear that. And like the Haikyuu fandom is so special, like some people argue, like it never really dies and it doesn't. But like I think activity certainly slows down in comparison to like when we get new things, but we're always a beating heart for those with eyes to see and I like that. We, you know, 10 years later, are here kind of talking about things. I think more people doing that will continue to breathe life into the fandom and maybe get us a season five, who knows?
rainbow
53:40
Yeah. And then I also want to mention we have another Apple review. Also, thank you all for the five stars. We have not had a bad review so far. Yes, we really appreciate it. Yes, we love to hear that. But we have another one.
53:57
And again, I won't read the whole thing, but they said it's very sweet. Again, you all are so nice and kind and understanding. But they say I'm not trying to apply pressure, but a part of me hopes M and Rainbow make this forever. And like I wish we could. I wish we could. Yeah, we're going to try. Yeah, we're going to do our best.
54:12
Like I think it might come down to a point where, like we are not able to make episodes for like months at a time, but like anytime, there is like any kind of like update, any anniversary thing. If we manage to get our hands on like a live show filming that's English dubbed or whatever. Maybe M is fluent enough in Japanese to watch them in the original um. Like we want to continue doing um stuff. Like you know, this feed might go dormant for a while at some point and don't worry, we've got plenty of time until that happens. But like we do, we love haiku and it's such a big part of our lives and, you know, until you know, the dystopian apocalypse finally hits and we're no longer able to access uh, the the cloud anymore. Like we want to continue this, um, all right.
54:57
So another comment from season one, episode 10 um cloud says it's crazy to me that people could think that Kageyama yelling at Hinata and calling him out so accurately could be evidence that he doesn't care. But it's so obvious that the reason he is so ruthless with Hinata is because he cares so much about him. Like we see how Kageyama yells at his middle school team and it's completely different from the way he communicates with Hinata and it really is the only way that we'll get through Hinata's hyper focused thick skull yeah yep, yeah.
55:27
So, cloud, I totally agree. That's from the episode yearning um in season one and I would also argue that him yelling at his team in middle school is also because he cares so much. Right, it's because he cares so much about like playing, about getting to stay on the court longer, but he's just not thinking about anybody else's feelings right.
em
55:48
Someone said in a comment that we are kagehina soulmate coded. I saw that that was very cute. I really enjoyed that.
rainbow
55:54
Thank you guys and then uh, moving on to a comment from uh, episode 21 from season one, senpai's true ability cloud asks do you think oikawa's hostility towards Suga could have anything to do with seeing Suga be such a good senpai to Kageyama and knowing that he wasn't Maybe some repressed guilt? I think that could be an interesting side of Oikawa to explore.
em
56:15
I wouldn't, maybe subconsciously. Yeah, it's almost like the Kindaichi thing where it's like, oh well, he's working okay with this team. Maybe we maybe we failed him.
rainbow
56:29
Well and again, as I've said many times before, kendai chi, it wasn't you that failed him, it was his coaches, because I think it is important to note that, um, like you know, when that was happening, like Kageyama was the third year, he was a senpai he didn't have anyone older than him other than his fucking coaches yeah who could have said to him like, hey, this isn't okay. Like his, his fellow peers, his other third years had to be the ones to handle it.
56:52
And surprise, surprise, when middle schoolers have to handle big emotions all on their own, without any guidance, um, things get messy right oh, we also have a comment from cloud on uh, episode two of season two, direct sunlight, about yachi and Hinata that they're such cute friends, they have cousins who are besties, energy, where people are always like, are you dating? And they're like ew, I love that. Yes, that's totally what I see. We have a comment on a season two episode seven from Smiling Misery that says I hope you know I love your podcast literally so much and we love that you love it and thank you so much for listening. We love to see that kind of stuff. Um, it's kind of like these comments on spotify, or like reviews or getting an email. It's very much like getting a comment on an ao3 fic where it's just like listen, kudos are nice, but a comment is gonna breathe life into me.
57:43
I'd love to hear your thoughts yes, yeah, and we I do generally just genuinely love getting to hear your takes on this, like you know, I mean, we come from fandom spaces where you're like constantly like talking about this and like discoursing about it, and I love talking to Emma about it, obviously, but it's so much fun. Some people give their queer roots in season two, episode 22.
58:10
That was where we did their queer roots for who in Haikyuu and we had somebody it was Cloud said their queer root was working at Whole Foods. If you know, you know.
em
58:17
I don't know.
rainbow
58:18
I can't say that I know either, but if anybody out there knows and wants to, let us know.
em
58:23
I could see like hot queers shopping there for the organics know that's true.
rainbow
58:27
That's true, um.
em
58:29
And then we had another one, lucian, who said their queer route was um, their best friends coming out to them just before middle school uh, you really do like it's such a funny realization, because usually I think a lot of gay people experience like, oh, the whole friend group was gay. Yeah, we all like gravitated toward each other without even knowing why. Yes, because a lot of gay people experience like, oh, the whole friend group was gay. Yeah, we all like gravitated toward each other without even knowing why. Yes, because a lot of my friends from middle school are queer and know it, or queer and closeted, but they're queer.
rainbow
58:58
I can actually say now all of my friends from elementary, middle and high school who are like my best friends, who I'm still friends with, every single one of them is queer, I think. What two of them are um, dating supposedly cishet men, allegedly, allegedly who are also like giving queer in a not sexuality queer way, but just like in a like, oh, you're like different from the norm kind of queer which I appreciate. Um, and then cloud for the last episode of season two wanted um our thoughts on if Ushi Oi's dynamic is how Kagehina would be if they went to different schools and were playing against each other rather than getting to play and grow together my mind is blown your mind is blown.
em
59:42
I've never thought of it that way, but yeah, yeah, kagehina would definitely be like you should have been on my team.
rainbow
59:47
I would have brought out the best in you yeah, like I could totally see that and but, hina, to being like oikawa and being like you don't know what's best for me, yes, and I think the big difference is, I do think that, if I don't think if ushi oi were on the same team, I don't think they would be like Kageyama.
01:00:03
No, I think their dynamic would be very different if they were on a team together and I it could be, specifically if they were on Shiratorizawa. I think an interesting thing to explore and if anybody knows of any fix out there about this, if Ushijima went to Seijo instead, what that would look like. It's hard for me because I literally can't imagine Ushijima on any other team other than Shiratorizawa. But like what would that look like? Scary, scary. We had a great comment on season three, episode eight An Annoying Guy. I think it's one of those episodes where we talked a lot about like the NPCs and how we don't know anything about them, and Lucien said we really know more about Daichi's ex-boyfriend than we do about two members of the main team.
em
01:00:43
I can't even it's true, and I don't care about Daichi's ex-boyfriend at all.
rainbow
01:00:48
It literally just doesn't matter. All right. And then we're almost through with our Spotify comments. I just wanted two more Cloud Quartz. This is season four, episode two. And they said the ball boy arc is officially being renamed Volleyball Cuck. I'm glad you appreciate that. Yes, and then they also said that in an interview, furudate said that Coach Ukai and Takeda were initially one character in the first draft, so it makes sense that they balance each other so well.
01:01:19
Oh wow, the soulmate-ism. Yeah, it's real. And then last one from season four, episode four, taking it Easy, where Mia left the comment about looking forward to next week's discussion of Conclave and we're only a few weeks late, mia, I hope you enjoy that.
em
01:01:35
I hope that's not what was keeping you listening it's like, wow, I can't trust anyone these days, I know.
rainbow
01:01:41
And then Cloud Quartz just said like a happy pride, and happy pride to you as well, Happy pride, and what a good way to end up this section.
em
01:01:49
yes, yes absolutely um.
rainbow
01:01:51
So yeah, all of you out there. I hope this has inspired some of you to leave some comments or leave an apple review. You're also always welcome to reach us on social media or send us an email, and I think m can give us that information in just a second after we do. Who and iq can't go out of order now can't do it.
em
01:02:08
Can't do it. So for this week's who and iq this is brought to us by lucian in a comment uh, which zodiac animals would they be? So for this one, we are specifically going to do the 12 players on Karasuno and we're also for this one, we're going to do the western zodiac. We weren't sure if you meant like the chinese zodiac or like the 12 ones that we have here, like the twins for gemini, and so on and so forth. We'll do more research on the chinese ones, just because we're not super familiar with them, and and revisit this for sure. But for today, we're gonna do, you know, the the goat for capricorn and, um, the bull and all that good stuff um, yeah, so I listed everybody out in like their number order.
rainbow
01:02:50
So starting with Daichi and ending with Yamaguchi. So do you just want to go through? Starting with our captain, our boy? Yeah, so for Daichi, I'm thinking, maybe the ram.
em
01:03:02
Ram or the bull, which would be Ares or Taurus. Yeah, the bull is giving me more another character he also is a Capricorn and I would kind of give him that too, because, like the Capricorn is the goat and that's like they go up that mountain no matter what the obstacles are. And him being like the leader of like we're gonna go to nationals no matter what it takes, gives me that energy.
rainbow
01:03:25
Yeah, I mean, I think you could say that Daichi is the greatest of all time. So enough, yeah, let's give him the goat. Okay, so Daichi's the goat. Um, moving on to Suga, he's the crab right, like canonly. I don't know. Yeah, we're in, just so everyone is clear. We are not I. I don't want to let their actual zodiac signs fully influence what we're picking for their animal. I do kind of want to go with, like, okay, that animal as I picture it.
em
01:03:53
I would also give him the twins for Gemini, because I feel like there's two different Sugas. There's like a mature senpai, but then there's also this like goofy, like he yells from the sidelines and gives people a hard time.
rainbow
01:04:06
Yeah, this like chaotic queen. I could see that I was thinking the crab. I think specifically I was thinking about like the little crabs from finding nemo that are constantly trying to like eat the things coming out of the pipes. Yeah, um, or like the, the, that one crab commercial, that was like I pinch, but no, I totally see the, the twins. I think that makes sense for for him. Okay, asahi, I kind of want to give him the virgin, that baby, me too. That's immediately what I thought of. I was like, well, he's the maiden, he's the virgin.
em
01:04:34
Yes, yes, tell me he's not with his flowing hair, and I'm putting him in a dress. Yes, okay, nishinoya. Nishinoya is definitely the ram or the bull.
rainbow
01:04:44
Okay, I was maybe gonna give him lion, but you know what that could be? Somebody else, yeah, yeah, yeah, the ram or the bull. I would say you know what? Because Tanaka's right after him. I would say, oh yeah, it's hard because I was gonna say Noya is the ram and Tanaka is the bull, but I feel like you could switch it. I'm gonna say Tanaka's the the bull. Okay, because I think he gets a little bit more fiery and angry in a way that Noya doesn't. Noya has, like chaos, energy, but like he doesn't quite get the same, like, like he doesn't like see red the way that Tanaka does.
em
01:05:14
Then I would almost give Tanaka the ram, because that's Ares and they're a little bit more fiery. They're literally the fire ruled by Mars, which is all about arguing and war. I can see that. I mean, listen, you can rank them however you like, that's true. That's true.
rainbow
01:05:30
Um, okay, and no shoulda, oh this is where it's gonna get really hard. Is he the scales?
em
01:05:37
oh, I like that. I feel like he keeps the balance of the second years especially. Yeah, we'll give him the scales. He's the judgment.
rainbow
01:05:44
Yeah, honestly um narita oh boy, oh baby, is he the fish?
em
01:05:51
he's just, he's swimming along, doing his best, yeah, and then Kinoshita, which actually I think Kinoshita is seven and narita is eight, so we did that a little out of order oh shit, okay, sorry, I think I just have a preference for narita over Kinoshita, for some reason, I guess because narita gets the least amount of love and character development. He could be the water bearer that lets the fish swim.
rainbow
01:06:13
Yeah, it's so hard with the. This is why Furutate needed to give them some more characterization. I know Okay. Kageyama. Kageyama, I was going to say, is the fish? Because of the Tobio thing.
em
01:06:26
That's true. I was also going to give him the lion, because he's very proud.
rainbow
01:06:30
Oh, I was going to give the lion to Hinata, but I think that makes sense. That makes sense too. Um, we could also give him. We could give him the scorpion.
em
01:06:38
Oh.
rainbow
01:06:39
Kageyama.
em
01:06:40
You know, I would almost give that to Tsukishima.
rainbow
01:06:42
I you know what I was just gonna say, that like Tsukishima does the stingers, he's got that sting. He does have that sting.
em
01:06:47
No, you're right, and I could also see maybe Hinata as the archer because of his spikes. Does that even make sense? I don't know.
rainbow
01:06:55
I don't know, okay so we just did Kageyama. Did we do Hinata? Not really Hinata. Archer is my first pick. I was gonna say the lion for him, but I see the archer as well. He can also be a bit of a ram, yeah, honestly. Okay. Tsukishima, we said, is the scorpion, yes, and then Yamaguchi, he could be the crab. Yeah, I mean, that's kind of the only one left. He's a bit crabby. He's crabby when Kogane tries to call Tsukishima by his nickname yeah, absolutely. Or when Tsukishima isn't trying enough. No, I think those all make a lot of sense.
em
01:07:32
Okay, good, we will come back with the Chinese Zodiac, but I hope you guys enjoyed this Western take. For now, before we reach the summit of the spoiler zone, let me hit you with those socials where you can like, comment and subscribe Twitter, instagram, tumblr and blue sky at fly hq pod. That's f-l-y-h-q-p-o-d. You can also send us an email at fly hq pod at gmailcom that's f-l-y-h-q-p-o-d. At gmailcom. And again, you can leave comments on apple and spotify and other places, I think, too. And now we're going up to the spoiler zone.
rainbow
01:08:11
I have a few things and I think I'm actually going to go in reverse order from how they're written. Okay, because I want to start because Cloud did leave a comment on season two, episode five. That's a little spoilery and I don't think we talked about this and I don't think I really realized it. Maybe we did and I'm just forgetting. But they said I never got why Kageyama goes to that youth class because he doesn't know. No, oikawa will be there, but that's where his grandpa taught, yes, and that's why he goes, because he's like which I'm just gonna cry now. It's very much him going back to his roots. I think, yeah, it's like, this is where I went to, like learn volleyball in the first place, and so, oh, and he doesn't even really know.
em
01:08:51
He's like what am I doing here?
rainbow
01:08:52
and Kageyama's grandpa from the grave was like come here, you're gonna run into your senpai and get some guidance I know, oh anyway, I just thought about a stardew valley, au, where Kageyama's grandpa dies and leaves him a farm.
em
01:09:06
Anyway, I do have a save file that's based off Kageyama.
rainbow
01:09:10
That's true. That's true, yes. So I just wanted to read that comment. I thought that was really sweet. It gave me the feels.
01:09:16
And then actually I'm going to go to my first thing for the spoiler zone, because that connects to it, because when the NPCs are talking about Kageyama and I think this is about kazuyo the like specifically, he says like, because he says like what happened in middle school, his past, and like I think his past is talking about kazuyo, like whatever happened, it must be a heavy weight for him and that weight is grief. Oh yeah, it's really hard. And I think the thing in middle school with his team refusing his sets, for him that was like a continuation of the loss he suffered when his grandpa died, like first it was the first person who introduced him to volleyball, then it was the people he played with, and he's so scared of that happening again, especially because his relationships on Karasuno, I think, are better than the ones he had at Kitagawa Daichi and he doesn't want to lose that. But luckily Hinata and the rest of Karasuno are there for him, no matter what. And then the very last thing I wanted to say is that um Ukai was absolutely fucking correct about Date Tech being the one team they need to look out for next year because we find out that, uh, Date Tech beats them at the inner high and goes to the national championship.
01:10:30
And there's a really great fic out there I think it's by Boom Turkey, I think it's like a series. But it's like Atsumu is like obsessed with Hinata and like is like super excited to play Karasuno at the inner high because, like he makes that big declarative statement of just like Shouyo, like you're going, you're gonna, I'm gonna be setting for you one day, but first we're gonna beat you at the inner high, and then Karasuno doesn't even come to the inner high and they're like looking at the schedule to be like looking to see where they're gonna play and they see who the Miyagi prefecture, uh people are, and Atsumu screams what the heck is a date tech?
01:11:02
I love that, so they don't even make it to nationals in second year well, they go to now, so they go to the spring tournament, but I, so I think, the inner high championship, I think like, I think that's a separate. I think it goes to like, I think it goes to the national level, but it's not like the nationals, so it's like the inner high championship. So I think they have like two opportunities or it's something where, like, they qualify.
01:11:23
You know, I'm a little confusing to me've seen it in fix and this is how I kind of take it that there's like an inner high championship and you can go to the national level and then there's the spring nationals that are like televised and I think depending on how you do at the inner high determines like can determine your placement at the nationals. Like I think you know, izaki does so good at the inner high national championship that they're seated and they don't even have to play the first day at nationals. Their first game is against Karasuno. I think that's what happens. It gets very confusing. I'm not a sports person, so you know we're just gonna go with that. Yeah, all right, do you have anything you want to add? No, I think that's it for this episode.
em
01:11:59
We've returned everybody.
rainbow
01:12:01
The king has returned and I'm so excited to see what's gonna happen. We're getting close to kind of what I consider like the midway point of the season, like they're about to like they're going to finish the state tech match, they're going to get ready to go to nationals, we're going to have a midseason break and then we're going into nationals.
em
01:12:17
The road to nationals. Woo to the top, all right. Well, guys, we'll see you next week. Until then, fly high.