Really enjoyed rereading the Mujinazaka’s game more than I expected. It’s a really smart way to introduce the concept of task focus before Kamomedai’s game and I absolutely love the contrast between Bokuto and Kiryuu.

Bokuto as we know is really self-confident, he knows he is strong. Kiryuu on the contrary doesn’t have a iota of confidence, he believes in his teammates and is always afraid not to live up to their expectations. This is highlighted by their relationships with their team.

Bokuto is always shown being super confident when Konoha and others try not to rely on him too much to prevent the emo mode from affecting their game. Usuri though hypes up Kiryuu, telling him he is strong and they can count on him.

This idea is conveyed not only through words but also actions: when Akaashi and Konoha don’t think giving it to Bokuto is the best option, passing to his ace is a no-brainer for Usuri. (even though it proves that Bokuto is a great decoy due to his strength)

Akaashi tries to always get the best balls for Bokuto whereas Mujinazaka players always set to him regardless of the quality.

And the Ooita spiker will never ask for more, whereas the Tokyo one expects his teammates to give him their best tosses.

A shift operates during the game: at the beginning it was bokuto who got blocked and then stepped up and by the end of the second set, it’s Kiryuu who get stuffed as he can’t keep on scoring from every ball.

Bokuto starts becoming a reliable ace in every situation and Kiryuu stops putting pressure on himself by thinking he can score from every toss.

In the end, Kiryuu fought his past fear from middle school to not be able to live up to expectations and understood that his status of ace is what gives him strength. The confidence others have in him made up for the one he lacks in himself.

Without changing their nature, they both found strengthes in themselves and evolved: one to match the confidence he has in himself, the other the trust his teammates put in him.