[Archiving] A Declaration of Intent

[necessarian]

Originally posted: 4.5.'15

(or, the How Oikawa Has Influenced Suga’s Growth Arc meta that no-one really asked for but which you’re getting anyway because spoilers I’m still in oisuga hell… this is not ship meta though, so don’t worry, and please don’t come to me saying “you only think these things because you’re a shipper,” because, you’re absolutely right, and I don’t care)

Here’s the thing… there’s a lot to be said for the parallels between Suga and Yamaguchi. Both feel like they have to prove their worth to have time on the court, so both hone their skill so that it brings something new to the game. The big difference, of course, is that Suga was on the team before, and was already a competent setter. Unlike Yamaguchi, he didn’t learn something entirely new. But he did also become a pinch server.

It’s sort of weird to think of Suga as a pinch server, but that’s essentially what he is now. The reason his serve is so valuable is because he can aim exactly for players on the opposing team. He’s never showed as asking anyone for help with this, or even practising it, so it’s easy to think that it’s just a skill he’s always had. But, on a reread, I noticed that this is so not the case.

Here’s a handy compilation of Suga’s first few reactions to Oikawa’s serve in the practice match between Karasuno and Seijou:

From the very moment Oikawa steps onto the court, we have Suga commenting on him. It’s easy to see why this is so—Suga’s a natural parallel for Oikawa in that he too has been shadowed by Kageyama’s genius, and a continuing theme is having Suga comment on Oikawa from the sidelines more than anyone, instead of Coach Ukai, or even Takeda or any of the other spectators.

So, idk if you agree with me, but I think Suga’s development as a targeting pinch server starts at this moment. Look at the close attention Suga is paying to Oikawa’s technique:

It’s pretty clear that he pays a lot of attention to how Oikawa plays, which makes sense, because like I said, parallels in their position. YMMV, but something I noticed is that it almost feels like Suga’s commentary on Oikawa is more intense than on anyone else, and a little bit awed too:

I feel like, later, when Suga starts realising that he can fight for a place on the court in other ways, you can pinpoint this practice match as the moment it all started. He doesn’t use his targeted serve in the Inter High match against Seijou, but he does get a lot of moments on the court between then and the first time he pinch serves, which is, fittingly, the Spring High match against Seijou. And even better, it’s right after Oikawa’s serve.

It’s clear that they’ve been working towards this for some time, that Suga has been practising his targeted serve. And it becomes a weapon, like Oikawa’s serve, which even Oikawa notices:

I wonder if he realises it might be his fault?

[credit: all caps from casanova]