I should have seen ch. 389 coming from miles away, because Furudate has been SHOUTING out stages of Kageyama’s character arc with all the pomp and circumstance such as chapter titles and cover pages like a goddamn shonen protagonist/magical girl announcing their attacks —

— but I was so blinded by other incredible things like Hinata’s equally fantastic character arc or the gorgeous panelling work that I forgot all about this until it hits me in the face.

So here's a quick (?) thread on Kageyama's character arc, or yet another masterclass from Furudate-sensei on how to write great characters.

Standard character arcs go through the usual 5-act structure: Exposition-Rising action (plot points)-Climax-Falling action-Resolution.

We starts with EXPOSITION (setup): The King of the Court (ch. 5), where Kageyama’s past is first revealed. This is the first chapter that sets up the entirety of Kageyama’s arc, which ends at ch. 9 at the end of Karasuno 3 v 3 match.

FIRST PLOT POINT (the turning point that ends the setup): Former Lonely Tyrant (ch. 68).

This chapter marks the first significant event in Kageyama’s arc: Kageyama overcoming his past - his first true REACTION against his settings (his past).

This chapter also contains the first plot point of Kageyama's own character arc, which is facing Oikawa for the first time AND LOSING, which in turn sets up his chain of decisions and actions afterwards.

MIDPOINT (the change in paradigm): Return of the King (ch. 224).

After the first plot point, Kageyama tries to find his own path as a setter, but ultimately struggles. This builds up to the breaking point —

— where he gets caught between being the “goody two shoes” and unable to reach his goal of being the best setter or reverting back to his past self (with all its mistakes).

With the help of his coaches and his teammates, Kageyama “sees the light”: he realises that he doesn’t have to turn his back completely on his former self, that he can reconcile his past, setting style, and temperament with his development in order to fully realise his potential.

CLIMAX: The Birth of the Serene King (ch. 285).

This is what Kageyama’s character arc is all about.

This is the moment that he becomes the setter that he wants to be AND was born to be, the moment that he completes his arc.

And really, what a glorious moment it is.

RESOLUTION: The King of the Court 2 (ch. 389).

The bookend chapter. The thematic answer. The happily ever after. The reward for sticking around all these years. The source of fan tears. The bomb that blew my freaking mind, again. This chapter is everything and more.

Of course there are many good and great character arcs in sport and shonen manga out there, but the thing with Furudate is that they have to go the extra mile to make sure every single thing matches not only narratively but also stylistically.