I usually my spend all of my time talking about Oikawa, but the reality is that he and Iwaizumi are *both* my favorite characters in this series and Oikawa may have made his way into my heart first, but Iwaizumi is just as deeply entrenched there. That said, Iwaizumi is often

overlooked by the fan base and is often thought of as merely an extension of Oikawa, rather than as an individual with his own strengths and value. That said, their characters are deeply intertwined, so this thread will serve both as a look at Iwaizumi’s unique persona and also

as an examination of how he works in tandem with Oikawa. 阿吽 is a word that the fandom often associates with them and I think it is extraordinarily apt. It is not that Iwaizumi and Oikawa cannot exist outside of each other or that their relationship defines their individual

characters, it is more so that their relationship is one of perfect harmony and unity and the way that they complement each other is essential both to their individual growth and to the success of their team.

As I mentioned earlier, the岩kanji in Iwaizumi’s name means “rock”. Oikawa is the turbulent, capricious, constantly shifting and flowing river, and Iwaizumi is the steady, stable, secure force that keeps him grounded. Whereas Oikawa is flamboyant, flirtatious, playful and,

on the flipside, volatile and unpredictable, Iwaizumi is practical, stern, earnest, and level-headed. He isn’t prone to fits of rage or emotional outbursts, and is instead able to remain perfectly composed, both during the most stressful parts of each match and during the moments

when Oikawa’s distress gets the better of him. When Oikawa loses his way or becomes distracted by his own internal struggles, Iwaizumi is able to step up without even a moment of hesitation and hold the team together until their captain has had a chance to regain his composure.

He has a quiet, unshakeable confidence to him that I liken to that of Kita’s, and this makes him an ideal vice captain and foil to Oikawa. The rare moments where his composure does break are always a response to his best friend’s antics, but there is no malice behind his threats

of violence and incessant name-calling. Rather, these things are a disguise for his true feelings, which are fear and concern at Oikawa’s often self-destructive behavior and a desire to prevent him from doing anything that could cause undue harm to either himself or others.

Belying his intimidating and tough appearance, Iwaizumi is truly one of the more thoughtful and genuinely kind characters in the series, friendly, considerate and deeply attentive to all of the people in his life. This is not limited to Oikawa; he extends the same measure of care

to all the other members of Seijoh, particularly his kohai, like Kyoutani and Kindaichi, who he recognizes are deeply insecure and desperately in need of his support. He is constantly vigilant and watchful, and as much as Takeda gives Oikawa credit for paying close attention to

each of his teammates, the same can easily be said of Iwaizumi. Where Oikawa has a firm grasp on his team’s overall physical and athletic abilities and general capacity as players and knows how to observe minute changes in these things on any given day, so Iwaizumi has a firm

grasp on his team’s mental health and wellbeing and he is there to provide moral support and reassurance should any member of his family begin to waver or fall. He’s perceptive, astute and understands people better than many other characters in this series, and he knows precisely

what to say to keep his team focused and operating at their best. The fact that he went on to pursue sports science is only further proof of the extreme value he places on tending to people’s wellbeing. While many fans might say that he decided to enter that field because of

constantly watching Oikawa overwork himself to the point of injury, I think that this passion for providing aid and support is just an inherent, fundamental part of who Iwaizumi is. He demonstrates concern and profound care for every single member of Seijoh, not solely Oikawa,

so I think that he is simply innately driven by love and a desire to protect and nurture the people around him. Oikawa may be the recipient of his care and concern frequently, but he is not the sole reason for its existence. Iwaizumi was just born with a big heart.

Iwaizumi is also an “ace” in every sense of the word. He may not receive as much praise as the other aces in the series, but he is dependable and capable. He will jump for every toss, and he will give 120% of his effort every single time. If a ball is sent his way, he will do the

absolute best he can to make that play count. As much as he values his comrades, he also values his role within the team and seeks to fulfill it to the best of his ability.

This, unfortunately, does come at a cost, because Iwaizumi is still human and the only thing that can

shatter his unshakeable confidence and strength is the idea that he has somehow failed in his responsibilities. The defeat at the hands of Karasuno was itself far less painful than the thought that he had let down his teammates, cost them their victory, and wasted the final

opportunity that Oikawa had given him. Iwaizumi isn’t as goal-oriented and focused on winning as his best friend; what drives him the most is the knowledge that he can support the people he cares about, and he only breaks down when he feels that he has not succeeded in this duty.

His role as Seijoh’s support system and frontline defender is something he takes very seriously, and the thought of failing them is more devastating to him than any loss could ever be. But Seijoh is a family and a unit. They may struggle at times, but in the end, their gears fit

together perfectly, and when one of them falters, the others are there to reach out a hand. When Aoba Johsai’s foundation began to crumble, the third years were there in an instant, no hesitation and no words necessary, to prevent that foundation from breaking apart entirely.

Oikawa may be Seijoh’s ruler, commanding his soldiers with ease and finesse, but Iwaizumi is his loyal knight, protecting every member of Seijoh, including its king, in ways that only he can. Oikawa is only able to rule as effectively as he does because Iwaizumi is there serving

as a pillar of strength and acting as Seijoh’s sturdy, steadfast foundation and backbone. When people seek to criticize Aoba Johsai’s strength as a team, they often say that it would crumble without Oikawa. Well, if it would crumble without him, it would surely crumble without

Iwaizumi. He may not be as flashy as his best friend, either on or off the court, but that doesn’t diminish his importance in any way. He is an immensely skilled and powerful player, able to rally the troops and lead the charge against Seijoh’s opponents, and he is always present

when his team needs him, quietly encouraging and reinforcing the strength of his comrades, without need for applause or accolades. Oikawa may be the one pushing Kindaichi and helping him reach the peak of his ability, but it’s Iwaizumi who reassures Kindaichi when he loses

confidence in himself. Oikawa may be the one able and willing to utilize Kyoutani as a “double-edged sword”, but it’s Iwaizumi’s presence and stability that enables him to do so.

Oikawa may be the face of Aoba Johsai and their skilled and competent leader, but Iwaizumi is their heart and the glue that holds all of them together. Oikawa may bring out 100% of their abilities as players, but Iwaizumi brings out 100% of the best of who they are as people.

TLDR; stan Iwaizumi Hajime