Thoughts on KinKuniKage friendship, a thread

Why this is the most important thing to me now in HQ

Firstly, Kageyama was an asshole during his middle and highschool years. The things he said to other people were mean and rude. You cannot erase his mistakes with "trauma"

Being hurt doesn't give you any right to hurt others.

Acknowledge his growth from that and don't erase it

I want to explain this from KinKuni's POV.

Kageyama was unreasonable. He simply thought that "giving it your all" was the ONLY method in playing volleyball. Furthermore, the gap he had in skill and communication had led him to drag down the experience for most of the team.

For most, vball is about playing and having fun. Kageyama failed to recognize the importance of fun and synergy which was vital to any team sport.
KitaDai had enough of Kageyama's constant belittling and nagging that they had to throw away something they love for spite.

If you think that the incident was traumatic to only Kageyama? You are mistaken. It had also affected the rest of them who pulled that coup. Doing something like that also leaves guilt and a bitter taste in your mouth

Thus, they are both guilty of doing something wrong.

Wc brings me to why I understand Kindaichi rejected Kageyama's 1st attempt to apologize. First, that attempt is insincere. Casually saying sorry for something equally traumatic for both just wont cut for it. Kindaichi is a sensitive boy and values himself more than that

I also believe, that Kindaichi, saying that he isn't apologizing for what had happened, also emphasizes the amount of hurt he also had from that experience.

He, along with KitaDai, had wanted Kageyama to experience pain too by throwing that match.

In this instance, since he cut off Kageyama, he still thought Kageyama was still the same self-absorbed King.

His emotions got the better of him and didn't notice that Kageyama was actually starting to listen more attentively to Kin's reasons. It shows Kag's growth from Karasuno

To which Kageyama had politely let him finish to say that "WE are the ones who will win."

A thing Kindaichi took note of. In that short convo, he had realized that Kageyama had started to grow as a person and can actually be nice and compassionate. (Kin is a soft babie)

He was frustrated that he didnt get to experience what it's like to have a cooperative and sensible Kageyama as a teammate or even a friend.

The frustration led over to him thinking that this version of Kag can strictly be found with Karasuno only and that he doesnt deserve it.

As seen in the ball boy arc, Kindaichi still actually cares about Kageyama despite the fact that Kageyama seems like he doesn't think about it.

Kin still tries to reach out bec he wants to retry their friendship but their trauma prevents him from directly talking to Kageyama

Whereas Kunimi is a person who really doesn't give a shit to go "all out," even in friendships.

Kindaichi, being the understanding person, is the only friend he feels like he needs to stay by his side. Thus, he does not want to bring any effort in trying to understand Kageyama.

Regardless, he still respects the feelings of his close friend, Kindaichi.

Off cam, he most likely sees the parts where Kin probably overthinks about the situation over middle school. To which Kunimi has had enough of and reassures Kindaichi of his continuous efforts back then.

It implies that Kindaichi had tried to understand Kageyama until it reached a point where it was unbearable even for him.

This is a very tiring and emotionally draining thing to do. And to do that constantly for three years during middleschool would be a nightmare for children.

Thus, Kunimi's total dislike for Kageyama which is simply a result of seeing Kindaichi constantly thinking about Kageyama's welfare

In contrast to having no proof that Kageyama actually has made any thought or effort to do the same. Therefore, to Kunimi, not caring is healing.

7 years later, we see KinKuni in the MSBY vs JA match.
They were shown addressing how Kageyama was not able to receive Sakusa's spike. This paneling after the even may show that KinKuni were at the stadium just to watch him.

Kin gives snarky comments while Kun remains quiet.

The reason why I broke down over chapter 401... is that Kageyama made a conscious effort. This was not a shy stuttering encounter at an empty hallway.

Kageyama who can't even remember brocolli, had seen KinKuni in the middle of an emptying stadium and called them.

He called them out from the crowd without hesitation and stared at them head-on. Both KinKuni were shocked about this. After the game, they had no intention of approaching Kageyama and are seen heading to somewhere else instead.

All relationships require effort. And how you value your relationship reflects on the amount of effort you continue to pour in it. In this case, Kageyama who showed no interest in the last years had nothing to benefit from repairing their friendship. So this speaks VOLUMES.

Instead of saying another apology, he asked them the thing that brought them together in the first place which was playing volleyball. This is vital bec Kageyama wants to show how much he has grown to those two people that impacted his childhood.

In these panels it is shown that he has been thinking of ways of how to rekindle the friendship he had broken with KinKuni. And that takes a lot of swallowing of pride and courage that he didn't have during the first time he tried to apologize.

KinKuni were speechless in what they had heard because no one had expected that the obstinate and prideful prodigy-turned international level vball player would invite them in literally PLAYING volleyball as a means to bond together.

The conclusion brings closure to all the trauma all three of them have inflected upon each other. This had given them the chance to move on. Kindaichi is now not worrying for him, Kageyama smiles and for Kunimi actually say something about Kageyama and his athleticism.

Colored KinKuni

As a person who really holds friendships dearly, this part really was important for me. For the longest time, I held my bitterness against Kageyama because of his lack of compassion and consideration towards others outside of vball. I, too, had peace because of this closure.

I know what its like to be Kin and worry and care for the other person endlessly even when they don't care to the point it hurts.

I also know what it's like to be Kun to force myself to just ignore the person to ignore the pain.

So for people to just blindly accept Kageyama being that hurtful and pardon him so easily because he is "hot" or "talented" or "had a lot of trauma" is just ridiculous to me.

They also have no right to invalidate my feelings and reservations for the character prior to this.

Omg thank you so much for reading.
There are lots of errors along the thread bec I wrote it at 3am still full of emotions from reading the chapter. Sjsjs im so sorry

I hope all of us had felt that closure and would learn how to let go of bitterness like KinKuniKage.